The Alchemist's Tales

Chapters

(Tale #1)Too Many Celestias
(Tale #2) A Mimic Named Winona
(Tale #3) The Whispers
(Tale #4) Hunting Trip
(Tale#5)Pony......ta?
(Tale#6)Swapped with the Sun
(Tale#7) Sunny Town Brawl

(Tale #1)Too Many Celestias

Too Many Celestias

I was in Canterlot that week. Normally things are, calmer, during my week up there but this was a rare event. Celestia had to leave for Manehattan for something or another, didn't pay attention to be honest, but it wasn't important to me either. Luna on the other hand, yes I said hand, wanted to do something that was potentially dangerous and Celestia would not approve of. So what better time to do it then when her sister was gone, and what better assistance then her favorite cross-dimensional Alchemist.

That's right, I'm the Alchemist and I've adopted my title as my name as well when I came to Equestria. Though Ember is rare here then on my home world, my talents are still useful and do-able due to the odd property of Equestrian Ember being able to be recharged. As for why I'm in Canterlot, I study Ember and the effect of the magics natural to ponies have on it. I report my finding to Luna and Twilight Sparkle, it depends on weather I'm in Canterlot or Ponyville at the time.

Anyway it was that morning that Celestia left that Luna woke me up. She doesn't wake me normally so I knew something was up, after I calmed down. Luna's methods of waking people(there are more then ponies here and old habits die hard if at all) are very cold. She knew my past and knew that twisting my dreams into a nightmare would not work on me, not for what I have seen and done. So she did the next best thing.

She teleported me right into the pond in the royal garden then back into my room. That water is ice cold all the time. Celestia had it enchanted for some weird exotic fish that could only live in water that was just above freezing. Luna on the other hand used it as a wake-up device. At times I wonder if the Elements of Harmony got all of Nightmare Moon out of her. That was evil even for her. At least when she brought me back to my room she dropped me on the floor.

After calming down and collecting myself on what just happened I turned to her, staring daggers at her. She knew I was angry with her yet she just shrugged like it was nothing. Hell if I was royalty with the power to move the moon I would brush me off too.

“Luna why did you throw me in the pond?” I asked gritting my teeth while talking.

“Well my faithful Alchemist. Today I need your help with a project, and I would like to start as soon as possible. Now get dressed and meet me in the science wing, room 12B” she said, straight faced.

“Ok, so why did you throw me in the pond again?”

“To wake you.”

“Why didn't you try other less 'colder' ways first?”

“I did, you would not wake. I tried shaking you, hitting you upside your head with my hoof. Nothing was working so I figured the pond would do the trick.”

I wish I could say she was lying but she wasn't. I'm a very heavy sleeper to the point of almost nothing can wake me up. One of the side effects that came with Luna's cure for my Ember Blight. I even slept though one of Pinkie Pie's parties once. Word of advise, do not sleep through a Pinkie Party, her anger makes Ordrak look nice. Needless to say water that is border line freezing is the only thing that will wake me forcible from sleep that has been found so far. Dreams are still a maybe but I have yet to have a true nightmare.

Anyway I got dressed, grabbed my Ember Gauntlet, and headed off to the science wing. I noticed a lot of guards missing from their posts. I was a little weirded out at the time. I had yet to discover that Celestia was actually gone at the time. The Castle was quite for once. It was both nice and a little creepy too.

I got to room 12B and to my surprise the room was a mess. Table and chairs scattered all over the place. Magical components like crystals and what not were scattered over the floors and tables. No lab of any kind should be in this state. It made me wonder the nature of Luna's project.

There was one small area that was somewhat clean but only because Luna was working on getting an area ready for her project. She had placed eight crystals on the floor, four of them were used to make a square on the floor, the other four to make a rectangle within the first square.

“Ok Luna what are we doing” I asked.

She jumped, she didn't realize I came in the room, which wasn't odd. Its so easy to sneak up on ponies when you have feet that don't clop with each step.

“Ah, Alchemist. You got here a little quicker then I though. Did you skip breakfast?”

“I always skip breakfast here. The morning chef can't make a decant meal for a human to save his life. Anyway what are we doing anyway?”

“Well with my sister gone I wanted to try a world viewing spell to see parallel versions of Equestria. Celestia doesn't really allow them because they can create doorways between parallel worlds. And I really want to see how other versions of me are like.”

I couldn't see the big deal about it but she really wanted to do this. As to why she needed me, the spell needs a ton of magic poured into it. So much that a single alicorn is not enough to power it. She needed my Ember as well as to not exhaust any of the unicorn staff that was still in the castle. I didn't have anything better to do today anyway other then get ready to go back to Ponyville tomorrow anyway. So the Ember has enough time to recharge before needing them again.

After we finished the preparations we finally got to casting the spell. There was a quick flash of light, then the crystals formed an electrical blue like beam connecting each other. The four that were set as a rectangle began to rise into the air, stopping once they hit the ceiling. It formed a window, Luna had control over what we viewed. Her horned light up each time we changed worlds to view.

The worlds we view was, well that is a story in itself. But the short version some were close to the same as our Equestria while, some were violet and war torn, and some where so crazy that "chaos" is the only way to describe them. One thing we noticed the most was how almost all the other Lunas spoke in a weird way. Using 'we' instead of 'I', and 'thou' instead of 'you'. It was like how old snobby nobles talked back home.

We were ready to call it a day satisfied with our success on the viewing. I should have known better, nothing ever goes that smoothly for me. Fate was going to make sure it didn't either. Literally a second before Luna was getting ready to take down the viewing window there was a boom followed by the castle shaking and a rainbow shock wave in the sky. Dash and her sonic rainbooms!!!

The shock wave from the rainboom caused one of the crystals to shift. The magical window cracked. That was a sight to see, the images being viewed were instantly gone leaving a transparent magical window full of cracks. The cracks started to move into a spinning vortex in the window. Before Luna and I could react there was another boom, but this one came from the window as it exploded. The magical energies that were released sent me and Luna back.

When I came to I looked at the site where the window had been. My jaw dropped at the site. There were three white alicorns standing there staring at me and Luna. The first that was on the left of the group was the spitting image of Celestia. The one in the middle was much the same but instead of the pastel colored mane and tail that Celestia had, hers was gray with a little tint of pink in it. The last one on the left was, well the first and only stallion alicorn I’ve ever seen. He even had a beard!

After a good minute of silently staring at each other the Celestia on the left broke the silence.

“Human!” she said.

All of a sudden her face grew an angry expression and her eyes lit into flames. Literal flame, it was freaking scary, and this is coming from a guy who has fought all kinds of monsters. Something then told me that I needed to run as fast as I could and get away from this. That thing being a blast of magic from the crazed Celestia.

I took off like a bat out of hell. Running though the halls of the castle. The crazed Celestia following me. Turns out the guards taking the day off turned out to be a good thing. With the exception of her sudden blood lust you truly could not tell her apart from our Celestia.

“Die human!” she shouted out as she shot a magic bolt at me. It missed as I ran down the halls of the castle.

“OI! Stop shooting, your wrecking the place and I don't want Celestia getting mad at me!” I yelled back

“I'm Celestia you filthy human!”

“Ok true but not our Celest- ahhh” she hit me in the shoulder with her magic. Burned a little but I was still able to run and get away. After that the chase through the castle consisted of me running and Celestia shooting magic at me.

Somewhere in the middle of me being chased I distinctly remember Philomena snicker at me. Stupid bird always hated me, thankfully she can regenerate so I get back at her every time Celestia isn't looking. An idea popped in my head. Maybe I could get this Celestia off my back by injuring the phoenix pest known as Philomena.

I quickly unleash a few Ember Bolts from my gauntlet. They found their target with ease striking down that stubid bird. Unfortunately for me that Philomena was in a window and she fell back backwards. The crazed Celestia behind me didn't see what I shot at nor did she care. She was fix on me, darn.

Shortly after that I realized that I wasn't going to be able to lose her long enough to hide. So I did something so crazy, so unreal that I still don't believe it happened, and I did it! I stopped and turned doing a quick turn facing the crazed Celestia and punched her in the face. However I punched with my gauntlet hand. As soon as I connected a blast of electricity came out with my punch.

I didn't even realize what I did till after I punched her. We stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity. In reality it was only four seconds. The fire in her eyes had died but she was still glaring daggers at me. The electricity from my gauntlet was now dancing over her body during that time. After the electric sparks died off her eyes rolled backed and she passed out on the floor.

With crazy Celestia knocked out I decided that I best get her back to room 12B. Maybe Luna can keep her calm or restrained till we can figure out how to send her back to her own world. It also seems that this Celestia is as heavy as ours. Darn Celestia and her love of cake.

I forgot how exhausting carrying Celestia across the castle can be. This wasn't the first time I had to do it, and knowing my luck it may not be the last. Anyway got back to the room to find Luna and the male Celestia neck deep in books trying to find out how to fix this mess.

As I entered the room Luna turned to me and went wide eyed as she saw me carrying a knocked out Celestia.

“What....but....how did you get her from killing you, did you drinking hard cider?” Luna asked.

“I didn't”

“What?”

“Well I kinda punched her in the face.”

“WHAT!” both Luna and the male Celestia said.

“Hay don't judge me, she was trying to kill me!” I replied as I set the crazy Celestia down.

“Yo, stallion Celestia...”

“Solaris.”

“What”

“My name is Prince Solaris.”

“Anyway. Can you make sure this crazed Celestia stays asleep till we can figure out how to send you guys home.”

“Humm, since she is my double a sleep spell from me may keep her asleep.”

After looking around the room I noticed that the third, gray maned Celestia was missing. This is not good.

“Ummm, where did the gray maned Celestia go?” I asked

Both Luna and Solaris both looked around the room. Then they both got an “o shit” look. It didn't take a genius to realize that they were so sucked into trying to find out how to fix the situation that they did not pay attention to the gray maned Celestia. I knew what they where going to ask, and before they said anything I was out the door.

So I wandered around the castle for a while trying to find this gray maned Celestia. The castle was still for the most part quite and empty, yet for some reason I felt like I was being watched. I even looked behind my shoulder to see nothing. Still couldn't shake the feeling.

As a came around a corner in one of the halls I bumped into a guard, which was odd for them taking the day off. But this guard was acting off. Most of the time they are like statue, void of emotions and ever vigilant. Yet this guard was shaking, scared as if something horrible just happened to him. Just imaging what would give these guard with willies is frighting enough but something that has them shaking in true fear. Something truly terrifying is roaming in this castle.

“What has you scared?” I asked the guard trying to calm him down.

“She....how could........she.....she....she”

“Who”

“Celestia.....bath house.......she....she was.....”

This guard was clearly frightened. What could that gray maned Celestia have done? I mean she has god like powers like ours but what could she have done? The only way I'm going to find out was to find her. To the bath house it is. Only if I knew then what I know now.

I got to the bath house and opened the door. I could now understand what happened to the guard. I had fought monsters and beasts of all shapes and sizes but this, this was just. I can't describe it, no thats a lie, I won't describe it. It was bad and the mental images still plague my mind, I will not afflict the readers as well.

I quickly backed out of the bath house and slammed the door behind me. I fell back on the wall and clenched my head with my hands. How could she do that, why would she do that. No that creature no longer deserves the name Celestia, no she needs a new name to that bests describes her actions. That name, Molestia.

I now faced a new challenge. Getting in there to ether subdue or convince Molestia to come peaceable, without getting more mental scaring. I thought that maybe blindfolding myself and hearing my way through might be good. Then I remembered that the sounds produced in there would still conjure up images in my mind. I also thought of Ember Phasing in and out grabbing her but I did not want to harm the poor guards still trapped in there. Plus my Ember was spent from that punch earlier.

After running through my options, my choices were not looking good. In fact the only choices I had was to walk in there and get my mind burned with horrible images, or wait for her to come out. I knew what I had to do, and I wasn't going to like it. I went to the door ready to open it.

“WAAAAAAAAA” the door opened slamming into my face. The gray maned molester was then in front of me. she let out a giggle at my pain. Then she started batting her eyelashes while staring at me, smiling.

OH SHIT!!!!

For the second time today I took off like a bat out of hell. At least this time I don't have to worry for my life, but I'll be damned before I let a pony princess molest me! So I ran. The whole time Molestia was shouting out things like “show me what a human body can do” and “come on we can have so much fun” in a sultry tone. It was more the sultry tone that worried me then what she was actually saying.

I was half tempted to punch her like the first Celestia but quickly dismissed the idea. The last time was a fluke anyways with the Ember. Not only that but I can hear it now. The punch not knocking her out and her looking at me saying “naughty boy”. The thought made me shiver as I ran.

I ran by the dinning rooms, yeah there is more then one, when I passed Solaris of all people, er ponies. A plan popped in my head as I remembered what he did to crazy Celestia to make sure she stayed knocked out.

“Solaris, sleep spell, I'll be right back, have it ready!” I yelled as I passed him.

I could only assume he was confused at first. I didn't really have the chance to see or hear his response. I just ran. I was hoping that Molestia would stop and try to hit on Solaris, being a male alicorn and all. I've seen more humans in Equestria then a male alicorns for pete's sake. For reasons I can only speculate, Molestia passed up Solaris and continued to chase me.

So I ran the circle around the dinning rooms about three times before Solaris figured out what was going on. The fourth time around he finally got his sleep spell off. It knocked Molestia out cold, however she was still running after me so physics took over. She fell over face first and came to a screeching halt on the floor. Luckily nothing was broken on either her or our surroundings.

“Solaris, not meaning to sound ungrateful but could you have been a little more, graceful, like catch her too?”

“Sorry chap, but a sleep spell able to knock out me takes a lot. Well I need to finish my lunch. We found the proper spell and Luna is preparing it. I'll be up in a little bit.”

“Nice.”

I was getting ready to pick Molestia up when I remembered what she was doing before, in the bath house. I cringed a little, I did not want her body and my body making contact. So instead of picking her up as is. I went to the nearest window, tore the curtains off, and wrapped the curtains around Molestia's body. Now it felt safe to carrying her.

Damn it just as heavy as the others.

Again I got that feeling of being watched, and again nothing was there. This was the second time this has happened today. Something is watching me, following from the distance. It's doing a good job at staying hidden though. What could it be, I don't know but I intended to find out once I dropped Molestia off.

I got back to room 12B, Luna had got everything set back up. It was very similar to the viewing spell with one difference, a ninth crystal in the center. Now all we need is Solaris and we can fire this spell up. Solaris came back a half-hour later.

I was just a spectator here on out. My Ember was spent so Luna had to get the extra magic needed from Solaris. Luna tuned into their proper worlds, how I don't know still. First up was crazy Celestia, and Molestia. Luna and Solaris made me pick them up and throw them through. Solaris was the last to go through.

We finally got things back to normal. I gathered up my Ember and was going to go back to my room. It was already past noon and I needed to get my stuff together so I can catch the morning train. Fate on the other hand had one more crazy ass curve ball to throw at me, lucky for me it was also thrown at Luna too.

I had just finished up and ready to leave room 12B when there was a bright flash of light. I turned to see an angry Celestia, our Celestia. What is she doing back so soon, better yet why, there is no way she could have known about Luna's spell. She cocks her head towards Luna before speaking.

“Sister, you have had a busy day it seems. But there are still things you overlooked.” Celestia spoke as she levitated a, newspaper? Yeah a newspaper, and throws it at us. “There is a reason I created a paparazzi shield for the castle, and you forgot about it.”

The newspaper before us was unreal. “HUMAN STRIKES CELESTIA!” was the headlines. Below it was a picture of me hitting the crazed Celestia. If I was in my home world I would have been questioning this, but there are powers in Equestria that is best left alone. So that was that feeling of being watched.

So to wrap this tale up. Luna got grounded to the moon for two days. Temporary banishment spell, she was going to use it on me too, but it would have killed me. I got two days in the dungeon. Contrary to popular believe the dungeon was actually very creepy. Thankfully they are not used very often . However if we were going down we were not going down alone.

Rainbow Dash can now only perform Sonic Rainbooms between 2p.m – 8p.m by royal decree. Luna played it as “it is to prevent something like this from happening again” in reality she was the same as me. Making sure everyone that was involved got some sort of punishment.

Last but not least, the poor guards that were hit by Molestia. They never truly recovered. To this day they still have nightmares about that day. I can't say that I blame them though.

Now to plot my revenge on the paparazzi.

Author's Note

Now changed to fit the my version of Equestria.

(Tale #2) A Mimic Named Winona

A Mimic Named Winona

Ah Ponyville, one of the nicest towns in Equestria, to bad it attracts chaos like no tomorrow. Most of my tales revolve around this little town, and my jobs here. Yeah I said jobs as in multiple. The first I mentioned before, Research Equestrian Ember and report my findings to Twilight Sparkle or Princess Luna. My second job is, well odd for someone like me. I only do it because Celestia demanded that I have a job that also “contributes to the community.” Unfortunately for me their was only one job that needed filling, foalsitter(babysitter damn it).

It's not the best of jobs but it is tolerable, most of the time. To think one of the greatest of the Empire's Alchemists, and one of the heroes that slew Ordrak reduced to babysitting. Still it had its advantages, most of which were in the forms of accidents. Over the years here I have learned one thing from this job, never underestimate a child. They tend to surprise you with something new every time.

Luckily for me its a part-time job, like Twilight's librarian job. Yeah Twilight is only a part time librarian. The library is only open two days a week to the public. The rest of the time she is studying magic, friendship, and those from other worlds, oddly enough in that order, for Celestia.

Most weeks I only have to babysit on the weekends. It was rare that anyone needed a sitter during the week, except for Kira but that's best told in another tale. I was however still open for sitting on the weekdays if I didn't have any that could not be preformed in my study.

Their are a few foal that are trouble. In fact I refuse to watch two foals after the first time I watched them, Diamond Tiara and Sliver Spoon, rotten apples. Then there are the Cutie-Mark Crusaders, Applebloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Bell. By themselves they are perfect little angles. Put those three together and you have a force of trouble like no other.

Anyway onto the actual story. It was around the middle of the week. I was performing an experiment on a few fish I had caught. I my world, Ember was abundant and could be found almost anywhere. One such place was in river beds and the bottom of other bodies of water. Because of this some of the energies from the Ember would bleed out into the water and gave fish a unique attribute. Any animal that would eat the fish would turn into another creature entirely.

My experiment was a simple one. I put two fish in a tank with a few pieces of Ember in the bottom. I was looking for two things. One if Equestrian Ember would bleed energy out, two if the bled energies from the Ember effect fish the same way here as it did back home. I was going to take the fish to Fluttershy's after a few weeks to test. However my testing came a little early.

As I said it was about the middle of the week. Applejack had showed up at my house with Applebloom and her dog Winona. She needed me to watch Applebloom for a few days. She was taking Granny Smith to Manehatten for a surgery of some kind, and Big Mac was out in Appleloosa helping their family out there with their apple harvest.

I got her to the guest room, and the first night went well. The next day I walked her to school before getting my projects setup for this evening. She was going to be Crusading after school and I will not let my project be victims of their crusading.

As I walked into my study I noticed the fish tank. A fish was missing, but where, better yet how. Before I could have reacted I head a sound that I was hoping I would not hear again, not in Equestria anyway. The sound of screeching metal hinges and a low growling from a creature. I turn around to face the creature, a Mimic.

The creature that has been the demise of many adventures back home. It looks like a typical wooden chest with iron bindings, till it opens. The lid acts like a jaw, and when its mouth opens it reveals a maw a razor sharp teeth and a long tongue instead of treasure that most expect.

This Mimic was just sitting there, doing nothing but growling at me. It was odd, it didn't attack me, it just sat there. I was totally unprepared for this. I quickly go to grab my staff from the corner of the room. The Mimic only turned to face me as if it was staring at me, even though they have no eyes.

I needed to get this thing caged, the last thing I need is a potentially murderous chest going around killing ponies. I can figure out where it came from later. I started to move out of the study. I was going to try and lock it in, but it quickly hopped it the doorway blocking the door. It didn't seem to act hostile, it was more of it just wanted to be near me. The study was not going to work anyway and the only other room in my house that could hold it was, my basement.

I hated going down into the basement, it housed the reminders of my past sins. That black armor I had crafted and the staff that held Ordrak's heart. That was a dark time in my life. I keep the armor and staff as a reminder so I wouldn’t follow that path again. Aside from those items the basement was empty.

I headed to the basement, walking backwards the whole way. The Mimic followed me, like a pet would his master. It reminded me of my old pet wolf, Baker. He was a good friend, I still miss him to this day. Baker was slain during the battle with Ordrak. I still have his collar however, it hangs on the wall in my study now. Few have asked about it but I can never bring myself to talk about him.

As I get into the middle of the basement I do a daring move. I charge my gauntlet and hit the Mimic with a shock of electricity. I had four seconds to get out of the basement and barricade the door. I got to the door just in time. As I closed the door the Mimic let out a howl and started charging the door. I locked the door just in time. The Mimic pounded on the door but it didn't seem to effect the door. I didn't want to take a chance however. My staff, like all my others, was near indestructible. I decided to used it as a brace to reinforce the door.

After about a half hour the Mimic calmed down. I felt that it was safe to leave the door and try and figure out what is going on. Ok so a fish is missing and a Mimic appears, that meant that something ate the fish and transformed, which means the experiment was a success! Despite the situation I could not help but feel excited about the success of this test. Now I just need to figure out what ate the fish.

As I went through my notes and writing down my finding I lost track of time.

“Alchemist, I'm back! Hey where is Winona at?” Applebloom yelled from the front door.

“Oh no, Winona. I completely forgot about her. She must of ate the fish which means that that Mimic is Winona.” I thought. I felt a little stupid at the time not even thinking about Winona till now.

I quickly ran out of my study to the basement door. The Mimic was pounding even harder on the door. I didn't even notice Applebloom and the rest of the Cutie-Mark Crusaders come up behind me. The pounding got louder with each hit. I started hearing the wood crack.

“Mr. Alchemist, what is down there?” Sweetie Bell asked a little scared.

I didn't know how to answer. I couldn't just tell them it was Winona. They wouldn't believe me. And if they did they would be mad at me for locking Winona up. I was about to come up with an excuse of some kind but Winona succeeded at busting the door down.

Winona hopped straight to Applebloom and started.....licking her like she was still a dog. The girls where clearly confused that a living chest coming up and licking Applebloom.

“Um Alchy, why is that box alive and licking Applebloom?” Scootaloo asked.

“Because it's Winona” I said.

“But that's a...box, Winona is a dog.” Sweetie said

“That box is called a Mimic, and it is Winona, she got into one of my experiment and transformed into that.”

“Can you changer her back?” Applebloom asked.

“I don't know, it was an experiment. Hopefully the transformation will only be temporary but there is a chance it can be permanent as well.”

“Applejack is going to kill you if we can't get Winona changed back.” Applebloom said.

Applejack wouldn't kill me, but I was in for a buck to the face. Applejack had a short temper when it came to messing with family, and Winona was part of the family. However I was still more concerned about the safety of the three fillies in front of me. Even when animal from my world were transformed they tended to pick up a few nasty habits of what they changed into. And Mimics tend to be very violent and very protective of their belongings.

Before I could formulate a plan to deal with the situation, Winona picked up Applebloom with her tongue and threw Applebloom on top of her. Then Winona made a bolt out of the house. It happened so fast that I didn't even register what was happening till she was outside. Damn it, if Applejack found out about Winona that would be a good buck to the face, but if something happened to Applebloom she would literally kill me.

I made a mad dash out of my house. I was terrified and for the first time it wasn't for my well-being for once. A young filly was in my care and now in danger of being eaten by her own pet because of my experiments. I was not about to let someone get hurt because of my actions, not again.

I could see the Mimic heading out of town. It was moving fast, faster then I could ever run. Thankfully it was heading to Sweet Apple Acres instead of the Everfree. I didn't even even notice that Scootaloo and Sweetie were following me. When I got to the farm I saw Applebloom and the Mimic....playing fetch?

A Mimic playing fetch. I shouldn't have been surprised, it was a dog first. However the site of a Mimic playing fetch was surprising to me. I have never seen a Mimic spit something out of its mouth before, but it was a funny site to see.

“No Winona I don't want to play with you now.” I overheard Applebloom say.

“Applebloom!” both Scootaloo and Sweetie said simultaneously.

Winona turned to face us and growled. At that moment Applebloom took her fore hoof and smacked Winona then scolded her. My heart fell at the coming retribution the Mimic was going to unleash. To my surprise it never came.

Instead of a raging homicide creature as she was with me, Winona let out a whimper. I keep forgetting that Winona is really a dog. It was Winona within a Mimic body. Its just really hard for me to think of her as a dog and not a Mimic. I was never a fan of fish transformation, didn't even feed Baker any back in the day.

“Alchemist, what all did that experiment do? Other then not being a dog, all Winona wants to do is play fetch now. Its almost like she is a puppy again.” Applebloom said.

“That sound like mental retraction.” I ponder out loud

“Mental what now?”

“Basically she is a puppy again. In the mind anyway.”

“Oh.”

“Does that mean Applebloom need to retrain her?” Scootaloo asked almost out of the blue.

“Um, kinda, yeah I guess.” I didn't have a real answer, I never ran into something like this before.

I didn't realize the implications of my words till I saw a smile cross Scootaloo's face, followed by Sweetie bell, then Applebloom. I knew what was coming next and I covered my eyes to try and brace myself.

“CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS MIMIC TRAINERS!!” they shouted in unison.

“No!” I quickly replied

“Why not? She is my family's pet.” Applebloom retorted

“Because right now she is literally a deadly monster. I'm not risking you getting hurt, or worse.”

“What if you stay close by. That way you can jump-in in case something goes wrong.” Sweetie said. She then gave me the sad puppy look, Applebloom and Scootaloo followed suit.

Uggg, I couldn’t resist it. The puppy dog look these three give is just too much. I honestly believe you have to be truly heartless to resist it.

“Fine. But I’m setting up a few rules. Rule one, I must be present. Rule two, Winona stays at my house in a locked room till you girls are out of school. Rule three, you do what I say when I say it when you attempt to retrain her. Got it.”

“Yes” they said

“Good, now if you girls don't mind. I need to get Applebloom and Winona back to my house. You two should be heading back home as well, it getting late.” I said.

–

The next day wasn't productive at all. As soon as I got Applebloom off to school I came home to a very angry Mimic. I spent most of the time trying to calm Winona down while Applebloom was gone, over trying to find a way to fix Winona. I was going to lock her in the basement but forgot she busted the door down the day before. I also believed at the time that the transformation Winona underwent was indeed a permanent one for she has not turned back yet.

As soon as school let out the Cutie-Mark Crusaders wasted no time getting to my house. As I told them before I would only let them try to train the Mimic Winona while I was present. We went to the back yard and got started.

We learned real quick that Winona would only listen to Applebloom. When ever Scootaloo or Sweetie try something the Winona just growled. I almost stopped this right there and then but was cut short by Applebloom.

“NO! Bad Winona! You don't growl at friends!” Applebloom scolded the Mimic.

After that little display Applebloom went on to trying to teach Winona tricks. Unfortunately for her every time she tried to teach Winona something Winona would run off and come back with a stick. I couldn't help but laugh at it after the twentieth time. After awhile Sweetie Bell wanted to try.

Again Winona growled followed by Applebloom scolding her. It happened a few more time as Sweetie Bell tried to teach it something. After a while Scootaloo also wanted to try her hand hoof at it. Again growl followed by scolding.

By the end of the day the three made made very little progress. They did however get Winona to stop growling at anyone that isn't Applebloom. Aside from that as a Mimic, Winona really loves fetch. Every thing the girls tried to teach her she processed as “lets play fetch.”

As we where saying are goodbys to Scootaloo and Sweetie Bell I saw a pony walking up. A pony that I was hoping would still be out of town for a few more days. A pony named Applejack. She saw me and Applebloom outside.

“Appleboom! I'm home!” she shouted

At that moment I didn't need to look to know what was happening. Winona recognized the voice and bolted. As she took off past me and Applebloom I could see the look of fear and confusion on Applejack's face upon seeing a living box full of sharp teeth charging right after her.

I ran after it will all my might but I couldn't keep up. I knew it wasn't going to hurt Applejack, if anything it was going to do the same thing it did with Applebloom and just lick her. But Applejack didn't know that the Mimic was Winona and I was afraid what my happen to Winona if one of Applejack's famous bucks connected.

Luckily for Winona that didn't happen. Applejack was too stunned by the site to even move. Winona went to jump on Applejack, then the crazy happened. In mid air Winona changed back into the dog she originally was. That stopped me in my track, that shouldn't have happened but it did. Then again a lot of things that shouldn't happen, do happen in Equestria.

It didn't take long for Applejack to put two and two together and she gave me a look that could kill. And now that I look back on it I wish it did for what happened next. She charged at me at full speed and headbutted me just below the belt. That brought me down to my knees. Then came a full force buck to the face. The last think I heard before blacking out was the sound of my goggles shattering.

–

I awoke later in hospital bed. To my surprise in the corner of the room was Applejack and Applebloom fast asleep. Shortly after awaking nurse Redheart walked into the room.

“Well you seam to be fine now, but we couldn't save your eye.”

“My eye? That makes no sense I can see just fine out my” I stopped myself there.

I had always worn my goggles all the time since I arrived in Equestria. Not once could I recall taking them off. No one here new that my left eye was already gone. Plucked by the hero that stopped me those years ago. I think I know why Applejack is hear, she felt guilty for an irreversible injury she didn't cause.

I had never told anyone the story of when I went mad from my Ember Blight and let the Netherim control me. All the horrors I caused in an attempt to cure myself. I was honestly thinking about telling that story to Applejack when she woke.

I never did. Instead I just left a note saying the eye was gone before coming to Equestria. Then I left the hospital with those two still asleep.

Winona was back to normal, Applejack was back getting Applebloom out of my hair, and now I can get back to work on my Ember projects. I get to my study and look in the fish tank. The second fish is missing.

(Tale #3) The Whispers

The Whispers

That night of the whispers was one of the worse nights of my life in Equestria. Not for what happened, though it was indeed tragic, but from what may be coming. I still can only speculate on what is coming for me, but I do know that what is coming wants vengeance. That can wait however as this is the tale of how I learned this land has its darker sides as well.

The night air was cool as I awoke to the sounds of someone whispering. This was worrisome to me because of how I sleep since being cured of my Ember Blight. Nothing wakes me up short of freezing water. The fact that a whisper woke me was a little frighting.

The whispering was so quite that all I could tell is that someone was talking but nothing else. I couldn't hear what was being said or if the voice was that from a male or female. The voice also seemed to be coming from the front door.

I wanted to just ignore the voice but something inside me told me to seek it out. Why I started felling this way is anyone guess, normally I would have ignored the voice and gone back to sleep thinking it was a prank ether Pinkie or Rainbow was trying to pull.

As I left my house out the front door, I noticed that the whispering was getting louder. Well loud enough to tell that it was a male voice and what it was saying. The whisper was still extremely quite though.

“You will need this.” The whispering voice said.

Then in front of me materialized the gauntlet I used with the Black Armor. It floated in the air waiting for my reaction. At that moment I was had a mixture of emotions, mainly that of fear and anger. This voice not only told me wear a part of that abomination I made but had an understanding of what it was. I thrashed my hand out and knocked the Gauntlet to the ground.

The gauntlet immediately dissolve in a fashion similar to how it appeared. After the black piece of armor was gone I heard the whispering voice again.

“Interesting. Very interesting. Maybe, just maybe....” the rest of the whisper was cut out by the voice getting quite as if moving away from me. Whether it was moving or not I did not know. I never did find the source of the voice.

I wanted answers now, plain and simple. This thing that was whispering to me knew about my past, a past that no one if Equestria true new about. I wanted to know what it knew, how it knew it, and why it learned it. What did it want with me? Not even Luna knew all the details of when I was “Evil”.

I traveled for a good forty minutes out of town, following the whispers. Still unable to make them out. Then all of a sudden the whispers stopped. Then I heard a new voice coming from behind me. One that still sends chills down my spine just thinking about.

“Why, Helloooooo.” the voice said in a creepy fashion.

I turned around to face the owner of the voice. My eyes went wide in horror at what I saw. In front of me was a black unicorn with a broken horn, his mane and tail were a lighter shade then his coat but was black as well. His cutie-mark was that of a broken mirror. His eyes, even though they were emerald green, were evil.

In front of the unicorn laid two bodies, both ponies I knew, and both with there heads severed. Carrot Top and Bon-Bon where both dead. The Unicorn noticed my reaction to the bodies and let out an evil snicker. Something inside of me snapped.

I went to unleash a barrage of Ember Bolts to find that I never grabbed my gauntlet before leaving the house. Between my anger and shock I forgot about the whispering voice trying to give me one of my gauntlets before leaving. So I did the worst thing someone like me could do. I charged in a blind rage.

Yeah someone like me charging in a blind rage. I don't know why I did it. I was no stranger to death, nor was I that close of friends with ether Carrot Top or Bon-Bon. The only thing I can think of is that magics where at work. What happened in those moment of rage I don't remember but the battle fought was not over by the time I came out of my rage.

When I came back to my senses, both the black unicorn and myself where panting heavily and covered with bruises. I had somehow got a thick gnarled stick in my hands. The stick was just a little shorter then the staffs I use. The unicorn let out a snicker as it began to charge me.

I took on a defensive pose, dodging or deflecting the unicorns attempts to tackle me. I did so with surprising ease. This didn't sit right with me after the third deflection. It was then that I noticed that the unicorn was not trying.

Then he unleashed a surprise for a unicorn with a broken horn. He unleashed magic.

I still don't understand unicorn magic all that well but from what I've been told this shouldn't have been possible. Yet it was happening before my very eyes. The unicorn started throwing spell after spell at me. Most in the form of a fireball or lightning.

It took every bit of effort left in me to dodge the spells in time. It was now a losing battle for me. I had no way to defend against the spells, and without Ember and a device to expel the energies in Ember I was a sitting duck.

I should have died that night. The unicorn firing spells off like crazy, laughing maniacally the whole time. Me, just barely dodging them. I was saved by the whispering as it came back.

“That is enough Murphy. I have seen what I wanted.”

“But” the unicorn replied but didn't get another word out as it disappear.

“Now for you” the whispers now turned into a full voice. “These two that died tonight are but the first of many. A warning to what may come. A power seeking vengeance is looking for you, and it will find you, destroying all in its path.”

“Your telling me this why” I spat.

“Because I do not want to see this world burn. The power is seeking you, and the power can only be stopped by you. As cliche as it is you must become stronger. Do what ever it takes to gain strength. You beat this power once before and you will need to it again for Equestria to survive.”

“Why should I listen to you.”

“If not me then Princesses. Just tell them this” the voice went back to a whisper “Pater dicit salve” after that the voice disappeared and I haven’t heard from it again.

I have no idea what that meant but the Princesses do, but what it means they still won't tell me. They showed up in the field shortly after the whispering voice left, why I can only assume the voice had a hand in it. Upon seeing the two dead ponies they had the look of righteous fury in their eyes. The fact that Luna accompanied her sister was the only reason Celestia didn't smite me there and then. Giving me a chance to tell my tale.

I retold my tale of what happened that night to them. At the time I believed it all to be just some sick game the voice was playing. Celestia and Luna did not look like they believed me till I got to the end and recited what the voice wanted me to tell them. Pater dicit salve

Those three words got there attention. Any anger towards me melted away. What did it mean? Why would the Princesses reacted in such a way? All I know is that they started to take my tale seriously, even more so then me.

Then I looked down upon the corpses that laid there. Two casualties to a dark fate.

I was out of it for the next few days after that night. Unsure of what to make out of what happened that night. A darkness had shown itself in a land of peace, yet all it did was deliver a message of a greater darkness. A message that had costed the lives of two ponies. Celestia and Luna somehow where tied to it and only I could stop it. It was all very confusing to me.

In the end I decided to heed the whispering voice's words, and prepare myself for the coming conflict. When ever it my show.

The whispering voice. Their was something about it, something familiar. It was almost as if I knew who it was. Weather that is true I still don't know as the voice never made its self known again. I wish I could have said the same about that black unicorn the voice called Murphy.

Author's Note

An attempt to do something a little on the dark side and a prequel to another tale of the Alchemist that will not happen for a long time.

"Pater dicit salve" I believe is Latin for "Father says hello". that's what google translator tells me anyway. The voice is not Discord.

Murphy's Law belongs to the guys at Pony in a Box.

Going back to the cheery and comical stuff now.

(Tale #4) Hunting Trip

Hunting Trip

Ponies have very different diets then humans. Though I can eat most fruits and vegetables that ponies do I can't eat the grasses and flowers they love so much. As they can not eat meat as my diet requires. Though the ponies don't think less of anyone for the need to eat meat they do ask that Kira and I eat such things out of sight of anyone.

Kira is like me in a way. She is not human but she is not from Equestria either. She arrived via a rift a year after me from a world called Nirn. When given the choice to ether return to her world or stay here, she chose to stay and is now a permanent resident of Ponyville. From the stories she has told of her world it was for the better, not for her but her child that would be born about a year later.

Kira is from a race of people called Khajiit. The Khajiit are shaped like a human but with feline features, the three most noticeable is their skin is covered in fur, the shape of their heads are very feline like(using the word “cat” around Kira or any other Khajiit is a very BAD thing to do), and they have feline like tails.

Though I could go a week, sometimes two before I actually needed to eat meat, Kira could not. At most she could go two days. So she would take trips into the Everfree when her stocks were low. Every now and then I would go with her. Those I never did actually hunt more as I just carried back the kill.

I wish I could tell you how Kira is such an efficient huntress but I am sworn to secrecy. I even had to Pinkie Promise not to reveal it to anyone in fear Fluttershy would learn Kira's secret. I can say this much though. It is the cheapest hunting tactic I have ever witnessed, and it would truly hurt Fluttershy's feelings if she found out about it.

Their was one trip that I will never forget. It started off like any other trip save for the late start. Kira usually is out in the morning and back sometime in the afternoon. That day however do to an unforeseen accident caused by a certain wall-eyed gray pegasus, who shall remain nameless, we did not get out till the afternoon knowing we would not get back till sometime after dark.

We went deep into the forest and Kira worked her “magic”. We ended up bagging a deer and a wild boar. Though not a big fan of venison, I absolutely loved boar meat, making this a very successful trip.

It was starting to getting dark and we still had another two hours to go before exiting the forest. It was then that my stomach gave the gurgling sounds of “Feed me”. Kira's did the same shortly after mine.

We decided that dinner was in order before continuing on back to Ponyville. I made a fire while Kira worked her “magic” yet again, bagging some squirrels. As the squirrels were set up to barbeque over the fire we swapped a few stories from our home worlds as our food cooked. Oddly we were both telling tales about slaying dragons.

The squirrels were about done when out of the blue I get drenched in ice cold water. I instantly knew it was Luna. Ever since the whole parallel world viewing incident she had started to greet me with a bucket of ice cold water every time we meet. Why I don't know, but if I had to guess it's because she finds it funny and can get away with it. Kira, like Luna was laughing at my misfortune.

“Ha Ha, very funny Luna.” I said drily

“I must ask, why is the Princess of the night out here?” Kira asked through her laughter

“Seeing why my favorite Alchemist is out in the Everfree at night.” she then saw the deer and boar corpse. “But then again I should have known.”

“Well if nothing else I'm glad you care for me so much.” I said sarcastic.

What Luna did next opened a floodgate of questions on Alicrons. I was honestly expecting another bucket of iced water to be poured on me for my sarcastic remark. No instead Luna went and stole my food.

I only assume the shock on my face was similar to that on Kira's, as she was silent and wide eyed. Luna gripped one of the cooked squirrels and started eating it. My mind was blown, right when I think I have the ponies figured they do something that just blows my mind, again!

“AH! I forgot how good squirrels can taste.” Luna said as she finished the first squirrel and began to pick up another. She then noticed our surprised looks. “What?” she asked.

“How are you able to eat that?” I asked sounding very confused.

“With my mouth.” she replied sarcastically. When we didn't react to her sarcasm the gears in her head must have finally started turning. As up till now we had thought she was a herbivore like the rest of the ponies.

“Oh..I see now. I guess it will be easier to show you. Then I'll explain.” Luna said. She then proceeded to remove her necklace that she always had on. Once it was off she opened her mouth. She had both canines and molars, Omnivore?

“You see you two, Alicorns are not actually ponies. Though we do look very much alike. Too keep from frighting our subject after Nightmare Moon, Celestia crafted an enchantment to hide her canines while in public and adopted a vegetarian diet as well. She said it was a from of coping with my banishment. She apparently tried many weird ways of coping during the first century of my banishment.”

“Anyway she made an enchanted necklace that would hide her canines. Over the Centuries ponies came up with a weird legend of something called a Vampony. To keep ponies from panicking Celestia insisted that I have the same enchantment on our Necklaces. She really doesn't want the press to think we are these 'Vamponies'. Then again with how the press is like, I can't say that I blame her.”

Kira seemed to cringe at the word “Vampony”. Why I don't know but if I had to guess there may have been something similar in her world.

“I'm getting off track.” Luna sighed “Anyway to actually answer your question. I can eat this squirrel because Alicorns are omnivores. Its just not known because Celestia is just, well weird and wants use to keep it hidden.”

Somewhere during that explanation Kira had taken her squirrels and ate them. How did she eat them so fast, I don't know. Then again I have never actually seen her eat anything. One minute the food is there, next its gone. I pushed the thought off as another mystery for another time.

It was then that I realized that Luna had taken the last squirrel. With a smile she devoured it in front of me. It was the only time that I didn't think she was smiling at my misfortune, as she focused more on devouring the squirrel in front of her then anything else. I however was still without dinner.

Luna departed shortly afterword while Kira and I continued our trek back to Ponyville with our game. My stomach still growling along the way but I ignored it for the most part. There was one question that went through my head as we traveled back.

“How is it this place never ceases to amaze me?”

(Tale#5)Pony......ta?

Pony.........Ta?

I was heading back home from Zecora's. It was one of the few days I had off from both Ember research and babysitting. So I figured I would go to the one, and only, zebra I knew that made the best damn tea I have ever had. That plus I find the way Zecora always rhymes when talking to be relaxing as well. All and all it was a very relaxing day. It was what I found on the way back that sent my day from relaxing to hectic.

I was on my way back home when I saw what I thought was an oversized pony that was laying on its side. Her cream colored body was dirty and bruises could be seen through the coat. Her mane and tail danced with red and yellow coloring as if they were on fire. I was very surprised when I went to pick her up that the mane and tail was actually fire. Also discovered that this pony was in fact a “her” and she was clearly in need of some help.

It took me a little while to figure out a way to get her on my shoulders without burning myself. It was no easy task and in the end I burnt my hands up petty good. She was surprisingly light considering she was about the same size as Luna.

I headed straight to Fluttershy's cottage. It wasn't the hospital but Fluttershy could fly to the hospital and bring back help faster then I could get this pony there. I fell down exhausted once I got to Fluttershy's, the injured pony rolled off my shoulders. Her tail landed right onto my shoulder. I screamed in pain from the burn I received.

Fluttershy was quick to come out and see what I was screaming about. She gasped at the sight and quickly ran back into her house. She came back out with a box of medical supplies. She set the box next to us. I waved her off to get help while I started to fix myself up.

There was something off about this pony, other then its size and flaming mane. It was like something was there that didn't want to be seen. It was as if what was there was staying just out of the reach of my senses.

Fluttershy was back within a few minutes with Nurse Redheart and a stretcher crew. Redheart examined the mysterious pony at first before giving a nod to the stretch crew to lift her. Everyone was surprised but me when the stretcher burst into flames once it came in contact with the flaming mane.

“You, go to the library and get Twilight.” Redheart commanded as she pointed to one of the members of the stretch crew. He took off sprinting, he was fast for a unicorn too.

As soon as the that unicorn was out of sight the mysterious flaming maned pony woke up. It bolted to its feet. Its sudden action took us all by surprise. It was clear that it was also surprised to see us. All of us were just staring at each other till Fluttershy broke the silence.

“Are you ok mama? What is your name?” she asked.

“Ponyta” the pony replied.

“That's a wonderful name.” Fluttershy responded.

“Pony Pony Ponyta.”

“Oh your poor thing. Don't worry we will get you all fixed up.”

“Ponyta!” the pony with the flamed mane said happily.

“Don't worry we can get you food too. What would you like?”

“Ponyta”

“I think I have a few berries in the house, hang on one minute.” With that Fluttershy went off into her house. She came back out with a bowl full of blackberries. The flamed maned ponies eyes grew wide at the dish and she started eating the berries virtuously.

“Um Fluttershy, how did you know what she was saying?” I asked. I was clearly confused by the display that just happened in front of me.

“What do you mean, Ponyta spoke just fine.”

“Fluttershy, dear all she said was Ponyta” Nurse Redheart added.

“No she's not” Fluttershy said

“Ponyta!” Ponyta yelled out then went back to eating the berries.

“See, she even agrees with you” Fluttershy said proudly not realizing what she just said.

Nurse Redheart and I stared at her for a moment before Fluttershy realized what she said. When she did she looked at Ponyta. “Oh....my” is all Fluttershy said.

“So that means this oversized pony is actually an animal?” spoke the other unicorn that was part of the stretcher crew.

Twilight showed up a moment later and I made my leave and headed home. Yes this new pony was a curious thing but not quite my field of studies. I didn't see any reason for me to actually stay. Did my good deed for the day, now to finish enjoying the rest of my day off. I mean what could happen.

One would think that with all the mishaps that happened to me before coming to Equestria, and the mishaps that happen here, that I would not say or think “what could happen”. But I did, and fate answered the call and “made shit happen”.

Two steps down the path away from Fluttershy's house I hear the hum of magic coming from Twilight's horn. Five steps down the path and I hear the screams of ponies coming from behind me. Before I can even turn around, Ponyta took off running right past me right into town. Her speed was fast, I mean really fast. She could easily outrun Rainbow Dash, and maybe even keep up with Dash when she is flying.

I turn back to see three shocked ponies. Redheart and Fluttershy had a scared look of shock about them, while Twilight was only slightly taken back. She looked at me and gave a small a weak smile. “He,he, I think I scared her.”

Somewhere between the time my back was turned and the moment Twilight spooked Ponyta with her magic, the two unicorns that were part of the stretcher crew were gone. Where and how I don't know. In fact I haven't seen those two unicorns since that day. O well.

But to the matter at hand. There is now a spooked oversized pony that has a flaming mane and tail, is an animal in mind, and its running right into town. That is surprisingly normal for Ponyville.

“Ok, Twilight, Fluttershy with me. We got a pony that needs taming before she burns the town down.” I told them.

The three of us ran to town. It didn't take us long but it was clear that Ponyta was here. Ponyville got lucky that day. Ponyta's mane and tail had in fact done what I feared would happen and caught things on fire as she passed by. The only reason the town didn't burn is thanks to Rainbow Dash and her weather team. Best weather team in Equestria hands down.

We started to run faster after seeing the pegasi working to keep the flames under control. Lucky for use we still had a trail of burnt spots to follow. I just hope we can catch this pony before she does more harm. We followed the trail to the other end of town. Of all the places hit by Ponyta's fire, Rarity's boutique was hit the hardest.

“WAAAAAAAA!” came a scream that could only belong to Rarity herself.

Twilight and I ran into the burnt building. The fires were out but it was clear the place was going to need to be rebuilt. All her dresses and fabrics half burnt or completely ashed. The walls charred and the windows broken. Rarity however was staring at her gem box and it's spilt contents.

At first both Twilight and I are worried that Rarity may be going into her “drama queen” mode. This however was not the case. As I get closer I see what has Rarity screaming. The gems are crushed, some even to the point of being a powder. I know Rarity's taste in gems, she only gets the best. I'm talking real diamonds. No fire turns diamonds to dust, heck it takes another diamond to even cut a diamond. To think that something came through here that could crush a diamond into dust was actually a little frightening I'll admit.

“Spilt gems, really Rarity!” Twilight scowled. She apparently didn't noticed the gems that were crushed.

“Twilight, you and Fluttershy need to find Ponyta. I need to check something.” I said with a little worry in my voice.

I left the boutique and started running to my house. The town was now in a new form of danger. Diamonds are the only thing harder then Ember, and the secret of destroying Ember safely is a secret the goblins of my world guarded fiercely. Any attempt to break or destroy Ember had ended with very explosive and deadly results. It was actually outlawed in the major cities of my world for non-goblins to try and break Ember for the amount of damage it can cause. It was the one fact that I forgot about since being in Equestria. I felt like such an idiot for forgetting such an important fact for so long.

I get to my house and my fears start coming true. There is burnt grass all around my house yet the house itself looked untouched. I walked in and was quickly relieved. The house was intact still. I was about to head to the study to grab the Ember till we find this crazy pony. That is when I heard her.

“Ponyta”

It came from just outside on the back side of the house. However it sounded sad, not frightened like I thought it would be. I went outside and to the back. There I saw Ponyta laying on the ground, she was crying. I get closer and she doesn't move, she doesn’t even notice me.

As I walk closer I start thinking. She is clearly bigger then a normal pony, faster too. She has a mane and tail made of fire and no cutie-mark. She has the mindset of an animal and was scared by magic. She is clearly not a pony from Equestria but maybe, like me, a being from another world.

That doesn’t make sense though. The Princesses are on quick to respond to rifts opening. However no one is perfect and this my be a rare miss on their part. Its not like they would let one slide because it opened in the Everfree. Either way, Ponyta is scared and possible alone in a new world.

“Hey” I said. She didn't get up but she looked at me, our eyes met, and then blackness.

I didn't faint or get knocked out. No I was actually very much awake and a little freaked out. Then the scenery changed. I was standing in a stadium of some sort. The bleachers filled with people, actual human beings. I pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming, sure enough I wasn't.

The field in the stadium was marked off into sections, as if for some sport. However there were only three people on the field. One was on one end of the field with another on the opposite end, and the last in the middle. The person in the middle spoke first while giving a hand signal.

What he said I don't know, couldn't understand the language. But if I had to guess I would say it was “begin”.

Immediately the two on opposite ends of the fields throw out a ball that was half red and half white. Then the balls hit the ground, they opened with burst of red light. Where the balls once were were two creatures. One looked like a huge snake made of rocks, the other was to my surprise Ponyta.

Next the two humans on the end of the field started yelling out and the creatures started acting as if being commanded. The Ponyta and the rock snake began to fight one another. The fight itself was oddly beautiful. Both combatants were highly trained as they dodged and struck out at one another. It was hard to tell which one was winning.

Then Ponyta got careless and was hit by the rock snake's massive tail, the force of which sent her flying onto the side of the stadium wall. Debris and dust went flying in the air from the impact. When the dust settled there was Ponyta, laying on the ground bruised and batted in the same way I found her. Then the ground around her started glowing blue and she started to sink into the ground.

At this the people in the stadium started to panic. This was clearly not normal. The person who had the ball that Ponyta came out of yelled something as he held the ball and pointed it towards Ponyta. A red beam shot out from the ball heading straight for Ponyta. The beam never made it to her but was stopped by a unicorn I was hoping never to see again.

Murphy appeared out of no where, the beam of light was redirected to his broken horn. Murphy just laughed in a maniacal way. He then started speaking in the same language as the people here. What ever he said it took the stadium by storm. There was a sudden roar of anger coming from everyone. Then Murphy looked at me.

“Well this has been fun” he said smiling evilly. “Its rare that I get to even act in Equestria, rarer still to act on other worlds. To the viewer of this memory give this message to Celestia. 'nos viam inveniret '”

With that I found myself back in my backyard in Ponyville. I was surrounded by Twilight, Fluttershy, and Celestia oddly enough. It was also now dark, maybe even midnight. Ponyta instantly fell asleep when I came back to reality. She looked so peaceful sleeping there.

“So Alchemist what happened?” Celestia asked sounding a little worried.

“I don't know our eyes met then I started seeing things. Memories I think” I said then told them all I saw before that trip ended.

Again words I don't understand seamed to shock Celestia. She knows what is going on and I don't like the fact that she is not sharing. Next time I go to Cantorlot I'm asking her what those words meant and how she knows Murphy.

As Celestia flew off my mind was brought back to the sleeping Ponyta. She was in fact from another world. But the question on my mind now is what to do with her. She was in fact an animal of some sort, the display in the memory proved that to me. But for now I think I will just let her sleep there for now. Fluttershy and I can deal with this in the morning.

The next day came and I went out to find Ponyta still sleeping where I left her. I went up to her and gave her a nudge. She woke slowly and stared at me. I put a leash on her to lead her to Fluttershy's. To my surprise she didn't resist. The trek to Fluttershy's was uneventful and Ponyta came peacefully. She came staring at me with sad eyes though.

“Fluttershy, We're here!” I yelled as I came up to the cottage house.

Fluttershy came out. The first thing she noticed was how Ponyta looking sad. “I know you have been through a lot but the Princesses can send you back in a week.”

“Ponyta ponyta” replied Ponyta.

Fluttershy was taken back then looked at me.

“Alchemist, she says she wants to stay with you.”

“What, why?”

“Ponyta”

“She said she saw your past last night. That even after all that you are still a better person then her last master.”

“What did she see?”

“Ponyta”

“She says she can't tell me?”

This was some how part of Murphy's game. I could sense it, but not a whole lot I can do about it. Anyway I decided to take Ponyta in.

Taking Ponyta in was probably one of the best decisions I had made in Equestria. It was hard to think of Ponyta as a pet due to her looking so much like a pony. Even her name has pony in it. She however became my new pet. She couldn't replace my first pet, a wolf named Baker, but she comes close.

Turns out her mane and tail are fire only when she wants them to be or is comatose. She was also in fact the cause of my fears for being in possession of a material that can crush Ember. Her hoofs are hard, easily three times harder then diamonds are, however we cant gauge it any higher then that. For all we know her hooves may be ten times harder then diamonds. Wouldn't that be something

This whole ordeal got me wondering. What do Murphy's and the Whispering Voice really want and how am I tied to it?

(Tale#6)Swapped with the Sun

Swapped with the Sun
June 23, 1007 CR(Celestia's Reign)

Before I begin this tale I would first like to apologize for not putting a date or a time frame with my previous tales. So to begin, it has been roughly a year since my first tale which involved Luna breaching the parallel versions of Equestrian. From here on out I will be adding the date of when a tale happened with the title. I bring this up only because Twilight is threatening to do bad things to me if I didn't. So lets begin

I was in the capital city of Cantorlot. I don't have many stories that happen there because of how peaceful it is. Makes relaxing and getting away from the crazy that is Equestria easy, even though I was working. The fact that out of a year's worth of trips only two things worth writing about happened.

This is my second trip since Ponyta's arrival. She stays with Fluttershy while I'm here. I wish she could come but between her looking like a pony, which I found out she is not, and the potential to set Cantorlot a blaze by accident. It was best that she staid in Ponyville. However I would love to see Ponyta give a good buck to Philomena. I would so love to see hooves stronger then diamonds kick that stupid immortal bird beak in!

It was the second day of my week long trip when I awoke to Luna nudging me gently. This was not normal. Luna is always ice-cold water to the face with me because its the only thing that will wake me, plus she enjoys it. The gently nudging me and speaking softly was defiantly not her normal. I was too sleepy at the time to immediately realize that I was being woke up by something that wasn't cold water to the face. When I finally was awake enough to hear what she was saying I knew something was very wrong.

“Tia, wake up. Your going to be late raising the sun.” those where the first words I heard that day.

She just called me Tia. A nick name that only Luna is aloud to use with Celestia and only when with friends or family. How do I know that only Luna is aloud to use it. Lets just say both me and Twilight spent a few days in the dungeon when we tried to use it. Anyway that sent my mind racing, I did not want to go to the dungeon again.

I woke up scared for once. I really didn't want to go to the dungeons again. That place is creepier then Ordrak's lair, or the Black Palace as Vale called it. As I woke I noticed something very wrong, my body wasn't responding right. I tried to move my limbs one way to only have them move another.

I also saw I was not in my room, no this room was both bigger and highly decorative. Most of the decorations where paintings and small statues. I didn't get to see much more then that. From my initial waking up scared, and with my body not responding how it should, I somehow managed to roll over and fall out of the bed and hit the ground with a thumb that was loader then it should have been.

Luna walked around the bed to where I fell. She gave me a puzzled look. “Tia what is wrong with you this morning.” she asked.

Their it was again, she called me Tia. I was confused at first then I caught a glimpse of what felt like my arm. But it wasn't mine, no it was a limb covered in white fur with a hoof at the end. I stared at it for a minute or two in shock. The only why to describe my mind right then was numb. I knew now why Luna keep calling me by hers sisters name. But how or why this happened was a mystery.

“Luna, ice water, Alchemist, Now” I managed to get out, my voice the same as Celestia's. If this was a dream Luna could wake me up from this weird dream. Also should mention that no one can dream up Luna. You see the real deal in dreams and not a figment of your imagination.

She just shook her head and trying to hid a smirk on her face. “Tia, I can't be having fun all the time.”

“Luna, I'm the Alchemist.” my tone and expressions where both the same. Full of worry and fear.

“Tia...This attempt at a prank, its just sad.” Luna looked at me with disappointment.

“Luna, it true I'm not Celestia. I'm the Alche” I said as I tried to get up. “Waaaa” I yelled as I fell forward on my face, failing at my attempt to stand.

“TIA! Your taking this too far now.” Luna said, clearly angered by my actions.

Before I could respond however we heard a very loud screen echoing through the halls. It sounded a lot like me by a little higher in pitch. Luna let out a sigh.

“I'll be back, I need to disciple a certain Alchemist for helping my sister take a prank to far.” She said as she left. I tried to get a word in but the thing with teleportation is that it's instant, and in flash she was gone. I was scared what she was going to do to my body. Then it hit me.

The scream that was coming from my body. How would I be screaming if I'm in Celestia's body in less...Celestia was in mine. Now I was scared, scared of what may become of my body if Celestia starts freaking out, if she wasn't already. However I was stuck in a body that I have yet to control properly.

I first started with trying to stand again. Two failed attempts later, both of which I fell back on my butt or flank in this case, I was standing. It was shaky but I was standing on all four legs. It was truly a weird feeling. I really can't compare the feeling to anything a human body can feel. The joints on the legs really threw me off the most.

It took me two hour before I could finally walk without falling, I think that I was actually good time considering my predicament. Though my walking was very shaky, I could move around and that is what is important. I also felt confidant enough to finally check on my body. See if Celestia is really in it. Also got to find Luna, she never came back yet and that had me a little worried. That and it was still dark outside, the sun was suppose to be up an hour ago.

I get to the door of Celestia's room. My human mind immediately goes “reach hand out, grab knob, twist”. My hoof hits the door nob with an audible clang from Celestia's metal slipper hitting the knob. The realization of not having fingers or a thumb hits me. I hate to admit it but I cried a little right there and then.

So now I am trapped in Celestia's room with no way out. With nothing better to do, I continue to practice walking and familiarizing myself with Celestia's body while I'm stuck in it.

I eventually got around to moving the wings. That took effort, moving limbs that move differently then ones native limbs is hard enough. Moving an extra set of limbs that humans don't have made trying to stand and walk look easy. In the end the most I got the wings to extend out and flutter a little. My biggest problem was trying to close them up and tuck them close to my body again. That took a good hour of struggling to do. After I did get them tuck back in I decided that the wings are not worth messing around with.

I was starting to get worried now. The sun had in fact come up, just three hours late. Luna still hasn't returned, and I'm still trapped in Celestia's body, and bedroom. I had enough waiting around, I needed to find my body. I was getting out.

I approached the door, turned around and bucked it with my rear leg. “YEHAAAA” I yelled doing my best Applejack impersonation, which sounded really cool with Celestia's voice. I'll be honest, bucking is the weirder feeling that I felt while an alicorn, yet it was oddly satisfying. The door broke open, the door stayed on its hinges but the knob was thrown down the hallway.

The two guards that stood outside the door just stared at me. Fear filled their faces. I can only guess that they assumed Celestia was having a realy bad day. It was also at this point that I realized that I could have just asked them to open the door for me.

I walked as fast as I could to my room. I still wasn't going to chance running yet but I rushed to my room. A few of the castle servants tried to stop me, needing something from Celestia or trying to figure out why the sun was late to rise. I just ignored them as I made my way through the castle. Celestia can deal with them once I'm out of her body.

I get to my room. Again I instinctively reach out to the door knob, and again an audible clank. I wanted to face palm so bad there, but not having a hand so I did the next best thing of pounding my head on the door. This was not a smart idea, because my head would not come away from the door. It took me a moment to figure out why I couldn't move my head, then I remembered alicorns also have a horn.

So here I am, in Celestia's body in front of my room. My head stuck to the door because I impaled it with Celestia's horn. I notice a guard and a servant staring at me, confusion dawning there faces. I decided to ignore them for now.

After some struggling I got the horn out of the door and entered my room. What I saw was different but not surprising. My body was in the fetal position, crying. It was soft, so I guessed who ever was in my body was still in shock over the switch. I strongly suspected it to be Celestia being that I’m in her body, but I wasn't a hundred percent sure at the time.

I go up to my body and give it a nudge. My body's head turns to look up at my. Even with the goggles on hiding the eyes, yes I were my goggles while sleeping, I could tell they were wide with suprise.

“No, no, who is in my...my body.” my body said. It also confirmed that it was just Celestia and I that had switched bodies. This was a little relieving and I visibly showed it.

“Alchemist?” Celestia asked after seeing my reaction.

“Yeap”

“What, what happened to us.”

“Well it looks like you two have had your minds switched” said a new voice from behind me.

I turned my head to see a man in a simple suit with a tie and a brown duster. His hair was brown and short and he wore rectangular frame glasses. Who this man was, I didn't know. It's Celestia's and Luna's jobs to keep track of other-worlders, which humans make up most of. It was a little shocking to see another human face, as most leave to griffon territory.

He came up to me and pointed a strange device at me. It was like an over sized pen but the tip was a blue gem. Then the gem light up and a strange buzzing sound came from the device. It was then that I noticed the energy coming from the device. That wasn't a gem in there but a piece of Ember.

He didn't point the device at me for long before stopping. He then went over to my bed and did the same thing to Celestia. Celestia was oddly calm around him, the two must of known each other. After he was done doing what ever he was doing he lifted the device up to his face and looked at the side of it.

“That can't be right.” he said then went back to scanning Celestia again. After he was done he just looked at me.

“Three fingers?”

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!

Out of all the things about Equestria this was the worst. Every other-worlder and pony would always bring up my apparently lack of a finger on each hands. My world was must off been the oddball with hands. Where I come from humans only have three fingers, every where else humans, and humanoids, had four fingers. Its so freaking frustrating when I meet someone new and they always notice my lack of fingers first.

“WHO ARE YOU!” I shouted, steamed at the finger remark.

“O sorry about that, I'm the Doctor” the man said.

“Doctor who.”

The man just gave a grin. “Just the Doctor.”

“Alright Doctor, do you know how this happened and how to fix it?”

“Well see Celestia, for lack of a better description, tangled her magic. The tangle let out an uncontrolled spark of magic. That spark switched the mind of the first bloke it came in contact with, you. Now the fun part, we got to untangle her magic, however only the minds were swapped and nothing else, meaning you have all of Celestia's power along with her body.”

It was about that time that Luna came in. she was panting as if she was running. She looked at me, then the Doctor, then Celestia. Her horn started glowing with magic. Then ice-cold water washed over my head.

“That is for busting my sisters door down.” she said.

“Glad you finally believe me.” I said.

“Anyway back to what is important” the Doctor said grabbing mine and Luna's attention. “To fix this you” he pointed to me “are going to need to learn how to use Celestia's magic to do that your going to need a teacher. Luna I'm sure you can do that.”

“It will take some time.”

“Just the basics. From my understanding that's all he will need to fix this. While your doing that I'm going to be teaching Celestia here how to be human. Even if the body is missing a couple of fingers.”

“Doctor!”

<--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->

I ended up staying in Cantorlot for two weeks learning how to use alicorn magic. Twilight came up later once she learned what had happened. She wanted to help me but Luna told her she couldn't. Alicorn magic and unicorn magic are apparently completely different. Twilight wasn't convinced till Celestia intervened by telling us a story about a unicorn named Mi Amore Cadenza. The unicorn tried to use alicorn magic by mimic Celestia's. I'll spare you the details but I will say that Mi Amore did transformed into an alicorn from trying to use alicorn magic, then two minutes later exploded leaving only a crystal heart behind. I was surprised that Twilight didn't know this story till now. Celestia even said that the heart is on display in Mi Amore home city as both a reminder and a warning for unicorns.

My studies went smoothly for the most part. The flow of magic if very similar to the flow of energy of Ember. It is the delivery is where the two differ. Where Ember requires a constructed device, magic only requires both mental concentration and the entire skeleton. Apparently the entire skeleton of a pony glows when they use their magic. The horn being the only bone outside the body is the only one seen glowing when magic is performed. Also earth ponies and pegasi skeletons are apparently always glowing do to their magic being passive.

Luna had canceled day court and took charge of both the sun along with the moon till this problem was fixed. I have to give Luna credit, she is a powerhouse when it counts. How she didn't run her self ragged during those two weeks I don't know. Trying to teach me magic and tending to both her own and Celestia's royal duties must have been hard on her.

Celestia was taught by the Doctor on how to use my body. I want to know what the heck he did. That first day he carried Celestia, in my body, to some secluded part of the castle. An hour later she shows back up saying the Doctor was done and had left. Not only that but she is moving around like she had been in a human body for years. It took me six days before I got fully use to walking on all fours, and I still didn't even mess with the wings. I was also a little pissed that I didn't get to ask the Doctor about his device and the Ember in it.

Celestia helped teaching when she could, but since I was already familiar with how magic flowed, and the actual application of the flow is best learned from example not explanation, she didn't help much.

The last day of me being in Celestia's body came. Celestia, Luna, and myself made for the science wing, Luna leading the way. Once we got in front of the room we would be using I gasped, Room 12B. Memories of a year ago flooded my mind, and I shuddered remembering what happened to a few of the guards. They still haven't fully recovered from that.

As we entered the room I noticed that it has not been touched since that event a year ago. It hasn't even been dusted.

“Luna, what is it with this lab room exactly? It's like it hasn't been touched since last we where in it.”

“That is because it hasn't. My sister and I had it marked off for our use only. It has a...history that I do not wish to retell right now. Lets get on to what is important right now. Celestia stand over there.”

Celestia moved to a window on the opposite wall of the door. I moved to the middle of the room and faced her. I closed my eyes and focused on the magic. This is where things get hard to explain, the Doctor was right about the best way to describe the magic in Celestia's body as being “tangled”. However unlike tangled string you can not bend the flow to “untangle” it. The only thing that can be done with magic is to cut out the “tangle” then fix the flow.

The process of cutting the flow of magic wasn't just painful, it was excruciatingly painful. The worst part is Luna couldn't use any of her magic to ease the pain while this was happening. I had to grit my teeth and finish the process. As soon as the tangle was cut out and gone I quickly grabbed the flow and mended it.

As soon as the flow was fixed the pain was gone. It was like it was never there to begin with. But I was still in Celestia's body. The look of shock on both Celestia's and Luna's face was clear. It didn't fix the problem but it should have. The switch was suppose to be instantaneous after the “tangle” was fixed so why was I still in Celestia's body. The moment of shock lasted for a minute then Luna began to speak.

“Maybe you did-” that's all Luna got about before she was stopped by the sound of my body hitting the floor. I stared at it from a minute then I started feeling the sensation of falling before I black out.

I awoke with Celestia staring at me, she was in her own body. I moved my hands in front of my face, happy to see that they where in fact my hands. Even wiggled my fingers around a little for the heck of it. That is when I noticed Celestia expression. She was still worried and I soon found out why.

I got up and looked around. Nothing, I mean nothing as far as I could see. We where in a void of some sort from my guess as blackness stretched in every direction. Something however was illuminating both Celestia and myself.

The two of of just stood their for a little bit just staring into the vast empty space. Where we were and why we were there was a mystery in our minds.

Screech.

The sound of a door who's hinges needed oiled came from behind us. We turned to face the noise and was greeted with the sight of a creature. I don't know what was going through Celestia's mind but mine was surprise that a creature such as this existent. The creature was a mix of different creatures. Its body was long, slender, and round like a snake. One arm was that of a lion while the other was that of an eagle's talons. One leg was that of a dragons while the other was that of a goat or a cow. Its head resembled that of a horse from my world. On top its head where two horns, one long single point, the other gagged with a multitude points. The last noticeable feature was its wings, one was a feathery wing and the other was a leathery one like that of a bat.

The Creature was carrying boxes, it didn't notice us at first. It set the boxes down and turned to walk back the way it came. It looked as if he opened a door that wasn't there.

“Hay!” I yelled out trying to get its attention before it disappeared.

It noticed and turned around and looked at me with an emotionless look. Then it saw Celestia but his expression remained unchanged. He then brought is taloned hand up and snapped his fingers. He disappeared in a flash and then reappeared inches away from us.

“Why Celly this is quite a surprise to see you in my mind, even if it is just my storage space.”

“How do you know me creature?” Celestia asked.

“I'm wounded Celestia, how could you forget me.” the creature said.

“I have never seen a creature like you before. So I ask again, How do you know me?”

The creature bent down to be at eye level with Celestia. He just stared at her for a minute. There was silence but I could feel something building up. I didn't know if it was tension or magic though. Then the creature jerked back.

“I see. Your Equestria is one of the few I’ve never been too. Odd I was sure I visited them all at lest once. O well. I guess introduction are in order. I am Discord, Spirit of Chaos and former Spirit of Disharmony. Now who are you.” Discord said pointing a finger at me.

“Um, I'm known as Alchemist.” I said.

“Nice to meet you. Now how did you two get into my mind? Its not an easy thing to do since you had to break through the parallel boundary to do it.” Discord asked.

We told him our story of how are minds were swapped. He was a little sad that he couldn't witness the events himself. Once I got to the end he just nodded.

“This Doctor was only half right on what has happened to you. The magic being tangles and the treatment was right. However he forgot that you Celly are an alicorn not a unicorn. Much more power in you and cutting that flow does weird things to reality. I should know. that and Tangles don't just happen for no reason.”

“Half right, so you know what happened to us.” I asked.

“Of course, but I'm not going to tell you. Won't learn anything that way. I am however sending you two home. Can't have you in my mind, and when I'm trying to clean the place up. Now off with you. Oh and I'm going to come by for a visit in the future. I can't leave a version of Equestria untouched now. Farewell.” he said, then snap of his finger and I blacked out.

I awoke in a hospital bed in Cantorlot, In my body, and with Celestia's bloody bird pecking at my forehead.

Author's Note

My proof-reading is being lazy. edited version will be uploaded later.

(Tale#7) Sunny Town Brawl

Sunny Town Brawl
October 15, 1007 C.R.

I am no stranger to the dangers that lay in wait in the Everfree forest. I have traveled the forest once a week with Kira on her “hunting trips” for the past four years now. I even got Ponyta trained recently as well so we can carry back a larger haul back. Though timberwolves and manticores are a rare site, we still see them from time to time.

Before this night both Kira and myself thought the sinister stories about the Everfree were just over exaggerated stories to keep ponies safe from the local wildlife. How wrong we were.

It was like most of our hunting trip, Kira worked her magic(still can't tell you what she does), bagged a small deer, and a wild turkey this time around. It was a small catch and Kira was actually frustrated that so little game was coming out. I found it odd myself as well as we don't over hunt any one area. It actually took us two years to hit every good spot once in the Everfree.

Kira was not happy with what we got and took a detour on the way home to try and get another deer at least. What we got to our surprise wasn't what we were expecting. What we got was a pony.

Out from the bushes after Kira used her “magic” came a sturdy looking gray earth pony with a black mane and tail. His eyes were blue and dull, almost lifeless. He looked at us warily, it was as if he had never seen something that wasn't a pony.

I was about to ask him what he was doing this far out in the Everfree before his mood suddenly changed. He went from being wary of us to excited by the site of use.

“New comers, are you here for the party. It's almost time for the party this year. The last one was ruined but that won't happen this year.” the pony said with a smile on his face.

“What?” both Kira and I said in unison. I didn't know what else to say at the sudden changes this pony showed, that and for some reason this pony was reminding me of Pinkie. The fact Kira said it at the same time lead me to believe she was thinking something close to the same thing.

“Oh, sorry I forgot to introduce myself, I’m usually better about that. My name is Grey Hoof, celebration planner extraordinaire” yeap, he is going to be like Pinkie.

“So what are you doing in the middle of the forest? You lost?” I asked.

“Lost, Oh heavens no. I head a noise while setting up the party in Sunny Town. I came out to make sure nothing was going to come and ruin it.”

“Sunny Town?” Kira asked raising an eyebrow.

“It's not far, this way. The party will be better with more to celebrate with.” Gray Hoof then turned and walked off back through the brush.

“What do you think?” I asked Kira.

“I don't like it. He doesn't smell like a normal pony. That and I have been in the Everfree more then you and not once have I even come across anything that suggest that there is a town in this forest.”

“You want to investigate don't you?”

“I do, but I do not want to lose today’s catch.”

Ponyta was already loaded up with the deer and turkey so I just wrote a note and sent her off to Twilight's. Twilight was going to yell at me when we got back for having her deal with the corpses of today’s catch. After Ponyta left Kira and I started heading in the direction that Gray Hoof went.

After ten minutes of walking we came to the town Gray Hoof spoke of. It was a site to say the least. There were not many houses but enough to tell that this was definitely a small community here, maybe just a little smaller then Ponyville.

As we entered the town we could see Gray Hoof spoke truthfully about a party. There were tables set up with food and drinks. There were also other ponies setting up. I was actually starting to loosen up a little and was thinking about enjoying myself as well.

I went to one of the tables and was about to get a cup of what I assumed was punch. I was however stopped by Kira.

“What do you think your doing!”

“Well I was about to have some punch”

“...your an idoit. Look around you real quick and tell me what looks off.”

I did a quick scan around me. I can't say I saw anything wrong at first. The houses looked like they have been here awhile, not run down but definitely aged. The ponies looked happy and getting ready for a party. I even saw an earth pony try to hang up a banner, and failing at it too. It was kinda funny to watch.

I looked back at her. “Nothing.” She Facepalmed with a sigh.

“They are all earth ponies...” she pointed to one “and they don't have cutie-marks” she said pointing to another.

Ok I don't think that not noticing something like that should entitles being an idiot. It did however make this place look a little creepier now however. Not only that but after Kira had said “mark” everyone in town suddenly stopped what they where doing and just stared at us. Ok now its creepy.

“Um Kira, I think we may want to leave”

“Agreed”

“No!” yelled Gray Hoof from behind us. How did he even get behind us. “You will not leave! You will not ruin the Party! You will stay and enjoy our friendship!” he said his anger growing as he spoke.

However as he spoke the area around us started to dim as the sun was blotted out and the houses and ponies started to decay. By the time he had finished talking the area was dark as if night. The houses looked to be in horrible condition, some even collapsed. The ponies however, the ponies were not, well...they were not alive.

The ponies of Sunny Town were nothing more then blacken pieces of flesh on bones. The black flesh didn't even cover the entire skeleton revealing bones on most of them in different places along the body, Zombies.

It was about this time I should bring something up that I have neglected to say. Kira hunts and kills food with a bow and arrow, everything else she used a giant war hammer on. She had started bringing it with her on hunting trips after our first run in with Timberwolves. So Kira was armed and ready to take on these zombies in a matter of seconds. I however only had my Ember gauntlet and three pieces of ember, including the one that was already in the gauntlet.

The zombies started to move in and surround us. There were at lest fifteen of them but I couldn't get an exact count. They moved very fluently and swiftly, which I found odd for zombies. They just circled us for a minute before all hell broke loose.

Two jumped from the circle, one heading for me, the other for Kira. I was no stranger to fight the undead, however I was unequipped to handle such a situation at the time. So I panicked and Ember Phased out of there onto a nearby house that was still standing. As I got up on the house I saw Kira strike a zombie as she swung her hammer in an uppercut motion. That zombie went flying as it let out a blood chilling screech.

The zombie that was originally jumping at me found itself staring blankly at where I was at just a moment ago. Kira however noticed it as soon as she sent the first one flying. Using the momentum the hammer already had she brought it down on the zombie. It's body was soon mashed into the ground while the force of the blow knocked its legs off.

Five more zombie went to try their luck against the khajiit. I knew Kira could handle it but I would be damned if I gave her an excuse to call me a coward after this was all done. I charged up my gauntlet and let a barrage of Ember-bolts fly. Most hit their targets and the five were knocked out of the air during mid jump. Two of them even exploded from the number of bolts that hit them. However that drained what was left of my first peace of Ember, one down two to go.

As they fell Kira sprinted to the rest of the circling zombies, and with a few swift yet powerful strikes, had killed and even dismembered the remaining zombies by the time I got the Ember in my gauntlet switched out.

I quickly phased back down to her. “so...that just happened”

“It did, but something still bugs me.”

“What”

“How is it that we, after hunting in this forest for so long, have never noticed this place or the undead before? That and the fight was too easy.”

We were both quiet for a moment, thinking on what Kira just said. We should have noticed this place before, even in its ruined form. So how did these zombies stay out of site for so long. Better yet did Celestia and Luna know about this place? My thoughts were quickly replaced by a raspy voice coming from one of the corpses.

“All...we....want....is friendship” it said as it pulled itself back together. Then the rest of them started to pull themselves back as well. I could only watch in horror.

I have killed many creatures in my time...but even the undead stayed down after they were slain. Nothing ever reformed or revived, this was a first for me, and judging from Kira's face, the same for her as well. Within minutes all the corpses were standing in front of us again.

“Kira, I'm open to ideas” I said

“Just one, blast and run.”

“What?”

“Yol Toor Shul!”

Kira shouted out those three little words and blamo! Fire everywhere! The zombies screamed and started to fall as they burned and we started running as quickly as we came. However our escape was quickly cut off as we both ran into some invisible wall of some sort. The force at which we ran into it caused both of us to fall flat on our backs.

As we got back on our feet we could see the zombies coming, some of them still on fire. Twice now, twice we had slain them and both times they got back up. Something was truly foul in this place, and it wasn't letting us leave. However Kira isn't the kind of person to go down without a fight. She was ready to crush and splatter the zombies again.

The zombies got closer, and our situation more desperate. Kira charged them again. I could hear the sounds of battle however something new got my attention. Just beyond the zombies I saw Gray Hoof, and he was not a zombie! He and a few other non-zombie ponies where surrounding another earth pony. I couldn't make out much of her details at the time save for the eyes. That ponies eyes were glowing.

I didn't know what was happening there but the fact that the zombies were ignoring them told me it had some importance. Knowing Kira could handle herself against the zombie, I phased over close to Gray Hoof.

“She is cursed!”

“Quick kill her before the Mark spreads!”

“It must be done!”

They had not noticed me yet but I could tell both by the tone in their voice that these ponies were...off. As I walked closer I could tell that the one with the glowing eyes was scared, she was shivering and crying, curled up in a ball. Then the yelling stopped and they began to stomp her.

No longer caring about being seen I rushed in and knocked some of the group out of the way. Looking down I could see the shock on their faces.

“What...why do you defend the Marked one?” they all asked in unison.

“What is she marked with?” I asked with anger in my voice

They all pointed to her flank. I looked down at the glowing eyed pony. I could see her features better now up close, most notably her cutie-mark which was a magnify glass.

and they don't have cutie-marks

Kira's words echoed in my head right there and it didn't take a genius to put two and two together. These ponies saw a cutie-mark as a curse and were willing to kill to keep it from spreading.

I was now mad, something that hasn't happened since Murphy first showed his face about a year ago. I clenched my fist and charged my gauntlet. The thought that these ponies kill another because they thought finding their special talent was a curse just burned through me. I then released the energy into an Ember Lance.

With one quick motion I guided the beam like a sword cutting each pony in two. As the beam hit them they turned into the black husks that the zombies looked like. After the last one fell the Ember Lance fizzled out and my second piece of Ember was spent.

The glowing eyed pony got up and looked at me. Then she closed her eyes as tears started to flow. Before I could say anything she started to fade away like she was never there. As she faded she said something. I couldn't hear it but it looked like she was saying “thank you”. As she faded so did the ruins around us. The sun also came back out lighting the area. It was now just me and Kira in a large clearing.

“My My My, that was a wonderful show, was almost ready to step in myself to save you.”

Murphy! What the hell was he doing here! I looked up and sure enough that black broken horned unicorn was floating in the air. The first things that went through my mind at that time was anger. Thinking he was the cause of this whole Sunny Town incident. I went to charge my gauntlet but nothing happened. The Ember was spent and looking back I'm glad it was or part of the Everfree may have been burnt down right their and then.

“I was afraid I would have to save you from there for a moment, but you were able to find the source of the curse.”

“Save us?” Kira questioned as she walked towards me. She was eying Murphy. She had heard the stories but till now she had never seen him.

“Yes save you, well actually not you but The Alchemist here. He has a role to play yet so he can't die just yet.”

“Save Me! You tried to kill me the first time we met!” I shouted.

“I never TRIED to kill you, fight you yes but killing you was never my goal” he said slyly

“WHAT!”

“Oh my, I may have said too much. Till next time” he said and then vanished into thin air.

I just stood there for a moment looking up into the sky where Murphy was just a moment ago. I was angry. He just revealed that he has been toying with me. For a moment all I could see was images of the horrible things I would do to Murphy if I ever got my hands on him. My anger was starting to get the better of me.

Kira then grabbed my shoulder and jerked me around, yanking me from my thought. She looked at me with a worried look. “Are you ok?” she asked.

I looked at her straight in the eye and with almost a sorrowful tone I answered.

“No.”

Author's Note

Woot. Finally got another tale out. This one heavily inspired by Story of the Blank.

I may add the Dark tag to this in the future. I had a few ideas on what to do with Murphy in future tales came to me while writing this and they are all dark, very dark.

Also feel free to leave a comment and point out any errors you see.