//-------------------------------------------------------// MANesfestations Of Equestria -by IkioStar- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 I get cool spines //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 2 I get cool spines The New World Chapter 2 : Awakening "What the fuck did I land on," I spoke aloud, trying to sit up, only to notice extreme pain in my ribs and back. After several spasms racking through me, I hear a faint voice trying to speak to me. "Me, whatever you are," the purple horse I was sitting on mentioned. Waking up in a foreign place is never easy, especially for one like me. But when the first thing you see is a talking purple horse, waking is the only thing you think about. "AGGGH, what the fuck, I must be dreaming," I screamed. That was not a wise idea, as it just brought on a whole other level of hurt. As soon as I was off its back, rolling around in pain, something gripped me, holding me perfectly still, and lifted me too a bed in the middle of the room. Still in a daze from all the pain washing through me, I didn't notice whatever it was, the horse I mean, walking over and writing out a message that promptly disappeared. But how does that even happen. Even if it looked a little different, a horse is still a horse, and can't pick up writing utensils. "I've just sent a message to Princess Celestia. Now whatever you are, stay put or I might have to hurt you," the horse said offhand. "If you cause me any trouble, I might not be able to stay my assistant." And in walked a tiny purple dragon, holding what appeared to be a couple of notes, and a fork. However he walked straight over to the horse, to hand over the message. Now I have to mention this, even though it seems odd to me, but this horse had what appeared to be a horn at the top of her head, covered by dark hair, with a pink and a lavender highlight. The horse turned to accept the messages, as I tried to move out of the bound knots that I just realized, were there and held me in place. "Thank you Spike, I'll handle this now," it said in what I realize is a feminine voice. And as she moved back to me, I noticed one of the same peculiar symbols from my dream. However, with the gag and ropes, I couldn't really point that out. "Now creature, whatever you are, just wait here, and I'll come back in a bit." When the horse was out of the room, I immediately tried to move around, and sit up, but fell on my stomach and passed out. *** "Spike, what was that large thump?" "I don't know, Twilight," Spike answered, confused and obviously tired. "Well come on, we have to check out our guest and make sure it's okay," Twilight answered, proceeding to walk into the room, where her mystery guess was on the floor, surrounded by a red puddle that she thought might have stemmed from his mouth. "What is that, paint?" "No, I think it might be something else, and it sure smells weird in here, I think I might go to Sugarcube Corner to get something to eat." Spike replied eager to get something in the bottomless gorge he calls a stomach. "Wait, I think...CALL CELESTIA, we have a serious problem on our hands." As Spike whipped out a scroll, and writ out the message, and blew into a green flame that whisked out the door, Twilight ran off to three of the most talented pony healers she could find, requesting immediate assistance. When she got back from the run, she saw Celestia leaning over the body, the pool of red only bigger, and continuing. Without stopping to think, she told Celestia to whip out her best healing magics, and work on the body, to keep it from dying. When the other three ponies walked into her place, only to see Twilight forgetting herself and commanding what appeared to be Celestia, they blushed, and bowed, and asked, along with Celestia, what Twilight was doing. When she realized what she did she apologized and also bowed to Princess Celestia, only to forget her concern entirely. So, when Celestia asked what the matter was, she blushed and asked, "Huh?" "I saiiid, What is the matter Twilight, to be called her so urgently, while I was attending important matters in the capital," Princess Celestia  questioned. "Oh, uh, yes, the creature you asked me to summon, is gravely injured, as you can see, and needs immediate attention. It is bleeding out of six locations in its stomach and its mouth. As you can also see there are several protrusions from its stomach, that appear to be ribs in nature, and did not appear to be protruding when I first tied him up and put him on the couch, Twilight rambled. "Well why didn't you say so dear. Rarity, I need you to seal up the wounds. Graphite, Thicken his blood, Bright Idea... Go home, I don't know why Twilight brought you here. And Twilight dear, help me pull his bones out of his lungs." Celestia ordered with a matter of fact grace. As soon as the grim work was done, and it was all healed up...of a sorts, the creature started to breathe, and the unicorns sighed a sigh of relief and went home. Celestia however, stayed. "Now Twilight, why did you call me here to heal up....whatever this was? And why was it in this state to begin with?" As Twilight proceeded to explain that this... unpleasant thing, was the project, that Princess Celestia had asked for, and that the transdimensional creature, was in fact the weakened prime species of the other world she pulled it from last night. As she continued to explain all of what it had done so far, along with other odd observations she noticed from it. She explained that it had not talked yet, but showed increasing signs of aggression, pain and paranoia, and that she was waiting for Celestia and Luna's presence, before she began to interrogate the creature. As the conversation continued on they noticed that whatever it was began to stir. As they helped it sit up, they removed the gag, and the creature began to groan. "Ugggh, Where am I?" "You are in my house in the middle of Equestria," The purple unicorn known as Twilight responded. "What are you?" "Me? I'm Keros." //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 Wherein I Hold Celestia hostage //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 3 Wherein I Hold Celestia hostage Chapter 3 An Interrogation "So you're a 'Keros', what is that?" "Not a 'Karos', I am Keros, what I am is a human," I replied sardonically. "So what is a hue-man," The purple horse with a horn asked me. It falls to me to explain what a human really is. It's not much, but I've never really thought about that before. I suppose I could start with technological advances, complex societies, and horrible wars, but I don't really know much about those. After all, In Russia, I was always more interested in folklore and myth, on account of the world being an absolutely horrid place to live, with no hope of happiness, or peace. So what I told it was... "Humans are animals capable of thought, are typically quick to change, and aren't special other than the fact that we rule the planet. Who are you?" "I am Twilight Sparkle, Unicorn in service to Princess Celestia, The mare right beside me, and overall greatest pony in Equestria," The purple thing replied. "SO...a self-glorified horse...." I answered with excess derision. "Not a whorse, Keros, a princess, and an Alicorn besides, but I suppose I should let her speak for herself," the purple one called Twilight replied. That's when I noticed a beautiful creature with a white coat, and flowing blue hair, with a sun on her flank, that reminded me of an old friend of mine back home. I also noticed it watching me with a strange look on its face, and wearing a crown about as long as my arm. "I am Princess Celestia, keeper and caretaker of Equestria, at your service. So you are the most interesting thing in the world. I suppose when I asked Twilight to summon you, you were in some manner of trouble, were you?" Not that I'm saying that I'm a horse-lover, but damn, the accent on this one. I don't care much for royalty, but this one might grow on me. Maybe I've got something wrong with my eyes. "I was beaten to half-death, and fell ten feet on my head, if that's what you mean." At this, I thought I might have said something very wrong, and upset them, for they the strangest most horrified expression on their faces....snouts....yeah I'm gonna stick with faces. I mean, there isn't much distinguishing them from faces, they were horse more in the sense of body, and even then it was like looking at something that was disturbingly similar to a cartoon...except no clothes. So when I asked them what I said they replied in such a manner of facial expressions, that was... dare I say...comic. "How...Why...What...Who would hit somepony in such a way that that somepony would be near death, and what somepony would then be able to get up and walk far enough to drop on that somepony's head?" Twilight asked with vehemence. "Only and Idiot with a stupid grin, who is soon to be ball-less, and miserable." Now when I said that, I thought it would be clear that I was promising bloody violence on the corpse of that pest Mickey. Unfortunately, they asked with a similar, though muted, expression of horror, why I would take away a ball, and thus my threat rolled past their ears. I didn't explain to them what I meant. It took them a while to regroup themselves, since I didn't explain myself. They then proceeded to talk betwixt themselves and decided what to say next, in clear, but muted whispers. I wasn't really listening, but with my thousand yard stare on them, they couldn't really tell what I was doing, thinking of a way out of the ropes, and out of this strange wooden room, that clearly wasn't a dream. When they finally decided what to say, I broke out of my reverie only to hear the worst mission statement, I ever could. "So, Keros the human, welcome to Equestria, home of the pony queendom, and all its magical glory." After that, all hell broke loose and a pink cannonball zoomed around the room, along with another higher pitched female voice. "A Party, A Welcome party, A Hello party, A New Residence party, Oh my so many parties to plan and throw and eeeee," was all I heard before being thrown to my back and having an unpleasant weight settle on it. "I'm Pinkie Pie, It's nice to meet you, I hope you like parties, because this one is gonna be a doozy." When the unpleasant weight ceased to be on my back and I could actually move, I turned to look up at the ceiling and my jaw dropped. Standing on the ceiling like it was perfectly natural, was a pink pony with the most outrageous getup and fluffy thick mane, jumping up and down, saying or should I say singing, "Pinkie Pie, Pinkie Pie, round and round we go, Up and down and all around, a partying we will go, Nice to meet you Keros." After a few minutes of that I was helped up, and the pink monstrosity was told to leave. Of course by then I was in shock and nothing could break me out of it. Or should I say, almost nothing, as they threw a glass of water in my face, which woke me right up. "Now Keros, do you normally look like that?" On the third time I actually heard that question. I started to wonder what that meant, and looked down. A big mistake. My ribs were still poking out of my stomach, but that wasn't really the problem, It was that my favorite t-shirt, that I poured more than five hundred dollars into, with a specially designed green dragon circling and biting it tail, throwing out its wings to equal sides, and bisected by three evenly placed swords, a design it took forever to get someone to sew into a pitch black t-shirt, and that I personally designed myself was ruined. That's not even counting the weighted and plated material, made to withstand any beating. By god, that's wasted money, my mother'll kill me. Of course with my ribs poking out the way they were I could only focus on my shirt for so long. The white protrusions were evenly arrayed so that my bones seemed to be retractable. I flexed several times just to check, and sure enough they went in and out, I even entertained the thought that I might be able to move them elsewhere and do all sorts of things, like the X-men, and they did. I smiled with all the evil I could muster, for my newly hatched plan. "No, this is not what I normally look like," I replied, and cut the rope, reached for my knife, dashed over to the so called princess, got behind her, holding the knife at her throat. "But these are pretty useful, now back away, or I cut the Princess's throat." //-------------------------------------------------------// Chater 4 A World on Fire //-------------------------------------------------------// Chater 4 A World on Fire Chapter 4 I...Fucked Up You know, It never fails to amuse me when someone else gets trolled. But I never expected for a real-life troll-fest. When I grabbed Princess Celestia, the first thing I expected was, I admit, was the last thing I should have expected. So when Celestia and Twilight started giggling uncontrollably, I was more than mildly upset. "What's wrong...didn't you hear me? I said FUCKING BACK UP!!!" As they continued to laugh, I found myself lifted off my feet and held in the air, screaming obscenities. That continued exactly like that for 30 minutes, before they set me down and held me, more than mildly upset, and steaming, but silent, on the floor. After another minute or two of giggling, they reminded me that they had magic, and boy did I facepalm.  Never in my life did I feel more...trolled is probably the best word...than this. I even started to laugh myself, though I reminded myself of the pickle I found myself in. "So what do you really look like?" Twilight asked in a nonchalant manner. "Well, Twilight, I don't have movable ribs sticking out of my stomach, and through my favorite shirt," I replied with as much venom as I could force. Boy, I really was hung up on that shirt. "Course, I could fix that now." As I moved my ribs back inside Into an easier to hold location....Boy was that awesome or what, movable bones, I'm fucking Kimimaro here... I thought about how I was going to get out of this pickled turnip. Once I had a semi-coherent plan together, I turned my hearing back on to listen to their next question. "Why did you attack Princess Celestia?" For some reason, I don't like Twilight, It seems she talks a little too much, especially since 'The Princess' was supposed to be asking her own questions. "I thought I might be able to...get away from being held hostage and instead, holding one, so I can get away, and perhaps, not be held ramrod straight, or in some other uncomfortable fashion, or even being left to bleed out on the floor for some manner, should something go wrong." At that, Twilight went through an Immense blush, for what I assume she already did, but I have no idea what might have happened when I blacked out...though I would prefer not to think about it. After that there was silence for a little while, I suspect because, Twilight was ashamed at something, Celestia was looking at her in shock, and I had a forced quizzical expression on my face. Least I could do was troll them back... After about an hour of enforced silence, I was pretty bored, and was laying on my back, though how that was possible, especially with me being held the way I was, and having no possible room to move, I have no idea. And no, I'm not going to question it.  Since I thought I had been waiting long enough, I decided to try to troll them once more. "Hey...you got something to eat in here?" I asked with the most bored look on my face. Shock is apparently pretty easy to find in Ponyland. And they nodded too, Twilight even asking the dragon, named Spike, To go bake some cookies. After he got back with some of the best sugar temptations, my mouth has laid on...I'm not sure I said that right, I decided to cut to the finish, figuratively speaking. "All right, So this is what I think we should do...Since I'm tired and all why don't we continue this conversation in the morning when we've all got decent enough sleep to think properly. Then we can cut to the chase of you holding me hostage, letting me go, and get us all on our peaceful ways. That sound alright?" I should have known to keep my mouth shut. The next thing I knew I was being taken outside, across a great distance, with a cover over my body, and thrown into, after I got the sheet off, a prison cell. Waiting in a cell is never a fun thing. It's cold, It's drafty, and altogether worse than anything South-western Russia can put you through. I suppose I kind of deserved that, for outright flippancy and attempting to hold a magical alicorn, now where did that word come from, princess hostage. I supposed that I was going to die for my crimes against the state, though I always thought that would happen eventually, horrid execution and all, but I found myself not caring at all. I had a good run after all, enjoyed myself thoroughly, and cannot really expect anything better. I've never really had a game plan for life beyond my early years. Everything I want is so simple. At least I get to have a good sleep before I die. *** I woke up in the middle of the night to screaming, and an acrid smell in the air. Not something I expect when I wake up, the first thing I thought was, 'Damn Russia, don't you start another war on me, I'm tired of waking up to bombing in the middle of the night'. Though when I started to  see flames all around me, lighting up the bars of the cell, that I wasn't in Russia anymore, I unintentionally whooped in excitement. Now that the irrational thoughts were out of the way, I dropped to my stomach and rolled over to the cell door, which was mysteriously unlocked and open. Once I was out of the cell, I looked around me to see if there was a way I could get out of the building. That was when I noticed a long and full water trough right in front of me. I was starting to suspect a theme in this but I really didn't care what it was at this point, I had to get out of there. I dropped into the trough of water just as a beam fell down right where I had been sitting a moment ago. I jumped out, and grabbed the trough... It wasn't as heavy as I'd though it would be... and headed up the stairs through the burning world above. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 5 I Escape a Burning Building //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 5 I Escape a Burning Building Chapter 5 The Deal Is Made As I climbed out of the burning building with my trusty slosh-tray of water from below, I realized that I should check my inventory. It's not like I could stop though, to make sure all my stuff was where it was supposed to be. So I climbed on, shifting every now and then, to make sure I was still sopping wet. I didn't want to burn after all. I just thought of something...If this world has an arsonist, I swear I'm going to kill myself. I've been through enough of gang violence, and all manner of crazy shit, I don't need to add 'inside a building being burned down by an arsonist, that just happened to be a talking horse' to my most interesting memories. So, even climbing out of this burning building, along an endless staircase, I still was planning something. Once outside, I ran straight into the local fire-brigade... Of a sorts. Standing in front me, was the wildest amalgamation of crazy color and cool, was a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane, and tail.  Who knows just how long we stood there with our jaws along the ground, but the loud sound of a falling support deterred us from our reverie, accompanied by an earsplitting scream. "What the— Somepony's in trouble," the pegasus said with a female voice. Without responding, I ran back inside, following the screams to a staircase I didn't realize was there the first time, and proceeded on up to the second floor. Without meaning to, I checked all the rooms on the floor before finding a grayish pegasus with a blond mane and tail, and a tattoo of seven bubbles on its flank. "HELLLLLPPPP!" it screamed in a remarkably feminine voice. On second glance, I noticed she was trapped by a large block of damp wood, that had yet to catch the flames. The room fell apart just trying to get over to the pegasus, I didn't know if it could hold up to too much more pressure. I set to work as fast as I could, pulling off bits of the wood all the time, before I could lift the plank off of her. When I finally succeeded, I noticed that she had fainted from the fumes. Preparing myself and her for another trip down into the heat of the flames, I lost the tub of water. Realizing I could no longer wait for the journey, I stuffed her under my damp shirt, and rushed out of the building, which at that moment, when we safely exited, chose to give out on itself. Not wanting to waste precious time to revive the pegasus, I pulled her out of my now ruined shirt—they better goddamn replace it— and began basic cpr, courtesy of my basic martial training.  After about five minutes of repeated pushing on her diaphragm, and breathing fresh air into her lungs, I heard a great intake of breath, that immediately transferred into her coughing. Relieved at her survival, I relaxed, satisfied that I had done what I set out to, to only notice, the—No, my, audience. Whispers could be heard, from more than a couple, of the viewers of the debacle. "What is it?" "Is it dangerous?" "Why was it in the jail?" "Is that Derpy Hooves?" "What is she doing here?" More than a little paranoid of the whispers, I stood up—to the surrounding ponies, unicorns, and pegasus, immediate and frightened retreats—and ran off. Or at least tried to, before I was caught and held in a bright, and pastel, grip. "Princess Celestia." "Keros," she responded with a certain amount of apathy, that I just couldn't ignore, "what were you doing leaving the building?" "Leaving," I responded.  "Trying to save my own skin. You know...that kind of stuff." "Then why did I hear that you went back inside, to save one of my little ponies, an injured one, that you carried out, and even performed cpr on?" "Oh, I don't know. Instinct, perhaps?" " Maybe you're more than you appear to be. Would you like to try negotiating again, tomorrow, or do I have to banish you to the Everfree, to a horrid and painful death. It certainly would be an interesting experience, living with us, don't you think?" "I guess... As long as I don't have to sleep in a cell, or am interrogated to death I should be fine." "Well then, I guess we can reconvene tomorrow." "Well, Uhm, Princess..." "Yes, Keros?" "I need a place to sleep for the night." "Certainly." As the princess carried me off in her magical grip, to a large, illuminated tree, away from town, I thought that maybe I ought to have rethought, agreeing to renegotiate, with this strange, though well-trusted creature, so easily. I mean, It did technically kidnap me. But as the door opened to the same room I was brought out of, and I saw a tired dragon, in the doorway, look up in surprise at the creature know as Princess Celestia. "TWILIGHT, Princess Celestia is here to see you," It called out in a singsong voice. "WHAT, coming Spike," we heard as the same unicorn from before came running down the steps. "What can I do, Princess," She directed towards Celestia. "Take care of Keros for the night. He has nowhere to stay and needs rest just like the rest of us do. I have to lower the Sun, and raise the Moon, but I'll be back tomorrow to return to our negotiations. See he gets what he needs and is treated fairly. Good Night, Twilight Sparkle," and as she finished her lines, she drifted me into the room onto a decent sofa, though how they were built is anyone's guess. "Do not harm him, or intrude upon his privacies. If I find out he has been uncomfortable living with you, I will have you write a thousand word report upon regretting your actions." "Yes, Mom." "Alright, be good sweetie." //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 6 Twilight is Pissed //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 6 Twilight is Pissed Chapter 6 A Comfy bed "So," I ask, "I guess I'll sleep on the couch?" Twilight just stares at me with the strangest blank expression on her face, that I have to laugh. Once I got the laughter out of my system, I looked back at her, and she still had the same exact expression on her face. I didn't want to stick around with that expression so I just attempted to go outside instead. "Wait, where are you going?" Twilight asked. "Well since you don't have a couch I can sleep on, I'm going to climb this tree and sleep in the branches." "But aren't you forgetting something?" she requested with an insinuating tone. "Like what?" "GAH, come back inside, I'll get you some sheets, and you can sleep in the guest bedroom." With that settled, I just shrugged and followed her where-ever she went, the first stop being a bathroom. With a porcelain throne just inches away I excused myself, and proceeded to use the facilities. Or, at least tried to. With me being a bipedal human in horse-world, I expected there to be some differences. I just didn't expect to find them as soon as I did. The first thing I noticed was that the bowl was extended and that it was at a higher angle than the ones back home. The second thing I noticed was a pull string that you find on the ones that were built back when the British monarchy ruled the world. And the third thing I noticed, was that I was either too tall, too skinny, or too short, to use most of its features. Not to mention an unusual lack of toilet paper. I suppose a horse world should have a couple differences, though at least I have a to-do list if I have to stay here indefinitely. I guess I should have expected toilet-paper production to be number one, or number two as things often go. Since I couldn't use the toilets here, I decided to head outside, and do the next best thing, when it comes to living in a wilderness; at least of a sorts, and pee on the tree. As a relaxing sound escaped my mouth, and the satisfying feeling of relief came through my loins, Twilight happened to come out calling for me, and boy was she pissed. "Kerooo— WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY TREEEE?!" I heard with the sounds of anger coming from the direction of the door. Thinking back to that, I probably should have gone around back, but hey, when nature calls, I come running. Always have, always will, as you have to learn to listen—and ignore—your body. "What do you want, Twilight?" I asked in a sweet tone. "Aagh, urgh, wait till I—" "Uh, uh, uh, Twilight, remember what Celestia said," I reminded her, cueing a flash back. "*** Take care of Keros for the night. He has nowhere to stay and needs rest just like the rest of us do. I have to lower the Sun, and raise the Moon, but I'll be back tomorrow to return to our negotiations. See he gets what he needs and is treated fairly. Good Night, Twilight Sparkle," and as she finished her lines, she drifted me into the room onto a decent sofa, though how they were built is anyone's guess. "Do not harm him, or intrude upon his privacies. If I find out he has been uncomfortable living with you, I will have you write a thousand word report upon regretting your actions. ***" End Flashback. As the look of anger left her face, and a look of horror replaced it, I figured everything was done, and finished up, the look of ecstasy leaving my face, followed by the sound of a zipper. Once I was back inside, I waited for Twilight for a bit, before starting to peruse her books. I found a very interesting one called 'Brutal Engagements', before having it swept out of my hands, by the very red-faced miniature dragon I met earlier. Not caring what the book was, I decided to start a conversation with him, and even though I'm not entirely clear on whether, he is male or not, he just feels masculine so I'm going to refer to him as a he. "So I guess you are Spike, huh?" I asked in a rather pleasant manner. "That I would be," He replied, "and who are you?" "Me? I'm Keros. So how's it like living with Twilight?" He had to think for a minute before answering me, and even then in a very cryptic manner. Oh well, another thing to add to my to do list. "It's...interesting." With that over with, I had another question to ask. It was getting about around the equivalent to 10:30 back home and it was definitely time to get something to eat. However my stomach asked the question for me, in the form of a loud gurgle. Spike's eyes lit up like fireworks—ha-ha fireworks—at the sounds my stomach was making. "Let me make you something to eat if you're hungry?" he asked eagerly. I nodded my agreements, and he ran off in a random direction towards the kitchen, leaving me alone in the room. After a moment he came back in with a large spread of who knows what. At his excited looks of curiosity, I reached down, and took a bite out of a large sandwich...and immediately rushed outside the house to release my breakfast from this morning. "What's wrong?" he questioned as he rushed outside with a worried look on his face. "What was in that sandwich?" I groaned out, still reeling from tossing out my only food for fourteen hours. "Onions, tomato, spinach, daffodils, sunflower, turnips..." "Wait, wait, was that one before last?" I asked with worry. "Sunflower?" he questioned. "No before that." "Daffodils? "Aye, that would explain it." "Why, what wrong with daffodils?" Spike asked. I then proceeded to go into a long discussion onto the digestive systems of humans, trying to avoid some obvious worries these creatures might have. After I finished my lecture, turning down any attempts to cook a better meal for me, I asked if he could show me to the guest bedroom. "Sure, right this way." After a long walk, up a height-challenged stairway, we arrived at a closed door, that opened into a quiet, but pleasant bedroom. I said goodnight to Spike, and closed the door. After he was assuredly not at the door, I relaxed a bit. "After a day like this, I sure should have some adventures in store, if I happen to survive this world's next ordeal. Oh, well. No sense fretting about the future." Having full-filled my quota for talking to myself, I settled on the bed, which was surprisingly comfy, and had what felt like the first good night sleep in 5 years. Minus the odd dreams of course. //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 7 Its a Miracle. I Can See //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 7 Its a Miracle. I Can See Chapter 7 WTF? A World of Ponies? The bright night surrounds a field. In the field are a variety of trees. Each tree sways and whispers untold secrets and the brightest lies, showing visions of dreams and futures unrealized. As each whisper tells their secrets a shadow appears and showers the night in blood. Screams rend in the un-silence and peak as tearing sounds and the whispers stop. Bending my current vision, I am surprised to see that the brightness is distorted, and that red litters the ground in portions where arms and legs, bodies and heads, are separate and undefined. A smile twists upon the Shadows face, deep and sinister. As he looks back to me and tells me about how he finds the ignorance and bliss, the lights all twist, and the undefined nine are all one. Three lines find their ways to the center, and redefine, the bright light into a copy of mine. The Shadow just laughs and summons his dozen, a face just the same, all my own. The whispers groan, and reach a peak. Copies face each other, raged and meek. None are the same, and all are grown. But versions of me, my very own, turn and stare right at my figure, all Thirty-nine tall, and in the same voice they question albeit with a sneer, "Will you gather us all, all on your own, far and near?" *** Waking with a start, I jump from the bed, not understanding where I am, but knowing I am not home. In the middle of my aggressive reverie, in walks a purple thing, which I cannot seem to see, and I tackle it to the ground, growling in fury. "Get off me, get off me!" Coming to my senses, I remembered the previous day, which over the course of the night I began to think of as another dream. Realizing that it was not so, I removed myself from the supposed purple dragon, which I still couldn't see, and stretched my complaining joints. "What was that for?" s/he asked, with slight worry, and concern. "What do you mean...?" The awkward silence finally made its presence known, as the dragon and I realized we had not formally introduced ourselves. Getting basic formalities out of the way, we gave our names at the same time in a show of respect. "Keros/Spike." It was strange that it was exactly the same time, but the message got through nonetheless. As we warmed up to each other—hah, warmed—a sound made itself known. In other words, we were hungry, and our stomachs decided at that moment to complain vehemently. With a dash of red on the otherwise purple face of my host, we decided to go down to the kitchen for some much needed sustenance that made itself known in the name of god's chosen breakfast...Waffles. As my stomach and taste buds were celebrating in the name of the great Deity, and cursing Baba Yaga's great hunger, the purple one made itself known. "Enjoying the food are you?" she asked with no discernible expression. "God made this feast, and God can go suck his face, because I'm not letting him have any, Twilight." I replied with a serious expression. "What, huh? What did you say?" "For such a smart horse, you sure are stupid. Sit down and enjoy the damning meal." Deciding on ignoring my remark—probably because she couldn't understand any of it—she set up her plate high with the fluffy goodness, and asked me the next of the questions that was on her mind. " So why were you looking slightly to the side when you looked at me?" Twilight questioned in a curious tone while staring at my still towering stack of perfection and goodness, that I continued to pile the sweet treats on. I continued my current bite of waffly-goodness, and stopped piling the fairy-scrumptious pancakes of perfection on top of each other, to answer her question, not that I give a damn about my personal life, if you give me some considerations into occasional pseudo-privacy every once in a while. "Because I'm short-sighted, Valse Paard." "What does that mean?" she asked with a vocal expression that showed that she was feeling that she was being insulted. "It means that I can't see long distances without the assistance of specially layered and crafted glass." "Not that, the other thing." Thinking for a while at what she may be referring to, I realized she meant the Dutch that I casually spouted out. "Ah, that. That's Dutch. It means 'False horse', because I know for a fact that horses don't talk where I come from." "I'm not a whorse!" Twilight raged out. Suddenly finding myself lifted yet again by the strange force, I was thrown to the back of room up to the door, and out the window by a very uncomfortable place. I was about to be picked up again when suddenly Spike ran in front of me. "Twilight! Calm down, there's nothing to be angry about. He can't see! He probably doesn't even see a difference in what you look like, and the creatures he is familiar with." With the fuming Twilight calming down, and looking at me with the most acute expression of hate and rage, she calmed down, closing her eyes—or what I thought was her eyes—and walked back inside. Spike visibly relaxed, and turned around to try and comfort me, only to find me rolling on the ground clutching my aching balls. Whatever you say or try to do, never—and I mean never— hit a man in that spot. "Are you ok?" Spike asked me with his tone leaking concern. "I'm fan-fucking tastic, only been hit in the spot you're  never supposed to hit, by a talking horse, that's out to get me in a fucking fantasy world, that's too damn colorful and bright at 9:00 in the morning." That provoked the silence that I needed to get over my extreme pain and overwhelming anger, though not for the right reasons. No longer in intolerable pain I looked up to see Spike asking a question. "Wait, you're a g—" He was interrupted abruptly, as Twilight decided to make another run at me, lifting me up, and over Spikes head, trying to tear off my face. "Hold still will you?" she asked still holding me tightly, finally holding my head still, as something was pushed on my face. "There. Finally, you little crybaby, you can see." //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 The Entry to Equestria //-------------------------------------------------------// Chapter 1 The Entry to Equestria Chapter 1 I See the World. My new World. It's a bright morning, to which I wake up, covered in sweat, from the nightmares of the previous night. I look around at the atypical surroundings of my teenaged life with a decided derision, wondering why I couldn't have kept the dreams in lee of having to bore to death in a corrupt reality. As I get up to dress, I notice a slight difference on the floor of my room from last night's...altercation. The bottles of expensive soda and cheap beer missing from a few of my less discreet hiding places. Oh well, it's not like I can't easily replace what I lose to my mother and horrid sister. My dissatisfied bout of depression and drunkenness seems to have ended after laughing and crying myself to sleep, but I still have to get up to greet the new day. If last night's dream was the sign I think it was I should be in for an interesting day at least. Slowly putting on some jeans, and my favorite black t-shirt, I remembered the dream with a pleased reservation until I heard the horrid shrieking I knew was meant to wake me up. "AGGGH, Why'd you eat my special blueberry tofu vegan muffins," yelled my exceedingly annoying younger sister. Standing at 5 ft 4, my little sister is about the size of a long twig. Though for being a bit of a midget, and a weakling, she has a terribly rude and stuck up personality. "What's got your panties in a wad this morning, Brat," I replied as I watched the pest come into my room. "You ate my muffins, you stupid fat freak," she venomously retorted. God knows I wanna beat the mite into a bloody pulp, but you can't just do that in a civilized society. And for that matter, while this is a normal conversation so early in the morning, I don't have the patience to deal with this right now. "Get outta my room, you little midget, before I slap you into shit." And while this is also a normal response for having to deal with this kind of bull every morning for ten years, I don't normally respond in such a way. "Why don't you get out of the house and find a job, and while you're at it, die." Finally having finished the morning bullshit fest, she left my doorway while I put my boots on. I gathered a few of my everyday tools, weighted gloves, a couple knives, my standard leg-weights, and a lighter, and followed after her to the kitchen, for a bowl of cereal. Shortly after I finished, Mother joined us in silent contemplation, while I waited for my ride.  "Why don't you just walk there," she asked as it was getting time to leave. "You're supposed to be decent when you get there, but I guess if it's uncomfortable to you I can just go ahead," I answered. Now, as sweet as she normally is to me, I've been looking for a job for over a year now, that catered to specific...needs. After finally losing my temper with my sister last year, I was trying to get a job, and not many people were really comfortable around me. 'I really gave it to her too' I thought with an evil smile. "O.K. dear, just be careful." As I picked my stuff up and left the house, I walked for a bit, contemplating the dream. *** Flying around the room were a number of objects in various shapes and forms. Colors of the rainbow and more besides, were a number of rare gemstones, in various shapes. Storm clouds, and butterflies, stars and diamonds, even a few balloons, energy swirled between the stones in an effort to bring about some change. The moon and sun above, danced around each other in a peaceful harmony, along with the varied odd symbols, in the mass below. Off to the right of the room, a blackness spread in an attempt to cover the place, held back by a number of signs impossible to hold in sight, but clear in a sense of how many. The twelve signs hold images above themselves, a forest, a lake, a mountain, on the topmost signs, obscure in that moment like the rest, but holding some meaning. A thirteenth sigil appeared in the mass of swirling chaos that was on the lighter side of the room, and swept up the twelve symbols, becoming bigger and brighter as it flowed across each one.  when finally the last symbol was up in that sigil, the room brightened, and the darkness receded to a single obscure point, and stayed there as the storm of energy abated. That having been done, The bright sigil flowed away, and began another dream. *** Walking down a blank isle in an unregistered store, a feeling of excitement in the air, as you pick up and order for your boss. Happy to be of help to this very important person, you walk right up to the counter and ask for a number of interesting but not familiar objects, upon which seconds later you can't remember what you asked for. Happy to oblige for such an important task, the horse in front of you goes to the back room to collect your order. Waiting for a few minutes the horse returns and asks for recompense, upon which you give him several gold coins. With your package in toe, you thank the horse and exit the shop. Exited that you finally have all the ingredients you need, you continue down a pathway at an exaggerated rate, ignoring all the horses that say hello, including a orange one with an apple on its flank, that you recognize as a friend. Hurrying on you call back a hello, and continue on your way. Finally outside of the small town you walk on a side road past an enormous forest, to what appears to be a very large tree with door in the trunk. At your destination you swing open the door with your perky purple hooves, and nod to a baby dragon, before hurrying on to the anteroom. Once there you upend the contents of your bag and set up for a long night of exertion. Your boss asked you to summon something you've never heard of, an Avatar, of some sort, and you will not let her down. Moving around the newly levitating objects with considerable ease, you pick up a book and make sure you have everything in its proper place. Satisfied that all is in order, you say a few words, and an explosion and a gust of wind have you flat on your back and passed out in a few minutes, but not without a sublime sense of achievement. *** Interesting enough the series of dreams went on a little further than that, but I can't seem to remember further. Even if it did, It seems that those two were important for some reason, but I can't fathom why. So, with my contemplations finished, I noticed I was surrounded by the biggest pains in my ass in my life, The Wild Ones. Yes I do mean the Wild Ones as in the movie where some kid finds a group of monsters. Apparently their idiot of leader was inspired by the name and decided it for his gang's name. It was such a ridiculous comparison, but he and his cronies sure were awful. Though why they'd pick this day to piss me off, I can't think of a logical reason. Then again I guess they are just stupid. So with a heavy sigh, I asked them what they were doing. "We're finally gonna kick your ass, faggot, for all the trouble you've put us through, disrupting our business," the boss, Mickey Gerowski, said with a particularly shit-eating grin. Mickey Gerowski is a particular kind of person that finds pleasure in getting beaten to near-death over and over again, frankly, lately, I have been thinking of him as a sort of masochist. "If you were beaten yesterday, the day before, and the month before that, what makes you think you're gonna win today, little codfish?" "Because today we have a bullet with your name on it," he replied as his gang of twenty pulled out pistols along with their already misshapen clubs. Apparently today is just not my day, I have to listen to Eliza, Mickey, and I still have to get to the damn school a couple blocks ahead of me. So I just sat down, told him to get it over with, and received the beating of my life. When they were all tired and had moved on in the exhaustion of hitting a non-moving target, I stood up, to dust my pants off asked if they were finished and moved on with several broken ribs and plenty of bruises. After walking a few block to a shortcut to the school, I sat down and reviewed most of the damage, when I was satisfied, I returned to my trek, turned the corner and walked straight into a non-existent wall. After picking myself back up, I turned down the corner and walked into it yet again. After waiting quite a bit, I tried turning around unsatisfied with my current route, to find myself face with a garbage man. "What're yer doin here, yer littre punk. Get out a me way, or give me some change." Unfortunately with the wall there, and no way out, I tried to tell the drunk man that I had nothing to give him, and as he threw a punch, I sidestepped, fell ten feet down an open manhole, and passed out.