//------------------------------//
// You`re not yourself 
// Story: Gradual Dissociation 
// by Fluttergail 
//------------------------------//

Sunlight reflected off of the panes of glass around Ponyville, casting shadows behind the structures which built up the foundation of the town. A carpet of endless blue covered the sky above as the clouds hovered above the empty town below. Not a sound nor peep was heard or seen on the noon of this day, that is apart from one pony. His grey fur rippled slightly to a quiet breeze as his hooves took him to his next destination. No hesitation, no stopping to admire the tranquil scene around him, just a set path, a certain future of where he needed to be. The oak library stood firm and proud amongst the rest of the houses round it, its very nature embodying everything that was perfect about Ponyville. 

Three strong and decisive knocks echoed around the empty streets of Ponyville as Pseudo Song stared blankly into the timber that stood in front of him, before planting his hoof back onto the ground again.





Within the dusty but warm confines of the library, a resident lavender pony was startled from her studies by the sudden sounds at her door. Twilight Sparkle, taking a moment to blink a few times focusing on the surroundings around her and not the world that she had formed around herself in the book, carefully placed her tome onto the table before her, making her way to the door, careful to avoid any piles of yet unsorted books on the ground.

Upon opening the door, she found herself face to face with nothing but the houses, streets and fields of Ponyville around her. She smiled at a few ponies who passed by, although confused at their smirks, and was about to close the door when-

"GOTCHA!"

A dark shape of a pony suddenly jumped in from the left, behind the doorway, sending Twilight into a trip backwards, yelping in surprise. A snicker was heard before it stopped as the intruder realized that Twilight wasn't moving from the position she had found herself in on the floor.

"Twilight?"

No movement.

"Twilight? It was just a joke. It`s just your old pal, Pseudo Song, heh heh..."

Concerned, Pseudo suddenly ran over to the motionless purple pony crouching by her side his hooves resting on her body, desperate to check if she was alright.

"Oh please no, Twilight I`m so sorry, I`ll go get a doctor, oh Celestia I didn't mean to do that-"

Interrupting his frantic speech, was a sudden feeling on his nose. Then-

"Gotcha."

The smirking purple pony looked mischievously up at him, her hoof found resting upon his nose. Pseudo felt his worries dissolve as he stared into the eyes of his, thankfully okay, best friend. Mirth began to overcome him too and before long both were rolling around in cheerful laughter on the floor.

After the chuckle shared together, Twilight realized that she probably needed to close the door unless she wanted to have any onlookers start to have concerns over her and Pseudos mental health. 

Closing the door, she turned around to the aforementioned pony, who was still letting off a few laughs.

"Sorry, to do that to you, but no trick deserves to go unpunished.

She said this smirking, trotting her way back into the library. Pseudo smiled back.

"Fair enough, I suppose. Although, you really had me worried there for a second, Twi. I don't know what Ponyville would do if it lost its resident bookworm."

Despite the joke in his comment, he still smiled warmly at her.

Settling herself back into her chair, and gazing upon Pseudo with purple eyes she asked:

"So, what brings you here today, mister comedian? Just come to insult my studies or did you actually want to have a conversation for once? I have a great book on insults throughout the ages if you decide to choose the former."

Laughing, the grey pony sat himself in the chair next to her.

"Nothing that special really, I just wanted to see if you and the other girls wanted to come meet up at the park for a picnic this afternoon. Interested, purple?"

Portraying a look of false offence on her face, Twilight took a moment to stick her tongue out at him before answering.

"Of course, that sounds great actually! I haven't been able to really get together with you guys for a while now, what with the new books Spike sent me from Canterlot and all. What time did you have in mind, dull and grey?"

"Oh. Uhhhhh...." Pseudo smiled sheepishly. "I didn't really think that far ahead. Sorry Twilight, heh heh..."

Twilight, shaking her head at her awkward companion, used her magic to levitate one of her many schedules from a shelf above, setting it out in front of her. 

"How about... later today? Around four-ish?"

She asked this inquisitively, tilting her head.

"It`s a date." 

Twilight raised her head blushing and spluttering for a good retort before she heard Pseudo chuckling.

"Just teasing, Twi." 

Though the light blush on his face told a different story.

Pseudo launched into a brief rant on how Rarity kept trying pair him off with different ponies while Twilight took a moment to regard her grey friend. Ever since his arrival in Ponyville, Pseudo had been a pleasant, smart and somewhat awkward pony. She didn't mind though, since Celestias neurotic student couldn't exactly complain about somepony being awkward. A blush filled her cheeks as she remembered all the times he had come and talked with her in the library, discussing various books, getting lost in the world of an amazing book, enough to block out the sounds and sights around her so-

"And that's when the world collapsed around us and we all fell into the abyss below, never to see any natural light ever again, shielded from the rays of life."

Twilight shook out of her little reverie. 

"Wait, what?"

"Knew you weren't paying attention." 

"Sorry, I was miles away."

The grey stallion waved it off.

"It wasn't that important anyways."

He took a moment to look out the window. 

"Actually, I think I`d better get going now, I need to see all six of you before we go out today. Sorry I can`t stay longer."

He looked at Twilight apologetically as he said this, making his way back out of the library.

"Its ok, I`ll be looking forward to our date." 

Twilight grinned like a schoolfilly that had just got away with taking something from the teachers desk, as Pseudo nearly tripped on his way to the door.

Pseudo just shook his head, grinning. 

"See you later, Twi."





Drops of water fell from the greyish sky above, dripping down onto the village below. Light patters of rain sounded throughout the air, during the early afternoon, as a melancholic feel swept over Ponyville. A lonesome grey pony trekked through the streets head bowed, yet never straying from his path. His fur was beginning to drip somewhat from the drizzle but he didn't pay it any attention as he neared the corner of the street. A light breeze swept over his fur, as the pony turned the corner, causing it to ruffle while his eyes swept over the shop in front of him. The large window out front showed him insight as to what lay ahead, inside the empty establishment, as he stared through the screen.

Then, swiftly turning, he entered the building.





Pinkie Pie had a mission. 

It was important too. If these mint cupcakes weren't cooked just right.... who knew what the consequences would be?
Sweat poured down her brow as she stared intently at the beast before her, the monster of heat, the dragon that would ultimately choose the pink ponies fate...

Mrs Cake`s oven made a sharp ding sound and Pinkie happily used her mouth to drag the tray from within the belly of the beast.

"Ow ow ow ow ow ow! Forgot that it was hot, forgot that it was hot, forgot that it was hot!" 

Quickly she dumped the tray onto the kitchen table behind her and took a moment to take a large gulp of water from the sink next to her.

"Huff, huff, wow I never would have thought something as innocently delicious and cute as my mint cupcakes could be that hot!"

She let out a huge gasp as she said this, still panting from the burning heat.

Pinkie took a moment of consideration, tilting her head to the side and dumping most of her fluffy mane into the sink.

"Although, I am a baker so I guess I should have been expecting that. Oh well, what is it they say? Too many cook-related thoughts spoil the metaphorical broth." 

She snorted and giggled (or perhaps a combination of both) at her own joke, before hearing another ding, this one not from the fiery depths of the oven but rather from the bell at the counter of sugarcube corner.

"New customers! But cupcakes! But new customers! But cupcakes!"

Pinkie span around in a circle for a bit before deciding she could let the cupcakes cool for a bit and instead somersaulted out of the kitchen into the main area of the shop.

"Hello dear customer of our delicious, scrumptilicious, nutritious, malicious- no, wait-  melodious? No that wont do either... Hmm... What do you say, mister-" 

Raising her eyes to see who she was talking to, Pinkie let out an enormous gasp at the sight of the grey pony and his joy filled smile.

"Pseudo!"
"Pinkie!"
"Pseudo?"
"Pinkie?"
"Pinkie!"
"Pseudo!"

Both ponies took a moment to comprehend what had just occurred before erupting into rapturous laughter. This went on for a while before they calmed down and looked at each other with big grins on their faces.

"Oh my Celestia, I haven't seen you in ages, where have you been hiding yourself, mister?" 

Pinkie adopted a deductive look as she said this, focusing her bright blue eyes upon Pseudo.

"Here and there. There and here was a pleasant place as well but I much prefer the former, to be honest." 

Pinkie snickered before replying.

"Hey, who's the jokester around here? Because I certainly don't see Cheese Sandwich!"

"Who?"

"Never mind." 

She giggled. 

"So, what brings you here?"

Pseudo dropped his large smile for a moment to look thoughtfully into the distance.

"Hmm. I seem to have forgot, even though I was thinking it just then before you asked that question and even through our confusing conversation before, meaning I have no idea what to answer and-"

Seeing the look Pinkie was giving him, Pseudo decided to answer.

"I was wondering if you and the others wanted to come for a party! I mean a picnic! A picnic party!"

Letting out a loud gasp and nodding her head up and down rapidly gave Pseudo his answer.

"Oh yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes I've never even thought about a picnic-party before, well except one time but that didn't turn out so well, being it was during a storm and everything and-" 

As Pinkie spoke, a corner of her mind began to space out from what she was actually saying and take in the situation around her. Clatters of plates and cutlery echoed around the shop as ponies moved to and fro, entering the store, leaving the store, using the restrooms. Bright sunshine flowed through the glass as the ponies of Ponyville enjoyed their morning breakfast. Smells of dough and pastry wafted past Pinkies nose and filled her with a sense of joy and happy memories, as it did all the time she spent there. 

Her mouth still moving, Pinkie looked over at Pseudo again. When he first came to Ponyville, Pinkie had thrown him a party, no hesitation whatsoever. 

Yet he hadn't been like the others. 

Usually there was stunned silence, confounding confusion or abject horror. Nopony expected it. 

But Pseudo was as enthusiastic as her! Always running around, smiling constantly, cracking jokes, all the things that made Pinkie Pinkie. It was almost like he was some long lost family member....

She hoped not with some of the thoughts she had about him.

"-and that's how me and Luna saved the dream world!" 

Pinkies mouth stopped running on autopilot and she snapped back to her senses. 

Pseudo was sitting in rapt attention, a huge goofy smile on his face.

"Awww, its over? No fair, pink hair!" 

Pinkie grinned at his atrocious joke.

"I`ll tell you more next time! Anyway, what time do you want to set up this picnic party?"

"Oh, uhhh... how about tomorrow at lunchtime?" 

"Sounds greater then ginormous ginger biscuits! I`d better get back to work though, we`re building up quite the queue."

Pseudo turned his head and sure enough, there was a large line of disgruntled ponies working its way out of the shop.

"You might be right there my pink companion. See you tomorrow!" 

"See ya!"

Pinkie began to bellow over the orders of a mass crowd around her counter. 

Pseudo turned back to smile at her one last time before he left.





Pellets of water cascaded down from the gloomy sky as a strong wind blew past street signs and empty stalls, causing them to shuffle slightly. With the exception of the howling wind and thunderous downpour, total silence was set over Ponyville, not a soul in sight, barring one grey stallion. His coat was soaked and his ears pulled back, but he never once stopped to take a breather. Disused marketplaces and barren shops passed him as he continued his journey. 

The world around him was desolate.

After an indiscernible amount of time, a structure stood before him, devoid of life. It was quite unlike the other houses of Ponyville and this was probably why it caught so much attention. Despite it being mid-afternoon, the drenched pony could barely see through the windows and the domicile stood alone amongst the vacant town around it. With a push from his hoof, the door swung open and the stallion crossed into the void beyond.





Rarity let out a small humming noise as she looked over the new design on her desk.

It just didn't seem to be quite right.

There was something missing.

After glaring down at the paper in frustration for a few minutes, the white unicorn let out a cry of anguish. Crumpling up the design in her hooves, she dropped it into the pile of building paper scraps next to her desk. Falling back against the chair she was sat on, Rarity stared up at the ceiling in annoyance, hoping some new dress idea would burst in and whisk her away.

"Come on now Rarity, you've been at this for a day now and you still cannot think of anything that might be worth making."

Taking a moment to make sure there was no one near her who could hear her talking to herself, Rarity continued muttering the occasional obscenity. 

The ding of a bell rang out throughout the confines of the boutique and she found herself rushing halfway down the stairs, stopping, composing herself, setting her mane straight and then walking the rest of the way, head held up high.

"Welcome to the Carousel Boutique, where every garment is chiq, unique and magnifque. How may I help you today?"

A smooth, soft male voice was the response, carrying itself across the room. 

"Why hello there Rarity. You're looking amazing today if I might so say."

Her heart instantly began to flutter as her eyes darted up to look at the visitor. That sleek grey coat... that strong muscular build.... Rarity almost fainted on the spot.

"P-Pseudo Song darling, I wasn't expecting you today, I haven't seen you in ages, well if you discount last week of course, which I should have really s-said in the first place. What brings you- *ahem* brings you here to my shop?"

As Rarity said all this, her hoof subconsciously began to paw at her mane, twirling and playing with it.

Pseudo chuckled, coming closer to the flustered unicorn, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Ohhhh, nothing really... I just wanted to see how my favourite unicorn is doing." 

"Oh, uh, um, yes *ahem* yes, she's fine..." 

As Rarity spoke, her voice got smaller and smaller until it vanished completely. Deciding she needed to recompose herself, she turned away for a moment, fixed her expression into a more graceful one and turned back. 

Pseudo was still standing there, a slight smile on his mouth, as he gazed at her, strong and lean and tall... 

After she first met him when he had come to Ponyville, Rarity had no idea what an impact he would make on her life, but slowly and surely she had felt herself falling for him. He was always such a gentlecolt and he knew exactly what to say to her, much unlike that undignified brute Blueblood...

Dust settled in the space between the two ponies as they stood staring at each other, rays of morning sunshine coming in through the panes of glass of her shop. Rarity took a deep breath, taking in the scents of Ponyville, letting the warm sun tenderly caress her coat. 

Adopting a smirk herself, Rarity decided to be more like a blue pegasus then a yellow one.

"So, is there any real reason you came here darling, or did you just want to stare all day?"

"It`s as good a reason as any."

Letting out a small laugh, the much more composed unicorn stepped closer to the grey stallion as he began to start his next sentence.

"Honestly though, I was wondering whether you wanted to meet up with the rest of the girls in the future, if you wanted, of course."

"Oh, that sounds just wonderful! Due to my workload I haven't been able to go out with you ponies for quite a while now. What time did you have in mind?"

Pseudo took a second to tilt his head briefly as he thought about it. 

"I was thinking perhaps, in a few days, maybe on Saturday. I heard from Rainbow Dash that the weather team has scheduled that day for a warm and sunny afternoon."

"Lovely, I must write that down in my calendar later. Couldn't forget an important date like that."

She took on a half-lidded look for a second, moving ever so slightly closer to Pseudo.

"Not that I would with you there."

Pseudo smiled at her before suddenly moving his form backwards, closer to the door.

"It has been lovely talking to you, my belle licorne d'albâtre, but I apologise that I must go. I have a lot more houses to visit to arrange a time."

Disappointed but understanding, Rarity gave him a nod as the grey stallion left and was left on her own in the warm, radiant interior of Carousel Boutique.

Quickly looking over her shoulder a few times to check that nopony was around, the unicorn promptly fainted.





Torrential rain thundered down from the bleak sky, gusty winds howling through the streets. Late-afternoon darkness had begun to set in and the downpour showed no signs of stopping. Only a lone pony wandered throughout the town, coming closer to Ponyville park. Trees were bent backwards as the force of the gale sent leaves blowing past the stallion. Entering the park, trotting his way through to the centre, ignoring the wind threatening to send him rocketing away, ignoring the freezing temperatures brought about by his soaked coat, the pony trekked on. The desolate park looked monstrous as the borderline hurricane did its work. 

A lone lyre laid next to a bench.

Finally nearing the centre of the large field, he raised his head upwards and looked up into the swirling grey spirals above him.





Rainbow Dash was not lazy.

Not in the slightest.

She just got tired easily, after a long days work, that was it.

Yep.

A cloud hovered above the main park of Ponyville, in direct contrast to the cyan sky. The pegasus pony currently residing on it was lying back against the fluffy cumulus, hooves resting on the back of her head. She was attempting to get some well-earned sleep.

Attempting to.

Foals and fillies squealed and yelped as they danced across the grass of Ponyville. It was a wonderful sight to the passing mares and stallions who looked on with pride at the cute scene, as it demonstrated the values of Ponyville. The younger generation having fun together was beautiful, and caused a few ponies to form tears in their eyes at the sight. Everypony around thoroughly enjoyed the peaceful scene. 

"Annoying little brats should all be sent on a train away to the griffon kingdoms... maybe they could be a part of the catering service..."

Everypony, bar one.

Rainbow Dash grumbled as she turned over onto her side on the cloud, glaring down at the ponies below. Realizing her look would not make them all evaporate instantly, she instead decided to just give up.

"Ughhhh, today is so boring! I need something to keep me occupied..."

Twilights library meant that she had to be quiet. Pinkie would be too busy with customers. Fluttershy... is fine and all, but the pegasus needed something exciting. A race maybe? Rarity definitely wouldn't agree with that. Applejack had work. That only left...

"Pseudo!"

Spotting the grey stallion from her vantage point, Rainbow dashed down to the park ground, coming to a skid and a halt in front of him.

Brushing her mane back past her face, she took on a confident smirk and stood tall in front of him.

"Hey, what's up Pseudo? Busy being the slowest stallion in Ponyville?"

"At least I`m not the slowest mare in the sky."

Both retained vicious smirks for all of ten seconds before breaking into laughter, causing many passing ponies to stop and turn at the strange, if not irregular, sight.

Wiping a tear from her eye, Rainbow retained her confident stance.

"So, just came to the park to watch me being awesome or what?"

Pseudo grinned, matching her stance.

"Oh, I just came to admire the amazing, spectacular, awesome feats of the pegasus pony named-"

The cyan mare raised her head higher and higher with every sentence. 

"-Cloudkicker."

Rainbows elevating head stopped in its tracks.

"Oh, so we`re going to play it that way huh, wise guy? You and me. Racing. Now."

Just as she was about to rocket off into the stratosphere, Pseudo bit onto Rainbows tail and held her back.

"Hey, what gives?"

The stallion shot her a look and pointed at his back.

"Oh right, no wings yeah... heh..."

Both ponies took their positions side by side near the entrance to the park.

The air was still, occasionally broken by a foals yell, the fresh scent of grass floated around them and the cool breeze provided nice breaks from the warmth of the midday sun.

"THREE, TWO, ONE, GO!"

Taking off like bullets, a prism blur and a similar grey one led trails across the park. Hooves thundering onto the ground, kicking up dirt and grass as they sped along. Fillies and colts stopped what they were doing and decided to pay attention to the event before their eyes. In a matter of seconds, a rainbow maned pegasus came to a skidding stop at the other end of the park. Not even sweating, she turned to see Pseudo arriving soon after, panting ever so slightly.

Barely able to contain her smug smirk, she offered her hoof to him and pulled the stallion from his position on the ground.

Rainbow Dash loved racing with Pseudo Song. Not just because she loved winning (though that was a factor) but also because he was a fun pony to race against. With the exception of Applejack, she couldn't think of any other pony in Ponyville that could potentially match her speed on the ground. The first time they met, she had to admit she didn't think much of him. Some random stallion coming near her friends, just wanting to have fun?

Yeah, right.

But, like far too many times, Rainbows superstitions turned out to be wrong as she discovered Pseudo was almost as cocky as she was.

Almost. 

"Uh, Rainbow you can let go of my hoof now."

Startled, Rainbows hoof leapt away from his like it was diseased. A light blush on her face, the pegasus chuckled lightly.

"You should become a worm, considering how much dirt you just ate back there."

Pseudo looked up at her smile and couldn't help but laugh along with her.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Its not like going up against you is exactly fair is it?"

"Nope! But anyponies still welcome to try."

Pseudo was silent for a second before he remembered why he had come here.

"Oh, that's right! Hey, Rainbow? Do you want to come to a picnic with the rest of the girls next week? We haven't gone out in ages!"

The pegasus scoffed slightly.

"Me? At a picnic?  Sitting down? Yeah right... I would love to come."

The usually `speak-before-you-think` mare smiled softly as she said those last words, wings tucked against her sides.

Holding their gaze between each other for a second too long, Rainbow coughed and fluttered back into the air. Taking a glance over at where the foals were, she saw they were now leaving. 

"Well, it was fun whooping your flank and all, but I have really got to get back to important weather duties-"

"Like napping?"

"-important weather duties that cannot be disturbed. Catch you later!"

With one final smile back at him, she took off back to her safe haven above the ground.

Pseudo shook his head, chuckling for a moment, before setting off back down the park.





Gloom settled over Ponyville as shadows danced in the evening light. An orange sun began to set, allowing for a few stars to be seen here and there. Droplets of water still poured down from above, rushing water now making waves across the surface of the hollow earth. Murky water began to fill up, encasing the doorsteps of some of the buildings around Ponyville. Near the Evertree forest a lone cottage stood, shrouded by greenery, as the river before it overflowed and began to make its way onto the banks around it. Simultaneously, every tree in the forest blew sharply back, branches and leaves rushing through the air, adding to the total chaos present.

Pseudo glanced up at the cottage, reared his hind legs, and sped forwards, smashing into the wooden door and into the depths beyond.





"Um, no sorry Angel, it doesn't look like we have any carrots or... any fruit left really..."

The snow white rabbit frowned angrily at her owner before storming off into the garden outside.

"Oh... um... oh dear..."

Fluttershy was currently sat in her front living room staring after the disappearing bunny with a concerned frown. Animal chitters and squawks echoed throughout her cottage as she sighed. However, gazing at the rest of the animals, a slight smile came to her face.

They have a home.

They were safe.

They were under her care.

The yellow pegasus decided she would get a special treat for Angel later to make it up to him. She shuddered at the thought of having to go to the market.... but for him it was worth it. Fluttershy, now a much more relaxed pegasus, went about feeding the rest of her critters, a demure smile on her face.

First, she would finish feeding all her animals.

Then she would go and have her scheduled tea with Rarity.

After that she could-

A sharp knocking startled Fluttershy out of her thoughts.

"Oh dear."

Treading softly to her front door, the mare took a deep breath before raising her hoof to the door handle and opening it slightly to find-

Nothing.

That was odd.

Um... hello...?" 

Her quickly diminishing voice made her question seem like a quiet statement. 

However, apart from the leaves blowing softly in the breeze and the birds twittering softly against a cyan backdrop, there was no movement at all. Taking a moment to smile at the birds, Fluttershy closed the door again.

No more then ten seconds passed before she heard a knocking again.

"Oh my... could whoever is doing that... stop... please, if you want that is..." 

The mares voice faltered as she spoke, leading to her taking a very, very deep breath, coughing and repeating herself.

"...Who's there?"

Silence imposed itself over the cottage and just as Fluttershy was about to turn around once again, there was a response.

"Um, could you repeat that please...? I don't think you're speaking loud enough..."

Choosing to ignore the slight hypocrisy in that statement, after hearing no answer to her question, the pegasus slowly opened her door once again.

This time she was met with the shocked look of a grey stallion who, while he had been straining to hear inside, fell over into Fluttershy, knocking them both inside, the door slamming shut behind them.

"I`m so sorry, I didn't mean to, I-"
"Oh, um, oh dear, I`m sorry..."

Both ponies stopped short of their sentences as they took a look at the position they were currently in.

"If you wouldn't mind, could you please.. um... get off of me..."

Snapping out of a slight trance, Pseudo yelped and jumped back to his hooves, a blush adorning his face.

"GAH! Sorry again Fluttershy, I cant believe I was just so-"

Being in the rather weird position of having somepony profusely apologise to her, Fluttershy cut in as politely as she could, despite the similar blush she was currently wearing.

"Um... It`s alright, Pseudo, nopony got hurt..."

Pseudo halted mid sentence and smiled, half awkwardly, half relieved at the pegasus.

Fluttershy smiled bashfully back.

Silence settled over the cottage. Fluttershy, her eyes looking firmly onto the floor, decided she needed to say something.

"So.. um, what brings you here? If you don't mind me asking..."

Clearly still uncomfortable, Pseudo shuffled his hooves on the floor, while considering his answer.

As he was doing this, Fluttershy peered out of her pink mane at the grey stallion. Their first meeting hadn't exactly been a normal one, by most ponies standards. Stammering, apologies, wavering voices, long silences, more apologies... That pretty much made up the bulk of their conversation. 

Over time, they had become more comfortable around one another... Especially since Pseudo was always happy to help with any chores she needed doing around the cottage. He was so nice and polite, kind and adorably awkward... 

He was also rather attractive...

Startling herself out of her own thoughts with a soft squee, Pseudo looked concerned, before deciding to respond to her earlier question.

"Well, I was wondering if... well, just that um, whether you wanted to come up to the park, um, in a few weeks or so...?"

If she wasn't blushing before, she was now. Fluttershy turned red all over, and very much resembled a fruit from Applejacks orchard.

"Y-you mean like a- like a- oh, um, oh dear, I-I"

Staring in slight confusion at the mares ramblings, Pseudo thought for a bit, before he realized what he had just said.

"Oh, no no no no no no no no no, not like that, I didn't mean like that, not that I wouldn't- it`s just, I um, oh, I meant with the rest of the girls, with the rest of our friends!"

Still nervously shaking, the pegasus nodded her head slightly to show she had heard.

"So, um... are you interested?"

Another nod.

"Um, ok then... I've got to go and find the rest of them now so..."

There was a slight mumbling. 

Pseudo leaned in closer. 

"Sorry, what was that?"

Raising her head slightly from the curled up position on the ground, Fluttershy spoke again.

"I-It`s fine, I`ll be fine, d-don't worry, it`s ok...."

The stallion took steps back and opened the door, still looking worriedly at the cowering mare.

"Well, ok... If you're sure you'll be ok... come and find me if you n-need, um, help or anything."

A third nod.

Pseudo nodded himself and the door shut.

Sighing softly, Fluttershy stared at the door for longer then was probably necessary, before she resumed going about her day.





A vortex.

That was the only way to describe it.

Spirals of dirt and undergrowth being ripped from the ground below, trees uprooted and flying around in circles, the orchard having been decimated. Surrounded by nothingness, the vortex continued to turn and spin in the void it had found itself in. A lone trail snaked in from the darkness, its path leading into the centre of the storm. Wooden planks, windows and apples circled around the empty space. One pony trotted up the dirt road, rising upwards as the winds blew faster and faster. 

No water.

No life.

Nothing.

The grey stallion, blank in expression, continued up, even as objects rocketed past him and left deep red cuts upon his fur. Because of this, the vortex now turned blood red, a distinct contrast against the black around it.

Pseudo kept on walking. 





Orange light shone over the grassy fields, hills far off into the distance. Apple trees wavered slightly in the evening breeze, and a lone farm stood alone amongst an orchard on one side and nothing but grass on the other. 

There was no other civilisation in sight.

The sun setting, cast a glow over the scene, as a lone pony leant against the wall surrounding her farm, gazing off into the distance. Her emerald eyes focused upon the fields and hills in the distance, as she watched the sun. 

"Well, hey there Applejack!"

The mare sighed softly and turned to the stallion who had appeared at her side. 

He became nervous for a moment before retaining his friendly grin.

"How's the farm today? I know you and Big Mac must have a huge workload."

Applejack just stared at him.

Their shadows began to grow taller against the setting sun, and their manes blew softly in the evening breeze.

"I- I uh, heh, I came to see how you were doing and all, considering the workload. You- you know how dependable I can be! Always getting the job done!"

Unable to look for any longer, Applejack turned away and looked back at the light in the distance.

"I, uh- please, you know I was just reading a book on the way here and uh- um, it said that if a pony denies help, you can`t let them down!"

She wished things were different. She had hoped that it wouldn't have come this far, but she had kept delaying and the waits had gotten longer.

"W-Well, why don't we do something fun? We could have a party right here at the- at the farm, it will be super- superific and everypony can be invited and- and-"

I`ll do it tomorrow. That was the first. I`ll do it next week. A second time. Maybe next week.

I`ll do it later.

"You are looking a-amazing toda- tonight- tomorr- this evening A-Applejack, I have to say. The way your coat gleams in the moonlight- the uh, sunlight and your mane is simply magnificent!"

Later. 

She hated that phrase. 

It always came back to it. It was always there. Why would you need to do it now? You could do it later. You could let yourself form your own world.

No time. No obligations. No negativity. 

It was... perfect.

"Heh, we could a-always have a good old competition. Eh? Me and her- y-you against each other in a battle! It would be a-awesome! Wouldn't it? Applejack? It would be so c-cool."

She didn't know why she was complaining. 

She loved it here. 

She loved the atmosphere. She loved her friends. She loved Ponyville. She loved Equestria.

She loved Pseudo. 

"Um- u-uh, if you don't m-mind Applejack, I was wondering if you would- I um, oh my, it`s just- it is getting rather late and I really wanted to ask- ask you- um, ask you something, if it`s ok with you...?"

It wasn't real though. 

Real love felt different. It was a flair. A passion that stirred within the heart. 

A honesty.

This was a poor substitute. She needed to get something done. To experience real love. Experience real life.

She would do it later.

Applejack turned back to look at the stallion next to her. His hollow gaze was reflected by her own sorrowful one. The air was still as both ponies stared at each other once again. 

"I just wanted it to be different."

"I know."

A few more moments of silence was shared between them before Pseudo turned back and began to trot off down the trail. 

A silhouette against the setting sun, Applejack stared after him for a while.

And then he was gone.





The sun shone high in the sky, giving its light to Ponyville below. A quiet breeze rolled in from the south, brushing past trees and bushes. Birds tweeted and animals ran and skittered around on the pleasant spring day.

Amidst all the nature, six ponies sat around a large red and white rug. Upon the rug there was all kinds of food, from daisy and daffodil sandwiches to vanilla and caramel cupcakes. 

"You sure know how to set up a picnic Twi! This place is super duper ultra amazing!"

The pink mare hopped into the air after her last statement and toppled back into the grass, startling a nearby yellow pegasus.

Twilight laughed.

"Yes, this place really is beautiful... Its just like a scene from one of my books! There's this-"

As the lavender unicorn continued to ramble on, a cyan pegasus rolled her eyes.

"Oh, here we go again!  More egghead ramblings. You see what you've done Pinkie? You've set her off on one again! We`ll never stop her now!"

The pink pony giggled.

"Oops!"

Rainbow Dash facehoofed before turning to the mare next to her.

"Hey Fluttershy, do you think you can make it with me to Cloudsdale this summer? There's this awesome new museum all about the wonderbolts and their history, and it will be amazing! Apparently, Spitfire is going to be there and she is going to-"

"What was that about ramblings, darling?"

Rarity smirked as Rainbow grumbled to herself and took a vicious bite out of her daisy sandwich.

"And that's when the world collapsed around us and we all fell into the abyss below, never to see any natural light ever again, shielded from the rays of life."

"Aaaand she's stopped. Finally."

Twilight frowned at the pegasus.

"Fluttershy, you were listening to my story right?"

"Oh, well, I- yes, I suppose..."

The unicorn took this opportunity to stick her tongue out at the athlete.

"Whatever. Eggheads."

Waving off Rainbows last remark, Twilight took a second to smile fondly at her friends.

Yep. This was it. This was what Celestia had intended for her. A lovely picnic, in the middle of a beautiful spring morning, with all five of her best friends.

The sun remained overhead shining, as the six spent the rest of the day cracking jokes and listening to each others stories.





A grey stallion sat alone in his room. 

Beige walls surrounded him at every angle, as he shuffled around on his bed, attempting to find a more comfortable spot.

The room was empty, bar the bed and a single window.

Every day, the stallion would spend most of his time staring through this window looking down upon the town of Ponyville below. All the ponies rushing about, doing whatever they needed to do for the day.

Some days he would just watch them.

Others he would make up his own stories about them.

For instance, one time, a green pony and a cream pony teamed up to stop an evil force.

Another time was just a look into the love life of that purple mare.

If he got really bored, he would often attempt to experience the stories himself. 

Dropped into Equestria from a different world...

Or just his new life here in Ponyville after travelling by train from Canterlot.

He even imagined what a relationship would be like with one of those ponies...

The grey pony sighed and stood up, wandering over to the window.

Looking through the screen, he began to wonder.

Why was he here? Why did he continue to do this to himself? Shut himself away from the storm outside and instead gaze into a more peaceful world. A better world.

A world he would never be a part of.

...

To be honest, Pseudo had the answer.

It was perfect.