'Discord! Discord?' You heard Celestia's voice echoing. 'Discord? Wake up, wake up!'
Your eyes fluttered open to see the object of your affections nudging you awake.
'You ready to come around mine today? Celestia smiled. You had forgotten about today, and you were slightly unprepared for it, but still you were trembling in anticipation.
'I can't wait!' You returned the smile and Tia's face lit up. She giggled a little, and then fell to the floor laughing. You looked around behind you to try and see what she was laughing at.
'Wha... what's funny?' You asked. Celestia wiped the tears from her eyes and stood up.
'Your smile! You have a little tooth sticking out, it's so funny!' You knew that some ponies would take that as an insult, but you couldn't be offended when you saw her smiling.
'Yeah... it is kinda funny, isn't it?' You laughed. Celestia's face suddenly changed, and she gasped loudly.
'I'VE GOT IT!' She exclaimed.
'Huh?' You asked. 'Got what?'
'Your nickname!' She laughed, 'Remember? A few days ago. You call me Tia, and we didn't make up a nickname for you!'
'Oh yeah! Umm... so what is it?'
'Well, you're made up from lots of different animals, like a zoo, right?'
'Ummm... sorta?'
'And my favorite zoo is in Trottingham.'
'.....Okay?'
'And there they have the most amazing strawberry-picking fields!'
'Um, where are you going with this, Tia?'
'Strawberries are red, and so are rubies, apples, cherries and jam.... SO therefore your new nickname is....'
You lent forward in anticipation of your new nickname.
'TOM!'
'....Tom?' You looked at her, puzzled at this new name.
'TOM! Ohmygosh, we'll be Tia and Tom!'
'.......Tom?'
'Yeah, you wanna test it out?'
'......................Tom.' You looked at her strangely. First, this was a name that had never been heard in the history of Equestria, and had somehow been deduced from jam. Second, you really didn't like it. It shouldn't even be used to name a rock.
'....hmmmm. Maybe that isn't the right nickname for you.... In fact, do you even need a nickname? I've kinda gotten to like Discord....'
You blushed, but she didn't notice. She really liked your name!
'Hey, you don't mind if we don't change your name, do you?' Celestia's voice changed from bubbly to apologetic. You didn't mind though. It would have been nice to have a nickname, but you certainly didn't want to be called 'Tom'.
'It's fine, I don't mind at all,' You laughed, glad the possibility of being called by that hideous name was over.
'Great! Now come on, let's go to my house!'
It took a little while getting there, but you managed to follow the bouncing filly to her 'house'. If you could call it a house.
Do you remember the first day you saw it? The majesty and wonder of Canterlot tower.
'This... this is your house?' You squeaked, a bit scared of the sheer size of it.
'Don't you love it?! There's so much space it can sometimes get a bit lonely, but now I have someone to play in it with!' Tia jumped up and down with excitement. Her giggles resonated through the air, bouncing off the high steeples and hollow domes in the roof. It was then that you noticed how quiet it was.
You looked around, searching for anypony, but there was neither mare nor stallion or colt or filly about anywhere, except Celestia. Even the royal guard which would normally fill the training yard out front of the castle had vanished.
Tia failed to recognize the absence of every single pony in Canterlot, and instead trotted up to the front door and pressed the bell with her nose.
The door creaked open slightly and the white muzzle of a royal guard poked out.
'Who... who is it?' He stammered.
Tia giggled. She turned back to you.
'Watch this.' She whispered, before screaming in her best royal Canterlot voice:
'IT IS I, PRINCESS CELESTIA OF EQUESTRIA. I HAVE RETURNED FROM MY VISIT TO PONYVILLE. PREPARE THE ROYAL GREETING.'
You were slightly taken back by the sudden change in her voice, but when she smiled you couldn't help stifle a laugh.
'Of... of course Princess,' The guard said, before the door swung open, revealing rows of guards bowing before the little white filly. Sitting at the back on a raised platform were two alicorns, one male and one female. It was obvious by their cutie marks that these were the parents that Tia had told you about.
'Mom! Dad! I'm home!' She yelled.
'Oh thank goodness Celestia, we were so worried. There's been rumors that there's... AAAAAAHHHHHHGHH!' The mare screamed as she caught sight of you.
Immediately the royal guard swooped in and picked up the tiny princess. You recoiled in fear as several white pegasi began to surround you. You began to beat your little wings but you weren't strong enough to escape. You were pinned down by your tail as a guard stood on it. You whimpered helplessly.
Celestia's mother took her off the guard.
'Are you okay?! He didn't hurt you did he? Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god....' She began to hyperventilate.
'What? Mom...' Tia's face was riddled with confusion.
'HOW DARE YOU COME HERE!' The alicorn stallion screamed at you. He flew over to where you were held. The ground cracked as he stomped down on the white marble in front of you.
'YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE, BEAST. THE BOUNDARIES OF EQUESTRIA STOP AT THE EVERFREE FOREST. YOU MAY NOT PASS THAT BOUNDARY. YOU MAY NOT ENTER THE ROYAL CITY. AND YOU MUST CERTAINLY. NOT. GO. NEAR. MY. DAUGHTER. IS THIS UNDERSTOOD?!' He bellowed.
Now you were crying on the floor. The guard stepping on your tail was really hurting now, and you were scared by the huge dark blue alicorn bearing down on you.
'Wait, daddy, he's my friend...' Tia whimpered. She also seemed to be scared by her father.
'THIS? THIS IS YOUR FRIEND? NO, CELESTIA. THIS IS A DANGEROUS ANIMAL. THIS IS A CHIMERA. REMEMBER? THAT MONSTER FROM YOUR BOOKS? THIS IS IT.'
'No, he's different, he's nice....' She was also crying now.
'Tia, listen to your father! He would kill you without hesitation! This is not your friend!' Her mother chided.
You couldn't believe what you were hearing. You were worried about meeting Tia's parents, but you never imagined it could go this badly.
'YOU. GET OUT OF HERE NOW. IF YOU COME BACK HERE, I WILL KILL YOU. I WILL MAKE IT LONG AND PAINFUL. YOU GOT THAT?' He screamed. You nodded feebly.
'AND ONE MORE THING. STAY. AWAY. FROM. CELESTIA.'
You felt the pressure on your tail released, and you ran for all you were worth. You ran back through the streets of Canterlot, where ponies had begun to come out of their houses to jeer at you.
'GET OUT OF HERE, MONSTER!'
'YOU DON'T BELONG HERE!'
'LEAVE OUR TOWN!'
You felt the words cut into your heart as you went, running as fast as you could back to your safe place. Back to the forest, where you belonged, with all the other monsters.
You curled up in the hole you had dug, before looking at your tail. It was bloody, and scales were sticking out at all angles. It hung limply on your flank. You tried to move it, but cried out as the pain rippled through your body. It was broken. You couldn't take the pain any longer, and you blacked out.