> My Heart's Content
>  by Doctor Disco
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> 1 - Where It Began
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Where… where am I?

Am I… dead?

No, I think. I can’t be dead. I can still feel. I try to move… but I immediately regret it.

“Gahhh!” I shriek in pain as I sense my bruised, battered, bleeding body. I have no feeling in my hands or feet, nor is there a part of my body that isn’t hurting. A faint ringing still echoes in my ears, but I can’t place why it is there. Trying to think is like walking through molasses, my mind is working at a bare minimum.

Definitely still alive.

I can feel tears streaking my cheeks. I whimper as every small movement I make causes me unbearable agony. I try to flex my fingers; I try to wiggle my toes, but there’s nothing there. Something is wrong, more so than my broken figure. More than the wounds that so currently dominated my figure.

What am I doing here? What feels like a rod thrust through my head causes me to bite down on my cheek. I nearly yelp. My temples are pounding. I can’t think too hard right now… With my eyes still closed, I can only make out where I was from what I could feel. A soft warm breeze blew over me. I can hear the chirping of birds and the constant drone of bugs in grass. I can feel that same grass tickling my sides, and some of it is warm and slippery from what I now suspected was my blood.

Panting and trying not to move at all, I open my eyes only to breathe in sharply and close them again. The afterimage of pure white light now burned into my retinas, I slowly open my eyes once more, breathing in concentration. Slowly, the world came into sharp focus. The white light faded into all the variable hues and shades of the spectrum.

Now able to see clearly, I notice one of two things. One: it hurts to move my eyes to either side so I have to make do with what I can see ahead of me. Two: I seem to be in a relatively tiny impact crater, with a trail that seems to indicate that I had skidded to a halt, or that I even fell at all. It hadn’t been enough to kill or burn the grass, and I shallowly suspect the grass may have cushioned my descent. Looking around, I see what appears to be a village in the distance. I can see figures moving far away, but close enough for me to make out their shapes. In my peripheral vision, I see an ominous forest, a place that just sends to me all the wrong vibes. Ahead of me are a few wispy clouds, but nothing more. Birds flew overhead.

Now that I can view my surroundings, I try to assess my own situation. I know I’m already in shock as I can feel a sort of numbness and lack of feeling of injury. With the amount of pain I’m in, I think it’s safe to assume I have at least broken something. I can also sense areas of my body that were sticky and wet. I had already suspected it before, but if there was any doubt before of my bleeding, it was banished away. Still not receiving sensory information from my arms or legs, I close my eyes and begin to breathe heavily. Mustering all the strength that I can, I thrust my arms forward. I begin to cry again at the motion, but I try to hold my tears back, knowing I need to find out what’s wrong. With my eyes scrunched close, I slowly open them once again and blink my tears away, only to tiredly raise my eyebrows in shock.

No hands.

My arms ended in large stumps. Even more worrying was that they were covered in fur. A soft light blue hue that was dominated by crimson red splotches of my own blood. I then frowned as I still tried to flex my fingers, but nothing. Not even the tendons or muscles reacted. My fingers are gone, therefore those nerve endings are as well. Since the same feeling is in my legs, I can only assume the same fate has befallen them. I begin to mourn their loss.

What am I?

Even my hair has changed. The few strands that I can see are white, a warm orange and a cherry red. Why am I… Why is…? Lightning arcs across my mind and I shut my eyes in pain. It’s too much for me right now. I can’t think properly, and the only thoughts I can have right now are simple. With the way my body is right now, one final thought clears everything aside and sets itself into overdrive.

You need to move.

I tell myself this and it starts to repeat over and over. Move, move, MOVE! I begin to crawl in my immeasurable pain. Slowly but surely, I start to move. Centimetre by centimetre, inch by inch, I  make grounds toward the centre of population I had seen in the distance. It seems like an eternity away now. Something that was impossible to reach. But I still tried. I need help, I knew that much. I moved.

I was close now. It felt like ages since I started. What once was far away now seemed closer than ever before yet still out of reach. With the world spinning and a hoof outstretched, I collapsed fully to the ground, unmoving. I croakily cried out for help, but I knew no one could hear me. I could see them now. Was it just me, or did they look like horses?

I hear something drop and glance painfully to my left. I see a load of packages, mail, and some muffins now rolling to a stop.

“Oh my!” I hear a concerned voice softly gasp. I then feel wind rush against my back and see four pairs of legs land beside me. Already half-conscious and drained of everything I have, no energy remained for me to fully grasp whatever it is that’s standing beside me. All I know is, it may be able to help.

“What happened?...” I hear her softly whisper as I sense her assessing my situation. With nothing else better to do, I do the one thing I can do.

“... h… el… p…” I choke out before my vision starts to fade. Black is struggling to overcome the edges of my sight but I do my very best to hold it at bay. I have to stay conscious. Just one more moment, one more! I hear her fretting over me and the flapping of wings (wings?) when she calls out a name.

“Octavia… Octavia? Octavia!”

“Ms. Hooves?” I hear a british voice say. I then fuzzily cast my eyes to the voice's direction as I hear this voice gasp as well. I hear the crunching of dirt-packed road and the crushing of grass. This voice then stops beside me and I also see that they are quadrupedal as well. I feel the pressure of someone touching me and involuntarily flinch at the contact. 
“Derpy! What in the heavens happened here?!” I hear her exclaim.

“I don’t know! I found her like this and I didn’t know what to do!” I hear the first voice say. I note that both of these horses, whatever they may be, have different shades of grey as their fur color. Seeing as how their own structure is identical to my new arms, I logically assume that I must be one of them now. But these thoughts are quickly forgotten when another needle of pure hellfire lances through my brain, prompting a scream from me. I shut my eyes and just as painfully grab my head as I can mentally sense these kind souls jumping away from me in fright.

“We need to get her to Ponyville General, as soon as we can!” I hear posh voice say. With how she said it and considering my current state, I infer she is meaning a hospital. Finally, with my own life in good hands, my pain began to slip away and my mind slowly edged into oblivion.

As the world around me dies away, I can make out three final words before passing out.

“Stay with us!...”

And I fall into a painless bliss.





I feel myself return to consciousness. Everything is blurry, I can't make anything out. Lights are whizzing by, voices are smearing together, faces are smudged and indeterminable. What is happening? Where am I? I can hear a person telling me that I'm going to be alright, but I just want myself to die. A feeling of pure self loathing and sadness comes over me, and I feel tears starting to form again. A memory flashes by, but it's too brief for me to grab it. I fall back into purgatory and a blackness surrounds me once again.



Am I dead?

No.

I hear something. Something gracious, something awe-inspiring.

I hear myself singing. A song that my Mom sang to me as a child. The lyrics fill me with a sadness now, despite it's happiness and gentle tune. It was a memory from good times. Happier times. The melody intertwined with the air, carrying with it a beautiful energy and endless potential. My friends... they loved to hear me sing. It revitalized them. It reminded them that not everything was horrible in the corrupted world we live in. But now... now there was just me... only me. 

Tomorrow says 'Hello my friend'!
Your future's bright, not make pretend
Though your mind may be troubled today,
Lift your spirits up, be well I say.

Have fun, make friends, imaginate away,
A universe awaits, explore to your hearts content.
Now, my child, go out into this world,
Spread your silly thoughts, reality is your own.
> 2 - I Can't Begin To Knowin'
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Melody!”

“No!” I shout, crying at the top of my lungs as I jolt awake. Tears are streaking my new fur-covered cheeks. The memory still burning its way through my mind.  “No…” I sob, into my strange new arms. Soft blue fur met contact with my eyes and I wept silently, trying to control my emotion.

I can feel someone embrace me, hugging my now tiny form in a most sincere way. I sob into their body, wrapping my arms around them. How long has it been since I’ve cried this way? Too long. Gratefully long. But now not long enough. I cry for my friends, I cry for myself, I cry and I cry and I cry.

How long have I cried for now? I can’t tell, I know I’m exhausted. Still sobbing into this nice person’s soft fur and coat, I feel the tiredness creeping at the edge of my vision. I still cry a river. It’s all my fault. All of it. My abandonment of them in a time of need. Their screwed up lives, because of me. Their friendships. Even… even their death.

My death.

No, I haven’t died. Not really, but I may as well have. I lost my friends to… to my own insane visions. Insane visions that I now proved to be true, but at a cost. A great cost. No, I have to stop! They might still be alive! They fell through, I did too! They might still be out there. Injured… broken… abandoned... …dead…

Why? Why them? Why not just me? WHY NOT ME?!

My soft crying renews and I shake and sputter, hugging the figure who so graciously accompanied her in her time of need. Why was she here? She didn’t have to do this. She doesn’t owe me anything. I don’t deserve anything. Not even her presence. Yet I don’t push her away. Instead, I take in her warmth and her kindness. No person should be putting up with this, yet here they were.

I feel something even softer and warmer than the person’s embrace hug me. Something I can’t explain. It feels like a cloud has just rested their reassurance on me, a pillow of feathers having landed softly on and around me. Still crying, I can hear myself begin to slow, and I feel the shaking of the very figure hugging me. They are crying too. What for? I don’t know. And I won’t know, as I slowly and restlessly fall into a deep sleep.



I can hear voices.

Soft hushes. The soft sniffles of someone trying to hide their crying. I was back on my back, facing up as I lay. Groggily, my world came into sharp focus. No, I didn’t open my eyes, but I now cricked my head just so, so I could hear what they were saying.

“-rpy, it’ll all be alright. She woke up, and that’s still the best news we’ve had yet,” a British voice says.

“B-but she seemed so sad…” another voice whispered. She could hear the emotion dripping from her words. “As if the world had ended and she had lost everything important to her…”

Those words stung me and all my memories and emotion came flooding back. I bit my cheek as a tear rolled down the side of my head but I stayed silent. They remained none the wiser.

“We still don’t know anything about her, Derpy. We can’t say of anything for sure. Maybe if the doctor were in the room at the same time she came to, they might’ve diagnosed something, but for now we are in the blind. Until she wakes up again, we’ll just have to hope she’ll be fine.”

I now hear something in both of their voices. Something I hadn’t before: a sense of tiredness. Are these the people- the ponies that saved my life? That I had seen just before I succumbed to my wounds? Why are they doing this for me? I’ve done so much wrong, I can’t see any way to deserve any of this. I may be grateful, but my own consciousness bears down on me the idea that I shouldn’t have survived. That I should have just died on the spot. I now want to see who they are, but I have sapped the only energy I have by trying to listen in.

“Are you sure?” the other voice asks, naivety resounding through her words. “She’ll be fine?”

“Positively,” the posh voice says. I begin to think to myself.

Either my friends are gone or they’re somewhere here in this equine world, I don’t know. But what I do know? These people saved my life. I owe it to them to keep living now. Even if it’s just for that one voice, that one person who seems to care so much about me. I want to stay alive, for her. Maybe… just maybe… my friends are alive. And unless I have absolute proof they are not, I will search all ends of this world to find them. I promise myself this. For Carrie and Ben. For my two saviours. Now was the time to show gratitude in rough waters and brilliance in a dark world.

I will live. I will sing. I will be as I once was- happy and full of energy. And I will find them. I will find you, my friends. Even if it’s the last thing I do. I feel a new sense of purpose. I feel energy flow through my body and a sense of revitalisation. Re-energised, renewed! I feel like I just had a million cups of hot chocolate! My favourite hot drink. Whose wasn’t? With that, a small sad smile forms on my face, and I fall once more into a now dreamless sleep.



I finally wake up feeling full of energy. I don’t have some sort of dullness suppressing my brain anymore. No more needles in my arms, or would they be legs now? Oh, that’s right! I’m a four-legged creature now! I begin to study my new anatomy in detail as my clear mind begins to race through positive thoughts. Nothing can stop my happy mood! I’m on a roll! Hooves? Sure, why not. Might be little hard to grab things now though. Soft soft blue fur? I could live with that! An brilliant turquoise and sunset orange mane? Not bad!

I then smell a heavenly scent coming from beside me. Turning my head, I see a basket of seemingly fresh muffins. There was a small note card, which I leaned over to read since I don’t know how I’m supposed to hold anything in these darned hooves.



Hi!

If you wake up, here’s a batch of Pinkie’s signature never-cooling muffins! Always fresh and warm! Please feel better, I don’t like seeing ponies hurt or sad.

Love,

Derpy

P.S. I kinda took a few muffins myself, they’re just too good. Sorry!



I read and re-read the note before smiling. I was happy now! What could she possibly be talking about? A dark thought tickled the edge of my mind, but I brushed it to the side. I didn’t want to acknowledge anything sad. Right now, I wanted to be happy! I shifted a little in my bed, grunting with some effort, before being able to finally grab a muffin from the basket. Gingerly, I picked one up with my hooves (pony confirmed!) and I licked my lips as I looked at the delicacy. I wonder how it tastes in this new body? With an open mind, I lifted it to my mouth and took a bite.

All I can say is… wow.

Too bad it’s oatmeal raisin. I would’ve loved it even more if it was chocolate chip! Oh well, minor things. Oatmeal raisin isn’t that bad. It tasted so good, better than back when I was… when I was human! In fact, it was Carrie’s-

I stop my thought process there. Not right now. I can’t right now. I feel a heat rising in my chest, but I do my best to push it back. It’s too much to handle right now. I carefully put the muffin to the side and frown at my hooves. What am I doing? Delaying the inevitable? I reason with myself that I’ve already dealt with it. That I’ve made peace with it. But it just isn’t that simple, is it? It never is.

A knock at the door brings me out of my unhealthy thoughts. Who could it be? Was it the doctor? Or could it be ‘Derpy’? I wonder to myself what the ponies who saved me would be like. Would they be anything like my old friends? It hurts too much to think so, and I store that thought away as well. I rest against the head of my bed in an upright position when three ponies walk into the room. They all spot me sitting up and they widened their eyes. I can see a light brighten in their minds and I gave a prim smile back. They were sapient, right? Like humans? I heard them talking, so they must be… Unless there were humans here too. Would I ever see another human again? I silently prayed to whatever god was listening that I might see another human face again. My mother, my little brother, my friends…

Do not dwell on those thoughts, I tell myself.

The ponies approach me cautiously, watching my reaction to them. I smile tiredly and as casually I could before I said, “Hey, thanks for the muffins. They’re good! Only problem is, they’re oatmeal raisin. Not exactly the best, even though it tastes millions of times better now.” I didn't actually say the last two sentences. Just... more of an implication that they weren't the best.

"Aww, thanks!" the light gray pony thanks before I get crushed in a hug by said pony. It felt just like the hug I had when I was- when I wasn't in the right state of mind. Pulling away, she grinned goofily and that was when I notice two things. Firstly, her eyes! One of them wasn't looking at me, which wasn't so much unnerving as it was unusual, but that isn't the main thing I am talking about. Because secondly, she had wings! She's a pegasus! Woah! They actually exist? But I thought-?

Oh. That's right. I'm pretty sure I'm in a different universe altogether and thus there would be differences. While pegasi are myths on earth, they're real here. I wonder if they're rare? But- why did I change if I was just travelling through a dimensional rift? It makes no sense to me.

I don't tell any of them this, however. It's rude to acknowledge others' conditions, is it not? Also, with my powerful skill of deduction via logic and common sense, I assumed this had to be Derpy. I may have seen it coming, but I didn't think she would have any relation to her name in physical traits at all. What kind of person would do that? Name their child something so implicit?

For now, there are more pressing matters to attend to. Such as the disheveled mares standing before me. Mare is the proper term, right? I hope to find out later. Derpy let go of me after having a brief hug and I smile at them again, however tired or revealing it was I don’t know. “We’re… we’re glad you’re finally awake,” the pony with a bowtie says. She has jet black hair that looks a bit frayed at the edges but otherwise beautifully silky. 

The googly-eyed samaritan on the other hand (or hoof, now?) has pretty, blonde hair that seems to blow wherever the pegasus wanted and she had bangs that added to her overall care-free attitude. She gives off the most wonderful joyous vibe, and one can’t help but think happy thoughts in her presence.

But I can’t help notice what this darker grey pony said.

“What do you mean awake?” I say, frowning a bit.

I see her glance to Derpy who grimaces ever so slightly. “Well… first, do you remember anything about us saving you?”

I remain silent. My expression is all they need to know.

“When we found you,” she began as she herself seemed tear up at the memory, “You were already half dead. We did everything we could to get you attention right away, but… but me and Derpy thought it may have been too late. The doctors… they worked so long and hard to save you…

“Afterwards, they had successfully healed you, but we were told you may never wake again. I… we came to visit you every single day, hoping you would wake.” By then, tears were streaking my new face and I couldn’t handle it anymore.

“How long,” I whisper. I dreaded the answer. I couldn’t help but wonder how these kind souls fared with a comatose person like me. If I knew anything, it would be that something like that- it does things to people. To ponies.

She hesitated and I turned to her in my own need to know how much they suffered. “How. Long.”

“I… you were…” she stuttered, clearly impacted by my own emotional state. “Six… six weeks…”

A pit drops in my stomach. A whole month and a half. These people suffered through six weeks of emotional trauma. All my fault. All of it.

How am I supposed to confront this? I made a promise. For these two ponies. For my friends. How am I supposed to happy when everything is taking a turn for the worse? Every second in this new environment seems to keep getting worse. I loved being happy. It was why I did all the things I did. Nearly all my decisions were based on happiness and adventure. Now, it seems I sacrificed the former for the latter.

“I’m… I’m sorry.” I choke out, putting my face in my hooves. My new body sure seems more emotional than it should be. Then again, this is the first time I’ve encountered a catastrophe such as this.

They try to comfort me. I am uncomfortable. They continue to speak soothing words to me, yet these fall upon deaf ears as I let out all my bottled up emotions once again. “I’m s-sorry Carrie, I’m sorry Ben… I’m so-sorry…” I sob, my voice breaking and my body racking.

Time has no meaning in this moment. I continue to pour out my soul to these listeners. Nothing matters to me right now. Just the longing for those I’d lost, the self blame I’ve now thrust upon myself.

In that moment… I lose myself in the warmth of two people I would soon realise to be two of the best friends I will ever know.

> 3 - Who'd Have Believed You'd Come Along
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I don’t think we ever properly got your name,” Octavia says matter of factly as she and Derpy eat some of ‘Pinkie Pie’s’ baking. I’m eating as well, thanks very much to these two ponies who were kind enough to bring more treats for me today.

Currently, it has been a couple days since I ‘finally’ woke up. After that night of my mental outpouring, the doctor came in and shooed my two new pony-friends out so he could take a look at me. Well, shooed is much kinder than what he actually did. More like shoved. Anyways, the dark grey earth pony who I came to know as Octavia and the lighter gray pegasus who I came to know as Derpy brought chocolate chip cookies. Who can resist such a gooey delectable? Maybe a person that was on a diet, but I’ve been in the hospital with hospital food for a single day and I already hate it. Even the doctor seemed to have sympathy for me. Just goes to show how unlikeable it is.

So, getting back on track, I nod in agreement with her as I lick my new pony teeth with my tongue. Boy, is it weird to have stronger vegetarian teeth! “Nor I you, Octavia,” I say as I turn to Derpy, “Or you, Derpy.”

“Woohoo! Learning names is always fun!” Derpy cheers before putting a hoof to her muzzle. “Or re-learning? Because we already know your name, right?”

I humour the thought for a moment. “I guess you’re right, Derpy. I guess I’ll start then.” Taking a breath, I smile. “Hello everyone (Octavia corrects me to ‘everypony’ but I keep going), my name is Melody Farren. Two things I like to do are sing and explore, and I love strawberry flavoured ice-cream!”

“Strawberry flavoured?” Derpy whispers, “I’d say cookies n’ cream is better!”

“You’re both wrong,” Octavia says, “Chocolate is the best.”

“Okay girls, I think we got a little off track here,” I say as I hold my hooves out in a way of saying ‘calm down’. “Derpy, how about you go next?”

Derpy brightened up at the suggestion. “Okay! Hello everypony, I’m Derpy Hooves! I like to be happy and deliver everpony’s mail! I love love love muffins!” I nod welcoming the new information about my friend. Maybe I should go to this ‘Pinkie Pie’ and get some muffins for Derpy later…

“Alright, I guess that just leaves me,” Octavia announces. She clears her throat and puts a hoof on her chest. “Alright, everypony. My name is Octavia Melody, and I like to play the cello! Music is my forte, as well as performing in front of ponies…” She then looks between the two of us, and puts a hoof up beside her mouth as if sharing a secret. “Between you and I, if you’ve seen the ponies I’ve played for, they are millions more times uptight than I am.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” I say. We all can’t help but smile at Octavia’s comment. Just then, I realize what her and Derpy’s names are, and can’t help but notice. “Hey, we have a common name!”

“It seems we do, Melody,” Octavia says with flourish.

“So… do you get your names when you realize your talent? Because all your names match up with some of what you do best,” I can’t help but say. I then turn to Derpy in forgiveness. “No offence.”

“None taken!” Derpy happily replies back.

“No, we’ve had these names our whole lives,” Octavia frowned. “Although, now that I think about it, it does seem odd how we are named seemingly premonitory of what we will become best at.”

We sit there for a few moments in thoughtful silence. What could this mean, that pony parent’s just presumptuously predict and therefore name their children after their future talents? Ah well, at least there’s peace and quiet.

“Hiya girls!” A pink pony shouts as she quite literally appears out of thin air!

Well it was nice while it lasted.

“Gwah!” I yell, flinching backward into my bed. Confetti falls from places unknown and this pink pony, with a light pink coat and a darker pink mane that’s poofy beyond belief, smiles unnervingly. It seems Octavia was just mildly surprised at her appearance, while Derpy smiles even brighter than she did before.

“Hi, Pinkie,” Derpy greets, closing her eyes and waving a hoof as she floats in the air. To be more specific, flapping her wings so she hovers off the ground.

So this is the Pinkie Pie that was able to create everlasting muffins? I couldn’t believe it! The door never opened, the windows have been shut closed this whole entire time, and there is no other way she could’ve gotten in, unless she was able to teleport her way in!

“Oh, it’s much easier than that, Melody,” Pinkie grins. “But I can’t tell you how. Shh! It’s a secret!”

My jaw drops and I fix her with a baffled stare. She already knows my name, and I’ve only known her for the five seconds she’s been here! Well, maybe Derpy told her but that’s not the point. Also, she pretty much acknowledged my thoughts as if they were tangible and readable! That makes no sense!

“I’m the princess of making no sense,” Pinkie exclaimed before putting on some black shades that she also pulled from nowhere, “Deal with it.”

“Bu- bu- bu- uh…. Wha?” I manage to stutter, and Octavia sighs deeply as she facehoofs.

“This is Pinkie Pie-”

“That’s me!”

“And she is Ponyville’s resident party pony. As for her disappearing and reappearing at will?”  She looks me in the eye with a defeated expression, “She’s Pinkie Pie, and that’s the only explanation anypony ever gets.”

“Yep! Even I don’t know how I do it sometimes!” she smiles, procuring a cupcake behind her with a small candle on it.

Shaking my head, clearing my thoughts of all the shattered fragments of my sane mind, I look at her helplessly. “So… why’d you come here?”

“It’s obvious, isn’t it?” Pinkie says, before placing the cupcake down and hugging me tightly. “It’s to cheer up a pony that’s sad inside!” She then gestures to the cupcake now situated on my side-table and smiles warmly. “And this is to make up for your ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party, which I can’t throw in the hospital because of the meany doctor-ponies!” She pulls a party whistle from her mane and blows it. “I’ll get you a party eventually!

“Oh, and before you ask, I had my usual macguffin Pinkie Sense detect a new pony in town.”

“Macguffin… party.. Pinkie Sense…?” I mutter, trying to process all this information. Sighing myself and taking a deep breath, I smile gratefully at her. “I thank you for all of this, Pinkie Pie, but right now I just need a breather, kay?”

“Alrighty! Don’t worry, I’ll see you around.” She salutes to me and then waves goodbye to Derpy and Octavia. “See you later!” And with that, she dashed out the door. Unbelievably as well, all the confetti that had fallen has now mysteriously disappeared. I frown and pout as I try to piece together my fractured mentality.

“Don’t worry about Pinkie Pie, she means well,” Derpy says, now eating some cookies that had somehow appeared beside her.

“...Yes, and I apologize for any brain damage she may have caused. First encounters with new ponies always tend to be… traumatic in several ways.” Octavia sheepishly frowned.

“Oh,” I say, as I am clearly still recovering, but I smile at the thought of this new pony. “Well, I personally really like her! She’s so happy and upbeat!” I then frown as another thought occurs to me. “But people-”

“Ponies,” Octavia corrected.

“-like her aren’t that happy unless they’ve… unless they've had something happen to them.” I finish, frowning slightly.

“And what would you mean by that?” Derpy asks, fixing me with one eye. I smile at her sadly and shake my head.

“Nothing… it’s just something I seem to have learned recently…” I reply. “But, moving on! I think we were talking about names, weren’t we?”

“Hm, yes, we were discussing how our names seem to relate to our talents… and how that seems odd. But we didn’t discuss how you got your talent,” Octavia says as she looks at me oddly. “Or where you're from. Come to think of it, where are you from?”

Why is she looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face? Apart from that, the question takes me off guard. I don’t know much about this place, but I can infer enough from recent observation that it is mostly dominated by sapient ponies. With no humans  in ight, and myself now somehow transformed into this somewhat uncomfortable body, I purse my lips in contemplation. 

How am I going to say this? ‘Oh yes! Did I mention I’m actually a human-turned-pony that is now in (what I expect to be) another dimension?’? I don’t know how well that would go over their heads, but I feel they wouldn’t take it lightly. They might send me to some insane asylum, have me incarcerated, get me put inside a lab which the government will promptly experiment me in. So many things could go wrong, yet I still need to tell them. Why? Why? Why?

Why do I feel I need to tell them so? What will it benefit me? Maybe it’s because these two people- two ponies are the closest thing I have to friends in this new word and I don’t want to lie to them. Or maybe it’s because of the fact that I’ve already lost everything, so what’s there to lose? Either way, I scrunch my eyebrows and begin to relate to them the story of my name, first.

“My name… Yes, my name. Melody.” I take a deep breath and begin my story. “Should I start with ‘once upon a time’? No? It’s alright? Okay, restart. Once upon a- no, wait, sorry.

“When my mother had newly begat me, there was a lack of names that my mother could accept. Every name that my dad thought might be good, mom rejected. It wasn’t that she didn’t like them, it’s just that she didn’t think any of them were truly fitting. So one day, as she was holding me in her arms, she began to sing. A song of friends, a song of hope, a song of peace.” I now find myself crying with a sad smile as I think back to the family I’ve also lost. Family I’ve lost stumbling into this new world. Friends and acquaintance, who may now never know of where their friend Melody went.

“She… she finished, and found me giggling in delight and making small squeaks that she found- uh- absolutely adorable, and… and she named me Melody. To remind me to always be gentle, to always be sweet. She gave me a song to remember for many generations to come. A melody, a melody of truth, a melody… of things past and things to come.”

“Are… are you alright?” Octavia asks. I nod and see her dabbing a cloth to her eyes and chuckle softly. I look over to Derpy and find her blowing her nose with tissues, and can’t help but laugh lightly at their own dramatic reactions to my story, even when I myself have tears streaking my face.

“Yes, I think I am,” I say as I take a breather, “For now, at least. Thanks for listening, I guess.”

“Hey, we’ll always be here for you,” Derpy cries, flying over to hug me. I happily accept it and I smile my thanks. It would seem the latter question was now completely forgotten.

“I’m sorry guys, I’m an emotional wreck and I definitely need help,” I say, before releasing Derpy.

“Well, you’ve certainly done a good job in doing the same for us,” says Octavia, and we all share a laugh.

“Well, I think we’ve best be going. I’ve got an upcoming concert I truly need to prepare for now, and Derpy I’m sure has her own obligations to fulfil,” Octavia states.

“Yep! Without me, nopony would get their mail!” Derpy beams in pride. That may not be entirely true, Derpy, but I don’t have the heart to tell you otherwise.

“Aw, leaving so soon already? It’s only been half an hour,” I pout. I know they are busy, but I don’t think I can survive with them leaving so soon. Octavia looks like she is about to say something, but stays silent.

“Oh! Well, I guess we can stay for a bit longer, can’t we Octavia?” Derpy asks, and Octavia smiles.

“Of course, Derpy. I’d rather be here than with some amature musicians anyways,” Octavia nods, and I look so very gratefully at them.

“Where do we begin?”





“You can do it, Melody!” Derpy cheers me on as I shakily begin to walk on four feet.

Just yesterday I was given the all-good by the doctor and told I could now leave when I wanted, but that I should still stay for some physiotherapy. It has been a week now since Pinkie Pie’s first visit, and she has visited me every other day when Derpy or Octavia couldn’t, humoring me and keeping me company. But back on track, today, the physio pony has gently prodded me off the bed and onto my never before used hooves, but of course, nopony (look at that! I’m now using ponified terms!) would know that, as I had neglected to tell them from where I’m from. Better to not say it than speak lies, right?

But anyway, here I am, putting one hoof in front of the other. It’s odd, that when I had touched the ground a sense of strength had filled me, but it still didn’t help with my own inability to use my hooves. “Thanks, Derpy,” I grimace as I take another step. “The sentiment is much appreciated.”

“Now remember, hoof at a time,” the physio pony says, and I nod. I’m already good at it! It’s really no different from when I would do a bear crawl for Phys Ed. It’s actually much easier than I thought it would be, and I begin to confidently put one hoof in front of the other.

“That’s good, Melody!” Physio (as I’ve taken to calling him Physio) says. “Now, let's see you do a few rounds around the room. Slow and steady, we don’t want to rush and hurt ourselves.”

I nod and begin to trot slowly in a circle around the room. Success! These new muscles will take some getting used to, but I think as long as I can manage a slow pace I should be good. “Way to go, Mels!” Derpy cries, pumping a hoof in the air.

“Way to go, Mels!” another voice echoes through my head, and I inadvertantly trip up, causing me to crash headfirst into the floor.

“Ow!” I shout, rubbing nose as I prop myself up.

Physio and Derpy run over to me and begin to fret. “Oh dear, are you alright?” Physio says, and I just look at him with a face that said ‘Really? You’re asking me that when I’m on the ground?’.

“I- I think I'm good, yes,” I still respond, grunting with some effort as I get to all four hooves.

“Are you hurt? What happened?” Derpy asks worriedly, and I tried to brush her away with a hoof. I only end up stumbling a little as I still have not mastered standing on three hooves (obviously).

“It’s okay, Derpy. I’ll be alright. I think I can manage. Hey Physio, what’s my status?” I tell Derpy before asking Physio.

“I keep telling you that’s not my name!” he sighs and facehoofs before looking at the floating clipboard in front of him. “Well, save for that little trip you went on, you seem to be holding up quite well. Some of the skin is still tender, as I’ve been told by Doc Green, so I advise you stay away from any extreme physical activity for the next few days. Just in case.”

I nod at him quickly before turning to Derpy in slight desperation. “Hey, can we get out of here?”

“Sure,” Derpy smiled before she hoofed it with Physio. “See ya later, Mister Physio.”

“It’s not- you know what, nevermind.” I hear him mutter something and then he sighs. “Well, take care. I don’t want to see you back in here, alright?”

“Gotcha, Phys,” I remark before we collect my meager belongings (currently consisting of at least a half dozen get-well cards and a muffin) and we slowly but surely walk out of the hospital.

“Hey, Nurse Redheart! We’re checking out, so have a good day!” Derpy calls to the current receptionist and she waves a hoof.

“Bye, Derpy! You have a good day too!” the she replies. I can’t help but wonder whether ‘Nurse’ is her first name, or whether it’s a title and she actually has a proper (relatively speaking) first name.

As we trot at a less than normal pace, normal being relative to how the average speed is walked by the ponies I’ve seen so far, I begin to think of a lot I have on my mind. Such that I couldn’t think of in the drabness and dullness of the hospital, and with all the attention I was getting from medical staff and party ponies alike. The fresh air feels so clean, but the memory of the polluted city air is tainted by the passage of time. Still, it’s nice to feel the breeze and the sun’s heat on my fur.

That thought brings me to another line of thinking. I’m a completely different species, in what I can now see is a completely different world. Before, I had just dismissed it as something insignificant, but now I realize that I shouldn’t really be able to understand any of these creatures. Well, I guess I’m one of them now so I shouldn’t be calling them that. Moving on, how am I able to understand these ponies? It makes literally no sense to the logical part of my mind. Come to think of it, how do they understand me? Unless English is a universal language (it seems more like multiversal now, but that’s not the point), which I know it isn’t, something must be making me able to understand these people. Also, do I still call them people, or do I call them ponies?

Another tangent forms in my mind. These ponies make no sense! All colours of the rainbow coat the ponies of this world (see what I did there?) and everybody has, what was explained to me as, a ‘cutie mark’. Something to indicate that pony’s special talent. Like Derpy’s bubbles, which I assume is to indicate her bubbly personality. Or Octavia’s treble clef, to indicate her own musical talent. Funnily enough, I seem to not have one on my own pony body, which I’m glad to see, for now.

And then there are three races. Three races of pony! The normal ones, like me, and then there are the flipping unicorns and pegasi! Why couldn’t I have been a unicorn? So I could use magic instead of these danged hooves and my gosh-darned mouth? Or maybe even wings like Derpy, so I can fly and feel the rush of wind on my face? Instead, I’m stuck, grounded. To the ground! 

Okay, so maybe it isn’t that bad but it certainly feels like it!

I’m suddenly brought out of my reverie when Derpy addresses me directly. “Hey Melody? Octavia and I, we still don’t know too much about you,” Derpy begins and I nod. “We were wondering if you wanted to have a sleepover with us! And, uh… do you have a place to stay? I mean, just in case you have nowhere else to live, you could live with me…”

I stop watching my hooves as I walk and look at Derpy in surprise and bafflement. “W-what?” I say, and can’t help but feel a rush of emotion and a train of thought barreling through my mind. Here I was, a complete stranger in every possible way, and yet here was a pony offering for me to live with her. I mean, I truly didn’t have somewhere to live since I’m not even native to this dimension!

“You can live with me! We can get to know each other better, you’ll have a place you can call home, unless you already have a place to stay?” Derpy enthusiastically states as she hovers beside me. She then frowns at me sadly. “I don’t think I ever once saw anypony that looked like family visit you… Do you have a place to live, even?”

I slowly come to a stop and gulp as I look at the ground in front of me. Should I accept? I really don’t know what to say. I really don’t. “N-no, I guess I don’t have a place to stay… But why? You barely even know me!”

“Well, that’s just another reason to stay in Ponyville,” Derpy smiles, “We’ll get to know each other better! That’s how friends are made, right? You find a new pony and learn more about them!”

Well, I can’t really argue with that logic… But it still baffles me how these ponies are so friendly. Taking a deep breath, I sigh and look at Derpy. “Let’s- let’s just start off slow and with that sleepover, eh? How’s that sound?”

I see Derpy’s smile falter a little before she grins toothily. “Alright!” she says. I smile myself before we slowly make our way once again. At least with the sleepover, I can finally ask how Octavia and Derpy got their names, and where they came from. Just as we begin trekking down the path once again, I realize something.

“Wait, you’re saying we're in a town is called ‘Ponyville’?”

“Yep!”

Whelp, there goes my mind for the day.
> 4 - I've Been Inclined
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“So you’re saying there’s a ‘Canterlot’, 'Manehattan’, and Fillydelphia?” I ask in increasing worry for this world.

“Of course there is!”

Of course there is.

Of course.

“Wait ‘til my father hears about this,” I mutter under my breath with a head shake. “If I ever make it back home.” Seriously, can I just take a break from this ridiculous world? Maybe find my friends in one piece, assuming their minds aren’t destroyed from sheer insanity? I mean, my friends have to be fine, right? They’re strong, I’m sure nothing has happened to them. I can always count on my friends to pull through from me.

Right?

I refuse to believe otherwise. Where was I going with this again? Weird city names? “I mean, Ponyville I can get. There’s probably a Humans-ville somewhere back where I’m from, but whats with the punny names?”

“What are you talking about?” Derpy asks, cocking her head to one side. “What’s wrong with how we name our cities?”

“Well, I guess, you see,” I try to explain, but sigh. How am I supposed to explain to her that those names are literally knock-off horse puns of our own city names, when she doesn’t even know I’m from another world and has no prior knowledge of our own city and province and state names? ‘Oh hey, Derpy! You have weird names based off our own cities that you somehow were able to appropriate when you’ve never even heard of our cities, much less our race!’. Oh yes, that conversation would go swimmingly.

“Nevermind,” I say with a huff. Derpy just frowns slightly.

“Okay,” she says. She then grins in a sudden burst of thought. For a second, I swear I see a lightbulb turn on above her head. “Oh! And once you come to my place, I can cook you some muffins! My own well-renowned recipe! Pinkie may have everlasting muffins, but she doesn’t compare to my own muffin baking!”

Muffins better than Pinkie’s? I’d like to see that… Or would that be taste? See the taste? Taste after seeing? Where was I going with this? Wait, what?

“When did we get to muffins?” I inquire as we approach the marketplace where Derpy needs to get some groceries.

“When I said you would join me for some!” Derpy exclaimed before flying into the edge of a corner. She then fell ungraciously to the ground before rolling back up as if she’d done it a million times.

“Derpy! Are you okay?” I ask worriedly, walking as fast as I can to her position. She brushes herself off with her wings and checks them instinctively.

“Yep! I’m fine, this corner just always pops up out of the blue whenever I’m talking to somepony.” She narrows one eye and raises the opposite eyebrow in thought. “It’s a really weird coincidence that keeps happening. Or it might just be me and my clumsiness.”

“Hey, don’t say things like that about yourself,” I say as I hug her real quick, “Self deprecation is my weakness.” I chuckle to myself before I see Derpy doesn’t get it. 

“Don’t you mean forte?” Derpy scrunches her eyebrows as I pull away. I wince

“Sure, but I thought it would be ironic to… ya know,” I try to explain, but spectacularly fail.

“Ironic? Oh, I get it! Ha!” She finally laughs after connecting one and two. 

“Yeah, heh. That’s me, horrible at life and everything…” I feel a heat rush through my ponified cheeks. Horrible at keeping your friends safe, a voice tells me and I brush it away. Laughing nervously, I continue my sentence. “Let’s just keep going and make it to wherever I’m staying, alright?”

“Okay,” Derpy smiles and we continue to walk.

We soon enter the thick of Ponyville and I look around at the passing scenery as we do so. The houses look like they can be from medieval or middle aged times. Simply built, with flowers hanging off windowsills and roofs made of hay. The windows themselves are mostly arched at the top and square at the bottom, with wood separating each pane. The materials that coat the exterior walls are smooth and white, and the chestnut wood that stretches from each window only adds to the olden-days type feel. It all feels fresh, natural, and very down to earth. I just get a feeling of peace from this wonderful landscape.

It is all very beautiful. I smile as I think about my new friends. Derpy and Octavia. How did they come to make friends with me? Are all ponies just as friendly as the next? It warms my heart to think that, but I can’t help but feel that there’s more to this kindness than just ‘There’s a new pony, let’s make friends!’. It can’t really be that simple, can it?

Well, one thing’s for sure, some of these houses are just impossible. It’s literally hanging off at least a metre from any support beams. I may not be an expert in architecture, but I know my physics. “Derpy, how do some of these houses hang off like that?” I inquire. It is a question that needs to be asked… Well, needed now, I guess.

“What?” Derpy hums before looking around and raising an eyebrow. “You don’t know why?”

“I’m not from around here, remember?” I remind Derpy, and she still looks at me a little confused.

“Well, you must have at least encountered magic before, right?” 

I cock my head and frown in response. Yes, I’ve seen magic work at levitating small things and such, but surely they couldn’t make whole… things of architecture float like that, right? Right? When can I take a break? Can I just sit right here on this doorstep?

“I guess. But that doesn’t mean magic can break the laws of physics, can it?” I ask.

“The laws of what-now?” Derpy questions. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, but we do have ‘the Laws of Fillycs’.”

No. They did not. Derpy did not just. Urgh!

“Nooooooooooooo!” I shout as I fall four-hooves-down to the ground. Ponies that were walking around us are… surprisingly still walking as if over-dramatic displays are a common occurrence.

“Are you done now?” Derpy asks, and I slowly get back to my hooves. Partly because I’m still new to having four legs. Partly because my mind is still gathering it’s shattered pieces.

Composing myself and checking my fur (a habit I’ve only recently gotten around to) along with my mane, I nod. “Yes, thank you.”

“What’s wrongs? Did mentioning fillycs bring back bad memories? Celestia knows I hated fillycs in High School.”

No! Please! Stop saying that word! “Uh, sure! Yup, bad memories, let’s just change the topic now, can we?”

“There’s also Colton’s Law… Schrodinger’s Cat thing… Sapphire Marenstein’s equation for light, and Twilight Sparkle’s 1,000 page thesis on the technicalities of magic.”

Nope, not going there. Nooooot going there. Nope. I begin to walk and Derpy catches up to me. “I think I’ve had enough pony-puns for the day. Let’s just get to that marketplace, please.”

After another short bout of walking, we found ourselves nearing a bustling spot of road and ponies. Vendors were patiently sitting as ponies came and went to buy various wares and produce. A common theme I noted was that there was no meat. Then again, ponies and horses were largely vegetarian so I understood how meat was more than frowned upon. “Is this where everyone buys their things?” I ask Derpy.

“Mostly. Some ponies get stuff from imports across Equestria and others like to do it themselves. Of course, most ponies just go the easy route and come here, but when ponies want something special there’s always an event or something happening somewhere that ponies can go to.”

“A simple yes would have sufficed,” I tell Derpy as I rub my hooves to my head in a stagnant position. Too bad I can’t walk with three feet yet.

“Okay! Yes, it is.” Derpy clapped her hooves together with a smile.

“Hmm,” I hum. Finally, we start going around buying things Derpy needs and it is pretty uneventful. I’m just happy that we’re not chatting the ridiculous anymore. Maybe I can now set my mind to more important things… Things that won’t hurt my brain…

Or I can just not think at all. Yes. That would be nice. I just won’t worry about anything. Just… just worry about the present. Not the future… or- or the past…I close my eyes and begin to 

Shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut up shut shut up shut up-

“Melody?” someone asks. I continue to try and stop my own head from thinking. I repeat the same phrase over and over in my head… 

“Melody, stop!” the voice says again. I then feel the warm embrace of someone and I turn my head to look at them. It’s Derpy. Why are you looking at me like that, Derpy? I’m perfectly fine! Perfectly fine.

“Stop it, Melody! You’re only hurting yourself!” Derpy says. She then grabs my hoof and holds it still. I then realize that I had been hitting myself in the head with my hoof, trying to stop my own train of thought. I look around to see a few ponies looking my way, and I stare at my hoof in Derpy’s grip. Why am I doing this to myself? I’m supposed to be happy! Nothing’s wrong with the world! I look to Derpy and smile, but she continues to eye me worriedly.

“Melody, why are you doing this to yourself? One minute, you’re fine, the next you’re hitting yourself in the head! I’m your friend now, Melody. Please, I don’t like seeing you like this,” Derpy pleads. I look at her with tears in my eyes before I try and blink them away.

“There’s nothing to talk about, Derpy. Nothing’s wrong. Can we just finish this so we can… so we can go wherever?” I sniffle and Derpy let’s go of my hooves.

For the remainder of the trip, I notice that Derpy is carefully eyeing me. I try and act normal like I had before, but her look is bothering me. I can’t shake her away. Can’t she see I’m fine? I’m absolutely fine. I may be a pony now, but there’s certainly not anything else wrong with me. I really hope we finish this soon. I don’t think I can handle being in this marketplace any longer.

After an eternity of being watched by my new flying friend, she leads us quietly to her house. Soon, we find ourselves in front of a small forest, what Derpy called ‘Whitetail Woods’, and she leads me to a house at the edge of a clearing. She then sighs and lays her groceries down before turning around to look me in the eye. I smile the most genuinely I can muster.

“Before I let you in, I want you to promise me something,” Derpy says lowly. I cock an eyebrow.

“That is…?” I ask.

“I don’t want anything to be held back in this house. I want it to be a place you can call home, a place where can be friends. I want it to be a place where you feel safe.” Derpy then nears me and holds my shoulder with a hoof. “Whatever’s on your mind, I want you to tell me. Please. You’re hurting inside, I can see that. I can help. I know what it’s like.” She then hugs me and takes a step back. “Please, Melody.”

“Derpy, what are you saying? I’m fine. See? There’s nothing to worry about,” I grin, but I can tell Derpy doesn’t believe me. She then nods and smiles sadly, the reason for the pained look in her eye slipping my mind, and she whispers something as she unlocks her home and I follow her in.

“Okay.”

> 5 - But Now I
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I ponder the words of Derpy as I begin to settle into her house.

What does she mean? I’m perfectly fine, there’s nothing wrong with me! I’m as happy as can be right now, can’t she see that? It doesn’t make any sense to me… and yet, a part of me still knows she’s right. But I don’t know what to talk to her about… Unless she means… them. They have to be fine. They’re my best friends, I can count on them to be okay.

I really hope their okay.

But I know they’re fine. I’m sure they are. They can handle themselves.

I look around at Derpy’s home and already see it is bigger than my own apartment, with a second floor. Although it isn’t too large for there to be a lot of empty space, it’s big enough to feel like you have free movement and yet feel cozy at the same time. It has a nice smell, faintly of lavender and vanilla, yet it seems amplified thanks to this new snout of mine. Very nice. Pictures line the walls of her home, trinkets and frames adorning her various tables and cabinets. At a glance, I see a photo of Derpy hugging a contraption which looks like it could fall apart at any moment, with a 1st place sticker on it. Moving onto another, I see a mare with a rainbow coloured mane and tail (is that possible or is it just dye?) with one foreleg draped over Derpy, both smiling at the taker of the photo.

But wait… if they have these photos, that means they have cameras! They have technology! I then watch as Derpy flicks a switch light surrounds me. I look up to see a bulb screwed into the ceiling and smile. So they do have technology! But it seems to be sparingly used. I guess it makes sense. They already have magic and spells that can do just about anything (or at least, that’s what I assume), so why bother with something that consumes energy and wastes resources all the time? I’m sure they still have it running more profusely elsewhere, but here it seems to be just another simple commodity of no real importance. 

“Your home is lovely,” I comment, and Derpy smiles and nods.

“Oh? Thank you, Melody. I do try my best, though I tend to muck things up every once in a while. Takes a bit of time to clean up, but nothing too bad,” Derpy responds as she hums. As she begins pouring ingredients into a bowl and preparing for something, I look at her with pity. She probably doesn’t like pity, with what little I’ve gotten to know of her, but it still rests within me.

“So, watcha making?” I ask casually, walking up to the counter opposite of Derpy. Adorning her figure is now a baker’s hat and an apron with the words ‘#1 Mail Mare’.

“I already told you before, didn’t I?” she said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, “Muffins! So I can cheer you right up, and so the others have a treat when they come over.”

Wait, ponies are coming over? When did that- oh. Oh yeah. Sleepover. Right. Makes sense. But she said ponies plural, which means more than just Octavia. Would that mean Pinkie might come around too? As much as I love the pink party mare, I can’t imagine how I would survive a whole night with her. And if not Pinkie, than who? More ponies to make friends with? I’m still relatively fresh to this insane world, I’m not sure if I can handle a whole group of talking ponies as friends!

Maybe I can just be a background character? How about I just sit back and watch as Derpy have fun with her friends? That sounds nice. Can I just leave this world now? “So, uh, who’s coming?”

“Well…” Derpy mumbles as she puts a hoof up to her chin in thought. Unbeknownst to her, her hat was now slightly askew. “You already know Octavia… Pinkie can’t come because she’s with Twilight and the others seeing a concert or something…” Derpy then facepalms… Wait, wouldn’t it be a facehoof, since it’s a hoof? Anyways, she facehoofs and groans. “Aw, I forgot to ask them to get me an autograph from Countess Coloratura! Oh well, it’s too late now.”

“Who?” I question, now intrigued. Coloratura is an italian term for singing, much like my own name is directly related to melody in music, and if pony names are anything to go by, that would mean this is a singer.

“Countess Coloratura!” Derpy gushes. “She’s only one of the most popular singers in all of Equestria! Anypony who’s anypony knows who she is! She might even be better than Sapphire Shores!”

Pony names equals talents confirmed. 

Plus, if the context of this conversation makes any sense, that would mean Sapphire Shores is also a singer. “Really?” I ask rhetorically before humming in the way that meant ‘cool’. It looks like that’s a universal sound to make because Derpy seems to understand. I really don’t know how I’m able to communicate with these ponies, it still makes no sense to me.

“Yep!” Derpy still answers. “Her songs are amazing! I especially love her first album, That’s What Friends Are For, and yet not many ponies even know about it. First published when she had just moved to Manehatten to get famous, she became a star right quick!” Derpy then puts a hoof beside her mouth and looks around before whispering, “Personally, my favourite song from her is ‘An Apple A Day’.”

Smiling, I nod at her with mirth in my eyes. “You should let me listen to them one time,” I suggest, and Derpy’s eyes sparkle… Quite literally. Which is a bit unnerving.

“Oh, you’re in for a treat!” she says before she finally gets back to her baking.

“So who’s coming again?” I ask, hoping this time we don’t go on another tangent.

“Well, there’s Octavia and I already told you that…” She pauses as she preps a muffin tray. “Then there’s ponies you still don’t know! That would be Minuette… Lyra, Bob Bon, Vinyl, and the Doctor!”

She didn’t mean… the Doctor, as in, the Doctor? Oh, I’ve always wanted to ask this question! “Doctor who?” I smile widely, and Derpy brightens.

“Oh, Doctor Whooves! Some ponies call him Time Turner, but I find it easier to just say ‘the Doctor’. He’s a bit of an odd pony, but I do love his weird box!”

“What kind of weird box?” I say, now truly concerned that there might actually be a Time Lord in their midst.

“One with all these crazy inventions in them. A lot of it’s fun, and he even made love-reacting fireballs!”

Oh thank goodness she didn’t say-

“And it’s bigger on the inside.”

…

…

…

Not going there. Nope. Notta. Never. Yeah-no. Nuh uh.

Maybe it’s time to just sit back and watch Derpy bake. That sounds like a good idea.



Ding!

The oven finally made the satisfying ring of a finished batch of muffins. Now, I’m not saying Pinkie’s baking is bad or anything, but the smell of these muffins is heavenly. Seriously hard for me to say, but it smells better than Pinkie’s muffins. Wow, just wow. But, I guess I can’t say anything until I take a bite out of one. Luckily, it seems I may be able to do that soon. Very soon. So soon, in fact, that she’s already taking them off the cooling rack now.

“What kind are these, Derpy?” I ask, and she gestures to them with pride.

“My own very special recipe of strawberry and blueberry!” she exclaims, taking one in her hoof and stuffing it into her mouth. She cries in brief pain as it’s still fairly hot before she begins to chew normally and swallows, now gleaming with happiness. “The very best you might ever taste, mind you.”

“We’ll see about that,” I mumble in mirth before picking one up myself. Sniffing it, I can already tell it’s gonna be amazing, but nothing will prepare me for the taste that comes with it.

Taking a bite, it seems like the whole world had exploded into ten more shades of bright. The consistency is incredible, the sweetness is perfect! I can taste the strawberry and blueberry bits complementing the warmth of the bread-like… well, bread, I guess. Is there a word for that part of the muffin? Is there a word for the bit-part of the muffin? Anyways, it is indescribable. The words I am using are nowhere near the how they truly taste, and that is, godly.

“Thish ish sho GUD!” I say with muffin in my mouth, sighing in awesome taste. Derpy giggles at my antics and blushes.

“Thanks, it means a lot,” Derpy grins, before there is a knock at the door. As I glance outside, I see a few ponies of various colours. Light still graces the living room, but it has now turned a brilliant gold, the signs of sunset. With a gasp and a flutter of her wings, Derpy dashes to the the doorway and swings it wide open.

“Minuette! Vinyl! Bonnie! Doctor!” Derpy greets as she huggs each of them on the way in. She then frowns as she notices a pony is missing. “Where’s Octavia and Lyra?” Derpy asks for the both of us, though I don’t know who Lyra is.

The pony she addressed as Vinyl waves her hoof a bit before Derpy sighs. “Running late at another recital? Ponyfeathers!”

I rise and stand beside Derpy as I assess these new ponies. Now I’m really wishing I am a background character, so I don’t have to interact with new people- er- ponies! Luckily, or unluckily, I guess, I didn’t have to introduce myself first.

“And you must be Melody, hm?” the ‘Doctor’ asks, outstretching a hoof in greeting. A hoofshake, instead of a handshake, I guess. “My name is Doctor Whooves. Some call me Time Turner, though I prefer just ‘Doctor’. Yep, just call me ‘The Doctor’.” I notice his accent is considerably stronger than Octavia’s own British, although with the way ponies name their cities and countries I won’t be surprised to find that Britain has a different name as well.

And if his ‘cutie mark’, as Octavia had explained on one of her visits when I asked about the image on her flanks, is any indication of his talent, I wouldn’t be surprised if this pony actually is the Doctor reincarnate. 

Buuuuuut I’m still hesitant to go that far and say he’s a Time Lord just yet. Maybe if he shows me a Police Public Call Box, but other than that, my mind hurts just thinking about it. This world is already comical enough as is. I don’t need speculative immortals from a sci-fi T.V. show to break my mind any further. I mean, his cutie mark is an hourglass? Something related to time?... Yeah, let’s not think too hard about that.

“Y-yes, I’m Melody,” I stutter. Why did I stutter? Probably because my mind is short-circuiting. Nice one, pony world, you’re slowly breaking me. “Nice to meet you, Doctor Whooves.”

“And you, my equine friend,” he says dubiously. Nope. Still not thinking about it. He walks past me and I lose my focus on him as a smiling pony meets me.

“Hello, I’m Minuette, and this is Bon Bon!” the light blue unicorn introduces and I shake hands… I mean hooves with them as well. She gestures to the cream coloured normal pony like me and I smile at the both of them.

“Afternoon! I’m Melody, nice to meet you,” I say.

“We’re so happy to see you’re much better now. Especially since Derpy told us about how she found you…” Minuette trailed off and began to look uneasy. “Yes, sorry about that. Must be bad memories for you. I’ll just, uh…” She looks for an excuse to stop worsening her own situation before she spots the muffins. She hastily says she’ll just go try some of Derpy’s muffins while Bon Bon stays behind.

“Sorry about Minuette. She’s not exactly the best at being subtle,” Bon Bon tells me, and I laugh a little.

“Yeah, I noticed.”

“Plus, she’s not really from around here. She’s usually in Canterlot, but she comes to visit most of the time. In fact, just a few weeks ago, Twilight went up to say hi to her and a few more of her old friends. I’ve got to say, Minuette sure does a lot of travelling for one who’s so focused on saving time.”

I then notice the same mark Doctor Whooves has on her flanks and a thought crosses my mind. Immediately, I push it away. Definitely not going there. “So it must be an extra special occasion if she came all the way from Canterlot to have a sleepover, hm?”

“Well, partly,” Bon Bon nods. “It’s also so she can say hi to Twilight before she leaves back for Canterlot, and to also reconnect with us after her last visit and that…” She trails off as well as a faint blush creeps onto her cheeks. “...that wedding. Mm hm. That was one crazy day.”

Nodding, I now want to ask what happened on this ‘Wedding Day’. It seems to have happened during my post-recovery recovering (I’m not a doctor, I don’t know what it’s called when I have to stay in my hospital bed) and I can still remember when Derpy came late that evening pretty tuckered out.

“I’m beat,” she had said when she came around and had fallen asleep on my bedside. I had actually seen some eyebags under her eyes. That’s some pretty stressful stuff she must’ve encountered if she had eyebags after one day.

“What is it with this wedding, anyways? I keep hearing peop- I mean ponies mentioning it.”

“Oh, you really don’t want to know,” Bon Bon replied quickly before seeming to notice the muffins right then as well. “Oh look! It looks like Derpy’s made muffins. I think I’ll, uh, go try them out, hehe.”

What is it with these ponies? Dang, I really want to know.

“Alright, thanks DJ,” Derpy says before the white unicorn nods silently. She then smiles as she passes me and nods at me, waving a hoof in what I assumed was a gesture of greetings.

“Alright everypony, I guess we’ll just have to have or start this sleepover without Lyra or Octavia.”

My heart drops a little to know that Octavia might be late but I hold my peace.

“Let’s get started!”

And with that, it seems we have now switched into sleepover mode, as pillows and blankets have now been revealed from nowhere and the atmosphere has already changed from one of airy and cheerful peace to ecstatic energy and unbridled potential. With all the smiles in the room, I can’t help but grin myself. I’m just hoping Octavia and Lyra are able to make it.

“This'll be interesting,” I mutter as everyone starts to whoop and holler.

Looks like this is going to be a good night.

> 6 - Ode To Sleep
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Melody.”

I look up from my cup of apple cider, nonalcoholic if you want to know, and I raise my eyebrow at the grey pegasus addressing me. She gestures to her other friends who are playing a pony version of ‘Apples to Apples’, while I sit quietly sipping some of my drink. Though the sleepover had started off nicely, I couldn’t help but feel some loss at seeing a group of developed friends having fun while I… while there is a lack of two very important people in my life. Who would be here right now if…

I close my eyes for a bit before opening them again.

Derpy looks at me worriedly, landing on the ground as she was hovering, before taking a seat beside me. “Melody, please.”

I take another drink and set it down before fixing my stare on it. I can feel Derpy’s gaze boring into me, trying to read me, but I do my best to keep a straight face. If she couldn’t read my current state before, I’m sure she can now. It really isn’t that hard to read someone, you know. It’s just prior knowledge of how emotions can affect your mood. Though I can’t say for sure, since I’m not a certified psychologist. Maybe another life. But not this one.

“It’s just a game. It’ll help you bond with new ponies. I know it’s just been me and Octavia for the past few weeks, but I know you can make more friends than just us.”

I smile and give a small chuckle, before crushing my empty cup with my hoof. I then slowly lift my hoof from the cup with surprise, looking at my hoof with a twinge of fear and wonder. The cup had been made out of wood. And I crushed it. I gingerly put the flattened cup in between my hooves again, before dropping my head in thought.

“What if I don’t want to bond with ‘new ponies’?” I whisper, my voice cracking ever so slightly though I barely notice. Why is that? “It’s not as simple as that, Derpy.”

“It can be, if you make it,” Derpy murmured, putting a hoof on my shoulder. I look up at her and finally make eye contact with her. “You already talked to them. They introduced themselves to you. You know they're not bad ponies, so what’s wrong?”

I shake my head and smile sadly, looking away. “Nothing’s wrong. It just… It just doesn’t feel right.”

“Just give it a shot,” Derpy pleaded. “For me?”

I look her in the eye before laughing a little. “God, I get philosophical when I’m in a bad mood,” I say, and Derpy tilts her head in confusion, not getting it. How would I expect her to? She doesn’t know what goes on inside my head. “Alright, get me some cards. I know how to play.”

Brightening up considerably, Derpy smiles delightfully and whizzes to the group huddled around a table that they’re using for the cards. I hear them laugh at a particularly funny choice for a card before they hear Derpy tell them I’m comin and they reshuffle everything around. As I near the table, Doctor Whooves begins dealing the cards once more to each pony playing, and I take my hoof. Cause you know, instead of a hand, I have a hoof, so instead of ‘I take my hand’ I ‘take my hoof’. Get it? Yeah? No? Maybe?

I’ll stop.

“You didn’t have to restart the game for me, you guys,” I say with a smile, and the pony I know as Vinyl Scratch shakes her head.

“That just wouldn’t be proper, yo,” she states and everyone laughs.

“Yeah,” Minuette agrees. “And besides, Bon Bon was winning by a long shot so it wouldn’t have been fair for you to join in the middle of her card game domination.”

“Was not!” Bon Bon decries before a few cards fall out of her hair. One of them says ‘Whipcrack’, and Bon Bon immediately blushes before kicking the cards under the table and whistling, looking elsewhere.

“Seriously, Bon Bon? Cheating in Apples to flipping Apples?” Derpy accuses, grabbing the cards from under the table.

“Nooo, what are you talking about?” Bon Bon muttered before a few more cards fall out… fall out of her fur. How did she do that?

“That’s it, we’re probing you!” Minuette exclaims before realizing she had just said and all heads turned to look at her. “Not like that! Ack!” She ducks her head behind a pillow and everyone laughs again.

“No, but seriously, no cheating,” Vinyl stated before levitating Bon Bon and shaking her. To my complete and utter shock, a pile of cards and chips and various other things begins to appear from Bon Bon’s mane, tail and other places. Meanwhile, she’s just kicking in place and writhing in protest before Vinyl let’s go of her hold on Bon Bon.

“Hey, what gives?!” Bon Bon shouts as she begins to stuff some of the items back into her various hiding places. I swear I saw a katana in that pile, but I can’t say for sure as she had already put it back into her mane when I had noticed it. Soon, all that was left was a pile of assorted cards, and that also was put away, a pile of neat Apples to Apples cards now assembled on the table.

“I think my mind just broke...” I mutter under my breath. “...again.”

Another chuckle is elicited from the group and I can’t help but laugh myself. Finally, we kick things into gear and begin a game of Apples to Apples.

It looks like it won’t be so bad after all.



I sweat as I look at all the cards in my hooves, all the ones that the ponies around me had chosen for the term ‘Ridiculous’.

My Job, My Love Life, My Friends, My Future, and My Bank Account were the cards I had been given, and I cannot decide which one to choose! The other ones were really easy as there was always just one card that I had found to be perfect for each word I had chosen, but this is too much. Too much I say! My eyes dart across the five cards randomly as I try and choose the best one. We had had a good laugh when I read the cards to the ponies around me, but now here I was, having trouble.

I lift my hoof to select My Future, before hovering it over to My Love Life. I then touch My Job, skimming over to My Friends, and finally to My Bank Account before grunting in frustration.

“I can’t!” I shout. “These cards are all too good!”

“You still have to choose one,” Doctor Whooves says and I stick my tongue out at him. With a huff, I close my eyes and take the card I think is best and lay it on the table face up.

My Friends.

“Aha!” somepony shouts before I open my eyes and see Derpy collect the green card happily. 

Minuette, Bon Bon, Doctor Whooves, and Vinyl collectively sigh as I can tell each had hoped their card would’ve been chosen. This round was a tough one to settle. I’m still having second thoughts. I had a card for this one too, My Family, but since I was choosing I couldn’t pitch in. Oh well. Maybe another turn.

I’m sure if anyone, or I guess, anypony had done this card and seen mine, they would’ve chosen it. Family can be downright weird sometimes. But friends is a good choice too. Friends can be ridiculous. Most of the time, if not all the time. I know I can get ridiculous. In… in more ways than one.

We’re playing Apples to Apples. Stop getting side-tracked, Melody! I said stop it!

I look at my hand- hoof, and ponder as I see the next card on the table. How did everypony get cards that related almost directly to the person seeing the card? Starting with the pronoun My? It was odd to me then, and it’s still bothering me now. Weird. Hm, I don’t think I phrased that right, but it makes sense in my mind. That’s usually how things work, right?

I think I’ve gotten to know these ponies a bit better. Even Derpy, and just with this one game. Doctor Whooves likes to choose complicated yet fitting words. Bon Bon makes odd yet hilarious match ups. Minuette improvises the best out of a bad hoof. Derpy is simple yet effective, and Vinyl likes to be mysterious but snazzy. A lot can be told just by what people choose and what people do and how they react. We all laugh at each other, make self deprecating jokes, and have a generally good time. Yet... as for me… I don’t have a clue whether or not these ponies have learned anything about me. It’s easy enough as an analytical person to infer some things about people just by how they behave in a game, but one cannot determine how much other people learn from you. You would have to ask them.

Where was I again?

“I choose-” Derpy was about to say when she had picked up a green card, but was interrupted by a knock on the door. “Oh,” Derpy mutters happily as she sets her cards down. “That must be Lyra and Octavia!”

Oh yes. It was Derpy’s turn. I guess not anymore.

She races to the door and swings it wide open, and standing in the doorway is Octavia and another unicorn. Since we were expecting two ponies, I can only infer that this mint green mare is Lyra. As they walk in, I notice the mark on Lyra’s flanks.

And would you look at that, it’s a lyre! Who would’ve guessed?

Well, I’m assuming it’s a lyre. It matches with Lyra’s name after all, but it could be a harp. Either way, I’m getting suspicious about ponies and their naming system. It’s just too much of a coincidence. Will this ever end? The amount of oddities I’m finding now that I’m paying closer attention and my mind is clearer is… well, to say the very least, a lot.

“Thank you, Derpy. Hi girls!” Octavia greets as she walks into the house.

“Sorry we’re late, it stretched out far longer than we had anticipated,” Lyra says to Derpy as she walked in as well.

“I hope it’s not because of that rivalry between you two,” Bon Bon mutters and Octavia lightly laughs.

“No, it wasn’t that, though I do say your performance was exceptionally exquisite this time around, Lyra,” Octavia complimented. Lyra smiles in acceptance and grins even wider.

“Well, that cello of yours certainly makes for great entertainment, Octavia,” Lyra commends her, patting Octavia on the back.

“Now hey, you two,” Bon Bon eyes carefully and everyone giggles. As for me… well, I’m sure there’s something going on between the two so I give a few laughs myself.

“Relax, Bon Bon, it’s purely professional,” Lyra assured her before the two musicians neared the table.

“So, what have we been up to?” Octavia asks, seeing the Apples to Apples cards laid out on the table. I’m sure they’ve now noticed that Derpy is winning, with Bon Bon not far behind.

“Just a card game to pass the time,” Minuette said, looking between her cards and the green one on the table.

“Fashionably late. Figures,” Vinyl snarked, and Octavia smacked her in the back of her head. “Ow!” Vinyl shouts as she rubs her head, her glasses slightly askew. She fixes them with a push of her hoof.

“Serves you right,” Octavia humphs, prompting another laugh from the group.

“Well, come on then, let’s get you mares in the game before Luna finally tells us to go to sleep!” Doctor Whooves shouts before gathering all the cards (again) and dealing them to everypony.

“Derpy was winner of last round, let’s see how this one goes,” I announce, and everyone nods, now smirking at each of the cards they had been dealt.

“You’re on, Melody!” Derpy cries and everyone chuckles lightly.

“Whatever you say, Derpy,” I mutter with a smile and Derpy picks up another green card. Oh well. Let’s make the best out of this situation, eh? Though I must say, it must be annoying for the other ponies in the group for us to have reset the game n amount of times. The patience people have for- I mean ponies have for friends.

Dang it, pony-isms! Why’d I have to be turned into a pony in a pony dimension?!



Finally, the game was won by an over competent Lyra Heartstrings. Everyone, er, everypony had gotten at least one card but Lyra’s were by far the most ridiculous and hilarious answers yet! Some didn’t even make sense, and they still worked. How… how does that even work?

At least I came in second. I had a lot of green apples as well. My prized one being Hands paired with Odd. Lyra had looked at me suspiciously when I had gotten that card. Everyone agreed that fingers were odd, but I just thought it because everybody had hooves, and I used to have fingers, and so that made it odd. Though I still don’t know why Lyra looked at me like that.

Is it because of the Hands card? Hm…

Dang, I think weird when I’m tired. A feat for me to have ignored that fact up until now.

“I told you it would be fine,” Derpy had said to me just after the game. I had smiled at her and shrugged.

“Yeah, I guess,” I said. Derpy made that face that just said ‘Well then’.

“So, do you think they’re good friends?” Derpy had asked, having glanced over at the ponies who were now setting up sleeping bags and blankets.

I silently looked at them for a moment before I turned to Derpy and said, “Yes. Definitely.”

With that, Derpy had smiled and hugged me before setting up her own blankets for the couch. I looked at all these new people, these new ponies that I had made friends with for a few seconds longer, before preparing a sleeping bag that Derpy had provided for me.

And now, I lie her in my sleeping bag, thinking. Nice, peace, and quiet-

“Psst.”

Or not.

“Psssst!” the voice sounded again, and I sighed. When will Murphy’s Law leave me alone? I turn my head to look at the source of the noise and find Lyra staring at me wide-eyed with a smile… Right beside me.

I flinch back instinctively and close my eyes before holding a hoof to my now beating heart. After a moment of lowering my BPM, I sigh heavily and whisper quietly with my eyes closed. “Please don’t do that again.”

“Sorry!” Lyra whispers loudly and I groan quietly. “But I couldn’t help but ask why you chose that card for Odd. Why Hands? Is it because you know what humans are too?”

At this, my eyes shoot open and I turn my head once again to look over the smiling mare. She seems to be energized by the mere topic. I furrow my brows and try to read the mint green unicorn in the dark.

“What?” I whisper hesitantly, not knowing how exactly to proceed.

Lyra repeats herself in kind. “Do you like humans too?”

I look up and away from her, trying to collect a careful answer. Should I tell her it’s because I used to be human? Or should I just shrug her off as some sort of lunatic? Maybe I’ll just say that I study humans too. Would that work? Possibly, but the outcome of that might not exactly be the best… Nor would any of the other options. Call her insane, she probably won’t be my friend any longer. Tell her I was human, bad things might come to pass. Tell her I know what humans are too, and she’ll probably gush over me about how much she knows about humans herself.

I sigh and shake my head slightly. “Lyra, can we do this another time? It’s already time to sleep, and everyone-pony is asleep already. I don’t think they’d appreciate us having a conversation and wake them up.”

Lyra looks a little defeated but otherwise accepting of the compromise. “We’ll talk later. Promise.”

“Okay,” Lyra mumbles before shifting in her sleeping bag. “It was nice to meet you, Melody. Good night!” she says with a yawn before I hear the faint sound of snoring, now adding to the chorus of deep breathing and yawning of those already asleep.

With that, I look out a window which I can see through from my position and smile sadly. I look at the stars with misty eyes, seeing the expanse of an infinite universe, and an even bigger multiverse. As if by chance, a meteor shoots across the sky and my breath hitches ever so slightly. I make a wish.

Wherever you are, my friends, I wish you the best.

Closing my eyes, I yawn and rub the tears away before letting the peaceful bliss of sleep steal me away from the world.

> 7 - Dreams and Breakfast
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Where are we going this time, Mels?” Carol asks me.

“I hope we’re not asking llamas for directions,” Ben muttered and I glare hot daggers at him.

“That was once, Ben.” I shove him as we continue to pack the van.

“Once is enough, with how you actually thought he was telling us where to go when the herd turned to one direction,” Ben elaborated, putting a box marked ‘Sciency Stuff of Science!’ into back.

“Hey, now there’s no need to bash Melody about that,” Carol says and I grin gratefully at her. As I’m about to say my thanks, she adds, “It’s still better than that time she performed for those poor kids when she had a sore throat.”

I put a hand to my chest and wipe a fake tear away from my eye. “I could swear today was ‘Road Trip’ day, not ‘Roast Melody About All The Times She Messed Up’ day,” I mumble feeling betrayed. Ben and Carol laugh as they help me pack the last few things away into the van. 

“It’s okay, Melody,” Carol began as she opened the door to shotgun, “We’ve only just begun.” She smiles sweetly and I groan in bemusement with a smirk of my own.

“I could do the same to both of you, but I’m far kinder than the both of you to do that,” I mumble aloud as we all get in.

“I’m sure you could, but that is why you won’t ever get the upper hand on us,” Ben says, starting the van.

“Too bad I’m the only real one with any brains here,” Carol calls out as we pull out of the driveway and Ben and I both look at Carol with fire in our eyes.

“Hey!” Ben and I call out at the same time, and we all have a good laugh. 

As we drove to our destination, I began to sing some popular pop songs I had memorized, but was annoyed when Ben switched on the radio, playfully joking that I was a horrible singer. I huffed at that, and stuck my tongue out at him while Carol slapped his thigh, emitting a whine of pain from Ben. We both giggled at that, and soon enough we were all singing along to a particularly (well, relatively speaking) old song, “Born This Way” by Lady Gaga. Too bad Ben’s singing was as horrible as a screeching duck, but we all had a fun time all the same.

Soon enough, we find ourselves driving to the edge of a forest that I had marked on the map. After having done some research, I had isolated an area filled with some lore and potential odd occurrences. You see, even though I am a singer, I like to explore. I can’t help it. You must know, just enjoying the thrill of finding new things, especially in a world where everything seems to be known already.

“Wow… I can’t believe it…” Carol whispers as we finally hike to the edge of a cave system.

“I never thought we would’ve ever actually found it…” Ben mutters as we can feel the presence of something within the caves, a ever so slight glow emanating from within. I put my hand up to feel for my necklace and find that it seems to be pulsing now, heat emanating from it. I pull it out from my shirt and find that it’s glowing all the colours of the rainbow, pulsing at a steady beat. As I step into the cave, my charm begins to glow brighter and pulsate faster, which I take as a sign of good news.

“Told you so,” I tell Ben and he pokes me with his elbow. Laughing as I clutch my side in pain, we look at the fissure of glowing magic and watch it in awe...

“Melody, wake up.”

I thrust my head around, looking for that voice. It doesn’t sound like Carol or Ben, but it seems so familiar.

“D-Derpy?” I mutter as I watch my friends look at me with worry. I don’t want to leave them… Is this all just a dream?

“Melody!”

I snap awake.



“Hm!” I jolt as I sit up wide-eyed. In front of me sits Derpy, looking at me worriedly.

“Melody, are you okay?” the mare asks. I sit there for a moment, getting my brain to kickstart itself before shaking my head.

“I’m, uh, fine, Derpy. Thanks.”

“Well, I was worried for a second because you were crying in your sleep,” Derpy mutters and I put a hoof up to my face. Sure enough, my hoof feels wet contact, and I pull it back to see a damp hoof. I stare at if for a few seconds.

“So I… So I was…” I whisper. “I just had a dream… good memories…”

Sighing, I begin to wiggle out of the sleeping bag. “Thanks anyways for waking me up, Derpy,” I thank and she nods in reply. As I get to four hooves, I see I’m one of the only ponies awake. The only other ponies would be Derpy, Bon Bon, and Doctor Whooves. 

“What about the others?” I say as Derpy walks into the kitchen.

“Let them sleep. I was just worried for you for a second there, and Bon Bon and the Doc are awake already.” Nodding my understanding, I take a glance at how the other ponies are before moving to the table..

Well, I wouldn’t expect anything less of Octavia. With her hooves placed across her barrel, she breaths in and out slowly and peacefully. Just like a true upper class person, or, uh, pony. Lyra… well, she’s snoring. I mean, I would’ve thought since Lyra and Octavia are both musical and stuff, they would be quite similar, but nope. Plus, While Octavia’s hooves are in a rested position, Lyra’s forelegs are sprawled out. Smiling to myself at their sight, I look at Vinyl and Minuette.

It looks like Vinyl Scratch never takes off her glasses, and they seem content where they are. Even her mane has stayed relatively the same, whereas I unfortunately have bedhead. With her hooves constantly tapping on her sleeping bag, I have a feeling she actually is awake already. If not, well, it must be a pretty upbeat dream. Minuette looks like she’s having a bad dream. Tossing and turning in her bag, she seems restless. Or maybe it’s how she sleeps, since Derpy didn’t seem concerned about her. Crooking a corner of my lip up at that, I proceed to the kitchen.

It’s funny how different some people are… some ponies are in their sleep.

Then again, it sometimes depends on what dreams a person or pony has. I mean, in my case…

“Good morning, Melody,” Doctor Whooves greets and I join Bon Bon and the Doctor at the table.

“You look troubled, Melody. Did you have a good night’s rest?”  Bon Bon asks me. Just as I’m about to answer, a sizzle from the frying pan Derpy’s using makes me flinch, and I sigh.

“I… yeah, pretty good,” I reply. “How about you guys?”

“Splendid!” Doctor Whooves smiles.

“Normal as always,” Bon Bon responds.

“Are you sure you fillies don’t want some of what I’m making?” Derpy asks in our general direction.

“No, Derpy. As much as I like being here, I can get breakfast elsewhere. I don’t want you to feel obliged to serve us, however often we come over.”

Bon Bon points a hoof in Doctor Whooves’ direction and tilts her head. “What Doc said.”

Derpy looks thoughtfully at us for a moment before shrugging. “Then it’ll just be for me, Melody, and anypony else who wants any.” As I’m about object to Derpy, my stomach growls and I realize I really haven’t eaten anything since leaving the hospital. As much as I don’t want to eat, or let Derpy serve me, I need food. The bread of life and all that.

“I want some!” A slurred voice from the other room calls. After looking at each other with raised eyebrows, we hear something shatter and the sound of a screeching cat. For some reason, that combination of noises makes me feel like I’m in a cartoon or something. Weird.

We then see Lyra stumble groggily into the kitchen. As she falls face-first into the ground and lays there for a bit, her head pops up with half-lidded eyes. “What’s for breakfast?”

“Lyra!” Bon Bon scolds as she pulls Lyra up and into the empty seat beside her. “At least compose yourself, you're a musician of high class for Luna’s sake!”

“Mm. I heard something about food. Do you have anything sugary?” Lyra mutters, putting a foreleg around Bon Bon.

“Clearly, somepony didn’t get enough sleep last night,” Bon Bon says under her breath as she pulls wrapped treat from her mane. “This should wake you up right quick.”

Meanwhile, I can’t help but snicker behind a hoof at the events before me. Doctor Whooves isn’t faring much better. “Oh, Lyra, you’re so overdramatic,” Derpy murmurs as she lays some food on the table and we all get a good laugh. With a crunch of the candy, Lyra’s eyes shoot wide open and her coat visibly brightens.

“Whoa! That’s a kicker!” Lyra exclaims, throwing her hooves into the air.

“And the point is made,” Bon Bon concedes and she rolls her eyes. Just then, Octavia walks into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep out of one eye before appraising everypony. Standing there for a moment, she sighs.

“You know, some ponies are trying to sleep?” Octavia complains before joining the table. “Morning Melody, Bon Bon, Doctor…” Octavia fixed Lyra with a glare. “Lyra.”

“Eh heh heh,” Lyra laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her head. “Sorry about that.”

“Minuette still asleep?” I ask Octavia.

“Oh no, she’s awake,” Octavia explains, “Woke up with all your ruckus, and she just doesn’t want to move until she has to. And Vinyl… Well, you can never really tell with her.”

“Thanks ‘Tavi,” another voice pops up and we all turn our heads to see Vinyl standing at the split between the kitchen and the living room. “I can always feel appreciated with you around.”

“Tavi?” I ask with mirth, glancing at Octavia to see her glaring at me. 

“Yes, Melody. Note that I only allow Vinyl to call me that because I get to thrash her later.”

“Yeah, uh-huh. Sure,” Vinyl confirms before joining the table.

“Breakfast?” A voice called from within the living room. Derpy sighs as she set the last plate down and smiled at all the occupants of the table. Turning to the living room doorway, she called out. 

“Yes, Minuette. If you want food, you have to join us at the table!”

After some ruffling could be heard and Derpy joined the table herself, they heard the tell-tale sound of hooves clopping on the floor. In no time at all, Minuette could be seen with a tired smile shuffling to one of the empty seats at the table.

“I can’t believe I’m so tired. Travel really takes a lot out of you,” Minuette yawns, stretching her hooves before half liddedly using her magic to take some food onto her plate. At this Everyone begin to fill their plates and Derpy coughed conspicuously.

“Okay, before we dig in, I just want to say it’s great having you girls and… uh,” she glances to Doctor Whooves, “Stallion, and that we should do this again sometime!”

“Oh, most definitely,” Octavia agrees and everypony else murmurs their accordance.

“Well, if that’s all, let’s eat!” Vinyl cheers before scarfing down a quarter of her plate in one bite.

“Vinyl! Manners!” Octavia chides, smacking Vinyl on the head and making Vinyl cough a little.

“Hey, what gives?!” Vinyl shouts, and everypony laughs at their antics. Chuckling lightly myself, I take a bite out of the meal Derpy had so graciously crafted for the whole group.

If… If friends are really this easy to make… If these ponies really want to be my friend and vice versa...

I think I’m going to like it here.
> 8 - Wait, What?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

With everypony having gone their separate ways, Derpy and I now remain alone at the dinner table. Sipping at the tea she had so kindly made for the both of us, we stayed silent as we stared at the center of the table. My, what an interesting tablecloth.

“You know, the tablecloth isn’t that interesting,” Derpy mutters as she takes another sip from her tea.

“Well, it does have a nice knitting pattern,” I say. “The material it was made from is nice and soft too, so if you ever want to fall asleep on it or put your hooves on it, it feels absolutely splendid.”

“Aren’t you an observant one,” Derpy says and I can’t help but laugh.

“So, what are we going to do today?” I ask with feigned interest. In all honesty, I just want to stay here and hang out, but by Derpy’s look it seems there are other things on her mind.

“I… have to go and give out mail,” Derpy says slowly. “But I don’t want to leave you alone by yourself. I fear… you might do something…”

I can already tell what she’s implying. She’s thinking back to what happened only yesterday, and I sigh. “Well, who else can you leave me with?” I ask. And as a joke, I mention the lovable party mare as a ‘worthy’ candidate. “Pinkie?”

I see her eyes widen in revelation and I look at her confused for a moment before realizing what she’s thinking. “That’s a great idea, Mellow!” Derpy exclaimed happily before pausing. “I can call you Mellow, can I? Or would you prefer-”

“Mellow is alright, though it’s usually shortened to Mels,” I sigh. “I wasn’t being serious when I said Pinkie.”

“Well, I am. Finish your tea and let’s go,” Derpy ordered before dashing off to get her uniform on. I groan in my incompetence and Derpy shouts down from upstairs.

“Get your silly flank off that chair and get ready!”

“You're not my mom,” I point out as I start for the main doors.

“My house, my rules! Plus, we’re flatmates so we should respect each other.”

I raise my hoof to object, but can’t find a fault in her logic. Resigned and ready to go, Derpy comes down with her mailmare clothes on and a bag packed to the brim with mail. As she opens the door, she let’s me go first, and we take off for Sugarcube Corner.



“Make sure she eats her lunch!” Derpy called out as she began to fly away. “I don’t want her dying on me the second day!”

“I’m not a child, Derpy,” I snap back. For a brief moment, I ca see a wide goofy grin on Derpy’s face before she leaves me be.

“Everypony’s a child inside, Melly!” Pinkie says.

“Is today Nickname Day?” I mutter to myself.

“No, you just have an oddly syllabled name that feels weird on the tongue when you say it enough times,” Pinkie explains, and I crane my head to look at her.

“Well that’s comforting,” I say and she giggles. 

“Come on, I actually have a free day so I can introduce you to some of my friends!” Pinkie says excitedly before calling into the bakery. “Mister and Missus Cake! I’m going out!”

“Alright, Pinkie! Come back before seven so we can close shop!” somepony shouted from behind the counter before Pinkie shut the door to the bakery behind her.

“Well? What are you doing standing around? Let’s go,” Pinkie urges and I begin to walk while Pinkie…

While Pinkie literally bounces on the ground to at least three metric feet in the air. I test the dirt packed road’s own resilience and find it not giving in even a little. Okay, maybe a little, since for some reason the ground turned to putty once I actually tried putting my hooves through it.

“You do not obey the law of physics at all,” I whisper to myself, but it seems Pinkie heard me.

“You know Derpy was pranking you with that whole ‘Fillycs’ thing, right? I have to give her props, that was actually a good one!” Pinkie says excitedly and I can’t help but feel a stab of betrayal from Derpy. It looks like we were best friends after all.

“I need to get her back just tell me when! I’m a master pranker, alongside Rainbow Dash! Although, I feel she might take things too far in a future chapter. You know, because meta is awesome.”

I look at her with what I feel is blatant confusion on my face. “Meta?... What, are you breaking some sort of fourth wall or something?” She looks at me all surprised and can’t help but feel like I said something wrong.

“How did you know?” she whispers with urgency in her tone before going back to her happy state. “Yeperoni! But i can only do it on occasion. Even talking about the fourth wall drains some of my inner magic.”

“Inner… magic?” I ask.

“Yes! Everypony has it. Unicorns and pegasi can just channel it better than we do. We usually channel it subconsciously, as we’re always connected to the earth and ground beneath us. And whatever cutie mark you have, the better you are at it in your element! 

“So, say since I have balloons as my cutie mark, if I went to a party, my magic would strengthen and fill up with the atmosphere I’m in! Even if I’m not connected to the Earth!” Pinkie explains, and I stare at her in wonder.

“Wow… that is a very detailed and well-reasoned observation… I think I need a pen and paper…”

“You seemed so much like Twilight just a second ago… and you were so nice too,” Pinkie says with sadness.

What? “I’m sorry?”

“Oh, it’s nothing, I was just overdramatically showing how I didn’t know you were as much a bookworm as Twilight as you were a funny mare like me!”

I churn her barrage of words in my mind. “That… kind of makes sense?”

“Oh don’t worry about it. And sorry I couldn’t come to the slumber party last night. I was busy solving a problem with my friends and Coloratura.”

At the name of the singer I had only recently learned, I look at her with a raised eyebrow. “You know Countess Coloratura?”

“Well, now I do! Though she does prefer to be called RaRa by close friends.” She looks at me with an analytical look before grinning widely. “You know… I think you too would make great friends! After I introduce you to AJ and the others, I can get you two to hook up! I think you would great friends.”

“And how would you know that?” I giggle.

“Parties and friends are kinda my thing,” Pinkie nonchalantly brushes off. “And besides, with that singing talent of yours, you would be a fantastic duet! Come on, let’s go to the Castle!”

“Hey, thanks- wait…” I say before narrowing my eyes at the retreating figure of Pinkie Pie. “I never said anything about my own singing!” I yell as I race to catch up with her. How could a pony that bounced gain so much ground in such a short time?

“PINKIE!”
> 9 - Twilight Time
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Pinkamena Diane Pie.

Three words.

Three words that are now literally running away from me as I try and keep up with Pinkie. “Pinkie!” I shout, going as fast as I can without tripping. Four legs is still pretty hard to go on, after all.

“Keep up, old mare!” Pinkie exclaimed before she dashed off, leaving a pink contrail leading to the majestic structure that loomed over Ponyville. As I slowed down from following the impossible pink trail that was left behind by Pinkie, my mouth parts slightly at the castle.

When Pinkie had said ‘the Castle’, I hadn’t thought she meant an actual castle. With how ridiculous Pinkie was, I thought she would’ve meant a code for some home base for her friends. I had seen the large building before, as Derpy and I had been walking around, but I never would’ve guessed Pinkie knew someone from such an expensive looking building. Seeing as it seems to be made entirely out of crystal, I can only begin to see the numbers in my head, but they were there.

“My god, Pinkie… What kind of delectables did you have to give to know someone from there?” I ask myself.

“None! Twilight’s been my friend since before she became a Princess of the nation!” Pinkie says, suddenly appearing by my side.

Locking up as I mentally shut down from Pinkie’s sudden appearance, I stay frozen with my eyes wide open, unblinking.  Pinkie waves her hoof across my face and she laughs nervously. “Uh, Melody? You’re looking a little pale.”

I crane my neck to look at her with my eyes still wide. “You. Don’t. Say?” I say with gritted teeth before sighing. “Don’t sneak up on me like that again. There was a time when I would’ve leapt in the air and shouted in alarm before laughing it off, but…” I leave my sentence hanging, and I can see Pinkie’s expression ever so slightly dour.

“Well, there’s no fixer upper like meeting new ponies! Come on, allons-y!” Pinkie began to trot beside me as we approached the castle entrance, and I look at her warily. She’s not bouncing anymore, and I’m positive she said something from one of my all time favourite shows in an attempt to cheer me up.

Not saying anything about the matter, I smile thankfully at Pinkie before stopping at the main entrance. What a good friend. With that attempt to cheer me up, I actually did! Even just a little. And a little is enough. Pinkie proceeds to knock once on the ornately carved door before it swings open and I see a purple unicorn standing in front of us.

Or is that a pegasus, since she has wings? But she has a horn and wings. What does that make her? A pegasus unicorn hybrid or the other way around? A pegacorn? A unisus? Bleh, the former sounds better than the latter.

“Heya, Twi!” Pinkie greets.

“Hi, Pinkie,” ‘Twi’ replies. She then turns to look at me with a smile before turning back to Pinkie. “And who’s this?”

“Oh, this is the pony I mentioned! Twilight, this is Melody. Melody, Twilight!” Pinkie introduces, and I wave a hoof awkwardly.

“So you’re the Melody I’ve been hearing about from Pinkie, hm?” Twilight asks, and I raise an eyebrow in Pinkie’s direction.

“Uh, yeah… And you must be the Twilight that’s friends with Minuette and Lyra, right?” I inquire, and she smiles just as nervously.

“Oh yes! Minuette… how is she? I visited her a few weeks ago after I forgot about them for a year or two…” Twilight trails off, and I think she just realized what she said. As I see her cheeks begin to taint red (how does that even work with fur, anyways?), I change the subject.

“Moving on, Pinkie insisted I come and meet her friends. Glad to know that other ponies can be just as, uh, awkward as I am.”

“Touche,” Twilight grins, surely happy to see someone similar to herself as well.

“Uggggh! I love how you two have already bonded, but I want to get this chapter moving so I can get Melody to meet Rainbow, Applejack, Rarity and Fluttershy!”

Glaring at Pinkie, Twilight sighs. “They’re all here, discussing yesterday’s events.”

“Alright!” Pinkie exclaims. We then follow Twilight in, the door closing magically behind us. “Hey, do you know if Rara is still around?”

“You mean Coloratura?” Twilight clarifies.

“No, I meant the new ceiling decoration you put up,” Pinkie deadpans, and I try to hold back a snicker.

“Well, thank you! It took a little bit of effort, but it makes it feel more homey,” Twilight says. Me and Pinkie share a look of incredulousness as all my laughter has disappeared and turned into disappointment.

“You don’t get sarcasm at all, do you, Twilight,” I ask.

“Hm? Sarcasm? Oh, I wouldn’t know. I’ve never gotten it before.” Her voice seems too chipper to me. I narrow my eyes at her suspiciously.

Me and Pinkie then share another look of disbelief. “I don’t believe you,” I say bluntly.

Twilight and Pinkie now share a look and Twilight laughs. “Alright. Fine, you got me. And yes, Pinkie, Rara is still here. I think she might be sharing a meal with the other members of the Apple family. You’ll have to ask Applejack.”

“Thanks!” Pinkie exclaimed, dashing off to wherever.

“I don’t think practical jokes suit you,” I say as Pinkie rushes ahead.

“Well, hang around Pinkie long enough and she starts to pester you to smile and make jokes… especially if you’re somepony like me,” Twilight explains. “That look Pinkie just gave me? It was one of ‘Stop lying, you’ve used sarcasm yourself’.”

“Well, I guess I don’t have that problem. I seem to make friends with Pinkie just fine.”

“Trust me, she begins to become a problem, even with the best of us,” Twilight says and I laugh. “Rainbow Dash has a hard time keeping up with her, and they’re almost on par with each other in their pranking wars!”

“Well,” I start, “She’s already a problem as is. How much worse could it get?” I giggle before realizing what I just said. I think Twilight just did too, as she widened her eyes at me in horror.

“You really shouldn’t have said that,” Twilight whispers.

“I… yeah, something is definitely going to get worse. Much worse,” I mutter worriedly and we both nod our heads in agreement.

“Cross your hooves and hope it’s not as bad is it’s going to be?” Twilight jokes nervously and we come around a bend to see a door that is crooked open.

“I think that’s all we really can do,” I tell Twilight, and we go begin to make our way to said door.

“Hey, can I ask you something? I just want to make sure I won’t offend you once I do,” I ask and Twilight smiles widely at me.

“Of course! Anything. I won’t offend.”

“Every other, er, pony, I’ve seen up until this point has only had a horn or pair of wings. How come you have both?” I inquire, and Twilight giggles.

“Oh, that’s easy. After a magical accident involving all of my friends switching cutie marks and subsequently their destinies, I was able to come up with a magical cure that involved a memory spell and some pushing in the right direction to fix everything. That then sent me to some sort of elevated plane of existence where my mentor, Princess Celestia, greeted me and told me of how I achieved something no unicorn had in centuries, which then turned me into what I am now, an alicorn!” Twilight provided happily, and I hold my head and stop in my tracks to process the onslaught of information.

“Ouch. That’s a lot to take in.” I rub my temples lightly.

“Where have you been that you don’t know anything about alicorns or the like?” Twilight suddenly asked me, and I freeze.

Where have you been that you don’t know? The question repeats in my head again. And again. And again.

“Uh…” I begin to stammer, while Twilight patiently taps her hoof on the floor, expecting an answer.

“Hey, go easy on her! She was in the hospital, you know. She hit her head, so she can’t remember some things, like why some ponies even have horns or wings!” Pinkie cries as she sticks her head out of the room. “Partial amnesia, Twilight!”

“Y-yeah, what Pinkie said…” I stutter and Twilight looks at me with a hawk like gaze before nodding. Her face looks repentant.

“Sorry about that, I didn’t know.” Twilight says worriedly as she helps me back to all four hooves.

“It’s okay?” I gulp stressfully.

“No, it’s really not. I had no right, and I didn’t even know,” Twilight says to me, and I can’t help but feel bad for her.

“Hey, don’t worry about it,” I pat her back with one of my hooves and she looks at me thankfully.

“Come on in, Melody! We won’t bite!” Pinkie invites, and I laugh nervously.

“Well, don’t keep her waiting. I know I wouldn’t want to,” Twilight nudges me, and we smile at each other understandingly before I enter the room, with Twilight trailing behind.

“Here we go.”
> 10 - The Mane Six... Hey, Where'd Pinkie Go?
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Do you know where Rara is, AJ?” Pinkie questions the orange normal pony as we enter the room

“Rara?” the mare in a stetson asks, “She might still be packing up her equipment. I think she said she might drop by Sweet Apple Acres to have a meal with us. Said something about enjoying the scenery before leaving for her tour again.”

“She’s staying in Ponyville?” Pinkie gasps, “Does that mean I get to throw a party!?”

“Pinkie… I know what you’re thinking, and-” the orange mare began to say but Pinkie dashed out of the room, leaving me, and I’m sure everybody else left a bit miffed and confused. Just then, Pinkie sticks her head back into the room and points a hoof at me.

“I still need to throw you a welcome party now that you’ve gotten better. A proper one. Just you watch,” Pinkie says and she slinks away again. Everypony in the room except this one butter-yellow pegasus with a pink mane now turns to look at me. I begin to shrink under their gaze. Under normal circumstances, it would’ve been okay, but these were most certainly not normal circumstances.

“Ahem,” Twilight coughs, and they’re attention is gladly redirected from me back to Twilight. “Well, now that that’s out of the way…” Twilight raises a hoof and gestures to me, and I smile awkwardly at the group. “Girls, this is Melody!”

“Pinkie was going to introduce her to you, I think,” Twilight says unsurely and I nod, “But I guess it falls to me.”

I tilt my head one way, clicking my tongue. “Nothing to be unexpected from Pinkie,” I say, and I hear the orange earth.

“Ya got that one right,” she says, and I can’t help but smile.

“Well, I think I’ll go around the table,” Twilight begins, “The mare with the stetson is Applejack-”

“Howdy,” Applejack greets.

“Rarity is the one next to her.”

“Nice to meet you, Melody,” Rarity nods and I can’t help but note the accent in her voice.

“That’s usually where Pinkie sits, but she’s not here right now,” Twilight explains as she points to an empty chair with three party balloons on it. I smile wryly.

“What can you do?” I joke and Twilight shakes her head with a smile of her own.

“Moving on, this is Fluttershy,” Twilight points at Fluttershy, who meeps and tries to hide behind her mane. Knowing shyness when I see it, and with it literally being in her name, I smile gently at her.

“Pleasure,” I whisper softly, nodding my head and tipping an imaginary hat. At the sight of seeing her come out of her mane and smile at me, I know I did right.

“And beside Fluttershy is Rainbow Dash,” Twilight finishes, pointing to a mare with scruffy rainbow hair, “And my trusty number-one assistant, Spike!”

“Hiya!” a scaled purple and green thing waves and I smile, waving a hoof back.

“Rainbow Dash?” I question after greeting Spike, the name seeming ridiculous yet form fitting to who I’m talking to.

“The one and only!” Rainbow cries, puffing her chest out. I smirk, glancing at her hair and making sure she sees me do so.

“Well, I can see where the first name comes from,” I smirk, “But what about the last? Dash, huh? You fast?”

Rainbow grins wickedly at me. “If you want, I can show you fast,” she says.

“I hardly think now is the time for a demonstration, Rainbow,” Rarity interrupts. “You’ve just met and you’re already wanting to prove your worth to her. I hardly think that’s appropriate.”

“But…!” Rainbow complains, putting one hoof on the table and pointing at me.

“To be fair, the same thing happened when she first met Twilight,” Spike points out, and Twilight seems to glare daggers at him.

“I don’t think that’s the best idea right now anyways, Rainbow,” Applejack pipes in, “We’re all tuckered out from Rara’s performance yesterday, and I don’t think y’all would perform your best at half fuel.”

Rainbow Dash raises a hoof to object, but falls back in her chair, grumbling. “...Fine.”

“Glad we can agree,” Twilight sighed. She then turns to me with a smile. “As you can see, we may not be perfect, but we certainly get along.”

With a twinkle in my eye, I grin softly. “Glad to see it. Friends are always good to have… especially when you’re going through tough times.” As I turn my attention back to the ponies surrounding the table, my gaze falls upon Fluttershy. She’s now looking at me softly with a concerned look. As I make eye-contact, I turn my head away, not wanting to give her any clues to my inner turmoil. 

“Well, it was nice meeting you all,” I say suddenly, turning away, “But I think I’ll be off.“

“Now where do you think you’re going?” Rarity asks as I take a step towards the door. Twilight turns her body to face me fully.

“Come on, Melody. Like Rarity said, you just met us. How are we supposed to become good friends if you leave?” Twilight tell me, and I sigh.

“Well, you already have what looks to be tight bond and I don’t want to intrude on that. Plus… I already have other… friends that I just made.”

Judging by the look on Twilight’s and everypony else's faces, they caught on to how I paused.

“Well, you’re going to hang out with us whether you want to or not!” Rainbow cries, flying over to my side. “Or else I won’t show you my sick moves!”

“And you really need to taste my baking and cider,” Applejack says, coming over from where she sits. “Trust me, Pinkie may have great sweets, but you haven’t tasted cider like mine.”

“I can vouch for that!” Rainbow shouts beside me, and my ear flicks involuntarily. Seeing this, Rainbow lowers her voice. “I mean, it’s really good.”

“And then I can make a dress for you! Oh the ideas I’m having right now… they all go so well with your coat and mane!” Rarity announces, joining her friends as they come together to try and convince me to stay.

“And we can hang out and read comic books and have fun!” Spike joins in, earning a glare from Twilight and a small giggle from me.

“And… and I can show you all the little creatures and animals that I take care of…” I hear a soft voice whisper, and I look around to see who said it. Turning to see Fluttershy slowly approaching me, I realize it came from her. “...You will stay, won’t you…?” Fluttershy asks.

As all eyes come down upon her, I can see her determined yet gentle face begging me to stay. Something about her eyes… tells me there’s more than just flora and fauna she wants to talk about, but how can I say no to all this?

Here they are, giving me all the many reasons to stay and bond with them. These ponies… they really just want to be my friend, don’t they? Just like Minuette, Lyra, Doctor Whooves, Vinyl, Octavia and Derpy... I can’t help but feel an overbearing weight taking it’s toll in my heart. It’s telling me that this is what I need… that they would want me to make new friends…

With five ponies and a dragon awaiting my verdict, I sigh. “...Alright. I’ll stay.”

With an explosion of hurrahs, they all cheer and stomp their hooves. They then begin to discuss with each other and to themselves of what we’re all going to do together. As somepony grabs me and pulls me into their group discussion, I wave my hooves in distress. “Whoa whoa whoa!” I shout, and they all quiet around me.

“Baby steps, ponies. Baby steps.”

“Sorry,” Applejack apologizes, rubbing the back of her neck. “Got a little carried away there.”

“But this will certainly be a fun experience,” Rarity assures me, and I smile at all of them.

Shaking my head, I move to stand just beside their table and I look at them. “So, if we’re going to do this…” I sigh, “What’s first?”

As they all turn to look at each other eagerly, I can’t help but feel a sense of dread. Maybe Pinkie was bad, but these five mares working together… I can’t help but feel a shiver go down my spine. 

Spike sees my sudden expression and smiles just as nervously as me, patting my leg reassuringly.

Well, there’s no turning back now.
…
…
…

This is going to be a long day.
> 11 - Let The Games Begin!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah.

I was right.

“Come on, Melody!” Rainbow cries as she and the others move forwards and towards someplace I’m reluctant to go.

“If you really want to, that is,” Fluttershy assures me as she and Spike are walking beside me. I smile gratefully at Fluttershy.

“Are your friends always like this?” I ask Fluttershy.

“Well, not always…” Fluttershy begins, “Only when they really want to make friends with somepony. In this case, I guess it’s you.”

“Well, why aren’t you as ecstatic as they are in trying to befriend me?” I inquire, and Fluttershy eeps a little.

“Oh, um, you don’t seem like the kind of pony who enjoys things happening all of a sudden. Like us wanting to make sure you feel belonged… You don’t look to comfortable with the idea.”

“You also seem tense, like, really tense,” Spike says to my right, and I furrow my brows at him.

“Well, you’re both not wrong, but…” I begin, “There’s just… something happened. And I don’t know if… if making new friends is the way to get past it…”

“Well, as Twilight always likes to say,” Spike began, clearing his throat before setting his voice to a high pitch, “‘Friendship is magic’!”

I glance between, Spike, Twilight who is ahead of us, and Fluttershy. “Does she actually say that?”

“Er, yes?” Fluttershy whispers and I face her with a smirk. I begin to giggle at the thought. 

“Heh, ‘Friendship is magic’. Wow. That… that is way over-the-top cheesy. Seriously.”

“Well, we do use the magic of friendship to defeat evil demons and corrupted rulers,” Fluttershy relates, and I turn to look at her once more quizzically.

“...What?” I ask, and Fluttershy widens her eyes at what she had said.

“Oh, uh…” Fluttershy begins to shrink under my gaze and I frown. Huh. Her shyness seems so sporadic. Like one moment, she’s okay with casual conversation, and the next, she’s clamming up. Weird.

“It’s okay, you don’t have to answer. I’ll just ask one of your friends when we get to wherever it is we’re going.”

We begin to walk in silence once more. As Fluttershy and I silently watch the group ahead energetically discuss what they’re going to do with me (saying the words in that order sends a shiver down my spine), Spike seems to be munching on gems that he’s pulling from… somewhere.

“If you don’t mind me asking,” I begin, addressing Spike, “May I ask what you are?”

Spike seems to be caught a little off guard by the question as he coughs and sputters a little before settling down. “Oh, what?”

“What are you?” I ask. “Because you’re purple and green, and you have claws and a tail, you walk on two legs, and you have scales and sharp teeth. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were a dragon.”

“That’s because I am a dragon! Or more specifically, a drake, since I don’t have my wings yet.”

That makes me stop in my tracks. “There… there are dragons here too?”

“Oh, yes!” Fluttershy says, her wings suddenly fluttering as the topic begins to excite her. “Spike’s just a baby dragon. There are all kinds of dragons and flying reptiles all over Equestria! They can all breathe fire and most can fly, but Spike can’t yet, because he’s just a baby, and did I mention Spike’s a baby dragon? He’s so cute!”

“You know, in relation to you girls, I’m more a teen than anything,” Spike grumbled as Fluttershy continued to rave on about Spike. “I was Dragon Lord for like, three hours too you know.”

I chuckle at Spike’s schadenfreude. “So what, you’re like, thirteen?” I ask.

“Mmm, more like 14,” Spike says.

“Oh,” I mutter, making a ‘not bad’ expression. “Are they all as nice as you are?”

“Oh, not a chance,” Spike says, kicking a pebble that was in his path. “I knew this one guy, Garble, in the dragon lands. He was a real bully, but I think I got him to come around. Also, the previous Dragon Lord was HUGE.” Spike emphasises by widening his eyes, puffing his cheeks and spreading his arms as far as they could go. “Like, the whole hive could’ve bonded together and he would still be at least two times bigger than us.”

“What?!” I ask him, not believing him. “But didn’t you say you were Dragon Lord?”

“Yeah. But that was only a short time, like I also said. I gave the sceptre thing to Ember, so she’s Dragon Lord now. She’s pretty cool.”

“Whoa,” I shiver, “Something feels weird about that. As if what you just said happened before it should’ve.”

“What?” Spike asks but I can’t help shake the feeling that something is wrong.

“I don’t know… just… feels odd. Like something happened out of turn.”

“Well, now that you mention it,” Spike murmurs to himself, thinking about it. “It does feel weird…”

“It’s like reverse deja vu,” I say, and Spike nods his head.

“Hey, Melody,” Fluttershy interrupts, and I turn my attention back to Fluttershy. “I think we’re here…”

I face forward and find everypony is grinning at me, at the head of what looks to be an obstacle course. “So, uh, what’s up with the… thing?” I say vaguely, mentioning the course behind them.

“Oh, this?” Rainbow smiles, “It’s an obstacle course! What’s better than a team-building game to get to know your friends, huh?”

“Writing songs and singing them together?” I suggest and Rainbow frowns.

“Uh, I don’t know about that. Anyways, you’ll be partnered with me, Twilight will be with Spike, Rarity with Applejack, and Fluttershy... well, she can participate if she wants. That way, I can show you my awesomeness!”

“Uh, sorry to burst your bubble, Rainbow, but you said this here was a team-building activity? Not the ‘Rainbow gets to show off her skills’ game?” Applejack points out, and Rainbow laughs embarrassingly.

“Oh, right,” Rainbow mutters, rubbing the back of her neck. “That.”

Meanwhile, I glance over at Fluttershy and see her growing expression of horror, while I look over at Spike and see his tired disapproval. I then see Fluttershy take a step back, opting to just watch things unfold. Sighing myself, I walk up to Rainbow. “Alright, fine. Looks like I have no other choice anyways, so let’s go.”

“I would’ve preferred you choose something more… graceful and elegant, Rainbow,” Rarity pipes in as she and Applejack met up, “But if it means Melody’s participation, I’ll live with it. Besides, with what I have in mind for us later, getting a little dirty won’t be a problem.”

Rainbow groans as she lands beside me on the ground. “Come on, Rarity. The spa? Really?”

“But of course!” Rarity chimes, “You can get one of those wing massages to get all those kinks and cramps out after our little competition here.”

Looking at Rainbow’s reaction to the thought, I can’t help but fail at stifling a giggle. Rainbow’s face has now reddened, and Rainbow grumbles with an overabundance of enthusiasm (sarcasm is great). “You like those wing massages, eh?” I say and Rainbow glares at me.

“Shut it. They’re… surprisingly good, okay?” Rainbow whispers threateningly before allowing. “No more talking, just racing.”

“How else am I supposed to communicate, then?” I ask as we all begin to get pumped up. “Through hoof massages?” I say with a smirk.

“Zip it, or I’ll hit you with the magic of friendship so hard you’ll be sent to the moon.”

“Is that where you get your wing massages?” I tease and Rainbow sighs with hatred, dropping her head.

“You know what, Melody?” Rainbow narrows her eyes at me, and I give my best dirt-eating grin I could.

“Don’t look at me, look at Rarity.”

Rainbow stares at me for a few seconds longer, before snorting. “Whatever.”

“Best friends, Rainbow!” I say in mirth and Rainbow shakes her head.

“Yeah yeah, let’s get over with this already.”

“You’re the one who wanted it.”

“That was before I knew you would be roasting me all day long!”

“Only because Rarity mentioned it.”

“3, 2, 1, GO!”

“Whatever you say, Rainbow.”
> 12 - Not My Division
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I can’t help but wonder how Rarity can even tolerate Rainbow at this point.

I also can’t help but wonder why she insists so much on making me a dress. At this point of trying to goad me, it has come to ludicrousy how much she persists. It’s almost as if she’s obligated or forced to act that way. Weird.

Well, at least the obstacle course or whatever they wanted to call it was fun. Rainbow Dash and I, we practically trampled everypony else, the only real competition being Applejack, who kept being held back by Rarity’s whines. If there was anypony more worried about getting dirty than friendship (or possibly even getting hurt), it was Rarity.

Twilight and Spike were fine for the most part.  Twilight wanted to take it easy while Spike urged the duo to move faster and keep up, but Twilight insisted. I think Spike really wanted to win or at least be on par with Rainbow Dash and me, but sadly, Twilight was a real sloth. They really took their time.

As for me and Rainbow, well, that’s a whole different story. We basically completed the course in, quoting Rainbow Dash here, “ten seconds flat”. Nothing too shabby, a few hills and some pony parkour which I was surprised to see. Then again, some things always manage to creep up in society, dangerous tricks and awesome stunts being some of them. Or just plain being a monkey. That works too.

Getting back on track, the hills actually surprised me. As Rainbow Dash flew, I was able to keep up just fine, running up a hill no problem. I looked down at how far I had ran and was surprised to see a, well, to put it lightly, a long winding hill. And I wasn’t even winded. Maybe a few stray strands of hair, but that was really it. Rainbow began to pester me almost immediately about winning; and what could I do but sigh?

Yep, we passed with (sorry, but this one is too good to pass up) flying colours and we both cheered. Rainbow was surprised that I even managed to run as fast as she could fly, and I shrugged, no less confused as she was. As I looked back the way we came, I could see Twilight and Spike slowly making their way while Applejack was edging Rarity on, trying to get her to quit whining. After a full blown minute of my insistence and annoying speech about going back to help, Rainbow agreed it was a good idea and we accompanied the remaining four ponies and drake to the finish line.

And now, here we are, sitting in a hot tub.

In a spa.

With Rainbow trying to hide the very fact that she even existed.

Rainbow had flat out refused to take a wing massage, if only to protect her projected image. Applejack, Fluttershy, Twilight and Rarity both smirked and whispered sweet blackmail into my ears about times they saw Rainbow at the spa, and I couldn’t help but giggle. Rainbow glared at us every few seconds, suspecting what we were talking about but never actually knowing. As for Spike, well, I asked him about going for a massage, and…

Well, he basically widened his eyes in terror, vaguely saying, “Never again,” before bolting out of the spa, leaving a comical windy outline of him before it blew away. I stared at that spot of dusty air for a second before shaking my head. This world still managed to amaze me.

We then all got massages, courtesy of Rarity and Twilight (well, mostly Twilight, thanks to her being a supposed Princess and all) and Rainbow seemed to stay away from this one, opting for a simple ‘Deluxe Preening’ of her wings. Did I simple? It sure doesn’t sound that way. In my opinion, I think she asked for a full body massage, but specified so that she wouldn’t be in the same room with us.

Case in point when she walked into the scene of us lying down with facial masks on our faces and I saw her whole posture seemed to have relaxed. We all shot her a knowing look, and she met us with an equally intense glare. Giggling to ourselves a little, we finished up before we finally headed to the tub.

“That was fun,” I say, relishing the steaming water and my rejuvenated features. These spa ponies really hit the spot. “I think we should do more team-building games, and end with a well deserved spa treatment. Or at least, a nice warm bath.”

“That certainly sounds like something that would help us get to know each other more,” Twilight pondered, “Good idea, Melody! See, you’re getting the hang of having friends. It’s not that hard, is it?”

A lot harder when you’re best friends are gone because of you. “Yeah…” I trail off, not really starting or finishing a complete sentence.

“And then we can see just who’s the real best pony.” Rainbow smirks as she chops one hoof on the other, emphasising her point.

“Not everything is about seeing who’s better, Rainbow,” Fluttershy uttered, and I smiled at her. “Wasn’t the purpose of that game to help get to know each other a little better? Even though I know I didn’t really join in…”

“Yep. Definitely learned something,” I smile, closing my eyes and enjoying the water. “Rainbow’s a sloth and has an insane wing-massage fetish-”

“Hey!”

I continue as if I have not heard her. “Rarity whines about getting tiny specks of dirt on her that could be washed away in an instant, Applejack is just as competitive as Rainbow but much more lenient, and Twilight loves taking it easy. As for Fluttershy… well, I can’t really judge her. I know I would’ve been in her position if I was suddenly pressured into joining a competition, and not really wanting to do it. I mean, I love that kind of stuff, but I get where she’s coming from.”

“You’re going to pay one day, Melody,” Rainbow growls. Though I can’t see her face, I can imagine the pure annoyance and red on her face.

“Now now, Rainbow, let’s be civilized,” Rarity ushers, “But I must say that I do not think I whine that much.”

“Sugarcube,” Applejack immediately pipes,”You whine if you even think about getting your mane wrassled up.”

“It takes a long time to get my hair like it is, okay?” Rarity snaps.

“Well, you’ve got me there,” Twilight says. I finally open my eyes again to see everypony’s faces and I see just what I was expecting. Rainbow’s flushed face, Twilight’s smile, and Rarity and Applejack arguing. “There was this one time where I participated in the Running of the Leaves and I thought it would be nice to just take an easy pace and enjoy the scenery, but Applejack and Rainbow just had to make it all about who’s faster. Naturally, they came in last all because they kept one upping each other…”

All their voices are beginning to blur with one another, giving me a slight headache. Seriously, why? With Rainbow trying to egg me on, Applejack and Rarity arguing, Twilight telling me a story and Fluttershy… well, I have to silently thank her for not adding to this chaos right now.

Anyways, there’s nothing I can do but groan, putting my hooves into my face. “Girls, girls! We’re at a spa right now. Can we just enjoy it, please?”

“Ehehe, sorry, Darling! Just, uh, got a bit carried away…” Rarity says.

“I’ll say. Sorry, Melody.” Applejack tips an imaginary hat at me. I’m sure that if she had her stetson with her and not on a hat stand somewhere, she would totally tip that.

Rainbow just humphs and grumbles something that sounds like “It was her fault”. Shaking my head at that, Twilight apologises as well.

“You didn’t do anything, Fluttershy, you’re good,” I say, seeing her mouth open as well. She nods and smiles at me thankfully.

“Well, I think that marks the end of our spa trip. That was certainly lovely, wasn’t it?” Rarity asks, looking like she was ready to leave the water at a moment’s notice.

“Worried you might stay in long enough to look like a shrivelled prune?” Applejack joked and Rarity shot her a glare.

“Well, she’s not wrong, I think,” I say, not really having been here long enough to know whether osmosis worked on pony skin just like human skin. You know, when your fingers’ skin looks all shrivelled up when you take a long bath? Yeah, those.

Rainbow shoots out of the water like a bullet. “Finally! I was wondering when we would be done.”

“I think it was nice,” Fluttershy says, and I nod in agreement.

“That did relieve some aches I’ve been harbouring,” Twilight nods, propping herself out of the water. Rarity was next, and soon we all were walking out of the spa, completely refreshed and ready to face the day.

“I have one more stop for my turn of this little journey, and that’s the Boutique!” Rarity announces, beginning to walk one way and everypony following her.

“Hey, why does she get two turns and I only get one?” Rainbow complains.

“Rainbow, that’s not how this system works. The spa was just so we could all have some well deserved R and R before doing anything else.”

“Your goldarn right, Twilight,” Applejack began, turning to Rainbow, “And once we’re done with Rares and Flutters, we’re gonna hit my place for some apple fritters and the good ol’ apple cider. How does that sound, hotshot?”

With Rainbow’s sudden odd gurgling sound, I turn to her in confusion and scrunch my brows at the oddity. Rainbow is now wearing a very dreamy expression, with her mouth open and what I assume to be drool almost leaking from her mouth. With my lips pursed and not wanting to pursue the matter further, I look forward again.

“Cider…” I hear Rainbow mutter, and I look to Applejack for some help.

“She just really likes my cider,” Applejack shrugs, “I honestly don’t know what she thinks is so good about it. It may be the best cider in the industry, but it’s far from perfect.”

“I’d hate to see what I’d become if I tasted your cider, then,” I chuckle and Applejack joins me in our little joke.

“Yes, Applejack’s cider is quite the marvel, isn’t it?” Rarity states more than she asks.

“I think I can side with you girls on that one,” Twilight agrees.

I see Fluttershy nod quietly beside me and my smile turns to a half smile and half frown. I know for a fact introverts aren’t able to shut up if put in the right environment… Question is, what would her favourite environment be? It’ll probably show itself when it’s her ‘turn’ to, uh, what’s the word, treat me? Host me?

Whatever the case, I want to see a happy and talking Fluttershy, not a shy and inward Fluttershy. I guess I can’t really blame her, a piece of her personality is literally in her name. Literally.

“We’re here, girls!” Rarity declares, and I look at the building we’ve stopped at in mild fascination. Intricate patterns weave in and out of the building, complementing the colour scheme and the many elliptic windows. Not saying that I like the colour scheme, though. A lot of the colour clash, in my opinion. The windows themselves have some form of mini-roof hanging over them, coloured orange and yellow in alternating strikes. The roof itself seems like it’s made to look like a tent, with fringes hanging off. Long wiry candy-cane pillars hold up both roofs, which causes me to question just how it can support the weight of the roof if it’s basically like a flipping stick.

A stick, guys and gals. A stick. Magic is probably the culprit, but I still want some answers. Come to think of it, it’s beginning to look like a carousel. Odd.

Like how a giant city seems to be clinging onto a mountain for dear life on the range a distance away from here. Seriously, what? “This is Carousel Boutique, Melody. Where everything is chic, unique, and magnifique!” Rarity states, and I smile at her slogan.

“Oh goddess, you still use that?” Rainbow groans, dragging hooves down her face.

“It’s not like it’s bad, Rainbow. You need to lighten up,” Rarity says as she steps in. We all follow her, and upon seeing the mannequins (or ponyquins since their for ponies?), I widen my eyes.

“Oh no…” I mutter, taking a step back.

“What’s the matter, darling?” Rarity asks me, and I look at all the others for help.

“Please don’t tell me you’re going to dress me up in something,” I say, nearing the door ever so slowly.

“That’s exactly what I’m going to do. We came here specifically to get you fitted and to make a dress for you!” Rarity explains with fervor. I can see Twilight and Fluttershy’s confusion at my expression, but Applejack and Rainbow snickering at me is all that it takes.

“Nope. Out of here. I might be a girly girl but I don’t like being a pin cushion. This is not my division, not my division!” I yelp, nearly making it to the door before it slams shut in front of me, causing me to crash into the door snout first. As I smear down the door I begin to paw at the handle before I hear a soft click, and I widen my eyes. Turning around while still on the ground and pushing myself up against the door, I begin to breathe quickly as I see Rarity’s malicious form nearing me with a gracious smile.

“Now where do you think you’re going?”

With sweat trickling down the side of my head, I laugh nervously. "Ehehe, ehehehe..."

I'm doomed.
> Chapter the 13th
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I hate you.”

Rarity chuckles as she fits me. She now has a pair of work glasses, ones that simply screamed fashion designer, and I could only agree with the thought. The fabric clings tight to my new pony body and I’m forced to watch in a full body mirror to see myself get woven into a beautiful dress. There’s no denying Rarity’s skill, it’s better than any get up I’ve ever found myself in when I was… when I was still me, and it definitely complements my colourful palette. “Oh hush now, you really don’t,” Rarity tells me, and I sigh.

“No, you’re right. I hate everything about what’s happening right now,” I say to her.

Rarity clicks her tongue. “That’s not the attitude I’ve begun to know from my new friend. Don’t you think you look absolutely stunning?”

I shift uncomfortably in my textile restraints. “Yeah, well, your friendly neighbourhood Melody flew out the window at the mention of being used as a mannequin- er- ponyquin. I may look pretty, but I sure don’t feel like it.”

“It’s not that bad,” Twilight says from the side, “It might feel restricting, but Rarity knows what she’s doing.”

“Where’s Caroline when I need her…” I mutter under my breath, and nopony seems to notice. If only she were here right now, maybe I could tolerate this whole situation. As it were, she probably would have been laughing at me just as Rainbow Dash currently was: clutching her sides and dying from my misery.

No, not would have been. Would be. I can’t think like that. Not ever.

“Laugh it up, Skittles,” I growl, and Rainbow seems to shrug off the explicit name-call.

“Hahahaha! Th-this is golden! Hehehe hahaha!” Rainbow continues to chuckle, and I drop my head low.

“Now Rainbow, it may have been mighty funny the first six minutes, but you’re taking this a bit too far,” Applejack chides, and I smile at her appreciatively.

“Thank you!” I shout. I moved ever so slightly at the pronouncement and Rarity gasps.

“I said don’t move!” Rarity hissed, “I was this close to shearing the fringe!”

“Like I really care,” I shoot under my breath.

“You’re being much more difficult than you need to be,” Rarity coos and all I can do is shake my head.

“I have a right to be.”

“It’s only been fifteen minutes, darling. I’m already halfway done!”

I cast desperate glance at Rarity in the mirror, and she catches the look, her glasses glinting in the light. “Does that mean I’m done?” Rarity smiles, and I can already feel an inkling of hope that she will-

“Not by a long-shot, dear.”

Well you can go die in a hole for all I care (not really).



“Alright, Melody, you may come out now,” Rarity calls, and I huff with indignation. After another fifteen minutes of styling and the like and a half hour of touching up, Rarity had finally finished. With a flowing gown that would’ve put any I had ever seen or been grateful enough to be able to wear, I proceed from behind the curtain.

After Rarity had started the designing and styling, she had insisted that the others go wait in the lounge, so she could create her masterpiece away from prying eyes. Now, here I am, showing the girls (or mares, I guess) a dress I had not wanted to be a part of.

“Oh, wow…” Fluttershy whispers, and I smile painfully at her. I begin to walk towards them and Rarity smiles widely, a tear coming out of her eye. An honest to goodness tear of joy.

“You look beautiful, Melody,” Twilight compliments. You know, in hindsight, this was a great experience, to see Rarity at work. Her gracefulness, her effortless finesse, and her gentle precision were all well and good… But I still hate it. The process was painstaking and I hope to never do it again.

But one can’t complain about the results. “Okay,” Rainbow Dash starts, “Wow. You actually look really good.” Seeing the looks her friends are giving her, Rainbow quickly adds, “But not as good as me! Nope, not even a little!”

“Why don’t you accept the fact that you’re just as much a mare as we are?” Rarity prods, and Rainbow gasps in terror at the thought.

“What?” She flutters her wings. “Never!”

“Well I think you look as fantastic as a newly shined plow,” Applejack states, and I smile wryly at the comment. Thanks Applejack, always there to lighten the mood. Not saying the others aren’t as great, but Applejack’s comments always seem honest. Maybe it’s just me, but her words don’t ever seem to lie.


“You look wonderful, Melody,” Fluttershy remarks, “The red and green really contrasts with your own mane, tail, and coat.”

Rarity turns to look at Fluttershy with a measure of surprise, and Fluttershy widens her eyes. “Eep! Not that I know anything about fashion!” Fluttershy squeaks, and I can’t help but laugh a little.

The dress Rarity had crafted for me is truly a piece of art. Gems and ornate designs riddle the entirety of the dress, each mineral having a hue that complements the fabric. It’s texture is all but superfluous, never chafing or feeling like a burden on the body. It’s many layers don’t take away, but add more to the feel of it, and though it was crafted to be somewhat simple as it was made in a short amount of time, one can’t help but think of the old phrase: Less is more. And in this case, it truly is.

“Ahem, yes. You simply look ravishing, though it could use a little work,” Rarity grins. Her glasses are now set aside as she appraises my attire. “A marvel to behold.”

“I’m not going to pay for the torture you put me through,” I put bluntly, and Rarity winces.

“Well, it is a gift from one new friend to another anyways. With the way you wear it, I wouldn’t dream of asking you to compensate. Seeing you in it is enough bits in it’s worth,” Rarity explains with a prim smile.

I can’t help but do a double take. “Come again? You don’t actually want me to pay you for it?”

Rarity chuckles. “Ah, I always seem to stumble upon this problem with first-time customers. As a friend, you’re already exempt from it right off the bat. As a customer, I offer to do the first order, free of charge. Think of it as a, hm, how to put it... a care package? Yes, a care package. It’s a business ordeal I don’t really think about too much.”

I blink at that. I’ve known many generous people in my life, but Rarity might take the cake. “But don’t these crystals cost a lot?” I inquire, glancing backwards. Each one has it’s own gleam and each seem to have a value of my-wallet-is-already-empty-just-by-looking-at-them.

“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Rarity nods, her horn igniting and opening a chest at the side of the room, “I have a lot more where those came from.” I move closer to take a peek at what she’s showing me and I pause for a second.

A chest full of gems. Hundreds of sapphires, rubies, emeralds, garnets and many more of different colours and opacities are tucked away in a little chest out for everypony to see. My mouth drops a little at the sight. “Wh-what?”

“Rarity’s cutie mark is a bunch of gems,” Applejack says, “Her specialty is somewhat, well, unique, I guess.”

“Yes, as Applejack says,” Rarity smiles. I move away from the chest and it closes once again. “I got my cutie mark from my own horn activating, sending me to this giant rock in the middle of nowhere. To put it shortly, an explosion rocked the sky and the boulder split apart to reveal a deposit of gems, and thus, I got my cutie mark!”

“It wasn’t just any old explosion,” Rainbow suddenly pipes in, “It was a sonic rainboom that I performed!”

“Yes, Rainbow, this is all about you,” Twilight rolls her eyes. “On that note, I got my cutie mark from that same explosion in the sky. I had an intense magical surge as I was attempting to join Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns and Princess Celestia just so happened to be in the neighbourhood. She helped stabilize my magic and reverse all the damage I had done.

“To keep it simple, I became her protoge, made friends with these girls and saved Princess Luna from Nightmare Moon, and became a princess!” Twilight finishes. I raise my eyebrow at their coinciding stories, and can’t help but wonder.

“I also got my cutie mark from the rainbow explosion,” Applejack adds, and I turn to her in surprise. “Heck, all six of us, minus Pinkie at the moment of course, got our cutie marks from Rainbow’s sonic rainboom.”

“I’m just awesome like that,” Rainbow boasts, and everybody in the room groans, except for me. I look at all five of these mares now chiding Rainbow and can’t help but think: Damn, their more connected than I thought. More than that, I am still being surprised by this cartoonish new world. At this point, I shouldn’t even be surprised that I’m surprised anymore.

“This is not the Rainbow Dash show,” Applejack moans, putting a hoof to her face. “Come on, Rainbow.”

“What?” Rainbow asks shamelessly. Meanwhile, I am now getting hot in this dress, and I look to Rarity for help.

“Rarity, uh, a little help here?” I plead, and Rarity sees my blatant discomfort.

“Oh, of course! We’ve overstayed our welcome here anyways. Come one girls, let’s help get Melody out of her dress and we can leave the boutique proper.”

And just like that, I’m able to escape my fabric-y prison. Hurray for little miracles.



“May I ask you something, Melody?” Rarity starts, “If you would be kind enough for me to do so, of course.”

“Uh, sure,” I say.

“What does that necklace of yours mean to you? Or, if that’s vague, why do you have it? I couldn’t help but notice it as I was doing measurements, and how you occasionally touch your hoof to it. How did you come upon such a beautiful piece of jewelry?” I flinch at the topic of the inquiry and Rarity notices my discomfort. “You don’t have to answer, dear.”

“No, no, it’s… it’s fine,” I sigh, glancing down at my necklace.

You know, some things you just can’t really answer in full thought. The description evades you, the thought persists in it’s nature to remain alone. My necklace came with me through this portal, and it means a lot more than just some fashioned piece of jewelry. For some reason or the other, it’s with me, and I’m grateful for that, but this raises the question as to why. Why did it survive my fall through an aether, when not a single other thing did? 

“I found this. I can still remember playing in a park while my mother watched, singing and laughing as I explored the park. I just…” I scrunch my muzzle as I try to remember. “I found this… this shiny radiant rock. A rock that seemed to glow when I first saw it. When I picked it up and showed it to my mom, she thought it was just another normal rock, albeit very coloured and glossy. 

“We were able to fashion it into this necklace. It could very well have been a bracelet, as I seemed to be entrenched in bracelets at that point in my life, yet my dad insisted I have a necklace.” I pause a little to get some breath. We’re now nearing the edge of some sort of fenced off forest area, and I can’t help but think of Applejack living at a farm. It makes sense, now that I think about it.

“Well, I’d say you’re father knows what he’s doing,” Rarity smiles, and I can only smile back.

“Yeah, well, it’s the reason I became this sort of explorer. I got new shiny things to play with, going to find new shiny things that needed to be found. I told you I was a singer, right? Well, I got a lot of my stuff from going to gigs and stuff. I earned a lot of it. I was able to see so many things, was able to go travel a bit. And in that time, I always had my two rocks in my life. My two best friends…

“This reminds me of everything I’ve done,of all the people in my life, and of everything that’s possible. And with it, it reminds me of the… of the people I’ve lost.” I finish. “I guess… you could say it’s my ‘good luck charm’.”

“Don’t you mean ‘ponies’?” Twilight asks me. I look her in the eye, and see her curiosity peaking at my word choice.

I’m not ready to tell the truth. Not yet. I shake my head as a ‘yes’ and Twilight frowns a little. I can’t blame her. I’m really a terrible liar. 

“Well, here’s my home,” Applejack finally says as we enter the path between the apple-riddled trees. “The good ol’ Sweet Apple Acres! She’s certainly been weathered down over the years, but she’s still kicking like the day she were born!”

I smile at the barn and pens, seeing the moderately sized field separating the barn from the orchards. “It looks lovely.”

“This here is where Equestria’s best apples have been harvested since Ponyville was started,” Applejack starts proudly. “It all started with Granny Smith, and now it falls upon my brother, sister and I to do so for the next generations to come. Wherever we Apples live, we make it our home. And anypony that is a friend is as much a part of the family as the apples of our land. You’re always welcome here at our place, Melody. Just remember that.”

I begin to look at Applejack with all the incredulity in the world. I can’t believe this. We’ve only known each other for a couple or so hours and these ponies are already taking me in as one of their own. Even with Derpy, I was stuck having to get to know her in the hospital, and yet, I’ve known these ponies for a tenth of the time. Tearing up slightly, I now just realize the magnitude of how far these new ponies will go to help a new pony out, to make them feel welcomed and to make them feel good.

“Thank you, Applejack,” I whisper, brushing away a stray drop of water that had landed on my face. Yes, a very specific stray drop of water that landed right underneath my eyes. I then look around, and see Fluttershy smiling along with the rest of the gang.

“Wait, weren’t we going to go to Fluttershy’s first?” I ask, and Applejack glances at Fluttershy for a moment. She then shifts her gaze to Rainbow, before chuckling.

“I don’t think Rainbow here can wait any longer,” Applejack motions, and I turn to Rainbow. I widen my eyes as I can almost literally see the dreams she’s having right now about cider. “Besides, a quick drink here and a snack is all we’re really going to get here. You might even get to see some of my family. In any case, we can all drop by Fluttershy’s after.”

Fluttershy gasps at the thought. “Oh!” she exclaims, a little louder than she usually spoke, “Then you can meet Harry and Fuzzy Legs and Angel and Elizabeak and the little cove of snakes near the Everfree and…” Fluttershy giggles a bit as she slowly realized she may have overstepped herself a bit. “Oh, sorry…”

“It’s alright, Fluttershy,” I smile, “Don’t ever say sorry just because you’re passionate about something.”

“Okay,” Fluttershy smiles back.

“What are we still doing out here?” Rainbow cries, just now realizing that we haven’t moved in the past five minutes. “Last one there is an egghead!” And just like that, Rainbow disappears in a literal burst of colours, a rainbow contrail left in her wake.

“Well, I’m not an egghead,” I say nonchalantly. As everypony begins to look at me once again, I grin widely before bolting as fast as I can after Rainbow.

“Hey, that ain’t fair!” Applejack cries, now following me and gaining speed.

Twilight, Rarity and Fluttershy, meanwhile, glance at each other before Fluttershy shrugs a little. “I don’t want to be an egghead…” she whispers, before flying at a moderate pace behind us.

“I’m not dirtying my coat, if that’s what you’re wondering,” Rarity remarks, settling at a brisk trot.

“So I’m the egghead, huh?” Twilight smirks. Charging up her horn, she disappears in a flash, reappearing in front of me and beating us to the door.

“Cheater,” I say, and Twilight sticks her tongue out.

What the hell, magic?
> 14 - Unexpected Ends
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“I think I’m going to like it here,” I say to myself, and everypony turns to look at me.

“What was that, sugarcube?” Applejack asks.

A little flushed at the sudden attention, I look away. “Well, I’m brand new here… and your hospitality just makes me feel… more welcomed than I should be. With Derpy lending me a hand- I mean, hoof in housing, it’s more than I feel I deserve.”

The mares around the table all look at each other, silently communicating with one another. Fluttershy is the first one to speak. “Of course, Melody. Just being with you for a few hours is enough to know you’re a good pony that needs friends. A good pony that is just as kind, if not more so than those around her…”

Fluttershy suddenly realizes it was her comment that was first, and she hides behind her mane, albeit not as hidden as before. “Well of course,” Applejack added, “You’re a decent mare that needs ponies like us in your life. Derpy is an amazing mare, I’ll tell you that. She wouldn’t hurt a fly, and taking you in must make her feel wonders about how she feels about herself.”

That made sense. The way Derpy makes sure to take care of me, even after such a short time of knowing me… I never really asked why. Why would she do this for me? All of this? And yet, here I am, making new friends, all because of that first one. They may not… may not compare to Carol and Ben, but… these are good people too. Ponies or not, however crazy this situation still seems to me.

“Yeah, you’re pretty awesome,” Rainbow waves nonchalantly, and I can’t help but smile at her own seeming lack of care.

“You may have your failings, but they certainly don’t compare to the attitude you bring,” Rarity implores, “Though I have yet to understand your inexplicable hatred to being fitted, of all things.”

“Like you would like to know,” I jibe, and we all chuckle a little. 

“Plus, if Pinkie likes you, as in, just as much as us, that’s certainly something,” Twilight says, “And as for me, you are a great pony, Melody. We may still not know much about you, but you have the potential. I’m not the Princess of Friendship for nothing.”

“Whoa whoa whoa, what?” I ask, burning my gaze into Twilight, “You’re a Princess?”

Twilight’s cheeks redden, and I immediately feel bad for putting my attention solely on her. “Yeah, I am. I’m not royalty or anything, if that’s what you’re wondering, I just received the title and the castle because of achieving something nopony has done before. Or that’s what Princess Celestia told me, in any case…”

“So basically, that’s what the government wants you to think,” I say, remembering a joke I had found on the interwebs once.

“I guess.”

“Cool,” I finally say, and we begin dessert. It turns out to be some sort of apple pie, and I thank the chef, who turns out to be Applejacks grandma, Granny Smith (go figure). I also meet a nice little girl (filly?) by the name of Apple Bloom. Turns out, she’s Applejack’s sister, and I certainly have no idea what that mischievous little glint in her eye meant.

After that nice meal, we ended up at Fluttershy’s Cottage, a nice little place at the edge of the Everfree (a reportedly dangerous place, which I hope I never have to go into). Filled with animals and nice little critters of all kinds, it actually really smells like a posh zoo.

“This is my home,” Fluttershy states quite proudly, “I take care of any animals who come looking for help. Their all real nice, especially Harry the Bear.” Just then, I could feel big furry arms come and grip me tight, squeezing the life out of me. Glancing up, I nearly shriek at the sight of a full grown bear nuzzling and hugging me tightly. As the initial panic leaves, I find he is actually very warm.

As he growls, Fluttershy giggles. “Harry says he’s sorry if he caused you any worry.”

“N-no, it’s quite alright,” I say, laughing nervously. “This is a real nice place you have here.”

“Thank you,” Fluttershy smiles, “I try my best to make it as homely for the animals as possible.”

“And this tea is great as well. What is it?”

“I believe it’s a mixture of chamomile and mint as well as a little honey,” Rarity explains, taking a sip from her own cup.

“Well, hey,” I say, “That’s pretty good.”

“Yes, yes it is,” Twilight murmurs, enjoying her own cup. Turning to Applejack, I see she’s already drank most of it, mostly remaining silent as she doesn’t seem to have anything to add to the conversation.

“Not much into talk about this kind of stuff?” I ask.

“Nah, not really,” Applejack says, finishing her tea, “But I know my stuff. I don’t call ponies ‘sugarcube’ for nothin’.”

“Huh,” I say. Never really thought of that. Rainbow Dash on the other hoof decided to stay outside of the house, not much for tea or I feel, hanging out inside a home filled with animals. Personally, I think she’s afraid of the bunny, who I can certainly say is one devilish little runt, but other than that, meh.



“Pinkie? Derpy?” I ask, watching the two ponies flying towards me after we left Fluttershy’s humble abode.

“Yep!” Derpy cries, waving a hoof.

“You know it!” Pinkie shouts.

“Took ya long enough!” Rainbow shouted, “It felt like we spent hours at Fluttershy’s!” Realizing what she had just said, she quickly turned to us, waving her hooves around. “Not that Fluttershy is boring or anything! Nyope, did not mean that!”

We all raise an eyebrow at Rainbow, who begins to look like she’s sweating nervously, just before we all shrug and turn our attention back to the mares coming right at us. “So, how was your little endeavour, Pinkie?” I ask, and she sort of looks sad for a moment.

“Well, I couldn’t really find her. It’s really weird, I could’ve sworn I saw her just a few minutes ago…”

“Too bad,” I say, “It’s alright Pinkie, maybe another time.”

“Alright,” Pinkie says, before poofing back up into her natural state. “That reminds me! I saw you all having fun while I was searching! I need to ask my friends how it went!”

“Or you could just ask me,” I remark.

“If I do that, then you can’t talk to Derpy and get this whole thing over with!” Pinkie states before zooming off to talk with the rest of the gang.

“What?” is all I can muster as I watch her ecstatically interact with the five mares I had gotten to know better in the past few hours.

“Pinkie is a little-”

“Weird, yeah,” I complete Derpy’s thought.

“So, how was your day?” Derpy asks, “It looks like Pinkie abandoned you and left you with the rest of the Elements.”

“Yeah.” I then realize something she had said. “Wait, Elements?”

“Their the Elements of Harmony,” Derpy states nonchalantly, “Well, they were, until they had to put them back into the Tree of Harmony.”

“The what into the what of who now?” I question, a bit lost.

“It doesn’t really matter in the long run. What matters is if you’ve made new friends.” Derpy hugs me, and I hug back. “Have you made new friends?”

“Yes, Derpy,” I say with a roll of my eyes, “No thanks to you and your hospitality.”

“It wasn’t all me,” Derpy says, “Ninety percent of making friends is the person wanting to make friends, you know.”

“And how would you know that percentage?” I inquire.

“I don’t. I just know,” Derpy grins, and I can’t help but smile.

“Well, looks like we’re going our separate ways now,” Derpy says, both of us watching as the six mares wave goodbye and Derpy and I wave back. “I guess it’s time to go home.”

“Yeah,” I smile, feeling the best I have in a long time.

I will find you eventually, Carol, Ben. You can count on that.

But for right now, I must focus on the present, and if that means making new friends and having a good life, then so be it.

Thank you, my friends.

I think I’m gonna like it here.