> In Another Life I: Week One
>  by Bateman66
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Apple Smashin'
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Two pebbles gently tapped against the window. After a few seconds, two more pebbles followed. Finally, a rock was sent crashing threw, shattering the small old thing.

Twilight quickly jerked awake at the sound. Peering out her window, she saw all her friends right outside the house. 

She tiptoed around the sleeping Spike and slowly crept down to the ground floor. Grabbing her saddle bag off the side hook, she gently shut the front door and jogged over to her friends.

"Seriously you guys, the window was-"

All five of Twilight's friends hushed her in unison. This was an important night, a night that could not and would not be ruined by some egg-head.

Gesturing to her friends, Applejack began to gallop toward Sweet Apple Acres. The rest followed right behind her.

When they got close enough to the farm, Applejack veered off along a less beaten path and into the orchard. After some time, Applejack skidded to a halt. Turning to her friends, she spoke.

"Alright y'all, this is where most of them apples have been disappearing. I reckon we handle this exactly as we planned."

AJ pulled from her saddle bag a large rolled up map of Sweet Apple Acres. She unfolded it onto the ground.

“So, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash circle around the sky and try to cover anything we miss while we search. The rest of us will split into groups of two. So ummm...I'll go with Twilight and Pinkie and Rarity can be a team. Any questions?

"Not a one!" chirped Pinkie.

"Then let's move out everypony!"

With Applejack's word, the group dispersed into their groups, and for the next few pre-dawn hours, searched the entire highlighted area of the farm.

The section they were in was on the northwest corner of the property. It was a very destitute part of the land, close to the Everfree Forest, frequented by coyotes and overgrown with weeds. Under such conditions, only rigid sour apples grew, not even the squirrels would eat them.

While walking through mazes of trees, Twilight couldn't help but ask Applejack some questions.

"Applejack, why exactly do you think some pony is stealing your apples? Couldn't it be any old squirrel or bird eating them?"

Applejack continued to walk while she responded.

"You ain’t seen some of the stuff here. Smashed apples, burnt apples, apple skins are all lyn' about. It's got to be the work of some pony!"

"Then why look for this mystery pony at night? They would be easier to find in the day.”

"Becaaaaause sugar-cube, that's when it all happens! Nothin' at sunset but a sunrise, the place is a pig-sti!" 

Twilight shook her head in disbelief. “But this doesn’t add up, what about the-?"

Twilight was interrupted by Rainbow Dash yelling in the distance. Without a delay, Applejack ran in Dash's direction. Twilight followed in suit.

The shadows and trees rushed past AJ as she sprinted. She could here Dash's voice getting closer. The intruder was somewhere nearby, she could just feel it.

Applejack came to the edge of a creek. She was just at the rim of the farm, right next to the Everfree Forest. Hearing something below her, she slid down the muddy slope, into the creek. 

It was dark and quiet, but she could still feel and hear the soft water running through the rocks and small patches of dirt islands. It was just the water she had heard, a red herring, but still…something was nearby.

She continued to listen for the noise; it was close, getting closer, a rustling, heavy breath, cracking of twigs, more breath, and a silent curse. Applejack looked up.

A hooded pony stood at the top the slope into the creek. It waited there for a second, looked to its right, looked to its left, looked to the sky, then quickly dropped down. The pony landed with a tiny splash of water over its hooves then slithered over to a nearby rock and sat down.

Catching its breath, it pulled something out of its pocket and began to drink greedily a bottle of something. Done, the pony tossed the bottle back into its pocket, it continued to breathe heavily and rest. 

Minutes went by and it didn't see Applejack.

Silently, she tossed open her saddlebag and pulled out a flash light. Steadying the heavy metal tube, she pointed just in the pony’s direction. She flipped it on.

The beam startled the figure and they took off galloping, water madly splashing underneath their hooves. Applejack went right after it, determined as ever. She held her flashlight as steady as she could in her mouth, while yelling to her friends:

"The varmint’s right here! I got'em!"

The pony weaved and ducked through the creek as best as they could but there was no shaking an apple-bucking earth-pony!

AJ was closing in. Just a few inches more and she'd tackle the vandal.

She could see a large cliff was approaching. It was drop off, leading straight down into the Everfree Forest. 

Applejack could see what the pony was going for and she wasn't going to follow. As the pony ran up the cliff, Applejack screeched to a stop. 

Taking a running leap, the vandal thrashed its legs madly in the air, then plunged down into the black abyss. There was no way to see through the tangle of vines and massive trees. The mystery pony was gone.


-------------------


The Mane 6 regrouped at the orchard gates. The sun was just peaking over the mountains as dawn began to shine on all of Ponyville. Applejack was covered in mud and leaves as she met back with her friends, but she didn't let that bruise her spirits.

"YEHAH! I think we've seen the last of that pest! No more apple destruction for us, no sir!"

"But darling" cooed Rarity, "You did not catch the perpetrator, only scared them away. If one would be so determined, they would simply try again."

"Rarity you didn't see. That varmint took a fall all the way down to the Everfree Forest! If that didn't hurt em' it would at least scare em', no pony would ever try somethin’ so foolish and not learn from it.”

Applejack turned to all of her friends.

"Thank you all for helpin' with this little crisis. It sure was mighty sacrificen' for y'all to come here in the dark of night. Now *yarn* I think I'll hit the hay. I reckon y’all should do the same. See y'all tommorow!

And with that, the ponies went their separate ways, back to their homes to get some proper sleep.

> Over Open Sights
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alistair hugged tightly against the nearest tree branch as another deliberating wave of pain shot up through his left leg. Swallowing yet another cry of torment, he looked up towards the tree line to see how close he was from the top.

He could see thick beams of sunlight shooting out from large holes in the leafy forest canopy, a comforting sight that was no more than a few climbs away. Nodding at this, he reached above his head once more and continued moving.

Such had been the cycle for the past hour: climb, stop, climb, stop. He’d wanted to just charge through the entire endeavor, throw his own comfort to the wind and just be done with this agonizing climb to hell. But the sheer scope of the bloody and splintering pain from his mangled leg tarnished any possibility of portraying a stoic action hero, and thus, he had to rest.

If he’d known how far the fall was from the drop off, he would’ve thought twice about jumping off it earlier as the strange creatures chased him with their scepters of light. But, at the time his primary goal was escape, which, he had achieved.

Alistair could see the light getting closer and smiled to know that his journey was nearly complete. Climbing atop another branch, his head pierced through the last layer of leaves and branches, and he could finally see the sun shine warmly down upon him.

He looked around for a suitable place to rest, and after seeing the top of a tree that too break through the canopy, while still offering some branches to sit upon, he carefully moved towards it.

His leg bit at him fiercely, but he tried his best to ignore its command of halting until he reached the towering perch. Approaching it without much grace, he propped himself down on a thick looking arm and swung his wounded leg in front of himself to finally examine it in the proper light. It did not look good.

A thick patch of crusted blood had dried up along the front of his left shin, formerly seeping from several wounds that were visible past the torn regions of his muddy trouser leg. Although that specific region of his limb did not feel internally damaged or harmed, his ankle did.

The appendage reeked with pain, shaking him so bad that he did not even wish to consider removing his fur shoes to see what damage had been done. The bones seemed to crunch and slide whenever he took a step, and it was his own shaky will that kept him from collapsing all together and fading into unconsciousness. Instead, he looked at it with a worried disposition as panic began to set in.

That was the last thing he’d ever wanted to occur, falling victim to shock and just loosing control all together. He hadn’t experienced any of the tell tale signs such as blurred vision or hyperventilation, but if they ever did decide to set in at whatever inconvenient time they chose, he was not sure he had any method to fight against them.

It was apparent to him that he had no proper way to treat any of these maladies, especially the ankle. And the hostile reaction he’d gotten from the inhabitants of the area seemed to discard any hope of pity on their part. The group he’d encountered seemed intent on running him out of the section of the forest he was in, clearly wanting the safety of the sweet apple trees to themselves.

“Monsters,” he spat aloud, feeling unjustly treated for a spot he’d clearly claimed first. The creatures that took it from him were obviously not above violence to get their way and would have probably murdered him if it hadn’t been for his narrow escape. One could only imagine what the violent brutes were capable of.

Something did perturb him about the locals, however, something he hadn’t been expecting from such a violent and primitive species: they seemed to speak in a similar manner to his own, with even the loud interjecting statements from the orange beast (who’d been the closest to him during the chase) making clear sense to his mind. Strange.

As if a similar form of communication was at all possible between such differing animals, one clearly more intelligent than the other. He’d suspected that the creatures of Solitude spoke some sort of incomprehensible dialect, at least the ones that looked similar. But the ability of him alone and the native beasts to easily understand each other did not make sense one bit. 

He’d never considered himself much of a linguist, but it was simple logic that a bird could not comprehend a squirrel, or that a flower could comprehend a tree. They were too different, with their similarities being drastically outweighed by their divergence. Was such a thing really possible in where he found himself?

Suddenly, to break his pondering concentration, a loud squealing pop shot off from a distance away, followed by an encompassing echo that travelled far past him. Turning towards the noise, something large and colorful came into focus past the large stretching canopy of the trees, something that loomed extensively across the horizon not seeming to end no matter how far it went.

It was a large sprawling mass, nearly as long as a small canyon but as flat as the surrounding plain encircling it. Angular structures covered the most of its scope, with bright cream colored pathways filling in the spaces between them. Tiny pockets of green dotted the unfilled areas, which Alistair could only assume was some sort of deliberate landscaping.

Many of the structures within the sprawl looked alike, with yellow thatch roofs and wooden outer supports. Most of them were variations upon one another, some short and wide, while others were skinny and tall. And even with that, certain structures completely disregarded the established medium, and looked entirely different from everything else.

One was a circular disk-like spire that seemed to twist and curve itself upwards, compressing itself the higher it got, until it reached out towards the sky in a single upwards point. Another was a distorted pink structure with several bits of the outside facade pointing outwards asymmetrically, with a coarse brown roof atop it that seemed to emulate something that was not a roof at all. What is was Alistair did not know, but something told him it was sweet.

Needless to say, he’d never seen such forms of architecture before; the only building he ever saw prior was the small shack he dealt within the Realm of Solitude. But this, this massive settlement before him, was something else, beyond his comprehension.

It looked so civilized, so carefully considered. Not too close to the forest, on flat land, well spaced apart buildings, its construction as a whole was clearly planned out prior. And even despite its layout, the buildings looked so charming all on their own, each with colorful outer designs that did not mimic one another but had a visual similarity. Everything was different, yet still part of the same system.

He gaped out toward the city for quite some time, his eyes searching and staring upon anything they wished, as he twinkled with a light he hadn’t felt since the torrential winds quite literally ripped his homeworld apart. Time did not seem to exist where he sat, giving him eternity to stare upon the alien and astonishing place so far away.

But, as time progressed, the business with his leg slowly creeped back into his mind, reminding him with a few moans of pain that it was not healing itself anytime soon. 

He needed medical attention, preferably soon, and preferably in safety. But he did not have any necessary tools to do this and interaction with the denizens of the region presented itself as a poor idea. He looked out toward the sprawl with questions in his mind, but quickly had them answered.

Out towards the edge of the settlement, where smaller pockets of constructs dwelt, another unique building set apart from the rest. It, at first glance, appeared to be a larger than normal tree, awkwardly sitting aloof from any other flora its size. But upon closer inspection, it turned out to be a dwelling of some sort, with windows along its sides and a door placed on its lower center.

The dwelling’s unique appearance set it apart from the surrounding structures and seemed to elevate its importance above those around it. If this importance was true, what lay inside the odd dwelling? A leader? Treasure? Something else?

The possibilities seemed endless, especially since he had no point of reference to go off of. Needless to say, if something valuable was inside the building’s chambers, would it be the supplies he needed?  It seemed as good as any to search for necessities, necessities he desperately needed and wanted.

Water and cloth that was all he required. Water for cleaning, cloth for wrapping. He’d experienced his fair share of minor injuries in Solitude, giving him some aptitude when it came to jury-rigged medical treatment. He was thankful his current maladies weren’t a compound fracture or a touch of tuberculosis, two misfortunes he had no knowledge of dealing with and would both most likely end with his premature demise.

Looking back across the settlement, he identified certain roads and pathways that led to the tree home, plotting out which way would be the simplest from his position within the forest. Making a mental note of the region one last time, he peered up towards the sky and scanned for anything else that may hinder him.

Unfortunately, he could see fat gray clouds approaching from the east, moving like squat airships towards the sprawl at a snail’s pace. He could not tell when they’d precisely reach the area, but he cursed his luck anyway for further complicating his already dire situation.

Slipping down the branch he sat upon, he edged himself back into the canopy shield, and slowly descended back to the ground, moving tree by tree at a hurried pace. 

> Enjoy Your Stay
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few hours later, within the comforting confines of Twilight Sparkles tree home, the mare herself sat intently upon her work station, casually sifting through layers of old diagrams she’d been needing to dispose of.

They’d been blueprints for a particular alchemy setup she no longer required but felt the necessity to keep around. She never knew when a graduated cylinder of Nightingale extract needed to be angled precisely at fifteen and a half degrees, or when a Mustafarian stone would need heating from its left corner and nowhere else. 

Now, however, the untidiness had gotten to her and she was shuffling the papers accordingly into a small stack with her hooves. Sliding them across the wooden table, a new pocket of space was now open to whatever she wished to put upon it.

Smiling at the miniature success, she began to reach forward for one of the Canterlot magazines she kept on the adjacent table, when Spike came dashing into the room faster than he normally decided to waddle.

Spinning around in her chair to face the baby dragon, his face immediately told her something was amiss. His eyes were sunken back into his sockets, while the scales around his face seemed to be a much more paled color than they normally appeared. But most startling was the absence of any exasperated call from Spike, which normally alerted Twilight to which level of problem was at hoof.

Now, he stood there in silence, looking up at her, quivering.

“Spike,” she said carefully but attentively, “what’s wrong?” 

“T-Twilight…” he managed slowly, his voice at a near whisper. “I think you should look outside. I think I saw something…”

Spike’s body trembled greatly as he nervously nibbled at the ends of his claws. He looked over his shoulder then back to Twilight to make sure that, whatever he saw had not followed him inside.

Twilight’s eyes narrowed.

“Where did you see this?”

Spike nodded his head and pointed downstairs. “The window by the front door, that’s where it is.”

Twilight placed both hooves on his shoulders and looked the baby dragon directly in the eyes. “Spike, stay right here. Everything’s going to be fine.” 

Moving away from the shell-shocked Spike, Twilight bounded down the stairs hurriedly, and approached the front door. Inching up close to the thick oak exit, she peered through the small glass slit to its side that barely accounted for being a window.

At first she could see nothing, the thick gray clouds from earlier had descended upon Ponyville in full wrath, bringing hell and high water that had not been seen in the small village for quite sometime. Wind threw leaves and stray paper from side to side as rain pelted and pounded whatever was unprotected by a roof. Large puddles were forming alongside the roadways and even in the roads themselves, giving an almost marshy appearance to the typically mild looking Ponyville.

Most notably, was the near blackness that the storm was causing, blocking out even the moonlight from the evening sky and casting blindness upon anypony that was in the thick of the monsoon.

And for a moment, Twilight would count herself among them, for she could barely see past the thin transparent glass to the outside. Yet, as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, the mayhem around her home slowly began to come into focus, including something else.

Off to the corner of her small grassy property, beside a quickly growing puddle, a peculiar sight was to be had. A large clump of mud seemed to have somehow shifted itself next to a roadside puddle and remained statically next to it. She could clearly see the mud and puddle meeting, yet it did not moisten and clump together as would normal muck/water solutions.

And, looking at it further, a tree branch seemed to have also been jabbed right into the bottom of the muddy pile. Its outer-coat was an uncanny whitish pink, and it had crooked ends that twisted out of the center branch like a colored claw or talon. The branch’s ends were raised slightly upwards, as if the inanimate object reached out towards her home in yearning, surrounded by the blackness of the storm.

Twilight shivered from the window and quickly threw the curtains back over it. She could see why Spike was so startled by the passive object. It looked so alive yet so detached, as if an artist had carved a wax sculpture but then left it to melt half ways in the sun.

The mere thought of something like that deliberately outside her door made it appear as if some sort of practical joke or prank. No way could something like that have naturally occurred, especially in the past few hours since she’d last been outside. But yet again…

She wanted to be sure. If Pinkie Pie or Rainbow Dash were pulling one of their tricks again, at least Twilight would be able to put a stop to it before it progressed any further.

Grabbing an umbrella off the coat rack with her levitation spell, Twilight opened it abruptly, and slowly unlocked the thick door to the outside. Pulling it open gradually, she was met by the rushing rumble of the still raging storm.

Outside, a greenish fog hung gloomily in the air. He eyes had adjusted to the darkness around it, but she hadn’t been able to see the near pea soup thick haze around her. Holding the umbrella over her head, she stepped out of the lip of her house and unto the squishy mud path below her.

The rain pellets pelted her umbrella like a swarm of arrows, making the striking of water against fabric even louder than the clapping thunder that occasionally boomed in the distance.

Squinting through the smog, she spotted the peculiar mud pile, and approached it carefully. There was no telling what Pinkie, if she was behind it, had rigged to the slop. Everything from cake batter shooters to water balloon catapults presented themselves as plausible possibilities.

But as Twilight got closer, it was clear that this was no fooling prank. The “mud” clump, seemed to actually be a large brown cloth tossed over something medium sized and slightly bumpy. Sighing in relief that it wasn’t a party balloon time bomb, Twilight inspected the pile further, and suddenly, her eyes grew wide.

The “branch” she’d seen earlier was no branch at all, but an actual talon, or something resembling one, sticking out from under the cloth. It rested against the muddy earth and slimy puddle, still outstretched hopelessly towards Twilight’s now opened front door.

A quiet gasp escaped through her throat, as a creeping suspicion began to be confirmed.

Reaching down anxiously to the brown cloth, she tugged one of its ends with the tip of her hoof, and flipped away the entire piece all together.

The cloth, caked with pieces of brown sludge, flipped up into the air by Twilight’s force and a little bit of wind, and rested by the object’s side.

The object in question, was a being Twilight hold only seen in still grainy photographs from over a century ago. Its body was absent of any fur or considerable patches of hair, minus a moderate amount on the top of its head and above its eyes. This left the beings bare skin, a whitish-pink mixture, open and exposed to any ambient harm around it.

It had an angular but still softened face, with mild puffiness on its cheeks but with a very pointed and cleft chin that shot vertically downwards instead of curving forward. The being had four appendages, two along its sides, while two where attached to the end of its antimony. The side set had a matching set of talons along the end of each appendage, while the bottom two had flat slabs of flesh that were divided into five along its tips.

However, the being looked different from the ones she’d observed from her large collection of recent archives. The face was more angular and thick, the hips much more pointed forwards instead of sloped, its hair seemed considerably shorter, and it lacked breasts on the center of its torso. Perhaps this was a male? 

Without question she could confirm that this was most definitely a human. Their peculiar physique made them indistinguishable from nearly all known forms of life in Equestria, acting as a sort of beacon that shown when ever one turned up.

What puzzled her though, was not only its incredibly random appearance upon her property in the middle of the evening, but its mere presence in general. The last time she checked, it had been a century since a human had been recorded to be within the confines of Equestria, and more than likely in the confines of the entire planet.

In turn, the entire chance meeting of one practically being laid at her hooves made it appear as some sort of trick or illusion. Was she dreaming? Had a hex been put over her mind?

A distant thunderclap and flash of light from the thickened clouds above shattered this notion and snapped her out of her momentary thought.

She looked back down at the human, who still lay motionless along the putrid ditch. Not a sound of recognition or life had come from him since she’d first walked out, which slowly began to startle her. Tapping the top of his back with her foreleg, she was met with silence. 

Panicking now, she immediately took both ends of the human’s shoulders, thrusted him upwards (with minimal effort) and placed him steadily upon her back. Galloping forward, she stampeded back into the tree house and slammed the front door behind her.

> Captured Prey
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alistair’s hearing returned to him before his sight. An ambient rumbling hummed sweetly in his ears as the sound of a muffled pattering sounded against something solid; both of their frequencies at an unwavering pace.

Opening his eyes, he was met with an uncomfortable gleaming of light that burned more than it illuminated. Rubbing them gingerly, he blinked a few times until the spots at the corners of his sight stopped flashing. But as his vision slowly faded back into focus, he found himself to be in place he did not recall entering.

He was in a circular chamber of some sort; its floor comprised of creamy well-sanded wood with the walls dyed a maroon shade of red. But the rest of the chamber walls that were not painted over were instead covered by several sets of slick transparent force fields that reflected the outside view from the enclosure. 

Encircling the room and resting within the walls themselves, were several wooden slots containing numerous sets of books, most the color of purple or some lighter or darker shade of it. He could not read their side titles from the position he sat at, but he assumed he would not recognize any of the titles before him, that is, if he could even comprehend whatever language the inhabitants wrote in. 

Sitting upwards from the rickety and uncomfortable bench he rested on, he felt the aged object creek and groan loudly, startling him for a moment as if someone maybe approaching. Relieved that it was nothing, he arose from the bench and scanned the room.

The chamber was empty, with only the distant rumbling from outside giving him any sort of company. How long this would remain he could not tell, but he prayed this moment of solitude would last as far as possible.

He remembered being distressed about his first encounter with the bloodthirsty locals, shaken by how close they’d come from catching him. But know it seemed they’d gotten the better of him on their second try. How else had he arrived in this strange building? But then again, how exactly the creatures subdued or transported him here remained unexplained.

Alistair considered himself to be a favorably alert individual, staying one step ahead of the mild predators that dwelt on Solitude’s pleasant forests, boars and bucks for the most part. But one of the clumsy equines he’d seen earlier sneaking up on him seemed laughable, a near impossible feat on their part he considered boldly. Still, he raked his mind for what for what he could recount from before awakening, hoping for some possible trail to reveal itself to him. 

The details were foggy, with his descent from the tree line coming in the most receptive. Everything else…seemed to trail off afterwards. His mind recounted certain passing echoes with even a few images crossing through properly, but they floated away whenever he attempted to pin them down clearly. The more and more he strained to remember, the more the pieces of his memory flew away quicker and quicker, adding to his frustrated inability.

Shaking his head to clear his muddled conscious, his eyes traveled to another one of the odd force-fields erected along the structure’s walls. The image it projected from outside appeared quite black from where he was. If this was true, how much time had passed since he last remembered? Approaching the wall, he inspected the shield’s field for answers.

The thick gray clouds he’d seen earlier from the forest tree tops had evolved into a full on monsoon, and he could clearly see the effects of its thick downpour upon the already drenched landscape. Mucked puddles were sprouting up like weeds along dirt pathways and grassy plots, while the swirling howl of wind tossed whatever was too light in a manic frenzy.

And even then he could barely see past the rain itself, with nearly the entire sky blocked out by the storm’s clouds and the cover of evening, which gave the outside a poisonous and brooding green haze. A far cry from the garden-like environment he’d observed earlier. 

“Contemplating leaving?” asked a feminine and mild voice from behind him.

Shifting his weight to the ball of his right foot, he spun around with a single jerk of his body and came to face to face with the mysterious figure, which stood a few paces away by a curved set of stairs.

The creature looked very similar to the beings that had chased him out of the apple orchard not even a day earlier, with the exception of some minor differences. Her (the voice suggested it was so) coat of fur was a darkened violet with a matching head of hair that was of a deeper purple complexion. The equine’s furred tail matched its hair well, with both colored conclaves closely resembling cosmic nebulas he’d observed for many years in the Solitude sky.   

Other than that, the equine being was hard to distinguish visually from the orange one that had nearly caught him, minus its very defining voice that contrasted against the harsh and drawling interjections that the other one had shouted at him.

This one was much more collected, calm and focused, with a sharp edge to her personality that he had picked up on from the single two words she had uttered. With this in mind, he responded to her with caution, keeping as much authority in his voice as he could without appearing hostile.

“I’d prefer not,” he said with a squared jaw and placid face that did not give much away. “Your current weather is not very appealing. But if need be, I can leave if you wish.”

The equine shook her head. “I wouldn’t hope so, anypony outside now would get soaked not matter how many coats they wore. Even the one you wear.” She gestured with her hoof towards his large and enveloping clothing.

The garment in question was a large and muddy brown cloak that shrouded nearly his entire body in its musty embrace. Not a single inch of his skin could be visible past his hands and head; the rest clouded by the sweeping cloth and held together by a thin slip of fabric that had been tied into several knots along his waist. A hood sat flatly on the back of his neck, fully capable to be flipped over his head to cover even more of his small figure.

“Hmmmm,” he concluded appraisingly. “And who might you be, if I may inquire?”

“I am Twilight Sparkle,” said the female with a smile. “Your rescuer to be specific.”

“My rescuer?”

“Yes,” she said with a nod. “I found you along the roadside just a stone’s throw from my doorstep. I brought you here and healed your wound. You would be dead if not for my intervention.”

Alistair instinctively looked down at his left leg while lifting the cloth from his feet, and, just as the female had said, his leg wound was healed. The sliced flesh had been bound tightly with clean white bandages with not even a hint of his blood seeping through them. His injured ankle as well had been treated accordingly with bandages and what felt like a small board of some sort along the top of his foot. A splint perhaps?

Whatever it was, the equine had done a fantastic job fixing him, revealing even more intelligence and tact that went beyond her word choice and tone. Alistair took immediate note to watch himself around her.

“I’m most appreciative,” he thanked her formally, “I can’t particularly recall much from the past few hours, but I thank you nevertheless.”

Twilight bowed her head and smiled once again. “The pleasure is mine.” 

She began to slowly approach him from the bottom steps, moving carefully along her four appendages which he formerly assumed to be impossible for any quadruped species. But now, he could clearly see that a creature with a brain placed properly behind its head, no matter what physiology it had, was easily capable of achieving what another could do. 

As she neared closer to him, her journey only taking a handful of seconds, the proportions of her body came into closer perspective for him. She was close to his height, her head one or two inches above his own. But the rest of her frame only reached the pectoral line of his chest. 

However, even though their height was more or less equal, he could not help but feel intimidated by her size, which was much more heavyset then his own and generally wider and more thick. He needed to remind himself that looks were not everything, and he was more than capable of holding his own in a fight if need be.

“Now,” said the equine at a more personal proximity for discussion. “I have revealed my name to you, so how about I hear yours?”

Alistair grit his teeth. He’d never been verbally enticed into doing something but he already disliked like the feeling of it. The equine had clearly wanted to know this from the beginning and had played around the topic right under his nose. He understood that this female was cunning but he did not like being taken for a fool and would not allow himself to be tricked again, no matter who they were.

“Alistair,” he said with reluctance to his own self-reveal.

“Alistair?” 

“Yes, Alistair.”

“Where does that come from?”

“An old book from a long time ago.”

Twilight nodded her head curtly. “Can’t say that’s what I would’ve picked for you, but if that’s your name that’s your name.” 

Alistair’s brow furred in suspicion. “What do you mean by that? Where am I?”

Twilight put her hooves in defense to signalize her passivity. “Implying nothing, just a passing statement. Concerning your location…you are in my home.” She gestured out to the entire open space with both of her hooves. “Welcome.”

Alistair did not know how to properly respond. He had his suspicions about this equine and her overly hospitable mannerisms. And now that he found himself in what she claimed was her home, danger seemed to be a much more tangible entity. If this was true, then she knew every square inch of the area, everything walked in, walked on, and walked through numerous times in a single day. His chances of a strong defense and a hasty exit were already diminishing.

“Do you want something from me?” he asked directly, starting to disregard his civility from earlier in the pursuit of his own safety.

Twilight waved the air with her hoof. “That is the quite the question. One that requires a certain knowledge to be properly comprehended and understood.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”

“You are a traveler not of this land, but by now you have already realized this, yes? Yet, you are not the first of a two-legged breed to walk along our paths. Many before you have come, with a cultured history dating back to even before the Reign of Discord. You, and all those before you, have a limitless potential, as all ponies do. But, unlike ponies, you come from different homes, different settings that vary dramatically simply on the person. No two have been alike for quite some time, yet all of you a very similar in your own way.”

Alistair shook his head with an offhanded annoyance. “I don’t believe I understand. Discord, different homes, all this talk of ‘potential’? It doesn’t make any sense.”

“We can focus on that for another time,” she said casually, seeming to expect in his ignorance on the subject. “For now, I have something much more important, a proposal.”

Alistair’s mood lowered, detecting another one of Twilight’s verbal tricks. He was ready for them now. “And what particularly is that?”

A wry smile stretched itself onto Twilight’s face as she responded. “It doesn't take a genius to comprehend that you’re…cut from a different cloth, so to speak. But appearance is not the definition of one’s character, but it can be the definition of one’s knowledge. Know what I mean?”

“No.”

“Alright,” said Twilight as she rubbed the edge of her forehead slowly. “I’ll elaborate. I’m not insulting your intelligence or trying to place myself higher than you, but I don’t think it would come as a surprise to anypony that you of all ponies, aren’t particularly knowledgeable in how things work here in Equestria.”

He shrugged. “So? I can manage on my own. I was doing well before this blasted leg had to ruin itself on me.”

Twilight’s brow furred, her tone turning stern as she found Alistair’s indifferent rejection a direct insult to her kindness. “You were squatting on private property while stealing their crops. And yes, I know it was you Applejack chased in the orchard yesterday night. I found the mashed Cortland apples in your pockets.”

Alistair grinned, feeling some satisfaction in lowering Twilight to a level of intolerance with his attitude. “So, you’re a detective as well, most interesting. And what if I say no to your proposal, whatever it is?”

“Then you’ll be sent out of my home immediately and held accountable for whatever crimes you commit in the future with no leniency toward your uncommon situation. This will be your choice.”

Alistair was taken back by the quick reveal to his scenario, suddenly feeling the wind punched out of his sail. Suddenly he didn’t feel like the indestructible adventurer who could handle his own among any beasts nature decided to throw at him, but rather, a weakened and lost little whelp who was completely out of place and completely alone. And, unfortunately, he saw this to be truer and truer the more he thought about it.

Something pained in the crest of his chest, lowering the elated and energetic mood he’d originally found himself in. His body visually slumped forwards like a wounded animal and let out a defeated sigh.

“Wow…” he managed weakly, “I never thought of it like that. Maybe you are right then…”

Twilight’s expression softened from her original scowl, seeing now the distress she’d put the boy in. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend…”

“No-no-no,” he said quickly as he waved the statement away with his hand. “You did nothing, I just never thought about this, all this, until now…” He breathed outwards nervously and shoved his hands downwards into his pockets. Caressing the top of his forehead, he stepped a few paces away from Twilight who looked on in concern.

“I’m sorry if I’ve caused you any trouble,” he said quietly as he flipped the brown cloak hood over his head. “But I should really get going. I’ve given you enough grief already. So in turn—” He hurriedly began towards the front door, his body tensing up with each brisk step he took.

This place, this home, was burning him alive. He could feel it in every nerve of his body, things being torn and smashed. His bliss, his confidence, his independence, all shattered in mere minutes of each other. This world, whatever it was called, was tormenting him even more then the mile-long electrical storms of Solitude. If this was all it would offer him, why stay?

“Wait!” Twilight called desperately as she clamored towards the door and blocked its entire space with her outstretched hooves. “I wanted you to stay here, that was my proposal! To teach you and to prepare you for what lies ahead. I can do that, I want to do that. I’m willing to do whatever it takes, but I need your help as well.” She sighed heavily and smiled brighter than any creature he’d even seen before; casting something upon him he hadn’t felt in months. 

She held out her hoof to him, offering him something he’d probably never get back if he didn’t accept it. “What do you say, Alistair?”

Alistair’s body shrunk down from the striding stance he took and stepped away from the door. “Wow…this is all very sudden. I-I don’t know. That’s very kind of you, and it’s reasonable what you’re offering, but…” He contemplated his situation for a moment.

On one hand, he could stay with this kind—pony, as she called herself, and learn the ways of her land, and possibly live in it as she did. He’d have a home once again after what had felt like ages, a proper home, mind you, not the ruined lifestyle he adopted when he refused to accept his situation back on Solitude, and maybe, just maybe, he’d have a friend.

And on the other hand, he could leave. Away from any menial life of normality and live off the land such as he’d been doing in Solitude since he could remember. He was equipped to it, understood it, and did not need to rely upon anything other than himself. He was safe there, away from anything that could hurt him, physically or emotionally.

He stared out the closest transparent wall to the outside and saw that the storm was still in full cycle, hammering the ground with every bit of power it had had earlier. Looking back around the room, he saw he how neatly every single piece of furniture had been placed, along with cleanly swept floors and bright orbs of light illuminating the space as if sunshine itself had been placed inside it. Sighing, Alistair looked back to Twilight.

“Alright,” he said finally. “I’ll stay.”

Twilight sighed in relief. “Whew! You had me worried there a moment. Gosh.” She looked around the room a moment and then back to Alistair. “C’mon, I’ll get you acquainted with the place. Follow me.”

Twilight walked toward the stairwell and began up it. Still standing by the doorway, Alistair looked back towards the wide oak door, then back to the winding set of stairs. Shaking his head, he followed after Twilight.
> Apples Forever
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Apple Bloom!” shouted Applejack with a cupped hoof in the parlor of her cozy country home. “I saw tha’ mess ya’ made in tha’ kitchen. Come down here it fix it this instant!”

No response came from upstairs.

“Apple Bloom!” repeated Applejack with an increased exasperation.

Silence.

“Where did that filly get off to?” she asked herself, confused that her normally excellent family management skills were now being put to the test. Then again, she still was reeling from the sleep deprivation that’d been plaguing her for the past month. Only since last week was she now getting appropriate rest, and even then, the farm schedule still required for her to get up at the crack of dawn. It would be a long while until her body finally got back on track. Until then…

AJ trotted back into the disaster area known as the Apple Family kitchen, and precariously stepped over the scattered remnants of pots, pans, spoons, and other stray cooking materials her little sister had left out for Celestia-knows-what.

Maneuvering across the battlefield with one goal in mind, AJ made it to the end of the room were the monolithic doohickey Granny Smith insisted on buying, sat still next to one of the few power outlets in the entire house: the coffee machine.

Reaching for the pitcher that still sat silently under the device’s heater, AJ quickly poured herself a lukewarm mug of the sludgy brown water, and drink it in an excited fervor.

“Ahhhh,” she exclaimed with a smacking of her lips. “Ain’t nothin’ better than a steamin’ cup of joe in tha’ mid-afternoon.” AJ savored the enjoyment of the bitter liquid for the better part of a second, when suddenly, the front doorbell rang.

Sighing in anguish, she set the mug back down upon the counter, and quickly hopped over the lines of shrapnel back into the parlor room and towards the front door.

As she walked down the hallway, she caught a wonderful glimpse of the bright beams of day shinning inward through the farmhouse windows. The rolling fields of Sweet Apple Acres stretched onwards in her mind, not even needing a physical image of it to perfectly imagine the priceless sign. The monsoon from a week earlier had left the entire apple crop more nourished than it had been in years, multiplying their already plentiful bounty by ten fold.

AJ and the rest of the Apple family had huddled together in fear as the claps of thunder and bolts of lightening shot wildly though that horrid night, but now that it was well and over, AJ couldn’t help but thank Celestia for the fantastic and unexpected turn of luck.

Arriving at the door, AJ reached out for the door handle but was interrupted once again by the jolting ding of the doorbell.

“Hold ya’ horses, I’m comin’!” she shouted through the door, feeling a loss of patience at whoever rang the bell more than once. Anypony knew that one was to ring the bell once and wait for a response from the owner. Who would violate such an established doctorate of civility?

“Somepony rude,” muttered AJ as she swung the door open, and then stopped it halfway with eyes wider than dinner plates.

Before her doorstep stood a very peculiar man with an even more peculiar expression and tone to himself. She could very easily tell that it was a human male, of younger age, a few inches shorter than her, and dressed in a most outrageous fashion that it took significant self-control to not burst out giggling.

He wore a black cropped riding coat that was stiffly buttoned all the way up his torso, but with a single button left loose quite close to his neck. Khaki breeches sloped down from his waist to his knees, with hard-pressed ironing giving them an almost unnatural appearance of absolutely no wrinkles in the fabric. From his breeches and extending down all the way to his feet, were long crisp white socks that were tucked carefully into a set of hardy black buckled shoes. To top the entire ensemble off, the boy had his entire small patch of fur atop his head greased and slickened with gobs of scented hair wax and covered by a snazzy silk top hat.

He stood with a stoic grace, his head cocked slightly upwards in a position that only those wearing such old garments were capable of performing. He waited politely (minus the slight air of superiority in his face) as AJ assessed his dress.

“Why’re you wearin’ them clothes?” she asked in a quieted simplicity, not sure how to properly address the situation.

“Excuse me?” said the boy in an enunciated voice that sounded both overly polite and overly flamboyant at the same time. “You question my dress? Is this due to my abnormal physique or the garments’ visual spectacle?” The human paused a second for a response, then leaned in closely to AJ with a grit whisper. “Are you prejudice?” 

True, Applejack was a bit taken off guard that a human of all creatures had arrived at her very doorstep. But she, like every other pony in Ponyville and beyond, had been informed a few days prior by nearly all of the available news outlets of the strange being’s arrival, ending the near century absence of his kind from Equestria.

The media was still gushing over the fantastic event, with theories and possible explanations to the strange arrival prompting many ponies to request an official state investigation into the matter, one that had not been attempted before in Equestrian history. But, Princess Celestia remained steadfast in her policy of letting the human live as he pleased, preventing any harassment or bother by the conglomerates for their own nefarious goals.

And yet, here was Applejack, standing with her mouth slightly agape as the archaically dressed human waited for her retort.

“N-no,” she stammered, “I wasn’t expectin’ any guests this time ah’ day. I’ve been workin’ so long out today my normal schedule mustah’ slipped mah’ mind. Have we met before?”

The boy removed a handkerchief from his left breast pocket and blew his nose loudly into it. Reopening up the small pocket, he placed the cloth back in and responded to AJ.

“We have, without both of our own knowing I’m afraid. A chance an encounter, one might say, a must unexpected one indeed.”

AJ blinked. “I don’t get it.”

The boy waved the air with his hand to brush the matter away. “It does not matter. For now…” he graciously bowed to AJ with a long and low arch from his right arm. “I am Alistair; it is very nice to meet you, Madame Applejack.”

“Madame?” she repeated to make sure she’d heard him correctly. “That ain’t parta mah’—how do you know mah’ name?”

“Your friend, Twilight Sparkle, informed me of it.” 

“Twilight?” she said in an even more confused stupor, the situation turning more peculiar by the minute. “What’s she got to do with this?”

The boy rolled his eyes at AJ’s clear misunderstanding of the situation. “On Ms. Sparkle’s urging and my own willing to repay a lost debt, I volunteered to meet with you, the proud proprietor of this property, to formally apologize for my actions.”

AJ raised an eyebrow. “Why would ya’ need to apologize, you ain’t done anything to me, and I don’t even remember meetin’ with ya’!”

“You do not remember me properly,” he said with the shake of his index finger, “but I most certainly remember you. Tell me, do you recall an action-packed evening from nearly two weeks ago, while you chased down a prowler who was illegally squatting on your land?”

“Yes…” said the earth pony with a hint of recognition.

Alistair bowed once again, this time with a bright smile. “Yours truly.”

“Oh dear,” murmured AJ with sudden regret. “I’m sorry if we harmed ya’ in anyway. I didn’t know you were…you. I thought you was just some nasty varmint with enough sense to know you was doing wrong. You probably didn’t even know what owning land met, better yet who owned it.”

He put his hand up to silence her. “That may be so, but my ignorance to your species’ odd ways should not serve as a shield. And thus…” he bowed for a third time, this one larger, wider, and more grandiose than any before it. “I am sorry.”

“Ahhhh, sugar cube…” Applejack began compassionately, “y’all didn’t need to do that. I understand, anypony would.”

“But I must!” declared Alistair loudly as he brought his fist to his chest. “Thus it is my duty to repay my debts. And now, that they are paid, I bid you farewell.” Alistair turned to walk away but AJ called out to him before he could take a step forward.

“Y’all sure you wouldn’t want to step in for some cider, to make yer trip down here a bit more worthwhile?”

Alistair pondered this for a moment, and then shook his head. “I don’t believe I have the time for today. But, tomorrow I’m much more available. How would you say, three o’ clock precisely?”

AJ shook her head happily. “Sounds like ah’ plan. I’ll see y’all then!”

The two smiled at one another as AJ closed the door. Grinning to himself even more now that the mare was gone, Alistair began back down the dirt trail to edge of the property, towards the main road back into Ponyville.

As he approached the “Y’all Come Back Now, Ya’ Here!” sign near the end of the farm’s reach, Twilight Sparkle jumped onto the path from behind a nearby tree, looking just as ecstatic as ever.

“Sooooooo, how did it go?” she asked with expectation gleaming in her eyes.

Alistair nodded his head. “Better than I thought. She offered for me to return around this time tomorrow. Is that a good thing?”

Twilight beamed humorously. “With Applejack, of course it is.”

“That’s good then,” he said with a nod of acknowledgement. “I was worried that she’d be bitter with me, especially considering the trouble she had to trudge through. Either way…” he paused and stretched the collar of his uncomfortable coat, “were the garments quite necessary?”

She shrugged. “Your arrival clothes aren’t in particularly great shape. Making a good impression is one of the essentials when meeting somepony. Remember that. And besides, you should be happy my friend was able to produce those so quickly, she’s a sorceress with stitching.”

“But really,” he insisted indignantly, “couldn’t we have settled with something a tad more…modern? I feel archaic in comparison to everyone—I mean, everypony.”

Twilight shrugged once more. “It was the only point of reference she had to go off of. You’re just lucky she had them at all, male designs especially.”

Alistair shivered uncomfortably. “I don’t believe I’d be comfortable in women’s attire, especially from centuries ago. I can barely suffice as it is.”

Twilight patted her hoof atop his shoulder compassionately. “You’re doing great as it is, don’t sweat it. Now come on, I want to see how your levitation spells are coming along; we don’t have a moment to waste.”

“You don’t skip a beat, do you?” he said with a grin, feeling am amusement at Twilight’s excessive spunk and pomp.

“That’s what Spike keeps telling me. But seriously, I don’t want us to get behind schedule, so let’s go.”

Alistair threw his palms up in defense and raised his eyebrows dramatically towards the sky. “Alright, let’s go then. Excuse me for wasting a few seconds.”

Twilight, who was now already beginning down the path, didn’t seem to detect his sarcasm. “It’s okay, I forgive you. Now c’mon!

> Close Encounters of the Pink Kind
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally Published April 23, 2013

Pinkie Pie knew something fishy was up, and it wasn’t the salmon sandwich she had for lunch. Something fishy was certainly going on and she would have to get to the bottom of that fish. If she didn’t, then that fish’s fishiness would make just about everything seem fishy and then the fish would be lost, caught up in swarms of fish.

The fishy fish would be an illusive fish, no doubt. Squirming and swimming out of any net Pinkie would set down. Its slimy belly slipping across the surface of the ocean until it was a 100%, free fish.

Fish were born free, as archived by scholars over the years. The independence of fish was clearly evident in their goal of covering every surface able object with its fishiness, a militant expansion effort that almost always succeeded. Yes indeed, would this fish be hard to beat, one that would require sly, cunning, and wit.

Needless to say, Pinkie Pie was sure that there was a fish on the roof when she heard the ceiling grown under somepony’s weight. Flying fish could jump miles away from any body of water. Who was to say one couldn’t have landed on the roof of Sugar Cube Corner?

Slipping away from her studies of Pumpkin and Pound Cakes’ books, she skittered up the stairs on all four tips of her hooves before reaching the roof hatch. With an oversized butterfly net in her mouth, she unclipped the latch and opened the hatch.

With a single bounce, she arrived on the red shingled roof. She was directly behind one of the bakery’s chimneys, so if the fish was up there (which it most certainly was), then it would not be able to see her.

Pinkie’s eyes curved around the fogging chimney to inspect the area. No fish to her left, no fish to her front, and no fish to her-

THERE IT WAS! A massive shadowy trout wearing a cape and standing upright was on the right end of the roof looking at something. Possibly a fountain to swim in or some kelp to eat.

She measured that it was a few inches shorter then her and had a predilection for super hero imitation. Pinkie had never seen a trout so big before in her life; no doubt did this trout break a few world records. 

Pinkie Pie wondered if the trout was even aware of its world record status. Its other trout friends would have told him by now or they could be keeping it from him as a joke. No, that wouldn’t be possible; some other fish definitely would have come out and told the trout, no doubt about.

Her eyeballs continued to be twisted around the chimney, staring at the trout, waiting for just the right minute to strike. She didn’t know what she’d do with the trout when she caught, but that wasn’t important now. 

Pushing around the corner, Pinkie’s body met in the same position as her eyes. Her entire body was completely around the corner at this point, and the trout still didn’t see. It must have been looking at something important.

Pinkie began to put her weight into her back legs. She crouched her torso down and continued to look up at her target. The fluffy ball of cotton candy she called her head, bent slightly down. She breathed once, then struck.

She sprung full force toward the trout, rocketing herself into the air. The fishing net was in her mouth as she torpedoed to her target. In the air, she swung twice with her net. The first was too early, swinging past the bi-pedal trout harmlessly. The second however, notched it in the side.

The trout doubled back slightly from the force and stepped onto its cape. Slipping on the fabric, it flipped backwards. The trout’s entire body lurched back. One of its feet slipped away from the roof, the other foot followed.

Its legs flew upwards into the air and slowly plummeted off the roof with the rest of its body.


-----------------------------



“Oh my good golly gosh! Are you ok!?!” said a pink tuft of fur.

Alistair groaned slightly. His vision was blurry, his ears rung, and his back was sore. His cloak had dirt on it and a stranger was talking to him. One challenge after another he supposed. Getting to his feet, he brushed himself off.

“Yes, I am alright.” he responded

He shook his head a few times to ward off the evil spirits of concussion, then turned to what was staring at him.

It was a pony. With pink fur and a pink mane topped off with extreme pink fluffiness on both. A tattoo marking (like Twilight’s) was on her side. It was a picture of multi-colored balloons flying. He wondered what that meant.

“I’m sorry!” said the pony, a heavy regret in her voice that some how also sounded cheerful. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, it’s just that I saw you climbing up the bakery and I wanted to say ‘hello’, because most ponies don’t usually climb up roofs and start staring at stuff, so I wanted to surprise you, but not in a bad way but then I thought I should just go up and say ‘hello’ so that’s what I did, but then you got scared and I kinda of made you fall off and then I asked if you’re ok and you said yes and now we’re right here talking about how I didn’t mean to hurt you, its just that I saw you climbing up the bakery and I wanted to say ‘hello’, because-”

“No, it is quite okay” he interrupted nervously while wringing his hands against one another. “It’s just…I must be leaving now.”

“Woooooooooooooaaaaaahhhhhh,” marveled the pony. “What’s wrong with the way you taaaaaaaaaaalk?”

He blushed in anger. “It is simply the manner I speak in! What difference does it make if it does not mirror your own? Now, although I enjoyed this short and rude exchange, I must be going now. Goodbye!” He turned around to walk the other way, when the pink pony grabbed him by the shoulders.”

“What!?!” she cried. “You can’t leave, I just met you and I want to introduce myself and possibly throw a 8:07 P.M party since your new in town and everybody likes a party when their new in town!”

“How do you know I’m new? This information was due to be confidential until Thursday afternoon. How the devil did you find this out?”

“Oh that’s easy, I now everybody in Ponyville! Whether they are pony, pegasus, unicorn, donkey, mule, griffon, or…you, I know everyone. And how I know everypony can stay my little secret. Now come on, I want to throw a quick party, nothing to posh, just a simple shin dig.” 

Alistair was starting to sweat. “Well…uh…I-I-I don’t…like…parties.”

The pink pony’s face turned into an expression of absolute disbelief. She jumped into the air while gasping louder then a sonic boom.

“Don’t like parties!?! Why that’s more loco then saying you don’t like…PARTIES! Here, follow me!”

The pony grabbed his hand and dragged him into “Sugar Cube Corner” and sat him down at a table. She threw on scholars cap, and then pulled out a long chalkboard and a pointer with an apple on the end.

“The definition of party by most official dictionaries is ‘a social gathering of friends for a special occasion, involving entertainment and refreshments.’ So, considering that this is the first time we have ever met, one would definitely consider this a special occasion. So for your own experience, I have quickly set up this mini party for your own enjoyment.”

The pink pony pulled from behind her an entire table cloth with cake, decorations, and party hats and tossed it onto the table. The party was ready.

“But I don’t even know your name!” Alistair stammered desperately, now attempting to conjure an excuse available to him.

The situation was growing more uncomfortable by the minute. A completely random individual was talking to him! Not only that, they wanted to ‘party’ with him! He hadn’t been this scared since first meeting Twilight. It was awful!

“Pinkie Pie at your service” said the mare, bowing and extending her hoof. Alistair shook it, and slowly began to eat the cake in front of him.

He had to admit, it was pretty good. In fact, it was probably the best thing he had ever tasted! He normally didn’t eat sweet stuff, mainly for the fact that he never had the option to. 

“Wellllllll, how do you like it?” Asked Pinkie, her eyes full of expectation.

“It’s pretty good I must say, it has a nice consistency and the form of it holds up well. Very sweet as well.”

“Good!” said Pinkie as she snatched up Alistair’s plate. “Now that you’ve mastered the first element of parties, it’s time we move onto the second and third. Put on your party hat!”

“Ok,” said Alistair as he put on his party hat.

“Now, stand up and wait right there!” Pinkie rushed into another room of the bakery and came out with a large phonograph on wheels. She scooted it into position and flipped a record onto it, a song began to play.

“You have finished the second element of parties my fine bi-pedal bro, hat wearing. Now it’s time for the final part, dancing!”

“But I really don’t think if I should-” 

“DANCE!” yelled Pinkie.

Immediately Alistair began to dance. His arms and legs flopped around like a dying earthworm to the wacky record playing. He was uncomfortable at first, making a clown of himself in front of a stranger. 

After awhile, began to slightly enjoy himself, and started to flop his arms and legs more uniformly. He was now looking like a gelatin soldier, but at least he was happy, and Pinkie could tell. 

She stood smiling a giant grin, as Al began to get completely into the music. He shut his eyes and just moved to whatever the music felt like, it was amazing. Once it stopped, he was still flopping about, happy as ever.

“Well, well, well, who doesn’t like parties now, hmmm?” chided Pinkie.

“Ok” said Alistair as he hung his head, “You got me. It was a lot of fun. Thank you for showing me. I’m Alistair by the way. Sorry I forgot to introduce myself.”

“Oh its ok Ally Wally, it happens to all of us. But now that you’re into the groove of things how about I play another record but this time-”

Pinkie Pie was interrupted by the sound of infants crying upstairs. Yelping, she galloped up the stairs. Near the top, she called down to Al.

“I have to go, babysitting calls, but maybe we can hang out later. See you!”

Pinkie disappeared up the stairs. Alistair stood in the empty room for a second. So much had just happened in the past few minutes, it was pretty overwhelming. He had met a new pony, partied, and enjoyed a sugar frosted treat, listened to music, danced and conversed with a pony with only mild shenanigans.

Everything seemed perfect, except for one thing. He had a question on his mind, a serious one. One that had recently came into his mind and was unsure if any pony could ever answer it. It was a complex question and he just had to know the answer to it. 

He was worried that his question could never get answered. That it would lay on his tongue for eons and he would never unlock the mystery that he wanted to solve. This bothered him, and the more he thought about the more anxious he became. Unable to contain the philosophical context any longer, he said it aloud.

“Why would anyone sit on a baby?”
> Dark Forces
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Alistair stood evenly with straightened legs on the darkened forest grass, his left foot placed slightly ahead of the other in a leaned forward stance. Twilight Sparkle stood off to his right, close to the lip of the clearing they both found themselves in, with the trees of the Everfree Forest surrounding them on all sides. 

His fists were balled tightly at his sides as he grit his teeth in concentration, mentally preparing himself for the magic exercise Twilight had planned. He wished to peer over to where she stood, to anticipate when to begin, but he fretted that his focus would be stifled and would then have to start all over again.

“Now,” said Twilight simply in a commanding fashion, as one might beckon a race to commence.

Alistair’s eyes flashed themselves fully open from his concentrated grimace as he leaped forward from his spot.

As he was in the air for a few moments, his clenched fists immediately ignited into two glowing blue auras of sparkling energy, focused directly into the palms of his hands.

Landing on both feet, his muddy-brown cloak fluttered behind him in impact as his hands swooped upwards from his sides. Making both fists into open palms, he promptly rose them into the air, above his head, and channeled his energy outwards.

Several nearby stones, as well close to the threshold of the forest line, were suddenly surrounded by auras of light energy that resembled significantly the power held in his hands. Thrusting his arms higher above his head, the stones lifted in unison, all symmetrical to one another in both height and rotation.

Without skipping a beat, Alistair tightened his palms back into fists, and shot his right arms forward in a brisk strike. The rocks rocketed forwards into the depths of the woods, some impacting and crashing against the sides of trees, while others continued to fly into the dark depths, never to be seen again.

Falling to the ground in a planned kneel, he pointed his left arms towards the early evening sky and focused the last of his energy into it. On cue, a white bolt of lightening shot out from the tips of his fingers and rocketed upwards into the sky, visually piercing through the small clouds that slowly rolled by.

Visually sagging from his spent energy, his head drooped down upon his knee as he began to breathe heavily from his large exertion of strength. Beads of sweat formed along his brow and he could feel the tighter regions of his clothes mildly damp from his own perspiration.

“Good. That was very good,” complemented Twilight as she trotted over. “You were able to nail the lightening this time. That’s an improvement over yesterday.”

Alistair face was pinched as he struggled out a response, his own breath getting in the way of his words. “You think so?”

“Of course. You didn’t even need the spell book this time too. Why wouldn’t this be an improvement?”

He shook his head as he slowly struggled to his feet. The redness in his face was still apparent but he tried his best to wipe off the sweat from his forehead. “I wasn’t able to do the ground shaping tome,” he protested indignantly. “Or the self-flight or the protective shield. I got tired too quick.”

Twilight chuckled. “You can’t expect yourself to do everything when you’re still a novice. I still need to use a spell book every now and again.”

“It’s just frustrating,” he said as he clenched his fists once more. “We’ve been at this for two weeks and things are still going so slow. I know I can do it, I can feel it. I just need to be stronger.”

“You are strong in your magic,” comforted Twilight. “But one has to wait for some things. Even the greatest wizards started at the bottom the ladder. Such is the way things go.”

Alistair was not convinced and exemplified it with a shake of his head. “But there must be some way, to learn and gain power much faster. Surely there have been wizards who have done it before.”

Twilight’s faced darkened at this, a touchy subject now being grazed across. Looking down at the ground for a moment, Twilight slowly shook her head in agreement. “Yes, there have been wizards who’ve chosen that path, a most destructive and self-deprecating one, but a path nonetheless.” 

“How could something that improves one’s abilities and bolsters their strength be considered destructive?” asked Alistair with a raised eyebrow of suspicion.

“Because I have seen it,” answered Twilight simply. “Those twisted by their own ambition and lust for power. Twice I have come across individuals, one much worse than the other.”

“Who were they?”

Twilight sighed, as her face seemed to age before his eyes as she recounted the tale. “The lesser of the two was a boastful mare by the name of Trixie. She thought that by wearing a cursed amulet, her own power would be increased ten-fold from were it once was. And in a way, she was right. She bested me in battle, and it was only though trickery I was able to turn her back towards the path of good.”

“And who was the other?”

“King Sombra,” whispered Twilight softly, not even wishing to say the dark lord’s name aloud. “A most powerful and wicked tyrant who formerly ruled over a land known as the Crystal Empire. It was through mere luck that my friends and I were able to stop him, but not before I had my own horrid brush with his power.”

“How so?” he asked with a perplexed look, but one that was absent of fear.

“His magic got into my mind, fooled me and distorted what I saw as reality. He made me see my worst fears unfold in what I was tricked into believing was the real world. What he was trying to accomplish out of this I do not know, but I have reason to suspect it involved me and the path he had already chosen.”

Alistair shook his head. “But say, you were able to look beyond that and—”

“Alistair,” interrupted sternly Twilight as she stepped forwards and placed her hoof on his shoulder. “I can see the look in your eyes, you are curious in what I’m telling you. I can understand that, anypony would. But you must listen to what I tell you. Never even consider what I speak of. Just because you are different from those in Equestria does not excuse you from what that darkness will bring. No matter if you’re a griffon, or dragon, or pony, it was always corrupt. Always.”

His eyes looked down at the ground in shame, regretful of his ignorance.

“But I know you won’t,” added Twilight quickly, “you’re a good person. And I know that you’ll never lose yourself to that evil. I just needed to tell you for your own good.”

“I’m sorry,” he said dismally, “I didn’t mean to…”

Twilight shook her head. “It’s not your fault. Don’t hold it against yourself. Consider this another one of my lessons to you. Now let’s get going, it’s about to be dark soon.”

Alistair and Twilight walked side by side out of the small clearing and into the dense forest growth. They did not speak as they moved, the evil Twilight spoke of hanging heavily in the air.

> Return of the Apples
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Applejack!” hollered Apple Bloom as she bounced down the stairs with an excited grin. “Can I go over to Sweetie Belle’s house? We have ah’ big mechanized band project and I’d really like to get started before the oil we ordered arrives. I found the order form for it in the newspaper and it says it’s supposed to…”

The little filly trailed off as she reached the bottom step, realizing she’d gotten no returning reply from her big sister from wherever she was in the house. Looking around the front room, she didn’t even see a trace of where she might be.

“Applejack!” she called once more. “Where are ya’!? I have something to ask you, and it’s important!”

Silence.

She trotted through the front hallway and poked her head into the kitchen. Nothing but the quiet hum of the refrigerator. “Applejack!” she called louder than last time, hoping that the louder she was, the higher chance she had of being answered. But again she was met with no response.

This worried her, not that because her sister wasn’t replying, but more so that if she didn’t reply she’d be risking getting in trouble if she decided to go to Sweetie Belle’s without permission. She recognized going over to her friend’s house was a straight necessity, so getting off without getting reprimanded would be a nice plus.

For now, she had to find her sister. She looked back in the kitchen, in the parlor, upstairs, downstairs, the front door, the backdoor, the front hallway, the back hallway, and even her own bedroom, but she still couldn’t find her sister.

Where in the hay was she? It wasn’t normal of her to wander off announced, especially without a note or some sort of hint towards it. Was something legitimately wrong, or was this just some sort of special occasion?

Apple Bloom was close to giving up on her third check of the front door when she heard the distant laughing of her sister from somewhere outside. “I found her!” she happily announced to no pony while in turn throwing the door open with all her might.

Stepping outside onto the dirt circle surrounding the Apple homestead, she scanned across the property for her desired target. Spotting her across the yard by the Yellow Delicious section of the orchard, she began to gallop towards her, already imaging the grand success of the electric flute section and pneumatic drums.

As she came closer through the spring green grass and spire like trees, she saw that a brown cloaked figure stood adjacent from AJ while she giggled in conversation. Their back was turned in Apple Bloom’s direction, but she theorized this must be her friend Zecora stopping in for alchemy ingredients once again, as was her schedule every first week of the month. Becoming more elated that she was here as well, Apple Bloom picked up her pace and sped towards the two.

“Applejack!” she called as her little hooves skidded across the grass to a halt. “Why didn’t ya’ tell me Zecora was comin’ over? She’s mah’ friend too ya’ know.”

Before AJ could respond, the cloaked figure turned around slowly to face the young filly. Pushing back the hood to reveal the entirety of his face, Alistair smiled tenderly toward the filly.

“Hello there,” he said heartily with a slight grin, “are you the rascal I’ve heard so much about? I don’t believe we’ve met.” He outstretched his hand to shake.

Apple Bloom’s eyes flashed open in shock as she took a few steps back from Alistair in horror. Frantically glancing him over, she craned her neck around to AJ.

“Who is?” she said anxiously, looking back and forth from her sister to Alistair, who now stood solemnly in silence with his hands back at his sides.

AJ glared harshly towards her little sister, aghast at the rudeness she was displaying to an honored guest. “He’s ah’ friend Apple Bloom, and deserves the same amount of respect and kindness you’d show to any other of yer’ buddies. Is this how you were taught, bein’ rude to anypony y’all saw fit? ”

Apple Bloom’s eyes peered towards the ground in shame as she bashfully made circles in the grass with her hoof. Realizing her regret, Alistair spoke calmly.

“It’s quite alright. Several of the other ponies I’ve encountered have displayed much worse reactions.” He looked to AJ with a disgusted expression. “You’d think they’d pay a bit more attention to news and their own manners than hurtful names and screaming.”

Applejack nodded in agreement, formerly being told of Alistair’s endeavors with some of the less kind elements of Ponyville before Apple Bloom had arrived.

“I don’t mean you though!” he said quickly, worried about the implication he made. “Your reaction is understandable; it’s been quite some time since one in your world has walked upright.”

Apple Bloom looked up with shaky, saddened eyes. “I’m sorry mister; ah’ just was surprised is all. I didn’t mean nothin’ by it, honest. I’ll never do it again, ah’ swear.”

“That’s good sugar cube,” complimented AJ with a nod. “That’s how an Apple properly apologizes.”

Alistair chuckled. “I still cannot get over that, your second name sharing that of a fruit, quite interesting.”

“But mister,” continued the filly while tapping on his the side. “I don’t mean to be rude or anythin’, but who are you exactly?”

AJ opened her mouth to reprimand her sister once again, but Alistair raised his hand to stop her. “She deserves an explanation; I am not offended that she is curious.” He cleared his throat while placing a hand across his chest to show he was speaking of himself. “I am Alistair, amateur wizard and hopeful friend of your sister. It is very good to meet you.”

The two smiled and shook hands/hooves.

“And what about you, my friend? What may I address you as?”

Apple Bloom confidently placed her hoof to her on chest as she responded; feeling some great liberty in introducing herself to a stranger. “I’m Apple Bloom, co-founder of the coolest secret society in all of Equestria. Here’s mah’ card.”

The filly handed him a crudely designed note card with even more simplistic representations of the three founding Cutie Mark Crusaders. Written atop it in illegible hand writing was most likely their society’s name embroidered with gold crayon. 

Alistair had to bite his lip to prevent any awkward grimace from showing as the little pony looked for him to respond.
“It’s very…colorful,” he managed finally. “I really like the…manes.”

Apple Bloom smiled boldly as she pushed her own red mane back in gusto. “We get that compliment all the time when we show our official business cards. Makes us look ten times more professional.”

“Right…” murmured AJ as she rubbed the back of her neck.

Alistair nodded assuredly and placed the small card into his side cloak pocket. When he looked back to Apple Bloom, he could see that she was now staring at him skeptically, as if somehow trying to determine if what she saw before herself was real. To Alistair, it looked as if she hadn’t yet reached a conclusion.

“Is something wrong?”

Apple Bloom clicked her tongue while shaking her head, an action better suited for a gruff Badlands stallion about twenty years older. “It’s just…I’ve never seen something like you in all of Equestria. What are you exactly?”

Alistair’s eyes rose in surprise but quickly moved back into his own composition of confusion. “You do not know what I am? Have they not taught you of my kind in your places of learning?”

“Schools,” corrected AJ.

“Schools—yes.”

Apple Bloom shook her head. “Ms. Cheerilee hasn’t taught any of this stuff before. Should she?”

“You gotta understand,” explained AJ, “that Apple Bloom is a younger pony, so they teach at a slower pace to account for her age. I’m sure once she gets older, maybe in just a few years, they’ll start coverin’ Humanities and other bigger topics.”

Alistair nodded his head in approval. “I would certainly hope so. I’ve done my best to read up on our history and it is most influential, not just to time, but to the world in general. Leaving somepony out of the loop is criminal, especially with the past.”

“So your ah’…human then?” concluded Apple Bloom while rubbing her hoof across her chin. “Is that what yer’ called?”

“Indeed. Although I’m not sure where the name comes from, it’s one I hold proudly. But…” his face tightened in recollection as he leaned in towards her, “was there not a reason you were searching for your sister, before we met? It sounded most important.”

“Oh yeah!” she exclaimed with a wide smile. “Ah’ was gonna ask if I could go over to Sweetie Belle’s to work on somethin’.” She looked towards AJ while flashing a set of large, pleading eyes. “Can I? Pleeeease?”

AJ sighed. “Alright sugar cube, just be home before it gets dark. Most of them critters are out of hibernation by now so you gotta watch yourself on the roads at night.”

“I will sis!” The little filly turned back to Alistair, who couldn’t help smile at the warm relationship between the two sisters. “It was nice meetin’ you Mr. Alistair!”

“Likewise, my friend. I entrust we will be seeing each other in the near future, hmm?” He asked the question with a hopeful expectation in eyes, an action he’d picked up from careful observation of Twilight.

“Of course!” she exclaimed happily. “Maybe you could meet some of my friends next time yer’ over. I’m sure Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle would want to meet cha’. But ah’ gotta get goin’ now. See y’all later!”

With a wave from Alistair and Applejack, Apple Bloom galloped away in the other direction, down over the rolling green orchard hills. The two watched the filly skitter across the dipping landscape until she peaked under one especially tall slope and disappeared behind it.

“It must be amazing having family,” Alistair stated while still beaming towards where he last saw Apple Bloom. “The warmth and happiness that your sister brought…it is indescribable.”

“We have our bad moments,” she objected casually, more trying to correct than counter. “Like everything it ain’t always perfect.”

“But most of the time it’s enjoyable?”

AJ nodded strongly. “Of course. It don’t seem like that with the few bad moments tossed around through it, but when ya’ actually sit down and think about it, the positives always outweigh the negatives.”

Applejack looked around the farm, then back to Alistair who was now studying the landscape for no real reason. His mind seemed focused intently on it yet he didn’t seem to be paying much attention.

She tapped him on the shoulder with her hoof. “Y’all still wanna get some cider? We gotta a bit distracted when ya’ started tellin’ me about those town ponies.”

Alistair looked back to AJ, a slight sense of yearning about him that signaled that he did not wish to leave. “You want to just keep talking?”

AJ grinned. “I think I’d prefer that.”

The two continued to chat under the shaded apple trees until the sun began to droop lazily over the edge of the sky. Saying their goodbyes for the day, the two beings went their separate ways as the evening slowly began. Thankfully, no critters materialized along the road home, giving Alistair a moment of peace as he looked up towards the starry night sky, and whistled.

> Sealing the Deal
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

It wasn’t difficult finding a suitable place to eat, and once the two had gotten past the blank stare from the single attending waiter that late evening, Twilight and Alistair found themselves sitting comfortably in a near vacant restaurant, scanning over their menus.

It had taken Twilight less than a minute to decide what she wanted, but Alistair still held the three leather-backed pages with a concentrated glare as he flipped back and forth through them, clearly getting annoyed the more he searched.

“Is something wrong?” Twilight asked.

Alistair grunted and tossed the small booklet down onto the table. “They don’t have anything suitable here. Only vegetables and other non-edibles.”

She smirked and spoke in a faux-scolding tone. “They’re good for you…”

“I understand that,” he responded, not seeming to detect her veiled humor. “But a main course is still necessary. Not sliced flowers with molay sauce or grilled hay and melted cheese. I need protein, something with hearty and with substance.”

Twilight giggled, entertained by Alistair’s overt objection to anything that he considered out of line, which she saw was nearly all the time. “Alright, why not the shrimp platter then. That’s protein.”

Alistair grumbled at the unfortunate compromise. “Fine. Although I don’t enjoy eating the meat of creatures that skulk upon the surface of undersea rocks, I believe I do not have a choice.”

When the food eventually came, Twilight courteously began into her food, savoring the delicate bits of cabbage leaves and shredded almonds that had been sprinkled across its surface, topped off with a light trail of honey mustard.

Alistair, on the other hoof, stared for quite some time at the plate in front of him and wrinkled his nose in disgust at the barely noticeable fishy odor that came up from it. After much contemplation, he reached down and slowly propped one of the small crescent shaped crustaceans into his mouth.

Grimacing slightly as he chewed, he slowly swallowed and began to pant.

Face hoofing at the complete absurdity, Twilight shook her head with a smile. “Was it really that bad?”

Alistair pondered this for a moment, then shook his own head in agreement. “Definitely not my first choice in food, but not my last either. Its consistency is an odd mix of soft and crunchy texture, yet the ending stimulation of taste is not a wholly vile one. Acceptable, in most rights.”

“Fine then, what would you find acceptable then?”

He didn’t even need to contemplate an answer as he responded, clearly thinking this over beforehand. “Meat, red meat to be precise. Preferably from either a rabbit or buck. But in most situations I’ll take what I can get.”

Twilight’s eyes sunk back into her skull as the fork she levitated with her horn’s magic clanged against her plate. Looking around to see if any non-existent ponies were listening, she leaned across the table and whispered to him.

“You eat…meat?” she said with an odd mix of wonder and disbelief, topped off by what he assumed was fear.

“Of course,” he retorted at normal volume, “I’m surprised you find this to be strange. Has it not been obvious with my insistence on consuming available fish? Or munching on whatever eggs you have in stock? I require it, it’s my diet.”

“But…” she insisted, “rabbits and deer? Do you really…?”

“I did, yes. And to say I do not have a craving for them currently would be an utmost lie. I understand—or, at least have picked up on—your culture’s adherence to your natural surroundings, I respect that. But if I may point out, you find yourself in a much more comfortable position of judgment due to your bodies not requiring such sustenance. I, on the other hoof, do,”

“But there’s alternatives,” she said indignantly, starting to get into the verbal spar just as much as he was. “You don’t need to do such things to animals when you acquire the needed nutrients through other means. Beans, eggs, the shrimp you’re eating right now, all healthy substitutes.”

Alistair smiled, feeling himself warmed by Twilight’s stable but misguided argument (in his eyes anyway).

“Don’t worry; you’re not going to catch me gnawing on the head of a cute little bunny as blood spurts out of the gash marks from my teeth. I can manage, for now, I’m just telling you how I really feel.” 

He leaned back in his chair while glancing around the empty dinning room for their pesky and illusive waiter. “Should we get going? It looks like you’re pretty much done.”

“You’re not going to finish your shrimp?”

“Nope.”

“Then I say we are.” Placing ten bits atop the small wooden table, the two pals arose from their seats and made their way toward the establishment’s exit. Holding the glass door for her, Twilight graciously smiled at him and stepped out onto the dark street corner with Alistair right behind her.

“Very dark,” exclaimed Alistair as he looked around the streets. “Doesn’t appear as if anypony is insight, streetlights as well.”

Twilight patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry we’ll find our way home, may take a little longer than when we got here, but we’ll find the way.”

He shrugged. “Whatever you say.”

The walked in silence for quite some time, wishing to preserve the stillness of the night and all its beauty as one should. A light breeze pushed past them, but they continued forward undisturbed.

“I think I’ll stay,” he said randomly, his tone suggesting he was in the thick of conversation with somepony unseen.

Twilight raised a confused eyebrow in response. “What?”

“I think I’ll stay here, this place, this town, all of it,” he gestured out to the entire surrounding area to further his point. “It’s peaceful here and very quite enjoyable. I don’t believe I’d fair better anywhere else.”

She looked at him uneasily. “You were considering leaving?”

He bit the upper edge of his lip shamefully while answering slowly, his words carefully chosen piece by piece. “In the span of the first few days, yes…but I quickly reconsidered. I was scared, you must understand, out of my element. And although I enjoyed you and Spike’s company I still felt at unease.”

“But no longer!” he added quickly. “My perceptions on things have entirely changed. Being with you, your friends, the rest of the populace, I enjoy it, I really do. Especially when I’m with you—I mean it.”

Twilight’s pondering expression distressed him greatly, so much to the point that he felt the tips of his fingers begin to jitter in anxiousness. He’d never seen her with the face she wore, a disapproving composure that seemed to silently judge him from behind her large gleaming eyes. But what peeved him most was doubtful air of suspicion she held, as if his own credibility was now being put into question. That stung him the most.

He’d just been trying to talk to her for crying out loud, to announce his final stance on an issue that must be put to rest. Things would feel unfinished if he didn’t, that he was still in between the two lives he lived, never fully committing to the new one he wished to accept.

It was unfair to say the least. His experience with other’s emotions weren’t quite as rudimentary as they started, but his last conversation with her companion Applejack had involved the importance and emphasis on honesty, even when it didn’t feel right. If these instructions had been followed properly, why did the violet mare look so torn up on the inside?

“Okay,” she finally said with an understanding nod. “I understand. Thank you for telling me. It never really occurred to me that you’d be considering that…but this is all very new to you. It’d be wrong of me to judge you on it.”

Alistair smiled a small grin. “Thank you.”

“You don’t need to thank me,” she said with a raised hoof. “You didn’t do a thing wrong. You spoke your mind and I admire that, everypony should.”

He nodded, still smiling at the lightened situation. And then, without further warning or contemplation, Alistair reached forward with both arms and hugged Twilight tightly. She jolted in surprise from the sudden out of character contact but quickly realized it was only him. 

She could feel his grip tightening around her torso as his body inched in for a closer and more intimate grasp. But this felt different from a normal expression of friendship or affection (which she did frequently with her friends). This one felt scared, desperate, and just a little bit melancholy, taking away the normally positive conations she had with embracing a friend.

Although his face was pressed deeply into the thick of her violet fur and further shrouded by the ruffled top of his cloak, the dismal feelings upon him seemed to emulate out through his being, reaching her own conscious and filling her with rightful pity.

A light sobbing came from him, barely audible from where they stood, but close enough for Twilight to hear it.

“Thank you…” he said softly, still grabbing onto her desperately. “Thank you Twilight…I won’t go…I’ll never go…and I don’t want you to go…”

Cradling his head with her hooves, Twilight felt her own throat begin to choke up as she responded.

“Don’t worry little guy…I’m not leaving anyone.”

They stood like this for quite awhile, holding each other closely in the center of a darkened and empty street. And even despite the near lack of any light present in where they stood, they themselves seemed to brighten their surroundings in their long and genuine embrace. Friendship conquering over all.

> Epilouge
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A crooked smile cracked across the silhouetted stallion’s face as his hooves tightened in anticipation against the arms of his monolithic steel throne chair. His sudden excitement could be felt throughout the near black chamber, which prompted the mare who read off the report to stop herself abruptly.  

“Is something wrong, my lord?” she asked attentively, curious as to the sudden show of positive emotion from the normally stone-faced colt.

“I have sensed something,” replied the sitting stallion in a silky and iron gilded tone that drummed through the crypt, even though he had only spoken at little above a whisper. “I believe fate has been kind to us, captain.”

“My lord…” said the mare cautiously, understanding the proper etiquette she was expected to give to one of the highest authority. “Does this involve the—human, from Ponyville?” 

The mare had nearly uttered a very much inappropriate word when conversing with a Dark Master, but thankfully her own wish of self-preservation had prevailed over distaste of human’s and their barbaric ways.

“Yes,” gleefully hissed the Master in his decrepit voice. “After much waiting our plans may finally commence. If our benefactor was still with us today, she would be most pleased with this news.”

“Could the human really bring about her return?” blurted the mare as she felt her own hooves begin to sweat with energy as her heart raced. Only later did she realize that she had spoken out of turn in the presence of a Master, a crime normally punishable with near unimaginable horror that had been instilled on only a hoofful of unfortunate agents that hadn’t learned to watch their tongues.

Thankfully, the Dark Master’s atypical attitude softened the scenario significantly, in which he only replied with a low chuckle that caused the mare’s muscles to tense.

“Patience, my friend. You have served the Order well and your enthusiasm is most understandable. But we shall continue to take our goals one step at a time, as we always have. You of all ponies should know the importance of subtlety.”

The mare nodded strongly, a smile crossing her own face. “Yes, my lord, I understand fully. I shall inform the others.” With a brisk bow of her head, the mare scurried out of the room giddily while still keeping her military step in mind.

The shadowed stallion sighed happily and leaned back in his throne. Smiling a twisted grin once more, he looked upwards toward the onyx ceiling and stared off into its abyss, imaging his own master looking down upon him with glee that matched his own.

“Everything is transpiring as to your will,” he said aloud. “Soon we will be able to serve you in your rightful domain and the world will once again be ours.”

Although he was met with no audible response, the colt knew all to well that his master was listening.