This is a story about a boy who had a normal life until he was stricken with a terrible illness that revealed the truth about his friends, and how superficial friendship in this world can be. It's only through watching My Little Pony, and his parents' support, that he is able to get by. After going in for emergency surgery, he wakes up in a place he never thought was real, with six familiar ponies that represent all he had lost faith in.

This story is something that I've been thinking about writing for a while.

It is short, but I hope it's effective.

Based somewhat on my own personal experiences with ulcerative colitis (but I never did have megacolon).

And this is it. It's not the start of a longer HIE story, it's just my tribute to those kids who get sick and feel alone.

When your life is as dull a gray as the world that surrounds you, the mundanities can make it all seem meaningless. Sometimes all we need is a little color -- or six -- to reintroduce us to what truly makes life worth living.

*6-16-2017 Edit, added Rainbow Dash tag because it triggered knighty.*

It's funny how a random whim can turn out to cause the most profound encounters in a person's life. By attempting a bit of magic, I was able to get the once in a lifetime chance to talk with actual royalty! Only, royalty from another world...

I had everything I needed. I was living a dull, but content life. I didn't think there were anymore surprises waiting for me, but as it turned out, the biggest surprise of my life was just one poke away...

Cover image by CptOfTheFriendship