Once safely in the shade of the forest, I proceeded to perform the usual "ran out of magic, oh no." routine. As I casually strode through the trees I realized I'd never been in this section of the forest. I took in the massive trees and small animals when suddenly I was in a dark glade light with a light blue glow. I looked down and saw a carpet of bright blue, glowing flowers spread before my feet.
"Holy crap."
~That's probably a whole lotta magic.~
>And creepy. Why'd it get so dark?<
It's just thicker here.
I bent down and picked one of the fluorescent blooms and held it up for investigation. Where I was touching it my fingers felt all warm and tingly.
Yup, lotta magic.
I started gathering up magic with my magicite only to realize how bright it had already become... and how hot it was. I started to fan myself but... I felt a little woozy.
I think the heats getting to me. I'm going to rest for a bit and drink some water.
...
Huh, they're awfully quiet.
I staggered over to the edge of the glade and slid down to the base of one of the trees. I pulled the water bottle out of my backpack and took a swig. My eyes got heavier... and heavier... and then I nodded off.
---------------------------
(Minutes later.)
I woke up gasping for breath and reached a hoof up to my... hoof? But I didn't.
I looked and saw I was a pony... without using magicite.
How the... what do you guys make of this?
...
Guys?
...
Wait... huh? How the... whu? I thought... voices.
I shook my head and started trotting towards the town. Upon reaching it I realized just how much the ponies looked at me... and... how much I didn't want them to. Wh-why were they looked at me? What do they know! I-is something wrong with my body?! Stop staring at me!
I lowered my head further and made my way towards town hall. All these ponies... what are they even doing? I jolted and flinched as a pair of mares bumped into me.
These stupid ponies, they're all just... looking at me. Stay away from me! Y-you're all just shapes! Shapes of flesh! You're all just worthless shapes!
I ducked through the doors and fortunately out of the sight of the ponies.
"Hey Jack, did ya get that info?"
I flinched as I heard Brooke speak. D-did she call me Jack!? D-did she know?! B-but how! I... I've gotta be careful around her.
"Y-yeah, it's right here."
I slid a sheet of paper I'd written the names of Orchid and Doc on as well as where they qere from before darting into the broom closet.
"Huh, that was... different."
----------------------------
"W-wow. The Gryphon Kingdom sounds cool."
"Yeah. It's really a couple of islands all together under one rule, but each one had their own culture."
"You know, Talion, you're really sweet for a gryphon."
"Thanks Ledger. I'm glad you're not scared of me. You're probably one of the nicest ponies I've met."
Ledger smiled and blushed.
"Y-you think so?"
"Well, yeah. Haven't other ponies told you that before."
"Oh, um... no. I-I'm kind of a homebody. The only pony I really talk to is Brooke."
"Ah, I get ya. My sister is like that."
"Which one?"
"Megan, the sixteen year old. She just comes home from school and buries her beak in a book."
"Oh, I do the exact same thing."
"I feel like you two would get along well. Maybe you'll meet her sometime and talk about books and stuff."
Ledger went wide eyed and blushed.
D-did he just insinuat me meeting his family!? L-like you do with a marefriend!? D-does he... like me? I mean... he's kinda cute. A-And he's really sweet... and sensitive. M-maybe I should... no, play it cool.
"So, Talion. Have you ever been... uh... on a date before?"
Talion rubbed the back of his head with a claw and shrugged, ruffling his feathers up adorably.
"No. Never."
"O-oh. That's... um...."
Okay, Ledger. Be brave. What would Daring Do say.
"H-hey, Talion... do you wanna... maybe...."
Ledger gulped before squeaking out in a hushed whisper.
"G-get some f-food sometime?"
Talion blanched and looked at her in horror. Ledger cringed away, embarrassed and... odly disappointed at the same time.
"I-I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. Of course you wouldn't like ponies especially one as homely as me and...."
"Woah woah woah! Calm down. T-that's not what this is about at all!"
"B-but... I didn't... Y-you don't have to lie. I understand--"
"N-no, you really don't. Uh..."
Talion rubbed his shoulder before whispering in her ear. Ledger paused and then looked at him.
"Wait... really?"
He nodded, blushing.
"Oh, well... oops."
"No prob. Uh... can we get back to filing?"
------------------------
As soon as the clock struck five I bolted for my punch card. After rapidly checking out I ran for home as fast as physically possible.
All those ponies. They all were staring and judging with their haughty eyes. T-they think they're so important. B-but I see what they really are. Just a whole bunch of shapes. Just shapes... made of meat with some stupid goals and desires. A-and it's all pointless! Nothing anyone does means anything! We're all just... dust! Worthless piles blown through a cold, uncaring world.
I shuddered before slinking towards the kitchen. I slung my bag off and looked at the fridge with distaste.
I... I don't feel like eating. What's the point anyway?
I walked towards the bathroom and turned the water on. As I sat under the water I heard the door open.
W-who?
"Hey, Jack! Ya home?"
Oh... it's just Talion. W-what does he want? I... I don't want to talk right now....
I got out and looked at my damp form in the mirror. At my misshapen eyes. My weird, ugly ears. My gross, unattractive body and creepy, unnatural wings.
I really am a freak. Why... why does it hurt so bad. It hurts... inside me. It's this cold pain right in my chest. I can feel it in my lungs... my heart. I feel so... empty. Maybe all those people in my old world were right. I really would be better off dead. W-was that world a dream? Or this one? What am I anymore?
I looked at my reflection more closely and rather than the ugly creature before I just saw what I saw as all the other ponies. Shapes. Just a mishmash of random shapes without purpose. Waste of space.
Suddenly the door opened.
"Hey, you okay in there?"
"Y-yeah, I'm fine."
He gave me a piercing look.
"Uh hu. Well, if that's the case can I use the shower?"
"Y-yeah. Go ahead."
He gave me an inquisitive look as I skirted around him. He shrugged and closed the door.
"If it's importanthe'll tell me eventually."
I sat on the couch and looked out the window. The sky was so... drab. Everything was so boring and pointless. Why should I keep this up? I should just stay in bed and rot like the garbage I was. I didn't realize how long I'd been sitting there until Talion sat down on the other side of the couch.
"What'cha doin?"
I didn't answer. I didn't feel like talking. It was all so boring. A pointless endeavor that people still insisted on doing. Why can't they all just shut up and leave me alone.
I flinched as I felt something touch my shoulder before two strong claws grabbed my shoulders.
"Okay, what's wrong! You're acting really off right now."
"I'm fine."
"Jack, please, talk to me."
"I don't want to right now."
"You can trust me."
"I said not now."
"Please."
I flinched as he held my chin with his claw and forced me to look into his eyes.
"Did something happen? Did someone... do something to you?"
"No. Nothing happened."
"Jack. I'm worried about you. You're... jumpy, and quiet. You have been for a while now."
"We just got home."
"Jack, it's ten. You've been sitting here for hours. You haven't eaten or had something to drink."
"I'm not hungry."
Talion sighed.
"When you feel like talking, I'll be here."
I'll never feel like talking. Nobody's going to make me talk if I don't want to. It's not worth it. I wish I could live somewhere where I was far away from all of these jerks. I don't need any of them. They're all just weighing me down. And I... I'm so alone. There's nobody I can trust but myself. Nothing can fill the hole inside me. They're all just...shapes.
They're all just shapes.