//------------------------------// // March 16th // Story: Closet Pony // by DouglasTrotter //------------------------------// >>>March 16th 10:39 am<<< Time is a fascinating, universal concept that is always ticking away with or without humanity's presence. Seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, all of it exists regardless of borders, time zones, and language. Those bits of time hold different meanings to different people, but what's undeniable is how a year can make a lot of difference in everyone's life. People will become either mentally or physically stronger over the course of a year while others take an all too important step towards their dreams, fulfilling a particular desire within their lives. However, there are some who different. There are some who require a year's worth of time to adjust to changes in their lives. Such is the case with Apple Bloom, an alien pony from Equestria. The human world was so foreign to Apple Bloom when she first arrived. The earth pony filly had no idea where she was, what had happened, or what to do. Over the course of a year, she's adapted so well to the human world that it takes something out of the ordinary to make her mouth drop. Her adaptability must be as natural as breathing for ponies. When one displaced Equestria equine became four -- a fifth one being born on the moon in the human world -- all of them displayed the same level of adaptability as Apple Bloom. It's also over the course of the same year as Apple Bloom and those ponies that a single human watched a group of alien ponies display "magic," rode a winged unicorn to the moon, fought a personification of a nightmare, lost their right arm (sort of lost it), acquired magical capabilities themselves, and gained one nasty, heck of a scar down their back. It's hard to believe one malformed, grammatically incorrect sentence sums up what happened to me within a year. Though, to be honest, all of these entries are probably so horrendous it'd make a pre-reader's head explode from the issues that plague it, but, whatever, no one will see these notes except for me. In truth, the adaptability of these ponies is rather admirable. It'd be great to be as well adjusted as those ponies, but our situations aren't comparable. Still, it is over the course of the same year as Apple Bloom that I've come to accept these things and the fact they happened. It is truth, and you can't change the truth. It's also in terms of the truth, to change gears for these notes, that several things happened yesterday. Yesterday, I was exhausted and had to recoup from the magical water fight with the winged unicorn, Princess Celestia. That time was also spent combing over these old entries. Entry after entry over the course of a year since Apple Bloom's unintended arrival from Equestria has swelled this folder to over Forty-five files. It's rather lucky these notes are compiled into this folder. It may be more like good bookkeeping practices in all honesty. Either way, it made things easier to skim over. There were things in those notes that had slipped my mind. One day, Princess Celestia said she'd reward my efforts for giving her and her little ponies food, shelter, and protection. That entry reminded me of that laughable, amazing moment. The trollish Princess Celestia delivered her response with such perfect timing, elegance and grace it'd make even the most cold hearted cynic laugh, which it did make this cynical human laugh. Her promise was as good as kept yesterday. There's no amount of actions time that could express my gratitude towards these equines. What Princess Celestia, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Sanctuary, Sanctuary being Princess Celestia's daughter, gave me is something beyond special; it's something invaluable, immeasurable beyond words that nothing and no one could ever take away from me, ever. These ponies helped me find my "light." Yesterday, those ponies helped me find that inner light, and it was yesterday -- after reading those notes -- that I made a choice. Princess Celestia, you kicked all of it off this morning at the breakfast table. It's hard to forget how you placed your tea cup onto its saucer, and then looked at me with those calm eyes of yours. "So," Princess Celestia said in her typically calm, regal tone, "would you like to train with your magic?" Princess Celestia asked me that question after she'd sipped on her drink. The opportunity was too perfect, the question itself almost like magic. Sanctuary had cleared the table at 8:55 am, all of us having finished our breakfast at 8:50 am. "Sure." I said. I rested my left hand on the table. The princess placed her cup onto its saucer. "Got it." At 8:56 am, Scootaloo shook her head at me. The pegasus filly leapt out of her chair then bolted for the door. She never gave me the chance to speak. Her response received a slow sigh, followed by a quick finger snap. "You turn me into a chicken, I'll peck your ankles off." Scootaloo said. The filly, now back in her chair, delivered her ultimatum with a heavy scowl. She hopped down. Her tail swished around a few times. "Hmph. Why do I have to be a guinea pig?" "This'll be fun." I said. Princess Celestia, Scootaloo, and I traveled down the large stone hallway a short distance then entered the main garden around 9am. While Scootaloo walked in front of me and Princess Celestia as we traveled towards the pond, I reassured the filly things would be alright, several times for that matter. The princess sat down on the soft grass and politely crossed her hooves. She then illuminated her horn. She materialized a book, one on medical science and technology. The book seemed to be her go-to book to read, a book that had belonged to my mother. Scootaloo hung her head. A slow "I'm booooored" came resonated within the garden. After a quiet chuckle, the princess propped the large thick book at an angle. She opened it. In Princess Celestia's firm, protective magical grasp, the book was propped up at such an angle as to keep watch on her targets and read at the same time. That vigilant gaze unnerved me. The plan would be undone before it even got started, but there wasn't time to dwell on such things. My watch read 9:10am when I sat down on the soft grass. It was all or nothing. Water wasn't the focus of the experiment. I crossed my legs, exhaled a slow breath, and then extended my left hand forward, palm side up. The light inside my watch brightened. Two ornate, semi-transparent clock hands formed in thin air. In tandem, those two clock hands made a complete circle in a clockwise motion. They disappeared. Ethereal, ornate designs materialized within the beyond paper-thin, semi-transparent circle that now floated where the clock hands once did. The light inside the watch maintained a constant intensity, perhaps that of a gentle fluorescent light bulb while the circle floated several inches above my hand. Another slow inhale and exhale later, three more circles materialized on top of the first one. all four circles were the diameter of a large softball. "Ok, let me see your hooves." I said. Scootaloo shook her head. "You're going to love this." I said. My watch read 9:20am. The garden was quiet. I looked at Princess Celestia. She just smiled. The princess didn't need to speak. What she gave was the coy kind of "I'm watching you" type of smile. I turned towards Scootaloo, rested my left arm on top of the filly, and pulled her in close. We whispered to each other. Time had slowed down. We'd look towards the princess then turn back towards each other, several times. I remember how those few, precious seconds were nerve wracking. "BUCK YES!" Scootaloo shouted. My ear drums almost shattered from the filly's shout. The quiet moment had ended in a rather abrupt, boisterous manner. At 9:22am, Scootaloo and I froze. A silent gaze greeted the two of us. Several beads of sweat rolled down the side of my face. Though seven hours isn't much time, all of that time put towards the plan appeared undone in that very moment this morning. However, my fear was misplaced because when I looked at Princess Celestia a second time, a part of me expected the princess to say "language" to Scootaloo, like some parent prepared to reprimand a child. Perhaps the filly's choice of words wasn't appropriate, I have no idea. Scootaloo gave a sheepish, apologizing grin. Princess Celestia's ominous gaze relented. The princess went back to her book. I re-crossed my legs, took several deep breaths, and re-focused my mind, taking a good ten minutes to calm my heart-rate down. "Do you trust me?" I said. Scootaloo shoved her right front hoof towards my chest. Two seconds later, she retracted her hoof. The filly extended her left front hoof. Her back right hoof and back left hoof were the final ones. A quick trot around the garden ensured the discs had stuck to all four of her hooves. My watch read 9:25 am. "Are you ready?" "Hmm!" She said. Scootaloo steadied herself before she faced me. "By the way, this is experimental. So, don't blame me if you explode." I said. Her expression was priceless when I stood up and dusted off my grey sweat pants. "I'm kidding. I'm kidding. Ok Scootaloo," I snapped my fingers and pointed my left index finger upward, "have at it!" "Woo hoo!" Scootaloo said. Tree tops swayed. Tree branches were brushed aside by a powerful gust wind. Princess Celestia turned away from the book in her firm magical hold, again, and scanned the environment. She leapt up. The princess maintained a firm, protective, magical hold on the medical book. She dematerialized the book and raised her hoof. All four of her hooves landed firm on the ground when she jumped back a second time. Princess Celestia's eyes gravitated toward my still extended index finger, which pointed towards the air above us. "This. Is. Awesome!" Scootaloo said. Another powerful gust of wind had rushed by Princess Celestia. Scootaloo zoomed by a fourth time, and then a seventh time. "How in Equestria?" Princess Celestia said. Her eyes followed the filly's movements. "So, what is your new spell, my friend?" "Magical Magnetically Enhanced Repulsion Discs or 'M. M. E. R. Ds' for short. Geez, don't need to laugh. I'm not good with names, so sue me." I said. I shoved my left hand into my pants pocket. Princess Celestia's priceless expression rivaled Scootaloo's, a look of amazement and bewilderment. It didn't last. The princess composed herself in a short amount of time, just like always. "Still have to perfect it for my use. The spell just makes me hover, which kinda sucks. However, on say a pegasus filly whose dream is to fly, we'll just say the result speaks for itself." "Quite." Princess Celestia said. Tempus fugit. I remember how Scootaloo's precious time withered away in the blink of an eye, 9:32 am had become 9:47 am. "Aww, come on. Just a little more. Please!" Scootaloo said. "Sorry Scootaloo, not my call. It's the nature of the spell." I said. Princess Celestia and I stood beside each other at 9:48 am. Again, Scootaloo asked to continue and stretched out the word "please" as hard as she could. I had to put my foot down, making it four times I had to tell the filly no. It would have been great to let Scootaloo practice to her heart's content, but it wasn't possible. I'm not some all-powerful, all-knowing all-seeing individual that can do anything and everything they want like some ridiculous overpowered character from a story. I have to train just like everyone else. The spell lasted as long as it did because I practiced with it on several occasions -- in secret -- just like that water spell. There was also a downside to the spell. It could be disastrous if it were allowed to go on for too long. "Don't worry Scootaloo, it'll be fine. The spell only has a two hour cool-down time, being put into a weird, blunt bit of context." The ethereal discs on Scootaloo's hooves disintegrated into nothingness when she touched down beside Princess Celestia. The princess extended her wing and slid it back and forth across Scootaloo's mane several times before she retracted it. "Thanks for letting me fly." Scootaloo said. The filly's voice had a mix of melancholy and elatedness in the near quiet garden this morning, after her flight session. It wasn't unexpected. "You're welcome. Though, to be honest, I should really be thanking you, Scootaloo. You proved my hypothesis about the spell." I said. I patted Scootaloo on the head, and she brushed my hand away with her wing. It wasn't hard to sympathize with the filly. The two of us had our dreams, and those dreams had been ripped away from us. For what it's worth, it made me happy that Scootaloo had a taste of her dream this morning, albeit a small one. "Anyways, just need to work out the kinks." "I'm glad I didn't explode." Scootaloo said. "That was a joke." I said. I cracked a slight smile. "There's no explosive force behind the discs. The spell utilizes different properties of science, combined and augmented via magic." "If it magnetically repulses the air, that's quite unique because I felt no air coming from beneath Scootaloo's hooves when she landed near me." Princess Celestia said. "Therein lies just one of the 'magic' elements of the spell. It took a good bit of practice and scientific research to get the magnetic concept just right. Almost blacked out on my first attempt." I said. "Whatever the case, I am thrilled by the advancements in your studies and congratulate your efforts. However, you will be mindful that my little ponies aren't test subjects for your experiments." Princess Celestia said. She gave a slow, firm nod towards me before she smiled at Scootaloo. The princess turned. She raised her hoof, and then stopped. She placed her hoof down, turned towards me as slow as possible, and crept forward. Princess Celestia almost scowled as she crept forward. She looked down at me, having stopped within arm's length. Her gaze was glued to me in the silent garden. "Magical 'Magnetically' Enhanced Repulsion Discs?" "Y-Yes." I said. "A thought just occurred to me." Princess Celestia said. The air was heavy. The princess raised an eyebrow. "These discs of yours, they wouldn't happen to have the capability to 'launch' a projectile at something, would they?" "..." "Human. Did you make that hole in the wall?" Princess Celestia said. She snorted in a near equine-esk noise. "Human, you will look at me." The sweat rolled down my face. I was unnerved and refused to turn back towards the princess. "Sorry." I said. Her strange gaze compelled me to do as she wished, and in the end, I relented and faced the princess. A long, drawn out sigh echoed throughout the main garden followed by a slight, quiet groan from the princess. Princess Celestia lowered her eyebrow. "It was an accident." "Wow. The wall between the garden and the hallway is like, super thick. What did you do?" Scootaloo said. "I used a rock for practice." I said. Scootaloo snickered at me before she looked away from the princess. "Hey, I did say the spell was a work in progress. It's still a work in progress, technically." Scootaloo backed up from me, her eyes widened. She said, "Could you have launched me into that wall?!" "Perhaps now you understand why I said time was up. I made that hole the first time I tried the spell because of a slight miscalculation. How was I supposed to know I'd made a mass-driver -- by accident mind you -- on my first attempt." I said. Though the pegasus filly seemed reassured, a bit of doubt still existed behind those eyes. "Don't worry Scootaloo, I've fine-tuned the power and reduce the time to fifteen minutes as a precaution. The first time appears to have been a fluke. However, how was I supposed to know that stupid rock Princess Celestia trained me with was so heavy? It weighed like thirty something pounds." "Sweet me in Equestria. Now I see why you weren't too shocked when I materialized those stones in front of you yesterday." Princess Celestia said. The princess placed what seemed like a firm front hoof on her forehead before she placed it back onto the ground. She shook her head. "That one stone you used for your 'practice target' weighed seventy-five--" "Pounds? Jeez, that's one heavy cannon ball." I said. "--kilograms, not pounds. You should let me finish before speaking." Princess Celestia said. Her scowl faded. She glanced at the wall then back towards me. "It seems you need some help in the finesse department." "Mass Driver? Seventy-Five kil-o-grams?" Scootaloo said. She titled her head. "What are you two talking about?" "O boy." I said. At 9:52 am this morning in the main garden, Princess Celestia and Scootaloo looked at the central wall that separated the main garden and the grand hallway before they looked at me. The princess had given me an answer to an unasked question, and things made a whole lot of sense after that answer. That solid, almost two foot thick rock wall had a mass driven, seventy-five kilogram projectile, the size of an ostrich egg, launched into it; it's like I fired a tank shell made of depleted uranium. At least, I think that's right. "I'll ignore the mass driver part because it would take too long to explain. As for that stone, we'll just say it weighs almost. As much. As...," I remember how Princess Celestia leaned in with a devilish look on her face like she egged me on to finish the sentence, "you, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom put together, Scootaloo." "That's heavy." Scootaloo said. I stuck my tongue out at Princess Celestia. The princess raised her head, stood straight up, and smirked. At 9:53 this morning, the princess started the mother of all one-sided conversations. I'll never forget them the few, choice, succinct words Princess Celestia used. The mini audio recorder I keep on me, the one I've kept on me since Apple Bloom's arrival, won't let me forget it either. My hands trembled when I heard those words for a second time, after having downloaded the audio file to this laptop. Another thing I won't forget is how clear the princess made it that things would change. To summarize, Princess Celestia stated in the quiet garden this morning that she'd "personally" ensure I'm trained even harder because I'm healed up, and so as to not forget things, my new schedule is as follows: First, the regal pain in my butt wants me to get up at 5:30 am and use those discs to levitate twelve of those seventy-five kilogram stones for fifteen minutes. Second, I'll do my water levitation for the two hours it takes for my spell to cool down, recharge, or whatever. After that cool down period, I'll levitate those same stones again for another fifteen minutes. Third, at the end of the day before I go to sleep, I'm requested, emphasis on the request part, to do my water levitation again for half-an hour, and then an hour before I hit the sack. Though I'm still permitted to practice magic on my own, it'll happen when I'm not dead or dying of after my new exercise routine. At 10:10 am, Princess Celestia requested I repeat back to her what she had told me, which I did. After a final nod at 10:20 am, the princess turned towards the garden's main door. Scootaloo tapped my back left leg with her right wing after Princess Celestia turned around. The filly looked at me before she departed alongside the princess. When I was left alone in Sanctuary's main garden, I hoped the princess didn't find out about the oven or the fridge in Sanctuary. Right now I still hope she doesn't find out about the oven or the fridge. Thermodynamics wasn't my strongest suit in college. Curiosity will be the death of me yet. 10:22 am came around, and I snapped my fingers, appearing at my desk where I turned my laptop on. Princess Celestia, you are far, far more perceptive than you let on. Princess, I have a sneaking suspicion while typing this up that you know the true reason behind this spell. You know these discs aren't for me. The spell is for Scootaloo, and it still needs a lot of work. Two hours recharge time for just fifteen minutes of flight is a bit much. It's why I printed out my private, password protected research notes from this laptop, the files contained within the same folder as my journal entries. Those printed notes are in a binder that's been placed in the bag near the makeshift bed. Princess Celestia, you are far more skilled and way more knowledgeable at magic than I'll ever be in my lifetime. If you can utilize those notes to learn the spell then you can perfect it. Princess, you can perfect the MMERDs spell and use it to imbue some "special" horseshoes that came in the mail four day ago. Those horseshoes are in prepared bag with those notes. Heh, who knew titanium horseshoes would be so expensive. Princess Celestia, it's your perceptiveness that unnerved me in the garden this morning. It concerned me to no end that you'd stop my real plan. It's why I concealed it from you. I just, I just -- dang it. I... I need to stop this. I'm rambling on. Not to mention its making me teary eyed. My laptop says it's 12:30 pm. I can't get cold feet, not now. The special bag is packed and ready to go for the final trip. Apple Bloom. Sweetie Belle. Scootaloo. Princess Celestia. Sanctuary. Today is the day that portal to Equestria opens. Mark my words, I "will" get all of you home. I promise. ---End Entry--- >>>March 16th 5:27 pm<<< There are no dark clouds or heavy claps of thunder. There's no torrential downpour flooding the streets or hurricane force winds slamming rain against the house. Cars aren't revving their engines, racing by the house either. Instead, the sun's setting in the west with numerous pink hued clouds interspersed throughout the sky. It is a beautiful scene, a beautiful end to a wonderful day for a lot of people. It'd be nice if the same could be said this household. Several events have unfolded over the course of five hours since this morning's entry, those events making everything right now feel so surreal. I failed them. I failed those ponies. They didn't go home. Not to mention things have grown weirder and way more complicated for this household. It's somewhat difficult to put into words. When those six ponies left me to write up my journal after our discussion, I sat down at the desk and turned my laptop on; I placed my left hand in my lap and waited two minutes for the laptop to boot up; and I watched the cursor to this journal program blink at me for a solid ten minutes, maybe twenty after I opened it, the automatic portion putting in the date and start time. At this point, I wonder, how do you take something nigh impossible and force yourself to understand it? A year is powerful and allows people to come to terms with changes. However, what do people do when a year isn't enough? How could a year even be enough to understand what our newest arrival told me? I've struggled for almost twenty minutes, and I can't answer any of those question. To be honest, there's a part of me that believes it to be a joke. It's a fact these ponies are quite the little jokesters. Princess Celestia should rename herself Princess Trollestia, Princess of Trolls and Jokes with the few but stunning pranks she's pulled off. There's a problem though. The lengths these equines went to for this prank is too great. What our newest arrival told me, what he gave me isn't a joke, and I don't know what to do right now. It's near 5:50 pm. I've got to type up something, so what might be wise is to start with the possible, and then move to the impossible. To be both blunt and honest, it might be wise to start with the actual truth. The truth is I spent an hour, maybe two at most yesterday combing through my old notes after I had finished my newest entry. Each entry is not a Pulitzer Prize winning novel by any means. They might as well be infantile babblings to some people. Regardless of their issues, all of my notes hold a record of how Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Princess Celestia, and eventually Sanctuary came into our world, along with their experiences. What started everything off yesterday is when the light inside of my watch shined back at me. It happened at the end of the newest entry. That's when I decided I had enough. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Princess Celestia, Sanctuary, none of them gave up on me. I decided I'd had enough and wasn't about to give up on the hopes and dreams those displaced equines had of getting back to Equestria. I closed the journal program at 3:22 pm yesterday. I remember that time well because it's when I opened up my other program and input the password. I'd turned to my private, password protected, non-journal research related notes. "Research Update #37 (Y: 2022, M: February (02), D: 15th; Time: 14:23): At 08:58 this morning, I clenched my left hand into a tight fist near the makeshift bed. I focused on my right arm and imagined right hand clasped over my left. I imagined my hands clasped together to form the portal. It worked, like usual. However, an anomaly occurred when the portal was widened. Though it isn't proper to put it into this kind of context, some form of weird alien energy pulsates, perhaps radiates throughout my body when the portal is widened from the size of the tiniest of peas to that of a small bouncy ball. This has never happened in the however many times the portal has been opened since the start of the new year. What's also unknown at this current point in time is the direct cause of it. All that is known about the sensation is that started a week ago on the dot from this entry. At this point, it's hoped this sensation isn't a warning. (End Research Entry)" The entry created a small spark of an epiphany, but the entry also reminded me of how Princess Celestia cried when she changed the bandages during my recovery. That epiphany combined with those memories tore me apart on the inside. We were out of options. To get these ponies home, a dark fear had to be conquered. Seven hours, stretched from yesterday and into this morning, were spent on a scheme. It'd never come to fruition though as one problem plagued it. How possible is it to initiate things and remain inconspicuous at the same time? Today made me a believer in the word luck. Princess Celestia's comment at the breakfast table this morning provided the most opportunistic moment. It'd almost be possible to say her comment was like magic. The events that unfolded after our breakfast were nerve wracking. If the truth is being confessed in these notes then I'll confess another one by saying I don't need to sit down and meditate to produce those discs. The whole meditation thing was needed to calm my heart down. It was after the meditation, whispering the plan to Scootaloo, Scootaloo's flight time, and the one-sided conversation at the end that the plan went into full motion. The nerve wracking ordeal started when Scootaloo touched the back of my leg. At 12:54 pm, this morning's entry saved, the journal program was closed out, and the laptop was shut down. For two, maybe three minutes at most I had sat in the quiet house till two voices called out, and then a third. Scootaloo had a difficult task ahead of her. She had to keep Princess Celestia occupied, entertained, distracted, or whatever appropriate word fit the category till the portal was opened. Princess Celestia is perceptive to a fault, bordering on precognition, which made the task difficult, so all of us had to work fast. Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Sanctuary received a quick, two minute overview at the ebony colored desk. Our efforts hinged on everyone's ability to play their part. There would be no third time if I failed. At 1pm, there was no turning back. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle darted into study where they took cover behind the solid cinderblock wall that separated the rooms while Sanctuary and I approached the end of the makeshift bed. Sweetie Belle served as both our lookout and messenger, and would alert us if Princess Celestia came prematurely. She'd also alert Princess Celestia and Scootaloo if the portal had been successful. Apple Bloom played one vital role in the scheme. She'd rescue Sanctuary if the portal went haywire. The cable box ready 1:15 as Sanctuary and I stood within two feet of the end of the makeshift bed. The pony touched the tip of her soft left wing to the back of my neck after I'd sat down on the semi-soft carpet and closed my eyes. We steadied our breathing, and then synced it. The hairs on my body stood on end. The air went still. The two of us exhaled a synced heavy breath in that moment. My legs crossed, I extended my left arm forward and raised the small portion of what remained of my right arm. I formed my left hand into a semi-fist, and then -- through the ethereal barrier -- I imagined the portion of my right arm being connected to the other portion that existed across the dimensional divide. I visualized my right hand forming the same semi-fist as my left hand. I assumed that meditative position I'd thought about yesterday; it was my epiphany. Sanctuary and I exhaled several slow, deep breaths in unison. I closed my eyes even tighter. The air had grown heavier while time slowed in my mind during the moment. The air tingled with energy. Another slow, deep exhale later, the final process started when I conceived both of my semi-fists touching each other. The otherworldly, alien energy flowed through me in a similar manner to a peaceful, unbound stream flowing down hill, unimpeded by obstacles. "H-Human?" a voice said. My vision cleared. A bewildered mare with a moon-shaped mark on her flank stood in a room full of books with strange symbols etched onto their binders, books like the one resting on my desk right now. The room appeared to be some kind of library, from what I remember. "You did it?" At 1:56 pm today, a stable portal to Equestria -- the size of a medicine ball -- had been opened. "You really did it?" She said. Her wide-eyed expression spoke more than any word in any dictionary. Though Princess Luna, the sister of Princess Celestia, looked at me, her eyes seemed to look through me. I remember how tears formed in her eyes. A person didn't need to be psychic to see the events that were about to unfold. "S-Si-ister?" It started at 1:57 pm. Sweetie Belle had acted prematurely, or she had never acted at all. The mare never made a sound when she came from behind. I just remember how the gears behind those eyes turned at a steady, even pace when she came into view. She stopped within inches of the portal formed between my left arm on our side and the portion of my right arm in Equestria, her sister having stopped within almost the same distance. What existed between my arms must've been a miraculous sight. Princess Celestia's lower lip quivered. The tip of her nose almost touched the ethereal barrier that separated our worlds. Her tears rolled down her cheeks and dripped towards her sister, and Princess Luna's tears having done the same. Perhaps whatever overwhelming sensation Princess Celestia felt while she spoke with her sister across that dimension divide is what I'm feeling right now while typing this up, trying my best to remember things. It's growing harder to put these things into tangible context. As stated, several times for that matter, Princess Celestia is beyond perceptive, almost bordering on precognition. The pony must have given sister a tearful goodbye at 2:04 pm since it was at 2:04 pm that I couldn't take the strain any longer. The portal took an hour to open, yet stayed open for just seven minutes. Sanctuary removed the tip of her wing from my neck after the portal closed. "Doesn't your world have the saying 'Fools rush in where angels fear to tread' in circumstances like this? Didn't you think of the consequences when you planned all of this out? Didn't you. Didn't you -- thank you." Princess Celestia rested her chin on my shoulder. Her warm tears saturated the left sleeve of my shirt. She raised her head. Princess Celestia hugged her daughter, and then the three fillies. "Thank you. Thank you all for your hard work." Princess Celestia's horn aglow in a soft, yellowish hue, she formed a soft cushion of air with her magic. The cable box read 2:10 pm when I stood up. It's also at 2:10 pm that my legs gave way, my body going limp. The princess placed me in the chair near the dining room table. She glided a soft wing across my face, and then my chest. Princess Celestia retracted her wing then sat down on the carpet. The mare decided to end her examination with a stern warning about magical exhaustion. The princess had no way to tell what "ramifications" existed for humans who've obtained magical capabilities. In that moment, at the end of another one-sided conversation, Princess Celestia required me to give her the most sincere, heartfelt promise. The portal experiment would be the final experiment without her approval. I wanted to break down at the dining room table. The plan, the bag, every ounce of strength and magical energy that could have been mustered, all of that hard work for what?! It was all meaningless! I failed those ponies. I failed to get them home, and I hated myself for it. It's strange how things work out though. Princess Celestia extended her wing and placed it over me. The light inside of my watch began to glow in a brilliant light. All of those equines just looked at each other while we sat at the table, my left arm limp and numb from the portal, and then they turned towards me. Those stupid, cheerful ponies smiled at me. All of them smiled while they cheered me on. Even in failure, those ponies from Equestria found a way to look at the bright side, to find hope in the face of overwhelming odds and failure. I just.... ---End Entry--- >>>March 16th 6:17 pm<<< I needed a break. I needed a shower too. Mine is nowhere near the best, but even a photographic memory is foggy if the mind isn't clear enough to remember things. My arm still feels a little numb. Anyways, to pick up where I left off, these ponies, as stated, cheered me on. They had made up their minds and believed they'd get home with my help, but things changed this afternoon. The microwave read 2:22 pm. That strange, familiar, near ominous sound reverberated throughout the house. The sound sent a shiver down my spine for those tenuous ten seconds. The sound stopped. Princess Celestia smirked. She removed her wing from my shoulder. The princess nodded to us. "If you'll excuse me, I believe my guest is here." Princess Celestia said. She stood up and looked at me, peering over her left side. With a sly smile, the prince said, "You're not the only one who had concocted a 'scheme' of their own." "Who's here?" Apple Bloom said. "You'll see, my little pony." Princess Celestia said. She disappeared around the corner at 2:23 pm. The door to my closet slid open. The princess gave a quick "hello" that could be heard by all of us sitting at the table. After that, all of us heard the closet door close with a soft thud. The princess returned and sat near me at the edge of the dark glass table. "It looks like my guest has arrived, no worse for wear." "Guest?" Apple Bloom said. She tilted her head. The filly had turned to her friends before her eyes lit up. "Applejack?" "Rainbow Dash?!" Scootaloo said. "Rarity?" Sweetie Belle said. The fillies peeked around the corner. All of them were ready in that moment this afternoon to pounce whoever or whatever came around the corner. Those three gave the heaviest of heavy sighs and gazed at their reflections in the dark glass table. Their sighs would have broken a heart made of solid strong stone. "I must say, this place is a good deal smaller than what you led us to believe, Princess Celestia." He said. Of course, through her Deus Ex Machina talents, Princess Celestia had already fixed it so ol' grey beard the wise could speak human. "Your sister spoke of a grand castle amongst the stars, if I remember correctly." Not even a year's worth of time could have prepared me for what followed when that unicorn stallion came around the corner. It took me a few moments just to realize a new pony had joined us, even more to understand he was a unicorn stallion in the worst getup imaginable; there were so many bells on the stallion's costume it'd be a nightmare if he were in an Earthquake. "Star Swirl the Bearded, my dear friend, this isn't Sanctuary. Right now we are in a house that resides on a planet called Earth. The place you are referring to is on the moon orbiting this planet." Princess Celestia said. "Ahh, now I understand." the unicorn stallion said. His hat jingled when he placed it on the table. He glanced around the room, for a second time. He turned toward Princess Celestia, almost as if I didn't exist to him. "When your protégé told me the entire story of what happened, I dusted off several of my old scrolls and tomes. Princess Twilight Sparkle has gone through her resources as well. It's disheartening to say our efforts haven't been more fruitful." "Wait, you dusted off some old books? How long did you take?" Sweetie Belle said. "What. Do you mean?" He said. "How long did it take you to get here?" Sweetie Belle said. "That night the portal opened and Princess Celestia conveyed her message to Princess Luna, Princess Luna immediately contacted me through a dream. I headed off to Ponyville as quickly as possible. After that, I then spent a week dusting off my books, scrolls, and tomes while also getting my research notes, and supplies and materials ready for the journey. It took me one whole day just to obtain the required crystal for the portal. And --" He said. "Ah hate ta be rude, but could ya'll maybe give the short version?" Apple Bloom said. "You'll have to pardon me little filly, it was quite the ordeal. To condense things, I'd say it took almost a week and a half to get everything ready for the journey. Not to mention, when I left Princess Twilight Sparkle's castle, I'd dare say it was near midnight." He said. "Star Swirl, you must be mistaken. We sent that message not even an hour ago. It's been thirty minutes at best." Princess Celestia said. "What?" He said. The unicorn stallion stroked his beard a few times before he placed his hoof on the ground. "How absolutely fascinating, Princess Celestia. You're still the talented little filly I knew so long ago. Only a pony of your magical aptitude and caliber could have created a magical, space-time dimensional bridge. That, or perhaps our worlds might be strained further than we've thought. This requires further study." Time appeared to slow as the microwave display read 2:32 pm. Sanctuary, the fillies, and the princess looked at me. "Look Merlin, I have no idea what you're babbling about. I doubt even that Stephen Hawking guy could understand your quirky bridge thing, but I'll just say that I created the bridge." I said. The kitchen clock's second hand pounded with each tick. Star Swirl the Bearded had a strange look in his eye. His gaze seemed glued on my left arm and my watch. "Merlin?" He said. The stallion raised an eyebrow. "Did I hear right? You called me, Merlin?" "Yes..." I said. "Yea, I think our friend called you Merlin." Scootaloo said. "That name. I haven't -- is he still around? Is Merlin in this world? We need all the magical help we can muster if all of us are to return to Equestria." Star Swirl the Bearded said. He looked at the glass table after I shook my head at him. The unicorn stallion's reflection stared back at him before he rustled around in his saddlebag. A strange book with otherworldly symbols etched into its surface was laid on the table, the same book that now rests beside me as I make this entry. "Princess Celestia, when your sister spoke of what had happened, I decided to bring this on a whim. I made the right choice." Star Swirl the Bearded slid the book forward and used his magic to open the cover. Of course, I couldn't read the book for crap. Yea, no real shocker. It'd be like someone expecting me to read a book written in ancient Icelandic or Japanese. "Young lad, might I ask you a question?" Star Swirl the Bearded said. My body felt cold when he spoke. At 2:34 pm, I gave a slow "sure" to the pony on the other side of the table. The unicorn stallion cleared his throat with an audible "ahem" before he stroked his beard, placing his hoof on the ground soon afterward. "Where did you hear the name Merlin?" "Your getup kinda looks like something he'd wear. Merlin is a made up character. He's a wizard from the Arthurian legends." I said. "Made up? You mean fictitious? You must be mistaken. Are you sure he isn't around?" Star Swirl the Bearded said. The stallion gazed at his reflection a second time. He sighed, and then looked up. " It's sad to hear my first protégé... no, it's disheartening to hear my friend no longer exists." "Friend? What are you talking about, Star Swirl?" Princess Celestia said. Star Swirl the Bearded looked off to his side. I snapped my fingers and materialized a box of tissues onto the table. "Thank you." Star Swirl the Bearded said. Time trudged forward. The microwave read 2:37 pm, 2:40 pm, and then 2:42 pm. At 2:43 pm, the stallion placed several tissues into the small garbage bag placed onto the table. "It is a rather long story. It happened was when I was still a spry young stallion." "Apple Bloom." Princess Celestia said. She placed a hoof over her mouth to hide her snickering. "I'd estimate the child was five, perhaps six years old when he found his way to Equestria. I never knew what to make of the creature at the time. It would have been dangerous to leave him alone, so I took the young lad in and gave him food, shelter, and clothing. I also gave him knowledge. Over the course of five years, he began to display powerful magical abilities that reminded me of an old mares tale, the one contained within this book. After eight more years, the child grew into a young adult. I called him little magician when he was a child, which in turn became part of his moniker as Merlin the Magician in his later years." Star Swirl the Bearded said. He grabbed another tissue around 2:50 pm. The used tissue was levitated into the trash-bag. "On what would have been his twentieth birthday, Merlin vanished from Equestria. I never got to say goodbye, and it hurts to know I can never say thank you to that young lad for the friendship he gave me over those years." "On the countless occasions we've spoken, I've never heard you talk about Merlin. Also, what about Clover the Clever? Wasn't she your first and only disciple?" Princess Celestia said. "There are many things you do not know about me, Princess Celestia." Star Swirl the Bearded said. He looked at Princess Celestia before he faced me. "Are you alright?" "..." "I'm sorry, what did you say?" He said. "Ah think ya broke em." Apple Bloom said. "I 'broke' him? How?" The unicorn stallion said. "Star Swirl, this is a lot to take in, especially for our friend." Princess Celestia said. She illuminated her horn and flicked the light on. Star Swirl the Bearded glanced at the light above the kitchen then looked down, shaking his head. "Sorry, you'll get used to the fluorescent light. I needed to see the text of the book." I remember how the room went still. Princess Celestia turned to page 77 of The Equestrian Tales of Lore, Legends, and Fables. The text reflected off Princess Celestia's eyes while she glanced over each word of the passage, the book levitated a short distance away from her face. In a calm, collected voice, Princess Celestia read the story aloud to us: "Many a tale has been passed down through oral stories, from mare to filly and stallion to colt. Several tales speak of monstrous creatures, beautiful royalty, strong warriors, and, above all else, peculiarities within the land of Equestria. Of one, unique, fascinating legend passed down through these oral stories speaks of a strange group of upright, bipedal creatures. Known as Conduits, these creatures possessed an astounding ability. Legend goes that Conduits held a unique trait that enabled them to tap into the abilities of those they formed powerful bonds with during their lifetime. These bonds could be considered the true quintessence of friendship. Thus far, one tale speaks of a Conduit who formed such a bond with an earth pony mare. It happened by chance. The Conduit and the earth pony mare found each other. The two formed a touching, almost magical bond with one another. As time passed, a noticeable change occurred in the creature. The Conduit, presumed to be a mare itself, gained an amazing amount of physical strength. The creature began to display physical strength on par with that of the befriended earth pony mare. It's also regaled in the oral legend of how the Conduit defend the mare from an anphivena by lifting a large boulder and using it as a shield. Trapped between a perilous cliff behind and the anphivena in front, the Conduit hurled the boulder forward with such force it launched the deadly anphivena into the sky, never to be seen again. The mare stood in amazement at the sight. The boulder itself was said to be three times as large and three times as wide as the earth pony mare herself. More time passed, and their bonds grew even stronger. However, the tale doesn't end happily, for one day, the legends goes, the earth pony mare witnessed the Conduit vanish into an ethereal void with her kind, never to be seen again. Gaia, the earth pony mare of the legend settled in a remote village on the northern border of Equestria. To remind herself of that cherished friendship, Gaia promised herself one thing when her friend vanished. She fulfilled that promise the day she gave birth to a beautiful filly. It was on that day the earth pony mare bequeathed to her daughter the name she'd given the Conduit, to her friend. She named her daughter Terra. Now a great, great grandmare, Gaia is said to pass on her story to those that are willing to hear it, always ending on the same sad note of how heartbreaking it was to see her friend vanish. Most of all however, Gaia mentions how she never got a moment to thank the Conduit for the years of friendship they shared. What you see contained within this passage is the sum total of the research compiled upon this legend. Since my early foalhood, this story fascinated me to no end. I'm sad to say these old wings of mine aren't what they used to be, so, if more tales and literature are found on this matter, I implore any scholar worth their salt to help continue my work. Sincerely, Efficacious D. Tome, Pegasus scholar of the Pinion Skyward Academy" "So, I take it Efficacious D. Tome was your friend?" I said. Star Swirl the Bearded removed another tissue from the box. "Did you train under him or something?" "Tome was a mare wise beyond her years." Star Swirl the Bearded said. He took the book in his magical grasp and looked at it. "She gave this book to me as a gift, and there it sat in my private collection, until now. I thought of the story as a mere legend till Merlin came along. When Princess Luna conveyed that message to me and told me how a 'human' had helped her sister, it reminded me of what Tome said, and it also reminded me of my own account." "But Merlin is just a fictional character. He can't be real." I said. Star Swirl the Bearded shook his head at me. The unicorn stallion said, "I promise, I am not lying when I say Merlin was indeed real. I found that human when he was just a lad. The child had somehow crossed over the dimensional divide into Equestria. I have a lot of fond memories from that time," he sighed, "and, just like Gaia, I regret my actions. I regret not telling young Merlin thank you for his friendship throughout those years. Also, it's one reason I regret to say that I became a rather bitter stallion in my later years and looked down upon friendship. I'm thankful that Princess Twilight Sparkle helped remind me of the magic of friendship." "Whoa, Whoa, Whoa, slow down here. Are you telling me humans -- like our friend -- are from Equestria?" Sweetie Belle said. "I believe I am, young filly." Star Swirl the Bearded said. He looked to has left. "Princess Celestia, when your protégé spoke of her journey, I hoped to hear news of my friend. Instead, it sounds as if the portal she traveled through acted as a bridge to an alternate reality, an alternative universe of sorts that's both unique yet parallel to Equestria. However, the portal your protégé created on her own connected our world to the one my friend Merlin the Magician originated from, a world the Conduits migrated into when they disappeared from Equestria." At 3:25 pm, Star Swirl the Bearded retrieved the book from Princess Celestia. While it levitated in front of him, he glided a cautious, careful hoof over it, and then lit up his horn. "I'd like you to consider this a gift. In time, perhaps we can help you read it." Star Swirl the Bearded said. The book rested on the glass table in front of me. "T-Thanks..." I said. "Is something the matter?" Star Swirl the Bearded said. "To think not just me but all humans originated from Equestria, it's a lot to take in at once." I said. Every eye in that placed turned towards me. I just sat there with my hand in my lap. It just, it just didn't -- I couldn't grasp it then and still struggle with it now. At the same time, I had to believe it. "I want to think this is some practical joke all of you are playing on me, but there are two things that stick out in my mind. Those two things makes me believe this isn't a joke, and it starts with you, Princess Celestia." "Hmm?" She said. "When we talked about those crystals one day, the ones you gave to Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo, and the one that you put into my watch, do you remember what you told me?" I said. Princess Celestia's eyes widened. She looked at the watch. "You said those crystals needed magic to work. You said it wasn't possible to just tie a crystal to a rock, chuck it towards the portal in my study and expect it to appear in Sanctuary. Without magic existing inside of the one who wields the crystal, it wouldn't work." I said. Princess Celestia looked at me, and then towards Star Swirl the Bearded. "There's also another matter. When I rescued Scootaloo, I somehow managed to teleport to her -- without my watch on -- and stood on top of some clouds formed by that small waterfall in the meditation garden. Perhaps the story is right, and what I've tapped into is your magic, Princess Celestia." "A wise hypothesis, indeed. There is no telling how or what 'activates' a Conduits abilities... I mean, what allows a human to connect with another Equestrian." Star Swirl the Bearded said. "I think it might be wise if I rescind what I said earlier this morning. You'll be given two week's reprieve from your training, however, it will start after that two week reprieve is over." Princess Celestia said. She backed up from the dining room table and reassured me that no matter what happened, I was still me on the inside. That's when, in a calm, collected voice, Princess Celestia said, "It might be wise if you relax and write an entry in your journal. Always remember that if you need to talk, I will listen. We'll take Star Swirl the Bearded to Sanctuary and get him settled. It's nothing against your blossoming talents, but he'll be here for a while to help set up a 'safer' means to get back home to Equestria." One-by-one those ponies left. I sat in my chair for a good forty minutes, and then moved to my laptop. What did those ponies do to me? Feels like I'm not even human anymore. Of course, what does it even mean to be human when what we know about humans and humanity itself is wrong? Maybe all those fossil records are of previous creatures that existed on this planet, and we humans from Equestria wiped them out. Perhaps the current idea we're related to them is false. There is no missing link because no link existed in the first place. As I've typed this up, listening to the digital tape recorder and remembering them almost shot for shot because of my photographic memory (thanks mom), I've come to say that I don't care. Princess Celestia is right. I'm still me. I've got bigger things to worry about than how I feel right now. There's another mouth to feed, and I hope Star Swirl the Bearded, should call him Swirly, likes fruit salad, buttered rolls, and tomato soup with grilled cheese cause I'm not taking any special requests. Though, now that I think about it, perhaps today should be celebrated. We did open the portal. Those ponies will be going home, eventually, and I'll... just figure out things about myself a little later. I need to get cooking. It's past 7pm, and I don't have time to think too deeply about things. I'll leave that for some philosopher. ---End Entry--- >>>March 15th 11:50pm<<< "Savor your moment of triumph, Superman. But remember. Victory has its price." Darkseid (Superman The Animated Series, "Apokolips…Now!, Part 2", 1998) I remember those words, watching that scene when I was a teenager. It enamored me. It taught me of how a hero's victory can be so easily tainted by a simple, despicable act. Three hours ago, that quote from the fictitious, villainous character Darkseid echoed within my mind. Tonight, karma made sure our group paid a heavy price for opening the portal to Equestria, for our so-called victory. Not once I didn't even stop to look at the news. When I pulled that plate out of the fridge around 7pm and went outside, I noticed a helicopter off in the distance and brushed it off. Me and Princess Celestia just warned Scootaloo and Sanctuary to ignore it and stay put with the rest of us while Star Swirl marveled at it through my binoculars. It's my fault. It's all my fault. Though we pushed the notion of Conduits, portals, and such to the side, it's all my fault. The menu had changed because I suggested we grill out to celebrate. Princess Celestia appeared the happiest as Star Swirl the Bearded told her how Equestria was still in one piece. A few slip ups were encountered, but nothing major. An hour passed. We cleaned up. Half an hour later, we finished our desserts. However, that's when it happened. There wasn't enough time to get the others inside. The distant noise of the helicopter grew louder and louder. It rushed towards the house from far off in the distance. A lunatic jumped the front and landed in the back yard. It happened after all of us heard a loud, horrendous car crash out front. The individual in the blue jeans and white T-Shirt froze when he saw all of us outside partying with each other. When that, that, that worthless piece of trash charged towards those ponies I came to care for, when he charged towards my friends with weapon firm in his hand, I didn't hesitate for a second to protect my friends. The moment itself is a blur. I just remember how the gate to the backyard burst open. Officers poured in and stopped dead in their tracks. A news chopper had come from behind, rolling is camera in that moment. In a flash, the police helicopter's spotlight lit up the area. I've watched the video several times, both on the TV and online. I remember little if any of it. I just remember how I regained my senses, of how the suspect fell to the ground like a ragdoll when I was done with them. I levitated a good five to six feet off the ground, and then stepped down those invisible stairs onto the ground, those ethereal discs on my shoes disintegrating when I reached the ground. I escorted Princess Celestia, Sanctuary, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, and Star Swirl the Bearded back inside before I gave a statement to the officers. The moment felt like eternity with those helicopters overhead. A year makes a lot of difference in a person's life. It turns out the officer in charge was the same one who came to my house a year ago about the "suspicious" drone flying around. She said that unless things changed, while the suspect was loaded into an ambulance, there would be no charges filed against me. All I remember is how my left arm hurt, my hand almost numb. By the time the officers left, it was near 10 pm. "Thank you for protecting us, but... will you be alright?" Princess Celestia said. I bit down on my lip. None of those ponies looked at me with disgust, fright, or nervousness. "I am always willing to listen, my friend. For now, I believe it may be wise if all of us rest in Sanctuary tonight. Star Swirl, if it's alright, you can sleep in our friends room. It contains a guest bed." "He can rest in my bed. I need to stay here, in case there are issues." I said. Princess Celestia didn't argue. She and the others went to Sanctuary ten minutes after our brief conversation, maybe less. "You protected them. You did the right thing. Never doubt yourself, ever." The apparition who sat next to me for a good thirty minutes before I started this entry, she tried to console me. It's strange because I kept thinking it was Nightmare Sepulcher reincarnated, or perhaps Nightmare Moon. Instead, the apparition, ghost, specter, or whatever said it was neither. The mare, a darker version of Princess Celestia, just said to me that everything would be alright before she asked me to call her Asteria. After I promised, Asteria vanished. She vanished about ten minutes ago, and Asteria is another mystery for another time because it horrifies me right now that the news has been playing the footage from the incident over and over again, calling it the "scoop of the century" with "six mysterious equines." Things are even worse online. Every front page of every newspaper agency, news forum, video news section, etc..., is lit up with a breaking news banner. All of them roll the same three minutes of footage. It plays over and over again, showing what I did to the suspect. Right now, my laptop is saying it's 1:05 am. I need to get some sleep. Human stupidity can wait. My Little Apocalypse Ponies, what a bunch of garbage. All I can do is just hope I make it through the night. Already feel sick to my stomach. ---End Entry---