//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8: The Last Resort 
// Story: Dreams Don't Always Come as you Expected 
// by Mister E-Nonymous 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 8: The Last Resort







(Alex's Point of View)


Dream World...


I had to be dreaming. Because this time I was in a wedding, and I was to be married with Danny. I couldn't do anything to stop it. We just finished our vows, and we were about to kiss. I had to get out of this dream. Wake up. WAKE UP!


Real World...


I just woke up from that awful dream. It was midnight on Tuesday. Which means I had one week left until I was going to lose my boy mind for good. I was upset about this, so I decided to go out for a nightly walk.

I quietly got out of my bed, and opened the chest containing all of my male things. It sucks not being able to play with them when I'm fully female. I don't think I'll care about them when I'm mentally female. It then closed it up, and headed outside of Sugarcube Corner, through the back door. I was upset that I wouldn't be thinking male things again.

"This is it," I said. "I'm gonna be forced to do girl things for the rest of my life, and I can't do anything to stop it." I then shed some tears. In one week, it's goodbye Alexander, hello Alexia, forever. Without noticing, I bumped into somepony. "Oof. Oh, sorry." But then I saw who I bumped into. It was Zecora. "Zecora? What are you doing here?"

"I have something for you. Do not mope," said Zecora. "This thing might give you one last chance of hope." She then handed me something. I grabbed it and looked at it.

"What is this?" I asked.

"It is a map to something you might need kind," said Zecora. "It's a map to the Temple of the Split Minds."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"The temple said to have you're starting to lose far," said Zecora. "The treasure inside is said to help you find out who you really are."

"You mean..." I said. "If I go into this temple and get the treasure, whatever it is will help me keep my male self forever?"

"I do. And you should hurry," said Zecora. "This treasure will set you away from worry. Once touched, and like a lightning bolt, you shall be from a frilly filly to a tomcolt."

I then looked at the map, and smiled. This might be my only chance for me to be able to think boy thoughts again. Should I tell the other ponies, or maybe go at this by myself? I thought about this hard, but if it's going to effect the pony who's touching in, than I have to go. And I shouldn't let anypony else go get it for me, because it might be too late.

I walked back inside, and on my way back, I heard a young voice.

"Alex?" I turned around and saw Pumpkin Cake.

I smiled at her and said, "It's okay, Pumpkin. I was just getting some fresh air." I then walked over to her, and asked, "How about you go back to bed? You shouldn't be up this late."

I then grabbed her by her scruff. Still getting used to this. I then put her back into her crib, and then I tucked her in. I don't know if it's the female in me or not, but she really is a cute filly.

I then decided to go back to my room when Pumpkin fell asleep. I decided to pack some stuff before I left on this journey I had to go on. I decided to leave for this place after school ends. I packed a sleeping bag, a flashlight, a first aid kit, some bug repellent, and the map of where I needed to go. I had to keep this a secret so nopony would be able to find out.






(Pinkie Pie's Point of View)


It was Wednesday. Today was the last day of school for Alex. Gummy and  I were going to bake her a special cake for finishing the last day of school. She was going to be happy. Although, it might be a lot different for her once she finally starts thinking like she's female 24/7. But then, I was interrupted by the doors swinging open. I saw Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Danny come into the kitchen area.

"Oh, hey you four," I said to them. "What brings you here?"

"Pinkie, you haven't seen Alex, have you?" Danny asked.

"Not since this morning," I said. "Why?"

"She came to school this morning," said Apple Bloom, "but when we tried talking to her, she just vanished."

"We looked all over Ponyville trying to find her," said Sweetie Belle.

"But there's no sign of her," said Scootaloo.

"WHAT?!" I asked. "Where could she be?!" I then put the whisk I was using into Gummy's mouth and said, "Gummy, you keep whisking the batter. I'll be right back." Then me, Danny and the three fillies ran out of Sugarcube Corner, searching for Alex. Again.





We searched hours for Alex, and there was no sign of her. I couldn't believe that she was gone. She had to be here in Ponyville somewhere. We even had my five closest friends join in on the search. We searched high and low for Alex, and we couldn't find her. We all met up at Sugarcube Corner.

"Sorry, Pinkie," Twilight said. "We searched everywhere in Ponyville. We even checked the Everfree Forest. There's no sign of Alex anywhere."

I then started crying, and asked out loud, "What did I do wrong?! She shouldn't have done this without telling me! I'm so worried about her!" I felt the others group hug me.

"Don't worry, Pinkie," said Rarity. "We will find her."

"I just don't understand," said Fluttershy. "Why would she run away if she was happy being here? Except for the fact she is being more female by the day."

"That is a good point," said Rainbow Dash. "Perhaps she has a reason to go off somewhere."

"But what?" asked Applejack. "And why would she just go off somewhere without tellin' us?"

Then the bell over the door jingled, and in came Spike. He then said, "There you are, Twilight. I was wondering where you've been off to."

"Sorry, Spike," Twilight said. "But we've been all over Ponyville, looking for Alex. We couldn't find her all day."

"Huh?" Spike said. "That's odd. I swore I could've seen her get on a train."

"WHAT?!" I then shouted.

"Wait. Pinkie?!" Spike asked. "I thought that you and Alex were heading off somewhere together. But..."

Then we all ran out of Sugarcube Corner, and headed off to the train station. Luckily, we saw the pony who sells tickets leaving the place.

"Excuse me!" shouted Twilight.

The ticket seller saw us coming and said, "Oh, Princess Twilight. And others. What brings you here this late? The Train Station won't be open until tomorrow."

"Sir, we're looking for a missing filly," said Twilight. "Pink coat, long brown mane and tail, red hair bow with purple outlines. Any of this ringing a bell?"

"Come to think of it," said the ticket seller, "I did see that filly around here earlier this afternoon. She bought a ticket to Galloping Gorge."

"Galloping Gorge?!" asked Rainbow Dash. "What would Alex be doing if she wanted to go there?!"

"Whatever it is, we're going after her," said Twilight. "Tomorrow, we're all going there to find her."

"For Alex!" said Apple Bloom, with Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Danny putting their hands in.

"Oh, no you don't," said Twilight. "We're not letting four young foals come with us on a dangerous mission."

"But, Twilight!" said Danny. "Alex is our friend, too. She needs some help from her closest friends as well."

"And we wouldn't let her do something on her own," said Scootaloo. "If you're going, then we're going, too."

Then we all looked at each other. Then Twilight said, "Wow. You all would do anything to make sure Alex is safe. Alright. You all can come. But Scootaloo, you might want to get permission from your family as well."

"Got it," said Scootaloo.

Then we all went to our homes. I just don't understand why Alex would go off to Galloping Gorge all by herself. We have to find her tomorrow. I just hope that nothing bad has happened to her.






(Alex's Point of View)


I was really tired. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea coming here all by myself.

I thought to myself, "I'm pretty sure that I made a huge mistake. Camping isn't really for a girl like me. It's full of creepy bugs and no sign of any hotels for me to play with my dolls that I forgot to pack." Then I realized what I just thought, and shook those thoughts out of my head. "No! I am not a girl, mentally! Stop it! I don't want to be a girl mentally! So stop making me think girly things!"

My condition is getting worse and worse. I had to get that treasure before I become a girl fully. I got out my sleeping bag and was about to roll it out until I heard somepony.

"Hey! Who are you? And what are you doing here?"

I turned around and saw a mare. She has a golden coat, was wearing a purple cloak, a gray hat, with a white fabric with a white bow, and red framed glasses.

"Oh," I said. "I'm sorry. I didn't know this was your property. I'll find some other place to camp out."

"No, this isn't my property," said the mare. "I was just going to warn you that you shouldn't be outside here on by this time at night, or else the tigers would eat you."

"Tigers?!" I asked. I then grabbed my stuff and asked, "Any idea where I could sleep for the night."

"Come with me," said the mare. She helped me get my stuff into my saddlebags, and then we headed somewhere. She led me to what looks like the house of the seven dwarfs from Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

She then led me inside, and inside were a lot of books and maps. I wonder what she was doing in here.

"Um, Miss?" I asked.

"Oh, right," said the mare. "Introductions. Well, my name is A.K. Yearling. I'm actually a book writer."

"A.K. Yearling?" I asked. "Wait a minute, as in the writer of Daring Do?"

"Yep," said A.K. Yearling. "Have you read any of my books?"

"Yeah," I said. "But, they were all library books, so I have no ownership of them."

"So, what brings you out here?" she asked.

"Well..." I started. "I have a bit of a problem." I then pulled a map out of my saddlebags. "It all started when I was a human boy."

"Wait, wait, wait," said A.K. Yearling. "You used to be one of those human creatures? And you used to be in the opposite gender? How did you end up like this?"

"I almost died," I told her. "Somepony used magic on me to save my life, but he accidentally changed my gender. And now, my mind is becoming one of a girls, and I got less than a week before I lose my boy thoughts forever."

"Wait a minute," said A.K. Yearling. "Are you searching for the Temple of the Split Minds?!"

"How do you know about that?" I asked.

"I've been looking for that temple for years, and only one map was made," said A.K. Yearling.

"What are you talking about?" I asked. She then looked towards me.

"I haven't told you what else I do," said A.K. Yearling. "I do more than just write books about a certain adventurer." She then removed her cloak, hat and glasses, and underneath was a green adventurer's shirt, and a pith helmet. I then recognized her. "I'm also the one who does those adventures."

"You're... you're... Daring Do?!" I asked, shocked.

"Yep," she said. "Do you have the map?"

I then grabbed the map out of my saddlebags, and handed it to her. She took it, and unrolled it. She then looked at the map and smiled. "If I'm reading this correctly, this map is in the darkest part of the forest by the gorge. We'll head out tomorrow. And if we're lucky, we'll be able to get to that treasure before your mind goes all female. You would rather be a tomcolt than a prissy filly, and if you're upset about being female in body and mind, I'll do whatever it takes to help you."

I smiled and nodded.

"How long do you have until you mind goes... you know," Daring Do asked.

"I have until Tuesday," I said. "I really need help. This is my only chance."

"Okay," said Daring Do. "Tomorrow, we have five days to get to that treasure before your mind is fully female. Let's get to bed. We'll start the adventure in the morning."

She escorted me to a guest bedroom she had. There was no bed, but there was a hammock. She then put me into it.

"So, do you have any family?" Daring Do asked me.

"Well, I was adopted about two weeks after I arrived here," I told her. "By a mare named Pinkie Pie."

"Pinkie Pie?" asked Daring Do. "As in one of the six Elements of Harmony bearers?"

"You know her?" I asked.

"I've met all six of them months ago," said Daring Do. "Although, her friend Rainbow Dash is a major fan girl about my style, and when she saw me, she was freaking out like a fan girl." She then chuckled. "Although, she did help me get my next book done."

"Wait a minute," I said. "Daring Do and the Ring of Destiny?"

"Yep," said Daring Do. "That was it."

"Y'know," I said. "Now that I got a good look at you, you and Rainbow Dash look like identical twins. The only thing that's different are your colors."

She then laughed and said, "Oh, yeah. I guess that's true. If we're in a dark room together, and if someone tries to attack me, they would think that she's me and attack her instead."

I then yawned. I felt sleepy, but I didn't want to dream of girly things.

"You can sleep if you want to," said Daring Do. "I'll wake you up in the morning."

"But, I'm kinda scared that I'll dream of something very girly, and I wouldn't be able to stop it," I said. "I just... need... to..."

I was getting tired, and I could've sworn that Daring Do was rocking the hammock like a baby crib. I couldn't help myself. It was making me more sleepy. But then I fell asleep.