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// Chapter 13: Fatherly Phone Call and The Princess of The Night 
// Story: Outside Reality 
// by The reluctant fan 
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Galen sighed anxiously as he waited for his father to pick up. He had texted his dad earlier, using text to speech of course, and he had asked for a FaceTime. His dad had agreed, stating that his mom had told him some odd things about her conversation with Galen the night before. 

Eventually, his father picked up. "Hey Galen, what's... what's up with the plush doll?"

Galen sighed. "This is gonna suck to explain to everyone."

His dad's reaction to the 'plush' moving its mouth in sync with Galen's voice was as expected.



After Galen's father had recovered from his shock and been told what was going on, he promptly burst out laughing.

"Uh, are you alright?"

"Hahaha! It's just so hilarious hearing your voice coming out of a tiny horse with giant eyes!"

"...shut up dad, this is embarrassing enough as is."

"Yeah, I know, I just need to have a good laugh about it, or else I might freak out again."

"Sigh, that makes sense, I guess. I've honestly just thrown logic out the window at this point so that I don't have a meltdown trying to scientifically justify how this is possible. I'm just trying to go with the flow anymore."

His dad laughed. "That's probably for the best. Your mother told me you met some of the residents yesterday. are they-"

"Yes, they are also ponies. Except for one I met today that happens to be a juvenile dragon."

"A dragon? I bet you're wishing you got turned into one of them instead."

"If only for having opposable digits. I also met another resident that not only knew about humans but was utterly obsessed with them."

"What? Do humans exist there?"

"Not as far as I know. The others mentioned that they thought she was crazy until they met me, so apparently it's just something about her."

"Well it seems like you've had an eventful day, even for your circumstances. By the way, Sam is okay, right?"

"Yep, he's fine. He's actually sleeping on my bed right now."

Galen stood up on his hind legs so he could bring his father's view to the top of the bed. Once he had given his dad a good look, he lowered himself again.

"Hah! Are you seriously so small you can't see over your bed without doing that?"

"I'm around two feet tall and I hate it. You don't need to rub it in."

"Okay, I get it. You always did hate how short you were. Getting even shorter must be rubbing salt in the wound."

"I'm gonna change topics now. How'd the interview go? The reporters weren't too pushy, were they?"

"They tried to be, but I ended the interview once they started to annoy me. You'll hear all these horror stories about the media, but you never know the true extent of it until you've experienced it yourself."

"Well, it's over now. With any luck they'll take the story and leave you be after."

"Don't jynx it. Look bud, I'm sorry I can't talk longer, but I've had a long day and I gotta get up early tomorrow for work."

"Don't worry, I'm going to bed soon anyways."

"Yeah, I guess this would be pretty mentally taxing on you huh?"

"What? No, I'm just going to bed early because I'm gonna be bored without being able to play video games."

Galen's dad let out a chuckle at that. "Well, I'll talk to you another time bud. Be sure to call us every day. We need to make sure you're safe, given we have no idea where the hell you are or what it's like. You know how much your mother worries. Have fun being a tiny horse!"

Galen sighed irritably. "Goodnight dad."

After getting off the call with his dad, Galen just lied on his bed for a while, staring up at the ceiling.

"Sigh. I told myself I wouldn't do this, but it's hard not to think about everything that's going on. I need to find a distraction before I start questioning the validity of my own existence or something."

As if fate itself decided to grant his request, a text message dinged on Galen's phone. He picked it up to read it.

"Ah, shit." It was from Jason, his best friend. "Hey man, are you still alive? I heard about what happened on the news."

Galen sighed. "I'm probably gonna be getting a lot of texts like this soon." He started to voice a reply.

"Yeah man, I'm still kicking. I'll call you in a couple days to let you know what's going on, but I want to spend a bit more time figuring some things out first."

After a moment, he got a thumbs up emoji followed by a 'thank GOD'. After waiting around a little longer to see if anyone else would text him, he shut off his light and got under the covers, falling to sleep.



Galen opened his eyes to find himself in a black void. 

"What... the fuck?"

He began to stand up, only to realize he was back in his human body. 

"...reality needs to quit fucking with me man. What the hell is even real anymore?!"

Suddenly, a voice called out from behind him that caused him to jump, startled.

"Be at ease. You are merely dreaming; this is not the plane of reality."

Galen turned around to see a dark blue mare with wings and a horn staring up at him. She was a bit larger than an average pony, but still only reached up to about the middle of his torso as a human. 

"Uh, okay? Who are you?"

The mare appeared to look a tad offended before she seemed to realize something. "Of course. It is understandable that you would not know of us. We art Princess Luna. Ruler of the night and Guardian of dreams."

"Huh. That's interesting. I was told that you and your sister were going to be visiting me in a couple days. Are you communicating with me via a dream, or am I just imagining this?"

"We can assure you that we are very much real. We have entered your dreamscape to introduce ourself. It was quite difficult to dispel the chaotic dreams that your mind conjures. We have never seen anything like it."

Galen quirked an eyebrow. "Okay, cool. What's up with the 'we' talk anyway? I've heard of first-person speech, but not that."

Luna flinched in embarrassment for a moment. "We-I apologize. I am still having difficulties adjusting to modern times. I am afraid that I still slip into the olden royal tongue at times."

"Adjusting? What'dya mean by that?"

"W-I assumed young Twilight had told you my story. Do you not know of my imprisonment on the moon?"

"Your what? I swear, this world keeps getting weirder and weirder."

"I see. I do not feel comfortable talking about it, but I suppose you have a right to know of my dark past. Over a millennium ago, I became jealous of my sister for getting more attention and adoration than I. This jealousy took the form of a dark persona known as Nightmare Moon. I lost myself to my rage and spite and declared that I would make the night everlasting. My sister was forced to banish me to the moon to maintain harmony. After 1000 years, I escaped and resumed my goal of everlasting night. It was then that the elements of harmony, the magical artifacts that my sister used to banish me originally Chose young Twilight and her friends to be the new bearers. Using the power of the elements, they banished Nightmare Moon from my mind."

Galen blinked in shock. "Jesus, that's... a bit of a crazy story."

Luna hung her head shamefully. "I do not enjoy talking about my past. The wounds are still fresh, and it sorrows me to remember the pain I put my dear sister and out subjects through. It is understandable if you fear me after hearing about my evil acts."

Galen rolled his eyes. "What I meant was that seems like a story you'd read in a work of fiction. Honestly as long as you regret what you did, I could care less. I wasn't around to witness any of that. And really, if you want to know what an 'evil act' really is, I can tell you about World War II."

Luna raised her head. "Wh-what? You truly do not hold ou-my actions against me?"

"Like I said, I wasn't around to see it firsthand, so I really don't have a right to. But if you want, I could try to get to know you as you are now. You seem like you need some friends."

Luna gave a relieved smile. "Thank you, Galen. Are all 'humans' as understanding as you?"

Galen gave a full belly laugh at that. "Oh HELL no. Most of them will judge you based on one sentence taken out of context. I'm at least willing to hear someone out though."

Luna chuckled. "Then Equestria is lucky to have one that is so accepting. I must say, humans are quite tall. You are even taller than my sister."

"Huh? Oh yeah, I forgot I have my actual human body here. The average height for a human male, at least in my country, is 5'9."

Luna looked Galen up and down and smirked. "So, you are short."

"Oh, fuck off."

Luna laughed. "We-I must say, it is odd to hear a creature be speaking the vulgar words in this modern day. It is rather amusing; however, I cannot say my sister will approve."

"Well, she'll have to deal with it. Royalty or no, I'm not going to be forced to censor myself."

Luna sat down with a smile. "I do believe I will like you. There is still quite some time before you will awaken. Perhaps you could tell me about yourself?"

Galen smirked. "My name is Galen Munson. I'm 17 years old. I used to live in New York State within the country of the United States of America. I attended my local high school every day of the week, and I got home every day by-"