Twilight's castle was the closest dry place to the train station. As such, it was only logical that everyone rushed inside the second twilight unlocked the door. Everyone except for Johan that is, who slowly walked inside last, still seething after his conversation with Starswirl. The deer barely paid any mind to anyone else as he walked to the map room and sat down inside, fully expecting to have to give his room up for the night, and so wanted to sit down in one of the (horribly uncomfortable) crystal chairs for the night.
He was surprised when he saw everyone else pile inside as well. Even more so when Twilight's horn ignited and a bunch of pillows, blankets, and sleeping bags levitated into the room.
"It looks like the rain isn't going to stop for a while everypony," she said, unexpectedly excited. She quickly set all of the sleeping stuff into a pile on top of the map. "And you know what that means!"
"Slumber party!" The main 6 all cried out at once, throwing their arms up into the air with a cheer.
Johan very visibly cringed at that, while Derek merely looked confused. That confusion quickly transformed into a look of excitement.
"Really? How old are you guys?" Johan hissed, rubbing his ears as he did.
"28." Pinkie Pie cried out with a goofy small, "Fluttershy is 29, though, so she's basically an old mare."
The mare in question scowled.
Johan only sighed and quickly turned around and started walking towards his room.
"I've been to enough girl's sleepovers to know that I don't want to stick around," Johan said, deadpan. "You guys have fun."
"I'm with you there Johan," Spike said frowning deeply. He was quick to follow after the deer. "C'mon let's go read some comics or something."
Johan nodded as the two disappeared around a corner, leaving Derek alone with all of the mares. The alicorn blinked twice. First, he looked to the door, then to the mares surrounding him. He was silent for a second before he blushed and smiled. He had never been to one of these before... especially one with girls... or mares in this case.
"So uh... what do you do at one of these slumber parties?" he asked, rubbing the back of his head as a blush came to his face.
Johan sighed as he read through another chapter of one of Spike's comics. This one was original to Equestria and didn't strike him as some sort of pony parody of work from Earth. The Power Ponies, it was called. It honestly struck him as kinda unoriginal, but hey, he wasn't gonna knock Spike's favorite work. Especially considering it was apparently the number one work in Equestria.
Still, he did have some concerns he couldn't help but voice.
"So, Humdrum gets better right?" Johan said aloud as he turned his gaze from the comic to spike, who was sitting on the buck's back, likewise caught up in a book of his own. "Cause honestly he just seems annoying right now. I mean... how many times can a guy get kidnapped, enslaved, or mind-controlled before you just throw your hands up and fire him?"
Spike nodded back at him. "I mean... Sorta," he responded. "He has a few moments here and there but to be honest I didn't think he was cool until the last issue... That was a weird night."
Johan blinked twice in response. "Why, what happens in the last issue?"
"You'll find out when you get there," Spike said with a chuckle. "If you keep reading of course."
Johan nodded slightly before turning his gaze back to the comic. Just then he felt a skull-splitting headache pierce through his head. He grunted in pain, grabbing the sides of his head and headbutting the comic. He almost started whimpering, then it went away.
"W-what the heck was that..." He groaned. He sighed and opened his eyes. Then they widened in shock.
He wasn't in Spike's room anymore, he was standing on top of a mountain in the middle of a roaring storm. Lightning and rain surrounded him on all sides. It was silent for a second before the wind and thunder roared to life all at once. He grunted as the wind sent him to the ground.
A set of hooves stepped in front of him seemingly out of nowhere. His breathing became heavy as he looked up to see who they belonged to.
It was Johan... except at the same time it wasn't. The deer was wearing a blue and black overcoat with silver buttons, a dark grey dress shirt, and a silver circlet, with two glowing blue eyes. Streaks of white fur ran in lines across his face. Lightning danced between his horns like a tesla coil as he glared down at Johan with half-closed eyes.
"I am tired of waiting for you to figure this out on your own, boy." The deer said in the same rich accent he heard when in front of the mirror. "As such, I will be taking over for the time being."
Johan grunted, slowly trying to pull himself up as the other deer started walking away from him. "W-who are you?"
All the other deer did was throw him a glance over his shoulder before there was a crack of thunder and he disappeared with a flash, leaving the Johan completely alone, only the roaring wind for company.
Johan shot up, standing and straightening his back in a second. Spike was caught off guard, falling off and hitting the ground rather hard. He quickly turned his gaze to the deer.
"Woah, Johan," Spike groaned, pulling himself up and glaring at the deer. "A little warning next time you get up like that."
Johan paid him no mind and instantly turned to walk to the door. Spike's eyes followed him for a second before he noticed that Johan's own were glowing. His frown instantly disappeared. There was something wrong. The drake sprung to his feet, quickly following after Johan as he pushed open the door and stepped into the hallway. He looked left, then right, then started marching down the hall towards the map room.
"Hey, slow down!" Spike called after him as he followed the Deer. "Don't just run off, is something wrong?"
Johan continued to ignore him, only focusing on the hallway ahead of him. Spike saw small flashes of electricity dance between the branches of the deer's antlers. They were weak and short-lived, but they were noticeable.
Eventually, the deer made it to the map room, all while ignoring the dragon desperately following after him. Sitting around the table, all of the mares and Derek were currently in the middle of a game of truth or dare. The game ended the second Johan slammed open the door to the room.
All eyes were suddenly on the glowing-eyed deer. The deer stared at them for a second, particularly Derek as lightning continued to lance between his antlers, then he turned towards the front door.
"Johan? Where are you going?" Twilight asked, but like Spike before, she got no response. Said dragon shortly rushed in, looking desperately at the elements and co.
"Something's wrong with Johan!" Spike said as the howling of wind became apparent. The deer in question had just slammed open the front door and stepped into the rain.
"Yeah... we noticed..." Trixie said with a grimace.
"C'mon! We have to stop him!" Derek cried, rapidly sitting up and rushing out the door, the others following.
The deer came to a stop in the empty field in front of Twilight's castle. He paid little mind to the rain hammering against his fur. He let in a deep inhale, and looked up into the sky, feeling the rain land on his face... he hadn't felt this in so, so long. A distant howl above caught his attention, his gaze snapping to a flying shape rapidly coming towards him. A weak smile came to his face as it landed in front of him, prancing happily.
A winged caucasian shepherd dog. Aralez. His smile grew for a second as he reached a hoof out, gently placing it on the dog's head. "What are you doing this far from home, boy?" the deer laughed dryly as he scratched behind the wolf's ears, who whined slightly.
"Johan! Come back inside, it's dangerous out here!" He heard from behind him. He quickly turned his head to see Derek, Twilight, and the others rushing towards him. He let out a small snarl, a glare coming to his glowing eyes.
Then there was a crack of thunder and a flash. The last thing he saw and heard was everyone scream in horror as he felt a bolt of lightning strike him on the crown of his head. Then it all went dark, and he was back on the mountain... alone.