A tunnel of red and yellow light swirled and spun around Skitch as she found herself being tossed around the confines of her own mind. She moved through the tunnel for what felt like a few minutes, before she slammed into a hard wooden floor. Groaning, she got back to her hooves and took stock of where she landed.
A quick glance around revealed the warm and inviting interior of the Golden Oak's Library. She was standing before one of the book stands that dotted the bottom floor, a book of spells opened to an astral projection spell.
Spike's voice floated to her ears as he came walking back in from the kitchen, a bowl of soup in his claws.
“All right Skitch. A quick lunch to charge you up and then it's back to practicing spells.”
“Spike? What are you doing? Where's Twilight?”
“She's out getting supplies.”
“Why?”
“Because, she's your assistant. Duh.”
Skitch's expression twisted into a frown.
“Yes. I'm sure that Twilight, one of the greatest unicorn spell-casters of this generation, is the assistant of somepony who's an illusionist on her best day, and who's loosing her cutie-mark.”
“What are you talking about? You're not loosing your cutie-mark.”
Skitch frowned, twisting to look at her side. Her jaw dropped when she saw Twilight Sparkle's cutie-mark on her flank. Before she could finish wrapping her mind around that, the door to the library swung open and Twilight came trotting back in with full saddlebags; Skitch couldn't help but notice that her old cutie-mark was now on Twilight's flank.
“I got the supplies you needed Skitch! Nothing but the best for Celestia's prized student.”
“Let me guess...I'm the bearer of the element of magic too?” Skitch winced.
“Of course!” They both replied.
Skitch bit her lip, eyes darting back and forth from Twilight to Spike and back again. “I'm going for a walk.”
“But the spells!” Spike shouted after her.
“And you were going to teach me illusions!”
“Later!”
She moved through the streets of Ponyville, trying to ignore all of the overly enthusiastic greetings that were being thrown her way.
“Hey Skitch! Are you going to help me make that new batch of candy? Your ideas for flavors are amazing!”
“Skitch, when are you going to help me cut those new gems?”
“Skitch, are you going to help me bring in the carrot harvest?”
Skitch ground her teeth as she picked up the pace, moving more into a full run as she tried to drown out all of the requests.
“Skitch!-”
“Skitch!-”
“Skitch!-”
Breaking into a full gallop at this point, Skitch slalomed between ponies, ignoring all of their shouts and calls as she just made for the outskirts of the town. Only when she was far enough away that she couldn't hear the voices calling after her anymore did she stop.
Sighing she trotted over to a tree and sat down under its leafy branches, grateful for the silence again.
“All right. Trapped in my own subconscious. What's your game Discord?”
A rainbow flash of light shot by almost as a form of response.
“Skitch!”
“...Damn it.”
Rainbow Dash dropped from the sky, landing before her with a large grin on her face.
“...What is it Dash?”
Skitch was already dreading the response as Rainbow took a few steps closer, fluttering her eyes at her in a very non-Rainbow Dash manner.
“Well, Skitch...I have a reeealllyyy important question for you.”
“Yes?”
Dash buried her head into Skitch's neck, giving her a very...affectionate nuzzle. Skitch froze not expecting this kind of intimate contact from the rainbow maned pony.
“Will you be my very special somepony?”
Skitch blinked, trying to ignore the feel of Rainbow's breath on her neck, and the way she kept pressing her body close to her own. It would almost be funny, if it weren't so creepy to see Rainbow acting so lovey dovey.
“Rainbow...”
“Yes?” She muttered as she began to nibble Skitch's left ear.
Skitch shuddered, her tail swishing in annoyance.“...First of all, stop doing that. Second of all, I can't be your very special some pony.”
“What? Why!”
“Cause I don't like mares. I'm straight. I like stallions.”
A gross simplification, admittedly, but Skitch had no desire to go into a deeper explanation for a mental construct. But, much to Skitch's aggravation, Rainbow perked right up at that revelation.
“Oh, is that it?” She grinned. “Make me a stallion then! You're Celestia's prize student, that should be easy!”
Skitch got to her hooves and began to resolutely walk away, ears slicked back in annoyance.
“I'm not having this conversation with you Dash.”
She hadn't gotten more than three steps away before she felt Dash tackle her, knocking her to the ground before she was flipped into her back. Skitch found herself staring up into Rainbows wide and wild eyes.
“But, we're meant to be together! I knew it was true love when I first set eyes upon you my snuggy-wuggy huggy bear!”
Skitch gagged. Lines like that should not come out of the mouth of Rainbow Dash.
“We've known each other for a month! Come on Dash, this isn't you! You don't talk like this.”
“That's 'cause I've never had a shmoopy-doopy love dove like you!”
“Rainbow, get OFF!”
Rainbow Dash sighed and stepped back, letting Skitch get back to her hooves. Shaking her head she took in the fact that Rainbow Dash was now pouting.
“Don't you like me?”
“Well, we're friends I guess...”
“You guess?!”
“Look, Rainbow if you should be with any mare, it should be with Fluttershy. You two are childhood friends. You barely know me at all.”
Rainbow frowned, taking to the air. “Fine, be that way!”
She flew off over the horizon, leaving Skitch alone under the tree.
“She'll get over it.” She sighed to herself, before blinking. “Wait, this is just part of my mind, she's not even real.”
“Really now?” Came Discord's mocking voice as he appeared on one of the branches of the tree. “That's a strong statement for you to make, considering how your own definition of the word “real” has changed recently. Who's to say that this dream isn't just as real to them, as the waking world is to you now?”
“Because you're the one controlling it, Discord. This is your game.”
The draconequus stared at her for a moment before breaking into a howling fit of laughter, falling off the tree branch in the process.
“You think this is *my* game?” He grinned, summoning a bag of popcorn with a claw snap. “My dear little pony...I'm just here for the show!”
“Well, if you're not controlling this, then who is?”
Discord clicked his tongue. “This is your head. Desires and dreams, fears and anxieties. All are laid bare here.”
“I don't want Rainbow Dash to completely change who she is for me! That's asinine!”
Discord's smile grew wider. “I agree.”
A breeze blew through the tree branches, whipping her mane into her eyes for a moment. The breeze faded a moment later, leaving Skitch in a topsy-turvy take of Ponyville. Soap ribbons for streets and a lurid checker board pattern for grass assaulted her eyes as Discord sat on his throne.
“And that's why the show must go on!”
“Ah'll right Skitch! Let's show him how it's done!”
She glanced around, seeing the rest of the element bearers stepping forward, including a very male looking Rainbow Dash; he blew a kiss Skitch's way as he took up his position next to her. Skitch felt her brow suddenly grow heavy, as the element of magic took it's place.
“I'm ready to be defeated!” Discord grinned, motioning to his chest as a large target appeared. “You may fire when ready!”
Skitch frowned, glaring back up at Discord.
“Why should I? Maybe I don't want to follow the script.”
A shocked gasp rippled through the other ponies.
“Skitch?” Rarity gaped. “What are you talking about! We can't leave this brute causing chaos in Equestria!”
“Oh, yes.” Discord grinned. “I'll cause such havoc! Best to stop me now!”
Skitch sighed as she began to feel the magic of the elements of harmony warm up, the rainbow of energy leaping from their collected forms towards Discord. With a bright flash Discord was stone and Ponyville was back to normal.
The other element bearers began to cheer Rainbow Dash throwing his forelegs around Skitch in a tight hug, a deep frown returning to her features.
- - - -
“There they are.”
Twilight and her friends were squeezed together by the double doors that lead into the empty remains of the castle where they had first found the Elements of Harmony. The cockatrice had dragged Skitch's frozen form in front of dais that had once contained the stone forms of the elements of harmony.
Both of the cockatrice were coiled up and sleeping at her hooves. Rainbow Dash sighed as she rolled her eyes.
“I thought that Zecora said that they'd be out hunting. Did they decide to sleep in or something?”
“Yer the only one who can sleep in when she wants to RD?” Applejack smirked.
“Well, let's go in there and kick their tails! We can't be petrified right now.”
All of their eyes currently had a soft yellow glow from Zecora's enchanted eye drops. Twilight and Fluttershy couldn't tear their eyes away from the rather large claws on the cockatrice rooster, however.
“Those claws could really hurt us.” Fluttershy muttered. “We need to be careful.”
Twilight grinned, an idea beginning to formulate in her mind.
“Hey Dash. Want to get your morning exercise in?”
Rainbow Dash grinned even wider.
- - - -
Skitch staggered as another strong breeze washed over her, leaving her stumbling as she looked around, trying to work out where she was now. The floor was covered in soft and glowing light, motes of said light floating into the air all around her. Groaning, she looked around, the horrific possibilities running through her head.
“Oh, what fresh hell is this?”
“Congradulations Skitch-Sketch, I knew you could do it.”
Skitch glanced at the voice, unsurprised to see Celestia as the nature of the scene began to become familiar to her. The apotheosis scene.
“You did something today that's never been done before. Something that even a great unicorn like Star Swirl the Bearded couldn't do.”
“What? Screw everything up then wind up a very expressive lawn decoration?”
“...I get the feeling you aren't taking this seriously. You've learned so much though! You understand friendship better than anypony!”
“...Well, that's a damn lie.”
Celestia's expression grew dark.
“Is this because you and Rainbow Dash have been having relationship problems?”
Skitch groaned.
“No, no, NO! This is wrong!” She motioned to her flank. “This is Twilight's cutie-mark, this should be Twilight's journey to become an alicorn, and Rainbow Dash should not be a stallion!”
Celestia flicked her wings.
“Skitch-Sketch. I chose you for this honor for a reason. This is your destiny!”
“No!” She shouted as she was engulfed in more light.
The next moment she was back in the Golden Oaks Library, a blue coated stallion waiting for her.
“Ah ha! I knew you'd show up here! Check out those wings of yours!” He pressed himself up against her. “So, want to go for your first fly together? We can catch up with the others later and maybe have some private time?”
“Dash, no.”
“Come on!”
“NO!” Skitch snapped back. “This isn't right! We aren't supposed to be together, you aren't supposed to be a stallion, and I'm not supposed to be an alicorn! NONE OF THIS IS REAL!”
Rainbow Dash took a staggering step backwards as his expression became ashen.
“I'm not real? Your friends aren't real? Skitch, what are you talking about?”
“This is all some kind of twisted and warped dreamscape! So, yes! You aren't real!”
Rainbow Dash took a shuddering breath, shaking his head.
“You sound like The Collector. Skitch...I don't know what's wrong with you right now. But, until you figure it out, I don't think we should see each other.”
He pushed past Skitch, storming out the door and leaving her alone. Until the sound of Discord's mocking laugh cut through the room again.
“I couldn't have done a better job myself! I could practically see the moment right where his heart broke.”
“Die. In. A. Fire.”
“Hmm. Sorry. They tried that once already.”
Skitch winced as the wind began to blow again.
- - - -
Rainbow Dash crept forward, one hoof slowly in front of the other as she closed in on the pair of cockatrice. Her tail swished back and forth in anticipation, she paused as she reached them, glancing back at where the rest of her friends were waiting.
Twilight gave a nod of approval. Dash grinned as she pulled back a hoof and smacked the pair of cockatrice across their beaks.
Awakening with an angry squawk the cockatrice jumped to their clawed feet, glaring right at Rainbow only to find their gaze ineffective. Rainbow laughed, sticking her tongue out shaking her head left and right.
“BOOGA! BOOGA! BOOGA! Come and get me suckers!”
She spun in place, whipping her tail across the cockatrice's faces before galloping back out the door. Thoroughly enraged, the pair of cockatrice gave chase, rushing after the Rainbow maned pegasus.
Once the coast was clear, the rest of the group quickly ran into the room, Spike bringing up the back.
“All right.” Twilight nodded as she grabbed Skitch's form with her magic. “Let's grab her and get out of here before those cockatrice come back!”
Rarity added her own telekinesis to the mix, Skitch's statue slowly rising into the air.
“Ah'll right. Spike, ya got your dragon scales and claws, so you're in the front with me. Fluttershy on the right, Pinkie on the left. Let's move em out!”
They rushed out the doors, petrified pony floating along with them.
- - - -
The twin beams of clashing magic exploded with horrendous force, blasting the stain glass windows of the palace out in a hail of razor sharp shards. Skitch stumbled backwards, her horn still glowing with the after effects of the spell she had unleashed.
Skitch was now a tall and regal looking alicorn, essentially a deep green colored version of Celestia, her wavy mane and tail almost looking like they were made of paint.
On the other side of the throne room, an angry Celestia now sported a mane and tail combo that looked forged from flame. She glared at Skitch, a mixture of rage, jealously and sadness etched on her features.
“You dare to usurp me as the rightful ruler of Equestria? You dare to call me some figment of your mind?! I am eternal, I am the sun!”
She threw herself at Skitch again, hooves wreathed in flames. Skitch back peddled throwing spells both offensive and defensive that came naturally in this warped dreamscape. While she had no real desire to fight Celestia, she also had no desire to find out if it was possible to die in a Discord powered dream.
So she decided to play the part instead. She lashed out with her now ferocious alicorn power, grabbing Celestia in a magical aura.
“I'm sorry Celestia, but you need a timeout.”
With a mental flick she sent Celestia shooting through the roof in a pillar of light. The deed was done. Skitch looked around, sighing.
“Great. Now what.”
She sighed as she walked back across the throne room and sat back down in Celestia's...no, her throne. She slumped in the seat, idly beginning to clean up the throne room with her magic. It was something to do after all.
“Well, I have to admit, I was expecting a little more rage there Skitchy.”
Glancing up at the ceiling, Skitch could see that Discord was hanging from it. His expression was almost disappointed. Skitch shrugged.
“That's because these scenarios are ludicrous. This is some kind of warped combination of the worst aspects of human in Equestria stuff and Mary Sue character writing. This is kind of below your usual calibre.”
“Oh, completely. Far too blunt and somewhat meta for my taste. This is all pulled from your head.”
“I do not think that this stuff will happen!”
“Fear and guilt are not always rational and you know it, Skitchy.”
Skitch sighed, slumping in the throne.
“You can't be getting that much entertainment value from me. What are you really doing kicking around in my head?”
“Fine, I suppose I can't keep the truth from you!” Discord said as he melodramatically clapped a hand across his chest like he was affronted by the question.
With a flick of his wrist he produced three scripts from void. “Like I said. I'm just here for the show!”
Skitch frowned as her eyes ran across the names on the covers. The Return of Harmony Parts 1 and 2, and Keep Calm and Flutter On. She felt her stomach drop out.
- - - -
Rainbow Dash dropped back below the tree line, banking between the trunks as she moved to catch back up with her friends. It hadn't taken her that long to find them once she had opened up her speed. She swooshed over their heads, landing neatly next to Applejack and falling into a gallop along side her.
“Ya give those cockatrice a proper wild goose chase RD?”
“Sure did! Those overgrown chickens never had a chance to catch up with me!”
“All right then! We just gotta make it through the rest of the Everfree and we're home free! We should be coming up on the river soon.” She glanced back at Twilight and Rarity. “How you girl's holding up?”
Rarity and Twilight were both panting, their barrels heaving from the strain of the gallop and floating a pony sized statue along for the ride. Rarity nodded all the same.
“W-well be okay Applejack. Just need to press on!”
“Uh oh...” Rainbow muttered. “They found us again.”
Swinging her head back around, Applejack could see the two cockatrice blocking the path to the river. With their wings spread wide and challenging, as they hissed and thrashed their tails.
Applejack exchanged glances with Rainbow Dash and Spike before nodding. Slowing down ever so slightly, she let Spike hop onto her back before picking up the pace again, breaking into the clearing that lined both sides of the river.
“Applejack?” Fluttershy gasped. “W-what are you doing?”
“We're gonna make a hole! Don't slow down at all!”
They drew closer, the cockatrice still not moving as they prepared to clash with the oncoming ponies. Applejack mentally judged the distance between them as it became less and less, working the timing out in her head.
When they were within a foot of the two creatures, Applejack shouted to Spike.
“Spike! Light em up!”
Spike leaned to the right, taking a deep breath and spitting a gout of fire right into the faces of the cockatrice. The pair reeled, trying to get away from the emerald green flames and in their confusion, Applejack and Rainbow Dash struck with a pair of headbutts.
The cockatrice were sent sprawling from the force of the blows, but scrabbled back to their clawed feet. The rooster lashed out with his tail, scooping up a glob of mud and hurling it at the group.
It caught Rarity across the face, splattering in her eyes.
“GAH!” She yelped, letting go of her side of Skitch as she rushed to the water's edge and dunked her head into the water to get the mud out of her eyes.
Straightening back up she sighed in relief, turning her head back towards her friends. As she looked, the cockatrice rooster's eyes lit up as it unleashed it's stare. Rarity didn't have time to react as she petrified in an instant.
“Rarity!” Spike shouted.
The friends exchanged worried glances as both cockatrice scooped up more mud.
- - - -
“Put those back.” Skitch growled, putting on a brave face as she puffed up her chest and flared her wings.
“No...I don't think I will.”
“Discord!”
“Oh, please.” The draconequus grinned. “What, exactly are you going to do?”
“I'll stop you! I'll find a way and I will stop you!”
Discord blinked a few times before breaking into howling laughter.
“YOU? Ha! Please. You're not an element bearer, you're not even a particularly talented magic user. Your actions since returning to this world have been like you're equal parts Batman, and Captain Kirk, when in reality you're equal parts The Tick and Zapp Brannigan. At best, you're a sacrificial lamb, at worst you're everything that those nightmares showed.”
Skitch gaped as her bluff faltered, wings faltering.
“Glad we understand each other Skitchy.” He grinned, giving another snap of his clawed fingers.
The world shifted around Skitch again and she found herself in a well appointed bedroom, that she had a hunch used to belong to Celestia. It had now been redecorated into more of a combination art studio and bedroom. Almost like the house that was now in jeopardy.
The door to the room opened, and she glanced to see Luna trotting in.
“What is it, Luna?”
“I just wished to see if you're all right. This is the first anniversary since you were forced to banish Celestia. I was just...concerned.
“Stop it.”
Luna blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Did I stutter? I said to stop it. To drop the concern! I banished your sister!”
“You did what you had to do.”
“NO I DIDN'T! Nothing I've been doing is what I've had to do! HATE ME! At least be ANGRY with me, I banished your sister! Ponies have re-arranged their lives for me, and everyone just smiles and treats me like I'm Celestia reincarnated!”
“Skitch...I...”
“JUST GET OUT!”
Luna turned, the door closing behind her as Skitch threw herself down on the bed.
- - - -
“Look out Rainbow Dash!”
The pegasus twisted just in time to avoid another glop of thrown mud. The cockatrice still seemed to be dead set on getting their now two petrified prizes away from the rest of the ponies, and possibly make more.
They were still using mud to try and strip away Zecora's protection, using their flexible tails to throw it. Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Spike were doing some fancy hoof work to avoid getting hit the mud. Fluttershy, Twilight and Pinkie were staying near their petrified friends trying to keep protect them if need be.
Switching tactics, the two cockatrice launched a volley of mud at Twilight, who wasn't able to move quite fast enough to avoid getting hit. She froze, unwilling to make the same mistake that Rarity had.
“Time to put you over sized chickens down.” Rainbow growled, giving her wings a beat as she threw herself at the cockatrice rooster. Wrapping her arms around it's mid section, she gave her wings another pump and soared above the river. It lashed out with it's legs, it's claws slicing down her legs.
Wincing against the pain, she whipped into a spin, pitching the cockatrice like a hammer throw. It flared it's wings, trying to hold itself steady, as Rainbow swooped after it. Rainbow slammed both of her fore-hooves into the monster's stomach. The cockatrice pitched head over tail hitting the water with a mighty splash.
“Ha! Still the best!”
While Rainbow Dash had been grappling with the rooster, Applejack and the other cockatrice circled each other. It darted in trying to peck at Applejack's eyes. Applejack stayed nimble on her hooves, dodging the strikes before spinning around and delivering a solid buck to the creature's midsection.
Landing in the mud beak first, the cockatrice hen looked up as a butter yellow hoof stepped into view.
“Oh...umm...I'm sorry, but,” She gazed right into the hen's eyes once again using her trademark stare, “You turn my friends back to normal right now, turn those critters back and then never show your faces in this forest again or I'll sic a manticore on you!”
The rooster squawked stumbling backwards before running over to Rarity wrapping it's tail around her leg, the petrification fading as it ran over to Skitch and repeated the process. Then it turned tail and ran off into the forest like a pack of timber wolves was on its tail.
“-uck.” Skitch said as the remains of the curse she started yesterday finally left her lips.
With her muscles able to move again, Skitch's last movement from when she was petrified kicked in and she stumbled backwards tumbling end over end, hitting the ground with an undignified thud.
“Just make it stop...”
“Skitchy!” Pinkie beamed as she pulled both Skitch and Rarity into a hug. “Now neither of my friends are statues!”
“Pinkie...who...wha?” Skitch blinked, turning her head to look at the pink colored mare.
Her eyes locked onto Pinkie's. Pinkie's glowing yellow eyes. She stammered, even as Pinkie grinned all the wider.
“DISCORD!”
She pushed away from Pinkie with an all mighty shove of her legs, skidding along the ground briefly coming to a stop about a foot away. Her eyes were wide and wild, her horn glowing bright.
“Stay away! I don't know what you're planning this time, but you're not gonna turn me into an alicorn or something else!”
“Uhh...Skitch? What in Equestria are you talking about?” Spike asked.
“Like you don't know!”
Applejack sighed, rubbing her forehead. “The middle of the Everfree ain't the place ta have this conversation. I'll ask for yer forgiveness on this later, Skitch.”
Applejack calmly walked up to Skitch, swinging a hoof right into the side of her head. Skitch crumbled to the ground, Applejack flipping the unconscious unicorn up onto her own back.
“She's a little heavier than she looks.” She grunted.
Rainbow landed neatly next to Applejack.
“What the hay was that AJ?”
“Better than her havin a full blown panic attack. Let's get her back ta Fluttershy's. We can hash out our final talk with her then.”
Twilight looked up from where she had washed the mud out of her eyes.
“Rainbow, how about you two fly ahead and get your and Fluttershy's parents. We should clear the air.”
Rainbow nodded, flying into the air again. “On it!”
As she flew off, the rest of them headed back towards Fluttershy's, Skitch now snoring softly from her position on Applejack's back.
- - - -
Skitch felt herself beginning to return to consciousness, a throbbing pain radiating from the spot on the side of her head where Applejack's punch had impacted. Said pain spoke to the fact that she had been quite unable to tell the actual world from another one of Discord's dreamscapes, embarrassingly enough.
“Ow! Fluttershy, they're fine!”
“They are not fine! If you don't let me clean them they could get infected.”
Opening one eye, she turned her head slightly to the right, taking in the sight of Fluttershy playing the role of doctor as she dabbed an alcohol soaked cotton swab at a series of scratches along Rainbow's legs. Rainbow winced at each dab, squirming at the stinging sensations of alcohol on open wounds.
Pinkie seemed to be playing checkers with Rarity, while Applejack and Spike were playing cards, scattered about the floor. Firefly and Posey were sitting on one of the other couches with Twilight all of them reading different books.
Swinging her gaze back towards herself, Skitch could see that she was on Fluttershy's other couch, a blanket pulled around her, pillow under her head. Groaning, she sat up letting the blanket fall to the floor as the room's other occupants looked her direction.
“Good ta see ya up again Skitch.” Applejack grinned nervously. “Sorry about punchin ya in the head there, but you were actin a bit out of it.”
“No apologies needed Applejack.” Skitch muttered, rubbing at the sore spot “I probably deserved it.”
“Skitch, what were you even doing out there darling?” Rarity asked, her voice cutting sharply across the room, a mix of concern and exasperation.
Skitch frowned, sighing. “I was going to talk to Zecora. She's wise. I thought that I could use a different perspective on things. And then I ran into the cockatrice and the next thing I knew I was coming to again in the castle where you found the elements.”
“Wait,” Twilight interrupted, “You were conscious? That's not supposed to happen!”
“I guess it's because I stepped into some poison joke before I got petrified?” Skitch shrugged. “That's the best guess I got.”
The room got quiet for a moment as Skitch coughed and pushed ahead. “I can't believe you came for me though, after what I did...”
“Look, Skitch.” Applejack sighed. “I ain't happy, with what ya did, but do ya honestly think that we'd just leave ya, or any other pony in the middle of the Everfree?”
Skitch bit her lip, running over the memories of the events of the show in her head before finally answering.
“No...you wouldn't. You're not that kind of ponies. You went into the Everfree on the chance that you might be able to stop Nightmare Moon.”
“And yet you had plans on how to hurt and kill them if need be.” Posey growled.
Twilight held up a hoof, cutting off any further comments from Posey. She addressed Skitch in a calm tone of voice.
“Skitch. It's only fair to let you know that we saw the recording on your media center. We saw the...well, what I can only call meltdown. So...can you please tell us what actually happened once you left?”
Skitch sighed, as she moved into a sitting position that was familiar to her, and alien to the other ponies in the room; hind legs hanging over the edge of the couch, fore legs hanging at her sides. She squeezed her eyes shut, taking a deep breath.
“Okay.”
Opening her eyes again, she began to tell her story.
“So, when I first set out, I was following through with the intention to return all of the stuff that The Collector stole. I began with trying to get that staff returned...I had a rough idea of what handful of universes it could have been from so I started with the first one on the list, Oerth.”
She chuckled, slightly embarrassed.
“The owner of the staff- a mage by the name of Tenser- found me about ten seconds after landing. Thought I was the one who took it so he hit me with a hold spell and down I went.”
Rainbow raised an eyebrow as Fluttershy applied some bandages to her scratches.. “Is this a thing with you Skitch? Getting petrified and paralyzed?”
“Hey, he was perfectly reasonable once I was able to explain what happened. He even made my magic saddlebags, in exchange for returning his staff. Gotta admit though, The Collector had some serious guts stealing from an archmage.”
Twilight nodded, and motioned for her to continue.
“So, what happened after that news?”
“Well, I took the rest of the stuff back easily enough. Rather surprised that went as well as it did, really. Then it was the matter of finding a way home. I was optimistic. Yeah, I was stuck as a pony for a few years, but my magic was still working in universes that normally didn't have magic. I thought that I'd be able to handle it.”
She sighed deeply.
“And that's where it all began to go wrong. The device had the coordinates for my old reality still saved in it's memory banks, so I'd open up the portal and step through and then bounce right back out like I had hit a trampoline.”
“Oh my...what did you do then?”
Skitch shrugged. “Not to many other options than to keep trying. But each time it was the same result. So then, I decided to try and find help. I went back to all of the places I had been before, seeing if the archmages, top secret groups and scientists could help.”
“Ah'm guessin because yer back here that didn't go so well?”
“Nope! Whatever gap existed in the inter-dimensional barrier...thing, that kept my universe away from all the other universes, it's gone now. And either none of them could punch their way through, or they weren't willing, or they demanded too high of a price for a dubious chance of success.”
She sighed again, rolling her eyes towards the ceiling.
“That recording you saw was after my last ditch attempt. Something had just kind of...snapped, in me. And hence, the meltdown. And without any other real options, I came back here. At least I had *something* here.”
“So,” Firefly interjected, “Why the files?”
Skitch idly tapped a hoof on the arm rest of the couch.
“I had to justify my existence here.”
That statement lead to a collection of confused stares from the assembled ponies, before Applejack broke the silence with a pointed question.
“What the hay are you talkin about Skitch?”
“Oh, come on AJ. You said it yourself. We became “friends” really quick. I am the singularity that drags everypony into my orbit and who makes them part of my story, instead of letting them be the great ponies they can be. The living proof that everyone back home who hated human in Equestria stories were completely and utterly, right.”
Once again, it was Applejack who broke the silence that followed.
“Skitch, no offence, but that is one of the dumbest things ah've heard in my life and one of the main reasons ah'm so dang angry with you!”
“What?”
“Yer not treating us like real ponies! Yer still stuck thinkin' that we're those same images ya saw on the screens back home and yeah, while we may be similar, we have our own desires and drives.”
She got to her hooves, marching right up to Skitch.
“Ah'll be friends with whatever pony I please. And if yer afraid that ya haven't done enough ta really be friends...well, that's on yer back, isn't it? Ya can always do more and try harder and work with us instead of hiding stuff from us.”
“Well...I suppose...”
“Suppose nothin! Ya ain't dead till ya don't get back up when ya fall, and ya ain't a failure till ya stop trying. So...what are ya going to do?”
Skitch blinked, looking from pony to pony.
“You all really don't think that I'm a burden?”
Twilight smiled. “Skitch...I think that you're a well intentioned, but somewhat over enthusiastic pony. We've all made mistakes in the past. It's how we move past them that counts.”
“I agree with Applejack.” Rarity nodded. “And I am all for giving you a second chance.”
“Well, I'm not!” Posey said as she stamped a hoof. “She was talking about possibly killing my little girl!”
Skitch winced, but Fluttershy spoke up.
“Mother...please. I do think that she's earned a second chance. I don't think she'll do it.” She trotted over to her mother, put a calming hoof on her leg. “If you don't trust her...please, trust me.”
Posey sighed, putting a wing around her.
“Okay Fluttershy...okay.”
Skitch gave a little half smile to the room.
“Okay. I'll try my best.”
She climbed down from the couch, stretching slightly before heading for the door.
“But, for now, I have some stuff to collect, and some ponies to apologize to, since they won't be getting their artwork from me.” She paused at the door, smiling back at the group. “Thanks for getting me though. It does mean something that someone cared enough to come.”
- - - -
Her potential clients had been understanding to various levels. Berry Punch was probably the most angry over the situation, due to being left in somewhat of a bind with her event. But, in the end she couldn't do much more but glower as Skitch apologized profusely.
But once the apologies were done, Skitch began to march back towards her house. Heading back inside she trotted upstairs and began to pack the contents of her room into her saddlebags.
The file contents of the drawers went in first, followed by the chart, and then the firearms. Next she went to the kitchen and cleaned out what food was in the fridge before adding the media center to her extra dimensional space. Walking back into the main room she gave it a wistful look.
It had been a brief stay, but this place had still been home. A home that she was going to miss . Taking a deep breath, she nodded to herself.
“I shall return.”
Turning, she opened the door and paused at the sight of Nouveau Riche who was pulling a notice out of his bag. The two ponies locked eyes for a moment, both of their muzzles crossed by deep frowns.
“Come to finish your evil plans?”
“It's business, not personal.”
“Yeah. I don't buy that at all.”
She pushed past Riche.
“Not going to beg for any more time then?”
She ignored the dig, heading across town again and towards Carousel Boutique. Upon reaching the building she knocked, hoping that Rarity had returned to her home by now. She was grateful to see the white unicorn open the door.
“Hey Rarity. Riche came by and did his foreclosure, can I stay with you for a bit?”
Rarity smiled, pulling the door open a little wider. “Of course. Come in dear. I'll make some tea.”
“Thanks Rarity.” Skitch responded as she trotted inside, following Rarity back into the the kitchen.
“So, what are you going to do now?”
“Make things up to you all, find some kind of job to start saving up bits and rebuild.”
“We could always ask the princesses if they can find you a way home.”
“Rarity...no. They are great. But travelling between worlds isn't something I think they can do. And if archmages like Tenser who have had experience doing that kind of stuff can't find a way through, I don't think they can.”
She glanced out one of the windows.
“I'll do something tomorrow to make amends for what I did. But for now, I just want to rest and have a night of sleep where the lord of chaos isn't visiting my dreams.”
“All right Skitch-Sketch. Whatever you want.”
She winced. “Please don't say it like that Rarity.”
“...Sorry dear.”
- - - -
Skitch opened her eyes to the morning sun, feeling much better from a Discord devoid night. Rolling off the couch, she followed the smells into the kitchen where Rarity had pulled together some toast for breakfast. Grabbing a piece, Skitch took a seat as Rarity nodded to her.
“So darling, what are your plans for the day?”
Skitch frowned as she slowly munched on her piece of toast, quiet for quite a few minutes before responding.
“That hill near Whitetail Wood...can you and the rest of the girls and Spike meet me there? It won't take that long, I promise.”
“Of course.”
Re-energized with a new goal, Skitch grabbed her saddlebags and headed off towards the small hill near the copse of trees outside of town, stopping only to buy some matches along the way. Once there, she began to gather small stones and build a fire pit.
Fire pit constructed, Skitch began to pull the files out of her bag and dump them into the fire pit. First the mane six, then the princesses, and finally the background ponies that she had files on. Then she began to arrange matches along the base of the pile in an equal circle. Once that was done, she sat down next to her creation and waited.
An hour later, the familiar looking forms of the mane six and Spike came trotting up to the hill. Skitch waved a hoof at them as she stood up.
“Thanks for coming everypony.”
“Why'd you call us out here?” Twilight asked.
“Well, I had a night to sleep on everything that happened, and what you told me yesterday. And, well...you're all correct. I have been treating you almost like little models on the shelf that I'm trying to keep pristine. Which is why I'm doing this.”
She pulled the last match from the pack and light it with a simple flick of her magic, lighting the matches around the base of the pile before dropping the match on top of the pile. The flames rapidly began to spread, rushing through the stack of paper, smoke rising into the air.
“No more playing superhero on my own. Whatever happens. Whatever comes down the line, I'll face it as is. And whatever threat rises it's head, I'll be there to help you fight it, if you'll have me. Because I do want to help protect Equestria, if possible.”
Rainbow Dash grinned. “I said it before and I'll say it again. You've done right by Equestria and us in my book. I'm by your side.”
Rarity smiled. “I agree.”
Pinkie nodded rapidly, her trademark smile back. “Everypony is my friend, and you are too Skitchy.”
Fluttershy smiled. “Thank you for destroying the files Skitch. I feel much better now.”
Twilight nodded as well. “You've had your reasons and you admitted that it was a mistake. That's good enough for me.”
Skitch looked over at Applejack, trying to get a read on the earth pony's mood. Applejack frowned slightly, and after what seemed like a long time, nodded slightly.
“Well, Skitch...I dunno if I'm ready ta call you a friend again right away. But I ah'm willin ta start over again.” She stuck out her hoof. “Pleased ta meet ya partner. Ah'm Applejack!”
Skitch smiled, bumping her own hoof against her's.
“A pleasure to meet you Applejack. I'm Skitch-Sketch...and sometimes I'm a complete pain the flank.”
“Ain't we all, sometimes.”
Skitch smiled widely. “Yeah...that we are.”
She let her hoof fall back to the ground, a feeling of warmth rolling down her spine and to the tip of her tail; the others eyes went wide as the feeling washed over her, Pinkie beaming like the sun.
“Skitchy! Your cutie-mark is back!”
Blinking, she twisted to look at her flank a wide smile crossing her muzzle as she saw the crossed pencil and paintbrush, full and crisp again. A laugh escaped her lips, deep and genuine, as she hopped to her hooves.
“HAHA! I'm back baby!”
Pinkie tackled Skitch into a hug, giggling with unrestrained glee.
“We can give you your cutesinera! Another chance for a great party!”
Skitch chuckled. “Later Pinkie, later. Right now I'm just going to make sure this fire doesn't get out of control and that it properly destroys these files. I'll catch up with you all later.”
Pinkie let go, following her friends back to Ponyville with a spring in her step. She watched them all disappear from view, before turning back towards the fire and watching it until it finally sputtered and died out.
- - - -
Two Days Later...
Dear Princess Celestia,
Skitch-Sketch here. Twilight suggested that I write you this letter to fill you in on what I did while I was gone, and what I've done since I've gotten back.
Skitch looked up from her letter, taking a sip of lemonade as the hustle and bustle of Ponyville's daily routine played out before her. Smiling to herself, she returned to writing.
Naturally, I'm sure she's told you about my whole “secret file” thing, that I've since destroyed. Total disclosure, I had ones on you and Luna as well. It was just as wrong as what I was doing to them and for that, I am sorry. But, from here on out, I am just another pony who's trying to make her way in Equestria. No more human in Equestria. Just...me. As such, I'm including a full report on the broad strokes of what I was afraid of, and what I saw in my mind when I was petrified and what to watch out for there.
I've also come to a realization about friendship, thanks to the element bearers being the kind of awesome ponies that they are. See, long before the Friendship is Magic show was even a thought in it's writer's heads, long before the first pony toys that would set the trend were made, humans were writing about the nature of friendship itself. And I think that this quote from William Arthur Ward fits well.
A true friend knows your weaknesses, but shows your strengths...
She glanced up again as she heard Rainbow Dash's voice. She was walking along side Fluttershy in the middle of a pep talk of some sort.
“Come on Fluttershy, stop being so insecure! You're the best pony when it comes to critters ever! And nothing will ever change that.”
“Oh...okay Rainbow Dash. If you believe in me.” She smiled as they broke down another street.
...feels your fears but fortifies your faith...
“Don't let Diamond Tiara get you down Apple Bloom!” Scootaloo chirped as she and Sweetie Belle trotted along side their friend . “You totally do have talents! You did most of the work building the clubhouse!”
“Yeah! And she can't claim to be that good at anything.”
“Thanks girls.” Apple Bloom smiled as they disappeared around another corner.
...sees your anxieties but frees your spirit...
“...And it's just awful! How will I be able to finish this order on time?”
Rarity was quickly trotting down the street, a bolt of fresh cloth balanced on her back as Pinkie bounced along beside her.
“Don't worry about it Rarity! You're the supery-dupery bestest dress maker ever! You just get to work and I'll bring you some of your favorite muffins for a charge up...”
...recognizes your disabilities but emphasizes your possibilities.
“Done with that letter Skitch?” Spike asked as he came walking on over with a sandwich in claw.
“Just about Spike.”
So, the short of is that I think that I learned that friendship isn't something that I can hide in a jar, or try to be overly controlling about. I've also learned that I have to let go of my original conceptions of Equis and see the world for what it really is. Anyway, that's about it, I hope that you find this information and letter well.
Skitch thought for a moment before adding her signature.
-Your Faithful Subject
Skitch-Sketch.
She handed the letter and her report off to Spike, who sent it off into the air with a blast of green fire. Skitch smiled as she took another drink of her lemonade. This life might not have been what she originally chose, but for the first time in a long while she felt like she had direction again.
And for now, that was enough.