On Light Hooves I Tread

by AdamThePony

Prologue: Close Encounters of the Equine Kind

Let's face it. Many of us have some truly messed up dreams. A lot of them have no continuity
whatsoever, and by extension, no overarching meaning behind them. Others are symbolic, often
showing a more clear-cut message, either as a warning, or as some sort of clue. Others still are
prophetic. A rare form of dream that shows an outlook on what shall happen next in life. However, by
far, the rarest of them were lucid dreams. Dreams where you are consciously aware that you are
dreaming, but sometimes are unable to consciously wake yourself from it, often because the
circumstance requires your subconscious attention.

In my case, it was the last one.

This night was pretty par for the course for me. I was a late to bed, early to rise, slacking teen. I'm
probably the only one in existence who can physically endure waking up at 4 o' Clock in the Morning,
when the sun was still pretty much snoozing, like any person who was not me would have. What
occupied my time when I got home, you may ask. Simple; Almost a year ago(and I say almost,
because I cannot approximate how many months I've had it so far), I finally was able to retire my
stained tan dinosaur of my former computer, and I was able to replace it with a faster, sleeker, sexier,
and more spacious HP Model.

This particular one bore a semblance in its casing to the computers around the school. It was capable
of far more than my old machine, and could do it at a much faster pace. And, thanks to a terrabye disk
space standard, I have plenty of stuff I can cram into this thing before I hit the capacity.

In any case,I apologize for giving you this non sequitur; I just like to boast about my PC a lot. Right. Anyway. I had
just finished a long-winded session of Dungeon Fighter Online, finally hitting level 18 and getting a job
advancement. My mother walks into the kitchen, where I am perched in my seat like a bird on a limb,
as she asks “Do you have school tomorrow?” I looked at the LED Display on the Microwave. I had
almost failed to notice how quickly time had scurried past, as it was now 9:58 PM.
“My God.”, I muttered, flabbergasted. “I was at it that long? “

I was never one to manage my time very wisely. But, through some miracle, I was able to prepare my
opportunity to sleep in as little as 5 minutes, which included such chores as gathering my pillows,
turning on the Alarm Clock, powering on the TV, setting it to low, but still audible volume, setting the
sleep function to a half-hour, and letting the laughter of a sitcom lull me to sleep. My show of choice?
Family Guy. It never seems to get old for me.

Now, you might be asking, “What in Celestia's name does this have to do with Ponies”? Well, nothing
yet. This is just a prelude to what got me started on this odd path. Now, time to get to the actual
purpose of this chapter.

As I drifted into dreamland, I “woke” to a miasma of bright colors and psychedelic waves. Were this to
happen to me in reality, I'd have either succumbed to a seizure, or blinded. Before me stood a large
shadow, which looked to be a large equine figure. Its wings spread as I saw a gleam from its chest
and a protrusion from its head. Then, the shadow spoke in a booming, echoing, yet graceful and
elegant voice.

“The world you are about to enter,” It said, giving me a decent hint as to the gender of the speaker,
“...is both like your own in some regards, and vastly different in others...but before I can let you enter
my lovely domain...I need to analyze your mind...to see where you'll fit...then, I'll give you an able
partner to help you gain your bearings...”

Knowing no other possible reaction, I simply obliged with a nod of my head.

The shadowy mare nodded her head, and thus a rather long consultation began. Since to write each
individual question asked of me would be a painful endeavor that his since slipped my mind, I will
briefly summarize the gist of the questions. Most of them were typical questions on how I would
respond to certain circumstances, ranging from trivial endeavors of carrying luggage and playing with
balls, to emotional situations, like showing someone how I like them. It must have been almost Thirty
to possibly even Fourty straight questions before I was told to stop.

Finally, the questionnaire was over. The mare looked me over and smiled. “You're a jolly type. You
enjoy the company of others, but you are also a free spirit...you enjoy a boundless space to gallop
about in...you are a Pegasus...born to control the skies and handle things from a Bird's Eye View...”
She explained. I guess it made sense.

“Before I let you loose into the world of Equestria...you must go hoof in hoof with a friend...who will help you on your journey. May this be a learning experience for you, young one. I feel it will be...”

Soon, the large mare disappeared, and in her place stood 6 chromatic pony shadows...for some
reason, the bright pink one was the most trustworthy one I could see...and thus, my tale began..The
colors faded to black...the waves calmed...I could see again...I could think again...

As I woke once more, I woke to a glaring sunbeam right in my face. I felt strange where I was lying.
There was always an old phrase thrown around with beds that a good one would feel like sleeping on
a cloud...but after looking to my flanks, I realized I was evoking the literal connotations of that phrase.

Where was I? I heaved a lawn as I began to stagger to my...hooves? I took a look at my body.
Something was definitely different with me.

At first, I thought my eyes were playing a trick on me. I mean, wouldn't you think you were going
somewhat nuts if you suddenly saw hooves instead of hands? I scraped away the mucus from my
eyes, yawning as I took in the scenery. By Celestia, it was absolutely mesmerizing. The sky was so
clear where I was (then again, I think I may have been standing atop it.), to the point where the sun's
heat polarized the strong headwinds of the area. But, I still had a nagging question.

Where was I? My eyes scanned the perimeter for any kind of sign, but I was too far to read anything.
So, I simply decided to ramble and see where it took me. However, as one might expect, waking up as
a pony pretty much erased all possible memory of my walking experience, so I started off fit little filly
trots. I paced around a few times, mixed with a few falls from a beginner's loss of balance, until I got
the rhythm of my hoofsteps down. As I smiled, I decided to have a look around. So, with pride in mine
own accomplishment, I trotted gayly along the path.

There was one other reason I was having balance issues. The clouds' softness was rather difficult to
get a bearing on when your feet no longer have any toes. Now that I had a hoofhold, though, I was
truly able to marvel. The city I had apparently made my way into was absolutely stunning. The bright
colors, the calming chirping of birds, the soft, moist ground...it felt nice for me. But, the more I walked
along the path, the less ground that seemed to be beneath, up to the point I was kicking in the
air...was I swimming?

I didn't hear a splash, or feel wet. I then looked down...and soon quickly realized I was literally walking
on air. Once I was consciously aware, I said to myself. “Well...this isn't going to end well, is i-”

Before I could finish my self-deprecation, I ended up beginning to plummet to the ground. Though I
consciously was aware it would be in vain, I heaved a cry for aid. All I could hear was rushing air, and
with the wind blowing furiously as I reached terminal velocity, I could only keep my eyes shut to await
the inevitable collision to the ground, ready to pass on...

I steeled whatever nerves I had, but just as I thought I was dead for sure, I heard a deafening bang cry
out in the air. Now, even the comfort of rushing air was gone from me. Then, a hard THUD hit my
back. Was it me hitting the ground? Was I dead? I didn't feel dead. If this is what it's like to be dead, I
thought, than being dead stinks. An assortment of voices then began to speak amongst themselves...
Whatever was going on, I could hear every moment of their prattling…

“So he’s from Cloudsdale? Isn’t it kinda strange that a Pegasus ends up falling from the sky?”

“Maybe he doesn’t know how to fly at all...”

“Hey, I didn't know how to fly much either. Maybe he can't remember?”

“Well, whatever happened to 'im, he's got a pretty big knot on his noggin.”

“Yeah...I don't think he's responding, either...anyone have an idea?”

“I have one!”

“Preferably one not involving a party?”

“Wait! I think I got it! Wait right here!”

A moment later, I was hailed on by a torrent of cold water! I slowly began to come too, coughing up
water. Ugh. Not exactly my ideal way of regaining consciousness, but, given the circumstances I was
just in, I guess it couldn't be helped. My eyes opened as I shivered profusely.

“Mmm...huh? Wha....what's going on?” I asked.

The visage in front of me made me inaudibly gasp.

Was I rescued by the Mane Six? I was speechless for a bit, giving the six ponies an opportunity to talk
to me.

“Yay! He's awake!” Pinkie Pie shouted boisterously as she hopped about.

“'Bout time you came to, partner. Ya had us worried sick.” Applejack said with a smile.

I heaved a “Thank You” as I staggered to get to my feet, only to fall from fatigue.

“Careful, Sugar-cube! You got yourself a nasty bump on yer head. Take it nice and easy, now...” She
warned, helping me up.

I was still surprised, to the point where a lot of people (or ponies, in my case) would ask, “Pinch me, I
must be dreaming...”

“Okay!” Pinkie said, taking a bite of my tail, producing a nagging pang of pain. Usually, in a dream,
while you can feel pain, but it's usually much lighter in the dream than in the waking world...To know
the full pain of somepony biting my tail was a clear, sobering sign that I wasn't home anymore.
Whoever that silhouette of a mare was, she just brought me into a strange new world.

My name is Adam, and I am now a Pony. Please, if anyone on the outside can read this...please send
help...At least, that’s what I would’ve pleaded, if things like paper mail were able to pass beween
dimensions.

So, there I stood. A Pony with no knowledge as to the new world I had been thrust into. I looked to the
six ponies who were soundly worried of my injuries. If my hearing was correct, more than one of them
were worried of a head injury I sustained. I guess I couldn’t complain. But, since I needed to learn
something from this, as the shadowy mare said, I assumed the best place to start was names. I
cleared my throat a moment, digging a hoof into the ground before I spoke in as best a voice as I
could.

“Um…Hello? Sorry, but I’m a bit confused. If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, could I at least get your
names?” I asked, blushing beet red.

“Well, I reckon it won’t hurt nopony. Name’s Applejack. And yer name is…?”

I froze for a moment. Froze like a deer in headlights. I’m such a fool, I thought, to not have found a
name for myself. I had to think of a convincing lie. If I just said outright my true name, and that I came
from another world, all I’d get was six pairs of beady eyes staring at me in bewilderment. Then, noting
the throbbing knot of pain on my forehead, I had a lie concieved easily.

“Well…” I said, still embarrassed, but this time, using it to some advantage, “I can’t remember…”

Twilight tilted her head. “So you have Amnesia. Is that right?”

Applejack was a bit more confused than Twilight was, asking “And what in the hay is that?”

“It’s when you don’t remember anything…” Twilight groaned back in response.

Fluttershy, having not spoken at all during the whole event, approached me, examining my forehead
closer in detail before shaking her head.

“Poor dear…” she said, a tone most melancholy in her voice, as per her norm, “…it must have been
that blow to the head…it doesn’t look good.”

Rarity let out a slight grimace before wafting her bangs away from her face, examining me as well.
“I agree.” She concurred, before returning to her position in the herd. “It is most appalling...”

With that, I heaved a sigh of relief. They bought my lie like a 99-cent store pack of gum. With that, I
maintained a genuine pretext of anxiety, as I blushed. I was honestly lost in both embarrassment and
in location. I had to get myself familiar with the lay of the land, sure. But, before I could do that, I
needed to secure a roof over my head. So long as I have that, I thought, I have some ease of mind. I
looked at the group of ponies before me, nervously rubbing my knee with my left forehoof, before
swallowing my embarrassment and asking then a question that would more than likely damn me in
their eyes.

“Hey..if it’s at all possible...” I quipped, shying my eyes away. “...could one of you possibly give me a
decent home? I can’t remember where I live...”

This question prompted the herd to deliberate amongst themselves, only to be interrupted by Pinkie
Pie immediately wearing the largest smile I’ve ever seen before dragging me along into her glaring
abode. I don’t know what she was thinking, but she seemed dead-set on having me. No one at all was
even trying to stop her, either. So, I guess I was done for. So, how can I say no?

As just about everyone in Equestria (or, at least, in Ponyville) was aware, Pinkie was assistant
proprietor of Sugar Cube Corner, a bakery owned and operated by the Cakes. As part of her job,
her specialty in baking was confectioneries, cakes, cookies, and pies, which she did not hesitate to
show me. The sweet smell of sugar wafted into my nose as saliva built in my mouth. If anything, Pinkie
knew how to treat somepony to a warm welcome. But, I needed to ask the obvious question.

“What exactly convinced you to snatch me up like that?”

I expected her to think of me as if I were dumb, but she simply smiled and said in her ever cheerful
tone, “Well, I know how hard it can be for somepony not to have a home, so I just decided to take the
call first! Plus, I think you’ll like it here!”

With this, I smiled. The response was a simple, concise one for me. While I felt I would regret this
later, I decided to accept her kind gesture and continue on. After all, while she wasn’t exactly the most
level-headed, she was kind enough to offer me the use of her home and and a decent meal, in spite of
it being mainly sweets. I nodded and crammed a cupcake in my mouth, smiling with a few crumbs
falling off.

To be honest, I have a good idea on what to expect for tomorrow morning. However, my current
concern now is to rest and hope that what happened was really a dream...

Good Night, Everypony. Thank you for hearing my tale so far. I hope you might enjoy the rest of my
story.