Chapter 10 – Life Changes
Well I have to say this is strange to think about I have Discord in my head, a house to return to and Scootaloo as a daughter soon. Life couldn't be better. However I was quickly cut off by a certain Draconequus “Oh of all the things on your mind I'm the first. How quaint”
To this I just think “great you can hear my thoughts” I then decide to try something “what am I thinking about now?”
“your thinking about what happened to Scootaloo's old dad. But you know it doesn't make sense what happened”
“Discord in my world Lightning is a random occurrence. However here it can be controlled it be aimed at a pony but I don't know enough about how lightning works here. I'll need to ask Rainbow about it.”
“we got plenty of time till we reach Canterlot why not ask her now?”
“I suppose your right” I then open my eyes to see everybody staring at me I then just ask “what?”
I then hear Twilight say “Thank god your alright I thought you couldn't hear us. We were talking to you but you were completely unresponsive”
I then smile and tell her “I was asleep Twilight but unlike you I'm a bit big for those tiny bunks so I sept standing up”
“that wasn't the only thing you were doing Craig. Were you aware that you were creating sparks from your fingertips?”
“sparks? No I wasn't Twilight.” I then begin to think about my old games they say “Skyrim of course”
“What does a game have to do with this?” she asked
“would you believe me if I said magic? I have just one question was the sparks a certain colour”
To this she she stares at me and says “I wouldn't believe it's magic but for the sake that it is it was a bark blue colour similar to the shade of Luna's Mane”
“In that case that could be a destructive spell with the properties of lightning”
To this both Rainbow Dash and Futtershy looked at me. Then Rainbow asked “Wait you can create electricity from your body?”
“I could in the game, but I was never great with that type of destruction magic. I was more adept with fire based magic” I then clicked my fingers and a red spark appeared and I slowly open my hand to see a orb a red light emanating from my palm I then clenched my fist again and the light fades. I then look to Twilight and said “that was the basis of a fireball spell.”
“but, you don't have a horn. By all rights magic shouldn't be possible for you to do”
“In my world that would be the case the same goes with me floating in the air but here something has happened to me to give me powers”
With that discord appears as a pony and stands behind me and says “that would be my doing. I knew when he arrived that he could be in danger so I made it so he could defend himself if anything happened. I am the reason he has his powers.”
“But what me learning new skill instantly was that your doing?”
“No. That one has nothing to do with me. I have no idea how that one happened” he then scratches his head and says “maybe it has something to do with your physiology”
I just smile and say “thank you have cleared up one of my problems at least I know the origin of my powers now.” I then turn to Rainbow Dash and ask “By the way I was wondering what you could tell me about Equestria's lightning.”
To this she smirks and says “Oh Mr I can create lightning from my hands need to know more about lightning.”
“yes I do Dash. I need to understand how it could have killed Scoots father.”
To this She looks at me and says “In all rights it shouldn't have killed him lightning's supposed to go around a pony's body. It's been made that way to protect everypony. The only way it could have happened is if somepony targeted him.
“OK but where would the cloud have to be to hit him in the chest”
“It would have had to by right infront of him or he would have had to be inside the cloud at the time. But even then somepony would have to had to manually discharge the cloud.”
I then begin to think “that would explain the mark on his body in the post-crusader tumbler blog” I then tell her “that tells me that the death of scoots father wasn't an accident. Somepony wanted him dead.”
“But who would have a reason to do that?”
“I have no idea but I do know it wasn't an accident, and that the culprit would have been a pegasus. Oh god my head hurts I need to rest fighting Discord took a lot out of me”
To this Discord laughs than announces “I thought that you didn't try against me”
“Oh I didn't Discord but I haven't eaten in two days so I'm just hungry and that normally make me feel rubbish.”
I then hear Pinkie say “I'll go and grab you some food Craig”
With that she disappears in a pink blur and I just smile and say “she's one of the kindest creatures I've ever met reminds me of one of my cousins. Always full of energy.” I then look towards the ground and mutter “hard to believe I may never see them again.”
To this Applejack looks at me and then walks up to me and places one of her hooves on my shoulder then says “as long as ya don't forget em they'll always be with ya” She then reaches towards my chest and says “in ear”
I then smile and say “if you were meaning in my heart you would want to point to here” I then move her hoof just infront of the location of my heart.
I then hear Rainbow say “besides you have the squirt now. That's sort of a family”
I then smile and say “as one door shuts another one opens. I may have lost my old family but I can always start again”
To this Fluttershy smiles and says “I suppose you are taking the changes well. I mean you lost everything and yet you still act like this is normal for you. I can't understand how you must be feeling”
“You know what Fluttershy you are right about one thing. I am acting as if everything is normal and you know why” I then stand up and announce “this is why” I then begin to sing Feeling Good by Michael Buble.
After I am finished I look back at both Fluttershy ad Rarity and said “I'm definitely felling good” I then turn around as I hear pony cheering behind me and I turn round and bow to them.
Seconds later one of the ponies a unicorn mare that had white fur, cyan coloured hair and the symbol of a music note as her Cutie Mark walk towards me and then tells me “you really are good at singing. Is music your special talent?”
I then smile and shake my head and say “I don't know, my kind don't get Cutie Marks I have no idea what my special talent is and I never will know. Anyway may I ask your name.”
She then puts her hoof out and says “most ponies know me by my stage name DJ Pon3 but my friends call me Vinyl Scratch.”
“my names Craig. It's a pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasures all mine” she then looks around and says “Hey is that guitar your?”
“Yeah. It's one of the few things I came to Equestria with. Although it has been blessed by the princesses”
With that he stop and says “You've met the princesses”
“Yeah. I was healed by Celestia after I was almost killed by Discord today. Although I guess I did help save Ponyville after that.”
Seconds later dash shouts out “Craig! You single handedly defeated Discord. You can't say anyone helped you to defeat him.”
To this Vinyl looks at me shocked and says “I saw the last few moment of the fight! That was you!”
“Guilty as charged”
She then tells me “I guess that makes you a hero”
“Yeah I guess, but I wasn't always a hero. I used to be a coward who was bullied” I the reach my guitar and say “I might as well perform another song. It should tell you a bit about my past” I then perform another song called The Rhyme.
One I finish performing I hear all of the ponies around me applauding me once again. I then hear vinyl say “you definitely have a talent for performing buddy”
“Thanks but I'm no performer. At least not yet anyway”
“Well if you ever need a DJ just ask for the best DJ in Equestria and I'll see you”
“Will do Vinyl. Might call you up for one of my performances in Ponyville.”
She then asks me“Where you stayin whilst your in Ponyville?”
“The mayors given me a place for free, as long as I perform in town every once in a while.”
“well when you get settled in come find me and we can perform together”
“I'd like that. See you later Vinyl”
As she turns away she puts one of her hooves up and announces “Same to you buddy” and disappears into the cart infront of us.
Second later Rainbow look at me and asks “Do you know who you just spoke to.”
“Yeah Vinyl Scratch, a celebrity DJ, no big deal.”
Seconds later Rarity says “Craig you just spoke to a celebrity like it was nothing. Most ponies would die for a chance to speak to her and you got to perform to her not once but twice!”
I then rub my had and say “OK maybe I was a bit calm about meeting a celebrity”
Seconds Later Pinkie walks back in and says “Nope Vinyl a nice mare she may seem to be big deal but she prefers to be treated like anypony else.”
I then turn around and say “Oh hi Pinkie did you hear me as well.”
“Yep I heard the whole thing sound like you and Vinyl and friends now. Hey maybe one day we should perform with her.”
“yeah. Wait. We?”
“Yeah you need a band and I would like to be a part of it”
I then tilt my head to side and seconds later look back at her, place my hand out to her and say “welcome aboard Pinkie. You've already proved yourself to be adept with the drums and I couldn't think of anypony I rather perform by my side.”
Seconds later we hear a voice over the loudspeaker say “Attention everypony we will be arriving in Canterlot momentarily.”
I then pick up my guitar and say “guess this is our stop. Best get moving. I'll meet you girls on the platform” I then walk towards the door, wait for the train to come to halt then exit the carriage.
-Once Arriving at the castle-
When we finally arrive at the castle me and Discord begin to organise a plan for if things get out of hand... or claw depending on the individual. I then tell him “Discord you will need to say out of the way whilst we talk to Celestia. I have a feeling if she found out we didn't end you, she'll have my guts for garters.”
“Your what?”
I then sigh and say “she'll end me, or put me in stone for 1000 years.”
“Oh Celestia I hope you don't deal with that, it's not nice at least I could still have fun using my magic”
“Oh yes, the fun had ruining my life or the fun you had bringing me across the universe to Equestria”
“You realise that was a lie right? You aren't from the other side of our universe you are from another reality.”
“another reality. But that makes me a displaced”
“a what?”
“A displaced it means dimensionally displaced. I remember it from some stories I used to read. Most of the time you get send to an alternative Equestria from buying an object of some kind. But there are rare occasions when this happens from finding an object or from just plain dumb luck.”
“So these other reality have no connection to eachother?”
“Well no. I'll explain more later right now we have a meeting to attend. Just promise me you'll stay quiet whilst in the meeting.”
“OK but if she trys to turn you to stone I am putting myself infront of you”
“I never thought that you'd do that for anyone. But as I said I trust you and I don't turn back on a promise. Anyhow better talk with the princesses.”
“Speak to you later”
“Yeah”
With that I open my eyes to the sight of everyone looking at me and Luna shouting “Craig! Craig! Is thou OK!”
I then shake my head and say “Yeah sorry just spaced out there for a second”
“at least thou is OK”
Second later I hear Celestia say “Well sister it wouldn't be right for one of our greatest allies to fall after completing such a important task for our ponies”
I the turn towards both of them and bow to then and say “it was my honour to do that for you. Besides if someone needs help I will make it my job to help them.”
“As is a noble mission for a new father to protect those thou cares for?” Luna announces.
“Wait how do you know about me adopting Scootaloo?”
Luna then says “A ponies dream can tell us a lot of things about current events”
“so she was dreaming about me”
“Well that and thou saving her from Discord then defeating him alone”
“So you know about that”
I then hear Celestia say “we know that you have show kindness to the creature that sent you here. I also know he is here right now so maybe you should tell Discord to show himself.”
I then sigh and say “Discord she knows your here might as well come out”
“Oh I was enjoying playing minesweeper in there”
“Wait I have games in there”
“yeah. Minesweeper, Snake, Hill Climb Racing and Jetpack Joyride.
“Oh god don't download anything you might make me buffer.” to this both me and Discord just laugh as everyone else just stares at us in confusion I then tell them “inside joke. You'd only understand it if you've seen how a computer works on the internet”
Celestia then asks me “Craig why did you spare Discord”
“I spared him because of something I felt. I felt an extreme amount of fear from him, he told me that he was threatened whilst he was in stone. Something was going to destroy him, I refuse to let him die and I won't break a promise.”
To this Celestia smiles and says “that's a very noble thing to do Craig. But I have a feeling there's something else you're not telling us.”
“Discord told me I am what is referred to as displaced. It means that I have come from a different reality not a different world like I originally thought.”
To this Twilight asks “It's possible for us to travel between different realities”
“No it's not. Nobody knows how it works apart from a merchant who is selling the objects that drags the person to their own version of Equestria. There are literally thousands of other realities each with a small difference.”
“Is there a way t travel between these worlds?” asks Twilight
“yes there is, but only between different displaced. We use an object called a token, it's an object that represents a different displaced.”
Rainbow Dash then asks “do you have a token?”
“No I don't, I need to make one. I need an object that says what I am” I then look at my sword and ask Celestia “may I make copies of my sword as the token, It does show who I am after all”
Celestia then says “You may Craig”
“Thank you” I then draw my sword, hold it facing away from everyone and then close my eyes. Seconds later I open my eyes to see a small replica of my sword in my other hand. I then sheath my sword, turn to everyone and say “this is the token that will be seen by other displaced. All that I need to do is record a message for other displaced to hear.” I then sigh and tell everyone “I have no idea what to say though”
Luna then says “Maybe thou should just say who thou is and what thou believes in?”
“I think your on to something there Luna give me a second” I then close my eyes a second time and the blade begins to glow I then say “Hi my name is Craig. If ever you are in danger, are scared, frightened or even just need an ally to stand by your side in your darkest hour. Call on me and I will come and do everything in my power to aid you.” I then open my eyes and the glow ceases I then say “the message is now transcribed in the token.”
I then hear Twilight say “Do other displaced have tokens similar to yours?”
“Yeah but I have no idea what they look like until I get summoned or I find someone ease's and summon then to me.” I then stop as I realise it would be easier to have on for me just to copy to give to anyone I meet “I just thought I'm going to need more than one of these I then close my eyes once again and another replica appear in my other hand. I then put one of the tokens in my pocket and then move my hand in a slashing motion I open a crack in space just next to me. I then place my hand inside and let go of the token as it disappears into the void. I then remove my hand from the void as it begins to seal leaving no clue it was ever there.
Second after I hear Twilight ask “what was that?”
“It's called the void. It's a space between realities. Displaced use this space to travel between realities we also use it to send our tokens between the different realities.”
“With that sorted should we expect to see more of your kind in Equestria?” asked Celestia
“yes, but I can't promise they'll all have good intentions. Some of them may want to cause trouble. We will need to be ready for when that happens”
“So there will be people like you appearing all over Equestria” asked Twilight
I then shake my head and then say “not all over Equestria. They will most likely appear nearby if they use my token. If they ever are a threat I will be able to stop them and if they aren't bad I will be nearby to help them. They shouldn't cause any damage that can't be fixed. At least I hope that's the case.”
“You seem sure you can handle them.”
“To be honest from what I know there are few displaced who would want to cause harm to anyone.”
To this Celestia says “OK Craig I trust you. I will leave Discord to you, on your head be it. I just want to know where you will staying whilst you are in Equestria?”
“I have a place organised thanks to the mayor in Ponyville. She has offered me a place to stay at on the concept that I perform some music in town on some occasions.”
She then tells me “Well when one of those shows come up ask Twilight to send me a letter I believe both me and my sister would like to see you perform.”
I then once again bow to her and say “I would love to perform to royalty. I'll make sure that I get Twilight to send you a letter near a performance.”
I then hear Luna say “We would be grateful to hear thou's music again”
“Luna would you like a performance now?”
“Thou would do that”
“Yeah why not. I've got time” I then grab my guitar and begin to check each of the strings and then begin play an acoustic version of faster than you know by BlackGryph0n and Baasik.
Once I had finished the song I see Celestia walk up to me and she whispers “I assume that was about alicorns was it not?” To this I just whisper “yes, yes it was”
We then hear Luna announce “Thou has improved since we met you in thou's dream yesterday”
“I need to be good, and I guess I have had a little practice. Heck I even have a group of amazing friends and an amazing band member.”
I then smile at Pinkie as she says “yeperoonie we make a fantastic team”
“well we look forward to seeing what you two can do together” announces Celestia
To this both me and Pinkie says “Thank you”
Celestia then says “as a thank you for the deed you have done we would like to give you all a room in the castle for the night. Shining Armour would you mind showing them to their rooms”
He then bowed to her and said “It would be a pleasure”
To that we all bow to her and say “Thank you”
-Minutes later-
One by one we each were shown to our rooms until only me, Discord and Shining Armour were left. He then says to me “you know you are truly and amazing creature. Not only have you quickly learnt to control your new powers but you were to use them under pressure. You would make a good soldier.”
“Like you will make an amazing husband.”
To this he just stops and asks “How do you know about me and Cadence?”
“Hello from another reality I know about miss Cadenze and I know about you getting engaged to her.”
“OK well listen Craig after what you did today your more than an ally. I'd be inclined to call you a friend”
“Well if I was honest with you I saw you as that from the beginning.”
To this he smiles and then says “Anyway I would like to give you this.” he then hands me a scroll and then continues to say “I heard the mayor say about you needing a recommendation for you to adopt. I would like to be the one to give that recommendation.”
“Thank you”
“I would also like it if you attended the wedding when it comes around.”
“You'd really want a strange creature like me at a wedding”
“yes it is a royal wedding and I would like to have a friend that I know will be ready for anything.”
“So nothing to do the fact that you want a performer?”
“That may amount to a bit of it”
“Well you can have me free of charge. I would never ask a friend to pay for me to perform.”
“Thank you you don't know how much easier it is now I don't have to worry about some entertainment”
I then think “yeah you just need to worry about the changeling and Queen Chrysalis attacking Canterlot.” I then tell him “anyhow I would like to get to my room and finally get some sleep that's not been forced due to injury”
To this he smiles and says “Yeah you've earned that much.”
With that we reach my room and we both say bye to each other. I then enter my room for the night. Seconds later I hear Discord say “Well it looks like your life is getting better. Not only is everything ready for you to adopt Scootaloo but we are going to a royal wedding.”
“Well buddy I just wonder who we will be visiting or be visited by first. I wasn't joking when I said there are thousands of different realities”
“well wherever we go, we go as a team”
“Wouldn't want it any other way” with that I lay down on the bed to find that the armour just faded as I lay down I then think “Nice enchantment Luna at least you made it so I can get a comfortable nights sleep” with that I begin to drift off into a natural sleep for the first time I two days.