//------------------------------// // Prelude: Sweet dreams (edited) // Story: Chaotic Harmony // by shirotora //------------------------------// Hello, my name is Micah. I’m a 28 year old man from Virginia, or at least I was before I found myself in a world of technicolor ponies. I know what you’re thinking right now, “Oh god, another story about some guy whose life sucks gets sent to Equestria.” That’s only part right. My life was decent, I unloaded trucks at Wal-Mart (a shit job but it paid), had a family, friends and a crazy ass dog. Overall I was actually rather happy. Life could’ve been better but it could very easily have been worse. As for the being sent to Equestria, it wasn’t a freak storm or portal, it wasn’t Celestia or Twilight (or at least that’s what they said), and I didn’t die. All I did was yawn… Yeah, yawn. I was sitting at my computer writing the next chapter in my novel and reading a few fanfics at about 3:00 am. Eventually, I decided to give it a rest and go to bed, so I got up, stretched, and yawned. *YAWWOOORRWW* “What the hell,” I said out loud. “That kinda sounded like a roar… Cool.” That was when I noticed something weird. For some reason, I was standing on a snow covered hill overlooking a very familiar town. Off in the distance was an, also familiar, castle on a mountain. I stood there gaping at the sight for several seconds before I realized what must have happened. I sighed and facepalmed. “I really need to stop reading so many fics before I go to bed... Wait, did I fall asleep at my computer again? Fan-friggin-tastic. Now I’m going to have a keyboard printed on my cheek.” I take another look at my surroundings. Birds sang in their trees, a couple pegasi flew through the air, and the snow crunched under my new paws. It was all very vivid. “So, it’s one of those dreams, huh?” I figured I was having a lucid dream; you know, the kind where you know you’re dreaming. A thought came to me. I was reading one of those stories where the main character got ponified, so was I one, too? I looked at my hand, or what was supposed to be a hand. It wasn’t a hand anymore, but it sure wasn’t a hoof either. It was a white paw with black stripes. I was a tiger; a white tiger. “Ha! Of course. This is what I get for reading about ponies and writing about a tiger.” I was still standing on two legs but they were almost bare. I had on earth-brown shorts and a matching vest. Everything else I could see was covered in the same white fur and black stripes as my paw. I looked down at Ponyville and, with a shrug, decided to head there. After all, what pony dream would be complete without a trip to see everyone’s favorite Elements of Harmony? With that thought in mind, I headed down the hill to town. I knew I had a manic grin on my face, and if this were real I would have likely terrified everyone. Luckily, there wasn’t anyone out by the time I hit the roads through town. “Hello,” said a voice from my right, “are you new? I’ve never seen a pony with your coat pattern before. Are you part zebra?” I gaped at the sight of the purple unicorn. It was weird, though, she didn’t sound like Tara Strong. Her voice was softer. After staring enough to start to make her blush, I shook my head. “Nope, no zebras here. I’m a tiger,” I said with pride. She laughed. “Sure you are. Though, I’ll admit, those stripes do look more like a tiger’s than a zebra’s.” “That’s because I am a tiger,” I said thumping my chest with my… hoof? I looked at it, mildly confused. “At least I was a few moments ago.” Twilight looked at me with a concerned expression. “Are you being serious?” “Well I am dreaming, so I guess this is normal,” I told her. “Dreaming? I think you might be a little confused. Did you hit your head?” The unicorn tilted her head to one side as if looking for any signs of injury. “You might need first aid. My friend Fluttershy knows a thing or two about medicine. She’s waiting for me at the library right now if you want to come over.” “Sure, why not.” I figured I might as well enjoy this dream and go with it. I would never know if I’d have a dream this vivid again. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- As Twilight lead the strange stallion to her home, she couldn’t help but think about him. She couldn’t put her hoof on it, but something about this pony was off. Not just the fact that he said he was a tiger or the whole ‘it’s all a dream’ thing. It was just a feeling that he was... different. Everything about him told the logical part of her brain to run and tell the princess, but something kept her from doing that. A feeling she had told her not only that he wasn’t a danger to anypony but that he’s somepony that her friends should meet. There was also something else that unnerved her about this stranger. He was obviously an earth zebra, but he had the feeling of magic about him. It was a strange magic, but familiar at the same time. The silence wasn’t going to answer any questions, so she decided to try getting some information from her new companion, “So, what’s your name?” “It’s Mi… Shirotora,” he answered. She noticed him change his answer but decided not to call him out on it. “I’m Twilight Sparkle, nice to meet you. So, where are you from?” “Roanoke, Virginia,” he said. “Where’s that? I never heard of it,” she asked. “In the US,” he answered. “Okay.” She figured she would get no real answer so she moved on. “So, are you here for business, pleasure, or are you moving in?” Definitely pleasure. That’s kinda what dreams are for, right?” he said. There he goes with that dream stuff again. “You do know this isn’t a dream, right?” He laughed. “Of course it is. I mean, come on. I’m in Equestria, talking with Twilight Sparkle in Ponyville. How is this not a dream?” Twilight was getting worried about her own sanity. Why am I taking him to meet my friends? I should run away and write a letter to the princess right away... I’m still not running. Am I crazy? After a moment, the two reached the library and Twilight opened the door. “Welcome to Golden Oaks Library.” --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- “Welcome to Golden Oaks Library,” Twilight said as she opened the door for me. I walked in and was greeted by a sight that could only be seen in a dream like this. Before me sat not only Fluttershy, but Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack, too. I couldn’t contain myself, “Awesome! The Mane 6 all in one room. Best dream ever!” Fluttershy squeaked in shock and dove behind Rainbow Dash as the others just looked over at me, most in curiosity, though Pinkie just looked excited. “Who’s your new friend?” Rarity asked. Huh, she doesn’t sound the same as in the show either. What’s up with that? “Girls, this is Shirotora,” she introduced me to the others. “Shirotora, this is-” I interrupted her, “I know who you all are: Rainbow Dash, fastest flyer in Equestria, and master of the sonic rainboom: Applejack, the honest and trustworthy, and maker of the finest cider: Rarity greatest fashion designer in the world: Fluttershy the kindest and most gentle pony to ever bless us with her presence: And finally, Pinkie Pie, defiler of physics and destroyer of the fourth wall.” “Wow, you sure know a lot- wait, fourth wall? When did Pinkie destroy a wall?” Twilight said. “Not a literal wall, silly filly,” Pinkie said. “‘The fourth wall’ is a theater term used to describe the separation of the characters from the audience. ‘Breaking the fourth wall’ is when actors do something that should be considered impossible in the world of the show, like address the audience or walk around a bedroom wall because the door was locked.” “Uh… o…kay…” Twilight just shrugged, passing that off as another ‘Pinkie moment’. “So how do know so much about us?” “I’ll tell you,” Rainbow Dash said as she flew in my face. “He’s a spy for the tigers.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “He’s not a spy for tigers, Dash.” Then something the pegasus said caught her attention. “Wait, I never mentioned tigers.” “His name, ‘Shirotora’, is Neighpanese for ‘white tiger’,” she said, proud that she knew something Twilight didn’t. “You speak Japanese?” I asked. “It’s called Neighpanese, and yeah, my mom is Neighpanese,” Dash responded. “I didn't know that. Hahahaha,” I said. “I would dream of a Japanese Rainbow Dash.” “Say what?” Applejack said. “That's why I brought him here. I think he hit his head or something. He keeps saying that this is a dream and he's really a tiger. I need Fluttershy to check him for head injuries,” Twilight said. “Well, actually I'm human. I'm just dreaming that I'm a tiger that turned into a pony.” “Wow, he is loco in the coco,” Pinkie said. It actually hurt my feelings. Why do my dream ponies not believe me? I mean, they’re here because I'm dreaming. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to prove it. “Okay, you don't believe this is just a dream? I'll show you. In dreams, you can't feel pain.” I pulled a knife out of thin air and held it blade down over my head. “Whoa, hold on! don't do anything stupid!” Applejack pleaded. “Where'd he get that?” Rainbow Dash said. With a smile, I plunged the knife into my flank... Turns out I wasn't dreaming… Fuck my life. “AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”