What Does The Future Hold For Us?

by AndyHunter

Chapter 2 - The Outsider

Twilight and Moondancer continued to hug each other, but Moondancer had separated from Twilight. She looked around and noticed that her friends and Spike were busy talking and doing party activities. At first, Twinkleshine told her other friends about Moondancer's problem. They felt a sense of relief, but after witnessing the hug between her and Twilight, they calmed down and left them alone so that they had a chance to chat.

After Moondancer made sure nopony was watching, she slowly brought her lips to Twilight's while keeping her eyes closed. Twilight had blushed since she didn't expect it—that Twilight and Moondacer would have a friendship of this kind.
Twilight reciprocated the kiss on the lips; it was a friendly kiss that meant mutual trust between both ponies.

After several minutes of kissing that felt like hours, both ponies separated and wiped the saliva that came out of their mouths with their hooves.
Twilight really enjoyed the kiss; it reminded her of an old friend she had during her human life, with whom she shared moments like these, and she was very happy that she now experienced the same thing with a great friend like Moondancer.

Twilight had remembered that at any moment Celestia would send her the scroll about her having to go to Ponyville to make new friends and oversee the summer sun celebration, which led Twilight to consider spending some quality time with all her friends before Celestia's task arrived.

"Let's have fun with the rest of our friends, Moondancer!" Twilight said, excited to continue the party.

Moondancer nodded, and they joined the rest of Twilight's friends to engage in activities together, such as board games, ring toss, musical chairs, and breaking the piñata.

When it was Twilight's turn to hit the piñata, she still didn't know how to use her magic. She struggled with a spell as basic as levitating an object, in this case, a stick. She dropped it frequently since she still didn't fully grasp how magic worked, which surprised her friends.

When Twilight managed to hit the piñata, it barely moved, and the stick fell to the floor again.

Frustrated, Twilight exclaimed, "You know what? I'd better use my own hooves."

"Twilight, what's wrong? Don't you know a spell as basic as levitation?" Lemon Hearts asked, expressing a combination of concern and surprise.

"Yes, I know. The thing is, I've been working out and doing other activities that don't require magic for a while, so I'm a little rusty now. But don't worry about that. I'm going to use my hooves. Besides, I think it would be fairer like this." Twilight, grabbing the stick in an unusual way with both front hooves, struck the piñata once, and finally, it moved.

Then, with all her strength, Twilight broke the piñata in half, and many sweets began to spill out. Spike didn't hesitate for a single second and went to claim his share of sweets.

"All the lollipops are mine, so don't even think about taking them, Spike!" Twilight teased Spike, as lollipops were among the few candies that she really liked.

"Don't keep all the candy; I want some too!" Lemon Hearts hurriedly grabbed some sweets, joining Twilight and Spike.

"Wow, I must say, she also became enthusiastic about sweets," Moondancer remarked, surprised that Twilight was so excited, especially about lollipops.

"Moondancer, are you sure you don't want any candy? They're going to eat them all at this rate," Lyra said, observing Lemon Hearts, Spike, Twilight, and Twinkleshine devouring the sweets.

"Don't worry, Lyra, I'm full; I can get more for myself later," Moondancer assured, happily watching her friends having a good time. It had been a long time since Moondancer felt so content in her life.

---

Location: Ponyville
Date: May 15, year 2000/ 2:30 PM

James was unconscious on a cloud in southwest Ponyville, having been asleep for over half an hour. The ponies who saw him simply passed by, considering it quite common to see Rainbow Dash slacking off from time to time, assuming that he was taking a nap. James opened his eyes slowly. His head hurt a little, and he felt a strange sensation in his body; he couldn't feel his fingers, and something peculiar seemed to have grown on his sides, as if he had a backpack on him.

James slowly opened his eyes while clutching his head with a hoof. "What a crazy trip. I wonder where that black hole has taken us." James glanced at the sky—nothing out of the ordinary. However, when he surveyed his surroundings, he was shocked. James froze for a few seconds, attempting to process what he was seeing.

"Don't tell me... Don't tell me I'm in that cartoon for little girls that Andy likes so much." James knew where he was, seeing several ponies going about their daily activities, but of course, not knowing much about MLP would be a big problem for him. Not only was he in a totally different world than his, but also, his appearance changed completely.

He looked at his supposed 'hands' that are now known as hooves. "What the hell? I'm a horse, too. And I don't have fingers. How am I supposed to say 'fuck you' if I don't have fingers? This is a nightmare; I think I'm going to go crazy."

James began to hyperventilate from the terror of having turned into a pony; clearly, he preferred being human. He deeply missed his fingers and his original appearance.

"Okay, okay, I have to calm down; I won't get anywhere if I go crazy. I've already seen a lot of crazy things, like that black hole that swallowed me and Andy. I don't know where Andy is, but I'll have to look for him, find a way to get out of here, and return to America." James said this after breathing calmly and being determined to fulfill his mission, which he hoped would be the only and last one.

James looked at where he was sitting, realizing that he was on a cloud. "I don't understand how the logic of this world works. I mean, I'm on a cloud; how is this possible? Anyway, I'm not so high; maybe I can get down carefully and reach the ground." With his rear hooves, James tried to descend while holding on to the edge of the cloud with his front hooves.

Not being accustomed to the pony's body, he lost balance on his front hooves, causing him to slip and fall backward to the ground. "That wasn't what I had planned, but this stupid body makes it more difficult for me." James got up and stood on all fours like any pony. He noticed a puddle of water under the cloud, which he took the opportunity to examine more closely—his new appearance.

James looked at his reflection in the puddle of water and realized that he was a light blue pony with a rainbow mane. "It can't be; I have a punani... I'm the pony from those unfunny memes from 2012 that Andy used to show me when we were going to primary school. This can't get stranger and more uncomfortable by the minute." James turned on his side and also noticed the wings and the 'tattoo'. "I also have a tattoo that I don't know the meaning of, nor am I interested. But I am interested in the wings. That's the only good thing about all of this; maybe if I fly, I could find Andy easily and get out of here as quickly as possible."

James was getting ready to fly, but there was a problem, and he had no idea how to use the wings. He tried everything he could; he couldn't even open them. "Now that I think about it, I've never used wings in my life; in fiction, it seemed so simple."

James tried everything; he used the power of his mind, but it didn't work. He tried saying "Flight mode, on," but it didn't work either. James had also been surprised by the fact that his voice had also changed; all this time he had been speaking in his mind, but now that he said his first word in his new pony form, he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. It is normal that his voice also changed, but the fact that he was a pony and female did not improve the matter.

In any case, there were more important matters to resolve.

He tried to imitate Superman's pose to see if there would be any results, but nothing happened; the results were still the same.

"I'd better leave it alone and walk, even though I'm disappointed that I won't be able to fly and know what it feels like to be an eagle, at least for a few seconds." James continued on his way, not knowing where to go, nor did he know if talking to the other ponies would be a good idea.

James walked in a way that was totally normal for him, being on two hooves, but for the other ponies, it was unusual, which raised a few eyebrows along the way.

James didn't pay attention to that; the only thing he cared about right now was finding Andy.

James began to get frustrated because he didn't know which of all the ponies that live in Ponyville could be Andy, nor did he even know if Andy was still human or just James had suffered the transformation. Although it was unlikely, James had no idea about anything.

James said inside his mind, "I have no idea which one Andy could be; it's impossible to know. I'll have to ask, and he'll surely recognize me." James walked towards a pony; he didn't know what language the ponies spoke since, at the moment, he hadn't heard or spoken to any of them.

James said to himself, "I'll try to say hello in English, Japanese, and Spanish; those are the only languages I know. I hope these dudes don't speak a strange or invented language like Hylian."

James touched the pony's back with his hooves, to which the pony turned around, looking at James.

"Hi, hola, konnichiwa. Can you understand me, dude?" James asked.

"Yes, I understand you, Rainbow Dash, although I don't know what hola or konichi something is," Cherry Berry said, surprised by Rainbow Dash's unusual question so suddenly.

James said in his mind, "Thanks, God, they can speak English, but... she called me Rainbow Dash? So that's the name of the pony I turned into? And how does she know my 'name'? Well, anyway, it's more than clear now that this pink pony is not Andy, so I'm going to continue my search."

"Forget it, you're not who I was looking for; if you'll excuse me, I must go," James said to Cherry without her having the opportunity to respond as he headed towards another pony in a flash.

"What a strange question Rainbow Dash just asked me, and the way she was walking... I wonder if she's okay," Cherry Berry said to herself, pondering the odd encounter with Rainbow Dash.

James approached another pony and asked, "Hey, Andy, is that you?"

"Andy? My name is Bon Bon, and you know it," Bon Bon responded, clearly confused by James' question.

"Forget it," James said coldly, determined to find his best friend. He had no interest in befriending these 'colorful ponies' or engaging in lengthy conversations with them.

James, continuing his search, asked the same question to four other ponies and always received the same answer; it seemed that Andy was not in Ponyville.

Growing increasingly frustrated, James clenched his front hooves as if they were fists, tightly holding onto the anger building inside him. "This is rubbish; I can't find a way out of this place if I don't find my man. I can't leave without him. I hate to admit it, but I may even have to stay here a day or more until I find him; it doesn't matter. I'll take a break on this bench before continuing the search," James thought to himself.

"During my walk in this town, I heard some of the ponies talking about the summer sun celebration. I have no idea what it is, but it sounds like a social event. If all the ponies are gathered in one place, I might find Andy easily. I think I'll wait here." James thought to himself before lying down on the Ponyville Park bench and was willing to wait for the moment when the celebration would begin, although he had no idea what time or what it would be about.

James continued talking to himself in his mind. "Poor Andy, even though he is a fan of this cartoon for little girls, being trapped here and being alone must be distressing for him. I hope that wherever he is, he is okay."

---

Meanwhile, Twilight and Spike were enjoying Moondancer's party; they sang happy birthday to her, and they were the ones who ate the most pieces of cake; Twilight's favorite was vanilla, and apparently, Spike's favorite too.

Both of them were in a corner, full; they were the guests who ate the most during the party. While Twilight's other friends enjoyed playing other party games like pin the tail on the donkey.

"This party is incredible. Spike, I had a lot of fun; what about you?" Twilight asked with genuine curiosity. She cared a lot about Spike and wanted to know if her friend had enjoyed himself after all the work the original Twilight had put him through.

"Of course, Twilight! I-BRAAAPPPP!" Spike belched before finishing his sentence, a letter from Princess Celestia coming out of his mouth.

"Celestia... is this what I think it is?" Twilight asked herself inside her mind.

Spike took the letter and began to read it aloud as usual: "My most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. I hope you have a wonderful day because I have a very important quest for you. I need you to go to Ponyville and supervise the Summer Sun Celebration, and most importantly, make more friends."

"Before we leave, we must first say goodbye to the girls," Twilight said as Spike nodded and walked beside her, heading towards Twilight's friends. "Then, Spike, I will need you to do me a small favor, just one. I will need you to write a letter to my parents about my departure to Ponyville; they deserve to know that I will not be very present in Canterlot from now on. Celestia could send it to them." Twilight explained.

"Yeah, why not, Twilight? As your number one assistant, I will not refuse a task as important as that," Spike said proudly as he placed his claws on his chest.

As Twilight and Spike approached their friends, Moondancer stood in the center with her back to Twilight and Spike while the rest of her friends listened to stories from their foalhood.

Twilight picked up a balloon that was lying on the ground. She had planned to play a prank on Moondancer before saying goodbye.

Approaching very quietly, she gestured to the others to remain silent by placing one of her hooves in her mouth, signaling that they should ignore her presence and continue listening to Moondancer's story.

Moondancer got distracted by the story she had just told and proceeded to share another one with her friends. "Remember the time when—" Moondancer struggled to contain her laughter. "The time Lemon and I argued over some marbles; to this day, I still can't believe it." She paused. "At school, there was a competition in the summer of 1991 to see who could solve math problems the fastest. The winner will have a large collection of marbles that were difficult to find anywhere else in Equestria. I told myself, 'those marbles will be mine no matter what it costs me.' Lemon was also determined to get them, but I wasn't going to give up so easily. At that moment, we weren't friends; we were rivals. The only thing—" Moondancer was interrupted when Twilight, with the balloon, squeezed it so hard with her hooves that it exploded.

The sudden burst took Moondancer by surprise, causing her to jump a little and get scared.

"Got ya! HAHAHAHAHAHA!" Twilight laughed as hard as she could.

Spike and the rest of Twilight's friends joined in the laughter. Twinkleshine, in particular, enjoyed the prank since she loved a good laugh.

Moondancer was momentarily frozen with fear, not being accustomed to this type of prank. However, seeing all her friends smiling and having a good time, including Twilight, eventually brought a smile to her face too.

"Phew, you really scared me, Twilight. I thought the only prankster in the group was Twinkleshine, but you? You really took me by surprise," Moondancer said, taking deep breaths to shake off the momentary scare.

"I'm full of surprises, Moondancer; what can I tell you?" Twilight paused. "Well, girls, apart from scaring Moondancer, I also wanted to tell you something very important." All of Twilight and Moondancer's friends were curious about the announcement that Twilight would make. "Celestia just sent me a letter saying that I must stay in Ponyville to oversee the summer sun celebration. I would love to stay a little longer, believe me, but as a student of the princess, I cannot disappoint her or take her quests lightly. I should leave right now. I'm sorry, girls," Twilight said, looking down, afraid of disappointing her friends.

Moondancer was the first to speak to Twilight: "Don't worry, Twilight; we know how important it is to obey the princess's orders. The fact that you came to my party is enough for me, as is your wonderful gift, which I will treasure forever."

"It's true, Twilight. At least you came here to spend time with your friends. We were really worried that you cared more about studies than us. I'm glad I was wrong," Twinkleshine explained.

"Besides, most of us live in Ponyville, so you could visit us whenever you want, and you can take advantage of this opportunity to get to know Amethyst better!" Lyra said, excited about the idea that another of her friends would move to Ponyville and meet more friends there.

"I would love to get to know you more, Twilight! I'm sure we'll get along well," Amethyst said, happy to meet a new friend.

"Thank you, girls. I'm glad you understand my situation. If possible, I will try to spend more time with each of you while I reside in Ponyville." Twilight's words hung in the air for a moment as her friends processed the news. However, before any lingering sadness could set in, Twilight, with a warm smile, took a step forward, inviting her friends into a tight, group hug.

The atmosphere shifted from a moment of understanding to one of shared warmth. Twilight's lavender coat became a focal point, surrounded by a spectrum of colorful friends. Hooves intertwined, and for a brief moment, time seemed to freeze. The embrace spoke volumes, transcending words and echoing the deep bonds of friendship they had forged.

As they held each other, the hug was not just a physical embrace but a symbol of the memories they shared, the challenges they faced, and the support they offered. It was a collective expression of love and understanding, a silent assurance that distance would not diminish the strength of their connection.

When the hug finally loosened, each friend wore a genuine smile, and Twilight looked into their eyes, conveying gratitude and affection. The bittersweet moment held the promise of future reunions and adventures, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of all who were part of that magical friendship circle.

Twilight and Spike departed from the party lively, embarking on a leisurely stroll toward the northern outskirts of Canterlot. Their destination awaited – the rendezvous point with the royal guards who would accompany Twilight to Ponyville. Casting a serene glow on the cobblestone streets.

The walk, spanning approximately 15 minutes, allowed Twilight to reflect on the meaningful moments shared at Moondancer's celebration. The rhythmic click-clack of her hooves echoed through the quiet city, punctuating the otherwise calm day. Twilight, lost in her thoughts, was accompanied by Spike, whose tiny steps kept pace with her longer strides.

As they approached the designated meeting spot, the silhouette of the royal guards became visible. The impending departure marked the beginning of a new chapter and life as a pony.

When Spike and Twilight got on the cart that was strapped to the backs of the royal guards, they began to fly at a moderate speed in the sky.

"Spike, prepare the letter for Celestia, so she can send it to my parents," Twilight said while enjoying the wind and the sunlight that reflected on her.

Spike, always prepared for the occasion, took out a feather and a scroll. "I'm ready, Twilight," he said, paying all his attention to what Twilight was about to say.

"Dear Princess Celestia,

At this moment, I am en route to Ponyville to fulfill my mission. Unfortunately, I couldn't bid farewell to my parents as I was attending a friend's party when your letter arrived. Could you kindly compose a letter to my parents, informing them of my permanent move to Ponyville to deepen my understanding of friendship? Please reassure them that there's no need for sadness; I plan to visit whenever possible, and they can send letters to maintain our connection. Your assistance in this matter would be greatly appreciated, Princess.

Sincerely,
Twilight Sparkle"

Spike finishes writing the letter and spits fire on it, sending it to the princess.

"Thanks, man; that'll be all for now."

"You're welcome, Twilight. I'm surprised that you want to keep in touch with your parents; we hadn't seen them for months; you were so immersed in your studies." Spike said with surprise and, at the same time, pride at Twilight's change in focusing more on family and friends.

"That was the Twilight of before; now I have more objectives and goals than just studying, and I will be more sociable," she said. However, in her mind, she added, "Not only that, I will become a Pro Skater, BMX, Snowboarder, and other extreme sports, even a stunt performer. But first, I will need to use magic to bring those elements to Equestria if possible. But before that, I must find James and defeat Nightmare Moon."

"I am glad to hear that! This new side of you, I must say, I really like it," Spike said before the royal guards landed in Ponyville.

Twilight thanked the royal guards for the trip to Ponyville. They nodded and proceeded to return to the castle in Canterlot.

Twilight, after surveying her surroundings, thought, "James, I'm here; hang in there; I'll go look for you, brother."

To be continued

Comments

[cosmofur]

story is good so far, but I noticed some plot inconsistent points.

At this point in the canon story, and going just by the contents of Celestia's letter, no one but Twilight would know that her stay in Ponyville will be extended. Spike should have reacted or questioned that when she dictated the letter to her parents, of Celestia when she got that letter.
Also while I think you maybe doing this purposely to paint the protagonist as being shallow and give him/her room to grow, the compleat disregard of what happened to Twilight's original mind/soul is starting to be worry some. If he had inherited at least some of her memories or personality traits, then it might have been waved away as a merging of minds, but this is coming across of a murder of her personality. Anyway she better hit the books and get at least a few spells together, she's going to need to demonstrate some skill to secure the element of magic in the battle with Nightmare.

[AndyHunter]

11806973
Thank you for mentioning the first inconsistency, I had not realized that Twilight simply said go instead of stay, the dialogue was already corrected so that it is clear and maintains consistency with the dialogues of her friends.
Regarding that, at first I didn't know how to deal with that topic, because I thought that no one would care, that the main focus would be how my personality and that of my friend would impact Equestria.
But now that you mention it, maybe I'll find a way to explore it further, but at the moment I can't, since there are too many conflicts to resolve and to deal with them all in one chapter, that would be very overwhelming for me and would extend my adaptation of the first episode more than it should.