> The Definition of Fantasy > by Diamond Brook > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 (unedited) > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- fan·ta·sy /ˈfantəsē/ 1. The faculty or activity of imagining things that are impossible or improbable. ------------------------------------------------ All around me, I could see the world zoom by. I was becoming short of breath, and I could feel my legs giving out. I didn't know if I would make it, but I had to die trying. I could see my destination as I turned the last corner. I could hear screaming, but it was drowned out by the blood rushing to my ears. Just a hundred feet left, and I was home free. "Time", I gasped. I collapsed on the pavement in a tangle of limbs, none able to feel anything but the pounding of my head. I could also tell my vision was starting to blur a little, but that was the least of my concerns. "6:54. Good job", said the man with the stopwatch. He smiled at the young runner, and turned around to greet other runners finishing their mile. Yet his mind barely registered the compliment, and I could only focus on one thing. Water. The young runner turned around the bleachers, heading for the concessions stand. My next event, the 400 yard dash, was set to take place in 40 minutes, so There was some time. Approaching the brick building, he bent down to the fountain, and turned the handle. Yet nothing came out. "Damnit. I'm gonna to go all the way to the other side of the school now", said the young man. As he got up, he could hear the chant of his school's fight song in the distance. If he wanted to get back in time, he might want to hurry up. Breaking into a jog, he circled the school until he found what he was looking for. The outside access to the boys locker room. He found a little annoying that the locker rooms were closest to the baseball fields, considering baseball players sing even run, yet the soccer fields were here too, so that made it up for it. As he opened the door, the smell of body odor and Axe filled his nose. He could also hear some of the soccer players, yet it only seemed like a few we're left, and even then, they were getting ready to leave. Right as the runner had found the water fountain, he heard a disturbance behind him. "Dude, are you tripping again? It's only 1:00, and I know for a fact that you only woke up 15 minutes before warm-ups. You showed up with one shin guard on and you left your cleats in the car." "Levi, I'm not kidding. I saw a purple... Unicorn thing in the locker room. If we can just go-" "No", said the mystery man. "I am not helping you find your silly drug pony. Your on your own." "No, Alec, wait!" The slam of the door was the runner's cue that he was alone. "God damn druggies. Now even the soccer team has 'em? This school is turning to shit," he complained. And then he heard the sound of hooves on concrete. The runner spun around, excepting to see a goat or horse, or something. Yet all he was greeted with was an empty room. And then he heard it again. "Who's there? Who brought a horse in here" he said, a hint of worry in his voice. Nothing. "C'mon, who's there? I ain't gonna tell anyone." Still nothing. "Ok. I'm just gonna leave. Don't mind me." He turned to leave, and then he heard it again. The sound of hooves. He spun around, excepting to find a horse. I guess he was sort of correct. Facing him was the drug pony. The purple unicorn that Levi claimed he saw. Yet he knew for a fact he wasn't on drugs. Hell, he'd never taken drugs before in his life. And yet, there.... Well, he refused to call it a her, despite the fact that she was curvy all around. Oh yea, and the fact that she was purple. By hey, he wasn't one to make assumptions. She was about 4 feet all, she had some type of symbol emblazoned on her butt, and her eyes were way to big for her head. Her mane was trimmed in a straight line overhear forehead, and curved around her neck at the bottom. It had a pink and oriole stripe running through the kiddie, the rest being a dark purple. The same thing went for her mane. Oh, and she had a horn that was glowing purple. "Oh my god..... He was right," the runner said. "You can see me!?" The purple pony ducked behind a row of lockers, and he could see purple light protruding from the lockers. Probably her working her magic. "You can speak English! That's... That's impossible! Your a horse," the runner screamed. "Hey, I a, NOT a horse. I am a pony. A Unicorn to be more exact. And yes, I have an equine figure, but make no mistake, I am not one of your lowly horses," the purple pony snapped. Getting the magic wielding pony on your bad side didn't seem like a good idea. "Ok, ok, your a pony. My bad. Can you at least tell me your name?" "Twilight Sparkle. And who do I have the pleasure of acquainting? Do you represent the human race?" No, I'm not the.... No, that'd be the President or the Prime Minister or something. And I'm-" Suddenly, the creak of the locker room door was heard. If someone else saw this creature, they'd probably report it to the government. And everyone knew what happened next. "Quick, follow me," the runner said, trying to usher the Twilight to the opposite door. "And why should I follow you, mystery human," she protested. "How do I know you won't lead me into a trap." the sound of footsteps. And they were getting closer. "You can either come with me, or you can get caught and sent to the government" he pleaded. "Come on." Twilight looked between him and the approaching boys. With a hesitant look, she bolted for the door, trying to make as little noise as possible. Which was hard with hooves. The young man closed the door gently, trying not to make a noise. "Ok, first things first. How the hell did you get here?" "In a portal of course. That's the only known way to travel among the dimensions. The fabric of space and time is a delicate thing you know. Well, it's more like a train station, yet universes are woven together over and atop each other like fabric. Did you know that-" "No time Twilight. Where is this portal of yours," he asked. "In your amphitheater. Portals are easiest to make in central rooms. The flow of the Kratosphere is easiest to manipulate in a centrally located room." "The what?" "You humans may refer to it as "The Magical Realm", or however you want to dub it. It's official name is the Kratosphere." This pony was obviously well learned at what she did, but head to get her out of here. There would be time to marvel at her extensive knowledge later. Or at least he hoped there would be. "Wait, we don't have an amphitheater. You mean the gym?". "Hmm, is that what it's called? Interesting", she said to herself. "Just follow me, ok?" "You never told me your name", she stated. "Time and place Twilight. Time and place." The duo made their way to the gym without much interference, despite the schools janitors, which were too busy dusting off the computer screens to pay them any heed. Thank God it was just a Saturday, or they would have been doomed. When they entered the gym, the young man was really starting to doubt his sanity. There seemed to be nothing there. No other worlds portals, no other purple unicorns for him to gawk at. Just the school logo emblazoned in the middle of the gym, and the bleachers still extended from the wall from yesterday's assembly. "I thought you said that portals were best built in circular rooms", the runner said. "Yes, well when you come uninvited into another dimension, you do the best you can. This room is large, and that's the best I could hope for on short notice," she stated, as if she was talking to a kindergartner. "So where's this portal anyways, huh?" " I had to hide the magical emissions, so I terminated the gateway, but left the door here, so I wouldn't have to re-summon it. Saves a lot of work in the end", she said. "We'll, you have to leave, now. Can you get this working again?" "I could, but it would take about a half hour. Finding the right dimension takes time, and I don't want to waltz into the wrong one." "What happens if you do?" "You don't want to find out", she said matter-of-factly. Not wanting to make his brain explode, the runner played sentry and watched out for anything that could ruin this entire mission. H didn't want to be caught sneaking an alien out of the universe. About 15 minutes in, the hum of magic that he had frowned accustomed to faded into nothingness. "Everything's alright over there", he asked. "Why do you want me gone so bad", Twilight asked. "I don't want anyone getting their hands on you. Your ability to wield magic and use it is pretty awesome, but also highly valued in our world. A lot of people would go as far as to kill you to find the key to that power. I don't want to see that happen to you", he said. "Sooo.... Your trying to protect me?" "More or less, yes. Yes I am." "..... I've seen your species. I've watched you for a few days now. And nowhere, have I seen such a creature offer so much help and ask for nothing in return. I understand how much trouble you could be in because of me." "Think nothing of it. I'm sure a lot of others would have done the same thing", he protested. Despite the fact he knew that it was true, he couldn't help but cringe at the thought of how many people would have just turned her in for the money or captured her for her magic. The human race is sick like that. "Is that what you call them?" "Call what?" "Those things at the ends of your legs. Hands?" "No, at the end of our legs are our feet", he said as he gestured toward his right foot. "At the end of our arms is where our hands are. And these little tentacle like things at the end are our fingers. They help us grab things." "Very interesting. That must be one of the ways that you humans have survived without magic", she said, almost talking to herself at this point. "Twilight... The portal", the young man said. "That reminds me. You never told me your name", she said. She gave him a curios look, almost as if he was a an equation, and she was trying to figure out what to plug in. "What are the names from your world like", he asked. "Oh, well some are Rarity, Braeburn, Fluttershy, Princess Celestia, Fleur de Lis, Shining Armor. Why do you ask?" If she was asking for his name, he thought it fitting to give her a name that was domestic to her, not foreign. "........ Diamond Brook. You can call me Diamond Brook." "Diamond huh? Not bad. Has a good ring to it", she said. The rest of their time together was spent in silence, the only sound the constant hum of magic permeating the air. Their was the occasional fright, like a janitor coming in and investigating the noises. Luckily, Twilight knew an invisibility spell, so the two of them and the portal were unseen. "Just about done", Twilight said. As if on cue, the portal exploded with a burst of color, ranging from red to violet, and everything in between. Tendrils of energy coursed from the sides, giving the portal an appearance that did not appear friendly. "Thanks for getting me back here", Twilight said. "Aw, no problem Twilight. All in a day's work, right", Diamond teased, playfully shoving her shoulder. "Well, I guess this is goodbye", she whispered. She seemed sad, yet they had only known each other less than an hour. "Good luck, with your inter-dimensional travel. Hope you get back home soon", Diamond said. "Would you.... Would you like to come", she asked. Diamond froze in his place. "I can't Twilight. I have a life here, and a future ahead of me. I appreciate the offer, but I can't just leave. I'm sorry", he said. And he truly was. Wherever magic existed had to he a great place to live. Twilight tried to respond, but was cut off by the bang of a door closing. Both Diamond and Twilight turned around to find the entire soccer team, all still in uniform, standing at the far end of the gym. The only sound that could be heard was the energy being emitted from the giant portal in the middle of the gym. Suddenly, one of the boys jumped up from where he was standing, and yelled "I told you I'm not crazy Alec! She's right there!" "What are you doing with that thing", one of the boys asked, pointing at Diamond. "What are you gonna do with her", Diamond asked. He was starting to sweat, and whether it be from the fact that he was nervous, or the room was just naturally heating up, he didn't know, nor care. "We turn her into the government for money, of course! Besides, we don't want that thing running wild", said one of the other boys. "And what if I say no", Diamond demanded. He knew he couldn't take them all on, not alone. He just had to stall them till Twilight had the sense to jump in the portal and stop gawking. "Then things will get ugly", said the same boy. "Twilight, is that offer still open", Diamond asked. "Yup", she responded. "Then run. Run right now", he said.