> The Maria Chronicles: Book 2 Origins > by Sea Pony > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Ponyfied > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two days had passed since I tried to return to Earth and was almost killed by the student of Kira. Being a pony suck, at least it suck right now. I’m barely able to walk more than one hundred meter before I have to stop or I fall. And I have to pick thing with my mouth since I’m not even able to do basic levitation yet. I can’t understand how North Arrow and Cloudy Night have pick things with their mouth all their life. At least the immune system of the ponies are reallly strong compared to humans. The only thing they can caugh is strange things like feather flu, horn rot and other similar things that seem to be related to their races. I don’t know if they have mortal illness. Not that would matter in this world anyway. If we die our soul will simply create a new body, it wouldn’t hurt any less to die through. My firends told me I should change of name since Maria in Equestria is a name for Griffins, Donkey, Mule and pretty much any sapient beings who can’t have a cutie mark. But there was no way I would change my name . As much I like the ponies their name are way too weird for me. And in a way my name is the last possession I have left from Earth maybe some humans would be happy to let their human heritage behind but not me. Yes humans can be an horrible race at time. But it can also be a very kind race sometimes. Even if I didn’t really got the chance to see that kind side of humanity for myself apart for my family. ``Maria! Stop daysreaming we will be late for school!`` A very pink Alicorn exclaimed with a frown. Cadence became my best friend since the first day I found myself in Equestria. In a way I consider her like the sister I never had. ``How can I go to school if I can barely even walk?`` I whined. It felt good to hear my voice like that. Three months before my landing in this magical land I had lost my ability to talk in the fire that killed my family. If there was one good thing being ponyfied did was to cure my muteness. ``Oh come on I saw you trot through the entire city of Canterlot yesterday you can do it!`` The young princess replied impatiently . ``I was lucky to do it. But fine, don’t complain if we’re still late because I couldn’t stay on my four hooves all the time.`` With that I slowly rose from my bed and shakily put my four new limbs on the floor. I almost lose my balance immediatly. But Cadence was there to catch me with her magic. She put an encouraging smile and we slowly trot together out of the Canterlot castle. This would be a very long day I could arleady tell. - - - - - - Princess Celestia the powerful ruler of Equestria and the legendary fake goddess of Equis stood before the four oldest and powerful being in existence. The elders gods. ``Ah! Hello Celestia, long time no see. Now what can we do for you?`` Dozens of voice both male and female ask at the same time. The voices all came from Author the father of the other three elders and the creator of the world as we know it. ``I want to talk about Maria Ink my adoptive daughter I took under my wing one year ago and Solana the student of Kira.`` At the mention of his star pupil the elder god of death tensed up but tried to keep his neutral expression. ``Yes I heard of it. But I’m afraid I can’t help you. Maria and her friend broke the law by travelling in the Gaia branch.`` ``She would have broke the law if she was a resident of the Kira Branch. But at the time she was still connected to the Gaia branch she didn’t broke any law.`` Celestia countered. It was then Kira that began to speak. ``But she still bring someone of the Kira branch in the mortal world. She’s still guilty of bringing information of us to a Gaia world.`` Kira was knowed to always defend his student when she was in trouble with the law. Something Celestia really didn’t need at the moment. She sigh sadly. She really did not like to hurt ponies or people for that matter but there was no way she would let Maria go because of this. ``No offence to your student Kira. But the law thirty-two state clearly that if an angel or knight of the coucil who broke the law take care of a crime. The case immediatly become invalid unless murder or rape is include in the charge of the suspect.`` ``What are you implying Celestia?`` Kira ask his eyes narrowing at the Alicorn. ``Solana took the case without even asking any of you, that break one law. She tried to kill Maria, breaking a second law and she herself travelled into the Gaia branch without the permission from anyone working for the coucil, breaking a third law and that not even mentioning the less than orthodox ways she solved some cases in the past.`` Celestia said with her best poker face but inside she felt almost bad for hurting Kira to protect Maria. Almost. ``How dare you?! You have no right to accuse my student as if she was a simple criminal scum!-`` Kira began to scream only to be stop by the booming voices of Author. ``She is right Kira. I let Solana stay in the coucil because I know you care for her. But she had no right to attack this young girl like she did. I have no choice but to cancel this whole case. But be warned Celestia. If Maria travel in the Gaia branch a second time. She will have to pay for her crime no matter what.`` ``I understand, have a good day Author.`` And with that Princess Celestia extended her wings and took off in the starry sky of the veil. Leaving a fuming Kira who glared at her flying form in fury. - - - - - - ``Good morning class! Today we have three new students who will come in our class.`` All the students whispered to each other in surprise. One new student was arleady rare but three? And in the same day no less. The first one to enter was myself. Now would maybe be the time to describe how I look like as a pony. My coat was beige, my eyes were sky blue, I had a long pink mane covering almost half of my face and my tail was curl up in two parts at the end (Think of Sweetie Bell tail, but longer.) And as far I knew I didn’t have any cutie mark yet. Weid since I knew what I want to do. Maybe the magic hadn’t realise it yet since I’m new in this world. I really don’t know how this work. ``Hi! My name is Maria Ink. I’m technically not new here but since I was transformed into a pony I had to register a second time.`` I could clearly see on the face of the pony- I mean people that it wasn’t the presentation they expected. The second student was a white colt with a neon blue mane. His cutie mark was a shield with a purple star displayed on it. ``Hi my name is Shining Armor.`` I had to resist the urge to laught at his name. The only thing that would be funnier would be that he became a prince or something. ``I want to become a royal guard so I decided to come at the Canterlot school for foreign species to learn about the races around the world. I also came because I didn’t want to let my fillyfriend here alone.`` For some strange reason I could see Cadence slump in her chair at the mention of his fillyfriend. The third student was a shy looking mare with a yellow coat and a brown mane. ``Three ponies? Isn’t this suppose to be a school for foreign student?`` I heard the minotaur of the class ask quietly. When he saw the mare aproaching Shining Armor roll his eyes clearly annoyed at her for some reasons. ``h-Hi m-my name is... NIGHTMARE MOON!`` Instantly a green fire overtook the pony before she became the mare of the moon I heard so much about. Every student even the teacher began to scream at the top of their lung. The colt from Sadle Arabia even faint on the stop. Then the mare of the moon was once again enveloped in a green fire leaving a filly laughing her flank off on the floor. But the filly was anything but normal. She was completely black and seem to have no fur, her mane was strange, I didn’t knew exactly what it was made of, she had bug-like wings, her horn looked like a twist thing that shouldn’t even work at all and she had hole in her legs. The only thing that look more or less normal about her was her green eyes but even them didn’t look completely pony. ``Chrysalis! This is no way to behave! You made one of the students faint for Celestia sake!`` The new white colt said glarring at her. So her name was Chrysalis then? Fitting in a way. ``Oh come on Shiny it was just in good fun. Beside what do you think they would do for just a little prank? I’m the Princess of the changeling hive they wouldn’t dare touch me.`` ``Even if your a princess this is no way too treat the others! You shouldn’t abuse your position!`` Cadence cried disaprovingly from her seat. ``Oh I will show you all about positions, sexy.`` Chrysalis wink sugestively at the pink princess who let out a loud ‘Eep!’ As she became as red as a tomato. ``Chrysalis! Do I need to remind you that we’re dating?`` Shining Armor ask annoyed with his fillyfriend. ``Oh don’t worry Shiny I’m sure there would be enough place for you in the bed.`` She smirk playfully. The colt facehoof before taking a seat in the class. Chrysalis roll her eyes before she join him and I aslo took my usual place. The teacher clear her troat trying to regain control of the situation. ``Miss Chrysalis for your disturbance of the class and making Francis faint you will need to stay after class.`` The changeling Princess groan at this. ``Cadence since you’re the most powerful magic user here could you take Francis to the infirmery?`` The pink Alicorn who still had a blush from the changeling comment nod before levitating the colt out of the class. ``Today class we will talk about Sadle Arabian culture.`` How convenient she talk about this now that the only pony coming from there left the room. ``Saddle Arabian are the only type of pony knowed in Equestria to not have a cutie mark. So they don’t have the same type of names we have either. ``They are knowed across the world for their advanced medicine. The Saddle Arabian is a race that stayed a lot closer to our ancestor the horses than us. Because of that they are still a magicless race. ``The saddle Arabian can’t bend their legs like we do. Because of that they have to do absolutely everything with their mouth and tail.`` At that moment I was very happy I had became a Equestrian pony. ``Also at the opposite of us. The gender of the ponies play a major role in their culture. The mares are always the ones leading the stallions. While the stallion are chose as protector and caretaker of the family.`` Wait gender doesn’t play a role in equestria? I hadn’t notice it but I guess I saw a lot of ponies doing what they wanted compared as to what I’m used to back home in the United Kingdom. Back home a woman like North Arrow wouldn’t really be able to go on epic adventure and become archeologue as far as I know. But then again female seem to be the dominant gender here so I wondered if it was the the reverse role for a while. But I guess Equestria is even more perfect I through it was. The teacher talk about the culture for a while I quickly became bored to death and fell asleep on the desk. Chrysalis seem to do the same while Shining Armor and Cadence stayed awake to listen to the lesson. Opening > New Eden Part 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ``You can do it Maria,`` Celestia said encouragely. I scrunch my face in concentration, ``You did it!`` My adoptive mother exclaimed proudly. I open my eyes and sure enough the vase was levitating in front of me with a dark blue aura. I was going to put victorious smile but that was before my magic withered away letting the vase shattering on the floor of the castle. I wince and look at the princess ashamed of my poor performance. ``It’s okay Maria we have plenty of other vases in the castle. Learning magic is not a easy task I didn’t expected you to learn levitation so quickly.`` ``Why am I learning magic so quickly? I barely learned to walk on four hooves and you expect me to learn spells?`` I ask with a frown. ``Well the reasons I want you to learn is because I know you are ready and also because I’m tired of hearing you complaining about how ‘disgusting’ it is to grab things with your mouth.`` She said the last part with a roll of her eyes. ``Well I don’t think I’m ready, every Unicorns of my age at least arleady know how to levitate and do the light spell. I must have a sort of magical disability!`` Years of praticed at enduring stuffy nobles was the only thing that keep Celestia from groaning. ``Maria you don’t have any disability, the other Unicorns of your age know more spells because they have been preparing themself to study magic since the day they were born! On the other side you weren’t even a pony one week ago.`` ``In the stories my dad was telling me before I sleep magic seem so easy yet out of reach and now that I have the ability to cast spells I can’t even do it. I wonder how he would react now that her daughter is a farm animal.`` Celestia was about to protest that ponies were no simple animals but bite back her words when she saw my sad expression. She through for a moment before a smirk cross her lips. ``Maria I think it’s finaly time you and I go on a long overdue trip.`` I was about to ask what she was talking about but before I could react me and her where engulfed into a golden aura. - - - - - Do you know the sensation of falling? This sensation that the comfortable safety of the solid ground is gone replaced with the terror of moving to a insane speed where you can’t imagine you will survive? Well imagine all of these sensations happening in the space of a single second and multiply it by ten and you might have an idea of what teleporting feel like. ``I’m so sorry Maria I didn’t think this through I was so excited and I didn’t had to teleport for so long that I forgot how it felt.`` I didn’t respond instead I droop my ears in shame and lowered my head. I might have peed myself from the experience. Yeah not my proudest moment in my life. at least I could recomfort myself in thinking that Celestia have seen much more embarrassing displays in her extremely long lifetime. Fortunately Celestia was able to wash most of it with her magic. Now that it was taken care of I could finaly see what was around us. I could see a huge city a little bigger than Canterlot, in the end of the city was a tall castle made of brick. Multiple flags were displayed at the top of the castle, the symbol was a red talon on a white background. But the thing that stood above all in the city for me wasn’t the batiments but the inhabitant. Instead of ponies like I became accustomed to the city was full of... ``Griffins?!`` I exclaimed loudly. ``Welcome to Griffonya, the biggest country on the Equus continent and the second most powerful country in the world. They are not our allies, but we have been in peace with each other for generations. The griffins might not like the ponies all that much. But they respect us for dethroning all the tyrants that rose up in our country.`` Celestia developped a frown as she through of something before she snap out of it. ``Anyway! We’re not here for the griffins my little pony.`` Why does everytime she say that line, I feel like I’m missing a reference? ``Look what’s behind you.`` I follow her instruction and was surprised at what I saw. In front of me was a pu5ple gate made of pure energy, it was half as tall as the Canterlot castle. It’s weird but I felt like the magic coming from there was very potent and really ancient, despite me being inexperinece with magic. ``What is that?`` I ask after a full minute of silence. ``This is the Veil, every single worlds apart from Oasis was created by the magic contained inside of it. It is also where the four creators of the worlds hold their council.`` Celestia had a familiar smile on her face. When she was in her lecture mode there was nothing to stop her t’ill her lesson was over. ``So why are we here exactly?`` ``It would ruin the surprise if I told you, follow me.`` With that the Princess trot into the magical gate. The griffins who stood as a guard didn’t even bother asking what was our business when he saw that it’s was Princess Celestia who had enter in the Veil. - - - - - All the way through this strange ‘Veil’ Celestia kept silent. We finally arrived in front of a golden door where a cross was engraved on it. I noticed that every door we passed was engrave with a symbol or another, the cross was the only one recognizable for me. ``Wait a second Maria`` Celestia interupted me in my trot. She aproach me with a pendant she held in her magical grasp. On the pendant was a small looking gem which was glowing with a golden aura the same color Celestia’s magic had. ``What is that?`` I raise an eyebrow at her. ``This is similar to a soul catcher, only it is designed to only absorbed magic spells.`` I didn’t know what was a soul catcher in the first place but I didn’t ask for now. ``Since we’re going to a world of level D you will need this. it is enchanted so that it wash your entire body with magic, so you don’t fall unconsious because of the lack of magic.`` Celestia put the pendant on my neck and instantly I felt the familiar warm sensation of Celestia’s magic wash over me. ``Won’t you need one too?`` I ask cautiously. ``I have a spark of level A, I don’t need magic to survive like my little ponies.`` The levels were something attribute to mesure how strong the spark of a being was. It was classed from F, the plants and small insects, to A, the gods and goddesses. There was also a level S but since only four beings in existence had a soul of that level we tend to not talk about it very often. Contrary to the other living beings, the people with sparks of level B, A and S could adapt to any worlds and didn’t need a certain amouth of magic to survive. Since I became level C by becoming a pony I needed a daily dose of magic, at the opposite of humans who would die if they were exposed to a stronger dose of magic to a long period of time. Anyway now that the small lesson is over let’s get back at the subject at hoof- I mean hands, these ponies are begining to get to me with their awful horses puns. When it was done we began to trot to the small door. Celestia shot me a encouraging smile and I open the door with a hoof. I gasp in wonder as soon as I came on the other side. The ground beneath me were made of clouds. What surprise me was that I could stand on it. Only Pegasi and griffins where suppose to be able to stand on clouds. So how could I? ``The entire place is enchanted with a cloud walking spell, normaly we cast the spell on a single pony but the Elders cast a powerful everlasting spell on this entire country so that everyone could stand on it at anytime.`` ``This is amazing. What is this place?`` I ask, I’m sure my eyes were sparkling at this point as a pony who’s passion was to write fantasy novel this was a dream come true. Oh sure I had Equestria with magical talking ponies. But when you live with them for one year it’s made them not so fantasist anymore. ``Welcome to New Eden, or as you humans used to call it, Heaven.`` Celestia state with a wide smirk. ``t-This is really...?`` I stuttered in disbelief. ``Well maybe not exactly, but the Elders helped the humans to recreated this place the more acurately they could, if it live up to the one in your old books it’s not in my knowledge.`` ``It’s wonderful that you show me this, but why? I arleady have a place to live in Equestria as tempting it is to live here I’m happy where I am.`` Celestia giggle at me. ``We’re not here for you to come live here Maria, think about it for a second, most humans of your time wanted to come here once they die. And every single soul that died in the Gaia branch get to choose where they want to live.`` I looked at her still confused before it clicked in my mind. ``My family!`` ``Yes I checked with the Elders and your family indeed chosed to come here. They live in a small house not too far from here. One warning through, because of the magical book of Free Dreamer your family have not seen you for centuries while you have only lost them for a year and three months.`` My eyes widden in shock before I narrowed my eyes. ``Wait a minute why did you wait all this time to show me this place?! I could have visit my family all this time!`` I glare harshly at the Princess. Celestia sighed sadly. ``I wanted you to have a chance to choose if you wanted to come back in your homeworld and live your mortal live. I knew if you came here you wouldn’t even consider leaving the Kira branch for your old life. But now since your tie to the Gaia branch has been cutted I through it was time you finally see your family.`` ``How will they react now that I’m a pony?`` I ask worriedly. ``I assume they will be shocked at first but do not worry too much about them rejecting you. They have lived here for a long time and became more than acustomed to the other sapient species, contrary to the humans who still live in your old world obvious about how the world really work.`` Celestia with a reasuring smile. ``Now follow me we don’t have all day.`` I followed my adoptive mother, it’s really weird to call her that I think more of Celestia as a mentor than a mother I think I’m just not ready to replace my real mom with another just yet. Anyway like I said. I followed Celestia awkwardly not just because I still had difficulty to walk on four limbs but also because at each steps I almost expected to fall through the clouds. Now I know how weird it felt like for Jesus to walk on the water, well that is if he really existed I should probably check on that. When we pass through the first batiment I saw a lady giving us stink eyes, I noticed that her glare was more aimed at Celestia than on me. ``Don’t worry about it Maria.`` Celestia said calmly, I am that easy to read? ``Almost everypo- I mean everybody who came here were strong believers of your religion. And since I am consider a goddess my presence alone can offend greatly some of them. But most of them came to accept that their beliefs where not wrong, but inacurated.`` I can’t imagine how it would be to dedicate every living breath of your life to a belief that wasn’t completely true. Sure I believed in christianity back home. But me being atracted to girls made me more than rejected by the church and I think I came to resent a being that couldn’t accept me for how it created me in the first place. So I wasn’t hit that hard when I learned that some of it wasn’t as acurated as I through. My line of through was interupted when I heard a loud voice screaming orders. And I got to say what I saw wasn’t what I expected. We were now standing on a small bridge below us was a small street made of bricks constructed over the clouds. Marching on it, was a squad of man and woman each wearing proudly a pure white set of fake-looking wings. ``Who are these soldiers?`` I ask to Celestia making her stop in her track. ``Those are the knights of the coucil or more commonly called by humans the angels. They’re wings are fake and are just for show. The real wings of the knights are made by pure magic, they only create them when they go fly because it would take too much magic out of them otherwise.`` Celestia responded. ``But I through humans where a magicless race.`` I look at her in confusion. ``Normal humans are magicless.`` She respond with a nod. ``But the humans who share blood-tie with the Elders family developed a soul of level C instead of level D and they can learn to cast spell. Most of them can’t do anything past wing conjuration and spiritual orbs. Oh! And they can also survive in both types of world of level D and C.`` ``But does that mean that every humans with magical powers are reunited here? I can’t imagine there that many humans with magical powers.`` Celestia laugh at my question. ``You would be surprised how many people share a bloodline with the Elders. In all of the multiverse almost thirty percent of humans have magic powers. There also humans who are still have a soul of level D and learned to cast spell.`` ``How?!`` I ask genuinely curious about this. ``Well like I said the humans who are connected to the Elders in a certain way developed magic, but since they are many races in this world it is not unheard of that some interspecies relashionship will give birth to a human, but humans who didn’t become a sort of hybrid by a interspecies relashionship are most of the time been given life by magic induced pregnancy. ``When that happen it’s rare that the baby will share as much gene with the second parent than pregnancy given by the natural way. But their soul will be strongly mixed with the magic of the father or mother who casted the magic induced pregnancy. And because of that they’re chances they can still cast spells. But most of them need the help of a magical conductor like a magic wand, a staff and some even dare to use a soul catcher.`` Her expression darkened when she mentioned the last. ``What is a soul catcher?`` I tilt my head confused, this was not something I heard at school. ``Don’t worry about it, oh look! We’re here.`` Celestia exclaimed looking happy to have dodge the question. We arrived in front of a small house made of almost rotten wood, one of window was brocken probably by a kid who played a game or something. A patch of grass was planted all around the small structure and I could see small flowers and fruits decoring the poor looking environement. I gulped as a strong nervousness attacked me. I didn’t saw them for over a year. I admit for the longest time I held a fantasy where they would just smile and greet me and everything would become perfect finally. I now realised how childish this fantasy seem, my parents where more accepting than most humans of my world. But that was mostly because my dad had to explore a lot of subjects when he wrote his novel and developed a strong open mind. But could they accept their daughter becoming a mare, or even worse could they forgive me for having abandoned them for centuries? As Celestia knocked each noise produced by the wooden door sounded more like the marching of an unforgiving army than a simple pounding. My heart beated faster than it ever had and when the door finally creak open a huge lump developed itself in my throat. This was the moment of truth. - - - - - In a simple looking back alley. A loud metalic wheezing sound interupted the calm and peace of New Eden. Fortunately no one seem to be pertubed by the strange sound. When the wheezing came to an end a blue box was materialised in the once calmed back alley. A brown stallion with a hourglass cutie mark poke it head out of the blue box before he grin and looked back behind him. ``Ditzy, Winter Song I present you New Eden!`` He said in a proud voice. > New Eden Part 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The knights of the coucil marched in the small town clearly determined to their task at hand. ``Citizen of New Eden! Please go in your home and lock your door! This is not a drill! I repeat! Go in your home and lock your door!`` The lieutenant yell, the families who were since now enjoying a calm day in the park quickly vanished back in their home. Each knights formed a small circle around a small area each of them pointed their guns in front of themself waiting for the next orders. They didn’t have to wait a long time before a flash of magic appeared in the middle of the park. When the sandy yellow magic vanished all was left was a man and a woman. The man was short, had black hair and yellow eyes. The woman had sky blue eyes and a long pink mane that covered most of her face. ``I think we land in the wrong neighborhood.`` the man said to himself. ``Free Dreamer! Ex Harmonys’s knight so nice to see you.`` The lieutenant said slowly with a low feminine tone. Free Dreamer narrow his eyes at her. ``Solana, the protégé of Kira, I can’t say I’m very pleased at seing you right now.`` Free said through his gritting teeth. ``Petty, but we’re not here for you. Fluttershy! You are accused of using a soul catcher and murder.`` The human version of Fluttershy gasp in shock. ``b-But I never did such thing.`` She said through tears filled eyes. ``Keep your lies for Kira. For now you are under arrest, resist and you will endure harshs consequences`` The Rito responded coldly extending her feathery wings menacingly. - - - - - I couldn’t believe she was standing just before me. After all this time I could finally see her, as if this entire year have been nothing but a dream and I now only woke up to find my family back. I knew it wasn’t the truth but it was a fantasy I would have like to come true, that is before I met my pony friends. In front of us was my mother, the only person that ever accept me for who I am before I met Celestia and Cadence. My mom look at us with a critical eye. ``Hello there I don’t think I had the chance to meet you two before, and no offence but I don’t really know what type of horse you are.`` I wince as she said the word horse, treating a pony of horse is like calling a human of ape. It’s not that big of an insult. But the thing was that she was talking to royalty and not a common pony. ``The correct term is pony and my species is called Alicorn and my... Student here is a Unicorn.`` My mother hesitanly nod after a second. ``I’ve met my fair share of species since I came in New Eden. But I got to admit talking ponies is a new one.`` She said with a wry smile. ``Oh! But look at me playing thirty questions, whatever reasons you came here you must be exhaust from the travel come inside.`` With that the tension was gone and we followed my mother inside. We arrived in the kitchen, there was my father sipping on a cup of tea while he proof read his latest novel. I admit I was a little surprise he would continue to write them after so long. But at the same time it’s was recomforting in a nostalgic way he did so. ``Do you two want some tea?`` Celestia eyes literaly lit up at the sugestion and accepted the offer. On the other hand I refused I never knew how so many pon- people took a liking to it. When my mother sat on a chair at the side of my father I tried to do the same, which fail miserably as my flank crashed on the chair resulting in me being sprawled miserably on the wooden floor. My mother raise a eyebrow at me. ``Anyway, I make a duty to greet everyone who are a guest. But I want to know why two perfect stranger-`` I wince at being remind that I’m so different than what I’m used to be that even my mother didn’t recognise me. ``-Are doing here? We’re only normal peasant in New Eden and we have nothing to hide...`` She narrowed her eyes at Celestia. ``So what would make the famous fake goddess of Equestria interested in us?`` My eyes widden in surprise, but how?! Mom never show any sign she recognise the Princess, she didn’t even knew the name of her species a minute ago! So how could she know that? ``I’m sorry for the little act earlier, the separatists of New Eden take great mesure so that no one mention anything about the Kira branch especially everything concerning the coucil and the gods surounding it.`` And that what they call heaven?! I would have believe free speach would have been a common thing at least. All thing considered Equestria does seem a lot more like the heaven they talked about than this place. The only difference is that instead of angels singing we have talking ponies, minor details. ``But in our house no one should be listening, so what do you two want?`` She demanded the two of us. Celestia took another sip of her tea and fixed my mom with her gentle gaze. ``I also have to admit I didn’t said the entire truth earlier, my ‘student’ as I put it was put under my protection after a accident where she was teleported through space and time because of one of my old... Acquaintance and had the chance to landed in my kingdom, Equestria. Her name is Maria Ink, your daughter.`` - - - - - ``Ok I admit this place may be bigger than Cloudsdale, but it’s still a mediocre replica.`` Winter Song complained. ``Well the humans do not have the ability to move clouds like you Pegasi do.`` The Doctor replied defensively. ``Maybe, but they had the help from the council to built this place, while Pegasi had nothing but their own strenght, they have no excuse.`` ``I have to agree with Winter on this one.`` Said a wall-eyed Pegasus beside the sandy yellow colored mare. ``Ditzy not you too!`` The brown stallion facehoof. ``Ok maybe it isn’t that great of a place to visit but come on! Today will be the day that will lead to the disband of the separatist governement. One of the most hidden case in history! How can you not want to discover what happened?!`` ``Knowing our luck the Daleks will be involved... Again`` The grey Pegasus said flatly. ``What are the Daleks anyway?`` The newest memeber of the team asked. ``It’s none of your concerns Winter.`` The Doctor brushed off the question. The mare with the green and blue mane was about to protest but was interupted by the loud yelling of a woman. ``Quick find a place to hide!`` Ditzy Doo and Winter flew above a cloud while the Doctor crawled under a park table. As they hided a strong looking woman with a beak above her mouth and talons where her feeth should be, guided a squad of knights. In the middle of the knights was a downcasted woman followed by a fuming man bounded in chains. The hybrid woman had a black eye probably from one of the prisoner. Considering how meek the pink hair woman was. It’s wasn’t hard to conclude the man was responsible for attacking the lieutenant. Once the marching knights pass through the street, the three time travelers crawled out of their hidden places. ``This woman looked like a human version of mom! And if I’m not mistaken the man was Time Skip. This must be the day his version of Fluttershy died.`` Winter Song clench her teeth before looking at the Time Lord. ``We have to save her!`` The younger mare cried. ``We can’t do that, it could possibly change important events of the past and thus rewriting the history as we know it.`` The Doctor responded in a matter of fact tone. ``b-But we just can’t let her die like this! There must be a way to help her!... Doctor? Where are you?`` As she finished to beg the time traveler. The sandy colored mare noticed that the Doctor was gone. Ditzy Doo pointed a hoof to the stallion who was arleady galloping in the cloudy street. ``Look like he’s arleady off to save the damsel in distress.`` She said as if it was a expected thing to happen. ``w-What? But he just said...`` She noticed that the wall-eyed mare had arleady took off in the sky. Winter Song shook her head before she flared up her own wings and flew after them. - - - - - It’s not everyday that a living goddess come to your house to announce that your daughter became a magical talking pony. So you might imagine the shock of my parents when they learned the new. ``You mean to say that our daughter who disapeared from the face of the world for almost three centuries, was transported into Equis and was transformed in a Unicorn?`` My father said with a disturbingly calm voice. ``I’m afraid so.`` Celestia confirmed. ``...Glad to see you’re finally home Maria`` He said simply with a old looking smile, the kind you see a old man do when his last wish was realised before he could leave his life in peace. ``Welcome home?! This is all you have to say?!`` My mother on the other end was a little less relaxed about the situation. ``If I understand correctly you were in Equestria for a year before you were transformed in this! Why didn’t you visit us sooner?!`` She glared accusingly right at me. ``I-I didn’t know you were there, Celestia showed me this place just today.`` She turn her glare to Celestia. ``Why didn’t you show this place to Maria sooner?! She wouldn’t have been forced to be transformed into a farm animal if you told her the truth!`` At this moment I wished I hadn’t recuperate the power of speech. Because it took every fiber of my being to not scream that the ponies of Equis were nothing like farm animals. Celestia took the offensive insult as if it was nothing. ``I didn’t show her this place because I through there would be a chance for her to return in her world, if she saw you two do you really think she would return in a world where she lost everything?`` The two parents was silent at that. ``I know that Equestria and New Eden was more safe and peaceful than Earth thanks to the coucil. But I didn’t want her the option of living a normal mortal live taken from her. She was actually going to return to Earth but because of a accident with one of my subject and a reckless member of the angels-`` I knew that ‘reckless’ wasn’t exactly how she wanted to describe Solana at the moment but she restrain herself to insult the knights furthermore in front of my parents. ``-We had some complication and because Maria had a bad reaction to magic we had to transform her immediatly.`` ``Why didn’t you transport her out of Equestira if she had a reaction to the magic of level C? She wouldn’t have to be transform if you did.`` My mother wasn’t convinced with the story of Celestia her scowl clearly showed that. ``Like I said a reckless member of the coucil attacked Maria and her pony friend, I had to talk to the coucil so that she wouldn’t be consider as a criminal because of the misunderstanding. But if we waited for me to clear up the case before transforming Maria she would have died, her soul would have fused with the magic of Equestria and she would lose all her human memories before becoming a pony normal pony who wouldn’t remember it’s past live.`` My eyes grew wider at this. Celestia had never said this she just said I would die I kind of assume I would have go to heaven or something like that if I died. But I guess this place we’re currently in, is the closest thing to that fabled paradise we will ever get. ``I know it’s confusing and maybe frightening, but Maria is still your daughter even if she changed of form.`` Celestia assured the mother. The mother pause for a second considering the words of the goddess before a cold expression overcame her. ``As far as I know Maria died with us nine century ago and never made it here. This thing is not and will never be my daughter. I will never accept an animal as my Maria, you probably changed her brain and her personality when you changed her of body. With all the respect I owe you Goddess.`` She spat the word with disgust. ``You and this animal are not welcome in this house go back to your magical land and leave us alone.`` In a instant it was as if my entire world came crashing down, I felt as if someone had punch my heart altering my happy mood of finding my family to extreme sadness and depression. My mother, the only person who ever accepted me for my sexuality in the cruel world I knew had threw me like a simple rag doll because of my new species. At that moment I want to be like these strong charachters in the books who were able to bottle their emotions when someone insult them and always kept their dignity intact. But the true was that I became a sobbing mess. I felt sad and above all ashamed to give the satisfaction to my mother of seeing me weak and helpless. Celestia probably knew exactly how I felt and quickly teleport us out of the house. As soon as we where in the street, the ruler of the sun put my head on her shoulder caressing my mane. I sob my heart out on her mane t’ill I couldn’t stand anymore. > New Eden Part 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Doctor and his companions aproached the detention center of the town. The Doctor and Derpy where confident. But Winter being on her first travel with the Time Lord was a little more nervous about the situation. The door was blocked by a tall human with two fake wings placed on his back. ``I can’t let you enter there sir.`` The Doctor responded by putting a blank piece of paper in his face. ``We are sent by Elder Gaia to investigate where the suspect found the soul catcher.`` He said convincingly. ``Oh sorry sir, I didn’t know you were coming.`` The guard step away letting pass the stallion and the two mares in the detention center. When they arrived at the cells they heard the sobbing of a woman. The human Fluttershy had her face completely hidden by her pink hair. ``Hello Fluttershy.`` The Doctor began to say. ``We are friends, we can get you out of here if you want.`` That caught the attention of the woman. ``Can you save Free Dreamer too?`` ``Sure,`` the stallion responded with a smile, but Derpy whipered in his ear. ``Are you sure it’s a good idea to save them? Free Dreamer is suppose to kill Peace Dreamer in the future. Saving them could change all that and Winter Song might not even exist.`` ``We will think of something.`` He reassured her before taking his sonic screwdriver in his mouth and unlock the door of the cell and he did the same for Fluttershy’s handcuffs. After freeing her they made their way to the second cell. Inside the human of earlier was there. He also had handcuffs except that his were made of a strange black crystal. ``My aunt told me about this type of crystal, they stop the flowing of magic. But I through only Sombra could conjure those.`` Winter explained. ``Well it look like the coucil got their hands on some.`` The Doctor replied before unlocking the cell. ``Why are you helping us? You came out of nowhere to save us, why?`` Free Dreamer asked to him. ``Because I always help the innocents in need, normally when they are attacked by aliens, but I help them nonetheless. And I also help you because my companion here.`` He pointed at Winter Song. ``Is the daughter of the pony version of Fluttershy.`` He chuckled as his handcuffs came off. ``I never through I would see the day where ponies of all the races in the Kira’s branch would come to my rescue, but it’s a good surprise.`` ``There guards everywhere outside. How far can you teleport?`` Derpy ask to Free Dreamer. ``Anywhere anytime in this world. Even I can’t teleport past the Veil.`` ``Ok so can you teleport us far away from this prison?`` Winter Song ask. He chuckled again. ``With pleasure,`` he grabbed the hand of Fluttershy and the hoof of the Doctor. The group proceed each give an appendage to each other and as soon as it was done they were teleported out of the detention center. - - - - - How could she do that? Treating me like I was a simple mind beast and chasing me like I was nothing. I through she loved me maybe I was wrong. ``Princess Celestia, can we go home now?`` I ask to the ruler of the day in return she looked at me sadly. ``I guess we can go.`` She said but as soon as the words left her mouth I scream as a yellow light appear in the middle of the street. When the glow vanished a lone man was standing there looking lost. ``Oh fuck! Where are the others?! I probably send them somewhere else. My teleportations always suck when I’m in a world of level D.`` ``Hey I know you! You’re the man who gave me that magical book!`` I screamed in realisation. He spun around before realisation cross his face. ``Oh you’re Maria Ink right? I almost didn’t recognise you in this new form.`` ``Why did you gave me this book?! Now my mother hate me and I’m stuck with hooves why couldn’t you leave me alone?!`` I scream in anger. ``I’m sorry for what I did Maria but things will go better in the future I promise.`` ``That didn’t answer my question! Why did you gave me that book?!`` I ask slowly gritting my teeth. ``I can’t give a big spoiler of your future. But your daughter will become one of the most important ponies for the future of Equestria.`` He look at the Princess and said one simple word I wouldn’t understand the meaning for the next few years. ``Kindness.`` Celestia’s eyes widden before looking at me strangely. ``Well it’s been good to see you again but I gotta go find my friends.`` With that the man disapeared. Me and Celestia made our way back home in Equestria. - - - - - Free Dreamer had to teleport multiple times to find Fluttershy. When he finally found her he was not met with the warm welcome he had hoped. His eyes shrunk in horror as he saw his best friend at the edge of the clouds curtain in the distance surounded by a dozen of knights with guns pointed at her. The poor woman had a bag on her head, he couldn’t see her properly from the distance but he definetly recognise her sweeter. ``Fluttershy!`` Free Dreamer prepare himself to teleport but he dropped on his knees when the knights fired at the woman. Fluttershy was tored by dozens of bullets and fell down the cliff, the silence that followed could be cut with a knife. Free Dreamer couldn’t believe what he saw and he was left there in complete shock. This day something snapped in the head of the time traveler and the actions he would commit would change his life for the worse. ``AHHHHH!`` He screamed in pure rage and hatred as he charge at the squad of knights. The man and woman looked at the charging man unsure what to do, that was before the man in question killed ones of their teammate by throwing spiritual orbs. ``Don’t you see he’s gone batshit insane?! Kill him!`` Solana ordered to her squad. The knights eagerly pointed their guns at Free Dreamer and began to shout. But just as the bullets where about to hit the man he used his powers to slow time. Solana gasp in horror, one second they were about to kill a criminal and the next all her soldiers lay dead with magic residue all over their bodies. ``I will kill you! Fucking bitch!`` The man screamed before charging at the Rito. He tried to hit her multiple times but she blocked his hits each times. When he saw his attack were useless Free Dreamer use his magic again and Solana received multiple punchs and a spiritual orb to her stomach. She coughed blood by the the last attack and she growled at the man.¸ Before he could react Solana summon a powerful gust of winds and send the time traveler crashing brutally on the ground. The only thing that keep him alived from the hit was the fact that the ground was made of clouds. Solana pant as she lift herself from the ground, she aproached Free Dreamer and put another set of handcuffs on him. ``Death would be too kind for the like of you. You will be sent in the Wasteland for having kill my entire team, you bastard.`` - - - - - A few minutes earlier Winter Song, the Doctor and Fluttershy all appeared just a few meters away of the detention center. As soon as they saw them the knights tackle them on the ground. ``Well this could have gone better.`` the Doctor said, Winter gave him a look that could easily be translated to ‘no shit?’ ``What do we do with them?`` One of the knights asked to Solana. ``Put a bag on Fluttershy and make the ponies watch watch her execution.`` Winter glare harshly at her, but she didn’t bat an eyelash. ``No please! Don’t kill me I will stay put this time I promise!`` Solana didn’t even answered her and instead put a bag on her head. The knight took her arms and lead her away. The two ponies were not far behind. Their march were interupted when a rock found it’s way in the face of Solana. ``Who attacked the lieutenant?!`` One of of her soldiers asked. ``We don’t want you fucking assholes in this world! Get lost fuckers!`` A man screamed at the top of his lung. Solana growled and charge at him with most of her man. When the guards where out of view a grey hoof suddenly punched one of the guards that was guarding Fluttershy. The two other ponies took the attack of Derpy as a signal and knock down the guards that was watching over them. ``Don’t move or I shout!`` The last man standing cried. ``We’re four against you. You don’t stand a chance if you want to live follow these instruction carefully.`` The Doctor said menacingly. The man nodded vigorously. ``Winter do you still have the changing stone on you?`` Winter nodded. ``But it can only do minor transformations.`` She said giving the stone to the stallion. The Doctor put his sonic screwdrive in his mouth and the familiar sound resonate in the street. When he was finished the stone was glowing brighter. ``I through you could only use this on technology?`` Winter ask curiously. ``Magic is similar to electricity in some ways, but it can be changed in many more form of energies than electricity ever could.`` The Doctor put the stone in his hooves before he was engulfed in a green fire. When the stone stop to glow the stallion was transformed into Fluttershy. Only he was completely naked. Fluttershy squeaked in embarassement while the guard tried to look away, the two other ponies stand unmoving. ``What the big deal with cloths anyway?`` Winter ask to Derpy, the grey mare only shrugged in confusion. ``Fluttershy I need your cloths.`` The transformed Time Lord said. The woman squeaked harder. ``Oh come one, I know it’s taboo for humans to go nake outside. But you will keep your underwear I just need to look like you. And beside now one apart us will see you, you will go to the TARDIS directly.`` Fluttershy just looked at us in embarassment. ``Come on Fluttershy your life literally depend on it, no stall- I mean man will see you. You will come with me and Winter, we’re girls you have nothing we havent seen before.`` Derpy reasured and Winter nodded. Fluttershy nodded after a second and silently put her cloths down and gave them to the Doctor who proceed to put them on himself. ``Come Fluttershy we will show you the way to the TARDIS.`` Derpy exclaimed. ``Okay.`` The woman said timidly before following the two mares. The Time Lord put her attention on the remaining knight. ``Ok what will you do is simple, I will put this bag on my head and you will guide me to the execution site. You will have to act as if there was nothing wrong, understood?`` The knight looked at her dumbfounded. ``Did I made myself clear!`` He shook his head up and down in panick. ``Good.`` The fake Fluttershy put the bag on her head and the guard escorted her as if it was the true prisoner. - - - - - ``Where are the other soldiers? And the ponies?`` Solana ask the lone knight. ``The ponies escape and the knights followed them.`` The man responded. ``Great just great, well we got the criminal it’s all that count. Ok soldiers! We are here for the execution of Fluttershy for the assassination of Queen Elizabeak of Griffonya and the use of a soul catcher! On your mark!... Set!... Fire!`` The man all shout at the ‘woman’ at the same time. Bullets tored through the body of the Doctor and she let herself fall down of the cliff. Just under the clouds the TARDIS was waiting for his arrival. Derpy catch him in her hooves before she lay her on the ground. A green fire engulfed the Doctor and he was back in the stallion he was before. ``Doctor! Why did you do that?! Now you’re hurt!`` ``Don’t worry Derpy I will be alright.`` But as soon as he said those words. He exploded in a yellow energy that escaped from his hooves and his head, the entire TARDIS shook at the sheer power of the regeneration. Finally the glow vanished and let place to the new Doctor. ``Whoa I almost don’t remember the last time I regenerated. Let’s see high pitched voice? Strange but I can go with it. Pale blue coat, okay, how does my mane look? I am finally ginger?!`` ``Um no your mane is dark blue and white.`` Derpy responded. ``Drat I’m never ginger! Well dark blue and white is not so bad it’s look like colgate, oh I like that name. Oh and what that on my head? A horn, ah this will make thing interesting at least.`` ``I think your mane and horn shouldn’t be your main concerns Doctor.`` Winter Song interupted. ``And why is that?`` ``I think you became a mare.`` Winter expected a panicked expression instead she got a shrug. ``Well that different I guess, I was always curious how it would be to pass a regeneration as a female anyway.`` ``There another thing, you kinda look like Ponyville’s dentist who saved my life a few years ago.`` Winter state with a frown. ``Maybe a coincidence, we will worry about that another time we should get Fluttershy ho-`` Before she could finish her sentence the Doctor fell asleep on the floor. ``Well I guess I have to drive the TARDIS this time.`` Derpy groaned before making her way to the commands. - - - - - Crystal Empire castle, 3026 A.W ``Bye Fluttershy I hope I will see you in the future!`` Winter exclaimed. Fluttershy wored suit the Doctor used when he was still a stallion, her cloths had been destroyed by the changing stone magic. ``I’m happy to get home but what will happen to Free Dreamer?`` Winter hesitated if she should tell her or not for a second and decided to say half of the truth. ``He will have a tough time but he will help the world in his ways in the future.`` Fluttershy accepted that and she left Equestria by going through the magical mirror. The TARDIS also disapeared with a loud metalic sound. Cadence poke her head in the room. ``I through I heard something, must be my imagination.`` She close the door and returned to her royal duties. In the end the events of the execution of Fluttershy were almost unchanged, Free Dreamer would still become Time Skip, join the Soul Reapers and kill Peace Dreamer in the future. But they had save one life that would have been gone without them. It was not the perfect ending but they did what they could. After the attack of Free Dreamer. The civilians of New Eden became frightful of the outside world. It wasn’t long before demonstrations against the separatists began to pop out everywhere, so that they could have the protection of the council. Against the need of feeling safe in their own home the separatist governement didn’t stood a chance when the next elections came up. Kira covered up the entire case of Free Dreamer to protect his precious student from being expelled from the knights. For carelessly letting an entire squad being killed under her command and giving the order of executing a suspect when it was against the law to do so. > The Breakup > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "It's not you, it's me" I couldn't believe it, Just when I throuh my week couldn't have gone worse my fillyfriend had to say the most dreaded words in a relationship. "y-You want to break up?! Why is it because I'm not human anymore?" I ask to her, I didn't think of her as a racist or specist in this case. But breaking up after the first date we had since I've been a pony seem way too fishy to be a coincidence. "No! I mean maybe, look my family hate the Equestrian ponies. My race has been feared since Luna turned into Nightmare Moon. The only reason why I could go to a school outside of Hollow Shades is because the Canterlot school for foreign species have no choice but to accept everypony no matter their species." "So you're going to break up just because you're family told you so, is that it?!" My scream attracted the attention of the other customers at the cafe. But I didn't care I had to scream or else I would just break down right there. "I'm sorry Maria, anypony would be lucky to have you as a fillyfriend. But try to understand, I can't risk losing the bond I have with my family for an high school crush." With that Cloudy Night drop some bits on the table and unfurled her bat-wings and took off in the sky leaving me alone with tears streaming down my face. I threw the hay fries on the ground and too left some bits on the table before galloping in direction of the castle. - - - - - It's was too painful staying in the castle. That was here that I have been transformed in a pony and made almost everypony I love push me away. Sure I still had Celestia and Cadence, but a small part of me blame Celestia for not talking about the danger of magic on a human before it's was too late. And while I appreciate Cadence's friendship, friendship alone couldn't erase the painful memories this place now hold. So that night I stole some food from the castle's kitchen and ran away. I felt childish and iresponsible to leave them with just a letter saying why I left but I had to do it like this, because I knew I wouldn't be able to run if they asked me to stay. I shivered when I felt a cold wind through my mane as I trotted the empty streets of Canterlot. The only sound in all the city were the ones that came from a bar. I didn't recognise the type of music, but it was pretty loud. To be honest it didn't sound like music to me, it sounded like the musician didn't know what song to choose an instead decided to play all of them at the same time in a painful musical crash accident. Anyway back on the topic at hoof, I will never get use to these equine slangs. It took me almost twenty minutes to reach limits of the city. I cast a last glance at the castle before begining my long decent off the mountain. - - - - - After I arrived at the foot of the mountain I set a small camp for the night. You know one of the thing that surpised me in Equestria apart from magic and the talking ponies. Is the intelligence of the animals and insects. Like for example that night I saw a racoon sniffing my saddlebag. Just when I was about to scare him away he saw me laying there and it was as if it understood he would be stealing the food from me and it calmly walk away in search of food elsewhere. That night I never felt so alone since my family died on Earth. More than once the through of running back to the castle cross my mind especially when I heard the occasional twigs snapping behind me jolting me awake only to find an harmless animal passing it's way. The next morning I yawned and roll up my sleeping bag and put it in my big saddlebag. I really needed to find a way to make this thing take less space I hadn't got as much food as I could have because of it. It doesn't matter, as soon as I find a town I should be able to make some bits. Not like I'm press by the time anyway. Fate seem to think otherwise as a shadow formed itself under me. I lift my eyes in the sky and was surprised to see a familiar coffee colored Pegasus. "What are you doing Maria Ink?! You weren't at school today so I checked the castle and Cadence told me you ran away!" I grit my teeth in irritation, I didn't want to deal with her right now. "Why would you care?! I was just your study project as a human, why would you be interest in me now that I'm just a regular old Unicorn?!" Wow you know you're not in your old world when regular and Unicorn can go in the same phrase. "I'm interest because you're my friend!" She declared with a hint of pride. "I won't go back to Canterlot! I know you wouldn't understand what it like to be abandoned by your family, but if you're really my friend you won't force me to come back in a place I'm constantly remind of their rejection." "Of course I would know what it feel to be abandoned, I'm an orphan." Oh, now I feel bad. Maybe North Arrow and me have more in common than I through. "It's decided!" She exclaimed, "I'll come with you!" She said without hesitation. "What?!" But instead of answering my rhetorical question she landed beside me and out of nowhere she placed an adventurer hat on her head. "North Arrow you can't be serious!" I exclaimed in disbelief. She grinned down at me before saying, "call me Daring Do." > Ponyville Part 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- "Tell everypony I'm on my way! New friends and new places to see. With the blue sky ahead, yes I'm on my way-!" "North Arrow! Stop with the singing arleady!" I glared at my companion. I was regreting letting her follow me arleady, not that she gave me much of a choice. "Aw come on, don't be a stick in the mud. There nothing else to do beside walking. And I told you to call me Daring Do." "If you're so bored of wandering with me, maybe you should go back home. There will be no epic adventure with me. I just decided to visited the most important cities and towns of Equestria." I said secretly hoping she would leave me alone. "No way! Wandering around Equestria will be way more fun and worthwhile than going at that boring school." I rolled my eyes at her, typical tomcolt. It took awhile but after a few hours of walking we had arrived at the first stop of my wandering: Ponyville. Not one of the most important place in Equestria but I needed to find a small job, I couldn't possibly visit every cities in Equestria without some bits. And beside I heard that the forest close of the town had some similarities with Earth so I was a little curious about it. When we arrived I saw something that surprised me a little. In the town there was an almost equal ratio between Earth Ponies, Pegasi and Unicorn, there was still a little more Earth Ponies but since I was used to majorly Unicorns in Canterlot it was surprising to see a town that didn't seem almost exclusif to one race. "Hey Mrs. Ink! How it's going?" I jumped at the unexpected cheerful voice behind me. I spun around and I had to blink a few time when I saw the pony. She had a light grey coat, two wings, a blonde mane and tail and bubbles as her cutie mark. But that wasn't what shocked me. What surprised me was her eyes who were in two totally different direction. "Um, do I know you?" I ask confused and why did she called me Mrs. Ink? "Of course I know you! You visit me occasionally at Heart Warming Eve when your daughter Fluttershy come." I lifted an eyebrow at this. "Flutter who? And I don't have a daughter! I'm way too young for that, beside it's imposible I would have one with my sexuality." I mumbled the last part. Just as the wall-eyed mare was about to reply. A minty blue Unicorn mare with a hourglass cutiemark came rushing. "Derpy! There you are! Don't worry about her she must have confuse you with somepony else." She laughed nervousely. "No I'm sure she's Maria-" 'Derpy' was interupted by a magical glow as the Unicorn drag her away. "What I told you about creating paradoxes?" The minty blue mare scolded before disappearing further in the town with Derpy in her magical grip. "That was weird." Daring Do stated and I nodded in agreement. "Well I need some bits, do you have any ideas where we could find some small jobs?" I ask to my coffee brown friend. "Well if there a town hall here. The jobs requests should be there." I nodded we just have to find this town hall, should be easy enough. - - - - - Turn out finding our way in Ponyville wasn't as easy as I first through. Sure some of the building was very easy to identify like the gingerbread house or the gigantic tree where a bunch of Unicorns were hollowing it to build a sort of library. Kinda fitting considering books are made of trees. Fortunately Daring Do decided to fly overhead and spot the town hall for me. Unfortunately Daring decided she should dash in direction of the hall. Leaving me miserably trying to gallop after her emphasis on trying. You see while I was used to walk on four hooves at this point, running was another story. My left forehoof caught on a small rock and I faceplant on the dirt road. The last thing I saw before blacking out was a blue and pink blob. - - - - - I blink my eyes open and touch my muzzle with a groan, damn that hurt. Wait where am I? I noticed I was laying on a couch. The room I was in was small, the floor was made of wood and in front of me was a chimney. On top of the chimney was a small picture of what seemed to be two twins brother and sister. The filly had a pink coat with a blue mane, while the brother had a blue coat with a pink mane. "Oh you're awake." The voice made me jump the voice sound feminine, but when I turn around I was met with a girly looking teenager colt. "Where am I?" I ask out loud looking around the room. "You're in my house. Well me and my sister's house." I raise a eyebrow at this. "You look a little young to own a house." He laughed hollowly at that. "Well I would probably still live in Stalliongrad if my parents didn't kick me out. I've been town to town and none want us to buy a house. But fortunately when me and my sister found this place they were sympathetic to my situation and let me buy a house instead of going to the orphanage at the condition we could pay our rent." I was dumbstruck at the story. It's was so nice in Equestria it's was hard to imagine that ponies could be cruel enough to kick their child out of the house. "I'm sorry for your loss. I know how painful it is to be rejected by your family. But I know it's personal but could you tell me why they kick you out?" I know curiousity is bad but I'm a writter and as such I like to hear the tales of other people or ponies in this case. "Probably all of Ponyville know of my 'situation' at this point due to this stupid slow treatment. So I guess one more pony knowing couldn't hurt, but just promise me if you wander around Stalliongrad don't mention me to anypony there." I nodded in response. "Stalliongrad pride themself to be the city with the highest male ratio in Equestria, due to the low population of stallions compared to mares they used to say that Stalliongrad would save ponykind once the rest of the land is overun by mares." He laugh mirthlessly. "Of course it's was a huge blow to their ego once the scientists discover that two mares could perfectly create a foal with magic." "Wait magic can create life?!" I ask in surprise. The stallion looked at me strangely. "Of course it can, do you live under a rock or something?" I blushed at this. "It's a long story I can tell you once you finish your." The stallion nodded sastified. "Wait! I just realised I don't know your name. I'm Maria Ink, what your name?" "I don't use my birth name anymore but everypony call me Aloe," strange name for a colt. "Anyway where was I? Oh yeah! In the old time it's was said that two mares could have a foal with love. When no lust was present the magic of two ponies would create a healty baby pony." "That sound cheesy as hay but I guess in a world where friendship hold so much power it's not so surprising that love could do something like that." I said to myself and Aloe nodded snickering a little. "But as we know it is extremely rare that lust isn't present in the bedroom even with a pure love between the two ponies. So the Unicorns developped a spell to make a mare pregnant, the only problem was that it only worked for mares who had horns. So they created another spell that could be cast on any mares. The only condition was that their lover needed to put some Dna, like say some saliva, in their honeypot." It took me a moment to understand what he meant by 'honeypot' but when I did I blushed like crazy and Aloe laughed at my expression. Trying to make him forget my embarrassment I ask a question. "So with a spell any lesbian couples can have foals?" He laugh harder at this. "Why, interest?" He ask jockingly. I was embarassed at the question but responded honestly. "Well not right now, but someday maybe." "A coffee brown Pegasus came earlier. She told me she would wait outside for you. Was she your fillyfriend?" I was shocked at the question. "What that reckless filly?! She's a friend nothing more!" "That what they all say." Aloe grin impishly. "Anyway like I said it blew the ego of Stalliongrad but their pride of being a male dominated city never died. My parents like many were also proud of that fact and because of that they loved me more than my sister." When he said there wasn't even a hint of pride at the opposite he had a scowl. "I knew they would hate me when I discovered what I was so before I announced it to them me and my sister prepared some saddlebags. When I told them I was transgender my father looked like he wanted to kill me and my mother looked ashame of my very existence. So me and Lotus ran away and never looked back. I tried to convince Lotus to not throw her life away for me, but she said she didn't want to live with a bunch of bigots. So we came here and we realise Lotus dream to be a spa pony. Over the time the job grew on me too and I got my cutie mark." "I don't want to sound ignorant but... what a transgender?" He looked at me in disbelief before sighing. "I was born as a colt but deep inside I always felt like I should have been a filly. That why I look like this. I'm under a magical treatment that will turn me into a girl. It takes two months and half to complete the transformation. In one month I will finally be the filly I always wanted to be." People can be born as the wrong gender? That sound... cruel. "So anyway you said you would tell your story after me." Aloe said eager to forget about his/her problem. "Well, I was born in the United Kingdom..." > Ponyville Part 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- After telling my story to Aloe, which surprisingly she believed easily, I meet up with Daring Do and we once again made our way to the town hall. Without her dashing off like a idiot this time. We were interupt along the way by a giggle. "Oh Vinyl stop that!" I look in direction of the noise and instantly blushed in embarrassment. In one of the back alley a deep purple Earth Pony filly with a raspberry pink mane was shamelessly making out wit a pure white Unicorn filly with a neon blue mane and wore a rather large pair of glasses on her forehead she had probably place them there to properly kiss her lover. As I look at the two teenagers I couldn't help but feel a sting of jealousy. All my life before Equestria I had to keep my sexuality more or less secret so that we didn't have a mob with pitchforks at our front door and here they were. Making out like two mares in heat without repercussion at all. I guess I couldn't blame them. If anything I should blame the stupid apes that through that opression would cause anything but misery! I gasp as soon as I through the words. As I realised I through of my old race not only as mere animals without common sense. But all the while thinking of them as some distant culture I disliked. Had I been in this world long enough arleady to make myself believe I was a Equestrian? could I really be starting to forget my human legacy and embrace my new life just like that? I knew it wasn't the pony body that made me accept my new species so easily, Afterall even if a new body do tend to change a person. It wouldn't change anybody more than any other type of life-changing event. I think what really made see myself as a Equestrian was my visit in New Eden, I think in a twist way my mother disowning me was what I needed to fully accept my new life. "Enjoying the show girls?" The white filly ask us with a lustful wink and I realised I've been starring blankly at them for the last minute. "N-no! We were just on our way! Come on Daring." I said quickly and ran away from the awkward scene I put myself into. Even if I may begin to accept who I become. I'm a long way from recovering from what Celestia did to me. I will not return in Canterlot t'ill I earn my cutie mark. In the meantime I will wander this brand new world where I will probably stay for the rest of my possibly extremely long life. Or as long as Equestria exist. Who know how long I will live now that I'm in a world where nopony can die of natural cause? The point is that I've been present with a prospect that probably almost every writers dream of at least once in their life: Living in a fantasy world and I won't let this opportunity slip by. - - - - - Like Daring Do had predicted close of the town hall was a large wooden board with a multitude of posters pinned on it. The jobs were anything between finding missing pets, foalsitting and a couple in search of a baker for the grand opening of their bakery called Sugar Cube Corner. My eyes lit up as I saw a certain poster. Ponyville was in search of a librarian. Probably for the library those Unicorns were hollowing earlier. I could be a librarian for a while. Not only would I work with books, the library had also a bedroom. It's was as if they had made the place just for me. - - - - - As I stare at the glumy thing in front of me I had a second of hesitation. It's been two weeks since I accept the job as a librarian. The Unicorns had to finish building the thing. After that I had received a shipment of sixty books and it's was my job to place all the books on the shelves. Now that I was installed for the next few months, Daring Do and I decided to visit the infamous Everfree Forest. It's wasn't as bad as the stories make it out to be. Well as long as you stay on the dirt road that is. I don't know why but the beasts of the forest seem to avoid the road as if it's was cursed. Maybe somepony enchanted it or something. But then we came in face of Celestia's old castle. It's looked as if it would come crashing down as soon as we make a step inside. "Come on! Don't be scaredy pony. It's just a old castle!" Daring state confidently before trotting inside the castle. I gulped and followed her. The castle was probably beautiful in it's former glory. But now it's was a relic of the past. It's was a miracle that the castle was still standing after so many years. "I wonder why Celestia through it's was a good idea to build a castle in the middle of the most dangerous forest in Equestria. Not a lot of her subjects would want to come all the way here just to have an audience with her." I said with a frown. Daring Do responded in a lecture mode. "Well one thousand years ago the forest didn't exist. Around the castle was Everfree city the old capital of Equestria. After Nightmare Moon banishment the forest began to grow for a reason or another and most of the ponies found a new place to live since the city was becoming a target to all sort of nasty monsters. After Celestia noticed that most of the building of her city was abandoned she build another castle on the top of a mountain and soon enough Canterlot formed around it." I stare at her with mouth agap. I was suppose to be the 'nerd' of the group and here she was, making a full blown historical lesson. Daring looked at me with a annoyed look. "What? I want to be an archaeologist like my father before he died, did you really think I wouldn't study about the past of Equestria?" "S-sorry with your normal attitude I tend to forget about your passion of old civilisation and magical artifact." Her eyes soften at that and she sigh. "So what was the reason we came all the way here?" Daring Do ask before looking around the dark castle. "I through since the plant grow, the animals care for themself and the clouds move all on their own maybe the forest would have some similarities to Earth. But now I know it's not the same thing at all." I looked at the ground dejectedly and Daring put a comforting wing around me. The moment was interupted by what sound like a foal crying his eyes out. Daring Do jumped in surprise before looking around nervousely. "Maybe we should go back to Ponyville. This place begin to give me the creeps." "What? And let the baby starving here alone?!" I look at her in shock. "For all we know it's a ghost or something trying to lure us in the castle." She replied nervousely. I stared at her flatly. "Let me get this straight. We just walk through a forest full of creatures that should only exist in story books. Creatures that could easily tear us up in shred or turn us into stone. But you're afraid of the possibility of a ghost." "Well at least we can fight those monsters that want to eat us. But a ghost on the other hoof, we can't even touch it!" She exclaimed in panic. "Well if you're too scare, I can go see what making the noise while you stay here, all alone." With that I slowly trot in direction of the sound. Daring eyes widden in horror and ran after me. "Wait! Don't leave me alone!" While we walk I saw that some painting were on the wall. For a moment I through the eyes of the painted ponies were following us. But I dismiss it as my imagination. I heard Daring Do screaming and I turn my attention at her. "What the matter this time?" I ask in annoyance. But she didn't respond instead she continue to stare at something ahead with wide eyes. I look at where she was staring and gulped. In front of us was a pony-like shadow that rose from the ground and was glaring furiously at us with yellow glowing eyes. Maybe Daring's fear of ghosts was justified after all. The Pony of Shadow lifted a hoof and stomp it on the floor. One of the brick of the floor was pushed down and the ground bellow us gave way. What await us bellow was something I hadn't expected: A giant underground slide. Me and Daring Do screamed all the way down like two fillies. The slide came to a rude stop as our body collided with a wall. "What the hay?! A giant slide, really?! I'm begining to think Celestia was completely insane a thousand years ago." I said angrily. "What was that thing upstair? Do you think it's was a ghost?" Daring ask worriedly. "I don't know, don't you know of any rumor about this place?" I ask while looking around. We were in a hall full of pony legs made of stone or something. Why would Celestia ask to do something like that in her castle? "Well I heard about a legend that when Nightmare Moon was banished not every bit of magic went with her. And that every night that magic come to life and become The Pony of Shadow. But that ridiculous, magic can't come to life, right?" She ask while looking at me nervousely. "Right" I lied, I knew that a pony soul was in fact made of magic. So it wasn't farfetched to think that magic could create a ghost. Heck we could technically consider Author a ghost since he's a giant ball of energy without a body. But right now Daring didn't need to know that. The crying start once again and I followed the sound with Daring not far behind. We came in front of a door where the sound of crying came from. I open the door and inside was what looked like a small labotary or what was left of it anyway. My eyes widden when I saw what was making the noise. The creature had black scales, some small claws was at the end of his four limbs, he had reptile-like green eyes. I was in face of a living breathing baby dragon. Daring Do noticed a piece of paper close of the small dragon and read it out loud. "Dear scientists from the future. We for the first time in history tempted time travel. The dragon you have been sent came from the nest of a beast who attacked Everfree city. We don't know how far the thing will be sent but if you could tell what year you are in and what changed it would be apreciated. If you can't tell us for fear of paradoxes we understand. We assume you have mastered time travel since we sent the dragon. So don't worry if the monster is still alive sent it back and we will deal with it now that it acomplished his role to see if a living thing can survive time travelling. With great anticipation Starswirl the Bearded." My blood was boiling at the end of the letter. How could they treat this innocent thing like a monster that needed to be put down? "It's decided. I'm adopting this baby dragon!" I exclaimed. "What! Are you sure it's safe to take some pet under your care while we're preparing to wander around the country?" I glared at Daring and she recoil. "He's a sentient being. Not a pet and I can't let him here just because of my personal quest." "How do you know it's a he?" She inquired curiously. "Females don't normaly have a dick," I responded bluntly, which make Daring blush. Another thing strange about Equestria is that everypony is naked most of the time. Yet a lot of ponies are still embarassed about their genitalia being exposed, go figure. I levitated the baby on my back and we began to trot out of the castle. The Pony of Shadow didn't try to stop us on the way out. I wonder if it's because it want to be rid of the loud sound the baby produce or if it's movements are limited since it's just a pony made of shadow. We may never know and to be honest I don't plan to find out. > Manehattan > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- My stay in Ponyville may have lasted a little longer than I intended. And when I mean little I mean two years long. We called the baby dragon Johny, he have grown to the size of a eight year colt since we had him. He would have gotten bigger if we didn't stop him to steal things. We teach him that it was bad to steal objects that wasn't our but he's still pretty greedy. Let's hope we can change that. The advantage of staying in Ponyville for so long to take care of Johny was that now we had enough bits to make in sort we won't have to find another job during our wandering. Celestia and Cadence wrote to us each two weeks. I forgave Celestia for transforming me into a pony. Sure I miss my thumbs but once you get use to use your hooves, mouth, tail, magic and some Pegasi even use their wings, to manipulate objects it isn't so bad, well except for the mouth thing, I don't think I will get use to that. To be honest I don't even know anymore why I was angry at being a pony. Sure they are a little too panicky for their own good but apart from that and the lack of hands they're very similar to humans. At first I through ponies were more technologically advanced than humans since many of the things I've seen in Equestria were more advanced than back home. But I found out that humans had created a lot of things since the time I left home. Like things call television and radio. But most of what they had like cinema, video games, fast food, etc. arleady exist in Equestria. I also learned with joy that homosexuality became a lot more accept in most countries. Not even close to the level of acceptance of Equestria but it's a start. But to be honest I'm not sure if my world really became tolerant. The information I got came from the Kira's branch version of Earth I can only hope that my world could also change without the help of the council. I shook my head. The problems of Earth are none of my concern anymore, I'm a Equestrian. I look at my still sleeping Pegasus friend in the opposite bed. She stayed with me for two years, I through she would go home once she realised my adventure would be anything but epic. But she stayed with me helping taking care of the library and Johny she could have return home anytime yet she never left. I nudge her with my muzzle hoping to get a response. All I got was a tired and a annoyed groan. I nudge her harder. "Come on lazy flank we'll be late for the train." "No daddy my frilly pink dress doesn't mean anything, I'm not girly." She mumbled tiredly. I had to put a hoof on my mouth to stop myself from laughing. I began to think of an idea to wake her up and when a idea struck me I grin evilly. "Ah! Oh my Celestia Daring Do you have a dick!" She open her eyes wide in horror before checking between her hind-legs. "Where?! I don't see anything!" By that point I had fell off on the floor laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. When she realised what was happening Daring glared at me angrily. "That wasn't funny." I just smirk at her before talking. "Anyway our train to Manehattan leave in a hour so you better get ready," She only grumble in response. - - - - - The ride on the train was...disappointing it felt like it wasn't really an adventure since I was riding on a vehicle everypony use daily. It wasn't comparable to the travel from Canterlot to Ponyville I had done by hoof. The most excitement we had was when Johny burp fire and scared off a lady that sat in front of us. But all of that was forgiven when I came in front of the biggest city build by Earth Ponies: Manehattan. I could see multiple ponies with yellow carriages pulling other busy-looking ponies. I could see a few Pegasi fly by but the majority were Earth Ponies. I felt as if I didn't belong here. I could see hundred of ponies in the streets but I was the only Unicorn around. But fortunately no one seem to care about the magical bone that stuck out of my forehead. But what was truly breathtaking were the massive constructions of the city trying to reach the sky with their impressive height. "I've never seen a city so...Big before." I said not taking my eyes off the city. Daring Do smirk at my expression while a sleeping baby dragon ride on her back. "Unicorns are smart and are often skilled in politic, Pegasi are fast and control the laws of nature. But if there one thing Earth Ponies are good at beside farming it's their skill in technology advancement. The cinema, the video games and even the train we just came out off? All Earth Ponies creations." From what I understood Earth Ponies were similar to humans. Nature wasn't as charitable for them as the two other tribes so they filled this void with technology more advanced than any others in Equestria. The only differences with my former species is that they are not interest in warfare technology and they can make plants grow even in some harsh environments with their magic. "So what do we first? This place is known for their theater but we can do something else." My Pegasus friend said to me. I was about to say that I wanted to learn a little more about the city before going to the theater. But something bumped into me interupting what I was about to say. "Oof! Oh sorry miss I didn't see you." I look down at the small voice and saw a very young looking colt. He was almost as small as a cat, if I had to take a guess I would say he's between two or three years old. "It's alright-" "Oh my gosh is that a dragon?! That so cool!" The colt bounced in front of Daring Do looking at the black lizard-like creature in awe. Johny woke up with an annoyed expression I was about to panic when I through he would spit fire at the excitable colt. But as it turn out the dragon only yawn sleepily. I sigh in relief before my ear twitch as I heard two pair of hooves galloping in our direction. "Cheese Sandwich! How many time do I need to tell you not to run off in the streets?!" The voice of a older mare scream. "Sorry mom" 'Cheese Sandwich' look sadly at the ground. "I'm sorry if he bothered you and your fillyfriend. He's a sweet colt but the city life isn't made for foals as excitable as Cheese." "She's not my-" I was cut off by my Pegasus friend. "It's fine my fiancée here is a bit of a stick in the mud but no harm was done." What?! Fiancée since when?! The mare smiled gratefully before taking the colt with her. I turn to Daring with a glare. "What was this all about?" She shrugged with a smirk. "Would you have prefer have that knowing look that say 'that what they all say'?" Well I guess she's right but still! "Beside we're taking care of a baby, we lived together for two years and you arleady make out with me I'd say we're pretty close of a married couple arleady." My face was beet red at that point. "It's was just the salt talking when I kissed you! Beside I'm not even slightly attracted to you." I replied trying to save my dignity. "Come in my bed tonight and I'm sure we can cure this attraction problem." She gave me a sultry smile with a wink. I respond by shoving her away. "You perverts!" I trot away from her I had no direction in mind I just wanted to get away from Daring. "It's not my fault you're so hot!" She ran after me. I tried to hide my face from the ponies in the street as my embarassing friend followed me. Manehattan was a great sight for sure the theater was great and Daring Do calm her teasing after a while. While it was great the city was a little too crowded for my tast. I can't wait to see what the rest of Equestria have in reserve. > Trottingham > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- We passed the next month travelling all the important points in Equestria, Fillydelphia, Los Pegasus and Las Pegasus which is very different than the last one despite the identical name we didn't visit Stalliongrad though, I was not really comfortable visiting the infamous city of oppression considering what I am. Now we only had small towns to worry about. We were arriving in a town called Trottingham the only thing Daring told me about the place was that the inhabitant speak like me, whatever that mean. "And she was like 'I'm not a filly-fooler! I only bang that mare because of the booze!' I found them the next day making out beside their lockers." Daring burst out laughing and I couldn't help but smile. Even if I didn't care about the story I decided to humor her. "So she was really a lesbian in the end?" I asked while looking at Johny that looked at the birds with awe. "She prefer the term 'open-minded' but yeah she was basically a bi." Then she sighed. "I miss Canterlot." I look at her strangely. "Really? I through you hated the nobles and all that." "Well I don't miss Canterlot per se but I miss the fact that I could return to a comfy bed each night. The orphanage wasn't much but it was still home." I look at the filly that been travelling with me all along. She was tired I could tell. "I guess... we did see every important points of Equestria apart Cloudsdale and Stalliongrad. If I don't find my destiny in Trottingham we could return in Canterlot." Daring looked at me with a frown. "I don't want you to stop the trip just for me." I shook my head, "no it's okay I think I've seen enough of Equestria to know what the rest look like. Beside I admit I miss Cadence and maybe even Celestia a little bit." "I still don't understand why you're so angry with Celestia, I mean you don't look like you mind that much being a pony." "I guess I was just angry and needed somepony to blame, I lost a lot before and after coming in Equestria. But when she transformed me it felt like she had strip everything that made me away." Daring and me continue to trot in silence for a minute. I could see the small town coming closer in my vision. "You should blame me." Daring said not making eye contact. "It's my fault you almost died and my fault you're a pony all because I couldn't let go of the only pony who gave a buck about me." I shook my head. "The only person I should have blame is that hybrid freak that attack us. If it weren't for her trying to kill us both I could have send you back in Equestria without me." "But you would have been in another time than your own!" She countered. I shook my head "It doesn't matter there was nothing left for me in my time or on Earth for that matter. I guess the only reason I wanted to go back was to try to cling on something that didn't exist anymore." Daring looked at the ground, but I placed a hoof on her back. "Look we're here," I said snapping her attention on what was in front of her. Trottingham was different from what I have seen before in Equestria. The streets were made of cobblestone and the houses seem more close to each other, making the streets a little smaller than usual. In fact it remind me a little of my old home... "So Daring Do, is there something special in this town we could check out?" She shrugged in response. "Apart from being one of the friendliest town in Equestria there not much to say about this town except maybe a little store know to have interesting magical artifact." "Well I barely learned levitation and the light spell I don't think I'm ready for magical objects yet." I replied. "Maybe we could go see it anyway maybe they have cool things from ancient civilisations!" I rolled my eyes with a smile. "Only for you Daring." - - - - - The door of the store opened and the bell above signal our arrival. I look around, the room was barely lit up but I still could see the objects on display. There was many ancient scrolls and books, at the back of the counter an amulet in the form of a Alicorn was enclose in a round glass. For a reason I didn't understand I had a ominous felling about this object. On the counter itself was a sign on it was written 'out for lunch' I guess we came at the wrong time. It show how much these ponies trust each other, leaving a store unlock while the proprietor was away would be like welcoming thieves with open arms back on Earth. What caught my attention however was a book with a illustration of three crystals the title was 'History Of The Crystal Empire Written By Mi Amore Cadenza.' Curious I opened the book with my magic. The Crystal Empire was construct by Smart Cookie in the belief that Earth Ponies could make a new type of magic by embracing the power of love and friendship. One day without warning a artifact known as the crystal heart was taken in posession of the empire. Some say that Smart Cookie forged it with a part of the Tree of Harmony she had stole while others claimed the tree gave her the heart willingly when it saw the city she builded. A few years later Smark Cookie married a Pegasus stallion by the name of Pansy together they were named King and Queen and their family ruled the empire for many generations. After a few decades the Earth Ponies with the magic of the heart became a new species called simply the Crystal Ponies. Then one day a dark Unicorn by the name of Sombra enslaved the Crystal Ponies and that where the story of Princess Mi Amore Cadenza began. I turn to the next page only to find a blank page. "What?! But where the story of Cadenza?" Daring aproach me with a curious frown. "What the matter?" "I was reading a book but it look like it was never finished." Then without warning the pages began to glow and before I could question what was happening we were both swallowed by the book. > The Crystal Empire > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Me and Daring Do fell on the ground with a thud. I shook away the dizziness and lift myself back on all four, I gasp at what I saw around me. We were in what look like a castle made completely of crystal. When I was young I alway wanted to see the legendary cities of gold. Now I know they weren't real but this was the closest thing I could get. We were in a throne room, in the room was two glowing ponies that looked like they were made of crystals. "Cadence! Are you ready dear?" The winged mare asked, wait Cadence? Sure enough a younger looking pink filly trot in the room with a beautiful blue dress. I couldn't help but feel there was something missing about her. I gasp when I realised what it was. "She has no horn! Cadence was a Pegasus? I didn't know that." "Good thing this is not a interactive enchanted book." Daring said making me jump in surprise I had almost forgot about her. "Why is that?" I ask with a raise of a brow. "Because then we would become one of the main characters of the story and we wouldn't be able to leave t'ill we make happen the real ending of the story ourself. But since it isn't we just have to let the story play out before us." "You look amazing my daughter are you excited about the visit of your godfather Sombra?" The father asked, the young Princess nodded eagerly. "I bet he has a lot of tales about Everfree city to tell! I can't wait!" The stallion chuckled and ruffle the mane of Cadence. They are not as formal as the usual royal family. Then again this city was originally made by Earth Ponies they are not the type of ponies to worry too much about silly things like formalities but then again they do look more fancy than the commons Earth Ponies. The sound of trumpets erupt in the throne room just before the doors opened. A dark stallion with green and red eyes and a red and black horn enter the room. Yeah his appearance just scream 'good guy'. "Welcome my old friend." The king said warmly. "It's my honor King Tempo and Queen Night Song. I have a little gift from Zebrica it's a new tea. It is to die for." Yeah so subtle. For a reason that was beyond me the royal family seemed to trust that guy. They drink some tea and talk about politic and made a few racial jokes about griffins and donkeys. Unsurprisingly Tempo and Night Song began to feel under the weather and collapsed on the floor. "Mommy?! Daddy?! Wake up what is happening?" My heart felt like it was being tore seeing my oldest friend crying for her parent like this. I knew this was coming but it didn't felt less painful. The young Princess turned to her chuckling godfather with a expression of fear and betrayal. "They have drink a special poisson mortal to all non-Unicorn. Now come with me it's time the Crystal Ponies know who their new ruler is. The scene disappear before us in a puff of smoke. I look at the floor while tears drop from my eyes. "Why didn't Cadence told me about this?" "Maybe she didn't want you to pity her or maybe she wanted to forget all about it." Daring Do replied while placing a hoof on my back. "Maybe you're right." I replied flatly. A new scene appear before us. We could see three ponies with slightly burn coat laying on the ground panting while dozen of chained ponies looked at the entrance of the castle where Sombra stood with resignation. "I told you to not resist let these three fools be an example for all of you. Oh and maybe this will make you reconsider rebelling against me next time." With a flash of magic young Cadence appear. She tried to look indifferent but everypony could see her puffy red eyes and the stream of tears under her eyes. "The next time one of you try to attack me, the Princess will suffer for your errors." The few who had still determination lost their will to fight at those words. Then without warning a sound similar to a crack of thunder echoed in the city. Two furious Alicorns descend from the sky. I recognise Princess Celestia but I didn't knew who was the midnight blue one. "King Sombra your reign of tyrany over this empire is over!" Celestia shout in what I assumed was the Royal Canterlot Voice I had heard about. Sombra levitate Cadence before him and lift a knife to her throat. To her credit Cadence stood still for ten seconds before whimpering. "Don't come closer or the Princess will die!" The two Alicorns looked at each other before the younger one trot to the prisoners. "What are you doing?!" Sombra snarl tightening his grip on the knife. "Thou have said not to come closer, thou never said we shouldn't liberate the prisoners." "Don't play this game with me or my hostage will pay." "What hostage? All we see is thou holding a knife for no apparent reasons." The dark Princess responded with a smug smile. "What?!" He look down and sure enough the pink Princess was gone. That when Celestia came back. "The young Princess is safe now we can take care of this monster, sister." "What?! Celestia has a sister?! Look like the royal family like to withold information." I grumbled in irritation. The two sisters rose in the sky and shoot a magical beam down at Sombra. "No wait if you defeat me I will-!" The dark King never got to finish his phrase before he was imprison under the ice. The city began to glow and in a few seconds the buildings and the ponies disappeared as if they never exist in the first place. The scene disappeared once again. This time we saw Celestia landing near her younger sister the blizzard was still roaring. "Did you find her sister?" Celestia ask hopefully. Luna shook her head. "I didn't find her, we- I mean I suspect the Princess disappeared with her kingdom." Celestia sighed. "That what I was afraid of I think we should leave before we freeze to death I will send a squad of guards just to be sure tommorow." Luna shook her hoof in a dismissing manner. "No need to I cast a life detecting spell around the perimeter, if there anything alive out there I will know." Then numbers appeared in front of me, it said 2004 A.W then before I could question why they showed the year this was happening in the snow around us began to fall extremely fast and the sun and moon were circling around Equis fast enough to make me dizzy. When it's was over the numbers had change we were now in 2990 A.W only five years in the past and two years before I arrived in Equestria. Cadence appeared out of thin air the poor filly looked around in confusion. "Where is the city and where is the Princesses?! They didn't abandon me did they?" The pink Pegasus waited a few minutes when it was clear there was no rescue party she flap her little wings and began to follow the train tracks since it was her only way to be sure she would find civilisation at a point or another if she followed that direction. But soon she was knocked by a violent gust of wind and land painfully on her right wing. "I guess flying is out of the question for now." She state with a wince. Slowly she began to trot still following the tracks, the scene transitioned to what I assumed were hours later. The filly barely manage to make three steps further before collapsing in exhaustion. "I won't make it I through I could make it before I die of hypotermia but I was wrong." Cadence told herself. "She can't die like this can she?" I asked to Daring Do worriedly. She shook her head. "I don't know but she will come back if she die unless there a finisher hidden somewhere around here which is very unlikely beside we know she's okay in the present so we shouldn't worry too much." Cadence, much to my distress drew her last breath as the snow covered her cold body. The next thing we knew we were standing in a strange place remnisciant of the Veil but the stars seem closer and the world around us was blue instead of purple. The pink Pegasus looked around her in confusion. "Where am I?" "You are in a plane between Equis and the Elysium Fields." Cadence's ear twitched at the voice and her eyes widden as she saw who was talking to her. "Mom?! What are you doing here? Am I dead? But I through we reincarnated when we died?" Night Song shook her head. "Only your body died but I made your soul come here because I needed to talk to you. And I am not your mother I am the soul of the Tree of Harmony I only choose the form you were the most comfortable with." The Princess ears lowered as she realised it wasn't her mother. "What would the strongest being in Equis want with me?" The filly asked suspiciously. "As a being who main purpose is to maintain harmony I am very good at see different outcomes and seeing the potential of ponies. I was interested in you the last survivor of the real royal family of the Crystal Empire and I have decided you are worthy of bearing the touch of harmony." "What is that suppose to mean?" Instead of responding to her question the spirit of the Tree of Harmony envelopped Cadence in a magical light that nearly blind me and Daring before we appeared in what looked like a cavern. There in the cavern was a large tree made of crystal. I can't sense magic like some Unicorns can but just looking at it I knew it was radiating with magic energy. A light descent on the floor a few meters away from us and when it's vanished we could see the unconscious form of Cadence with a new horn on her forehead. I turned to Daring Do with a confused frown. "I didn't ask this earlier but what the hay is the Tree of Harmony?" Daring Do shrugged. "I don't know but by the name of it I would say it would have something to do with the elements of harmony which were suppose to be artefacts that could beat any evils if it was wielded by the right ponies." I wonder if it's have any connections with the Elder God of the same name. Then we got speed up images of what happened to Cadence after that. I didn't understand everything but I got the gist of it. Apparently Celestia found Cadence easily due to the powerful magic that lingered on her. After recognising the filly and realising how she became an Alicorn Celestia adopted her as her niece, how can anypony adopt somepony as a niece instead of as a daughter I didn't know but it's what she did. . When time stop to speed up we were in Canterlot castle, Cadence was there with Celestia. "I don't feel like I deserve it I was useless before I will not be of more use like this." Cadence said dejectedly. "I'm sure you deserved to be a Alicorn Cadence, the Tree of Harmony wouldn't have transform just anypony like this. You just didn't find your destiny yet." Replied Celestia. "My destiny was to rule the Crystal Empire that why I have the crystal heart as my cutie mark. That destiny was stolen away from me, I have no purpose anymore." "You will find a purpose believe me, the destiny of a pony cannot simply be taken away, you just have to find your calling in life." The ruler of the day tried to reassure the young Princess. "Unless we can make a second Crystal Empire I don't think I will find a purpose." Cadence replied sadly before walking out of the room. She walked like this for a while before she could hear voices down in the hallway. Curiously she trot in direction of them. "I just don't know if we can go on like this my parents think I'm a disgrace and your embarassing jokes don't help either!" A feminine voice loudly exclaimed. "Yeah? Well maybe I shouldn't have tried to date a Canterlot noble, that horn of your go all the way to your rump!" A male voice replied. Cadence turn the corner and saw a green Unicorn mare arguing with a donkey. "Ah! and you have the nerves to call my family bigots. You are just like them you hypocrite!" The donkey was about to reply but was cut off by a pink Alicorn putting herself between him and his fillyfriend. "Stop fighting! Love is too important to waste it like this just because some ponies don't like it. If my mother would have listened to her family and marry another noble instead of the commoner she loved she would have been miserable and I wouldn't even be born! And I know you two will be miserable if you break up because of a stupid dispute. Think of all the good times you had together is it really worth losing it because of a stuffy family?" The couple look at each other with ashamed expressions. "...I guess you're right." The donkey replied. The Unicorn nodded, "I shouldn't let my family tell me what I should do. Thank you young Princess." Unknown to the pink filly her cutie mark glowed for a second before returning to normal. A magic hole appear a few inches away from us and suck us out of the book. When my sight return we were back in the small store. "Oh hello Maria, fancy seeing you here. You will be perfect for getting revenge on Princess Lovebutt," a creepy voice said behind us. I turn around to see who it was and was surprised to find... "Chrysalis?!" > The End of The Journey > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- When I woke up I was shocked to see I was simply laying in a bed in what seem to be Canterlot castle. The last thing I remember was Chrysalis knocking me, Daring Do and Johny unconscious with her magic. I check everywhere in search of my friend and the baby dragon but didn't found them anywhere in the room. So I decided to try to exit the room in search of them. To be honest when I got outside of the room I was expecting to see a empty and eerily silent castle or maybe Chrysalis waiting to pounce on me. Instead what I got were two stoic Canterlot guards guarding my door. "W-what happened where is Chrysalis and more importantly where are North Arrow and Johny?" The two guards looked at each other for a brief moment. "I think it would be best if Princess Celestia and Cadance answer you, they're waiting in the throne room." The guard on the left made a motion to say to follow them. I perfectly knew my way around the castle even through I have been gone for two years but I followed them out of respect. When we arrived at the two golden doors the guards opened the door for me and let me pass. I took a deep breath and trot inside the throne room. I saw for the first time in the last two years the majestic form of Princess Celestia. Cadence was also standing beside her. When they saw me Celestia smiled with her usual benevolent smile. Cadence on the other hand gallop and proceed to tackle hug me as soon as she saw me. "Maria! I missed you so much how have you been, did you meet any interesting fillies?" The last part was said with a teasing grin. I blushed for a second but was able to keep it under control. "I have been alright you arleady know almost all that happen to me and North Arrow with the letters I wrote to you." I gasped as I remember the reason I was here. "Hey! What happened to my friends and the baby dragon?! And where is Chrysalis?!" Cadence rubbed her head. "Oh yeah I had forgot you wouldn't know, you've been knocked out for almost two days. To make a story short she tried to teleport a letter to us saying that she would release all of you in exchange of Shining Armor. Since her species is a lot less advance than us in magic she didn't know that we could easily tell where the teleportation came from. We were able to rescue all of you, unfortunately she was able to escape and left a message that said she would get her revenge on the happiest day of my life." "Wow what a witch, what did you do to make her hate you so much?." I raised an eyebrow when the question made her blush. "Well her coltfriend Shining Armor had enough of her attitude and broke up with her, a few months after that me and him got on a date and well Chrysalis wasn't too happy about that, but I didn't think she would go as far as kidnapping ponies to make me pay." "What about North Arrow and Johny? Where are they?" It was Celestia that respond to that one. "They are currently having breakfast, we should go join them before the food go cold." With that we made our way to the kitchen and I had the best breakfast since the day I left Canterlot. After that day I stopped wandering around Equestria I may be still a little angry at Celestia for changing me into a pony without my conscent but I forgave her. North Arrow and me became close while raising Johny. I would have liked to tell you our reason to be together was as romantic as some of the best romance novel out there. But the truth was that we got drunk one night and the next morning found ourself in the same bed. But you know what? I don't regret it after that we became fillyfriends, when we turned of age we once again left Canterlot but this time in good terms and decide to go live in the city of Manehattan. Ponyville was nice but the novelty of the technology in the big city has yet to wear off for me. And before we knew it North Arrow was pregnant. Somehow my magic created a new life without the need of a stallion I didn't knew how that work but I didn't care. There was one little downside with a magicaly created pony however. Since neither of us has male hormones it will be never possible for us to have a colt we can only have a filly. That ruin the surprise of knowing which gender it will be. But at least we still have the surprise of which race it will be. A year and half passed since our adventure in Equestria and it's been peaceful at time I almost began to forget I once used to be human. I have nothing left to tie me to my original species anymore but it doesn't matter what I have here in equestria is so much more worth it than a pair of hands even through I still miss having finger at times. North Arrow was a little demanding during the ten months of her pregnancy but I was here to support here all the way. I admit I was sometime jealous that it was her that was pregnant and not me but it doesn't matter it will be our foal either way. And then the day came her water broke and we rushed to the first carriage we could find on our way to the hospital. "Buck! It's hurt so much! why did I have to be one to carry the foal!? Next time your the one that will do it!" "I will do it if you find a way to make me pregnant without a stallion." I replied to her. She only groaned harder at the response. It took time and North Arrow was cursing all the way but after a few hours our little fillies was born. I watched as North Arrow smiled down at the little foal in her hooves. I never took her for the motherly type but I assume going through pregnancy will do that to any mares even the tomboyish ones. "Do you want to name her?" I asked her, surprisingly she shook her head. "I'm bad with names you do it I don't want her stuck with a lame name." I look at the foal she had a pink mane that seem to cover her left eyes, she had two adorable little wings proving that she was a Pegasus and her blue eyes seem to look joyfully at us but seem to shy away when she saw a doctor as if she arleady knew the differences between her mothers and some strangers. "What about... Fluttershy?" North Arrow seemed to think about it before she finally nodded. "Your name will be Fluttershy and I'm sure you will be a kind filly that will help the world around you and do great things." After that the doctors took our little foal to check if everything went alright. A while later a doctor entered the room. What worried me about him is that he looked at us with a sad frown. "I'm afraid I have bad news about the newborn filly." "What is it?" I asked worriedly. "We scan her body to see if everything was okay and we found something disturbing." He sighed and rubbed his mane before directly looking at me in the eyes. "The filly doesn't have vocal cords. She won't ever be able to talk." My heart drop at this. "Can't you fix her?" I asked worriedly. He shook his head in response. "We can't fix what doesn't exist." "Then take my vocal chords and give it to her!" I exclaimed without hesitation. North Arrow gasped at this but didn't say anything. I looked at the doctor. "You can do that right?" He hesitated for a second but he nodded. "We could make it fit for her with a age spell. I would need to call a few Unicorns from other hospitals since only a high level Unicorn can do it alone. But you must understand you won't ever get the ability to speak after that and even then it's not guaranty that it will work. There a thirty five percent chance that the vocal chords will be damaged in the process." I look at him in determination. "Do it I can get used to the fact of being mute I arleady been there. But I will not let my daughter share my fate." "Maria are you sure you want to do this? Your voice is the best thing that came out of you being transformed into a pony." North Arrow said to me with a worried expression. I only nodded in response. "Beside without the ability to talk I can focuse more on writing my books since it's the only way to talk I will have." I said with a fake smile. The doctor nodded. "If you're sure the other Unicorn doctors and nurses should be here by tommorow. I will do my best to make in sort this operation is successful. The rest is history, the operation was fortunately successful, I had lost my voice once again but this time I didn't regret it. I had lost it in my own terms and it was totally worth it only to hear my beautiful Fluttershy say 'Mama' for the first time. This is the end of my story It wasn't full of action or suspense but it was my life and I am proud to have become the mother of such a kind and heroic soul. Fluttershy will always be my proudest achievement. I am Maria Ink and this was the story of how I became the mother I am today. THE END Outro