Hopper is a unicorn that is caught up in his special talent, but he doesn't know how to control it!
A faded journal sits before you; its edges are frayed as if it has seen its own share of hardships. The front of the book is simply a black silhouette of a pony jumping from one earthen platform to another. With a shaky hoof you open it to the firs page and read the words written there.
Hello to the colt or filly that reads this journal. My name is Hopper and I left this book here with you and hopefully your mother so you know just who I am. I am your father and I have a very good reason for not being there with you. The truth is that my special talent is hopping through different worlds and solving problems. The first few times was a bit strange even scary, but as I quickly found out my duty is to solve the problems that some pony over there is unable to. Some of these problems are very straight forward but others left me more confused. My hope is that as you read this you learn at least a fraction of what my life is like and that I’d rather be there with you telling these stories to you as I tuck you into bed. But this is the best I can do and I hope if you take anything from this book, it will be a good laugh about how crazy your old stallion is. With love, Hopper.
This is the telling of the day my life changed. I thought about starting a jornal so I could share this with my children, that is if I ever get the chance to have kids. Here is the telling of the day I was whisked away from my old life. But wait you might ask, what caused me to leave my home? Well the truth is that I have no idea. This is my story and my name is Hopper.
^^^
I awoke with a start to find myself in a small alley. The sun was just over the horizon and I felt very strange, more woozy and nauseous than anything else. When the feeling passed I picked myself up and walked out of the alley to see the wonders of the world. Blue skies and thatched roof houses greeted me. Some of the homes smelled of fresh paint and ponies of all colors were around me. I wondered where I must be at first but the answer was right in front of me. I spotted a mint green unicorn with a two-toned light green and white mane walking next to a beige earth pony that had blue and pink mane. These two ponies I know very well. The first on is Lyra Heartstrings, she plays the lyre and sometimes a harp. She makes most of her bits from the small gigs she plays in Canterlot. The earth pony is my sister Bonbon. Bonbon moved to Ponyville so she could get away from the stop n’ go life of Manehatten. I reasoned that I was in Ponyville and I should at least go say hi to my sister. That was until a pink earth pony gasped at me from across the street.
The pink pony bounced over and gave me a hug, sang a quick tune about welcoming me to the town, but before she got to the end of her song she cried about her twitching tail. Then a pie fell on my head. She stood there one hoof over her mouth as she cried “Are you ok?” I could only nod my head, she then burst into laughter and I followed soon after. She told me to stay still for a second and I was about to question why, but she opened her maw and her tongue shot out like a bullfrogs licking away the pie. She left my face completely clean not a drop of saliva. “MMMMM cherry pie, I wonder who made cherry today? Oh well here try some.” She reached her hoof to my head and pulled a slice of the pie off my head and offered it to me. I took it with my own hooves and ate much slower, it was delightful, much better than any pie I had in my youth.
“Hi I'm Pinkie Pie, what's your name?” I stared at the pink pony before me. I knew her name and the name of her friends; she was one of those element bearers that saved Equestria a few times. I opened my mouth to say my name but was hit hard from the side; I tumbled in a tangled mess with some other pony. After coming to a stop the other pony recovered much quicker than I did
“Oh no, I was so sure it was around here that I lost it.” the disgruntled mare spoke with a small hint of fear.
“Lost what Dashie?” Pinkie said as she trotted up to us.
“The Cakes asked me to fly some cherry pies to Cloudsdale but when I got there I found I was missing one and I'm sure it should be around here.” The cyan blue Pegasus was looking around frantically hoping to spot the fallen tasty treat.
“Oh that one landed on my friend's head.” Pinkie said as she pulled me into another hug showing me off to Rainbow Dash. My eyes blurred as Pinkie grabbed me onto one of her bone crushing hugs. “Don't worry Dashie, I'll get you a new cherry pie before you can say chimmy-cherry-changa.” And before either Rainbow or I could protest she was gone.
I turned to the polychromatic maned pony and could hardly believe she was standing next to me; The Element of Loyalty herself and fastest flier in all of Equestria: Rainbow Dash.“So you like what you see?” Her voice caught me off guard as she flicked her mane and posed. “I get stares all the time, it's hard not to when you're as awesome as I am. I'm Rainbow Dash, what's your name?” She lifted her hoof and I tentatively raised mine to shake hers.
“I-I'm-” I struggled to find my voice but with no warning to either of us Pinkie returned.
“Here you go Dashie!” A fresh baked cherry pie balanced perfectly on her head.
“Oh thanks Pinkie Pie, I have to get this to Cloudsdale so I'll see ya around.” With that said she took the box and flew off to deliver the pie.
Pinkie turned to me with a wide smile, “She really needs to trust me more often, I mean I've never let them down before, well except that one time with Discord but that wasn't my fault, he was the one who turned us all gray and turned me against all my friends, OH YOU should TOTALLY meet my friends well you've already met Rainbow Dash, oh I know you should meet my friend Fluttershy she's the kindest most shyest ponies I know COME ON!” And by the hoof I was dragged off through the streets of Ponyville to Fluttershy's cottage.
Instead of going through the front door, like any logical pony would, Pinkie jumped into a tree and we popped out of a floor plant scaring the butter colored pegasus. It took four or five minutes to calm her. During that time I took the opportunity to make some tea. With the help of a small white bunny I made my way around the kitchen fishing tea cups and saucers. Of the many types of tea she had I could only recognize the Earl Gray. After tea had been served Pinkie burst into words again telling Fluttershy of the day’s events, from waking up to meeting me and the encounter with Rainbow Dash and the cherry pie.
Fluttershy nodded throughout the conversation, not a word escaped her lips and I knew why. She was deliberately focusing on Pinkie, most likely because she's too shy to address me. With Pinkie occupied with her storytelling I was free to contemplate her home. Critters of all kinds were either nestled in burrows or nests. The white rabbit that helped me navigate the kitchen was munching on a carrot looking bored. Being in the house reminded me of my parents and how one or both were gone for long periods of time but my home always felt welcoming, much like Fluttershy’s. Also due to my parents being earth ponies I had learned next to nothing about pony magic.
“Oh and speaking of magic Twilight is one of the best ponies in All of Equestria to learn from, come on let's go!” A flurry of motion from Pinkie later, a rather perplexed pegasus and I were suddenly in yet another home.
“Holy Guacamole!” A young purple and green dragon cried out as our trio emerged from a mirror. “Pinkie warn me next time you're going to come bursting out of the mirror when I'm brushing my teeth.” The dragon glared at the giggling ball of pink pony that had transported us across I don’t know how far across town.
Pinkie was smiling and giggling as the dragon finished cleaning himself. “Oh Spike where is the surprise if you know it was coming.” This made him pause but a retort died in his throat as Pinkie jammed her face into his. “So we came to see Twilight because my new friend here needs to learn magic so he can use his horn and there is no pony better to teach him then Twilight so yea where is she where is she?” The last part of her long winded sentence was punctuated by bouncing up and down.
“Uhh she should be down stairs reading like she normally is.” Spike was rewarded with a crushing hug, a cupcake and an invitation card. After that I was dragged from the bathroom away from the bewildered mare and dragon. I saw the wood of this grand home rush past me in a blur. When my vision cleared and my equilibrium restored, I found myself being presented to the very element of magic herself Twilight Sparkle. Her eyes were wide with shock, I assumed it was because of the unexpected visit from Pinkie, but I was wrong.
“Wait what?” Twilight had gasped as if she had been told something taboo had happened. “A unicorn that hasn't learned magic, how is that even possible? On second thought don't answer that Pinkie.” As her large violet eyes scanned me I felt odd, as if she would cry out suddenly and call me a liar. My ears flattened and the corner of my mouth curled into a nervous smile. The more she stared at me with those critical eyes of hers the more I had a desire to run away screaming. Then I saw her smile sweetly and it put me at ease. “I'm sorry, I have a tendency to over analyze sometimes.” And cue the cute giggle. “Anyway, I guess I should test your abilities so we'll start from the basics and work our way up okay.” That sounded like a statement more than a question. I didn't have a choice; if I truly wanted to learn magic I merely assumed this test was mandatory.
Twilight cantered over to one of her many bookshelves and began to pull an assortment of tomes from it. I turned to look at Pinkie but found nothing but an empty cushion next to me. Where did she go? Oh please oh please dear Princess Celestia tell me she's not gone! *Slam* the sound of books dropping to the table in front of me snapped me away from my growing hysteria. “Okay, because I don't know how much you know about magic I'm going to start with the basics. Could you tell me about your family, you don't have to tell me but I am curious as to why they didn't teach you?”
I guess it would help her understand why I never learned magic “Well my parents were both earth ponies so they couldn't teach me magic, and even if they could they both had highly demanding jobs that left them little time for me.” While my words were true, it wasn't the whole truth. I didn’t want to tell the story of how my family never had enough money to hire a magic tutor or how I scored so low on the written test for Celestia’s School for Gifted Unicorns that I was nowhere close to being brought back for the magical exam.
“Ah I see, well it's a good thing I pulled this one,” My First Cantrips was the title of the book “this one is a first edition and signed by the author Cantrip herself.” Twilight beamed about the book and gave a recount of Cantrip's early filly-hood. She eventually caught herself and blushed at the fact that she was rambling instead of teaching. “Alright let's get started.” For the next two hours I was taught magic and boy was it harder then it sounded. Twilight sat close to me as she taught; a bit too close for a simple magic lesson. Her method of teaching was intense but rewarding. More than a few times I dropped a plate causing it to shatter on the floor. The mess was cleaned up by Spike who grumbled every time. Channeling magic through the horn, calling upon one or multiple essences that twisted the magic in its raw form to do or make what you wanted. By the end I felt very proud that I had mastered levitation, mage light and summoning a door. It was during this last trick that Pinkie made her reappearance through the door I summoned.
“Hi Twilight, sorry I had to leave earlier but my left hind leg was all tingly and that means that the Cakes needed me to foalsit the twins while they prepped for the party this evening which reminded me that my friend doesn't have a tux for tonight and so I went to Rarity's to get him one but she wanted to make one for him and so I need to take him over there now oh and don't forget the party starts at seven sharp.” And with that I was dragged by Pinkie through the door right into a boutique. I looked back to see if the door was still there but as I should have known, it was gone. I turned back around to face Pinkie and object to the very jarring transition, but was met with the disapproving face of Rarity.
I don’t know what it is about this pony, but looking at the Element of Generosity makes me feel like she would rather be somewhere else than Ponyville. “Oh my, this will simply not due not due at all. Your mane and tail haven't been washed, you look like Twilight had you studying for hours and you're positively dripping with sweat, Sweetie Belle!” Rarity had hit almost every mark, save for the pie that landed on me earlier today and the sweat was being exaggerated.
After a moment a younger white unicorn with a two toned pink and purple mane that I’ll assume is her little sister came down with a huff and looked at her with crystal clear annoyance. “Yes Rarity?” Dang she sounds like a squeaky angle. She was donned in a blue cape and saddle bags were packed to the brim with stuff.
“Sweetie please be a dear and draw a bath for our guest here, I know you and your friends are going to the party tonight but could you please do this for me before you go.” Rarity's voice was like silk being wrapped around a playful kitten that has very sharp claws.
Sweetie sighed and telekinetically dropped her bags to the floor and stomped upstairs. Rarity turned back to me with a tape measure held in her own magical grasp. “Now then darling I only have an hour to get a suitable vest made for you so please hold still.” I did as I was told and stood motionless for the seamstress. As she passed the tape over several parts of my body, I couldn't help but watch her as she worked. Her prim and proper mane and tail were not just curled but also had the scent of lilacs and dew. Her face, while firmly locked in her business mode, held the air of an upper class Canterlot pony. She had a slight pudge to her cheeks that made her face more rounded then I expected. She moved to my other side and started to hold a set of fabrics up to me, presumably to pick the perfect color to match my beige coat and sandy brown mane.
Sweetie Belle came down to inform us that the bath was ready, and before Rarity could issue a new request she was out the door and with her bag in tow. Rarity had a slight crestfallen look cross her face but was gone in a second. She turned back to me with a smile. “Please go freshen yourself up, the bathroom is upstairs first door on the left and spare towels are in the lower cupboard. I should have your vest completed by the time you are done.” I thanked her and moved upstairs, during my climb I wondered about the layout of her upper floor but that was quickly answered. The entire area had no hallway; it was a circular area with the stairs popping up in the center. All the doors that were marked accordingly: The bathroom was directly to my left just as Rarity said: next to that was a door marked 'Inspiration Room' and I chuckled and wondered what she does to gain inspiration. The next two rooms were Rarity's and Sweetie Belle's bedrooms. Opening the door to the bathroom got me a face full of steam from the hot bath, the air held a thick aroma of amber and honey. I didn't want to waste any more time so I pulled a towel from the aforementioned cupboard and set it on the toilet like I do back home... Home... Why did I think of home, now of all times? Oh right, with the lack of a familiar surroundings one will tend to think of stuff from back home. And given the way this day has gone for me, this was the first amount of time alone. I thought of my parents who were always working. My mother was always warm and I cherished every moment I snuggled next to her, my father on the other hoof was a great mechanic but I felt he should have been a taste tester given how much he goes on about the pies he eats. It makes me sad that I was so rudely taken away from my home and just dumped in this town. Granted I have just met five out of the six saviors of Equestria so some good did come of this.
I stopped thinking about home and finished washing up then quickly dried off with the towel. Done with that I ran my hoof through my mane and it refused to stay down. I spotted a comb with tangles of pink hair in it and I silently prayed that Sweetie Belle wouldn't mind. I made sure to remove her hairs before and mine after I used it. I set the used towel in the hamper that sat next to the door which held a few jeweled saddles that were way too big to fit a filly and had two fins near the back that were big enough to wrap a hoof around. On my way back downstairs I contemplated why a pony such as Rarity would need a saddle? Was she using them as a fashion statement or was it for more personal endeavors.
Once I hit the main floor of the boutique I found Rarity easily. Held in her magical grasp was a plain sandy brown vest with black trims and a hoof stitched patch over the left breast, the patch was of a pony jumping from one earthen platform to another. I was about to question this but a better thought came to my mind. “Wow, they don't call you one of Equestria's greatest seamstresses for nothing.”
Rarity had been lost in her own thoughts so when my complement hit her, the smile she gave was radiant as a diamond.
“Why thank you dear, in truth I didn't think I had a brown that complemented your mane. I was torn between going with beige trim to match your coat or the black, but I felt going with a darker color would make your blue eyes pop out.” Holding the newly created vest up to me her smiled grew.
“And I was right.”
Taking the garment in my own magical hold, I didn't stop to think how magic was becoming easier to use as I donned the vest. It fit snugly around my barrel and was still warm from the sewing machine. For some odd reason I felt at peace with this vest on, maybe that was the power of Rarity's talent and or years of experience. My eyes spied the clock and I gasped. “Oh by Celestia, if we don't get moving we'll be late for the party.”
Rarity eyed the clock as well. “Oh my yes you're right. Just let me grab a few things...” She rummaged through a few dresses and came out with a dress that was purple but just a few tones lighter than her mane. She donned it quickly and was at the door in a flash. “Now let us be off.”
After Rarity had closed and locked her shop we headed out to wherever the party was to be held. “Funny, I don't think I was ever told where the party was being held.” Why did I not just simply ask where it was? I sounded like an upper crust wannabe that may parents always detested.
“Oh did Pinkie not tell you? It's to be held at Sweet Apple Acres, the home of my good friend Applejack. She makes some of the most divine apple fritters in Equestria!” I looked to Rarity with understanding, it seems like I've visited almost the whole of this town. First it was the market place where I first met Pinkie and Rainbow dash; then there was Fluttershy's cottage and Twilight's library; Rarity's Boutique and now the home of the Apple family. Plus Applejack was the one of the element bearers I had yet to meet, and I was looking forward to it.
The walk was much shorter then I imagined. I figured that because the farm was on the outskirts of the town that it would be a trek, but that was not so. The well-organized lines of apple trees came into view and flowed like a sea of green over the landscape. It was a captivating sight and the aroma of freshly picked apples was heavy in the air. Soon the home of the Apple family was in view and the sounds of music and party goers drifted over to us. By the time we got to the entrance to the farm, the party was in full swing. A country band played lively tunes and ponies enjoyed the treats cooked up by the Apple family and the Cakes. I saw so many ponies around; I couldn't help but wonder what occasion would prompt so many to attend. I saw a pinto colored colt sitting with Sweetie Belle and two others, an orange pegasus filly with a purple mane and a yellow filly with a pink bow holding her red mane out of her face. The four were talking all secretly to each other and I wondered what were they planning? My eyes continued to drift around the party until they landed on the orange mare with blond hair with a Stetson hat on top, and she was headed straight for us.
“Well howdy there Rarity, it's about time you joined us at this here shin dig.” Her southern drawl was like music to any ponies ears. Her eyes like deep pools of liquid emeralds and her freckled face distorted with the biggest country grin.
“Oh Applejack, you know I wouldn't miss this for the world. It's not very often that the your family throws such a grand event. After all, your family must be proud to have had the farm for over a hundred years.” Rarity's smooth and silky voice was a wonderful contrast to AJ's.
“Darn toot`n, and if I don't say this now ah won't get a second chance at it. Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres one hundredth anniversary! Now let’s party!” Applejack led us through the throng of ponies to the one group I had the pleasure of meeting earlier this day. The polychromatic mane of Rainbow Dash was the first to draw the eyes, then the ever bouncing bundle of energy wrapped in pink that was Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle was right next to the ever bashful Fluttershy. Our approach didn't go unnoticed as Pinkie came bounding over and dived onto me, giving me yet another rib crushing hug.
“Oh my gosh I was wondering when you were going to show up and was totally betting on two minutes from now but Twilight was all ‘I'm sure they are alright and Rarity is just fussing over your clothes.’ and Fluttershy agreed on that but Rainbow Dash was like ‘I could get them here in ten seconds flat.’ but I was sure it would have taken longer but this is Dashie we're talking about. Oh there is something I want to show you come over here!” To this day I will never stop being amazed at how she was able to talk as if she never needs to take a breath. I was led away from the group to a nearby hill that was strangely devoid of apple trees in favor of a large oak.
The stars were bright and beautiful and I was sharing this spectacle with such a hyper pony that felt like a never ending bundle of joy. “Oh it's gonna start soon look look over there!” Pinkie pointed a hoof over to a clear patch of land that was just outside of the farms borders.
Soon a set of four voices, three fillies and one colt, blared over the speaker system. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER FIREWORKS YAY!” A collective gasp from the ponies rang out just before the first rocket launched into the air and burst into a shower of red and green. The explosions were loud but not deafening. After the initial launch the ponies in attendance oohed and awed at the spectacle.
The fireworks continued to spray the sky with colors and sounds and I would have lost myself in the spectacle had I not been nudged. I looked to the only occupant besides myself and found a blushing Pinkie sitting calmly. I became worried; I had gotten used to seeing Pinkie bounce around and seeing her not bouncing around was a tad disconcerting. I was worried more by how she was staring into my eyes, the light from the fireworks would illuminate her face for the briefest of moments allowing me to see something I've never seen from her. Desire, unbridled and daunting. It wasn't lust but something told me that it could go that way. I hadn't even noticed when our muzzles got so close that I could smell the frosting on her breath, but I sure noticed when we kissed. It was like the world stopped then exploded in a shower of color and sound. If you asked me about how long that kissed lasted, I wouldn't be able to tell you. The best I could come close to would be to tell you that it lasted for only a moment, and that moment lasted forever.
Pinkie giggled and winked at me. “That’s something to remember me by.” And then my whole world went black. At first I was afraid that she had done something to me. That was until I woke up. Was it a dream? I don't know but I will say this; where I ended up was not the Apple's farm or some hospital bed. But rather The Castle of the royal pony sisters!
Hello again. I’m Hopper and this is entry is about my second adventure. But just to be clear I had no idea what had happened when I blacked out at Sweet Apple Acres. All I knew at this point was that I was now in what looked to be a brand new or possibly refurbished castle of the royal pony sisters. I still remember that kiss from Pinkie but her words were what stuck with me. “Just something to remember me by.” At this point I figured that Pinkie had known that I would be pulled away somehow but I guess it would be easier for me to say it was Pinkie being Pinkie. But I’m getting off topic here. So I wake up in the castle of the royal pony sister…
^^^
The first thing I become aware of was a hoof roughly prodding my side. I stir from my slumber which in hindsight I don’t think was enough. My eyes flutter open and I’m rewarded with the glaring eyes of a unicorn guard. He’s dressed in armor of the deepest hue of blue before it becomes imperceptible from black. His fur was the color of ash and his mane like that of mountains. His eyes on the other hoof were gold and cat like. I fear that I squeaked like a mouse that just got caught by a cat as he stared at me. I was less afraid of him than I was of his gaze. It spoke volumes of how I would be dealt with if I made a wrong move. A door opened and in trotted two more unicorn guards, one had what looked like a custom made suit of armor of gold color and orange trim and appeared to be higher ranked then the other two. This pony was however much different in color. His fur was a so purple it was like staring at a bruise, his mane was two toned yellow and red, his eyes were green and I never felt a pony could be so ugly to look at. Thankfully I was so rattled that I kept my mouth shut but that didn’t stop him. “Get up!” he barked. Fear is what drove me to comply and some degree of hope that if I cooperated I would at the very least be treated civilly. One of the guards moved in front of me and the other two placed themselves behind me. “You try to run and I’ll strike you down got it!” The commander bellowed behind me. I nodded in response not trusting myself to speak just yet.
Forward we marched, down the halls of the castle and I must admit it was hard not to look anywhere except straight ahead. Every time I felt my eyes wander from the guard in front of me I was treated to some grand tapestries and stone busts of ponies I didn’t know. The hum of magic behind me warned me that my wandering eyes were rousing suspicion and I immediately focused back to the guard ahead of me. I needed something to keep my attention on the guard and as embarrassing as it sounds I kept my eyes on his hindquarters. It kept my eyes from wandering but the awkward feeling of looking at a pony’s backside was far easier to deal with than risk getting injured or killed. When we finally stopped I was roughly shoved into a room with only a table and a single hanging lantern to light it. The door was closed before I had even picked myself up from the floor. Through the midsized barred hole in the door the commander sneered at me. “If you try to escape you will regret it.” When they left I let the breath I was holding go and relaxed. It was here that I wondered what time it was and there was no window for me to look outside to even wager a guess.
I don’t know how long I waited but it was too long. I had fallen asleep and was awoken rudely with water being dumped on me. I sputtered as the chilly water hit me and I pulled my head up to see just who had done this. The commander was standing above me with a pail but what drew my sight was the pony standing behind and to the left of him. I acknowledged two things at the same time. The first was that I was in the presence of royalty and that royal pony was Princess Luna! I quickly forced myself into a bow and hoped that I wouldn’t incur her wrath. “It was wise of you to bow to your princess. You will now tell us why you entered the castle at such a late hour.” Just so you know the Royal Canterlot Voice being used in a tiny stone room directed at you, you’re going to have a bad time.
“M-m-my deepest apologies your majesty, I-I-I was caught within a spell of unknown origins and I awoke here in your castle. Please I meant no trespass against you.” Yes I was stuttering like mad and I was about two seconds away from begging for my life. I was not sure at the time if I should be grateful for what happened next or more worried. The pony that passed by the door was Princess Celestia cladded in full battle armor, her mane was less like the light multi-colored pastel that I knew from pictures and more like red-orange-yellow mixture and danced like flames.
“Luna,” Celestia’s shout, even without using the Royal Canterlot Voice, made the walls shudder “Thou are to be in your room not gallivanting off to play some silly game with a commoner!” Her voice lacked any of the kind motherly tone; instead it was harsh and authoritative like a general in the middle of a war.
“Sister I am not playing any games!” Luna retorted with a stomp of her hoof. “This stallion was caught in our castle after the doors had been barred. He claims that a spell caused him to appear here and we were going to determine if he was a spy.” The tone Celestia had taken with her sister made me feel as if Luna was just playing. If I were to wager a guess I’d say Luna was in her pre-teen stage but that is just going off the way she held herself. As far as I know I could be way off given the fact that she’s an alicorn. The next thought I had was I had no idea what the princess’s did for fun. An odd thought I know, especially when I’m probably seconds away from being tossed in the dungeons or worse.
Celestia was not amused. “Luna we are fighting griffons not ponies. Why would any pony join with a race that wants to do nothing more than eat them? Use thy head Luna; I am not raising thee to be blinded by such outlandish claims!” Well there goes the cake. I never gave much thought to who the alicorn princess’s parents could be but I’ll go ahead and say they’re not around anymore.
“But sister,” Luna stomped both her front hooves to the stone making small cracks “he could be a griffon in disguise!” Uh-oh was the only thought I was able to think before a blast of magic lifted me up into the air. What happened next made me feel like I had my tail lifted in school, embarrassed and violated. The magic pulsed through me searching every part of my body and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. My whole body tingled like your leg does after you return blood to the sleeping limb. This was the first of many times I would be scanned magically and I didn’t like any of them.
When Celestia was done scanning me, I was rudely dropped from the air back to the cold stone floor. I know I grunted from the impact and I tried to pull myself back up into a sitting position but numbness from the magic kept me from moving. The most I could do was watch as Celestia gave the harshest stare of disapproval to her little sister. “I taught thee the spell to scan and dispel illusions yet thee still go about your foalish games Luna!” Despite her clear annoyance Celestia maintained the air of authority. “Luna thou will release this stallion at once. Commander Color Palate, thou will accompany us to the war room.” When Luna had used the Royal Canterlot Voice the room barely shuddered, when Celestia used it the whole room felt like it was going to collapse on us all! When the room stopped shaking Celestia, the commander and the two guards left. The first thing that I thought as they left was the commander’s name fit perfectly with the fact that his color scheme was an assortment of colors. My next thought was that I was still in the presence of royalty and slowly returned to my bowing position facing Luna.
Hearing nothing from the princess I dared to look up to find Luna staring at the ground with anger in her eyes. I honestly felt that if anything was said she would turn her anger on me. With a huff Princess Luna let her wings fall limp and the anger faded from her face. I don’t know what possessed me to ask much less address the princess without prompt. “What troubles you your highness?” I truly felt I was going to be sent to Tartarus for this.
Yet to my utter amazement Luna answered me. “We are treated like a foal by our sister and not like the mare we are. As this war with the griffons wages on, less and less of our beloved ponies will walk through our night. As time continues more ponies fear our night as a blight that brings monsters. Tiss sacrilege we say.”
“I still like the night.” With how fast Luna looked up to me I was afraid she would snap her neck. The look on her face was golden. Her turquoise eyes regarded me with a mixture of happiness and relief.
Then without warning her face became cold and serious. I dropped back into a bow hoping to spare myself whatever punishment she might give to me. “Stand.” I obeyed, looking straight ahead and doing my best to not look her in the eye. “Thou will follow me and not a word is to be spoken about what has been conversed in here, understood!”
“Yes your highness.” She turned and walked out of the room. I followed but not so close that I risked being bucked without notice. If I felt awkward when I was focused on that guards flank, that is nothing to how much fear that was running through me as I caught myself staring at Luna’s flank. It was mesmerizing to watch the muscles beneath the fur of her flank, and I noticed she also had a small amount of fat there too. I know this because with each step her flanks jiggled slightly and I felt a blush come to my cheeks every time I caught myself staring.
I didn’t notice that as we walked, I having to trot just to keep up, that there were no guards in the hallway. Or at least I didn’t notice until Luna stopped at a pair of grand doors with a silver crescent moon carved into them. I didn’t know what was behind these doors but I was ordered to follow her and I wasn’t about to disobey the princess. The first thing I spotted when I entered the room was the huge canopy bed that was donned silk of dark blue’s and violets. The sheets had what looked to be stars and constellations embroidered into them. Them the switch in my mind clicked and made the connection that I was in the princess’s bedroom, her sanctuary from the commoners such as myself and nobles alike. “Come hither.” My eyes locked on to where Luna had called me. She had placed herself in front of a fireplace and was beginning to light it with her magic. I moved from where I stood just inside the doorway and over to the fireplace. As soon as I cleared it, the door was slammed shut from Luna’s magic and I couldn’t help but jump at the excessive force she used. Once I managed to move to the fireplace on shaky legs, I stood as tall as I could and expected more orders from the Princess. “You may relax and lie down.” Not a hard order to follow, although I couldn’t truly relax as I was in the presence of the very pony who threatened to shroud all of Equestria in a never ending night… wait if the story is correct then Luna only did that because no-pony would admire her night. I do like the night and have a few fond memories, if I share some of them with her she might not turn into Nightmare Moon. “We do not believe thou has told us what thy name is.” Ok I may have jumped a bit too far but I can start there.
“My name is Hopper your majesty.” I say as I lower my head to the floor out of respect.
“Commoner Hopper, what is it about my night that you like?” I had figured that this question would be asked and I’ve already opened my muzzle, better not stick my hoof in there as well.
“Well to start the way they shine in the dark makes me believe that they are like your eyes, beautiful and serene.” Lift hoof and insert into mouth. I’ve always had that problem of just saying the first thing that comes to my mind. But this time I wasn’t treated to a swift kick to the face or verbal lashing. I saw Luna blush, that’s right I was lying before the night princess and I made her blush.
“Do thy truly believe I am beautiful?” That was the first time she didn’t use the royal “we” in a sentence referring to herself.
“Yes your highness. Your beauty is like a wine, without proper air any pony would faint at the sight of you.” Raise other hoof and stick it in mouth while other two dig a shallow grave. I watched as Luna squirmed under my praise of her physical features. The blush deepened and her eyes longed for me to continue. “The deep blue of your fur is much like the night, a blanket covering sky so your stars may shine to all of the ponies below. Your mane is like that of a waterfall cascading around your smiling face.” After I was done I had hoped that it would be enough to lift her spirits but yet her head hung low once again. “Princess, is something the matter?” I had a dreadful feeling well up inside me. I felt her reaction was her taking my words not as they truly were but just expected praise to a princess.
“No pony hath ever told us that we are beautiful,” Luna raised her head looking as if on the verge of tears “not even our sister.” I think my jaw hit the floor. I knew Celestia was beautiful in the radiant way, Luna was beautiful in the tranquil way.
“Why?” That word was not just out of shock but genuine curiosity.
With a sigh Luna scuffed the floor with her hoof. “Many ponies are always talking about how my sister is beautiful yet I’m always described as cute. Foals and bunnies are cute, and I am neither! Why does no-pony ever see my beauty or even care about the beauty of my night!” Oh drat, I think instead of trying to prevent Nightmare Moon’s coming I just started it. Well better pull my hooves out of my mouth and dig my grave in earnest. “Well does thy have an answer for us?”
“I think it’s because you don’t mingle with the common ponies.” Great move Hopper, you just told the Princess of probably one thousand years ago to go talk and mingle with the common ponies. I think that earns you a one way ticket to the deepest level of Tartarus.
“Does thy truly think if I walk among the commoners that they will see me for my beauty and not my crown?” If I wasn’t so petrified with fear I would have kissed her.
“Given time I believe that if you show who you are to the ponies of Equestria, they will come to see you for the beautiful loving mare that you are.” Back to the original plan, get ponies to like Luna so they have less fear for the night and maybe even start to love it.
“We hath made a decision. Commoner Hopper, you will no longer be known as a commoner but rather as our seneschal. It will be your duty to guide us in the way of teaching ponies to adore our night.” Can I just say this once… I’m going to anyway; Oh dear Celestia send me to the sun as I have just doomed all of Equestria.
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Okay I should say this now or I’ll forget to later. This was my second hop to another world and I didn’t know what I was supposed to do. I didn’t know at the time when I would be forced away from Luna’s company much less how. Yet as the sun touched the horizon I figured now was the best time to have Luna do a meet and greet with the commoners. “Princess Luna, tis time to leave and present thyself to the common.” Oh yea I am no longer allowed to talk as a commoner when I act as Luna’s seneschal. Over the past two days I was educated in the ways of royal etiquette and all the various lords and ladies of the court and their stations. My vest was also modified, sleeves were added that hung just above my fetlock, it was lengthened to cover my flank and my cutie mark embroidered over where they were hidden. My scruffy mane was washed and combed back and I must say that I look a lot better than normal. If my parents or even Bonbon saw me like this, I’m fairly certain they wouldn’t even know it’s me.
Luna yawned and the glare she gave me told me that she detested being awake so early. After watching that past few days on how Luna addressed the court and the pony lords and ladies, I concluded that dusk was the perfect time for her to make an appearance to the common ponies. A part of my duties were to plan every event that Luna would do for her night. Sadly I found out rather too quickly that the only ponies who willingly come to Luna are the nobles, and they mostly are there to complain about another griffon raid on their town or city or to request that Celestia send more guards to protect them. And by them I mean the nobles, not the commoners. If I hadn’t done well in history class back in school I’d be wondering where was the representation of the common pony. I had found a calendar on my second night and found that I was truly in pre-Nightmare Moon era. That meant that commoners lived in squalor or lived under the rule of a Lord or Lady and did whatever the Lord or Lady told them to do; be it till the fields or push clouds to water the fields, if the Lord or Lady said jump you didn’t even ask how high, you just did it. So in order for Luna to visit the common ponies I needed to have her appear to a Lord or Lady. So I chose Lady Banana Fluff for this visit, mostly because she hadn’t come to night court in over a month. This pony and all the others lived about ten miles away from the castle, next to a forest from what I can tell.
“Why must we awaken early rather than the commoners simply stay awake for us. Is this not to show the commoners that our night it to be adored like our sister’s day?” Oh boy Luna is grumpy. I had to plan this whole thing and if anything this plan should work.
“The reason my Princess is so the commoners can witness as you call thy night in all its glory.” This was partly true. In truth Luna was very non-flashy as she called the moon and starts. All she did was sit, close her eyes and pull the moon over the horizon. She only opened her eyes as she crafted the stars for the night. For this to work she needed to put on a show per-say. I wanted this to work so the town I pick was for one reason above all others; it had no trouble with griffons. I found it strange at first but after being told by Color Pallet the reason this town had no trouble was because it was located on the other border of Equestria that has nothing but a large swath of untamed forest. That is of course after I had made sure that my new position allowed me to converse with the commander of Princess Celestia’s army. Oh I should also mention that Celestia didn’t take too well of my promotion but didn’t turn me into a pile of ash so I guess I should be grateful. I was only given one order by Celestia and that was to keep her sister out of the war efforts. Remember when I said when Lords and Ladies give an order you just do it, well I learned that the hard way through Celestia. Being the ruler of Equestria I remember Celestia being nice and very open to questions, in this time she was a whole different mare. When Celestia used her Royal Canterlot Voice, before it was projected away from me now it was literally directed at me. The force alone knocked me down to the floor before I was launched into a wall, all because I had to ask why.
“Why can they not look up to the sky as our sister lowers her sun and we raise our moon? Surely that is enough for them to see our work.” I swear it was hard to see Luna like this. I guess that’s how these times are. Something that should be obvious today is not quite so in this time.
“While they are able to do that, they need to know you love them so they can openly love you as well as your night.” Even though Luna likes me because I said I like her night, I still need to get her to accept the fact that common ponies won’t “love” her just because she sits on the throne. She needs exposure so her subjects will come to know her and not the crown she has atop her horned head.
“And why would the commoners not give their love to us freely? Do they not know we art the princess of Equestria?”
With how many times I’ve stuck my hoof in my mouth you’d think I’d get used to the taste. “What I meant Princess is that they need to know who you are as a pony, not just as their princess. I can assure you this will have a much greater affect then they simply accepting you as Equestria’s princess.” I could only pray that she accepts this logic.
“Thou art saying that the commoners love for us will be greater if we show ourselves to them? If thy speak truth we must leave at once!” With a flurry of magic Luna donned her regalia and midnight colored shoes. I practically had to gallop after Luna in order to keep up with her overly joyous gait.
Luna’s flying carriage was ready for us along with two smaller ones that had two unicorn guards in each. The smaller carriages had two pegasi guards strapped in while Luna’s had four. After every-pony was ready we took off, heading away from the castle and hopefully to a more peaceful portion of Equestria.
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As we flew I instructed Luna on how she should raise her moon and paint the stars. She protested quite greatly to my suggestions, but I was able to convince her that by simply flying up as if she was dancing with her moon that it would awe the commoners and allow them to see that she brings them such a beautiful night.
We landed on the outskirts of the town and Lady Banana Fluff, a bright yellow unicorn with a purple mane and her cutie mark was that of three round cut diamonds, came out with most if not all the commoners following her. All the ponies bowed to Luna but what struck me dumb was when Luna stuck her hoof out to the Banana Fluff. Lady Banana Fluff pecked her shoe with a light kiss and greeted Luna with her full title. Princess Luna, weaver of the night and sister to Princess Celestia. Wow even in her title she is always second to her sister. It may be because of her age or maybe just the fact that she has less duties then Celestia does. But I couldn’t think about that right now, I had almost walked Luna step by step how she was to address every-pony and how she was to perform.
”Tonight we shall have thee all bear witness to this night’s raising of the moon and stars!” And here we go. The first thing Luna did was turn from the crowd and faced east where the moon was waiting patiently. When Luna’s horn started to glow and she made no movement I feared that she was ignoring my plan. Then she slowly unfolded her wings and kicked off the ground. With a small push from her wings she now sat to the left of the rising moon, she extended one of her legs across the moon to make it look as if she was hugging it and pulling it gently into the sky. I heard the first few ooh’s and awe’s from foals that had become brave enough to look around their mother’s or father’s so they could watch Luna raise the moon. Now with the moon raised the real spectacle begins. Removing her leg from the moon Luna rose up and stood on top of it, her horn glowing with a deeper shade indigo she fired off a blast that arced over the ponies forcing them to look into the sky as the trail of magic left the stars twinkling. Stars and constellations burst before the onlookers and even the adults were awed as the night filled their eyes with its glory.
With a few flaps of her wings Luna landed on the ground once more and approached the commoners again. Nothing was said, not a peep from the adults or even Lady Banana Fluff. I grew worried that if some-pony didn’t do or say something this whole night would be a bust and that meant I would’ve failed to prevent Nightmare Moon! “It’s pretty.” The voice was so soft that if the silence hadn’t been there no-pony would have heard the little filly. My eyes were on her like lighting on a tree, the tiny filly’s fur was faded green like a sweater left out in the sun too long. Her powder blue mane was the same as her eyes that were firmly focused to the sky.
“Hey look, that one looks like a bear!” A colt cried out, his dark purple fur and bright orange mane clashed horribly but he was excited to be pointing at the patch of sky where the constellation Ursa Major sat in the sky. Soon more fillies and colts were pointing at the sky and calling out shapes of animals and objects that were spread out for them to see.
Then something I didn’t expect to happen, happened. The young faded green filly ran from her mother straight towards Luna. A pegasus guard moved to block her advance but she was so small that she slipped between his hooves and pounced onto Luna’s leg. “Thank you Princess! Mommy and all the other adults don’t let us out past dark because of all the monsters but with you here we get to see how pretty your night is.”
I swear that the guards were going to tear that filly off of Luna in the bloodiest way possible had Luna not raised her other hoof to stop them. “Tell us child, are these monsters the reason none of thee can enjoy my night?”
The filly let go of Luna’s leg and stared up to the princess. “We can’t open a window to look out because the monsters would find our house and eat us!” The filly wailed.
”Lady Banana Fluff tis this true? That your town is assaulted by monsters that cause you to fear the night.” It was wrong of me to pray to Celestia that this be true but I did. The way I saw it was if Luna thought that monsters were the cause of ponies not able to come out at night, then she would not become bitter to them and focus on making her night same for them to enjoy.
“Sadly yes Princess Luna. Monsters roam through the forest that borders the town, every night we have to douse any light or they come into town and eat any pony near a light even as small as a candle.” Lady Banana Fluff said. I nearly jumped for joy as the truth rang through the air.
“Seneschal Hopper, to what is the name of this forest?” I stumbled as I didn’t know what the name was. I opened my bag and took out the map I used to pick the town. Quickly scanning the map I felt the weight of one name fall on me.
“It’s called… The Everfree Forest your majesty.” I now understand why these ponies have no problems with griffons, because even the griffons would avoid such an unnatural place as the Everfree Forest.
”Seneschal Hopper, take a note. I, Princess Luna, hear by decree that a platoon of guards will be stationed here in this town to guard them during the night.” I wrote the note with ease and double checked that it was legible.
“Done your majesty.” With a stamp of approval from Luna’s hoof the document was official and this town was going to get protection. I felt ecstatic at my accomplishment and I felt that if I was able to get Luna to do more things like this then the ponies of Equestria would love her in no time at all. That is if I hadn’t started glowing. “Huh? W-what’s going on?!” I continued to glow and I saw something come out of the trees. “Manticore!” I had yelled before my vision was overloaded with color.
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This time I was awake for my next hop and believe me it was not pleasant. You’ve seen a rainbow after a rain storm right? Well picture that same rainbow curled around into a tube then imagine yourself being sucked through that rainbow tube. The colors alone were blinding and forced me to close my eyes. Oh and the feeling was the worst, just try to think of yourself falling through the sky but with no wind or sound to tell you that you’re falling. Then add the feeling of being underwater and you would come close to what I experience when I hop.
When all my senses returned, I was woozy and didn’t feel well at all. My ears picked up on the fact that I was surrounded by ponies who were shuffling around me but not a word was spoken, not even a gasp of shock. When my stomach was done playing jump rope with my intestines I slowly opened my eyes to find myself very far from where I had been. And to top it all off, every-pony was wearing clothes that covered their entire body except for their heads. All the suits were colored blue and had a tag on the front with writing that was clearly not Equestrian.