> Reaping Chaos
>  by Lost Handle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A Rustic Shop
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


“Brony.” What is its definition? In 2010 one might have said that it meant a watcher of the show “My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.” By the time 2016 rolled around, brony had become synonymous with “Forward thinker” or “One who takes stands against the status quo.” Though its heart was always at the show. 2025 came and brony was no longer even related to the show, as the show no longer existed after losing focus on its goal. Though some stayed loyal, brony's meaning was now exclusively of a norm-breaker. “Love and Tolerance” was the official slogan of the UN's diplomats and commonly uttered by law-makers when discussing topics of public controversy. The show had left a mark on the world.

That's also when project DISCORD was started. Technology had advanced far enough to begin work on many ideas some would consider to be in the realm of magic. Telekinesis using objects to produce electromagnetic fields were in use, though pricey. But we wanted more. They needed every scientist they could get and they put aside arguments, beliefs, lives, even dreams to work on, arguably, the greatest feat mankind ever attempted scientifically. And work began. Theoretical sciences were put to the test as work progressed; breakthroughs found which, in any other situation, I would be proud to say I was in. 

By 2035 the first success was made. A living, breathing, conscious, self-aware woman with inherent telekinesis that had signals sent through a horn-like object on her forehead. Modeled in physique and memory after a lady most in the team decided would be Rarity in human form. Press went wild, and what's more, the creation could respond to questions about her. She was given awareness about her creation and her basis as to not replicate some disasters fanfiction showed us. But oh, she was only the simplest. We had work almost done for more complex versions. This was things they had seen before mastered in a new way. The next would truly begin territory no one could begin to imagine.

Our creation basis had been on the mane six, as people would recognize the power we showed them. Thus next was the second simplest, Applejack. I was one of the main designers of her form and her resonance ability, which would allow a kick to produce constant waves at the resonant frequency as to what she was kicking, which would simulate applebucking as it would shake the apples or whatever else off the tree. Though it more often worked with simply shattering things. It was still interesting and, I guess, useful. I enjoyed working with her. (I might add at this point I witnessed firsthand how sick humans can be. I will not detail but I can assure you I became close, as possible as there were fifty other "close" with her, with Applejack and told of these exploits. Turns out, the resonator works quite well with bones. Quite a deserved sentence I may comment.)

Cracking the flight of the bee was something scientists worked on for ages, but when the secret was found it surprised us as we were able to perfectly replicate working wings on Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. We did this for pure fun, but we also created meters so that if at any point Rainbow broke the sound barrier, a rainbow light would begin shining. In reality, it wasn't hard to do, though Rainbow's personality suffered a minor error we had to talk her out of. Fluttershy's voice was augmented by a calming noise we discovered worked on animals. I wish I could say we created the stare in her, but that came quite naturally.

All of this astounded the public as they talked to heroes of their youth. Though the sickness of humans shone through again as they asked about matters of relations, sexuality and personality. We found most of them at one point or another hidden in their rooms we had built in a house for them, crying, with a fanfic that someone slipped them.

But all that was simple, and hadn't even touched the surface of anything we had ever made. Deeper in project DISCORD we had those projects that some would say were other-worldly. 2038 came and we brought to life two new humans, with powers unheard of in total secrecy. Not even the four other girls knew of their existence. Toying with reality was not something you did in public. And as Pinkie Pie and Twilight Sparkle spent a year with us privately, many a scientific law was broken. They were highly experimental and NOT to be taken lightly. We watched as things came to life, space and time were bent, energy was created, energy was destroyed. All in result of years of toil. 

We gathered them all together to finally all meet one day and explained as much as possible. And more, telling that the first four would be released to live publicly with new names as to not draw to  much attraction, for they were quite ordinary-looking with the exception of small, concealable augmentations such as the wings. To Rarity we gave the name Ruth Tyre, to Applejack: Alexandra Jackson, Fluttershy became Felicity Dykas and to Rainbow Dash we gave the name Alexi Dash, in honor of the two who named themselves after them. When we finally went public with the last two, we explained the future the human race would have. One of total control, harmony, and no more strife.

Oh how naïve we were. Never name a project “Discord” and expect harmony. We created one more being to put all our ideas to the test: Discord. But a controlled version. Nothing could go wrong, right? Wrong. It was a nightmare. The spirit possessed many scientists and many more civilians nearby. Like cancer it spread. I was called to rescue the two we had kept safely as they mastered their gifts. Soon it was a mad dash to find the other four. We never did. Discord sent us to a time we could do no harm, moreover, before anyone would recognize the names of the six friends.

My name is Luke Harolds. This is a story of a shattered world.


Reaping Chaos
By: Lost Handle


I woke dazed at the front seat of my car. As I took a blurry look around I noted that we were on a highway roadside in the middle of night. I didn't pay as much attention to this as I should have, for I quickly spun around to the rear seats to check on Twilight and Pinkie Pie. They were soundly sleeping as they were before Discord's spirit found us inducing me to give a smile. Sleep sounded nice, as a dazed unconsciousness didn't refresh. When I looked at my dashboard clock, it showed that it was still early enough to grab something for eating before focusing their efforts. Just as we rehearsed so many times. In case of emergency, focus all efforts. That felt like saying “In case of nuclear war, don't die.”

I pulled off the side and began driving down the road. Right now a bite to eat would be good. I pulled out my phone to locate a nearby restaurant, only to find that the connection was bad. I muttered a curse and retried, when I realized that outdated WiFi signals surrounded me. I thought of the puzzling development. We had created a much better signal in every place imaginable by now. Sure some businesses had a WiFi connection here and there and houses still had a slightly superior connection, but why wasn't the regular MC system working? I shook my head and focused attention on the road. A sign alerted me to the fact that a old nostalgic shop we had around called “Cracker Barrel” was nearby. I hadn't eaten in one of those in a while so I pulled off. It would give me and the other two some time to talk and eat.

As I pulled up, shifting occurred in the rear seat. I looked behind me to see the two super-humans waking up. I calmly smiled and shook them awake a bit more. They were quite precious and I hated to do it, but their eating and understanding of the situation was more important. When Twilight finally recognized that the world was moving while she slept, she sat up and blinked a bit. “Where are we?”

Pinkie rose from a quite comfortable-looking position on Twilight's legs. She was a bit faster in recognizing the situation and saw the pretty lights and the rustic-looking building. “Wow this is a pretty place. Why are we here? Is Applejack here? Did we find them? Oh I will have to throw a party!”

As she spoke I felt the stability of reality loosen to accommodate her movements in the insanely small space. I groaned a bit and opened my door. “I don't know where we are other than this is a nice place to eat.” I paused, debating whether or not to tell them that Discord caught us, then deciding that telling them would be for the best. They took it lightly, considering we weren't hurt. And we all entered the restaurant. Pinkie gasped excitedly at all the toys and things hanging from the walls and displays. Twilight noted the old designs on the boxes. Something I noticed too. This must have been a special store, as normally what they stocked came from my time. But as the only thing I recognized was a collection of now old plush dolls called Webkinz, a interesting toy line that had a similar story to that of the bronies, I figured some old grandpa was running this for personal nostalgia. I didn't complain, and pinkie was surprisingly keeping herself contained as I had asked her to. All was well.

Twilight tapped me on the shoulder, noting, “My telekinesis isn't working.” I whipped around and looked at the object she was focusing her innate energy on, nothing. I pulled out my hand strap that would enable me to do the same, nothing. This was so wrong. Everything, even reproduction products, were equipped with energy capturers.

I examined Pinkie Pie cuddling a peppermint puppy and an alligator from the rack of Webkinz. Another thing struck me as odd. The peppermint puppy would be worth a small fortune now. The first retired animals were worth three hundred dollars only three years after being retired. No, these had to be reproductions. Everything was, and they were given more authenticity with the lack of telekinetic enablers. The lights shown and a checkers board was occupied by a father and son having a delightful game. Twilight moved over to examine it while I checked in, hoping nobody would notice the two with me as anything other than crazy girls who dyed their hair.

I stepped up to the counter, “Hello, I need a table for three. Me and my two friends.” pointing back at the girl jumping about with her toys and candy and the lady examining the checkers board. The man running the front at the time gave me a sly wink that I understood all too quickly. Going around with two girls following my would make my look like a player. I chuckled nervously at the little joke as he explained that it would be a few minutes. Thanking him for his time, I stepped away to find Pinkie trying to eat the candy straight away and Twilight challenging the father to a checkers game. I decided the more pressing issue was Pinkie. As I stepped toward her the woman behind the payment counter yelled at Pinkie. I smiled again nervously and looked back at the pink-haired girl. “We'll buy some later but you can't just eat straight from the shelves. I'm sorry but we are out in the world and I'll have to pay for this.”

Pinkie nodded as soberly as I guess she could. Personally, I wasn't mad at all. I found it quite cute that she would forget. I compare them in my mind to the show characters, and when I look at them, I see ponies enjoying themselves. I hated to stop the party but it was for the best.

My name was called just as Twilight finished her game; I swear I saw only two of her pieces missing from that position. We exited the store area and continued to the table that was shown to us. As we sat down I checked the area around us. A few elderly gentlemen were nearby eating along with a group of college students that looked like they were on a road trip. Neither seemed too interested in us. I looked over at my companions, who were staring wide-eyed at the sheer amount of choices presented to them. I giggled, “The chicken and dumplings are good. I say you start with that.”

Twilight put down her menu and looked at me. “So, Mr. Boss man, what ingenious plan do you have in your in-control bag.”

I felt a little shocked at her opinion of me, but it was understandable in retrospect. I had simply gone up and ordered them into my car so we could escape, driving in silence. I suppose I treated them like objects and nothing more. I overlooked the fact that they were fully sentient beings I was talking to. I nodded my head and smiled a little forcibly. “I'm sorry but I've been in a little panic with this whole situation.” I looked over the items and found one that sounded good, putting down my menu too. “We should get to know each other. I haven't had much involvement in your part of the-”

“There you go again.” snapped Twilight, “Treating us as experiments.” There was silence as I looked down guiltily. Pinkie was busy scanning the dessert section. Twilight's expression softened. “I- I'm sorry I didn't mean to- I'm just tired.”

I looked up after seeing the waiter return for a drink order. I grimaced and admitted, “Yes, I have. I- I'm sorry.” I asked for water for all and as the waiter left I looked away at the walls. “Wow, it's amazing how old some of the stuff here is. I mean, there is some old stuff in most of these restaurants but this is from MY grandparent's time.”

Twilight thought of that, “How old are you?”

I responded, “Fourty-three since yesterday I'm afraid.”

Pinkie looked up with a twinkle in her eyes. “Omygosh really? Yesterday was your birthday? Then we should have a PART-” Twilight quickly used her telekinesis to grab Pinkie and pin her into her chair.

“The last thing we need is attention.” I mumbled, a bit upset that I wasn't able to receive a Pinkie party under the circumstances, “I'm surprised no one has recognized you.” A little too late as her incomplete exclamation had attracted the jeers of the college students. Pinkie didn't mind and simply looked back down at her menu. Twilight and I blushed in embarrassment as the mocking laughs and contained snickers from the group emanated.

“Er- fourty-three you don't look that old.” Twilight noted directing the conversation back on a track that didn't involve parties.

I nodded and turned to one of those little puzzles they put on the side of the tables. “You two don't look twenty-seven even though that's your ages. Studies have slowed down the outward appearance of aging a lot. I personally don't care much; the average lifespan is at a good one-hundred and twenty. I guess we should look good in old health but fashion is kinda silly to me.”

Twilight snickered, “Says the guy in the naughts' get up. You must be cold with that jacket open.” I chuckled. It was true. I was a bit of a hypocrite in the sense that I always tried to keep at least the style that had been in fashion this century. With the economic downturn, people realized the importance of simple fashion and something that kept its class. Considering my dark shirt, open black light jacket, and dark jeans didn't getting the brunt of laughter whenever I was in public, I assumed this was as good a style as any.

“Sweater vests died with the herd, just so you know.” I cracked back. Though it was true. Because of the floodgates being opened to true fans of anything by the brony movement, irony and hipsters died out as well. Twilight's snarky smile only grew a bit with that remark. Sure she was dressed up like a nerd, She was a nerd and could prove herself to be a super-nerd. I decided not to press issue with Pinkie to continue this conversation, as she wore much the same style as me.

Twilight picked up and fiddled around with the game. I swear it took her five tries to solve it. Finally the waiter came to take our order. After jotting down Pinkie's huge order she walked away shaking her head. We all giggled at her comment about teenagers and appetites. She was only off by eight years. Nothing to hold against her though. The two really did look sixteen. Who knows how long they could have lived? As that though crossed my mind I sighed. In trying to fix the world, we destroyed it. Not to mention stopped scientific experiments for fifteen years. All to produce these two. As I looked at them take in the outside world, one which we cut them off from, I thought it was worth it in a way. It was Discord who was the problem. We became cocky. I became cocky. I really feel like I was in a way responsible for advocating it even as a low-rank scientist.

Before I knew it were were talking about what everything on the walls was from. I never was a historian, but I could inform Twilight on the history behind the pictures, posters and items. Pinkie seemed interested in the sports and the games that were played. I felt like I really was explaining it to ponies, not humans I witnessed be brought to life.

After the food came we quickly saw it was worth the wait.  As the two began eating I quietly murmured a word of prayer, intriguing Twilight. “Why did you do that?” She asked as I finished.

I pondered the question of explaining the different ideals and religions. I dug into my first bite and explained, “It's just a custom I and others participate in for a belief we have. You know that's one thing that was hard to overcome when the love and tolerance movement came about. Now most don't mind talking to those with different beliefs or discussing another's ideas. It's one of the main things that kept DISCORD together.”

Twilight nodded in interest and continued eating in silence. Thus was half the meal spent, until Pinkie (of all people) remarked, “So what about our names Mr. Smarty? You gave our friends names so they could leave the big building!”

I sat a bit shocked, why had I not thought of that. “Well, what would you name yourselves?”

Twilight grimaced, “We don't even know your name. Even if we did come up with names for ourselves why would we tell you?”

I laughed quietly, “Luke Harolds. I'm sorry. I guess getting to know each other means each other at least knowing names.” Twilight and Pinkie followed suit in laughter. I was glad that by now the college group had left. We ate and enjoyed the company of each other. As for the names we chose, Pinkie's was quite obviously Diane Pie, and Twilight went with Tara Rachel. It really was just on the back of our minds. Only a few minutes were spent discussing anything of importance to stopping the Discord threat. Company of friends was all our minds needed.

We paid and exited the restaurant, fulfilling my promise to buy Pinkie candy and the two stuffed animals. We piled into the car laughing and telling stories when I took a glance at the receipt. I kinda laughed a bit more when something caught my eye. My laughter ceased, my jaw locked up in a terrified expression, and I slumped back. Twilight quickly slowed her laugh too. “What's wrong?” she asked. I passed her the receipt, showing her and pinkie a certain area. 

Twilight read it out loud, “Date: 9/24/10”
> Lesson Negative Zero
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“2010?” Twilight exclaimed. Pinkie looked at the receipt and shrugged. I assume she just didn't see the implication of the date. 2010. September twenty-fourth 2010. This struck into my mind as sixteen days before the My Little Pony debut. Why would Discord send us here? Because it was unexpected. I reasoned. We couldn't do him harm here... Be we could arm ourselves. I checked the clock and noticed it was now quite late.

I turned to the girls with my head bowed, “Look, we aren't harmed, we have time to think and thank-” I paused wanting to say Celestia but in front of these girls it would sound quite wrong, “heavens for that. Let's find us a place to sleep okay?” Twilight nodded, and Pinkie absentmindedly stared out the window toward the lights of a nearby city, cuddling her little plush alligator. I looked out that way to see signs for hotels. I pulled out of the lot and started moving. Then I laughed a bit.

Pinkie jumped to attention. “What's so funny?”

I smiled and elaborated, “I just realized, this is before the characters we made your personalities resemble appeared on television. Since you now exist before them, could we say that the characters were based on yourselves?”

Twilight chuckled while Pinkie stared a bit before cracking up too, finally understanding what I said. The mood was lightened. Soon Twilight was asking about all the places I passed. I tried my best, but explained to her that all of this was from a time when I was only thirteen. Because DISCORD had taken up fifteen years of my life, I only remembered a little bit of what I did before that. I explained the current events of the time. How you could see it in simply the small things here and there. One current event I noticed that I wish I had known about was a conference in the area. All hotels had a “No vacancy” sign in their doors. I sighed. This did not bode well.

I looked about the area and found a parking lot of a supermarket as they closed. I went in and gave a few questions to the manager. I came back to the car and jumped in, turning the car off. Pinkie looked at me quizzically, “And what was that for?”

I paid no attention to her and instead brought out my phone. I did a few quick swipes. I had something saved for a occasion such as this. I giggled to myself as I finally brought myself to say it. “We are having a little sleepover in my car! Here's your sleepover book.” I tossed my phone to Twilight who stared at it a minute.

Soon she and Pinkie burst out laughing with me at the convenient joke. But Twilight  soon stopped, “Wait we are sleeping WHERE?” She was soon creamed in the face by a pillow from Pinkie. I heard scientific laws begin crying as their worst enemy appeared earlier than they had hoped. I attacked Pinkie with a pillow too, and soon the hole car was a mess of  feathers and laughter. I felt the last shreds of manliness I had ooze away as I took one more swing with my destroyed pillow, and didn't give a dang. As we all collapsed on the seats, laughing, I noticed Twilight lifted the phone back into view. She gasped, “We did it out of order!” prompting me and Pinkie to laugh harder while Twilight found it a serious matter indeed. She scrolled back up, “We have to do makeovers first!”

I paused my laughter for a second, “Twilight. I don't know what you are seeing, but we are in a car at near midnight. Not to mention I am male.” I took a last laugh and placed my shredded pillow on my seat. “Don't you think 'have fun' could be checked off?” At that point I yawned and near immediately fell asleep. But I think the other two had a bit more awake time with each other.

I suppose waking up to two girls resting their heads next to yours isn't a BAD thing to wake to. But when you had been dreaming of a evil voice laughing over and over again waking up to anything out of the ordinary would be startling. Thus began a month of travel, embarrassments at restaurants, surprised awakenings, G-rated midnight shenanigans, and eventually madness. I mean having an all day trip is fun... for one day. But having to sleep on the sides of roads every night, search for directions every day, and eat at Mcdonald's every lunch kinda gets to your sanity. The only time we stayed at a hotel was on October tenth. The day before, me and Pinkie began typing up messages for forums claiming to be watchers of the new pony show coming on a new station. We elicited many a laughing comment, though I had to soon teach Pinkie that the people on the internet were simply jerks. I did the big post that I guess would be the crown jewel on /Co/ when Pinkie wasn't looking. Frankly, though she was a adult, I would have never forgiven myself if I let her even see any part of 4chan.

I guess we were taking advantage of the situation that day, but as we watched the pilots as we aired I couldn't help but laugh as the two predicted what their respective characters did. One thing struck me as odd though, Pinkie, in the show, turned when in the background and winked at the fourth wall. I had never noticed that before. But I could say I didn't care. I was watching two girls see the lives we created them on act out. We never let them watch the show for some reason. Though we explained certain things about it and plots. I couldn't figure out why at the time. On the other hoof, seeing the other four missing elements told me of what we set out to do. Hope somewhat died when I found out the year. Discord would never do something that dumb. Would he? I hoped so somewhat. The next day I saw my name mentioned in many forum threads as the seeds of bronies were planted. I showed it to Twilight, who had been unaware of our little fun, and she simply marveled at the humble beginnings of something that would change the world, and eventually destroy it.

A closeness formed in the month we were together. At the beginning it was two girls and I could guess I was a bit of an uncle to them. Teaching them about everything while not really controlling them. I became more lenient in the crazy antics and just waved my hand at the laughter. I was teaching less about the world and instead focusing more on them. They, from being together so long, had already formed a close bond. Though in the show Twilight seems to have the most problem with Pinkie, I guess Twi just needed to spend some time with her, like two years of time. I mean, it wasn't like Pinkie was ALWAYS rattling of weird ideas and words in a non-sequitur manner like she was shown in “The Last Roundup.” So the two were totally comfortable around each other and acted like sisters. A month wasn't long enough  to truly tell, but they soon started showing more of that comfort to me. Maybe as a brother, maybe as a close friend. But I guess staying in a car with someone for days on end kinda forces you to bond.

But back to madness, It became quite clear that “Lesson Zero” was more than a gag episode by the last week. It wasn't triggered by a friendship report, but instead a day where there were barely any cities to be seen or any other civilization. I guess I must have turned wrong a bit too often that day, but Twilight finally broke down. Telling me random directions, hopping into the front and adjusting the seats to give her more leg room, and playing with the knobs and levers up front for maximum comfort were only some of the things. Though she hadn't used her magic very much this entire trip, she suddenly began using it on the car to “Pretty” everything up for lack of stimulation. Needless to say, Pinkie and me silently agreed she needed a day off. So at 2 am, we finally found a city and a vacant hotel, we checked in while a very concerned Pinkie held Twilight in a magic lock we made as a failsafe. I was amazed at Pinkie. Though she was having a bit of fun with Twilight's antics, after a bit I guess that sister part of her relationship with Twilight took over in concern.

As we got up we laid her on the bed and began calming Twilight down. After a bit she was just curled in a ball and slowly drifted to sleep. We decided she just needed to be left alone for a bit, and we followed her in sleep. The next day Twilight was still a bit broken from the monotony, thus we decided to stay in for another day. But this time Pinkie and I had a few discussions over things that had been put off, but needed to be done. Though I can't say DISCORD paid poorly, I just couldn't afford living like this too much longer. Also, we smelled to high heavens. Though whenever we stayed at a hotel to watch the new My Little Pony episode we took the opportunity to shower/take a bath, our clothes were the same ones we had fled from DISCORD in. We had became accustomed to the smell, but restaurants began clearing out when we entered.

This time exposed a true caring side of Pinkie. I had only seen her this serious in “Hoisted by her own Leotard” A later episode in which Pinkie tries to help a now-grown Pumpkin Cake gain her confidence to preform in front of a crowd after bragging she could to everypony in her school. I compare it to that episode (One of the better ones in season 9 I might say) because Pumpkin becomes a nervous wreck like Dash in “Sonic Rainboom,” but Pinkie calmly comforts her. I think we put that ability to set aside her joking playfulness for a friend truly in need for a good reason. Even after we decided that we both had to go, she didn't want to leave Twilight's side, and all the way there I half expected her hair to deflate and her to begin talking to rocks. The only time she was able to take her mind off her friend was when I led her into the mall. I swear I have never seen wider eyes. She took my by the wrist and began zipping along the mall path. By the time we were done, we had five new pairs of clothes for each person, a little fortune telling necklace, and negative five-hundred dollars. We were running quite low on supplies by now. 

At this point I found that the “personality glitch” we had with Dash wasn't a glitch but a logical error for all of them when we were converting the pony's personalities to human ones. I think Applejack summed it up best in “The Best Night Ever” when she uttered the immortal line: “We don't normally wear clothes.” A little faux-pas that I suppose affected all the girls. Though we gave them clothing and wore it so they followed suit. But it resurged as I had to talk Pinkie out of changing in the middle of the mall, and the car, and the lobby. I didn't have the guts to explain WHY to Pinkie, and I suppose you would have the same issue. I slightly regretted lobbying for making at least Pinkie innocent. But I didn't expect to be LIVING with her. But as soon as I said no for the last time in the elevator she remembered Twilight. Hyperactivity crossed with the caring side and she grabbed me and zoomed straight into the room. 

Three Pinkies ministered to Twilight who I noticed as still being a bit shaken. The TV was on and I quickly realized why she wasn't better. She had it on the news. I turned it off and shook my head. “If you want to feel better mentally, turning on the news is not the brightest thing to do, Twi.”

Twilight mumbled a bit. I felt sorry. She was just having a rough time. But something was odd. I didn't quite recognize it. I placed the phone on the receiver and adjusted the bed that I and Pinkie slept in. Boy howdy, that sounded wrong. But the truth is what it is, I reasoned, and if anyone wants to construe it into anything other than what it is, I can't help it. That's how I felt really. It really only was the first of a few awkward mornings when I went over events in my head. In fact, my entire journey could be chalked up to be a bad boy and his chicks driving around looking for hot spots to spend the night.

I looked back over to Twilight and Pinkie and promptly turned away with my face a deeper shade of red. Better here the in the mall I guessed. Little moments like that also made me a bit worried about reputation to anyone who saw me. I quickly smacked myself upside the head. Stupid Luke, your reputation is in the future. You are a stranger to this time. It was October 24. Exactly a month from when I appeared. I lay down and opened my computer. At this time Twilight had calmed down a bit and conjured a glass of water. I looked at my screen, realizing that no site I went to was around back now. So instead I opened up a document I poured my experiences and thoughts into. These would become the basis of what I write now. I glanced over again and Pinkie was wearing her yellow t-shirt, wristbands, sandals, and pink pants (which now mysteriously bore her cutie mark) we had gotten. Her hair had gone into a more frizzy but slightly less poofy state. I didn't question it. As long as she wasn't talking to rocks I paid no attention to her mannerisms. I guess I should have, Pinkie Sense and all, but it wasn't on the forefront of my mind. I noticed the phone book was out, so I put it away thinking that Twilight just tried to read something but it had no substance. I resolved to drop by a book store some time soon. Maybe she would like a nice fantasy book or a science book. Meh, I'll just grab the first six things I recognize and hope she rereads them. I chuckled to myself.

I heard Pinkie and Twilight talking about something. Pinkie was mostly exclaiming and Twilight did the talking. I didn't pay much attention to it. I suspected it was girl talk as usual. I thought that about now people would begin the obvious degeneration into lusts for the show ponies. As I glanced over to a hidden tab my simple suspect of human nature was confirmed. I couldn't help but feel a bit proud in this instance. They were wishing they could, ahem, cuddle for example Applejack or Pinkie. I personally witnessed that doing any more than cuddling to Applejack would result in a shattered leg, if only that. And as for Pinkie, well, it was all I could do to keep from posting that  had spent the night with her. Quickly I slammed the computer down. What the hay had I just thought? Twilight looked at me, a bit puzzled. I grabbed a pillow and shoved it over my head. That thought was uncalled for and disgusted me. The internet rubs off on you, I guess. So after a bit of clutching the pillow Twilight asked what was wrong. I lied that nothing was. This pillow smells like cotton candy. I cursed my male mind. No, there was something very wrong with me. I was human. After a couple more minutes I came out of my pillow and re-opened my computer for the purpose of closing that window. I didn't need any thoughts crossing my mind. Not like a couple those idiots that worked with me on Applejack.

Silence followed until Twilight piped up, “Hey, there's something I think you might want to know.” I noticed that her clothes had changed by now. Pinkie was tossing the old set into a pile. I quickly clamped shut my mind as to not permit anything else to enter it.

“What's up, Twi?” I asked. I noticed this was the second time I had called her 'Twi' recently. Without letting anything else enter my head, I noted that I must be feeling more comfortable near them as well.

“It's just that... well I heard something on the news-”

“The news is a fountain of the bad. You just have to remember that good stuff is going on in the world.”

“Oh no, it's good news... well I fo-” A knock on the door was heard and Pinkie called she would greet whoever it was with a little cake she was carrying. Where she got that cake is a mystery. I was about to ask Twilight to continue when I heard the plate drop.

A rough, tomboyish voice called out, “Save the welcoming party. Great to see ya guys but we need to go get AJ.”
> The Officer and the Convict
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

I arose in time to see a rainbow streak of hair exit view. Twilight jumped out of bed and began racing after her like she knew what was going on. I then realized she probably DID know. Pinkie and I didn't bring her to the room. Suddenly the pieces fell together. The phone off the receiver, the book lying out. It made sense. Twilight had found her and called her up right before we got back. I jumped up and raced after the two with Pinkie following me, calling after Rainbow Dash. It wasn't long that we wre out the lobby and Twilight had caught up and seemed to be leading her a certain way. I then realized that “way” was to my car. I questioned why and sprinted ahead. Pinkie already had got into a mad dash toward them. As I approached I heard a conversation between Dash and Twilight. Pinkie kept trying to interject but was ignored. I finally caught up just as Twilight popped all the doors open. Dash hopped into the shotgun seat while the other two climbed into the back. I hopped in and started it up. “Err, where to?” I asked.

Dash groaned, “If only carjacking wasn't a crime. Look just head out to I 59 and go south. I'll discuss the whole matter of keeping these two with you later.” I looked over making sure I was talking to the Rainbow Dash from back at DISCORD. I don't normally pay attention to clothing, but suddenly did when I saw that Dash's little “glitch” (I had grown to hate every term like that we used. These were real people, not machines) was still present. She was wearing form-fitting jeans and a bomber jacket that was unzipped. Now I don't look at a female's clothing much. They have their own styles that I don't judge. But I was pretty darn sure that “In public with only a jacket on your top and jeans” wasn't a style I remember back in '10. My face darkened in red. Thankfully, no one saw.

Dash was talking to Twilight apparently giving details on how everything worked. As she talked I grew more unsure of this being Rainbow. “Now when I was sent here thanks to that lab's crazy ideas I began looking for AJ. We lived in the same area back then so I figured we would be in the same area now. My instincts were right as always, and we kinda discussed this and that and moved into houses next door to each other-”

“Moved in?” Twilight interrupted, “But it's only been a month since he sent us here.”

Dash laughed, “Really? Oh wow, well for us its been ten years.” My face paled. Ten years? Why would discord send them back so far? Dash continued, “Well anyways, I began looking for some jobs because being awesome doesn't pay for some reason. When I saw “Parole officer” I thought, 'Nah, not my thing.' because it took a few school years and stuff. But when AJ started getting in trouble for this and that I considered it more just in case she ever got into BIG trouble. I started working as a delivery girl to pay for school, became employee of the month several times with my AWESOME flying.”

I felt my brain dissolving. Dash? Working for the law? Flying pizzas everywhere? “Dash! You can't use your wings, else they would become suspicious of you!”

She shot me an evil glare, “Shows how much you know about me. I can keep some things a secret! Just because you made us in a lab doesn't mean we aren't free and able to take care off ourselves. Now shut up before I hand you over for holding these two hostage.”

I felt every remaining color drain from my face. Though I had to argue, It's kinda hard to hide something like wings when you aren't even wearing something that covers your breasts. Twilight thankfully stood up for what I was doing, “You have no right to do that! We aren't hostages! We are friends.”

Dash looked back angrily at her, “Well has he ever let you leave his custody?”

“He's protecting us and helping us!” Twilight cried out. She looked up at her mangled hair obviously thinking of what she had gone through yesterday.

Rainbow lashed out, “That's Stockholm syndrome talking. Let me finish.” She paused, waiting for any of us to come against that. Pinkie was silent, perhaps a bit shocked at everything. Twilight was mad but didn't want to pursue her further. And I, I knew I had no right to tell her anything. I wanted to, but I didn't. “Anyways, I finally became a parole officer just as AJ did the stupidest thing ever. She went and kicked someone in the chest for advancing on her. And thanks to your brilliant little implant...”

I was wrong about all the color draining from my face. I felt an icy coldness blow past me with a evil chuckle. Rainbow nodded, “Right braniac, the guy dropped dead in front of the place. Thankfully witnesses proclaimed it was an accident. So she was only given five years and life parole. And, well, guess who awesomed her way into the role of her parole officer.” She gave a proud smile.

Twilight burst out again, “Some parole officer you are if she was sentenced to death!” I blinked, and the wheel was out of my hands with two worried and one excited expression around me. “Luke, Are you okay?”

I shook my head, no. The car was being driven by twilight's telekinesis, thankfully. Dash was pressed against the door. “Dude, calm down. Seriously.”

Pinkie was excited, “Wow that was scary, a fun kinda scary! Let go again so we can go like that again!”

I clutched the wheel and dragged myself up. Dash turned back to Twilight. “Err... yeah. Anyways. It's not my fault she broke my watch and went and did the same thing again!” She gritted her teeth, “But I know it's not ALL her fault it happened.” She turned back to watch the road. I saw two lumps in her coat outstretched from the shock and possibly anger. Her wings weren't anywhere near fully pulled out, but it was enough to stretch her coat out a little too much. I focused on the road, and figured that any color returning to my face would be enough. Maybe we should have looked for Fluttershy first. Nice, calm, quiet, Fluttershy. I didn't want to point out that exposure of that sort was also a felony, because that would imply me noticing the exposure. I think I started on Dash's bad side. Did I want to go any further down the hate list? After a while of silent driving, Dash calmly ordered me to pull over. I obliged and she opened the door and jumped out. I heard her call, “Police, put your hands where I can see them!” and out came a sight for sore eyes.

I suppose it was for Dash too. As Applejack emerged from the woods Dash ran to hug her.Applejack greeted her and they embraced. I guess that would be grounds enough for me to pull out my shipping chart and connect the lines, but then I had realized that some things can, after all, be platonic. Rainbow led Applejack into the car, talking a bit firmly while Applejack looked at the ground. Applejack stepped into the back while Rainbow retained her place up front. Suddenly Applejack, almost comically, turned her head around to her side, as if finally realizing she wasn't alone in the car. The happy smiles of Twilight and Pinkie caught her eye. Slowly, she turned her head back with a quizzical expression, “Alex, why are there these two girls a sitting back here? And who's driving?”

Pinkie and Twilight began laughing. I couldn't help a chuckle, and I heard Dash having a problem controlling herself too. But Applejack looked worried. I somewhat understand. I mean, you are an escaped convict on death row, would YOU want a surprise like that? That didn't sound right in my head. Applejack was too honest for that. She would never break the law, but she did. Self-defense became fatal due to... what DISCORD gave her. As I contemplated what we were thinking, Pinkie seemed to not notice the sobriety of the situation and was rattling off welcomes. Could I help it? She was too excited to finally see another one of her friends. I guess that orange jumpsuit that had the word “Prison” on it wasn't enough to stop her. Come to think of it, how did she break out? I smacked my forehead, the stupid resonator, dummy. My outburst provoked the interest of Dash. “What did you realize you have screwed up this time? Did you give me a bomb that detects jerks?”

I was hit hard by all those words. I couldn't blame her. She must have had such a horrible experience with Applejack's issue that she resented DISCORD. Well... I started to also, specifically my involvement. Betterment of the human race. What have we done? We destroyed the world, killed two men, strained a relationship, and I've personally caused mental torture to a girl. Dash hated my guts. And wanted to make me hate them too. So I shook my head; I would get in trouble if I tried to do anything about it. She could have the police called on me for any number of things. I couldn't see Applejack's expression as we kept driving down the road. Did she think the same as Dash? I finally realized I was driving absentmindedly. Not to self: have deep self-doubting experience when you AREN'T driving. “Er... so miss Rai-”

“My name is Alexi, dammit. Not that stupid character you claimed to have based me off of. The show that 'Gave peace.' If your-”

I quickly stopped her before she could rant any more, banging my head on the steering wheel. “I'm sorry! Okay? It's not like I have a choice in the past. Alexi, please, I know it already.” There was silence, with me occasionally choking as I lifted my head back up. “Wh- where do you want to go?”

Pinkie chirped up, “Oh! How about a 'Luke finally got enough of a spine to say something' party?” I jerked to attention. Pinkie didn't say that... that couldn't have been Pinkie.  Looked in my rear-view mirror. 

Applejack, who had mostly been quiet through Pinkies barrage of welcomes and storytelling, looked over at the pink-haired girl and expressed, “I'm not sure this is the same Pinkie Pie I knew.” Twilights expression indicated the same idea was buzzing through her head.


Dash scowled, “Well it must have been th-” I quickly closed my mind. I knew what she was about to say. I glued my eyes to the road and scowled ahead. After I heard her voice stop, I let myself listen to the others again. Sadly, she was the first to speak once more, “Keep going. I'll tell you when to turn off.”

The silence came out again. Pinkie seemed to be mulling over the plans for her party, which I wasn't sure was precisely her idea. Then I heard a whisper in my ear, “I'm sorry for Alex. She's just had... a rough time. It's as much mah fault as it is the organization. Don't take it personally.” Applejack murmured. I felt bad for her now. I expected meeting up with Rainbow and having a happy reunion, Applejack even more so. But instead we found them in the middle of a trying time. I looked at them and finally noticed their ages. Dash looked like she was thirty instead of a spunky teen like this group I was in saw her last. Applejack looked only worn, not too much older though. But she obviously wasn't in peak condition.

I pondered the situation. Why would Dash go for the parole route instead of a regular police officer? Heck, why would she consider law enforcement at all? She wanted to fly with the Wonderbolts in the sho- I caught myself. This wasn't Rainbow Dash, this was Alexi Dash who resented her show counterpart for the relation to DISCORD. She didn't want to be like her. That made another question arise. Hating us for the problems we have made for her and Applejack is obvious. But that wouldn't be enough to hate the show outright. What does she know?

Twilight's voice rang in my head, I am wondering the same thing.

How are you doing that?

Simple mind reading and thought implanting. I've been trying to gather what everyone is thinking. I began to sweat, but tried not to think back to those... inappropriate thoughts I had not a hour ago. Pinkie's mind is what you would expect. I can't get anything from her. Applejack is thinking what she is going to do now that she is an escaped convict. And Dash... My mind went silent. Dash is trying to harden her mind on what she is going to do with us and AJ. Isn't she the element of loyalty? We'll be fine.

What is she loyal to? I responded in the mental conversation. There was silence. Twilight must have seen that as a valid point as she slumped back into her seat with a worried look. After a bit, Dash ordered, “Turn here.” A little trail led off the interstate that I followed. At the end was a small hut with a car parked in front. Dash opened the door before I had stopped and she flew out. I once again felt the warmth return to my cheeks as her jacket ceased covering her chest. She flew over to the door and went in as the rest of us climbed out of the car.

Why do you care about her clothing? The calm, inquisitive voice of Twilight echoed through my head. If my face was still at all pale before, it wasn't anymore.

Erm... social taboos. I figured Twilight would deserve to have at least part of the truth.

But aren't you yourself from a loving and tolerating society of all things and discussion?

That doesn't mean everyone can go flipping their chests around like it's a lesbi-. I quickly tried to stop the salacious description from even crossing my mind. I mean, a storage unit sale. Yeah, that's what I meant. Judging by the silence and Twilight's face, I had a feeling my little blocked analogy, wasn't so well blocked. Err... sorry. I guess I'm a bit...

I will not mention it again if you will never mention it, okay. I found that to be a good enough deal. As we walked in I saw the full expanse of the seemingly humble house. It had marvelous design and texture in each wall. Even Ms. Business Dash seemed to become more at ease. She turned to us, “Let me get you all something to drink. I suppose a nice coke will do it for you two, Miss Sparkle and AJ. And a diet coke for you two.” She turned away and me and Twilight looked at each other.

Applejack shook her head, “She has these ways of knowing. Don't worry about it. Anyways, pleasure to be re-acquainted with y'all. I wish I could be here in something other than this.” She chuckled, pointing at her prisoner's outfit, “But doncha worry, I don't hold anything against anypony. I mean you can't see the future.” She opened a little closet to the side of us, reached in, and pulled out a hat. She adjusted it and got a big grin. “And how has your little adventure been?”

She's playing against her feelings very well right now. Twilight's voice rang in my head again. I thought nothing and let Twilight respond to Applejack's question, “Well we have only been here a month, I kinda went a little loopy and we dropped by here where I saw your escaped report on the news. That's about it.”

At this Rainbow returned from the kitchen with five glasses, laying them on a coffee table and motioning us to sit down. I couldn't help but check my glass for anything slipped in it. Dash was being too kind when she was yelling at me minutes before. Pinkie didn't sit down. She just finally gave into her urge to tell all about everything we had seen and done. It took an entire two minutes before Alexi grabbed a little laser pointer and pointed at a wall. When Pinkie saw it her eyes glowed and chased after it. I decided to speak up, “Where did you get yours?”

Dash smugly sipped her drink, “Internet. There was a pretty sweet deal on this. This'll keep her occupied as long as we need.”

I made a mental note about getting one. I enjoyed Pinkie and her ideas and all, but sometimes I just needed her to get distracted for a while. She wasn't like the exaggerated insanity some episodes of the show would have her counterpart be, but sitting in a car with her yammering on some days wasn't extremely fun. Twilight spoke up next, “So are you going to come with us to find Rarity and Fluttershy?”

Dash's in-control attitude never faltered. “To do what? What purpose would us all being together serve?We have moved on in life and maybe will stop that whole Discord plan in the future. Along with certain other things.”

Applejack grimaced. “She has a point sugar cube. I mean, what good would it do?”

All eyes fell on me. I flushed, again, “I... I don't know. All I know is there is some failsafe that could...” I paused wincing at having to admit having screwed up in front of Dash, “Fix what we, at DISCORD, messed up.”

Dash shook her head, “You want us to fix your messes. Well, we are a bit too far in the past to do anything.” So silence was cast over the room with the exception of Pinkie chasing the light. After a little bit Twilight struck up a conversation that we continued on somewhat awkwardly about how their lives had been. Dash explained how she was dating for a while but stopped after Applejack got into drinking simply to care for her in the evenings. It was strange hearing of a situation where AJ took a wrong course in life. I had always seen her as the wisest. But some things capture the better of us.

I could write an entire chapter on what happened at that house and our conversation, but I should keep this to simply the narrative of what happened. As the night approached I thanked Alexi Dash for her hospitality and said goodbye to Applejack. Twilight and Pinkie hugged their friends and got in the car, I pulled out and sighed deeply. I guess we would have to find out what the failsafe was before we could convince Dash to do anything. I noticed Twilight reading something which she folded and put away. I wanted to ask her, but I thought she would tell me if she though I would want to know.
> New York City?!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning, I was very tired for some reason. I tried to open my eyes, only to meet two blue ones staring back into mine. I quickly clamped them shut, hoping Pinkie didn't notice I was awake. No such luck; “Wake up sleepyhead.” she chirped. I rolled over, moaning. I drove everywhere; I helped feed them; could I at least get some sleep?

“Seriously, Luke, we need to hurry down for breakfast.” Twilight called. I groggily mumbled an answer along the lines of “duck breakfast,” but rose slowly with my eyes mostly shut. I stumbled over to the door and opened it. They left and I followed suit in a zombie walk. I guess in retrospect I would have later noticed in that chain of events that I had not gotten dressed, yet somehow had fresh clothes on and not the nightwear. Then again, I think by this time I had given up on caring when the girls did anything of that sort, provided it didn't have negative social consequences. 

When we entered the breakfast area I immediately grabbed a cup of coffee and sat down. I woke after a bit and simply watched the girls eat. I wasn't starving and I had something to discuss. Twilight wasn't psychic unless she wanted to, but she was able to tell that I had something on my mind. When inquired, I looked down at my coffee. “We have two days, at most, of driving. A little more to rent an apartment. We can't stay on the road any more. We need to find a place and stay. I know we have to look for Rarity and Fluttershy, but if we can't even eat that's going to be a pointless search.”

Pinkie looked over to Twilight, who simply stirred her cereal. After a bit she responded, “In a happy world that would be fine. But we would need money for food still. And where would we go?”

I got a mischievous grin. “I have ways to get money. Legal ways, of course, but ways all the same. We would need to go to a place with a lot of people.” Pinkie leaned in at this. “Would you two consider New York City?” They gasped. I don't know how much they knew from the time they spent together in the DISCORD lab, but my wager that they knew NYC was not a fruitless one. Pinkie would convince Twilight despite anything she said.

“That... definitely is a big city. I assume it is smaller than it was in 2040 but... wow. Are you serious? Not having money and going there?” Twilight choked.

“As a sleeping dragon.” There was an awkward pause as neither got that joke. “You'll understand it next week, trust me. I have a plan, but I also have the job of protecting you. Will you let me?”

Twilight smirked. “I am the closest thing to a magic caster alive. Pinkie is nearly a fourth-dimensional being. Our job might as well be protecting you!” I gave her a look, reminding her of why we were here in the first place. She stammered nervously before giving an embarrassed grin.

I looked over to Pinkie, uncharacteristically silent as usual. I thought of her behavior. Was this just personality development? She wants to make people smile. I wanted to believe she learned that doing that could mean leaving them be like “A Friend in Deed” had her. But this was more than that. “So Pinkie, what do you think?”

Pinkie grinned ear-to-ear. “I would love it! I could have so many new friends! Why aren't we going now?”

I sipped my coffee and looked at the many people around me. Two men were arguing over something business-related, a girl with blue-dyed hair was reading a newspaper nearby, and a old lady was enjoying a bagel. I thought that characters such as these would surround us in New York. People who weren't able to see the future as well as we could. New York would become central next year. After my cofee hit its bottom, I stood, “I need to go pack. When you are done, go to the car and settle down for a fifteen-hour nap.” Twilight and Pinkie exchanged looks while I hobbled up the stairs. I noticed the blue-haired girl. She looked at me with a scanning gaze. I shook it off. Inquisitive people were around.

A few minutes later, I was securely driving on the interstate, now fully appreciating our situation. Pinkie was acting... strangely in a different way than I would have expected. Rainbow, sorry-- Alexi, Dash was just cryptic. From shouting at us in the car to a relaxed, quiet, controlled state in her house. Twilight and Applejack were hiding something. Rarity and Fluttershy were missing, if they were even IN this time. Now we had to go to New York.

But one more thing was in order. Very soon, we were in another town. Twilight asked why. I simply told her to close her eyes for a while. Suspicious, she complied. Soon, I had Pinkie get a blindfold for Twilight's eyes and led her out of the car, she opened her eyes again to a bookstore. A humongous bookstore with shelf upon shelf of books of all types. Fantasy books, school books, history books, children's books, space books, sci-fi books, single books, series books, red books, blue books, tall books, short books, thin books, fat books-- all spread out in a mass of information before us. A low moan was let out by Twilight. I would have asked in a bout of ignorance WHY she did that, but as I turned around, she was zipping off to the geography area. Pinkie and I exchanged nods and went on our way. I went to the psychology aisle to see about finding out how much sanity I had left and Pinkie went to the party section (I didn't know bookstores had those), coincidentally, it was the science textbook section as well. I swear I heard crying, and I will bet money it was Isaac Newton in his grave.

I had a stockpile of reserve money for emergencies I was using for this. I think Psycho Twi was an emergency enough. Finding my search to be fruitless in the field of mental health, I skimmed through the other sections. I found a girl with a really bad wig reading in the economics area, two teen boys reading in the adult novel area, three schoolgirls texting and blocking everyone's path in the writing help aisle, Pinkie creating a perpetual motion machine, Joe Cool reading the self-help books, and a guy trying to hide his romance story behind the covers of a sci-fi novel. I decided to play with the last of these, going up to him and patting him on the shoulder. “Don't worry,” I confided, “soon men will be able to go out in public wearing my little pony shirts, I don't think a little romance novel will ruin your reputation any.”

“That'll be the day.” he sighed, causing me to chuckle a bit. Quickly regaining his composure, he whizzed around to ask me, “How did you know what I was reading?” I briefly explained that I was eighty percent certain “Mars is blood-stained” didn't have an image of a hot dude making out with a model-like chick. He quickly flipped the page and went on his way.

I found Twilight chest-deep in every type of book imaginable. Now, I read at a slightly higher-than-average speed. You know, 500 words per minute when I take it easy. But the speed Twilight was absorbing information at was ludicrous. She flipped a page every fifteen seconds by my count, that may not seem like much, but it is, in fact, around 3000 words per minute. I knelt next to her book fortress, “Should I just leave you here a few days to wipe out the entire bookstore?” Twilight simply chuckled and kept reading. Something caught my eye. Among the books was a rainbow figure. I pulled it out to see it was a Rainbow Dash toy. “Where did you get this?” I shot.

Twilight looked up and shrugged, “It was in-between a couple of books. I thought it was neat that even now we have a brony nearby, only a few weeks after the show premiered.”

“A time traveling brony.”

“What?”

I ran my finger over the toy, “This didn't come till 2012. This toy is out of place for this time.”

Twilight's eyes widened. She opened her hand and the toy shot out of mine. We both looked at each other, knowingly. The toy had a telekinetic focuser. Pinkie popped around the corner as if knowing what was happening. Twilight levitated it around until she appeared to find something. She gripped the head and began turning it like a bottle cap. When it popped open, an old USB drive head showed itself. The three of us exchanged knowing glances. Someone was following us. Someone else from our time. I slipped the toy into my pocket and shook my head. “I'll check it out later. Right now isn't the time to be worrying about stuff like this.” 

A book caught my eye, “'The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy'? In high literature now, are we?”

Twilight gave a grimace, “The book was pretty poorly marked, I thought it was a map to the world. Interesting all the same, if a bit unusual a format.”

I couldn't help laughing, “But you now know what the answer to life, the universe, and everything is.”

Pinkie sighed and got up, shaking her head, “Oh come on, it's fourty-two. Everybody knows that, silly.”

We both stared dumbfounded as Pinkie skipped off. I muttered, “There she goes,”

“Brain the size of a planet,”

“And we ask her to throw parties.” We both giggled at the joke. I skimmed through the books. “'Greek Mythology for Dummies' 'Adding Alliterative Appeal Always' 'Cultures of the Cultured World' 'How to Write Generic Book Titles.' Going for a wide swath of information are we? I assume this 'Twilight' novel is also for research?”

Twilight stared up, “There's a book called 'Luke'. Would you pick it up out of curiosity?”

I looked back down, admitting she had a point, “'Is Feminism Dead?' 'American Politics: History's Favorite Infinite Loop'” A pause ensued as I starting sniggering at the next title, “My, my, Twilight, 'Forbidden Colors'?” Twilight flushed while angrily staring at her current book, but seeing as she didn't snap back I assumed she just picked it on accident. All this material, and I had so little time to abuse it.

In an unexpected turn, Twilight grinned and coyly lifted her eyes to me, “Might I remind you that I can read your mind and HAVE on a certain occasion?” My turn came to blush.

“This will not leave the aisle.”

“And you will be allowed to keep your teeth.” Twilight compromised. I was reminded that these were humans that simply had a personality similar to the mane cast. I wholly knew that Twilight may not have been joking. I really hadn't feared the whole incident outside Alexi's house, but moreover feared that she may use it again. I am male, no, really; frankly, having a woman that you are stuck with for celestia-knows how long probing your thoughts would definitely create tension.

I rose and checked a few final books in her collection myself. Most were on geography, culture, and the like. A few spattered philosophy books crowded the edges, along with more scientific topics such as physics and biology. Twilight was dead-set on learning everything she needed to in the few hours we were there. I would have told her that there were plenty of other libraries and bookstores in New York, but that would be spoiling her experience.

Now I wanted a book to read for myself. With my mind still focused on what was ahead to help the world, I got two books and sat down to read. “Paradoxes and Multiverse Constructs” no surprise, seeing as I needed to know what the extent of damage us going back in time caused, but I already knew most of this stuff. The next book was a bit more... informative, “Women: How Not to Be a Jerk Around Your Female Partner.” I admit, I was completely in the dark about how to act toward women. I'm a scientist for pete's sake. Call me the stereotypical nerd, but I really had no immediate concerns about finding a partner when I had the chance, and such avoided learning about the differences in the different mindsets. Look at me, even now I speak like they are an alien species. Suffice to say on the book that it was utterly unhelpful. They assumed it was a girlfriend or wife, not a simple life out of necessity.

A few hours went by before Twilight came with a reasonably small stack of books. “That all, Twi?” I asked.

“Yup, just stuff I would need immediately since we have a low budget.” she replied contentedly. I checked the stack. Mostly research books were in the pile, but a few fiction titles stuck out here or there. I checked over to the aisle Pinkie resided to find that she had built a book fort. She popped out and zipped over to us.

A couple passing schoolgirls stopped by us and started whispering. Finally they came over and started teasing, “What is this? 'Goofy hair color day 2010'?” They laughed and started walking away. I shook my head but a scream shot me back to the two kids. Their hair was a unflattering yellow-green color and they were screeching like hawks.

My eyes shot glares to a slightly-too-content Twilight. “What the hell?” I shrieked. Pinkie seemed to be looking slightly stunned at Twilight as well.

Twilight shrugged, “They deserved it.”

“So be it! But that doesn't give you the right to go serving it up!” I chided. A thought now comes to me as I write, this is how most of the antagonists in the show ended up, though a few got away easy, and still fewer never got punishment that we saw. Trixie boasted, she lost all she had. Gilda was mean, she lost her friend. The list just went on and on, and that's only from the list of episodes you at the time of writing have. If I were to go through the massive amount of seasons it simply could take a whole chapter by itself. The ponies didn't know anything besides that. Never introduced to an unfair world. Pinkie was the only one who did anything different to others. She threw a party to Gilda. In retrospect, everything makes sense in that case. A antagonistic person arises, there was no immediate retaliation, make some.

Pinkie started now, “Yeah, Twilight, no need to be mean back to them!”

“But... they mocked us! Why can't they have some punishment?”

I reached over to a biology book in Twilight's stack and tapped the title, 'Life'. “It's just that. Some people get away with stuff. Life wasn't designed to be fair.”

Twilight slumped in her chair, obviously thinking that over. I figured she was smart enough to figure things out, so I rose, took her books and went to the register. Pinkie began telling Twilight all about her time there, and how a bunch of the physics books were just full of hooey. 

It wasn't long before we were back on the road. I checked the time and was pleased to see that at the rate we were going at we would be there by ten... in the morning. I looked a my wallet, the bookstore had left us with just enough, as I had assumed it would. I took the time to point out different towns and what they became in the future. Could you have nostalgia about something that hadn't happened yet? Well when thirty years pass, apparently you could. I sighed contentedly as I drove.





By the time we rolled into new york Twilight was the only thing keeping me awake. She used every magic trick she could to keep me focused on the road and not sleep.  Fluttershy's lullaby echoed through my ears as I drifted through the streets. We found a parking lot and stopped. I glanced over and patted Twilight's shoulder, before slumping forward, asleep. Hush now, quiet now, it's time to lay your sleepy head. Hush now, quiet now, it's time to go to bed. Honk drift, HONK to sleep HOOOOOOOOONK.

The blaring of the car horn woke me. Apparently it woke everyone else in the car too. I realized I slammed my head on the wheel. Checking my watch, I saw that it was well into the morning. I stretched and yawned, seeing the two girls follow suit. I started the car and moved out hastily, as to get away from any who may have been aggravated by the honking. I drove through the cities parts. I explained, “When people talk about New York, they mostly refer to Manhattan. In reality, New York spans a little more than that. But for now, we need a bit of money. So we are off to Manhattan.”

Twilight seemed a little off that morning. She had thought about the fact that life wasn't fair all night long. Why couldn't it be? Her mind was racing, she had the ability to change things so they would be fair. Why not do so? Hyperfocused. “It's About Time” premiered a bit ago in your perspective, hasn't it? When Twilight focuses on something, she focuses on it. Maybe skipping over a few obvious problems in logic. So it was no surprise when her voice rang through my head, 'Why can't life be fair?'

I breathed in and leaned back, 'Well, if one were given the power to control everything, yes, life could be fair. But should it be?'

'Huh? Why would it be bad?'

'I'm no sociologist, but I know a bit about strategy. Didn't you get that book on game theory?' She searched her pile of books and grabbed the appropriate title, confirming it. 'Well,' I continued in my head, 'Think of the fairness as a game. You start at the middle and through hard work and good deeds you work your way to the top. If you cheat and be mean, you have punishment doled out and are sent to the bottom. Follow me?'

'Yeah, that seems right.'

'What are the equilibriums of this game? Where would everyone be no better or worse than anyone else?' 

She opened the book and scanned it for a while, 'Well, either at the top or rock bottom.'

I turned a corner and caught a glimpse of the bridge, 'Good, good. Now, if life were fair, no one would suffer at the hand of another's actions. The thing is, all bad actions have a victim. Let's say I stab somebody just because I am a evil person, that person would be a victim for no reason. That isn't fair at all if he worked nothing but to that good equilibrium and did nothing wrong, he has something bad happen to him. Now, the only way to fix that is...'

I heard a crunching sound in my head, and soon realized it was Pinkie enjoying the lecture eating a box of imaginary popcorn. I didn't question it. Twilight was silent for a moment. 'The way to fix that... is to lower the good equilibrium. By...' I looked back and saw the gears in her head turning. My mind went silent. She was still trying to rationalize it, but I finally felt a bit more confident in my ability to teach her at least enough for her to make her own opinions. 

Pinkie jumped in on the conversation, 'So... if you give parties to someone if they were bad...'

I laughed audibly, 'You learn quick! Everyone would need a party then! At once too!'

Pinkie jumped up and clapped... in my head somehow, 'Good! Maybe I can throw a party for aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaall the people all the time!”'

'Maybe I should have driven to San Francisco.' I cut her off, 'So you could meet, and promptly confuse  the Mythbusters.'

'The whoseywhats?' She asked.

'I'll have to show you.'

At this point, we had finally entered Manhattan. I quickly put my brain into action, ceasing the discussion going inside it. First, I swung by a convenience store to grab a couple of muffins for the girls. I didn't get anything for myself because I didn't want to waste money. Next stop was a small costume shop I had found on my computer. I parked a ways away and quickly scuttled Twilight and Pinkie inside. Once they were in, I turned them to face me. “Okay, I need you two to find a magician's costume for you, Twi, a entertainer costume for Pinkie, and two wigs or something. Your names are Tara and Diane, got that? I'll be back.”

I didn't leave time for questions nor to look at the dawning realization of Twilight's face. I heard my name being called, but cut off by me stepping outside, scurrying down the sidewalk. I covertly slipped on my telekinetic emitter and took a focuser I had torn out of my old clothes in my hand. My precaution wasn't in vain.

I hadn't taken too long a walk to my destination when some surly thug stepped out into my way. New York isn't a horrible city, but I was a huge target thanks to that BEYOND top-of-the-line car I had parked. If there were any shady characters looking, they now would be looking for the rich guy who stepped out with two girls.

“Hello sir.” I nervously said, trying to step to the side. The man caught me. I could she he was about six foot eight, white, and missing a few teeth.

“Hold it, buddy, pal.” he wheezed, putting his arm around me. “Why don't we step this way, friendo.” I played along, much to his surprise. 'This guy is stupider than I thought' I could only imagine thinking.

What I WAS doing, however, was attaching the focuser onto his tight pants. Once we were inside the shady alley he stepped out of, I was tossed headfirst into a wall, stunning me. He picked up my limp body and lifted me up, threateningly suspending his fist up high. “Gimme your stuff.” he muttered.

Okay, I'm pretty unlucky. He DIDN'T see my car, he just wanted my pocket change. A five-foot five guy isn't exactly a threat, so he picked me. “Okay!” I squealed, fishing around in my pocket and dumping the stuff out. In the process, I tossed another focuser onto a trash bag. Once I had everything on my pocket out, I raised my hands in surrender. The robber seemed satisfied, and tossed me away.

Now it was my turn. Time slowed, letting me think enough to speed the trash bag to cushion my fall. The mugger took notice, and swiveled his head toward the guy with the levitating trash bag. Soon, we was feeling his pants drag him up and into a wall himself. He let loose every surprised obscenity I knew and didn't know. I quickly tossed him across the alley, knocking him down for enough time to scuttle out, not before removing both focusers and telekinetically grab my stuff.

For some reason, my assaulter didn't pursue me, and I was able to get to my destination and back safe. The place  was going to was a weapons shop for a knife. I was extremely fortunate in that the guy didn't ask for extensive documentation.

In no time at all, I had attached the focuser securely to the handle. In reality, an average knife isn't a good self-defense weapon when wielded telekinetically, you need more blade, but I needed a way to protect myself. Twilight had a very good point back in the hotel: She and Pinkie were capable of removing themselves from a situation, and would be more suited to protecting me. I didn't exactly take classes, but a knife levitating in air would be pretty good protection.

Back at the store, Twilight was in a magician costume. Good thing she had the sense to get a showman costume instead of a mage costume. She was flinging a brown wig around in her hand, but she dropped it when she got a whiff of me. “Have you been rolling in garbage?” she gagged.

“Yes,” I truthfully stated, looking for Pinkie.

Twilight gasped. “Luke! Your head!” I was about to ask when she reached up and touched the side of my head. It stung, and my head started stinging even more. When she pulled away, there was blood on her hand.

Have you ever been hurt, but the pain only started in force once you saw the wound? Well, guess what. I let out a groan and almost collapsed, but was caught by Twilight. She set me down on the ground, then brushed her hair out of the way. Her horn, expertly hidden by some nice hair styling, started glowing as she touched the side of my head. I felt the pain dull, but not completely disappear.

“Miss, is he okay?” called the shopkeeper, a nice lady who was by Twilight in a second. Twi quickly brushed her hair back.

“He'll be fine.” Twilight affirmed, rubbing my head and showing that there wasn't any new blood. “What happened?”

I groaned, but rose to my feet. “Erm... I'll discuss this later, Tar. Where's Diane?”

At this moment, Pinkie skipped out in a yellow wig and skimpy costume that would surely attract stares, I hated to say it but: perfect. “How much.” I sputtered.

The shopkeeper gave a concerned look and flittered her eyes to the two outfits and wigs. “Fifty bucks. Are you sure you don't want help?”

“I'm fine.” I insisted, taking out a fifty dollar bill and forking it over, dragging my friends out, stumbling every other step. 

“Hey!” Pinkie called, “What happened to your head!”

“A guy tossed me into a wall, okay? Are you happy?”

They both gasped. “Luke!” Twilight called, “Are you alright?”

“Remember our discussion about retaliation?” I said, moving down into the central park area, flipping out my phone to start getting a permit, “When someone tries to hurt you, all bets are off. Pinkie, run. Twilight, run first then fight. It's called saving your hide. Enough with the scuffle, okay?”

They both zipped up about it, but Pinkie wanted to change the subject. “So why do you have us in these weird costumes.”

I gained a mischievous grin—I guess, I was pretty taken down—and explained. “We are going to have a little fun in a park, show some people a good time.”

“Exploit our powers.” Twilight clarified.

“Exploit future technology, yes. Unless you don't like eating.” Twilight tried to stop, but I kept dragging her along. “It's only for today, and people will love it. You in, Pinkie?”

Did I have to ask? She looked like a kid let loose in a free candy shop, quickly trying to pull us all forward. Twilight begrudgingly turned around and started walking, propping me up. I directed the hyperactive Pinkie down road after road, watchful eyes peering at us. To be honest, we were a sight to see.

Eventually, I popped into a building for a few minutes, paid twenty-five bucks and started down the road again (not without a question or two about my bloodied head.) By the time we got to Central Park, I was nearly exhausted. I slumped onto a bench and started scouting. I decided that where we were was fine, and watched as Pinkie already started drawing in people. Twilight looked at me expectantly.

I plopped a few micro telekinesis focusers I scrounged off random stuff, a deck of cards and a handful of pocket change in front of her. I took out my signal emitter and strapped it back on, “I'll be in the crowd, making sure everything goes smooth. Accept requests: this is all about them.”

Twilight gave me a look. “All about them, but it's about us getting money.”

I chuckled. “The entertainer's mindset should be to please the people. Happy people give happy tips.” I slipped off my jacket and placed it in front of Twilight to use as a place to throw money. I saw people coming, attracted by Pinkie, so I made my final instructions. “You shouldn't need a table. Use levitating cards. And make sure to get the focusers back.”

Twilight agreed, and placed a few focusers on a set of cards, levitating them in front of her. “Pick a card!” She called. I stepped up and picked one out, checking it to make sure there was no second card. A mother and little son came beside me.

“Three of hearts.” I said, giving it to Twilight. She took the card and looked at it.

“Are you sure?” she said, flipping it back to show it was a five of clubs. The woman went “ooh!” and showed her kid what happened. She herself looked more impressed at the levitation trick, but the kid wanted to know what happened to the card. He pointed at it and Twilight sent it down to him. He flipped it about, looking for the missing card when Twilight plucked it up, spinning it around in his face until it was the three of hearts again. The surprised and happy expression on his face lit up Twilight's, and I swear the giggle from his lips gave her strength through the entire day.





“The great and amazing Tara will now make a coin disappear!” Twilight cried, prompting laughs from the few kids left this late into the evening. Pinkie was oohing and ahhing alongside them as she showed the coin vanish, and re-appear as different coins in everyone's pocket, without her moving an inch. The parents all laughed, wondering how it was done. Pinkie said it was just real magic, Twi made the stock “never reveal your tricks” saying. I just kept smiling, a trait shared by Twilight. But now, it was time to go. The kids all returned their coins (along with a little extra from the parents) and skipped off.

The setting sun tipped us off that there would be no one left, and Twilight was quite exhausted. The entire day had been one big show, one that was quite fulfilling to everyone involved. I had taken some time off in the afternoon to get some food and count the money. We had enough for a bit. No huge haul, but it was enough to last us a few days if we spent it wisely. I patted Twilight on the back. “Good work, O grand and amazing Tara.”

Pinkie laughed, “You were great! And all the kids and parents were so happy, it was so awesome!”

Twilight gave nothing but a smile and returned the things I had given her. I scooped up the last coins in my coat and put it on. The magic had taken a lot out of her, so I put my arm around her exhausted body and guided her out of the park. I believe in guardian angels, and there had to have been one with us. It took us a long time to get to our car, but we found no resistance.

I placed Twilight in the car and started it up, driving out and into the streets. I piloted us through the city and all the way to Staten island. Again, I had everything prepared and there was an apartment waiting for us. It wasn't cheap, but it was enough.

I carried a now-asleep Twilight up into the room and lay her on the bed, thanking the landlord for being open to make a short-notice deal. I had hooked us up with a good plan, and had enough time to find a job.

What followed was the best months of my life.