Chapter 2: The Meeting

View Online

After the story and the message, everypony in the room was fascinated by Celestia’s story, except Luna whose face was disgusted and upset. Her face was like that since the beginning of Celestia’s story.

“I never knew there’s an Alicorn that is a stallion,” Twilight said. “As far as I know, princesses in Equestria—such as you, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Princess Cadance and I—are the only known Alicorns. What is he?” Twilight asked with her mind beginning to fill up with curiosity. A stallion Alicorn...what is he? What does he want from Princess Celestia? And more importantly, why is he here in Equestria, other than that message he gave?

“He’s fast as me? I’m faster than that,” Rainbow Dash bragged.

“He might be a pony from another land,” Celestia guessed. “But what I believe is that all he wants to do is to find friends in Equestria to quench his thirst from his 'Dissonance'. That is another reason why I need you all here for this mission: I am asking all of you to go back to Ponyville and search for the mysterious Alicorn. Will all of you accept?”

“How do you know he needs to be quenched of his Dissonance, Princess Celestia?” Twilight asked.

“His eyes in my dream were staring at me and were like sending me a message already,” Celestia answered.

Twilight remembered the chaos Discord made a long time ago. She did not want it to happen once again. She thought that this mysterious Alicorn was far worse than Discord’s power of chaos. She looked at her friends and Spike. Judging by their expression on their eyes and muzzles, they too didn't want chaos to happen again, and would like to accept the mission.

“We accept,” Twilight said, and then finally noticed Luna. “But why does Princess Luna look upset?”

“It is her job to enter dreams and help ponies conquer their nightmares. But for the last six days, she was not able to enter any dream to give either nightmares or good ones. Not even I could help. Luna and I had a theory that this mysterious Alicorn may be the reason why,” Celestia answered.

“It is completely preposterous! I want to meet this mysterious Alicorn,” Luna said as she stomped the floor.

“Calm down, Luna. We will solve this,” Celestia told Luna. Luna sighed and nodded.

“Most of my dreams are made of frosting!” Pinkie Pie said as she hopped in circles. “And I don’t have the slightest bad dream!”

“Thou are difficult to give nightmares these days,” Luna said as she rolled her eyes.

"Wait a minute," Rarity said. "How does he know the Pinkie Promise?"

"I do not know," Twilight answered. "But what matters is that he must be stopped of his Dissonance within."

Celestia nodded and was pleased of Twilight's determination to prevent the soon-to-be chaos.

“I want to give all of you ponies a mission to save Equestria: Find and help this Alicorn from its Dissonance—a dark power, I believe. The minor unfortunate events that happen to one of you may be small, but the true danger may come if we just let him be a loner. He might be a lonely pony who needs friends. Find the Alicorn in Ponyville, which I believe he will be there today. Do I make myself clear?”

They all nodded except Twilight.

Meanwhile, a green Alicorn was hiding near the Everfree Forest sitting down and closing his eyes, thinking of positive thoughts of the ponies back in Ponyville. That Alicorn was me.

Yeah, Princess Celestia described me. But that was inaccurate since that was only a dream. Here was my physical description: my eyes were golden yellow, my mane was short and had bangs that were straight front—not down—and colored deep cobalt blue with strong cobalt blue streaks, and my coat was strong green. My muzzle was angular and square off, but not large as other stallions. My built was just like Luna’s, but a bit buffer, but I was skinny compared to other muscular stallions such as Big McIntosh. My wings were weird—they were both dragon wings. I had a cutie mark, of course—a colored wheel.

Why do I had the feeling that I’d forgotten something? Hmm…I couldn't seem to put my hoof into it.

It was morning in Equestria and to my disbelief; it was 10:30 AM—it was 10:30 PM in Reality. Times in both IW and Reality were always weird, especially since I was now in this world. I would just focus on the time in Equestria. And today was Sunday.

I was the one who sent that dream to Celestia's head before I entered this world. I just wanted the ponies to look for me faster and I wanted to be more mysterious. I did warn her about my Dissonance within. Did my plan look stupid? Maybe it was.

In every world I had been through, chaos always happened because of me. But I was able to end it with the help of Cynthia and my sister, Lentae. Once the chaos ends, the world would be at peace. If a world I got really attached to—like Pokémon and Digimon—had any chaos, it would only fade away after a few years.

My mission was to be influenced of the Elements of Harmony because of my newfound dark power—Dissonance. It was born within me when I first watched the very first episode of MLP—Friendship is Magic, part 1—and I researched everything about the show and its characters. A few weeks ago, my first dark power—Forbidden—took over me and unlocked my path to Equestria. It was great, but unfortunately that path my Forbidden unlocked was evil, that it gave me the Equestrian version of my dark power.

My second mission was to recruit the good forces of Equestria against my upcoming war with the Elementals—the fifth race of Imaginundia. Our forces were futile against my exhibition battle with Elemental Iwano, my Elemental twin. He was very, very strong that I turning into a Forbidden to defeat him was useless—including all my IW powers. But with these ponies on our side, we might have a chance to take the Elementals down.

My third mission was to develop new powers. With my broad imagination, I might be able to create them. It would take time for my new powers to be born.

I had secondary missions, but they were classified. But I also wanted to find friends here in Equestria.

I was walking north towards Ponyville. The sky was quite cool and breezy. The shrubs and bushes on the sides of the dirt roads were healthier than the ones in Reality. I was just thinking that maybe the ponies might hate me...

Shoot! I was becoming insecure again. Being insecure was one of my problems in Reality. In IW, it was like a little, defenseless colt was trying to wrestle a crocodile in a swamp. Was that harsh?

While walking towards Ponyville, I sang this song called Hall of Fame by The Script featuring Will.I.Am. I just loved singing songs that can cheer my mood up into happiness.

While I was in the middle of the chorus, my iWatch10 suddenly rang on my left hoof. I stopped and took a look at its screen. Cynthia was calling me. Ugh, I bet she was worried again. I used my mind to open the call. A small hologram of Cynthia appeared—I thought she would be in her pony form, but she was in human.

"How's your entrance? Was it safe?" she asked.

"My entrance was fine like every first time in every new world, Cynthia," I answered as I scowled.

"What about that time? Remember that time when Natsu Dragneel's in a middle of a fight with Grey Fullbuster and you entered in their crossfire the first time you entered Fairy Tail guild in Fiore?" she recounted for me. Of course I remembered. It was the first failing entrance I've ever had in a long time. I was unconscious after that.

"Uh, yeah, I know that. But again, my entrance is safe.”

She sighed. "Remember your goals in this world, Diego." She hung up and the hologram disappeared. I was a bit mad when she used my Reality name. I didn’t like it at all.

I continued on the road and sang Fireflies by Owl City.

Meanwhile, Twilight and her friends boarded off the train in the train station and walked to Ponyville.

"It’s great to be back in Ponyville, Twilight?" Applejack asked. "Uh, Twi?" Twilight ignored Applejack, her head facing the ground.

"Twilight? Are you okay?" Rarity asked. Twilight was still ignoring.

"Hey Twidy-Widey? Are you heary-witty?" Pinkie Pie asked cheerfully. Twilight was still ignoring.

"Is she deaf?" Fluttershy worriedly asked.

"Hey, earth to egg-head?" Rainbow Dash teased as she knocked on Twilight's head. Twilight was still ignoring.

"Twilight!” Spike called her out by the ears that she finally snapped out.

"What the?!” she looked around, snapped out of her thinking. "Oh, sorry girls, I was just thinking about the message that mysterious alicorn told to the Princess. It's haunting me," Twilight explained. "The first four lines of that message already got me thinking of who this alicorn really is. Then, the second four lines... Ugh! I got to stop and..." She began thinking of it again. She then began to recite my message:

“Discord will arise in your land,

Which will dry up by everything into sand

I will be the herald

And to enter a hoof in your land I shall.

I want to be friends

Let's be allies with no end

Cure me of the discord within

I will Pinkie Promise that I'll not try to be a Forbidden.

I will arrive soon

Please be brave and not be gloom

Try to get to know me

And in the end we shall see."

"Twilight!” Spike called her out by the ears again. They then went back to their conversation. “Yeah,” Spike pretended to somewhat agree. “I mean, he knows what a Pinkie Promise is.”

“Hey, Pinkie Pie,” Twilight looked at her. “Did you by any chance party with him somewhere?”

“I’ve partied in the Sugarcube Corner, Canterlot, a cave, and more!” she said as she hopped high. “But I’ve never seen him or know what he looks like.” She then wore a pair of reading glasses and brought out a notepad. “‘Iwano Imagination’?” she said as she browses through her list of ponies and other creatures she met. “Nope,” she took away her glasses and notepad—where? “Never knew him.”

“What I know in general,” Twilight said, “is that he wants our help before he becomes a big threat to Ponyville and to all of Equestria.” Twilight then stopped and turned her back to her friends. “Listen up. Let’s split up and search the whole town for the Alicorn. Meet me by the library within an hour if none of you found him. If we do, we must take him to Princess Celestia for an interview or an interrogation, to be more serious.”

“I’m already on it!” Rainbow Dash saluted and flew to the sky.

“An aerial view may help,” Twilight said as she looked where Rainbow Dash flew. “Let’s start!”

The rest of the ponies split up while Twilight and Spike are left together.

“Come on, Spike.” Spike then rode on her back.

The search began.

Pinkie Pie was popping everywhere in the streets of Ponyville in search of the Alicorn with a pair of binoculars—where did she get those? Flower pots, clouds, hats of ponies, carriages, the fountains, the houses—anywhere! Name where, and she was there—literally.

Pinkie Pie then spotted a green horn behind a brick wall between two houses. Her eyes widened in excitement and began literally crawling like a snake towards it. And then, she jumped and lunged at the pony behind the wall and land on it.

“I got him! I got him!” she said out loud and looked at the pony. It turn out that it’s just a mare Unicorn Pony. Pinkie then looked at her back—No wings. She immediately got off the mare which has gotten mad at her.

“I’m so, so, so, so, so, so sorry!” Pinkie Pie apologized and ran away in a flash.

Rainbow Dash then zoomed from one cloud to the other while scanning in the sky. She looked down while flying, too.

“If that pony’s an Alicorn, then he can fly!” she said to herself. “Maybe he loves to fly like me, so he must be flying right now. All I need to do now is—” She stopped as she found a pair of green wings in a cloud in front of her. She gotten excited and instantly zoomed towards those wings and caught a pony.

“I got you…” she held the wings, but it was actually just a green stallion pegasus pony. She grabbed and looked at his head—no horn.

“Oops, my bad!” she shrugged and flew away before the pegasus gets mad at her.

“Excuse me, sir?” Rarity asked a brown stallion earth pony. “Have you seen a green pony with a horn, wings and cobalt blue hair?” The earth pony shook and left her. Rarity then asked a mare earth pony the same question while she was flower arranging her flower pots outside her house. She shook.

“There’s got to be a way for that alicorn to show up his face to me,” she then thinks for a minute. “That’s it! I’ll use that spell Twilight thought me,” she then began closing her eyes and concentrating. Her horn then shines a color light blue. Everypony around her turn their heads to her and suddenly was mesmerized. Their eyes are all focused on her.

“Well know, let’s see...” She began scanning the hypnotized crowd of ponies for the Alicorn.

“Get her horn!!!” Affero shouted out. And after that, approximately twenty to thirty ponies charged towards Rarity. She then panicked and ran away fast as a beautiful gazelle being chased by twenty to thirty cheetahs.

“Somepony please help me!” she cried out.

Wait, Rarity thought. Why did I even cast a spell? Twilight did not even teach me that. What’s going on with me? Wait, was that a ‘want it, need it’ spell I just conjured—on my horn?!

While Applejack was in a middle of her search in the center of Ponyville, she then bumped into Fluttershy.

“Howdy Fluttershy,” she greeted. “Seen the Alicorn yet?”

Fluttershy shook. The ground then began to rumble underneath their hooves. They look around of what’s causing it.

“What in overcooked apple pie is going on here?” she asked herself.

“I think that!” Fluttershy point a hoof behind Applejack. Rarity was being chased by a stampede of ponies, probably still under her spell.

Applejack and Fluttershy then ran away with Rarity.

“What did you do, Rare?” Applejack asked Rarity.

“I used a spell whereas everypony would look at my glamorous horn,” she answered. “But I think I did not got it right this time,”

“Why d’you do that, Rare?!” Applejack seemed to thought and wondered, since when did Rarity learned a new spell? It’s not like she became a smart pony like Twi. What’s going on? Her thought was blocked by anger.

“Well, to find the Alicorn, of course!” the two began to argue. As they do that, they began slowing down. Fluttershy then looked at them in worry that they’ll be crushed by the many hooves of the stampeding ponies. So she decided to take action, even if she feels afraid. Fluttershy then carried Applejack with her hooves and bumped Rarity unto her back. She fluttered her wings hard to fly into the air. Successfully as she flew, the two ponies stopped their argument and realized that they were in the air. Fluttershy became tired and was perspiring. Applejack and Rarity looked below. The ponies chasing them went back to normal and walked away in confusion.

“Darling, you can bring us down now and thank you very much,” Rarity said, ashamed of her argument.

Fluttershy carefully landed on the ground near the Town Hall.

“Sorry that we’re arguin’, Fluttershy,” Applejack apologized.

“That’s okay,” Fluttershy said. “I am glad that we are all right.”

While the Mane Six were still looking for me high and low—Pinkie Pie was digging through a tunnel under Ponyville—I was walking calmly in Ponyville. Everypony were looking at me and murmuring about who am I. I hid my wings using a spell. It will come back once I say alae, the Latin word for wings.

The Mane Six and Spike were walking along together were still looking around for me.

"I thought finding him by covering more grounds and the sky in Ponyville would help," Twilight said. "But I never knew he would be this difficult to find. I mean, I think we searched everywhere!”

"He's even harder than finding my needle through a haystack!" Rarity said. "How can we find an Alicorn who is green, has both a horn and a pair of wings and with cobalt blue mane?"

"You mean that Alicorn?" Fluttershy pointed on their left. I was there by the Joke Shop, thinking if I can buy an item. The Mane Six and Spike were agape.

"Let me think..." I had my right front hoof on my chin. I had been there for forty whole minutes.

"We have been searching all over Ponyville," Applejack said. "And we did not even see'em there?!"

Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash's expression became serious. Pinkie Pie grabbed a rope out of nowhere and tackled me with Rainbow Dash. Twilight, Spike and the rest of the non-wranglers just watched in shock.

Twilight shook her head. "STOP!” she shouted. We instantly stopped. In our frozen state, I was upside-down while I hoof wrestle Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash was tightening the rope around my hind legs.

"Uh, thank you?" I said. She then walked forward, went muzzle to muzzle on me and the look on her face feels like I was in trouble. Was I?

"We are taking you to Princess Celestia. Immediately," she grimly said.

Chapter 3: Enter with Colors

View Online

This was just like the time when I was in the Land of Ooo. Princess Bubblegum identified me as a threat (which was true) and interrogated me in a dungeon in the Candy Kingdom with Finn the Human and Jake the Dog. I was supposed to be excited to meet and see the Land of Ooo, but I was wrong… just like this one. Maybe things would turn up good after this.

Before I knew it, I was in Canterlot's Castle on the way to the throne room of Princess Celestia.

My bottom was pushed by two Pegasi Royal guards using their heads. Following us were the Mane Six and Spike. I was all plain and there were no violent reactions from me, though I managed a scared face.

"Excuse me, sirs?" I courteously asked. "I could just walk, if you don’t mind."

"The princess's orders were to push you to the throne room—like this," the first Royal Guard reminded, though it was like he wanted to just let me walk.

"And you have the right to remain silent!" the second one chided.

I wasn't expecting this to happen, I thought to myself. I hope this isn’t like my first time in the Candy Kingdom…

Two Unicorn Royal guards opened the royal doors as we all entered. There were no other Royal guards in the room other than the pushers and the door guards. And I thought they would all have to headbutt me to Celestia. The lights were on and everything was normal inside, except two Royal guards pushing me.

"The two of you are dismissed," Twilight said to the guards. They saluted to her and flew away to the doors, and closed them shut.

They finally stopped pushing me when we reached Celestia by her throne. The Mane Six and Spike all waited for the princess to start talking. With Celestia was Luna beside the throne, looking at me with hatred. She was still angry? Cadance wasn’t here. I thought she was doing some important royal duty in the Crystal Empire with Shining Armor, her husband. Ugh.

There was silence.

The princess examined me from her throne. Her eyes were really observing me with intent, though she didn't have the same hateful expression as Luna’s. I was glad about it.

"Where are your wings?" she asked, but she was not accosting unlike Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, the Royal guards and Twilight. How did she know?

"What wings? I have no wings," I lied in my best casual tone. "I am just a regular old Unicorn like every other in Equestria."

"From where, exactly?" she asked again. I thought I have to be in Casual-Lie Mode now (not a mode).

"I am from Los Pegasus."

"What is your favorite color?"

"Yellow," I answered again, but this time I wasn't lying about my fave color.

"What is your favorite hobby or hobbies?"

"Reading and writing stories." I was expecting Twilight to get interested of me when I said my hobby of it, but she wasn’t.

"What is your favorite fruit?"

"Mangoes."

"How do you summon your wings?"

"Easy! I say alae—shoot!" My wings instantly came back to me in a flash of green light. Dang, I thought. She’s good…or am I just stupid?

Everypony gasped in marvel.

Celestia smiled. "You are the Alicorn in my dream."

I sighed and slap my face with my left hoof. "You caught me. Am I supposed to tell everything and every detail of whom I am and why I came here?"

She nodded.

"Yay, story time again!" Pinkie Pie said joyfully as she brought out a box full of popcorn and sat down again. Applejack rolled her eyes.

Okay, maybe I should stay cool.

"My name is Iwano Imagination. I came from a faraway kingdom called Imaginundia. I am a ruler—a powerful and skillful king—in that kingdom." I had to lie again a little more just to shroud my identity, for their safety, I thought. "Everypony there lived in harmony—Earth ponies, Unicorns and Pegasi."

Besides being a king there, I am an adventurer, too!" I flew several loops in the air and land. "Things have been great in my kingdom, until a great dark power was born within me through my sadness and insecure feelings. Though I was good, there were times that I may hurt my fellow subjects physically and emotionally," Twilight was listening to every word I say to see if I was telling the truth, which was a little. "So six days ago, I left my kingdom in the hands of my loyal assistant and went on a journey to find the rumored possessors of the Elements of Harmony who all reside in Ponyville, as I heard. I met many creatures along the way. And I think I encountered one of your 'friends', too." The ponies looked at each other in question, except Twilight. "I named my dark powers the 'Elements of Dissonance', for they are the opposite of your elements. That is all."

I ended my story.

"The Elements of Dissonance?" Twilight mused. "Dissonance means discord and discord means..." Her expression became alert as she realizes what it meant.

"Correct, Twilight," Celestia said. "For that, I will give you all the mission for the six—including Spike—of you ponies: all of you must prevent and cure the Elements within Iwano. Each of you possesses an element opposite of his that may help him control or better wash it away. I know the elements were returned to the Tree of Harmony, but that does not mean all of you can't help. Do you all understand the importance of this task?"

Without a single complaint, the ponies humbly accepted.

"We'll do our best, princess," Applejack said.

"Clearly I may give him the proper etiquette to my element," Rarity said.

"Count me in!" Rainbow Dash said with pride, though I think she wouldn’t since she was a bit brash about it. I thought…

"We promise to help him understand," Fluttershy said softly. Fluttershy…

Twilight did not say anything. She kept her eyes on me the whole time without blinking for a second. She was looking at me in suspicion. She then sighs. "We will, princess. But if I may ask: why would you not help him instead?”

“I have too many duties for my kingdom and whole of Equestria, my faithful student,” Celestia asked. “I may have some wisdom, especially from all your Friendship Reports, but I think he needs to be livening up here.” She looked at me with hopeful eyes. I wished she was right about them helping me. "In order to prevent this chaos to fall in Equestria, we must help him see and understand the magic of friendship," Celestia said to the Mane Six then faced to me. "Iwano, you may interact, mingle and socialize with the other residents in Ponyville, even the one who resides in the Everfree Forest."

"Do you mean Zecora?" I guessed which was correct.

"How do you know Zecora?" Twilight asked.

"I just know, that's all," I answered. "Like, your name's Twilight Sparkle. You were tasked by the princess to research on the magic of friendship. And you also represent the Element of Magic." Twilight was agape.

I then turned to Applejack. "You're Applejack. You work and live in Sweet Apple Acres with Big McIntosh and Granny Smith. You like to work hard for your friends and family. You represent the Element of Honesty." She was then agape.

I then faced to the rest of the ponies. "You're Fluttershy," I said as I pointed a hoof on her. "You are very shy and timid. You take care and love animals, except scary ones like dragons. You used to live in Cloudsdale along with Rainbow Dash. You are the Element of Kindness." She was agape. I then pointed at Rarity. "You are Rarity. You love elegance and gems. You own the Carousel Boutique. You are actually a fancy type. You're the Element of Generosity." She was agape, too.

I was then grabbed by Pinkie Pie excitedly by the head. "Are you psychic?!” she asked eccentrically. Why did this look familiar, liked I’d seen this in a movie?

"No, I am not," I replied, still casual. "But you're Pinkie Pie. You worked at the Sugarcube Corner and you have the Pinkie Senses." Pinkie Pie's jaw hit the floor hard.

"Can we just please take him to Ponyville now before he gives stalker info on me?" Rainbow Dash whined. Celestia nodded.

The princess giggled but was not offended by the rainbow-colored mane pony. “As you wish, Rainbow Dash—oh, Iwano, do you have a time limit?”

I wanted to tell her that I only had seven days before my Dissonance can really took over me, but I did not brought it up because that would make the Mane Six and the princess uneasy. So I just shook. Celestia opened the throne room’s doors without ordering the Royal guards and let it open. I shut up for Rainbow Dash and walked with the Mane Six and Spike out of the throne room. Celestia thought about me. While she was at it, Luna forcibly closed the doors with her magic.

"You did not tell him that he was wrecking my job, my sister," Luna said angrily. "I could have just punished and thrown him into the dungeon for blocking my job! And he is Dissonance, you cannot trust him!”

Celestia sighed. "I will tell you something, Luna."

In Ponyville, I was hanging out with the Mane Six and Spike. I was having a great conversation with Pinkie Pie. She reminded me of my friend Vincent “Vice” Lacuna back in Reality. They both made me happy and laugh in a conversation of a random topic. Every time I looked at her, my heart pounded fast in an instance, faster than her comically pursuing Rainbow Dash in every land of Equestria.

I have to control it…

"I never knew your lil' brothers can be that baddy-naughty with your stuff," Pinkie Pie said as she was amused of the story on how my lil' brothers back in Reality did when they ran away from me with my books. "Pound Cake and Pumpkin Cake's even worst! But they're actually super-duper fun to be with."

I was talking to her because she was enthusiastic to know me, but deep within I really didn’t wanted to chat with the most annoying pony I’d met.

"I hear ya, Pinkie," I said. "My lil' bros can be helpful and useful in one of my most important times, like finding my present for my best friend's birthday party."

"Ooohhh! Tell me about eeeeeverything about your friend's party!" I laughed a bit because of her enthusiasm. Maybe talking to her would help me for a while.

While I was telling her my story about my best friend's party—Naruto Uzamaki’s party—the rest of the Mane Six were wondering about me and staring at me, especially Twilight.

"How does he know about all of our names especially that we hardly have known him at all?" Rarity asked.

"How does he know 'ow we act and knew our personality?" Applejack asked too as she adjusted her Stetson hat. She must’ve been probably thinking of how I also know her mannerism.

"And do you guys think him and Pinkie Pie can—" Rainbow Dash chuckled and whisper to her friends. "Become couples?" she tried to contain her laughter. Why would she laugh?

"Why is that funny to you, Rainbow Dash?" Twilight asked.

"Nah, I'm just bored. But I'd like to see that happen—"

"Everypony!" Pinkie Pie and I dashed surprised the ponies and Rainbow Dash fell down in surprise as well.

"Iwano wants to do something for everypony in Ponyville!" Pinkie Pie excitedly. "Guess, guess, guess!"

"Uh, go around Ponyville and say 'hi' to everypony?" Twilight guessed.

"Nope! That—" Pinkie Pie pointed at me. I then winked at them. I concentrated on my magic, which made my horn glow golden yellow. After accumulating a bit of focus, I blasted a pink colored beam into the sky. Everypony in Ponyville, including the Mane Six and Spike, watched in wonder. After a minute, the beam splits up and scattered all over the town. Everypony is about to panic, but as the beams hit one of the cottages, they were instantly decorated with balloons, streamers and rainbow colored banners. Ponies hit by the pink beams got dressed in tuxedos and gowns--they were quite surprised and some were happy. The Mane Six were also hit and they were wearing their gowns from the Grand Galloping Gala. Everypony's dressed up elegantly and fashionably, even Rarity was kissing her own dress.

"What in blazing hooves is goin' on?" Applejack asked hesitantly with her dress.

"Pinkie Pie, what did you and Iwano planned?" Twilight asked. Pinkie Pie and I giggled.

"Just two words, Twilight:" I said. "Musical Colors!"

"Bring it!" Pinkie Pie said and became a one-pony orchestra. A happy tune was then played by her with a cassette player connected by four big speakers. Vinyl Scratch—she was wearing a silver colored gown decorated with small CDs and neon light outlines—put up her glasses and blinked in surprise. "How'd my speakers get there?" she asked Pinkie Pie.

Pinkie Pie shrugged. "Iwano said he borrowed them.” Vinyl had no time to get mad, because I was now going to perform and sang a song which was an impromptu composition in my mind: Enter with Colors! I toned my voice with a wee bit of Adam Young, singer of Owl City.

What you were about to read in this story was the lyrics of my song "Enter with Colors". It was both a happy and sad toned music. If you readers didn’t know the tone at all, use your imagination.

ENTER WITH COLORS!

Hello everypony! My name is Iwano! [I was walking through the crowd of ponies]

All I want is for you all to know… [My horn was giving a small glow. This indicates that I’m using my magic, which was making my voice loud for the ponies to hear me]

That I’m a bit weird and quite strange [I zoomed to many ponies that made them easily startled. Well, I had that kind of habit of startling]

I like to act lively and not deranged [I flew up into the sky, flying above the cottages fast…]

But let’s just go on with my intro!!! […And used my magic to spread glitters everywhere. Pinkie Pie opened her mouth and swallowed some of the glitter. I bet she thought the glitters were sugar. She just savored the flavor. Weird...]

I am lazy and a bit dishonest [I landed on a crate softly and act lazy, then…]

But I’ll work hard for anypony that I promised [I pushed a cart of five barrels into the streets, just to show off my strength]

I always stay true to my word [I went to Applejack to said it]

And I love to eat food and not a sword [I went to Derpy and ate the muffin she was holding. She began to sob a bit, but I gave her a bag of muffins. Then I saw a stallion earth pony swallowing a sword]

Let’s just say I am true to myself

And I have a feeling that we’ll get along soon!!! [I went to the center of the crowd in joy]

I always feel that I am lonely,

Sad, isolated and so gloomy

Believe me I always have sadness [I showed everypony my true and sad expression. It hurt me in the inside to do it…]

But inside I do have happiness [I made a large smile and flew up again cheerfully and full of gaiety]

Happiness and smiles are everywhere [I used a bit of my magic to make everypony smile. Pinkie Pie excitedly followed me in pursuit of my “rain of happiness”]

Even in dark places like my heart [Pinkie Pie then saw a hammock hanging between two trees, and used it as a launcher for her to get to me. We then fell into…]

Let’s just laugh, prank, joke, dance and cream ourselves with some jam!!! [We fell into a large pool of jam! Where did this jam came from? We didn’t care! We just lied down and made jam angels!]

As you can all see?

That I’m not all that bulky [I pointed at a very bulky and white stallion pegasi. He looked like that “YEAH”pegasus from the episode “Hurricane Fluttershy”. He was a bit weird, but at least he helped in that episode]

But I am quite flexible [I put my hind hooves behind my back]

And it’s the same as being faithful [I went to Rainbow Dash and gave her an expression saying: Come and race!]

Occasionally I have faithlessness [Because of that, she and I raced fast and furiously through the clouds, the crowd of ponies and through the cottages. Everything we passed by were swaying through the wind that everypony’s mane were riding it. Rainbow Dash got a clown make-up all over her face. I giggled at her face, but she was full of competitiveness in racing me. Without even saying it, the finish line was reaching the Mane Six. By an inch, I reached them and won]

But for some reason I love to be loyal [Rainbow Dash was surprised and impressed of my speed. I was expecting her to go all impulsive on me]

Let’s go fast and zoom

Leaving a rainbow and let’s all be cool!!! [I used my magic again and blast a beam on the sky that turned into a rainbow. The populace of Ponyville was even more enjoyed than ever! Time to turn it up with a real fashion: me! I quickly used my magic yet again and glowed, like a crystal pony]

Look at me! Look at me! Look at me! [I called to everypony]

How do I look in my suit? [I was showing off again. Rarity seems to admire my suit the most than others]

It defines me of who I am

I actually like to design, decorate and be artistic [Rarity held on her mane and pulled it frantically in excitement just by me saying that line]

But try to look within me [I looked at Rarity in a distance in the eye]

I think I’m quite selfish [I then saddened]

But I am quite generous you see

Let’s all just share our beauty within!!! [Everypony now loved my song that they started following my movements and synchronized with me]

If you remember that I said I am isolated [I disappeared by teleporting with my magic again. Everypony were looking around for me. What they could only hear was me singing]

It is true… And I am also very sensitive

I am just afraid of making mistakes

I’m insecure, self-conscious and timid

I can’t handle crowds of ponies

I’m just feeble and weird

But I do like kind and good ones [I startled Fluttershy behind her by teleporting]

The ones who can also understand [She was about to trip over. I teleported and caught her with my “arms”. I sort of blushed a bit because of that]

Let’s just be kind with our heart!!! [I steadied her balance and cheered her up with just my smile]

I like to be smart [I was now excited to sing these lines to her. I then became very enthusiastic!]

I read books

I love libraries

They’re really cool!

Adventures, romance, horror and educational

I’ll like any kind of book with wonder and mind

I also like words

I read a dictionary often

But let’s all just say that I love

Being an intellectual!!! [I sang these lines to Twilight only. The other mares want me to sing it to them, but I was just focused on Sparkle. I saw a grin on her face, but she managed to fade it away. She must not trust me yet. But I was honest with those lines—I loved books!]

Hello everypony! Now you all know me! [Everpony surrounded me in a circle and swaying to the music and my voice. This was quite…great!]

But that’s not all, as you can see…

I’m quite mysterious but I want to have friends

I have emotions—it’s colorful and grand

Let us all be friendly with our colors

I am Iwano Imagination!

I will enter with Colors!!! [After singing that line, everypony said it too out loud in perfect harmony. Even the Mane Six and Spike—except Twilight—do the same]

After the song, I stopped and caught my breath for a minute. Suddenly, roar, cheer and claps engulfed me.

Chapter 4: Green Eat

View Online

After the song, everypony immediately clapped and stomped their hooves to my performance and began gathering around me. Okay, I didn’t clearly have this in mind about being in crowds. They then started commenting and asking me a ton of questions which jumbled my brain. Just like what I said in my song: I can’t handle crowds of ponies. I then grinned to all of them nervously and courteously, just to make sure not to hurt their feelings. I couldn’t handle this at all! My heart was pounding; my hooves were shaking and my head vibrating. Hesitant, I used my magic to teleport myself unto the top of the Town Hall. Everypony were surprised of my disappearance.

“Woah, he is timid,” said Baritone.

“He should really mingle with his true self instead of just singing his heart out,” said Bell Perin.

“Let’s just wait for that pony to show up again soon, folks,” Mayor Mare said to everypony. They all just went back to their normal business with their suits and gowns. I guess they really like their outfit. Those outfits are designed by Elesa of Nimbasa City in the Unova region, Pokémon world. How did I somehow make them wear those? It’s just magic.

I was still on the top of the Town Hall, thinking of negative thoughts about my performance. I covered my eyes with my hooves and readied myself to cry. I was a disgrace…was I?

“That’s a migh’ defyin’ performance you got there, Iwano,” a voice said to me below. I looked down with my eyes open and saw the Mane Six and Spike. I guess Applejeck was the one who complimented me. “You aren’t bad with your singin’ and dancin’.”

“And I thought Pinkie Pie’s the only one who makes random performances and presentations,” I said.

“Seriously,” Rainbow Dash said irritably as she went muzzle to muzzle on me. “How do you know us very well?” I was about to nervously answer her question when Twilight flew up between Rainbow Dash and I.

“Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said to her. “Give him some time to answer that. He’s still new in Ponyville and our mission is to cure or contain Iwano of his Dissonance, not adding him up with more timidity and anxiety. Who knows? Maybe those things would fuel up his Dissonance.”

She was correct there.

Rainbow Dash sighed. “I’m sorry.”

Twilight looked at me to see if I accepted it. I just nodded modestly.

Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie was practicing my shuffling steps and her legs got tangled up into a knot. Her tongue was out and in an impressive sailor knot. That was weird…no wonder she was been a favorite to many bronies.

I then flew down to the ground to my new friends.

“Okay now,” Twilight said. “How can we help you, Iwano?”

I smiled and inhaled myself to calmness. “Well, I just want to hang out with each of one of you girls until seven days are up, each taking turns if one of you decides—” I then turned to face the sky. It was about to sunset. “And I need a place to sleep in for the night. And I thought I finally made them uneasy when I said about the deadline of seven, but they were unfazed.

“I’ll let ya sleep in the barn,” Applejack said. “Today, you’re with me for your first day here, sugar cube.”

“You mean in Sweet Apple Acres? It’s a sure thing, Applejack!”

The ponies looked at each other in delight, but Twilight was still suspiciously staring at me. It seemed like she would have a hard time trusting in me for seven days. Twilight really needed to lighten up.

All of us separated and farewell to each other. I was going with Applejack.

While walking, I was staring at her from top to bottom. She was quite pretty. She was full of honesty—I could feel it—and a hardworking pony to me. She’s… she’s… WOAH! I shook my head to avoid being infatuated and mesmerized with Applejack. You could say I was quite amorous with too many girls in IW who I thought are pretty and good in their heart. I had to stop myself from falling in love all over again! I got to stay focused on my major objectives: put a control or cure to my Dissonance in this world, bond and recruit anypony I could trust, especially the Mane Six, Spike, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.

"Um, Applejack?" I asked.

"What is it, Iwano?"

"Are you, um, weird out of my performance? I mean, usually ponies are always weird out by me." I can already imagine of what she'll say.

"Are you kidding me, Iwano? Just like what I say a while ago: That was a migh’ defyin’ performance. Pinkie Pie loves to do those kinds of things.”

“Well, okay. It’s t-time to change the subject. A-are w-we friends?” Dang, my tone sounds bashful. I even stammered. Why am I always like this with girls? I wasn’t like that with girls in Reality, though.

“Of course! I’ll help you in any way to cure your Dissonance. I’m known to be as the Element of Honesty. So Iwano, do you lie often?” Applejack asked.

“Yes.” I answered.

“Wow, that answer of yours was pretty straightforward,”

“I lied to many ponies in my life just to make myself more interesting or to bridge up a relationship,” everything I said is true in Reality.

“Lying can be bad if you just kept on doing that, Iwano,”

“I know,” I whined. “But I don’t want anyone to think I’m that boring"— I drooped. “Or useless"— I let my face rub on the ground while walking. “Or unreliable"— I raised myself. “Or—”

Applejack covered my mouth with an apple. Where did she get this apple? I thought. I just ate the whole apple by a mouthful and spat out the apple core instantly. She then waved in front of me and pointed at our right. It was Sweet Apple Acres! There was a white fence and an entrance, decorated with apples and shrubs, to the family farm/orchard. Applejack and I just smiled at each other. This was a delight for me to first time stay in SAA!

“Is it okay if I can just sleep in the barn by the haystack?” I asked Applejack.

“Well, sure thing!” she replied.

Later, I was just lying down blankly on the haystack.

“Are ya shore you don’t need anything else?” Applejack said as she was about to leave me and close the barn’s doors. “I can give ya some apple pie, apple cider, apple juice, apple cake, apple—”

“I’m fine!” I insisted. “Your hospitality is enough. This is all I need.”

“If ya need anything just ask me.” She then left and closed the doors. She was quite great…

I looked around. The windows were still opened. I used my magic to close all of them shut. For the first time, I would not be using iWatch10 to communicate with Cynthia. Instead, I used magic. Since I was still a powerful leader of IW, I could use my magic as an Alicorn in ease.

I then used my magic and made a rectangular screen like a flat-screen television. The image was blank in white for a second, and then an image of Cynthia appeared. She was in her desk compiled with papers. Her face told me that she was a bit worried but managed to have a subtle smile.

“I knew you’re going to use that kind of magic,” she said. “So that’s why I asked Mari to upgrade my laptop for it to be connected with magical communication and messages.”

“Well, that’s good,” I said. “How are things in IW?”

Her glad smile faded into a frown. I could tell she was having a stressful day as a substitute Leader. “You not being here’s a problem—again. The Elementals are wreaking havoc in some parts of IW and to the other worlds, mostly on the Pokémon world, the Land of Ooo and the Ninja world. In other words, IW is beginning to become imbalanced again.”

I frowned as well. “I recently visited those worlds before I came here in Equestria. Why would they want to wreak havoc in those worlds frequently?” I asked.

“It’s unknown,” she answered. “So how’s everything there?”

“It’s great!” I told her everything of what happened from the entrance to here I was in SAA. She didn’t seem to like Twilight scowling at me. I guessed Twilight still did not trust me for I may be another villain she needed to spray friendship on.

“You really need to make Twilight act more friendly towards you. That song you just—” she giggled. “Sang and perform is not going to do help. You need to be yourself and stay focused on the task, especially staying smart on any predicament.”

“That’s another problem.” I realized I wasn’t seating down on the hay, so I did. “I’m starting to fall in love again.”

Saying that makes her stress even more. “Do. Not. Fall in love again. You know what will happen!” she got off her seat just by saying that. Ugh, whoever I would fall in love with would become special, but also be endangered. It was like a curse but with no cure at all.

“Okay, okay,” I said calmly to settle her down. “I will control it.” She then sat down again, but I doubt a bit that I might be able to control it.

“Now, let’s change the subject, shall we? Tell me about the Mane Six and Spike.” I’m glad she changed it!

“Rainbow Dash, just like Twilight, doesn’t trust me, but for knowing too much about anything related to Ponyville’s populace and Canterlot’s royalty. She’s Rainbow Dash after all.”

“What about Rarity?”

“As usual, she loves fashion and a lover for all things beautiful and arabesque and all. She loved having two of her Gala gowns during my performance. She is Rarity.”

“What about Applejack?”

“She’s impressed of my performance and she did let me live in the barn—”

“For how long?” she interruptedly asked.

“I didn’t tell her, but I think I’ll be leaving this place tomorrow.” I used my magic and opened a window by my left. The moon was already in the horizon. It was nighttime? That was quick. I then closed the window again. “Applejack is quite a nice country-like pony. She’s hospitable, pretty, fabulous and—”

Cynthia grunted. Besides being an overly protective assistant who cares for my safety and others from my evil transformation, you can say that she’s my girlfriend too.

“As I was saying,” I continued. “Let’s now go with Pinkie Pie. She’s eccentric and very random, especially exuberant just like how I tell you when we had our conversation. Who even knew she can twist her neck? She’s energetic as usual and helped me gain my confidence in doing my Enter with Colors performance. And I still don't like her, yeah.”

Cynthia giggled again. “What’s wrong with me doing a performance like that?!” I irritably asked. “You weren’t like that when we had our concerts.”

“I’m sorry, Iwano. Now, how’s Fluttershy?”

“Fluttershy,” I said her name dreamily, though Cynthia knew I was in love with her which she accepted. “She’s timid, bashful and shy, as usual. She’s very kind and my type of pony.”

“When you took that Bronyland Personality Test in Reality, you were classified as Applejack.”

“With a dash of Fluttershy and Twilight,” I reminded.

“Fluttershy should be meant for you, Iwano. She’s shy and timid like you when you’re in school in Reality. She’s kind like you and likes animals—you’re a junior zoologist yourself.”

“Amateur zoologist,” I corrected her. “Anyways, about Twilight Sparkle. She’s looks intellectual and loves to read books, which I already knew. And—”

“She still distrusts you,” she finished my sentence. “I know, Iwano. You don’t need to repeat that like as if you…” Her voice trailed off. “In Reality, you’re usually in love with girls who are kind-voiced and very smart, like Patriz Pacheco. You like her too, do you?”

“Cynthia, I do,” I simply admitted. “I’m weird, okay?”

“And I thought you falling in love with a harpy who memorizes the parts of the Sibylline prophecy is weird. Is there any more ponies you’re in love with?” she asked. Her voice sounded like she wanted to hunt down the ponies I fell in love with and warn them to never be in love with me or she would kill them—even worse: kill me.

“Nnope!” I answered like Big McIntosh’s voice and accent. “Not at all, Cynthia.”

“Remember: your first task of Dissonance curing/diminishing/controlling is to bond with is Applejack, who is the Element of Honesty,” she reminded. “Oh, you forgot something, amnesiac,” she blithely said. “You forgot your stuff in your house.”

I blushed. So that was what I was forgetting! When would my forgetfulness ever leave? “Fine, let me teleport my stuff here.”

I used my magic and imagined on my mind of my stuff back in my home. A few seconds later, my bag appeared which is like those saddlebags for horses, or ponies in Equestria — was it a saddlebag? I then levitated my stuff out and lay them in front of me on the ground. I brought three pencils, two notebooks—namely IW1 and IW2 respectively—, two erasers, and a metallic sharpener. But there was this weird feeling I was having about my saddlebag. Nah, it was just my saddlebag.

I then heard a crashing sound of a wall. “What was that, Cynthia?” I asked.

“Oh, that was just Thea Stilton. She was testing her newly modified motorcycle… which she first used for a crash test in my office,”

“Why your office, Cynthia?” I asked. Seriously, Thea should stop crashing into other people’s walls, especially mine and Geronimo Stilton’s office.

“Well, we made a deal and—” Just before she finished answering my question, I lost communication and the magical screen disappeared into a haze. Thea must have probably turned Cynthia’s upgraded monitor into her first tech-type road kill. Great.

I winced. IW, my world, was in danger without me there. But I can’t just abandon my most important mission! I really needed to contain my Dissonance and unite Equestria with IW. But I have to be arcane and stay incognito until the time was right.

I then packed my stuff, levitated it beside me and cuddled myself in my hay bed, though it felt itchy initially. I made myself drowsy by thinking of Sabrina, the Gym Leader of Saffron City, Kanto region, Pokémon World. When I finally went to sleep, I suddenly drifted into a dream.

I always had weird dreams, like Percy Jackson and Harry Potter’s. All my dreams could predict the future often. But this dream was not one of them at all.

I wished I hadn’t slept yet.

In my dream, I was still an Alicorn. I was in an open and clear field of grass. It was night with twinkling stars and the bright moon shining vividly. But something was bothering my aura about this dream, as if it wasn't a dream at all. I scanned my surroundings for anypony.

“Hello? Is there anypony out here?” I called out. No answer.

I thought I was stuck in a dream void when suddenly I heard flapping behind me. I turned around. She was an Alicorn just like me. Her eyes were moderate cyan, her mane was moderate cobalt blue—I love cobalt blue, besides anything green and yellow—and her coat was dark sapphire blue. Her expression seemed unfriendly, but I thought she was like that before I even began dreaming into this isolated field.

It was Princess Luna, the Princess of the Night.

“Thou are the Alicorn whom my sister spoke to?” she asked. Yes, she was not friendly towards me at all because of her insistent tone in her voice.

“Um, yes I am the one your sister talked to, Princess Luna,” I answered with regality in my voice. It was a good thing Princess Bubblegum taught me how to talk all royalty before I went here. I was prepared for this kind of conversation with the Equestria princesses, especially Luna. Wait a minute. Luna was there when I was talking to Celestia. Why was she asking?

“Why were you causing a disruption to my job as the Princess of the Night?” she asked again, but she became more aggressive.

“What are you talking about, Luna?”

“Before and now when you came here to Equestria, I cannot go into other pony’s dreams. Do you realize how much irritation you gave me and the little fillies and colts I have to help of their fears?” Okay, I backed a few steps from her, but she then began walking towards me. This was bad.

“Uh, if I did that, I am sorry. I do not know what I was doing.” I became a Fluttershy the moment she began asking me that question—my tone all shy and timid with fear. I was not really used to people—or ponies—talking so accosting to me.

“Remember this: I dislike you. You are the source of all of my problems now the moment you came here. Just like Twilight, I do not trust you for you are filled with Dissonance. You will someday become a threat to the citizens of Ponyville and soon, the whole of Equestria. If you are to become of who you truly are, I will be prepared for you. And If I do... you are dead.”

My legs began to shake. “But Luna I—”

“Princess Luna, you ingrate!” she chided. Eek!

“I mean, Princess Luna, I am not the cause of your dream problem anymore! It stopped—really! See—” I waved my hoof in the air. “You’re entering my dream. Or rather you made my dream,”

“True, but you are still a threat. Heed my warning, Iwano Imagination. I shall now go back to my job and watch. Thou are now my enemy.”

She then flew into the air and left with a scowl and disgust, probably because she doesn’t really want to talk to me. I felt down and sad of Luna distrusting me. First Twilight and now Luna—who else, Applejack? My dream began to blur and turned dark. While talking to Luna, my heart was pumping fast. I thought I knew what that meant, but I wouldn’t let it take over me.

I wish I’d still be talking to Luna rather than waking up, even if it meant bearing her aggression towards me.

I woke up and yawned in my hay. I stood up, stretched my whole body from hooves to wings. I licked my lips to wet them—why do my lips taste like apples? And why am I not hungry? I am supposed to be hungry every time I awoke. I walked to the barn’s door and opened it for me to get some fresh air. But the only fresh air I smell was leaves. Why leaves? I looked down and saw scatters of it. I wondered then realized that there were leaves everywhere on the ground. My face was full of curiosity. What happened? I asked to myself. What happened to this place? Queries filled my head immediately—what happened?

“How could you, Iwano?” a voice asked me from my left. I looked for where the voice came from… and it’s no surprise of who owns that Sothern American accent. I have to quench my confusion with answers. I ran to the orchard which is just behind the barn and—what in the name of Great Hoole!—I’d got my first Equestria surprise…

The orchard’s apples were all gone! All the trees were naked of their apples and its leaves were barely healthy and half gone. Some of the orchard’s trees were timbered down and ruined. What in the name of Carter Kane’s griffin was going on!?

“Well?” Applejack said behind me. “Can you explain everything?” she was upset and, of course, angry.

I stammered and went gibberish at first for a few seconds but gotten my focus after that. I then began explaining. “I was just in the barn yesterday—or last night?—thinking about stuff and went to sleep after that. That’s all I can remember!”

“Did you even remember eating all the apples at night while I was trying to catch you with my lasso but you were too darn fast?”

“Um, I don’t even remember that! But, what’s your side of the story?”

She sighed and began her side of the story. If only Pinkie Pie were here to listen to Applejack’s story with me, I would feel lighter from my confusion with her. “I was sleeping in my room, cozy like a little bunny in her burrow. While I was dreaming of becoming the number one rodeo pony in Equestria, I heard a loud noise, like a tree snapping and falling outside in the orchard. I went out to check what the fuss was going on. When I arrived at the orchard, I saw you—you!—eating up all the apples in the trees! You were hungrier than a hippo that hadn’t eaten anything for a month! I’ve never seen any pony—besides me—eating all the apples that wildly.

Without hesitation, I grabbed my lasso as quickly as possible from the barn. I tried to lasso you up, but you used your magic to release yourself whenever I caught you. You were even too fast for me to catch up, since you do have wings and you were flying, too. In your face, I saw that you were annoyed of me chasing you, so you knock me out by shooting an apple core out of your mouth—nasty. I woke up this morning from being unconscious after that.”

I was in shock about that story. “Was I even sleep walking, Applejack?”

“You were awake and your eyes were glowing red like an evil pony, which you are!” Applejack pointed a hoof at me.

“D-d-did I say anything that time?” I asked with my teeth chattering.

“Well, just some grunts and neighs. But you did say this: I shall bear the fall of Equestria and everypony will be devoured by me.” A chilling sensation crawled up in my spines, like a thousand of fire ants making their way into my head. Dissonance must’ve been controlling me that time. I was probably unconscious in my sleep or maybe it happened while I was talking to Luna. Applejack shuddered of those lines.

“Applejack, I am deeply sorry of all of this—wait! I can just use my magic! Watch this!” I ran to the middle of the orchard, avoiding the fallen trees and apples. I stopped then I raise my head and waited for my magic to take effect… nothing. Nothing happened! This time, I used my imagination and concentrated on my magic—not a single spark. I stammered.

Applejack then walked towards me. I thought she wants more explanation—do I have to be honest? I saw in her expression that she now disliked me. Is it? I’m not so sure at all! And this wasn’t my fault!

I reluctantly ran away from her. Was it my fault? Or was it my Dissonance?

I thought this was Deceitfulness’s fault—Dissonance.

Chapter 5: Mining For Generosity

View Online

This was my first time making somepony mad at me for a “hollow reason”, besides Luna.

I packed up with my saddlebag and left Sweet Apple Acres immediately. I was upset too that my Dissonance took over me while I was asleep. How did it control me that easily? I shook my head of all the questions and replaced them with plans—plans of controlling myself of this stupid Dissonance. Why should I be so negative?

Before I’d entered Equestria, I’d known that my Forbidden within me will be identified in this world as Dissonance. My Forbidden were seven, while my Dissonance were six—the same number as the Elements of Harmony, except they were the negative opposite of them.

Illusion, Malevolence, Deceitfulness, Faithlessness, Greed and Sadness were the exact opposite of Magic, Kindness, Honesty, Loyalty, Generosity and Laughter, respectively. The origins of my Negativity happened a long time ago—five years ago. But that was another story.

Right now, I was walking through Ponyville on the way to the Carousel Boutique for Rarity. I hoped she would accept me to sleep in the boutique for tonight. According to my watch it was 8:26 AM. The sun was about to rise up in the horizon. I knew Celestia was doing that—she was the Princess of the Day/Sun, after all. I was thinking if Princess Celestia might find out that my Dissonance was slipping from my chained pocket, causing a chaos that I would never fix.

I used my magic again to make a block of ice appear… and it worked this time. Maybe my magic won’t work when somepony was mad at me for “letting” it out. It was weird, but serious. I left the block of ice where it was. Snips and Snails passed by, noticed the block of ice and started licking it. But got their tongues stuck after a few licks. That cheered me up a bit.

“That’s terrible!” Rarity exclaimed. She and I were having tea on a fancy table and seating down on fancy chairs inside the Carousel Boutique. “I never knew your Dissonance was that, well, bad.” I told her everything that has happened in Sweet Apple Acre’s orchard. Pouring that story out made me feel better.

The Carousel Boutique, in which Rarity makes dresses for customers and friends, also doubled as her home. Rarity did most of her designing in the main workroom on the ground floor of the building. The room was stocked with materials and supplies such as mirrors, dress form mannequins, and movable screens. In the upper floor was Rarity´s bedroom.

“I know right?” I said with a bit of feminism, just to feel a little bit friendly to a dramatic pony like Rarity. I took a sip of my tea from my cup—lotus? “That’s why I need you girls to help me. I need you all to influence me with goodness and all your Harmony.”

Rarity seemed to be really concerned for me. “Why didn’t you tell that to us when were in Canterlot? Well, Princess Celestia did tell us that.”

I was prepared for that question. “If I just simply say that to you mares, all of you won’t take me seriously. So I have to cloud my true motives and identity with my messages and riddles.”

“Which were proven to be true?”

“Yes.”

“Well...” She sipped her tea. “You can stay in my boutique as long as you want—” Her expression then became serious for a minute. “But do not—and I mean do not—mess up my work.” She didn’t have to tell me that since she was an intricate fashion designer and a skillful seamstress. Her boutique’s full of pony manikins and rolled up clothing. One mannequin from my far right was dressed up in pure red, rose themed clothing. Its details are accurate from the gown to its collar—the whole thing was embroidered with roses. Its rims were decorated with small rubies. As a Pokémon Trainer in the Pokémon World who admires Grass-types, I immediately liked it. Nature was awesome.

“I see you admired my latest dress.” Rarity noticed me staring at the rose dress. “You know? I always named my dresses, but I never thought of a name yet for that yet,”

“What about Scarlet Streak Bloom?” I suggested.

Rarity put her hoof on her chin in thought for a minute. “Hmm… That would be a nice name. But I’ll think about it.” She sipped all of her tea and stood up from her chair. “I’ll be going outside Ponyville with Spike and collect more gems for my next dress for awhile. You just behave yourself here—”

“Can I come with you, too?” I asked. “I can become easily bored in mere seconds,”

“Sure! You can come!”

Going out with a small dragon pulling a cart for carrying gems and a fashion pony outside Ponyville didn’t help me clear my mind of what Applejack might think about me back in the orchard. I just looked down on the ground while walking with the two, feeling depressed of the look Applejack gave me. I brought my saddlebag with me, by the way—I’d never go anywhere in Equestria without it, except in some occasions, though.

“Um, Iwano, are you okay?” Spike asked. I snapped out.

“Uh, yes! I’m feeling okay, Spike. Thank you for asking,” I hesitated.

“What’s wrong with you?” he asked again. He and Rarity seemed to have no animosity towards me, unlike Twilight and Applejack. I was quite glad. “I’ve been noticing that you’ve been really depressed even fetching me from the library afterwards. Why looking glum?”

“Applejack gotten mad at Iwano for eating the whole orchard’s apples last night,” Rarity explained for me. “So he decided to run away and never to show his face to Applejack.” Hearing that made me a little depressed again.

“The WHOLE orchard’s apples last night? In ONE night???” he said in amazement and in doubt. My stomach rumbled and I felt that I was going to burp. Oh, I hadn’t burped yet. I then abruptly gave out a belch as loud as forty tubas combined! The ground rumbled and my two friends were in shock.

In Ponyville, the citizens were terrified of the belch and panicked shortly.

I believed my belch lasted for twelve seconds. When I stopped, my two friends were agape to me. “Uh, excuse me?” I said.

After walking a few more yards, we stopped by a barren land of grey soil with bedrocks in its area—this reminds me of that episode whereas the Diamond Dogs kidnapped Rarity into becoming their “gem detector”. I really was disgusted of that episode! But Spike did save the day, though I believe.

I seemed to get an uneasy feeling that this place was exactly where those Diamond Dogs kidnapped Rarity. I suddenly got worried.

“Excuse me, Rarity?” I anxiously asked. “Are you sure this place is safe? I mean, the Diamond Dogs might come out of nowhere and—”

“Kidnap me again? No they won’t,” she finished and answered my question.

My eyes widened. “How’d you know that I’m going to ask that and how sure are you?”

“I just know darling and I can just act like a lady if I had to. Now, would you two mind helping me find some gems?”

“I’ll be humble to—”

“I’ll do anything for my Rarity!” Spike interrupted me and began bowing down to her, which made Rarity knit her eyebrows—lover dragon. I just rolled my eyes.

“Hey, Rarity,” I said. “I can also use my magic to find gems.”

“Well, that would be very helpful!”

And then we began.

I walked around the area for gems. Every now and then, my horn would blink gold yellow—the color of my magic aura. This indicated that a gem was beneath me. Unlike Rarity scanning for gems and Spike digging for her, I would be doing both.

We’d been going on for an hour or so now. I didn’t even check my watch. So far I found ten topazes, fifteen rubies, eleven emeralds (I was keeping one in my saddlebag, which made it ten now), fifty-five diamonds, eight amethysts, nineteen sapphires, seven peridots and twelve onyxes. I still need more! I really want to please the beautiful Rarity—wait a minute!

Dang it, Iwano, I thought to myself, don’t you dare fall in love with her! Besides, Spike might get jealous. I doubted that dragon was going to turn me into ashes, though. I saw Spike with a chuck load of diamonds on his arms, which made him wobble and unbalanced him a bit awkwardly to the cart.

I suddenly felt like something was literally biting my heart. Was I jealous? And I thought I knew who that jealousy was inside me—Wolfredoom, my Forbidden of Envy.

Dude don’t you dare, I told him inside my thoughts. Look, I believe Giganaut was the one who forced my Greed into eating the apples in the orchard. So, tell him he’s in trouble and don’t you dare influence me, even if I felt like it. After that, I heard no response. That was good, but was Giganaut listening?

I then went back to gem-finding. I walked around the area again. When I was walking a few paces away from the duo, my horn began to glow brighter—a big gem probably nearby?

I bowed down a little near the ground and started walking in random directions to find that strong signal. To me, I look awkwardly like a metal detector. Spike found it weird but Rarity was glad for me to help, even if it means being all weird.

A thought hit me. If I can’t find that gem that’s been giving my horn a very bright glow, maybe I can use my magic.

“Rarity! Spike!” I called out to them and they stopped. Spike was about to eat a bulky sapphire behind Rarity, but I didn’t told her. “Check this out!” I closed my eyes and began using my magic in my whole surroundings for any gems. In my Aura Sight, I can see many more gems underneath us—a lot! They became visible in my vision. After locating all of the gems, I used my imagination…I opened my eyes and the ground began to shook.

“Not again.” Spike held on to his sapphire.

“What in pony blazes are you doing, Iwano?” Rarity anxiously asked, but I ignored her. I was motionless and exerting my powers into all the gems underground.

The shaking stopped and there was silence. Rarity and Spike looked around for anything unusual to happen.

“Okay, Iwano,” Spike said with a grin. “Joke’s over. Let’s just get back to—”

A diamond shot out of the ground in front of Spike which made him about to trip into his behind. Then a topaz shot out behind Spike and hit him, though it stopped him from falling down and hurt him a bit. Later, multiple gems shot out of the ground like a gunshot.

It took a few minutes for all the gems to completely be in midair—all the gems around us underground were all gone and all of them were in midair.

Rarity stared at the gems above her. They were like multiple colored stars sparkling by the sunlight, making a constellation of iridescence. Spike was fascinated not just because he was in gem heaven but the sight was beautiful as well, though he was drooling.

Iridescence.

I closed my eyes again and placed all the gems near the cart, because it won’t take the weight of five hundred and seventy-four gems—I counted them with my Aura. I opened my eyes and back to normal. It was easy to do all of this if you’re a Leader of an imaginary world and have experiences with magic and Aura.

Using my magic to do that didn’t even break me a sweat! I was awesome!

“That was fantastic, Iwano!” Rarity said as she and Spike ran to me. “I never knew you are very talented with your magic!”

“Yeah, he’s even more talented than Twilight,” Spike added. I blushed, but was I really more talented than Twilight?

“Uh, let me make more carts for these gems,” I said.

“Make more carts?” Spike repeated in question. “How can you—oh…” It looked like he read my clever expression.

“What is it, Spike?” Rarity asked.

“You’ll see.” He pointed at me as I closed my eyes again. I used my magic again effortlessly and conjured, out of nowhere, ten more carts. After that, I levitated all the gems into the carts. Spike and Rarity were even more awed of how I just simply used my magic than my Enter with Colors performance. I now opened my eyes.

“You are the most helpful, most talented and most creative alicorn I’ve ever met!” Rarity complimented, her eyes sparkling at me.

I frowned. “What about Twilight? Isn’t she the most talented alicorn to you?”

“Well, what I mean is that both you and Twilight are my most talented friends,” she rephrased. My heart was in a marathon around the borders of Equestria—my heart was pounding! Did she just say “friends”? All I can do is give a big smile and blushed a lot. I felt a strong happiness.

I think I was in love with her… But I already placed my heart on just one pony. Oh Glob, not again!

“Are you going to even pull these carts?” Spike asked enthusiastically. I see he wants me to do much more.

“Of course, Spike,” I answered. “Just watch how the king of Imaginundia can do!” I flew up and conjure two long ropes that circled around me. Then, the ropes attached themselves into all the cart’s handles together—the carts were now instantly aligned like a train with the ropes. I flew down between the first cart’s handles and used my magic again to conjure reins attached to my back for me to pull the carts. The first cart instantly turned into the front of a carriage’s seat—for Rarity and Spike to sit on.

I looked at Rarity and Spike. I bowed down. “This is all I can do to help, Rarity.”

“You’ve done more than that, Iwano. You impressed me!”

Chapter 6: Gifts and Forgiveness

View Online

A few minutes later, we were on our way to Ponyville with a cart-train full of gems.

“Hey, Rarity,” I called her behind me. She was being fanned by Spike with a fan, which I conjured along the way.

“Yes, Iwano darling?”

“I had some plans with the other gems when we reach Ponyville.”

“And what is that?”

“I wish to donate some gems to Mayor Mare for Ponyville; give some gems to everypony in Ponyville; some gems to Spike and of course, you get the rest, Rarity.”

“That is very generous of you, Iwano—generous! I think you already know some values of Generosity, am I correct?”

“Yeah,” I felt a bit uneasy. “It’s just that, I want some gems too, Rarity.”

“You can have some. After all, you were the one who contributed big for all these gems. I wanted to say thank you for finding these gems. I never knew you would even collect ALL of these gems back there.” She was the Element of Generosity and she was really generous. I could feel my Greed diminishing, but not entirely. My Dissonance was very strong than I thought in this world.

When we reached the dirt road entrance to Ponyville, I stopped to check my watch—it was 12:32 PM. We’d been mining, excavating and digging for four hours. At least it lifted my spirit from that “Apple Orchard Incident”.

“Let’s stop by at the Town Hall for Mayor Mare,” I said to Rarity. She nodded.

We went to the Town Hall immediately and parked the train-cart in front of it. Mayor Mare was talking to Dr. Hooves—I wanted to also call him “Dr. Timeturner Hooves”—when I excused her for a word.

Mayor Mare’s eyes were moderate phthalo blue, her mane light cornflower bluish gray with a lighter streak (her actual mane color’s brilliant fuchsia) and coat pale, light grayish amber. Her cutie mark was a tan scroll tied with a blue ribbon.

Dr. Hooves’ eyes were pale, light grayish cobalt blue, his mane dark amber and coat grayish amber. His cutie mark was an hourglass.

I then told her my donation.

“You want to donate three carts of gems for Ponyville?” she asked to make sure she heard me right. Rarity and Spike were with me. “That was very generous of you, uh, what is your name again?”

“Iwano Imagination, but you can just call me Iwano,” I answered her.

“Oh, you’re the mysterious performer from yesterday,” she exclaimed. “Your performance in Ponyville was very fun and we had to clean up the decorations you put up out of nowhere.” It sounds to me like she was a bit sarcastic on that sentence.

I blushed in embarrassment. Why had I forgotten about it! “I’m sorry. I can be very forgetful sometimes.”

“That’s alright. Thank you for your donation. These gems can be quite useful for Ponyville’s—”

“Ponyville’s repairs, food, construction, water supply, farming and money.” I finished her sentence.

“How do you—”

“How do I know what you’re going to say? It’s one of my ‘abilities’—it’s an honor to donate.”

“Thank you so much, Iwano!” she and I shook hooves. I was then being watched by other ponies around me. They were all murmuring of who I was. Some didn’t know me and some remembered me, but all mostly looked up to me as a good pony.

Somewhere in the crowd, I saw Twilight Sparkle. I winked at her. She quickly averted her gaze, scowled and walked away. I wanted her to like me as a friend, but she was making it hard for me. I already lose Applejack. I didn’t want another Element of Harmony to hate me.

It was time for the second operation.

Everypony walked away from us now. Mayor Mare asked Cherry Fizzy, Chocolate Haze, Coconut and Felix to pull the carts. I doubted four would be enough to pull those carts. So I secretly casted a temporary enhanced strength spell at the four. It would wear off after an hour. I’d got a topaz, ruby, emerald, diamond, amethyst, sapphire, peridot and onyx from Rarity. It was what all I needed, though I had two emeralds now. We now had eight carts left.

Rarity and Spike went back to their “carriage seats”—whatever I called it—and I went back to being the train-cart puller.

“Can we now go back to the Carousel Boutique?” I asked Rarity. She nodded. Spike was eating some gems behind her, but he was trying to resist the urge to devour all of the gems.

When we arrived at the Carousel Boutique, the duo went down of their seats, though Rarity needed some assistance from a “gentle-dragon”.

“Okay, we have now eight gem carts, Rarity,” I told her. “How many carts will you have?”

“Hmm, I think I’ll take three,” she decided.

“What about me?” Spike asked excitedly. “Can I have a whole cart?” He was drooling again from staring at the carts.

“Spike, you’ll be asking for some gems from Rarity,” I told him. “You don’t want to turn into a giant and greedy dragon again, would you?”

Spike’s expression fades into a frown and at the same time question. “How’d you know I turned into that before?” I thought I was beginning to be a bit creepy knowing too much.

“And how do you know Mayor Mare?” Rarity asked too. “You did frighten me out a bit, Iwano. It is no wonder why Rainbow Dash and Twilight doesn’t trust you. They were suspicious of how you knew so much about us, Spike, Canterlot and the other ponies and non-ponies we’ve met.”

I have only one answer to that. “Remember what I said back in Canterlot? I said I heard all about you ponies in Imaginundia.”

“It was just quite… creepy.” Her face seems a little worried of who I really was—a stalker? No.

“Look, it is okay that I know everypony in Ponyville. I’m just like Pinkie Pie, okay?”

“And how do you know Pinkie Pie can remember everypony in Ponyville?” she asked again. I’d got to control myself.

“Just never mind that!” I was desperate to change the subject. “Now, three carts you say? Then we have five left.”

“Are you going to really give everypony some gems in a day?”

“I am going to, Rarity,” I assured her. “Besides looking for gems, I have another trick on my sleeves.” Rarity and Spike exchanged looks. I glanced at the sky for some calmness. It was now 12:50 PM.

It was time to start!

I used my magic on the five carts. I blasted a small, gold yellow beam on all of the gems and they all disappeared in a poof.

“What did you do to the gems?!” Spike asked in shock of all of his “food” in their disappearance.

“If you want to find out, just follow me if you can.” I turned to Rarity. “I hope these gems are enough, ‘cause I’m on my way!” As I said it, I now flew up to the sky to begin my sharing operation—Operation: Generous Gem.

Spike was still staring at Rarity’s gems. He then realized that I already left, so he dashed to follow my trail. Looks like that little dragon really wanted to see my stuff, eh?

“Good-bye Spike, good-bye Iwano!” she waved to us. When she turned to her gems: “Wait a second. How can I fit these carts into my boutique?” she asked herself dramatically.

Just use your magic, I wanted to answer, but I was now quite busy…

Awesomeness…

There it was again. What was that?

What was that on my head? Nah, that didn’t matter.

Vinyl Scratch was talking to Octavia Melody in Ponyville’s streets.

Octavia’s eyes were the same as Rarity’s and colored grayish mulberry, her mane dark gray with a lighter tint and her coat goldish gray. But her appearance was sophisticated and elegant than Rarity, and she wore a pink bow and white collar as a musician. Her cutie mark was a treble clef.

Vinyl Scratch’s eyes were moderate cerise and full of “musical” life, and her mane short to its spike tips below and colored moderate cobalt blue with brilliant cyan stripes. She wore, as usual, her signature glasses—gradient from dark purple to moderate heliotrope with lighter steaks, like strobe lights in a party. Her cutie mark was a backward double quaver note.

In cobalt blue streak, I gave those gems each to them that match their mane color in front of their hooves in a flash without even seeing me. I also left a note to Vinyl:

Dear Vinyl,

Thanks for the awesome speakers from yesterday! If you still don’t know me with Octavia, the name’s Iwano Imagination. You’ll know more about me soon with your friends. We’ll meet to know each other someday!

Sincerely,
Iwano Imagination

P.S. That gem is a gift of thanks from those speakers…

Big McIntosh was given a gem from me from above while he was fixing a gazebo.

Big Mac’s eyes were moderate sap green, his mane light gamboge and coat moderate crimson. His cutie mark was a green apple sliced in half. His body build was muscular, like he could pull a cart with two oxen. I believed that was the same gazebo that appeared in the MLP episode Hearts and Hooves Day. I saluted to him and left in a flash, though he reminded me of Applejack. I shuddered.

Derpy Hooves was walking with a chocolate muffin on her head. I took her muffin and replaced it with a gem unnoticed. I couldn’t believed she was that stupid than the rumors I’d heard about her.

Somewhere in Ponyville’s streets, Twilight Sparkle was reading a book about alicorns when I swooped pass her with a gust of wind. She spun around with her book still levitating. She spun, and spun, and spun until finally, she bumped into Pinkie Pie, who was caught by the Twilight tornado. After spinning for a few seconds later, they stopped and fell down on the ground on their backs.

“Are you all right, Pinkie Pie?” Twilight asked her dazedly with her hoof on her forehead.

“My mini Pinkie Pie army is not all right.” Pinkie Pie replied with her eyes circling, which relieved Twilight. They both got on their hooves. “Oh, Twilight!” she said exuberantly on Twilight’s muzzle. “Iwano gave me this!” Pinkie Pie showed a pink gem on Twilight’s face.

“I believe that’s an amethyst,” Twilight determined. “But why did Iwano give you that?”

“Not just me, Twilight. Everypony in Ponyville got a gem from Iwano—including you!” She pointed at Twilight.

“Me? Iwano have not—” She looked down and saw a magenta gem between her hooves. She used her magic and levitated my gift and examined it. “Why would he do that?”

Pinkie Pie shrugged. “Maybe it’s one of his greetings to everypony in Ponyville—it’s very generous and kind of him to do that!” she cuddled her amethyst. Twilight looked around her. Pinkie Pie was right—everypony got a gem from Iwano (me). She saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders passing by—they had mud all over themselves—each with their own gems on their backs that matches their mane color. She also saw Mayor Mare with one, Lyra Heartstrings, Cranky Doodle Donkey, Diamond Tiara, Ms. Cheerilee, Big Macintosh and more. Questions began filling Twilight’s head.

“He had a performance yesterday,” Twilight recounted.

“Which it was super-duper-colorfuller fun?” Pinkie Pie added with her head popping from above Twilight. “I love it!”

“And now he’s doing all of this,” Twilight continued while Pinkie Pie was shining her gem on her mane which caught on fire because of her rubbing too fast, but Twilight was too distracted from her thoughts to notice the burning pink pony. “Why is he doing all of this? He is seeking for our help to cure or contain his Dissonance by staying with each of in a day, but does he have another motive?” She looked above as if I were there. “I need to ask him questions now!”

“I need to put this out now!” Pinkie Pie shrieked as she was desperately looking for anything to put out her fire. She quickly then spot Applejack wistfully walking along with an apple cider on one hoof.

Pinkie Pie snatched the cider and poured it all over her head and the flames extinguished, but it didn’t entirely burn her whole mane. She sighed in relief, and then noticed Applejack’s face was depressed. “Why are so sad, Applejack?”

Applejack was just steady and looking down on the ground as if watching a sad movie. She didn’t pay any attention.

Pinkie Pie thought for a second and got an idea (a light bulb appeared above her head). Nearby a tree, she pulled out a tuba. She wore the brass instrument, sneaked near Applejack from behind and—BBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Because of that, Applejack jumped in a startle and fell, and shortly had her hoofing.

“What in hill-belly is goin’ on?!” she complained. She turned to Pinkie Pie and asked, “Why didja’ do that, Pinkie?”

“You were all sad,” Pinkie Pie replied. “Is there something wrong?”

Twilight overheard the tuba sound and noticed Applejack.

“Hello, Applejack,” Twilight said as she approached her friends. Applejack seemed to be back to normal but her face was a bit stern, although she tries to hide it by managing a smile. Twilight was able to read her expression. “Was there something wrong, Applejack? Anything bad happened with you and Iwano?” she said my name with sourness.

Applejack made a heavy sigh. “I guess I should tell you.” Twilight was ready to listen with Pinkie Pie. Applejack told everything about how I was “sleep-eating” the whole orchard’s apples and how she “banished” me to never return and see her face again. But she didn’t tell them of what I said that night when I’m in my “trance”.

“He ate the whole orchard’s apples in one night???” Twilight repeated Applejack’s last sentence in question. “That. Is. Impossible.” More questions filled Twilight’s head. She began to think that I was more than myself…

“I’d like to think of that too myself,” Applejack said.

Pinkie Pie came out of nowhere between the talking ponies—I believe all her movements in my story are mostly exuberant and comical, like what she’s doing right now. “If there’re no apples, there would be no apple cider, apple pie, apple fritters, apple cake, apple ice cream, apple juice, apple everything!” she finished by falling down. She said all of those things frantically and with each apple food she mentioned she also brought them out of nowhere on a plate she’s holding—I wonder where are those apple food now…

“Iwano eating all of the apples in your orchard was the craziest thing I’d ever heard.”

“Tell me about it,” a voice spoke out of nowhere. Twilight and her friends looked around to find it. “And I thought the craziest thing to me ever was you ponies mistaking Ms. Peachbottom as the real games inspector, but it think that’s one of them.” The ponies looked above them—it was me, flying above them in secret.

“How long were you there above us?” Twilight asked in surprise.

“I was following Applejack which led me to you and Pinkie Pie,” I answered.

“How come we didn’t hear the flaps of your wings?”

“I’m a silent flier.” Because I was trained in a world where owls live, I wanted to add but I kept it in. It was true—I was trained in the world of Ga’Hoole as a Philippine Eagle-owl there. Twilight was skeptical about it.

“Why are ya followin’ me?” Applejack demanded. Yup, she hated me.

“I just wanted to give you a gem, that’s all,” I replied as I conjured a gem from my hoof—its color was the same as Applejack’s mane. I tossed it to her and she caught it with her hat. “Look, it’s a sorry-gift to you for, you know. Anyway, you can either sell it or something.” I then landed on the ground with them.

Applejack seemed to be unsatisfied of my apology. “Thanks, but it would take a long time for the orchard to produce more apples again.” Although I was thinking of another answer from her besides that, that would do.

“I think I can handle that.”

“What do you mean?”

Without answering, I zoom to the sky.

“Where do you think he’s going?” Applejack asked Twilight. She shrugged. Pinkie Pie, Twilight and Applejack followed.

Meanwhile in the Carousel Boutique, Rarity was able to put all the gems inside and stored them in a closet although it looked like it was about to burst anytime, but I doubted that would happen. Rarity was sort of busy with a sewing machine made some sort of clothing. But what was it for? Her tongue was out and sweats drip from her mane, but it didn’t distract her at all. Why was she so focused? She usually hated sweating much. She had a pencil stuck on her mane, tape measure around her neck and wearing red squinted glasses. Was she nearsighted whenever she was working on a dress? The draft of fabric she used was cobalt blue—the color of my mane.

After a few minutes, she turned off the sewing machine, wiped her sweat with a piece of cut clothing and swoop down her finished product unto the floor flat. “Well, Rarity, you outdone yourself again,” she told herself, did tippy-toe steps and squeal. “I can’t wait to show this to Iwano!” She looked through her window on hopes that I would return soon. “I wonder where he is now.”

Whatever she made which may be for me, I would be there soon. Right now, I was heading to the apple orchard. Confidence filled me and calmness. I would not be afraid of Applejack anymore… if I did this.

I landed at the middle of the orchard which was all cleaned up from my wreckage and devouring, including the apples. I felt quite bad, but that didn’t stop me with my new trick.

The three of the Mane Six arrived of where I was.

“Iwano,” Applejack called to me. “If you’re going to do even worse than eating the apples, don’t do it!”

“Wait, Applejack,” Twilight said to Applejack before she even tries to tackle me. “Maybe he has a reason,” she turned to me. “What are you going to really do, Iwano?”

I gulped, believing that Applejack won’t still forgive me. And I sighed. “I will do this.” I closed my eyes, my horn glowed in gold yellow and opened my eyes glowing gold yellow, too. I ascended to the air and imagined that all the orchard’s apples were back before I even ate them all. A Lindsey Stirling song then kicked in my head—“Elements” was the song. The ponies just stare at me in wonder.

“What in the name of Celestia is he going to do?” Twilight asked herself. Pinkie Pie brought out a camera and pictured me—where did she even get that?

After a few seconds of imagining and listening to the song in my head, I spread my arms—or forelegs—wide and a wave of shimmering gold was conjured from me, making a shockwave. The ponies tried to stay steady. Applejack held on with her hoof and hat from being blown away, Pinkie Pie had the “pancake face” and holding on and Twilight was steadied on her hoofing with her eyes fixed on me, full of intent and focus. She was trying to see how I used my magic and was observing how. Suddenly, one by one, the apples in the orchard appeared in its trees. Soon, the whole orchard’s apples were back—every apple was back.

I stopped my magic—eyes back to normal and glow gone—and land down slowly. I smiled as I looked around. What I was imagining besides the apples back in the orchard was Applejack being happy. It was what I thought of that calmed me down a while ago and helped me concentrate.

Thinking positive and imagining good things helped me—a lot.

Pinkie Pie zoomed towards me with her eyes close to mine. I blushed and my heart was pounding as she gotten close, and asked, “Iwano, how’d you do that?!”

“I am an alicorn,” Twilight said, but she sound as if she isn’t really who she was. “How can you have that—?”

“How can I have that so much magic power?” I finished her sentence with my powers. “I’m just special.”

“How’d you do that?!” Pinkie Pie asked again but I was ignoring her. I was actually waiting for Applejack to say something.

“I have found out why my magic can’t bring back all of the apples in the orchard,” I said to Applejack with a shaky voice. “It’s because you frightened me—the way you talk to me when you get mad, or probably because my Dissonance took over me that night and drained a lot out of my magic. Whatever the cause of my actions to eat all the apples, I’m just glad I was able to bring the apples back. I only wish for you to forgive me in return, Applejack. That is all I can ask.”

I expect Applejack to just simply applebuck my head until my eyes fall out. But instead, she simply smiled at me. What?

“Shucks, fine, Iwano,” she said as she gave me her smile. “I forgive you.”

“Pinkie Pie, how did I do all of this?” Pinkie Pie smiled at me as I asked her about her ignored question. “Well, it’s a secret.”

She frowned. “Oh, bacon cookies!”

“Oh, can you help me smile?” I asked.

“Sure thing!” she accepted with excitement and “over-stretched” my cheeks into a big grin, which was quite funny yet weird.

“I am very happy as a hyena!” I happily said with a “happy smile” thanks to Pinkie Pie.

I was really glad and happy Applejack forgave me. Twilight’s face was filled with little gladness but mostly skeptical about something as she stared at me. I bet she was still wondering of who I was.

I suddenly heard flapping sounds. It wasn’t wings. It was more like flapping fabric. I sniffed the air and used my Super Smell mode—it smelled like fabric alright, but also with lotus fragrance.

“What are you sniffing, Iwano?” Twilight asked.

“Is it your breath?” Pinkie Pie asked as she sniffed near my mouth. “It smells like apples and apples.”

“Um, you can let go now, Pinkie Pie,” I told her. She released my cheeks which hurt my jaws a bit. I then began to explain. “It’s just that I heard flapping fabric and lotus fragrance,”

“First, you can hide your wings magically,” Twilight started enumerating. “Second, you were able to dress everypony in Ponyville and create a big performance; third, you ate all of these trees of their apples; fourth, your speed easily matches that of Rainbow Dash; and now, you have an acute sense of smell and hearing? That is impossible,” she said all of those things as if I never really done them.

“No, I’m serious,” I assured her.

Applejack looked up and studied the sky. “You mean that?” She pointed a hoof above us.

It was a flying cape.

Chapter 7: Mannequin Mayhem

View Online

When I was in the Wizardry world—the world of Harry Potter—I was chasing my broom, which was being enchanted by the ghost of Albus Dumbledore as a part of my test in that world of how worthy I was. That story was just like this, except this wasn't a test at all.

The flying cape above us was cobalt blue with a hood, an embroidered Poké Ball on the center (what?), rainbow-colored rims and two holes, which I guessed was for wings to pop out. It was moving above us like a vulture circling around a dead animal.

“Okay, now that is weird,” I said. “Why would there be a flying cape?”

Pinkie Pie was following it with her head turning like an owl continuously until it reached its limit and spins her head from the start, except she was a bit more “reflexive”. Coming from a distance, we heard a panting sound of an exhausted pony. The pony came towards us and it was Rarity. She was sweating and her mane was smudged with mud. We were all in shock of her appearance—dirty and non-Rarity-like at all.

“What happened to ya?” Applejack asked. “Why all dirty and unlike ya?”

She was catching her breath. “I am fine, except I was chasing that annoying cape for an hour now and I’m now all filthy and tired!” she said all of that in her usual trans-Atlantic dialect, although she didn't use any complex and sophisticated words—in front of me yet. I wanted to talk sophisticated and complex right now.

“I’ll let myself actuate into this right now!” I said as I flew to the sky to catch that cape. When I closed into it into my grasp—my mouth—it veered away from me to the left. I veered as well, but it kept dodging me. It was fast and quick. It started waving its corners into me. Was it mocking me? I then tried to tackle it into a tree, but I ended up crashing into it and apples rained down on my head, covering me in piles. I dug out of the apples, fuming in annoyance. The cape was then wiggling from above while I scowled.

Okay, I was getting sick of it already!

My temper rose immediately and filled me with irritability from that teasing-and-mocking cape. In Reality, I hated those who would go away from me, especially when they’re trying to make a fool out of me! Yup, I was angry.

The cape saw my expression and it said something like: Okay, what about another game, friend? What about hide-and-seek? And then it ran—or flew—away from me again.

“You will not abscond from me, you fuss-of-a-flight cape!” I snarled. I then zoomed right after it. We were like Tom & Jerry, except we’re more like in our own show, Alicorn & Capey. The cape was trying to lead me to trees for me to crash again while veering impressively, but I’m smarter than that. “I am not going to be fooled by that trick!”

While chasing the cobalt blue cape, Twilight asked Rarity, “Rarity, tell me what’s going on?”

“I was waiting for Iwano to come back to the boutique after he gives gems to everypony in Ponyville,” Rarity began to explain while Pinkie Pie got another pack of popcorn (seriously, where did she get those?). “I was just planning a new design when the cape suddenly come to life and started flying out of my window. I was desperately finding it all over Ponyville. There was a part when it led me to a mud puddle near Sweet Apple Acres! Oh, my mane’s now all filthy!” She tried to rub the mud out but was still stained on her mane. “I was actually then chasing the cape around Sweet Apple Acres in circles for an hour. It now led me here!” She was more exhausted in explaining than doing physical fitness around the acre.

That reminded me. I made a quick glance at my watch before I dodge a trees branch by lowering down.

“Did you use some sorta magic again like ya made all of the ponies in Ponyville go cuckoo?” Applejack asked, though Rarity took it as an insult.

“Why, no, Applejack,” she replied to her sarcastically. “I was just using my magic to sew a new hat for you just in case it get shredded by the cape.”

“Are you insulting me?” Applejack demanded.

“You were—” Their uprising argument was interrupted when the cape swoop Rarity of the ground, making her scream in terror in the open sky. I imagined the theme song A Whole New World to Rarity’s ride which was kind of funny, but I was still mad chasing that dumb cape! Now I had to both save Rarity and chase the cape.

“How was that cape able to come to life without Rarity even knowing that spell?” Twilight asked herself as she scratched her mane, though she wanted to help but couldn't help herself from thinking.

“I don’t know about ya, Twilight,” Applejack said clearly as she twirls a lasso with her mouth. “But I’m helpin’!”

I wasn't sure if Applejack was about to lasso Rarity or the cape, but either can help. She fixed and focused her eyes on the flying duo—Rarity or cape? She breathes to gather focus, examined her trajectory and she tossed the twirling rope…at the cape! The cape was tied tight. Rarity was then about to fall down with a scream. With no hesitation, I swooped down to save Rarity on my hooves just in time before her rear can touch the ground. I then settled in midair watching Applejack tying the troubling piece of cloth like it was a rodeo.

“Way the go, you two! Yipee!” Pinkie Pie cheered and bounced in joy. Twilight, snapped out of her questions, was glad that her friend was safe. I wanted to say something to this princess.

When we gathered around, Applejack was done rolling the cape and tying it up nearby an apple tree’s branch.

We began our conversation with me glaring at Twilight.

“What are you looking at me like that?” she asked me as if she didn't know I was feeling. And she shuddered.

“May I remind you that you’re an alicorn, Twilight Sparkle? You could had either used your exceptional magic or fly to catch that cape for me.”

She cleared her throat as if she’s about to give a speech. “First, I am still not accustomed to my wings yet; second, I was actually testing you since you said that you’re a powerfull and skillful king in your land; and third, you didn't ask me to help you, if you don’t even remember.”

I winced. She was right—all right. I was reckless of my actions and just let my irritation of the cape took over me. I shook. “But you’re supposed to be a good princess to—”

“Enough!” Applejack chided. “What’s more important is that this whole thing has been all tied up.” She winked at me. I guess she’s trying to be a humorous since I already apologized. I blushed.

“I guess you’re right, Applejack,” I agreed to her. “At least this was just a minor mishap.”

We suddenly heard another panting. And this time, it was from a small dragon. Spike came running to us, all sweaty and tired.

“I got… to say… something…” he said while trying to take a breath.

“That I was too fast for you to follow?” I asked.

“No,” Spike replied as he breathes deeply and calmed down… from what? And then he started to panic “You all have to come to Ponyville—pronto!” We all exchanged looks of worry and followed Spike to Ponyville. I got the rolled up cape all tied up with Applejack’s rope inside my saddlebag. I wondered how much stuff my bag could store. I meant, the cape fit with all my notebooks and writing materials. Nah, that doesn't matter!

At least I eating the whole orchard’s apples wasn't the weirdest thing to me anymore—pony mannequins were.

We were by the entrance of Ponyville when we stopped to see this. We stared in both horror and astonishment of pony mannequins moving—all alive—and galloping all over Ponyville, wreaking havoc to the ponies and their cottages. There were some who were chasing ponies, some stealing and wearing the clothes of other ponies—I saw a mannequin with a Wonderbolts uniform—and destroying property. Ponies were panicking. Some tried to defend themselves even in numbers, but the mannequins were smart because they worked together like a team in taking down a pony. Ponies locking their cottages on time or in advance couldn't hold the dummies’ strength in kicking down their doors.

“What in the name of Luna is going on here?!” I was the first one to say something from my horror.

Twilight gave me a stern look. “Did you’re magic worked a little too well back in the orchard that it also sends a shockwave here in Ponyville?”

I was a bit confused, and then I shook. “There’s no time to argue, Twilight,” I told her as I turned to face the situation. “We have to—oh my Glob…” I saw a mannequin wearing Rarity’s Scarlet Steak Bloom dress.

Rarity followed my gaze and instantly became distressed as she stood up with her hooves on her head. “Not my latest creation!!!” She trotted out to her rose dress when I was about to stop her.

“Spike,” I snapped. “Give me a summary—now!”

Spike hesitated. “I-I was looking for you everywhere in Ponyville for an hour. When I passed by the Carousel Boutique for Rarity, she’s not there. But what I found instead inside when I came in were pony mannequins coming to life. And before I knew it, they started wreaking Ponyville of their homes and clothes.”

“We got to take action,” Twilight said. “Maybe I have a spell that can stop these mannequins into themselves again.” She looked around fast. She saw a mannequin crushing a mailbox. She trotted towards the mannequin, concentrated for a minute and quickly zapped the dummy with a beam from her horn—the aura was light brilliant raspberry. The mannequin shook for a second and froze. Twilight smiled in success. She turned to me with an expression that I liked: Let’s do this together. After that, she galloped away and began freezing other dummies in her surroundings.

I smiled. That was the way I liked it. “Spike, help Rarity in catching her rose dress,” I said to him as he was biting his nails in panic.

“What about you, Iwano?” he asked.

“I’m gonna go ‘zappy’—”

“Iwano, Iwano, Iwano!” Pinkie Pie called out for me. “What can I do?”

“You and Applejack have to knock out any mannequin from wreaking anymore havoc.”

“You can count on us!” Applejack said. “Yeehaw! Let’s go buck up us some dummies!”

“Roger, commander Iwano!” Pinkie Pie said as she wore a soldier camouflage helmet—where did she get that?!

Spike nodded in understanding and went off to help his pony. Applejack and Pinkie Pie—hopping happily yet fast— followed as I said. I was the only one left. Ordering them around made me feel a little bit of a leader in this world like what I was in IW—it felt great! I closed my eyes and concentrated on what Twilight did—using my powers to copycat. After a few seconds, I opened my eyes and my eyes glowed golden yellow again. Even if I felt that this was a mode, it felt like it was just magic. I guessed Equestria was mostly all about magic and stuff like that.

I started looking for a mannequin with my eyes glowing in power. I saw one chasing Mayor Mare by my north-west. I lunged forward, thrust my horn on the mannequin’s location and zapped it. It froze back to normal. Mayor Mare stopped running, took a look at the mannequin and sighed in relief as she waved to my in thanks, though she was frightened of my eyes. But I just waved back and went on.

Next, I saw two mannequins playing by a fountain like little infants on my east. Were they trying to cool off from all the horrid making? I thrust my horn at them, zapped, and they froze back to normal, floating on the water.

I then ran to every street in Ponyville to find any kind of mannequin wreaking havoc. I zapped a mannequin who was wearing Vinyl’s glasses. I froze the dummy and took the glasses, but there was no sign of Vinyl looking for this, so I stored it in my saddlebag to give it to her if I had a chance.

Rarity was holding on to the rose dressed dummy like Applejack in a rodeo contest, but with annoyance rather than fun. Her grip was very tight on the neck and she gritted her teeth in exasperation. “You are not going to trot away with my masterpiece of roses!” Spike was doing his best to corner the rose mannequin. I zapped a little of speed on the little dragon. He instantly had gotten faster—zipping and swift—in cornering, making the mannequin nowhere to run.

“Whoever turned me faster, I like it!” Spike thanked, but I that spell would wear off when this situation was over.

Rarity was sweating again from her unofficial rodeo contest. She gritted her teeth even harder. “That’s it!” She raised a hoof and karate-chopped the mannequin by its head repeatedly, causing it to crack. Her chopping was so fast that I thought she had a triangular hoof. The mannequin slowly crumbled and a dust cloud covered their scene, making Spike cough a bit. The scene cleared and the mannequin was completely disintegrated into dust and Rarity got her rose dress on her back. “Never abscond from me again!” She tenderly said to her dress as she rubbed it. I swear to Luna that I would never try stealing any of Rarity’s dresses. I didn't want my skull turned to dust. I guessed her anger must have boosted her strength.

Applejack was doing well. She was knocking off dummies with tackles and rams, especially with her applebucking kicks that could even send one flying, that were terrorizing the citizens of Ponyville. Pinkie Pie was sort of helping by distracting mannequins by dancing the can-can in front of them from terrorizing anymore ponies—she was even wearing eye-popping glasses, a tuba (seriously with the tuba?!) and fifteen balloons tied on her tail. When a dummy was about to hurt a pony, Pinkie Pie just steps in and do some random dance like the robot, can-can and break dancing—she could break dance? Glob, she was random!

Twilight was galloping her way in the streets, blasting mannequins nonstop like a gatling gun. Even if she was doing a great job at it, she was now beaded with sweat on her face. I wondered how long this was already. I took a look at my watch—it was 1:40 PM. I got to end this fast.

I flew high up in the sky to get a full view of Ponyville. It wasn't a bit pretty. The houses’ and stores’ windows and doors were all shattered and broken, respectively. Pegasi were swooping ponies to the top of any cottage roof for safety. At least they were helping. Speaking of pegasi, I wondered where Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were. Rainbow Dash could really help since she was really fast to bring ponies to safety and could fight these dummies with Applejack, but I doubted Fluttershy would help due to her timidity. But that was fine by me—she was herself, after all. Some ponies were defending themselves well like Applejack. Unicorns were using some magic to defend as well like shielding or levitating stuff. But those ponies were just a few.

I was in midair motionless for a while. I closed my eyes again and used my imagination—shockwave for normalcy all over Ponyville. I then glowed with an aura of golden yellow around me. While I was at it, I glowed brighter and brighter every minute that the mannequin swarm were all looking at me, though they didn't have any eyes.

Twilight was in the middle of zapping when she realized what was happening to me above. She looked at me with her hoof covering half her face from my brightness. “What in the worldwide of Equestria is he doing now?” she asked herself. I span my wings wide and glowed even brighter that the citizen’s of Ponyville were blinded, even the mannequins. Multiple beams shot out of my horn into every mannequin in Ponyville, even the ones hiding from sight.

“What are you, Iwano?” Twilight asked softly in amazement. She was now very curious of my magic and identity. “I want to know you more.”

After a few minutes later, all the mannequins have been frozen. But I was not done yet. I raised my hooves up and again caused a golden yellow shockwave. As the wave passes, all the mannequins disappeared, everything damaged was instantly repaired and the stolen clothes were returned.

Everypony in Ponyville cheered for the mannequin chaos was over.

Below me, I heard Rarity screaming. I looked down—my eyes back to normal—and saw her chasing a mannequin who has her rose dress on its head. I thought I missed one. I swooped down and snatched the rose dress away with me in midair. I quickly blasted the mannequin back to it lifeless.

I slowly went down with the rose dress on my hoof and walked towards Rarity. “Here’s your dress back.”

“Oh, thank you, Iwano! Thank you!” she thanked me as she took the rose dress and hugged it. It made me all fuzzy inside to see her happy, but it was the right thing for something good like that. “You are the most splendid and most talented pony ever!”

I just smiled with happiness. I helping her find gems, amaze her with my magic in front of her for the first time, donating and giving gems, stopping a dummy chaos and recovering her dress made me really happy and worth being here in Equestria. I closed my eyes and think of happy thoughts.

Suddenly, I got smacked in the cheeks with a kiss. I opened my eyes and gasped. I frantically looked around with my heart pounding and me panting.

“Who in the name of Luna kissed me?” I asked the ponies around me. Coming towards us were Twilight, Applejack and Pinkie Pie, all agape (I was getting tired of these girls doing that). I looked at Spike and he was agape as well and eyes widened.

“Spike, is there something wrong?” I asked the paralyzed dragon. I blew him and he fell with a thuk sound like a wood. “Is there another mannequin I have to blast?” I looked around frantically again.

Rarity chuckled. “There’s no more mannequins trotting around anymore, Iwano,” she confirmed. “Well, the pony who kissed you was the creator of your ravishing cape and the sophisticated rose dress.” She winked at me.

Faint Mode: activate.

Chapter 8: Tredaspo Gem

View Online

Why did you faint? It doesn't matter. I've seen your progress. It looks like you have the influences from the Elements of Generosity. That’s very good, but you must be influenced by Honesty, too, for your Deceitfulness almost slipped out of your heart. As it didn't completely take over you, Deceitfulness took advantage in your sleep and used you to eat all the apples in the orchard. It wants you to be more dishonest than who you are, even if it really wasn't you who did that—Dissonance is a part of you, after all. Iwano…stay strong as Twilight Sparkle. I did notice that she has an antipathy towards you. But she’s doing her best to contain and influence you with Magic. The time will come for you to open your heart, Iwano Imagination. Awake!

My vision was blurry as I opened my eyes slowly (hey, it rhymed). I was lying down on something soft and I saw a moderate blue ceiling with lights. Who was that gentle and regal voice that spoke to me?

“Look, he’s waking up.” I heard Twilight’s voice. I immediately shot up and startled the ponies and dragon in the room—Twilight, Spike, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack.

“Are you ‘kay?” Applejack asked.

“Did your magic just drained you and made you faint?” Twilight asked, too.

“Or you faint because Rarity kissed you in the cheek?” Spike grumbled with his arms crossed and looking upset. Oh…It looked like I found a new hater, maybe.

I rubbed my head and just sat down properly. It appeared I was lying down on Rarity’s couch. My head was aching a little but not painful.

“How long was I out?” I asked as I looked at my watch—3:40 PM. My eyes widened. “I swooned and fell asleep for two hours!” I exclaimed.

“We had to carry you and let you sleep for awhile on my couch,” Rarity said as she offered me a levitating cup of water. I took it with my magic and drank. Who was that voice in my sleep? It began to nag me. I looked down in thought aside.

“I-I am sorry Iwano,” Rarity apologized and blushed. “I-I shouldn't do that.”

I took a deep breath and blushed, too. Spike was beginning to be really jealous as he started tightening his crossed arms. “That’s, uh, okay, Rarity,” I said. “A lot of mares do that to me whenever I did something heroic or somewhat like that in my kingdom. It’s actually normal.” I stared by the boutique’s window on beside me by the left wall. I sighed. “Can all of you get out except Rarity? I need to talk to her in private.”

The ponies exchanged looks and Twilight nodded. As they all went out except Rarity, Spike was glaring at me and gesturing, I got my eye on you.

Rarity and I were now alone.

“Why do you want me secluded from them?” Rarity asked. Her cheeks were beet red. “Is there something you want to tell me?”

“Rarity,” I said and gulped. “Uh, what do you actually think of me?”

She was looking around as if her answer was lost and was looking around to find it. “To me, you are a very generous and helpful pony, Iwano. Even if you said that you’re filled with Dissonance, I believe you are a very good pony.” She put her hoof on my chest, which pounded fast. I tried to keep cool. “You are also like a gentlecolt to me…and the sweetest, too. Your magic was exemplary back when we were mining for gems—I was more astonished than your performance here in Ponyville. When you conjured the gala dresses my friends and I have worn in the Grand Galloping Gala, I already think that you are something special, not just threat—wow, your heart is really pumping fast.” She was right. While she was talking and I was listening, I kept gulping that my throat was about to go dry. My head was shaking. “Is there something wrong, Iwano?” She’d let go of my chest. What a relief!

I gave out a heavy sigh. “I’m fine. It’s just that, I’m nervous around you,” I admitted. “You are, to me, a beautiful pony with your dazzling moderate azure eyes, your accent and… and… and…” I lost my words. My cheeks were beginning to feel hot—I was blushing really hard. “And you’re friendly…”

Rarity was also blushed by the words I said. “You really mean it, Iwano? Well, Spike always complimented me like that.”

“That’s because he loves you, Rarity,” she giggled.

“I know that. Both of you and Spike are sweet.” She began to frown. “But I did notice that Spike was—”

“Was jealous of me? I know that.”

Her eyes widened. “You’re amazing than I can ever think.”

“That’s nothing. I already knew that from the—” I stopped myself. If I told her what I knew that from the beginning, well, I didn’t want to risk it. “Anyways, I also want to say thank you for accepting me as your friend and saying those good things about me. Oh, and thank you for the cape, too.” I levitated my cape out of my saddlebag and unrolled it. The cape didn’t fly out anywhere—it was lifeless. “That’s odd. I expected it to fly away.”

“No matter,” Rarity said. “How’s my designing?”

I examined the cape carefully as to see if she made any mess or error. It had none. “The cape’s wonderful!” I wore the cape and tied straps from my collar around my neck. Then something reminded me: the Poké Ball embroidery. “Wait a minute, Rarity. Why did you put a red and white colored circle on this cape?”

She blushed with embarrassment. “While you were away giving gems, I saw a sketchpad on the floor with your name on it. I took a look at your drawings and they were simply marvelous and artistic! Your abstract clearly captures my eyes and bedazzled me with its colorful patterns.” She used her magic to open a drawer behind her and levitated my sketchpad in front of me. I immediately store it in my saddlebag. I have no resent towards her for looking at my drawings. “On the first page, that’s where I first saw your circle. I was thinking it was valuable to you since it’s on the first page, I decided to embroider it on your cape—”

“Why did you make a cape for me?” I asked as I rolled up my cape again and stowed it.

“I made it as a token of my appreciation for what you've done for me today,” she answered. I looked at my watch—3:50 PM?

I just stared at Rarity. In IW, I designed my own clothes and let Elesa made them for me. Nopony in IW made me a cape like this especially for me before. I couldn't stop smiling, too. An act of anything virtuous such as this one melted my heart easily. I suddenly had the urge to kiss her, but I simply controlled myself knowing she would just freak out like a drama queen, which she was. Besides, Spike would become even more jealous. My brain began to sort out my feelings into one thing: singing. The lyrics immediately composed themselves in my head. I wanted to sing this to her.

“Rarity,” I said. She shook her head and blinked. Was she staring at me, too? “Since you gave me this cape as a gift to me, I have something to give you.” Her face brightened up in excitement. She might probably think I’m going to give her a dress. “It’s a song.”

She didn't frown, but she’s still excited. “Well, sing it then.” Her voice tone sounds humble and, uh, generous for me to do it.

I breathe for a few seconds to gain my confidence. Even if it was only her alone with me in the boutique, she unnerved me. Because she was a pony I was crushing on, though I strongly loved Fluttershy. I began.

You are special whatever you are

I believe you’re beautiful

And your eyes shine like the stars

I can imagine you in a dress

Of vividness and iridescence

We are a gift to each other

I’ll share you my virtue

And you can shine your beauty within!

... Rarity hugged me after that last line. I blushed even harder and redder. When she let go of me, she said, “Your voice was so melodious and serene, that you’re suited to be not just my hero but a singer!”

I was flattered. “Aw shucks, Rarity. It’s just one of my talents—what do you think?”

“That song is beautiful as your constellation of gems, Iwano—magnificent! You are again sweet and shown bountifulness of your heart.” As she said that, bliss filled my heart. I can feel Greed—the Element of Dissonance opposite of Generosity—burning, but not fading, from all of this. I then thought what I was doing would be very corny in Reality, but apparently it wasn't in this world, especially to Rarity.

My saddlebag began to shake.

“Why is your bag shaking?” Rarity asked as she noticed it. Different colors of light began to flash out of my saddlebag. I used my magic to open it and my emerald came out, glowing bright green. In Rarity’s closet, it bursts open but not flooding us with gems. One of each gem began to float from the pile and glow to its color: topaz, ruby, diamond, amethyst, sapphire, peridot and onyx.

“What in the name of Luna’s going on?” I asked myself. The gems, including my emeralds, began to circle around us above the same speed as my cape was a while ago. While Rarity stared at the circling gems in wonder, I then realized what was going on. Once I gotten too deep on my emotions, the effects were usually weird—either I would turn into a lover-maniac or, just like what was happening now, something was about to be created. Was it a new power, weapon or magic? My question was answered when the gems stopped circling around and merge within each other, causing a bright light of iridescence to blind both Rarity and I.

A clinking sound occurred. We both opened our eyes. My eyesight was a bit dim from the flash and so as Rarity. When we got our sight back, we looked around for anything unusual that happened.

“What is this?” Rarity said as she pointed on the center of the floor. Right where Rarity was pointing, a diadem lied on the floor. The diadem was made out of the gems that were glowing and flashing a moment ago. It had seven pointed tips. Out of all the guesses I made, the gems formed into an accessory?

“My word! This diadem is sparkling and beautiful!” Rarity exclaimed as she took it into her hooves and examined it. I was smart enough to know that it was not just an accessory…it could also be a weapon, but what kind? But what does it do? My weird powers could make many weird things, like one time when my powers—combo-inspiration powers—combined a Cross Loader and a Poké Ball into what I called a Fusion Ball. It functioned like an ordinary Poké Ball, but it could catch more than one Pokémon and could also catch more than one Digimon. When you beckoned your Pokémon/Digimon out, they were fused together. When you clicked the button on the ball’s center, they diffused but not released.

“But what is this?” she asked.

I scratched my head for an ideal name. It was combined with a topaz, ruby, emerald, diamond, amethyst, sapphire, peridot and onyx into one diadem. And then I’d got it.

“I’ll call that the Tredaspo Diadem,” I decided.

“Why do you call it that?” she asked as she was bedazzled by the crown. What a beauty lover…

“The name Tredaspo is abbreviated with all the gems combined to it, forming into that diadem!” I explained.

“That’s a wonderful name, Iwano! So are you—”

“Going to keep that thing? No, I’ll not. That’s my gift to you, Rarity, since I haven’t given you any gem except your pile which is for work and a song. Besides, I want to be generous sincerely, right?”

Rarity zoomed in and hugged me again, this time I hugged back eccentrically. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, Iwano!” She used her magic to levitate the diadem unto her head. “How do I look?”

“You’re like the princess of all gems, Rarity,” I said dreamily, “makes you a ‘generous’ leader!”

We both laughed.

I had the feeling we were being watched this whole time. I stopped laughing and she followed.

“What is wrong again?” Rarity asked.

“Are the windows closed with their curtains?” I asked back.

“I think they were not.” We turned to the windows. Yes, they weren't’t covered. And that means…

“I think it’s time for our friends to come in,” I said as I walk towards the door and opened it. Twilight, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Spike are still there. “I can tell by the faces that one or all of you've been listening and watching us, is it not?”

“Um, we’re sorry,” Applejack apologized as she scratched her hat. “We’re just curious.” I was a bit fuming, but extinguished it with just a sigh. I didn't really like anypony eavesdropping on me, especially something like this one. Rarity and I went out of the boutique to our friends.

“Can I take a look at your diadem, Rarity?” Twilight said as she used her magic to examine the crown in front of her without Rarity’s permission, but I thought she was okay with it, though. Twilight examined it carefully as if it would cause mayhem. “Iwano,” Twilight turned to me and showed me the diadem. “How did you make this? Is it one of your magic again?”

I explained to her of how my emotions could go deep that it could do negative on me, or positive effects on someone or something. Twilight was intrigued, but she was still suspicious of my magic and my identity. Being a studious and an intellectual, Twilight may uncover of who I was soon. I would try my best to conceal it better.

“I’ll have to take some tests and observations of this diadem’s properties and maybe see if it has some kind of hidden magic,” Twilight said.

“I refuse,” Rarity said as she takes the crown from Twilight’s magic grasp with hers. “This diadem is a gift from Iwano and I will not have anything mess its newborn beauty. Well, it’s been a long day for me. So, I’ll be back inside my boutique and having my beauty sleep. Iwano, let’s go in now.” Rarity went inside her boutique.

“Uh, see you ponies later!” I said bye to my friends as I followed Rarity and closed the boutique’s door. Twilight’s face was full of concern and skepticism.

“I can enumerate the odd things that have happened,” Twilight said. “But Iwano is definitely hiding something from us in the beginning.”

“Come on, Twilight,” Pinkie Pie said. “He’s really super-duper fantastic with his magic and what-sy!” At least she was optimistic about me, which would also help shroud my identity.

“Yeah, but he ate the orchard’s apples.”

“I know, Twilight,” Applejack said. “But he somehow did return all the apples back with magic. I think he’s not all that evil with his Dissonance.”

Twilight sighed. “I know, I know. He is helpful, friendly and all, but there’s this feeling I have whenever he’s around me—something’s not right about him at all with his Dissonance.”

“Maybe he has some sort of connection with the mannequin riot and the flying cape chase,” Spike grumbled with his arms crossed again. Twilight noticed his upset expression, but she didn't ask.

“I think you’re right, Spike. Before he entered Ponyville, we have these small mishaps. Seven days ago when I was back in Canterlot before this mission began, whenever I organized my books by section, genre, subject and type, they were all in disorganized the minute I left them. It kept going on and on until we met Iwano, probably.”

“Oh, ooh, ooh!” Pinkie Pie raised her hoof like a little filly calling for teacher Twilight. “Seven days ago, I always lost my balance that I need to twirl, jump, and whirl and carry myself with a crotch!” She said those things while literally twirling, jumping, and whirling and she even brought out a crotch and used it from out of nowhere. I was now beginning to be curious as Twilight on Pinkie Pie’s gag acts. Maybe I should put that as my minor side quest in my agenda.

“Hey, Twilight,” Applejack said. “Seven days ago throughout those, I've been sometimes slow movin' like a banana slug even if I ain't exhausted. Today, I ain't that already.”

“Seven days? Let’s subtract one day, since Iwano revealed himself to us yesterday. Six days? The Elements of Harmony consists of six elements, which are also the number of days of our minor mishaps and the number of Elements of Dissonance Iwano has.”

“And I've been crash landing six times within six days before Iwano arrives,” a voice added up in Twilight’s calculations. “That’s a total of thirty-six crashes—those were the worst.” Twilight and her friends followed the brash tone. On the roof of the boutique, Rainbow Dash was sitting there wistfully. She yawned.

“What’re you doing up there and how long?” Twilight asked. “First was Iwano above us and now you? Who else? Princess Celestia?” Please let it not, she thought

“I've been following you girls with Iwano all day,” she replied. “Yup, Iwano is fast as me—in a slow contest!” She chuckled.

“Wait, you were there when Iwano was chasing his cape in the orchard?” Applejack asked.

“And I was in the dummy riot chasing a dummy stealing my Wonderbolts uniform—yeah, I’ve been there.” She crossed her hooves in the thought of how the mannequin took her uniform with annoyance.

“And you didn't do anything to help?” Twilight asked again with a bit of fuming.

“Hey, I lift the other ponies from the riot, okay?You just didn't see homw fast I am. Besides, I was testing Iwano's speed and aerodynamics.”

“What was that for?”

“I know, I know, I know!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed as she hopped. “Rainbow Dash was testing Iwano if he can join the Wonderbolts and she wants to out-fly him in a race in front of every Wonderbolts in the academy!”

“Uh, what she said,” Rainbow Dash pointed at Pinkie Pie as the answer. “But it’s not only that, Pinkie. I wanna compete against him and make him my wing pony. It’s all for the fun out of it. Oh, before he can do that there will be a competition tomorrow. The whole event was a ruckus at first, so maybe my schedule for that green Alicorn might change. What should I call him?"

“Did you even listen to Iwano's Enter with Colors song? He’s sensitive,” Applejack reminded Rainbow Dash. “We don’t even know if he can take those kinds of spectators, especially Spitfire. What if he’s just like Fluttershy? HE wouldn’t take it.”

“Trust me girls,” Rainbow Dash assured them as she flew up. “Let’s all meet here again tomorrow by the boutique. Get Fluttershy, too. Tomorrow’s gonna be interesting.” And she flew away in a streak of rainbow.

Twilight exchanged looks with Applejack in worry. Pinkie Pie was grinning in excitement for tomorrow. Spike was staring at the boutique in thought of Rarity and I together. He was definitely jealous. They all departed—without even saying goodbye to me and Rarity? That’s fine by me anyway.

Twilight and her friends weren't the only eavesdroppers. Rarity and I overheard everything outside. This time, we had the curtains closed as we peered outside and listened.

Rarity’s face became uneasy when Rainbow Dash said that last line. “What’s wrong, Rarity?” I asked her.

She grunted. “Rainbow Dash may have planned your second ‘performance’, Iwano,” she replied.

“How can you tell? She just wants me to become her wing pony. What’s the wrong in that?”

“It’s just that—you may know her personality as well—she can be a bit competitive with other ponies when it comes to her speed and awesomeness,” she tiredly said. “When I was in Canterlot with my friends because Princess Celestia beckons to us, Rainbow Dash bragged that she’s faster than you, according to the Princess Celestia's description of your aerial flight in her dream.” Rarity’s voice was full of concern for me with a dash of annoyance of Rainbow Dash’s pride in her flight abilities.

I never knew Rainbow Dash would say that. There might be a probability that Rainbow Dash will hate me besides Luna, whom I am not over with. I had a feeling that she has some sort of scheme for me besides being her wing pony possibly. I don’t wanna be fooled and made fun of, especially if this would happen.

Wait, what competition Rainbow Dash said?

“But don’t worry, Iwano,” Rarity said. “I have hopes in you will win that competition. I have faith in you.”

I blushed. Rarity, so far, was one of the ponies who trusted and cared for me. I began having thoughts that Rainbow Dash might embarrass and humiliate me in front of the Wonderbolts, especially Spitfire the captain. I yawned. I didn't realize that I was actually exhausted of all that work I’d done today, especially with the Mannequin Mayhem. I wish the thought of being humiliated by Rainbow Dash would give me anxiety and stress to make myself awake, but it didn't work. Applejack reasoned to Rainbow Dash that I was sensitive as Fluttershy. All of that was true. Back in Reality, I was easily humiliated by my classmates in school. After all that, I only have a little confidence and pride left, but it eventually comes back in a few occasions. I hope it would come back to me when I have to race Rainbow Dash.

“Where can I sleep?” I asked.

“You can sleep with me in my room for today.” She happily replied.

We went up a staircase leading to the upper floor to her bedroom. When we entered, I inhaled the scent of her room. It smells like fabric and assorted perfumes, since she lives in a boutique.

“What part of your room can I sleep in?” I asked.

“You’ll be sleeping with me in my bed,” she answered.

“WHAT?! Why would you?!”

“Oh, uh, since you've been very good to me I decided to let you sleep in my bed with me.” Why in the whole Equestria! I gulped. Sleeping with a girl I had a crush on gave me pants, nervousness and anxiety, with my heart pounding hard and fast. The last girl I’d slept was with was Violet in Mouseford Academy, Whale Island of the Mouse world when I was an undercover student/recruiter there for the Thea Sisters. I thought this was entirely different. I would have to stay cool.

My eyelids became heavy. I really did want to sleep right now.

Rarity noticed my drowsiness. “I see that you've exhausted yourself with all the gem-mining, gem distributing, cape chasing—”

“And dummy exterminating,” I added.

She examined my face. “Was it also because you’re emotionally tired now?”

I winced. I’d been keeping my emotions in of her ever since I've entered her boutique. How was she able to tell that? “How do you know?”

She frowned and averted her head from me. I gulped harder, as if I were swallowing and wanting to digest my emotions into my gastric acids. Was it even possible? Her, Rarity, having this possibility…no, I didn't believe in that—never in millennium. “I… I was just…I …” she stammered. “I was just concern for you, you know?” She managed an explanation. “I mean, you have your so called ‘Elements of Dissonance’ within you and it might cause some kind of catastrophe. I just want to influence you with my generosity aura! You get me, right?”

“Um, I get you,” I replied, though I sounded like I was asking and I was unsure of her reason. She was blushing again. I sighed and smiled. “Thank you for your generosity again, Rarity.”

“I should be the one thanking you for everything you've done today, Iwano. You’re just simply remarkable!”

“Thank you again.”

It was now 4:30 PM. Sleeping beside Rarity made my teeth chatter, and it was not even this cold in her room, though it was a bit. I was not afraid of her because of my teeth chattering. This was what I was around with girls when I was too close to them, especially sleeping beside each other. She and I shared a lavender-colored blanket. She wore an eye mask.

Why does she want me to sleep with her? I could always just sleep on the ground floor of the boutique’s floor and ask for a blanket and pillow from Rarity. Yet, I should be grateful. Rarity was the Element of Generosity, after all—she was a generous pony. I was, too.

I blocked and shook the thought of Rarity with me on her bed with what Rainbow Dash said: wanna compete against him and make him my wing pony, she said. But Pinkie Pie’s “hunch” seems more reasonable, since she and her mirror world counterpart were both silly yet smart in guesses. Rainbow Dash was testing Iwano if he can join the Wonderbolts and she wants to out-fly him in a race in front of every Wonderbolts in the academy!, Pinkie Pie said. Were they all true? This was my guess: I may be now faster than Rainbow Dash in the whole Equestria that she became envious, so she wanted to humiliate me in front of the Wonderbolts and make me her wing pony as an addition to lower my self-esteem. Were they all true? I shook my head of that thought, too. Rarity beside me and Rainbow Dash’s scheme—this was giving me some stress. My thoughts were now filled with pessimism of the Mane Six towards me as a newcomer.

I tossed and turned on the bed. I began having a headache of all these negative thoughts. They all suddenly washed away when Rarity hugged me—I was muzzle to muzzle on her. My breath became hot and I was blushing even harder than a while ago. Rarity was just sleeping peacefully and happily as she hugged me. My heart pounded faster. My lips were close to hers. Why did she hug me all of the sudden? Was she dreaming of Spike? I hope it was. I expected her to whisper, mumble or murmur anything about Spike in her dreams. Instead, she whispered this: “Iwano, you are lovely to me…”

I wanted to get out of here, but I was too tired to even push her gently away from almost kissing my face, or lips. I turned my head to face the ceiling—good thing. I now then let sleepiness embraced me instead of Rarity’s. I admitted, but Rarity hugging me wasn't all that bad. It was just that I was doing my best not to be infatuated of her, or better yet, fell in love with her. She was soft to the touch. As a pony of fashion and beauty, I bet she visited the spa every week. Maybe that was how she became soft.

I finally closed my eyes… and dream again.

I think this dream was trying to tell me something. I was inside the Sugarcube Corner, a baker and confectionery of Ponyville which was operated by Mr. and Mrs. Cake, and sometimes Pinkie Pie. This was also the home of that pink, party pony.

I was in the upper floor of the Sugarcube Corner, but this place wasn't right at all. The wallpapers were all ripped and ruined by some sort of slash marks. There were no tables, chairs, lights or any furniture. I walked toward the window behind me as I noticed it and looked at the sky. It was night and the moon was full. The whole upper floor was so gloomy and ominous that it gave me shivers in my spines down to my hooves. Something told me this would be a nightmare.

“Hello? Is anypony here?” I called out. There was no response. I scanned the whole floor for an exit. The floor had none. This is strange, I thought to myself. There’s supposed to be some sort of floor exit. Maybe I should go through the window. And so I did, but it won’t budge as I pushed the window with all my might. It was no use. I scanned my surroundings—no exit and no other windows. This was just great. Even my magic wasn't working when I tried.

I gulped in anticipation for any nightmarish creature or event to appear and scare me to unconsciousness. What was going on? I couldn't't’t seem to get out or wake myself up.

You may have Generosity to like you, but that would never be enough, a voice spoke somewhere. I looked around again with bewilderment. You’ll never succeed in this quest. I will make sure of it. Or should I say, you will make sure of it.

“Appear to me,” I demanded. “I want you to show yourself!”

And it did. Right in front of me, shadows merged together and formed a pony. Its eyes were sharp as knives and pupils bloodshot-colored. Its build, wings and horn were exactly like mine. No, it couldn't be…!

“I’m not fully formed yet, but I can only be in this shadow form and with eyes,” said the shadow pony. “But you, my friend, need a change of color and appearance as me.”

It was Dissonance—my Dissonance! But his whole body wasn't complete…yet.

“What do you want and why am I here?” I demanded.

“Just a little bewilderment before you wake up in the morning, Iwano,” he replied. “I have nothing else to say, but maybe this dream will say something to you someday. Good night, Iwano.” As he said that, I was instantly consumed by arms of shadows, making my struggle for freedom inevitable. What is this?! I let them consumed me…

Where am I? Why do I feel cold but breezy?

My dream turned black and shifted me to somewhere else. I was in the night sky floating but not flying—I wasn't flapping my wings at all. I frantically looked around at my surroundings. The sky was dark, with clouds appearing like flying cotton and very puffy—maybe these were what Equestria's clouds looked like unlike Imaginundia's—that I’d like to continue sleeping peacefully on them. But that did not happen, fortunately. A rainbow appeared in a shimmered above me. I smiled at its iridescent beauty—I love colorfulness and anything iridescent, except Rainbow Dash.

“Maybe this isn't just a nightmare,” I said to myself. “Everything’s just—”

My happiness suddenly faded when I was rapidly scratched all over my body. It was excruciating.

Chapter 9: The Bolt Wing Competition

View Online

I woke up with a splash of icy cold water on my face. I instantly flew shot up in surprise in coldness of the water.

“What the hay was that?!” I complained. I was soggy and cold, shivering and mad. I looked below me and saw the Mane Six and Spike, looking at from above. Rainbow Dash had a wooden bucket on her back. There was no doubt that she was the one who dunked me with this cold liquid. I shook myself like a dog and sprinkled water all over my friends. Sorry for that, I thought. I didn’t care if they got wet. It was Rainbow Dash’s fault. I then landed on the ground and apologized. I shot a look of annoyance at Rainbow Dash and she smirked back.

“Well, it’s clearly Rainbow Dash’s fault,” Rarity said and she turned to Rainbow Dash and asked her to apologize to me.

“Sorry, Iwano,” Rainbow Dash said, though it sounded like she was muttering. “But there’s no time for that! We’re wasting time.” Speaking of time, I looked at my watch—exactly seven in the morning and today was Tuesday. I only got four days left. “We’re going to the Wonderbolts Academy!” she said as she excitedly flies upward. I rolled my eyes. After Rainbow Dash flew and landed, she explained everything to me of why. There were details she gave me which Rarity and I’ve never heard of.

“Wonderbolts members, including trainees such as myself, can select a Pegasus to compete in a friendly competition in the academy—a race and other events,” Rainbow Dash explained. “The winners or best fliers get to become official members of the Wonderbolts, or even become trainees, lead ponies or wing ponies.” I thought the term she was referring to was “humiliating” instead of “friendly”.

“Why would they make a competition like that?” I asked.

“Spitfire, captain of the Wonderbolts, held this competition to see if there’re any more worthy fliers in Equestria, besides myself,” she answered. “Oh, and I’ll be telling you all the other events later when we get there. And maybe there’re other details.”

“It’s also for entertainment and encouraging other Pegasi to join the academy,” Twilight added, which made more sense to me than a competition. “There will be other Pegasi to watch, too, maybe even the whole Equestria.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Rainbow Dash with the Wonderbolts, too,” Fluttershy said. Hearing her voice immediately melted my heart with her soft and cute tone.

“And RD here chose ya to be in it, Iwano,” Applejack said. I can see in her face she didn't want her rainbow-mane friend to join me in.

“Enough chit-chat!” Rainbow Dash broke in. “Twilight, get into your balloon.”

“What balloon?” I asked Twilight. She replied by pointing above us. Good thing my horn didn’t pop it when I shot up into the sky. Above us was Twilight’s hot air balloon. It was colored light-purple with its carrier. A rope was tied nearby a tree beside the boutique.

“You have a spell that can temporarily allow your friends to walk on clouds, right?” I asked Twilight again.

“Yes, and again, how do you know?” she asked back. I should really stop doing that.

“You are very special alicorn with the power to do any spell, am I not right?” I countered.

“Most spells, yes. I already applied it on all of my friends except Rarity. But the Wonderbolts Academy had a paved road, Iwano, she doesn’t need and we don’t need—”

“Maybe I can give her the temporary wings she used to have. You know the wings that are made of morning dew she used to have?”

Twilight sighed. “I will for now on never question you in how you know every single event we had before you came here.” She gave up. Good.

“Okay then,” I said as I faced Rarity. “Just stay calm and prepare yourself to get beautiful again with wings!”

"I'm going to have beautiful wings again!" she squealed. "Fire when you're ready!"

My horn glowed as I was prepared to blast her. After a few seconds, I shot a beam on her.

After Rarity applied her wings—they looked like butterfly wings patterned beautifully with colors and transparency—we all ascended into the sky. Rainbow Dash lead the way with me and Fluttershy by her side. I allowed myself to pull Twilight’s balloon with her passenger friends with a rope tied on my left hind leg. The balloon with its passengers wasn’t all that heavy since it was supported with a balloon. Twilight was following us last but not too far so she could practice her flying. We passed through the clouds and unfazed when we crashed into one, it just dispersed. Rarity was just flying happily with her wings above the balloon.

While Pinkie Pie was playing with a pompom on her head, her tail twitched hard. She noticed and warned, “Uh-oh, I think something or somepony’s about to fall!” She covered her head quickly with four more pompoms. I would not ask where she’d got those.

“What’s gonna fall?!” Spike asked worryingly with a pompom on his head.

“I don’t really know,” Pinkie Pie replied. “But my tail was so hard twitchy-twitch, I think it would be hard as my teeth broke when I chewed on jawbreakers—it was delicious!” Her saying that happily was creepy to us, but we all took a hard mental note about what was about to fall.

“Where are we going again, Rainbow Dash?” I asked.

“We’re going to the Wonderbolts Academy, egghead,” she replied. What?

“I heard that, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said behind.

“Sorry,” Rainbow Dash apologized indistinctly. “I’m not used to another nerd.”

I fumed. I swear I would make her eat my dust, if there were any in the sky, during the race if she ever joined. I wished she would.

I thought it was all because of Celestia’s description about me in her dream-message. She did say that Rainbow Dash and I were both fast in terms of aerodynamics, speed and agility, I thought. All I could put in my mind was that Rainbow Dash wanted to be faster, even if it meant putting someone down, which it would be me. If that was what she wanted to do, then I would accept without complaint!

I looked behind me to see Twilight’s reaction on Rainbow Dash’s apology. She seemed to cool down easily. Maybe she used the breathing exercise Cadence taught her back in the Crystal Empire. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t do the same. I would just imagine stuff to hold my temper.

I’d to admit, but I had to thank Rainbow Dash from waking me up when I was in the middle of the fall. I would have a mini heart attack if I hit the ground, or worst, never to pull myself together after! But that doesn’t meant I would forgive her for her wake-up call.

We all came to a halt when Rainbow Dash stopped. “We’re here!” she exclaimed.

Below us was the Wonderbolts Academy. The academy was a boot camp complex located in the peak of a mountain plateau consisting of a paved runway. Dotted near the mountaintop were buildings and a mess hall made of clouds.

We all landed and I tied the balloon near a flag post. I hoped nopony noticed it there. Training in the runway was different Pegasi flying and exercising.

“What are the other events in this competition besides racing, Rainbow Dash?” I asked.

“You’ll find out once you registered yourself, young flyer,” a voice spoke. Her voice was raspy and full of authority. I turned back and saw the captain. Her eyes were brilliant orange like an ember and full of sharpness. Her mane was stylized like a blazing fire and colored light brilliant orange with light brilliant amber streaks. Her coat was light brilliant gold, colored like the sparks of flames. Her cutie mark was three licks of flames resembling an abstraction of a phoenix, and she was a Pegasus. She was wearing a blue suit which I thought was for sergeants, and tinted glasses. “I see you have found your choice, Rainbow Dash. And it's a unique one, too."

“Spitfire,” I said. “You’re the captain of the Wonderbolts.”

Blaze...

Spitfire lowered her glasses and knitted her eyebrows. “Heard of me?” she asked.

I nodded. Rainbow Dash gave me a look of suspicion, but immediately gazed on her captain. “Yes captain,” she said with a salute. “I have chosen a contestant. He is really fast and agile with his flying. I’ve seen him done that.”

“I hope,” Spitfire said with a smile. “It’s always great to see new young flyers, especially as him. Who are you, cadet?”

“My name’s Iwano Imagination, captain,” I replied. “I am happy that Rainbow Dash, your trainee, entered me into this. It would be a lot of fun to compete with other Pegasi. I promise you I would be interesting.”

“I hope you would,” Spitfire took a notice of my horn. “Are you an alicorn?”

“Um, yes ma’am.” I replied.

She grinned. “Well, you already interest me. I hope you would play fair without your magic.”

“Don’t worry. I am honest to myself. Besides, you can tell if I’m using my magic if my horn glow its aura.” Applejack seemed to like what I said with a smile

“True. Just to let you know, this event is called the ‘Bolt-Wing Competition’. If my trainee here already told you about it, let me explain it again with some details. The Bolt-Wing Competition is an event whereas the flyers chosen by our official members and trainees are to compete by showing off their wing power, aerodynamics, speed, agility, accuracy, precision and endurance. The Wonderbolts who chose his or her pony will also coach.” That raised my brows up. “The best fliers of my choice will become official members—probably become wing ponies or lead ponies, or even higher rank in terms of membership—of the Wonderbolts. This also serves as a training program for other Pegasi and may encourage other flyers to join the academy. This event will also be broadcasted all over Equestria.” Uh-oh, I thought.

Good, her explanation was now almost clear to me. But I was really curious of the events that they set for us. “Thank you for the info, captain. I’m looking forward for it.”

“I hope you’ll enjoy the academy and its treats.”

“Are you kidding me? Seeing and talking to the blazing and fiery-colored Spitfire for the first time is already enjoyable and a treat!” I cheerfully said.

She blushed. “I’ll be on my way now, Iwano. Good luck!” and then she flew away; probably she had other things to attend to.

“Wow,” Twilight said. “It’s like you and Spitfire have known each other for a long time, even if you two talked for a short time. Have you two met?”

“No,” But I know her and her info, I wanted to say but I just sincerely answered. “It’s just that, Spitfire is an interesting pony.”

She knitted her eyebrows and shook her head. “Let’s go get you register—” Before she could finish her sentence, Rainbow Dash took me immediately in a flash to a table where the registrar was. I was startled when she pushed me really fast there. She really was excited to see me humiliated, if it ever happened.

“I’d like to enter Iwano Imagination to—you?!” The registrar pony had an orange mane which curved back and waved, like cool fire. Her coat was light opal. Her eyes were brilliant gamboge, but looked lightning colored to me; in fact her eyes looked striking like it. And her cutie mark was a lightning bolt with three stars. She wore the Wonderbolt uniform—their suit were azure blue with golden yellow lightning pattern and sport a uniform icon on their flanks over where the ponies’ cutie marks were; the icon varied on the gender of the member (males: the mark is a winged lightning bolt, females: a long streak of lightning. But Soarin’s cutie mark was already a lightning bolt with wings before he even joined).

“Lightning Dust,” I said. Rainbow Dash stared at me for knowing her.

“How do you know her?” she carefully said.

“Enough of that, RD,” Lightning Dust said. “Do you want to enter your Iwano Imagination or not?”

Rainbow Dash shook her head from her confusion and was intrigued of her former lead pony’s return. “Yeah and why are you here?”

I just signed my name and looked at the other entries. I was surprised to see Derpy Hooves’s name. Who in their wrong minds would choose Derpy to enter this competition? She would just destroy all of us with her clumsiness—she would even wreck the place before we even started the event! Besides her, I could also be a bit clumsy which was bad as hers. One time, I leaned and bumped into a crate of isotopes in the nuclear power plant of Springfield in the Simpson’s world, and blew the whole plant up. Of course, I fixed everything with my powers—imagination. I wondered what the result would be like if Derpy and I combined our clumsiness. I decided not to let that happen.

“Spitfire chose me to enter the competition so she would give me another chance from last time,” Lightning Dust answered Rainbow Dash. “Everypony deserves a second chance, right?” She seemed to be friendly enough for me, but not to Rainbow Dash. I remembered when she was kicked out of the academy—or stripped off of her rank—for endangering the other Wonderbolts with a tornado that she and Rainbow Dash whipped up. Rainbow Dash really didn’t really mean to do it, though. It was Lightning Dust’s fault. She back in the academy as a contestant also intrigued me. But I was actually cool with it. But not Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash glared at her. “Okay, Iwano is now registered, right?”

“Yes he is,” Lightning Dust replied.

“And you’re in this as well?”

“Yes again, RD. It’s too bad you’re still a trainee.” I could now see Rainbow Dash fuming and Lightning Dust’s sneering. “And when Spitfire sees my skills in the competition, she’ll surely promote me as an official member—maybe even higher than that or a lead pony!” The two former teammates just kept staring at each other. I could see a rainbow-colored spark striking a lightning spark between them. It wasn’t my imagination. All I could thought of her was that she was friendly. I hoped Lightning Dust would become good again.

“Excuse me, Lightning Dust?” I broke in their staring contest to avoid any possible fight. “Where are we contestants supposed to do now when we’re registered?”

She fazed away from Rainbow Dash, who was glaring at her, and answered, “You must find Soarin and get a Wonderbolts uniform, such as what I’m wearing right now. Then, you must wait for the signal for Spitfire to assemble all of you to her.”

“Oh, okay. I understand,” I said with a nod.

“Say, I have a question for you, Iwano,” she said. “How do you know me and do you know Soarin?”

I should really start acting stupid and not knowing everypony in Equestria. Everypony would be suspicious of me. Instead I just answered, “I do know Soarin and I know you. I want to answer your question with details, but I need to go and find him now. Bye!”

The Mane Six, Spike and I left the registrar’s table and walked around the academy to find Soarin. Pinkie Pie was hopping frantically and was trying to eat the clouds above us. Rarity was gingerly flying with her wings away from any ray of sunlight, caring for it not to burn up again like last time (I cast those same wings on her because I wanted her to experience flying again). Rainbow Dash was muttering and questioning to herself about Lightning Dust’s return. Fluttershy was looking around her uneasily.

Concerned, I asked, “Fluttershy, is there something bothering you?”

“Oh, uh, maybe,” she replied.

With my aura, I could feel Fluttershy’s uneasiness, but I was not reading her mind. I decided not to ask or find out.

Twilight was reading another book. While I was giving away gems back in Ponyville, I did saw her reading a book on alicorns. Now, she was reading a book on Equestria’s geographical settings and its lands.

“Why are ya reading that, Twilight?” I asked with a pinch of worry.

“Trying to see if Imaginundia is in this book, and I’d read it seven times and it’s not here,” she said as she forcefully levitated the book towards my face. I shoved it away from me.

“Maybe your book’s not updated,” I guessed, which I hoped I was right. “I know you’re vexed of where I am and about my identity, Twilight. Will you just quit it?”

“Oh, I think you’re really hiding something—”

“Look down below!” Pinkie Pie fell down on us with a giant fluffy cloud that explodes as it crashes down on us, dispersing away. Around and all over us, we were covered entirely with clouds like snow. I had a cloud hair shaped like Twilight’s mane, which was really funny that I chuckled. Everypony had cloud beards. Pinkie Pie stood up unscathed with her whole body wearing a cloud coat. Everypony just laughed. I was glad Pinkie Pie was able to abrupt Twilight’s sentence because when I used my powers to read her mind, Twilight completely forgotten what she was about to say next.

“Hello down there!” From above and landing towards us was a Pegasus with moderate emerald green eyes, and they looked like they had eye bags. His mane was dark grayish phthalo blue. His coat was a very pale cornflower blue, and his cutie mark was a yellow lightning bolt with wings. He was wearing a Wonderbolt uniform with his goggle up his forehead. “Is that your new recruit, Dashie?”

“Yes sir, Soarin!” Rainbow Dash said with a salute. Soarin had in his back three folded Wonderbolt uniforms. “And we’ve been looking for you for the uniforms.”

Soarin chuckled. “What’s funny?” I asked.

“All your facial clouds!” Soarin laughed.

“Oh.” We noticed that we were still wearing our props. We wiped them off clean. Pinkie Pie just ate hers with a single slurp. How does she do that?! I rolled my eyes and just focused on Soarin.

“I thought we’ll be wearing the Wonderbolt trainee uniforms. You know? The close-fitting cadet uniform ones,” I said. The trainee uniforms were half the official Wonderbolt suit in its upper.

“Spitfire wants the contestants to experience being an official member, well, until the competition ends though,” he replied.

“Anyways, can I have one now?” I asked. Soarin just gave me the uniform with its goggles in reply.

“Now, Iwano,” Rarity said. “You can now just—” Before she finished her sentence, I dashed off into the sky. “Wear it?”

I spun around while wearing the uniform. I wanted Soarin to be the first official Wonderbolt to be impressed of my skills. I flew around spinning while easily suiting me up. I then removed my saddlebag and it fell beside Twilight, thinking I would trust her enough to take care of it. The suit fitted perfectly. I then somersaulted and land with a prideful smile. The Mane Six and Spike clapped to my stunt.

Soarin was agape. “Hmph, looks like we have a worthy competitor!” he said. I took it as a compliment. “I’d like to stay and see more of your awesome stunts, but I have other things to attend to.” And just that, he waved and flew away with the remaining Wonderbolts uniform.

“Your simultaneous groom and stunt really impressed Soarin,” Twilight said and giggled. “Oh, and including Rainbow Dash.”

Rainbow Dash was agape, too. She frowned. “And he said your stunt was awesome? He never said that to me.”

“That’s okay there, Dashie,” Applejack. “He was mostly impressed of yer—”

“He was impressed of your rescuing of Rarity and the other fallen Wonderbolts back in the Best Young Fliers competition.” I finished Applejack’s sentence—and covered my mouth with my hooves.

They all stared at me. Iwano, you fool! I thought. You better stop saying their past events or they’ll think you’re a villainous spy or something. I managed a smile. “Okay, let’s go and—”

A whistle blared. Rainbow Dash shot up. “That’s the signal!” she exclaimed then shot a sneer on me. “Good luck!”

We were all mustered to the center of the academy. We all formed four rows and seven columns—we were twenty-eight in all—and arranged ourselves by height, according to Spitfire’s command. I glanced around. The balloon being tied to the flag post was parked and tied on a pole near the mess hall. I was on the fourth row, fourth column since I was tall. On my front was Lightning Dust, on my left was Derpy Hooves—why was she beside me?—and on my right was Prism Glider. I got a little bit shaky of Derpy, anticipating her clumsiness. But she just smiled and focused in front, if only she didn’t do her funny looking wall eyes. I chuckled shortly there.

I was having a thought that maybe Lightning Dust had some sort of plan in this competition, but what? All that was possible was that she would do anything to put me down as vengeance to Rainbow Dash. I prayed to Celestia that it woouldn’t happen.

Rainbow Dash just kept scowling whenever she saw Lightning Dust. Despite her friendly demeanor towards me, which I thought, maybe she was just trying to annoy Rainbow Dash. Was she trying to seek out a payback on Rainbow Dash? Was she blaming her for that tornado whip-up incident? The only way for me to find out was to participate.

“Alright, fliers, today we’re going let you all train with all of your coaches before the event this afternoon,” Spitfire announced. “I know one of you is inexperienced with this kind of competition, so we’re prepping all of you with your coaches. I also wish that all of you would be obliged to join this event for it will be broadcasted all over Equestria and inspire many young fliers to fly proudly or join the Wonderbolts. Is there anypony who wants to back out?” There was silence for a few seconds, but nopony raised a hoof or flies away—they all wanted to participate. Spitfire grinned. “Very good, nopony wants to do it. Now, I will give you all until two to train and work with your coaches. You’re all dismissed!” We all immediately scrambled to our coaches. I quickly flew towards my coach and the Mane Six, which I probably thought that we were a team. I looked at my watch and it was 8:32 AM.

“Okay, Iwano, I have something to tell you,” Rainbow Dash said with a frown. “I was supposed to—”

I raised my hoof to stop her. “I didn’t read your mind, but you’re supposed to humiliate me in front of everypony in Equestria.”

Rainbow Dash was agape. “How did you know?”

“Rarity and I eavesdropped with your plot yesterday,” I answered. “And it’s all because of Lightning Dust’s return, right?”

She glared at Rarity, who was polishing her diadem, and nodded. “I’ve seem to be really felt guilty of doing that, Iwano. I’m sorry.”

Applejack puts her hoof on her back in comfort. “I think Iwano already forgives you in advance, right sugar cube?” she turned to me. I just simply nodded.

“Oh, and not only Lightning Dust who makes me nervous,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Derpy?” I guessed.

“Maybe, if she started wrecking the whole place. But I was actually referring to her.” She pointed in at distance an animal which was not a Pegasus. The creature’s eyes were golden with a gray light purple around them. Her coat was made of feathers and colored moderate orange amber with darker wings and white head. Her talons and beak were brilliant gold. Tail, eagle talons, body of a lion, head and beak, wings, hind paws—all these features were that of a griffon.

“I think you know her,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Gilda!” I said. “She joined the competition?! I didn’t even saw her name in the registration.”

“You didn’t look at the first page. You were looking at the second.”

“Gilda and Lightning Dust joined—who else? Who even picked her?”

“She joined with no one choosing her. I didn’t even know if Spitfire really accepted that,”

I sighed. I really needed to be careful of Lightning Dust for she might be plotting something on me which would affect Rainbow Dash. I’d seen the episode Griffon the Brush, Gilda’s appearance. In that episode, she was a thief and a bully. She was also shown to be a skillful flyer, having no need for a coach. Why did she join the Bolt Wing?

“Okay, Iwano, let’s get things straight!” Rainbow Dash announced as she was in midair. “Again, I’m your couch, it’s my responsibility to train and develop your flying talent, which you’ve shown during your cape chase. Twilight will be measuring your wingpower, Applejack will provide your snack and refreshments, and the rest are our cheerleading squad.”

Pinkie Pie wore a blue skirt, a white shirt with my cutie mark on it and pink pompoms. “Fly high and low, Iwano! Just stick to the cloudy flow!” Pinkie Pie cheered, which I thought was in working progress. Rarity and Fluttershy wore the same. I then noticed that Rarity was wearing her Tradespo Diadem. Why hadn’t I noticed it before?

“So Applejack will be getting snacks and refreshments in the mess hall?” I asked.

“Nope, sugar cube,” Applejack said. She pulled beside her a cart full of apple pie and a jug filled with apple juice, provided with eight cups. “We got all our stuff aboard Twi’s balloon before we took off. We go’ all them down thanks to RD and Flutters here when you were in the assembly.” Smart and prepared they all are.

“And I brought my own whistle, cap and shades,” Rainbow Dash said as she slap on her cap, shades and whistle, which she blew on immediately. “It’s time to get you all pumped up! Remember, quitters eat smog for breakfast! Now get your wings flexing and flappin’ and let’s go!!!”

Rainbow Dash was a coach to reckon with, if you ask me. There was no doubt when she was Ponyville’s Pegasus trainer of the town’s Pegasi in the Hurricane Fluttershy episode. Her demands were so strict yet effective that I became more disciplined and strong, but I’ve done some clumsy stuff during training, though—I do not want to mention them. It was also been a long time since I’d never had a strenuous flying training when I last been from the Owl World—Ga’Hoole. My last flying coach was Twilight, a Great Gray owl—not Twilight Sparkle pony—who trained me both strictly and joyfully. Unlike him, Rainbow Dash was very serious of preparing me for my competitors, especially Lightning Dust and Gilda. I don’t want to have any apparent contempt for those two, since I’m more of the peaceful kind of pony. Love and tolerance is what bronies are in Reality—some. Rainbow Dash taught me flight maneuvers, aerial recoveries, smooth landings and cool poses to strike whenever I had any “awesome moments” being displayed, according to her. She was no doubt a really cool pony, considering that I love anything colorful like her mane and tail, and that she has faith in her friends. But Rainbow Dash was my least favorite pony of the Mane Six—on my sixth place marker—because I really disliked her brashness, apparent laziness, her competitiveness, a lover of winning, her mischievousness and most of all her tomboyish personality (unlike Applejack to me), albeit she had a love for reading Daring Do novels and such. But since I need to be influenced with some Element of Loyalty against my Faithlessness and two of my opponents are her predicaments, I have to work with her as student and mentor.

While training, there were various pranks my coach played on me which I didn’t want to mention, because that made me wanna hate Rainbow Dash more—maybe I should hate her more.

We’d been training until twelve in the afternoon for me to rest. I felt my bones aching, my wings spraining, my eyes burning from my flying that I forgot to put on my goggles—I should be more remindful of myself. Training was no problem, but I’d gotten easily tired that I had to keep flying to cool myself. My breathing was difficult and I was closed to collapsing. I should have told Rainbow Dash that I had asthma, but I didn’t want to let her down! I liked to sometimes push myself to the limit, like Lightning Dust did.

"Okay, before we can begin," my new coach, Rainbow Dash, said, "I wanna take a look at your wings." She pulled my dragon wings hard like they were stubborn weeds. I gritted my teeth from pain. She then let go and slung me to the pavement, and laughed.

I scowled. "What's that for?!"

"You have dragon wings, which looked like you might be a strong flier, since winged-dragons can flap hard with force. Meaning, you can out fly the fliers of the competition, if you can. Now, let's get to it!"

My coach blew her whistle.

After training, Rainbow Dash called for a long timeout and I slumped down on the pavement until Pinkie Pie cushioned me with extra pompoms. Applejack gave me a cup of cold apple juice that it little helped me of my exhaustion, but I kept drinking anyways. I wasn’t still hungry since my apple massacre, but I just ate two pies. My face was dripping a whole lot of sweat that I reached for my saddlebag, which was still beside Twilight, and took out a towel—which I never knew I had. I then crossed my mind that my bag wasn’t ordinary of what it seemed to be. My saddlebag was magic, able to hold any amount of things and lets me pick out something that I needed. Cynthia must had switched my saddlebag before she reminded me of it and lets me teleport it. Despite all of this serious training, I’d gotten stronger, muscular and reflexive again of my flying, though my build and buff remained unchanged. I’d been suspicious of Twilight that maybe she looked into my saddlebag. I just hoped Cynthia didn’t put my info card in it, or my cover would have been blown. But it looked like Twilight was just looking at my wingpower record Spike had written down on a paper with a quilt. She was comparing the anemometer’s measurement with my other records of wingpower. I couldn’t help being so thirsty tired that I even sipped my face of my sweat—I was drenched in sweat!

“In each test we’ve done, Iwano’s wingpower gradually increases from its initial of 10.7 to 18.7,” Twilight said. “It looks like Iwano’s ready, RD.”

“No, no, no!” Rainbow Dash exasperated and shook her head vexingly. “I wish I have that anemo-thing-of-jig while—”

“Anemometer, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight corrected her.

“Whatever you say, Twi! But that’s really not enough. Whatever wingpower Iwano just raised from that cape chase, it must’ve been 19 or more—I wish it were 20 and more!”

“But do you think pushing Iwano to his limits would help him when the clock strikes twelve?” Twilight pointed a hoof on me for Rainbow Dash. I was staring at other Pegasi while still being drenched in sweat that my mane was literally like a waterfall already. I saw that overly-muscular pony from the episode Hurricane Fluttershy. What was his name?

That’s…that’s Bulk Biceps! I thought and remembered. Bulk Biceps’s eyes were intense vivid red, his mane dirty blonde in a buzz cut, and a white coat (or light gray). He was training…Derpy? He was the one who chose Derpy? Okay, his brain must had been broken from all that YEAH! and all. But I could see he was training Derpy with ease and she was more disciplined in her movements. I was actually happy about it, as long as she didn’t break my bones. Better yet, maybe she should break Lightning Dust and Gilda’s bones in the competition so Rainbow Dash would be at ease, too.

I remembered Bulk Bicep was named by fans as Snowflake.

There were other Pegasi that were background ponies in the show that I’d seen—Cloud Kicker, Dizzy Twister, Lightning Bolt, Merry May, Parasol, Rainbowshine (rainbow in the name, eh?), Raindrops (I almost thought of her as Snowdrop), Sassaflash, Sprinkle Medley, Blossomforth, Flitter, Cloudchaser and Wild Fire. Hmm…they seemed to be interesting Pegasi. Maybe I could socialize with them if Rainbow Dash let me in my timeout. Those background ponies all flocked together and were having a conversation. I wanna join in!

I lift myself up with my head slowly; balanced myself—I felt really dizzy—and walked towards Rainbow Dash.

She noticed me and said with a smile, “You wanna go back to training? I’d like to teach you how to—”

“Actually I want to socialize with other fliers, if you may allow,” I said.

She frowned. “Fine, you got until before one. Now, go socialize!” I thought she really meant me to do it.

As I walked towards the flock of the background ponies, I took a deep breath and relaxed myself. Okay, Iwano, I thought. You can do this.

Rainbow Dash was staring at me, but I pretended that I didn’t notice. Twilight then noticed Rainbow Dash and asked, “Is there something wrong?”

“Uh, yeah,” Rainbow Dash hesitated. “I mean no—I’m fine!”

“No you’re not,” Twilight said.

“…Yeah, I’m not fine,” Rainbow Dash admitted. “It’s just, Iwano followed me as if I’d been his trainer, like, forever and he didn’t even complain! I actually expected him to do that, but I never knew he was this strong.”

“Physically or mentally?” Twilight asked again.

“Both,” Rainbow Dash answered. “Do you think we’re really helping him control his Dissonance?”

Hearing that stung Twilight’s ears, but she just smiled and answered, “Yes we are. Rarity must’ve influenced him with enough Generosity to last for a lifetime since he’s given everypony in Ponyville a gem, and I doubt Rarity told him to do that.” Twilight looked at her balloon; probably the gem I gave her was there. “Applejack sort of done her part, but I bet it was effective with her Honesty. Iwano does not complain. Maybe he is humble and naturally loyal to anypony who’s good to him, though you were trying to plot against him—”

“I know, I know,” Rainbow Dash snapped. “And I think it’s wrong.”

“Yes, you know that, Rainbow Dash. You can still be a great flier by showing your good sportsmanship and fairness to him when it comes to between your speed and his,”

“Thanks, Twilight.” Rainbow Dash thanked. Twilight nodded.

Meanwhile, I was having a great time chatting with the background Pegasi. They were all thrilled to talk to me because I also gave those dresses and suits from my magic back in my Enter with Colors back in Ponyville—was my performance that popular now? The background ponies were all chosen by other Wonderbolts to participate and they didn’t even protest, except Cloud Kicker.

“What’s your favorite weather?” Flitter asked. Our chat was just normal.

“Um, rain,” I replied.

“Why rain?”

“Well, because I get to get cold and it reminds me of my own sad emotions.” Okay, that was a bit creepy. She seemed to not get why.

“Anyways,” Dizzy Twister said. “How are you feeling when Rainbow Dash picked you for the Bolt Wing?”

That’s an easy question. “I bit ticked off, ‘cause she doesn’t like me that much ‘cause our speed’s both the same,”

“But you accept anyway?” Blossomforth asked. “You should just say—?”

“Say no? No, I’m fine with it. It’s my chance to get noticed to everypony in Equestria besides Ponyville.” Yeah, but being overexposed to Equestria as a threat was very bad.

“We’ll just spread to everypony and our friends about how cool you are!” Wild Fire said. “You don’t need this competition to get you noticed just by that.”

“And you’re sensitive,” Sprinkle Medley reminded, which I told her while Rainbow Dash was talking to Twilight. “You might even get scared before you step on the starting line!”

“Sprinkle Medley, he can do this,” Cloud Kicker told her. “As long as he believes in himself, he can race!” I was flattered by all their concerns and praise to me. I wasn’t used to this kind of thing since all my classmates in Reality did to me was deriding and downgrading me. In IW, I could be a bit flattered, too. But since these ponies encouraged me to go on, I was filled with confidence that I could race against Gilda, Lightning Dust and other fliers without any anxiety at all. I think I’m ready.

I thanked them for a wonderful chat (nailed it) and left to see Rainbow Dash now. I wondered what she was trying to teach me. When I left the background ponies, I’d kind of felt sorry that I would have to compete against them. If I win, would they still like me? Would they hate me when I win? All thirteen of them, including the remaining contestants, are all I would be competing against. Were they masking their jealousy towards me with their friendliness? My confidence slowly reduced just by the thought of it, so I shook my head, think about Fluttershy with her cute face, and head towards Rainbow Dash.

She was so happy to see me that she immediately hollered orders for me to do warm-ups—pushups using my wings (it hurts) and stretches (some of my bones made cracking sounds which made Fluttershy uneasy). I already knew she had something for me to do. She then slapped me a number sticker 10 on my flank, which it hurts that it gave me a jump. Why do I always have 10s in everything?

After my warm-up, Rainbow Dash said, “Iwano, I’ll be teaching you one of my moves so you can impress Spitfire and the judges in the first event—Talent Phase,”

“Talent Phase,” I repeated. “What’s that?”

“The name explained it all,” she replied. “Fine, you want an answer? The Talent Phase is the part of the Bolt Wing. Each contestant will be called and take turns impressing the judges by less than five minutes.” I understandingly nodded. “Okay, let me do them first—just watch and learn!” As she said that, she took off to the sky in a flash and showed me four moves.

As twelve strikes, Spitfire blared her blew her whistle and mustered all of ponies to the center again, only this time we’re scattered. Our coaches were in distance away from us. Rainbow Dash was with her friends—our Team Harmony, as we called ourselves when I was training with her—watching Spitfire with anticipation of me being chosen. I felt my teeth chattering. I’ve became nervous. To distract myself from all of this, I’d listed down in my mind the known ponies that will compete (I would also describe their mane, eye and coat color):

1) Rainbowshine (Her coat was lavender, her mane was gala pink and her eyes were scarlet pink)

2) Parasol (Her coat was cream, her mane was lilac, and her eyes were orange)

3) Derpy Hooves (Her coat was light sapphire bluish gray, her mane was pale, light grayish apple green, and her eyes were gradient from pale, light grayish apple green to moderate gamboge)

4) Cloud Kicker (Her coat was lavender, her mane was light and golden yellow, and her eyes were violet)

5) Gilda (Her was moderate orange amber with darker wings and white head, and her talons were brilliant gold)

6) Dizzy Twister (Her coat was sand colored, her mane was bubblegum pink, and her eyes were maroon)

7) Lightning Bolt (Her coat was white, her mane was blue, and her eyes were light blue)

8) Merry May (Her coat was grass green, her mane was magenta, and her eyes were purple)

9) Lightning Dust (Her coat was light opal, her mane was brilliant amber and vivid gamboge, and her eyes were brilliant gamboge)

10) Iwano Imagination (Me)

11) Raindrops (Her coat was pale gold, her mane was pale robin egg blue, and her eyes were hazel)

12) Sassaflash (Her coat was powder blue, her mane was blond, and her eyes were orange)

13) Sprinkle Medley (Her coat was gala teal, her mane was maya green, and her eyes were blue)

14) Blossomforth (Her coat was dim white, her mane was pink with green streaks, and her eyes were blue)

15) Flitter (Her coat was lilac, her mane was pale green, and her eyes were purple)

16) Cloudchaser (Her coat was lilac, her mane was blue/white, and her eyes were purple)

17) Wild Fire (Her coat was cream colored, her mane was dark brown, and her eyes were brown)

My enumeration was interrupted when Lightning Dust nudged me. I was startled but I recovered quickly. “Are you nervous?” she asked. Why was she asking? “Is this your first time?”

I know I shouldn’t trust her since she must have some kind scheme, but I don’t want her to dislike me even further. “Nope,” I admitted. “I got a lot of races like this back in my home.”

“Were you a champion there?”

“Uh, I won seven times.”

“That’s cool. If you’re an experienced flier, why did you let Dashie train? Out of practice?”

“Um, yeah, I think so,” I admitted. “Why are you asking me?”

“I just wanna be friendly, that’s all,” she replied. “Spitfire was very busy attending to others while I was the registrar, but I don’t need her to train me—I’m experienced.” True, she did become a trainee on the episode Wonderbolts Academy.

I gave her skeptical look. “Okay, then. Good luck.”

“Good luck too, Imagination.” Imagination? I thought. She called me by my surname? Was our second name as ponies our surname? Whatever, I thought it was.

Spitfire gathered all our attention and began to explain the mechanics of part one: Talent Phase. Beside both her sides were the Wonderbolts escorts Whiplash (his coat was grey, his mane was dark grey, and his eyes were blue—he also had a moustache) and Manerick (his eyes were light orange, his coat was white, and his mane was gamboge). “Everypony will be called randomly to perform. All of you must do this in less than five minutes. If you want to stop when you’re done, just say so. Oh, and I’ll be rating each of you from one to ten. Now, I want number 4 aloft now!” Spitfire blew her whistle, which indicates the called number to perform now.

Number 4 instantly went up and it was Cloud Kicker. “Yes ma’am!” she said with a salute. It sounded like her voice had a twinge of nervousness. Cloud Kicker began her performance by zooming into three clouds and spinning them, carefully turning each into a perfect cylinder. Next, she rounded them up by spinning them together in a circle, which causes the three clouds to form a big cloud tornado. I guess this will the finale, ‘cause Cloud Kicker went inside her creation—we all gasped, except Gilda—, spun around counter-clockwise fast and bursts the cloud tornado into chunks of fluff. “All done ma’am!” she gasped.

We all stomped our hooves in applause. Cloud Kicker sighed and wiped sweat from her face and mane—sweat of nervousness? Cloud Kicker landed towards Spitfire to see his result. The Wonderbolts captain showed him his score on a clipboard: 7—not bad.

All the other fliers were all nervous, except Lightning Dust and Gilda. I was a bit nervous myself—legs shaking, teeth chattering, hard panting and heart pounding rapidly. I tried to think some ways to relax me from my anxiety. This competition was nerving! I guess most of are. I then had an idea of enumerating the other fliers I hadn’t list down on my head yet:

18) Airheart (Her coat was pink, her mane was reddish brown, and her eyes were blue)

19) April Showers (Her coat was gala teal, her mane was maya green, and her eyes were orange)

20) Milky Way (His coat was off-white, his mane was gray, and her eyes were gold)

21) Opal Water (Her coat was light blue, her mane was periwinkle, and her eyes were orange)

22) Prism Glider (His coat was blue, his mane was white, and his eyes were green)

23) Silverwing (His coat was light gray, his mane was gray, and his eyes were light brown)

24) Thunderlane (His coat was dark grey, his mane was sky blue with light blue streaks, and his eyes were gold)

25) Blue Skies (His coat was blue, and both his mane and eyes were yellow)

26) Drizzle (Her coat was light mauve, her mane was dull saffron, and her eyes were purple)

27) Great Scott (His coat was white, his mane was gray, and his eyes were dull brown)

28) Serenity (His coat was pink, his mane was blue, and his eyes were green)

I guessed the Pegasi that would be joining this Bolt Wing comprised mostly with background ponies, but I believed one of them might have role in this event soon. I hoped.

After twenty-five fliers later, Gilda was up next as number 5. Lightning Dust and I were the only ones left. While waiting for our turns, Lightning Dust just told me her comments on every one of the flier’s performances, and all I do is just pretend that I acknowledge her opinions and simply nod. Gilda flew up and greeted the captain. “I hope you’re worth joining this competition, griffon,” Spitfire said annoyingly.

“Are you kidding me, cap? This would be a piece of cake!” Gilda told her.

As Spitfire blew her whistle, Gilda immediately flew to somewhere else in the clouds. There was long silence. Was she going to do a descent or a cloud sculpting? Gilda can do any kind of rash stuff like Rainbow Dash, but that’s different. Four minutes passed and Gilda was nowhere. “She better be back,” Spitfire said. “Otherwise, she’s out.” Out? What does she meant “out”? Obviously, Spitfire would disqualify her out of the competition when Gilda’s time runs out. The way Spitfire talked to Gilda when it was the griffon’s turn, it was like Gilda forced herself to join somehow. Spitfire may not be intended to let her join in the first place, but what does make her let that griffon join? Whatever the reason was, it doesn’t matter. What matter was that I would have to win this and make Rainbow Dash proud, and most importantly be influenced by Loyalty—if I could find a way how.

“Fifteen more seconds,” Spitfire said as she looked at her watch. “Just a few more seconds and Gilda’s out.” Spitfire must have really wanted her out, but she was not doing anything to slow Gilda down…or was she? After ten seconds on the clock, which Gilda only had five seconds left, the griffon finally appeared with a giant ball of clouds above her head carried with her talons. Though the ball’s made of clouds, I was impressed. We were all in awe, except me.

“I call this one my Atlas Puff!” Gilda exclaimed. “And this one’s for the fliers!” I thought we were going to be covered by cloud puffs, but Gilda threw it into the sky with strong force that it was thrown in a distance and strikes it on its center with such fast speed that it dispersed into five shockwaves of whiteness. We all stomped in applause even louder than other performances, though our hooves were quite tired we can’t help but being impressed.

“So,” Gilda flew towards and nudged Spitfire hard that the captain almost lost her breath—was she that strong? Oh wait, that was just a cloud ball. “What’s the score?” Spitfire showed Gilda her score on a clipboard: a perfect 10! “Aw yeah!” she cheered to herself. “I’m the flier! Who’s the flier? Me!” the griffon landed and was congratulated by the others. Gilda was the first flier to get a perfect score. The other’s got nine and below. I didn’t want to congratulate her ‘cause I believed that she’s a bad influence. I also don’t want her to find out who I am. Was her trick that impressive to Spitfire? I really don’t know.

“Now, number 9, you’re up!” Spitfire called out and it was Lightning Dust’s turn to bolt in. I wasn’t sleepy at all when I continuously watched all of the fliers to their strut their stuff, which made me frown that they can do better than me—I might not be able to get a good score at all. Lightning Dust’s time then began as Spitfire blew her whistle. Spitfire searched carefully for something. Her eyes widened and she smiled as she found a black cloud—a storm cloud. Spitfire asked both her escorts, “Today’s supposed to be bright and clear with extra white clouds and cold breezes, right?” The escorts nodded. “Then, why’s there a storm cloud?” The escorts just shrugged. “I thought all the clouds—never mind.” Lighting Dust shoved the storm cloud with other clouds together. I started to think that this Talent Phase also needs us to show our creativity too, like Cloud Kicker’s and Gilda’s, but must also be with skill.

After two minutes later, Lightning Dust formed a giant black nimbus cloud. Spitfire lowered her glasses to see what Lightning dust was doing clearly. “What is she up to?” she asked herself. Lightning Dust then settled down on top of her creation. “You still need to get a score, not sleep!” Spitfire reminded her.

“I really don’t like where this is going,” Twilight worriedly said. Fluttershy somehow knew what Twilight was thinking because she quickly hid inside our food cart with a towel covering her.

“Oh, I’ll get a score alright,” Lightning Dust said as she raised her front hooves up. “As soon I’m done doing… this!” she stomped her cloud, and a giant lightning bolt struck the ground. I screamed—we contestants all screamed! I even jumped up and tumbled down in shock. The sound of the lightning was so striking it literally almost gave us all a heart attack, including Spitfire, her escorts, the Mane Six and Gilda. We were also blinded by its flash temporarily, though my vision was still blurry after that. After I regained my sight after a few seconds, Lightning Dust was now beside me.

“What was that for?!” I complained to her then everyone followed. “You almost gave us a heart attack, ya know?!”

Lightning Dust just kept smiling even with all the sea of complaints filling her ears. “But I still got a perfect score.”

“What?” we fliers said in unison and turned to Spitfire.

Spitfire sighed and said, “She got a 10, fliers.” We didn’t believe it. She also got a 10? We were all murmuring to each other in disbelief.

“She frightened all of us. She doesn’t deserve that score!” Prism Glider commented.

“That wasn’t impressive at all! You scared and nearly killed us, Lightning Dust!” Opal Water commented, too.

“And it’s terrible!” Thunderlane added, and yawned.

I blamed myself for starting this hostility, ‘cause they all now wanted an argument with the storm cloud maker. Before everypony broke into a riot on Lightning Dust, Spitfire blew her whistle even louder that pierced our ears and turned us into silence. “Everypony, I know all of you want to object—”

“But it was impressive, right?” I cut in; thought I could stop these fliers from making a fight on Lightning Dust—there shall be no fighting! “All of you’ve got to admit that making that storm cloud and lightning bolt was cool. Yeah, she scared all of us, but at least we didn’t die, right?” They all exchanged looks, maybe trying to register what I was saying. My heart was pounding hard again. I defending somepony took a lot out of my confidence, especially with a lot of Pegasi around me. Doing this just gave me some severe anxiety, but I don’t want Lightning Dust being hated or berated. “W-w-we can all forgive her, r-r-r-right?” I stammered as I asked—my teeth were chattering in fear.

Everypony sighed, which I took as something positive. Spitfire blew her whistle again to call our attention and announced, “I’ll have no bickering! Right now, we have number 10 left to perform—Iwano Imagination.” Everypony eyed on me—the pony defending the lightning maker. I didn’t look at Lightning Dust for her reaction and I just went aloft. There wasn’t any punishment and everypony stopped their objections of Lightning Dust’s score and performance somehow. “Begin!”

I immediately zoomed upward to prepare my first move which Rainbow Dash taught me. Once I’ve reached the clouds and nopony was able to see me (while going upward, I spotted Pinkie Pie crawling fast and climbing the nearest flag pole probably hoping to spot me with her binoculars—where did she even got those?!), I took a deep breath to relax me from my anxiety. The wind blew my mane and cooled my face, which little helped me with my confidence.

I yelled out, “Here I go!!!” I was swiftly nose-diving down from the sky. My heart was pounding fast, thinking that this was what I’ve dream…No! I thought. This is just my first move! I was no math wizard, but I could sense my distance from the pavement. Three feet…two feet…one foot…

Everypony were agape. One centimeter!!! I quickly recovered by flashing to my left while avoiding the fliers below me—I almost hit them! They all ducked and I believed I almost hit Spitfire and her escorts as well. I slowly went upward again, spun around, stopped and spread my wings wide in front of everypony. I wanted to stop right now…I can feel my lungs…draining of breath. I’m tired.

“Buccaneer Blaze!!!” I cried out.

And fell down to the pavement with a loud thud on my skull.

Chapter 10: Bolt Tornado

View Online

So that was what Pinkie Pie’s Pinkie Sense was telling us.

I was running out of time, sort of. I really needed to wake up, but I was still unconscious and unaware of where I was. All I felt was softness on my back. Was I lying on bed? Was in a hospital or some sort of clinic in the academy? I really wanted to wake up and finish this competition and become influenced with Loyalty against my Faithlessness. What was happened? Oh, I fell to the pavement from my subtle exhaustion and difficulty of breathing. Eeyup, I should have told Rainbow Dash or Spitfire that I had asthma—I had asthma in Reality, too. Whatever, I needed to get up and maybe restart my turn for the Talent Phase.

I opened my eyes, sight blurry for a second and saw everything around me. I raise my head to my new surroundings. I was in a room alone lying on my bed. The room was just plain blue. I had a table on my left side of my bed, and on it was a letter. I levitated it with my magic and read it—

Dear Iwano,

Yeah, your crash was really, really bad. So the medical team bandaged your head and all, and you've been sleeping for awhile now. If you’re reading this and you’re awake, you gotta get your hooves and wings ready ‘cause you’re missing a lot of action. Gilda and Spitfire became top fliers now that you’re out of the way…but not for long. Get well fast and get on it!!!

Your cool coach,

Rainbow Dash the Awesome Pegasus of Equestria

PS: Twilight said you like letters, so she nagged me to do this.

While I was reading the letter, I part chuckled, part scowled in one of the parts Rainbow Dash wrote. Did she write it herself? Her voice echoed and hollered in my mind when I read the words. She was right; I needed to get up right now. I didn't wanna disappoint my coach! I have bandages? I thought. I touched my head and I felt the bandage wrapped on my head firmly. Was I bleeding when I hit the pavement? I didn't wanna know. What mattered was right now, I needed to get up and get back. I stood out of my bed, feeling a bit wobbly but well, I thought, and walked towards the door. I was about to reach out for it when somepony else opened it and came in. She sighed in relief when she saw me—her smile melted my heart a bit, but I wasn't in love with her.

Wait, how does Twilight know I loved letters and messages? Had she looked into my personal stuff in my saddlebag? I decided that thought should be set aside far away from my mind.

“I’m glad you’re awake!” Lightning Dust said. She was still wearing her Wonderbolts uniform. Why was she here? “How’re you feeling now?”

Wait, she wasn't supposed to show little concern for others, but it looked like she was really concern for me. Nah, I'd never mind that.

“A bit dizzy,” I replied as I went back to bed and sat down, and then I thought of Lyra Heartstrings. “Am I out of the competition due to my injury?”

“Your injury was healed two hours ago and you slept for another two. You were just temporarily out until you’re awake, Iwano.” Four hours. I glanced at my watch and it was 4:47 PM. I bet the other competitors were done with other parts of the competition. “Anyways, you need to get up right now for part two: Tag Phase. I think that’s the name, but I think they changed it. Let me unwrap that bandage for you.”

She carefully untied my bandages. As she did that, I felt hot air breathing from her nose. Was she blushing or had a fever? I stared at her eyes, hoping she would have contact with me. While her eyes were focused on untying, my eyes were able to contact hers. She suddenly fumbled my bandages and fazed.

She blinked. “Do you mind?” Lightning Dust asked. “Why are you starin' at me like that?”

I smiled calmly. “It’s just that I was wondering what your reaction was when I stood up for you when the other competitors objected about your ‘fright show’, Lightning Dust.”

“Uh—uh, uh, uh, uh…” she replied with a stutter. “I—I was happy. Yeah! I was happy—that you stood up for me. Yeah, stood up for me.” She was now done untying my bandages and dropped them to the floor. “Why are you asking that?”

“Your breathing was hot,” I replied. She tried to walk away a few inches, then she gotten her hind hooves tangled up by my bandages that she fell towards me. She was about to trip on her back. “Woah!” I caught her, pulled her and we fell down together on my bed—eye to eye, muzzle to muzzle. She was right on top of me!

We stared at each for a few minutes when Rainbow Dash came in and said, “Lightning Dust, I was supposed to monitor Iwano’s condition and not you! What’re you doing—Iwano?” She paused. Lightning Dust and I turned our heads on Rainbow Dash, flailed each other down to the floor and got our hoofing. Lightning Dust was fixing her mane and I was rubbing my head if it was still hurt. We gave an unnerving smile. “…Okay. I’ll pretend I didn’t see that. Anyways LD, get out!”

Lightning Dust scowled, and left Rainbow Dash and I alone. “So Iwano,” Rainbow Dash said. “Your skull really cracked like an egg, since you’re an egghead, dude.” She chuckled. That pony, I grimly thought. “But really, it was actually severe according to the x-ray and we all thought you were dead, but you sort of healed yourself all of a sudden. Your magic?”

I healed myself? I dead in a world meant that I would become a ghost or in rare cases never exist there. But how was I able to heal my cracked skull? I guessed being a very powerful Leader as an Alicorn in Equestria must have had many advantages, such as automatic repair of my head. I would like to just thanked myself—my magic or horn—in healing me.

“Well?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Uh, yeah,” I replied, a bit hesitant. “Being the ruler of Imaginundia and all, my magic’s way more powerful than Twilight’s—maybe even more than Celestia and Luna’s!”

“Uh-huh.” I bet she knew I was lying, which I wasn’t, maybe. “Since you’re back in shape, we gotta get back to the Bolt Wing.”

“Okay, I’m—what do you mean ‘we’, Rainbow Dash?” I asked.

“First of all, phase two is called the ‘Under Wing’ which we coaches will be partnering with our students in finding six flags—ugh, what’s up with the number six?—and we will be given a score depending on teamwork, speed and technique,” she answered. “And second, just please call me RD.” And after that, she gestured me to follow her, obviously back to the competition of course. We both exited my room and she told me I was in the medic building.

While walking through a hall leading to the exit, Rainbow Dash was mumbling under her breath. All I heard from her was “Lightning Dust”, “bed”, “mushy” and “me”. What was she talking about? Was she upset ‘cause Lightning Dust was with me, or that she was lying down on me? The three first words I heard from her I could define, but what was the last one? I had to admit, but Lightning Dust doing that was pretty great—a little great, I meant. And maybe because of that, Rainbow Dash was mad—at me. I really didn’t like being hated because that was going to affect my feelings. After Rainbow Dash mumbling, scowling and becoming upset, I was a silent. Angered or upset people/ponies frightened me.

Maybe I should do something about it.

“I don’t really like calling you by any nickname, Rainbow Dash,” I finally said.

“Why?” she asked irritatingly.

“I used to love calling my friends by nickname back home,” I answered. “But since I’m new here, I wish to call all of you ponies by full name.”

“What about Twilight? Why won’t you call her with Sparkle?”

I hesitated to answer and replied, “Uh, ‘cause her name’s right for me.”

“…Right. Well, I wanna know: how do you know so much about us and the adventures we had? It’s totally creeping me and maybe my friends out.”

“Well, Pinkie Pie isn’t even creeping out of me and, well, maybe you ponies are so well-known for your salvation of many things that stories and rumors have stretched far and wide in Equestria that it even reached my kingdom.”

“Were there any rumors that I was said to be really awesome?” she asked.

“Yes. I have to admit, but you’re an awesome coach, Rainbow Dash.”

She froze with an unnerved smile. “R-really?”

“Yes, you are awesome. Shall we keep going?”

She shook her head, as if to shake something out of her mind. “Yeah, Iwano, do you like me even if I tried and planned to humiliate you in front of everypony in Equestria in the first place?”

To be honest, I was developing more contempt on her for that but I must always forgive thy enemies—also annoying and brash pegasi. “Yes, Rainbow Dash. Let’s just do this together, alright?” Wait a minute, I thought. I gave out look of skepticism

“Anything wrong, green wing?” she asked. Great, I thought disdainfully. My very own nickname. It sounded like a cool name to me, though.

“What was my score? Was it a default?” I asked.

She bit her lips. “Uh, are you sure you wanna—”

“Yes I want to! Please tell me!” I begged as I zoomed near her.

“Are you sure?” she asked again.

“Yeah, come on!”

“Are you sure?” she repeated.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. “Yes. Again, yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah!”

“Are you really sure?”

“Yes.”

“Are you really, really, really sure?”

“Yes and yes!”

“Are you really, really, really, really, really, really sure, with no second thoughts or anything?”

“YES!” I answered in frustration, ruffling my mane.

“It was 4.”

My mouth dropped. 4…4?!

Twilight and her friends simultaneously asked me questions of my fall and “injury” once Rainbow Dash and I came to them. Twilight was intrigued of my regeneration that she almost doubted that it was magic. Rarity was sobbing tears of joy when she saw me and hugged me tightly, which made Rainbow Dash giggled and Spike jealous.

“I’m fine, Rarity,” I reassured and gasped for air as she let go of me. “I’m not de—” Applejack stuck an apple on my mouth. I knew what to do. I ate it quick and spat out the apple core. Applejack rubbed her head in question of my appetite. “Thanks for the apple, Applejack. Now,” I turned to Rainbow Dash. “I think I don’t need any training for the next part of the competition.”

She took a swig of apple juice from a cup she was holding. “That’s what I thought of too since you are a capable flier. We’ll just be waiting for a few more minutes before the Spitfire’s whistle blows—” As she said it, a whistle blared. “That’s our cue! My number’s the same as yours and come on!” She flew and pulled my tail as we were on our way to the assembly.

“Bye Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Spike and Applejack! Cheer me on!” I said.

“Just call them by nickname,” Rainbow Dash murmured.

When we arrived to the assembly, I tossed my head around. Where’re they? I thought. I was looking for Lightning Dust and Gilda with their coach partners. There were a lot of pegasi with their coaches that I couldn’t name them all. I was pretty ticked off when my score was 4. Spitfire probably didn’t accept retries. Being in abeyance was a total drab that I was missing things!

I then thought of sending a letter to Celestia, messaging her that everything was alright, so I asked Rainbow Dash and asked, “Can I get to the restroom? I’ll be quick!”

“Sure,” she replied. “Just take—” I took off and quickly found a restroom next to a building. “That’s why you’re a capable flier, Iwano.” She smiled.

Once I was in, I realized that I’d forgotten that my saddlebag was still with Twilight—I hoped she didn’t looked was within it. My second option was that I conjured a quill that inks its tip automatically and a paper. I then used my magic to held up the paper and quill, and wrote along fast—

Dear Celestia,

Everything was alright with me with Twilight and her friends…sort of.

On my first day, I slept with Applejack. To be honest, she barely influenced me with any of her Honesty, so I’m planning to take a retry if I get the chance. My Dissonance—Deceitfulness—slipped out of my grasp and ate the Sweet Apple Acres’ orchard’s apples, but I was able to fix everything.

On the second day was Rarity—Generosity. We were mining for gems and she reminded me of how to give, probably from the heart or mines. I also gave her a special diadem and a song. Was that sweet or romantic? Ugh, I don’t want any romance! But you can say she was able to influence me.

Today is the third day, and I’m with Rainbow Dash for Loyalty. She entered me in the Bolt Wing Competition. Initially, she was supposed to humiliate me in front of the Wonderbolts, fliers, audience and even the whole of Equestria, but when she saw one of my opponents, she was just all good as a coach.

I’ll be sending you more letters to you of my progress.

Sincerely the Imaginundian ruler,

Iwano Imagination

I used my magic to disappear my quill, rolled the paper, and breathed green fire unto it, turned it into ashes and they blew into the air as I opened the restroom’s door. I practiced that trick while I was preparing myself in IW for Equestria, just in case my communication with Cynthia would become limited.

“Time to get back,” I said to myself. “Wonder what kind of letter Celestia would reply back.”

I was in the nick of time as I arrived to Rainbow Dash when Spitfire showed herself to us as she was aloft with her two escorts. “I hoped all of you worked some chemistry with each other, ‘cause all of you are going to break your necks for this next phase—the Under Wing! All your coaches knew this next phase and probably told all of you about it. Now, you all got ten minutes to warm up!” Everypony then broke into strategizing, exercising, and had conversations for the Under Wing.

“We’re not gonna talk about anything of course,” Rainbow Dash told me. “You already knew what to do.” She was right, even if she didn’t told me the rules I really did know what to do. As a wimp and very obedient to my school teachers in Reality, I could easily follow instructions and knew what to do. I was an anticipating and participating type of pony, you know?

We weren’t doing anything at all. We were just looking at things. I saw Derpy with Snowflake exchanging YEAHS! to each other—she was wall-eyed and pretty annoying to me that I scowled. Airheart was doing pushups by Fire Streak’s command. Oh, maybe I should find the other competitors with their coaches, I thought. That way I could pass the time and get attacked by boredom. I glanced at Rainbow Dash and sure enough, she was bored as she yawned. Seven minutes later, I was able to identify every duo (Contestant - Coach) (I would also had to describe the coat, mane and eye colors of the coaches)

1. Rainbowshine - Wave Chill (His coat was steel blue, his mane was dark purplish blue, and so as his eyes were too)

2. Parasol - Midnight Strike (Her coat was very dark gray, her mane was very dark gray with light brilliant amber streaks, and her eyes were dark grayish vermilion)

3. Derpy Hooves - Snowflake (His coat was light gray, his mane was light amber, and his eyes were vivid red)

4. Cloud Kicker - Surprise (Her coat was white, her mane was yellow, and so as her eyes were too)

5. Gilda - ?

6. Dizzy Twister – Blaze (Her coat was golden yellow, her mane was orange, and so as her eyes were too)

7. Lightning Bolt - Misty Fly (Her coat was light yellow, her mane was blue with a light streak, and her eyes were too)

8. Merry May - Silver Lining (His coat was grey, his mane was light grey with white streaks, and his eyes were grey too)

9. Lightning Dust - Spitfire (Her coat was light brilliant gold, her mane was light brilliant orange with light brilliant amber streaks, and her eyes were brilliant orange)

10. Iwano Imagination - Rainbow Dash (I didn’t really need to)

11. Raindrops - Lime Jelly (Her coat was lime green, her mane was purple, and her eyes were light blue)

12. Sassaflash - Pizzelle (Her coat was cream colored, mane was yellow, and her eyes were green)

13. Sprinkle Medley - Honey Rays (Her coat was pink, her mane was yellow, and her eyes were orange)

14. Blossomforth - Sightseer (His coat was light grey, his mane was persian blue with light streaks, and his eyes were light green)

15. Flitter - Lightning Streak (His coat was light blue, his mane was light amber with pale amber streaks, and his eyes were amber)

16. Cloudchaser - Electric Blue (Her coat was light blue, her mane was pink, and her eyes were orange)

17. Wild Fire - Wild Flower (Her coat was pale, light grayish crimson, her mane was tan, and her eyes were blue)

18. Airheart - Lavender Skies (Her coat was cream colored, her mane was lilac, and her eyes were pink)

19. April Showers - Tropical Storm (Her coat was light green, her mane was pink, and her eyes were brilliant amber)

20. Milky Way - Rain Dance (Her coat was pale gold, her mane was pink, and her eyes were light blue)

21. Opal Water - Soarin (His coat was

22. Prism Glider - Rainbow Drop (Her coat was blue violet, her mane was light orchid, and her eyes were orchid)

23. Silverwing - Dust Devil (Her coat was greenish gray, her mane was brownish gray, and her eyes were purple)

24. Thunderlane - High Winds (Her coat was white, her mane was dark blue with lighter blue streaks, and her eyes were dark blue)

25. Blue Skies - Chocolate Blueberry (Her coat was sky blue, and her mane was brown, and her eyes were orange)

26. Drizzle - Grape Soda (Her coat was purple, her mane was ivory, and her eyes were yellow)

27. Great Scott - Q. T. Prism (Her coat was white, her mane was periwinkle, and her eyes were light periwinkle)

28. Serenity – Silverspeed (Her coat was gray, her mane was silver, and her eyes were purple)

I noticed that some of the coaches were the participants of the Winter Wrap Up and the fliers from the Hurricane Fluttershy episode. Cloud Kicker told me they volunteered mostly because they thought they’d be popular, while others were humble to fill in or experience the intense fun. Thunderlane admitted in our group conversation with the other background ponies that he didn’t want any part of this, and he’d rather stayed home and sleep. The reason why he was here was because High Winds carried him all the way from his home to here on a cloud while Thunderlane was asleep. I guessed he was lazy also in some fun activities.

My curious side suddenly nagged me about what Rainbow Dash was mumbling about when we were about to exit the medic building. What could make me anxious was people/ponies thinking about me, ‘cause I get insecure about it. I bitten my lips to keep me from asking, thought that if asking would make Rainbow Dash uncomfortable during the Under Wing. It didn’t worked, so I hesitantly looked frantically around me for anything distracting, without Rainbow Dash noticing me. I was sweating. I wished Pinkie Pie would wipe them, but I doubted she would while she was dancing and cheering with her pompoms. I’d got to look for something distracting. I saw Sassaflash whipping her mane back and forth—not distracting. I saw Thunderlane sleeping on the pavement while High Winds and Cloud Kicker were trying to budge his rump up with their heads—not enough. I saw Soarin rolling on the pavement—funny, but not enough either.

I’d finally gotten my lips shut when a pair of avian eyes stared at me and locked in a distance. How long was she staring at me? Why was she doing that? I was about to breath heavily through my nostrils when Rainbow Dash asked sweetly, “Do you want any refreshments?”

I thought she’d never asked, so I replied, “Sure! Thanks, Rain—” I’d gotten myself splashed with a cup a of ice cold apple juice, which made me yelp and startled that I also ducked down with my hooves on my head for another round. Realizing there was none, I stood up and asked quietly, “What w-was t-t-that f-for?!”

“Iwano, behind you!” she pointed behind me and I tossed my head to follow. Nothing and POP! More startled, I jumped high and hid myself in a cloud above Rainbow Dash. I then heard laughter. I peered from below and saw Rainbow Dash lying on the pavement, laughing and pounding her hooves on the concrete.

That pony…

“Okay, Iwano, get down from there,” she called out as she stood up. I flew down and landed shyly.

“What was that for?” I asked quietly.

“Uh, what was that?” she asked, apparently she barely heard me.

“What was that for?” I repeated softer and quieter.

She rubbed her ear. “Easily startled and soft-spoken? You and Fluttershy are the same, you know?”

“Why would you say that?” I asked while controlling my smile.

“You act all timid and shy like her. Remember when you were surrounded by your fans back in Ponyville that you hid yourself on the rooftop of the Town Hall?” she chuckled. “And I thought Pinkie Pie’s for you.”

I’d already know what she meant. A wimpy, powerful, clumsy green alicorn paired with a pink party, fourth wall breaking, random earth pony as a couple wasn’t going to be great. In my Top Mane Six list, Pinkie Pie was on sixth ‘cause she defies physics and was being too random in the episodes, though she was funny. But I would not be crushing on her, though—I’d got to stay focus. Rainbow Dash was on the sixth, by the way—you probably know why.

I snorted. “In your dreams, Rainbow Dash—that will never happen!” she was ignoring me. I waved a hoof in front of her face—none. “Uh, hello?” she was gazing on her left. When I followed her gaze, the pair of avian eyes was still staring at me. I gulped. Something told me that this competition would be a rough one.

A whistle blared.

Rainbow Dash wore the Wonderbolts uniform and our flanks are tagged with the number 10. Rainbow Dash would sometimes squeal wearing her temporary uniform. We competitors with our coaches were together as a crowd.

“The next phase is two—Under Wing,” Spitfire announced as she went aloft with Lightning Dust. She waved to me and I waved back shyly. “We’ll all be flying out of the academy immediately once I blow my whistle, which signals our start of the event. After that, all of you must collect six flags within thirty minutes as fast as you pairs can. And will be scored depending on each of all you timing by Manerick once you’ve all submitted your flags to him. The flags you all must sought are planted and hidden in the clouds around us and the academy, including outside—make sure nopony goes out of the academy’s boundary! This phase is all about teamwork, speed—”

“And to me, a test of both partner’s friendship.” A voice of regality spoke up from above. Landing in front of us all with her two pegasi Royal guards, Spitfire immediately landed and knelt down respect to the princess. Lightning Dust followed then Twilight, and then all of us—except me, my legs numbed. Twilight gasped when she glanced at me and flew straight toward me and demanded, “Princess Celestia is here, Iwano! You should kneel and—are you even listening?!” My legs were numb and my mouth dried. Was this bad? It must have been.

“It is okay, Twilight,” Celestia said. “You may go back and work on you cheer.”

“Cheer?” Twilight questioned. “Everypony stood up.

Spitfire cleared her throat. “Princess Celestia,” she kneeled and stood. “It’s an honor for you to be here. Are you here to watch our competition now, your highness?”

“Yes, captain,” Celestia replied. “I was supposed to be scheduled here for tonight to watch the third and final event, but somepony here gotten Luna and I excited to see this now.” Celestia winked at me, and Twilight noticed. I never knew Celestia would be here, especially Luna coming, too. My stomach cringed by the thought of Luna coming here. She would boo at me or maybe scowl, which was enough to turn me blue as her mane color. I’d wished my spirit would gradually grow brighter as Celestia raising the sun during phase two. Maybe Luna’s antipathy towards me was already enough to discourage me. Nopony would ever cheer for me. I’d hoped for this.

I will never succeed this time, I thought. This is Equestria. This world is different not only it’s because it’s full of ponies but my negative emotions are stronger here. Luna’s hate greatly supports it. Dissonance loves this…

“Do not glum,” Celestia said to me. I was surprised that she knew what I was thinking and she probably knew my sad expression. “I had told Luna not to scowl or anything related to that. Hold on to your coach, for she is formidable to reckon with during these kinds of events.”

“Yeah, you’re right, princess!” Rainbow Dash agreed. “You’re under my wings, Iwano.” What happened to the pony that was annoyed of my stalker info, presence and had dunked apple juice on me? It didn’t matter.

“I believe my sister will be here momentarily. She said she needs to check the weather and will be bringing the camera crew. So please start the competition, Spitfire.”

Spitfire was reluctant, probably ‘cause Celestia’s presence was honoring. “Y-yes, princess!” She gave a salute. “Fliers, take your positions!” We all did her order. I imagined myself as a military soldier, about to take off with my second flying coach wished Lorenzo would be here, but that was impossible.

My score from the first event didn’t bother me anymore the moment Spitfire blared her whistle, and we all too off.

Fast.

Everypony scattered with their partners in search for their six flags. I was cautious of where Gilda would be. When she eyed on me back in the runway, I was afraid that she would prey on me first, then Rainbow Dash. I’d never officially talked to her formally, but her talons might do it for her. I always thought that griffon needed some understanding or forgiving from her party fiasco in the Griffon the Brush Off episode. But right now, I thought there wouldn’t be any time for that soon.

“Listen to my commands, Iwano,” she instructed with a voice full of authority. “I need you to cover me while I’ll be getting our flags somewhere, just in case anypony wants to steal our win or strike at us.”

“They’re allowed to do that?!” I asked.

She smirked. “Yeah,” she replied followed by me gulping hard. “I know you have guts, so make use of them—I found one!” She descended flawlessly into a cloud and zoomed out towards me with an orange flag while I was waiting for her. Cover me!” She ordered as she flew passed me. I then followed her a foot away.

Slowly passing me suddenly was Midnight Strike (cool name). She was trying reach for Rainbow Dash. I was about to intercept her when somepony cling on my hind hooves. I looked back and saw Parasol, her face wearing a confident smile. She was flapping her wings back in an attempt to slow me down. Midnight Strike and she somehow figured it out by sight of what my coach was forming. Smart.

I was gradually getting farther away from Rainbow Dash. I fluttered, but it wasn’t working. Parasol’s grip must have been pretty tight from all that pushups Midnight Strike gave during the training in the first phase.

Rainbow Dash was alarmed she felt my absence a foot and a half already. Midnight Strike was beside her and tried to bump her, but Rainbow Dash simply dodged her and glanced at me with a wink. She had an idea. She held our flag above her and released it. Midnight Strike hesitantly stopped to grab the flag and block me, but what she only got was Parasol—I whipped a clinging Parasol unto Midnight Strike, causing them both to collide and crash each other safely on to a cloud.

“We’ll get you, Iwano!” Midnight Strike called out as she recovered with Parasol.

“Just you both wait!” Parasol added. “And good luck, Iwano!”

Rainbow Dash laughed as we flew together with me holding the flag. “That was awesome!” she said. I blushed. “Come on, let’s go get some more!”

I couldn’t help feeling a little prideful and at the same time sorry for our opponents. I guessed we were going to wipe this competition.

We stopped a few minutes later and scanned our aerial surroundings. I saw many pegasi chasing each other for their flags, beating each other up and some resting while hiding in clouds.

By the corner of my eye, I saw a pale, light grayish mulberry flag—it was pretty hidden in a cloud and it only showed little of its color. I nudged Rainbow Dash and pointed at the flag as she turned to my direction.

“Nice eye, Iwano!” she complimented. “I doubt I’d ever spot that.” I made my vision sharper literally like an owl’s. I was using half of my abilities from the Owl world to do this event. I was actually nearsighted, but with my owl vision I could see through the dark and enhance my sight. I thought this was considered cheating, but I actually didn’t mind. I really needed to win this!

As Rainbow Dash and I went toward our target, from a distance I spotted Airheart and Lavender Skies approaching. They didn’t spot us yet.

“Rainbow Dash, wait!” I whispered. She stopped and I pointed at our opponents. Rainbow Dash grinned. She tapped me and pointed at a cloud—we were supposed to hide. And we did.

“They’re too far to see us, Iwano,” Rainbow Dash said, “and you were able to spot them even in a distance? What are your eyes made of? Don’t tell me you’re using your magic.”

“Nah,” I replied. “I just could, that’s all. Anyways, I got a plan, which might be simple but it should work.”

After planning for a few seconds, Airheart and Lavender Skies were close to the mulberry flag when a nimbus cloud consumed them—it was Rainbow Dash who did that. She was to blow that thick cloud to block our opponents. And that was my cue to go into that cloud.

“What’s going on?” Lavender Skies asked Airheart.

“No idea, Lavender,” she replied. “I don’t know.”

“Hello, girls!” I appeared in front of them. They startled.

“Iwano? Were you the one who did this?” Airheart asked.

“The measure of the supplementary is two more than thrice the complimentary,” I said. “Find the missing number.”

“Uh…let me think,” Lavender Skies said.

“Me, too,” Airheart added. “This is hard.”

I was distracting them with geometry questions. I chuckled when they were rubbing their mane for the answer. I looked back and peeked behind me a small hole. I saw Rainbow Dash grabbing the mulberry cloud and nodded at my direction. That was the signal.

I tiptoed and quietly went out of the cloud while the two guessers were still thinking. I just kept chuckling.

Rainbow Dash and I regrouped. “For an egghead, you can be really, uh, cool!” she complimented which I thought was a part insult. “Anyways, we got our purple flag—four more!”

“Indeed, my coach. And that flag is pale, light grayish mulberry, Rainbow Dash,” I said as we flew.

“Egghead,” she teased. I fumed.

We now have two flags which Rainbow Dash was holding. I was starting to feel more focused and more confident, overwhelming my thought about Luna. I was not worried about her anymore. While I was thinking about it, I caught Rainbow Dash staring at me. I pretended not to notice.

This flag collecting event reminded me of my Safari Zone challenge in the Hoenn region, Pokémon world whereas I had caught ten Pokémon and won the competition. My prize there was that I could keep all of them. Speaking of prize, I was wondering if there would be other prizes besides becoming an official member of the Wonderbolts. Maybe the prize was money or a free trip to some resort. Nah, I would just ask Spitfire after this.

While wondering, Rainbow Dash was tackled by a pegasus pony and crashed into a cloud.

“Again with the crashing?!” Rainbow Dash complained as she was held down by Dizzy Twister.

I gasped. “Hang on, Rainbow Dash! I’m coming—!”

“Not a chance!” Blaze, a member of the Wonderbolts and the coach of Rainbow Dash’s tackler, blocked me when I was about to dive down for my coach’s aid. “Get the flag, Dizzy!”

Rainbow Dash had gotten our flags by her mouth, swerving her head away from Dizzy Twister’s attempt to get them. The rainbow-mane pony freed herself by kicking Dizzy Twister.

Tickle her…

I hesitantly charged towards Blaze and tickled her. She giggled uncontrollably and we fell down beside Rainbow Dash. My coach had done the same to Dizzy Twister. I then spotted a pink flag attached to Blaze’s suit. I took it and immediately said, “Fly!” Rainbow Dash and I quickly flew away before we were being pursuit by our opponents.

“Woohoo!” Rainbow Dash cheered “That was awesome—and unexpected. Anyways, how’d you come up with that?”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“The tickling, dude. We would had been goners and lose our flags—that was quick thinking.”

I’d liked to tell Rainbow Dash that something or somepony was whispering in my head. The voice was cold and dreadful yet persuasive. It was like it wanted to help me win this, but it was at the same time untrustworthy—it was evil. I began to thought that it was Dissonance—definitely Dissonance. But if I tell her about it, she would get uncomfortable or something. I would listen to Dissonance if he would be helpful. Was that also considered cheating? Whatever.

“Well, I was just hesitant to see you down,” I said, “I had to do something to save my coach and our flags.”

She glanced behind her. “Looks like Blaze and Dizzy Twister aren’t in our tails. Give me the flag, Iwano,” I followed.

“This is now actually quite fun, coach, though I felt sorry for our competitors.”

“Are you that soft?” she asked annoyingly.

“Yeah,” I admitted. “I honestly can’t stand seeing them losing or getting hurt. They would hate us for it or—”

“Hey! Don’t worry about it. If they mess with you, I’m beside you—you’re under my wing!”

I felt soft-hearted when she said that, but that didn't mean I liked her as my fave pony. She was still Rainbow Dash—brash, tomboyish, boastful, apparently lazy, insulting and a jerk sometimes—and she would stay that way. But since this was a competition Rainbow Dash technically forced me to join without any objections from me, then I’d got to win this for her.

“Thank you, Rainbow Dash.”

We had been flying for awhile now. I looked at my watch and it was 5:14 PM—the second phase had started by five.

“Orange, purple and pink,” Rainbow Dash enumerated, “We have three!”

“And three unexpected encounters,” I added. “Could there be more for us?”

I should have not said that—because we spotted Blossomforth and Sightseer on our tails! Rainbow Dash at the same time spotted a yellow flag below us.

“You really had to say it, huh?” Rainbow Dash muttered. “Any bright ideas?”

I turned my head around for any options…and I’d found one. “I have another one—please don’t just rely on me, okay?”

Meanwhile, Luna had landed and arrived followed by a camera pegasi crew. She sighed and walked towards her sister who was talking to Twilight, Applejack and Rarity.

“Iwano was doing fine, princess,” Rarity said, “and he was a very sweet gentlecolt, if you ask me.”

“I was suspicious of Iwano—how he’s too nice and a-all. I don’t think there’re really and Dissonance in him after all,” Twilight said nervously and her eye twitched. “I-I think he should just leave Equestria after the Bolt Wing.”

“What’s wrong, Twi?” Applejack asked. “You look a lil’ nervous of something.”

“Is it because of Iwano?” Celestia asked.

“Yes,” Twilight admitted. “Ever since we found him looking at merchandises in Ponyville’s Joke Shop, my spine tingled and my head turned cold. I thought it was a bad sign but after Iwano somehow conjured the acre’s apples back and saved the town from mannequins, I started to trust him a little. But I have to make sure he doesn’t do any funny.”

“Like how he ate all the apples,” Applejack added.

“Oh, stop bringing that up again, AJ,” Rarity said. “You already forgiven him and it are as if you still held a grudge on the poor alicorn.”

“Am I interrupting a conversation here?” Luna asked as she joined in.

“Luna, you have arrived.” Celestia said. “How is the camera crew and Discord?”

“The camera crew is fine, sister,” Luna replied, “and Discord is—”

“What’s wrong with Discord?” Twilight asked.

“Oh, nothing my student,” Celestia said. “I just asked Luna to check on him. He was doing good, as usual now in Canterlot and the castle.”

“Sister,” Luna’s voice became urgent. “While I was on my way to this academy, I saw large number of storm clouds heading here. You should call off this event immediately and—”

Lightning crackled and thunders boomed.

Luna scowled. “It is too late…”

“You mean we won’t be able to cheer?!” Pinkie Pie asked as she presented the ponies a neon lighted sign saying, GO, IWANO! GO!!! “I wanna cheer!”

Blossomforth and Sightseer were struggling for their sight as they were consumed by a flock of birds. It was I who came up with that idea to blind them. I just the asked the flock if they could help out by blinding my opponents while Rainbow Dash swiftly took their flag—a yellow one.

“Where did these birds come from?!” Blossomforth asked as she exasperatingly struggled.

“I don’t—” Sightseer spat out a bird from his mouth, “know where!”

Rainbow Dash and I were now flying with four flags in our possession. My coach can’t help but bragged about our success. “I go, like, ‘Hey! Lookie here!’ and they were all like, ‘Give it!’ and I swerve and dodge and loopy-loop and you go BAM! We got ourselves a flag!”

“Yes, yes we got it,” I muttered.

“I never knew you can be a feather brain, too. Who knew you can talk to birds like Fluttershy could.”

I fumed when she called me feather brain. “Uh, do you think Fluttershy and I are great together?” I asked as I blurted it out. What was I thinking?

Her eyes widened. “You have crush on Fluttershy?!” she laughed. I then gave her my glare—the Glare. She silenced, and then she chuckled. “You have a glare and she got the stare? HA! You two are so meant for each other—animal lover, wimp, obedient and…” I gave her my hardest Glare. “Oh, uh, yeah, you two are great for each other.” I couldn’t tell what she was mumbling under her breath again. What was she talking about? At least she stopped teasing when I glared at her.

“Anyways,” I said, “we now have four—”

“Look down there, a white!” We stopped flying and Rainbow Dash pointed at a white flag hanging under a cloud. I thought anypony could spot that upside down. With my enhanced avian vision, I saw Cloud Kicker flying towards it. I hadn’t seen Surprise with her. My guess was that they split up to find their flags faster.

“Cloud Kicker’s coming towards our flag,” I told Rainbow Dash. “I’ll distract her again while you get the flag.” Our white flag was suddenly snatched away from our sight Silver Lining in a flash. I was agape.

Rainbow Dash rolled her sleeves back, as if she were wearing them, and told me, “You take these.” She handed me the flags. “I’m getting the white!” She zoomed out of my sight to chase Silver Lining.

I gulped. What if somepony ambushed me and took my flags? I was breathing nervously that I began to hyperventilate. I was worried. I was anxious. I was too weak. I…tasted milk?

I held my head up—it was raining milk?

“What was going on?” I asked myself. Okay, this was crazy. “I have a bad feeling about this…”

Raining milk’s good right? Something whispered in my head. I mean, you love milk, Iwano.

“It’s Discord’s doing,” I deduced, though I wasn’t sure if that voice in my head was his.

“This doesn’t make sense,” Twilight said. “Why is it raining milk?”

“The real question is: why isn’t it raining chocolate milk?” Pinkie Pie retorted. Twilight rolled her eyes. “Why isn’t it raining chocolate milk like the last time Discord came to Ponyville?!”

Twilight gasped. “Discord must be doing this!”

“Impossible, Twilight,” Fluttershy said, “Discord is now good, remember?”

“I do not believe this is Discord’s work, either Iwano’s,” Celestia said.

“How can you tell, princess?” Applejack asked.

“It is just a feeling,” Luna muttered. “My sister always said that the moment Iwano entered Equestria.” Her face was distasteful when she said my name.

“That doesn’t mean it’s his fault, my sister.” Celestia turned to Twilight. “Find Spitfire and tell her by my order is to temporarily stop this event until this milky rain stops. I’m afraid something stronger than this rain would come.”

Twilight nodded. “Fluttershy, I need your help in this too to find Spitfire.”

“Uh, okay,” Fluttershy replied shyly as she and Twilight flew to air in search of Spitfire.

“This could be only the work of Iwano,” Luna said. “It is his fault!”

“Luna, it is not Iwano’s fault, remember what I said? Please, reduce your contempt towards the green alicorn. His Dissonance would increase if it feels any hate for him.”

Luna scowled. “I still dislike this alicorn. Why must we help him while we could just banish him to the moon, like how you had done to me a thousand years ago? His Dissonance within him makes him a threat, so he deserves that for all of Equestria’s safety.”

This was now making Celestia’s head ache, as if she’d been listening to her sister’s complaints all day. So she turned to Rarity and asked, “Can you tell my sister with Applejack on how Iwano was doing great in Ponyville?”

“My pleasure, princess,” Rarity accepted. “Iwano is a sweetheart, after all.”

“Why’s it raining milk, Iwano?” Cloud Kicker asked. We were talking in midair.

“I don’t know,” I replied, and then I became alarmed. “Wait, why are you with me? Don’t take my flags!” I covered the flags with my arms—hooves?

“That’s what I’m supposed to do,” she admitted. “But when I saw your face of how defenseless you are, I felt sorry so I’m not doing it! Anyways, have you seen my coach?”

“I don’t know either,” I answered. “We have to part ways before…” I faltered.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. I spotted a white flag strapped behind her. Should I steal it? If I do, she would hate me. I’d no choice for Rainbow Dash and me to win.

“Let’s land on a cloud for a break shall we?” I asked. She nodded.

When we landed on a cloud, she asked nervously, “Um, Iwano, how do I look in my Wonderbolts uniform?” she poised for me to get a better view of her. I began to breathe heavily and heart pounded.

Oh, come on, Iwano! I told myself, stop being mesmerized by these ponies! You love Fluttershy, so she’s for YOU!

I sighed. “You look pretty.”

She blushed, and giggled, then sighed dreamily, and then stared at me dreamily. I gulped. My head began to vibrate.

I have to faze her. “Uh, do you like Thunderlane?”

She knitted her eyebrows. “N-no—I don’t really like him! We’re a just friend, that’s all. What makes you ask that?”

I sighed heavily. Honestly, I’d wanted to ditch her, and find and help Rainbow Dash. But I wouldn’t ‘cause I thought it was wrong. I had to try and leave with her white flag.

“I understand you,” she said, “that you can be shy and timid like Fluttershy and all. Sorry, by the way.”

“Sorry for what?”

“Y-you look uncomfortable.” Was she able to tell my unnerving expression? Maybe my face was just a little too exposed. I also thought I was being stupid around females like Rarity and Cloud Kicker. “Should I leave?”

“N-No!” I insisted. “Sorry for acting like this, Cloud Kicker. Between you and me, I’m stupid with girls.”

“Just take it.” She handed out her white flag to me.

I blinked. “Why? That’s your only flag! Maybe you had a hard time—”

“Surprise still has four. I’ll just tell her somepony took it!” she was smiling happily at me. Why was she being nice to me? Was she being deceptive? I thought that was ridiculous.

Take it… you earned it. That voice again. Was it Discord or Dissonance? Two of them are the same, except Dissonance was purely evil that surpasses Discord’s greatly since his reformat to good in the episode Keep Calm and Flutter On.

I shook my head of that voice and said, “Thank you.” I took the flag.

“Good luck, Iwano. You should leave now.” I didn’t say anything else, and left her. Was that kindness she’d done? Why was she nice to me? Was it because she thought I was a good guy/stallion? Whatever the reason, I was just glad she’d done that. And it was actually quite generous of her to do that, so I secretly used my magic and conjured a sapphire on my hooves, and tossed it to her in return of her flag gift. She caught it and held it on her face tenderly rubbing it on her cheeks. I blushed.

It was still raining milk. My suit wasn’t wet but my mane was. The Wonderbolts uniform must had been water proof, maybe just in case Wonderbolts members would dive on water in some situations. I had forgotten to wear my goggles, but I thought was driven now to win this event. I had gotten 4 in the first phase—I had to do my best! Time by time, I raised my head and opened my mouth to drink the milk drops. I didn’t care if this milk rain was acidic or poisonous; I just needed some energy or some calcium during my flight. Besides, I felt like my wings were about to give in. I should have rested more with Cloud Kicker on that cloud, but I had to keep going before thirty minutes was up.

I stopped midair and saw Rainbow Dash passing by below me turning her head in search of somepony, probably for me. I was happy to see her, but I became saddened when I saw her expression sulky.

“What had happened to her?” I asked myself as I flew toward my coach. “Coach?”

“Oh, hey Iwano,” she said sadly. “I lost the flag—what?!” She spotted the white flag I held on my hoof with our other requirements. She looped around and cheered “Woohoo!” as she saw it with happiness. I just grinned. “How’d you get it?”

“I just found another one, Rainbow Dash,” I lied. “I was looking for you, too.”

“Hey, it’s raining milk. Have any idea?” she asked. I shrugged in reply.

As if on cue, thunder rumbled and lightning crackled. The milky rain became a downpour all a sudden so we both wore our goggles, though there were little residue of milk in them but it didn’t blinded us.

This weather had now become a typhoon.

I was surprised that we were still flying no matter what the condition was, like this one. I saw some other pegasi flying, but they were having difficulties in balancing that some settled on clouds and covered themselves with its fluff like water repelling blankets. Others were persistent to continue, which I found impressive yet risky in this kind of condition. I wondered if Spitfire would call off this event and postpone—no, she should not! This event must go on!

“How’re you doin’, Iwano?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Still got some guts to take this weather?”

“Yeah, I can still do this!” I replied confidently. “What about you? Why? Can’t handle it anymore?”

“Are you kidding me?! Milk ain’t gonna stop us from winning—how much time left?”

I glanced at my watch and it was 5:20 PM. “Ten minutes.”

“Aw man! We gotta hurry up! Well, just like what I said: milk ain’t gonna stop us!”

“But I will, Dashie!” I voice spoke up, and I was tackled farther away from my coach by somepony.

“Iwano!” Rainbow Dash cried out. She was about to come after me when a gale blew her off course, sending the pegasus pony lost in the storms. “IWANO!!!” Lightning drowned our cries for help.

“RAINBOW DASH!!!”

The apprehender and I crashed landed on a black cloud. I struggled and tried to kick out, but whoever was holding me down was strong. Flashes of lightning made it difficult for me to make out the face of my apprehender.

Stupid! I chided myself, you’re in danger! This is unlike what the other competitors would do! I had to break the rules, so I used my magic and blasted my apprehender high, and she was struck by lightning. I rolled away to avoid being crushed by my falling suspect.

“Who’re you?! Why did you do that?!” I demanded as I stood up while panting. Lighting flashed again and revealed her face.

Gilda.

“You’re tough, aren’t ya?” she asked. “Heh, it’s no wonder why Dashie picked you.”

“She initially picked me to humiliate me in front of everypony in Equestria!” I corrected her. “And yeah, she picked me for that reason, too.”

“Wonderin’ why you’re here with me?”

“Yes! What?” Rage and confusion was now boiling up in me.

“I ain’t wanna kill you or anything, just some…pay back.” Flashing lightning and thunder boomed on cue.

“Pay back?” I searched my memory on why would Gilda wanted one. And then I already thought of it. “Rainbow Dash is your ex-friend, so you want to pay her back by doing what?”

“I want you,” she pointed at me, “to partner up with me and torment her. Give her a big piece of her own prank medicine!”

I gasped. “Why would I do that? She’s my friend!”

“Oh, really?” she mused. “I knew how you dislike her and dunked you with apple juice. I mean, she even called you an egghead. Do those things even tick you off? If you partner up with me, we can torment her further!”

I gulped. “I was afraid to say this but, you’re right,” I admitted. “She is ticking me off. I hated her from the beginning!” I said these out loud ‘cause I meant it. I gritted my teeth angrily and thought of all the things mean and brash things Rainbow Dash had done to others and to me.

That’s it, that’s it! Keep doing it!

I ignored that cold voice in my head.

“I HATE YOU, RAINBOW DASH!!!”

My echo of anger woke up Rainbow Dash lying on a cloud unconscious. She turned her head around and licked her lips for the flavor of the milk. She heard my words.

“He… he hates me?” she dreadfully asked herself. “W-why?” she held her head up with her hooves on her ears. “Why is his voice so loud in my head?!” she shook to remove my words, but it didn’t worked. Her expression was even glummer than mine when I thought of Luna booing at me.

“No, Rainbow!” she told herself as she flew up high. “He does not hate me! Whatever that thug said to Iwano, I’m gonna clobber him!” as she punched her own hoof, she zoomed through the storms in search for her student.

Meanwhile, the fliers with their coaches were now rounded up back to the academy and into a large barrack for shelter against the typhoon. Celestia was inside along with the other Mane Six.

"I really wanna help," Spike grumbled, "and all I can do is just sit here with all the other pegasi here waiting for this stupid, Iwano-made typhoon to stop, and telling everypony to calm down." He became worried. "Oh my, I hope Twilight has some plan to fix this weather."

"Don't worry, little dragon," Wild Fire said to him. "Twilight already found a way."

"What way?"

"And not only her, Princess Luna's on it, too."

Spike scowled. "I feel unimportant."

"At least you're calming us down, little dragon."

"And the name's Spike, by the way."

Celestia was counting all the fliers when suddenly her face turned appalling. She asked everypony loudly, “Has anypony known the whereabouts of Twilight, Spitfire, Rainbow Dash, Lightning Dust, Gilda and Pinkie Pie?”

Everypony murmured, unknown of the ponies’ whereabouts Celestia had enumerated.

Celestia gasped. “Where is Luna?!”

“Okay, dude, calm down,” Gilda said calmly as she gestured me to do so. “I’ll take that as a yes—it’s official that now we’re…partners?”

My head was lowered and I was vibrating. The gales were blowing in my way and unbalancing Gilda. The typhoon was now getting worst…and I loved it. I went aloft and began to spin around like a top.

“Iwano, knock it off!” she begged. “You’re not okay with it?!” Crackling pink lightning replied to her instead—pink lightning? “What are ya?!”

I grinned, but it wasn’t mine. My eyes began to glow red as blood. I snorted out black smoke from my nostrils, I felt fangs growing out my teeth, and my Wonderbolts uniform turned dark hued and black and my goggles’ lenses turned yellow. What was this power I was feeling when I remembered everything Rainbow Dash had done? From the back of my mind, it was telling me to stop, but I couldn’t help it. It felt good.

“Volt Tackle!” I cried out with an unknown voice. I charged towards Gilda while being enveloped in black electricity. Gilda hesitated and tried to fly away, but I was too fast for her to avoid as I hit her directly on her back which my horn nearly pierced through her feathers—maybe even through her skin.

I then fling her up and she was paralyzed by the electrocution.

“What’s happening?!” I demanded myself. I suddenly began seeing scenes in my head of Rainbow Dash. The downpour of milk was now rather like a waterfall. Instead of the usual yellow or white lightning, they were pink. That was ridiculous! Why would—wait.

I ignored her even if she was peering above me on a cloud. Rainbow Dash was staring at me hopelessly thinking of what I am right now. “What’s happening to him? What did Gilda do?” She spotted Gilda twitching. The pegasus flew stealthily to Gilda and whispered, “What’s going on?”

Gilda’s beak was stiff but she was able to say only a few words. “He…said he hates…you…”
What have I done to make Iwano go nuts? Rainbow Dash asked herself. She tried to remember everything she had done to me. “Maybe the apple juice wasn’t a good idea after all. And maybe I should stop calling him an egghead. I can’t believe those little stuff would turn him into that.”

“I was glad I never became like that when you called him an egghead, Rainbow.” Rainbow Dash turned her head around to see Twilight, Fluttershy and Rarity with each ropes tied each on their hind hooves for pulling the air balloon of Twilight, which contained Applejack and Spike. Pinkie Pie wasn’t with them. “I have to agree: those little things you’d done to him would turn him into that.”

“W-what should we do?” Spike asked his friends.

“By the looks of his state and that feeling I’m now sensing within him, I suspect that he’s in the state of Dissonance,” Twilight said. “Well, not completely, though.”

“There has to be a way to stop him from bringin’ tis’ typhoon even stronger,” Applejack said.

“Wait, so this was all his work?” Spike asked.

“I believe so.” Twilight said. “But we need to figure out fast in how—” A though crossed her mind like the lightning. “Rainbow Dash, tell me everything from this point.”

Rainbow Dash was reluctant from the thought of me being in my partial Dissonance state, but she sighed to relieve herself and said only one sentence, “He said he hates me.”

“That’s it!” Twilight exclaimed. “Rainbow Dash, you need to apologize to him!”

“WHAT?!” Twilight’s friends all asked in unison.

“I don’t wanna get zap-tackled by Iwano!”

“Rainbow…” Twilight growled.

“Twilight…” Rarity frighteningly said as she pointed at me.

I began spinning in high speed, turning myself into a colored green pony tornado. I was sucking in the black clouds and the milk drops where all falling directly into my vortex. Lightning zapped out of me as I spun around even faster than the tornadoes in Hurricane Fluttershy and Wonderbolts Academy episodes.

“It’s like the weather’s now in his full command,” Twilight said. “Rainbow, do it!”

Rainbow Dash was reluctant at first, but she gathered her confidence which I’d crushed with my contemptuous shout of her. She wore a determined expression and turned to Twilight and said, “I got a better idea!”

“Do you think you can, Loyalty?” a voice boomed from my tornado. “His contempt is stronger by the thought of you, you insolent pegasus!”

“Is tha’ Iwano’s voice?” Applejack asked as she held on to her hat. “It sounded evil.”

Rainbow Dash then dashed towards me.

“Rainbow Dash, NO!” the rainbow pony’s friends cried out to her, but Rainbow Dash ignored and done what she wanted. She flew up high until nopony would be able to see her with all the milky drops blinding them. When Rainbow Dash reached the limit of her distance, she took deep breaths.

“Okay, I think this is either me or Gilda’s fault. I have to stop him—here I GO!!!” she dive down, unfazed of the typhoon’s wrath of milky raindrops and scented gales. She picked up speed quickly. She had a pancake face and she was tearing—both by the speed she was picking up, and for me. “I’M. GONNA. SAVE. YOU. IWANO!!!” She felt the sound barrier breaking, her muscles tensing, saliva dripping from her pancake faced jaws.

A sound of a sonic boom occurred, louder than the thunders, accompanied by a colorful shockwave and a rainbow in trailed in its wake.

The Sonic Rainboom versus my Bolt Tornado…

The Sonic Rainboom clashed into the Bolt Tornado, causing tendrils of rainbow lighting to burst out everywhere. My friends panicked and began avoiding frantically from being zapped.

“Oh! Ah! Eek! Can this get any worse?!” Rarity complained as she dodged zaps while keeping her diadem firmed on her head. It had gotten worst when a rainbow lightning struck Twilight’s balloon into complete ashes. “Okay, I take it back!” she screamed in terror. A lightning was about to hit her when Applejack ducked Rarity down. “Why thank you, AJ!”

“Don’t mention it, sugar cube,” Applejack said. “Twi! Do somethin’? I can’t just protect everypony with just one body!” She was exasperatingly tired already. She had been dodging and saving her defenseless friends at the same time.

“Girls, stay close to me and hang on!” Twilight ordered. When her friends grouped with her, Twilight began conjuring a pale purple shield around them like a dome.

“Nice thinkin’, Twi.” Applejack complimented as she wiped the sweat and milk from her face.

“Oh, my mane is going to smell foul if this doesn’t get shampooed quickly,” Rarity said as she tapped her mane, now sticky and milk-scented.

“Uh, girls,” Fluttershy said, “I can’t help but wondering where’s Pinkie Pie.”

“I wish I could worry about her right now, Fluttershy,” Twilight said. “But we’ve got to worry about Iwano and Rainbow Dash. Their clash is going to be catastrophic!” She shook her head. “Rainbow Dash, why would she think of that approach? She should’ve just apologized to Iwano—that would be better than increasing this typhoon!”

“How’d you know Rainbow Dash apologizing to Iwano would be the only way, Twi?” Spike asked.

“Iwano said he hates Rainbow Dash, probably because of her past doings and attitude—he must had disliked her from the beginning, apparently.”

Blast Rainbow Dash, something whispered in Twilight’s head, blast her. Help her…

“What?” Twilight asked herself.

“What’s wrong, Twilight?” Rarity asked.

“Something whispering in my head told me to blast Rainbow Dash. That would be ridiculous!”

“I’m not so sure, Twilight,” Fluttershy said, “but I think it’s the only way.”

“Or maybe that voice wants me to blast our friend and let Iwano spread out his winds,” Twilight gently countered. “Fluttershy, what makes you say that?”

“…a feeling.” Twilight’s eyes widened.

“A feeling,” Twilight repeated. “That’s what I’ve felt about Iwano around me. I think you’re now feeling it, too. Anyways, blasting Rainbow Dash, just like what I said, is ridiculous—even beyond that. I think we have too—” Twilight’s magic dome began to fade and wavered, slowly giving way to the typhoon’s gales. Twilight sighed vexingly. “I think we had no choice. I doubt my magic would do anything to Iwano the tornado, though.”

Her friends exchanged looks of uncertainty, but they had no choice. Twilight thought of what would happen to Rainbow Dash if being blasted, but the thought of me was already settling in her head like super glue. “I’m going to dissipate the dome now. Girls, stand your ground and keep your hooves firm on the cloud.” Rarity frantically gathered up clouds and hugged tightly a tree-like cloud, while the others done what Twilight said. Twilight took a deep breath, and dissipated the dome.

And she blasted a streaming beam on Rainbow Dash.

“Woah! Twilight, what’re doing?!” Rainbow Dash asked. Her friends gasped—in astonishment.

Twilight was pushing herself to hold her beam on Rainbow Dash, sweat and milk dripping on her face. Her eyes were closed, but she squinted to see what her friends were gasping at. “What’s…wrong…girls?! What in the name of Celestia’s happening?!” She can’t stop beaming, but she was able to see Rainbow Dash glowing.

Rainbow Dash turned different. Her coat became pure white as snow. Her mane was flared up but still had her rainbow color. Her eyes became vivid red. Her enveloping rainbow aura consumed in strips of iridescent flames. Her cutie mark’s white cloud turned into storm gray.

My tornado began to weaken, the typhoon lessening its power, and the downpour became a drizzle. Rainbow Dash’s aura was heating up that she glowed bright as the sun that every one of her friends dried up from milky sogginess.

Our clash began to glow together in iridescence. Applejack quickly jumped unto where Twilight’s balloon disintegrated and grabbed a rope. “It’s a good thang my lasso’s in one piece. Yeehaw!” Applejack made a lariat and lassoed Twilight to her, using herself as her friend’s cushion. “I think that’s enough, Twi! Twi?”

Twilight was staring at the colorful clash. It became too bright for her friends to see, so they all looked away.

My tornado tumbled down and dissipated. The typhoon completely stopped along with the milky drizzle.

Loyalty, you won this round. But in the next one, your wings won’t help you.

Super Rainbow Dash defeated my Bolt Tornado.

Chapter 11: Extriris Velochrome

View Online

I believe your clash with Rainbow Dash as an uncontrollable tornado and weather wielder must have been very intense that I had felt it from here. That was Faithlessness, the Dissonance opposite of Loyalty, who controlled you, thanks to the griffon who unknowingly triggered your anger. Somewhere where you live, you must have an antipathy towards Rainbow Dash. I knew the reason. The next time somepony tempted you in betraying your own friends, search your heart and think it through. I know you have a strong heart; it is just that you needed to do something right. And not let your emotions overwhelm you. You still have a mission to complete here in Equestria. Your friends are still with you, and Twilight is exhausted from boosting Rainbow Dash’s Sonic Rainboom that it gave her some sort of unknown power. I can feel in from your heart that you have Loyalty within—hold on to it. Albeit Rainbow Dash is herself, I know you can endure it and accept it. You are a good pony, Iwano. I believe in you. Now, awake!

Ugh, I really needed to control my emotions from triggering my Dissonance. So that was Faithlessness? I wanted to think that everything that had happened to me was senseless.

What was that voice again?

Gilda asking me to join her in taking down Rainbow Dash, I had to admit, was the best. I would have accepted it, but I really did know that it was wrong. And I wasn’t villainous to do that. Was that the reason Gilda joined this competition? Was she eyeing on me because I could be used against Rainbow Dash, to hurt her feelings and destroying her at the same time? And does she even have a coach? Okay, that question was out of the subject.

What I must asked myself right now: where was I now?

I was hearing voices around me, and I was familiar of them.

“I can’t believe his mane’s still neat, unlike mine now.”

“He was just intense and awesome!”

“I was so glad he’s not hurt, but I’m surprised he’s just unconscious.”

“Iwano can be quite a threat there, but I’m so relieved!”

“Ooh! I wanna show him my surprise! Eee!”

“Wow, I wanna see that clash again!”

“He would definitely be surprised. I just can’t believe it, his magic is that powerful?”

My sight was blurry at first, but I got it back a few seconds later. I was lying down on bed. I was surrounded by my friends—Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Spike, and Twilight Sparkle. They all backed probably to give me space—or maybe I might turn myself into a tornado again—when I lifted myself up. I stared at all my friends around me with their faces mixed together with gladness and worry.

My head stopped agape and gawking at Pinkie Pie. She was still Pinkie Pie, all cheery with her bright smile and happy eyes, but what made her eye catching to me…was her wings.

My friends all looked where I gazed at and Twilight stepped forward and explained, “Um, how can I say this? Your rainbow lightning that you and Rainbow Dash created while both of you clashed not only it can disintegrate objects, but it also turned Pinkie Pie into a Pegasus pony—” she noticed my shocked expression. “I see you’re surprised of it. We were all surprised.”

“Queen Chrysalis’ cackle,” I said, “that is just freaky—what I’d done?!” I began to hyperventilate, freaking out of the sight of the fourth wall breaker as a Pegasus pony. At least she wasn’t a Unicorn—that could have been worst!

I began to remember that Pinkie Pie was based on a Pegasus pony who looked just like her. Lauren Faust, the former executive producer of MLP (I was saddened of her quitting the show) if I remembered correctly, drew Pinkie Pie originally from that Pegasus. Was I correct?

“Look at me, Iwano!” she said as she flew around the room. “I’m a super pony! I can swoosh down villainy, fly and get clouds and color them cotton candy, and I can fly! I never dream of being Pegasus. Of course I didn’t dream it—it happened! I’m now like Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash—” she embraced both her Pegasi friends, “and we’ll both fly in search of fun! Oh, I didn’t make a check list of what to do with me and my new wings! Wait, will my parents be shocked if I ever tell them that I’ve turned into a pony with wings? I think they’ll be happy for me! I can now have fun, prepare parties and party in Cloudsdale—I wanna go back to Cloudsdale!—and I bet I can become an Alicorn someday—but no, that’s impossible, I have no horn! Oh, I can’t wait to…”

My ears were ringing harder than Applejack using a bell signaling for mealtime. I couldn’t stand the party pony talking and talking while my ear would bleed soon, so I screamed, “Will you shut up?!”

Pinkie stopped in midair motionless—how was she able stay in midair while her wings were paused?—and my friends froze. My eyes were twitching and Pinkie Pie’s voice randomly reeled in every word she said. The second I hated after Rainbow Dash was Pinkie Pie’s talkativeness. I referred being silent and reading a book. The last thing I wanted to read was a pink pony’s lips.

I realized that I was rude. I blushed in embarrassment and apologized, “Uh, sorry. I don’t like chatter mouths that much, it makes my head go wonky and spinning,”

“Aw, that’s okay, Iwano,” Pinkie Pie said as she continued flying around. “I never knew that, so I promise not to be annoying around you!”

She was still happy and not offended of my rudeness. “But, you’re not affected?”

“Nope-wope!” she replied. “You’re a friend and I always want to understand them.” In Reality, students in my school were often annoyed of my talkativeness, so I became silent ever since. I never knew Pinkie Pie would accept that. That was…good.

I then remembered. “Oh! Sorry for becoming a tornado and causing a typhoon, girls. Gilda just said something—but it’s not her fault! It was my fault for not controlling my emotions.”

“Not her fault?!” Rainbow Dash repeated. “That griffon’s just here to mess with me, ya know?”

“And how can you tell?”

“Uh—I just say so!” she flew midair and crossed her hooves.

“Iwano,” Twilight said. “While you and Rainbow Dash were clashing, a voice in my head told me to blast her which helped stop further calamity. Do you have any idea what it was?”

“I thought I was the only one hearing that,” I replied, “but no, I don’t have any idea. I was hearing voices in my head too, but it’s hard to make out who owned those voices—there were two. And yours was just one?”

“Can you describe it?” I became serious.

“It was a whispering tone and it sounded like trickery, but cold too to my ears.”

“Hmm…cold, you say? That’s what those voices in my head were, too.” Wait, does that voice when I was knocked out counted? If so, then I was hearing three…

“That beam Twilight blasted me turned me into some kind of white, rainbow-blazin’ Pegasus,” Rainbow Dash said happily. “I wished that happened again.”

“But I told you, it was actually temporary, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said reminded her. “And I think I don’t want to do that again. It exhausted me for an hour.”

“Oh, wait,” I said. “What’s our score, coach?” I leaned toward.

“Good news: it’s 9! That gives us a total of 13. But Gilda and Lightning Dust are both 14.”

I held my head tight. “Let me get things straight: Pinkie Pie turned into a Pegasus because of a rainbow lightning, the typhoon was caused by me, and…the Bolt Wing’s still on?”

Rainbow Dash nodded. I smiled. “I won’t let this competition end without me!”

Some were glaring and some were staring.

As we walked back to the pavement in preparation for third and final event, Spitfire flew and landed towards me. I anticipated her to disqualify me in for almost endangering the Pegasi and others in the competition. Instead she sighed and told me, “You’re still in this competition, Iwano. We understand your condition now thanks to Princess Luna. We’ll be cautious about it during the race and everypony got it.”

I felt uneasy of that. “Thank you for telling me that, Spitfire. I just hope nopony hated me for that.”

“Err, actually, I’d heard Pegasi commenting about you, mostly negative ones. Sorry about that, though.”

I felt down and Rainbow Dash comforted me with her hoof on my back and said, “Don’t worry, Green Wing. They just don’t understand. Come on! Let’s just warm up for the race.”

“But the race isn’t goin’ to start until five, Rainbow Dash,” Applejack told her. “Stop being too excited and let’s just unwind for awhile, okay sugar cube?”

“I’m okay with it,” I said. “I just wanted to roam around. We’ll warm up later, coach.”

She nodded and I just wandered off.

“I’m following him,” Twilight told her friends, “just to make sure it won’t happen again.”

“Come on, Twi,” Rarity said. “Give him some space for awhile. He just turned back to normal and we must not give any deviations.”

“I’m with Twilight!” Spike raised his hand and hopped on Twilight’s back. “Go, my trusty steed!”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “I’m sorry, girls. I can’t let him off that easily anymore.”

“Wait,” Fluttershy said. “Can you give him his saddlebag back, Twilight? I think he needed it back now.”

“Keep it with you, Fluttershy. I think he won’t like it, but I’m going to look through his saddlebag soon. He probably has a forgetful memory. And I know it’s wrong, but I can’t help being very curious of his identity. I’m going to follow him now.” Twilight departed from her friends with Spike and went walking off to follow me. Her friends showed uncertain expressions as they all had their reservations about Twilight’s choice, and Pinkie Pie was just swimming—flying—in midair.

While wondering, there were Pegasi who were veering away from me the moment we were about to pass each. I was hurt. I just couldn’t believe my actions would already cause most Pegasi to hate me. I hoped there were some who still liked me.

And pretty much, somepony still liked me as a friend. Cloud Kicker, along with Lightning Dust, Thunderlane, Flitter and Parasol, walked towards me with a friendly face, unlike the others. At least I knew they didn’t despise me for my tornado performance. Come to thought of it, I wondered how everypony learned that I caused the typhoon.

“Are you alright now, Iwano?” Cloud Kicker asked. “Were there any broken bones? A broken skull again?!”

“Was Rainbow Dash really rough on you back there?” Flitter asked. I would like to answer both of their questions, but the asking went on.

“How did it felt?” Thunderlane asked next.

“Is it true that you’re disqualified?” Parasol asked, too.

“Would it happen again?” Flitter asked again.

The interview went on and on while I was already anxious, which they totally unnoticed. Lightning Dust was the only one who didn’t ask, so she snapped, “Stop it! Look at him, he can’t take too much questions.”

“Oops, sorry about that Iwano,” Parasol apologized as she realized it.

“Yeah, we’re just curious and concern for you,” Flitter said.

“Wait,” I said as I raised my hoof. “How did everypony knew of what happened between Rainbow Dash and me?” I cut off about Gilda in my question.

“Princess Luna,” Lightning Dust answered slowly. “Somehow she left the barrack to find you, Twilight and her company. She arrived at your scene, and told everypony about it without her sister knowing. I was able to follow her secretly.”

“Luna,” I growled, which made Thunderlane gulp. “Anything else, my friends?”

“Uh, I don’t know if this helps,” Flitter said nervously, “but Gilda helped Princess Luna with the details, and they were quite accurate.”

The info really helped, but Gilda helped the most—to Luna, that was! I couldn’t believe that griffon! How dared she? Presently, Gilda were antagonistic to me—maybe Twilight wasn’t anymore, I hoped. Who else would hate me?

I banged my head on the pavement that it left a dent and a few cracks. Anger was setting in me again, but Dissonance somehow wasn’t triggered. My Pegasi friends were awed and appalled.

“If anypony contribute more info to make me hated,” I snarled, “I will disintegrate them into dust and blow them away in the wind!”

“Iwano, just calm down,” Cloud Kicker told me.

“How am I suppose to—” I stopped myself and breathe calmly. “Okay, I’ll calm down.” I turned to Lightning Dust. “Thank you, by the way.”

“But I was still mad. Luna obviously explained to make me look really bad. And it was also obvious that she still had an antipathy towards not only because I unknowingly disrupted her dream duty, but of my Dissonance. How could I tell? It was obvious! Now that my haters increased, I wouldn’t unwind myself easily. Gilda must had given her payback to me instead of Rainbow Dash, maybe for “not accepting” her offer of teaming up. I’d hated to say this, but I was relieved my coach didn’t receive that payback.

“Thanking me for what, Iwano?” Lightning Dust asked, smiling.

“For telling me about that info, that’s what. That goes to all of you, my friends.”

“We won’t let other Pegasi and us hate you, buddy,” Thunderlane promised, “even if it means doing it while sleepwalking.”

He stood half-upright and wobblingly held his hooves out like a sleepwalker. We all laughed.

“You guys are great!” I exclaimed as I shot my left hoof up, accidentally knocking a passing a camera pony with his camera. He fell and broke his camera. Oh, it was Big Shot.

“Pixel rods!” he cried out as he held his broken camera. “Who was that?”

I backed away quietly without my friends noticing while biting my lips, and accidentally knocking over a light stand, which shortly lead a domino of them. Broken glass and bent light stands scattered and trailed the pavement.

While everypony gasped at the damages and camera crew cleaning up my act, I galloped away from the scene and done even worst.

I bumped a stage wall, and splat a couple of Pegasi like flies—they weren’t dead, I swear. They were probably unscathed.

I was panting, afraid of being caught. So, I used my magic…and silently disappeared—invisible!

My short anger must have triggered my clumsiness back instead. Or are they just accidents? I hoped.

My accident caused a chain reaction which I could hardly describe with my eyes covered with my hooves. All I could hear was cries, screams, crashes, and finally uproar, while I was just sitting down. It became louder and louder. I uncovered my eyes.

I was surrounded by a flock—mob, maybe?—of Pegasi, complaining everything to me. That was ridiculous. I was invisible.

I was proven visible when the captain called my name, “Iwano Imagination!”

I turned my head around and she walked towards me with her signature intimidating look behind her tinted black glasses. I shrunk down, my eyes focused on hers. I then gulped as I stood up. Everypony was silent.

“Tell me what’s going on with you now?” she asked.

“Um, everything I’d done was adventitious, ma’am,” I nervously replied.

“Meaning?” She lowered her glasses, which burned my eyes a bit seeing hers. Her intimidating eyes reminded me of Flame Princess from the Land of Ooo and my arch nemesis Sophia Antonio from Reality.

“Accidental, captain.”

“Hmm…I’d heard you fixed the damages back in Ponyville when it was on a rampage by mannequins. Think you can do it the same here, Imagination?”

I’d no idea when she heard of it, but I nodded and went aloft. I’d done the same as what I did in Ponyville—eased, casting, fixed everything.

When I landed I was red, as Erza Scarlet’s hair, from embarrassment.

Cynthia always reminded me to use my presence of mind back in IW and in other worlds. But somepony probably took her position as my assistant, which she wasn’t, when she spoke, “Do you have any presence of mind, Iwano? Yeah, they were an accident, but please be careful next time.”

“I’m just clumsy, Twilight,” I sighed.

Everypony went back to their businesses. What a relief!

“He’s all yours, Princess Twilight,” Spitfire said as she departed.

“I wish he isn’t,” she murmured.

“What was that?” I asked.

“Nothing. Are you this destructive, Iwano?”

“Pardon me, but is that a little farfetched, Twilight?”

“Was you being accidental a while ago farfetched?”

I rolled my eyes. “Okay, you’re right.”

She grinned at sompony behind me. “I think somepony have fallen for you, ruler.”

“Wuh?” I looked behind me. “Oh, Chrysalis’s cackle,” I muttered. Her wall eyes were both focusing at me dreamily from a distance. When my eyes caught her on contact, she reluctantly averted her gaze and walked away. She suddenly tripped herself by the dent I made. I thought I fixed everything, but not that?

“I think Derpy can be a suitable queen for you in Imaginundia,” Twilight giggled.

“Sorry, Princess Twilight Sparkle,” I muttered. “But I already have a co-ruler by my side.”

“And who?” She leaned closer.

“Her name’s Len—” I paused from giving my sister’s full name. “Wait, you’re trying to sip info out of me, are ya?”

“What? No! Why would I?”

“Hmm…okay.” I read her mind, and she was lying. She was trying to sip info from me. Stay arcane and a normal pony as possible, Iwano, I told myself. “Wait, why are you with me?”

Oh, well, uh, I had to intervene when those Pegasi—”

“Okay, I get it.”

“That’s rude.”

I grinned. “Sorry, Twilly.”

“What did you call me?” she asked as she knitted her brows.

“Twilly,” I replied. I realized that was the first time I called somepony of the Mane Six by nickname.

“My brother—”

“Shining Armor is the only one who can call you that childish nickname and nopony else, especially me.”

She scowled. “Really, is it okay that you can pretend not to know anything about us?”

I could tell she was irritated. I smiled and said, “Nnope.”

“Fine,” she sighed. “Iwano, how are you now here in Equestria? How’re you feeling?” she asked.

“It’s great, Twilight. I’m feeling great being with you and your company. You ponies are helping me control or diminish my Dissonance. Applejack and Rarity are good mares to me. So far, I would say Rarity was the best, scalding my Greed—the opposite of Generosity—into its deepest pits of my heart, and will soon diminish.”

“What about Applejack?”

“…Not so much,” I admitted. “Deceitfulness didn’t retreat unlike Greed—I’m often a liar back in Imaginundia, by the way.”

She looked sympathetic. Was she really doing it? “We’re with you, Iwano.” She held my hoof, and I blushed. “We promise to help you no matter how long it will take and at the same time having fun. Princess Celestia entrusted you to us, so it’s our responsibility. I mean, we dealt with a lot of problems in the past, Iwano, and I’m confident that we’ll deal with your Dissonance, too.”

She was right. Twilight and her friends defeated Nightmare Moon, Discord, Queen Chrysalis (why didn’t she ask me of how I knew Chrysalis?), King Sombra and Sunset Shimmer, and the list goes on. Like all the other heroes I’d met in many worlds, the Mane Six plus Spike had those heroic and virtuous qualities. And I believed they could help me. In order for Equestria to be acquired in IW, I must cure Dissonance with their help, and had an adventure of course. Besides, the other reason was that my Forbidden was the one who unlocked the gateway to this world which meant I wouldn’t be able to acquire Equestria with this Dissonance as my obstacle. I hadn’t forgotten about my objectives, though. MLP was also new to me, but I already loved it.

I nodded. “Thanks, Twilight.”

“I’ll…just let you wander around now, Iwano. And make sure you come back to us by seven. Bye!” And she departed.

I’d wanted to keep talking to her because she was an intellectual and share a little about me, but Cynthia’s words tugged my mind, Stay incognito, Iwano. Exposition means endangerment. She always said that before us or me gone to a new world. In the end, if the time was right, that was my chance of revelation. This time before I left for Equestria, she didn’t remind me. She must have thought she trusted me already. Hey, being mysterious was also cool, right?

I glanced at my watch—6:32 PM. The sky was still clear blue and the sun was still up. I thought it was already afternoon if the sky’s color was darker or dimmer. Celestia must be still holding up her sun to dry up any more milk residue.

“Wait,” I said, “where’s Lightning Dust and the others?”

I hadn’t seen them since my early clumsiness. I wondered if they had other businesses to attend to, like training perhaps. I was happy for their concern and faith for me, which mended a bit of my shame. Meh, my friends were fine. I wouldn’t worry about anything, except Luna, Gilda, and other inevitable misfortunes in my circumstances.

Albeit everypony now mostly hated me, I couldn’t help but feel relaxed. It was normal for me to go anxious, worried, or pessimistic, but why wasn’t I feeling any of them right now? I sighed.

“Just relax, Iwano,” I told myself. “You need to act cool before the race, and you have plenty of time to wander and relax wistfully in this academy.”

“Can you spare some time for a short conversation?”

I gasped, and gotten swooped away in a flash of brown (moderate orange amber).

I didn’t struggle or attempted to use my magic against her, though my heart was racing to fry her into roasted turkey.

We were hidden from everypony on a cloud with a puffy wall beside us. She was leaning and had her arms (uh, talons?) both crossed. I was just seating down on her right. I thought she would paralyze for a long time form my Volt Tackle that she wouldn’t participate anymore in the Bolt Wing.

“Rainbow Dash’s going to Sonic Rainboom through your mouth and out when she finds out, even if this is a small conversation,” I warned her. “And you’re lucky I hadn’t used my magic, otherwise you would be griffon barbecue.”

“I won’t taste good,” Gilda said. “Look, I just wanna talk.”

“If you want to take my coach down, I won’t help,” I told her as I averted my head from her and closed my eyes. “I won’t budge—and I won’t let you.”

“It’s not that, Green Wing.”

I looked at her in disbelief. “Are you kidding me?”

“I swear,” she promised. “Now, let’s talk about you, Green Wing.”

“I shouldn’t let you budge that either, but maybe I’ll let you know about me a bit.”

I wasn’t really going to expose that fully. I told her the exact same story, the one I used on the Mane Six and the two princesses back in Canterlot. Since I was nervous, I stuttered a lot that maybe she knew I wasn’t telling the truth. Could griffons smell lies? I hoped not.

“Imaginundian ruler, huh? Sorry I enraged you, your highness,” Gilda said.

“Was that sarcasm?” I asked. “Because I hate sarcasm.”

“Whatever Green Wing—”

“And stop calling me that, griffon!” I snapped. “I’m leaving—!”

“You had owl-like eyes, dude.”

I froze when I was about to take off. She knew? No, she didn’t.

“How’d you—?”

“I spied on you during the Under Wing. You grabbed that flag with your hind legs,” she counted off with her talons, “you were flying silently like a Barn owl should be, you can see you opponents in a distance, you can talk to birds, and that’s all. You aren’t really from here, are you?”

“I’m from Imaginundia, Gilda,” I told her.

“No,” she said as she shook her head, “I mean here in our world.”

It was a good thing I’d practiced my poker face, because I was doing it right now, masking my shock or surprise. Woah, she was good. How was she able to figure it out? That was impossible.

If I abruptly flew away, she would know.

I had to say something, so I said which was true, “I was mentored by giant owls near a forest in my kingdom. That’s how I can do all those things. And being here does mean a whole different world to me."

Gilda snorted. “Are you kidding me?”

“A king, ruler, or prince has to be unique and strong to rule his kingdom and lead his subjects with many abilities, right?”

“Maybe you got a point there, I think.” She then lowered and stood on four legs again. “Are you sure you won’t change your mind and partner up with me, Green Wing?”

I grinned. “Nnope…and you’re solo, are you? You have no coach.”

Gilda nodded. “You better be careful out there in the race. Things are about to get rough when you’re behind. Peace out, Green Wing!”

I nodded, she flew away and I was alone. And I hyperventilated deeply. I was relieved! I was already panicking within. I wiped my sweat from my mane. I stayed cool for that long?

“That was close,” I said. “She almost knew.”

“Knew what?”

I quickly ducked down and covered my eyes with my hooves in startle.

“Dude, it’s me, your coach.”

I peeked above and saw Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie flying above me.

“I think he wants to play hide-and-seek, Dashie!” Pinkie Pie playfully exclaimed.

“Well, he’s gonna play a different game soon,” Rainbow Dash said. “And it’s called the—”

“Ace Thunderbolt~!” Pinkie Pie cheerfully finished the sentence as she backstroked behind me, which startled me.

“Hey! Come on, that’s what I wanna say, Pinkie!”

I giggled.

The name reminded me of Pokémon. I missed the Pokémon world.

The Ace Thunderbolt was the final event. The rules of that event changed—instead of passing through red rings required to pass the finish line, it became a normal race, but would become intense. Spitfire changed it under Celestia’s orders.

I was rapidly descending from the sky and veered forward, almost crashing the pavement and zoomed pass my team in a streak of cobalt blue. I was so fast that they almost tumbled away and their manes were frozen straight from my direction.

“23.7 wingpower!” Twilight exclaimed in amazement as she looked at her anemometer.

“That’s his highest yet, “Fluttershy said. “I believe he’s now faster than all the participants of the Bolt Wing.”

“Maybe it was all ‘cause he ate almost all the apple pie I gave ‘im from my food cart,” Applejack said. “It’s givin’ him a boost!”

“Nah, maybe he’s just all pumped up,” Rainbow Dash said. “Iwano, repeat your descent!”

I followed as she instructed. “Yes ma’am!”

As I flew up high and descended again, I felt sparks on my mane then body but they weren’t electrifying. As I veered forward again, I’d felt my mane changing. What was going on?

When I flew passed my team the second time, they finally tumbled, and rolled. They screamed by my breeze. When they stopped and were piled up, Spike dug out of his friends and ran to the tilted anemometer and carried it above him and said, “27.3!”

Rainbow Dash popped out of the pile with her hooves and spun around.

“That’s awesome!” She zoomed and hugged me proudly. When she stopped and stared at me in midair, she went frantic for a second and pushed me away.

“What’s wrong, coach?” I asked. “Unsatisfied of my wingpower? Maybe I could do it again and—”

“N-no, and nothin’ wrong, Green Wing.” I could tell she was blushing, but I didn’t mind. “Uh, so 27.3, wow, but I don’t need to brag but I can go higher than that.”

“I won’t argue with that,” I said as we landed together, “since you’re Equestria’s best flier around. I, on the other hoof, am the best flier in Imaginundia.”

“Hey, I got an idea.” Rainbow Dash’s eyes brightened. “Let’s race—you and me—one lap around the academy. Whaddaya say?”

“Are you sure about that, Rainbow Dash?” Rarity asked worryingly as she had gotten herself still tangled with her friends while steadying her diadem. “I think he’s already exhausted.”

“He is already tired,” Applejack agreed. “Just look at ‘im, he’s sweatin’, RD.”

She was right, but I didn’t admit. I was breathing heavily through my nostrils and I was perspiring continuously. But I chose to resist resting.

I shook. “Meh, I can…go on. I’ll do as what my coach instructed, Rarity. Thanks for the concern anyway.”

“But, Iwano—”

“Let him, Rare,” Twilight said. “I believe he’s not that exhausted.”

“Okay, okay!” Rainbow Dash snapped. “Let’s take our marks!”

My coach’s friends had their reservations about this, except Twilight, who wasn’t completely worried at all. Rainbow Dash and I took our positions. This was my first time racing Rainbow Dash, which made me both nervous and excited.

Are you sure you won’t change your mind and partner up with me instead, Green Wing, Gilda had asked. I suddenly recounted what the griffon asked me. She wanted me to betray my coach.

I betrayed my allies once back when I was in the Sonic world. I betrayed Sonic the Hedgehog, his friends, and my sister, and joined Team Babylon—Wave the Swallow, Storm the Albatross, and Jet the Hawk, the leader. I joined those avian rogues just to bring down Eggman’s grand prix scheme, but failed. I didn’t want to make the same mistake twice.

My training with Rainbow Dash and the support from my team and other friends gave me hope in controlling/diminishing Dissonance.

“On your marks…” Spike announced. “Get set…”

“Thanks for taking me under your wing, coach,” I whispered.

“What?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Spike then signaled, “GO!”

Rainbow Dash and I dashed off.

“Go, Iwano! GO!” Pinkie Pie cheered and shook her pompoms up.

As my coach and I raced around the borders of the academy, the competitors and their coaches stopped their training and watched us. They started cheering and roaring for us.

I felt my hooves and wings tingling. This meant I was excited for the real race.

“27.3, Iwano? Come on, catch up or eat my dust!” Rainbow Dash taunted.

My wings were sprinting in the air to me as I rapidly flapped harder. I was now panting hard, my sweat already drenched my face (good thing I had my goggles on). Were Wonderbolts uniform sweats proof?

Rainbow Dash was leading ahead of me farther. I’d got to imagine something to speed up.

“Imagine something, Iwano,” I whisperingly told myself. “Imagine anything happy, sweet, freaky, or weird.”

I imagined…walking in a forest happily and found Fluttershy facing away from me. When I walked towards her and called her name, her head turned…and her face was Big Macintosh.

I screamed loud! Fortunately, I caught up with my coach by her side.

“You battle cry?” she asked. “This is just a friendly race and not a battle, dude.”

I’d got to imagine again. My tongue was sour from screaming and Fluttershy’s extensive face transplant, but I’d got to win this to prove my coach I could be better—than her.

Take her down!

Whatever that was in my head, I ignored it, shook, and imagined again.

I imagined…I was in a wedding and everypony in Equestria were there to attend the marriage between Fluttershy and me. As the priest now allowed me to kiss my bride, I uncovered my new wife’s blurry veil…revealing Rainbow Dash.

And I screamed even louder!

“What have you done to her?!” I cried out and continued my “battle cry”.

“Her who—?” Rainbow Dash gasped as I flew passed her with my hooves stretched out. “I ain’t gonna lat ya!”

In Reality, according to my findings, many bronies favorite Rainbow Dash mostly for her attitude and element. I bet bronies would even marry her if they had the chance. But never, I mean never, I never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever—

“Never ever marry that androgynous pony!” I screamed out loud. “Never in matrimony!”

Rainbow Dash drew circles on the side of her head and asked herself, “What in the hay is wrong with that guy?”

“Has he gone mental?” Twilight asked herself as she was aloft and using a pair of binoculars. “Or is that a side effect from his Dissonance earlier?”

“Or does he still Rainbow Dash?” Spike added as he was riding Twilight’s back. “There could be other reasons why he’s acting like that, Twi.”

“I’ll ponder on my Dissonance theory, Spike,” Twilight decided. “It makes more sense.”

“Look!” Spike pointed at the two racers. “They’re getting close! Go, Rainbow Dash!”

Mostly the Pegasi were cheering for my coach, but Lightning Dust, Thunderlane, Parasol and Cloud Kicker were on my side.

Rainbow Dash and I entered the academy’s zone, skillfully swerved and dodged our way through our competitors and their coaches—I felt vertigo right now—and we were a few feet away from the pink finish line. Pinkie Pie must have set it.

My head felt warm probably from sweating, but the breeze was so cool I doubted I would get tired right now. My perspiration left me, so why was I feeling warm and suddenly hot?

Thought of it gave Rainbow Dash an inch ahead from me, so I focused and forced my wings. Maybe I would get a sprain after this.

Two feet…one foot…!

My head went dizzy, and then some part of my body felt numb.

We both crossed the finish line, but I was still going on!

Rainbow Dash stopped and called out for me. “Iwano! Stop! You’re gonna crash or fall!”

It was like my mind was completely zoned out. It felt weird, but I wasn’t in control of myself and my wings. My eyes were drowsy but active.

I’ll give it back to you now. Thank you.

Suddenly, I was now in control and urged myself to stop by screeching down my hooves on the pavement. My hooves were instantly hot the moment I stomped down. I guessed I was a little too fast and sort of hard on my imagination, ‘cause I couldn’t stop!

“Holy mother of Celestia!” I cried out.

Luna appeared out of nowhere on my path and ordered—or rather demanded—to me, “Halt, Iwano!”

I gritted my teeth as I forced harder, but failed.

Luna sighed and scowled at me as she carelessly conjured a magic wall.

BUNG! I splat on her wall flat with my face and front.

“Clumsy,” Luna muttered as she rolled her eyes. “Thou must be careful and use thou presence of mind, Iwano. If it not were for I, thee would fall.” I rubbed my face to see what was behind her. And pretty much, I almost fell off the edge of this mountaintop—approximately half a foot away.

“It was unfortunate, though,” she continued—what did she said?! “Now, would you go—”

I glared at her.

She flinched.

I glared harder…she flew away. With fear in her eyes and the wall disappeared, which made me anxiously aloft.

“That pony,” I grumbled. “Her antipathy must be stronger than—her…”

I jerked my head and saw Twilight spying at me with a pair of binoculars. My aura tugged my head to her direction, by an idle cloud.

Twilight gasped and hid from my sight, with her dragon assistant on her back.

“How’d he know we’re here?” Spike asked as he recovered from his surprise. “That was really creepy. What if her really is psychic like Pinkie Pie said back in Canterlot?” Spike waited for Twilight to respond. “Uh, Twilight?”

Twilight was deep in thought and seriously thinking, ignoring Spike.

“Twilight!” Spike called her again. Spike held a quill wrapped with a paper.

Twilight help her head up and blinked. “Oh, sorry, Spike.”

“Remembering his message again?” Spike asked.

“Some part of it,” Twilight said. “But mostly about Iwano. I’m putting together all about him. In other words, I’m studying him.”

“I know Rainbow thought of Iwano as a stalker, maybe it’s because he knows so much about us and almost—or fully—everypony, every place and everything here in Equestria, but is spying and studying about him also considered stalking.

Twilight sighed and looked stern. “Spike, I’m just weary or worried about that stallion Alicorn. I’m also cautious of his actions and preparing for any unforeseen predicaments that he would unknowingly or numbly throw at us and to all of Equestria. Something about him isn’t right at all besides his Dissonance within. I just…feel it. I’d also pieced together that he was the cause of the mannequin mayhem back in Ponyville, and the milky rain and typhoon earlier during the Bolt Wing’s second event. In addition, to his characteristics and Dissonance, his glare unnerved Rainbow Dash, flinched and scared Princess Luna, and frightened us. I’ll be calling it the Glare, like Fluttershy’s Stare, and it rhymed. Albeit he shows good intentions and he’s technically a good guy, I’m unsure if we can trust him further in his days here with us.” She winced. “But we promised to Celestia and we’ll do our best to destroy his Dissonance.”

“Uh-huh.” Spike was writing on the paper with the quill. “Jotted everything you said, Twi.”

“Dissonance Research number 4 is incomplete, Spike,” she told him.

Spike hesitantly scratched “complete” on the bottom part of the paper. “Why?” he asked.

“I saw his mane sparked like static in different colors,” Twilight answered. “It does mean that he’s going to be triggered of Dissonance again, I think.”

“We won’t find out until that happens.”

“Let’s just meet up with our friends. They’re waiting for us.”

“You’re right, the race’s about to start.”

Twilight flew back to her friends with Spike, unaware that I was stealthily following her back.

7:13 PM—the sun was about to set.

Twenty-eight competitor fliers to their marks on the red line, with some Pegasi camera ponies flying above them and Pegasi crowd in each side on cloud bleachers. They were all cheering for their fave Pegasus pony, raising banners (I didn’t see myself in one of them), roaring, and picturing with cameras. I thought there weren’t any cameras in Equestria. Rainbow Dash told me this would broadcasted all over Equestria, and I almost spat out my guts when she said Luna would be the one broadcasting all of us live—by following the racers, watching and using her magic to project multiple magical giant screens in all of Equestria’s cities and towns. And it was all Luna’s idea.

I’d to admit that was impressive, convenient, and imaginative of her.

Why would I spat out my guts? Because she would mostly focus on me, obviously to show everypony the Dissonance monster she deeply hated of how bad he would be in the race. On the bright side, I would be fully noticed in Equestria as a good pony, maybe. Thankfully, my thought was wrong.

According to Twilight, Luna wouldn’t be the only one to broadcast. Thanks to the camera crew who would be following her while focusing carefully in multiple angles, Luna would be able to use her magic to not only broadcast of what she saw but what the crew saw as well. In other words, everypony would get multiple sightings on the fliers and I wasn’t going to embarrass myself, maybe.

Before the race would begin, the coaches—in my special case, my team—would prepare and give advices to their trained Pegasus. None of the coaches gave anything for cheating, unlike my previous grand prix in the Sonic world. From each of the coaches, they gave advices of both helpful and encouraging, which made me happy. I entrusted my saddlebag to Rarity instead of Twilight, but she might somehow get it from her.

“You never told me you have asthma,” Rainbow Dash said. “With that, you’ll get easily tired. But I never knew how you could go on when we’re doing the events and training. Why?”

I thought I would be staring at the eyes of a brash and athletic flier; instead I was locked eyes with a concerned and nice coach.

“I don’t wanna back out, coach,” I answered. “Rainbow Dash, you entered me without my objections, which is okay. I wanna make your proud. This whole flying experience has been really fun certainly, though there had been minor mishaps—”

“Major mishaps,” Twilight corrected.

“I still get to fly for fun,” I continued. “Maybe becoming a Wonderbolts member would be a plus to my affiliations.”

“You have other affiliations?” Rainbow Dash asked. Her friends all stared at me, with Twilight with intent eyes and ears.

I thought I made a bad move, but I managed and said, “In Imaginundia, a ruler can have multiple affiliations.”

“Okay, okay. Listen, Iwano: there’re twenty-seven fliers versus you. You’ve got to focus straight, sharpen your senses, and be always awesome! You’ve gotta be fast as me, strong as me, and awesome as me! Oh, and be careful out there. You don’t want somepony to get you mad again. Besides, after you’re typhoon I’d heard most of the fliers wanna take you down hard to the ground.” We glanced at the participants stretching and flexing their hooves, neck and wings, and finally at Gilda, acting cool and not warming up. “And remember Iwano: you’ll always be under my wing, no matter what air current you’re in, no matter how high and fast you’re in the sky and no matter who you are.”

“As your student?”

“…As my friend, you egghead.”

She gave me an affectionate noogie on my head and we both laughed with our friends, except Twilight. I didn’t know what happened to the real Rainbow Dash, but I was beginning to like her—as a friend, not crush.

“Fliers, take your positions! Coaches and Iwano’s team, away from your fliers,” Spitfire commanded in midair of us. Everypony obeyed.

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna (Grr…) descended and landed from the sky to the middle of the racers’ runway. Everypony fell into silence and eyed on Celestia. We fliers proudly stood straight in the presence of the two princesses of Equestria, but I felt uneasy with Luna’s.

Celestia looked at all of us with bright eyes and gentle smile, while Luna was staring at me disdainfully. I shot her with my glare, and then she anxiously averted her gaze.

The camera crew all faced on the two princesses. Luna’s magic kicked in effect and the broadcast started in three…two…one…

“Mares and gentlecolts, welcome to witness the third and final event of the Bolt Wing competition: the Ace Thunderbolt!” Celestia announced. “This competition was held by Spitfire, the captain of the Wonderbolts, not only to find exceptional and worthy fliers to join the Wonderbolts but to encourage Pegasi out there to soar high in the skies and maybe someday join as a member. Take this as an inspiration, too, my fellow subject. This was also served as a training program and an enjoyable experience to these racers whom their coaches whom their coaches chose for this exciting event.

I am proud for these fliers, who participated in the Bolt Wing, which I believe gave their all. I could sense their bond they developed with their coaches when I arrived at this academy. I know everypony experience a milk-flavored typhoon all over Equestria hours ago, but that has passed and we continued.” Celestia turned to Luna. “Would you say a few words before we begin?”

“Yes, my sister,” Luna replied. Something about her smug smile wasn’t right. “I will like to introduce to everypony in Equestria a very special visitor from a faraway land unknown to all of us called Imaginundia. If anypony was curious of how the typhoon started, it was he who caused it. But need not to worry for he will not repeat it again, hopefully. Just be certain not to anger him with tricks on the Alicorn—”

“Luna, what are you doing?” Celestia whisperingly asked in worry. Why wasn’t she intercepting?

“He is an Alicorn, like I and my sister, and is participating.” The crowd was confused and was searching the racers for me. “He is here in Equestria because of his special case, which was related to the typhoon. And his name is—”

Her face turned pale the moment she looked into my eyes—my glaring eyes. She flinched and backed away. That should shut her up.

Celestia wasn’t sure what caused her sister’s flinching, but when she followed Luna’s gaze, she saw me with a blank face. She was glad her sister stopped talking. The audience was murmuring about who this Alicorn was, but they later continued cheering.

“Thank you for your words, Luna,” Celestia said as she took over again for her stunned sister. “Spitfire will be explaining further details of the Ace Thunderbolt.”

Luna shook and recovered as she flew and followed Celestia to the cloud bleachers on my left and sat together on the center. The audience’s noise weren’t bothering them. Where were the Royal guards?

I was surprised Celestia didn’t say my name. I really wanted to be noticed in Equestria as their friendly Alicorn from a mysterious but good land, but since Luna told them of how the typhoon came I changed my mind about my “total exposure”, for it would only give the ponies in the land panic, maybe. I just knew Luna was about to expose me as a threat, so I made quick thinking and waited for her to look directly at me. I knew it because I read her mind form the beginning intro of me. But right now, I couldn’t tell what she was thinking right now because I was focused ahead.

Suddenly, I inhaled sharply. My Glare! If her magic was in effect, did that mean almost everypony in Equestria looked directly at my glare?

Stupid! I chided myself. Now almost probably everypony would be scared of me. I didn’t saw myself on the magic screens. Why was I forgetful? Biscuits!

“Attention!” Spitfire landed blindingly fast in front of all of us, startling us despite our cool and still postures. I wondered what her wing power was. “Welcome again to the third and final event: the Ace Thunderbolt! If any of you didn’t heard of the new rules of the race, then let me fill you all in: twenty-eight of you fliers will be racing through six locations in Equestria—Winsome Falls, Manehattan, Cloudsdale, and back here in the Wonderbolt Academy, doing three laps around the borders of this mountaintop. How will you know where you’re going even during nightfall, you may ask? Princess Celestia has set a trail of floating balls of light that serves as a guide to all of you. By the way, you’ll all still be scored during the race based on how your coaches trained you all and what you’ve learned. There’ll be five winners—the first to fourth placers, and the top scorer—who would become official member of the Wonderbolt, along with their coaches of they aren’t yet.”

Manehattan, I thought. That was where Rarity's Fashion Week happened.

“Win this for me!” Rainbow Dash cried out excitedly. We all stared at her, with the cameras pointing at my coach. She scratched her mane in embarrassment and blushed. “Sorry guys! Sorry, captain!”

“Okay,” Spitfire continued. “Before I can forget, there’s also a surprise competitor joining this race, but she won’t become a member even if she wins. Introducing—”

“Is that a Pegasus?!” Dizzy Twister asked as she pointed up the afternoon sky. It was a silhouette of a Pegasus pony circling the academy up high.

“Is that Cadance?” Twilight asked.

“Is it a dragon?” Spike asked, too.

“Is that…?” I squinted and enhanced my vision, but before I could make it out the silhouette quickly descended before I could identify it.

The silhouette landed in a moderate raspberry streak and bounded for a few seconds with bouncing sound effects, and went comically eye to eye on me. Dang, why did she have to be this ridiculous? She was wearing the Wonderbolts uniform and there was one thing to describe her: pink.

“Pinkie Pie, everypony!” Spitfire announced. “She’s the surprise competitor, fliers!”

Gilda, Derpy and Luna here in the Wonderbolt Academy were already bad enough. But Pinkie Pie? I would die of her aura of annoyingness.

She’s next…

“That voice…” I whispered.

It was the same voice…during my gem donating in Ponyville and the Under Wing. It was cold and cynical, yet firm and persuasive. Who was it referring to? Obviously it was referring to Pinkie Pie because she just came. But it could be referring to any mare—or griffon—here. Was it trying to warn me of something? Or…I didn’t know, but I would want to find out after this.

I thought it was my turn to agape, so I done it when Pinkie Pie hopped and took her position between Lightning Dust and I.

“I’m ready, eddy, I love spaghetti!” she exclaimed blithely. “Oh, and gravy and candy!”

I gave out a What face. Should I be humored? No, I was a serious type.

“Without further ado,” the captain continued, “fliers, ready your marks!”

We all fliers done it as we lowered our heads to the ground, down our chests, focused ahead (Derpy’s eyes, to me, were ridiculously focused even if they were wall eyed), forelegs, wings stretched and prepared, and expressions worn determine. Unlike them, I was stolid, Thunderlane was drowsy, Gilda was angered (why?), and Lightning Dust was nervous—what? Lightning Dust was nervous? I expected her to be confident and vigorous or cocky, but it was like she was anticipating something. I couldn’t read her mind, not because I was focused, it was because of the pink pony’s silly grin.

“Instead of counting down by numbers,” Spitfire said, “I will be mentioning all your names. Once all your names are called, you know what to do next.”

She went aloft. It was time.

“Serenity,” Spitfire began. “Great Scott, Drizzle…”

Everypony in Equestria were all eyeing on us.

“Blue Skies, Thunderlane…”

Rainbow Dash entered me initially to humiliate me probably in any way. But after seeing Lightning Dust and Gilda, she must have resented and felt guilty. Thus, she trained me.

“Silverwing, Prism Glider, Opal Water…”

I’d no objections, because I thought I was prepared for her tricks. But I’d to admit, I was a little unprepared for this race because of my nervousness.

“Milky Way, April Showers…”

Albeit I was obedient of her, I still hated her. But I realized that I began to like her. She saved me from myself—Dissonance—as “Super Rainbow Dash”.

“Airheart, Wild Fire, Cloudchaser…”

I’d met three of my probable obstacles here in Equestria so far, but I believe I could overcome them.

“Flitter, Blossomforth…”

I just knew hard enough that Rainbow Dash could help me from my dark power with her training and this race.

“Sprinkle Medley, Sassaflash, Raindrops…”

It crossed my mind that I had four days left to accomplish my missions, which I’d forgotten.

“Merry May, Lightning Bolt…”

Out of the twenty-seven competitors in this Bolt Wing besides me, four still befriended me. I wished the others would forgive me right now.

“Dizzy Twister, Cloud Kicker, Parasol…”

My heart pounded rapidly, my hooves were vibrating, my teeth were chattering, and Pinkie Pie was gawking funnily at the sky.

“Rainbowshine, Gilda, Lightning Dust, Derpy Hooves…”

Though I couldn’t see my team in the race, I might able to feel them. They would cheer for me.

“Pinkie Pie, Iwano Imagination…”

I hated Pinkie Pie.

“GO!!!”

It happened so fast. Streaks of colors and flashes of Pegasi zoomed and soared from my sight, out in flight from their markers.

“What’re you doin’?!” Rainbow Dash demanded.

I shook out of my daze from colors. I was marveled by the colors of Pegasi that I completely gotten distracted. This wasn’t the first time colorful things stopped me.

I reluctantly raced ahead for the other competitors. It looked like I was in last place. Well, time to get flappin’ and dashin’!

“So he’s fascinated at anything colorful,” Twilight said.

“Why does that matter, Twi?” Applejack asked.

“I was just wondering if his cutie mark and Rarity’s diadem has any connection to him.”

“Twilight, stop being so curious of Iwano’s identity and let us enjoy watching the race and cheer our dear friend Iwano on!” Rarity said happily.

“I can’t Rarity. I’m now beginning to sense that feeling again from Iwano, even from here.”

Spike was busy lifting Pinkie Pie’s cheering sign. It looked like he was about to fall, but Twilight levitated the sign for him instead. “How come you’re the only who felt Iwano, Twilight?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” answered. “Something is about to happen soon in the race—I just can feel it.”

Twilight and her friends were now watching me by the magic screens above the academy.

Through the clouds I soared, I followed the trails of light balls. I thought the guiding lights could be moved by touch, but after nearly bumping into one of them and felt intense heat, I doubted the racers would change the tracks. Besides, Spitfire already said the locations of this race.

I couldn’t see the other racers ahead albeit I enhanced my vision. I guess the racers were eager to win this.

The sky was now orange in the background, which meant Celestia was now setting her sun. I chuckled at the thought of it.

I was controlling my heartbeat. Being in any competition, especially a racing one like this, made my tongue a bit mixed of sour and bitter and gave me anxiety, but in Equestria it felt different.

In the Sonic world when I was in the first grand prix, I was confident there unlike the other races I’d been.

As the clouds cleared in my way, I saw Winsome Falls.

Winsome Falls had waterfalls crashing down into lakes from giant nimbus clouds with rainbow-colored water. The place was on a mountaintop plateau of grass, rocks and bushes.

I would like to dip on the rainbow lakes where the waterfalls crashed, but I was busy, of course.

“Hmm…interesting place,” I said. “Winsome Falls first appeared in the episode Sleepless in Ponyville when—is that Dizzy Twister? And was the audience listening to me?”

I enhanced my vision and saw her alone, exasperated to go faster. Was the audience listening to me? I just knew maybe our talks, conversations and chats were also broadcasted. I just hoped they didn’t know what I was talking about.

Winsome Fall’s track was a large curve around the mountaintop, through one of its waterfalls (Wee!), and a long path to Manehattan.

As I passed Dizzy Twister, she was flapping hard to catch up but no good.

“Sorry, Dizzy Twister,” I said. “But I need to do this, sweetie.”

“What did you call—?”

“Bye, sweetie!”

In a single strong flap with effort, I zoomed through the waterfall—the water tasted nothing—and out of Winsome Falls, on the way to my next destination.

Using my magic was effortless, but flying with force to zoom fast was full of it and back-aching. It was a good thing I wore my goggle, otherwise my eyes would be behind my head.

I passed Prism Glider, Milky Way, Blue Skies, Silverwing and Drizzle.

“Where’d he come from?” Milky Way asked.

“Who cares?” Prism Glider said. “Let’s take Green Wing down!”

Uh-oh.

“Let’s do it,” Silverwing agreed. “We don’t want another typhoon!”

“Are you sure Prism Glider?” Drizzle asked. “I don’t wanna hurt anypony, even though he did cause a typhoon.”

“Me either,” Milky Way said. “We might get in trouble.”

“The only trouble we’ll be having is an Alicorn whipping up another gale soon,” Blue Skies said.

“If you two,” Prism Glider said, “won’t help, then go away—let’s get him boys!”

Blue Skies, Silverwing, and Prism Glider—maybe he was the leader—split up and hid in the clouds beside us, maybe planning an ambush.

“So they teamed up?” I muttered. “What else?”

“We’ll team up with you, Iwano,” Drizzle said as she and Milky Way soared beside me.

“You two will, after I’d unintentionally endangered the competition and everypony?” I asked.

“We forgive you,” Milky Way said. “When Princess Luna and Gilda explained, I could tell from their undertone that they hated you. Why is that?”

“Long story,” I replied. “For Luna, it was unintentional. For Gilda, it was her fault.” I didn’t want to remember what Gilda asked me to do. “I really don’t wanna talk about—”

“Look out!” Drizzle warned as she pushed me down with Milky Way and was bumped and eventually taken by Blue Skies, and disappeared in the clouds with him.

“Drizzle!” I gasped.

“Don’t worry about Drizz,” Milky Way told me unworriedly. “She’s good fighting and dodging in clouds, especially rains and drizzles—not typhoons and downpours.”

I was now beginning to wonder if their names or cutie marks were connected to their special talents or skills—well, duh! It was connected.

“How can you be sure?” I asked worriedly.

“Because she’s right beside you,” he replied.

I looked on my left, and Drizzle was there.

I flailed a little in startle. “Woah! How’d you dealt with him?!”

“His sight wasn’t great in the clouds,” she replied.

“We’ll make sure they won’t get you,” Milky Way promised.

I sighed. I was unsure of that. “Once we reached Cloudsdale, you two leave me.”

They exchanged worried looks and nodded.

I never knew I was teaming up with two Pegasi. Was this legal, especially ambushing a competitor for a good reason? Spitfire didn’t tell us anything about this. I had a thought that maybe my companions would turn on me by chance, so I anticipated to fight. Combat would necessary if the coaches would’ve trained their students, but I was prepared even if Rainbow Dash didn’t. I expected this would be a friendly competition, but I guessed some of the participants wanted to pummel me for a good reason or beat each other up for the win and score. Prism Glider, Blue Skies and Silverwing were less of my worries, but Gilda was.

“Next stop: Manehattan!” I announced.

This would be a long race—if we were slow.

“Looks like most of the racers are teaming up!” Spike announced with a megaphone, which was magically connected to multiple speakers in the academy and magic screens for sound. I guessed he was the announcer, on a flying Spitfire.

“They certainly are,” Spitfire said. “Some are either scared being alone or would want to team up to take down the others, then their teammates. There can be other possibilities.”

“Currently on first place is Lighting Dust, showing very much of her vigor and determination soaring through the clouds and unfazed of any obstacles; currently on second is Gilda the griffon, beating and showing some dirty play in the race—I hate that; currently on third was Sprinkle Medley, who’s showing a worried face tossing and turning probably anticipating a flier to take her down; and on fourth place—to my surprise, really—is Pinkie Pie. I never knew my friend there would fly so well in the sky, even after receiving her wings accidentally from some unknown magic during the milk typhoon.”

“I’m surprised too, Spike. The party pony of Ponyville, as what I’ve heard from you, may have turned into a Pegasus pony recently during the typhoon, but it looks like she’s a natural pro in flight.”

The magic screen showed Pinkie Pie spiraling, making the other passerby fliers confused.

“Right you are, captain,” Spike said. “Though each screen showed each of the participants doing interesting flight, I noticed almost everypony in the audience in the academy are eyeing on Gilda the griffon and Iwano the Alicorn—oh, and Pinkie Pie, too.”

“The only reason,” Spitfire said, “is that we have a tough griffon, a former earth pony, and an Alicorn—all of them are very different, and Pinkie counts as one of them. Putting those three in the competition sure made an interesting mix of excitement here.”

“Winsome Falls was a breeze to them. Let’s see how they can fly through the bustling Manehattan!”

“Why bustling?”

“The crowded citizens there are excited to see the—”

“And a fight just broke!” Spitfire exclaimed.

“What?!” Spike held his head up.

The magic screen showed my teammates and I fending Prism Glider and his teammates. They were corralling me and my team. And they were striking us swiftly to both slow and put us down. I’d got to admit, they were skillful striking like, almost literally, bullets at us and their teamwork was well-coordinated just after shortly they joined forces. Whenever we luckily dodged, another striker would hit us unexpectedly and harder than the last one.

“That’s one bad situation they’re having,” Spike commented.

“Personally,” Spitfire said, “to me, it’s great and challenging.”

“But Iwano and his teammates are gonna get hurt!” Spike insisted. I thought he would be grumbling and unconcern for the Alicorn for “flirting” Rarity.

“Has anypony and you noticed the glint on his eyes?” Spitfire asked the audience and Spike. “He has a way.”

She was right.

“Drizzle, Milky Way bale—and trust me!” I ordered.

They were hesitant, probably ‘cause they thought I was crazy, but they followed.

“He’s open!” Prism Glider’s voice announced somewhere. “Together—go!!!”

They were blindingly fast to hit me, but thank to my racing heart, my anticipation was greater and made me hyper—to instantly spin and turn myself rapidly into a tornado, sucking them in and shoot them out of our sight completely!

Since my Dissonance wasn’t in control this time and thanks to him, I could use the Bolt Tornado—my first Equestrian skill in this world—at any level and speed at my will.

When my teammates regrouped with me, they were amazed. I was now used to these ponies being fascinated, awed and amazed of me.

“Was that the same tornado you made when you’re, uh, you know?” Milky Way asked.

“No, I can now control it,” I replied.

“Be sure of that, Iwano,” Drizzle said. “We don’t wanna increase your haters. By the way, that’s—”

“Awesome!” Rainbow Dash cried out. “He’s so cool!”

“He can now turn himself into a tornado at will, huh?” Twilight whispered.

“The way his mane danced fiercely in the breeze of predicaments and bounces after that tornado is enough to strike my eyes,” Rarity commented.

“Speaking of strike,” Applejack said. “It looks like those strikers just stopped popping out of nowhere. What a smart move he got there!”

Twilight had no comment. She was observing me with locked eyes on the magic screen. “I want to know more about Iwano Imagination’s capabilities and skills.”

The city was bustling. The populace was crowding on the sidewalks and some on building tops and roofs of houses.

Manehattan was a large city first depicted in the episode The Cutie Mark Chronicles. It was obvious to me that this city’s name was a play on Manhattan Island, a section of New York City. This city had a high society of ponies living here. I believed mostly earth ponies live here. The city made its first appearance in the episode Rarity Takes Manehattan—one of my favorite episodes. Certainly the city would appear the same as it was in the episode to my eyes.

On the way there, I saw a giant statue by the sea that looked like the Statue of Liberty in Reality, but with a mare instead of a human woman—and personally, it was much better.

The populace was excited not only for their city was chosen as one of the race’s track locations but would be witnessing us fliers soaring through their streets in cheer. Fillies and colts held flags of assorted colors with the Wonderbolts logo and with their parents carrying them on their head. It gave me a smile to see these ponies watching us.

Milky Way and Drizzle were still both on my side protecting me—no, we protected each other! We overtook Great Scott, Serenity, Opal Water, Raindrops and Airheart. They were all desperate to slow me down by reluctantly teaming up, but us trio worked to lose them on our tails.

We trio lowered ourselves near the ground for the crowd to see us closer. The city would be large and its streets would be longer if we were in average speed.

“Is this your first time here, Iwano?” Drizzle asked. “I mean, you’re from Imaginundia, after all.”

“Yeah, it is,” I answered. “I would like to stop and go sightseeing this city, but we’re racing.”

“It would be nice if it were only the three of us, walking or flying together in this city,” Drizzle said dreamily.

“Personally, I wanted to walk with…” I stopped myself.

“With whom?” Milky Way asked.

“Nothing.” I’d forgotten that the cameras were still rolling until the end. “Secret. We’re broadcasted, remember?”

They both understandingly nodded.

“Princess Luna’s part of the camera crew,” Milky Way recalled. “Is she staying with her sister for the rest of the race?”

I grimaced. “I strongly hope for it.”

“Iwano, Drizzle, look.” Milky Way pointed up ahead another Pegasus. “Who’s that Iwano? While you’re at it, you’re leading.”

I enhanced my vision, and saw April Showers ahead. I had gotten an idea. “It’s time to whip, friends!”

“Yes sir!” they replied in unison.

We aligned horizontally—Milky Way at tail end, Drizzle at middle and I at first—then Milky Way cling on Drizzle’s hind hooves and her same to mine, which formed us into a Pegasus chain.

“Are you sure this would work?” Drizzle asked.

“It will!” I assured her. “Now…go!!!”

I made another forceful flap, now a meter away from April Showers, whipped my Pegasus chain at our opponent, Milky Way grabbed her hind hooves, we lashed her far behind us like a whip.

“What the hay?!” April Showers protested in startle.

I forced flap again, and saw Sprinkle Medley and Blossomforth together, which made them apparently partners. It was too bad I’d to split them up. My team did the same formation and did our surprise lash-back technique—we called it the “Pega-Whip”.

I came up with the trick while flying with my imagination, started gearing ideas. My teammates were uncertain of it, but they believed in me enough to make that formation.

I was wondering if Parasol, Thunderlane, Lightning Dust, Flitter, and Cloud Kicker teamed up. If they did, it would be unfortunate to split and overtook them. It was like only a few minutes I teamed up with Milky Way and Drizzle, and we cooperated quickly like we were long best friends. But we had to disassemble as a team in Cloudslade, to be certain that they might turn on me—and maybe they knew, I thought. Were they just taking advantage of me? After my typhoon event, I doubted anypony would trust me, especially my four flier friends. I didn’t even who to trust.

The thought of it made me wanna abandon my teammates and go solo—I was very good at that, honestly.

On a building top as we ascend from the streets, a group of colt teens held their hooves up, obviously for a high five—or was it called a high hoof? I would refer high hoof better. I stuck my hoof down and my teammates followed as we flew pass below them and gave the colt teens what they wanted.

“You’re the flier!”

“You guys are awesome!”

“Take my hat and my house!”

“Take me with you!”

The floating light balls lead us out of Manehattan and to Ponyville, our next course.

It is okay to abandon them, said that cold voice in my head. You’re so smart, imaginative and skillful that you don’t even need those worthless Pegasi with you. You don’t need their loyalty.

Loyalty, I pondered that word and shook. That was obviously Dissonance, even from the start. I wouldn’t follow him this time, but why was my heart aching? I held on my chest.

Drizzle noticed my pained expression and in concern asked, “Are you okay, Iwano?”

“Uh—I’m fine!” I hesitated. “I’m just—”

“Look, Rainbowshine and Wild Fire!” Milky Way said as he pointed at them. “Pega-Whip?”

I nodded. We assumed—my chest still hurt but I was bearing it—to formation and did the same, but Rainbowshine avoided our whip easily.

“It looks like you’re weak when you’re alone, Iwano!” he taunted.

“He’s not weak!” Drizzle snapped. “He’s strong on his won, but he’s even stronger when he’s with somepony else—and he’s with us!”

Rainbowshine scowled. “Whatever! See you three in the finish line!” He boosted his speed with sprinting flaps.

It was now 7:58 PM. The sun was barely seen in the horizon, the sky was a dim dark blue and stars began slowly appearing one by one. Thanks to the light balls, we racers could see, even in a fog. Even without them, I could see because I could go nocturnal and lead my friends.

“Why’s it getting foggy?” Milky Way asked. “I mean, I could hardly see Rainbowshine ahead.”

I could feel the coldness, even through my Wonderbolts uniform, as the fog began to seetle in our sight, but the light balls lightened the way. I didn’t mind the fog, but I was wondering if were already too late.

“Stay close to me, gang,” I instructed

“You can see through this fog even without these light balls?” Drizzle asked.

“Eeyup.”

“Then you lead the way, captain!” Milky Way said happily, which flattered me a bit. They both followed.

The light balls sloped below, so we descended. The track led us to Ponyville. Coming back here was great. I was looking forward to see who I was gonna sleep with next.

We flew through, with citizens in their cottages and siding by the road.

We went through Ponyville’s streets, through town square and immediately exited. In the process, we used our Pega-Whip on Lightning Bolt, Merry May and Dizzy Twister. I wished we’d go slower.

I hadn’t seen Flitter, Lightning Dust, Thunderlane, Cloudchaser, Cloud Kicker, Rainbowshine, Parasol, Derpy Hooves, and Gilda yet on the way—nine in total.

Each Pega-Whip we made, I began trusting my teammates. Maybe they weren’t so bad.

“Gang, maybe we should—” I glanced around. They weren’t with me. “Where’re they?”

I wasn’t sure if they ditched ne or were planning to attack me. I would anticipate—wait, I told them to leave me when we reached Cloudsdale, but we weren’t there yet. Hmm…I wasn’t sure at all.

Night fell—Luna’s time fell.

I arrived at Cloudsdale. It was a city floating in the sky made of clouds. This city was where the Best Young Flier competition took place and Equestria’s weather. Only Pegasi lived and worked here, since non-Pegasus ponies couldn’t stand on clouds. This was also the hometown of Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. The city’s name was a reference to the Clydesdale, a breed of draft horses. The Weather Factory was also located here.

Just like Manehattan and Ponyville, there were cheering crowds but this time purely Pegasi.

Up ahead was Rainbowshine. My teammates weren’t with me, so we couldn’t do the Pega-Whip. My Chain’s of Life powers couldn’t work here in Equestria for me to conjure my chains. Besides, magic wasn’t allowed for me. Thus, I sprint passed Rainbowshine. He tried to catch up, but I flittered rapidly that I caused a gale to blow him away. One down, eight to go.

As I made a turn by a corner, I saw Parasol, Derpy, Cloud Kicker, Lightning Dust, Flitter, Cloudchser and Thunderlane together. I smile in the sight of them (yeah, even at Derpy).

And as I was about to call them, my smile faded.

It was fast, Gilda came out of nowhere and started clobbering ruthlessly and scratching scornfully my fellow fliers. I was agape. They tried to dodge and defend themselves—they weren’t even given any drills for this—against the griffon, but were overwhelmed. Lightning Dust, Derpy, Cloud Kicker and Thunderlane survived, but Parasol, Flitter and Cloudchser were unfortunately badly injured, and crashed. Though they crashed on clouds which were soft, I thought to myself that it was painful.

“No!” I cried out. “Mother of Celestia!” I flew and landed to them. The crowd on the sidelines gasped and leaned to get a better view on the fallen Pegasi and I.

Cloudchaser groaned. Her left wing was scraped from Gilda’s talons and her left foreleg was bruised. “I-Iwano? What’re you—?”

“It’s okay,” I said while I held back a sob. How could that griffon be so mean! “I’m here for all your aid. I can—”

“Finish…” Parasol croaked. “Finish the race, Iwano.” Her hind hooves were scratched and was about to bleed, and her right wing was scraped, too.

“B-but all of you are wounded—not injured to me!” I protested. “I won’t let a flier go down—”

“We’ll be fine!” Flitter insisted as she wobblingly stood up. Her forehead was scratched, which may had caused her to balance by head pain, and her forelegs were badly bruised, too. “Just go!”

I made no further objections, so I went aloft and promised to them, “I’ll finish this race for all of you!” And I left. “So Gilda want to play rough, eh? I’m worst!” I gulped. “I hope I am.”

If Gilda would beat up Pinkie Pie, I doubted she would land a scratch or bruise on that “intangible pin pony”.

I sprint flapped out of Cloudsdale. I tried to relax myself from any intentions of killing Gilda—and semi-morphing into Dissonance again. I counted my apple orchard massacre and typhoon creating as I being in semi-Dissonance state. I would take my vengeance by finishing this race in first place.

No anger, Dissonance whispered. Why not let it out?

No, I replied in thought. It’s unwise to answer with anger in any situation.

You had a predicament during the Second Negative War, the Neutral War, and many more battles, and you often answer them with anger...Armatroyer.

I winced. But killing wasn’t part of my multiple choices! Shut up! Shut up! Shut—! I realized Dissonance was toying with my temper in order to take control of me again. I sighed. Nice try, Dissonance.

He grunted, and there were no more responses.

“I can’t believe Gilda did that!” Rainbow Dash angrily said. “That’s unfair!”

At least the paramedic Pegasi are on their way, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said. “Just stay calm, and maybe Iwano has some idea.”

My team was worried about me. They’d been watching me and prayed for my safety, unaware of how I could deal with the griffon.

My coach grunted. “I want Iwano to win this for the fallen fliers! And when Gilda gets here, she’ll have my hoof in her—”

Applejack stuck an apple from her food cart in Rainbow Dash’s mouth. “Iwano will win this,” she promised. “He ain’t gonna let anypony after you trained him, Dashie. Isn’t that right, Fluttershy? Uh…sugar cube?”

The quiet pony was expressionless while watching me on the magic screen, ignoring Applejack.

Rainbow Dash spat out the apple. “Maybe Fluttershy’s so concern for Iwano—” she giggled, “that she can’t answer.”

I’m not concern at all, Twilight thought. I’m worried about his Dissonance.

“That is just barbaric!” Rarity commented as she pointed at the magic screen. “That griffon has no sportsmanship!”

Gilda was on optimistic Pinkie Pie’s tail, and I was close to her tail feathers. I took back what I said about Pinkie Pie being intangible. I was worried! At first, I thought the griffon ripping off Pinkie Pie’s wings would be great, but that pink party pony was such a good vibes giver (true), she didn’t deserved getting hurt. I was maybe guilty.

I was a feet away from her, and she tried to reach out for Pinkie Pie’s tail.

My heart raced as I blurted out, “Milkshake rains are better!”

“What—?” Gilda looked behind her, “—you!”

“Milkshake rains are better!”

“After I’m done with Stinky Pie, you’re—” As she looked back to Pinkie Pie, the pink pony was gone. Phew! Wait, where was she?

“Heeell-oooooo, Iwano!” Pinkie Pie greeted me from below as I looked down, muzzle to muzzle.

I was so startled that I flailed while surprisingly still flying in balance. “Don’t startle me, Pinkie Pie!” I warned. “You’re gonna make me lose focus!”

“Okie, dokie, loki!” she said as she saluted. The thought of Loki the Norse God from the Marvel Universe and her together made me shudder.

Gilda grunted. “I’ll just deal with you now, Green Wing!”

The griffon forced her wings to instantly slow down and stop beside me, and swiftly clawed my side. I screamed. This was my second injury in this world. It was painful, but I’d to bear it. I was actually used to being hurt badly since I’d been to countless adventures or quests in many worlds and wars.

I cringed. “I don’t wanna fight anypony,” I said in a mix of tremble and warning. “But you forced me to do it!”

I swept her face with a punch with such force that the griffon backed away in retreat to recover.

“Iwano hit the mean-y bird~!” Pinkie Pie cheered with cloud pompoms and wasn’t in flying position but in a cheerleading stand—she wasn’t even flapping! “I hope everypony got that heard~! Go, Iwano!”

Later, the griffon and I started fighting. Gilda kept clawing, but I parried most of them with my hooves. It was hard to balance like this while fighting in midair. I was scratched many times on my side that I began to bleed. I’d a lot of experiences of being slashed or gashed, so I was used to it anyway. But this…pain was unlike the others in the past—I was in Equestria after all, maybe the pain here was different. I’d to endure it.

I thought this was My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, a show with no violence. But I guess it was very different...

Twilight wasn’t watching.

She got her eyes on my saddlebag with Rarity wearing it. She was ignoring what was happening. She licked her lips in temptation to open my saddlebag.

I know Rarity told me to stop being so curious of Iwano, Twilight thought, but I just can’t help it! If I don’t know anything about him, we wouldn’t be able to be prepared for a crisis. There must be something that could give a hint if he has any weaknesses or anything informative—did he brought anything informative with him?

Twilight stealthily used her magic and gently removed my saddlebag from Rarity unnoticed, and skittered away from her team and everypony within sight. She obscured herself under a cloud bleacher.

“I’m sorry, Iwano,” she said to the saddlebag as she placed it down. “I really need to know more of your origin, info, and about your Dissonance. I wish there’s something useful.”

Twilight used her magic, and opened my bag and dug her hoof in. She rummaged and brought out a white notebook with a G-clef note on its cover. She levitated my notebook and began flipping and scanning through the pages. She also used her magic to conjure light to see.

She creased her brows. “It’s a lyric notebook,” she said as she continuously scanned and flipped the pages. “I’ve never heard of these songs, obviously because he’s from Imaginundia.” She began enumerating the songs. “Lego House, Hall of Fame, Beat It, Thriller…there’re even notes and chords of these songs. Apparently he’s a singer or composer.”

“Gilda and Iwano are still fighting each other to the finish line!” Spike announced. “But Iwano’s injuries are gradually slowing him down!”

Guilt washed over Twilight, but didn’t drown her. “What am I doing? I should be there supporting him. I may distrust him for he’s Dissonance, but if anything bad happens to Iwano, that evil thing might come out! Maybe I have more time—”

Her face was still on my notebook when she stopped on a page with a rainbow bookmark. “Huh?” You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid?” She shot her head up in ideal. “That’s it! Apparently this page was marked because it might help Iwano boost up, and the title is obviously for a race.”

She wore my saddlebag and ran back with my lyric book levitated with her.

“Where’s Twilight?” Rarity asked her friends as she glanced around. She gasped when she saw her back didn’t have my saddlebag. “And where’s Iwano’s saddlebag?”

“Girls!” Twilight called as she arrived.

“Where ya be’n, Twi?” Applejack asked.

“And what’s with the notebook?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“And why do you have Iwano’s saddlebag?!” Rarity demanded.

Twilight firmly said, “Rainbow Dash, you’re going to help your Green Wing.”

“I’m impressed that even if you’re all hurt, you’re still flying,” Gilda said. Her talons were soaked with my blood. I was all scorned from my forelegs, neck and sides of my body. I remembered my dream of having multiple scratch marks. This was what my dream was telling me.

“Get away from him!” Pinkie Pie snarled as she attempted to tackle the griffon, but ended up being smacked away haplessly.

“Pinkie Pie!” I cried out, watching the party pony falling unconsciously with three tiny griffons circling around her head.

Just as I was about to descend to save her, Gilda grasped tightly my hind hooves. She was stronger than I thought with her appearance. “Hey, we’re still dancin’, Green Wing!” she growled.

I thought I was strong enough to flail free, but thanks to my injuries my strength weakened. “NO!”

Why weren’t the camera Pegasi doing anything?! Why weren’t there any paramedics here yet?!

Miraculously, Drizzle caught Pinkie Pie.

“Drizzle!” I happily cried out.

“What the buck’s going on?!” Gilda demanded.

She was distracted when I was grabbed free by Milky Way with a very long Pega-Whip—composed of twenty-three (some were bandaged) Pegasi plus Thunderlane as the controller.

“Are you okay?” Milky Way asked as she held on to me.

“Mily Way,” I said. “What are you gonna—?”

“Whip her!” she cried out.

Thunderlane was panting. “We’re not in space with zero gravity, you know?! This is tough!” He was about to swing when Gilda tried to escape to thwart it, but she hoof-locked by Drizzle. I panicked and immediately calmed down when we passed by Pinkie Pie sleeping on a cloud while, thankfully, being bandaged up by paramedic Pegasus.

Thunderlane swung us to Gilda, who was still struggling to free herself by elbowing and scratching Drizzle. My hind hooves hit the griffon by her head, Drizzle bailed, and we all scattered. That I believe was really painful since equine hooves were hard.

“Finish the race, Iwano!” Lightning Dust called me from far above. “We’ll deal with the feather jerk here!”

“Yeah, we’ll take her!” Prism Glider flew right beside me. “I don’t wanna deal with ya anymore! Meat breath is what I wanna grill now!”

Lightning Dust was all vigorous again, but wasn’t ignorant at all. I believed she was gonna justify the griffon. I didn’t protest. I flew away in a zoom.

My mane was buzzing rainbow sparks again, but I ignored it.

The night’s fog was getting thicker the moment I left the probable fray. My wounds were cooled because of the cold air, but weren’t healing. I could use my magic to heal, but I wanted to finish this race fairly, even if it meant fighting a jerk. I doubted twenty-five Pegasi could slow down Gilda. After displaying her strength, I believed she could get out of a swarm. Were they willing to let me win? A part of me literally wanted to come out and helped the competitors—and it wasn’t Dissonance. As the IWM, I could do almost the impossible, but over the years my powers became limited. I couldn’t help them, but I must. And my win would be for the racers.

“Am I doing the right thing?” I asked myself (most heroes asked themselves that question, which was a bit corny to me). Were they willing to give up the race just to give Gilda a payback? I thought maybe they realized that Gilda was the cause of my violence, so they wanted to pummel her. Whatever the reason was, I was glad to finish this race for the racers, especially my flier friends, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash.

“They’re really that annoying, huh?” Gilda asked.

She was flying below me upside down. I was startled. “What in the name of Celestia?!”

They were chasing me around first, she explained. “It was part of my plan to lose them. Oh, I got to thank that stupid-eyed Pegasus pony.”

I believed it wasn’t the stupid-eyed pony’s fault for Gilda’s getaway. Derpy could have been used by that griffon. Theoretically because of her clumsiness, she was used as a distraction. And I regretfully knew all along that the fliers couldn’t hold her after for a mere few minutes.

“I’ll give you one more chance,” the griffon grimly said. “After this race, we can both work together to make Rainbow Dash’s life bad. I know you still hate her—your eyes told me, Green Wing. Give your loyalty to me and RD’s done. And I promise I won’t hurt you and anypony anymore. Do we have a deal?”

Tempting, that was the first word that popped in my mind. Never, that was the second word that came into my mind.

Suddenly, my favorite song was being sung by my coach. We could hear it echo…

You're Gonna Go Far, Kid...

Meanwhile in the Wonderbolt Academy, Rainbow Dash was dashing above the sky with Spike’s megaphone—it was enhanced by Twilight for me to hear the music—singing the song, rocking out and feeling the lyrics with excitement. The music was provided by Twilight’s magic, translating the notes and chords from my lyric notebook into music (impressive!), and filling the air with an alienate music that roused the Pegasi audience.

Why was she singing my fave song? How did she know the lyrics? And she could sing very well (I meant that question as both insult and question)? I bet somepony finally opened my saddlebag. You're Gonna Go Far, Kid was a song by a band named Offspring, from Reality. There was a "Rainbow Dash version" of the song in YouTube, ans was also very popular. My coach's singing was the exact as the Rainbow Dash version. Impressive!

“Who’s singing?” Gilda demanded.

As she was distracted when she wasn’t looking, I silently obscured in the clouds.

The griffon tossed her head around. “Where’re you?! Are you chickening out?!”

I replied to her with a tackle from above, and then hid in the clouds again. Even with just a single hit like that, she’d gotten frustrated. So, she clawed the clouds around her while still racing. She didn’t even realize that I was a few feet, northeast away from her, which I was still leading.

“I’m over here, featherbrain!” I screamed as I tackled and punched her beak hard.

Rainbow Dash flew around the crowd in each bleacher, rousing them to cheer on and support for me. She was completely absentminded that her wings were glowing rainbow-colored.

Twilight was the first to notice. “Rainbow Dash, your wings!” she called out, but the roaring crowd deafened her voice.

Combat rose again. Gilda reluctantly fended me off, but I slapped her sideways with my right wing, and then threw her behind me with my left wing with effort.

I gave the griffon my determined glare

“Gilda, no matter how annoying, tomboyish and brash Rainbow Dash is, my loyalty to her will never waver,” I said firmly and menacingly that she shuddered not just from my glare, but my words. I could feel millions of eyes watching me all over Equestria, listening to every word I said. I wanted everypony to listen.

My whole body began to spark in rainbow colors. Gilda was in a weird mix of awe, anger, confusion, and loss.

“If you have more faith and trust on that certain pony,” I continued, “good things will happen in the future. Loyalty means and rhymes with unity! If I join you, I would’ve betrayed my coach!” My body was now enveloped in rainbow lightning and static. “You’re an even bigger jerk and bully than I’d seen you in your visit to Ponyville! I will win this for the fliers, you, and Rainbow Dash. I know she has faith in me, not just to win this for her to become a member of the Wonderbolts, but to also teach you a lesson, you dirty-playing griffon!”

“I like—” Gilda’s talons sharpened, zoom right beside me, then and she was about to slash, “—to see you try!”

My nerves tightened, my teeth gritted, and I glared sharply. As she landed the blow, I zoomed out of range in extreme speed!

She saw my glare before she hits, which made her hesitant. What a sucker.

I’d experienced racing, swimming, crawling, running and flying in extreme speed before, but this one was extremer than my past ones yet! I had a pancake face, saliva spewing from my jaws, and my heart was racing with me that I’d lost oxygen. Kick Buttowski once told me that adrenaline rush was awesome, but he never told me the limits to that! My body was fully covered in iridescence, sparkling and sparkling as Celestia’s ethereal mane, as I zoomed on the way to the academy I struggled o look back and saw streaks of rainbow flames, trailing from my second new skill’s wake. I also saw no sign of Gilda on my tail anymore, especially the competitors.

In the academy, and possible all of Equestria, went berserk in exciting cheers. The other coaches couldn’t help but cheer me on. Rainbow Dash was agape in happiness and shortly continued singing. Her friends followed the cheering, but now Twilight.

“That move’s,” she said, “just like—”

“Rainbow Dash’s Sonic Rainboom,” Fluttershy finished her friend’s sentence softly.

“Keep singing!” Rarity hollered to my flying coach. “My darling Iwano needs to win! Go, Iwano, GO!”

“Here comes Iwano!” Spike and Spitfire announced in unison as I closed in to the academy by their sight. I made three instant laps around the borders swiftly.

I veered and headed to the finish line—the starting line. Rainbow Dash finished the last line the moment I crossed.

I cried out proudly, “EXTRIRIS VELOCHROME!!!”

Chapter 12: Poem of Dissonance

View Online

I couldn’t stop again. I thought that since Extriris Velochrome was my new second skill, it was uncontrollable. Unless I could practice this, I might be able to master it.

I stomped my hooves hard unto the pavement like a braking car (were there any cars in Equestria?), but I was still going and I was a few feet away from falling to a cliff (I heard car brake sound effect from my hooves). At least I slowed down slightly.

Everypony stopped cheering and panicked on where they were. Before any escort, coach or friend could stop me; Celestia swiftly flew from the bleachers, stopped in front of me and conjured a yellow magic shield. When I clashed with the princess’s shield it wasn’t enough—I slowed down another slight, but I was now pushing her along.

I suddenly remembered I was an Alicorn (stupid me) and I could fly, but I couldn’t feel my wings. Even that time when Luna conjured a shield to stop me, my wings were numb. What was going on with my wings?

“Iwano, please!” Celestia said as she struggled to pushed harder. “Fly off! What is wrong?!”

“I can’t fly!” I exasperatingly replied. “I can’t really feel my wings!” I gritted my teeth hard in desperation.

“Iwano’s in trouble,” Rainbow Dash exclaimed from her team. “Guys, let’s go stop him!”

Instead following her friends, Twilight flew to the crowds to calm them down.

My coach and the rest of the Mane Six—except Pinkie Pie—rushed for my aid. Applejack grabbed a rope from her food cart and lassoed me, but failed when it burned on contact.

“What in apple cakes?” Applejack said at the ashes.

Rarity, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash backed up Celestia from behind, but it wasn’t enough. I felt we were near the edge—five feet away and closing!

Spitfire rushed off to help obviously, unaware of dropping Spike from her back. The poor dragon fell on his head, but was fine. Luna also had the same idea, which made me scowl.

“Princess Luna!” Spitfire called. “Let’s push with force together—a single shot!”

“Aye, captain Spitfire!” Luna responded.

Instead of pushing with the others, Luna and Spitfire forcefully shot themselves behind Celestia’s shield.

I fell on my back and my rainbow flames died.

9:20 PM—celebration of my victory as the first placer and winner, along with the three others and a party to go with, hosted by Pinkie Pie. Her head and left foreleg was bandaged by the griffon’s scratch, but I was happy to see her all nonsensically healthy and silly in the party.

Everypony celebrated out of the bleachers and surrounded me, turning me claustrophobic with these Pegasi. Though them congratulating and asking me questions were great, I teleported away, which was a bit rude without reply. Pinkie Pie comically popped out of nowhere and aroused everypony to party. Despite the injuries, she was totally fine from the griffon’s attack.

Speaking of griffon, after all the racers and the healed ones crossed the finish line; Gilda was nowhere to be found. After what she’d done in the race, she probably flew off—with the Wonderbolts uniform she still worn probably. I found out the truth about Gilda’s purpose in joining the Bolt Wing from Soarin. He told me that Gilda just wanted to join the competition just to get revenge on Rainbow Dash, probably because of that time when they broke their friendship in that party in the episode Griffon The Brush Off. So to pay my coach back, she found the opportunity when the Bolt Wing was announced last week, and she blackmailed Spitfire to get in. When I asked the captain what Gilda used against her, Spitfire winced and went mad but not on me, thankfully. I regretted asking that.

I was on first place which made Rainbow Dash crazy happy (as if seeing her favorite book character), Prism Glider was second, Milky Way was third and, to my horror, Derpy was fourth. The top scorer was Cloud Kicker with a total of fifty-seven points during the progress of the race.

On 9:40 PM, the winner and top scorer, with their coaches, would be awarded with medals of bronze (fourth placer), silver (third placer), gold (second placer), a bolt-shaped goggles (top scorer), and the Wonderbolt’s trophy (first placer)—a white trophy with a gold lightning with two silver wings attached to each sides and a bronze plating on it bearing my name and official Wonderbolts title/nickname: Iwano “Green Wing” Imagination.

Right now, I was lying on a cloud above the academy, hidden from everypony. And I was staring at the sparkling moon—of Luna. I was just resting from all the excitement and of course the race. My bones ached and my muscled were in pain a little. The wounds Gilda gave me were bandaged by Lightning Dust and Cloud Kicker, and the two were eager to get me healed and medicated. I would have just used my magic and healed myself, but for some reason it wasn’t working again this time, but it was fine by me. I was exhausted, anyway.

I would never forget Gilda—everything she’d done in the race and what she said to me. I never forget what my enemies done and said, and she was counted.

This was just my third day for me in Equestria and I’d been experiencing a lot, mostly in the Bolt Wing. It was also a very long day for me. I’d thank Rainbow Dash for today. I’d also made a lot of allies—Lightning Dust, Milky Way, Parasol, Drizzle, Thunderlane, Cloud Kicker and Flitter. I wasn’t sure if the competitors helping with the Pega-Whip would count to me as allies now, but since they saved me and dealt with the griffon maybe I would.

The night was colder and the fog cleared. I’d no idea how a fog that thick came during the race, but thanks to Celestia’s light balls we racers were safe and guided.

Staring at the moon, I’d forgotten that it was beautiful and serene with pristine whiteness and cooling radiance. But to me, the bright and hopeful sunshine was more beautiful that I couldn’t look directly (other than the fact that it could burn your eyes, obviously) at it.

“Iwano,” I said, “you can do this. You just need the Elements of Harmony help and influence you. Let there not be anymore conflict, especially from that dreaded Dissonance.”

Funny, I’d just remembered there was a fan-fiction story that was entitled “Dissonance” in a famous brony website called Fimfiction in Reality. I never read it, but I did know that my element was darker than that story.

I’d also remembered Twilight still had my saddlebag. I was fuming a little when I knew Rainbow Dash knew and sung the lyrics of my fave song. Twilight told me that she knew I was smart enough to found out. Keh, that was alright, though. Without a song of encouragement, I would had lost and not to fully develop my Extriris Velochrome. So maybe I owed Twilight and Rainbow Dash huge thanks, especially the rest of the Mane Six—and also the Pegasi competitors.

I sighed and began singing to soothe myself

I soared through the sky
Proud and quick as I fly
I have left you a rainbow
A symbol of me being faithful
Even if shooting stars come by for me
I’ll stay with you even if I’m free
I’ll conquer the weather
I’m lighter than a feather
Spread thy colorful wings!

Singing soothed me. I hoped Fluttershy would be impressed, because she could also sing. I wished to hear her sweet singing voice, before I left Equestria.

“Your singing is pretty good.” That wasn’t Fluttershy’s voice. I scowled.

I tossed my head around to find her. Rainbow Dash popped in front of my face and startled me. She laughed, I fumed.

“Rarity told me you’ve a great singing voice,” Rainbow Dash said. “But it isn’t good for me, a little.”

“Same goes to me for your singing voice, coach.”

She smirked. “I’m not your coach anymore, Green Wing. The competition’s over, the participants and their coaches get to keep their Wonderbolts uniform by Princess Celestia’s request—sweet, thanks princess!—and we’re partying thanks to Pinkie.”

“Why are you here anyway, Rainbow Dash?” I asked in a grumble.

“Two things,” she replied. “First: what are these?”

She showed me her wings. They were coated a pair of bladed, thin-sheathed, rainbow-colored, armor-like wings, and were the same size as hers. Each of those wings had a rainbow bolt. My eyes widened in surprise of seeing those very familiar weapons from Imaginundia.

“Those are called laminaes,” I said. “Translation: bladed wings. They’re special flight weapons used in my land made exclusively for winged fighters. They can also be used for shielding, too. Though they are made from metal, they’re actually really light, depending on your strength and mass. Those bladed wings can also sharpen your speed, increase flapping strength, and could make you a silent flier. You can say those things are awesome when you know how to use them, which you don’t. But judging by its design and color and—” I walked towards her and tapped her laminaes, “—metallic property, this thing is very, very special.”

“I was unaware that my wings started glowing while I was singing, then when you crossed the finish line, they’re there,” Rainbow Dash said. “Was it your magic again?”

“Hmm...I guess so. My magic can sometimes make something special.”

“Does it count Rarity’s so called Tredaspo Diadem?”

“Yes, my friend. But her diadem is not common in my land. And your type of laminaes isn’t, either. Everything I created unknowingly always had a name. So, I’m calling your weapons Loyal Chromes.”

“Why Loyal Chromes?”

“You’re the Element of Loyalty, and chrome is anything colorful or a metal alloy—which that’s what your laminaes are made of, yes. And it’s colorful and the name’s cool and suited you, really.”

“You don’t want them? I can have them?”

“As long as you can handle your own laminaes like an expert, but you need practice. And yes, you can keep them.”

“Wow…” Rainbow Dash marveled at her very own weapons as she rubbed them, showing shininess and her reflection. She couldn’t stop smiling. And she…blushed. “Thank you.”

I nodded. “Wait, what’s the second thing?”

“I just wanna congratulate my winner and thank him.” Rainbow Dash blew a tiny cloud from her mane.

“Thank the winner for what, getting you in the Wonderbolts as an official member?”

In the fandom, Rainbow Dash in fan-fiction stories always—to my annoyance, honestly—ended up as a Wonderbolts member. Would there be a story whereas she would fail to become one or were to be expelled? I’d wanted that to happen.

“Thanking him for staying loyal to his coach, even she had those things he doesn’t like about her,” she answered as she gave me a noogie. She then sadly glanced at the stars. “I’m sorry.”

Rainbow Dash apologizing? That was weird, but my heart was feeling fuzzy. I stared at her, and then she stared at me. They were acute and as they were—determined in a cloaked way. She began blushing when our faces were close, but it was like she was craning her head closer. I could feel her nostrils exhaled out hot air.

She turned away from me, eyes closed. I thought she might did it, but I wasn’t gonna let her—so it turned away, too. Never in my life I would do that to her. Why won’t you just do it on Applejack, A.K. Yearling, Daring Do, Spitfire or Soarin, you tomboy, I thought.

“I’m sorry,” Rainbow Dash repeated.

“What’re you apologizing for?”

She narrowed her eyes on me. “You’re really that forgetful, Green Wing?”

“Eeyup,” I admitted.

“I’m saying sorry for the pranks and name calling, Green—I mean, Iwano. But I think you like the nickname Green Wing now, right?” She sighed heavily. “J-just accept it!”

“Why are you like that, Rain—?”

She gave me a quick kiss on my cheek…and flew back down to the party.

I…was kissed by a lesbian? I was too stunned to move. I really wanted to faint now, but that kiss was like espresso to my nerves, and heart.

I really needed to forget about this, and just relax and rest from my race and of my injuries.

“Iwano Imagination,” Spitfire announced. I was onstage with my coach on my side in front of all the competitors, their coaches, friends, Pegasi audience and camera crew. Behind Spitfire were Celestia, Luna, and Twilight—my saddlebag was with Rarity. Beside me and my coach was my trophy on a pedestal. The top scorer and winners already received their award and were now in the audience. I saw Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Spike on front row. I smiled.

“We congratulate,” Spitfire continued, “your determination and strength in this year’s Bolt Wing competition. You’d shown courage, style, aerodynamics, speed and great loyalty. On behalf of the Wonderbolts, we forgive you for your unintentional wrongdoing and fighting Gilda for the fliers. We salute you, Green Wing!”

The Wonderbolts and the competitors, and Rainbow Dash, saluted honorably for me, and everypony stomped their hooves in applause.

“I am proud of you, Iwano,” Celestia said. “Though the griffon tempted, you have not strayed away from your loyalty to Rainbow Dash, which was the right thing to do. I guess the Element of Loyalty greatly influenced you.”

We glanced at my coach. She was howling happily and cheering blithely. I grinned.

“You fly like a winner! You soar like a great, bug, cool, bird! You’re a kicking-booty Alicorn!” Pinkie Pie cheerfully exclaimed.

“I am so proud of my darling Iwano! He showed even beauty in the race—I could see it!” Rarity said.

“Woo-hee! He sure is great Alicorn. Despite being that and able to use magic, he’s true to himself in that race!” Applejack said. “I wish Twilight would’ve joined the competition.”

“Yay!” Fluttershy softly said. I chuckled.

I couldn’t stop smiling. “Celestia,” I said. “I believe the Element of Loyalty is now—”

I turned numb, my face felt slacked, and my vision turned bloodshot red, made me barely see.

“Dissonance!” Twilight and Luna exclaimed as everypony panicked.

I chuckled—or rather Dissonance chuckled, but I wasn’t in control at all. “I’m no winner in this pathetic excuse of a competition,” I said, but it wasn’t my voice. “I am triumphant to what I do best, nitwits! You all have four days left until Equestria will be shrouded in real darkness and nightmare! In the meantime...”

Dark clouds swirled above the whole academy, and struck lightning everywhere...No!

Twilight blasted me with a beam. Was that necessary? “Dissonance!” she snarled. “Bring Iwano back!”

I laughed. “Don’t you see, Sparkle? I am Iwano!”

My mind was fuzzy. My mind began to give me a split-headache from Dissonance. I didn’t know now who was talking in my body—Dissonance or I? Actually, Dissonance was me, since he was the Equestrian counterpart of my Forbidden, but probably even eviler, in some way I couldn’t describe.

Twilight used her magic to toss me out of the stage, but I went afloat. Pegasi hesitated to find cover, avoiding lightning as much as possible. But few had been struck, singed, and passed out in paralysis. Barracks, cloud buildings and properties of the academy went up in flames.

The Mane Six were the only lucky ones.

Celestia used her magic to cast a giant barrier all over the academy, obviously for protection.

“Be CALM!” Luna commanded the weather with her magic and her royal we (her loud and voluminous voice of regality), but nothing happened. “The weather is not on my side, it is with Dissonance!”

Celestia glanced at my destruction with frightened eyes. “Iwano, I know you are still in there,” she firmly said. “Dissonance does not own your body and soul, Iwano! Control him!”

I’d been possessed many times in my adventures (sick of it) to know how to stay back in control, but Dissonance was more stubborn than my Forbiddens. This was Equestria after all, it was very different.

Part of my willpower luckily gotten little of my hooves, head and voice—temporarily gotten them—but I could only spoke little.

“Celestia,” I said with my normal voice, but I could feel Dissonance wanted to put me down again. “I’m going to…go away!”

“What do you mean?!” she asked, eager to help me.

“Don’t find—stop, you fool! I’m in control—that’s not me! Don’t find me—don’t you dare—don’t find me!”

My voice changed back and forth with Dissonance’s that Celestia, Twilight and Luna gotten confused.

I jerked out and flew away from the academy fast by using my magic to ajar an opening on Celestia’s barrier to exit.

Being possessed numerous of times and practice concentrating my willpower back in Imaginundia against Dissonance really paid off, but his power was much greater, so I needed to go away from the Wonderbolts Academy, hoped that my storm would disappear.

I glanced back at the academy with my red eyes. The storm was still there, striking at any unfortunate Pegasus and burning the place. The flames were bigger than awhile ago.

“What’s the matter?” I asked myself, which was Dissonance’s voice.

“You’re the matter!” I angrily replied with my own voice. Great, we were arguing in one body.

I—uh, Dissonance smirked. “…It’s all for the fun of it, myself. Your heart was so dark within its abyss; it greatly encouraged me to do a little fun. You’re starting to love evil, are you?”

I winced. Over the last few months, I’d been pulled to the dark side several times because of the hatred in my heart in Reality. For that, I slowly but blurrily I began to see the light in evil. Many times, Lentae and Cynthia done their best to pull me away from the light of dark, but occasionally failed. “No! Why would I?!”

“You will someday, me—”

“I’m not you!” I snapped.

“I am you, idiot. Why won’t you just let yourself go and let me—”

“Extriris Velochrome!” I cried out.

Albeit I had this skill recently, my imagination to fully control it gotten me the hang of it easily.

I wanted to shut him up—both of us up. I/he caused a typhoon in the Bolt Wing competition. Typhoons always left damage after. What if some parts of Equestria were? Ugh, I just didn’t want anything unfortunate to happen.

My Extriris Velochrome mode—or ExVel mode short—slightly changed. My coat waved in ethereal iridescence all over with colorful tiny sparks popping, my tail turned ethereal in colorful flames, my mane was also colorful and my eyes were back to normal, except it was vivid green. During the Ace Thunderbolt when I first used this, I left a trail and a sonic boom. But now, I was in flames like a meteor about to impact. I guessed my ExVel would dependently change under circumstances like this one.

What are you doing?, Dissonance demanded, but fortunately I ignored it.

I didn’t know where I was going, but I theorized that going farther away from the Wonderbolts Academy should stop the storm. I was now very sleepy, my sight blurry, and I lost balance.

I crashed.

The academy wasn’t entirely destroyed. Well, just a bit in ruins. On the bright side: no more swirling black storm striking lightning.

Cloud buildings that were there in their place were swept away almost completely, flying away papers. Barracks almost reduced to ruble. Electrified Pegasi were being medicated by medic Pegasi and rested on the pavement with just a pillow and blanket, because the medic building was burned down.

Luna was facing an enflamed barrack. She used her magic and summoned rain upon the burned barrack, extinguishing the flames. After she put out the fire, she stared at the destruction I/Dissonance made in disgust.

“Fie,” she interjected angrily. “Methink I should do something anent this Iwano. I should have the chance.”

“To do what, Luna?” Celestia asked as she walked towards her sister. “Is there anything terrible for you to do to him?”

“Nowise, my sister,” Luna replied. “Why would thee believe he could control hi Dissonance? We may have not yet witnessed Iwano as his dark form, but I could sense that his heart was darker than my darkest night ever. Why would you still have faith in that green Alicorn and unconditionally forgive him that easily after what he had done to this academy?”

Celestia glanced around her surroundings, sinking the words Luna said and reflecting on my actions as Dissonance. Her expression was full of sympathy for the academy and the injured Pegasi. Guilt and regret was about to wash over her, but she dried them up with the belief of me controlling my dark element.

She stomped the pavement. “I have forgiven you Luna for your bitterness as Nightmare Moon, “she firmly said, “and faith in Discord for his reforming. I believe it can do the same to Iwano Imagination. I had also shown mercy and kindness for you. And do you think I and Twilight and her friends do not have what it takes to trust Iwano? Yes, you had sense Iwano’s heart was darker than your darkest night, but I could sense that in the other side of his heart was brighter than my brightest day ever, likewise Twilight and her companions. I thought you are now wise enough to understand.”

Luna was lost. She hesitated to find an answer, but Celestia’s words sunk deeper than hers. “I-I—”

“I forgive you, Luna, for your misunderstanding,” Celestia said gently. Luna lowered her head ashamed, but Celestia lifted sister by the chin with her hoof. “You will understand Luna. I have faith in you.”

Luna smiled. “The fire had all been extinguished, sister. I will now guard the night.”

“Do what you must,” Celestia smilingly said.

Luna flew away.

Meanwhile, Twilight, Rarity (still wearing her diadem) and Fluttershy were taking care of a paralyzed Spike and Pinkie Pie (still a Pegasus). Their eyes were stiff open. Pinkie Pie’s mouth was open with her tongue out in a silly way and her paralyzed hooves were like that of a dead fly with twitching movements (no Pinkie Senses).

“My poor little Spikey-Wikey,” Rarity said to Spike sympathetically. “It’s unfortunate for you to get struck.”

She rubbed ash marks on Spike’s forehead with her hoof. “Ew,” she said. Rarity rubbed off her ashen hoof on a passing Silverwing by the flank. “I hope that paralysis is temporary like you said, Twilight—”

Rarity gasped when she turned and saw Twilight scanning my book from my saddlebag. “Twilight, stop snooping around his stuff!” she scolded. “You taking Iwano’s lyric notebook was fine, but that book might be—”

“Empty,” Twilight plainly said without her eyes leaving the pages. The book was colored moderate magenta and entitled “Stories” on its cover.

Rarity blinked as she looked for herself. Yes, it was empty. “The book has no words, though it’s already dark, Twi. And stop—” she took saddlebag and book away with her magic, and then stowed the book in, “—snooping around with Iwano’s stuff!”

Twilight heaved a sigh. “Fine,” she murmured.

Rarity wore my saddlebag and secured it.

Rainbow Dash arrived as she landed from the sky with Spitfire, Lightning Dust, Thunderlnae, Parasol, Drizzle, Cloud Kicker, Flitter and Milky Way. My coach had eye bags and she with the other Pegasi was exhausted.

“How’s the search, Rainbow Dash?” Twilight asked.

My coach shook glumly. “Not a single clue, Twi.”

“It’s now getting late. In fact, it’s now midnight. We should all go home and get some rest, and tomorrow we can scour the nearest areas for Iwano—maybe we could even scour the whole Equestria for him if we can.”

“I don’t wanna rest!” Rainbow Dash protested as she restlessly stomped the pavement. “I’ve to keep finding Green Wing!”

“Look at you, Rainbow!” Twilight insisted. “You’re already full of fatigue. I promise that we’ll find Iwano.” She rolled her eyes. First, Rarity’s overprotecting the Alicorn’s saddlebag. Second, Rainbow Dash’s obsessed of finding him. Who else defends a disaster maker?

Thunderlane yawned. “Has anypony seen Cloudchaser? She’s supposed to be with us.”

“Yeah, I was supposed to be with you, Thunderlane,” Cloudchaser said as she landed with the rest with an irritable look. But you’re just so sleepy you hardly noticed I was on your tail, you snoozer”

Thunderlane blushed. “Uh, sorry?”

“Anyways, I did find a clue, Rainbow Dash.”

“And it’s on your back. What is it?” Parasol asked.

“It’s some sort of cape,” Cloudchaser said as she handed it out to show the group. She held a green collared cape with two holes and an embroidered red-white ball on the center.

“”That’s Iwano’s cape!” Rarity frantically said as she took it away and looked at it. And then she grabbed Cloudchaser by her neck and demanded, “Tell me where you found Iwano’s fabulous and unscathed cape!”

Twilight shot her head up in a smile. “I think I just found a way to find Iwano, but we’ll do it tomorrow—”

“Tell me how!” Rainbow Dash grabbed Twilight’s cheeks and squished them and begged. “I must know!”

“We’ll make another search,” Parasol said. “I can still help—”

Thunder rumbled in a distance as it closed in to the Wonderbolt Academy. Twilight scowled. “Does anypony think that that storm’s owned by Dissonance again?”

“That dark element’s presence is still here in this academy—I can feel it,” Celestia said. “Dissonance sent another storm somehow to strike again. Parasol, there will be no search again in the meantime. The academy will be under attacked again. We need to shelter the paralyzed ones quick.”

Applejack heaved a sigh. “Dissonance ain’t tired yet? If we found Iwano and he finds out about this, he ain’t gonna like it.”

Suddenly, Pinkie Pie’s wings magically disappeared.

I was dreaming again, and it was a nightmare again.

I was a pony, but not an Alicorn—now wings, now horn. I wasn’t wearing me iWatch10 and I didn’t have my powers. I had a lot of dreams whereas I was vulnerable and powerless that I hadn’t gotten over with at all. I know I was in a deep sleep, but this nightmare was paining my heart and my head throb worst than my last ones. How come all my nightmares were always like that?

I was running away from a pack of pink wolves (really, pink wolves) in an ominous forest (getting sick of ominous places) of pine trees. It was really dark, and the moonlight provided little light.

The pink wolves chased and howled as they could sense my increasing exhaustion. I was panting and my lungs burned. I jumped over rocks and avoided trees. Being four-legged in Equestria, it was easy for me to run faster. The only disadvantage was my asthma. I c wondered how long I’d been running. It might approximately be between ten to thirty minutes, and I couldn’t believe I ran this long. I was supposed to have an asthma attack right now, but thank Celestia, I didn’t have.

I was startled but kept running when a pink wolf appeared beside me. It tried to paw my hooves obviously to trip me, but I quickly tilted aside and sprint hard ahead. Seriously, my hooves were dead but I kept going and my lungs were almost on fire.

The only two things that kept me running were the thoughts of seeing Fluttershy and the gentleness of Celestia.

I remembered my chase three months ago. I was chased by seven of my girlfriends, who were brainwashed by Lelouch as a trial, lead by Candice—Gym Leader of Snowpoint City, Sinnoh region, Pokémon world—in the dangerous Evergreen Forest of Imaginundia. It was wild with blasting slashing, bloodshed and tank-firing. My other seventeen chases were as crazy as that one, and this was my eighteenth, in my dream.

I finally gave up so I stopped. Hey, this was just a dream. I wouldn’t feel pain and my wounds would be unreal.

The moment I stopped and faced the wolves that were closing in, I suddenly remembered as I gasped that some of my past dreams mostly gave me great pain.

I urged to run again, but a pink wolf leaped from my left and held me down on the ground. Soon, its friends arrived. I was scratched, bitten and…yeah, it hurts. My heart pounded so fast, I nearly woke up—but I couldn’t!

I wouldn’t wake up, eh? This was a nightmare after all, and yeah, I was scared. Struggling and fighting back was uselss.

“AROINT, YOU SAVAGES!” a royal we demanded.

The wolves stopped their feasting, looked directly at the sky and I followed their gaze. The moonlight gotten brighter and in the sky was an Alicorn in a silhouette.

It began flapping a cold whirlwind, causing the wolves to be blown away. The wind was so strong the wolves flew away into the air, disappearing from sight. The silhouette was an Alicorn yes, able to generate a gale or strong whirlwind. Why wasn’t I blown away, too?

After the wolves were gone, I carefully stood up not to stretch any muscle sprains and open any wounds. The silhouette landed in front of me revealing to be her.

“Princess Luna,” I grumbled in a shaky breath. “Why are you here?”

“This is no ordinary nightmare, Iwano Imagination,” she said. “And this is not yours. You are in his sweet dream, whereas he would torture you as entertainment.”

“Dissonance,” I assumed.

Luna stared at my injuries. “I am impressed, Iwano. How come a badly injured pony like yourself would still be standing strong after undergoing a tiring pursuit and excruciating feasting?”

“To be honest, I was just enduring pain,” I admitted, and suddenly collapsed on the ground but still awake.

Luna tried to help me up, but I shook her off in refuse. “Why are you helping me? I thought you dislike me.”

She closed her eyes and sighed. “My sister showed me partially about you through he words,” she answered, and then her expression hardened. “But that does not mean I trust thee.”

I grunted. “I don’t expect you to.” And then I wondered. “Why are you here in my nightmare?”

“Thy friends were searching for you especially thy coach—she desperately cared for you that she even wanted to find thee during my time. I guess both of you are very mutual in loyalty and friendship.”

“What happened in the academy?”

“It is in ruins, but not entirely destroyed by your—I mean, by Dissonance’s magic. But the Wonderbolts Academy will be reconstructed soon. Many were angered and cussing of your unintentional act, Iwano.”

My heart sank. Great, now I was back to square one with the Pegasi. “So…you’re here because you’re looking for me, correct?”

“Yes, Iwano.” Luna gazed at her moon in the night, calm sky. “”Those pink wolves were quite odd, but they meant something that would happen in the future.”

“I’m smart enough to know who were those pink wolves—Pinkie Pie. But I don’ understand why wolves.”

“It meant that Pinkie Pie will cause danger soon.” Luna glanced around. “After this conversation, I will have to report to your friends and sister that you are still alive.”

I remembered my dream two nights ago. I was in an ominous and unhappy Sugarcube Corner, consumed by Dissonance after. Was this dream somewhat connected to the next peril? The chances to me were high because of this dream, and my dreams often showed me the future or major signs. This dream was a sign, and it involved Pinkie Pie as the threat this time, which I was personally thankful of. Why would a pink party pony like her turned into a threat? Hmm…I couldn’t remember.

“How do you know Pinkie Pie will cause danger soon?” I asked.

“Stupid, you are. Those savage wolves were already a hint, Iwano,” she replied. “You will awake soon and this will not be a nightmare shortly anymore, Imagination.”

I barely grinned. “Thanks for saving me, Luna.”

“To you only, address me as Princess,” told me. “She went to a takeoff position. “Oh, I do not know where you are, for this dream is not yours.”

“What?” I demanded.

She flew away.

The moment that inconsiderate pony left, the moonlight gotten brighter, the forest became cold but sane, and I felt okay albeit my injuries looked severe. I was still bleeding, but I wasn’t bothered or winced. Was it because this was no just a dream? I did felt my wounds stinging a bit.

I just realized I owned Luna thrice—twice from the Bolt Wing and this.

Maybe Luna wasn’t that bad, but still I despised her hidden antipathy towards me.

…I loved the cool and quiet dream now.

I yawned. I woke up in a forest with trees of moistened barks and rigged gnarled branches with leaves, with ferns growing out. The ground was soft the moment I stood up. My typhoon probably affected this area as well. The sky was light blue and young. I glanced at my watch and it was 6:20 AM. I immediately recognized this place—and it wasn’t probably far from Fluttershy’s cottage. Boggy-like plants, strange ferns, creepy-looking trees…yeah, I knew what this place was.

I then glanced around my surroundings. I stopped when I saw her just seating there, as if she was still waiting for me to awake. She was just staring and smiling at me. I held back a startle.

“Welcome to the forest called Everfree,” she said. “I can tell that you’re quite familiar of this place, I see.”

She wasn’t a pony, but a zebra, which she was in my Fave Equestrian List. I researched everything about her, too. Her eyes was strong cyan, her coat was in stripes of light heliotropeish gray and dark bluish gray, her mane was also stripe of light gray and dark persian bluish gray that looked like a mohawk, and her hooves was indigoish black. She had a more masculine appearance than other mares in Equestria: her muzzle was squared off and she had no eyelashes (Rarity would offer that zebra one of hers), which corresponds to the general stallions. She wore dzilla neck rings on her neck (would that elongate her?), left foreleg and one on her right ear, that were colored brilliant amber, traditionally worn by the Ndebele people of Southern Africa in Reality. When she spoke to me, she had a strong African-esque accent with approximation of Eastern African Swahili language, with rhyming couplets. She had a cutie mark, a gray stylized spiral sun, and she was notably the only non-pony in Equestria to feature one.

I bit my lips to resist the urge to leap on her for no reason.

“I’ve heard Iwano is your name, and uniqueness is your game,” the zebra said.

“And you must be Zecora,” I said. “Hello…Why is am I here?”

“When I looked around, your reason here was what I found.”

I looked at the ground around me. Zecora and I were surrounded by colorful ashes forming a giant circle.

“What happened to me, Zecora?” I asked.

“I was collecting herbs for a potion,” she said, “and I suddenly heard an explosion. I was searching for the impact, and saw you hurt like you had an attack. You were burned, bitten and hurt, so I quickly made a remedy while you were there stern. I treated your injuries, and now look at you—clean, refreshed, and anew. I was curious of who you are, for you look alien from another star. And thus, I stayed here for the night, not leaving you from my sight.”

Listening to Zecora was like sweet remedy to my ears. She was my favorite character of the show, because of her knowledge on herbs and potions and of her wisdom, and her rhymes and accents. There were other reasons why she was my fave.

I looked at myself. My Wonderbolts uniform was scorched and my goggles were gone.

“I…I was flying away from the Wonderbolt Academy,” I recalled. “It was last night. I caused a big trouble there, so I flew away hoping it would go away.”

It wasn’t I who made trouble, it was Dissonance, but he and I…Were we really the same?

“What trouble have you caused there and why?” Zecora asked. “Perhaps it was an accident, harmless as a fly?”

What? Are you kidding me? It was BIG! I thought. “It, uh, was complicated. How can I explain? Um, okay I’ll tell you what I could remember, Zecora, and maybe why I’m here in Equestria in the first place.”

I told her the same thing—seeking the Elements of Harmony, my Dissonance, where I was from, blah, blah, blah. But of course, I didn’t tell where I was really from and my identity.

“A dark element opposite to Harmony,” Zecora mused. “It will only bring Equestria a tragedy.”

“Indeed, Zecora,” I agreed.

I suddenly had a sharp headache like a stick snapped in my mind. I was about to fall, but Zecora caught me with her hoof and head. I slowly held my head up and I was eye to eye with her—I also remembered I was tall, so I was looking down on her, literally. I pushed myself back in a blush.

“It looks like you have a headache,” Zecora said. “Come with me for there is a medicine in my home you must take.”

We were walking together back to her home. The ground was softer than we had left. We passed bushes with thorn vines and the trees weren’t this ominous than it appeared in the show, even in this early morning.

I remembered my first time near this forest after my entrancing from Imaginundia.

Since this was the Everfree Forest, there were lots of mysteries, strange places and creatures—cockatrice, timber wolves, manticores, the Mirror Pond, Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters, the Tree of Harmony, et cetera.

Interesting fact: the Everfree Forest made several appearances in the show, and was a major setting in the episodes like Friendship is Magic part two, and Princess Twilight Sparkle part one and two. I was planning to roam around this forest with Zecora, but since my friends were searching for me, that plan had to be postponed, or never.

I could just simply use my magic fire to send a message to my friends of where I was, but I didn’t have the feeling to do it, and it was just too easy for them to locate me. I wanted to challenge them in searching me, by the way. Wrong? I didn’t think so.

I gotten strange, cold feeling within like this forest would become important to me for no reason. Hmm…

“How long have you been here in Equestria , and how bad was your hysteria?” Zecora asked.

“Counting today, I say four days,” I replied. “And my hysteria? Very bad, Zecora.”

“Hmm…You being here is coincidence or not? Because there are very special plants I have sought.”

I knitted my brows. “What do you mean?”

“New plants recently appeared in this forest, which were a lot more and no less. I may have a theory, to this mystery: if you are an Alicorn of great power, then you may have an influence faster within the hour.”

I now knew what she meant. Upon entering Equestria, I must had a very powerful effect in this forest in my entrancing which it began to grow new and unknown species of plants, and maybe fruits, too. Maybe that was a good thing.

Sometimes I could cause really weird effects on other worlds.

“Found any poisonous plants?” I asked.

“So far the plants and fruits I’ve found were safe and healthy,” Zecora said. “But for the unfound poisons, I’m cautious and weary.”

I nodded. While on the way to Zecora’s home, I’ve seen the stuff unknown to the zebra…which were berries, herbs and plants I was very familiar of back in IW and other worlds. There were berries on trees that were from the Pokémon world—Oran, Sitrus, Rabuta, Bluk, Pecha, Chesto and more. Those berries were meant for Pokémon to eat, and sometimes as Poké Blocks, Poffins, candies, medicines, food for humans (if cooked well) and more in IW.

“You know those berries?” Zecora asked as she noticed. “Can they be consumed to fill bellies?”

“I know these berries,” I said. “I’m very familiar of them, but I’m not sure if they’re safe to eat for you Equestrian creatures.”

She tilted her head. I guessed she was wondering why I called her and the inhabitants of this world “Equestrian creatures”. I wasn’t also sure if I could eat the berries in my pony form.

“I’ll try eating one.” I used my magic (thankfully, I could use it again) to pluck a Pecha berry from a nearby tree. It was plump, pink and shaped like a peach. I took a bite. It tasted like peaches, and it was delicate and very sweet. “It’s safe to eat it after all, Zecora.” I plucked another and held it to her.

She took a bite and immediately like the taste with a sweetened face. “It’s very sweet by any inch, and it tasted like a peach.”

On the way, we began to chat. I shared her knowledge on my “kingdom’s” plant life while she shared hers of herbs and medicines. Boring? Not to an amateur botanist like me.

Mystery…

…I ignored it. A few minutes later, we’ve arrived and entered Zecora’s home.

It was a hut, a hollowed out tree containing a large circular room with shelves all around the walls. There was also an overhang where was Zecora’s bed. The shelves were filled with magic potions and ingredients for them. There was also traditional masks hanged from the walls—they were traditional featuring art and culture which seemed of the Subsaharan and Western Africa in Reality. When we entered, there was a dreamcatcher on top of the door. There was also a cauldron in the middle of the room. By the exterior, the hut’s branches hung potions and masks.

I’d been in witch-like houses and huts before, Zecora’s was friendlier than the others.

Eeyup, this place smelled of assorted potions and herbs. It was a bit pungent but I was used to it.

I felt another snap of headache. I collapsed and groaned. I held my head with my hooves, tucked myself around like a colt. My head just kept throbbing that I cried out in pain.

Zecora gasped and quickly took a flask filled with pink liquid. She placed it near my head; I noticed it and used my magic to levitate it for me to drink it. It tasted like a twinge of plastic and herbs. In a blink, my headache was gone.

I stood up and placed the flask on a nearby shelf. “Thank you, Zecora.”

She nodded. “Take a look around my home. Remember: you are not alone in your dome.”

I wasn’t alone in my dome? Zecora was with me right now. What does she meant about her last sentence? Zecora could be mysterious at time…Mystery? That was Dissonance who whispered a while ago. Ugh, that was nonsense. His word had no connection to Zecora at all.

Again, potions and herbs was what I only saw in her Zecora’s hut. I walked around while levitating potions then placing them back. Sometimes when I glanced back, the zebra was having a hard time arranging her potions—and I had a bad habit of misplacing things and immediately forgetting where they were. I was embarrassed, so I kept apologizing. She wasn’t showing any sign of frustration or anger, but only patience.

“I’m very sorry,” I apologized again.

“That is fine as I can take,” Zecora happily said. “Just be careful not to break.”

I bumped something behind me, and it smashed on the floor. I yelped as I looked behind and backed away from shards of glass. It had a gold tube and white liquid was spewed on the floor.

Zecora was shocked. “What have you done, you fool—?!”

“I can make it whole again!” I hesitantly said.

I reluctantly zapped my accident with my magic, and the pieces and liquid came back together fast. It then was placed back to where it was on the same spot in one piece, as if it never broke.

We both gave out a relieved sigh.

I began to wonder. “Say…unlike the other potions I’ve accidentally misplaced, how come it looked like this white-liquid filled one’s very important to you, Zecora?”

“This very special one is unlike the others here you see, for it took me several weeks with no time that is free,” she explained. “The ingredients I used were exceptionally rare. And this white potion once helped an important mare.”

White potion, important mare, special one…Eeyup, I remembered that two-part special.

“It was Twilight Sparkle who first took it,” I guessed, which I was correct.

Zecora’s eyes widened with surprise. “So you knew about that event, also about Twilight and her friends giving up their element?”

“I can be quite…omniscient, my friend. But I’m no deity.”

She then wore a skeptic expression. I wanted to do something quick before I began to frighten her.

“Uh…Want to have a walk with me?”

It was now 7:05 AM. We’d been walking together sharing our own stories.

She told me how the citizen’s of Ponyville were scared of her (Bridle Gossip), how Ponyville was invaded by a swarm of parasprites (Swarm of The Century), how fun her Nightmare Night was (Luna Eclipsed), how Twilight saved the town by Trixie Lulamoon (Magic Duel), and how Twilight and her friends saved Equestria from Discord’s grown plunderseeds (Princess Twilight Sparkle part one and two).

Those stories (episodes) were a bit boring already, but thanks to her rhyming couplets, my ears rang in enthusiasm.

I told her about my stay so far in Equestria—without exposing myself, of course. She was amused of my antics. I then explained to her everything about the new plants, herbs, berries and flowers that newly appeared in this forest as I pointed them out and passed by them.

The more I gone botany, the more Zecora became very interested of me. I was happy for somepony to listen to me.

I never realized or felt when I noticed the zebra was leaning her head on my neck. Her eyes were closed but she was probably still awaked, and we were still walking.

“Zecora, are you sleepy?” I asked.

We stopped; she blinked, and pulled herself away from me. Zecora stared at the ground as if it were an unknown plant. She pawed the dirt while blushing in embarrassment.

“F-forgive me if I am sleepy,” she said. “I am like this because I was with you all night, really.”

I knew she was lying, maybe a bit, but I didn’t care.

“The Everfree Forest is where he is definitely right now, girls,” Twilight said. She and her friends—Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie (she was already healed)—were where I was located.

Rarity was wearing my saddlebag and her Tredaspo diadem. Rainbow Dash was still wearing her Loyal Chromes. Fluttershy’s legs were shaking by the sight of seeing the forest again. Applejack adjusted her hat as if she would lose it anytime in the forest. Pinkie Pie was eating a slice of chocolate cake with a scoop of strawberry ice cream on top.

“Can your magic just tell Iwano’s exact location in the forest, Twi?” Rainbow Dash asked, with exasperation in her undertone, while shaking her friend like a bobble head.

Applejack heaved a sigh. “Rainbow, knock it off,” she scolded. “Just let go of her.”

My coach followed. “Sorry, Twi. I’m just really worried about him.” Her expression was sour and sad.

“We’re all worried about Iwano, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight told her. She scanned the forest’s interior entrance. “I can’t believe this is where my magic located him. My magic located him here, but something’s blocking me from pinpointing his specific position.” She pawed the dirt road entrance of the forest.

“Maybe it’s because of the feeling, Twilight?” Rarity asked.

“No, Rarity. More like somepony else’s presence—the moment we arrived here. And it’s not Dissonance’s.”

The Mane Six were looking around for their spy.

“Come on! Let’s go find him!” Rainbow Dash impatiently said. “Who cares about that presence?”

Twilight scowled at her friend’s impatience. “Let’s not venture, girls.”

They entered the forest.

The Everfree Forest was silent—no animal sounds at all, which made Fluttershy uneasy, glancing around nervously.

“I can’t hear any critters at all,” she nervously said, “especially s-s-scary critters.”

“I think Iwano also has an effect in this forest,” Twilight said. “Besides that somepony’s presence which I still felt, Iwano’s might be too distasteful to the animals here, apparently because he has Dissonance.”

“But there’s nothing distasteful about this one!” Pinkie Pie cheerfully exclaimed as she held up a pink-peach-shaped berry with a bite mark out of it while chewing.

“What is that?” Applejack asked.

“Is it delicious? You bet it is!” Pinkie Pie hopped and plucked five more of the pink fruit for each of her friends.

“I never saw fruit like this in my life.” Applejack took a bite. “And it’s very sweet! Weehoo! I can feel its juices all over my mouth. Hey, Rainbow, ever see…Huh?” She spun her head around looking for her friend.

“RD’s just doing an aerial search for Iwano, which is very appreciative and helpful,” Twilight said as she took a bit of hers. And yes, she liked it, too.

“I hope Spike will get well as soon as possible in the hospital,” Rarity said. “Many Pegasi back in the academy were struck by Iwano’s accident—”

Twilight spat out her fruit out in disgust, probably from what Rarity said. “It wasn’t an accident!” she protested. “Well, Dissonance can only possess Iwano when his mind is weak or unguarded, or something ‘negative’ that would happen to him in any way. Besides, you heard what Dissonance said that he and Iwano are the same.”

Her friends paused and stared at her.

Twilight stopped and asked, “Did I say something wrong?”

“It’s like you know Iwano very well with just that info, Twilight,” Fluttershy answered in amazement.

“Have you been snooping around his identity again?” Rarity asked defensively.

“Iwano’s saddlebag is with you, Rarity,” Twilight reminded.

“Our goal is to influence Iwano with our chosen element by Princess Celestia’s orders, remember?” Rarity reminded back.

“Are you aware that without knowing him better we wouldn’t be able to be careful of triggering his evil state?” Twilight’s voice rose slowly to anger.

“Are you aware that snooping around ponies’ privacy is wrong that when the time they find out, you would hurt their feelings?” Even Rarity’s voice was rising to anger, and was leading her and Twilight to an argument.

“Is it wrong to know your enemy?”

“Why is Iwano your enemy then? He is our friend!”

“Is it also wrong to be prepared for a possible crisis?!” Twilight retorted. “Why do you care for him so much?”

Rarity’s cheeks turned pink as the unknown fruit. She bit her lips. “Because—!”

“Now cut it out, you two!” Applejack broke in. “Does arguin’ about Iwano as a potential threat and spilling our reasons to care for him is helping us in finding him?”

The two arguing mares flinched.

Applejack’s right, Twilight thought. I’m supposed to be a princess, deciding what’s wise. And I was doing was the opposite of it.

Throughout the argument, FLuttershy was frightened but remained calm and Pinkie Pie was just happily eating more pink berries wistfully as if there weren’t any dispute.

“Twilight!” Rainbow Dash called from above. “Guys, you gotta see this!” And then she flew north.

Twilight nodded to her friends and followed their rainbow-mane friend. (Pinkie Pie swallowed five pink berries in one gulp).

They ran, and avoided trees splashed through mud and over rocks.

“Oh, why didn’t I bring boots for muddy run like this?” Rarity complained.

A few minutes later, the mares arrived in a wide barren area of—

“Colored ashes?” Fluttershy said.

“I never seen pink berries before, and I never seen colored ashes in my life,” Applejack said.

“Look at me! I’m making a colorful ash angel! Weee-eee!” Pinkie Pie was lying down on the ashes making one.

“Judging by the multicolored ashes…” Twilight pawed the ashes with her hoof. She held it up and examined it. “Iwano must had landed here—or rather crash landed.” She blew her hoof clean.

“And that’s not all I found,” Rainbow Dash said as she lowered and lead her friends to a trails of—

“Hoof prints.” Twilight examined the two pairs of trails. “Whoever Iwano walked with, they were heading northwest.”

“That where our Zebra friend Zecora’s hut is,” Fluttershy said.

“Then she must have taken him with her to her home, certainly to help and probably Iwano had injuries.”

“I’m coming for you, Green Wing!” said as she excitedly dashed off northwest, leaving her friends behind.

“Rainbow Dash, wait!” Twilight called as she and her friends ran to follow my giddy coach.

“Must we run?” Rarity complained. “It’s getting me all dirty, especially Iwano’s saddlebag and my precious diadem.”

“I hope there weren’t any poor creature that turned into—” Fluttershy gulped.

“I’m sure no poor critter turned into dust, sugar cube,” Applejack assured.

“And I hope no poor fruit goes to waste!” Pinkie Pie seriously said. “These things deserved to be devoured!”

The girls laughed shortly, now following a trail of ashen hoof prints.

When they arrived to the hut, Rainbow Dash was slumped on the ground scowling.

“Zecora and Iwano aren’t in there,” she muttered. “And there’re no more hoof prints of ashes anymore.”

The girls began to settled down and rest, while they also began to think of where to find me now.

“I wish I brought Winona here,” Applejack said. “I bet she could sniff Iwano out by his saddlebag—and I never thought of bringin’ her.”

“I’ll go get you dog!” Rainbow Dash urgently exclaimed, startling her friends (mostly Fluttershy), as she shot up to the sky and dashed off back to Ponyville.

“Wait!” Applejack called out. “Apple Bloom’s got Winona for her Pet Day in school!” She sighed and went back to sit. “I never really thought she would be that worried about Iwano—and we’re actually all worried about Iwano.”

“Rainbow Dash has been so desperate of finding Iwano that she was searching for him solo somewhere until four in the morning,” Twilight irritably said. “What kind of special relationship does those two have?”

“They are coach and student,” Applejack said. “It seems mutual to me.”

“They were coach and student, Applejack,” Rarity said, “during the Bolt Wing, I mean.”

While Rarity and Applejack exchanged explanations, and Fluttershy was glancing around nervously, Twilight was peering through the hut’s window, staring at the very same potion she took—a flask filled with white liquid.

“Maybe if I could ask Zecora for that potion later,” Twilight whispered to herself, “I might be able to get a glimpse on Iwano’s past to learn of his identity. But is that even possible? Maybe if I concentrate on him in my mind after taking it, I would get a glimpse.”

Twilight’s brightened face was interrupted by Pinkie Pie shoving a pink berry into her mouth. She chewed fast, aswallowed and chided, “Pinkie!”

“I just thought you’re hungry from thinking!” Pinkie Pie happily reasoned. “We didn’t take breakfast, right?”

“…Yeah, you’re right.” The princess drifted back to thought.

A few minutes later, Rainbow Dash came back panting.

“Let me guess,” Applejack said as she and her friends stood up. “Apple Bloom’s got Winona for—”

“Whatever!” Rainbow Dash snapped. “You guys got to see what I just found…and maybe it was Iwano’s doing. And all of you would be surprised.”

“I don’t like the sound of that,” Twilight said as she flew up with Fluttershy. “Let’s get to him! Lead the way, Rainbow. Zecora’s probably still with him.”

And then the Mane Six were on their way…

Zecora was sprinting away from Dissonance.

She hid inside a bush to rest from the dark pony’s pursuit for her. “I never knew his evil is that dangerous,” the zebra said, wiping her sweat. “I must remain obscured and cautious.”

Zecora peered through her hiding place, checking for any sight of me—as Dissonance. I appeared in the background with a tree stuck in my horn. A while ago, I was about to ram Zecora but she dodged and I pierced the tree instead. I wasn’t using my super strength, but Dissonance was very strong even without my enhancements.

I—Dissonance—tossed the tree aside. Dissonance tossed my head around searching for my zebra friend with his bloodshot glowing eyes.

I was confused of who I was supposed to be—Dissonance or I? I was in semi-Dissonance state right now, so technically my dark element was in control, while I could slip myself to talk little, I hoped.

Dissonance growled frustratingly. “Why can’t I use Foresight or x-ray vision, Iwano?” he demanded.

I chuckled. “You may have control over my body and have use of your own magic,” My body switched to my voice. “But I won’t let you use mine to hurt my friends! You’re still incomplete, remember? You can’t use any of my abilities…Well, some of them.”

“You also can’t fully control me!” My voice forcefully switched to his. “Anyways, it’s not my objective to be here and eliminate her, my friend.”

I squinted. “Then…what triggered you to possess me again?” I demanded.

Dissonance smirked. “Something ‘nightmarish’ compelled my senses for a trip.” He chuckled. “You may have not read his story yet, but you might be very familiar of that place. There’s also something ‘harmonious’ that was itching me for I need it soon—to be destroyed, I mean! Let’s go to that nightmarish place first, shall we? Your aura might tell you what that place is!”

My dark element trotted away. I wished a miracle would happen, like I wished Twilight and her friends would save me—or anypony. My willpower was fortunately and temporarily locked, but for how long? I believed it would return when Dissonance visited the “harmonious” and “nightmarish” places.

“I’m sorry, Zecora!” I yelled out for her. “Find Twilight!”

I hoped she was around listening to my plea for help…

The zebra came out of hiding. “I must find Princess Twilight,” she said. “I know she will do something right!”

“Zecora!” Twilight landed from the sky with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, followed by Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie (still eating), as they arrived into the scene. “What happened?!”

“With all these busted trees, I reckon Iwano turned into Dissonance again,” Applejack said as she tapped the tree I tossed.

“It happened so fast when we had a walk and talk,” Zecora explained. “Suddenly his voice changed, eyes glowed, and finally went amok.” She held back her exasperation. “I’m very worried for the Alicorn for he is distraught. He must be saved by putting his darkness into a stop!”

“Let’s go get Dissonance, girls!” Twilight said. “He’s heading east from here. Zecora, you’re coming with us.

I knew this place immediately before my aura can identify for me. I thought this place’s presence didn’t exist at all, because that story was purely fan-fiction. This was very weird to me.

Yes, this place was nightmarish, only its presence. Would Twilight recognize this place? And was that fan-fiction’s story part of anypony’s memory that existed there, especially the bearer of magic’s? Was it already possible that my IW aura was affecting Equestria as I stayed longer? I didn’t know if this place’s existence was harmless or threatening, but since Dissonance too us here, it might hadn’t be good at all.

In all my adventures, journeys, missions and quests in foreign worlds, the fandom could greatly affect the lives of the characters because IW was born a long time ago. It was weird, but the main lives of fictions couldn’t be tampered—except by IW, me or occasionally the fandom.

Just a brief info: IW (Imaginundia/Imagination World) was a world created by me. It was a world connected with other worlds of fictional movies, shows, Anime, cartoons, comics and novels, which Lentae and I loved. Actually, Lentae and I tampered other worlds for definite reasons, commonly to recruit allies, expand my world, and had fun.

I’d like to explain more, but I’d to concentrate in mustering my willpower to control my body back, while listening to Dissonance.

“Past Sins,” he said coldly. “We’re very envious to its popularity, right?”

“You are envious, Dissonance, not me!” I snarled with my voice.

“Lying is not good, Iwano. I can feel it in your heart.”

I winced with my body, which Dissonance only allowed. “…I am,” I admitted weakly. “Wait, why are we here, exactly?”

Dissonance smirked. “Just showing us this place, for this will be my location of ritual soon. Hmm, I’ll call this place the ‘Ritual of Nightmare’.”

“Ritual? What do you mean?” I asked.

“We’ll find out soon—”

“We are not one!” I growled in reminder.

Why would this place be for ritual to Dissonance? This place was once for ritual, yeah. I hadn’t read the story, but this place was a where a cult of ponies took Twilight here and offered her blood for the resurrection of Nightmare Moon, giving her a separate body. Fortunately to me, Princess Celestia and her Royal guards foiled the beckoning into incompleteness. This was also the birthplace of Twilight’s biological daughter—

“Nyx,” Dissonance finished my thought. “She was born here, yeah.”

Since he possessed me partially, he could read my thoughts. And I couldn’t read his, thus I couldn’t learn what he was planning.

This place of former ritual was now a wide everglade with a pond nestled. The failed resurrection must’ve happened a long ago, before Twilight’s transformation into an Alicorn and coronation as princess. This place had changed, even if I wasn’t here before, but I could tell. The only clue of ritual that happened here was its presence.

I wanted to take back control and use my magic to conjure more trees at this place, concealing its history of Nightmare Moon’s rebirth as Nyx. Feeling its presence made me wanted to scream, but Dissonance wanted to listen to it within.

I began to realize something and said, “The feeling of this place bothered me with strong distaste. You also brought me here because I hate bothersome things, which shortens my temper.”

Dissonance snorted. “Fine, you’re right. “Let’s go the harmonious place next, which I you don’t need your aura to identify it.”

“There you are!” Hope rayed upon me as Rainbow Dash spoke up from above. I turned with a glad smile, but eyes still bloodshot. Because of that, Rainbow Dash was about to descend but stopped with horror. She shook defiantly.”Bring Iwano back, Dissonance!” she demanded.

“I am him, lesbian!” Dissonance scoffed. He used his magic—“Pure Dark”, which was his own signature kind of magic—and made a shockwave, causing the trees in our surroundings to turn dull gray, and then shot swarms of sharp gray leaves on my coach. I didn’t know if this was the right time to be happy, but I was beginning to gather info in my mind about his magic, which he was unaware of me observing.

Every direction the rainbow-mane Pegasus tried to escape, the leaves became sharper and plentiful. She was cut in every part of her body, but what remained unscathed were her eyes covered with her hooves and her Loyal Chromes.

I wanted to help her so bad, but I was immobile.

“Just watch the show before we go,” Dissonance happily told me. The scene was too appalling. I wanted to avert away, but Dissonance was still possessing, making me watch my coach drip blood and listening to her agony.

“S-s-stop!” I begged tremblingly as I began to sob. “Please, for the life of my dear coach, just leave her and let’s go!!!”

It happened so fast. My coach was tortured…I was tormented. Must muster all my willpower!

Dissonance jerked my body and ran away from the horrific scene, while I was crying away. Rainbow Dash’s brony/pegasister fans would go enraged. I was in a mix of horror, anger, sadness, and shame.

I hoped that when Dissonance left the area far away, the leaves would stop.

“I’m so delighted we’re going, me!” Dissonance said, mimicking Pinkie Pie’s cheery tone, which was to me a mockery. It was weird for him to talk while he was tearing up because of me—a happy, evil Alicorn crying on the way to the harmonious place, whatever that was. “This running’s getting boring. Let’s fly!” And then he went aloft.

The Mane Six and Zecora had arrived. They all gasped in horror as they saw Rainbow Dash screaming and hopelessly defending herself from Dissonance’s enchanted trees, shooting razor leaves.

“Twilight gritted her teeth. “Rainbow, hang on—!”

My coach’s Loyal Chromes suddenly glowed, and angled her wings to made her spun rapidly like a tornado. The razor leaves were deflected back to the trees, completely ripping them to shreds. A few seconds later, the enchanted trees were now nothing but shredded leaves and splinters.

Rainbow Dash?! What did you do?! Twilight was amazed, but she set it aside immediately to help her fallen friend.

My coach dropped from the sky. Applejack urged, ran for Rainbow Dash, and cushioned her fall with her body, though she was splat a bit.

Applejack’s friends ran to her. “Rainbow’s fine…I think,” she said as she laid down a bleeding Pegasus. Rainbow Dash was unconscious and her body was now mostly in cuts.

“There are plenty of herbs to treat wounds around me,” Zecora said. “Don’t worry about your friend, save Iwano and set him free!”

Applejack ran away from the herd.

“Applejack, hold on!” Rarity called but didn’t work. She pointed west. “She went to that direction.”

Twilight curtly nodded. “Thank you very much and we’ll leave Rainbow Dash in your capable hooves, Zecora.” She gestured her friends to follow and run, and they left their loyal friend to the herbalist.

“Dissonance’s eyes are purely bloodshot demonic,” Zecora said. “Dissonance’s aura is pitch-black as his magic. Voice so cold, it is enough to give me shudders. I pray to Celestia that he must be stopped by Twilight and the others.”

“It’s awfully unfortunate that we don’t have the Elements of Harmony with us,” Twilight said as she sped up with her friends. “The elements I strongly believe should put Dissonance to a rest.” She scowled. “But I’d doubts for that sort of plan.”

“How could Applejack be certain that Iwano have gone to this direction?” Rarity asked.

“Fluttershy, can you get an aerial view for Iwano?” Twilight asked.

“I—I’ll do it,” Fluttershy reluctantly replied. She flittered then went aloft above her friends.

“On ground, I’ll use my magic to see if I can sleuth him this time. Maybe that somepony’s presence’s gone already.” I hope I’m right.

Twilight concentrated and her horn glowed with magic. Unfortunately, that somepony’s presence was still around.

“Oh, for Celestia’s sake!” Twilight cursed. “Who owns that?!”

“I hope Fluttershy above can spot Iwano quick,” Rarity said, “and Applejack, too.”

Fortunately, Fluttershy called, “Twilight! I can see Applejack and she’s heading to the castle!”

The princess’s eyes widened. “I know where Dissonance’s going…And I don’t like it.”

“You mean the castle?” Rarity asked.”

“...No.”

The Tree of Harmony…How could I’d been stupid?

The mystical crystal white tree radiated a bright blue and white light in its surroundings of this cavern. On each of the tips of its branches were the Elements of Harmony—Generosity, Laughter, Kindness, Loyalty, and Honesty. And on the center with Twilight’s cutie mark: Magic. Its bark had the sun and moon. It had no leaves, but it was beautiful, shiny, and full of harmony.

This tree in this cavern was located under a bridge leading to the Castle of the Two Pony Princesses.

Dissonance sighed. “The Tree of Harmony, isn’t it beautiful?”

“Not unless if you do anything to it,” I said.

“Not yet, me.”

My red eyes widened. “What? You ain’t gonna steal the elements, or destroy them, or corrupt them, or even use them against Equestria?”

“Those are delicious idea, Iwano, but my plan’s much, much better.”

My mind started rattling theories. “Then what are you gonna do?”

Dissonance jabbed his horn in front of the tree. He used his magic and generated black particles into his horn, and sent black electrical tendrils on each of the Elements of Harmony.

I was horrified. Was he absorbing their powers or destroying them?!

“What are you doing, idiot?” I demanded.

“I can’t do everything on my own,” Dissonance said. “So I need something to guide you to peril and torment, and to my victory. Everything will be arranged, unfortunately not by me, but a little poem.”

The black electrical tendrils dissipated and Dissonance swooned to the ground. I thought this the time I took back control, but I couldn’t move my Alicorn body.

Dissonance fainted. I was stuck.

Applejack arrived at the staircase leading to the tree. “Don’t ‘y worry, Iwano,” she said. “I’m gonna getcha!”

“AJ, we’re here!” Twilight called.

“We’re gonna save the day—!” Pinkie Pie accidentally dropped a bundle of pink berries from her back and slipped all her friends, tumbling down the stairs with Applejack. They rolled and bounced down like a ball while screaming.

Once they fell and reached the bottom, Twilight was the first to untangle from her ball of friends. “Why didn’t you just wait for us, AJ?” Twilight demanded.

“I wanna stop Dissonance now!” Applejack answered a she popped out of a Rarity-Pinkie Pie knot. “He’s heading to the Tree of Harmony!”

The girls were untangled (Pinkie Pie was a in a sailor know, so Applejack untied her) and hastened for Dissonance and my rescue. When they reached to the cave, they saw regaining consciousness—and in control—and rubbing my head. Taking back my body was dizzy like my brain volunteered to use the Dizzitron.

“My Iwano darling!” Rarity shrieked as she tackled and hugged me in a cuddle. “You’re back in my hooves—I mean, in our hooves.”

Our friends stared at us. Awkward? Rarity and I blushed.

“Guys!” Rainbow Dash arrived all bandaged up with leaves—with Zecora. “Uh, what are you doing, Rarity?”

“Is it wrong to hug a dear friend who’d gotten possessed by his dark element?” she asked defensively. “Besides.” She squeezed my cheeks like they were jelly. “He’s back to normal!”

“I don’t know, Rare,” Applejack nervously said. She and her friends backed away slowly.

“Why are you all—?” Rarity gasped as she looked at me. She ran to her friends in fright as she tightly hugged them. “I-I-I-Iwano, is that you?”

“What’s wrong?” I asked. “Don’t be frightened anymore. I’m now in control again. I’ve gathered enough willpower to block Dissonance for a very long period of time.”

“Then explain why your eyes are still red,” Twilight said.

“Huh?” I conjured a mirror. My eyes were still red! “It can’t be!” I shook. “Why?”

I stared at my friends for a reason, but their faces meant they hadn’t a clue. The moment I saw Zecora, I suddenly unintentionally blasted a black beam at her. She flew and bumped hard on the cavern’s walls.

“Zecora!” The Mane Six and I cried out as we ran for her aid.

Twilight blocked and faced me. “I know you’re still Dissonance! Bring Iwano back!”

“Twilight, it’s me!” I begged. I saw the rest of my friends aiding their zebra friend. “I didn’t even know what I was doing! And I swear to Celestia, Dissonance is under control!”

“Uh, guys…” Rainbow Dash said as she and her friends backed away. Twilight and I exchanged nervous looks and regrouped with our friends. Zecora was on her hooves, but her eyes were black. What did I, or rather Dissonance, do to Zecora?

Her face was slack and emotionless, but at the same time somehow unhurt after being blasted and hit on the wall.

We actually didn’t know what to do with black-eyes Zecora, but she began glancing around.

“Zecora, are you fine?” I asked slowly.

She jerked her head to me and I was startled, with my friends.

“A poem to awake and for all of you to hear,” Zecora said in a voluminous tone. “For the time of Dissonance will soon be near.” And then she continued:

“Returned weakened of heart from defeat
Protected by the monster and unaware of deceit
Heartstrings flared under the rising moon
Thus the rise of the mare of lust soon!

Fallen to the abyss of dark and frost,
The crystal heart will soon be lost
Gem’s shadow ripped in the blackness
Thus reborn the stallion of darkness!

Entered the world with one’s great fantasy
Driving innocent hearts into insanity
Weapons painfully voided from them
Thus the existence of the pony of mayhem!

The kind, chaos, and strange hangs no glooms
The brother of harmony darkens and blooms
Distortion bursts by a touch of two lips
Thus returns broken with all his friendships!

Six treasures searched and time is heat
To the land where four seasons meet
Compass burns in the fallen snow
Thus victory to the ancient foe!

Day banished and night with no power
In the crusader’s final hour
Six dreams, sun and moon will unite
Thus beginning of true eternal night!”

Chapter 13: Triple Ripple

View Online

After Zecora recited those mysterious lines, she fainted to the ground. What had Dissonance done to her?

“Zecora, are you alright?” I asked as I ran to her. Stupid, she fainted. She couldn’t hear me. I was in a mix of confusion and worry, and so were the Mane Six as they ran to our friend, too. We huddled up to her.

“What was that all about?” Fluttershy asked frighteningly.

“I’ve no idea,” Twilight replied.

“I don’t either!” I snapped defensively.

“But we got to,” Twilight continued, “take her to a hospital in Ponyville. Hopefully the doctors could do something.”

“I can take all of you girls there in a jiffy,” I suggested.

“What?! Why would I let you after you struck—?!”

Before I could let Twilight finish her whole demanding sentence, I teleported all of us and we disappeared in a yellow flash and white sparkles.

I was outside Ponyville’s hospital (the very same place where Rainbow Dash recovered from her broken wings in the episode Read It and Weep), pacing in front of its entrance. While doing that, I was piecing everything Dissonance had done and the lines Zecora said together, like solving a geometric equation. I wanted to find the real purpose to Dissonance act. I felt stupid. I couldn’t control that dark element. I guessed I was running out of time quickly—why wouldn’t it be slower? But what were those lines Zecora chanted? I just hoped she was fine inside the hospital, recovering from her sort of trance.

They were all in rhymes, they sounded tragic and ominous, and they probably had symbolisms...

The moment the Mane Six exited the hospital with Spike the dragon on Twilight’s back, I immediately knew those mysterious lines.

“A prophecy,” I firmly said to them. “I confirm that.”

“What prophecy, Iwano?” Twilight asked.

“Don’t ask me how I found out, but I was able to equate everything in my head about it. Dissonance needed something to guide him for some evil plan, so he ‘absorbed’ some of the Tree of Harmony’s power, converted it into a prophecy, and zapped Zecora into reciting or chanting them. Those lines are also assisting him in endangering us while he’s concealed within me, since I’ve mustered enough willpower to block him, fortunately for a long period of time.”

Twilight was about to ask, or rather demand, but Applejack asked, “But why zap Zecora?”

“Because he knew I was about to take back control, and he needed somepony to recite his prophecy—and the fact Zecora speaks in rhymes.” I gulped. “And it’s already in effect, and will take place sometime or very soon. I’m very glad Zecora is getting medicated.”

I imagined the Mane Six all reciting the prophecy in unison instead of Zecora. That would be really creepy, especially when Pinkie Pie would recite in a happy tone. Oh, such irony.

“I’d be gladder than you if I weren’t so puzzled about those lines,” Twilight muttered. “This is now beginning to become a big puzzle. I want to decipher what those lines mean. Does anypony by any chance remember the whole lines?”

Everypony were scratching their heads for an answer, while I was cursing to myself in my thoughts.

“I know, I know!” Pinkie Pie hopped and exclaimed happily. “I know all of them! They’re twenty-four lines—”

“And all of them are by six stanzas,” I beamed. “Pinkie Pie, can you try saying the first stanza, and let’s see if we can try deciphering it.”

“Okie, dokie, loki! Returned weakened of heart from defeat, protected by the monster unaware of deceit,” Pinkie Pie recited, mimicking Zecora’s possessed tone. “Heartstrings flared under the rising moon, thus arise the mare of lust soon.”

We were staring at Pinkie Pie as if she were the new mystery.

“…Okay, let’s ponder that,” I said. “So, somepony will return and the fourth line hinted that it’s a mare.”

“We defeated several mares,” Rarity said, “like I had defeated a pony in Ponyville’s fashion show the last time.”

“And she’s described as lust.” The word was dreading my ears, only to remind me of Heartbreakagger, my Forbidden of Lust. “The first stanza’s very unclear, like all of the other prophecies I’ve heard and experienced. In my kingdom, prophecies happen often there.” And it’s very true. “I think it would take days to decipher, while you guys do your mission.”

“Speaking of days,” Twilight said, “what was Dissonance talking about back in the academy when he said we have four days left—?”

“A lot of prophecies have happened in my life. All about them were about evil rising and downfalls. And they were excruciating.”

Well, that had cut Twilight’s thought, which was what I wanted.

I gulped quietly. Today was Wednesday. Count that, I’d only gotten three days left. I only had Loyalty and Generosity within my heart. Dissonance was planning something with this prophecy as his guidance.

Fluttershy held my hoof. “Don’t worry, Iwano. We’ll get things through for you.”

I blushed and smiled, and quickly faded. “I—I can’t really believe these prophecies in my life are now setting here in Equestria. I don’t want this wonderful land to fall into same destruction that happened in my kingdom.” I had a pained expression. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault, darling,” Rarity said, and she said her next sentence menacingly. “It was that accursed dark element of yours!”

“But, my mind was weak and unguarded during my awarding in the Wonderbolt Academy from my distracting happiness. Obviously every Pegasi in the academy hates me now. And it will be hard for them to understand my dark power. This is…hopeless.”

I sat down and held my head miserably.

“Come on, Iwano!” Pinkie Pie said happily as she held me down, which made me remember that pink wolf in my nightmare. “Turn that frown upside down ‘cause we’re gonna have a big party just for you!”

“What?” I stared at her dumbfounded.

“You’re still new here in Ponyville, so I wanna make everypony like you while cheerin’ you up!” She held my head closed to hers. “It’s pure genius! And don’t be so sad—I still like you, you pony!”

She hugged me so tight my scorched Wonderbolts uniform was about to turn into ragged clothing.

I pushed Pinkie Pie off—she really had a tight grip—and I ripped my whole uniform with my magic, turning it into shreds.

My friends gasped.

“Why did you do that?” Rainbow Dash asked in horror.

“It’s gonna rip off and it’s damaged anyway,” I simply said. “Besides, it’s also reminding me of…”

I knew in their expressions they would understand.

“Put the sad faces away, put the worries away, put the dirty uniform away, and put the boring prophecy away, and the boringness away!” Pinkie Pie announced as she popped comically in front of all of us. “We have a party to look forward to! Come on, Iwano!”

She grabbed my hoof and I hopped hesitantly with her on the way to wherever she would take us to, and out friends followed behind.

Pinkie Pie reminded me of this certain somepony I had as a brony friend in Reality via social network.

“I don’t wanna make thing hopeless and all,” Applejack said. “You were right, Twilight. Dissonance can be triggered when Iwano’s mind is weak and unguarded. And I’m not pretty sure if this party would put that evil thing out or help him, too.”

“I’ve to admit, I wished I was wrong,” Twilight said. “The only thing we need to do now first is to influence our Alicorn friend—and I think it is Pinkie Pie’s turn.” The princess felt guilty. “I’ll borrow Pinkie later for her to recite to me the rest of the prophecy’s lines, after the party, for me to decipher, and maybe report it to Princess Celestia if she could find the meaning of its symbolisms.”

“I’m worried that maybe everypony would hate Iwano,” Rainbow Dash said while flying near her friends, like she always did. “Some of the Pegasi who joined the Bolt Wing might start gossiping bad stuff about him.”

“Oh, and maybe soon he would be hated all over Equestria,” Fluttershy said. “Um, I think that was a bit of an exaggeration.”

“Let’s just enjoy, girls,” Rarity brightly said. “We should ask Pinkie Pie how we could help with the party. I expect it to be extravagant as other parties she threw.”

Spike whined. “I really missed a lot of action, had I? Can anypony tell me everything before I got zapped?”

“Well, Spike, let me explain.”

While Rarity filled in details with Spike, Fluttershy leaned towards Twilight.

“Um, Twi, uh, are you still sensing that somepony’s presence?”

“Not anymore,” Twilight replied. “Why?”

“I should have told this to you before, but I’m now feeling Dissonance. But it’s quite strong as I felt.”

The princess put her hoof on her chin in thought. “With those prophecies, we might have a difficult time doing our important tasks to Iwano. Dissonance mustn’t want us to succeed. There’re also things I’m too curious about Iwano.

“Like Rarity’s diadem and Rainbow’s armored wings,” Fluttershy guessed.

“Yeah, Fluttershy, and very soon we’re gonna have a wave of danger while getting hooves full of Iwano, and probably get our spines cracked by Dissonance in the process.” Twilight stared ahead at Pinkie Pie and I hopping. “Since you can strongly feel Dissonance now if he would be triggered again, would it be possible for you to signal us if he’ll ever come out? It will be very helpful—we can call it the ‘Dissonance Sense’.”

“Um, I’ll try,” Fluttershy softly said, hiding a whisper of doubt. “But it’s just new to me—sensing Dissonance. I don’t even know how it came to me in the first place.”

“Hmm…Dissonance and Iwano are one mystery altogether. I promise your newfound ability will come through for us, and it will be big help.”

Fluttershy nervously nodded.

How long did it take one pink party maker plus five of her pony friends to arrange and organize a party, without a baby dragon helping at all, for an Alicorn who unintentionally caused a typhoon and ruined the academy of the famous military/stunt group in Equestria?

I remembered Pinkie Pie as the Fili-Second in the episode Power Ponies (my fave episode), when she had super speed. I wondered if some of her comic power was still with her.

Nah, impossible, Pinkie Pie had the unique ability to broke the fourth wall—it was how she was: nonsensical, but a happy and hilarious friend.

Oh, it was 8:40 AM, and it only took an hour and a half to finish organizing the major parts of the party. The ponies in town were excited and willing to prepare this party bash for me—to my surprise. The last touches were the decors.

What was I doing? I was just soaring through the sky around and above Ponyville, waiting for my “love-the-Alicorn-and-forgive-him-for-his-little-destruction” party. I looked at the bright side that the citizens would still remember me stopping the mannequin riot and my gem donating.

I was quite puzzled and nervous about his prophecy—the “Poem of Dissonance”, I’d like to call it.

I wanted to be happy for Pinkie Pie putting up this party for me, but I couldn’t help feeling…miserable. And negative. I wished to only have a party—smile with everypony, eat sweets, joining the fun.

“What’s with the long face, Green Wing?” Lightning Dust asked as she stopped me from flying. She wasn’t wearing her Wonderbolts uniform, revealing her cutie mark: a lightning bolt with three stars.

I paused (with car brake sound effects) and startled, but at the same time happy to see her again.

“Ayo, Lightning Dust,” I greeted. “I’m just a little…doubtful.”

We stopped and stayed midair on a cloud. “What are you doubtful of?” Lightning Dust asked.

“I’m unsure if everypony would like me because of the party Pinkie Pie’s arranging. After what I’ve done, maybe everypony will hate me—”

“Hey, I don’t hate you, Green Wing,” Lightning Dust said as she nudged me. “In fact, I’m very far from it! I don’t know you think of what you’ve done in the Bolt Wing was little, but I wanna thank you for liking me as friend, stopping a dispute, and winning the competition for us from Gilda.”

“Oh, you’re welcome.” I smiled. “I actually wanted you to have a hard time, since I sensed you had a plan for my coach.”

She nodded in admittance. “Yeah, but thanks to you, I realized what I was doing was wrong.”

“And to me, hating you would also be wrong, and giving somepony another chance is right. Don’t ask me how I knew this, but you deserve forgiveness after what you had done when you were lead pony.”

“What have I…? Oh, you knew, wow.” She scowled.

Okay, I regretted reminding her that time. “How are Thunderlane, Cloud Kicker, Flitter, Milky Way, Drizzle and Parasol?”

Lightning Dust wouldn’t meet my eyes.

My heart lurched. “…Don’t tell me they’d gotten struck, too?”

“Back in the academy while we rest our search for you, another storm commotion had been brewing. I was lucky I was near a flag pole, which acted as my lightning rod for my protection,” Lightning Dust said. “I called others to do the same, but they were panicking, flying and running so wildly and haplessly that they were unlucky lightning rods themselves.” She winced.

“Sombra’s horn,” I miserably cursed. “This is my entirely fault again, Lightning Dust.”

“No, it’s not yours,” my friend insisted. “It was your so called ‘Dissonance’ I’ve heard.” She nudged me. “Hey, everypony will understand soon. There’s gonna be a party all for you thanks to Pinkie Pie, so lighten up. It’s never too late for us to forgive ya. And I forgive you, Green Wing.”

I managed a smile. Though the party hadn’t started yet, Lightning Dust already lightened me up. I just knew that there was something special about her and my other Pegasi friends. I just felt it. If I were to receive any gifts in my party, I would want more friends and a solution to stop Dissonance.

While I was thinking of the good stuff that would happen to me during the party, I was hit by a pink cake to the muzzle, followed by water balloons cleaning the whole thing. I was flinchingly startled (now with a flinch, really? I would’ve to control myself before that). What was that? There was some pink frosting left on my face, so I used my hooves to wipe them up and licked—it tasted like Pecha. Wait, who made this?

Lightning Dust giggled as she wiped some of the frosting from her. “I guess that the signal?”

The pink cake must’ve been the signal for me to get down, so Lightning Dust and I landed. The one who launched that pink cake was nothing more than from that pink party pony’s party cannon. That two-mouthed pony really knew how to give a bash, huh?

We landed near the fountain of Ponyville’s town square.

The town square had stone bridges over a river leading to the north, northwest and west parts of Ponyville. When I was above, this square was dotted with trees, banners around the hall, tents, shops and cottages on the side parts, and ponies walking around.

The town hall’s roof was where I hid myself (sort of) from the citizens who corralled around me, complementing and asking me questions, on my first day in this town.

Right now, this square and the whole town were decorated with colorful banners, balloons and streamers for my party.

Lightning Dust nudged me. “See you later, Green Wing. I’m needed elsewhere.”

“You’re not attending?” I asked. I read her mind. “Why is Spitfire coming here?”

Lightning Dust stared at me. “That’s…quite creepy that you know that, Iwano. And yeah, she’s coming. I just need to find her to do something important. You know? Wonderbolts business and stuff—”

“And stop her from doing what—?”

“Gotta fly!” Lightning Dust zoomed away in depart.

I should stop reading minds, because it was draining me. I hadn’t read the former lead pony’s mind completely about her reason of stopping Spitfire from doing what.

Nah, it was better not to found out.

“So this the town square of Ponyville, huh?” I said as I glanced around.

This square reminded me of my own back in Imaginundia—Dew Stroll Square. It was also the place where I first left for Equestria four days ago. Dew Stroll was like a giant park rather than a square since we didn’t have a town hall. The town hall of Ponyville was where Nightmare Moon returned during the thousandth annual Summer Sun Celebration in the first two episodes of season one of the show.

Around me, ponies were chatting hanging the colorful banners everywhere. It reminded me of my Enter with Colors performance. Seeing these colors just made me happy.

“I thought you’re with our hostess Pinkie Pie,” a voice spoke, which little startled me.

I turned to my right. “Ah, hello Mayor Mare,” I greeted with a smile. “Well, not yet.”

She greeted back. Just want to stroll around before your party starts?”

“Well, I want to find Pinkie Pie now.”

“I would like to escort you to our party hostess, if you may allow.”

“Sure.” I nodded. “We can chat a little for awhile while you take me to Pinkie Pie.”

As the mayor and I walked together leading to my pink friend, she pointed out and gave info on Ponyville’s stores, buildings, homes and places of interest.

“As mayor of Ponyville, it’s my responsibility that the town’s Unicorns, Pegasi and Earth ponies live as one,” Mayor Mare said.

“Do you accept Alicorns, too?” I asked, pretended to be stupid.

“Twilight Sparkle, our heroic princess, is one example, Iwano,” she answered. “She lives in the Golden Oak Library.”

“Oh, okay.”

“I must ask you: Would you still be staying here longer before returning to your kingdom?”

Wow, I wished she asked another question, or an answer to that one. “I would really like to, Mayor Mare. But I can’t. I’ve a deadline.”

It looked like somepony already filled the mayor about my Dissonance when I explained to her that, which was good, but she was the only pony whom I told her about my—

“You’ve a deadline of three days left,” she mused. “That sounds serious.”

“Just keep it a secret, especially from Twilight, her friends, and their closest acquaintances,” I told her. “I just don’t want them to get pressured while they’re having fun.”

Yeah, my friends would be distracted by their anxieties and pressure while influencing me, especially Twilight. In the episode Lesson Zero, she turned cuckoo when she couldn’t find a friendship problem until her deadline, so she had to use sheer desperations. I was amused and mostly scared about her twisted face—the “LZ Twi face”, Lentae would like to call. It would be scary to me when her twisted face would be stretched to its limit when she found out about my deadline.

“Look out!” a stallion’s voice warned.

“What was—?”

Before the mayor could finish, she and I were hit by water balloons from the sky.

“Who did that?” I asked as I flapped my dragon wings to dry. When I looked at Mayor Mare complaining and shaking her hooves dry, I stared at her and held back a grin. “Um, Mayor Mare, your mane…”

The mayor frantically rubbed her mane and looked at her hoof. “My hair!” On her hoof was gray liquid—dye? Well, it ain’t a surprise to me when Mayor Mare’s mane was actually brilliant fuchsia. I just didn’t know the reason why she dyed her mane into light cornflower bluish gray with lighter streaks.

She and I realized we were being stared by ponies, but they were mostly eyeing on their mayor’s mane.

Mayor Mare gasped as she frantically hid her exposed mane from public eyes.

I wanted to help her, so quickly teleported us somewhere.

We appeared inside the Carousel Boutique. I could’ve teleported somewhere else, but Rarity’s place might be suited for the mayor because I thought there might be any dye products kept here, since the seamstress was all about fashion, aesthetics, makeup, et cetera.

“Huh, what are we doing here, Iwano?” Mayor Mare asked.

“You really don’t want anypony to see your brilliant fuchsia mane,” I said as I began rummaging a closet for gray dye. “I decided to teleport us somewhere private for your little problem.”

She blushed and covered her mane away from me. “How do you know I want nopony to see my true mane color?”

I glanced at the mayor while rummaging next a drawer. “It’s nothing, really. Your frantic expression was already enough for me to tell.”

“So what Twilight told me was true, that you can be omniscient about everything in Equestria and its creatures and ponies.”

Did Twilight trust me enough with her friends and the two princesses? Maybe it was appropriate for Mayor Mare to know, since she was the mayor of Ponyville and I would be staying. And that confirmed that Twilight gave the mayor details and possibly warnings about me, no doubt while I was flying.

“Just don’t question how I almost knew everything, mayor,” I said. I wished I really knew almost everything about the show, or rather be completely stupid about it.

She made a small smile. “Okay, as you wish.”

“And maybe, keep everything you might experience with me to yourself—huh?”

I checked the last drawer. There was no gray dye. I closed it. “I guess I have to use an alternative.”

“What are you going to use as an alternative, Iwano?” Mayor Mare asked. “Like you said, there’s no gray dye.”

I walked towards her. “This.” I rubbed her mane.

The mayor blushed even more. “H-how is this an alternative?”

“Just wait for it.” After a few more rubs, Mayor Mare’s mane magically turned from fuchsia to gray. “There, now look at yourself, mayor.” I levitated a circular mirror from the drawers and held it to her for her to see her reflection.

She gasped in amazement. “How did you do this?”

“Just magic,” I simply replied. “Your mane will for now on be gray, as you liked it. Doing that—”

Mayor Mare suddenly hugged me tightly, almost cutting my oxygen supply. I was silently gagging while she was frantically thanking me. “You’re so amazing, I must thank you!”

When let go of me, I was smiling while breathing through my nostrils heavily. And then I wondered. “Why did you dye your mane, mayor?”

She blushed and bit her lips. “You wouldn’t tell my secret to anypony, right?”

Honor…

“I Pinkie Promise,” I promised.

The mayor sighed. “In my high school years, I was often a mare of leadership—often leading responsibly and intelligently. Because of that, I was followed, respected and admired by many students and teachers. But there were some who wouldn’t take me seriously, all because of my mane. After graduation, I was not taken seriously at all when I took leadership roles. Before I ran for mayor in Ponyville, I dyed my mane gray so ponies would take me seriously and that the elderly are often respected. And that’s the reason why I dyed my mane.”

“Wow.” I actually never knew that story of her and her mane, and I thought I knew everything in Equestria. I guessed there were some stories I was unknown of that wasn’t shown in the show.

“Keep it a secret,” Mayor Mare told me.

“Eeyup.”

When we left the boutique, I just realized that we were trespassing without me asking Rarity. Well, I really did need some dye and a place to hide the mayor.

“I wanna be with my friends now,” I said. “Can you take me there now?”

“Why, of course!”

On the way, we continued chatting. The mayor of a town filled with good ponies talking to the ruler of a utopia freely inhabited by billions of fictional beings was quite, I would say, “mutual” to be with together. She reminded me of myself being a leader in the past in Reality, but was all shattered as I entered high school. I wondered if she’d ever been like that before.

I couldn’t help feeling, but I felt there was something special about her—like she would do something important soon for me, like what those competitors did during the Bolt Wing, especially my new Pegasi friends.

Few minutes later, we finally arrived to my friends, who were discussing about something as we approached. But Pinkie Pie wasn’t with them.

“…And that’s why ah can’t stay long to prepare ev’rything, Twi,” Applejack said to Twilight.

“Ayo, everypony,” I greeted. “I’m here! Discussing something?”

“Hello, Iwano,” Twilight greeted back. “I see Mayor Mare escorted you here. Thanks, mayor.”

“You’re welcome, princess,” Mayor Mare said.

I glanced at my watch—9:25 AM.

“I’ll now leave Iwano to you, girls,” Mayor Mare said as she departed, and gave a quick glance and winked…at me? I must’ve been imagining it.

Now, I turned to my friends. “So, how’s my party going?” I asked.

“It’s almost done,” Twilight said. “We just Pinkie Pie’s orders if we’re going to begin. After all, she is the hostess. Do you want to help us find her?”

She and her friends giggled. What?

I tilted my head. “Fine. I’ll search now from the sky.”

“Are you forgetting something, Iwano?” Rarity asked as she gestured behind her.

“…My saddlebag!” I exclaimed as the seamstress gave me back my precious saddlebag. “Thank you, thank you, and thank you! I really forgot all about it. Thank you very much, my gem.”

I wore my saddlebag and saluted her, and then I departed for me to go flight.

Rarity pulled Twilight frantically with a lively grin. “Did you hear what Iwano said to me?! He called me his gem! He called me his gem! Oh, somepony please wake me up—I must be dreaming!”

Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Is it ‘kay for me to go back to my orchard now, Twi?” Applejack asked.

“I know you’re supposed to do that today, Applejack, but we all need to do this together for Iwano—just to further enjoy him so his Dissonance can go down deeper,” Twilight said. “Pinkie Pie did say she had a lot of plans for Iwano throughout the day, and we should help if she needs any assistance.”

“Um, Twi, Pinkie Pie is Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow Dash said and she drank a mug of apple cider while afloat. “Don’t worry about Iwano with Pinkie. I am totally certain that she can make Iwano the happiest pony in Ponyville.”

“I want to believe in that,” Twilight said. “I’m just worried.”

“Just enjoy! This might be the biggest party Pinkie Pie ever threw.”

Twilight managed a smile, but behind it was like she was doubtful.

I flew up into the air and began soaring above Ponyville searching for Pinkie Pie. To make this easier, I used my Aura senses to scan for the pink pony’s party aura. Her party vibes were probably so great I would probably pinpoint her down almost immediately. She might be probably checking on the décor, entertainment, and mostly food, which would be probably catered by the Sugarcube Corner.

Suddenly, my left eye twitched—I sensed Pinkie Pie. I stopped midair and tossed my head around for her. My head stopped and I saw below me was her exact location: the Joke Shop.

“Gotcha,” I said as a float down. Funny, this place was where the Mane Six first found me. I remembered being wrangled up by Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash. They were probably serious about taking the newcomer in because he was very dangerous.

When I landed, I saw a pink cake in front of the Joke Shop. It was about ten feet tall, with pink frostings and moderate raspberry coatings, and decorated with Pecha berries. No doubt this was baked in the Sugarcube Corner by Mr. and Mrs. Cake with the help of Pinkie Pie, and no doubt this was meant for me. But why was my Aura telling me Pinkie Pie was just very near me? And why was it also telling me that something bad for me would happen?

Hmm, I wanted to taste the cake. And it looked like I was now hungry, because my stomach was rumbling. I glanced around to see if anypony would catch me tasting. I opened my mouth as I was about to eat it.

And that’s when the party pony made an epic entrance.

Pinkie Pie exploded out of the cake, bursting sweetness around her and all over me. I was petrified. She was hopping happily and laughing brightly by the sight of me agape and surprised with widened eyes that looked like it was about to pop from frosting.

“SURPRISE!!!” Everypony in Ponyville around me exclaimed in unison which made me yelp and shot up into the air. I wanted to fly away, but there was something tied on my right hind hoof. I looked at it, and I had a red licorice rope tied on me. And it was lassoed by Pinkie Pie, eating a slice of the exploded cake.

“Come on, Iwano! Let’s have fun~!” Pinkie Pie blithely said. “Just dance, laugh, eat, laugh, and laugh!”

“Easy for you to say,” I said. “Okay, I change my mind. Can we just have a formal party, like what they had in the Grand Galloping Gala?”

Pinkie Pie stuck her tongue out, obviously in disagreement. “That was the most boring idea ever! Come on, Iwano. It’s like you’ve never had a party in a long time!” She jerked her licorice rope a pull and I was immediately in her hooves. I would like to hiss like she was made of acid when she was hugging me tight while convincing me to party in my party.

Okay, I regretted letting her and my friends arranging all of this for me. I was not a big fan of loud parties and eccentric fun. Was my Enter with Colors performance a party? No, it was just an intro.

I began hearing happy music, beating joy and cheerful rhythm playing. I had a feeling this would be another music number by Pinkie Pie. I bit my lips, bracing myself for the party pony’s nonsensical performance.

Suddenly, I was lifted by several ponies plus Pinkie Pie up.

“W-w-what are you ponies doing?” I frightfully asked.

They replied by throwing me into the air, and I was screaming. I then fell into a pool of dark orange liquid. I surfaced and gasped for air and frantically went out. The pool was apple cider. I was very stupid when I’d forgotten that I could fly.

As I shook myself like a dog to dry, Pinkie Pie and my friends began hopping around me while the music was still playing. Oh, Glob…

And Pinkie Pie began…

“A lot of bad things been happening

So that’s why we must all just sing

Don’t be too shy like Fluttershy

When I’m making you happy, do not fly

Iwano, I’m Pinkie Pie

You know everything ‘bout me like a file

So you know when I laugh I do not lie

When it comes to giving you a smile!”

After that part, I was pulled by some ponies into apple bobbing—we had to bite apples out of a barrel filled with water. I thought they used a big wooden bucket whatnot. The music was so energetic and happy, my heart pounded fast for me to apple bob with other ponies.

As I dunked my head into my water-filled barrel to bite an apple out, Pinkie Pie’s face suddenly appeared inside. I screamed underwater and popped my head out with no apple. Did that disqualified me? I wobbled by my surprise and fell on the ground.

Pinkie Pie came out of the water barrel like jet repulsion and landed in front of me, face to face, without getting wet.

“You make no sense!” I said.

How did she appear inside the barrel? How could she keep herself dry? She was definitely breaking the fourth wall.

She grinned so wide it almost looked like it was actually her whole face.

Pinkie Pie pulled me up, rubbed my head dry with a towel—where did she get that?—and twirled me to a herd of ponies holding hooves together and running around in a ring. I somehow got clung with them and joined in. And Pinkie Pie continued while being in the center…

“Just feel the happiness with us

Just have fun without the fuss!

Smother and help yourself with some cake

We baked a lot, just get and take!

Make loud noises like WOOHOO!

Out of instruments? Here’s a kazoo

Dance, prance you have a chance!

Now, dance, dance for your fans!”

On that part, Pinkie Pie was popping up in my every direction, especially all my paths for me to eagerly escape.

Pinkie Pie kicked me to a table full of sweets—cupcakes, fritters, brownies, cakes, and a whole lot I could’ve thought of. There were also some desserts I was familiar of in Reality. Wow, this was weird.

Though they were all delicious and I was hungry, those were sweets. I held back my hunger and resisted the urge to eat. If ate one of them, I would…

I was suddenly surrounded and startled by a sea of instruments around me, making loud noises as if it were New Year. My ears were ringing, but I regained my hearing the moment Pinkie Pie gave me a kazoo. What? Was I supposed to blow it?

Pinkie Pie pulled me again on a dance floor. The ponies around me were cheering me to dance. So I danced by doing some few shuffling moves I learned from Reality. In my Enter with Colors, I danced there, but this was unlike it—my heart was pounding faster for me to dance lively. Was this adrenaline? I thought I was getting tired.

Sweat was now covering my face. I was partying just to make everypony happy, but I wanted to collapse from subtle exhaustion.

Pinkie Pie next pulled me with her on a cart, and we zoomed out through the streets of Ponyville pulled by two stallions. I was too dizzy from partying to make out who were they.

And Pinkie Pie continued singing…

“Look at the crowd showing off their smiles

As we go through the streets—felt like miles!

Think of happy thoughts that will embrace you

Just as I hug the special one—that is you!

Where’s that happy smile on your face?

Don’t be so shy and grin with grace!

Now let’s stop here and enjoy the show

With everypony in town and the entire colors glow!”

While we go through the streets of Ponyville as the cart veered into different streets, ponies were waving and blasting confetti. Because of those I was startled and frantically hopped on Pinkie Pie’s hooves for her to carry me.

She encouraged me to think of happy thoughts. I thought of the very first time I had my first Pokémon—Pikachu— in Pallet Town, Kanto region, Pokémon world. I thought of the very first time I won for the first time in a race with Sonic the Hedgehog in the Green Zone, Sonic universe. I thought of the pranks my best friends did to me in my elementary years in Reality—which was a bit mean, but we had a laugh in the end.

I thought of every good thing that has happened to me, which gradually made me smile. And suddenly I went slack, because Pinkie Pie hugged me, but it wasn’t tight this time. It felt…good, like as if she were a pink cloud hugging a misunderstood Alicorn, cuddling softly and infecting him slowly with happiness.

She hugging me reminded me of a certain somepony in Reality who I’d never met in person, but he was to me the Pinkie Pie of my brony group in a social website and a very good friend.

My happy thoughts faded quickly when Pinkie Pie told the stallions to stop, which forcefully made them brake, causing Pinkie Pie and I to be hurtled to the air. I could fly, but I was too startled and scared to do it.

Luckily, we landed on a big pink cushion and we were with another crowd of ponies. In front of all of us was a stage, and I was agape, to only that Pinkie Pie comically appeared on stage, but she was with “her”.

The performer on stage with Pinkie Pie was a very familiar mare wearing a light purple star-patterned wizard’s hat and cape. The mare had dark grayish violet eyes, her coat was brilliant azure, her mane was pale cornflower blue with very pale of it, and her magic aura while she was casting on stage was pale, light grayish magenta. Her cutie mark was a magic wand sprinkling pixie dust.

I couldn’t believe my eyes, but that mare on stage was Trixie Lulamoon!

Had Pinkie Pie hired her and gotten Twilight’s approval? My mind was blown a bit. My mind was supposed to be blown when I first met the Mane Six in the first place.

Trixie Lulamoon had her first appearance in the season one episode Boast Busters as an antagonist, and again as one in the season three episode Magic Duel while wearing the Alicorn Amulet. According to my research, she was popular in the fandom as the “anti-Twilight”. She was reformed after Twilight defeated her.

So far, Trixie had no appearances yet in season four, but I bet some fans in Reality wanted her to make reappearance.

She must had a lot of practice after running away in the end of Magic Duel, because she conjured fireworks exploding in the sky with sparkling and crackling colors in the morning sky. The colors were impressively visible in the day and I couldn’t help but finally smiling.

When Pinkie Pie onstage saw me smiling on the pink cushion, she gasped happily and dashed to me.

She grabbed my hoof and we had to run on every pony’s heads to get out of here. I knew I could fly, but the sight of seeing Trixie made my wings numb again. Pinkie Pie and I running on heads made me feel guilty, but I just smiled anyway with her.

“Sorry, everypony!” I apologized as we stepped and ran fast on their heads like ninjas.

We then ran through the streets of Ponyville again together, but were now bustling with celebrating and joyful ponies, playing and eating sweets. As much as I wanted to be courteous and thankful for all of this, I had to tell Pinkie Pie how I really felt about this whole thing.

We stopped by the town square. She inhaled a lot of air, probably to sing another verse of her song. But I cleared my throat quick and said my message fast in song form…

“Pinkie Pie, I appreciate

Everything you’ve done happily

One hundred points this party I’ll rate

And the music’s now like a symphony.”

Pinkie Pie replied in song form, too. Okay, we were now talking while singing, huh?

“Oh, Iwano! It’s all for you

And I want everypony to know it’s true

That you’re fun to be with, you know

And you’re a really great pony, Iwano

Everypony will celebrate all throughout

This day and night without a doubt!”

“Pinkie Pie, to be honest

I want this noise to be less

Some peace and quiet is all I need

Thank you, here’s a pony here you must feed!”

I pulled Twilight to our background and flew away in a dash into the sky.

“…Are you sure he’s enjoying?” Twilight asked blankly.

“Yippee, he is~!” Pinkie Pie happily replied.

I hid on a higher cloud obscured from everypony, especially from Pinkie Pie.

I was tired and beaded sweat from her antics. All I wanted now was peace and quiet, while everypony below celebrated “my party” in joy, bonding and happiness.

I feared that if I party, my mind would become unguarded again for Dissonance to take control again.

I shook in disbelief. “That’s crazy,” I told myself. “You’ve mustered enough willpower to block him. Just don’t worry, Iwano.”

“Worry about what?” Pinkie Pie asked.

“It’s just that Dissonance would take—what in the name of Celestia?!”

Pinkie Pie was afloat riding Rainbow Dash. I seriously needed some peace and quiet for a while, but I couldn’t if she was with me. And I thought I was the only one here who could surprise.

“We got stuff to do~!” Pinkie Pie happily said. “We’re gonna do so much together!”

“Just lighten up, Green Wing,” Rainbow Dash said. I thought she was the one who needed to literally lighten up. “Just don’t be a KJ yourself, and try getting to know—”

Her rider gasped in a smile. “I should put that in our list—‘Fun Things to Do for the Rest OF The Day’~!”

I screamed and dashed off elsewhere. “Anywhere is better but here. There must be some place to hide peacefully!”

Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie stared ahead.

“Should we follow?” my coach asked.

“Nah,” Pinkie Pie replied, “I’ll handle it~!”

I quickly decided to hide in the Carousel Boutique again. I teleported inside as I flew towards the place. The boutique was lit up but I couldn’t feel anypony’s other presence here. Good.

I sighed in relief. “Silence to me is delicious as apple pie.”

“Ooooh, you love apple pie? I love everything apple, too! Oh, and many pit, too!”

“I blinked and looked behind me. That was Pinkie Pie’s voice, but where was she? I tossed and turned nervously.

I turned again…and I was muzzle to muzzle with her. “Hi~!” she greeted.

I frantically screamed in midair comically and stormed out of the boutique as I flew. “Can she just leave me alone?!”

Rarity came to her boutique when Pinkie Pie skipped out.

“Where’s Iwano?” Rarity asked.

“We’re just playing,” Pinkie Pie answered. “What are ya doin’?”

“I’m going back to my boutique and shine my diadem.” Rarity rubbed my gift. “Well, have fun!” When Pinkie Pie left, Rarity gave out a menacing look upon entering her boutique. “Just don’t have too much fun, Pinkie.”

Next, I hid myself within an apple tree in Sweet Apple Acres’ orchard. Its leaves and apple would surely conceal me from that annoying pony.

Coming back here reminded me of bringing back the trees when Dissonance used my body and massacred all of the apples in one night. It also probably leveled up Twilight’s curiosity towards me, which I was still cautious of.

“Ha, she’ll never find me here,” I told myself as I laid back. “I’m completely obscured.”

“You wanna play hide-and-seek!” Pinkie Pie said as she clapped her hooves. She was sitting beside me! “I love games!”

I cracked an unnerved smile, and screamed as I flew away as if she were worst than Dissonance. “What else is my best option?”

Next, I hid myself in a cave of a mountain in Vanhoover. I’d to think of drastic measures just to be alone, even if it meant being far away from my party in Ponyville.

The cave I was in was uninhabited and quiet, except for the occasional dripping of water from the ceiling. At least it was better than Pinkie Pie’s chatters.

“According to my calculations,” I confidently said, “Pinkie Pie cannot make it here.” As an Alicorn in this world, I had the speed of approximately two to six Rainbow Dashes. It only took me three minutes to get here.

I remembered that the famous author A.K. Yearling, aka Daring Do, lived in a cottage somewhere in Vanhoover’s forest, hidden “most” from her fans. Some brony in Reality speculated that Daring Do lived in Vanhoover, and even showed a speculated map of her location by putting together other maps shown in the episode Daring Don’t. I mostly thought it was ridiculous, but I happened to spot the adventurer’s home in a rush.

It was amazing how fantasies and fan speculations could be true here in Equestria.

Besides peace and quiet, I wanted to travel all over Equestria and experience the wonders and places of this land. But Dissonance made it impossible. I only had three days left. Fun and enjoyment was never in my agenda, and that was why Pinkie Pie to me was a conflict.

I wasn’t the fun type of pony. I was more of a serious type, with some touches of justice, heroism, and frailness.

Right now, I was thinking of composing a new song. I opened my saddlebag with my magic and I—

“Found you…” Pinkie Pie whispered on my left ear.

I screamed and flew away again. “That’s impossible!” I cried out in disbelief. “She can’t be there in any time!” Maybe Rainbow Dash was with her—that would be a logical explanation since that Pegasus was the fastest flier of the whole Equestria.

Getting tired, I dove into Manehattan’s bay port to “cool”. It was a good thing I casted an oxygenated bubble around my head before I went in and that by saddlebag was completely waterproof and airtight.

“Manehattan,” I sighed gladly. “What a place!”

Manehattan was mentioned multiple times in the show, and finally made its appearance in the show in the episode Rarity Take Manehattan as the main setting. This place was also where the Bolt Wing took place as one of its courses we competitors went through. During the race, I wondered where the sophisticated and civilized ponies from the crowds were. They were probably inside their buildings watching from there and undisturbed from the bustling crowd—and the whole city was bustling that time.

The city reminded me of the Titan War that Percy Jackson, the Olympian gods and goddesses, and Camp Half-Blood went through in book five of the Percy Jackson and The Olympians series: The Last Olympian.

I would love to walk through Manehattan’s streets, meeting other ponies and seeing the “lights” of that city, but too bad I’d no time and I was pursued by an annoying, fourth wall breaking pony.

Underwater was blue and everywhere around me was just sand. At least Pinkie Pie wasn’t here.

I sighed in relief…until she showed up hopping underwater slowly with a long straw on her mouth directing to the surface. Oh Celestia, why?

Pinkie Pie removed her straw and blew six bubbles each popped out what she was saying: “Hello. Iwano. What’s. The. Next. Game?” And then she sucked her straw again.

I twitched. “You wanna play a new game? It’s called ‘Don’t Follow Me’!”

I conjured a rope and tied her up fast, threw her into a treasure chest I quickly conjured, locked it up in a double in chains, cutting off her straw, hung sic anchors on it, buried her deep in the sand, and vamoosed out of the water!

Okay, I knew it was harsh to lock up the good party pony underwater in Manehattan, but she was driving me crazy!

I was too dizzy to think of another option, so I landed in a forest to rest. This was getting tiring. I wouldn’t worry about that annoying pony since she could possible escape, which made me gear up my brain for another idea.

I paced around my area clamoring thoughts of being invisible. I highly doubted that would work.

I suddenly stepped on something on the ground. “Huh? This is different,” I said as I tapped the ground. It sounded like stone. I wanted to identify or what was under it, so I stomped the ground with force to “feel” the earth—a technique I’d learned from Toph Bei Fong from the Avatar world.

I closed my eyes in concentration, materializing what I’d felt in my head from the stomp.

“…There’s a pond underneath,” I confirmed. I used my magic and turned myself intangible as a ghost, and phased through.

I floated down and found myself in a cove lightened up with glowing vines on the walls, and a pond right in front of me.

Something from the back of my mind told me I recognized this place—and it wasn’t Dissonance who told me. I guessed I was too tired to remember, so I walked towards the pond and drank. I didn’t care if it wasn’t clean or not, I was thirsty.

After drinking, I stared at the pond. “All I wanted is some peace and quiet…And what is this pond?”

I glanced at my watch—10:10 AM. Everypony was still partying in Ponyville.

I began regretting running and flying away from my party prepared by Pinkie Pie. I felt down now, deeper than this cove, as I looked at my reflection.

The water suddenly rippled…and I saw myself with deep sea green eyes and a devilish smile.

I flinched as I shook. When I looked at my reflection again, the only thing I saw was my confused face, golden yellow eyes and frown.

I was still definitely tired.

“What am I even doing?” I asked my reflection on the pond. “I should be partying with everypony in town, especially with Pinkie Pie. And I must socialize!”

I phased out and flew to Ponyville—and I realized I was in the Everfree Forest.

But what was that cove with the pond?

Twilight, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity and Applejack ran to each other in town square with exhausted faces.

“Any luck on Iwano?” Twilight asked her friends. “I felt my wings like they’re about to sprain.”

“He’s not in Sweet Apple Acres,” Applejack reported.

“He’s no in the Carousel Boutique,” Rarity added hers as she adjusted her Tredaspo diadem on her head.

“Me and Fluttershy have been searching in the streets and the skies, and no Iwano,” Rainbow Dash reported, too.

“Fluttershy, can you feel if Dissonance is active?” Twilight asked. “He might be the reason why we couldn’t find Iwano or Pinkie Pie.”

“Um, no,” Fluttershy replied. “I couldn’t feel Dissonance.

Twilight heaved a sigh. “That means, and thankfully, Dissonance isn’t active. But, wherever they are, we still—”

“Hi, girls~!” Pinkie hopped in, all wet except her mane and tail, while eating chewing something crunchy.

“Pinkie, where have you been and where’s Iwano?” Twilight demanded.

“We’re just playing hide-and-seek and it was super-spectacular-place-to-place-crazy-chase ever~!” She said all that with comical body movement with cheerful jumps.

“Game’s over, Pinkie Pie,” I said as I landed to my friends.

Applejack sighed in relief. “Thank goodness he’s still himself.”

“Pinkie Pie, I know you and you’re friends are trying to cheer me up and lift my spirit, but one favor: Can you just let me interact with different ponies for a while? I, Iwano Imagination,” I raised my hoof up, “Pinkie Promise that I’ll party with you all tonight—tonight. Interacting with other would get the citizens to know that I’m friendly, okay?”

The pink pony squealed joyfully. “That’s great, that’s good, that’s awesome, that’s fine, that’s—a cake!” She dashed off and came back with a slice of cake, and immediately ate it in one gulp.

I tilted my head. “Okay…I’ll see,” I said as I walked away from them now, “you mares later—”

“Wait, Iwano.” Pinkie Pie called as she walked to me. “Having a little fun doesn’t mean we’re not doing anything important, like influencing you with our chosen elements. You just need to have a little laughter to last longer or stick with you like bubblegum—yummy, bubbles~!—when you’re gonna go through a harsh time in the future, so you can look back to the joyful past to cheer you on farther. Don’t be so shy when you’re gonna have a great time. Laughter is easy as pie—and I’m Pinkie Pie!”

…I-I just stared at her in awe, or rather I was gawking. I never knew a pink, nonsensical, fourth wall breaking, talkative, anergetic, eccentric, zealous, optimistic, silly, ridiculous, friendly, affable, very friendly party-going, lovable and annoying pony would say those words that could give this Alicorn a hopeful and reassured smile. Maybe I was wrong about Pinkie Pie being all the negative and annoying qualities I hated. I felt guilty of looking down on her…or…no.

“…I’ll keep that in my mind, my friend,” I said. “Thank you.”

I left her with a smile.

Twilight approached her pink friend with a smile and said, “I think he loves your explanation, Pinkie. Keep it up and his Dissonance won’t bother him further or better.”

“Iwano’s too serious,” Pinkie Pie said. “And I knew that from the beginning. He needs to have more time with friends. Twilight, when I looked at his eyes, he’s really, really, really, really lonely inside.” She stood straight. “And today, it’ll be my duty to make him un-lonely and too smooth this party fabulously~!”

“Wow, Pinkie Pie, you’re really taking this—”

“Is that an ice cream cake?!” Pinkie Pie dashed to a nearby buffet table and began devouring the cold, delicious vanilla cake covered with vanilla pastry.

Twilight giggled. “Pinkie Pie is Pinkie Pie.”

Before I interacted with anypony, I ate three apples from Big Macintosh to have a little energy. I definitely didn’t want any sweets; albeit they occasionally made my mouth drool but I held it.

From the corner of my eye, I saw a mare panting and tossing her head around frantically, probably looking for something. Her coat was pale magenta, her mane was pale, light grayish lime green, and her eyes were moderate spring green. Her cutie mark was two daisies.

“Oh no, where is it? Where is it?!” the mare exasperatingly asked herself as she continued searching for something.

Concerned, I approached her and said, “A little daisy like you fluttering her petals needs a leaf’s helping hoof.”

She turned to me. “Ah! Uh, thanks, but I can do this.”

“No, I insist. I love to lend a hoof for a fellow pony like you. So, what are you looking for?”

“I was walking around and I accidentally dropped a small green box somewhere,” she answered. The mare whined frustratingly. “I’ve been looking for it, like, forever!”

She probably recently lost it. I thought. “Is it made of metal?”

“Yeah,” she replied. “Why?”

“I can find it in a jiffy, ma’am.”

“How, and who are you?”

I straightened myself and used my magic—my horn glowed. Instantly, a green box about the size of one for matchsticks shot out of the crowd and stuck onto my horn. “And I thought most badges had weak metal properties.”

She gasped in relief as she removed the box from her horn. “Thanks! Thank you very much, sir!”

“Say, who’re you gonna give that to?” I asked.

“It’s a secret, whoever you are. And I want to give this to him as a token of thanks and welcome.”

I didn’t read her mind, because I didn’t want any spoilers.

“I never actually know him,” she continued, “so my friend will be directing me to him when it’s time.”

Who is that he? I thought.

“Okay,” I said. “Anyways, what’s your name?”

“I’m Daisy. And you are?”

“You can call me Morning Leaf,” I quickly replied. I still wanna be mysterious, I thought.

“I’ve an errand to run now for my friend of mine. Do you wanna help, Morning?”

I nodded. “I love to help, Daisy.”

After that and I tagged with her, I felt this “panging” feeling again. Ugh, my head was hurt. I actually felt it initially when I first met Lightning Dust, and then Thunderlane, Milky Way, Drizzle, Soarin, Parasol, Cloud Kicker, Flitter, Cloudchaser and Midnight Strike—and they were all Pegasi. Would my next set of pangs be a herd of Earth ponies? It might be possible. I’d called call my Pegasi friends, including Soarin, Cloudchaser and Midnight Strike, “Bolt Wing friends”, because I first met them in that competition.

I found Daisy’s appearance quite attractive, her green mane and eyes, but that didn’t mean I was crushing on her—Fluttershy was whom I’d crush on forever in Equestria.

Did Daisy know I was actually an Alicorn? Maybe my saddlebag was blocking my dragon wings. And did she know I was the celebrant?

We arrived at a marketplace—and it was crowded with partying ponies. Somepony had set up a huge sound system, playing electronic music beats, in the center of this place. Vinyl Scratch would be the only pony I knew who could play that kind of music. Or was it Pinkie Pie? Listening to the tech beat reminded me of Zero Zephyrum from the Grand Chase world. He gained DJ as another occupation after I introduced to the GC characters to my world. He was called the “David Guetta of IW”, too.

Tents and stands were supposed to set up here selling were obviously moved aside for this party area’s expansion—and the town was literally a whole party area! In other words for me, Pinkie Pie was everywhere. Dancing and roaming ponies made it hard for both of us to navigate through albeit my tall height and we could possibly get separated, so I clung to Daisy’s hoof firmly. When she was me doing it, she stammered and blushed. I nodded to her and she understood.

“What did your friend told you to get?” I asked in a loud tone for Daisy to hear because of the music.

“She wants me to get a bouquet of roses in her flower shop,” she loudly replied. “This marketplace is the best shortcut, so gotta get through here. But I never knew this place will be crowded as some other parts of this town. Who knew how special this celebrant could be who deserves such a big and fun party? This is even huger than the last time Cheese Sandwich been here for Rainbow Dash’s party!”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get us through.” Cheese Sandwich was an Earth pony who was voiced by Weird Al Yankovich, a famous singer and parodist, from Reality. Just like Pinkie Pie, he was a party planner and was very eccentric as well. He was also one of my fave ponies.

I led the way for my new friend here, pushing siding, bumping and apologizing through these party goers. Daisy was right, this party was huge—huge than Cheese Sandwich’s I meant. While I flew into the sky waiting for arrangements to be finished, there weren’t many ponies, but the moment Pinkie Pie exploded from her cake and began singing, the streets of Ponyville was instantly flooded with its citizens.

Back in Imaginundia, we used to have huger parties than this and that of Cheese Sandwich’s—and mostly had a disaster in the process and ended normally well when Lentae, Cynthia, other Heroes and I saved the day. I hoped this party wouldn’t have any catastrophes, especially if it would be from Dissonance.

I scowled and shook by his name in this time.

We’d been shoving our way for a few minutes now. It was as if every time I pushed through successfully, more would clog in. “Where’s your friend’s flower shop?” I asked. “What does it look like?”

“If we exit this market place forward to our north,” Daisy said, “we’ll be able to see a shop with a rose signage above its entrance.”

“Alright,” I said as Ievitated her to my back, though I noticed she was surprised and she was…blushing? “Just hang on!”

“What are you—? Woah!”

I galloped fast and dodged swiftly through the crowds as Daisy have clung her hooves around my neck in a firm hug. It was exhausting, but I gotten us to the flower shop in only four minutes and seventeen seconds, according to my watch.

The flower shop was called the “Rose Regalia”—the name was printed in red on both its window door and wide shop window. The exterior was entirely colored with two shades of green and had a rose signage above the entrance—which it had a “closed” sign hung on its doorknob.

Without noticing the sign, Daisy tried to open the door, but it was locked.

“The sign says closed, Daisy,” I told her.

“Flower weeds,” she cussed. “I forgot to ask for the—”

The door unlocked by itself and opened.

Daisy turned to me in shock. “How did—?”

“I used my magic,” I simply said with a smile. “You can find me unique, my friend. Now, shall we enter?”

She nodded and we entered. Hmm...I loved the smell of flowers.

Daisy opened the lights. For the interior, the wallpapers were green with red-shaded flower patterns. There were shelves lined with assorted flowers on pots and vases, mostly roses, and there were also flowers on the sides, too. The floor was tiled white and the ceiling was the same color. At the end of the shop was the counter with its register and an entrance—the whole thing was ornamented with roses.

Seeing mostly roses in this flower shop reminded me of Akiza Izinski/Izayaoi of the Dueling world with her ace Synchro monster—Black Rose Dragon. The flowers also reminded me of floral characters, places, events and skills from all my past encounters and life in IW.

“I’ll just look around while you get your friend’s bouquet, Daisy,” I said. “I really admired these flowers, Daisy. I can tell that these pretty ones were planted and cared for because of their vivid colors and healthy textures.” I sniffed the air. “And the mixing aromas of them are really fragrant, and they’re not sensitive to my nose at all that would make me sneeze sometimes.”

Daisy giggled as she entered the counter. “My friend’s an excellent florist unlike the others in town, Morning. She’s a one of a kind flower friend, if you ask me. It was no wonder why her cutie mark’s a red rose—like her name. She and I are best friends, along with our other one, Lily Valley.” Daisy rummaged under the counter as she spoke. “Just to let you know, I don’t know what Iwano Imagination look like because I was sick in my home for four days. But my friend told me he’s an amazing Alicorn who saved the town from a horde of mannequins.”

“So, you don’t exactly know what he looks like? Okay, but you’ll see him soon, and I’m sure your friend will lead you to him.” Now I knew: Daisy was sick, so she wasn’t in the mannequin mayhem. In other words, when I first met her, she didn’t actually know I was the Iwano Imagination. Good, that would make me more mysterious.

“I forgot, I never seen a Unicorn like you before in this town. Are you new here?”

Time to be a little honest, and that confirmed that she never seen the one and only Iwano Imagination the Alicorn. “Yeah, I came to Ponyville three days ago.”

“Funny, that’s what my friend told me of when this celebrant came.” She held up a duffel-sized bouquet of roses staggeringly. A bouquet that size was too heavy even for her to lift was weird. “Mmph, I can’t believe she’s going to—”

I levitated the bouquet for her. “Let me help you with that.”

“Wow,” Daisy said happily. “You’re—”

“Hold that thought.” I closed my eyes, used my magic, and changed my appearance. Daisy was agape. My coat became moderate brown, my eye became brilliant lime green, my mane became black, and my wings disappeared again—Daisy didn’t see them. I opened my eyes. “Now, what were you saying?”

Daisy fainted.

While she was fainted, I read her mind to know where she would meet up with her friend—it was by the first stone bridge of the town square. I wasn’t able to read who her friend was, but I bet she was pretty and good as Daisy. I was carrying her on my back while levitating the bouquet for her on top of me.

I changed my appearance because Daisy’s friends and other ponies in town might identify me as the celebrant. I still wanted to be mysterious for a while, just had fun.

When I arrived at the bridge, I saw a mare staring at her reflection by the water below with her pale, light grayish chartreuse green eyes. Her mane was twin-sided ponytail in a color of moderate raspberry with light raspberry and her coat was very pale yellow. Her cutie mark was a red rose.

“A rose staring at her reflection by the water,” I said as I approached her, “who is waiting for the daisy to come—that the daisy is now on the leaf’s back.”

She grinned when she saw me. “Hello, my name’s Rose. How do you…” Rose noticed a fainted Daisy on my back and turned to worry. “What happened to Daisy?”

“She fainted through the crowd while we were looking for you,” I lied.

“Were you assisting her with the bouquet?” Rose asked as she saw her levitating bouquet in the air.

“I love helping other ponies in need, Rose.”

“Are you new here?”

“Yes. Anyways, who’re you giving this bouquet to—?”

“Daisy, Rose,” a stallion came as he spoke to them. His coat was light cobalt blue; his mane was moderate cobalt blue and his eyes moderate gamboge. His cutie mark was two pairs of two beamed quavers. “Have you girls by slight chance knew where Iwano Imagination is?” He noticed me having Daisy on my back. I gave him a small smile. “Who’s he and what happened to Daisy?”

“We haven’t seen him yet,” I answered. “And my name’s Morning Leaf. And Daisy fainted from exhaustion through the crowds.”

He studied me and smiled. I thought for sure he would recognize me. “My name is—”

“Noteworthy,” I finished. Darn, I was reading my minds again.

“How’d you—?”

“You’re cutie mark made me guess,” I answered hesitantly. I then noticed a box he was holding in one hoof. “Who’re you gonna give that to?”

“It’s a secret, but inside is blue vest.”

“Did you ask Rarity to make it?” Rose asked.

“It’s actually the very same vest I’ve made when I attended Rarity’s fashion club—the only perfect clothing I’ve ever worked and knitted on with my two very own hooves—and of course with a sewing machine.”

Rose giggled. “I remembered you were the only stallion among twelve mares plus Rarity in the club.”

“Hey! I had to. Rarity was asking me to invite some other stallions, but they all declined. So I’d to join just to make the loss of it.”

“I know.” Rose continued giggling. “It’s just funny you being the only stallion with mares.” She began laughing.

Daisy groaned. “Uh…huh?” I looked at her, and she did the same—muzzle to muzzle, almost close. She shrieked as she frantically and reluctantly went off me in a blush. “H-hey, Morning,” she said as she rubbed her mane shyly. “Uh, thanks for carrying me.”

“No problem,” I said. There they were again—the panging feelings again. I’d to bear the sharp headache, thought I twitched a bit. Daisy, Rose, and Noteworthy, eh? I thought. “Hey why were you looking for Iwano, Noteworthy?”

“I accidentally launched a couple of water balloons while preparing a catapult for the main event,” he replied. “Pinkie Pie instructed me to operate. She was even too talkative for me to say my refusal, and left me in a dash. I don’t even know how to operate catapults.”

I’d operated many catapults in my IW life, and at the beginning it was very simple. I couldn’t blame Noteworthy for being unknowledgeable of catapults, and “accidentally” soaking Mayor Mare and me.

“I’ll let him know when I see him,” I told him.

“Thanks.” Noteworthy saw my watch. “Morning, what time is it?”

I glanced at my watch. “11:50 AM. I guess I need to—”

Suddenly, I was tackled (again, seriously?), rolled and held down by a mare with enthusiastic brilliant emerald green eyes and a wide grin. The mare had a light yellow coat, and her mane was brilliant malachite and strong green. I’d a quick look at her flank—her cutie mark was three apple fritters. That moment, I felt another pang. Dang, ouch.

“Howdy, I’m Apple Fritter!” she introduced herself brightly with the same South American accent as Applejack and the whole Apple Family, except hers was high-pitched. She giggled. “You must be Iwano Imagination, the new neighbor!”

“Apple Fritter, that’s Morning Leaf,” Daisy corrected as she and her friends ran to us, while Noteworthy carried the duffel bouquet with difficulty). “But he’s a new neighbor.”

“Nuh-uh.” Apple Fritter shook. “Iwano here has a weird cutie mark.”

“Hey…yeah,” Noteworthy agreed as he examined my flank. “It’s also an uncommon one, too. That means—”

“We’ve been with the great Iwano Imagination all along!” Rose beamed.

“I remembered him being green and having weird wings,” Noteworthy added. “That also means he’s an Alicorn. And also, Twilight told me he’s a powerful one, so that means he can do anything—even change his color!”

“You’re right there, partner,” Apple Fritter agreed.

I sighed. “Wow, nice examinations there, Noteworthy. Yes, I am Iwano. Sorry for not being truthful in the first place. I love being mysterious, just to let you all know. Oh, I’m flattered when of being called ‘great’, Daisy.”

They all exchanged looks as Apple Fritter helped me up. I nervously waited for them to hate me. But instead, they all laughed. What?

“It’s fine, Iwano,” Daisy said. “But I love calling you Morning Leaf better.”

I was bumped by somepony and he or she tripped.

“Are you okay?” I asked as I turned and grabbed his/her hoof to assist. The pony was unusually tall like Celestia and was wearing a brown cloak with a hood that concealed most of its appearance…except her hooves.

I was petrified. Her hoof was colored very dark gray, which was actually the color of her coating, and had holes could make me peek through.

I gasped. “You’re—!”

“How do you know me?” she demanded in her hollow tone.

“Morning,” Noteworthy said, “what’s the matter—?”

I teleported with her.

“Just remove the cloak,” I insisted. We were both in an empty, un-partied, silent alleyway somewhere in Ponyville. I used my magic to teleport us in random of any quiet place for us to “chat”. It looked like my magic—or I—did a great job scanning the whole of Ponyville.

She shook

“Then tell me why you’re here,” I continued. “I just want an explanation before anypony comes here.” I could read her mind, but I wanted to save my energy for something big—the “mane” event.

She was silent in her shrouded face from her hood.

“There you are, Iwano~!” Pinkie Pie hopped in. Oh Celestia, not good. “I wanna have a seventh round with you in—who’s that?”

“Oh.” I tossed my head back and forth from “her” and Pinkie Pie. I’d to think of a way out or Pinkie Pie would freak when she found out, so I was anxious. Teleporting definitely wouldn’t work. “Uh, oh, this pony here’s just resting so she can, um party again—yeah! She’s resting to party again!” I nervously chuckled.

Pinkie Pie laughed and brought out a pie from her mane (what?) and said, “Don’t worry cloaked, tall, tired, mysterious pony! Eat this and you’ll smash the floor again~! All foods are high in sugar~!”

I knitted my brows. “High sugar would either give you diabetes, high blood pressure, heart attack or—”

A pie shot passed me and hit “her”. SPLAT!

I tossed my head to “her”, the pie tray was on the ground empty, and her face was mostly revealed rather than covered entirely with cream and Pecha bits.

I doubted Pinkie Pie wouldn’t distinguish who she was.

The party mare screamed, “It’s Queen Chrysalis!!!”

“No, Pinkie Pie!” I cried out while Queen Chrysalis wiped pie off her face. “Do not tell! She just wants too—!”

I was lost of words when Pinkie Pie whipped out a trumpet from her mane—what else was in her cotton candy head?—and blew out a loud melody that sounded of emergency.

“Can things get any worse?” I muttered miserably, and regretted it.

Twilight Sparkle teleported in our scene, followed by a swift descent of Rainbow Dash, a landing Fluttershy, Rarity trotting while holding her diadem on her head as if it were already fragile, and an applesauce-covered Applejack.

“We came,” Applejack said as she wiped applesauce from her face, “as fast as we—what in crop-whippin’ is she here?!”

Right before their eyes was the Changeling queen, with moderate harlequin eyes, gnarled horn, insect wings, dark gray coating, holed up hooves, and silky dark cerulean mane.

“Quick! Render Chrysalis immobile and prevent her from countering!” Twilight ordered quickly, and the Mane Six began attacking, except Fluttershy, who ducked to the ground shakily and covering her eyes beside me. A fight in this alleyway as a fray was covered in dust of smoke.

I was about to ran and broke the fight when Fluttershy grabbed one of my hooves, which made me trip. As I recovered, I begged, “Fluttershy, please let go! I’ve to stop them!”

I w-won’t get y-y-you h-hurt, Iwano,” she softly stammered.

I turned to look at the fight. Why wasn’t she fighting back and instead was just struggling?

My eyes widened, heart pounded. This is wrong!

“STOP!” I screamed, and everypony were frozen by my magic. They were all covered in transparent golden yellow gleaming coat with sparkles as they were paused in motion. Hey, I remembered Twilight used one spell to stop a commotion between her friends in the episode Castle Mane-ia—very good episode. I guessed my pressure triggered my magic, which was what I wanted to happened. Chrysalis was the only one still in motion, because she was on the ground beaten, bruised and creamed with pink frostings all over her face—I realized I’d seen too much pink in my time in Equestria.

Applejack was frozen in applebuck position, Rarity was about to karate chop Chrysalis’s head (that would knocked the Changeling immediately with a sharp blow immediately, or even worse), Rainbow Dash was about to dove down on the villainous mare (on the back, which would broke the Changeling’s spine), Twilight was in her stance to blast, and Pinkie Pie was about to dump a bucket of chocolate syrup—to what, eat the Changeling?

I’d teleported Chrysalis to my other side. Fluttershy was still holding one of my hooves, but she lost grip so I was able to remove myself. “I’ll let you girls go in motion again, and I’ll explain,” I said. “I can freeze your movements again if you all repeat your hostility towards Chrysalis again. Okay now, I’ll let you all go.”

I negated my magic. Rainbow Dash crashed to the ground—probably still fine and—and Pinkie Pie accidentally dumped her chocolate syrup on Twilight instead. Everypony could move again.

“It’s a good thing my diadem wasn’t ruined by chocolate syrup,” Rarity said as she rubbed her diadem, as if what she said wasn’t true.

The chocolate flavored Alicorn fumed as she wiped herself. “You better have a very good explanation why we shouldn’t clobber the Changeling queen. Otherwise, she is going to Canterlot’s dungeon.”

There’re dungeons in Canterlot? I thought.

After I healed Chrysalis with my magic while Twilight was studying me intently, which was a bit disturbing while I was at it, to my friends’ dismay, she stood up and sighed in relief of her healing. “Thank you, brown Alicorn.”

“Oops, I forgot.” I shifted back to my original appearance in glowing of golden yellow magic. Queen Chrysalis’s eyes widened in surprise, which made me grinned as if I said, Please, I’ve amazed enough Equestrians in my time here, but thanks for your astonishment of me, I’m flattered.

“Queen Chrysalis is seeking help,” I explained. “She wants to be reformed.”

“What?!” the Mane Six shrieked, except Fluttershy who was soft-voiced.

Twilight scowled. “I think Dissonance I controlling you again.”

“What? Hay no! I’ve read her mind. Trust me on this, please.”

“Did you also know that—”

“Queen Chrysalis is the queen of the Changelings—creatures that can change forms of any pony, especially the ones we loved, and sucks the love out of anypony. Chrysalis hypnotized your brother Shining Armor—you ‘BBBFF’—and disguised herself as your sister-in-law and former foal sitter Princess Cadance, and invaded Canterlot during the royal wedding. In the end, Shining Armor and Cadance defeated Queen Chrysalis with the power of love, and sent her and the Changelings faraway. Thus, the wedding was a success with the real Cadance and Shining Armor happily wed. However, the Changeling queen returned, and once again defeated the second time before by you girls. Am I right, Twilight Sparkle?”

Everypony was agape, especially Chrysalis, but Twilight’s reached the ground.

“You know me?” Chrysalis asked.

I simply nodded.

“We don’t trust her Iwano,” Rainbow Dash said. Her friends grunted in agreement. “Even if she wants to be turned ‘good’, she’d just trick us. Besides, she’s a Changeling; she can change into anypony, which would catch us off guard.”

“Rainbow Dash’s right!” Pinkie Pie agreed. “She’s also a party crasher! I hate bad party crashers.”

“Iwano darling, I trust you,” Rarity said, “but it’s Queen Chrysalis I don’t trust at all. I mean, why would a powerful ruler like you protect and such a deceitful-forming demon like her?”

Twilight’s eyes lit up.

“Girls, just look at her,” I sympathetically said as I turned to the poor Changeling. I actually wanted to believe she was still evil, but…I’d felt something about her, with those innocent moderate harlequin eyes and pained frown. There were no pangs this time. “Do you girls think she would mean harm again—?”

“Yes!” they all snapped, except Fluttershy.

“Um, maybe,” the soft-speaking Pegasus answered.

I was startled, and so was Chrysalis. I’d to defend her. “What about Discord? He’s now good, right? Why won’t I just try reforming her—?”

“No!” they snapped again, except Fluttershy.

I fumed. “Everypony deserves a second chance, girls!” I sighed heavily. “Look, what about this?”

I pointed my horn to Chrysalis’s right hoof, and zapped a green ring unto it, locked firmly.

“What is this?” Chrysalis asked.

“In my kingdom, if we still don’t trust a certain enemy and him or she wants to be reformed, we cast those called ‘Trust Rings’. If the wearer does anything ‘funny’, the ring will excruciatingly shock him or her. It can only be removed by the caster.”

Twilight knitted her brows in skepticism and her friends exchanged worried looks, probably had reservations, of course.

Trust Rings were one of my inventions last month, demanded by Lentae. I thought IW needed something useful, so I made a spell and made them. I first tried it on Eggman, and it worked pretty well considering he almost turned into a poached egg (long story). There was this unknown feeling why I agreed to my sister’s repetitive demands for the Trust Rings, but I just didn’t know why.

“Well, I trust Iwano of that option,” Rarity said with a face of uncertainty and undertone. “He is a ruler and an Alicorn of great power, you would all probably believe as much as I. Who know? Maybe his idea might work hopefully.”

“Oooooohhh-kay~!” Pinkie Pie chimed in. “If Chrysalis wants to be good, good, good, she needs to par-tay like everypony else!”

“Don’t worry, Twilight,” I reassured her. “Who know? Maybe she might help in the future.”

Twilight’s widened eyes and lit eyes made me wanted to go away, with Chrysalis, yeah.

“I’ll…just be chatting with Chrysalis first,” I said. “You know, bonding?—and I want nopony following.”

The Changeling queen and I left my friends in the alleyway. A conversation with Chrysalis would be great, I greatly believed.

My friends anxiously looked at our direction, except Twilight.

“That Changeling is gonna make a ruckus soon in the future, girls,” Applejack said.

“I hear ya, AJ,” Rainbow Dash agreed. “She must have an evil plan here. Iwano’s even too gullible to that Changeling’s ‘innocent’ eyes to see it.”

“Twilight,” Applejack said. “What should we do?” There was no response. “Uh, Twi, are you okay, sugar cube?”

“Oh, speaking of sugar cube,” Pinkie Pie said, “time to refill the sugar cube dispensers—!”

“Pinkie Pie, say the first two lines of Dissonance’s prophecy,” Twilight said.

Her pink friend giggled. “No problem!” She cleared her throat. “Returned weakened of heart from defeat, protected by the monster and unaware of deceit—bye!”

Pinkie Pie hopped away.

“Why do you want her to say those lines again, Twilight?” Fluttershy asked.

Twilight just stared at the direction where Chrysalis and I went, and gulped.

“The first two lines have just happened.”

“Thank you for defending me, Iwano,” Queen Chrysalis thanked. “But, you knew of my greatest misdeeds, so why did you do that?”

“Everypony deserves a second—or third—chance to become good or reformed,” I answered. “I also couldn’t stand seeing anypony like you get hurt. By the way, my name’s Iwano Imagination. I’m a ruler from a faraway kingdom called Imaginundia. Likewise, I’m seeking salvation from the Elements of Harmony from myself.”

“How do you know my reason of coming here?” Chrysalis asked.

“Just by the look in your eyes.” I stared at her as we walked together through the party. I noticed stands, tents and shops were being set, probably to because the buffet and entertainment wasn’t enough, so this party also became a half festival, for me, of course. “And just as you’ve heard from my friend Rarity, I am powerful. In fact, I can do this—”

I changed my height to match exactly like hers, which was probably also Celestia’s height.

The Changeling blinked in astonishment. “What kind of Alicorn are you? I mean, you have—”

“Dragon wings,” I finished.

She shook. “You can read—?”

“Your mind? Also others to, you know.”

She sighed. “Are you going to help me be reformed?”

“Uh, a little,” I admitted. “Twilight Sparkle and her friends could help, but I doubted they’ll ever do that. Besides, they go their hooves full of me, and considering they don’t trust you at all.”

“What’s your problem?”

“Let’s just say they need to influence me with their chosen elements to weaken an evil within me.”

“Dissonance—that was what Twilight Sparkle was referring to when you told them what my reason here is.”

“Correct. Anyway, are you hungry? You’re journey to Ponyville must have hungered you.”

“Yes, very much hungry. I never ate anything in my journey.”

We glanced at other ponies. When they saw my new friend, they didn’t panic, but they veered away and avoided eye contact with her. I thought they would panic, but something was telling me that somepony told everypony of the Changeling queen’s presence. Lentae would rage if I hung out or befriended villains or any antagonistic characters, even if they wanted to be reformed.

The last antagonistic characters I joined were the Babylon Rogues, and joining them made Lentae angrier. But I joined those avian thieves for a good reason.

If my sister were here, she would shred a villain I befriended with her Flute Sword mercilessly. Lentae had bad experiences with Villains—they toyed with her and often gave her irritating difficulties. Unlike other heroes who’d be tortured by their villains, Lentae was worst.

She’d stab me in the back if I help a villain in reforming him or her. Luckily, my sister wasn’t here. Lentae believed that over the past few months, I was too open to evil that the slightest influence of darkness would turn me into a villain.

Now that I’d thought of it, I gave both my Water decks to her and had build up a “Dark Rising” deck during my time in the Dueling world, I obliged Lentae in letting the Babylon Rogues stayed in her home as their own (their alignment was neutral, so that didn’t meant they were villains, despite Lentae’s disbelief), and Dissonance was within me…

Was I evil? Keh, that was very ridiculous of me to thought of that stuff!

“Are you feeling fine, Iwano?” Chrysalis asked. “You’re sad.”

“A bit,” I admitted. “So, what do you wanna eat?”

“I’m already eating.”

“Uh, what?” I tilted my head in question, and then I remembered. “Whose love are you eating out, huh?”

Chrysalis was just staring at me. I stopped walking and she followed. I glanced around for her food. I wasn’t sure who, so I used my Aura to sleuth the source.

I sensed none.

“Hmm...Then whose love are you feeding off?” I asked. She was still staring at me, now with dreamy eyes and a sly smile. “Is my love this delicious?”

Chrysalis licked her lips pensively, which was quite disturbing and made my stomach cringe. “I never knew you’re in love with so many ponies in your time here in Equestria, Iwano. While you were saddened of something I tasted your love, and it was delicious with many selective flavors, but doesn’t give me full power because you must’ve set some limitations to your heart somehow—not that I would do any destruction whatsoever. Your love is tastier and more savoring than my last stallion.”

“Shining Armor,” I recalled, “was your last one.”

“And I never knew you have a hidden lust in your heart. How many mares are you in love with?” She smiled teasingly.

Mother of Celestia, she can read my heart! I thought. She said in my time in Equestria, so that means she doesn’t know my other girlfriends back in IW, but does she know the exact names—or rather her exact name? Well, that’s…I’m in love with many mares?

“Do even know that exact and only mare I’m mostly in love with as my top?” I asked.

Chrysalis replied by changing herself into a Pegasus, with moderate cyan eyes, pale, light grayish rose mane and pale, light grayish gold coat, and had her cutie mark of three butterflies.

It was my turn to go agape, at the same time we both stopped walking.

“What’s wrong? Am I right?” Chrysalis as Fluttershy asked in the same soft-toned and kind voice.

I shook out of daze. “So if I read minds, then you can read hearts and love of anypony. Apparently that was how you were able to tell whom Shining Armor loved, and that’s Princess Cadance, correct?”

“You’re quite omniscient of many ponies, Changelings, and other things Equestrian, yes? I noticed that? You’re also—” Chrysalis turned back to her Changeling self. Aw, I was getting used to her being my beloved one, “—clever to guess how I used Shining Armor.”

“I didn’t read your mind on that, by the way. Fine, I’m your food—your unlimited supply of food.”

“Are you sure you wouldn’t be drained or weakened?”

“Eeyup.”

She chuckled. “You’re interesting, Iwano.”

“Since you wanna be reformed, I’ll be your friend.”

“You want to be my…friend?” Chrysalis gave me a solemn smile, and leaned on me. I blushed.

Yeah, I wanted to be her friend. I believed Chrysalis had a role in my adventure here in Equestria; a role to help me diminished the power of Dissonance. She was special, so maybe she might be useful but meaningful

Treachery…

Princess Celestia was levitating a quill and paper, writing probably a message, in her throne at Canterlot. Her face was bright as the thought of Twilight’s progress in helping the Alicorn with the evil Dissonance within his heart. She was very confident her former student would complete her task unlike any other she had faced, or felt.

The ruler had a pang in her head, causing her to accidentally rip her paper with her quill.

Celestia gasped. “She’s coming,” she said as she banished her writing materials and floated down from her throne, and looked through a window overlooking Canterlot. She stared at the sky anxiously but hidden it, as if waiting for somepony to finally come back

“Why in all of Equestria’s days would she finally return after thousands of years while Dissonance is still here…?”

I sighed. “You really need to control that conniving attitude of yours, Chrysalis. That’s not going to make any other ponies here to like you.”

“I’ll control it,” she promised.

“I’ve a question: What happened to your Changeling army before you journeyed here to Ponyville—?”

A green streak flew passed us so fast we were almost blown away. What was that? Was that a Pegasus? Passing by next was streak of rainbow. I knew for certain that was my coach, but who was she chasing?

“Who was that?” Chrysalis asked.

“That’s just Rainbow Dash,” I answered. “She’s probably just chasing some party pooper. I don’t know who she’s chasing, but that troublemaker’s going down.”

I turned to Chrysalis, and she was looking at something ahead. I followed her gaze, and I was agape the second time.

On a buffet table, an Alicorn was devouring foods as a crowd behind him was disgusted in shock. That Alicorn was amassing food in his mouth just like me—politely but hungrily. He had the exact same height, mane, coat, wings, horn and eyes just like me!

“Why…are you there?” Chrysalis asked again. “Did you casted your magic and duplicate yourself in two places earlier before I arrived in this town?”

“…No—no!” I said. “Something’s wrong Chrysalis—”

Rainbow Dash and her target crashed near us and caused dust. As the sight cleared, ponies around us stopped partying and took a look at what was going on. I was even more awed than the crowd and Chrysalis.

“What’s wrong with you?” Rainbow Dash demanded as she restrained down a green Alicorn. “First, you destroyed numerous stands on purpose; second, you pranked me too far—so unlike you, ya know? And then third, you catapulted fireworks—and burned some homes! What in the whole of Equestria is wrong with you?!”

“Rainbow Dash!” I called to her.

My coach lifted her head, and her face told me she was immediately confused. “The hay…Two Iwanos?”

Pinkie Pie approached us groggily and exhausted with panting as she pulled herself to us. “No…” the party pony tiredly said. “Three Iwanos!”

Twilight landed from the sky to us in our scene. “Okay, nothing to see here, everypony!” she said to the staring citizens. “As your princess, I command you all to continue in your merriment!”

I was amazed that everypony continued as if nothing happened. I guessed Twilight was getting the handle in being a princess.

“I don’t really know what’s going on with you, Iwano,” Twilight grumbled. “But why would you magically duplicate yourself and trash the party?”

“I’m confused as you mares,” I said. “I know Chrysalis hadn’t done anything wrong since her ring didn’t shock her yet...” I suddenly remembered. “I’ve been to the Mirror Pond.”

“How?! The entrance to that pond is sealed!”

“Long story. Right now, we need to corral myself before they do anymore—”

The clone Rainbow Dash restrained disappeared in teleportation. “Aw great,” she muttered.

“Are there anything else that would unexpectedly and surprisingly happen today?” Twilight complained to me.

“Why are you saying that to me?” I asked. “I’m not doing all of this, really!”

By the corner of my eye as I pushed Twilight’s complaining face near mine, overhead in the sky, I saw some sort of Pegasus, probably heading to us. When I used ‘Foresight’, I wanted my eyes to explode streamers.

First, Queen Chrysalis came to Ponyville to be reformed—shocking, at first.

Second, there were three Iwanos, counting me, in this party and one of them were ruining everything with mischief—horrible for my reputation as a hero and good pony.

And third, that silhouette was coming towards us. I whimpered.

“Iwano, is there something scaring you?” Twilight asked.

“That’s impossible…” I slowly said. “She’s not supposed to exist!”

Chapter 14: Regal Rosetta

View Online

“Are we almost there, partner?” a stallion asked in a South American accent. “We can get there faster with your stuff here if I lend you a hoof.”

Running through a wild west-like desert pulling a cart filled with crates, barrels, and a seated Earth pony wearing a brown vest and brown hat was another Earth pony wearing a poncho and a hat that covered his whole body and face from the sun, and mostly from anypony’s sight of him.

“Well, if you don’t want any help,” the passenger said, “I’ll understand that.” He smiled at the sky. “Thanks for taking me with ya from Appleloosa to Ponyville with your cart full of stuffs, partner. I heard of a big, town-size party happening there, so I wanna come with you since we’re both heading there." The stallion had brilliant pistachio eyes, brilliant gamboge mane with brilliant amber highlights, and light gold coat. His cutie mark was a big red apple. “I heard everything from the letter my cousin Applejack, although she was sorta asking me for help of something. Probably for the buffet, or maybe she wants me to organize the stands there—and the party won’t be just a party anymore, but a party-festival-fair for this celebrant name Iwano Imagination. Hoo-wee! That party’s gonna last through the day. I bet Pinkie Pie’s party for that lucky stallion there’s even bigger than—”

The puller braked and stopped (with braking sound effects).

“Did I say something wrong?” the vested Earth pony asked.

Tumbleweed rolled by the silence. The puller faced his rider with moderate pistachio eyes with a playful smile that looked enough to make anypony happy.

The rider chuckled. “What’s wrong partner?”

The puller shook and continued running.

“By the way partner,” the rider said, “I think you already know me as Braeburn, right? Remember me? You used to throw a party in Appleloosa. So, watcha gonna do now, huh?”

“…You’ll know when I make you and everypony laugh in my second visit to Ponyville, Braeburn,” the puller finally spoke. “My Cheesy Senses were telling me of another big party there. And it’s an opportunity for me to meet her again.”

“Oh, you have a special somepony to meet in a party, eh?” Braeburn asked.

“She’s sort of a special somepony, but she and I have a lot in common. I wanna settle another score with her, with this super special celebrant, Iwano Imagination. I also heard he’s new, and rumors said he’s ‘dangerous’.” The puller laughed, which was contagious that Braeburn also laughed for no reason. “Let’s have a laugh there, Braeburn!”

“Right you are, partner!” Braeburn agreed. “Okay, I’m gonna have to help AJ with something, and you settle something with you special somepony. We’ll party together with our friends soon, partner.”

“It’s time to return to…Ponyville,” the “partner” whispered to himself, and had a cutie mark of a grilled cheese sandwich shaped like an accordion.

“Yoo-hoo~! Iwano,” Pinkie Pie said as she waved her hoof in front of my petrified face.

I was paralyzed to see her here existing in Equestria. My eyes were wider than before in surprise, confusion and nausea.

“Iwano, do you know her?” Twilight asked with a scowl. “I never knew there’s another Alicorn!”

I nodded slowly, my golden yellow eyes firmly staring and locked with the other Alicorn with her glaring, moderate arctic blue eyes. Her mane was moderate amaranth and her coat was light goldish gray.

“T-t-t-t-this can’t be…” I shakily said and shook slowly in great disbelief. “You’re not supposed to exist in Equestria!”

“Not supposed to exist in Equestria? Same to you,” the Alicorn said. I flinched. I never in my life heard her voice in pony. Heard her voice in some videos and stuff, but hearing her in front of me, here in Equestria, was both scary and frankly fantastic.

“You can talk!”

“I said my first words when I was a filly thousands of years ago before the Crystal Empire was found,” she said as she rolled her eyes.

“You’re old, but you seem to be so…beautiful…!”

She rolled her eyes again and sighed heavily. “I’m immortal, you foal, and of course I wouldn’t change my appearance since I’m a deity.”

“You are a deity, here in Equestria?!”

She sighed, annoyed. “That’s enough of your words, Iwano Imagination—”

“I’m definitely confused,” Twilight said as she broke between me and the Alicorn. I changed my height back.

“I’m more confused than you, Twilight,” I said.

“First, why won’t introduce yourself, second mysterious Alicorn?”

“I am known by some notable nicknames and titles,” the Alicorn said. “But, young princess, call me Regal Rosetta, if you want.”

“I’m not going to question how you knew my title,” Twilight grumbled.

“Her real name is Lauren Faust,” I snapped. “Why are you even here, Lauren?”

The arctic blue-eyes Alicorn scowled, which made me wanted to hurl. I have come here to warn you of your stay here in Equestria, Iwano Imagination. I knew of your name, capabilities, and the evil hidden in you the moment you came to this land three days ago. I have felt it so strong that I was forced to come down of my ancient pedestal not just for this, but to ensure that my land is safe from you. If you wish your friends to be unharmed I advice them to hurry their influences to you, but surely and effectively. I know you have other goals in this world, but you must always remember that Dissonance—”

“Please,” I growled, “don’t say his name!”

“—is still alive,” she continued. “While ‘he’ is absent, you must watch your actions for it would soon hurt the ponies you cared not just physically, but…I guess I don’t need to say that next.”

“Lauren, what are you supposed to warn us about?” Twilight asked. “Do you by any chance know any information about Dissonance? Where did you come from? Does Iwano have any limitations to holding Dissonance in? Why does Iwano’s face looks like he’s afraid of you? You’re omniscient, too? Can you answer my questions, please?”

“If I were you, Twilight Sparkle, I wouldn’t dwell within secrets too deep. It would put you and no doubt your friends in great peril.”

“In other words, you won’t tell.” Twilight sighed disappointingly.

Lauren smiled, which made me wanna go crazy. “You were a very, very bright student of my former student, Twilight Sparkle, but you’re a princess, and a princess must face her own challenges with the experiences she abided, the knowledge she gathered, rely on her intuitions, reflect on the lessons she had learned, and do everything with her friends.”

“Is that all you’re gonna say here?” I asked. I was eager for her to leave right now. I wouldn’t even let her stay for me to get her autograph as one of the most famous ponies in Equestria. Wait a minute, I thought. Twilight is the most studious pony I’ve known. How could she not know who Lauren Faust of Equestria was?

“Uncomfortable now, Iwano, of my presence, I guess.”

I gulped. I realized Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Twilight, Lauren Faust and I weren’t being noticed by anypony while we were talking or noticed another Alicorn.

“Now.” Lauren glanced around. “Before I can leave because of Iwano’s discomfort, you must all urgently know this: Brace yourselves for a party you would all never forget, and all of this will be done by your happiest friend.”

“Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow Dash guessed. “Hey, Pinkie, are you gonna do something…horrible?”

We glanced around, except Lauren, for our pink friend.

“Pinkie Pie left because she saw one of the clones passing by, so she had to give chase to him,” Lauren said.

“Okay…Are you gonna leave now?” I asked again.

Lauren shot me a glare. “Pinkie Pie would become a threat if those two clones continue their mischief dangerously. I sensed her temperament and frustration increasing, about to push her into transforming what might become the most scariest pony Iwano and all of you might witness—and I only sensed it, I don’t know what she’ll might look like.”

“I’ll go help Pinkie Pie and the others now!” Rainbow Dash dashed off for her friends’ aide.

Lauren giggled. “I knew the Element of Loyalty will do her part, but I’m afraid that’s not enough.”

“What else, Lauren?” I urgently asked with my heart pounding anxiously.

“Iwano, do you remember anything when you were in semi-Dissonance state during the Bolt Wing’s second part, and Dissonance summoning a storm during your awarding as first place winner?”

Right now, I wished I was the only Alicorn who was omniscient. “Yeah, I think so, maybe. Why do those events matter?”

“Your lightning zapped Pinkie Pie twice—during the milky typhoon and the awarding—which will cause her to become harmful by the time the moon shows and the lanterns of this town lights up. Her transformation is inevitable.”

“Transform into what?” Twilight asked again. I could see by her face that she was frustrated of one of her questions being unanswered or maybe we were running out of time before Pinkie Pie’s transformation into what.

“My time here to give more information is short, and so is Iwano’s time in controlling his dark element. Mind your deadline, Iwano Imagination.” Lauren’s horn glowed brilliant arctic blue. “Dissonance won’t be contained long, unless your most important goal would be completed, green Alicorn.”

She had teleported and left arctic blue sparkles.

My curiosity made my mind go fuzzy. Lauren Faust the Alicorn here is real? What will Pinkie Pie turn into that might be the scariest? Why am I so curious like Twilight? That’s annoying. I’d encountered many terrifying and grotesque enemies in my adventures, especially the ones in video games—and they all gave me short traumas in the end. So what would Pinkie Pie transform into—?

Suddenly, Twilight held me hard on the ground with the same grim look she gave me in my first day in Equestria.

“Tell me everything you know about Lauren Faust,” she demanded. “She’s quite omniscient as you, and what is your relationship with her, huh?”

“Twilight, there’s no time to be curious!” I said. “We need to get my clones before they increase Pinkie Pie’s frustration for her to transform into something horrible. Besides, they would also destroy the town!”

Twilight winced, and growled, “I wish you never been to the Mirror Pond, and I wish you weren’t right.”

She had let go of me and I stood. “Let’s split up and find them.”

“No, your clones are too fast for us to catch them on time. We need to gather our friends and regroup, and devise a plan to catch your clones in a well-coordinated way. All of just catching them individually will only cause confusion and more damage around us if we don’t work together with a plan as a team.”

“If my clones have the same speed as me, I can catch them myself!” I insisted.

“Now you’re just thinking recklessly, Iwano.”

“But it’s already 12:30 PM, Twilight. We still have plenty of time to split up.”

“No! We need to regroup and plan.”

“I know myself, Twilight. If they’re fast, then so am I!”

“What about the power of their magic? Probably they’re powerful as you, and those two combining their power would overwhelm against you, Iwano! I believe that working together with you as the Elements of Harmony is the only solution to this double trouble!”

“But I’m very worried about this town and Pinkie Pie! I don’t want those imposters to ruin the fun party-slash-festival-slash-fair she arranged for me, and I most certainly don’t want her to transform into something that might be the scariest for all of us! I’ll just do what I must do, Twilight Sparkle! You do what you wished!”

I dashed away from the princess.

“Stop!” Twilight called, but I was now far. She heaved a sigh. “Reckless, he is. I’ll just have to find all my friends myself instead. Now, Rarity is just in the dressing booth, Applejack’s in Sweet Apple Acres selling apple food, Spike is in the dunk-tank booth, Fluttershy is in the mini petting zoo, and Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash are chasing one of the clones. I’ll go for Rarity first. She’s the easiest since she’s nearby.”

Twilight ran to find her fashion friend.

“Lauren Faust…Why do you exist?” I asked myself as I flew and hovered above the crowds of party ponies. “Why does she exist? Why do I keep asking myself that question? She’s only just an OC! Her existence here makes me wanna get zapped by Zekrom!”

Lauren Faust in Reality was the former executive producer of the show. She was greatly admired and respected in the fandom. Lauren had an OC which was the Alicorn (sometimes nicknamed Fausticorn, Writing Glory, Rosetta, etc.) Twilight and I met. In the fandom, her OC was always known as the “goddess and creator of Equestria”, and “former teacher of Princess Celestia”. (Why wasn’t Luna considered a former student of Lauren as well?). Lauren the Alicorn might actually be, to my greatest dismay and greatest discomfort, what the fandom believed her to as she was here.

Besides falling in love with Fluttershy, I also had a crush on both Lauren Faust of Reality and her OC, or technically here in Equestria. I didn’t care if she were even married. But when I discovered she no longer worked for the show, I was dreadfully heartbroken. I was a fresh brony that time when the show was developing its fourth season. That was why Lauren the Alicorn’s existence disturbed me greatly as Dissonance.

Regal Rosetta would’ve helped us in this predicament, but guessed she was probably testing me, or Twilight. After all this, I would drown myself in a sea of queries produced by Celestia’s former student.

If I were myself, where would I be? My clones could be anywhere. My argument with Twilight made me wanted to admit that she was right about them having the same magic power and speed as I was. I didn’t know if either Twilight or I were right at all. Just the thought of my duplicates having the same intellect as I was made me shudder—that maybe they could camouflage or change appearance. Dear Celestia, I hoped that wouldn’t—

“Woah—woah!” I was levitated up into the sky without anypony noticing. Were they too part-drunk to even noticed a somepony floating away into the sky?

I stopped flailing and whimpering when she in front of me said, “Have you forgotten I was even there with your conversation with that Lauren Faust and Twilight Sparkle?”

I blushed in embarrassment. My forgetfulness was that unpredictable. “I’m sorry, Chrysalis,” I apologized. “I guess Lauren was too ‘captivating’.”

Chrysalis was in the air with me, hovering with her buzzing insect wings as I was levitated. “I can help,” she said.

“How?” I asked.

“I have a plan,” she replied with a mischievous smile.

It made me uneasy, but I sensed her plan might actually work.

“A needle in a haystack,” Noteworthy muttered. “We can’t find Morning through this mess?”

“Why would Iwano go away?” Rose asked as she shoved away a drunken Earth pony mare. “It’s not like we did anything wrong to him.”

“Let’s just call him Morning or Morning Leaf, everypony.”

Daisy glanced around walked together with her friends in search for me. “Maybe he went somewhere important with that cloaked pony a while ago. I think it was urgent.”

“I reckon he’s mysterious,” Apple Fritter said. “And secretive, so he doesn’t talk much about his privacy—that’s what I’ve heard from Twilight.”

“Wherever he is, it’s urgent to find him, I guess. Pinkie Pie entrusted us to bring Iwano to town square in time of the celebration this evening. We don’t want to lose him now even if we still have a lot of time. I think it’s a good idea of we just hang out with Morning Leaf.”

“Guys, wait up!” a stallion called as he ran towards the herd with two mares. The stallion had moderate cerulean eyes, grayish tangelo mane, and light amber coat. His cutie marks was three horseshoes. The first mare had moderate pistachio eyes, brilliant gamboge mane, and pale, light grayish olive coat. Her cutie mark was three carrots. And the second mare had moderate cerise eyes and mane, and pale, light grayish mulberry coat. Her cutie mark was a bunch of grapes and a strawberry.

“Next time, stick a note on your head, Caramel,” Rose said to the stallion. “You’re often forgetful.”

Running passed by the Earth ponies was a green Alicorn.

All their eyes widened in surprise. “Was that Iwano?” the mulberry coated mare asked.

“That is Morning Leaf, Berryshine!” Apple Fritter reared and ran, leading the herd in a chase. “Make way, make way!” she shouted. “Important party business comin’ through, so make way!”

“Please, just call me Berry Punch. I like my nick better.”

Everypony in the way heard them and immediately cleared a wide path for the Earth Ponies.

“Why is Morning Leaf even running away anyway?” the mare with brilliant gamboge mane asked. “Is somepony chasing him now, besides us doing so?”

“That’s what we wanna find out, Golden Harvest,” Noteworthy said, “especially who was that cloaked pony that was with him.”

“And just call me Carrot Top, please—?”

“Hold your horses, everypony!” Apple Fritter ordered.

They stopped to see me standing on a buffet table; devouring food like I hadn’t ate since my arrival to Ponyville. Onlookers were gawking and commenting.

“He sure is hungry,” Caramel said. “That reminds me, I forgot to take breakfast today—oh, wait, there’s food everywhere. I forgot!”

Rose rolled her eyes and said to me, “Morning, would kindly please let us talk to you first?”

“Iwano, we’re here to take you to town square,” Daisy said, “in preparations for the main event for this party, as ordered by Pinkie Pie. The preparations will be fun, and tonight it’ll be great!”

I replied by continuously eating.

“His ears must be clogged with frosting,” Berryshine guessed.

Daisy went a little closer, having little splatters of cream on her. “Morning, I never knew you’re that hungry”—Daisy had a big splatter on her neck, so wiped it off—“and sloppy. Is it okay if we wait for you to finish the whole table?”

I shot my head up with my mouth full, and then spat out on my friends. They gasped in disgust and I went back to work.

“What’s wrong with you, Morning Leaf?” Noteworthy demanded.

Rose had some tissue—probably from another table—and helped cleaning Daisy up. “That’s not nice at all, Morning. Is this party getting screwed loose?”

“You gave us all gems and saved the town from mannequins the other day,” Carrot Top said. “Is that really your personality?”

I ran away again.

“Really, again?” Apple Fritter complained.

“Let’s just get him,” a cleaned Daisy grumbled. “Once we catch him, we’ll know why he’s acting that way.”

The ponies ran to chase me again.

“Finally got fifteen bits to buy a present for Iwano,” Spike said as he walked with a pouch of bits he was holding. “A comic book should be a great present or maybe the latest Daring Do graphic novel—is that still considered as a comic? Yeah, still a comic. ‘Graphic novel’ is just a fancy term. Selling those figurines was worth it. I never knew anypony was interested of buying them. Alright, it’s time to find a comic—”

A green streak flew passed Spike in a flash, spinning and tripping the little dragon.

“What? Was that Iwano?” he asked himself. “Why is he—my money!” His claws were empty, and then he gasped. “Iwano must’ve taken them—!” A rainbow streak flew passed him next and sent him rolling and tumbling to another part of the road. When he stood and dusted himself up, I quickly trampled the dragon as I ran by. “Two Iwanos?” When he stood again, the ground rumbled. Too late to realized or even get out of the way, he was trampled by a herd of seven Earth ponies.

Spike was lying on the ground hurt and dirty. He groaned, “Do I have bad luck?”

His question was answered when Derpy fell on him from the sky on her behind. “Hi~!” she greeted the hurt dragon. “Have you seen Iwano?”

“He just passed to that direction, Derpy,” Spike replied groggily.

“Thank you!” Derpy stood up, didn’t realize she was stomping the dragon. The mailpony left.

“What else?” Spike muttered miserably.

In her throne room seated, Celestia’s eyes were austere but behind them was anxiety of waiting someone to enter through her royal doors. Every time she felt nervous of waiting in every minute, she breathed as if she were meditating. The thought of Twilight positively progressing with the green Alicorn was the only thing that calmed her down. Celestia imagined the newcomer enjoying his time with her former student and her companions, imagined strolling in Ponyville with the Elements of Harmony influencing him.

Everything will be tranquil soon for Iwano, Celestia thought. I have faith in Twilight and her friends. They will succeed. Iwano will fully control Dissonance. Equestria and my subjects will be safe.

The bright and hopeful thought faded, when the royal doors were opened by the magic of the Alicorn Celestia waited.

“Good afternoon, Lauren,” Celestia formally greeted with a blank face.

“Same to you, my former student,” Lauren greeted back. “I see there’re no Royal guards in and out of this place. Are they taking a vacation?”

“This is a private meeting we must have. I’ve sent them away from the castle to Canterlot. Now tell me of your reasons of returning.” Celestia’s eyes held their flares.

“It looks like your eager to make me leave. I do have things to say, dear. I’ve met Iwano, and he was also like that. I’ve also noticed that while having a conversation with the Alicorn and Twilight Sparkle, you were nepotistic—disgusting—because I saw the young princess as one of us—”

“Explain your reasons of returning,” Celestia snapped.

Lauren flinched but quickly recovered with a smile. “Impatient now, my dear? Are you still holding that grudge after all these years?”

“Just tell me!”

“…Very well then, Celestia.”

The ethereal-mane Alicorn sighed. “Begin your explanation, Lauren Faust.”

“I advise you to tell this to Twilight Sparkle when we’re done, if you could—”

“Yes, just begin.”

“I’m here not just for an explanation of my return, but about my thoughts on the green Alicorn based on my senses and beliefs of him, and some reports. Iwano Imagination’s presence in Equestria will soon be wide and powerful, all because of Dissonance, and would cause natural disasters and perilous events in the land. But his influences to the Everfree Forest growing new fruits are okay. The longer he stays, the more danger will wave upon Equestria in many unique ways, and also to your subjects as well.”

Celestia rolled her eyes. “Are there anything else, Lauren?”

“Dissonance foretold of his prophecy, which you might ask Twilight about later. While he’s absent, that prophecy will do its work, unfolding Equestria’s greatest perils—various kinds of perils. I’ve returned for that, and only that. Remember: The longer Iwano stays, Equestria would become a fray. Time is at the essence for not just my land , you and the Elements of Harmony, but for Iwano as well. I dislike and distrust him though, not just because of his dark element. He’s absentminded of distorting the lives and friendship of every pony he’ll meet along the way—including you, Luna, and the Elements.”

Celestia sunk every word her former teacher spilled, but seemed she wanted to clean them all dry into lies. She shuddered by the thought of something... “What you’re trying to say is…”

Lauren nodded. “I’ll give you three choices: first, continue influencing Iwano with Harmony; second, force him to return to his so called kingdom Imaginundia, or…I didn’t need to finish that one. You’re smart enough to know that one.”

Celestia winced. “Are you even worth helping us?”

“Why, of course!” Lauren beamed, which made Celestia even more uncomfortable. Why would I stay idly by the sidelines and let Iwano contaminate Equestria? He doesn’t belong in our world, and you know that, Celestia.”

The royal door banged open as an enraged Luna shot inside in flight and landed between Lauren and her sister. “Why is our mother here, sister?” she demanded. “She is unwelcome!”

“Calm down, Luna,” Celestia said. “We’re here to discuss important matters.”

“‘Tis about the green Alicorn?” Luna flew to her sister’s side. “Do continue, mother.”

Lauren nodded, not offended of the rude entrance. “Think about the three choices, Celestia, and discuss them with Luna—none other, because it would only lead to panic. Now, let’s go back to the Alicorn. He and I have equal power. I sensed it, but he won’t be alone.”

“He would gain allies,” Luna guessed. “How can he do that?”

“Ask Twilight Sparkle about a prophecy she and her friends know.” Lauren sighed. “Iwano and Dissonance, I’m afraid, are one. With Iwano’s experiences as ruler, skills in aerodynamics and combat, wide imagination, combined with Dissonance’s dark magic, brutal power and pure darkness.”

“You made it sound like it is impossible to defeat Dissonance with anything,” Luna grumbled.

“I wish a miracle would happen under these circumstances,” Celestia said. “And I am starting to think you’re not helping at all.”

“In other words...the two of you princesses aren’t strong enough to defeat Dissonance,” Lauren taunted. “I guess my creations are weak.”

Luna’s eyes flared. “You call us—?”

“Calm down, Luna,” Celestia firmly said. “Lauren, please don’t do that. You know Luna, after all.”

“Mother’s presence and taunt is getting under my skin, sister!”

“That’s what Dissonance would do to anypony to weaken their focus, Luna,” Lauren said.

“How do you know that? My sister and I have no knowledge of that.”

“It’s very common for villains to do that, but he’s quite ‘different’. While I had my conversation with Iwano and Twilight, Dissonance gave told me that silently, for no reason I think.”

Celestia sighed. “Alright, any more info, reasons or anything, Lauren? Are there any more about Dissonance?”

“Frankly since Iwano and Dissonance are one, I’m not that omniscient of the both of them. They have some sort of ‘arcane field’ all over themselves, considering they are not from here.”

Celestia and Luna exchanged disappointing looks. “Are you also to convince Iwano as our enemy?” Celestia asked.

“Maybe a little,” Lauren admitted. “Besides those three choices, more would pop up depending on what certain ‘game’ Dissonance would play on all of us soon. It’s your decision to decide whether to trust and save Iwano, or to accept him as enemy. If I were the two of you, I wouldn’t befriend that innocent looking green Alicorn. I know you despise him, Luna. I can sense that contempt of your to Iwano.”

“Initially, I did dislike him,” Luna admitted. “Presently, I could not decide whether to accept him as friend or foe.”

“Luna, I’m asking you not to accept him as enemy, but ally,” Celestia begged. “Dissonance is the real foe, and Iwano was seeking help, remember?”

The princess of the night gazed at one of the windows. Luna was deep in thought, thinking of her decision. “Iwano…gave me nightmares before he came here, besides disrupting my dream duties.”

“And what were those nightmares, Luna?” Lauren asked.

Luna shuddered. “‘Tis better I that I would not speak of it, or recall.”

“I’ll let the two of you think. Once you both reached your decisions, talk about it with Twilight Sparkle and her friends to see their decisions, too. But I recommend both of you to hurry before Iwano’s deadline.”

“Are you going to finally leave us, Lauren?” Celestia asked.

“Yes, Celestia. I’ll be exploring my land, but I wouldn’t want to visit the Crystal Empire. It’s going to be cold there soon.”

“What do you mean?” Celestia and Luna asked in unison, their faces tightened.

“I sensed by five days time, the empire will be consumed in a merciless snowstorm—literally merciless.”

“Why didn’t you tell us about that first?” Celestia demanded, beginning to flare. “That sounds serious, Lauren.”

“The two of you should visit Ponyville and have fun for a while,” Lauren said, ignoring Celestia’s question. “The town is having a huge party arranged by the pink pony dedicated to the green Alicorn.”

“Answer my dear sister’s question,” Luna growled.

“And the grand event,” Lauren beamed, ignoring Luna too, “will be mostly covered in shades of red.”

Celestia’s autere eyes towards her former teacher faded into fright. “Luna, immediately hurry to Ponyville and find Iwano!” she urged.

“Why, my sister?” Luna asked.

“Shades of red,” Celestia replied slowly.

Her sister widened her eyes in realization and gasped in shock. “I must not tarry! Onward to Ponyville! Wish me luck, sister!”

Luna stormed out of the throne room, leaving her mother and sister alone.

“You knew that will happen, do you?” Celestia demanded again as she stood from her throne. “Why didn’t you just stay in Ponyville and prevent it from happening?!”

“Is Luna too weak to handle the predicament, or are you? Just pathetic,” Lauren scoffed. “Considering you sent Luna to stop it, and you’re left here with me. Then again, since Luna left to stop it…You’re weak!”

Celestia shot up into the air as she flew, and angrily landed in front of Lauren in a stomp, face to face. “Don’t you dare insult me and my power, Lauren Faust!”

“You were defeated by Queen Chrysalis,” Lauren recalled in a form of mockery. “How embarrassing! Most of all, Twilight saved the day many times with her companions, and you’re just here, seating idly by reading friendship reports. Oh, there are no more reports! Face it, my dear former faithful student: You’ve grown weaker and weaker over the years, and so is Luna!”

The mocked Alicorn’s horn had glowed very light gold in response to her anger increasing. Celestia gritted her teeth, eyes now flaring and wings spanning wide. “At least I am wise enough to know that Twilight and her faithful friends can save Iwano Imagination!”

“The question is: Could you help?” Lauren teasingly asked.

Celestia reared, stomped, and blasted directly at her former teacher.

Ponyville’s citizens were more of a riot than the mannequins I’d stopped.

It was 3:330 PM, and one of my duplicates was able to stir up such a chaotic party. Ponies flipped buffet tables, food fighting, decorating cottages with vandalisms and toilet paper, and the music was too loud for anypony too even cry for help. They’d gotten so drunk of drinking the punch—what was in it?—that they were too numb to feel any pain—I even saw a pony on fire! I’d thought of the Party Ponies back in the Olympians world, and these Equestrians were crazier than them!

Under these conditions, nopony could give order—not even Mayor Mare could control this chaos. But that didn’t stop us—Chrysalis and I, and Mane Six—from giving order to this town, by stopping my clones!

“What do you mean you won’t party?” Rainbow Dash demanded while floating near ground.

“I-I’m sorry, Rainbow,” Fluttershy apologized in fright. “It’s too chaotic!”

“No wonder why you’re such a wimp!”

One of my copies—wearing sunglasses, beach shorts, clown’s nose and the same saddlebag—had paused flying and overheard the two Pegasi. He lowered nearby to listen.

“It’s better for you to just leave, softie!” Rainbow Dash insulted. “‘Look at me, I’m Fluttershy and love critters!’ Ha! Just have a tea party with your ugly friends of the forest and never show yourself again, wimp, especially to Iwano!”

Fluttershy had begun to tear up. “Please stop it!” she sobbed as she shrunk don miserably, her feeling hurt of the bullying.

Fake Iwano, who had the same feelings for Fluttershy as I, snorted like and angry bull as he approached Rainbow Dash. “Hey coach!” he said with a glare. “Shut it, okay?”

“Yeah? I’m your coach,” Rainbow Dash said as she turned to me. “And so I’m ordering you to just back off and—”

Right on top of my coach’s head, fake Iwano slammed his hooves on it, knocking her out unconscious. He nodded in satisfaction. “Are you okay now, Fluttershy?” he asked sweetly.

Fluttershy stood up as she wiped her tears. “Thank you, Iwano.”

The fake on blushed and giggled. “You’re welcome, my sweet—”

Rainbow Dash on her hooves knocked fake Iwano definitely unconscious. “Phew! It’s a good thing I’ve a hard head,” she said. “Can I turn back to normal? I don’t wanna be a tomboy.”

“It’s okay now. My plan was a success,” Fluttershy said.

In a golden glow, Rainbow Dash turned into me—I was disguised as my coach. “I can’t believe your plan worked!”

“You copies are just”—Fluttershy had burst into green flames, transforming into the Changeling queen—“as gullible as you are, Iwano, especially to Fluttershy. You do really love her with all your heart.”

“Ever since the beginning.” I glanced at my copy. “It’s time to get rid of you, you impostor.”

My horn glowed, and I blasted my duplicate into oblivion.

“There’s only one more left, Iwano,” Chrysalis said. “Should we lure it to us, too?”

“Nay”, I replied. “After almost getting a concussion from my copy’s whack, I’d say I’ll leave the last one to Twilight and the others. I think they can do it.”

“How can you be so sure that Twilight and her friends would be successful?”

“The Elements of Harmony’s heroisms are enough to believe they can accomplish. Now, we should repair the damages and—”

I’d gotten hit by a watermelon, which made me stumble to the ground. Okay, that hurts, I thought as I cleaned myself.

“And do our best to control everypony,” Chrysalis finished. “You do that while I fix the damages.”

I nodded, and we zipped to our tasks. Before I was hit on the head as Rainbow Dash, my Aura senses saw that one coming, so I used ‘Iron Head’ to harden my head from concussion. It was a good thing that fake one’s Aura senses were weak.

“I wonder how Twilight and her friends are with their challenge,” I said as I conjured a very long licorice rope.

“I can’t get a clear shot of the fake Iwano if these party goers kept roaming around wildly,” Twilight said. “ Fortunately, that fake one doesn’t teleport.”

The Mane Six, finally regrouped, were on pursuit in a chaotic crowd of ponies. Applejack and Rainbow Dash were doing their best to ward off and shove any unwanted obstacles, but the look on both their exhausted faces seemed they might collapse in the middle of the chase. The two were each on Twilight’s side while Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were behind.

“I can’t believe those fakies ruined almost everything!” Pinkie Pie said whiningly. “I really wanna party, but not destroy Ponyville!”

I can barely see the impostor in this bad shindig,” Applejack said as she shoved another pony with foam on his mouth. “Anything we do, he might just escape scott free!”

“Stop.” Twilight stopped running, and her friends did the same. “Rainbow Dash, think you’re fast enough to chase and knock fake Iwano down without him noticing?”

The Pegasus snorted. “Twilight, you’re best pal is the fastest flier in all of Equestria—of course I can knock him down quick!”

“Then you better do it now, or that copy’s gonna be too far for you to catch.” Twilight made it sound like a challenge.

Rainbow Dash, felt affected that she was slow, left her friends in a dash even faster in rainbow streaks, skillfully dodging and veering through the wild party’s ponies like zigzags.

“And we better follow her quickly,” Twilight said, and they ran.

Though thought safe and had lost his pursuers, fake Iwano slowed down and walked calmly through the party riot, sneering in thought of doing chaos. Using his magic, he froze the ground alongside him, causing passerby ponies that ran towards the icy floor and tumbled each other, which amuses the duplicate. He then passed by a buffet table lined with chocolate fondue fountains. In response to the fake’s horn glowing, they all had burst in eruption.

The fake Iwano had continuously spread chaos in his path.

Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was still dashing through the crowds. “I think I lost him,” she grumbled, slowly saddened. “Even if it’s just a clone, what if I’m not that fast at all? I think Iwano is…there!”

She found the green Alicorn corralling and tying up three unconscious ponies with a dense licorice rope. By the corner of his eye, he saw two ponies walking reluctantly, obviously drunk. The Alicorn conjured another licorice rop and lassoed the two dizzy ponies up.

The Alicorn wiped sweat from his face. “Ah, mother of Celestia, when will Twilight get rid of—”

He was tackled and held down suddenly by Rainbow Dash. “I’m not gonna let you escape, impostor!” she growled.

“Impostor? Wait, coach! It’s me, Green Wing!”

“He didn’t teleport at all, huh?” Twilight and her friends came to the scene. “He must be already tired. Now”—her horn glowed—“goodbye and good riddance.”

The green Alicorn whimpered.

“That’s the real Iwano, Twilight Sparkle,” a voice spoke behind them before the princess could shoot. The green Alicorn sighed in relief.

“How can you tell, Chrysalis?” Rarity asked.

“I promise you ponies that that’s the real Iwano. We’ve been nearby each other—I was repairing damages”—Chrysalis levitated shards of glass around her, mended them whole, and stuck it on a nearby windowless cottage—“while he was lassoing rampaging party goers.”

“You, the Changeling queen, doing something un-evil?” Pinkie Pie questioned. “That’s very weird.”

I sighed heavily. What a silly filly. “You’re weirder by comparison, you annoying pony.”

“That is Iwano!” Twilight beamed—no, she didn’t blast me to nothingness.

“Then where’s the real fake Iwano?” Rainbow Dash asked as she helped stood me up.

Pinkie Pie suddenly vibrated, her whole body shook like an earthquake. “Uh-oh~! That’s a doozy!”

“There’s no time to find somepony who doesn’t believe in your Pinkie Senses,” I said. “We have to find myself right now!”

“No! My Pinkie Senses was telling me somepony special is in town!”

It crossed my mind that surprising thing had happened today. I wondered what was next, hopefully another not another predicament. I also wondered about Pinkie Pie’s frustration level, which I thought was fortunately decreasing. What would Pinkie Pie transform into otherwise?

My Aura senses suddenly kicked in radar on my copy, and Pinkie Pie was right—somepony special was in town. “I know where my duplicate stopped.”

“Let’s not tarry then,” Rarity urged. Why was she still wearing her diadem?

“Chrysalis, I found out where my clone is. I’ll return for you later.”

“No, I’ll just come with you,” Chrysalis said as she used her magic to rebuild a whole cottage brick-by-brick. “It’s now getting boring, Iwano.”

I nodded, and Twilight scowled.

When the Mane Six, Chrysalis and I arrived at another part of town where I sensed my fake, I was yet again surprised with my friends and Chrysalis. Pinkie Pie was even more surprised than us that her jaw had hit the ground hard by the sight of big tank-like cannon behind an Earth pony, as we onlookers had formed a wide circle for this “show”.

My fake copy was spinning in daze as an Earth pony stallion was twirling his lariat with his mouth. (Normally ponies held items with their mouths).

“That’s Braeburn!” Applejack exclaimed. “He must’ve gotten mah letter.”

“You don’t need to say that,” I said. “And what letter? And does that cannon looked familiar?”

“Wait a minute!” Pinkie Pie eccentrically said. “Is he in there?!”

Braeburn tossed his lasso around my copy and pulled the rope tightly, almost suffocating the impostor. The Apple Family sure were a lot of strong Earth ponies, ‘cause Braeburn just lifted my clone off the ground by spinning around while firmly gripping the rope. When he opened his mouth, the rope was released into the air above us. Onlooker—were the supposed to be drunk?—around us were awed, and so was my friends and I.

“Time for the big finale, partner!” Braeburn announced proudly as he bucked the big cannon behind him…and it blasted out a pony with a loud BOOM! that might had rung my ears including everypony else’s. I could’ve sworn I saw that pony wearing a poncho and a hat.

I enhanced my vision at the zooming pony above, and I sharply held my breath and the excitement in my face. The pony had brilliant chartreuse green eyes, dark brown coat, light brilliant gamboge coat, and also wore cheese shoes in his hind legs. He held two cream pies on each of his hooves with his face serious like in that episode he appeared in.

When fake Iwano and the Earth pony stopped in midair, my copy was smacked hard with pie. If I were my clone without the dizziness, I would gulp the pies whole before getting smacked.

And I realized my clone was knocked out, and the party planner was about to fall. Cheese Sandwich just shrugged nervously but remained serious.

“Cheese Sandwich!” Pinkie Pie and I cried out.

My action nerves had kicked in a heartbeat. I tossed Pinkie Pie with my magic and I followed in a super quick flight dash. We were shot into the air to the fake and stallion like spears. The pink pony wasn’t surprised at all getting tossed—I read her mind. The expression on her face was severe as she straightened herself with hooves held out. I was very glad she knew I was thinking, which made me thought she could break more than the fourth wall.

“What the hay are they doing?!” Twilight demanded.

“Oh gosh, I hope they’re okay,” Fluttershy worriedly said. “They might get hurt!”

Let’s leave this to Iwano and Pinkie, darling,” Rarity assured. “Iwano is and Alicorn, and Pinkie Pie is Pinkie Pie, after all.”

“Iwano’s gonna go awesome!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.

Everything was like slow motion, as Pinkie Pie caught Cheese Sandwich. And I passed by my fake, stuck my tongue out in hate, and blasted him into oblivion. Moreover, green fireworks exploded in the afternoon sky.

“That’s indeed a big finale,” Braeburn said as he gazed at the sky in marvel. Everypony in the area stopped partying to see the display, all awed.

I gasped. "Cheese Sandwich and Pinkie Pie!” I made a quick u-turn around to save the party planners, but I stopped to see the pink pony saved themselves instead. Ponies around stomped their hooves in applause as the two party planners were cushioned on a bed of pink cotton candy, safe and sound.

I sighed in relief, and asked myself, “How did that cotton candy suddenly appear?”

The Mane Six and Chrysalis ran to the two party ponies as I landed. With Braeburn, we assisted the two in removing themselves from the sweet sticky pillow, though Pinkie Pie insisted of finishing gobbling the whole thing instead. I rolled my eyes.

I turned my attention to the party stallion with twinkling eyes like that of a fanatic. “Wow…Cheese Sandwich, the famous premiere party planner in all of Equestria, is here in Ponyville in my party!”

The part planner cleared his throat. “That’s right, special one,” he said in his calm and serious demeanor, which to me was very cool and awesome.

“You came here because your Cheesy Senses told you about a big party happening here, right?”

He knitted his brows. “I’m known throughout Equestria for my famous parties, but I never told anypony but Pinkie Pie and her friends about my Cheesy Senses. So, how did you—?”

“You can say I literally know almost everything in Equestria, Cheese Sandwich,” I snapped.

“And you can say this town-sized part is ruined by your copies.” We glanced at our surroundings, seeing that the onlookers lost interest that they all left and continued their chaotic partying.

“How do you know the one you pie-d was fake?”

“Your Changeling friend told me while she was fixing damaged property. She told me to knock it out, so Braeburn and I made a little performance.”

“I never knew you can fight,” Rainbow Dash said.

Cheese Sandwich adjusted his hat. “I’ve picked up some skills while partying all over the land, little filly. Now, we need to clean this town up—”

“On it!” I shot up into the sky.

I hovered in midair. Overlooking Ponyville from above reminded me of my clean-up after the mannequin riot. Now I was about to do it again for a party. I closed my eyes, my horn glowed as it quickly accumulated magic, I pictured in my mind that everypony were now sane and orderly and damages were completely repaired, and everypony healed if anypony were injured.

The moment I opened my eyes, showing them glowing golden, I caused I golden shockwave that affected everything of what I’d imagined.

Everything was repaired.

As I landed, my friends and Cheese Sandwich clapped their hooves, of course except Twilight.

“Huh, you’re one of a kind, Iwano Imagination,” Cheese Sandwich complimented, still in his serious demeanor. “No wonder I had a big doozy when a big party was thrown here just for you.”

“I’m a special one, like you said,” I said. I couldn’t help it, but I squealed in excitement of two party planners both here. “Now, I was thinking of a re-party being thrown by two of the most epic party planners in Equestria. What do you say, party ponies?”

“Oh, we don’t think so…” Pinkie Pie said sternly. I whimpered.

Suddenly, Cheese Sandwich denuded himself of his poncho and hat away like he did in Pinkie Pride, revealing himself in cheese shoes and yellow colored shirt with his signature grin, as he stood on his hind legs.

“We know so!” he exclaimed blithely.

Pinkie Pie hopped happily. “I’m so excited for this re-party~!”

I realized something. “Stop, pink pony.”

Pinkie Pie paused in midair. I pulled her down. “What is it?” she happily asked.

“This didn’t glow.” I pointed at the brilliant pink saddlebag Pinkie Pie wore, decoratively embroidered with her cutie mark and streamers. “And that was where you obviously brought out the cotton candy bed, correct?”

“Yeah, I really needed to act and I never knew it appeared with me, so I pulled out something out of it that came first to my mind.”

“Cotton candy, really?”

“Yeah~!”

I teleported her new saddlebag to me unto mine—double bag, much? “I’ll examine what it does whil my party will be re-thrown together.”

Alright, everypony, let’s throw ourselves a wonderful scene for the pony in green!” Cheese Sandwich announced. “But I want Iwano to not see the preparations first. You know, surprise?”

“Iwano, you can stay in my boutique,” Rarity said, “while we arrange this celebration for you, darling.”

I nodded and flew away.

“Let’s go and get this town party-fied!” Pinkie Pie cheered.

“You betcha, girl,” the premier party planner agreed. “Everypony, do your planning the best you can—and awaaaay we go~!”

The two party planners comically dashed off.

“Since yer here, Braeburn,” Applejack said, “you can help Big Mac, Apple Bloom, Granny Smith and me preparing some extra apple cider and buffet with Pinkie.”

“Then I’ll be on my way to Sweet Apple Acres, cuz,” Braeburn said. “I can’t wait for the real party! Hoo-wee~!”

Spike the dragon tiredly walked toward the Mane Six ad me, all dirty and a little bruised.

“Spike, what happened to you?” Twilight asked.

“Don’t wanna talk about it,” the dragon grumblingly replied as he crossed his arms.

“Alright, girls,” Applejack said. “Let’s all lend our hooves to Cheese and Pinkie!” Her friends cheered, except Spike and Twilight. When Applejack turned to Twilight to speak to her, she stopped seeing her friend deep in thought again and instead asked, “Are you ‘kay there, sugar cube?”

“A diadem, a pair of metallic-winged blades, and now a pink saddlebag,” Twilight enumerated. “What’s next? Iwano is an even bigger mystery than the chest from the Tree of Harmony.” She shook. “Let’s just focus on the party, girls.”

The all exclaimed in unison, “Party for Iwano!”

“Spike, I need your assistance, if you don’t mind,” Rarity said.

The dragon managed a smile and said, “Why not? I’ll help you out anytime, Rarity.”

Twilight’s friends bailed to do a certain task, but she only stood there.

“Iwano,” she slowly said. “Could you please tell me of who you are? I really want to believe you’re good, but you won’t hurt anypony would you? I wish you’d just tell me of your identity soon. It would really help.”

Walking back against her unknown enemy, Luna couldn’t escape a shadowy Unicorn with her exact same height and glowing bloodshot red eyes, blocking her path to Ponyville.

The princess swiftly flew passed the Alicorn, but was pulled back by a black chain issued from the enemy’s horn, just like her other few attempts. Luna shook frustratingly. Her horn glowed obviously for her to use magic again, but was negated when the shadow opponent had glow its horn deep crimson color. She then resorted to charging the blocker, but whenever she reached half a foot from it she was repelled by an invisible barrier. The princess went aback, exhausted but unharmed.

“Who are you?” Luna demanded. “Thy purpose is to only and only be my obstacle? Answer me!”

The Unicorn grinned, baring its fangs that were sharp enough to tear Luna’s skin like paper. It sprouted and spanned dragon wings wider than Celestia’s Pegasus-like ones.

“Dissonance,” Luna whispered contemptuously. “Iwano—Dissonance? Is Iwano within you?”

Luna was replied by a gust produced by Dissonance’s strong flaps. She stood her ground, firmly pressing her hooves into the earth. Attempted to use her magic again, she was able to conjure a barrier for protection.

“Is that all you can do, demon?!” Luna taunted. “I had faced stronger gales than that.”

Dissonance’s horn glowed again and had spread his wings even brighter. It was impossible that by one blink, Luna was suddenly floating in a pure dark void.

The princess tossed her head around in bewilderment. “Dissonance, where have you taken me? Come forth and face me in this ‘illusion’ you conjured upon me!”

Silence only answered.

“My formidable adversary must have trapped me here to prevent any interruption for bloodshed to fall in Ponyville,” Luna deduced. She breathed and relaxed her temper, and then closed her eyes in thought.

Suddenly, she heard her voice…Her filly voice. Luna slowly turned behind…and saw herself as a little filly with her mother.

I do not like this at all, teacher! filly Luna cried out. How long can we stay here? I favor the darkness of the night greater than this void!

“This…was my training…with mother…” Luna faltered. She couldn’t finish it, for she was stunned of this nostalgia. The princess just watched and listened to this conversation of the past.

My dear Luna, Lauren said, still a little star about to be ready to burst into serene moonlight that will shine even in the most darkest voids…like this one~!

Heretofore, thou still give me frightening challenges.

Luna, I am here. You are not alone. Being both teacher and mother is no mere challenge to me, because I am here to guide and teach you, which delighted me tenfold.

Filly Luna held back a sob. Truthful?

Lauren nodded. I am training you and Celestia to become excellent leaders someday. That is why I am guiding the both of you.

Does that mean you will leave us someday, mother?

No, I will not. Lauren smiled solemnly as Celestia’s. “You both will rule by my side with great omnipotence and wisdom. I know you are having difficulties under my tutelage like Celestia, but I am doing this—

Because you have every right as supreme ruler, filly Luna guessed.

Lauren’s solemn smile brightened sweetly. It is because I both love you and Celestia…as my precious daughters. As a teacher, it is my duty to teach and guide; as a mother, it is my duty to love and care, teaching my daughters how to protect and lead. I wouldn’t even leave you in this void at all, Luna, for I am mother. I wouldn’t even leave the both of you without knowledge. Do you understand the importance of this—?

The Alicorn teacher was hugged by her filly. Promise to both Celestia and I you would never abandon us, mother.

Lauren snuggled her mother lovingly. I promise.

Filly Luna’s horn glowed, and the whole void was filled with serene moonlight, which also happened right now with mare Luna.

Suddenly, she was back. The shadowy Dissonance was gone. She sighed, and realized as she touched her cheek, it was wet with tears.

Luna wiped her tears and focused. “That…was cruel of you, Dissonance. Now, I must go onward to Ponyville!”

The princess of the night flew.

The preparations were done by five in the afternoon when I took a peek at the window. Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich looked like they partied while arranging the party. Nostalgia waved over me of my party in IW, being thrown by Cynthia when I came back from the Grand Chase world.

In the Carousel Boutique, I was just there sitting on the floor writing letters and reading a book while waiting for my signal to party out. Glancing at the window, I could tell they were partying already, but in a non-chaotic way. It was just the way I liked it, like in the episode Pinkie Pride. I also liked to just stay indoors with nothing but a book, quill of unlimited ink, blank scrolls, my saddlebag, silence, and Pinkie Pie’s new saddlebag. But I would have to get out eventually.

After I wrote on my letters, I would examine the pink saddlebag. It first appeared out of thin air on the pink pony’s back when she and Cheese Sandwich were about to fall.

I’d think about that saddlebag later, right now I was writing my first letter to Cynthia—

Dear Cynthia,

It’s now day four for me in Equestria. I’ve been influenced by Rarity (Generosity) and Rainbow Dash (Loyalty). I’m actually unsatisfied of my Generosity, like it isn’t enough, and Loyalty was pretty fair considering Gilda the Griffon almost tempted me to join her (long story). Having two Elements of Harmony within is good—technically, maybe still one.

The bad news is kinda rough. Dissonance is spreading evil influences, causing unexpected mishaps to happen. Want an accurate number of predicaments that happened to me plus troubles/perils that were caused by him? There were seven. I felt that the longer I stay, the worse my dark element would throw.

My quest is still on, but I kept in mind of the deadline. Honestly, I wanted to forget about that, but my memory just stuck it into my brain. I wanna have fun in Equestria especially with every known characters here (including the bad ones), but you and I know we have no time for that. This quest might be my most troubling yet.

And don’t worry about me falling in love all over again. I’ll just stick only to Fluttershy as the apple of my eye, and I haven’t confessed to her yet.

How are the Mane Six, you might ask? They’re fine, except Twilight is out for my identity, though I accepted her as a friend. I’m also somewhat gathering new allies, which were all identified by my pangs (my head was beginning to crack, but not really). My time here gotten me to know ponies better and meet unexpected visitors, like Cheese Sandwich and Queen Chrysalis. The most unexpected of them all is Lauren Faust (don’t ask).

I think that’s all for now. Reply to me any important reports especially ones relevant to Imaginundia’s conditions under its status undergoing the Elementals’ attacks, Cynthia. I will return successfully, my faithful assistant.

Sincerely you Leader,

Iwano Imagination

PS: Refill the food supply in the Safari Area and pay my bill to Mr. Ping for me.

Yeah, I was unsatisfied of my Generosity, like I wanted something eventful to happen about it, not like I’d expected it. And yeah, I wanted to forget about my deadline and enjoy Equestria. At least this was an adventure.

I hadn’t sent a letter since the Bolt Wing. Cynthia was probably worried about me, albeit I had skill to get out of tight situations, maybe. Cynthia was my assistant and she had the right to be worried, considering she was my ex-girlfriend. She was also very caring, and very motherly to Lentae. I remembered I had amnesia when my entrancing to the Mystery Dungeon world was damaged. Cynthia was engrossed in her search for me and she did it alone, and too her two weeks and four days to regain my memory. Cynthia was one of the most loyal, powerful, smartest and obedient assistant in IW.

I rolled my letter, levitated and burned it with my fire breathing for it to be sent. The green ashes flew out of a window I quickly opened and gotten hit by a pink water balloon. I scowled as I closed the window and went back to writing a letter. Now, for Celestia—

Dear Celestia,

I hate Rainbow Dash even before I met her.

During the Bolt Wing, I obliged myself to follow her orders in training. She was quite the coach, I tell ya. I don’t like her personality at all. I even wanted to change my coach with a new one.

Temptation was upon me when Gilda the Griffon offered me an alliance with her against Rainbow Dash. I actually wanted to join her, beating my coach into a pulp and rip her wings off.

But there was one thing that made me wanna stay with my coach: “You’re under my wing,” Rainbow Dash said.

I learned that though I despised that certain somepony all because of her or his personality, especially when it comes to Rainbow Dash’s, I should look deeper within to see the better light. I also learned that loyalty must not be based on our reasons, but based on our good hearts and friendship.

This letter is both my first friendship report, and an urgent message.

First news is about a poem. Dissonance had foretold of a prophecy—six stanzas with four lines, each having some sort of unforeseen event. I wait for them to happen…Just ask Twilight about it, I guess.

Second news was brought to me by another Alicorn name Lauren Faust (not from my kingdom). She told me that Pinkie Pie would transform into something terrible that would happen when “the moon rises and lanterns lit up”.

This might be all the work of Dissonance in the first place.

Be careful, my dear princess. These perils might be unlike you’d ever faced. We will all do our parts. A party is happening Ponyville dedicated to me, so I’m inviting you.

Sincerely yours,

Iwano Imagination

I did the same—roll, levitated, burn. I’d to send friendship reports if anything valuable happened.

I deposited my writing materials in my saddlebag, and began examining Pinkie Pie’s. I was pretty sure it had some special properties or something.

“What makes this tick?” I asked myself. When I opened it, there was nothing. I was skeptical in nothingness, after experiencing them often. In my adventures, anything was nothing had something all the time. “Okay, Pinkie Pie popped up a cotton candy from this, so how?”

Yeah~! I really needed to act and I never knew it appeared with me, so I pulled something out of it that came first to my mind, Pinkie Pie said.

“Came first to my mind,” I musingly repeated that line.

I thought of a yellow balloon, dipped my hoof into the saddlebag, and felt rubber. I removed my hoof and a balloon came out floating, except it was pink. “Why pink?”

This saddlebag might function like mine, but something was different. The thing I thought next was a hammer. I used my magic to get it, but nothing. Next, I thought of a noisemaker, and I picked a pink one out. Fourth, I thought of a ball, and I picked a pink one out. Fifth was a brick, but nothing.

A few minutes later by 5:45 PM, I had a pile of mostly pink, party-related stuff—noisemakers, confetti, banners, streamers, cans of paint, paintbrushes, party hats, a pin-the-tail-on-the-pony set, and pastries.

“I concluded,” I announced, “that this saddlebag can only grant mostly pink, party stuff.”

I levitated the party stuff back—and the bag could actually carry them all? This would be the saddlebag of a fourth-wall breaker. Mine could do the same, but still felt something different about this one.

In Pinkie Pride, Pinkie Pie actually had a saddlebag that could carry paint without the can and others, but still, this one felt unique.

Did Rarity’s Tredaspo Diadem and Rainbow Dash’s Loyal Chromes both have any special abilities or anything? I had to examine them soon.

Now, there was nothing left but thought of everything that had happened. I thought of Lauren Faust appearing right before Twilight and I. The librarian was unknown of Lauren’s status and power that it would get her even more curious. Did twilight know that curiosity could kill the cat? Or pony, technically. I was also beginning to be curious like Twilight Sparkle. Everything about Lauren, Nyx and more would be very good side quests if it weren’t for my Dissonance problem. I sighed. At least it was an adventure, after all, made by Dissonance.

Oneness and peace might be the only things I wanted today in my celebration, right now.

“Peace and quiet,” I softly said. “There’ll be nothing to shatter this silence—”

All the windows and the door flew open suddenly as ponies popped in and screamed, “SURPRISE!!!”

In startle, I also screamed as I shot up and tumbled. My heart pounded so fast I could barely breathe, and my eyes were widened as if they were to pop.

Pinkie Pie—why wasn’t I surprised to see her?—popped right in front of my face and greeted, “Hello, Iwano~! Are you ready for your party bash?!”

Before I could answer, I was stood up by an eccentric Cheese Sandwcih as he said, “Because we go jolly-molly entertainment for you!”

I nervously smiled. Oh Glob, this might be bad for me. I decided to admit that I didn’t want any noisy and disorienting parties for me. I’d rather stay here alone and silent as I read a write. But I was curious of wht kind of entertainment they’d offer.

“Um, what kind of entertainment?” I ventured.

The party planners answered in unison, “A goof off!”

My eyes twitched and my stomach cringed. My mouth tightened. “Explain why a goof off, please.”

“Well, it was my idea,” Cheese Sandwich said. I personally wanted to choke him. “I came to Ponyville not just because I sensed a party planned and that you’re big, I also came here to have a little ‘rematch’ with Pinkie here,” he put his hoof around Pinkie, which made her blush, “since she just forfeited in the last one, and I wanna have fun!”

“Since this party’s all just for you and we want to enjoy, Pinkie Pie said, “we chose you as judge to judge. Plus, everypony will have fun! It’s brilliant!”

I wanted to say no, and that their idea was terrible, instead I said, “But I might end up like what happened to Rainbow Dash you’d—”

“Nonsense, Iwano!” Cheese Sandwich eccentrically beamed. “You’re gonna have the party of your life! I promise that you’ll be a-okay! I’ve heard you’re from another kingdom, so let us be hospitable to the special one, you!”

I certainly didn’t want to say no because everypony would think I was a killjoy. And Cheese Sandwich and Pinkie Pie rearranged the party all for me. Why would I turn this down besides wanting to have peacefulness? I felt ashamed.

I sighed. “Fine, but I want to be alone for a while, maybe give me ten to fifteen minutes. Please.”

“Great!” Pinkie Pie agreed…with her eyes glinting. Huh? “You can just save up energy first! We’ll be waiting~!”

Everypony instantly left and closed everything.

I slumped on the floor, wishing this party hadn’t happened in the first place. Cheese Sandwich was cool and all, but I didn’t want double the annoyance.

“Which is better?” I asked myself. “Some tranquil silence or party of happiness?”

I remembered how Geronimo Stilton tried everything to escape his Cousin Trap’s party, but failed in every way. Just like him, I wanted a quiet time all to myself, reading and thinking. Whenever I attended a party in Imaginundia, I was just there for a short time to sing for the crowd.

I recounted the parties in which I really partied like an animal, and they were fun even if a peril popped up.

One crucial thing that was inevitable was to be influenced by Harmony—I realized I was avoiding Laughter, and that element was a conflict to me.

I scowled. I was again ashamed.

I grunted. “Alright, Iwano Imagination. If you hate something, ram it! If it’s acidic, dive deeper! If it’s imperative, take it! If you hate Dissonance, then you must not hate this party for this time only.”

With my face like a soldier, I marched to the door. Before I could turn the knob with my magic, I was smacked aside by the door.

“Iwano, are you ready to be judge-y?” Pinkie Pie said as she stuck her head in. “Where are you?”

“I’m here,” I murmured.

“Good.” Pinkie Pie pulled me out of the boutique and had shut the door. “Are you ready?”

I wish I wasn’t, I thought. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

“Let the goof off take place—in town’s square!”

I loved rearrangements, but not a goof off.

Pinkie Pie left me because she was excited for me to come, so I just wanted to catch up. The whole town was clean and party decors were okay. Instead of banners mostly hung everywhere, there were a few colorful flags bearing my cutie mark. Balloons were floating and hung almost everywhere of all shaped, colors, and sizes. Cottages were decorated with steamers and a whole variety of stickers. Buffet tables were properly lined with pastries, even some that were made with Pecha. Everypony were just chatting along, un-drunk.

As I walked closer to the center of town, I saw some “party-ier” stuff passing by.Floating above passed me was a blimp of me with wall-eyes (I was going to complain about that soon, maybe). I saw Cheese Sandwich’s party cannon loaded, and then blasted a pony out in a streak of grey. Passing by was a giant cheese wheel filled with screaming and squealing ponies, probably colts and fillies.

I heard grunting and panting by my right the moment I arrived at the square. I saw an Earth pony stallion pushing a giant punch bowl that barely moved. The pony had moderate cornflower blue eyes, dark grayish tangelo mane, and light amberish gray. He wore a brown saddlebag, a green bowtie, and glasses, and had freckles on his face, a pencil on his ear, braces on his teeth, and a pair of star-shaped glasses, obviously for this occasion—his appearance in general was nerdy. His cutie mark was a robot. And I had another pang.

“Are you Gizmo Poindexter?” I asked as I approached him. “You’re an old friend of Shining Armor’s, right?”

Gizom Poindexter reluctantly adjusted his glasses and stopped pushing the punch bowl.

“Wow, you know me and my old friends?” he asked in marvel. “Wait! You’re Iwano Imagination, the new pony in town!”

“You can say that. Gizmo—”

“It’s a great pleasure to meet you!” Gizmo shook my hooves frantically like a fanatic. “You’re the hero to this town from mannequins and duplicates!”

I was again flattered. “How do you know about my duplicates?”

Gizmo stopped shaking. “Pinkie Pie told everypony about it. Your duplicates were actually pretty awesome party goers, but wow, they made a big mess.”

“They really did,” I agreed. “Anyways, why are you pushing this heavy thing?”

“Pinkie Pie told me to push it near town hall and ask help if necessary. I tried asking, but everypony seem engrossed in finishing preparations and decors.”

“I’ll lend you a hoof then.”

“Really? Wow, you’re also helpful.”

“I’m more than helpful, my friend.” I smiled. “I’m awesome.”

“More awesome than Rainbow Dash?”

I snorted. “Yeah, more awesome than Rainbow Dash.”

We both leaned on the bowl and pushed. The bowl was moving by our force together, but I wasn’t using any power or magic, just my normal strength which was average.

“Morning Leaf!” Noteworthy called as he approached me with Rose, Daisy, Caramel, Golden Harvest (aka Carrot Top), Apple Fritter, Berry Punch, Braeburn, and an Earth pony mare with a camera dangling on her neck.

The new one had aqua eyes, orange mane, and light yellow coat. She wore a barrette, and had a cutie mark of a piece of film.

I thought I knew her, and I endured another pang.

“Ayo, Noteworthy and fellow herd,” I greeted as I was still pushing while Gizmo stopped. “Who’s the photographer?”

“My name’s Film Reel,” the photographer introduced herself. “I’m friends with Noteworthy and Caramel. I’m hoping to get a few shots of you for my news article on the new pony in town and his party. Would you like some shots?”

“Thanks, but maybe later, really.”

Film Reel reminded me of Lentae. My sister was also a photographer and an annoying photogenic at times. This photographer pony made me miss my sister which made me stop pushing and sighed and smiled, which made Daisy grin. What?

“We knew the whole story,” Rose said, “about your clone problem hours ago. Rough, isn’t it?”

“Are you kidding me? It’s like my other challenges in the past. It was no problem, really.”

Why won’t you use your magic?” Carrot Top asked. “You’re an Alicorn, so maybe you can lift that bowl easily.”

“I don’t wanna, ‘cause I wanna know how it feels to be an Earth pony like the rest of you—just to be fair. My wings and horn aren’t making me feel like it at all, so why not do magic at all?”

“Partner, being an Earth is all about strength, stamina and integrity,” Braeburn said, though I thought what he said was senseless. “Since we can’t fly and do magic, we rely on our determination to hard work.”

“Let’s all just lend a hoof around the square now,” Daisy cheerfully said. “Remember guys, Pinkie told us to move up more tables to the square from town hall, and set more ‘attractions’.”

“Where are these attractions you spoke of?” Gizmo asked.

“They’re right over there,” Berry Punch answered as she pointed at our left. Crates of different sizes were stacked to each other. Whatever was inside them, they were apparently heavy. How in Equestria did Cheese Sandwich afforded all these stuff—that I was curious of. “They look pretty heavy, but we can do it, right?”

“The let’s get our hooves workin’!” Apple Fritter exclaimed as she set her hind legs on the punch bowl, followed by Gizmo and I as we began to push. The bowl moved quickly now. Heh, Apple Family sure was a strong bunch. “Does this thang go to town hall?”

“Eeyup,” I replied in Big Macintosh’s tone.

“You sound like mah cuzzin,” Apple Fritter giggled.

Braeburn nodded at us pushers and turned to the rest of the Earth ponies. “You heard my cousin. Cheese and Pinkie ordered us to set up the fun stuff. So everypony, grab or lift a crate and get it done fast!”

Everypony started running and picking crates. Noteworthy and Caramel pushed a long rectangular crate and set it.

“I wonder what’s inside,” Noteworthy said.

“Let’s just open it so we could party soon,” Caramel grumbled.

On both sides, they used their hooves to whack and unhinge the crate. The thing inside revealed to be—

“A catapult.” Caramel arched his brows.

Noteworthy cringed. “I’m no good in setting catapults.”

Caramel smirked at his friend. “Is that so?”

Meanwhile, Berry Punch and Carrot Top opened a crate, and revealed to be a flattened bouncy house.

“How can we pump air in this?” Berry Punch asked. “There’s no air pumper with this thing?”

“Hi, girls~!” Pinkie Pie greeted as she hopped to the mares. “How’s working progress?”

“Oh, hi, Pinkie,” Carrot Top greeted. “We don’t have an—”

“Air pumper?” Pinkie Pie beamed. “Why didn’t you say so? I can help!” The pink pony grinned.

Carrot Top and Berry Punch asked in unison, “How?”

The pink pony giggled. “I’ll just blow, silly!”

She had spread the bounce house and exposed the hole in which air gets in. Pinkie Pie comically inhaled with a big mouth and widened eyes, expanding herself exponentially into a giant pink ball of air. Berry Punch and Carrot Top just stood there surprised, though Ponyville’s citizens obviously seen her did those all the time.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” I said. “How can Pinkie Pie expand into a giant ball of oxygen?”

Apple Fritter, Gizmo and I finally stopped near the town hall. Well, that push made my hooves and back a bit jelly. The fine expression on Apple Fritter’s face told me that she was at ease. When our eyes met, she quickly turned away. Was it my sweaty face? Gizmo on the other hand was panting and three times tired than me. My breathing was difficult for I had asthma, but I didn’t let it show and forcefully relaxed myself.

“I wouldn’t”—Gizmo wheezed hoarsely—“curious if I were you on Pinkie. Nopony could ever solve the mystery behind that party planner’s illogicality, not even Twilight Sparkle could or I. The last time I attempted observations on her, I ended up having a week long migraine.”

I nodded in understanding. “I’m just…very annoyed of her.”

“Why should ya be annoyed of Pinkie?” Apple Fritter joined in. “She’s Ponyville’s greatest party planner! Well, in town, that is. But she’s really fun, ya know? It’s like you two are completely opposite, Morning—I think you’re serious while she’s the opposite of it. You two would be a great—”

I stuck an apple on her mouth. “Please, let’s just rest for a moment, Apple Fritter.”

I stared at Pinkie Pie as I sat down. My Aura suddenly gave my spine cold tingling…Something wasn’t right about her. I had experiences like these whereas something innocent would burst into peril. Would Pinkie Pie transform like what Lauren said?

My thought immediately faded when Pinkie Pie caught my stare and instantly appeared in front of me in a flash. I flinched and yelped. According to my Aura, we were sixteen feet away from each other and it only took her exactly two seconds for her to come to me.

“Are you ready to judge the good off?” Pinkie Pie asked as she leaned closer to me, eye to eye. I blushed—why was I blushing? “I made a Pinkie Party Promise to entertain and make you happy that would last forever~! And only I will do that to you~!”

I highly doubted that. “Uh…sure, Pinkie Pie, we’ll just finish things up here.”

“Are you sure it’s necessary to test this thing by launching a live pony into the air, Caramel?” Noteworthy asked in uneasiness.

“Sure I’m sure,” Caramel said. “Hey, remember you never returned my jewel combs last month?”

“This for that? I already told you I was sorry and I made it up by arranging a date with you and Rose.”

“But it was a bust, remember?”

Noteworthy gulped. He was on the catapult’s launcher, shivering in fright. “I’m surprised you still remember that, Caramel, and we all thought you’re forgetful. Maybe w-we should use something non-pony, like—”

“Better up!” Caramel pulled the lever, triggering the catapult to launch. Noteworthy was hurtled into the air flailing.

“Hmm, I wonder where Noteworthy would crash on.”

“Smile~!” Film Reel said as she shot a photo of Apple Fritter, Gizmo and I. I could hear Noteworthy screaming through the air, and I was the only one who heard him?

Daisy, Rose, Noteworthy, Caramel, Berry Punch, Carrot Top, Braeburn, Apple Fritter, Gizmo Poindexter, and Film Reel…They were my set of Earth pony friends. I’d call them my “Party Ripple” friends.

What purpose would my Bolt Wing and Party Ripple friends serve in the future for me? What’s next, Unicorns?

Pinkie Pie left me, which was relieving, and went to the others to check on their preparations, enough by an earshot for me to complain to myself.

Daisy and Rose were both lifting a table to a certain spot of the square, sweating that they already brought only six out.

“Hey, girls~!” Pinkie Pie greeted.

“Hey, Pinkie,” Rose greeted back as she and her friend settled the table.

“Pinkie Pie, I overheard from you from Iwano over there about a Pinkie Party Promise,” Daisy said. “Are you sure you can fulfill that? I mean, remember the last time you broke yours?”

“Don’t be so silly, Daisy~! Of course I’m gonna fill-fill it eventually. The goof off is meant to make Iwano happy and none other more—just the way me and Cheese likes it! But still…” Pinkie Pie’s expression softened.

“A-are you okay, Pinkie?” Daisy asked.

“I want to be the only one to make Iwano happy—and not Cheese, to be honest.” The party pony left the two mares without leaving remarks of their work. “Because I care for his sadness, and he should really, really have a great time…with me…I can really see…” she glanced at me talking to Apple Fritter and Gizmo, “that sadness in him, hugging his heart from his smile. It makes me wanna…care him more than anything…”

I loved rearrangements, but not a goof off.

“Are you Gizmo Poindexter?” I asked as I approached him. “You’re an old friend of Shining Armor’s, right?”

Gizmo Poindexter reluctantly adjusted his glasses and stopped pushing the punch bowl.

“Wow, you know me and my old friends?” he asked in marvel. “Wait! You’re Iwano Imagination, the new pony in town!”

“You can say that. Gizmo—”

“It’s a great pleasure to meet you!” Gizmo shook my hooves frantically like a fanatic. “You’re the hero to this town from mannequins and duplicates!”

I was again flattered. “How do you know about my duplicates?”

Gizmo stopped shaking. “Pinkie Pie told everypony about it. Your duplicates were actually pretty awesome party goers, but wow, they made a big mess.”

“They really did,” I agreed. “Anyways, why are you pushing this heavy thing?”

“Pinkie Pie told me to push it near town hall and ask help if necessary. I tried asking, but everypony seem engrossed in finishing preparations and decors.”

“I’ll lend you a hoof then.”

“Really? Wow, you’re also helpful.”

“I’m more than helpful, my friend.” I smiled. “I’m awesome.”

“More awesome than Rainbow Dash?”

I snorted. “Yeah, more awesome than Rainbow Dash.”

We both leaned on the bowl and pushed. The bowl was moving by our force together, but I wasn’t using any power or magic, just my normal strength which was average.

The new one had aqua eyes, orange mane, and light yellow coat. She wore a barrette, and had a cutie mark of a piece of film.

I thought I knew her, and I endured another pang.

“Ayo, Noteworthy and fellow herd,” I greeted as I was still pushing while Gizmo stopped. “Who’s the photographer?”

“Thanks, but maybe later, really.”

“We knew the whole story,” Rose said, “about your clone problem hours ago. Rough, isn’t it?”

“Are you kidding me? It’s like my other challenges in the past. It was no problem, really.”

Why won’t you use your magic?” Carrot Top asked. “You’re an Alicorn, so maybe you can lift that bowl easily.”

“Where are these attractions you spoke of?” Gizmo asked.

“Eeyup,” I replied in Big Macintosh’s tone.

“You sound like mah cuzzin,” Apple Fritter giggled.

Everypony started running and picking crates. Noteworthy and Caramel pushed a long rectangular crate and set it.

“I wonder what’s inside,” Noteworthy said.

“Let’s just open it so we could party soon,” Caramel grumbled.

On both sides, they used their hooves to whack and unhinge the crate. The thing inside revealed to be—

“A catapult.” Caramel arched his brows.

Noteworthy cringed. “I’m no good in setting catapults.”

Caramel smirked at his friend. “Is that so?”

Meanwhile, Berry Punch and Carrot Top opened a crate, and revealed to be a flattened bouncy house.

“How can we pump air in this?” Berry Punch asked. “There’s no air pumper with this thing?”

“Hi, girls~!” Pinkie Pie greeted as she hopped to the mares. “How’s working progress?”

“Oh, hi, Pinkie,” Carrot Top greeted. “We don’t have an—”

“Air pumper?” Pinkie Pie beamed. “Why didn’t you say so? I can help!” The pink pony grinned.

Carrot Top and Berry Punch asked in unison, “How?”

The pink pony giggled. “I’ll just blow, silly!”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” I said. “How can Pinkie Pie expand into a giant ball of oxygen?”

I nodded in understanding. “I’m just…very annoyed of her.”

I stuck an apple on her mouth. “Please, let’s just rest for a moment, Apple Fritter.”

I highly doubted that. “Uh…sure, Pinkie Pie, we’ll just finish things up here.”

“Are you sure it’s necessary to test this thing by launching a live pony into the air, Caramel?” Noteworthy asked in uneasiness.

“Sure I’m sure,” Caramel said. “Hey, remember you never returned my jewel combs last month?”

“This for that? I already told you I was sorry and I made it up by arranging a date with you and Rose.”

“But it was a bust, remember?”

“Better up!” Caramel pulled the lever, triggering the catapult to launch. Noteworthy was hurtled into the air flailing.

“Hmm, I wonder where Noteworthy would crash on.”

“Smile~!” Film Reel said as she shot a photo of Apple Fritter, Gizmo and I. I could hear Noteworthy screaming through the air, and I was the only one who heard him?

What purpose would my Bolt Wing and Party Ripple friends serve in the future for me? What’s next, Unicorns?

Pinkie Pie left me, which was relieving, and went to the others to check on their preparations, enough by an earshot for me to complain to myself.

Daisy and Rose were both lifting a table to a certain spot of the square, sweating that they already brought only six out.

“Hey, girls~!” Pinkie Pie greeted.

“Hey, Pinkie,” Rose greeted back as she and her friend settled the table.

“Pinkie Pie, I overheard from you from Iwano over there about a Pinkie Party Promise,” Daisy said. “Are you sure you can fulfill that? I mean, remember the last time you broke yours?”

“A-are you okay, Pinkie?” Daisy asked.

Princess Luna was respectfully greeted immediately when the Ponyville citizen’s saw her, but she didn’t greeted back for she was in a rush. Instead, the princess asked the ones who greeted her, “Have thou seen Iwano Imagination?” She had no luck however.

While searching, Luna raced the moon. Lanterns were lit up. The glowing lights made the party even more colorful than the morning in the night.

“I do wish the location of Iwano Imagination would be revealed,” she said. “Where is he?”

The princess was crashed by a falling blue stallion from the sky.

After they both recovered, the stallion gasped, went off and bowed to the princess. “My apologies, Princess Luna,” he said. “I’m very, very sorry!”

“Thou art forgiven,” the princess said. Is this stallion my answer? she asked herself in thought. “Have thou seen the green Alicorn, crasher?”

“Town square, your highness,” the stallion replied.

“Onward to town square—!”

Suddenly, she was blocked by ponies, greeting and offering the princess pastries and drinks.

“Would you care for some apple cider, princess?”

“Do you want a blueberry muffin, your highness?”

“Have some brand new Pecha cupcakes, Princess Luna!”

I could use my royal we, Luna thought, but they would be frightened. I have no choice but to be polite and courteous to my subjects while getting through this predicament. I hope…it does not happen yet…

An audience made a very wide “battlefield” in town square for the goof off. The Mane Six (except Pinkie Pie), Spike, Chrysalis and I were among them, but Twilight and I would come out later for our purposes.

The Mane Six would eventually be used to Chrysalis as an additional company, but they obviously had their reservations about it, but I didn’t mind. I wanted to help Chrysalis as much as the girls would help me, to socialize with the pony folk in town.

Your lightning zapped Pinkie Pie twice, Lauren had said, which would cause her to become harmful by the time the moon rises and the lanterns light up. Her transformation will be inevitable.

Twilight and I exchanged worried looks. She definitely knew what I was thinking. The mood had risen and the lanterns were lit, so why wasn’t Pinkie Pie “harmful” yet? I wished I’d sent a letter to Celestia to stop Luna from raining the moon, but I thought that would be very unnatural.

“Wow, a second goof off,” Rainbow Dash said. “But this time it’s for fun. I’m with Pinkie on this one, guys.”

“I am, too, on our friend’s side,” Rarity said.

“Maybe Cheese would win this,” Applejack said, which meant she sided with the stallion party planner.

“Um, I think I’m with Cheese Sandwich for this one,” Fluttershy said.

“Who’ll you choose, Twilight?” Spike asked. “I’m with Cheese this time.”

“Nopony,” Twilight simply replied. “It depends on Iwano’s judgment, though the contestants would have a difficult time pleasing him.”

I smiled. “I’m excited to see two epic super duper party planners clash right before my eyes,” I said. “But honestly, I’m quite uneasy. In the last goof off, Pinkie Pie forfeited, thus Cheese Sandwich was technically the winner. I never really expected a second one, though.”

“And I really never expected this audience to be thrice as many than ‘fore,” Applejack said as she glanced around.

On my east, Pinkie Pie walked sternly and focused ahead with eyes seriously squinted. She wore a green goft box costume, a colorful jester’s hat, and a pink noisemaker on her mouth.

On my west, Cheese Sandwich had the same walk and expression. He wore his usual attire, but with a few additions. The party planner wore an overly acupunctured cowboy hat of arrows, a kazoo on his mouth, cheese shoes, a fake snake scarf, and doughnut bracelets.

They both stopped at seven feet away from each other as Twilight and I stepped forward.

“Tonight, we’ll witness the second goof off of Ponyville’s very own party pony, Pinkie Pie, versus Equestria’s premier party planner, Cheese Sandwich,” Twilight announced. “The rules are simple: Whoever is the goofier will be upon the judge, which is Iwano, the celebrant.” She turned to me. “Anything you would want to add or say before they begin, Iwano?”

“Yes, Twilight,” I replied. “Everypony and fellow goofers, I honestly don’t wanna laugh—however, I’ll decide upon who makes me laugh, giggle, chortle, guffaw or chuckle first. That’s when I declare the winner. I’m a serious and no-joke pony who’s sensitive and loves silence, in truth. But tonight, one of you will brighten me up in this competition of nonsense. Moreover, the winner will officially be dubbed by yours truly as the ‘Super Duper Mega Ultra Hyper Party Planner’! And will be known in my kingdom as that title! I’ll also personally let Princess Celestia dub that with her permission, too.”

The tow party planners broke into a gasp and said in unison, “Dub as Super Duper Mega Ultra Hyper Party Planner?!”

“Eeyup.”

Everypony murmured. I mostly heard “Pinkie Pie” and “Cheese Sandwich” from them, but when I enhance my hearing, they were opinionating for the winner.

The party planner’s faced each other back with severe and even more focused eyes. Inside, I was grinning.

“Are you sure about that, Green Wing?” Rainbow Dash asked. “If you know everything here in Equestria and even everything that had happened to me and my friends, then you also know what happened to me in the middle of the last goof off, right?”

“Don’t worry, coach, it won’t happen like that again, not even to me. I wanna make things more interesting. I’ll even not to try escape. What could possibly go wrong?”

Chapter 15: Goof Off to Madness

View Online

Twilight wore an uncertain face, and sighed and announced, “Without further ado and the conditions applied by Iwano…Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich, are you both ready?”

“I was born ready!” Pinkie Pie growled in reply.

“I was ready before I was born…” Cheese Sandwich said.

“I was ready before your parents even met!” I blurted. Everypony stared at me, some giggled. This was embarrassing. “Um, never mind, everypony. Twilight, continue please.”

The Alicorn rolled her eyes. “Let the goofing…Begin!”

The young princess flew away as the competition began. I was now in the middle to judge. I wouldn’t wanna make anything boring for everypony, so I made those conditions to also make things interesting, yes. I hoped nothing went wrong with what was applied by me, but the austere expressions on both the party planners made me anxious to run away. Would my conditions did anything wrong? I thought of what Rainbow Dash said. What could possibly go wrong—?

The pink one made her first move, with happy and silly music playing. She slipped herself into her box like a turtle in a flash. The box shook and exploded streamers, as Pinkie Pie rode and balanced on a beach ball while juggling several pink cupcakes. And then the singing started—

“Welcome to Ponyville~! My name is Pinkie Pie~! I know how you feel, so I’ll make you smile~! Let’s just celebrate without a break~! Come on, green one, you know what I want,” she grabbed a pink cake comically out of nowhere, “and here have some cake~!”

I dodged her cake before it hurtled into my mouth. That was close…

Suddenly, a giant balloon of me came floating out of thin air with a pony on top of my head—why was my balloon’s eyes wall-eyed?

Cheese Sandwich somersaulted and landed in front of me as he began his turn—

“Everypony look at me~! And smile at him,” he pointed at me, “with glee~! He’s a newbie, you know me~! Let’s dance and,” he then danced in some sorta itchy style, “shake as if we have a flee~!” He grabbed and shook me. “Come on, Iwano, just shake, shake, shake~! Shake, shake, shake~! Was it great~? Have some cake~!”

He pulled a pink cake out of nowhere and smashed it on me. Luckily, I quickly conjured a barrier. That was close again…Where did they get those anyway?

I paced back and suddenly gotten pulled away by a pink rope into the sky, and then landed on a neon lighted dance floor in the sky. It kept afloat with a bunch of balloons in four corners each. Something told me I had to—Pinkie Pie was with me dancing my shuffling move. Wow.

“We’re now up here alone, let’s just joyfully dance~! Frowning like that,” she over stretched my lips into a smile, “is very silly, now here’s your chance~! Put the laughter in you~!”

Rainbow Dash and three other Pegasi swept me away with a throne hung with four ropes each for them to hold. I was like the king of the sky once again (long story). Pinkie Pie sang her last line, “And make everything yellow in you blue~!”

This goof off was “fine” so far, but I had a bad feeling in my spine about what was coming next. This contest always had unexpected and sudden surprises. I tried my best to stay calm and maintain a serious poker face. But this competition might not amuse me a little, and I thought their rhymes were bad. I cursed myself for making those conditions, for I thought it was the whole reason for their annoying antics.

Suddenly, Cheese Sandwich was running alongside me—

What the fudge?! I thought. How was he able to—

“Still feel gloomy~? I’ll make you happy~! Being sad is cheesy~! Cheese will make you silly,” oh, so he was using long poles each attached to his four hooves, “just like miss Pinkie filly~!” He then jerked his head towards me, producing a pink licorice rope that instantly wrapped me up, including my wings.

I was in panic to use my magic, but it wasn’t working again this time in my command.

Rainbow Dash gasped. “Green Wing—!”

“And that’s why you need to have a party bash,” Cheese Sandwich continued as he grabbed and held me up—was he this strong? “I’ll make you happy in a flash, and dive into my punch bowl pool and splash~!”

He threw me from the air. I stopped panicking. But when I looked down, my heart raced again—I wasn’t about to be plunged into the same punch bowl Gizmo, Apple Fritter and I pushed.

The bowl below as I used my Aura sense was eight times wider and twenty-six feet, filled with pink lemonade.

I panicked! I didn’t really know how to float, unless I had my aquatic powers, which I didn’t have in this world somehow! And worst, I was wrapped up. My magic wasn’t responding, so I couldn’t conjure a bubble helmet to breathe, too.

It was too late to use magic as I finally plunged. My mind was now racing along with my heart, and I was too panicky to focus. Why couldn’t I feel my powers? Maybe I was too panicky. I was confused. How come I was able to float well when I was in the bottom of Manehattan’s bay? This was strange. Dissonance might be behind this…

Suddenly, and I thought miraculously, I was pulled out by Pinkie Pie, and fell to solid ground. I was freed somehow and I tossed my head around as I gasped for air. I was surrounded by pink towering cakes.

Hmph, I’d rather drown than be with Pinkie Pie, I thought. Maybe this goof off would—

Pinkie Pie had burst out of a cake and it was her turn to “entertain” me.

“Pastry over here~! It’s you that I will cheer~!” She grabbed my hooves and tossed me around like a twister. “Once you party hard that’s when you’re smile becomes clear~!” She stopped—I wanted to hurl—and pointed me to different designs of cake. “Cake over there, over there~! Sweet pastry everywhere~! I swear to make you smile~! Pinkie Pie will make you smile that will stretch a mile~!”

She spun me around again like a top, released, and shot me to a brick wall. I felt my left hind leg cracked on impact. I had bitten my lips and barely endured the pain. I however still maintained my poker face but eyes twitched despite all of this.

Suddenly, I was pulled away by Cheese Sandwich again, and I was on a throne made of cheese on a lasagna motorcade decorated with different types of cheeses (including the smelly kinds) and nachos (those I’d eat). I held back my watered mouth and stayed cool of this “cheesy” show.

The premier party planner somersaulted to my front and began his turn when he sat down on a chair and a piano flipped from the lasagna floor and began to play it and sang—

“You gotta flare~! I gotta care~! It’s the best thing to do~! You gotta flare~! I gotta care~! I hate it when you’re blue~! When you can’t budge your smile or even laugh, I’ll do anything to make a blast~! Whatever it takes like this motorcade, the moon above to me is our party shade~! You gotta flare~! I gotta care~! It’s the best thing to do~! You gotta flare~! I gotta care~! I hate it when you’re blue~!”

I was flipped out of my throne when Pinkie Pie came under it as if it were a trapdoor, with angered eyes; I then tumbled to Cheese Sandwich’s side.

“That’s my song!” the pink pony complained.

“What do you mean?” her opponent asked with a smile. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I Pinkie Party Promised that I, Pinkie Pie, will be the only one to bring laughter to Iwano,” she growled. “And I’ll not let anypony break it, especially from the likes of your cheesy you!”

“…What did you say?”

“White fumes spewed out of my pink friend’s ears, her teeth gritted, and her eyes were angrier than before. I thought this was it, the ending of this ridiculous goof off. Before I could even open my mouth to declare the winner to stop this, Pinkie Pie had burst—

“THAT’S IT!!!” The pink pony jumped high and into the Sugarcube Corner via the chimneys…and blasted out riding a—“Blow out, my brand new party tank~!” The baby pink tank targeted and fired the motorcade, springing Cheese Sandwich and I into the air and landed safely. It was a good thing my wings were freed and that the stallion was skilled in landing like Pinkie Pie. “Wait ‘til you here my party tank-y song~! KABOOM~!”

It was now Cheese Sandwich’s—whoa, another tank?! He rode a yellow party tank twice the size of Pinkie Pie’s.

“You compromised again~?! It’s my honor to defend~!” The tank’s cannon suddenly stretched its cannon onto me and—“I don’t really get anything you said, but I noticed you look very red, let’s just make Iwano smile and never sleep on his very own bed~!”

The cannon boomed, and I was again shot into the air, and then crashed into another part of the battlefield. This was now getting too—

“Sonríe, sonríe, sonríe~! Vamos a caminar en una milla~!” A crane carried a sixty-six feet tall and very wide pink cake, which was precariously held above me. I was too paralyzed to move this time…“Yo te haré feliz como su verdadero amigo~! Espero que nuestra amistad nunca termina~!”

SNAP!

The crane’s cord snapped…and a thousand pound cake of pure calories with delicious Pecha filling “sweetly” crushed me with squishy bits.

Cake frosting had spread all over the surrounding as everypony gasped.

Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich too gasped in horror as they stopped. They went off their tanks for my aide, along with the Mane Six, Spike, and Chrysalis. They hopped unto the cake and excavated for me.

As they tried to dug me out, Twilight demanded, “Have you two party planners both lost your minds?! With all those stunts you both just pulled, you could’ve hurt him! I even doubted he could heal himself or even acted—I don’t even know why he didn’t even do anything!”

“That’s okay,” Pinkie Pie nervously chuckled. “After all, cake is not hard as rock!”

“Maybe Iwano can’t breathe under,” Applejack anxiously guessed.

A few seconds later, they finally found my face and still breathing, but they frowned.

“Are you all right, Iwano?” Cheese Sandwich asked. “Your face looks…smiley.”

“Too smiley, to be exact,” Rarity corrected.

My eyes were widened almost to their limit, and I was freakishly and unnaturally grinning.

After moments of silence, Rainbow Dash worriedly asked, “Uh, are you okay, Green Wing—?”

I erupted out into the night sky maniacally laughing. Sugar surged through my nerves; hyperactivity filled my heart, and adrenaline coursing through my veins!

“I WANNA PARTY!!!” I cried out as I flew through town, about to party randomly with random ponies and gone wild as I continued to maniacally laugh.

My friends went off the cake and wiped themselves clean.

“At least Iwano is now in the spirit of enjoyment,” Chrysalis said.

“I’m not sure about his party attitude kicking in,” Cheese Sandwich said in his serious tone as he slapped up his hat out of nowhere unto his head. “That ain’t natural at all…”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked with a hint of worry.

“Did anyone of you notice that his grin isn’t ‘normal’ and his eyes were freaky?” Cheese Sandwich asked as he each of his eyes rolled in different directions.

“You’re also like that, Cheese,” Rainbow Dash reminded. “Um, maybe rarely, or never, I think.”

“I know, but I literally had a strange feeling the moment I saw Iwano’s face.”

Twilight’s eyes widened and urgently looked at Fluttershy. The look on their faces said it all. She asked, “Where’s Pinkie Pie?”

“She’s probably partying with Iwano somewhere in Ponyville right now,” Fluttershy guessed.

“We have to go find him again,” my coach grumbled and sighed heavily. “Why does Green Wing always have to go away from our side?”

“And you girls know what would happen,” Twilight said.

The Mane Six gulped.

“But Pinkie’s with him,” Spike reminded. “It wouldn’t be all that bad, right? And does Iwano’s crazy laugh remind any of you of somepony?”

“But the pink pony apparently doesn’t take imperative situations seriously,” Chrysalis noted, “such as the possibility of Dissonance coming out any time. My guess, Twilight Sparkle, is that you speculated that Iwano’s sugar rush would cause Dissonance to take control of him…because of his unguarded mind right now?”

Twilight sternly nodded. “And apparently Iwano has told you some details on his dark element, correct? Anyways, Pinkie Pie probably didn’t realize or notice yet, I’m afraid. I want you all to help me find Iwano through this nightly party. With that hyperactivity of his, there’s no telling what kind of damage he would cause this time.”

Cheese Sandwich popped a megaphone out of his mane and announced to the crowds, “Alright, everypony, sorry but the goof off has been called off due to technical difficulties and will not continue!”

“Thanks, Cheese. Now, let’s get our hooves running!”

In another part of town, Pinkie Pie was jamming on a turntable with Vinyl Scratch as they both turned up the volume and played dubsteps for the party ponies around them.

I was rapidly dancing in the center in a clear circle while everypony cheered for me

“I never knew Iwano Imagination’s that of a crazy dancer!” Vinyl scratch said. “Woo-yeah! Iwano’s like wub-wubbin’ the dance floor like a turntable!”

“And he’s dancin’ away dances we never know!” Pinkie Pie added.

In my hyperactivity, I perfectly imitated every known dance moves I saw in music videos in Reality from the classics, jazzy ones to tech moves and K-pop styles. My grin was also wider than before, as if I was prepared to bite somepony off.

I never felt this uncontrollable happiness from sugar in a long time! The sweets they made in Sugarcube Corner were unlike I ever tasted. I believed Pinkie Pie was the one who backed that cake!

“Iwano!” the party mare called. “Yoo-hoo~! Catch!”

The moment Pinkie Pie prepared to hurtle a double-glazed, moderate raspberry colored, sprinkled and Pecha-filled cupcake, it levitated off her hoof and unto Twilight’s. Behind the princess were her friends, along with Cheese Sandwich and Chrysalis.

Because of the loud music, Twilight cried out to her pink friend, “You shouldn’t feed any more sweets to Iwano! He’s hyper!”

“Iwano is a piper?!” Pinkie Pie loudly asked.

“No, I said he’s hyper! Don’t feed him sugar!”

“Of course I don’t feed him boogers! They’re gross!”

“Tone down the volume and I’ll explain!”

“Did you say you’re lame or in pain?!”

“Just don’t make Iwano sugar crazy!”

“You want Iwano to be my sugar baby?!”

“I said stop feeding him sweets!”

“You said pop singing with beats?!”

Twilight exasperatingly sighed and plugged off the sound system, shutting down the music and the fun. Everypony whined in complaint, but Twilight ignored and went on to her explanation.

“Iwano must not eat anything high in sugar because he’s gonna go more hyper,” she finally explained clearly. “Theoretically speaking, since he still has Dissonance within, he could bring catastrophic party damage in Ponyville, Pinkie—maybe even worse than that mannequin riot and clone rampage! This cupcake”—the cupcake on her hoof was gone—“where is the cupcake?”

“It’s in his mouth, Sparkle,” Chrysalis plainly said as she pointed at me.

My whole body vibrated like a jackhammer as I made a quivering smile, eyes twitching and hair slightly frizzed. Everypony around me backed up nervously, as if backing away from a bomb.

“He’s definitely gonna go wub crazy, isn’t he?” Vinyl asked.

“Totally crazy,” Rainbow Dash agreed.

I screamed, “LET’S GET RIDICULOUS!!!”

Without hesitation, Applejack and Rainbow Dash lunged to me, but missed as I shot up blindingly into the clouds.

“Don’t worry, everypony!” my coach said as she went aloft. “I’m gonna—!”

Instantly, it rained—a downpour.

“Mango juice?” Applejack tasted the rain. “A milky typhoon and now a mango downpour? Has Iwano gone beyond crazy into a hectic?!”

Suddenly, cottages were being pulled out from the ground and floating in midair. Chocolate fondues erupted to even bigger fountains. Streamers came to life and wrapped random ponies in tangles. Balloons zapped electricity into any nearby pony into shock or paralysis.

“We need to stop Iwano!” Twilight exclaimed.

Rainbow Dash landed and said, “With a downpour like this, I can’t get close enough to him, and he can be anywhere in the clouds! This downpour feels different, like it’s pushing us down with tiny, multiple hooves!” She kicked a streamer away in desperation. “And the whole town’s in chaos again, Twi! Urgh! I’ll—I’ll try again, I’m not giving up!”

The Pegasus shot up again stubbornly for a second attempt.

“Princess Twilight!” Daisy and the rest of my Party Ripple friends ran towards the princess. “We’re here to serve and help.”

“Whoa, the whole town party is in a huge shindig,” Braeburn said as he adjusted his hat from the sweet rain.

“According to my calculations,” Gizmo said as he switched his party glasses into his goggles from his saddlebag, “if this prolongs, Ponyville will not only become a big mess, but also the town’s water reservoir and dam will overflow—“

“That would eventually flood the town,” Twilight finished Gizmo’s speculation, which gave her a horrified face just by imagining it. “Alright, everypony, we need to—”

“Twilight,” Pinkie Pie said. “You all should find a way to stop this while I get”—she grabbed her new saddlebag out of nowhere—“Iwano back!”

“Are you sure, Pinkie?” Fluttershy asked while keeping her sight on from her soggy mane. “You might get hurt by Iwano’s uncontrollable state!”

“I doubt you’d get unscathed,” Chrysalis muttered.

“Hey, shut your fang-y mouth, Chrysy!” Cheese Sandwich scolded. “Pinkie Pie can stop Iwano! In fact, she’ll stop him with my help! Right, Pinkie Pie?”

“She left.”

“What?!”

“Pinkie, come back!” Twilight called for her friend, but the whole party pandemonium drowned her voice. “Well, so much for an organized ordering, everypony. Let’s all do our best to minimize his chaos.

They all nodded in agreement and had split to their own tasks.

Twilight was left behind. She scanned the sky above, though she barely could see the clouds with mango juice blinding her.

“Where’s Rainbow?” she asked herself. “I think I have a spell that just might—there you are!”

The princess found her Pegasus friend resting on a floating cottage.

As she flew and came to Rainbow Dash, my coach said, “The downpour is so heavy my wings were beaten down! This is different than that milky typhoon and the other downpours I’d faced! Any ideas?”

“I thought you’d never ask,” Twilight replied. “Her horn glowed as she concentrated her magic, and casted a transparent and sparkling magenta coating on both themselves. “These magic coats allow us to withstand this strong downpour, enabling us to fly above to the clouds without difficulty against its pushing force. Let’s fly!”

Rainbow Dash and Twilight quickly shot to the sky to stop the chaotic partying Alicorn.

Her balloons floating her to the sky and surfacing through the clouds wasn’t affected by the downpour that would push her down, or pop the balloons by sharp rapid raindrops that would also prick her skin.

“I never meant any of this to happen,” Pinkie Pie sadly said. “I thought everything I’ve done to make Iwano happy was fine.” She grunted in confidence and smiled. “This is my mess, so I shall clean it ALL up—starting with Iwano~!”

As she surfaced out through the clouds and into the misty night above the party chaotic town, Pinkie Pie had luckily bumped into Rainbow Dash and Twilight.

“Pinkie!” the princess exclaimed. “It’s good to see you.”

“Twi, Rainbow? What are you two up here?” Pinkie Pie eccentrically asked.

“We’re here for the same thing,” my coach replied, “except we’re gonna work together on this. “In Iwano’s lunatic state, I think you can’t handle him alone.”

“But, I was the one who caused all of this, so I should fix everything.”

“Pinkie Pie, we’re your friends,” Twilight said. “And friends help their allies no matter what the situation would be even if it’s their fault—such as this one right now.”

Twilight struck Pinkie Pie with a beam. After that, the pink pony snapped her balloons’ strings, had sent them flying, and landed on the cloudy ground.

“How do you know Twilight casted that same spell on you?” Rainbow Dash asked as she and her Alicorn friend landed, too.

“Just a hunch~!” Pinkie Pie grinned.

Maniacal laughter echoed in the night sky…

“I’m now beginning to get sick of this,” Rainbow Dash grumbled. “I really don’t wanna say this, but Iwano’s giving us a pretty bumpy time with him even though he’s not in his semi-Dissonance state or what.”

“Speaking of Dissonance, which I don’t even wanna talk about,” Twilight said “since he became beyond hyper by Pinkie’s cupcake, there might be a chance Dissonance would take advantage of Iwano again.” But Fluttershy didn’t sense any. Why…?

Landing in from of them unexpectedly, the girls were startled to see their green friend with his psychotic smile, widened and almost dilated eyes, and frizzy mane.

“Hi, girls…!” I slowly greeted with twitching eyes. “Wanna paaaaaarty?”

“Iwano,” Pinkie Pie cautiously said. “I really loved to join and party with you, but I’m asking you to please stop this before ponies would get ouched?”

“Why should I stop~?! It’s been a loooooong tiiiime since I’ve been like this—and I gotta thank you for that, my good friend~! You’ve certainly,” I gave her a noogie, “made me smile, smile, SMILE~!”

“But, Iwano, you’re getting nuttier than my peanut ice cream—”

I disturbingly licked my lips. “Yummy~! I love peanuts~!”

“Everypony would hate you if you keep this up! Do you even care about them—?”

“Them who?!”

“The Ponyville citizens!”

“What about them?!”

“Iwano!” Pinkie Pie shrieked, which caught my full attention this time. “Listen: You’re going insane and you’re gonna hurt somepony if you keep this up! Your magic is going cuckoo all over Ponyville and you’re whole party is ruined—again! I’m begging to you as a friend, so please control yourself and stop this!”

“Pinkie Pie, since when did you practice negotiating rationally and diplomatically?” Twilight asked in amazement.

“I listened to your boring speeches last week, Twilight,” the party pony replied with a grin, which offended the princess a little. “So, will you stop this now, Iwano?”

“…NNOPE!” I replied and shot up into the air doing aerodynamics in mockery.

Rainbow Dash smacked her forehead and said, “Pacifying ain’t gonna do a thing, Pinkie! What we should really do is knock him out!”

“Iwano!” Pinkie Pie yelled out for me. “Do you want the easy way, the medium way, the average way, the hard way, or the rock hard way?!”

In reply, I conjured and about rained down mango cream pies on the girls. My coach ducked down deep into the cloud ground unseen and Twilight conjured a shield only for herself—while the rest had hit and splattered my pink friend into white-yellow sweet cream.

Twilight gasped at her messy friend and disappear her shield as Rainbow Dash came out of hiding. “Pinkie Pie, I’m so sorry that I didn’t protect you, too!” the princess pleadingly apologized. “I hesitated on that one—”

Pinkie Pie raised her hoof, and slowly wiped her face, revealing her eyes to be austere.

“The rock hard way it is,” she grimly decided. “Twilight, Rainbow, you two get outta here. Things are gonna get ugly…”

Before Twilight could protest, Rainbow Dash raised her hoof in front of her friend. The look on my coach probably told the princess that Pinkie Pie knew what to do.

“Alright, Pinkie, we’ll leave this up to you then,” Twilight said. “Rainbow and I are gonna further minimize the chaos below. Good luck!”

The two mares left their pink friend.

“Why are you still here~?!” I asked as I landed. “You’re gonna miss the party—!”

Pinkie Pie instantly and without hesitation with flaring eyes brought out from her saddlebag and targeted me with a dark pink gatling gun with candy ammunition. The pink pony had gone lethal.

“EAT CANDY!!!” she cried out, and somehow pulled the trigger.

I yelped and flew around, dodging the sweet carnage from the muzzle of that pink pony’s weapon. How in Equestria was she able to thought of that? That was impossible, and crazy!

“Looks like somepony is being a killjoy~!” I teased and hysterically laughed.

Pinkie Pie grunted, and switched her gatling gun back into her saddlebag, and brought out a light pink bazooka-like weapon. She handled it like any other soldier I saw in Reality, which was a bit awesome.

I flew around laughing that I didn’t realize she pulled the trigger, blasting a mini-rocket—that must had been a rocket launcher or something. I veered away to dodge, but it followed—a heat seeker.

I couldn’t concentrate to dodge anymore or teleport due to my rational anxiety, thus I was hit into a pink explosion. I’d been hit by many of these in my journey, and this was my first pink one. I was also getting tired of getting exploded. Luckily and naturally, my guts didn’t spill everywhere, as usual. I crash landed on cloudy ground, and I was tied up in a net—that missile had a net, too? It was pretty impressive, ‘cause this way, I was rendered immobile to fly and I couldn’t still concentrate on my magic.

After that hit, I felt vertigo from my fall. Why didn’t I crash land on earthly ground instead? Well, at least this crash was softer than soil.

Pinkie Pie carefully approached me as if I were an easily startled pigeon ready to quickly fly, except I was all in tangles. Her eyes were still austere, which now made me uneasy now that my senses were slowly coming back.

“Are you a-okay now, Iwano?” she asked.

After being hit, I could barely move or talk, nonetheless I was a-okay. But I felt dizzier than a Pegasus riding on the Dizzitron. I felt the sugar rush subsiding, giving me my proper senses back.

Suddenly, I remembered everything from the goof off up ‘til this point in tangles. I tried my best to avoid sweets for the whole day, because I would become that state I had been. When I ate the Pecha berries from the Everfree Forest, they didn’t get me crazy ‘cause I ate them all the time before in the Pokémon world in which I was half-Pokémon (long story). I guessed Pecha baked into an Equestrian pastry might have a different effect on me, since I wasn’t half-Pokémon here. In my sugar rush, I now remembered that I caused a party pandemonium to the town, I might had hurt the citizens, and most of all, ruined the party—my party—in which the two party planners rearranged just for me, the newcomer.

“I’m sorry, Iwano,” Pinkie Pie apologized as she easily freed me from this net, her expression softening into that sweet and cute face of hers. “I have to do that ‘cause you were crazy. You were a great party doer~! But, things didn’t turn out well when you, um, stretched it too far.”

“…What have I done,” I whispered miserably as I covered my eyes. “This is entirely my fault—”

“It’s not your fault!” she snapped.

And then, my realization also snapped me to my answer, and the whole reason for my uncontrollable state.

“Yes, this wasn’t my entire fault, Pinkie Pie,” I agreed as I stood up and wiped dirt from myself. “In fact, this was all your fault!”

“That’s why I wanna say I’m sorry, Iwano,” the pink pony apologized again as she shook profusely. “I never knew you—”

“If you have such a sharp memory, then you remembered what I’d just said back in the boutique, right?”

“I do, it’s just that I and Cheese thought you were too shy to judge or join in, so he and I needed to push you to enjoy.”

“Instead, you pushed me to almost destroying the town!”

“I’m sorry, really sorry—”

Pinkie Pie was such an irritating pony, so talkative and careless of my feelings that I blasted her far away from Ponyville, screaming and probably hurt, like what I wanted to happen.

As I flew to the Everfree Forest in which my Aura sense told me of where I shot her to, my face began to swell in anger, and regretted of ever even accepting myself to that ridiculous party. I took back every good thing I’d ever thought about that pink pony I had despised her from the very beginning for I had predicted back in Imaginundia that she could become a conflict to my peaceful balance…and she was, unfortunately.

Pinkie Pie deserved to hear what I thought and felt about her.

Thanks to my Aura sense, I spotted the pink pony on the ground covered under a pink parachute. I didn’t care if she’s gotten hurt, but I did care of how the hay could that bag produce a chute. Now, I wanted to give her a piece of my mind!

After she uncovered herself and I landed, the annoying pony rubbed her bruised left hoof as she complained, “Why did you do that? You would’ve killed me, Iwano!”

“So sorry for not trying hard to do so!” I exclaimed.

Pinkie Pie comically gasped in shock. “You—you were really trying to kill me?”

I snorted. “Likely yes, but not completely, for Ponyville still needs a cheerful loud-mouth to raise their spirits after what have happened to the whole town. That blast was for offering me a giant cake in the goof off, you lousy mare!”

Her lips quivered slowly quivered to shame and her eyes gradually grew to hurt. “B-but I said I’m sorry! I n-never meant any of this to happen, and to you! All I wanted was to be able to make you happy and feel welcome in Ponyville with open and happy hooves. I also never even knew you’d be hyper. “She drooped gloomily. “I’m sorry about everything…I’m sorry that I’ve caused you to do all that to Ponyville into a total mess. I—I wished we’d spend more time together and get to know each other, that way we’d know our dos and don’ts. Again, I’m very, truly, and really sorry, Iwano. Could you forgive me?”

“…No.”

Pinkie Pie blinked. “What? Why?”

I heavily sighed.

“Your party was great and all for the ponies in town with Cheese Sandwich, but honestly, I never wanted one—especially a party from the likes of you. You didn’t even think deep enough of what I’d feel of all of this. I even asked that this whole tomfoolery would turn out like Rainbow Dash’s last birthdeversary...And it had, but I even worse. I read your mind back in the boutique, and it was full of uncertainty but you had set it aside instead of acknowledging it for me. In other words, you knew I never wanted any of this! You threw the party and that accursed goof off albeit you knew I wanted none, and you thought I was too shy! And now, what happened to Ponyville, huh? I caused major damages, yes, but the main root of all that was you, Pinkie Pie! You do also have qualities I greatly dislike: You’re loud, annoying, nonsensical, ridiculous, six-mouthed, silly, un-serious, insensitive, and STUPID!!!”

I stopped to catch my breath. I never felt complaining anger like this in a long time, and it felt great. Pinkie Pie broke down to silent tears, which meant it was working.

“B-but I’m sorry,” she sadly croaked. “I Pinkie Promise to f-fix all this. I also h-have a p-p-present—”

“Write down, remember and let this be a lesson,” I abruptly continued. “NOT everypony want a good laught for some of them could find happiness in peaculness—and that the way you act in the most impossible and silly behavior is just plain stupid that somepony would hate you for just that, Pinkamena Diane Pie!!!”

I said that last part from the top of my lungs that I thought I lost my oxygen. Well, sompeony had to tell her eventually, and that probably already put her to a stop to her nonsensicalities.

And then I remembered Ponyville. I should immediately get going and leave this pathetic pink pony to sulk in this ominous forest of the night. But before I left, I asked her, “Anything to say before I leave to Ponyville to help repair the damages you have caused, hmm?”

Pinkie Pie sniffed with flooded eyes tearfully streaming down her face full of depression.

“I am sorry,” she weakly apologized again with twitching eyes. “I am so, so sorry—”

“Goodbye!” I snapped. Pinkie Pie flinched with twitching ear and eyes, and I brusquely went to Ponyville in a trot.

I noticed her eyes and ears were twitching strangely. Not only that, I also noticed her head vibrating slightly as if I had hit a bell angrily into a sad pink bell.

It was still night and I wasn’t sleepy at all. It must had been some leftover “residue” of sugar rush within me that kept me up. I glanced at my watch, and widened my eyes in surprise—2:10 AM.

That was okay. In Imaginundia, Lentae and I always had adventures in the night, and would last for hours. One time in a war, it lasted from nine to five in the morning, Reality time.

I hoped everypony was alright, especially for the Mane Six, my Party Ripple friends, Cheese Sandwich, and Queen Chrysalis. I wasn’t just worried of the town and citizens’ conditions; I was also worried about being hated. Thanks to Pinkie Pie, there’d be a big chance the majority of pony folk there to dislike me, and in hopeless thoughts, the Mane Six defending me wouldn’t be enough. I doubted my factual explanation would convince them—

A pink knife shot past me, inches away from my ears, and had hit a nearby tree with such balance and accuracy.

My body was paralyzed, my heartbeat again rapid, and my muscles tensed. I didn’t wanna look back, but my head did.

Standing right there where Pinkie Pie stood was a pink pony of darker contrast with a more psychotic grin than my own hyper version. She wore Pinkie Pie’s new saddlebag, and held a knife with a shaky hoof, as if there were ready to be thrown. Her eyes were so wide and pupils were small that it was enough to make me scream hysterically. Her most catching and memorable feature was her flat-straight mane. But her whole appearance in general was the scariest—I wished I’d never met her in pony.

I was just here motionless, but my hooves insisted me to run for my life. I had yet again but grievingly regretted my biggest mistake to the party pony. I wished for the sun to rise, but she was probably still asleep.

I would never ever forget that mare’s creepy and melancholic voice before the moment I dashed off…

Pinkamena asked, “Do you want some cupcakes…?”

Chapter 16: Cupcakes and Smiles

View Online

I was now officially getting sick of the color pink. It was too bad it was the fave color of one of my crushes in Reality. Pink, pink, pink, pink, pink, and pink. I had now realized that I kept seeing pink stuff in my quest. What made me done with the color was Pinkamena herself—the pink, psychotic, killer mare that was chasing me right now.

I figured out while being pursued for my intestines that my dream of those pink wolves was Pinkamena. But I couldn’t figure out what my dream of the Sugarcube Corner in its creepy and ruined state meant.

In the episode Party of One in season one, Pinkie Pie had thought her friends abandoned their friendship with her. Thus, it had led the pink mare into depression, her bizarre behavior, negativity, and caused her mane to droop straight down instead of puffy. Her mane in that episode led the fandom to nickname her “Pinkamena”. That term had been then greatly exaggerated her in “Cupcakes”. The title might be cute, sweet and innocent, but it was actually a macabre short fan-fiction story that portrayed Pinkie Pie as the dark and popularized Pinkamena—a bloody and psychotic mare who drugged, killed, and dissected Rainbow Dash of her guts and made cupcakes out of them.

I myself never read that story, though I only read the summary, which was enough for me to hurl in the inside. Besides Past Sins, Cupcakes was one of the stories I never wanted to take a swing at, because it took away the true nature of the party pony into a gruesome clown. Pinkamena to me would be awesome if she who be a psychopath protecting her friends instead of making some of us bronies sick.

In my own brony vocabulary, Pinkamena was a term for a psycho killer, crazy or mental ponies who wanted to kill or be left alone in sadness, or probably murder with or without reason.

I’d seen plenty of fan arts of Pinkamena which were unique and intricate to my critique eyes, but the gory and dark ones, I avoided them as much as possible for they would give me nightmares,

Being chased in the Everfree Forest in this ominous night by Pinkamena herself was a nightmare enough.

Two white horns clashed as two Alicorns pushed each other with their own individual strength, magic power, and tactics.

Lauren didn’t break a sweat when she overpowered her former student yet again by suddenly blasting right in her opponent’s face. She spanned her wings wide, probably bragging her dominance, and then folded them back.

“For a princess with wisdom and knowledge,” the goddess said, “you’ve apparently lost your intuition and skills in combat, especially to a simple surprise attack.”

Though the blast was so strong that not only bruised her face but blinded her, Celestia was able to stand her ground with angering determination continuously flaring in her eyes.

“I will prove to you that I, Princess Celestia, your former student and beloved daughter, can still shine for my subjects!” Celestia exclaimed, her voice echoing in the throne room. “And…I will prove that Iwano Imagination can be saved, even if what I will do is small!” Her horn glowed, readying to cast. “I will save him, too—even from the likes of both you and Dissonance!!!”

A golden double helix beam issued from her horn as she jerked her head to Lauren. Celestia thought, I will not hesitate to use my full power against the mother I had loved!.

The double helix wrapped Lauren fiercely to Celestia’s emotion; strangling the opponent with such force stronger than a boa constrictor’s that the Alicorn’s bone would snap anytime.

However, the managing smirk on Lauren’s face unnerved the princess. Wait, something is wrong…

Lauren’s horn glowed brighter with white spirals, and freed her in a burst of light.

“The Heavenly Helix,” the goddess said as she stood and flexed her hooves and neck. “A spell in which the caster wraps his or her opponent in a chain-like helix that absorbs the victim’s energy, including magic, and uses it to strangle with force depending on the energy amount.” She giggled. “Luckily I still know how to free myself from it, Celestia.”

The princess gnashed her teeth as she went aloft high. Celestia’s horn glowed again, and rained down tiny and countless fireballs unto the goddess conjuring fast and continuously.

“Torrential Burn,” Celestia said as she glared down at where Lauren was, unseen by the raining fire and consuming of flames around her, and her sight came back. “A spell that rains down fireballs continuously based on my emotion. That is a spell of my own—as the bearer of the sun I called then my Sun Spells.”

Suddenly, the flames dissipated and died as they touched a light rose and arctic blue dome with peculiar symbols protecting the smirking Lauren.

Celestia gasped in disbelief. “What spell is that—?”

“It was fortunate that I’d never let you and Luna enter my study chamber thousands of years ago,” Lauren said. “Otherwise, you both would learn the weaknesses of my own spells, especially from my dear Star Swirl. This was one of the spells he taught me called the Rune Barrier—”

Frustrated, Celestia hesitantly struck a beam on the dome—but was reflected back even brighter and shot her instead. Fortunately and somehow, she kept aloft despite her neck badly wounded.

“Not only this barrier protects me from all forms of attacks,” Lauren explained, “but also reflects and kind of beam back at the caster, while tripling its power.” She then gave a skeptical look. “Although, I’m quite surprised you weren’t shot down despite the increased power, Celestia.”

“As long as I still have strength and determination left within to last me through these hours against you,” Celestia proudly and confidently said, “I will withstand my mother!”

Lauren grinned as Celestia landed. The princes suddenly stumbled, which amused her mother. Celestia managed to stand with her heart pounding rapidly.

“If you can withstand as long as you have strength and determination left within,” Lauren muttered, “then let us see if you can withstand”—she quickly unfolded her wings wide, and Celestia prepared a defensive stance—“THIS!!!”

Lauren flapped her wings in a single but tremendous stroke that produced a gale with rose petals flying around. The power of the winds were half the force of a typhoon that it was like more than a gale, which caused all the stained glasses—the important and most historical events in Equestria—to crack.

Celestia broadly stood her ground, but rose petals were blinding her sight again plus the winds. She struggled to make a step forward, and walked slowly and steadily against the magical gale as her ethereal mane danced violently.

This is unlike and magic I’ve experience and felt, Celestia thought. Is this the true extent of her magic, using the powers from Star Swirl combined with hers?!

The princess’s hooves gave up. Celestia was heavily blown out of her throne room though its royal doors, brining her to smack into a wall far in the halls. The doors then swung lazily closed, separating Lauren and her apart. The gale stopped.

“I’ll take that as a no,” Lauren said as she walked towards the doors, probably to see her fallen daughter. Rose petals now scattered the throne room’s floor, releasing an aromatic scent. “That was Rosetta Gale, my dear Celestia!”

Celestia heard Lauren as she again struggled to get on her hooves, but instead her whole body collapsed from total exhaustion and hurt.

“I’ve been fighting through this night,” she weakly said. “I…I—am weak…I am weak…”

As she sobbed helplessly and wallowed in pain from all the bruises and wounds she’d obtained, sounds of galloping approached.

“Princess Celestia!” a Unicorn stallion cried out as he and two other stallions—one stallion of crystal coating and clad in silver armor, and the other was tangelo in coating, clad in golden armor and looked younger than the two. One of them must have been a Crystal Guard while the other was a young Canterlot Royal Guard. The three stallions all wore helmets, concealing their manes.

The Unicorn had moderate cerulean eyes, and turquoisish white coat. Clad in his golden armor, his cutie mark was hidden.

The princess gasped her head up to the Unicorn. “Why are you here?!” Celestia frantically asked.

“I came to check and update my Royal Guards and check on the security conditions of Canterlot, your majesty,” the Unicorn replied. “But when I heard a ruckus from the castle, I knew for sure you were in trouble.”

Celestia again tried to stand, and successfully did as the two other guards supported her. “You must have not come here, it’s too dangerous,” she warned. “She’s too powerful even for your magic to handle.” She winced in pain. “You must—!”

The royal doors slammed open by Lauren’s magic as she entered the scene. The three stallions came forward, blocking Lauren from their princess.

“Halt, who are you?” the Unicorn demanded. “And don’t you dare take another step to the princess.”

“Ah, Shining Armor, I presumed,” the goddess said. “You’re the prince of the Crystal Empire and the husband of Princess Cadance. It’s an honor to meet the captain of Canterlot’s Royal Guards and Crystal Empire’s Crystal Guards.”

Shining Armor blinked. “How do you know who I am—?”

The stallions and Celestia were teleported away.

Lauren smirked. “You can’t hide from me, dear daughter. You’re still not done proving yourself to me, unless you’re a coward.”

They were transported in a wide, open rectangular court.

“Whoa, this is the Canterlot Castle’s Training Ground,” Shining Armor said in surprise and chuckled. “Brings me back memories when I first trained myself to become the rank of a captain.” He turned to the Celestia in great worry. “Don’t worry, Princess Celestia. We’ll protect you from, um, whoever she is. Who was that?”

The prince urgently gestured his guards to support the princess for she was about to stumble again.

“I do appreciate your great concern for me, Shining Armor,” Celestia said. “But her power is far beyond your abilities to fight back. Besides, this is about me. And her name must be unknown to you all. I must be the only one to face her.”

“Princess Celestia, you can’t go further like this,” the prince objected. “Your wounded appearance and your apparent exhaustion definitely put you in no condition anymore to fight her. You’d been going along for hours against her, isn’t it? We have to protect you.” He was then deep in thought, plans and tactics formed in his mind as he was the captain. He shot his head up with a grin and ordered his guards, “The two of you, gather all the guards all over Canterlot—fast! We need a mass assault against the intruder.”

His two guards saluted and left. Celestia was now slightly well with her balance.

The princess gasped. “Shining Armor, with the combined forces of all the guards in Canterlot, I doubt—”

“Princess, I know what I’m doing, and planning.” Shining Armor smiled with great confidence, as if the “intruder” would surely fall. “You’ll be surprised of what the Royal Guards and I had been practicing while you were away in all your important meetings.”

The princess questionably tilted her head. I hate to say this, she thought, but I doubt his plan would succeed against a deity. But I must hope for the best of its result.

“Hmm, I guess the intruder is unfamiliar of the castle that she’s not here yet,” Shining Armor said as he removed his helmet, revealing his moderate sapphire with moderate cerulean and dark phthalo blue mane that waved through the cold breeze of the night. “Um, I know you want that intruder’s name to be unknown to us, but could you at least only tell me everything about her? I promise it’ll be only between the two of us. I believe that intruder would have a hard time sorting through the castle’s halls.”

Celestia managed a weak smile. “You and Twilight are both the same when it comes to these. Very well then, captain, it is fair enough for a prince to learn more about my mother while we wait for both your guards and her arrival

Princess Celestia began her tale of Lauren Faust’s origin to Shining Armor…

I had to control my panting, otherwise she’d slit my throat in a second, as I was resting and obscuring myself within a treetop.

Pinkamena was so relentless, eager to disembowel her friend who had badly hurt her feelings all because he was too serious and a no-joke. With my Aura sense, I was able to pinpoint this Everfree Forest’s exit, but whenever I felt close to safety, she’d always be there to frighten me away, and chase me until I collapse from exhaustion—which I was right now. My tiredness hardly gave me any hope to use my Aura sense, making wander and run all over the forest with nowhere to hide.

Well, at least I was hiding, but not for long.

She was like those wolves in my dream—hunting me down by my scent. But I believe Pinkamena was hunting me down by smelling my fear, and the scent of my blood which dripped from my back. Because of that, I couldn’t fly for I would be stung with pain.

This wasn’t the first time I was hunted down. One of the best hunters who pursued me was Lupus Wilde the Prominence, a member of the Grand Chase. In Imaginundia, he was one of the most prominent bounty hunters around. He was my enemy when we first met. He told me my soul didn’t belong in his world—the Grand Chase world— and that he had to hunt me down just to transport me back home, which I disobeyed for I had a mission there. Of course in the end, we became friends.

Unlike that ending, I thought Pinkie Pie and I would never be friends again no matter what.

My magic wasn’t powerful enough this time for me to defend myself, and all I could do was shoot beams, teleport, and conjure common things. Despite those, I was now too weak for I had multiple slashes in my body besides my back. I couldn’t even heal myself. I was now beginning to think my magic had some sort of limit or pattern when it comes to these sorts of situations, such as this scary one.

“Is there any hope for me at all?” I whisperingly asked the sky. “If I die now, I’ll regret everything, and never forgive myself from Laughter.”

“Let’s have some fun…” Pinkamena said as she stealthily appeared behind me.

My heart raced again, and I sprang out of the tree and dashed off for my life.

“I knew she’d find me,” I hopelessly muttered.

I did what I had to do usually in this night with her: Run.

When I was about to jump over a rock, Pinkamena tackled me from my left, rolled us, and restrained me down. She raised a knife up with her hooves as she was about to end my life. I didn’t even wanna look at her face for my eyes were closed.

I had teleported somewhere else. I was too panicky and scared to picture Ponyville in my head so I could teleport there instead, but after what I’d done in my sugar rush state, I doubted I’d be safe. Teleporting into Zecora’s hut wasn’t a good idea either for Pinkamena would soon find me there for sure.

Pinkamena made me feel everything was a dead end.

I was again in an unknown area, but going away from her was good enough.

Suddenly, my wings were shot by knives causing me to get thrown and pinned on a tree—and not only that, six additional knives shot my hind legs and hooves. I screamed excruciatingly as the pain was already too unbearable. Stuck on this tree, I was like a frog pinned for dissection.

I screamed to the night, “SHE’S FREAKIN’ EVERYWHERE!”

And there she was, right in front of me…but more grotesque than before—and she still had her saddlebag.

Her pupils were shrunken into bloodshot beads, and her mane was now greasy. What almost made me hurl and the most horrifying to me was her lipless mouth, widely exposing her grinning teeth as it drooled out blood, enough to even make the faintest of the heart die, probably.

I concentrated on my magic to teleport, but no luck. I tried imagining stuff to get out, but no luck. I tried struggling, but it just worsened my pain.

So, this is it…

Pinkamena then sang a creepy melody as she slowly brought out a knife from her saddlebag with her hoof, and I tried to figure out how she was able to sing with that kind of mouth—

Hello, my friend, I’m Pinkie Pie

All ends well, tonight you die

You really don’t like me, I see

You’re now with me and you’ll not flee

I will let you see the light

Not the moon, and not this night

You’ll never see daylight again

We’ll see each other someday, my friend

You broke my heart and time to care

Now it’s your blood to me you’ll share

You made me sad and then I cry

But soon you and I will both go fly

I really wanna be your mare

Do not escape and do not dare

I’ll stick a knife into your throat

And in the end we’ll be on a boat…

That was one of the creepiest songs I’d ever listened to that I wanted to just die now instead of hearing more, thought a curious part of me told me there was something hidden in those lyrics, like a message. But I wouldn’t have any time for that, for I’d die tonight. It also reminded of creepy pastas.

I was actually used to these near-death situations, and a miracle always happened whereas I was saved. But this felt different, like I’d lost all hope.

Pinkamena raised her knife as it shadowed itself in the moonlight.

Tears escaped my eyes as I stared at her knife…

I closed my eyes slowly, and whispered, “I’m sorry…”

The knife was half a millimeter away from my chest when she stopped. What? I thought I was about to die, so why did she stop?

“W-w-what did you say…?” Pinkamena asked.

My heart was racing faster than my coach doing a Sonic Rainboom. I had to stay calm, but, uh, I didn’t know what to do, or what to reply.

Maybe I should say something from the bottom of my heart, I anxiously thought. Or technically say something from the bottom of my hypothalamus.

I sighed.

“Pinkie Pie,” I began. “I’ve always hated you from the beginning. I was actually just trying to endure your annoyingness. But seeing you like this, I now realized I was the one who destroyed Ponyville—you might not get any of what I said at all. I remembered what you said back in the party…that I just need a little laughter to last longer or stick with me like bubblegum when I’m gonna go through a harsh time in the future, so I can look back to the joyful past to sheer me on further. And you said is shouldn’t be shy when I’m gonna have a great time. I guessed I was too serious, even back in my kingdom—I am a good guy! Maybe I just can’t take the irritating but fun stuff because I was to, again, serious and, ugh—that I’m afraid ponies around me would laugh at me! I thought too much, Pinkie Pie! I’m just too serious! I wanna have fun, like what I’d done back home as I used to be. I’m sorry if I had hurt your feelings…And I always do that to fun people. Maybe I’m also just jealous that you’re just more fun like Cheese Sandwich.

“I don’t know if all of this would make sense to you, but I’m hoping you’d understand my character, Pinkie Pie.” My face began to stream more from my realization and shame. “I-I can be fun, too, like you! I just thought—argh, I hate this! Maybe…I won’t learn anything about Laughter at all…I’ll never learn Laughter if I’m like this…I’m just so sensitive of being so irritated that I had to shut you off—my ears were ringing of because of your two mouths, by the way, and sorry. I have hurt your feelings, and probably your method in how to make me smile too, so just kill me now for I deserve it. I deserve my blood to be on your hooves.

“Pinkie Pie, I should have liked you as my friend, for you can definitely turn my frown upside-down and cheer me up—like what you naturally do. I was hoping to learn how to be more fun in the right way from you—I know how, but I think it’s wrong! It’s funny though, that I think I’m worse than Cranky Doodle Donkey.” I weakly chuckled. “But, you understand, right? Please understand my character…I Pinkie Promise you’d see more of me, my true self…

“I’m so, so sorry, Pinkie Pie…”

Strangely, Pinkamena slowly lowered her blade. I wanted to pass out right now from total exhaustion, and being pinned to this tree was fine by me.

Suddenly, Pinkamena was wrapped and pulled with a jerk by a rope, dropping her blade. I thought it was Applejack, but when I looked ahead, it was Braeburn and the rest of my Party Ripple friends running towards me.

As Applejack’s cousin pulled a struggling pink mare, Noteworthy, Caramel and Gizmo restrained her down as Braeburn tied her up. Rose, Daisy, Carrot Top, Berry Punch and Film Reel, despite they were grossed out of my condition, meticulously pulled the knives off and laid me on Apple Fritter’s back. She was one strong mare, like Applejack.

“We gotta get outta here now, partners!” Braeburn urged as he finished his knot on a wriggling, rope-coated Pinkamena, shrieking in desperation of freeing herself. It was smart of Noteworthy to take her saddlebag away, and Braeburn had his own brown one, probably filled with important supplies for a rescue. “You better be careful with Iwano, cousin.”

“I know, Braeburn,” Apple Fritter said. “Now, let’s go, before we ended up like Morning!”

As they all dashed off with me on Apple Fritter’s back, in a distance as I enhanced my vision, Pinkamena squirmed like a worm, grabbed a knife from the ground—the ones used to pin me—and slashed her ropes.

I gulped and asked, “Why are you folks here? I’ve to tell y’all that it’s dangerous! Pinkie Pie has gone psycho killer, and pretty soon for sure, y’all end up hanging—literally—on a tree!”

“We can’t just leave you like this, Morning,” Noteworthy said. “Besides, if it weren’t for us appearing on time, you would’ve been done. I promise you’ll come back to Twilight alive, and that we’ll save you in any way.”

I scowled. “Just to let y’all know, I was the one who turned Pinkie Pie into that monstrosity. I deserved to just die—”

“Don’t say that!” Rose snapped. “We had to rain on Pinkie Pie’s party, okay? Look, we don’t care if all of this is your fault, and we’re still gonna be your friends no matter who you are. We’ll all help you bloom somehow, and that’s a promise.”

“Rose’s right,” Daisy agreed. “You’re a great guy, and we know it. Maybe we and the town citizens just need to know you better. I promise we’ll somehow even find a way to help Pinkie.”

Know me better, I musingly thought.

“Twilight had told us about your mission with her and her companions before we came to rescue you,” Gizmo said. “You have to complete it; otherwise something bad might happen, in theory. I promise you’ll be successful.”

I thought Gizmo was right on that one, about completing my mission here in Equestria, which sparked up my determination.

“We also promise Twilight and her pals to bring you back,” Apple Fritter said. “They were actually supposed to be the ones to save ya, but they were too busy savin’ lives in Ponyville from that dinginess you’d caused. And I promise that I’ll be a good friend of yours, Morning!”

“I don’t know you well, Morning,” Caramel said, “but one thing I’m sure, we’ll save you even if it means sacrificing ourselves because you’re a good guy. I promise to watch your back, friend.”

I shook. “I’d hurt Pinkie Pie’s feelings that had caused her to be in that state, and I turned Ponyville upside down, Caramel. Why are you Earth ponies eager to save somepony who almost destroyed the town?!”

“There’s just only one answer to that, Morning Leaf,” Carrot Top said, “and it’s simple: Because it’s the right thing. And we believe you didn’t mean all of that. I promise you’ll be treated of your injuries, and treat you like somepony special as a friend.”

“But I meant to hurt Pinkie Pie’s feelings, though,” I sadly admitted.

“Morning, forget about that,” Berry Punch said. “Focus on yourself, and let us just focus in getting you out of this creepy forest. Thinking about your mistakes ain’t gonna help. Thinking about them might even be worst than dying on a tree, if you ask me. I promise to cheer you up, just like what Pinkie should have done.”

“Partner,” Braeburn blithely said, “I promise you that after all this, maybe tomorrow would be a mighty fine day—and who cares if the whole town’s gonna hate ya! If you have imagination in your name, I bet you can come up with an idea to get yourself friendly to the townsfolk.”

“Don’t give up,” Film Reel said. “One way or another, this whole thing will turn out to be all just a bad dream in a picture. We’re doing this because we also forgive you, Morning Leaf. We hope to know you better as our friend—and soon you’ll be one to the whole town, and that’s a promise, too!”

Heavy as my heart could be, I couldn’t believe they were encouraging me to go on after everything of what I’d done. These Equestrians, especially these Earth ponies, might just be more special than I thought in the very beginning of researching about them. They reminded me of my friends from Konoha, whereas I almost destroyed the whole village, and they forgave me anyway despite some of them held grudges, but eventually treated me as an ally, a friend. I sunk in everything they’d told me as tips and advice in my head. I hoped I wouldn’t forget. Their words were also sweet I could just cry, but I did that enough already that I had dried out my tear sacs. They’d given me hope that everything would turn out for the best.

I noticed that they all said “promise” in their sentences. I bet they really meant that. In general to everything they said, they promised me for the best. I thought I might have a lot more to learn in my adventures, besides trigonometric angles, undefined areas and chemical bonding. Speaking of bonding, maybe I should do that soon—as soon as this whole predicament was over.

Apple Fitter’s back was soaked with my blood, but she wasn’t disgusted of it, though I caught Berry Punch being queasy as we ran fast.

“Um, is this the right way?” Rose asked. “Because I think we’re lost.”

“What makes you say that?” Noteworthy asked.

Raining knives landed right in front of us, and we screeched to a stop. A cackle made my friends turn to their behind, which made Apple Fritter drop me by accident. I stood up anyway groggily in front of them.

Pinkamena was there, standing and freed from her ropes. I sensed a sinister aura around her, both melancholic and gruesome.

She said, “The real party is just beginning, everypony. Fasten your seat belts and hang for your lives, ‘cause all of you too are gonna DIE!!!”

Braeburn produced another line of rope from his saddlebag and quickly made a lariat as he lassoed to Pinkamena. But she was blindingly fast, she dodged and dashed towards us with such incredible speed even Rainbow Dash couldn’t keep up—this must be Pinkamena’s psychotic speed.

The mares screamed, the stallion anxiously prepared themselves for a fight that would only lead them to their inevitable deaths, and I became dizzy—I couldn’t do anything, and I was useless. I thought this was definitely the end for us. And no doubt that knife Pinkamena was holding was meant for me first before the others.

This is the finishing blow, I hopelessly thought.

Suddenly, the night descended and instead took the blade by the chest, gnashing her teeth as she endured the pain. We all gasped in horror, and I was there paralyzed in a mix of fear, shock, and confusion.

Luna cried out, “My subjects, RUN!”

Bursting through the court’s main entrance by Princess Celestia and Shining Armor’s north the moment the princess had finished her tale were twenty-six Unicorn, Earth pony, and Pegasus Royal Guards—a total of seventy-eight Royal Guards, though it wasn’t enough to consume such a wide court. They all formed ranks of their respective species, all simultaneously stomped their left hooves, and saluted in attention to their captain. For the princess, they curtly bowed in respect of their presence. All of their faces told Shining Armor they were ready for any order, even the one he was going to give which would be simple but imperative.

The prince picked up, wore his helmet and trotted into the front of all guards. His two other Royal Guards whom he ordered to bring his other guards stood right beside him—the crystal one on the left, and the young one on the right.

“Excellent work, the two of you,” Shining Armor said to his two soldiers as he focused on his guards.

“Whatever plan Shining Armor has in mind, I hope it succeeds,” Celestia said.

“Alright, listen up!” the prince hollered. “An intruder in the castle—still lost but probably on her way—had attacked Princess Celestia, and we’re all here for to stop her! She’s an Alicorn, like all four of our princesses, but different. This is what we’re going to do: Pegasi, hide in the clouds above for you all will ambush the intruder the moment she comes to the court’s center. Once she does, prevent her from using or concentrating on her magic as a distraction—flock around her as irritably as you can, but make sure she doesn’t get or attack you! Unicorns, while the Pegasi do their part, we’ll all perform the ‘Crystal Curse’, the one we’d been practicing for so long! And Earth, hide in the bushes until I say so for a reinforcement if ever our formation would break! For the princess!”

All the guards shouted in unison “Yes sir!” and obeyed.

The young tangelo pony trotted towards the other guards probably to help, but was stopped by the captain.

“You and Glass Eye will be guarding this castle’s main doors in order to prevent any other ponies to get in, otherwise they’d get hurt,” Shing Armor said.

The tangelo pony opened his mouth to protest, but caught the Crystal pony Glass Eye shook by the conerber of his eye. Instead, he nodded to the captain and trotted away with the crystal one out of the court by the south doors.

“I have another plan in mind, young fella,” Glass Eye whispered to the tangelo one as they exited the court.

The Unicorn Royal Guards formed a giant circle formation in the court with Shining Armor among them. The Earth and Pegasus Royal Guards obscured themselves in their given areas.

Nopony moved a muscle. Silence was waiting with everypony for Lauren.

“A Crystal Curse Seal? What magic is that, Shining Armor?” Celestia asked as she approached the captain.

“Trust me on this, and we’re going to take her down,” the prince promised.

Where have I heard of that before? Celestia asked herself. I think…that is from the Crystal Empire, but what does it do again? Only one way to find out.

“Oh Celestia~!” Lauren sweet calling echoed in everypony’s ears, causing a short distraction as the enemy Alicorn teleported in the center of the circle.

“NOW!” Shining Armor signaled, and the Pegasi each swooped down blindingly, hitting and bumping the goddess without hesitation. They were all like flies, annoying and distracting their light from using or even concentrating on her magic at all costs.

As the Pegasi processed on their part, the Unicorns began their phase of the formation. All the Unicorns bowed down to touch the ground with their horns as their magic aura from each of theirs had glowed light rose. Shining Armor easily had beaded sweat as he focused on sharing his magic with his fellow comrades. As they were all performing the magic, the prince eyed on Lauren with curiosity and determination in his eyes—the same as Twilight’s.

Lauren, showing exasperation and irritation within the Pegasi cage, began shooting beams out everywhere randomly and haphazardly out of immediate sheer frustration.

“ENOUGH!!!” the goddess shrieked, and produced a shockwave from her voluminous voice causing the Pegasi’s formation to scramble away whilst the Unicorns were done. Fortunately, the Pegasi had common sense to retreat to the clouds for the main phase.

“That…” Celestia flew above unnoticed. “That is one of the Crystal Empire’s Crystal Spells! Those sacred spells can only be found in the ancient books hidden in the empire’s library! How in Equestria was Shining Armor able to find them? King Sombra was the only one who knew their location…”

Princess Celestia stared at a wide, giant mosaic circle designed with lines that made a geometrical formation connecting all the Unicorns. The princess was speechless and astonished of the whole seal’s glowing light rose beauty and feeling of the amount of power.

Lauren tossed her head around anxiously, which surprised Celestia in thought, I have not seen mother like this in a long, long time. The goddess shot up to escape, but a Pegasus Royal Guard swiftly swooped down and pushed her down hard back to earth, and then returned to hiding. She tried another attempt by blasting a random Unicorn Royal Guard, but the giant circle she was in began forming a magical dome fast, shielding all the guards and trapping her.

She was about to hyperventilate, but collected back her calmness and then smiled at Shining Armor who was still eyeing on her.

“You’re planning to place a powerful curse on me, to petrify me into a crystal statue,” Lauren said. “This takes a long time to practice and a whole lot of magical teamwork, but a Unicorn with mass power like Sombra and Star Swirl could go solo with this.”

The goddess’s hooves slowly enveloped themselves into red crystals, which made cringed her nervously.

“I’m impressed of the whole formation and cooperation you have with all your loyal Royal Guards, captain,” the trapped Alicorn calmly continued. “But your great efforts to crystal curse me…”

Shining Armor, in the middle of maintaining the dome and seal with all his magic power despite all his guards’ great efforts to support their captain, squinted at Lauren of what she meant…and his eyes alarmed as he saw the goddess rearing with her horn glowing and spiraled with unknown symbols.

Lauren smirked and screamed, “IT IS NOTHING TO YOUR DEITY!”

The moment her hooves stomped the ground with such force, everything was thrown in total disarray. The dome shattered, the Pegasus Royal Guards were blown away far from the site, the Unicorn Royal Guards crashed into the court’s walls behind them including with Shining Armor, a few fissures were made, the formation and spell was broken, and the goddess was freed. Her power was beyond them.

Hesitant and hurt as he struggled on his hooves, Shining Armor removed his helmet and his whole armor in desperation as he cried out, “ATTACK!”

Recovered and surviving Pegasi and Unicorns charged against the Alicorn enemy with the Earth Royal Guards.

Lauren snorted. “Wow, a full assault already. This would be interesting.” She was then enveloped in rose red flames from head to hooves. “Red Meteor!”

The Alicorn rushed as a flaming meteorite, crashing her foes like they were absolutely nothing. Surprisingly, not only she could fly in that form, but one single contact from that fiery ball, a guard had gone ablaze.

Guards who were in flames screamed helplessly as some ran around in panic or rolled on the ground. Unicorns that were unburned magically extinguished their comrades of fire, but ended up clashing with the fiery Lauren.

Shining Armor was smart enough to stealthily extinguish his burned guards, and somehow knew how to magically heal their burns. Unfortunately, he was the only one among his soldiers to perform that art.

“Darn it,” he cursed as he’d put out a guard’s flames and healed him, and tossed his head around. All he could see were fissures, fire, ruined walls of the court, and fallen Royal Guards who weren’t saved in time. “This has got to—”

Like all of what she’d done wasn’t satisfying enough, Lauren stopped at the very center of the court…And then had burst up multiple fireballs everywhere, hitting numerous surviving guards, destroying the court’s structure, and blazed even more fire.

Lauren, extinguished of her Red Meteor form, glanced around pleasingly and wondered, “Now, where are you Celestia? All nuisances have been exterminated.” When she glanced at her hooves, the goddess scowled at the sight of them gradually turning into red crystals. “That Shining Armor might be a powerful Unicorn than I thought, a great fit to be a captain and prince of the Crystal Empire.”

Grunts from a wounded Unicorn had caught Lauren’s attention. As she turned her head, the prince lunged fiercely with his horn directly at her, but was skillfully countered by the Alicorn’s sude push.

Shining Armor, without hesitation and eyes filled with fury, countered by drifting, faced Lauren, and struck a sharp blasting blow on her face.

Lauren stumbled back away from her opponent with eyes widened in shock and disbelief. She shakily touched her right cheek, and her hoof revealed that she bled.

“How dare you…” she growled angrily as she turned to Shining Armor with his defensive stance. Her frown was deadly calm. “I think I’ve underestimated the Captain of the Royal Guards—able to conjure up and control an ancient seal-curse with all his guards as the core with such coordination, survived my attacks while all your precious comrades have fallen, and made a deity bleed. No mere mortal has ever made me, a deity, bleed in a thousand years.” She noticed a few healed burns in the captain’s body. “No armor, it’s likely you’d been exposed easily to my red flames. Obviously you removed your armor to move freely in this battlefield. Once you return to your Crystal Empire, within four days, you’ll cool off of everything, Shining Armor. Oh, and just to tell you and Celestia, I will find any possible ways to get rid of Iwano Imagination—I’ll do anything…”

The captain glanced above and blinked at his enemy. “What do you mean cool off?”

Lauren giggled. “Oh, Celestia will tell you everything—if you survive, that is. By the way, where is she?”

Shining Armor glanced above again, and grinned slyly at his opponent.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” the goddess asked. “And what’s up?”

The moment the prince teleported, Lauren was crushed and pulverized by a rushing Sonic Rainboom from the night sky. The surprise attack’s impact had caused the whole castle to shook and the court’s walls to crumble, and produced a giant rainbow-colored mushroom cloud. A crater was then created in its wake as smoke cleared, revealing to be only Princess Celestia standing where Lauren was.

Glass Eye and the tangelo guard came out of the southern doors of the court. Shining Armor sighed in relief to see two living Royal Guards.

“Princess Celestia!” the captain came and slid down to the princess with Glass Eye and the young guard. “Where’s the Alicorn Lauren?”

Celestia panted, and then relaxed herself forcibly. “She had teleported in escape, but there will be no doubts that she wouldn’t returning to Canterlot for me in a long time, for you and your guards have successfully cursed her with that seal.”

Shining Armor sulked. “All my best Canterlot Royal Guards are gone.”

The princess winced. “I know losing them is harsh, and I believe—”

“I’ve bonded with each and every one of them.” The captain held back tears. “Arrow Point, Hot Trot, Lead Hoof, Spark Shake, Heavy Stomp…I know all of them, and now they’re gone.”

“Their sacrifices will all be worth it,” Celestia promised. “For now, I will alert all of Equestria about Lauren’s presence. However, her status as deity must remain unknown, but Twilight and her friends must learn this—and Iwano Imagination obviously knew. In the meantime, they are completing their tasks together.”

“Who’s Iwano Imagination? And what task did you just gave to Twilly?”

“I promise you will learn everything, Shining Armor. I have to warn you of a merciless snowstorm is about to consume the Crystal Empire within four days, counting today.”

“So that’s what that Alicorn meant,” the prince whispered. He shook. “Princess Celestia, where’s Princess Luna? In a situation like this, she should’ve come and lent us a hoof against Lauren for the night is her territory. Where is she?”

“She’s preventing bloodshed from rising in Ponyville, which I am afraid had now happened while I was fighting Lauren. I am hoping she will save Iwano and the citizens of the town, for Twilight and her friends might not be able to handle it themselves.”

“Gosh, a lot of things are probably going to happen. By the tone of your voice you seem pretty concern for this Iwano Imagination, princess. Is he or she the center of all this?”

“Just to give you a brief info, Iwano Imagination is an Alicorn stallion, a ruler of an unknown kingdom called Imaginundia. He had journeyed here to Equestria seeking for the wielders of the Elements of Harmony for their influences against his dark power, Dissonance. Yes, he is the center of all this, Shining Armor, because of his Dissonance. That dark power of his could possibly cause unimaginable chaos far worse than Discord’s reign. He needs help, he needs friendship, and I believe Twilight and her friends have the natural potential to save him.”

“Princess, Lauren mentioned that she’ll find any way to get rid of Iwano. Though I think he’s a very big threat since you told me about his Dissonance, I think he’s just a good guy. It’s best if I send some guards for Twilight to protect Iwano with. After losing all of my Royal Guards whom I bonded with each, I got to admit, I’m uncertain to lose more, for that deity could easily wipe out a horde. But I wanted to protect that Iwano no matter the cost.”

Celestia glanced at Shining Armor’s two guards behind him.

“I choose these guards to protect Iwano,” she said.

Shining Armor blinked in great disbelief and was agape. “Y-you can’t be serious, princess! These soldiers are still new—they’re rookies—and they have no such experiences—!”

“Sir,” Glass Eye said as he stepped forward. “You told us guards that we should offer our lives for the sake of Equestria’s safety in any dire time—and this counts as plenty dire to us. We’ll humbly accept any task from Princess Celestia, as long as we help. We may be rookies, but we’ll be glad to lend a hoof no matter the problem is.

Shining Armor was deep in thought, and asked the tangelo guard, “Are you up for this, rookie?”

The ‘rookie’ nodded.

“Strangely, when I first met Iwano Imagination in the castle,” Celestia said, “he emitted some kind of ‘gray’ energy that I sensed. I speculated it was a combination of his individual good aura and evil aura of Dissonance that would attract unknown forces and affect his surroundings. I will think of that later so we can do our parts.”

“How do you know Iwano’s ‘gray’ aura would cause that sort of effect?” Shining Armor asked.

Celestia’s eyes sadly stared at the ground. “Lauren taught Luna and me how to identify auras and their effects. A gray aura is unnatural, very rare, the strangest, and most dangerous. Discord was the first to be identified with that. Iwano Imagination is the second.”

Shining Armor nodded in understanding. He then gestured his guards to come forward to the princess as he set himself aside.

“In a few hours,” the princess said to the two guards, “both of you shall be stationed to Ponyville not only to provide extra protection to Iwano Imagination, but to protect Ponyville, observe your princess’s progress and her friends, and message me of any major occurrences, especially if it is an emergency. Princess Twilight will provide your messaging to me for she has a dragon assistant.”

“Should we also update on Iwano Imagination’s progress in influencing himself with the Elements of Harmony?” Glass Eye asked.

Green ashes flew down in front of Celestia and formed a scroll. She levitated, unrolled it, and speedily read it. She giggled. The princess smiled brightly, which shunned away her sadness and fury away by the message her ‘pen pal’ had wrote.

“No need for that.” Celestia rolled the scroll and teleported it away. “Now, you’re names?”

“I am Glass Eye,” the crystal pony removed his helmet, revealing his silvery crystal buzz cut mane, and introduced himself with a bow. “I recently became a Royal Guard last week. It is an honor to accept our most important task in our life.”

“It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.” She faced the young one, who gulped in nervousness. Celestia just smiled, which comforted the guard to stand formally as he was. “I think I might have seen you in the Crystal Empire once. What is your name?”

The tangelo pony hesitated. He removed his helmet, revealing his mane to be two tones of sapphire blue, and bowed as he introduced himself, “My name’s Flash—Flash Sentry.”

I couldn’t believe it. If Luna was there, fending off Pinkamena as my Party Ripples and I ran for our lives, then this must had all been a dream—like Sweetie Belle’s in the episode For Whom The Sweetie Belle Toils, except, Luna appeared real in the Unicorn crusader’s heist.

Sadly, this was all real, duh.

Because of that horror back there, I was fully awake from sudden drowsiness and my joints sparked to run for with my friends.

Princess Luna could handle Pinkamena, right? That Alicorn was immortal and powerful, but I couldn’t shake the feeling Luna would fail—not by dying, but failed to block her from pursuing us. Why would she save me? I thought she hated the Alicorn who unknowingly disrupted her dream duties. I didn’t wanna doubt anymore. I wanted Luna to win.

“Are you fine, Morning?” Daisy worriedly asked as I kept running. “Does it still hurt?”

“It burns,” I admitted. “But nonetheless, I’m alive.

“Wow, your deep wounds are freakishly healing themselves!” Gizmo exclaimed in marvel. “You’re horn’s not even glowing in response to your desire to use magic, so how?”

“Well, you can all say I’m amazing in many ways but far beyond that. I wanna explain more in detail, but I wanna ask: Where in Equestria really is the exit, folks?!”

“Caramel, I thought you know where since you’re leadin’ us!” Apple Fritter complained. “Now, we’re lost!”

“Don’t worry, cousin,” Braeburn said. “This is definitely the right way!”

“You know you have a bad sense of direction, right, Caramel? Why won’t I just lead? I say, we go this left.”

“Calm down, Fritter. Just like what I said: This is definitely the right…way?”

We stopped by a tree with a slash carving of three horseshoes.

“Heh, Caramel, it’s like your cutie mark,” Noteworthy said. “Why would anypony carve this on a tree in the middle of the forest? Is it a way to find the exit or something?”

“Why would his cutie mark be here anyway?” Braeburn asked, too.

“Whatever the reason, it’s creeping me out,” Rose said.

“Yeah,” Daisy agreed. “This whole thing’s scarier than that horror movie we’d watched since we were foals since Nightmare Night.”

“We should get a move on,” I sternly said. “Who knows? Pinkamena might probably escaped Princess Luna by now. The more we converse, the more we’re closer to being done.”

They all nodded in agreement and left the tree.

I didn’t tell them…that that slash carving of Caramel’s cutie mark meant something. Daisy said that when they were foals, they watched a horror movie. This was more than that. I had terrible experiences with these sorts of horror adventures. My most recent ‘horror movie’ was my Herobrine hunt in Minecraft world.

I glanced at my watch—3:10 AM. We’d been running and catching our breaths for an hour since Luna’s arrival to our aid. I was afraid to tell this to Braburn but—

“We’re lost,” I said, which made us stop.

“How can you be sure, Morning?” Braeburn asked.

“When Luna had arrived and she told us to run, we went to a different direction from there—southwest, instead of directly north. In other words, we’re far from Ponyville now, folks.”

“Rascal hays!” Apple Fritter cussed. “I told ya I should lead us instead, Caramel!”

“Don’t blame me!” Caramel said in defense. “We were all in fright when Pinkie Pie stopped us and—and, uh—I…think I’ve panicked a little there and hesitated…and totally forgotten the way.”

“You buffoon, you’re forgetful, remember? Oh wait, you probably forgot!”

“I’m sorry, alright? I tried my best, really! Maybe if we just go back and—”

“Goin’ back there where Princess Luna and Pinkie are fending off each other is suicide!”

“I remember Twilight entrusted me to get everypony back once we found Iwano, so that means I’m still leading, not you!”

“When we get out of here alive, I’m gonna—”

“Stop, both of you!” Braeburn snapped. “If we keep fighting, we’re more lost than us here already.”

“Morning Leaf, can you fly now?” Film Reel asked. “You’re healing yourself somehow, right? Maybe you’re back’s okay now for you to fly up so we can find Ponyville.”

I unfolded and stretched my wings, expecting it to electrocute my nerves in pain. Instead, I felt fine. “I’m goin’ up, guys,” I said. “You all stay together and call me if Pinkie Pie’s coming. I’ll be back fast.”

I shot up and went aloft in the middle of the dark sky. I scanned my farther surroundings, luckily, I found Ponyville in no time—it was north to where we were now.

An earsplitting scream forced me to descend for my friends.

As I landed, Caramel was being pulled by a pink licorice rope from the dark forest patch of our right by his hind hooves as my Party Ripples tried to pull him back—a tug of war.

I gritted my teeth and aimed my horn to where the rope was from. Finally, I was able to shot a beam, but nothing happened.

“What’re you doin’, Morning?” Braeburn asked frantically while he pulled hard with his teeth.

“I-I thought maybe I can shoot Pinkie Pie to—”

“Pinkie Pie?!”

“Worry not, I’m gonna shoot again—!”

A single knife rained down in front us which startled my friends, causing them to accidentally release Caramel to the pink licorice rope as he was pulled in rapid speed.

“Caramel!” Apple Fritter cried out.

“We gotta go get ‘im!” I said, and we ran to save our friend.

All we heard was his screaming as we went deeper into the Everfree Forest. Here, it became darker and dimmer for us to see, but we kept venturing on. I had to say it.

“Guys, remember that slash carving back when we saw it on that tree?” I asked. “That was obviously Pinkie Pie telling us who she was going to kill—and her first victim’s Caramel!”

“Oh, whoa, that ain’t good at all,” Noteworthy said. “I just hope we can save him in time—whoa!”

We stopped in this horrific sight.

Lying on the ground bruised up with his hooves all tied up together with the same pink licorice, Caramel’s neck had been slit and stuck with six knives, and his eyes opened wide dirtied with more blood. What caught my breath was his mouth filled with carrots. This gruesome sight was enough to make me vomit.

Biting my tongue, I held back a scream. I’ve faced these things all the time in my adventures, I reminded myself in thought. Stay strong, be brave, Iwano. We have to get outta here, and I promise to fix everything.

I slowly said, “…Carrot Top’s next.”

As I said it, the mare with a carrot cutie mark hyperventilated. “I’m gonna d-d-die?!”

“No you’re not!” I promised. “Come on, we have to keep moving!”

“But I don’t wanna leave Caramel behind—!”

“Golden Harvest, Pinkie Pie’s gonna kill us all if we prolong our stay in this forest! I promise to fix all this once Pinkie Pie’s done!”

“How, Morning Leaf?! How can you save us?!”

“First: We’ll get out of here alive; second: This was all my fault, so I have to face Pinkie Pie soon; and third: I’m an Alicorn, I can do anything.”

“Then fix everything!”

She was beginning to vex me. “Just to let you all know, my magic sometimes doesn’t respond to me if I don’t feel well. In other words, my magic’s weird! In the meantime, I feel it’s gradually coming back, but that doesn’t mean I can fight her right now. Trust me and I promise I’ll get Caramel back. Now—move!”

We ran again, but this time I was leading. I didn’t wanna fly ‘cause Pinkie Pie might easily get all of them, so I had to protect them even if I’d to conjure a little shield to fend off from sweet ropes to sharp blades.

Fortunately, besides my magic was gradually returning, I felt my Aura senses kicking in again. My Aura senses could also read people/ponies emotions or hearts, but that would also drain me.

So, I quickly glanced at my friends, and read theirs.

All of them were horrified at heart. Despite Braeburn, Apple Fritter, Noteworthy and Berry Punch had serious expressions being worn, their hearts were in fear. Gizmo, Daisy, Film Reel, Rose were all doing their best to hold back their terrified emotions. Carrot Top just wept, obviously at the thought of losing Caramel. I guessed ponies in Equestria weren’t used to these things, especially the gruesome. When I saw them horrified at the sight of a bloody Caramel, they were like five-year-olds who saw a brutally murdered friend for the first time that traumatized them for life. Maybe losing loved ones wasn’t easy in this world, despite the fact that MLP was a kiddy girl’s show. Unlike them, I wasn’t frightened at all…Okay, maybe just a pinch.

I, on the other hand, was used to seeing people, friends, and loved ones dying in my adventures, because Lentae and I, and some other properties and beings in Imaginundia, had solutions to deaths, but all had a cost (Of course, because they were all involved life). But losing them did hurt as well, which could cause a variety of powers or modes to trigger within me. I’d to prevent any more deaths tonight, albeit it was just one. Caramel’s death cracked something in my heart. I didn’t want to trigger anything within for they were mostly bad—very bad.

In general, I had to protect my Party Ripples and myself through all this in any possible way.

Rose suddenly had left behind because of a rustling bush. Curious, she slowly approached it, only about to be mauled by Pinkamena. Fortunately thanks to my Aura senses sharpening up, I turned in a drift and quickly blasted the pink mare away before her knife sunk into Rose’s eyes.

I teleported Rose to my side as we all continued running and scolded, “You should never stop! Anything strange around us, that’s Pinkie Pie!”

“Let’s all brave out of here, partners!” Braeburn cried out.

When he said that line, I felt my heart unfurling its wings that brought me more courage to bring us to safety and determined to face Pinkamena—my pink mistake. I would never forget what he said, ever.

My Aura senses sparked, and I looked back. My heart withdrew. My face drained out of some hope.

“Morning, what’s wrong?” Carrot Top asked as everypony followed my gaze. “Three Pinkie Pies?!”

I never realized how strong my pink lightning from my Bolt Wing fiasco had caused the pink mare not to have just incredible psychotic speed and gruesome thirst for blood, but somehow able to split into three. It was bad enough for me that she could defy logic, but that already crossed my line.

My dream is coming true, I thought.

And all your Party Ripples will inevitably die, another voice spoke in my racing mind.

Suddenly, a Pinkamena caught up, and lassoed Carrot Top by the neck. Everything went deaf for me as we stopped and I blasted at the pink clones haphazardly. I guessed they were smart, because one Pinkamena blocked all my beams with a pink frying pan—that was obviously from her saddlebag—as the second one pulled a struggling Carrot Top, and the third one was slashing away at my friends but seemed to have no intentions of killing them since she moved flamboyantly with three knives.

Too late, the orange-colored mane mare had her face feasted by her puller. Soon, the other Pinkamena joined in, eating Carrot Tops face out.

“Carrot!” Berry Punch cried out as she lunged towards them, but Braeburn and Apple Fritter stopped her before she became the next dish.

Why was I feeling so useless, no urge to fight them and stupid? What took my magic so long to restore and my reflexes to stretch back?

There was nothing I could do now, but Carrot Top’s lost boosted me to get us out here more and at the same time stab my heart to see my friend eaten.

“Let’s keep moving!” I hollered. “Berry Punch, don’t worry, everything’s gonna be fine in the”—a bunch of grapes and a strawberry fell right in front of me—“RUN!”

As we continued running, I quickly glanced at everypony’s face again. Their faces thickened probably to endure another friend’s death, but behind their eyes, they were mourning and crying in fear. Berry Punch broke into tears as she kept moving faster. What if that other voice was right, that all their deaths were inevitable? And I bet that was Dissonance speaking.

Another knife flew passed my face from our left, but we were unfazed as I read their minds, they all knew they had to brave on and stay strong albeit two ponies died.

The Pinkamena’s were probably getting tired of chasing us, so they lassoed each and every one us by our neck and dragged us separately from each other.

They were so illogically fast, so eager to—this was getting out of hoof. I had to do something, so I snapped my licorice rope and flew free. Knives passed by almost hitting my wings. I gritted my teeth in disgust, so sick of all of this macabre, that I blasted out a golden beam unto where that Pinkamena was shooting. Exhumed out of a small crater from the explosion my beam made, the Pinkamena clone was vaporized, according to my Aura senses.

I nodded in satisfaction, and dashed off to find my other Party Ripples, if there were any of them left. Since there were multiple licorice ropes that had dragged us and we were nine left, there were—deducting the one I vaporized—eight clones. They were certainly better than my two clones.

My Aura sense then picked up on Berry Punch. I sped up and landed in a flash, only to find—

“A lake of blood,” I whispered. I knitted my brows skeptically. “Wait a sec. again, this is illogical. How could there be a bloody lake in the middle of this Everfree Forest, huh? And…” I shuddered and gulped as if I swallowed a knife. “Berry Punch is in there…?”

“What do you think?”

Frantically turning to my behind, my horn glowed as I prepared myself. Pinkamena was just a few feet away from me, and I couldn’t feel that gruesome aura from her.

“That’s just red wine, silly,” the psycho said. “Berry had fun swimming. Maybe you should go for a dip, okay—?”

I immediately blasted that Pinkamena into oblivion. She was a clone, which was why I couldn’t feel that aura. If it were the real one, she’d be unaffected.

After that, I conjured a bubble helmet for myself and dove down into the wine lake. All I could see were red alcohol through the dimness of this lake until I found her deep down when I enhanced my vision. This wine was so dense I could barely propel my wings to push me down harder; luckily I was near her now so I used my magic. When I did, I couldn’t seem to pull Berry Punch to me. I scanned her and saw a licorice rope tied around her left hind leg unto an anchor. I beamed the rope, freeing my friend.

I was seriously getting sick of that color, including everything about this.

Before I surfaced, I checked her pulse. Dead.

A few minutes later, I shot out of the lake with Berry Punch on my back. I landed slowly, popped my helmet, and gently placed her down. I shook myself of this wine like a dog.

I speculated that while Pinkamena I blasted pulled her to this location, she tied the other end of her rope unto an anchor she obviously popped out of her saddlebag, and then pushed that heavy metal which drowned Berry Punch.

I felt my heart began to crack. All my Party Ripples didn’t deserve to be in this bloody mess. But I swore I’d fix everything, definitely.

“I’ll come back for you,” I promised to the mare. “I’ll return for you all, as soon as I finish what I’ve started, and take all of them down and the real deal down.”

Next, my Aura senses picked up Gizmo Poindexter as I flew for him. I enhanced my hearing—his pulse was rapid, and his life was about to cut in any second, and he cried out, “Please, no! I’m too nerdy to die! I haven’t even had a girlfriend yet!”

When I arrived, I was again too late. Pinkamena was that fast for the kill. I cursed myself for being too slow.

My shame of transforming Pinkie Pie into that psycho must had definitely affected my emotions, which were connected to my combat reflexes, speed, and more importantly my magic.

I then realized of my weakness in this equine world…

Gizmo Poindexter was hung on a tree’s gnarled branches with that licorice rope, and his saddlebag was opened on the ground, scattering his research equipment like a calculator, papers, pencils, et cetera. His glasses were broken through with his braces, which were ripped out of his salivating teeth, stabbed into his bleeding right eye.

Seeing this sight made me sicker than that time when I drank milk tea mixed with hot sauce, soy sauce, maple syrup, barbecue, vinegar, mayo, gravy, horse radish and guacamole to gross out my friends for them to give up my Extreme Gear—a hover board.

I then spotted a not pinned on his stomach. I levitated to me and read: “They should not have come, but at least they had fun. You’ll have more fun with a knife in your neck.”

A knife was half an inch from my neck as it flew passed me. I quickly turned and deflected the incoming onslaught of blades with my hooves. Although my magic wasn’t completely back yet, the cold shudders from my spine from the first time I met Pinkamena melted away and gave back my combat reflexes to defend, and fight physically—and I was surprised I still had it despite my other abilities affected!

I charged straight to Pinkamena while dodging her knives, which were all close to hitting any part of my body. And then I gave a drifting low sweep as I passed her, tripping the psycho down on her back, and dealt her with a somersault kick down to her stomach.

Finally, I quickly stood and blasted her into oblivion.

I turned to Gizmo hanging and threw a knife I picked from the ground at his rope, freeing him—but not from death.

I sighed grievingly at the nerdy corpse. Apparently Gizmo didn’t stand a chance because of his feeble appearance and built. Pinkamena didn’t want any survivors, but where was Luna? I prayed to Celestia that she undefeated and was searching for us.

There was no time to wait for her, ‘cause these clones might possibly go town if left unstopped.

Fortunately, my wounds were finally healed, as I flew away for the next killer. After this pink nightmare, I’d probably collapse. Despite all the deaths that were keeping me up, frankly I felt slight drowsiness. I should have stocked up some coffee patches before I left Imaginundia. Heh, I was forgetful, as usual. Did I have some now? Maybe not.

My ears suddenly stung by a bloodcurdling scream as I stopped. It was everywhere.

“Dang it, is that one of the mares?!” I asked myself as I covered my ears. It was like my head was about to explode!

Aura senses came through this screech as I pinpointed Noteworthy’s position. So, he was gonna get killed next? And whatever made that eardrum-bleeding sound must be his requiem.

I conjured tight, yellow ear muffs from—I never knew I had them—my saddlebag as I flew to my friend’s location.

As I landed, Pinkamena suddenly stabbed my back. A small scream escaped my mouth by pain. I countered with a kick—the way horses did in Reality—turned, and then again blasted her into oblivion. I knew it was a clone, but where was the real one?

I ran to Noteworthy, who was tied up with that same sweet pink rope and gagged with a cupcake, and surrounded by towering speakers. What else could Pinkie Pie’s new saddlebag provide besides an unlimited supply of knives and licorice, an anchor, and speakers? Getting a headache from curiosity of that illogical pony was painful than literally getting stabbed in the back.

Spotting a small box connected to all the speakers, I pulled the knife out of my back sharply with magic and threw it at the source, shutting down the whole sound system.

Poor Noteworthy was curled up in fetal position while shivering, closing his eyes tightly and covering his ears firmly. Thank Celestia I was able to save at least one.

I removed the cupcake from his mouth and uncovered his ears with magic, and said to him in comfort, “Noteworthy, this is Morning Leaf. It’s all gone, buddy.”

He shot up with a panting start, but quickly recovered when he saw his Alicorn friend. I smiled happily to see one Ripple alive.

“Morning Leaf!” Noteworthy cried out as he hugged me tight. “I’m so very glad to see—”

“No time for that,” I urgently said as I pushed him away. “We need to find the others.”

“Um, y-yeah, let’s go—whoa!”

I levitated him with me as I flew. Noteworthy frighteningly flailed for a few seconds, and then calmed down into fear in his eyes. I doubted he’d get over this whole predicament.

Worry began to settle in. Thoughts stacked up in my head that Noteworthy couldn’t survive with me. Pinakmena was a savage killer, relentless to kill the Ripples and me. Thus I had to keep my friend safe…

“Meet me by the forest’s exit,” I said. “Just stay put, and no Pinkamena would kill you. Understand?”

“What do you mean, Morning?” he asked. “But we your friends have to—”

I teleported him away immediately—I couldn’t risk losing another one.

Caramel, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, and Gizmo—I only had five left, with one teleported.

My enhanced hearing sensed kicking, throwing and swinging before my Aura senses could pick it up. It looked like, and proud to feel, that somepony was fighting back very well.

No time to waste, I had to lend that Ripple a hoof.

By the time I’d arrived, I gasped in surprise. Braeburn and Apple Fritter were against only one Pinkamena. I had to say, the tow Apples made an impressive duo together.

Pinkamena was facing a flurry of punches with follow ups of strong quick applebucks against a combatant Apple Fritter. Whenever the psycho brought out knives from her saddlebag, from a distance, Braeburn adroitly shot horseshoes from his own saddlebag, preventing her from using her blades against his cousin. The Apple family were simply amazing, especially these two.

“That’s awesome!” I commented as I prepared my aiming stance. “Finish her off, Apple Fritter!”

Braeburn blinded Pinkamena with a shot in the eyes, making her shriek and unbalanced as Apple Fritter finally knocked the pink with an applebuck-uppercut which sent her opponent flying.

In midair, I blasted the clone into nothing.

When the tow Apples saw me, they ran and gave their Alicorn friend a doubled bearhug.

“We’re happy to see ya safe’en sound, Morning!” Apple Fritter happily exclaimed as she and Braeburn released me. My neck had hurt a little.

“Wait, if you two dealt with that Pinkie Pie, where’s the other one?” I asked.

“I’d managed to lose her, Morning Leaf,” Braeburn proudly replied. “She was darn faster than me, but I outsmarted her.”

I sighed. “That’s great; Braeburn, but soon she’ll find you. I’m guessin’ the one I vaporized was Apple Fritter’s. Now, I’ll have to teleport you both out of this forest’s exit. You’ll meet Noteworthy there.”

“No way we’re gonna let ya do this alone, ‘cause we’re helpin’,” Apple Fritter insisted. “As Apples, we stick together, the pony way!”

That line reminded me of a song from an episode. “I’m doing that for your own safety. Gizmo, Carrot Top, Berry Punch, and Caramel are gone. I saw how the two of you handled that Pinkie Pie—that was a fake—exceptionally, but I’m uncertain neither of you would survive with me. It’s best my surviving Apples stay out of this, okay, okay?”

“Not a chance, Morning Leaf!” Apple Fritter retorted, which flinched me. “I know this is all you fault so you’ve to fix everything, but to prove there’s ponies who still likes ya as a friend after all you’ve done, we’ll help ya! I’ll even sacrifice my life for ya right now!”

I couldn’t find the right words. “A-Apple Fritter, don’t be so—”

“No! If you like it or not, me and Braeburn are staying with ya—look out!”

The stubborn Apple pushed Braeburn and I aside as she took three knives to the neck. A Pinkamena jumped out of a bush from hiding and sprinted to the last Apple with a knife with her mouth.

Braeburn was too hestitant to prepare a horseshoe, so I vaporized the clone before she stabbed my friend’s chest.

Before he knew it, I teleported Braeburn to the forest’s exit.

I stared at the dead mare. Apple Fritter should have listened to me, but instead had her like taken by triple blades. But she cared for the Alicorn who began this instead of herself.

“You death along with the others will all be avenged, dear Apple Fritter,” I promised, and flew away.

Cold anger slowly developed within this Alicorn’s heart as all these deaths had boosted his determination, and one of my modes was ready soon under the full moon.

I used my Aura senses, and I picked up Daisy and Rose running together away from the clones who feasted on Carrot Top. I had to move fast! I would not let anypony die!

Above them, I blasted the clones one by one, and now one left.

The last Pinkamena blindingly threw a knife targeting Rose, but I alarmingly conjured a shield behind my friend. That killer was a few feet away from them but catching up fast.

Suddenly, Film Reel came out of a bush and jumped in Pinkamena’s way. I thought she was crazy that I had to protect her too, but cleverly, she blinded the pink pony with the flash of her camera.

After I turned the Pinkamena into oblivion, I had teleported Film Reel, Daisy, Rose, and I outta here.

The girls were so relieved to see me and each other that they gave me a bearhug again.

I though this whole nightmare would almost be over with only half of the Ripples alive. However, my hopefulness shattered again when Noteworthy was lying on the ground profusely bleeding as Braeburn, covered in small cuts, defended against another stupid Pinkamena.

I’d take a twenty-four hour sleep after I woke up from collapsing if I were to survive this.

The mares huddled in fear as I told them after I levitated them into a bush, “Stay out of sight, girls. We’ll handle this!”

I tackled the Pinkamena in a dash and blasted her into oblivion. Two more came out from the forest and both blindingly shot the girls of where they hid. How many more of these stupid clones were there, and how in Equestria did they know where the girls were?!

Braebrun gasped as I charged with my glowing horn to one clone, which disappeared when touched in contact with it. My Apple friend threw a lot of horseshoes rapidly at his pink opponent that she had difficulty defending with just one knife and prevented her from getting any more.

I nodded at Braeburn’s scene and went to check the mares. Daisy and Rose were lucky. Film Reel was unlucky.

“Thank Celestia you two are still alive,” I relieveingly said as I stood them up.

“Where’re the others?!” Rose frantically asked. “Don’t tell me they’re—”

“Yes, they are gone,” I snapped. “I’ll have to end this once and for all.”

I lasted the clone with a jerk.

Braeburn, sweaty and exhausted, joined in and said, “Noteoworthy didn’t make it…I’m sorry, partners.”

My three Ripples sulked for the horrible fates of our fellow Earth ponies. Reading their emotions, they were rather dead within for those lots.

My eyes lit in alarm as the full moon had shown. “Where is the real Pinkie Pie…?”

Hoof steps and groans huddled my friends to me as a shadowy figure emerged from the Everfree Forest. She finally showed up, but with a gift.

The real Pinkamena—strong to our surprise—walked towards us with a bruised and bleeding Princess Luna with licorice rope tied unto her neck as she was being pulled. The princess was barely conscious with her eyes weakly open and blood dripping from her mouth as she agonizingly groaned.

The Princes of the Night had fallen to the hooves of Pinkamena the Pink Psycho.

“I can’t believe it…” I whispered. “Pinkie Pie defeated her…?

This was unbelievable to all of us, but at least Luna was still alive. If Celestia were here, I bet she’d go nuts or more probably grieve.

I took a deep breath and told my friends, “Nopony must do anything and stay hidden—I mean it firmly this time.”

There were no objections this time, so I walked towards Pinkamena as my friends hid in a bush. I felt so tired, but I had to end this. I forced down my shame and sadness to make path for my magic returning, though it made m heart heavier like its weight was six Bulk Biceps ponies.

Pinkamena tied Luna to a nearby tree, my surviving Ripples hid safely this time, and I was facing off the real deal. Ponyville was a mile away from here.

Moonlight lit brighter, giving us all sight to each other.

“Pinkie Pie,” I said. “If you can hear me within that unstable mode of yours, please listen. Remember when I was in semi-Dissonance state and struck you with pink lightning twice? It had caused you to turn into that state—by increasing frustration from my clones, and me hurting your feelings. This was my entire fault that I didn’t sink in deeper the Laughter you gave me, thus I must stop you. As the ruler of Imaginundia, my magic is unimaginably powerful…only when my emotions are stable and controlled, which is right now. In my kingdom, I watch the night with my sister, and I’m in a big advantage during that time, especially under the full moon.

“I’m so scared,” Pinkamena muttered as she brought out a knife. “After all this, the party would soon be over, and I’d to invite more from Ponyville to join in to keep it going~!”

“You will be the first,” I continued, “to face one of my powers. My citizens in Imaginundia called me during this time”—instead of golden yellow, my eyes glowed cobalt blue as the night sky—“the Prince of The Night!!!”

It had been a long time since I’d entered my “Night Prince” mode—a state whereas I gained night-related abilities only during the night of the full moon, and I only activated this for emergencies or as a last resort. However, like all other Heroes and Villains who had powerful modes, there was a catch: Once my mode activated, a blue circle appeared in my watch, indicating ten bars representing energy. When all bars were depleted: Normal mode and I’d definitely collapse—in other words, this blue circle was a timer.

“Prince of The Night” was my title known to me by my subjects in the night for I’d often done my missions or adventures in that time; I watched over my city/kingdom in the darkness; and I’d often appear during that time, too. It sounded like Batman, but I was cooler than him in many ways.

My horn and watch glowed as it produced black smoke that entirely covered me. Pinkamena sprinted towards me as she prepared her knife to slash while she threw more from her saddlebag. But the blades were deflected as if they hit another metal.

When Pinkamena stabbed the black cloud, a burst of azure blew her away. She made an aerial recovery, and gasped to see a different Iwano Imagination—in armor.

I was now clad in light, metallic cobalt blue armor hued as the dark night, decorated with stars that glistened against the moonlight. My helmet was themed as the moon with crescent moons on each side of my jaws as if they were tusks. I emitted an aura that could be seen in the colors of azure and cobalt in ethereal form. I was calm with glaring eyes that changed from golden yellow into brilliant azure from my transformation.

Pinkamena trembled in fear, dropping the knife from her mouth as she crawled away while her eyes were locked with my icy Glare.

In the bushes, the Ripples shivered and kept warm by rubbing. As they exhaled, cold carbon dioxide came out.

“That’s amazing h-h-how Morning t-turned into that,” Rose said. “But w-why did the air s-suddenly bec-c-came cold?”

“Maybe it h-has somet-t-thing to do with Morning Leaf,” Daisy guessed.

“Please be quiet,” Braeburn hissed, unbothered by the cold. “We don’t wanna get caught by Pinkie Pie, right? Besides, we’re about to watch a show here, partners.”

“How come you ain’t feeling cold?” Rose asked.

“Maybe living in Appleloosa made this pony’s fun warm even in these temeperature.”

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Daisy said.

Luna was still unable to move her hooves, but her eyes flickered open and saw me in my form.

Her eyes widened in great fascination as she musingly thought, The Prince of The Night is what his subjects known him in his kingdom at night? Iwano Imagination, what great mystery art thee shrouded within thy power? Are we…alike?

A knife and green horn clashed as the grotesque pink mare pushed against the now nightly green Alicorn. We exchanged simultaneous blows that produced sparks that echoed in our surroundings. Pinkamena might thought one knife in her mouth wasn’t enough against me, so held two more from her saddlebag. Her swings were so haphazard that I couldn’t get a clear blow with my magic without being distracted or slashed in the eyes. Pretty soon, she stood on her hind legs like that of a human, with such agility with swift swings from her knives.

Her movement was even quicker than my friend Lass Isolet, the Thief, a member of Grand Chase, and the half-brother of Lupus Wilde. My pink lightning must had also enhanced her speed, which was obviously bad if she weren’t a psycho.

All I’d done was defending while she was going offensive. I had to turn the tables before my mode drained.

I repelled her with force that I pushed her far enough from me to do this—

“What are you doing?” Pinkamena demanded.

I replied by rearing, and then slammed down my horn, freezing the ground into a mini ice rink that unbalanced Pinkamena while I maintained balance. I must thank Candice—Gym Leader of Snowpoint City, Sinnoh region—for teaching me how to skate, for I wouldn’t do some tricks unto my wobbling opponent.

In the episode Winter Wrap Up, Pinkie Pie knew how to skate. However, Pinkamena didn’t know how despite being the unstable state of the original, which gave me more advantages in this battle.

I skated towards her skidded her down and fell. As she recovered, I conjured long icicles above her, which fell and formed an ice cage. Skating around her in gladness, I hoped she’d given up. But I was wrong.

She took advantage of the slipperiness by spinning around—and shot knives everywhere like a twister. My heart raced as stopped and conjured a magical shield for myself, the Ripples, and Luna. Alright, maybe she still had brains.

Suddenly, one of the knives came through my shield, and shot me by my armor and exposed parts.

“How in Great Hoole did that happen?” I asked myself as I shielded with my hooves instead. I quickly glanced at the others whom I protected. Surprisingly, they were unscathed by the blades—so how come I was the only on now getting unscathed?!

As Pinkamena crushed her icy prison while still spinning, it was time for me to use my ace weapon and its skills.

“Chain Whip!” I cried out as I swung my head, and a chain slowly glowed out my horn. I whipped down Pinkamena, wrapped my chain around her neck, and smashed her down into the icy ground.

My chain was connected to my horn, dangling and transparently glowing.

“Had enough?” I demanded with a stomp, and then levitated my chain up in preparation.

Pinkamena shot up in a rapid-wheel somersault while shooting knives directly at me.

“Shell Shock!” In mere seconds, I was protected in a dome made entirely out of chains bursting from the ground around me from the blades. I then used my Aura senses to track her movement down since I couldn’t see through this—she ran towards my dome.

That idiot had no idea why my “Shell Shock” was also capable of besides protection.

“Chain Whip” and “Shell Shock” were moves of my ace ability as an Imaginundian—“Chains of Life” was my ace ability. It was an ability based on my life on the line with chains from my heart and power. In Night Prince Mode, Chains of Life was changed into its nightly form meaning they were turned silvery white as the moon above, absorbing the moonlight into strength of my own. However, the downside of my ace ability was that if I held any sad, hurt or shameful emotions, I’d lose power despite the moonlight shining in this time.

I felt extreme shame right now which was masked with my determined eyes to win.

When she pierced my metal shield, ten thousand volts surged through her nerves. Anypony who touched my Shell Shock, would only result in pain and total paralysis.

“Alright, time to finish her off,” I said. “Now she’s certainly paralyzed, I think a few ‘Crescent Clashes’ would do the trick—what?!”

Pinkamena able to rip apart one of my most defensive moves was one trick I’d never forget. “Relentless” was definitely one of the words that suited her, especially when it came to this intense metallic dome of electricity.

At that moment, my eyes stopped glowing. That was bad.

“Zoo-wee-mama, you’re tough!” I cried out as she ripped my shield with her teeth with such rabid speed.

I’d to retreat and thought fast, so I dispersed my chains back to the ground and skated away in a start.

“She’s immune to paralysis,” I noted while dodging knives. “So let’s try freezing.”

Before she lunged to me, I yelped again, fell down on my back and instantly stopped with my horn glowing. Anf then blasted her with a blue beam that froze her motionless—‘Ice Beam’. Since I was in Night Prince, my ice based skills and attacks were enhanced.

“You’re one tough cookie to bite,” I said as I stood and examined the frozen Pinkamena. “But at least, you can give me some break.”

I glanced at my watch—three in the morning, 72% energy left. Whne I raised my head to look at her, I was face to face.

Startled, I whipped her away in a sharp lash. And that was stupid, ‘cause that freed her. Glob, I thought that was clever of her, but how did she thaw her head?!

Pinkamena produced her party cannon from her saddlebag. I thought she’d fire at me, but instead fired at the sky. Why would she—?

When I enhanced my vision at the sky, I was ready to conjure a barrier to protect myself when Pinkamena shot my legs with knives, disabling my movement to dodge due to the deepness of the wounds.

Distracted from the pain, I was rained down with blades. Despite with armor, the knives somehow had hit my exposed parts.

I felt vertigo the moment I fell to the ice. I couldn’t believe she was this quick, relentless, smart, and dangerous that even in this form she could outmatch. I thought I was losing my edge as a powerful leader—a Hero, rather. Maybe my pink lightning must have made Pinkamena a formidable opponent—more formidable than my past enemies. My Aura senses might’ve been surpassed by her unnatural speed.

“I won, you lost~!” Pinkamena mockingly said as she skated to me—she must’ve had learned fast. “It was really fun…Before we become friends, any last words?”

The pain in my body was very excruciating as if there were knives digging themselves in my nerves and into my heart and muscles, but I kept silent. But I being the reason this entire stupid predicament had all happened and Pinkie Pie transformed into Pinkamena…was agonizing enough in my heart.

Thus, I cried.

“I’m so sorry,” I weakly said as tears streamed down. “I should be the one to apologize, and I should’ve accepted your whole party. I’m sorry I didn’t accept your Laughter for I hated it. I’d to admit, you are annoying and stupid. I just realized that you were doing your best to brighten my spirit. Alas, I’d turned it down due to my seriousness…I’m sorry, Pinkie Pie…”

Pinkamena was just staring at me as she held her knife up. Through my flooded eyes, I could see the real Pinkie Pie…within those bloodshot eyes of the gruesome.

A teardrop fell unto my cheeks.

I gasped. When I looked at Pinkamena, she sniffed and cried uncontrollably all of a sudden. Falling on her back and dropping her knife, I slowly pulled out the knives on me as she curled up shakily.

“Friend!!” Pinkamena shrieked hoarsely. “All I wanted was to make you happy! I even wanna be your friend! I even made you a gift! You thought everything I’d done was a waste of time?! You hated it! Just…Just…Just DIE!!!”

Pinkamena jumped high into the air, and produced from her saddlebag a knife six times larger and longer than all the others she’d used. As she descended down, she directly pointed her weapon at me. She yelled, “We’ll both finally be friends, Iwano!!!”

Searing from excruciation, my wounds had totally rendered my movements limited. Absolute sadness had faded my accumulated magic. Vertigo took my head over completely. I was totally useless.

This was really it. I closed my teary eyes. Once I was done for, the results of my mission in Equestria would be a bum. I’d fail.

Knife impact in three…

Two…

One…

SHIINGG!!!

What was that? I thought. My eyes flickered open, and I was agape.

Blood dripped on my body as Luna shielded me with hers from Pinkamena’s knife piercing through the princess’s back. What the…?

The princess gritted her teeth. “Thou must not let thy mistakes including sadness consume thy heart,” Luna said. “Through thy agonizing voice, thou hath learned to accept Laughter for it is lacked in thy heart.” She grunted in pain. This was too much even for a princess like her. “Night Prince, do not be afraid to accept dear Pinkie Pie. Thou require Laughter in thee in order to survive a cruel world of frowns—”

The pink pony swung her knife in a heave, throwing Luna away like garbage. My Ripples who were long hiding came to their princess with Braeburn supplying first-aid.

“Luna…protected me…” I whispered.

“What did you say?” Pinkamena demanded while the Ripples carefully carried Luna with their backs away from this frozen battlefield. “Oh, that moon pony? She’s such a butt-in, you know that?”

“There’s still hope to Laughter in me.” I smacked the psycho away with my chains. “There’s still hope for you, Pinkie Pie. I know you’re still in there. You’re just releasing all that sadness of yours as a form of horror.”

“You’re crazy~!”

“You’re crazier than all my moves.” I stood up straight despite my wounds burning. “But yeah, I am crazy—crazy enough to believe I could defeat such an interesting opponent like you.”

“Can I just kill you now so we can be friends?”

I grinned. “Let me be the first to make you my friend!”

Simultaneously, Pinkamena and I skated towards each other. Her big knife was drawn above her and I whirled my chain-horn.

Sparks flew as my silvery moon chain scraped against Pinkamena’s knife with a long lash. Once we were a few feet apart, I lashed out again with my chain against her, but she slashed it away with her weapon and began throwing knives again. I was now getting sick of knives. If that idiot could defend, I could, too—I swiftly whipped her knives away with a swing from my right foreleg’s chain.

Pretty soon, the green Alicorn struck away with his Chains of Life gleaming in the moonlight while gracefully defending against the corrupted pink pony’s onslaught of shining blades while slashing my attacks as if it were a serpent.

Luna’s words had given me courage, and the ignited thought of every ridiculous and happy act Pinkie Pie had done in the show wanted me to show my fun side soon. I shouldn’t be afraid of showing my gaiety and joyful side in front of my new friend. Sure I was a very serious guy, but I did have an unusual character hidden, too.

I wanted to end this right now!

Pinkamena dashed towards me and then slashed passed me, bleeding my right side. I stumbled, but shortly recovered and grabbed her with my chains wrapping her neck choking. I then pulled her and smashed her down back to where she stood.

Growling, she produced from her saddlebag her party cannon, targeted me and fired knives. I quickly conjured a barrier, deflecting the knives. I now fully produced chains out of both my forelegs and stood on my hind ones. Pinkamena did the same. With what was left with my magic, I instantly defrosted the ground dry.

Screaming, she ran towards me as she held her knife up. I sprinted, slid passed her, unnoticeably had a chain wrapped on her hind leg, jerked with a pull, and smashed her again over the air into the ground.

Pinkamena countered by spinning around, pulling me to a pink tornado. The moment I was closed to her, she stopped, stuck a cupcake in my eye, wrapped me up with my own chains fast, and threw me away far. Wow, that was good. Why did she throw me?

I was answered when I exploded.

Fortunately, my guts and blood didn’t splatter everywhere, but left my hearing deaf and my body aching. Unfortunately, Pinkamena wasn’t done yet.

Just like what I said, I was now getting sick of knives. I thought I was crazy, because I was happy Pinkamena hurtled cupcake bombs instead from her saddlebag.

Determination coursed little of my magic back into activation, allowing me to teleport in order to dodge the explosions. But I couldn’t get a clear shot of her due to Pinkamena’s quick bombing and my magic wasn’t fully ready yet.

Thus, I obscured myself a few feet away from my “friend” while I kept an eye on her. Whenever I teleported to dodge the bombs, I was amazed of how she knew where I was next. I had kinda thought she’d be psychic, too. However in a distance, she stopped hurtling and started sniffing her surrounding like a bloodthirsty wolf—and she was literally sniffing like one!

Dang, I was still bleeding and my regeneration was slow. I feared she could smell my blood from a mile like a great white shark.

Plans were hesitantly formulating in my head.

A light bulb then popped above my head lightning as an idea was finally made up—and I took the light bulb and stored it in my saddlebag. She wasn’t the only one who could break the fourth wall, but doing that lessened my energy a bit, which was stupid of me.

“Metal-conda.” I stomped with my foreleg’s left hoof.

A giant anaconda made entirely out of chains gave a surprise attack on Pinkamena as it had burst out of the ground below her nearly chomping her up but she dodged quickly unfortunately. My snake hissed grudgingly at her. The pony hissed back as she again dodged her new opponent’s strike. Their speed was easily matched, but I doubted Metal-conda would take her down.

Nearby Pinkamena, I had teleported behind her. I stealthily approached her with a crescent blade that appeared and attached itself with my right foreleg’s chain. The plan was inexplicably ruined when Pinkamena sliced through Metal-conda, causing its summoner to stumble and grunt sharply in pain.

Alarmed of my presence and finished with her unknown enemy, she turned and slashed me from my neck to my head which sent my helmet flying.

“You,” Pinkamena growled as she dragged her big knife along while she walked towards me with irritable eyes, “Iwano, now getting annoying!” She raised her knife up. “Just become my friend!”

I chuckled. I thought she was the only one annoying—

Pinkamena stabbed my chest…

Regaining consciousness but still defeated, Luna groggily stood up in great distress.

“Iwano Imagination,” she sobbed at the horrible sight. “No…”

Pinkamena jerked her head to the princess. Luna reluctantly stood in her stance to defend but was absolutely in no condition to somehow use magic and fight in her rugged stated.

The psycho removed her big blade from me and went to Luna. “Are you ready to celebrate next?” she asked. “Too bad you’ll be staying shortly, but I’ll make it memorable. Besides, there’re still more cupcakes to bake in Ponyville.”

“Ha…Ha-ha…Ha…Ha-ha-ha…”

Luna and Pinkamena’s eyes widened at the source of that laugh.

I shakily stood up bleeding as I began to laugh.

“What’s so funny?” Pinkamena demanded. “Wait, you lost! You’re not supposed to un-friend me! What’s so funny, Iwano?!”

Luna was terrified as though she saw a zombie stood up and laughed, but she couldn’t help but smile little at a strange kind of hope.

I smiled at my pink friend. “That actually tickles…Pinkie Pie…”

Pinkamena bellowed in rage as she produced a normal knife and threw it at my eye. Luna gasped in horror, but I didn’t fall.

I just laughed. I recalled all of Pinkie Pie’s goodness in every episode.

“Confidence and optimism gathering in my mind,” I said as pulled out the knife from my regenerated eye. “I’ll use my newfound Laughter to defeat you in my bind!”

I unexpectedly slashed her on the face with a whip from my crescent blade. Pinkamena quickly recovered and countered with a slash to my neck, but I just laughed it off and punched her on the face.

Chains popped out of the ground beside her and confiscated her weapons to the earth. But Pinkamena was able to slice off the one that tried to take her big knife. Luckily, her saddlebag was gone. I should’ve done that in the first place, but after experiencing her unpredictable speed in the pursuit I doubted a hundred more chains could confiscate her powerhouse.

I guessed my surprise come back must’ve melted her unpredictable speed away because she wasn’t going anywhere when I continuously whipped and slashed her with expertise.

“He is without a doubt marvelous below my moonlight despite the harshness he had obtained by Pinkie Pie,” Luna said as she backed away. “He is known as the Prince of the Night? He is mysterious than I could have imagined.”

“You’re right, Pinkie Pie.” Pinkamena had nowhere to avoid my chains as I laughed. “I just need a little—no, rather more Laughter—to last longer or stick with me like bubblegum when I’m gonna go through a harsh time in the future, so I can look back to the joyful past to cheer me on farther.” She was about to chomp me, but—“Chain Seal!” Metal wrapped up the psycho into a cocoon which covered everything of her except her head. “I’ve recounted all the good deeds you had done in your past—like helping Cranky Doodle Donkey, foalsitting the Cake twins, bringing Twilight and your friends through the Everfree Forest to find the Elements of Harmony, and more! I’ve now realized I’m having fun…Because the fun I love is an awesome fight with style and grace~!”

Pinkamena roared in anger as she struggled in her metallic trap.

“That gift wrapper is called ‘Chain Seal’—renders my foe immovable and disables his or her abilities or powers, but only for a very short time. In other words, I have to take you down now!!!”

I shot into the night sky in a flash. I jerked my forelegs wide to enhance the length of my chains. I formed up a U-formation with the moon behind me. My horn glowed brilliant azure, and my chains glowed in pristine silvery-white.

Luna held her breath. “That shape…That was in my dream…”

Wow, that was fast. My energy had gone down to 1%. I guessed all that fighting exhausted not only I but my Night Prince Mode.

“Under the moon,” I said, “your blackness in your heart shall be shrouded in the night’s blanket. Good night, Pinkie Pie…And I forgive you and myself, and thank you…”

In two sweeps of moon energy-filled chains that lashed her brutally, with a brilliant and shining azure beam blasted from my horn as a follow up…

Pinkamena was finally defeated.

Chain Seal released Pinkie Pie, my energy was timed-out, my armor disappeared, Luna was exasperatingly flapping her wings, I couldn’t hear what she said but the desperate look on her told me she wanted to save somepony…

And I collapsed from the sky, falling…

Chapter 17: Just Being a Pony

View Online

Iwano, you have gained Laughter. I am so proud of you. However, I am afraid to say that your quest is still a long way to go, such as Twilight’s path to her unknown worthiness. It was a harsh battle you had with Pinkie Pie, the Element of Laughter, who was corrupted by your magic—Dissonance’s magic, rather. It would have been worst if Dissonance took you over that time. I felt it from here, and it was very dark. I hope you learned from that gruesome experience, Iwano. You can show your true self now after all that. Do not be afraid to show your true colors. Loyalty and Laughter are actually the only ones you have obtained. Show your true colors, Iwano…
I had a slight headache. I gave out a loud yawn and stretched my forelegs out. Who was that anyway? I sat up.

When my vision cleared, I found myself in bed inside a room with blue walls, a window on my left, and a window with curtains covering it on my left, a table with chair on my north, and a door on my right.

The whole place was dim I could barely see any light switch, so I used my magic to open the window’s curtains. Suddenly, I remembered I could switch my vision into nocturnal.

It was revealed to be morning, and I realized today was Thursday—two days left before my deadline. I was running out of time, maybe.

“Where am I?” I asked myself as I looked around. “This ain’t Ponyville’s hospital for sure. Whose home am I in—ouch!”

My neck sharply ached. When I touched it, it was wrapped in bandages. I looked under my white blanket and touched my whole body, including my wings. I sighed. Only the parts Pinkamena wounded were bandaged.

Questions reeled in my mind. My hind hooves were tingling, which meant I was either excited or worried. I was definitely worried. At least I had Loyalty and Laughter. Ugh, that wasn’t enough. I thought I should do something to cool my anxiety.

Wherever my saddlebag was, I was very glad my magic returned, because I just teleported it right in front of me.

“Ayo, my amazing saddlebag~!” I greeted and gave it a hug. I was somewhat attached to it because I thought it had everything—well, rather almost everything.

I levitated out a paper and quill, and began writing a letter—

Dear Cynthia,

I’ve only obtained Laughter and Loyalty, and I only have two days left. I want you to tell Vetrix to extend my time here for another week as soon as possible. I know this would drain his power heavily since Equestria was accessed by my Forbiddens, but I’m pleasing you as my faithful assistant to find any available options even if it’s small.

I promise to return soon in time for preparations against the Elementals, with new allies upon my missions.

Sincerely your Leader,
Iwano Imagination

I’d rolled the paper, stowed away my quill, opened this room’s window with magic, and had sent my letter in flames. After that I hid my saddlebag under this bed.

“Everything’s gonna be all right,” I said with a smile. “Even though things are currently probably dreadful for me, I’ll soon fix it somehow.”

Feeling hopeful? Maybe you should look at the truth about yourself instead…

I frowned. Why wasn’t I surprised?

“I expected you to shut up for another day or rather forever, Dissonance,” I grumbled. “What are you going to rant about now, your failure? That would be good news to me.”

He chuckled. Nay, I miss you, even if it was just a day. How’s my happy challenge doing? Is she dead?

“I don’t know and I’m still gonna—wait, your challenged?”

I knew I wouldn’t possess you for long, so I had to make a substitute to carry on my bidding, your torment. Pinkie Pie was perfect since you despised her, thus I zapped her upon choice.

“You were behind all this?” I demanded. “You knew all this would happen? You stupid son of a Stoutland!”

Calm down, at least not all that was entirely my fault. You contributed to Pinkie Pie’s transformation with your clones.

“But I was unknown that that was the Mirror Pond. This was all your fault!”

Hey! I wasn’t the one who confessed that I hated Pinkie Pie from the very beginning I watched the show, Iwano. And you know it, you fool.

I winced. “Just…leave me be, Dissonance. I beg of you, please.”

Aw, but I just wanna have a chat. You’re lonely. Fine, I’ll leave you alone. However, influences will be spreading, causing unexpected events to turn on you for better or worst. Technically mostly for the worst.

“Just shut up!!!”

Control your temper, Iwano. I might not be able to control you at this time, but my influences and your temper would do my job.

I breathed calmly. “Leave me be now.”

…Fine, Iwano. Good luck with the citizens of Ponyville.

Silence finally took place.

I heavily sighed as I slumped down. After that whole pandemonium in Ponyville, there’d be no doubt the citizens would blame me for everything, including damages I’d caused in my sugar rush.

Despite beautiful morning shining through the window, frankly the day would be all about the green Alicorn being cursed and disgusted by the town ponies. The best option would probably be staying inside this house’s room.

To top it up, seven Earth ponies were dead. Their loved ones would have the greatest hatred towards me. Pinkie Pie never deserved a punishment, for I should. Braeburn, Rose and Daisy still alive wouldn’t be enough to cheer me.

I felt my heart weighing itself with all those misdeeds I’d really done. I covered my eyes with my foreleg’s hooves in despair. Everything was irreparable.

The door opened before I was able to cry. The mare of my dreams came in along with her friends, except the one I’d corrupted.

“Good morning, Iwano,” Fluttershy greeted with a saddlebag on her. “We’re here to check on your conditions and exchange your bandages. How are you feeling?”

“My wounds hurt a little,” I admitted. “But I’m okay, and alive. Why am I not in Ponyville’s hospital?”

“Some rooms in the hospital were wrecked—thank goodness Zecora’s wasn’t affected—during the whole party mayhem which had spread even there,” Applejack replied. “So we brought you here ‘stead. You took a heck lot of yourself just to bring Pinkie back, Iwano. Braeburn told us the entire story. And boy, Pinkie was horrifying.”

“Do you like your gift, darling?” Rarity asked. “Everything was furnished as an old-fashioned, everyday home just like everypony’s in Ponyville.”

I didn’t know if it were my wounds she talked about so I asked, “What do you mean, Rarity?”

“This whole house was built only yesterday by the town’s construction workers upon requested by Pinkie Pie.”

I blinked. “What the hay? This whole house is a gift for me from her?!”

“Indeed. You have no idea how much she had spent her salary she had earned in Sugarcube Corner. Be thankful she was very sweet to a newcomer like you.”

I felt a nail hammered into my heart. I was too judgmental of the party pony’s character.

Did I…kill her?

“Iwano, is there something bothering you?” Twilight asked.

I blinked again. “Sorry, Twilight, it’s just that—uh, um…”

“It is okay, Iwano,” Fluttershy said. “Whatever is bothering you, we your friends can really help. Don’t be afraid to share your feelings.”

“Even if they’re mushy we’ll still listen,” Rainbow Dash added, and pulled her tongue out in disgust, and she was afloat as usual. What a tomboy.

Ignoring the blue pony, the yellow pony had tugged my heart into sharing my feelings. I did need to weigh down my shame and sadness.

I sighed before I began. “Everything that had happened in the town party and the near destruction was my fault, everypony. You girls didn’t need to say it wasn’t, because it was. Honestly, I didn’t wanna party in the first place because I felt something might go wrong, which it had, but Pinkie Pie and Cheese Sandwich insisted. Nonetheless, everything was built up to that moment I’d insulted and told Pinkie Pie of how I’d felt about her. I hated your friend very much from the start, but that also meant I couldn’t accept Laughter until she was corrupted, which lead me to learn a lesson while fighting her. I like to take things seriously, by the way, meaning I wouldn’t kid around or join the fun. I rarely had fun in parties back in my kingdom, and I couldn’t remember the last time I’d party.

“And then there’s my hyperactivity. Another reason why I wanted to avoid my party was because of the sweets. Unlike the sweetness of fruits, those kinds of sweets make me go twisted. I hated Pinkie Pie even more when her crane dropped a giant cake all over me, causing me to accidentally eat the sugar frostings.” I sighed heavily. “Perhaps I was just jealous of her happiness. All I wanted was quietness, but that also meant I was too shy, boring and asocial. I sorta understand Pinkie Pie now: Laughter just wants to make me happy. Your friend might be annoying, but she knew how to cheer somepony up. It was just that I was blind to realize that. I deserve to be hated by the citizens for I‘d hurt their jester of happiness. It was all because of me I’d turned her into a monster. I caused damage to the town, not her! I’d put ten good ponies on the line for me! This was my fault! I’d killed her!!!”

Before I knew it, I broke down in tears. My heart hurt so bad I just couldn’t control my emotions. My mistakes were almost too unbearable, especially this one.

My mouth had let my heart talk. It was like I wanted to get Pinkamena’s big knife and stab myself. I cursed myself in thought, a part of me knew this was Dissonance’s fault too, but I couldn’t help blaming myself for the whole thing. Sure my dark element had caused the start of the party pony’s corruption during the second phase of the Bolt Wing, but I should’ve prevented it further by being optimistic about my party.

Suddenly, I wrapped in the shy pony’s forelegs. I gasped out of my tears, and then blushed hard with warm breathing. I wanted to slap myself if this were a dream—no it wasn’t.

“Pinkie said hugs are always nice,” Fluttershy said as she released. Are you feeling better now?”

I slowly nodded with shocked eyes. “I guess so. Thanks for the hug, my sweet.”

Fluttershy blinked. “Um, what did you say—?”

I pretended to laugh and grinned. “It’s nothing, Fluttershy!”

“Oh! I almost forgot. I have to change your bandages.”

“Iwano, we understand how you feel about your mistakes,” Twilight said while Fluttershy unwrapped the bandages around my neck, which slightly made me blush. “Not all of it was entirely your fault. I’ve remembered and scanned the turn of events between you in semi-Dissonance state and Pinkie Pie. It was your dark element’s fault in the first place since he struck her during the awarding in the Bolt Wing that would trigger her to becoming a monster. Of course also some part of it was your fault, too, but you don’t need to feel very bad about it. You’ve learned your lesson, right?”

“Yes, I did learn my lesson,” I replied as Fluttershy wrapped a new bandage around my neck.

“Then that would give you hope that things will turn all right in the end.”

“Yeah, you don’t need to be that harsh, Green Wing,” Rainbow Dash said. “And you didn’t kill Pinkie. She’s resting in Sugarcube, and her injuries were bad as yours. You did have to pummel her hard just to bring her back, huh? Pretty hard core if you ask me.”

“Thank Celestia she’s alive,” I sighed. “That’s good new I’d like to hear, coach.”

“Yeah…And when there’s good news there’s always—”

“Bad news, I get it.”

“Are you reading my mind again? ‘Cause that’s gonna be pretty—”

“Annoying.”

“Okay, okay, here’s the bad news. Yeah, Pinkie’s okay. While everything was back to normal for Ponyville, Spitfire came and was very mad about the damages you’d caused in the academy.”

I frowned. “What a downer, coach. And I was already happy Pinkie Pie is alright. What did you do, huh?”

“Read my mind, Green Wing.”

I followed, and I was agape with widened eyes. “You revoked yourself as a full-fledged Wonderbolt just for me to keep my membership?!”

My coach shrugged. “Being a Wonderbolt has always been my dream, but being one for a few hours was fine. I still feel kinda bad for entering you in the Bolt Wing because I was supposed to humiliate you in the first place, so I want you to experience being a Wonderbolt just for me. Is that okay with you?”

I felt a bit ashamed. “Sacrificing your dream occupation just for the one who nearly destroyed the academy almost makes no sense to me, coach. But I promise to be a Wonderbolt just for you.”

“Hey, I’m also doing that because you’re cool. I hate to admit, but you were awesome in the Bolt Wing’s Ace Thunderbolt. So the best deserve the best, as long as they’re worthy. At least I was ranked down to the Wonderbolt Reserves—not far from being an official Wonderbolt again, you know?”

“Rainbow Dash, the best flier in Equestria, admitted Iwano is better than her,” Applejack said as she giggled.

“Hey, at least I’m honest, AJ—!”

“Wait a sec,” I snapped. “What do you mean when you said everything was back to normal for Ponyville, Rainbow Dash? I thought the whole town was a wreck.”

“It was,” Twilight said. “And I thought this had your magic all over it, because the whole town fixed itself when the chaos diminished immediately.”

“I couldn’t even believe it myself,” Rarity said. “It was literally in the blink of an eye when everything instantly repaired itself. The more surprising was that the ponies Pinkie Pie had killed were resurrected.”

My widened my eyes even more. “Did I hear that correctly? The seven dead ponies were resurrected?!”

“Which I also believe had your magic all over, Iwano,” Twilight said as she rubbed her chin in thought. “Experienced Alicorns do have powerful magic beyond my extent. Though I am one, I’m still developing it in my castle.”

I remembered something else important. “Where’s Luna?”

The girls exchanged nervous glances which unnerved me. I didn’t like that.

“Princess Luna sustained wounds deeper as yours when Braeburn and the other surviving rescuers brought Pinkie Pie, her, and you back to town. That time, the ones killed were back to life. She was sent back to Canterlot to be further treated back to health under Princess Celestia.”

I sighed. “Alright, despite all that, I’m worried about Ponyville’s citizens hating me. Are we in Ponyville?”

“We’re in Ponyville,” coach replied as Fluttershy finished my bandages. “And a tiny bit hated you, but mostly everypony are afraid of you.”

I was deep in thought. “I’ll have to do something about that myself.”

“Dude, you love going solo,” Rainbow Dash guessed.

“You can say that,” I admitted. “How can you tell? You have a feeling?”

“You read my mind again apparently, and yeah.”

“New bandages are now applied,” Fluttershy said. “Can you try moving, Iwano?”

I raised my forelegs up in a stretch. Next, I stretched my hind legs, but suddenly stopped in grunt of pain.

“Oh my, I guess your legs aren’t better yet.” Fluttershy rubbed them. “You should stay in bed a little longer. If you’re feeling well now, feel free to visit any of us.”

“Since you know us too well, you obviously know where we live, Iwano,” Twilight said.

I chuckled. “Fluttershy lives in a cottage near the Everfree Forest, Rainbow Dash lives in a cloud house in the sky near Ponyville by a small hill, Applejack lives in Sweet Apple Acres just outside town, Pinkie Pie lives in Sugarcube Corner, Rarity lives in the Carousel Boutique just near town square, and Twilight lives in the Golden Oak Library, though you visit your castle sometimes.”

“By the way, when you cracked your skull during the Talent Phase of the Bolt Wing, you somehow healed yourself. Why aren’t you doing it right now?”

“Good question, I just don’t know. It’s like my healing has a mind of its own in seldom times.”

“Well, we gotta go now, Green Wing,” Rainbow Dash said. “We’ll be busy doing stuff, like I have weather duty.”

“I’m making orders for Sapphire Shores and Fancy Pants,” Rarity added.

“I’m going to Pinkie to check on her,” Fluttershy added.

“Applebucking on my list of chores,” Applejack added.

“And it’s gonna Twilight Time soon for the girls,” the young princess added.

“The Cutie Mark Crusaders,” I said in delight. “Those little fillies still under your tutelage, I see.”

“Not going to ask how you know our special Twilight Time, Iwano, but yes. Apple Bloom’s cousin Babs Seed is also joining, which would be more fun and appreciative for me to teach.”

I realized somepony was missing, besides Pinkie Pie. “Where’s Spike?”

The magenta pony gave out an annoyed look. “Spike’s looking out for Chrysalis and another newcomer in the library.”

“What newcomer? I thought I’m the only one new in town.”

“She’s unknown to me, even my books seems to have no answer to what kind of pony she is with so much tuff. If you’re fully well now, you can drop by the library and see if you know who this visitor is.”

Tuff? I thought. She sounds familiar with just that one word.

“Thanks for visiting me, girls,” I said. “And thank you for changing my bandages, Fluttershy. You are a kind pony, you little cutie.”

The Pegasus blushed and smiled. “I’m happy to help, Iwano.”

“Once you’re well, feel free to explore your gift before you enter Ponyville,” Rarity said as she waved her left foreleg in an arch. “This home you own is located on a hill leading a road down straight to Ponyville. Ta-ta, darling~!”

After they all bid me goodbye and closed the door, I did sharp brainstorming.

“Alright, the Mane Six all have stuff to do,” I said, “Everypony in Ponyville are mostly afraid of me, I now have a house so I need to keep it ‘living’, I need some stuff and food in this house, and I’ll have to be even friendlier in my true character. I think I only have one solution, which also involves socializing.”

I glanced at my watch—8:20 AM. I levitated out several blank fliers from my saddlebag under my new bed.

“I could never imagine such challenge that had been set upon Iwano Imagination, Luna,” Celestia said as she and her sister had a chat in the moon princess’s room. “But in the end, he had obtained thro the agony the Element of Laughter.”

“It was like a nightmare I could never control,” Luna said. She was heavily treated with bandages mostly on her back and her left hind leg covered in a cast. “Iwano’s dream in which I had entered had happened, and it was all over with collapsing success.”

Luna’s azure-colored room was wide and circular, with a domed roof decorated with stars, constellations—which provided light—and the phases of the moon chasing each other in a cycle. Cobalt walls were hung with shelves filled with books and picture frames whose appearances looked ancient yet remained visible and intact. The floor was tiled in a mosaic of the white full moon. At the center of the room was a circular cerulean bed where Luna was now with her elder sister sat down.

“I have no doubt Dissonance was behind all that game,” Luna spitefully said. “And I could not believe our mother had done to our most loyal and bold guards! But of course, she is a deity.”

“Indeed her power was beyond us, Luna,” Celestia agreed. “Fortunately, Shining Armor have casted a curse on dear Lauren, causing her to retreat for a long period of time. For now, rest easy for your duty I must temporarily take over.”

“Thank you, sister.” The night princess’s eyes were vacant as she stared at the pictures hanging on her walls. “Do you think our mother is actually trying to protect us all from him?”

“Iwano?” Deep in thought, the Celestia showed uncertainty in her face. “A part of me knew that Iwano must be helped from his evil power. Another part told me to surrender the newcomer to Lauren. Truly I want Twilight and her friends to guide him to something better. Still, don’t wish him to become a new threat as all the other foes we had encountered in the past.” This subject is uncomfortable, she thought. “Are you still bothered?”

“Bothered of what?”

“That dream you had a few moons ago.”

Luna scowled. “I do not wish to speak or remember that nightmare, dear sister. The thought of Iwano as that evil figure in my dream was too much to endure, despite that was actually Dissonance. Iwano and Dissonance…Are they but the same?”

“I don’t know,” Celestia admitted. “I am hoping to separate their individuality. Iwano I strongly believe is stronger than Dissonance after you have told me of his power last night. He was magnificent, as you said.”

Luna managed a smile. “Oh yes, he was. His oneness with the moon with his chains emitting such energy marveled me, and gave me newfound curiosity of who his identity. I also found his attacks beautiful under the moonlight’s rays, with eyne as brilliant as mine.”

“You seem to show some fascination towards him, and you said he called himself the ‘Prince of the Night’, is that correct? He might be entitled of that in his kingdom.” Celestia gave a curved smile. “You admire him, don’t you?”

Luna was moon-eyed as she blushed. “Not at all, dear sister! I still despise him for he was the cause of my nightmares!”

Celestia knitted her brows. “You still have nightmares of Iwano?”

Flames of Tartarus, Luna cursed in thought. She sighed and admitted, “Yes, I still have, but I still do not wish to speak of them. I have them almost every single time I have slept, and they torment me dream after dream. Standing against my nightmares of him is like Discord’s reign.”

“I understand.” Celestia rubbed Luna’s waving mane in comfort. “If you are curious of his identity, you can find something more to him through his dreamscape. I could use some more useful information besides from Twilight, though she didn’t send me any yet.”

“Despite in this condition, I am still able enter dreams via my magic.” Luna’s horn glowed and then faded.

“In the meantime under these circumstances, I’ve sent two Royal guards to Ponyville, Shining Armor will be preparing for a snowstorm in the empire, and Iwano’s process is still underway.” Celestia’s eyes turned to concern. “You still hold contempt towards him?”

Luna sighed. “Although he amazed me and the fact we must protect him from unknown harm, I do not find him trustworthy. A nightmare giver to the Princess of the Night is but a bane to lessons in dreams.”

“Hmm, can you look through deeper in him through his dreams? Surely you will find something more from his character, and you might find a friend, too.”

Luna thought for a minute. “I will see, sister, I promise. But I still loathe Iwano.”

Celestia showed gladness. “Thank you for—”

“You are welcome,” Luna snapped. “And I have not heard of my nickname in a thousand years now since…”

“I know, Lulu. I just thought perhaps calling you that again would comfort you in your state with soft memories.”

“Those soft memories have rough endings, Tia,” Lulu reminded grumblingly.

Hearing her nickname again, Celestia couldn’t help but feel a cheerful to her grumpy sister. “Look at the bright side of your moon, my sister. We must do our parts to prevent Iwano from becoming a new peril in Equestria—or Dissonance as a new threat.” Tia went down her Luna’s bed. “Sleep and rest, and let sweet dreams take place first before your nightmares.”

When Celestia left, the moon princess laid down on her back on her soft bed. She stared at her starry ceiling in thought of the green Alicorn. Shaking her head, she was confused of what to believe in about him—either him as good or evil. Tossing and turning, she couldn’t sleep because of those thoughts flying around her mind.

The princess held her left foreleg’s hoof up and said, “Iwano Imagination shows goodness and heroism who seeks help from the Elements of Harmony, and shows brilliance in the night.” She then raised her other hoof. “Iwano Imagination spreads an aura of influence that would attract to him harm and cause unknown hazard.”

She grumbled as she sat up, grabbed a pillow, and punched it as if it were the one she thought of. And then she lay down again as she pushed down unwanted feelings from her rapid-pumping heart.

“Luna, are you moonstruck of that ridiculous and evil Alicorn?” she asked herself. “That is such moonshine...” The princess remembered what she’d promised to Celestia. “I will give myself a chance wist Iwano clearly. My nightmares are already enough than him as a new foe. The Prince of the Night? Fie! How absurd! To know him I must—and must now to rest.”

Princess Luna finally slept, only to be drifted to her nightmares again of the green Alicorn.

Somepony knocked on my door as I was exploring my new house. Obviously somepony needed my assistance. When I came and opened my door, I was greeted by my first client.

“You must be Iwano Imagination, I assumed,” my customer said. “I’m—”

“Nurse Redheart, a nurse at Ponyville’s hospital,” I finished her introduction in simplicity. “You’re the first to ask for my services. Ayo, and how can I help?”

Nurse Redheart, as I’d mentioned, was a nurse in the town’s hospital. She was a light gray coated Earth mare with brilliant sapphire eyes and light amaranthish gray mane. Her cutie mark—a red cross with a pick heart in each corner—obviously made her what she was.

“I needed you to take care of a patient for me in the hospital while I run tests on her conditions. She can be bit ‘difficult’ to control, but you’ll get used to her in a few minutes, or so—or rather not, but you’ll do the job, won’t you?”

“Of course, nurse. Who is she?” I asked as I exited, closed the door of my home with the key I’d found in my kitchen table, and walked with Redheart on the way to the hospital.

“It’s best you’ll know later,” she replied. “Her name might want you to run away. How much is this gonna cost me?”

Why wouldn’t she tell? I’d find out later, I did like a mystery. “Medical duty for me would range from ten to twenty bits depending on the job,” I said.

“Honestly you’ll have a pretty tough time with her, so I’ll pay you twenty.”

When we went through the streets of Ponyville, some ponies were eyeing on me in anticipation as if I’d cause another disaster, which I’d certainly never again do. And some had my fliers that I had distributed via magic in just a few seconds. In truth, I felt embarrassed to be in public after everything yesterday, but just like what Chicken Little said: “Today is a new day”—everything would start anew with another chance for me.

That was why, I had a job. Well, I could say I had job of “multiple proportions”.

Arriving at Ponyville’s hospital, I remembered that Zecora was still in here. I wondered of how she was after chanted those mysterious lines back at the Tree of Harmony. I held worries for my favorite non-pony character. Perhaps I should do something for the zebra and Pinkie Pie later, right after I earned a good number of bits by the end of the day.

We went to the third floor by stairs (They didn’t have elevators, yeah) and arrived at room sixty-six. That number reminded of my ace Xyz Monster from the Yu-Gi-Oh world named “Number 66: Master Key Beetle”—a DARK Attribute, Insect-type Number Monster. I suddenly missed Dueling.

“Before I can get you in, she inside this room has ‘sticky hooves’,” Nurse Redheart warned. “Thus, you must leave your saddlebag with me first for safekeeping, Iwano.”

“Sorry, but I don’t wanna,” I said. “I’m not allowed to part away with my buddy here because it’s very important to me. I’m an Alicorn, Nurse Redheart. I can handle this ‘difficult’ mare, whoever she is.”

“Okay, if you insist. Just take care of her while I get a tranquilizer and serum for her for a few minutes.”

“Serum and tranquilizer? Why would this patient of yours need—?”

Before I could finish my question, Nurse Redheart shoved and locked me inside the room. “Hmph, how ‘difficult’ is this patient that made her shove me here without…Oh…”

When I turned, I yelped like a puppy, for the patient was a barking dog. She was an Earth mare plum-colored eyes, light blue coat, and had frizzy light gray mane. Her gritting teeth was gnarly and salivating like a waterfall as she was chained on the neck by the wall and wrapped up like a mental pony—she was a mental pony!

“No wonder why that nurse needed my help and shoved me in here without more info!” I exclaimed as I sat down watching the barking mare. “I’ve seen more mental mares in my home, Screwy, or Screwloose—whatever you’re named.”

It was a good thing Screwy was a pony, just barking crazily like an actual dog. If she were a real one, I’d scratch at the door behind me for escape crying for help.

Screwy first appeared in the episode Read It and Weep whereas she was chasing Rainbow Dash with the doctor and nurses. I laughed really hard just by the sight of that mental mare. But in person/pony, I was unamused.

“Are you just gonne keep barking all day until you lose your voice, Screwy?” I asked.

In reply, she stopped, and licked her right hind leg like a cat. Ugh, that was gross.

I thought for a second and decided to read her mind. When I did, all I could hear was crying. What?

“Why are you crying in the inside?” I approached her cautiously while showering myself with little slobber. There might something be wrong with her that these doctors and nurses didn’t understand.

Unexpectedly, I became the mental mare’s chew toy.

The chains weren’t that strong enough anymore to handle Screwy’s strength in some way that it broke. She lunged me to the white tiled floor on my back as she licked me from neck to forehead.

“Dang! Screwy, stop it!” I demanded. If she were Fluttershy, I’d allow without objection. Whatever was the reason why she cried in the inside, she needed help.

I realized while I was struggling to keep her aback with her sloppy tongue, she was reaching for my saddlebag, thus I shot up and stood on the ceiling. Funny, I felt like my friendly neighbor Spider-Man. Sticky hooves, Nurse Redheart was correct on that.

I forced my heart to calm down as I thought. I was very pleased my magic finally returned, as long as negative emotions were at bay in my mind and heart, which were now filled with urges to help the ponies in this town, especially this very harmless version of Pinkamena.

Screwy was wagging her tail as she was probably expecting me to come down, which I wouldn’t. She could pull anything out of my saddlebag, and her movement was unpredictable with shakings, twitching eyes and teeth madly gritting.

“Hey, Screwy!” I called grinningly. “Perhaps you need help. You’re in luck, ‘cause I’m the answer!”

I was crazy as Screwy, for I dropped myself upon the mental mare with my horn glowing.

“This prophecy is quite puzzling, Spike,” Twilight said as she paced around her library with a paper she levitated in front of her face. “Wait, more than that. I get what the first stanza’s two lines meant—Chrysalis returned, and Iwano is protecting her. However, the two others are very unclear like all the other five stanzas.”

“What do you expect from a prophecy, Twilight?” Spike asked while reading a flier. “Prophecies I know are very cloudy, unless it happens.”

“You’re right, Spike.”

The library’s tables were stacked with books, walls were labeled with research papers and stolen pictures of an Alicorn, three blackboards were chalked with equations and multiple hypotheses, and a diadem, saddlebag and a pair of winged-blades were set on a separate table from the rest. The princess wasn’t bothered by the floor messed with different colors of paper and scrolls for she was engrossed with that only white paper she was studying.

“Twilight, it’s just been several minutes since we came back from Iwano’s new home and instantly you’re totally stuck in all that research about him,” Spike said out of concern. “Maybe you should take a break or read a book unrelated to all that junk.”

“Junk? Junk?! JUNK?!” the princess exclaimed cantankerously, which flinched the assistant to drop his paper when Twilight eyed on him aggressively. “Spike, this is a prophecy Dissonance had left for us that contains future events of a disaster. If I’m able to decipher this, I might save hundreds, thousands, or millions in Equestria! Furthermore, Iwano is Dissonance as an innocent and helpless Alicorn, who would possibly be the center of all this mystery. I don’t trust Iwano despite the fact he inexplicably repaired all of Ponyville and its injured citizens, by the way. The items Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie each owned might have useful clues to Iwano’s magical abilities of what makes him unique. Everything about him is imperative that I must research to send info back to Princess Celestia. If you’re not that all concern for this whole subject, maybe I should throw you away outside like a piece of junk!. Now, any more questions?”

The dragon frantically shook.

“Good.” Twilight noticed the flier Spike dropped. “What’s that?” She levitated the paper unto her and read. “‘Iwano Imagination: The Friendly Alicorn. Ayo! I, Iwano Imagination, will offer service in any request or job in exchange for bits depending on the client’s subject. If interested, stamp your hoof/claw/paw on this flier, say your name, and this paper is gonna magically teleport to yours truly. This is to show my apology as the root for all the mess from my failed party with my kindness and generosity in exchange for your thanks as well. For more info, read at the back. Have a good day/night. Ayo and sincerely yours—Iwano Imagination’.”

“Pretty neat-o, right?” Spike asked enthusiastically. “If he’s an all powerful Alicorn, he’d definitely help the town with ease. I already asked for his service, and I saved that for you if you want.”

“This way, pony folks in town would find him friendlier and forget about all his negative background. It seems smart of him to thought of that.” Twilight suddenly remembered something. “Where are Chrysalis and that strange pony?”

“Wow, all that studying and research must had made you forgot all about them. They’re in the basement.”

“Good. I might need Iwano’s services soon though, to find out who that soft pony is. I don’t want another question cramming in my head.”

Twilight immediately returned to her research.

Spike rolled his eyes as he murmured, “You allowed them to, you know?”

Wrapping the crazy mare in chains was easy, but healing her mental disorder was a bit tough. As I restrained her down, her head at first was difficult for me to aim my horn on albeit hugging her down with my chains. Once I successfully touched her forehead with my horn, I entered her mind. I was initially horrified at the sight of roaming Dobermans in a plain field that I startlingly conjured a magic dome around me.

I was panicking by the number of countless hounds in my surroundings that I almost gave up helping Screwloose, but when I saw her sitting down a distance from me, I flew to her. As I landed, still with my shield conjured, I was intrigued that these dogs passed through her—Screwloose was intangible as a ghost.

When I approached her, she was crying.

“What’s the matter?” I asked. “You’re alone in this field of hounds, so why can’t you mingle with any of them?”

Screwloose stopped and replied to me, “I miss Screw-Up…”

“Who’s Screw-Up?”

She went back to weeping without answer. Well, I had to use my head instead.

Thousands of dogs are everywhere and they’re exactly alike, I thought thoroughly. Screwy here is intangible and ignored by these hounds that they can also run through her, and she said she missed Screw-Up.

I didn’t know how long it took me to find the answer, but I was able to solve this puzzle. This was a little simpler than Phineas and Ferb’s Maze-o-Mania II, which was a hay difficult that I had headache after the whole challenge.

“Screwloose, I now know why you’re nuts,” I firmly said, which suddenly made her locked eyes with mine. “Perhaps a long time ago, you lost your dog named Screw-Up in a huge pack of his kind that you couldn’t find him. Eventually you had gone insane and you were sent to the hospital under mental care. The reason why you madly acted like a dog is because you were hoping Screw-Up would return to you…But he hadn’t came back ever since.”

Screwloose cracked a smile like a wacko, but not literally as that, more like “very wacko happy”, that she broke through my barrier and hugged me tight. “Finally, somepony understands,” she whispered.

“You’re welcome” I said as I hugged her back. “But you must face reality and move on, Screwy, for there better things to look forward outside a hospital.”

Screwy chuckled. “Please, call me Screwloose.”

The feeling of hugs somehow reminded me of Pinkie Pie. And everything went black.

“Sorry, I took long,” Nurse Redheart said as she opened the door to room sixty-six with a dart, a test tube filled with green liquid, and a sack of bits. “I had a hard time sorting through a lot of serums that I—Screwy?!”

“Is that what you call her?” I asked with a smile. “I prefer Screwloose. Am I right, my friend?”

“Certainly, Iwano,” Screwloose agreed, her voice melodic and un-crazy.

I was sitting down with my new friend as Nurse Redheart stared mostly at her patient in awe and was agape. She slowly laid down her items and rubbed her eyes as if she were blind to see a cured Screwloose. My new friend’s mane maintained its frizz, but her eyes and mouth were lucid like any other mare in Ponyville.

“B-but, but, we-e c-couldn’t find a permanent c-cure for-r your insanity, Screwy!” the nurse stammered in exclamation. “How did this happen?! And why do you smell bad?”

“We were just having a chat, Nurse Redheart. Let’s just say all I needed was a little understanding, patience, and friendship,” Screwloose answered. “And ignore the smell, Redheart. Are you supposed to pay good Iwano here?” She gave my head a noogie.

I giggled and stopped my new friend. “Stop, Screwloose! Yes, the payment, Nurse Redheart.”

My client hesitated. “Um, yes, you’re payment. I just never realized you can do more than assisting, Iwano. You know? Screwy—I mean, Screwloose—was detained here for months now and we only gave her serums that brought her temporary normality for an hour, just to run tests on how to cure her. We found her in Ponyville’s Dog Show a long time ago. We can’t give her more of the serum due to strong possibilities of overdose. This must be a miracle—you are a miracle, Iwano!”

“I just wanna help,” I simply replied as she gave me my sack of bits and I stored them in my saddlebag. “Though curing her had drained me a little, but I can still go on with my job.”

“Here’s you payment.” The nurse handed (or hoofed) her bill on my hooves. “I must thank you for curing Screwloose here.”

“Hey, Iwano,” Screwloose said. “Let’s get to know each other someday. I can help you get over the silly fear of yours.” And she winked.

Grinning and blushing, I reluctantly said, “If there’re any time then. Nurse Redheart, I have prescribed her to not have any medicine, but new friend—make it a dog. Goodbye and ayo to the two of you~!”

What that former mental mare needed was a friend, and so while we were conversing, she had gained me as one. As we conversed, I learned that she was a dog lover and a whisperer of those animals. It was gloomy for Screwloose to have lost a friend that had leaded her to insanity. The thought of having no friends gave me heartache.

I teleported out of the hospital and to front of my house’s door—and I just realized I could just teleport to any of my clients. Dang…

I jumped unto my new green sofa as I waited for another customer’s flier to appear. Nurse Redheart’s challenge had drained me a lot, but I wasn’t gonna sleep to rest yet. I’d earned twenty bits which was a success.

“To think, Screwloose is actually a great mare to chat with,” I said. “Getting to now everypony in this town might help me a lot in my goal”—suddenly, I remembered something that I smacked my own forehead—“Shoot! I forgot to visit Zecora! Ha, later then. I wonder who’s—”

I burped out yellow flames that formed into a scroll. I levitated the letter, unrolled it, and read away—

Dear Iwano,

I am thrilled to know from my sister that you have obtained the Elements of Loyalty and Laughter, but I am concern that Dissonance would no doubt further your trials here in Equestria that would also threaten Twilight and her companions, and probably the citizens of the town. Thus, I have sent two trustworthy guards to Ponyville not only to watch over all your progress, but to protect my other subject. You might find them amusing to get interact with. I hope it doesn’t upset you, my friend. They may be two, but I believe these guards can do something special. I saw it within their words and hearts.

Also, I want to share you something I have experienced last night. Lauren was trying to convince Luna and I that we should turn on you for you “might” threaten us. Of course, I didn’t accept, but finding you as a friend troubled Luna. If you encountered her by chance, please have time to get to know each other.

I want to be one of your new friends here in Equestria. May I ask you to be my pen pal? If you choose to accept, don’t hesitate to write back to a princess.

Your new dear friend,
Princess Celestia

P.S. You can call me Tia—that’s my nickname

“OMC,” I said, which meant “Oh my Celestia”. “I do love letters and having a pen pal. Hmm…Can I trust her with my secrets? No, I have to stay secretive—wait, perhaps she’s unlike the others, since she has wisdom and kindness.” This was more troubling to me than Luna’s. I felt my heart aching again. I thought maybe I needed somepony to share my feelings. “What the hay, I’ll accept—”

Dropping the letter quickly to prevent it from burning, I burped out two letters. The fliers were green which meant two customers wanted my assistance. It was 8:53 AM and my next two clients were Dr. Timeturner Whooves and Derpy Hooves. The mail pony’s flier smelled like chocolate that I deduced that she obviously ate chocolate muffins.

This job had gotten even interesting that my hind hooves tingled in excitement. Who to assist first?

“I’ll go for the doctor first,” I decided as I phased out of my house in a flash. I recounted him in the day I donated gems to Mayor Mare.

While I dreamily thought of hanging out with Fluttershy, I bumped into a Pegasus face-first that I might have poked or worst pierced him or her.

“Ow!” I squeaked as I held my face, blocking my sight. “I’m so sorry, are you—what the hay?!”

“I’m sorry!” Derpy Hooves apologized as she rubbed her head. “I just don’t know what went wrong.”

Derpy was a light sapphire bluish gray Pegasus mare with pale, light grayish apple green mane and gradient wall-eyes that were from pale, light grayish apple green to moderate gamboge. This clumsy mare was both Ponyville and Cloudsdale’s mail pony. I recalled her joining the Bolt Wing before, and she was one of the victims Gilda had hurt that that bandage wrapped around her left forelegs. Today, she wore a blue mail pony uniform with hat—why was her hat smoldered?

I rolled my eyes. “You’re sense of direction is probably wrong, and ayo. I think we have met the other day, but I just wanna say that I’m Iwano Imagination. Anyway, you’ve sent a flier to me. Anything you want me to assist with?”

Derpy enthusiastically nodded. “I want you to help me with my mailing job. You see, me and Care Package were supposed to send mail together but he was stationed to Fillydelphia, so I’m left with two mailbags—one for Ponyville and one for Cloudsdale. I was hoping you’d take this mailbag for Ponyville while I take this other one with me. Will ya help?”

“Yes, I will assist, Derpy,” I replied. “This is a mailing job, so the price range will be ten to fifteen bits—”

The Pegasus shoved a banana muffin in my mouth. “I-I only have five bits, Iwano. Can you take the five plus that muffin?”

I levitated the muffin off my mouth and stored it in my saddlebag. Honestly an Earth mare shoving an apple in my mouth was better. “Sure~! I’ll do that while—”

Derpy suddenly dressed me up quick in a blue mail pony’s uniform with hat and hung a mailbag on my horn. What the hay? “Sorry! I’m in a hurry—bye!”

The gray mare flew away in a dash. I sighed as I fixed myself up with my own uniform while I was on the way to Timeturner. Customers who stamped their hooves on my fliers not only would get my service but also gave my Aura senses their address or current location, which was easy.

When I arrived at the doctor’s cottage’s door, I heard grinding machinery and scraping metal that little irritated my ears. I guessed he was more than a doctor that I’d heard in the fandom.

“Dr. Timeturner Hooves!” I loudly called, but the sounds still gone on. I licked my lips in thought, and then sent a small zap from horn to an open window of his cottage.

“YEOWCH!” the stallion shrieked. I heard hoof steps from the home, and the doctor himself stormed out of the door, smothered in soot with his dark amber mane in a static frizzier than Screwloose’s.

“I’m sorry if I’ve interrupted your work,” I apologized. “But I just want your attention, Timeturner.”

Time…

His eyes widened. “How do you know my name? And are you Iwano Imagination?”

“I know everypony in Ponyville like Pinkie Pie,” I answered. “And yes, I am the one you’ve heeded for assistance. What was that fussy sound you were making?”

“That fussy sound you’ve stopped me from making was the sound of creation!” Timeturner beamed like a mad scientist. “But it needs some few modifications before I can give it a spin, thus I’ve needed your assistance, if you—”

“I’ll check it out,” I said as I entered his cottage.

Well, this was a junkyard rather than an actual home, and I thought Shauntal—Master Ghost-type Pokémon Trainer and a member of the Unova Elite Four—living in a haunted house was weird.

Timeturner’s home was entirely cluttered with different sizes and varieties of springs, gears, iron plates, broken glasses, tangled wires and coils, and other related parts for machinery. This whole place reminded me of my numerous encounters with mechanical obstacles in my adventures, and the friends and foes specialized in these kinds of machinations.

“Be careful, please!” Timeturner warned as I followed him to a staircase. “These aren’t useless yet. In fact, every useless thing still has—”

“A purpose in the far, far future,” finished his sentence.

“What, how did you I was going to say that?” he asked

“I read minds, and why were you warning me, Timeturner?”

“That’s because you were crushing those important products, Iwano.”

I blushed in embarrassment. “Oh…Whoops. I can be ignorant sometimes, so sorry in advance if I do it again.”

“A close friend of mine name Derpy Hooves is also ignorant, furthermore she’s very clumsy. A clumsy pony in my life is already enough to stress me for a lifetime. In fact, Derpy dropped by and ‘accidentally’ destroyed my latest invention a while ago.”

So that was why Derpy’s hat was smoldered, I thought. “I’m sorry about that, but maybe we can repair it together to speed up the completion. Machine repair will range the price of this job is from twenty to thirty bits, doctor.”

“Fair price since this is a big project.”

“Why so?”

I had the answer when we reached the second floor, which was very clean unlike downstairs, I gasped at a robot.

Under the sunlight from this “house’s” opened window was a robotic replica of Sweetie Belle, with red glassy eyes and metallic plate covering. It was well built as if it were really Rarity’s sister, except you can tell it apart from the real one by those lifeless eyes.

“Is that your big project?” I asked.

“Isn’t it obvious? Indeed this one my latest inventions. I’d been working on it after the Equestrian Games took place in the Crystal Empire that the town’s seamstress’s sister is perfect to me. I was about to go with her other friends, but she was fine. It’s nearing completion, but the only problem is that the circuitry of her—”

“Her? Robots are genderless.”

The inventor cleared his throat as he continued. “Like I was saying, the only problem is that the circuitry of her ‘mind’ can’t connect with its ‘heart’ in order for her to live.”

“I’m guessing Derpy caused that, which will be easy for me to fix.” I walked towards the robot. “How can I open her head?”

“Twist her horn.”

When I did, this Sweetie Belle’s head flipped open revealing a complicated-looking engine tangled with wires that almost formed it into a brain filled with eight small gears.

“The problem is in there, Iwano?” Timeturner asked. “Why not the heart since that’s what it’s supposed to function?”

“Well, I have a theory that without the mind, you can’t move at all albeit your heart pumps. I think that’s stupid, but hey, I found the problem. Too much information would cram your mind into a headache somehow. What I’m trying to say is that this robot’s brain has excessive gears.”

The stallion scratched his mane. “You mean I have to lessen them?”

“First, how do you activate her?”

In reply, he ran downstairs, I heard clutters and bumps of metals, and he returned with a tiny Sweetie Belle color themed cube with colored buttons in each sides. When he pressed the red button, the robot only whirred it gears but no movement.

“What now?” the doctor giddily asked. “I’m exhilarated to know how you’d fix it, Imagination. Oh, and do mind the gears for you’ll hurt yourself.”

Simply, I levitated out two gears out of the contraption…and suddenly it said exactly in Sweetie Belle’s voice, “Hello, I’m here to play.”

“It’s alive, Dr. Timeturner Hooves,” I said as I threw away the other gears to the floor and closed her head. “You may now—”

My client shoved me away and held his creation like a mad pony. “She’s alive!” he cried out. “She’s alive! My masterpiece is ALIVE!”

As he madly laughed, I threw a gear at him which caught his attention. He blushed and apologized, “Um, sorry, it’s just that it has been a long time since one of my inventions actually ever completed. So, how much does this cost me?”

“Just twenty-two bits,” I replied. “Do you have any other inventions needing repairs?”

“I…have one, but it’s classified. I must say, that was a simple solution that my robot only requires six gears to successfully function! How did you have knowledge on mechanical repairs, hmm?”

“I have friend back in my kingdom. He’s a young yellow fox with two tails who’s popular in my kingdom for having an extensive knowledge on these sorts, but there’re others besides him. And what would you name your Sweetie Belle android?”

“I’ll just name her Sweetie Bot. Love your new name, my adorable machine?”

“I love it~!” Sweetie Bot said. “Master, what can we do?”

“Please pay Iwano Imagination here twenty-two bits, my dear.”

The mechanical filly barfed out twenty-two coins that made me chuckle as I levitated them into my saddlebag. In the fandom in Reality, I’d heard of Sweetie Bot in videos and fan art. I couldn’t believe Timeturner would name his creation of what the fans had called her, too. This was just weird.

“By the way, why are you wearing a mail pony’s uniform?” my client asked.

Whoa, I’d forgotten about it. “While doing my job, I’m helping your clumsy friend with her delivering.”

“I’m expecting gift from my friend Rose. Is there one for me in your mailbag?”

I rummaged through the bag, and levitated out a small box with a rose attached to it. When I gave it to Timeturner and he opened it, his gift was—

“A green bowtie,” I said. “That’s nice.”

“Actually I already have one except it is red—and it was from Derpy. Well, that’s all. Thank you for your services, Iwano. You’re quite amazing for a devastating pony.”

I grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment, and it looks like two girls are crushing on you, doc. If I were you, I’d go with muffin-lover. Anyways, ayo and goodbye, Dr. Timeturner Hooves.”

I teleported out of his home and flew around town to deliver mail.

Four fliers forcefully burped out of my mouth as I landed on top of town hall. I had requests from Octavia Melody, Vinyl Scratch, Sweetie Drops, and Trixie Lulamoon—Trixie? Incoming clients were now getting interesting.

And I had seven more out of my mouth. Hmm, I’d save the first four for later.

Applebucking a tree with her natural strength, Applejack had no difficulty in this everyday labor since she’d been doing this from the beginning.

Apples fell from the tree and were caught by three buckets surrounding the plant. Hearing those red fruits hitting the big buckets were music to the farm girl’s ears.

Big Macintosh, Applejack’s big brother, worked nearby as he pulled a wagon with a huge pile of baskets filled with the fruits with such ease. He glanced at his cousin Braeburn blithely applebucking every apple tree, speeding up the chore of the two local Apples of the acres.

“I wanna say this again, AJ,” the Appleloosan said as he leaned on a tree to rest. “Thanks for letting me stay until next week. I already sent a letter to Sherriff Silver Star back home about my stay here just in case, by the way.”

After his cousin applebucked another tree, Applejack stopped and wiped sweat from her face. “And again, yer welcome. Granny Smith was happy a relative is gonna stay. Besides you, Babs and Fritter are in town, too.”

Braeburn frowned. “Hey, Big Mac, is Apple Fritter okay in bed?”

“Eeyup,” the red apple Apple replied as he carried another apple-filled bucket to his wagon.

“I hope for sure. After she was back to life, Fritter’s been feverish with her temperature hotter than the driest dessert in Equestria.”

Applejack suddenly stumbled with a grunt. Alarmed, Big Macintosh and Braeburn helped her up.

“Cuzzin, that’s the tenth time!” Braeburn said. “That headache of yours is getting worst, probably. I think you should—”

“I’m fine!” the farm girl insisted as she pulled herself away from them to show her conditions fine. “This is nothin’, okay?”

“Nope,” Big Macintosh firmly said.

“Yeah, Mac’s right,” Braeburn agreed. “You already applebucked enough trees, cuzzin. I don’t know if you’re gonna get sick too, but is there something you wanna tell us about that headache of yours?”

His cousin wouldn’t meet his eyes. “No, not at all, Brae; probably, I’m just tired that I need a rest for awhile.”

As Applejack left to take a break, Braeburn and Big Macintosh exchanged looks of reservations. The red stallion saw a rotten apple on the ground, and thought of his sister withering.

After that whole hullabaloo, Applejack wasn’t feelin’ right at all, he thought. I gotta need to find help or maybe take her to the hospital since we ran out of medical supplies on Apple Fritter. She ain’t tellin’ the truth at all.

When Applejack came into her room and shut the door behind her, she yet again stumbled but this time harder, and grunted painfully as she her head with her hat falling. She then trudged to her bed to lie in rest.

“Bats, half-cut apples, raining apple fritters, screaming,” the mare muttered. “Dag nab that dream, it didn’t make any sense! What was Princess Luna trying to do, huh? It could’ve been a sign or something important. Twilight might find a way…”

Applejack blacked out, and entered a void of screams.

Somepony please help me…

Lies, lies, lies! This ain’t true! He’ll never turn into you! We’ll help him—I’ll help him! Let me go and I’ll help—save him!

I’d earned ninety-four bits and still counting. I couldn’t help but feel proud of myself and, uh “overconfident” of not just gaining money but also helping pony folks.

The clients I’d helped were scared or contemptuous towards me, but after doing the job they began admiring me for my helpfulness.

While on the job, I’d received extra requests from Mayor Mare, Lyra Heartstrings, Sweetie Drops, Spike, and Twilight Sparkle.

Why would the princess need my help with? Well, she wanted me to identify a visitor with “tuff”. I knew in the tip of my tongue, but who was that? And I thought there was more to her request than that.

When I landed near town hall, Mayor Mare waved to me as she walked towards the Alicorn who changed her mane color.

“Greetings again, Iwano Imagination,” she said. “I’ve heard you’re offering yourself to serve Ponyville’s citizens upon requests from these fliers you’ve spread all over town. Why so?”

“I now have a home in your town,” I answered, “thus I have to earn for a living. And because of yesterday, I’d decided to ‘punish’ myself by offering my services for I can do almost anything as an Alicorn.”

The mayor understandably nodded. “You’re quite humble and generous to offer yourself to help. You might be something else rather than a visitor from an unknown land. I will allow you to continue your services to the townsfolk, Iwano.” She giggled. “Are you willing to accept my request?”

I nodded. “What do you request me to do?”

“Princess Twilight is engrossed with her research in Golden Oak Library that she doesn’t have any time to proofread my speech. I thought perhaps you’d—”

“Proofreading is one of my wide varieties of specialties, Mayor Mare. I’ll be honored to do it.”

“Excellent! Give me a moment to get my speech then from town hall then.”

After she left, I levitated out a quill and paper to write a reply to Celestia—

Dear Celestia,

I’d be happy to accept you as my pen pal—my very first Equestrian pen pal. I felt thrilled as you are once you receive this.

Yes, I have a long way to go in order to accomplish my goal here in your land. But thanks to your fellow subjects, I believe I can achieve. Despite the harsh struggles I’m going through both physically and emotionally be Dissonance, I have high hopes for Twilight and her company to guide me.

While all this is happening, I’m having fun assisting the citizens of Ponyville. It’s great to know them personally as well as new friends.

So, wanna ask a question?

Sincerely your friend,
Iwano Imagination

PS: “Tia”? That’s a cute nickname, but I prefer calling you Celestia.

And then I’d sent the message in flames the moment the mayor came with a paper in her mouth—and I thought her speech would be a mile.

“Did you do that?” Mayor Mare asked in awe.

“Yes, Mayor Mare,” I simply replied. “I’m quite unique in many ways.”

“Well, I would be astounded even more in the future of your abilities. Now, this is my speech, Iwano, and do proofread.”

As I’d read the mayor’s speech, my eyes were secretly burning from bad grammar and sentence fragments. I’d also noticed something through the construction of this speech, or rather—

“This is a letter,” I said. “This ain’t a speech. And Mayor Mare, I may not know you well yet, but I’m certain your writing wouldn’t be this awful.”

The mare blushed in embarrassment as she tapped the ground. “I know, it was just that I felt ‘tangled’ in the stomach a while ago when I wrote that.”

Tangled in the stomach? “You’re in love with somepony?”

She blushed even redder. “Um, y-yes, though I’m afraid of his possible rejection. How do you know, Iwano?”

“Just by your words and face, I could tell. This if for your special somepony, so perhaps I could also add a few things here to please him. May I?”

“Uh, okay…”

“Tell me about him then, mayor?”

It took me twenty-one minutes to finish the mayor’s letter because she and I were also chatting about this special somepony of hers. I’d learned that nopony in Ponyville actually knew of her real name.

“Zen Marigold,” I mused as I kept writing. “That’s a pretty name, really. Why doesn’t anypony know your real name, much like rather your true mane color?”

“It’s a long story that you’d know someday,” Zen said. “Only Shining Armor, Princess Cadance, and Dr. Whooves know me that.”

Cadance and Shining Armor were Zen’s batch mates in their high school years obviously, and the two of them I knew were good ponies to the mayor.

“Thos two you first mentioned live in the Crystal Empire. Why is Timeturner the only one in Ponyville who knows?”

“He and I share something in common, that’s all.”

It was quite unclear of who was crushing on. She barely said anything about him and I refused to read her mind because I didn’t want any spoilers—besides, I’d get tired. Timeturner might be the one, but I was very certain he belonged to Derpy. I also didn’t wanna ask about her crush.

“Well, that’s all I could write,” I said as I levitated the letter to her. “You didn’t describe anything about your special somepony, so I wrote down some suggestions and corrected a lot of errors.”

“Thank you for your help, Iwano,” Zen said. “I could’ve done this on my own, but I’m not feeling right today.”

“That’s okay. The cost would just be seven, mayor.”

Zen told me to just call her Mayor Mare whenever we weren’t alone so she could keep the secret. I promised to her I’d never tell, of course. I loved keeping secrets, especially when it comes to privacy or romance.

As I walked along the streets of Ponyville with thoughts of who to assist next, I was hit with a huge headache as if a gong was banged against me with great vibration. Thus, I stumbled down hard. Holding and rubbing my head, I knew what was going on.

Changes had happened while season four was rolling in Reality. Whatever happened, I had gone to Golden Oak Library first.

When I’d arrived, I was very surprised to see a crystal tree with a castle on top instead.

“Aw dang,” I said as I stared at Twilight’s new home. “Looks like a late update perhaps.”

In the two-part finale of season four—Twilight’s Kingdom parts one and two—the Golden Oak Library was destroyed by Lord Tirek, the season’s main villain. Out of sadness and great anger, Twilight had dealt with the prisoner of Tartarus in a Super Saiyan-like way after she’d opened the mysterious (and extremely curious-giving) chest which obtained a new power to defeat him. In the end, this crystal tree that almost resembled her old home became her new kingdom.

I slumped down as my heart sank at the sight of the young princess’s castle. I always loved the Golden Oak Library because of its books—I was a huge bookworm, and I loved libraries. Before entering Equestria, I was very exhilarated to see the library.

Technically, the tree had first appeared in the show in Reality by October 10, 2010, and “died” in May 10, 2014.

“There you are,” Twilight said.

I turned to see the Alicorn with her assistant, a Changeling, and another surprise.

“Would you mind tell me who this fluffy mare is?” Twilight asked. “I want to feed my curiosity of her, you know?”

“That’s Fluffle Puff,” I simply said. “She’s a Fluffy pony—a separate species of Earth ponies that lives in the forests of my kingdom as peaceful and funny creatures.”

“You mean this irritating pink hair ball came all the way from your kingdom of Imaginundia to here in Ponyville?” Chrysalis asked as Fluffle Puff hopped behind her back cutely. “How in Equestria was she able to reach here?”

“I actually don’t know,” I admitted. “However, she’s no harm, although she can be quite irritating as you said and will try anything new. You know what? They can be harmful if they handle something dangerous. They’re also indestructible somehow, and they don’t speak but gasp. They’re also quite ‘illogical’ in some way.”

“How do you know her name?” Spike asked. “Is she the only the only one of her species that has that color?”

I nodded. “She and I met before when I was in a mission back in my homeland. She was a big help.” I studied the stupid look on Fluffle Puff as she attempted to jump on Chrysalis’s back. “I’m quite unsure how she’s gotten here, but she’s very sweet and friendly.”

“Can you just tell her to return home?” the Changeling grumblingly asked. “This fuzz ball is an annoyance.”

“Fluffle Puff seems to like you, Chrysalis. Perhaps bond with each other. You wanna reform, right? Then start by befriending her.”

Chrysalis heavily sighed as Fluffle Puff rolled on the ground. Okay, that was cute.

“Anyway, I’ve heard you’re giving your services to the citizen’s of Ponyville,” Twilight said. “That’s really nice and generous of you to offer up for the good, but are you sure you’re still alright?”

“My wounds were healed while I made the fliers. Don’t worry, Twilight, I’ll be fine. It’s also fun to help these ponies and get to know them personally as friends. I even know there secrets, which I heavily guarded with my life. No doubt taxes will collected, so I’ll have to earn money, including for a living too if I’m gonna stay long here in Equestria.”

“I’d like to ask you, Iwano. Why do you look down when you saw my castle?” Twilight asked.

I scowled. “It’s just that, the Golden Oak Library, as I’d heard back in Imaginundia, is one of my favorite places in Ponyville, for I love libraries. I’m saddened to see that Tirek had destroyed your precious home.”

The princess’s nostrils flared, but immediately calmed down. “Yes, Tirek had destroyed my home. But I’ll let you know that my castle also has a library bigger than the last one—”

“Really?!” I frantically asked loudly.

Twilight was startled. “Um, yes, you can—”

“Oh my Celestia, I forgot, I have requests to be fulfilled. Gotta go~!”

Spike giggled afterwards when I left in a flash of cobalt blue streaks. “Hey, Twi, looks like you’re not the only nerdy Alicorn in town anymore.”

Her master knitted her brows. “What do you mean?”

“Did you notice the twitching and crazy reaction when Iwano found out your castle has a library? You and he could be the same!”

Twilight scratched her head in thought. “I think I should put up more research on his likings or hobbies, too. I’ll get to know him furthermore soon after my Twilight Time with the girls.”

“Speaking of Twilight Time, where’re those Crusaders anyway with Babs?”

“We’ll just wait for the fillies. For now, I wanna know more about Iwano Imagination. He’s quite omniscient and a powerful Alicorn. Further studies and research on him—”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Spike muttered. “Further studies and research on him must continue from day to night until he’s cured of his Dissonance.”

“Twilight!” Apple Bloom called as she and her friends Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and her cousin Babs Seed ran to the princess.

“There you are girls~! Are you ready for Twilight Time?” the Alicorn asked.

“Let’s postpone Twilight Time to tomorrow, though I wanna do it right now,” Babs Seed said. “But we need your help. There’s something wrong with Applejack.”

“You want me to train and help you enhance your magic,” I mused. “What is it for anyway? You know you could just train by yourself.”

“On Wednesday next week,” Trixie Lulamoon explained, “there’ll be a competition for Unicorns called the ‘Star Swirl Showdown’—a magic duel—held in Canterlot in honor of Star Swirl the Bearded and gains a valuable title from Princess Celestia herself~! This is my opportunity to prove my worth and be accepted by ponies around me.”

“You’re not that accepted yet?” I asked. “You seem nice enough as a friend, but why wouldn’t they?”

The mare sighed sadly. “Apparently most ponies remember my snobbish behavior and cruel actions when I had taken over Ponyville before, which is why they despised me. I wanted to win the prize of that challenge for the haters so they could see I can be a friend!”

“You’re giving me several question marks in my head, Trixie. That’s nonsense, and you can’t just gain friends just by doing that. But hey, I’ll train you for that competition anyway. I as your magic trainer would cost twenty to thirty bits. I hope you have enough.”

Trixie Lulamoon was a Unicorn mare with dark grayish violet eyes, pale conrflower blue and very pale cornflower blue, and her coat was brilliant azure. Her cutie mark was a magic wand sprinkling pixie dust.

My Aura told me I was gonna have a rough time with her, but with patience, encouragement and guidance, I’d bet I could help her. What could possible go wrong?

To make a long story short, Trixie was more “un-teachable” than Spongebob Squarepants being mentored by a military boating teacher. In fact, she was bad in being taught of discipline and her concentration to her magic was, uh, “dingy” or so sorts.

I had sustained injuries but able to heal myself. To Trixie’s amazement, she was eager to learn, which lead me to hurt myself harder.

We were doing the training in Ponyville’s park, where a lot of ponies were staring at us as Trixie made another failure with her magical attempts.

“How many times do I have to tell you not to force yourself, Trixie?” I asked as I dusted myself. “If you do, you’re gonna end up hurting not just yourself but ponies around you—especially your trainer. Getting frozen, paralyzed, burned, asleep, and poisoned from you was bad enough.”

“Confound my magic!” she cried out exasperatingly. “The Great and Powerful Trixie knows she can achieve this training under Iwano Imagination!”

Pride…Humility...

What the hay? I thought. Since when did that voice mentioned two things…?

Anyways, Trixie Lulamoon was a brilliant azure Unicorn mare with dark grayish violet eyes, and two light shades of pale cornflower blue. She used to be dramatic, but it seemed she wanted help training that she’d avoided acting that so.

“Iwano, are you all right?” Trixie asked in concern.

I blinked as I shook to sense. “Um—sorry, I’m just a little tired.”

Trixie frowned. “I’m terribly sorry for my failures, Iwano. I also had gotten you hurt.”

The prideful mare with her sweetened eyes had gotten me soft in my heart. I’d read hers, and she was definitely sorry. Perhaps I should teach her better rather than barking our orders and encouraging her.

“I’ll teach you my technique in how I can concentrate and cast my magic with expertise, Trixie,” I whispered to her ear. “But you must not tell anypony else how.”

“Really? Of course I’ll keep your little secret!” she frantically said. “Oh thank you~!”

I nodded. “From my mind, I channel my thoughts of a certain somepony I love into my heart which produces my emotions. I concentrate my magic with my heart, Trixie. My power depends on my emotions, and my thoughts are what keep them together.”

“That’s your technique? Hmph, to be honest, I have no more loved one.”

I frowned and felt sorry for her more, but I wanted to help her.

Lifting her chin, I said, “Just think of the ponies that had helped you in the past. Friends are also considered loved ones, you know?”

Trixie stared at me for a moment, probably in thought, and nodded in understanding. Next, she backed away and had stance herself in focused as she closed her eyes.

“Now, think of somepony and follow what I’ve said,” I firmly told her.

Tightening her eyes and quickly sweating from sheer concentration, Trixie’s horn had begun to glowed pale, light grayish magenta. She gritted her teeth, which I assumed she was doing it wrong.

“When you’re thinking, also be certain to chill and fill yourself with positivity, calm and quietness,” I added anxiously. “Forcing yourself, you’ll end up burning my tail again.”

Slowly, she calmed down, and her magic aura had glowed brighter. This made me grin. “Now, all you need now is to use your imagination with some more focus—”

I was startled to see a beam shot out from the Unicorn’s horn so suddenly that it had aback me with shock. The streaming brilliant blue light had split the clouds above into a white thin ring of puff that slowly dissipated as it expanded.

After Trixie stopped, she panted and stared at the sky in awe. “Did the Great and Powerful Trixie do that?” she asked.

I rolled my eyes from her third pony speaking and answered, “Yes, Trixie, you did it~! Now that you’ve mastered my art of magic, I guess you’ll do fine in—”

Suddenly, I was embraced by the pony who’d wanted to be trained. My eyes widened and I lightly blushed. I guessed she did this just because I’d successfully helped her, which was okay. I was used to mares in my adventures hugging me affectionately for my heroic deeds and chivalrous personality. Although, I’d felt a twinge on my stomach when Trixie did this. I wanted Fluttershy to do this to me instead, though.

Trixie frantically pulled herself away from me with her face redder, probably embarrassed. Yeah, mares did that a lot in my adventures.

“I-I apologize f-for my actions, I-Iwano,” she stuttered. “I’d just want to do that as thanks.”

“I know, Trixie, I know,” I said. “And you’re welcome. Just remember the pointers of my advises and teachings when you’re in Canterlot for that competition—”

“You know what? Perhaps you should join it, too! Everypony must see your magical expertise, Iwano. After all, everypony in town are talking about you—you’re popular, and soon, you’d be popular all over Equestria for your capabilities and virtue.”

I unnervingly smiled. “Uh, thanks, I’m flattered of my sudden popularity, but I don’t want to brag in front of thousand of ponies plus the competitors. I’d just want to help the citizen’s here, Trixie.”

“Oh, I understand—”

Another request burped out of my mouth, which almost burned the mare. When I levitated and unfurled the letter for me to read, I gasped of who was my next client—or clients.

“Another request, Iwano?” Trixie asked.

“Um, yeah—uh, hey, you don’t need to pay me. I’m in a hurry…so bye~!”

I flew off in a dash to see my next clients in a forest near Ponyville. It looked like they were too frightened to show themselves in town for the citizens might have still remembered their falsity. Serves them right, but what were they up to again this time? I knew I shouldn’t trust or rather accept their request, but perhaps I’d be friendly for awhile to enemies.

I growled, “Flim and Flam better not be up to something.”

Chapter 18: Just Doing My Jobs

View Online

“You want me to help you both sell your products in Ponyville?” I asked to reassure.

“Your heard us right, Iwano,” Flim replied. “But not only that—”

“We want you to endorse our product since you’re widely talked about in Equestria,” Flam said. “That way, they’ll be convinced to buy our brand new items.”

“And you must protect us from the Apple family,” Flim added, “especially from dear Applejack—”

“Hold your mouths!” I snapped. “What’s this new scheme along with a new product you two had come up this time, huh?”

Both of them blinked, and then Flam said. “So you’ve heard of us, eh? But this time, we’re just doing what every salesponies do.”

“You better not make me do what Silver Shill had done for you twins,” I warned. “Being in an act and faking your product of its real properties is what I hate. In fact, I bet your new one is another phony like your tonic.”

Behind these Unicorns was a cart stacked with crates, which I presumed their new products were in them.

After moments of silence, Flim and Flam had burst into laughter, which vaguely reminded me of Pinkie Pie. “What’s so funny?” I demanded. “And what are your new items anyway?”

Flim levitated a crate from the cart and placed it between us. Flam gestured me to open it. Once I did, it was filled with glass bottles containing white liquid.

“What are these?” I asked.

“These are our one of a kind ‘Crystal Clear Water’,” Flim explained.

“Believe it or not,” Flam said, “these drinks can cure any illnesses you can ever imagine!”

Now, it was my turn to laugh. That was the most ridiculous thing I’d ever heard!

“This is your tonic all over again,” I scoffed. “I won’t help you endorse or sell your fakes.”

The twins chortled with confident smiles. What? “Are you certain about your guess?” Flim asked as he levitated a bottle into my saddlebag. “Why won’t you try it yourself?”

“I’m not sick,” I replied, although I did have. My iWatch10 held down my sinusitis very well, but for my asthma, not so much.

“Find somepony in town who is sick then,” Flam suggested. “We just want to help the town, and probably all of Equestria.” He suddenly sulked. What?

Unexpectedly, another request had burp out of my mouth. When I quickly unfurled and read it, I gasped again. This wasn’t just any request, but an emergency!

“It looks like a very urgent request from another customer,” Flim presumed, “right, brother of mine?”

“Absolutely,” Flam agreed. “Iwano, I suggest you think first about our partnership as we’ll let you complete a couple more requests.”

“But don’t take too long—”

“For we can give you a fair deal of payment—”

“What do you say?”

“Fine, fine,” I said. “Gotta fly!”

And I flew away to the sky.

Flim and Flam had first appeared in the episode Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000 of season two with train-like machinery that was named as the title episode and converted apples into cider through technological processing. The Apple family with the Mane Six had competed against the twin in a cider-making contest in hopes of proving their traditional ways were better, and most of all save Sweet Apple Acres. The salesponies had won in the end though, however when the Ponyville citizens tasted their cider, it tasted awful due to the stallions irrationally speeding up their machine when time was almost up.

The twins had appeared again in the episode Leap of Faith—a Rainbow Key episode of Applejack—in season four whereas they were selling tonic that was said to cure any illnesses or diseases, which was untrue.

They were in general the exact opposite of Applejack—unfair, sly, and relatively but mostly dishonest than the Earth pony mare. Personally, they were my favorite characters due to their nature as brothers and salesponies.

The twins were both tall pale, light grayish olive Unicorn stallions with moderate pistachio eyes and and their manes were moderate red with stripes. To know which was which, Flim had a cutie mark of a left facing apple slice while Flam’s cutie mark was an apple with a slice missing and he had a moustache.

Flam was right that I had an urgent request from another customer—and that customer happened to be one of the Mane Six.

Once I’d arrived in Sweet Apple Acres, I’d immediately teleported inside the Apple family’s house directly into Applejack’s room. I was welcomed by startling ponies and a little dragon. Big Macintosh and Braeburn were inside as well, caring for a sleeping and shuddering Earth pony mare on her bed.

“What’s wrong with Applejack?!” I asked. “Why is she shaking like that?”

“Our guess was that she’s in a strong nightmare that prevented her from waking up,” Twilight answered. “I had messaged Princess Luna to help her. But Applejack’s still shaking, which meant the princess didn’t get the letter.”

“We tried everything but couldn’t find a solution,” Rarity said. “Thus, we heeded for your help.”

It was now getting worst. Applejack started to shriek and violently waving her tough hooves around, nearly knocking her brother and cousin. Whatever nightmare she was in, I’d to stop it. What happened to Luna anyway?

“I can go into her dreams,” I said.

Twilight blinked and shook in disbelief. “What else can you do?” she muttered. I’d expected her to ask that.

As the two Apple stallions restrained Applejack, Braeburn said, “Just do it, partner!”

Immediately, I closed my eyes and relaxed. Luna should know that she wasn’t the only pony now in Equestria that could enter dreams and nightmares. I had a lot of experiences those of others in my adventures. Most of them were wild and scary rather than calm and quiet. It took me a week to train myself using my powers to obtain this unique ability from my experiences with dream-specialized foes.

I hafta help’im!!!

That sounds like her, I thought as I slowly opened my eyes. Putrid cheese puffs, where am I…?

Right before my eyes was a desolated Sweet Apple Acres. The whole scenery was dull and dead. The barn was in ruins and the crops by its sides were all in soot. The sight of it just horrified me to see a great place to become so destroyed. But where was Applejack?

I had my answer when I heard the mares scream. I flew and used my Aura senses to her. When I found Applejack, she was tossing her head around in panic. The whole orchard was withered and was lifelessly gray.

“Applejack, calm down, I’m here,” I said as I landed. “What’s wrong?”

The Apple ignored me and began running away. As I followed, she kept screaming my name albeit the fact I was here. What was wrong with her in this nightmare?

Buzzing noise stopped me from following Applejack. I gasped when I turned around to see the Changeling queen with her devious and salacious smile in front of me. She might be the one causing this nightmare, but why was Applejack screaming my name? I was definitely confused.

Before I could question, Chrysalis sent me flying with a blast. After I recovered in the air as I quickly float, I countered with a fast ‘Thunderbolt’ from my horn. I thought to myself that a Changeling might be a Bug and Flying-type thus I did that, which was crazy. But it was able to vanish her from thin air—what? This didn’t make sense at all, because of course this was a just a dream.

I sensed Applejack in the west part of this place, so I instantly teleported to where she was. When I arrived, she was pulling a gray version of me with a rope around my neck as I walk to somewhere. I thought that myself would choke, but he wasn’t affected and he was too strong for Applejack.

“Iwano, don’t go to him!” the mare warned as her teeth gripped the rope. “Wherever Chrysalis is, I just wanna let ya know she’s out to get you! She’s a liar! And don’t let Dissonance’s words get into ya—you’re stronger than him!”

So Applejack was preventing me from walking to where Dissonance was and warned me about Chrysalis. Was there a connection to all this once we woke up?

I didn’t bother to help Applejack out, so I just follow where they were heading to. After a few meters away from the orchard, my dream self stopped when a black smoke appeared in front of us. After it formed itself into a shady pony still covered in smoke, with red glowing eyes, and sprung dragon-like wings, I knew for certain that that was an incomplete form of Dissonance. This was just a dream and my evil power was still within me, so did it mean that this Dissonance was just a figment of the Earth pony’s nightmare?

“It was your entire fault for betraying Iwano’s trust, Honesty,” Dissonance said. “He was just a friendly Alicorn, but yet you seek to finish not only me but him as well.”

Applejack jumped and faced the smoky Alicorn between him and illusion Iwano. I’d to pay close attention to what was this all about before I could save her. “Ah know what I did was wrong, but I could fix it!” she said. “You knew this would happen, which was why ya were waiting for the right moment. I knew Chrysalis was still a good for nothing Changeling workin’ with ya who’d sought out for Iwano. Ya’ll are conniving hooligans!”

Dissonance snickered. “Iwano will soon find out, Honesty. The truth is inevitable, and can never be hidden forever no matter how clever and friendly you can be to keep it.”

Applejack growled and rammed at Dissonance, but only passed through him since he was smoke. She turned to face him again, only to see him consuming the fake Iwano. The mare screamed and trembled to the ground as she held her head like an insane pony.

Thought that she was somehow in pain because of Dissonance consuming myself, I intervene by blasting him and my fake into absolute oblivion. It was easy since this was just a dream. What was that all about…? Also, I had enough of this.

Applejack and I woke up after that.

“Are you okay?” Rainbow Dash asked as she helped me up from the floor. “What happened, Green Wing?”

“Just fought some nightmare,” I replied. “But Applejack should be fine now.”

“I’m so glad Applejack is all right,” Twilight said. “Thanks, Iwano.”

I nodded. Applejack panted as Braeburn wiped the sweat off her forehead and Big Macintosh went out of the room, probably to get something for his sister. That dream had gotten me puzzled. What were Dissonance and the mare talking about, and what made Chrysalis a connection to it?

After she yawned, Applejack grunted as she held her head again. “I think I have a headache,” she said. “Darn that nightmare and them.”

“Who are they in your dream?” Fluttershy asked.

Right when Applejack was about to explain, she caught my silent shook. She probably didn’t know why, but she lied, “I don’t remember anymore, that dream was too scary for me to recall them.”

“We understand, Applejack,” I said. I then suddenly thought of something. I levitated and brought out the drink Flim and Flam gave me. “Having a headache? Take this then.”

Taking the drink, I was eager to find out if their new tonic would work. Few seconds later, Applejack’s face stopped tensing from, calmed with a sigh, and lay down with a slump.

“Iwano, what is that drink you gave her?” Twilight asked in amazement.

I now believed the twins tried to help the town. “Flim and Flam gave that to me,” I answered.

“What?!” Applejack shot up which startled us. “This is their tonic all over again! You can’t trust those slimy—!”

I went forward swiftly and leaned my forehead against hers as my eyes stared directly at the Earth pony’s pupils.

“Everypony deserves a second chance, Applejack,” I whispered. “Here’s the deal: If they do anything fishy again, it’s my responsibility. Perhaps they’re reformed, like Chrysalis.”

Big Macintosh pulled me away from his sister, probably because he thought I’d intruded her. Yeah, I’d got that feeling of being a protective brother.

“Um, sorry about that,” I apologized. “Okay, Applejack’s fine now. Listen, the Flim Flam Brothers have returned with a new drink—not tonic—called ‘Crystal Clear Water’, whereas according to them can cure any illnesses and diseases. At first, I didn’t believe them. But when your friend took it, I was convinced. They’re probably reformed—now good. And will you excuse me; I have clients to attend to. Thank the twins, by the way, not me.”

I’d teleported away.

I’d meet the Mane Six soon. Obviously Applejack wasn’t convinced yet that Flim and Flam were now good. Well, I couldn’t blame her since she had experiences with them. When I left, my stomach had gotten sick and I’d to stop to barf out standby requests. Alright, I’d go for my next client, Sweetie Drops.

I’d arrived in town square where I saw my client with Lyra Heartstring sitting on a bench—like what a human did. Hmm, that Unicorn was always thought by fans to have an obsession with humans, which was very ridiculous. It was just an animation error or sorts.

“Ayo, I’m Iwano Imagination,” I greeted as I landed to them. “How may I be in service to you, Sweetie Drops?”

“Please, call me Bon-Bon,” she said. Sweetie Drops, or Bon-Bon, was a light apple greenish gray Earth pony mare with moderate arctic blue eyes, and moderate cobalt blue mane with very light fuchsia highlights. Her cutie mark was three blue-and-yellow-striped bows, or wrapped candy. “I want you to cure my friend here. Lyra has been having dreams about, uh, ‘weird creatures’. So I thought you could give her a little, um, therapy on it. She’s also been talking about it for the past few months that it’s driving me crazy!”

“Those ‘weird creatures’ my friend was referring to are called humans,” Lyra said. She was a very light aquamarine Unicorn mare with moderate tangelo eyes, and pale, light grayish cyan mane with white highlights. I’d heard her voice in the show, but in pony, she sounded like strumming string of serenades.

Ponies in town would think Lyra was delusional once she’d spread her belief in humans. Without telling Sweetie Drops and warning Lyra, I’d levitated and restrained her down to the ground with my magic.

“What do you think you’re doing to Lyra?” Sweetie Drops demanded as she tried to pull me away from her friend.

“Trust me in this,” I said while I focused my eyes on the Unicorn’s. When she gave up struggling and her eyes made contact with mine, hers glowed golden because of my stare.

It looked like Sweetie Drops was worried, but her eyes said she was okay with it as long as I fixed her friend. After a few seconds later, I helped Lyra up and her eyes were back to normal and likewise mine.

“Do you still believe in humans?” I asked.

“Humans, what?” she asked back.

Emotion…Peace…Sweetness…Faith…

Whoever spoke in my head started to get a little annoying. But I suddenly had a tiny thought it was telling me something important.

Would you kindly just be quiet for a day or two? I asked in thought.

Sweetie Drops sighed in relief as she hugged Lyra, although the Unicorn had no idea what happened. “Thank goodness she’s cured. Thanks, Iwano. How much does this cost me?”

“Just ten bits,” I answered. “Before you pay, let’s have a little chat about you two.”

Bon-Bon and Lyra were delighted to chat with their new Alicorn friend. The Earth pony owned a candy shop that also sold bowties. The cured pony was a harpist in town who soothed the locals with her instrument. We just sat together under the clear blue sky and talked about each other. I could just take a short break from my odd job.

“Many ponies here are often annoyed of me ‘cause they said I’m too talkative,” Sweetie Drops said. She sounded like one of those complaining teen girls I saw on television and Reality in my school. “I was like, ‘I’m just expressing my opinion, you know?’, and they were like, ‘Bon-Bon, your opinions could hurt somepony so just keep it to yourself, okay?’ I mean, it’s just my opinion. What’s their problem?”

“Uh, yeah, what’s their problem?” I pretended to agree. I turned to Lyra to change the subject. “So, tell me about yourself.”

“Well, I just love playing the harp and Bon-Bon here—my best friend,” Lyra said.

Sweetie Drops snuggled her friend, which I found it gross rather than affectionate. “Aw, you’re too kind.”

“Thanks, as always. I’m not the talkative kind like Bon here—no offense, girl—and I prefer staying quiet. Peace is everything and peace will always find a place even in the most violent hearts, like Bon-Bon here.”

“Hey! Quit it!”

“I’m just kidding~!”

“And Lyra here never found love.”

“Too much info, Bon-Bon. I just want to wait for my special somepony to arrive someday in the right place and the right time.”

“And what place and time to your own specifications?” I asked.

“I wanna face him by a bridge as we stare at each other underneath the twinkling stars. That’d be romantic…” Lyra sighed dreamily.

I remembered my confession with Mari Ming Onette when we were together on a bridge in the night in the Grand Chase world. The emotionless ether technician just made my heart grind its gears that I could really relate to her as a researcher and isolated person in Reality. She and I were still in a relationship.

“What about Noteworthy?” I suggested. “He seems like a nice chap. Why not him?”

“Yeah!” Sweetie Drops agreed. “Lyra, Noteworthy is still single and he’s been your best boy pal since kindergarten; if you still have feelings for him, then go with him—and then confess when the time is right.”

“I don’t know,” Lyra unsurely said. “We’d stopped hanging out because he said he needed space. I don’t know why but I followed him anyway, thought maybe he has issues with me or some important life problem. And I just realized it’s been months since the Ponytones performed in Fluttershy’s fund raising event.”

This made me confirm that Lyra and Sweetie Drops weren’t a couple in the real Equestria. In Reality, fans shipped—or paired up romantically—these two mares, like they’d paired up Vinyl Scratch with the cellist. In my opinion, I liked heterosexual pairings rather than same genders despite them being “cute”.

“There’ll come a time you and him would end up together as a couple, Lyra,” I said. “You’re cute and a harpist. Some stallion should go out with you, especially Noteworthy. Just to tell you two, he and I are quite best buds during my party yesterday—”

Sweetie Drops growled loudly. “I hate what happened yesterday! I thought it was the best party ever dedicated to the newcomer, you, and then everything went all wacko.”

“Calm down, Bon-Bon,” Lyra said which immediately cooled her friend down. No wonder why her voice sounded like strumming strings. “The past is past. Do you have something else to do, Iwano?”

“Why yes, ladies.” I stood up and they followed. “It’s nice having a short chat with you both. Let’s hang out someday when there’s time.”

After I bid them goodbye, I’d gone to my next client who was waiting by Ponyville’s theatre. It made me smile to interact with the citizens of this town, especially if they were famed background ponies of the fandom, such as Sweetie Drops and Lyra Heartstrings.

Should I consider cooperating with the Flim Flam Brothers soon? Hmm, I’d thought about it later. I then thought of the town fearing me. Perhaps they weren’t anymore, I hoped.

The voice in my head had mentioned four words, so why? The more that voice kept going, the more I’d be curious as Twilight Sparkle.

“You’re late” my goldish gray client said as she tuned the strings of her bass cello. It was already 4:30 PM. She was apparently impatient when I was serving many more clients before her.

I tapped the flooring of the opera’s stage we were on. “I’m just one body,” I said. “If I were to return to the Mirror Pond, my clones would just cause chaos again. I can see you’re kinda uptight, Miss Melody. Laugh a little with your fiddle~!”

Octavia Melody rolled her sharp grayish mulberry eyes and glared at me. I gulped. I’d read her mind and heart that she despised me of what I’d done to the town.

She whipped her dark gray mane in disgust of my very weak humor which shined it light tint from the spotlights directing at her like she were a star. To me, she was one, in fact, I idolized her. I didn’t care if she held contempt for the Alicorn, for he admired her elegant beauty with his golden eyes looking at her from head to hoof plus her treble clef cutie mark. Her beauty was equal to Rarity’s if she were to play that instrument of hers.

“Why are you staring at me like that?” Octavia asked.

I blinked. “Uh, forgive me; I’m just admiring how appealing you are with your cello, Tavi.”

“Buttering me with that cheap compliment isn’t enough to make ponies in Ponyville think you’re a friendly after what you’d done yesterday.” She steadied herself on her hind legs with her instrument. “And don’t you dare ever call me by my nickname—since we’re not that close.”

I wasn’t buttering her up, really. I was honest—very honest. Besides Fluttershy, I had crushes on a lot of mares especially this Earth pony. I considered her as my musical waifu for I loved classical music and etiquettes. Also, I wasn’t trying to compliment in order to befriend. I was just being me.

I just smiled. “So, how would I be in service for you, Octavia? I’ll address you by that then.”

“I want you to sing for me.”

“Uh, what?”

“I said I want you to sing for me, Iwano Imagination. I wish to challenge my talent by following the tone of your voice as I play. Oh, can you sing?”

“Eeyup,” I replied with pride. “I’m not only a ruler in my kingdom but as well as a singer. You see, singing is my talent. If we have time together, maybe we could be a duo in a show—you play, I sing.”

“A swell idea, really. But I already have a partner in music, thank you.” Her undertone sounded uninterested. “It’s a yes then? Now sing, if you may.”

Sheesh, I just want to get along with ya, I thought.

For a simple-looking opera house, this place was luxurious in my eyes with its red velvet seats, cinnamon ceiling, red rug flooring, and antique stage. Theatres were my second favorite places; the first were libraries.

“I’ll start on your signal,” Octavia said. “Perhaps this would also be an opportunity for you to please me to be a new friend, if you want.”

Definitely. I didn’t want to sing a song from Reality, so I made up my own.

I closed my eyes and imagined myself in front of thousands of ponies. They were quiet, waiting for the singer to let out his voice. I took a deep breath in order to relax. Albeit Octavia was the only pony with me, she was like an audience in one mare.

Impatient, Octavia asked, “Are you going to sing or—?”

I had begun.

I cannot stand it anymore
That’s why I trembled to the floor
My heart’s pained almost everyday
For that, this is what I’ll say

Please don’t go away from me
Can you use your eyes to see?
I may be mysterious and perilous
Loneliness makes my heart silently furious

My spirit shines as the regal sun
My blackness hidden by the serene moon
I at least want to smile and have some fun
But would this darkness end so soon

Will that one pony come to my life?
Who’d free me from this awful strife?
I’m waiting here with my voice playing
I hope you’re here to hear me singing…

When I finished, I turned to Octavia. She was frozen with surprised eyes and dropped her bow. Yet again, another pony was agape. I wasn’t surprised as she.

Lowering her cello down, she said, “Okay, I’ll compliment you in return then. You’re quite dignified.”

“Thank you, Octavia,” I said. “I often enjoy singing. It helps me express my emotions and ventilate any negativity out of my heart.”

“Was that song your negativity? If so, then I’m sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize. I’m happy to help and sing at the same time. Oh, and I was really complimenting you sincerely a while ago.”

“Well then I must thank you, Iwano.” Octavia glanced around as if she sensed somepony else. “Do you want a spot of tea?”

A quiet time with Octavia Melody in “Tealove’s Café” was simply divine as were having tea outside. I loved these sorts of times in peacefulness, especially with the cellist.

“So, Octavia,” I said, “tell me about yourself. Maybe we could just get along as acquaintances in the meantime.”

“Nopony else bothered to ask me about myself,” the mare said. “The only pony who knew much about me was—”

“Vinyl Scratch, correct?”

She chuckled. “You do know everything and everyone in Equestria, huh? That’s amazing.”

“Almost everything and everyone,” I admittedly corrected. “I don’t even know everything about you except you’re a cellist, Vinyl’s best friend, and a more dignified pony than I.”

The cellist blushed. “Well, uh, since you said I should tell you about myself, I’ll do so.”

“Brilliant, begin?”

“I am Octavia Melody. I was born in Canterlot. In my childhood there, I was enrolled in a prestigious academy whereas they trained young minds to do the magnificent arts of music. As a filly, it was my dream to learn how to play a violin. I was terrible with that instrument despite months of practice that I’d decided to try others. Sadly I was incapable of any of the classical kinds that I almost gave up. That was when I met my best friend. Vinyl was a delinquent in the academy that teachers often sent her out of class not because of her attitude but her choice of instrument—a turntable. She’d said, ‘Who cares what instrument you play? Just keep finding one until you stay with it forever’. That filly was rather quite amusing that I begun to doubt she was a troublemaker once you get to know her better. She was the one who led me to play my forte. I owned her so much for all that that I wanted to repay her soon someday. Vinyl and I lived together in Ponyville after I’d moved here.”

“I could tell you’re glowing whenever you mentioned Vinyl’s name, Octavia.” I sipped my tea. “You two certainly are the best of friends.”

“Indeed. We do share our differences. Besides her, I do have other friends. Oh! I should tell more about myself to you?”

“Go ahead if you want, Miss Melody.” Conversing with this mare made my heart pump that I sipped on my tea more often.

“Okay. I’m more on the high standards and decency when it comes to galas and balls. In my past time besides playing my cello, read and sing—”

“Hey, I have both of them!” I happily exclaimed.

“Oh, you do? Then we might get along very well, more than acquaintances if I may say, Iwano. Where was I? Oh yes. I prefer quietness and staying clean. I’m also a musical critic to instrument players and singers. I’d rate your singing nine out of ten for your voice is slightly exquisite but your song was gloomy despite its artful and rhythmic lyrics.”

“Thanks for the evaluation.”

“You’re welcome. Between you and me, I still dream of playing the violin someday, but I have no time for it. I can be a little austere and serious when it comes to certain things.”

“I see.” I sometimes imagined that Octavia would look remarkable playing the violin. I was a fan of Lindsey Stirling, a famous violinist in Reality. Octavia and she would likely be the same except with different instruments. “Maybe I could teach you how to play the violin one day, Octavia.”

“Thank you for the offer, Iwano, I’ll think about it. And you can call me Tavi.”

“But we’re not that close yet, right?”

She laughed. “I love a good conversation, too. We are now, Mr. Imagination.”

I felt my heart warm. It was probably from the tea.

Octavia paid the bill of our teas and my service—fifteen bits—and we departed.

Suddenly, I smacked my forehead. “Why didn’t I thought of that?” I asked myself. “I’m so stupid~!”

I used my magic and conjured three clones of myself. Pretty soon, I’d have a buck load of requests thus I made these copies. They were absolutely disciplined and just like me except they’d work as well.

“I need the three of you to work with me,” I told them. “A request will randomly burp out of any of you. If anypony questions why there’re three other Iwanos, just explain why and ya’ll know it. Understand?”

“What about you?” the first Iwano asked.

“I need to take a break. I’ll beckon you three to me for the money once I message the signal, okay?”

“Yes sir,” they said in unison, and flew away.

I yawned. I earned two hundred and twenty-one bits today. I thought I should have a quick nap in my home, thus I teleported away.

Luna wasn’t the only one having nightmares, or so it seemed to be, but not to Celestia.

The white Alicorn soared through the gloomy sky as she gazed down at a wasteland known as Equestria. Celestia knew this was all just a mere illusion, but to her heart it was real. Forests were dead. Rivers and lakes were dried. No other ponies were seen frolicking in this forsaken land. Thunders boomed red in color in the black clouds.

Despite her fright, Celestia remained calm as too curious what was her dream meant.

The princess finally spotted a black Alicorn below, thus she landed near him.

“What is all this?” she cautiously asked. “Are you showing me your foreshadowing destruction of Equestria, Dissonance? It will never happen.”

The black Alicorn turned to face the princess with his glowing bloodshot eyes and said, “This might happen to your land once you don’t stop me. However, you should believe in your mother. Iwano is a threat as long as I’m within him. I’d like to tell you that he’s also a threat to his own kingdom. Iwano was stopped countless of times when he turned dark. I just wish his heart is purely black. If you don’t want this fate, then stop him.”

“No, we’ll stop you! You are the sole reason why he’s like that. We will save him from you, Dissonance.”

Dissonance cackled. “Words are cheap, Celestia. Why won’t you do something, you weak princess? Lauren defeated you and most of your pathetic Royal Guards.”

Celestia fumed but remained subtle. Her patience was broad as sunshine, however Dissonance’s mockery was insulting.

“Would you like to see a princess fly off her pedestal and fight for her subjects?” she asked.

“Ah, things will get interesting soon. But I doubt you as a plus to your forces would help.”

That is why a competition will be held soon, Celestia thought.

“What competition, Tia?”

“…You too can read minds, hm? Sorry, but my counselor had trained me to enhance my mental and thought guard against mind readers."

“Star Swirl was a fantastic Unicorn, yes. Anyway, the games will soon begin, so find as many allies as you can, Tia. You’ll need them, but I doubt they’d even zap me before they have the chance. There’s still the fact though that your mother had defeated you. What pity. I bet you’ve been sitting in your royal pedestal to long that your abilities in combat became rusty, you wisecracker.”

Celestia knew what Dissonance was doing with his words, but the princess as always was coolheaded. Tia wouldn’t be reckless as Luna in both rage and enthusiasm, but there were times when she had to reasonably flare. She remembered how she’d raged against her alternate self back when the mirror world of Equestria had emerged with hers. Although, Lauren now was the only pony Celestia would be angered of.

“Nice try, Dissonance,” Celestia said. “But your words don’t affect me. It’s true I was defeated by mother. On the contrary, I take my ‘rusty combat skills’ as a challenge. I am though curious of why would we stop Iwano since you’re actually the real threat, using him I believe as a tool. I do not care if he had done great crimes in his past, what matters to us is that not only we’ll free Iwano from you but also teach him some lessons.”

“Just like how your Twilight Sparkle did in the past—”

“She’s still learning with her friends.”

“Okay, okay, Tia, you’re becoming stubborn now. What about this? You defeat Iwano Imagination and I’ll surely be gone from your world. No more harm upon your plebeians. I swear that on the River Styx.”

“I have no idea what’s the River Styx. But it feels there’s a certain condition behind that. Care to tell if you want us to be negotiable, Dissonance? Otherwise, I must turn your deal down—even if it means putting you down, too.”

Her enemy gritted his teeth and stared at the ground. Celestia knew there was something behind that deal.

Celestia was right when Dissonance admitted, “…If you defeat Iwano, you’ll not only bring peace to your land but also”—he drew a line across his neck—“Even if I were not possessing him or I were destroyed, Iwano himself is a menace in every land and every world he’d be through.”

“…Wait, what do you mean ‘in every land and every world he’d be through’?” Celestia asked as her curiosity of the newcomer increased as Twilight.

Dissonance smiled. “Ask him yourself, princess. I’ll give you time to think about my offer in the meantime, but I’ll soon visit you again.”

If Celestia were Luna, she’d demand or strangle Dissonance for answers rather than ask Iwano himself—which was what she’d wanted to do. Iwano Imagination is not a threat, she thought. He needs to be freed.

“Fine, I will ask him and think about your offer, Dissonance,” Celestia said. “But don’t think my subjects and I would give in that easily.”

“I know you wouldn’t. Goodbye, Celestia.”

In the blink of an eye, the princess’s sight had gone black.

Tia woke with a start and panted from her velvet purple bed. “I must talk to him soon.”

Celestia recalled what Lauren had said about Iwano. Both of them said the same thing about Iwano, she thought, that he’s a threat. She shook in disbelief. Dissonance and Lauren also did mock her of being weak.

“Dissonance and soon Lauren must be stopped.”

Besides being a leader of multi-universal world, I was grateful of doing odd jobs. A long time ago back in Imaginundia, I’d decided to take a “vacation” from my position for week, gave it to Lentae as a challenge, and I’d gone to do the everyday odd jobs in IW. It was a fantastic experience though I’d felt sorry for weighting such heavy but temporary responsibility on my sister, albeit she was just a vice leader. Doing the everyday life of my citizens had given me the opportunity to interact and get to know them.

To my surprise, I’d earned four hundred and fifty-two bits in one day. Not bad. My clones were doing fine and did not rampage the town in Hawaiian shorts.

I was strolling around Ponyville to relax as my clones lessened my work. Whenever somepony saw me, they’d ask for assistance and in exchange they paid me. It looked like everypony wasn’t afraid of me anymore. What a relief!

“Perhaps I should go back to work,” I said.

“Hey, you’re Iwano Imagination, right?” somepony asked behind me.

I turned and met the DJ pony. “Ayo, Vinyl Scratch,” I greeted. “And yes, I am yours truly. How may I help you?”

“You do remember I requested for your assistance, right?”

I’d first seen this mare from my Entering with Colors performance in my first day in Equestria.

Vinyl Scratch was a yellowish white Unicorn with a strobe moderate cobalt blue mane with brilliant cyan stripes, and was commonly known as the famous “DJ Pone-3”. She wore her signature glasses which was a gradient from dark purple to moderate heliotrope with lighter streaks. Vinyl had her cutie mark—a backward double quaver—during Shining Armor and his friends’ performance in their high school years.

“I’m sorry, I was just taking a break,” I said. “So, what do you need me for, Vinyl Scratch?”

“I want you to be my personal bodyguard for the rest of my gig today. Every time I have one, my fans overwhelmed my other past bodyguards. You think you can handle this?”

“Absolutely, I can do that, which is a piece of cake.”

Courage…

“Alright,” Vinyl said as she adjusted her glasses which slightly revealed her moderate cerise eyes. “Let’s wub this day up~!”

Twenty to thirty bodyguards in my estimation might hold a crowd of fifty ponies. As an Alicorn, I had the magic to cast an invisible barrier protecting the concert stage as the DJ played. And I started to think a “gig” wasn’t enough to describe this whole thing.

I made six more clones to reinforce security while Vinyl’s concert was on as I wrote another letter to my new pen pal. I was back stage, by the way. A while ago I’d pushed back a horde of fans, which was fun.

The beat of the music was so rhythmic with its electronic beats that my hooves begun tapping away as I wrote. Her music reminded me of David Guetta.

Dear Tia,

Let’s have some fun by asking each other a question. I’ll go first: Who was the major love of your life? I promise I won’t tell anypony.

Sincerely you friend,
Iwano Imagination

…Okay, that was a bit personal, but I wanted to get along with the sun bearer.

After I’d sent my letter in flames, I’d heard my name.

“Hey, Iwano! Get your hooves on stage! Yeah…!”

That was Vinyl—calling me to obviously get myself onstage?

When I revealed myself, I was greeted with a roaring crowd. Despite only fifty ponies, they sure could make themselves huge ear-poppers, or were they increased to a hundred, thousands?

Beside me was the DJ with her turntable. “Now, Iwano,” Vinyl said through her microphone. “I want you to jam. You’re kinda like a singer to me since you’d first come to Ponyville, so why not do that again?”

She wants me to sing? I thought. Crowds were silent, waiting for me to let my voice out. I sighed as I gestured to have the mic. The things I had to do to please ponies.

As DJ Pone-3 started the music, I started—

Don’t stare at me with funny faces

I’mma knot your tongues like laces

Honestly I am so lame

Don’t put me in the hall of fame

Just lend me the spotlight for this time

’Cause I’mma have to let out some of my rhymes—

Stay silent!

I see them ponies jammin’ in that club

Drinkin’ cider all night—I thought there ain’t a pub

I feelin’ so afraid to let out my moves

But my heart’s sayin’ that it’s time to kick my hooves

Bam! I shuffle some boys away

And then I got the gals with me and I’m now okay

Get hypnotized

Pulverized

Look at the strobe lights from my eyes

Until you go so very blind

Instead of your hooves raisin’ in the air

You whip your manes back and forth like you all don’t care

That’s all for now so have a very good time

And I promise that I am sweeter than lime!

After that, I’d teleported away.

I knew that was rude, but I felt my hooves shook in fright. Fluttershy had stage fright and was very shy. I on the other hoof could only stand for a limited time in front of a crowd, unless I felt some confident energy.

5:20 PM and I still hadn’t decide if I should partner up with the Flim Flam Brothers. They were very untrustworthy and conned a lot. But their Crystal Clear Water had cured Applejack. Hmm…I might still need to think about it.

As my clones get paid, the bits automatically had gone to me.

The thought of Pinkie Pie and Zecora suddenly crossed my mind…I’d almost forgotten about them. Zecora fainted after she’d recited Dissonance’s prophecy and hadn’t waked up yet, and Pinkie Pie was still recovering in Sugarcube Corner after I’d defeated her as Pinkamena.

I decided to visit the Element of Laughter.

Several minutes had passed and Celestia still hadn’t written back to her new pen pal.

She paced around her study room, thinking of how to answer his simple yet very personal question.

“It’s been a long time since somepony asked me this question, Philomena,” Tia said to her pet phoenix that was perched on a stand near a hearth. “The last one who asked me that was…”

Her trail broke as she recounted her times with her very first love. Celestia’s heartbeat suddenly raced by the thought of Sombra—the good Sombra—who belonged in an alternate version of Equestria through a magical mirror that was smashed forever. The princess’s heart also ached by the thought of Sombra sacrificing himself to save his world and the mare of his dreams.

Celestia sat down on her carpet sullenly. “Oh how I wish to love another once again,” she sadly whispered. She and Luna never found the right stallion that could be with them forever. Discord was immortal, but Tia had no interest with the chaos bringer despite he was reformed.

The princess conjured a pen and quill and begun replying back—

Dear Iwano,

Can we change that subject? Forgive me; it’s just that that it is too “personal”. You probably know who I loved in the past. But since he is gone, I have no major love in my life at this time. If it’s fine, can I ask who the love of your life is? After you answer that, may I know your interests and hobbies? How did you get your cutie mark? How does it feel to lead in your kingdom? Do you have a family or relatives? Who’re the friends very close to you in your home? Did you ever done wrong in your life? If so, could you tell me? Your secrets are safe with me, Iwano. I hope you could understand

Sincerely your friend,
Tia

Celestia rolled the paper and threw it to Philomena, and the letter burned on contact into nothing.

“I hope he could understand,” she said.

I entered her room as I creakingly opened the door and quickly shut it behind me quietly. Pinkie Pie was all tucked in her candy colored bed, with a bandage wrapped around her neck and her left eye covered. The room was dim and only her window provided little light.

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for what I’d done to the party pony. I was cold and too serious to get along with her for I’d despised Pinkie’s talkative and senseless character.

During my fight with Pinkamena, I’d learned to laugh through my pain despite the severity, and had a little Laughter to last longer within me when I’d go through harsh times in the future as I looked back to the happy past to cheer me on farther.

I carefully walked towards Pinkie Pie, as if she’d still be her gory self. When I was finally beside her, I stared at her bright pinkness and cute face for a moment.

“Pinkie Pie,” I said. “I’m very sorry for hating you. You really are a great party pony, and I appreciate your efforts making me happy.” I felt my heart tugged. “I wish I can do something in return…”

Suddenly, I was pulled to her bed.

Before I could scream in a tight loveable hug, Pinkie Pie whispered in my ear, “…Can you hug me?”

I blushed. My breath became hot, my heartbeat rapid, my eyes drowsy, and hooves shaking. Even without this blanket, her hug was warm and sweet as hot chocolate. If only Pinkie Pie were Fluttershy though, I’d be extra happy.

“I’m so sorry, Pinkie,” I apologized. “I should never have said those awful things about you…”

She weakly giggled. “You said ‘Pinkie’. Usually you called me Pinkie Pie. Iwano, that’s fine. I forgive you. I actually saw how sad you are in the inside. I don’t know how I could do that, but I’d always want to make you smile and laugh and have fun. I’m Pinkie Pie, you know?”

I gave her a hug, too. Pinkie gasped quietly. “Thank you…”

We then stared at each other. Her cerulean bedroom eyes were kinda minty in this dim room with her mouth an inch opened. I hugged her softly with my left hoof wrapped around her back while the other on her head. Pinkie’s hooves were around my back tight as her bandages, bringing us closer and felt each other’s exhalation.

It was like…It was like I’d wanted to touch her lips right now with mine…

What am I doing? I asked in thought.

I snapped out as I gasped and pulled myself up away from her with eyes widened. “Um—I, uh…Pinkie Pie—oh,” I stammered. “So, are we cool? I’m sorry; I don’t mean to be rude. It’s just that it’s…um…”

Pinkie remained lying down gazing at me with a small smile, and winked. That unnerved me.

“You can go now,” she said. “See you later, Iwano.”

I didn’t know what else to say, I just teleported away in exit.

I panted when I appeared near Carousel Boutique.

“What was I doing?!” I asked myself. “Iwano, what were you doing with her? You were supposed to just apologize and suddenly you were going mushy!”

I should really control my desire. Pinkie Pie to me was a great pony who could cheer anypony up and always had an optimistic side. Her illogical and eccentric character might be why I was infatuated. Was I really infatuated? Pinkie pulled and grasped me to her hooves on her bed. Did that mean…?

“No,” I firmly said. “That ain’t gonna happen. I’m for Fluttershy, not Pinkie Pie. I’m for Kindness, not Laughter.”

“Hey, are you Iwano Imagination?” Scootaloo asked.

I turned and found four fillies. “Can I help you, crusaders?” I asked.

“Wow, he knows who we are!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed. “He isamazing!”

With just that assumption and now impressed, I thought.

“Well, he is Iwano Imagination after all,” Babs Seed said.

“Mr. Imagination,” Apple Bloom said, “Can we ask you a little favor?”

I was happy to see these four fillies together. This was the first time I’d met them. If Lentae were here she’d cuddle Scootaloo into a pulp. Sweetie Belle was my favorite crusader.

“Of course, Apple Bloom,” I replied. “What do you girls need me in service, hmm?”

Chapter 19: The Wheel of Colors

View Online

Applejack was fine now. Or so she thought.

She couldn’t believe the Flim Flam Brothers’ Crystal Clear Water cured her headache after she had that nightmare. The twins were very untrustworthy, but why did their new product worked? She was still skeptical.

Ah still don’t think that water is special, Applejack thought disdainfully. And when did Iwano get that water? Did he meet those slimy varmints?

Just like Twilight, Applejack still didn’t trust Iwano despite his good demeanor. That Alicorn’s misdeeds were enough for Applejack to apple buck him until his brain fell out. But the mare knew it was Dissonance’s fault, that dark side within Iwano. And that she wanted to save him no matter what.

As the Element of Honesty, it was her part to be honest and find the truth.

That nightmare made Applejack doubt Iwano even more, but she didn’t get why she cared for him. They didn’t hang out yet as friends or get to know each other. I wanna get to know him very soon. Apple Bloom told me he’s sorta busy with his new job, so maybe we’ll hang later once I’m done with my chores—starting with this order.

Big Mac told her to rest being relieved from her bad dreams and headache, but she insisted of continuing. Applejack actually wanted to do chores so she could relax from the dangers she and her friends had faced involving that Alicorn.

She thought Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash’s parts to influence with their elements were done. Applejack planned to be the next to help. However, she couldn’t see anything dishonest about Iwano yet. It sounded like he was true enough since he was a good pony and that he was seeking help from the Elements of Harmony, but it bothered her that the newcomer was hiding something. Was she crazy? No, she was weary.

Dissonance might not the only threat comin’ to Equestria.

Filthy Rich, father of Diamond Tiara and owner of Barnyard Bargains, ordered a cart-load of apples from the Apple Family last week. Applejack was pulling the rich pony asked for through town while she greeted the townsfolk.

“Just a good day working, Applejack,” she told herself. “There’s nothing but normality.”

In truth, with Iwano around, the Earth pony was uncertain things were normal. Me and my friends have been in crazier things before Iwano came. I bet they were all just like him, if only we have the Elements.

Applejack met up with Filthy Rich in Ponyville’s Flee Market. She wondered why there were less ponies here than usual, but immediately focused on her client.

“Howdy there, Mr. Rich,” Applejack greeted as they both shook hooves.

“It’s a pleasure meeting with you again,” the grayish amber stallion said. His dark gray mane was waxed which little shined the lighter highlights. Noticing his drowsy light azure eyes, Applejack figured that Filthy Rich had been very busy with his job as a director of his own company. His cutie mark showed three sacks of money.

“I reckon you ordered a huge bushel of apples.” She unhooked herself from the cart and tapped it. “Well, here it is.”

“And as promised, I’ll pay seven hundred bits.” That money was beside him in a briefcase.“Thank you for the delivery.”

Filthy Rich held out his hoof. When Applejack held out hers and shook with him, nerves from her head felt like they were about to pop out. But she kept her cool despite the pang.

The owner of Barnyard Bargains noticed and stopped shaking with her. “Are you fine, Applejack?”

Her widened eyes stared down to the ground. She processed what that twinge in her head was. She finally understood. Wait a sec, she thought. Seven hundred bits he say?

“I’m afraid to tell you but you don’t have seven hundred bits inside that case of yours.”

Filthy gasped. “What’re you saying?”

“Don’t play dumb, Filthy.”

His nostrils flared. “Don’t dare call me that—”

“I won’t call you that again, but I wanna count how many bits are inside that case. If you’re honest, then let me count. Otherwise you’re lying.”

Applejack saw his eyes filled with nervousness. He was definitely lying. To backup her assumption, Filthy Rich was sweating.

“Fine, I lied,” the middle-aged stallion admitted. “Inside this briefcase is just only one hundred.”

The mare scanned Filthy. He was telling the truth. Applejack arched her brows. “Why is it one hundred anyway?”

“My daughter spent the money I was supposed to pay to you yesterday because she was whining and crying all day, saying she wanted her own personal carriage.”

Now I found a reason to hate Diamond Tiara a little with Apple Bloom.

Filthy Rich promised he’d pay them the exact amount tomorrow, but he wouldn’t get his apples yet from the Apple Family. After they departed each other, Applejack questioned to herself, “Now how did I know he wasn’t the telling the truth? That was mighty odd.”

Nervous-filled eyes and sweat, Applejack could identify a liar, but she wondered how she was able to find out before those signs kicked in. It was mighty odd indeed.

Applejack wasn’t like Twilight or Rarity who could use magic, or Iwano who could read minds. As she hooked back the cart’s pulley unto her, she kept thinking and thinking until she reached home. The day’s clear blue sky with its puffy clouds set by the Pegasi would ease her mind, but now not, she thought.

Tired, Applejack leaned on an apple tree and took off her hat unto her stomach. She placed her hooves under her head as pillows and she sighed.

“Was it all because of that dream I had that I was able to see a liar?” she asked herself. “Maybe Twilight would help. She knows a lot of strange doohickeys.”

To clear that thought away for her to rest easy, she thought of plans to hang out with the green Alicorn. We can talk about each other’s lives. Maybe he can help around the barn and apple buck with me. He’s kinda slim but a little buff, but I think he can buck.

There was nothing interesting about Iwano to Applejack yet. She wanted to get along with him the best she could. She wanted to believe he was finding help. She wanted to save him. Save him, save him from Dissonance, in any little or big things possibly, even if it meant enduring Iwano’s misdeeds and chatting with him about apples.

A thought crossed her mind, as if a buffalo herd rammed out of her brain. Her eyes lit, she stood up, and wasn’t relaxed anymore but rather excited as she slapped on her hat.

“Hey! I’ve an idea!” Applejack exclaimed. “If I can now sense truth and lies, maybe Twilight and we— and more importantly Princess Celestia—can finally see Iwano’s true identity! That way, we can help him better. Oh boy! I gotta tell Twi about this—my own new ability!”

Applejack galloped away to Twilight Sparkle, with plans and a new ability to show her.

“Today, we’re supposed to bring somepony important or special in Ponyville for presentation today,” Apple Bloom said as I walked with the Cutie Mark Crusaders on the way to their school. “That pony will be explaining how they got their cutie mark. All our classmates are participating in it, and we can do it as a group. It’s kinda like a special activity or project set by Ms. Cheerilee. Oh, and thanks for healing my sister.”

“We asked Twilight and her friends,” Scootaloo said. “But they’re all busy and most ponies in town are unavailable. That’s why we choose you ’cause you’re very special and awesome. I mean, you can do many great things.”

“That’s because I’m an Alicorn,” I said. “However I actually want to be like every other pony in town.”

“I bet you’re just modest, Mr. Imagination,” Babs Seed guessed. “You’re totally amazing.”

I was quite flattered as usual, but just like Twilight, I was no better than any other pony. I did want to show off once in awhile like Rainbow Dash and in a stylish way like Rarity, but I had a self-conscious side like Fluttershy. What mattered to me was that everypony around me and me happy, like Pinkie Pie. Of course, I stayed true to myself like Applejack.

“Thanks for the compliment, Babs,” I said.

“We’re really excited to listen to how those important and special ponies like you in how they got their cutie marks,” Sweetie Belle said. “I’m dying to know how!”

I chuckled. “You silly fillies as usual are always trying to find your talents.”

“Duh, we’re crusaders, Mr. Imagination,” Scootaloo reminded with a snort. “We’ll never stop finding our cutie marks, even if it’ll take us until we’re old as Granny Smith.”

I laughed, which offended Apple Bloom. “That’s not nice, and Granny actually found her cutie mark before she even knew how to talk when she was a foal.”

“Forgive me,” I apologized, “it’s funny, really.”

Apple Bloom smiled. “I understand, Mr. Imagination.”

“And please, call me Iwano.”

I was actually excited to share to the ponies in the Ponyville Schoolhouse about how I’d obtained my cutie mark.

“By the way,” Sweetie Belle, “you can be a big bonus to us since you’re cutie mark is extra special and we never ever seen like it before!”

“You will all know how I got it once we get to your school.” I levitated out a notebook from my saddlebag. I’d almost forgotten I had it with me.

“What’s that?” Babs asked.

“It’s my journal. In one of its entries has the story in how I’d gotten my cutie mark. When I look at this, it made me remember my past.” I stowed it away. “I know you want to read it, Apple Bloom, but it’s classified.”

“How do you know what I was thinking?” Applejack’s little sister asked in marvel.

“I sometimes read minds.”

Babs snorted. “I knew you’re amazing. You don’t need to be modest.”

“And I can tell you’re not the modest type. In Manehattan, you usually show off your skills and achievements just to—”

“Just being boastful, get more friends,” Sweetie Belle guessed.

“No, silly filly, Babs just want to show off just to inspire others.”

“I should really tell more about myself to you crusaders, since I think I’m still fresh,” Babs said.

I patted her head caringly. “You’ll have the chance, little one.”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were first formed during Diamond Tiara’s cute-ceañera in the season one episode Call of The Cutie whereas Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo intervened to defend Apple Bloom about blank flanks. Their only goal in life was to find their cutie marks—no matter how many crazy stunts they’d do to get one. In season three’s episode Babs Seed, the crusaders had gained a fourth member who was Apple Bloom’s cousin.

These cute fillies staying close to me reminded me of when I was a little kid, trying to find my talent. They also reminded me of my sister.

I suddenly missed Lentae. It was too bad she didn’t come along. She wasn’t a fan yet, though I made her OC form—Lentae Skyblade. If Lentae were with me right now, she’d be nagging and annoying me, and at the same time protecting her big brother as the team we were. In IW, we were famously known together as the “Dynamic Duo of Reality” because of our impressive teamwork and unbreakable bond as siblings.

When we were watching the show’s episode A Canterlot Wedding Part 1, I’d said, “That’s you and me, Mae. I’m Shining Armor and you’re my smart Twilly~!”

“But I’m not smart,” Mae protested. Mae was her Reality name. “In fact, those two are you while I’m nothing.”

“Mae, I don’t care. Besides when I called you my smart ‘Twilly’, I meant that you’re clever enough to care for your bro and be awesome and know how to save the day, like Rainbow Dash—you idolize her, by the way, I know.”

“Yeah, ha-ha, I guess I am smart.”

“No you’re not.”

“Hey!”

“Just joking.”

“Diego!”

“Don’t call me by that name. Call me Iwano.”

“Bleh, fine.”

“Uh…Iwano?”

I was so busy reminiscing that past that I didn’t realize we were by the threshold of the schoolhouse.

“Why do you look zoned out?” Scootaloo asked.

I shook. “Sometimes I’m like that when I’m remembering something.”

“So what were you remembering, Iwano?” Apple Bloom asked.

Before I could answer, the door in front of us was opened by their teacher.

“Oh, Iwano Imagination, welcome!” Ms. Cheerilee greeted with her smile and blinking grayish harlequin eyes. When I sniffed the air, I smelled the scent of poinsettia from the teacher’s pale, light grayish rose and light ceriseish gray mane.

“Please do come in,” Cheerilee said as she went to her table and the crusaders went to theirs. Was Babs a transfer or temporary student here? “Alright class, today, the Cutie Mark Crusaders have chosen—”

“My name is Iwano Imagination,” I introduced myself to the class. “It’s a pleasure to meet ya’ll.”

This wasn’t the first time I’d be presenting myself to bunch of school kids, thus I had experience. In fact, I was a public speaker myself.

I could see some foals I knew here, especially those two bullies of the CMCs, Diamond Tiara and Silverspoon.

“Now, Iwano, would you like to begin?” Cheerilee asked.

“Why of course!” I replied. I cleared my throat. The Cutie Mark Crusaders’ eyes were a lit with curiosity and enthusiasm, which made me grin. This class was just full of kids. Luckily the Mane Six weren’t here to listen.

I had begun by pointing at my cutie mark. “The story behind this colorful wheel is kinda, uh, I couldn’t describe it. Perhaps it’s best for me to tell ya’ll now…”

Two months ago…

“Come on, Cynthia!” I cried out from the ground to my assistant, who was a black Pegasus. “Just like what I told you! Lower the angle of your wings slowly if you wish to land!”

“You know what?!” Cynthia struggled to follow my instruction. “I think I prefer being a Unicorn—”

A sudden draft of wind blew her down. Inhaled sharply, I dashed as a streak and swept her away unto my hooves. Afterwards, we landed.

“You didn’t scream,” I said.

“I knew you were going to save me from that, you know?” Cynthia stroked her long blonde mane which blocked her left eye. She still wore her black Champion attire. Her coat and clothing together was enough for her to camouflage in the dark. “After all, you are who you are.”

She gave me a small smile and I returned with a bigger one. Cynthia’s austere but beautiful almond-shaped eyes were enough for me to “pounce” at her. Her black wings were like swords and she was almost at my height. I was about four-eight as a pony while she was probably fifteen inches taller than Twilight.

“Being a Pegasus suits you,” I said, hiding my admiration of her beauty. “It’s just that you need a lot of practice.”

“I still don’t see the point why I should have a pony form.”

“Someday you’d be in Equestria once my mission there is done…Or rather if I need any help. You could discover and do great things as a pony. Pegasus ponies are very popular as OCs in the Reality fandom.”

“Fine, but if I can’t master this body before your entrancing to the land of ponies, I’d definitely be a Unicorn.”

I rolled my eyes. “As you wish, Cynthia.”

“Now that we’re done with this session, let’s now discuss about you rejoicing your sense of Imagination.”

I frowned. “Oh, that.”

It was been five years since my Imagination was young and free. As I’d gotten older, it became limited for it was very powerful to use such ability. If I were to imagine anything, it would happen automatically, like imagining my house were a mansion or my enemies instantly in blaze. Now that I was a teenager, I had doubts that I was still creative as my sister.

“Your Imagination is an important part of you,” Cynthia said, beginning her lecture. I loved lectures. “It was because of your sadness, anger, and most of all creativity that made the world we all know as Imaginary World and its metropolis Imaginundia. With your Imagination, not only you can manipulate the laws of almost everything, but you can also keep your happiness and power to protect alive. Iwano, make every time count. Imagination is everything to you. As your assistant, it is one of my duties to do whatever it takes to keep my master as himself. Moreover, your life and Imagination is what keeps this world from tearing apart from both peril and nonexistence.”

Everything she said was all true. A few days ago, we were in the Dodecagon—a huge facility is which conferences, meetings, research, and other important activities were held, and where IW’s Geniuses—scientistists and other hight intellectuals—did their works. Every month, the Geniuses examined my Imagination potential. For the past few tests, as I matured and grew in Reality, my Imagination and happiness lowered.

“So what do you think we should do?” I asked as I gestured her to walk with and she followed.

“Maybe we could revisit your battlegrounds in which you had fought your old foes and friends in. I know you love ‘awesome battles’, so theoretically banging your head of the past should give your fighting creativity vigor.”

Cynthia looked up to the sky. “It’s simply beautiful up there,” she sighed. “When I flew in this form, it was like I was the one riding the wind instead on my Togekiss. To me, riding with your Pokémon to the skies and flying as a pony are two different things. Let your imagination take flight…That is indeed your favorite quote.”

What’re you talking about? I thought. Apparently Cynthia tried to make me smile, and it worked. She knew what to do and how to make me happy in any way possible.

I giggled.

“Is it something I said?” Cynthia asked.

“Nah, not at all, I just remembered something. I do often imagine a lot of thing when I was in Reality,” I said. But I guess that isn’t enough. Focusing on my studies as a student in that world is one of my top priorities, though it lessens my imaginativeness.”

“Manage your time,” Cynthia reminded. Every assistant mostly did that. “You can set up some schedules. I thought you can organize, by the way.”

“I can, Cynthia. It’s just that I have a lot gong and more tasks pop up than lately—confound my high school life—making me reschedule again and again. Actually, it’s not that bad sticking my nose into my Algebra books and maturing even better, although I do miss my old self…I was free-spirited and gay.”

Cynthia giggled. Oh, she thought of “gay” as something else. Ha-ha.

“Very funny, isn’t it?” I muttered.

“Don’t take it too seriously, Iwano.” My assistant rubbed my back, which made my wings cringe. “Yes, you were those qualities in the past. Your insecurity grew as you grow, I believe. You obstacles in both Reality and here must’ve restricted your actions as well. You’ve been through so much…”

“You know me too well for the past four years, Cynthia. In fact, you even watched over Lentae and I when we’re home, mostly my sis.”

That was because Lentae was her adopted daughter, and I was an exception. My adopted family was the Wattersons, while my sis was an adopted daughter to two other families, and I wasn’t definitely their son. Family stuff in IW was weirder than Reality.

“Anyway,” Cynthia said, “I know you’re still clinging to your old self. It’s a part of you. You can’t afford to lose your Imagination.”

Now I didn’t want to talk about it.

“Let’s have some fun, shall we?” I suggested, hoping we could deal with my Imagination problem later. We’d discussed that almost every day that I felt annoyed and at the same time sad. Growing up whilst my Imagination fading was like dying into a boring corpse.

I could tell from the Sinnoh Champion’s eyes that I was trying to ignore the subject matter, but she said, “Fine, Iwano. What kind of fun then?”

My iWatch10 beeped. Somepony was calling me. I tapped my watch and held it up to me and said, “Ayo, what’s up?”

On the hotline was Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus, saying, “Iwano, we found something about your Dissonance.”

Okay, now I wanted to deal with my Imagination problem instead. “So, did you guys find a cure or something?”

“Just get here to the Dodecagon and Kassias and us will explain—oh, and can we please turn back into humans? Running away from Laistrygonians with only for four hooves to use just to get information about your Dissonance…Ugh, just get your rump here. I have not time to complain anyway.”

After she hung up, I told Cynthia we were heading to where Thalia was about Dissonance. I couldn’t help but laugh because of the daughter of Zeus’s tone.

“Looks like I’m not the only one not used to being a pony yet,” Cynthia said.

I smiled. “Let’s fly.”

When we arrived and gone into the Dodecagon’s crystal entrance, guarded by centaurs, we were greeted by other ponies in lab coats and combat uniforms of various kinds. I’d ordered every human in Imaginundia to transform themselves into ponies for two weeks, just for fun.

Cynthia and I walked through a wide, air conditioned hall with marble flooring that reflected light from the fluorescent bulbs above us that brightened our path. The silver walls beside us had minimalistic paintings and they smelled like fruits (because fruits were used on them instead of actual paint).

We finally exited the hall and entered the Dodeca-Core, the center of the Dodecagon—a giant orbicular lobby with a dome roof of glass that shifted scenes of one of the greatest battle scenes of movies and shows from Reality and one of the most memorable events in Imaginundia history; despite there were other halls, portals popped randomly from time to time as exits or entrances; and a circular counter was in the middle of the lobby with a huge white glowing orb floating above with green and red dots appearing and disappearing.

“Welcome back to the Dodecagon, Iwano,” a light pink pony wearing only a red shirt greeted me.

“Ayo, Amy!” I exclaimed. “Why aren’t you in your post at the counter? And why are you only in—?”

“Don’t ask,” she growled. Maybe Jet the Hawk was playing around with her. “Anyway, what’re you two doing here?”

We told her about that we were going to see Thalia and Kassias. Amy Rose was pink hedgehog from the Sonic world, Sonic’s “girlfriend”, and worked part time as a counterwoman in the Dodecagon and news reporter for IWNews Blast.

“I’m still on break,” Amy said, “but I can help you two out.”

She cleared her throat, held her left foreleg up, and said to her wristwatch, “Dodeca-Counterwoman 4: Amy Rose, on break speaking. Mr. Morgan and Ms. Draco would like to see Mr. Grandiel in the Dodeca-Lab now.”

Instantly, my assistant and I were teleported in a quick flash of blue.

We were transported into the Dodeca-Lab, which was simply just an enormous, circular laboratory. Surrounding three ponies at the middle in a semicircle were tables organized with textbooks and spellbooks, lab equipments and gaseous chemicals, computers and artifacts, and many more unusual items. On one side of this lab was the biggest and widest flat screen super computer—known as the “A.L.A.K.A.Z.A.P.” (I had no idea what its abbreviation stood for)—with a super long, wide keyboard with a lot of buttons.

When we walked towards the three ponies who were talking, tables automatically changed positions to clear path for me and Cynthia. The whole Dodecagon was enchanted and built with high-tech advancements beyond Reality’s technology. In fact, ours with magic were combined from other worlds.

“Good afternoon, Iwano,” Kassias Grandiel greeted. “I’m very glad you and Cynthia are here. Just like what Thalia has told you, we have something about your Dissonance.”

The peach-white coated Unicorn had a silky blonde mane, elfish ears, and critical icy eyes. He wore reading glasses, a blur runic robe, black pants, and violet boots violet boots on his hind legs. On his back was his brown saddlebag contained his spellbook, the Clare Bible. Though his flank was covered, I knew his cutie mark was his book.

“You have no idea how long it took us to seek this information,” Thalia Grace muttered. “But it was all worth it. After all, I need to have the IW experience since I’m still fresh here.”

The demigod was a zappy yellow Pegasus with startling electric blue eyes and spiky black mane like some punk chick. Her attire was a black T-shirt, black tattered jeans, and a leather jacket—she was to me a mix of Goth and punk. She was accessorized with piercing on her ears and a wrist chain on her left foreleg’s hoof, which could turn into her shield, Aegis. Her cutie mark was a round bronze shield with a lightning bolt across it. Her overall appearance reminded me of a song from Wiz Khalifa.

She was supposed to be with the Greek goddess Artemis for she was one of the Hunters who weren’t supposed to come in contact with males (kinda sexist much?), but IW was in the verge of chaos, we needed everypony’s help regardless of restrictions in the meantime.

“Ever since that Dissonance was first born,” Red said as he adjusted his red cap, “several worlds were in disorder more than lately; no doubt that thing inside you radiates huge bad luck on us. Kassias was able to find little connections to those with the answer.”

“I’m the IWM,” I said. “Thus Dissonance apparently took advantage of my aura since I’m connected to most worlds I’m very attached to, like the Pokémon world.”

The Kanto Champion knitted his brows, his vivid red eyes staring at the domed ceiling, as if anticipating a villain to crash down.

Red was a peach coated Earth stallion with a black mane, almost as spiky as Thalia’s, red running shoes on his hinds, black shirt and red coat over it, and a blue pants with a belt that had six small mechanical red-and-white orbs attached to it—Poké Balls. His cutie mark was a simply Poké Ball.

“Just tell me, Kassias,” I urged. As much as I hated my Dissonance, I was dying to find out for weeks. Every day, six to twelve perils occurred wherever I’d gone to. Staying in my home with its state-of-the-art Kounat security systems and protection spells casted upon me didn’t help.

“After Thalia gave me the recent reports regarding the disorders in the worlds, I realized that most of the dangers happening were all nearby the places particularly where you had your emotional outbursts,” Kassias explained.

“Talk about some issues,” Thalia commented with a chuckle.

I glared at her, and she immediately turned pale. When I first glared as a pony at Cynthia, she was frightened. Whenever I glared at somepony, they suddenly feared me. Funny that I thought I could call this the “Glare”, rhymed after Fluttershy’s Stare. I didn’t know about its origin but I loved it.

“Love Lake, which is,” Kassias continued,“in the Evergreen Forest, Imaginundia; Oracle’s Den in the Black Alps near its coal mines; Sea Clear Bridge, near Imaginundia’s Seagull Harbor; and Topaz Street to Sapphire Avenue, which covered a proportion of the city by two-thirds.”

“And those all happened here, in Imaginundia,” Red added. “Dangers were happening in the worlds you’re attached with, Iwano But the Dodecagon analyzed that your city has the most number—currently firty-seven.”

“Those five locations,” Cynthia mused, “Love Lake, Oracle’s Den, Sea Clear Bridge, Topaz Street, and Sapphire Avenue…”

My eyes lit. “I think I got it—losts.”

“What do you mean?” Red asked.

“Does anypony know ‘Lost Sacred Hill’?”

Kassias smiled in delight. “All those dangers lead to one source that would be the answer to your Dissonance, Iwano. All those dangers were all hints.”

“Why would Dissonance give out hints?” Thalia asked. “If he’s so evil and powerful by presence, why would he blindly reveal those to stop him or something?”

I was surprised the punk chick wasn’t too levelheaded and straightforward this time. Her friend Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, must’ve hit something in her noggin when they had “capture the flag” last week. I heard Percy had accidentally hit her head with the hilt of his bronze sword, Riptide, probably enhanced her critical thinking.

“Whatever is in Lost Sacred could be a trap,” Red guessed. “Remember the last time we were there, Iwano?”

I grimly nodded. The last time Red and I’d ventured there, I had endured emotional stress and severe breakdown exigencies. “Full of traps and emotion problems for me there. I remember.”

“What’s wrong with you and your emotions anyway?” Thalia asked, annoyed.

“It’s complicated.” I exchanged looks with Cynthia. “Well?”

“I don’t want to see you in that state again,” my assistant disdainfully said. “But if it means putting a stop to Dissonance and IW’s chaos, then I’m with you.”

“Thanks for the information and reports, guys,” I thanked the three ponies. “Cynthia and I will be on our way to Lost Sacred Hill.”

“Do you need an extra companion?” Thalia asked, as if she wanted to tag along. “To us demigods, we usually go as a trio in a quest.”

Since Imaginundia was currently in disarray because of Dissonance, Hunters and Amazons from the Olympian world could stick with men in missions until everything cooled off, as long as they didn’t have any relationship with them. Personally I had a crush on Thalia, but it didn’t work out.

“Usually Lentae, Cynthia and I are together. However, my sister has to focus on her studies in Reality for she has exams this week. She must not be disturbed.”

“You sound like the Greek gods.”

Compliment or insult, I smiled. “Come on, Cynthia, let’s go.”

Lentae, Cynthia and I facing this challenge as a trio would’ve been great. We together were known as “Team Imagination”, and we had good teamwork and we displayed great combinations with our abilities linked. Cynthia was the brains, Lentae was the tanker, and I was of course the Leader.

Without our tanker around, we wouldn’t easily get through LSH’s traps. When Lentae and I were in Fuchsia City’s Gym, she was so furious from her loss against me in a warm-up Pokémon battle that she rammed through the facility’s invisible walls and arrogantly passed traps unscathed.

Lentae was simply the most amazing sister I could ever have.

Cynthia and I flew after we exited the Dodecagon. Lost Sacred Hill could be anywhere in IW because it always changed its place every sunrise and sunset of the day. Thanks to my Aura senses, it told me it had settled inside Mt. Inferagma, which was far northwest from Imaginundia’s Seagull Harbor.

I knew it was very weird for a hill to be “inside” a volcano, but IW was all weird so no further questions.

Heat immediately slapped me into sweating, and so was Cynthia, her clothing contributed her temperature.

Mt. Inferagma was a pointy volcano whose top was shaped like a newly sharpened pencil’s led snapped easily. It was half the size of Mt. Fuji. Its craters were spewing with heavy smoke, streaming lava all around the mountain by an area of five kilometers away from the harbor, like the whole place was an immense island of eternal summer.

“I’m taking this off,” Cynthia said.

“What do you mean—whoa—hey!”

I turned away before I could see my assistant undressing. Ponies were normally unclothed, but I wasn’t used to Cynthia like that which I thought of her as naked. I blushed as I saw her clothes flying down and burned into the lava below us. I’d faint if a black panty went along. I realized we were heading to Inferagma’s door.

The entrance was a U-arch with a narrow cliff as its tongue. Like everything about the volcano, the igneous rocks were cherry red, like we were in hell.

I had no problem sweating ’cause I needed to get fit for I’d ate seven burritos, two beef tacos, two chicken burgers and two Mountain Dews yesterday, although I didn’t get fat. Apparently my metabolism was high.

When I turned to face Cynthia with a word, I was agape. The black mare’s blonde long mane swayed as she shook her head, sweat sprinkled down.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” Cynthia asked.

I shook out of my mesmerism. “Nothing.”

She giggled. “Same old Iwano.”

“What do you mean?” We walked together into the tunnel. “I am not—”

“That’s fine, Iwano. I must admit I’d still be mesmerized of your heroism and laugh at your clumsiness.”

“I am not clumsy anymore.”

I tripped over a rock. Cynthia laughed. I fumed. We continued forward.

“That reminds me,” the champion said. “Vetrix is still trying to open up access to Equestria. It’s progressing very well.”

“Oh that’s great…Wait, why did my trip reminded you of that?”

“No, it was your mesmerism that reminded me. Once you enter Equestria, make sure you only love one mare and only one.”

She had the right to be emphasizing that, albeit her tone was supposedly disrespectful to her master but I didn’t mind.

“Heartbreakagger’s curse is still with you,” she continued. “Fall in love with more than one in a certain world; those girls’ lives will be in jeopardy. Always keep in mind if the Heartbreak Curse, Iwano. Keep that in mind. Forever.”

“I don’t need a reminder of how I was called the Lady Killer,” I muttered. “But honestly it sounds cool. Yeah, I gotta control my infatuation and love towards other gals, got it.”

She frowned. “But I doubt you’d be able to control it this time once you enter Equestria. That world has a lot of cute ponies.”

“And non-ponies and Changelings, et cetera,” I dreamily added.

Her jaws clenched. “Just don’t fall in love with a lot of mares and don’t make them do the same. Understand?”

In truth, sometimes I wanted her to stop reminding me for a week or month, especially about that dreadful curse.

Expect tragedy once requital love occurs, Iwano, my demon’s pleasant but deadly voice—Heartbreakagger, the Forbidden of Lust—echoed in my head from the past. You can get to have only one lover in one world. Fall in love with another then you’re in trouble a little. Her doing the same before you…Ah, that’d be exciting.

That was how I was dubbed the Lady Killer.

When Cynthia started to remind me about not going head over heels again, I knew she was jealous. She used to have a crush on me and confessed during the Second Negative War. I wasn’t still over by the fact that a young woman would fall for a teen. I knew who I should love in Equestria.

The cave rumbled.

“Are we too late?” Cynthia asked.

“No, we are not,” I replied as I touched the walls. I closed my eyes and began sensing the earth. “Something is coming our way.”

Readying ourselves of what was about to come, I heard a whisper in my head.

Have another adventure…

Marching towards us were humanoids made entirely out of igneous rocks with lava streaming on them like veins. They were faceless, but they had mouths drooling lava, too. They had rocks for fists with no fingers and their legs were sturdy as the mantle of the earth.

“They reminded me of the Battlin’ Boxers,” I said. “I don’t know how many of them, but save me some Vulcan Boxers, okay?”

Cynthia spanned her wings. “Let’s just get this over with—‘Dragon Rush’!”

I knew the original color of that Dragon-type move, but for her, she blazed in a manta ray-like rush of black fire that she pulverized the first row of rock creatures before they could go into boxing stances. She deflected a Vulcan Boxer’s left jab with her left wing and used it to slash him into half, and soon she used both on whoever reached her even before a punch. Wincing due to the amount of force required to cut her opponent, I joined the fray with a ‘Wild Charge’—a “weak” version of ‘Volt Tackle’ that rushed into opponents with electrical discharge—before they could surround her. I went afloat and spun as I beamed them in a rapid-fire, shooting the boxers into backing away while they some turned into crumbs. I then settled in front of Cynthia like a territorial wolf.

“If they were Pokémon, I’d say they’re Fire and Rock-types,” I said with a grin, pumped up because of action. A Vulcan sprinted towards me and I just made him trip, falling beside Cynthia and she finished it up for me with a wing chop. “It’s been a long time since I’d faced these things. My Aura said there’re forty-seven of them left. You shoot, I pound.”

The Champion flexed her wings as her watch blinked light blue, wearing the same determination I had right now. “Yes, master.”

I charged the other Vulcans and yelled, “‘Close Combat’!” Even in four legs, I could give them a pound on their faceless heads and a kick on the rocky crotch. I stood on my hind legs, standing and boxing just like them. A Fighting-type move like ‘Close Combat’ was super effective against Rock-types like these.

I sidestepped before being tackled. A boxer hugged my left wing, but suddenly frozen. I pulled my wing into freedom which destroyed the icy Vulcan and fanned away three on my left. Cynthia shot feathers at any living rock she could target with her calm but merciless eyes with such accuracy that made her almost an equal to either Merida or Katniss Everdeen.

One punched her rump from behind. Big mistake.

Cynthia gasped and kicked the boxer to the walls into rubble. “Buck off,” she sharply warned.

They were all coming in an onslaught mostly on me. They were stupid.

I didn’t know how long before all of them were destroyed. Igneous rubble littered the ground as we swept them away to the side. I ordered Cynthia to clean with me and she teased that I could sometimes be a cleaning freak like Edel Frost.

After that, we advanced.

Vulcan Boxers were the locals of this volcano. They were white blood cells with zero intelligence and packed a punch enough to give anypony amnesia on the head. Whenever to intruders were around, they’d blend in. Besides Battlin’ Boxers, they also reminded me of Regirock. As a brony, they reminded me of Maud Pie of season four’s show.

I realized we didn’t look tired at all. Actually, that was odd.

We came into a temple not part of Inferagma. Instead of igneous rocks, the whole place was built with green cinder blocks that smelled of moss. Pillars were randomly positioned, with flambeaus hanging on them as the only light sources. In the end of this temple was a six foot long tablet with inscriptions of an unknown language in which only a few would understand—Imanuage, the code-language of IW.

I scanned the area as we walked a few more steps. “Something is amiss,” I said. “Why aren’t the traps activated?”

“I don’t know,” Cynthia answered as she placed her hand on a nearby pillar. “But it’s much better that way. We don’t want to get poisoned by darts, right?”

I nodded. Red and I had been here. Moving spiked-pillars, blasting torches, and strangulating vines were the traps we’d encountered in this room. Cynthia used to be here as well, with her saying “poisoned by darts” proved it.

Lost Sacred Hill was a big mystery to IW. I theorized that the temple was born from my esoteric personality from Reality. It could go anywhere in any world, as if it had a mind of its own, which was how it was called “lost”. Its original form was a hill, and whoever ventured here would not only face traps but also their fears and emotional conflicts in life, the worst kinds unimaginable. I wouldn’t believe in a lifetime that this place was called “sacred” just for that. The only expected rewards here were either self-improvement or—most likely—emotional insanity. However, just like what I said, Lost Sacred was a big mystery despite all that. It contained more than what we’d known of it.

And Cynthia and I were looking at one of its “bonuses” right now.

Usually visitors would read the inscriptions on the tablet first before anything. But instead of doing that, we cautiously watched oily-looking black mist produced out of the Imanuages. As we prepped ourselves, I said, “That’s no doubt him.”

“How could you tell?” Cynthia asked, her wings spanned and feathers sharpened themselves as knives—one of her special abilities as a Pegasus. “We never know what he looks like.”

“…I just feel it.”

As it materialized, I could feel the mist’s aura radiate such powerful negative energies that my heart could identify what they were—Malevolence, Deception, Faithlessness, Greed, Sadness, and Illusion.

You’re lucky I am not complete yet, the black mist hissed.

Just like what he said, he wasn’t complete yet. He wasn’t solid, but made out of pure black puff blacker than the smokes spewed out of the volcano. His whole appearance vaguely looked just like me as an Alicorn. His red glowed and it was as if they were filled with fresh blood.

“Dissonance,” I said.

“I don’t count this as our official meeting since I’m not whole yet,” Dissonance said. His voice was just like mine, but his were full of cynicism and made my ears felt like frozen knives placing their blades on my ears.

“Now that you’re here,” Cynthia said, “would you kindly fill us in?”

Dissonance sort of had one of my characteristics, because he answered, “I’m trying to catch all your attentions by creating chaos all over your worlds. You’d all figure it out eventually.”

“So why do you want us here?” I demanded.

My Aura senses tingled, and I turned back. The exit was gone.

Cynthia looked, too. “Mother of Arceus, this isn’t good,” she whispered. “I should’ve seen this coming.”

“But the chaos in IW distracted you, Cynthia,” I guessed. I turned to Dissonance. “You want to kill us, obviously.”

Dissonance chuckled. “No.”

He lunged, and instantly became smoke. Dissonance was heading towards me, but my assistant intercepted and flapped her wings, blowing the puff away. It disappeared.

“That was it?” Cynthia tossed her head around.

Aura senses kicked in, my nerves tightened. “Look out!”

Supposedly I was faster than Sonic the Hedgehog, but I dashingly pushed Cynthia away and let the smoke hit me instead. Before I could even blow it away, my vision blared, I smelled burning wood, and my ears rung. I couldn’t feel my body as I stumbled, including my restrained wings.

Cynthia grabbed me and shook me desperately, the calmness in her eyes quickly replaced with panic. In situations like these whereas a villain attempted to possess me or I were in a horrible trance, the black Pegasus just went crazy. I was deaf, but I could make out the words from her mouth: Iwano! Snap out of it! Fight it! I’ll do something!

It was too late for her to do anything. I dropped headfirst to the floor.

Everything wasn’t black, but red. I was like trapped in a room of blood. At first I was confused, and then Dissonance laughter boomed.

“Where am I?!” I demanded. “Dissonance!”

Suddenly, I heard a voice—no, not one, but two, three, four…

I was hearing the voices of the people I’d met in Reality with all their insults, ridicules, mockery, teasing, and curses upon me. No…This couldn’t be…

Authistic! the voice of a bully named Gabriel Gonzalez said. I felt my heart stabbed.

Booger face! my former arch enemy Darwin Caiga mocked. I covered my ears, but I could still hear them.

Laughter of students filled everywhere. I hyperventilated; my eyes were about to pop out from widening.

“Stop it!” I yelled, however I only made it worse when their voices rose higher and higher.

He’s the one who stole it!

Hey, watch where you’re going!

What’s that? Eww!

Judas, Judas, Judas!

Give me space, will ya? Geez.

His Tagalog is broken! He ain’t cut out for the part.

My ears were boiling. My heart raced a dangerous marathon in a warzone of WWII. Anger filled my heart, roaring from humiliation.

I screamed, “Stop it! Stop it! FREAKIN’ STOP IT!!!”

I couldn’t do anything. I was so mad I blasted magic beams from my horn in random directions, as if I hoped to kill those mockers and bullies. Where did he take me? Where was Dissonance? My mind wasn’t straight to think for my heart was swelled with rage. No control over this emotion would result of another Forbidden demon within me—Anger—to be unleashed. But why hadn’t my ace demon came out yet?

Calmness absolutely wasn’t with me. I stopped screaming when my throat went dry. And next I broke down. Being one of the most powerful and at the same time most sensitive being in IW, I would cause an outburst that might bring disasters to a few worlds—and I wished it didn’t happen right now.

Curling up in fetal position, I remembered all the evil faces of every student I’d met in Reality and villains’ too. I always had a bad temper. I was too sensitive and often took things seriously. I was stupid.

I didn’t know how long it was over, but I was suddenly in a blue room.

Wiping my tears as I carefully stood up, my Aura senses told me this place radiated sadness and coldness. When the room was red, it had radiated hatred and bewilderment.

Due to my asthma and sinuses clogged up my nose, I opened my mouth to breath. I conjured a tissue box and began blowing my mucous with them. I was supposed to be healthy right now, but this whole thing must’ve exposed my Reality sicknesses. My asthma and sinuses rarely occurred in my IW life.

White mist swirled out of nowhere and formed me as a colt and three others.

“Let’s play tag,” the Fist Mist Colt decided.

“But we’re just three,” the second said.

“We can just find someone else to join then,” the third suggested.

Colt Iwano got excited and asked, “Can I join?”

The colts saw me and without answer, they ran away. When I was freshman in an all-boys school in Reality, whenever I tried to get along with a friendly company, they’d do what the three colts did to colt Iwano. They did that because I was too weird, like I’d follow them creepily, hold chairs with my head, and a lot more. I loved being weird, but mostly students treated me like an outcast.

Outcast. I sadly pondered to that.

With all those depressing thoughts and gloomy memories flooding my head, my heart weighted as an anvil. My legs shook and made me sit in sadness. I tried hard to push them back with my optimism, but it was too overwhelming. Negative multiplied with positive was equal to negative, after all.

I realized I broke down again. My head throbbed and my wail was louder than my earlier scream. The sudden purity of sorrowfulness was enough to give me a heart attack.

So this was what Dissonance planned to do to me? He was toying with corrupting my emotions stronger than how Lost Sacred could do. According to my calculations, the additional power of Lost Sacred to what Dissonance was doing might be able penetrate something within me—but what?

The room abruptly shifted yellow. Depression faded. Joy substituted gloom. Radiating happiness and gaiety, tears trickled on my face immediately dried as if Groudon was partying here—I had experiences “partying” with the Land Pokémon, which ended with a bang of Solar Beam.

One’s sight would get hurt of the yellow neon, but not me. Yellow was my favorite color, besides green and blue. I smiled wickedly at everything I saw: holographic images flew around of my happy times in both Reality and IW.

I saw a picture of me and Lentae running away from an alligator made out of chocolate.

I saw one of me and my old friend from Reality named Kyle Rojo wrestling in our classroom (he was shorter and younger than me, but he was crafty and surprisingly strong).

There was a scene of Mari Ming Onette and me kissing in a bridge below the moonlight in Grand Chase world.

Those were happy times indeed and I wished I could stay here for a few hours. Unfortunately, I couldn’t still think straight for my emotions were boisterous.

Love the whole place? Dissonance asked. Where was he? I was unable to concentrate on my magic with my eyes locked on a picture of me meeting Lorenzo Maningas for the first time—the one who made me a brony. it gets better and better…

I didn’t like the sound of that, but hay, I was enjoying myself.

The room now changed into black.

I felt like I was in the Underworld in the Olympians world. But instead of sorrow in the blue room, this place radiated…fear and horror.

Barking noises made my heart race even faster than before.

Dogs.

Different types of them up ahead ran towards me with bloodshot eyes and their fangs. I finally realized that this was all an illusion. I’d faced many of those; unfortunately I kept forgetting they weren’t real. Thus, I reluctantly blasted them, but they’d split into two. What the?

Probably due to the previous rooms, my wings became numb. So I ran away from them. I couldn’t muster my magic properly with absolute panic within me.

I tripped.

As I struggled to get on my hooves, the sound of barking came closer and closer. Was this all of Dissonance’s work?

I hopelessly thought I didn’t stand a chance with just physical combat. Judging by their bulk and sizes as washing machines, I couldn’t defend them myself.

Screaming was the only thing I could do as I shut my eyes tight and braced myself.

I waited.

“Huh?”

I wobblingly stood up and opened my eyes. The dogs were gone.

“What’s the big deal, Dissonance?” I demanded. “Face me or…”

From a few feet away, I saw Cynthia. Initially I was relieved as I ran to her. But as I got closer, my neck stiffened and slowly stopped. I gulped.

That was Cynthia—no, she wasn’t a shriveled corpse with dead gray coat and hollow eyes and frizzed blonde mane. Parasitic worms wriggled out of her hanging mouth as she creakily spanned her featherless wings. Her groan might make me faint at any time.

Hesitant, I blasted the zombie. I expected an easy kill, but it still stood up and started running towards me. Holy cheese!

All I could do was run away. Dissonance laughter filled the air, which wasn’t enough to anger me because of this Cynthia zombie. I felt like I was in a horror-comedy movie.

The shriveled zombie was surprisingly fast as Cynthia. My assistant had a running record of five point seventy-six seconds in a basketball court.

This black room was an endless void, which reminded me of Ramona Flower’s subspace travelling. Ugh, I was getting sick of voids. I faced them a lot.

I kept running, but whenever I blinked, I saw bloodier zombies that made Resident Evil and the Walking Dead altogether look like a Barney show. As much as I was horrified of zombies, I was also sick of facing many of them in my adventures. And again, also black voids.

Zombie Cynthia made a shrill cry that sounded like my name. My heart raced faster than me for a few minutes now that I might die any time. Hooves felt like jelly that I finally gave up.

Too late for a quick defend, she finally got me and held me down. What was worst was that my magic wasn’t responding…Why?

Despite fake, there were mere illusions that could actually kill. Often like any other, illusions felt so real—

SLAP!

That wasn’t an illusion.

Suddenly, I was held down by my assistant.

“Are you okay?” she exasperatingly asked as she shook me.

I blinked. “Draco?”

Cynthia hugged me tight, the way she always did after my life was saved, and the bear-crushing hug kind. “Thank Arceus, you survived, Iwano!”

“What happened to me?” I stood up. “Where is Dissonance?”

She stared at me, or was it behind me? I turned my back on her to see if she saw Dissonance, but there was none. Her eyes were firmly fixed on me as I faced her. And then coldness showered me.

“He’s inside me, isn’t he?” I asked. “Dissonance is completely within me…?”

Before Dissonance caused chaos in IW, I somehow knew something about him, a little. When he was born within me, he was incomplete, thus his small but influential manifestation was inside, causing dangers in IW. However, he couldn’t cause total chaos. According to Grandiel, another part of him was born coincidently somewhere hidden in other worlds.

That other part was in Lost Sacred, and now it was inside me. Inside me!

Cynthia then craned her head to the right, her now blank eyes staring at my flank. I looked at me left one. I was supposed to be overjoyed if it weren’t for that fiendish Dissonance’s unforgettable act.

My watch rung after several minutes of silence and I held it out. It then automatically projected a hologram message. I felt like my eyeballs were dipped in nitrogen.

EQUESTRIA has now been unlocked due to Virus 6D.
“Enjoy while you can, Iwano Morgan”—Dissonance

“We need to get to the Dodecagon now,” I prompted.

As if on cue before Cynthia could speak, her eyes filled with fear, Lost Sacred began to vibrate. I knew this would happen soon.

“We gotta get outta here!” I exclaimed. “This whole place is going to teleport!”

Together, we flew in a dash out of Mt. Inferagma before we got crush.

“Iwano,” Cynthia finally spoke. “If Dissonance is now complete inside you, he will consume you into total disharmony in due time, just like all your Forbiddens. But he’s different in terms of…himself.”

“My brain is now working Cynthia,” I told her.

Harmony and disharmony…

Dissonance and peace…

Ponies…

Cynthia and I returned to Imaginundia; however we weren’t in the Dodecagon. Instead, we settled down on a great oak tree’s branch in Evergreen Hill, which overlooked the whole utopia.

“What’s your plan?” Cynthia asked again.

I took a deep breath and said, “I will be going to Equestria. I will go solo this time, for real.”

“No.” Cynthia eyes were mixed with fear and severity. She placed a hoof unto mine. I could imagine we were holding hands, the kind she used to love me—was she still in love with me? That was ridiculous. Assistants normally care for their masters. “You are not doing this alone, Iwano.”

“Cynthia.” My face hardened as I pulled my hoof away. “You’re one of the most prominent and most skillful assistant in IW. I need you here to guide the others. “As your master, I’m ordering you to not follow me once I’m in Equestria. Is that clear?

My assistant grimaced. “Yes, as you wish, Iwano.”

Her eyes were fixated to Imaginundia. I didn’t know how long we were in Lost Sacred. The sky made me shudder as it hued as Dissonance’s coat, and the stars didn’t make it less scary.

Lentae couldn’t come with me because of her school. Nopony could come with me at all, not even my sister. Nopony would get hurt in my next adventure but me, and me alone.

“I might turn evil again,” I murmured.

I thought Cynthia would snap at that, but she just stared at the city lights, shining like fireflies. With that, I hummed a soft tone from Owl City’s song Fireflies.

With my mind reading, Cynthia thought: I’ve researched on Dissonance’s aura. It’s unbelievably massive than yours, wider than Asia’s. Theoretically, he would twist everyone’s fate only in Equestria. That’s lucky for us Imaginundians, vice versa for those Equestrians. Unless an unknown variable intercepts, the results vary. Not only that, you bear the Heartbreak Curse. I just hope…

The Champion never noticed I was staring at her tears. I’d turn evil a few times in my adventures that it became unbearable for her and a tiny thing on me. IW was created from my sadness and anger since childhood, thus darkness was a part of me. Cynthia was my assistant for the longest time that she seemed so attached to me and Lentae emotionally.

Cynthia was right about my curse, a plus to the future endangerment of Equestria.

“What other choices do we have, Cynthia?” I gently asked as I wiped her tears. “Dissonance is an equine darker than Sombra, colder than Nightmare Moon. Even without the Elements of Harmony with the six mares, they can actually help. I assure that absolutely no magic or tech can cure my Dissonance. I must also remind you that the Elementals are coming and that I planned to ‘have fun’ in Equestria before all this. I know you’re worried, but you have to trust me. Did you forget? I am IWM.”

Silence…

“…Okay,” Cynthia groaned. She sighed.

Launching into the night sky, a golf cart flew with a powered rocket engine was driven by a bird and a raccoon heading to the moon.

I chuckled, “Mordecai—”

“And Rigby,” Cynthia finished. We exchanged smiles.

“Those two apparently are drunk from Mint Beer.”

“So it’s settled then. We’ll be need a Dimension Guard to hold your connection from here to Equestria because of Virus 6D, but it will be limited, so you better be influenced by the six within seven days.”

We had a few Dimension Guards like Anna Dewitt, Palkia, Paradox—

“I choose Vetrix,”

“Your teacher? Okay.” She locked eyes with me. “Do you know what your cutie mark now means?”

I stared at my left flank. Because of that emotional distress I had in Lost Sacred, I had obtained my cutie mark, thanks to Dissonance.

I sighed. “I am an Alicorn who wheels through his journey with a rainbow of emotions as both his strength and weakness. His omnipotence does have limits, but his heart is limitless. For every time, he has a different color. He is unique, at the same time…a monster.”

“And that, fillies and colts, was how I got my cutie mark,” I finished.

Right now, I was in a classroom of widened eyes and hanging mouths. I scratched my head. What should I say next?

Yeah, it’s very unbelievable, I thought. Ya’ll can laugh now.

Sweetie Belle clapped her hooves rapidly, followed by her other three friends. The Cutie Mark Crusaders later led applause, especially from Cheerilee. I couldn’t help but grin and blush with a bow. I hoped everypony in here thought I made the whole thing up.

“What a thrilling true story you’ve told us, Iwano Imagination!” Cheerilee delightfully said. Eeyup, I was wrong. “Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, and Babs receive a perfect ten.”

“Just like that?!” Diamond Tiara complained. “My daddy’s story was…”

She cut off when her eyes met my glare. Diamond Tiara had to be just annoying, yet cute.

As foals started raising their hooves to ask a question, I could’ve sworn a saw a pair of green eyes from one of the windows.

Equestria Quest

by Iwano Imagination

Prologue: To Equestria

Chapter 1: Who Are You?

Chapter 2: The Meeting

Chapter 3: Enter with Colors

Chapter 4: Green Eat

Chapter 5: Mining For Generosity

Chapter 6: Gifts and Forgiveness

Chapter 7: Mannequin Mayhem

Chapter 8: Tredaspo Gem

Chapter 9: The Bolt Wing Competition

Chapter 10: Bolt Tornado

Chapter 11: Extriris Velochrome

Chapter 12: Poem of Dissonance

Chapter 13: Triple Ripple

Chapter 14: Regal Rosetta

Chapter 15: Goof Off to Madness

Chapter 16: Cupcakes and Smiles

Chapter 17: Just Being a Pony

Chapter 18: Just Doing My Jobs

Chapter 19: The Wheel of Colors