> Equestria - A Nomad Soul
>  by MattDrummy
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Kayl Jayden
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	This is a story about a man.  A man who learns a very valuable lesson about friendship.  Of course, you have learned many lessons about friendship before arriving here, but it is only fair that I teach you one, that perhaps you have not learned yet.  
It will take some time, as all stories do.  However, I'm sure if you stick through to the end you'll be quite surprised.  So take a seat, if you aren't already.  Keep the thoughts of your work out of your mind.  Be mindful of the clock, we wouldn't want you to be late for work.  I promise I won't take up very much of your time.  
If you have to leave, just try and remember where you are.  Don't worry, I'll help you remember.  You and I are going to go on a journey together.  And this journey begins with a small boy, named Kayl Jayden.
Kayl was a boy born with no brothers or sisters.  His father is a lawyer, serious and straight minded.  He is loving as a father, but doesn't grasp comedy as well as most should.  He is by no means a bad person, but not a very emotional one.  Still he is a good father, who has taught Kayl about things like responsibility, time management, and staying clean.
His mother, a biologist, who loves every plant like a child.  She isn't very big on humor either, but she would always try to tell funny stories to make Kayl happy.  Kayl thought that the stories were quite boring, but his mother had always taught her not to be rude when someone is telling a story.  Kayl's mother taught him how to be cautious, careful, and especially tactful about life.
Despite these very valuable lessons, Kayl did not have the chance to learn many of the lessons of friendship that you and I have grown to learn.  There were stories of Equestria in his life, no lessons about pets, galas, dresses, or para-sprites  Such things didn't interest the Jayden household.  Still, as any young boy would be, Kayl grew up going to a charter school.  He received a good education, and he even made friends.
Now this might seem a bit much to focus on, but I assure you it has all of the importance in the world when it comes to understanding who Kayl is.  One day, he was getting picked on by a bully at school.  No matter where kids go, there are always going to be those who think that they can get what they want through force.  On this day, Kayl had a pocket full of lunch money that he wasn't willing to give up.
Just as the boys were ready to pounce the smaller and younger Kayl, a group of other boys and girls rushed up and chased the bully off!  They were classmates that Kayl had spent time with in class, and had tried to be polite to.  These were his first friends.  
They continued to go through school together, talking friendly to each other, sharing stories, having sleep overs, and Kayl learned that he could quickly garner attention by simply being polite with people.  At least, the kind of attention that he wanted.
Kayl grew up a smart boy, he knew the difference between right and wrong.  He knew that people were worth more than trash, and should be treated as such.  But what he didn't foresee in his high school years is that friends can sometimes turn sour.
He had planned to run for student body president.  All of his friends told him he would be great for the job.  Kayl wanted all of his friends to help, he knew that if everyone could help him, that he would be able to convince the whole school that he was the best boy for the job.
Now, Kayl would never learn what happened to his friends.  On the night of a big rally, when everyone was supposed to show up, only one friend showed up that day.  Kayl became furious, but he was also confused.  As I said, Kayl grew up as a smart boy.  He looked past the problem and wondered how it could be that friends would betray him.  After everything he had done for the others, then why?  What was the point of having friends if they can't show up in your time of need?
Kayl finished high school with high marks, mostly due to the fact that he put everyone else that he knew behind him.  However, the one friend who did show up that night stuck around.  Her name was Barbara.  I'm only telling you this name because it would have been rude not to explain who she was.  I don't want you to think too much about her right now.  Just try and remember the name and we'll come back to it later I promise.
Kayl went to college and learned business.  He studied economics, marketing, management, team building, and generally a whole mess of things that I personally would have died from.  Kayl had grown up as a smart boy, and it only made sense that he grew up as a bright man as well.  High school and college had taught him that people were worth only for what they could offer.  He soon saw people as something to be managed.  This didn't mean that Kayl was cruel, in fact many thought of him as very caring.
He was not, and is not however, a caring, generous, or even loyal person.  Kayl would often think that those who he was befriending would never really know that they were not his friends.  And as he graduated from college at the top of his class, he had garnered a circle of allies to whom he could rely on.  
He built strong connections with which he used to find a good job.  He even met a nice girl whom he decided to date near the end of college, her name is Beth, at the moment they just had an argument but we'll get to that soon.  Sadly, the only reason Kayl could find to accept these terms, was that he knew that any respecting leader had a significant other at their side to show that they weren't completely unlikable.
He kept his form trim, healthy, thin, and respectable.  He drank when appropriate, ate salads and then joked with everyone that Beth would leave him if didn't stay in shape.  Occasionally, he would “give in” and go out for a burger.  Though honestly, it didn't matter to him one way or another.  On his vacations, he would stay home.  “Too tired from work” he would always say, and then laugh when they would try and take work from him.  He kept his hair short and trim, because no respectable businessman has long hair.
Kayl quickly found work at a corporate sales firm.  He had good connections, but he also had good sense.  He rapidly grew through the ranks, out stepping those who had even been at the firm twice as long as he had.  But for every person who held a grudge against him there were five more who thought they were his best friend.  As much as Kayl knew, he had no real enemies.  If he did, they posed no threat to his impenetrable circle.
I know we've been covering a lot of exposition, and you've been very polite so far.  I promise you, these lessons that Kayl had previously learned are what made him who he is now.  You may wonder where his parents were through all of this?  Well of course they were there, but as I established, his parents were very serious minded people.  His mother thought more of a grain of sand then of her neighbors.  His father cared not for people much at all.  To him, only his family was worth something.  Neither truly took the time to teach Kayl about friendships.
Of course, I did say that Kayl would learn a lesson about friendships didn't I?  Perhaps I should be clearer.  He is going to learn several lessons about friendships.  However, you all might learn a lesson about friendships as well.  Any of you who already know the stories might already want to ask Kayl how he could not see the magic of friendship.  To this, I'll tell you that it would take a moment of cosmic alignment to bring Kayl to the right stage to hear the words be told.
Now we have focused a great deal on what Kayl “has done” and “has learned”.  It's time we left the past and moved into the present.  Each and every second of time that passes will tell of the lesson to be learned.  But we still have a bit of catching up to do.  So please sit still a while longer, and I promise you'll be able to take a break soon.
Kayl learned in business that there are three ways to gain allies.  The first was simply to ask “How are you doing?”
“Oh well thank you Kayl, it's nice of you to ask” would reply one of his associates, I suppose she can be called Stephanie since I'm just grabbing for names at the moment really.  And honestly, Kayl never really cared about who was who and who had what problems anyway.
“I'm doing well Kayl, but I'm worried about the reports that are due next week”
“Well don't let it overwhelm you.” He would often reply, “As I always say, you can't take the whole world on your own.”
He would always get a smile from this.  And such things would be repeated until the target was content again.
The second way to make allies, is to remain tactful.  You and I might know that tact is a valuable tool when you're dealing with someone you don't like.  But what about honesty?  No, not for Kayl.  Honesty was the quickest way to insult someone because they didn't want to hear that what they had was rubbish.  Kayl was always thinking strategically.  Every conversation was steps on a dance floor.
“Kayl, what do you think of the Lebowski report that I filed last week?”  His boss would come and ask.  When it came to work, Kayl was always on top of each thing that came and went.  Of course, when your boss is coming to you to ask what they think of the report that they filed.  They aren't looking for your approval, or your criticism, but rather just something thoughtful and well said.
“Well it was certainly informative, although I think we'll all agree that your work on the Smith account was the best I've ever seen”
The boss would light up at Kayl's words.  Kayl, honestly couldn't care about Smith or Lebowski.  To him they were both just two names of people who the boss wanted to hear.
I'm trying not to ramble here, but I hope you catch my meaning.  The third way that Kayl knew to make allies, was by constantly giving the resemblance that he was “open” and “hospitable”.  It wouldn't be enough for Kayl to simply go to work and then go home.  You don't make allies that way.  You certainly don't make friends that way, but we already established that Kayl didn't care about that.
So every now and then, Kayl would invite people over after a big account was finished, and everyone on the project took the weekend off.  There would be music, drinking, dancing, and Kayl would recite the same old dance routines he had learned from his classes.  
This was the hardest of the routines Kayl had to follow.  Beth, that girlfriend he has, had always bugged him about moving in together, but Kayl would always talk his way out of the big commitment talk.  Inviting everyone over to his house was a different thing all together.
And so it came to one particular party, where we find ourselves quickly approaching the present.  The party was in full swing, and Kayl had welcomed everyone in.  Several people were watching videos on the Smart TV.  Others were simply around and talking.  Some people were asking Kayl what he thought about politics and television shows.  
Truth be told, Kayl never watched or cared about any politics.  He voted along the lines of his work, and watched only a few highlights of things to remain in the know.  Kayl had moved his whole life around the aspect of forcing people to think that he was the greatest man in town.
But there were two people who knew better.  Beth, who after dating the man for five years was growing very tired of being ignored.  She knew very well that Kayl had no wish to move in together, and Kayl was starting to suspect that she was knowing better about Kayl than he wanted.
The other is Barbara.  Barbara went to school with Kayl, and she constantly kept in touch with him.  This annoyed Kayl above anything else, but deep with in the core of Kayl, there was a small part of him that remembered that Barbara was the one that showed up that night in high school  Barbara didn't work for the same company as Kayl did, but she was always invited to his parties, much to the disagreement of Beth, of course.
But, I'm forgetting myself, I mentioned earlier that Kayl and Beth were having a fight.  I apologize if you wanted me to tell more about it then, but these stories take time, and if you rush into these things then you lose track of what's really important, and that's not even happened yet.  But yes, they had a fight.
It began as a joke.  Someone mentioned that the place was far too clean to be Beth's house.
“Oh, but it isn't.  Kayl and I aren't living together.  Weren't we going to talk more about that, dear?”
Kayl had gotten out of his last argument with Beth by insisting that they would find time to talk about it later.  Kayl, for all his good intentions to actually have that conversation, had gotten wrapped up in the party.
“Sorry darling, you're right.  I suppose it would be rude to regale everyone with our plans...”
Oh, but Beth was not so slow.  She didn't want Kayl for money, though he had earned quite a bit.  She wanted to know Kayl more, and she had finally learned that Kayl, for all his good intentions, was an astoundingly rotten liar.
“No, we wouldn't want to be rude to the guests.  Certainly these guests are the most important thing in your life.  You put off everything for your...guests...you can't even go and visit your grandparents because you have to have your silly party”
Beth began to get weepy eyed.  For all of “her” good intentions, she didn't know how to stand strong.  Others at the party started to worry, one person even asked if it was true.
“Of course not!” Kayl insisted.  “It's true I care about all of you very much, but I don't see that as a crime?”  He tried to keep his cool, but Beth needed to shut it or else he was going to have a lot of explaining to do.
“Then why do you keep ignoring me!?  I want to move in with you! I want to marry you, damn it Kayl!  But you're so damn afraid of it that you have to rush off to your parties and invite your tramp friend along with!”
There was a definite silence that fell over the room.  Kayl wasn't a stranger to anger.  He had become furious with people, even after his time in high school  But he learned that anger had to be expressed intelligently, or else it would ruin his allies.  But he didn't know what to say.  He wasn't sure how to make Beth happy, while keeping others happy.  He began to mutter that he didn't realize it was a problem when he heard movement behind him.
Barbara stormed out of the room, and Kayl was frozen.  He knew Barbara wanted to be his friend.  And he knew that Barbara knew better of him.  Kayl turned back to Beth and asked if they could just talk about it later.
“You want to talk about it later!?” She snarled as she grabbed her coat from the closet.  “Fine, I'm sure you'll have something nicely recited then!”  And with that she left.  Barbara, Beth, and there were still people looking at him.  Some were looking at him with concern, but others, who didn't really like the position that Kayl held, were more spiteful.
“I apologize everyone.  I think it would be best if everyone went home.”  Kayl's blank face couldn't muster the energy to even fake his emotions, and with in a few minutes.  Everyone had said their goodbyes, some even told Kayl to cheer up, while others said nothing.  Finally, Kayl was left alone in his house.
And so, Kayl did the only thing that he could think of.  He opened up bottle after bottle and started to drink.  In better light, Kayl would have known this was a terrible idea, but Kayl wasn't truly thinking at the moment.
Beth was probably not going to want to listen to Kayl say that he's scared of commitment.   He knew he had used that line before, recently in fact.  As Kayl tried to think what he could tell Beth to make her happy he began to see no through that mess.  Beth was the first woman that Kayl had been significant with, and for a moment, he wondered if he really only saw Beth as an ally.  After all, if Beth had been anyone else, he would have simply left her and explained to everyone at work that Beth and him weren't the same.
But it was Barbara that plagued his thoughts more.  He had known what Beth had thought of her.  Barbara would call late, and when she did Kayl would often have to get defensive.  Barbara knew very well how Kayl saw others.  And for the longest time, Kayl knew he wanted to preserve something with Barbara that he couldn't get with any ally.  He would tell Beth the story from high school, and that she had been he only true friend, and that would work for a while.  And then the phone calls would come again.
Now Barbarba was sure to think that she had been expendable.  Again, had it been anyone else, they would have been right.  Kayl didn't want to see Barbara go, or Beth.  And now, he was going to have to go to work on Monday and try to explain to everyone that Beth was stressed out, or perhaps something worse.
“Lies on top of lies, my boy” Thought Kayl to himself.  “You're a right mess you are.”
It was just at that time that Kayl had forgotten where he was.  He knew he was in his house, but he was in a room he had been using for storage.  There were things cluttered around the room, and he didn't recognize most of them at first.  However, he did recall at one point he had made Beth happy by moving things into his house.  But that had been months ago, and that appeasement quickly ran out when he ignored the problem again.
Kayl found a chair from a corner and placed it in the middle of the room.  He couldn't recall when, but he also had a case of beer with him, of which he had already drank over a dozen of them, and was ready to pass out all together.  And now we find our hero, sitting in a chair, alone in a room, wondering how in the world he could possibly make his life better now that everything had come out.
“No more lies Kayl” He told himself, “No more running.  But what can I do?”
The room was silent, as rooms are not meant to do more then bounce sounds off walls and return them to their owners.  As it was, Kayl found himself poised with his own question.  But one part of the room caught his eye more than the others.
It was a mirror, ornate, jeweled, with polished oak and even marble.  Kayl knew at once that it was not his, he wouldn't have allowed anything so exotic in his home.  Kayl chose art that was tasteful and well themed, something he knew Beth would have ruined had he allowed her to move in.  But the mirror drew him closer, as if each negative thought he put out was just another reason for him to step closer to it.  And being incredibly drunk, Kayl had nothing really else to do.
The low hum of the air conditioner in the midst of the summer evening was all the sound he heard at first, but with each step he took towards the mirror, he felt as if he could hear laughter and screams of thrills and singing.  He saw lights on in the house next door, and figured that he wasn't the only one having a party that night.  But such a thing could not draw his attention for longer.
“Well Kayl, you've ignored everything else in your life.  But you will not ignore this mirror.  Which speaking off...whose is it?”  Kayl spoke quietly into the mirror.
“It's mine...”  Answered the mirror.
As Kayl reached out to touch the mirror, the world around him suddenly went black.  He was sure that he had simply blacked out, or would have been sure had he recalled the story later.  But after a moment he felt the rush of air around him.  He felt like he was falling, or soaring.  He could feel his hair grow and sweep around his face.  His body lurched forward and he felt his skin bristle like pins and needles.  And as he started to feel a terrible pain, he saw a bright light ahead of him, and without any control, flew right to it.
When the light subsided his eyes were still closed, and soon he felt the hard floor greet his body.  His body lay limp and in pain.  He felt weird, and he coughed exasperatedly.  As he was opening his eyes for the first time, he expected to see himself at the bottom of some stairs.  Instead he found himself in a much different place, and someone was calling out to him.
“Hello!  Who's there!?  Are you hurt?”  The gentle voice called.
“Barbara?”  Kayl answered, his voice was horse.
“No, I'm Twilight Sparkle.  But who are you?”
Kayl began to panic, he wasn't in his own home, and whoever he had fallen in with was probably a hippie.  He looked around, but it was very dark, though he could make the outline of shelves around him, wood floors, desks piled with books lit up by the moon.
“I can't see very well...”
“Oh!”  The voice jumped with surprise, “I'm sorry.  Spike!  Can you go get the lights for us?”
There was a loud yawn, and a short whining voice replied, “Yeah yeah, keep your hooves on.”
Kayl started to breath heavily.  And as he tried to stand he found it especially hard to.  He kept tripping over his feet, that felt like they had been taken clean off.  He was numb with alcohol perhaps, at least as far as he could tell.  But nothing would have prepared him when lights suddenly filled the room.
Kayl looked up to where the voice had come from, and there was no woman but a horse.  A purple horse, with a purple main, a purple horn, and purple wings.  
And as the horse descended the stairs, the last words Kayl heard before he passed out kept him disturbed in his dreams.  The same gentle voice that he had heard from a now smiling horse creature.
“What a mess you've found yourself in haven't you?”
> Of Alicorns and Men
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Kayl slept a dreamless sleep as he recovered from his initial shock.  As he began to wake uncomfortably from his sleep he had been sure that all he had seen was just a result of too much alcohol.  
As he opened his eyes, the warm rays of the sun pierced into his eyes and caused him to wince and turn over in bed with a groan.  The bed was comfortable, but his body still felt strange.  It had been a long time since Kayl had drank that much, and it would probably be much longer before he would again.
A soft voice from near by swept along his face.
“Spike, I think our guest might be waking up.  Would you go check on him?”
“Spike, why would anyone name their child Spike.” Kayl murmured to himself.
Suddenly the realization settled in.  As he awoke fully he groaned as the light from room pierced him again.  He was in the same place where he had been found the night before, where he had seen that strange creature.  But it would not have been enough to prepare him to see what now was walking up the steps.
Popping into view from the stairs below, a stranger creature.  Small, with purple scales, a green under belly, and green spines along his back and head.  He had reptilian eyes, and a spaded tail.  As it walked along on its hind legs Kayl let out a yell and tried to back from it.  Just as with last night, his body was responding like he had hoped, yet all of his vision was set on that creature, and his mind set on avoiding it.
“Spike!?  What are you doing up there!?”  Called the sweet voice from below.
“I hadn't done anything yet!” Answered the reptilian boy, “This colt looks like he's never even seen a pony before!”
“Dragon!?” Kayl exclaimed.  It was both a shock, and a reasonable explanation with lack of any other better word.  A tiny bi-pedal dragon.  Kayl, who had studied much of biology and knew a deal about dinosaurs, had never bothered to learn about mythical non-real creatures like dragons or unicorns or pegasi.  Although some of his office kept statues of them on their desks.
Spike turned to Kayl and gave a short small growl, “Yeah! I'm a ferocious Dragon!  And I'm going to eat you!”
Kayl nearly loss all the blood in his body as he gave out a shriek.  
“You lose everything, and now you're going to be eaten by a dragon!?” He thought quickly, “I swear if this is a dream I will move Beth in the first thing.”
With a swirl of light, and as quick as a light bulb popping, the purple winged creature from last night appeared.  Kayl fell back out of the bed and toppled on the floor.
“Oh my goodness.  Please, don't be frightened.  We're not going to hurt you.  Spike!  Why are you scaring him!  Who knows what he's been through.  Goodness knows he probably has a broken wing or something.”
From behind the bed Kayl was overwhelmed with shock and confusion.  Something had caught his eye as he fell over.  Since arriving, he had not yet looked at himself to see if he was hurt.  A mirror had been placed near the bed. Kayl was shocked to see what should have been his body was quadriplegic body, much like a horse; a pair of bird like wings that drooped on either side of him; he had a mane, brown like the color of his hair, and a tail of the same color; and upon his forehead was a protruding horn. When he moved his arms, the legs of this fur moved as his own body.  Draped across the fur were wings of a bird, and as he thought of them, he saw he could move them.  Burdened in heart and mind, he began to cry out.
“What in the good name of god is going on here!?  What did you do to me!”
Twilight's voice grew stern, “What did I?  I didn't do anything, you fell into 'my' house!  Why don't you explain how you got here!”
Kayl frantically tried to crawl and squirm across the floor, kicking at shelves and walls as he scampered towards the stairs.  Twilight and Spike moved casually out of the way as Kayl met the stairs with a yell.  His body rolled down and off the stairs completely and collided to the ground below.  Kayl's sides burned with pain as he had fallen on the side of a table.
“Gosh, it's like he doesn't even know how to walk!”  came the nasally voice of Spike
“How to walk?  How to walk!  Spike that's it!  He doesn't know how to walk because he can't!  He must have hurt his legs or something!  Hey!  Down there!  Don't move okay!”
Kayl looked back to see the creature float down on wings to the level below.  Kayl saw the creature more clearly now in the light of the sun.  His first analysis of the creature being a winged and horned horse was clearly presumptuous.  The creature in form looked very little like an actual horse.  The eyes were large, the snout of the creature was short, the whole head was decidedly round and its body was curved and smooth.  The creature even lacked the odd feet or ankles of a horse.  Of course, this was entirely besides the fact that the horse itself was a flowing pallet of purples with bird like wings and a horn at the top of her head.
Then, it hit him.  He had the same form of body; he had the same style of wings; and he had the same kind of protruding horn sticking out of his forehead.  This creature, for whatever purpose it held, shared the same predicament as himself, and yet was comfortable of this.  Burdened in mind and body with such stress, questions began to race from his mouth.
“Where am I?  Who are you!?  Why do I look like this?  How did I get here? How much did I have to drink...?”
Twilight looked on, puzzling the mystery of Kayl and his question.  But as polite as she could she walked over and sat down next to Kayl.  Kayl began to feel more comfortable.  Whoever this creature was, it was becoming increasingly likely that she meant no harm.
“Well I'm not sure about all of those questions, but let's answer what I can alright?  To start with, you're in my house, which also happens to be the Library of Ponyville.”
“Ponyville!?”  Unlike you and I, Kayl would never have known about any such places or creatures that he was now learning of.
“Yes...Ponyville.  In the land of Equestria.  Do you know that we're in Equestria?”
Kayl shook his head.
Twilight gave a slight hum of thought, “Well.  My name is Princess Twilight Sparkle.  I mentioned that last night but I guess you might have been a bit weary and forgot.”
Kayl nodded, “It was a unique name.  At first I thought I had dreamed all of that.”
Twilight sat there for a while with a smile, and Kayl wondered why until it dawned on him.
“Oh!  My god, I'm sorry; My name is Kayl.  I guess I shouldn't forget my manners, despite my condition.  It's just...we are we horses?”
Twilight chuckled and shook her head, “No, we're called Alicorns, but I suppose we all consider ourselves ponies...and...”  Twilight gasped, it had taken some time for her to place 2 and two side by side and determine why Kayl was in such shock.
“Are you from...another world!?”
Kayl, lacking anything else to really latch on to as truth, nodded.
“I must be, because where I'm from, I'm not a horse, or an,  what did you call me? An Alicorn?  Is that what winged horses are called?”
Twilight shook her head, “No, that's a Pegasus.  But you have wings and a horn.  That makes you an Alicorn.  But that's not the real pressing issue.  You're from the other world!”
Kayl looked at Twilight with some kind of confusion.  Was his world so separate and yet so well known by royalty of Equestria?  Kayl also couldn't believe that those words would actually come to his mind.
“I'm sorry, um Princess Twilight.  But if you know where I'm from, then do you know how I got here?”
Twilight looked as if she was about to speak, but then sighed and shook her head, “I can't think how.  That was going to be my question for you.  But, are you really a human?”
Kayl sighed and nodded, “Well at least I was.  But how do you know about humans?  Where are we?”
Twilight stood up, “Well first, we should probably get you on your feet.  Can you stand?”
Kayl looked down at his legs, and gave a grunt as he tried to use his legs.  Remarkably, his body  responded to his wish, but shakily.  Standing on four legs was bizarre, yet stable.  He looked back at his body again, and saw how his wings were folding in like a birds.  Was this how birds were with their wings?
“Come on, I think we should get some breakfast and talk about this new discovery.  Spike, we'll be heading out for the day.  Could you write to Celestia and tell her that we might be stopping in today?”
Spike gave a salute, “You can count on me!”
Twilight walked towards the door at the other end of the house and Kayl wobbly followed on his new feet.  Spike began to pull out a scroll of paper and a quill pen, both of which seemed ancient.  As they walked outside, Kayl turned around and saw that the house they were in was actually a giant tree.
“Your house is a giant tree?  Isn't that dangerous during a...”
“Thunderstorm yes.  I've already had to explain many time, that we have a magical lightning rod placed above the library for just that reason.  Now don't dawdle, I think we would both do for some break fast.”
Kayl blushed and followed along.  He felt like a lost child, and it wasn't in his nature to be seen like that.  Considering how things are however, it couldn't think of much else to do.  What had happened to him as he had looked into that mirror?  At best, it could be said that Kayl was merely dreaming, and soon he would awake to find himself passed out on the floor of his living room, or perhaps lying face down in the lawn.
But what if was real?  What if by some unexplainable phenomenon, he had found himself in a predicament that might spell the difference between his life and death.  Kayl was not always sure about the existence of a god, but if there was such a thing as a benevolent god, this is just the kind of stunt they would pull to bring Kayl to some kind of realization.
As Twilight Sparkle lead Kayl through the streets of this place, Ponyville, he came to an agreement that dream or not, it would be best to simply play along.  Clearly he had no control of himself in the world where he once was, so even if this were all a dream, the real best outcome would be if he let his dream take him on this journey.  Perhaps in following this Alicorn, he might come to understand himself better.
However, this wasn't easy, as it occurred to Kayl that everyone they passed was gasping and whispering as Kayl passed.  It was unsettling, was it so obvious that Kayl was foreign?  And he realized there were many different kinds of horses there.  Unicorns, Pegasi, and some who had neither.  But there was a particular item that had escaped his notice until now.  Upon the backside of each horse, on either leg, there was a birthmark of some form.  Each one was different for each horse that beheld.
Kayl started to take notice that almost every horse he saw, whether they be flying, horned, or neither had such a mark.  But then, when he saw a number of little ones running up to see, he noticed that they did not have one.
“That can't be a coincidence”  He said to himself, but he spoke louder than he had wanted to.
“What can't be?”  Came a reply from Twilight.
“Oh, the marks on the others.  But the smaller ones don't have them.  What are they?”
Twilight chuckled, “Oh, that's their cutie marks.  It's a mark that comes to every pony when they realize what their special talent is.  I didn't even think to look at yours...”
Kayl looked back at himself, down on his leg all he saw was the same unsettling reddish fur.  Even after lifting up his wing, spinning around, and trying to bend his head back farther to the point of strain, he could not see anything like what he had seen on the others.
“I don't have one...can I just not see it?”
Twilight gave a start and turned around, after passing around Kayl once she gave a slight hum of thought.
“That's strange, a full grown pony, and no cutie mark?  Well that makes sense...you haven't been a pony for very long.  I wouldn't worry about it though.  I'm sure you're very talented, Kayl.”
Kayl tried very hard not to take the words as an insult, but he couldn't help be think that this was another blow against his masculinity and competence.
“Not talented!?” Thought Kayl in frustration, “Why I have more skills and talents than I know what do with!  Who do they all think they are for sitting there and judging me.”
Kayl spoke softly, trying to control his anger, “So I suppose that's why I'm the gossip of the town right now.  Because I don't have that same mark of status as they do.”
Twilight laughed, the sound stung Kayl but before he could be offended Twilight turned to him.
“I didn't even think about that.  I don't think so, though.  Kayl, you're an alicorn, like me.  But you have to understand that is very rare.  Besides Princess Celestia, Luna, and Cadence there are none other in all of Equestria.  Not to mention, there are no Alicorns who are colts either.  It's a surprisingly  rare sight to behold.  Trust me, I doubt anyone is really looking at your cutie mark.”
Kayl was still angry.  So what if he was rare, if he was so special, how come he could not have a cutie mark.
And as the words came to his mind he was startled to realize how silly it sounded.  Here he was, a grown man in a strange predicament and his chief worry was why he didn't have something as horribly ridiculous as a cutie mark!  He began to chuckle, seeing how he had lost his mind for a moment.  He realized how similar this cutie mark idea was to something else he had remembered.  As the thought came to his mind, Twilight had finally led Kayl to the place where they would have breakfast.
“I don't know what you like to eat, but you'll have to make do with hay and oats.  Is that fine?”
Kayl gave a robotic, rehearsed answer, “Of course, I'm pretty hungry actually.”
As they took a seat at a table outside, Kayl realized something serious.
“Twilight,” He stared slowly, “What does your kind use as currency?”
Twilight gave a sharp laugh.  Apparently she was tickled pink at Kayl's crisis.  
“Kayl, don't worry your head over it.  I'll treat you, it's what friends do!”
The word hit Kayl like a steel beam.
“We only just met, and for all you knew, I could have been an intruder.  Or worse, a liar!”
Twilight shook her head, “I really doubt that Kayl.  You know, that's a nice name!  I wonder if your talent has something to do with vegetables.”
Kayl didn't pick up the pun, sadly, but he felt the need to set the record straight.
“Kayl comes from a commune where my father and mother met in Luxembourg.  I don't know what you think, but just because I don't have some silly mark doesn't mean I'm not talented in my own ways Twilight.”  As Kayl spoke, it was apparent that this explanation was needed more for him than for Twilight.
“Of course you are!  You've been through a harrowing experience, I would know, but you don't need to worry about not having a cutie mark.  I don't think anyone even notices.”
Kayl sighed and shook his head, “It's just, it reminded me of when I was a child myself.  I wanted more than anything to be driven to school by my mother or father.  Most kids who were considered cool didn't take the bus.  But my parents worked early, and they didn't have time to drive me to school.  Fretting about this mark, reminded me of that.”
Kayl gave a laugh, “It really is silly to think that suddenly the only thing I was able to think of was some painted design on my rear end when for all I know I could just be dreaming.”
Twilight gave a sigh and shook her head.
“You don't think I'm dreaming?”
Twilight shook her head again, “I know this might seem strange, but I've been to your world Kayl.  But I wanted to ask you, how did you get here?”
Kayl wanted to ask more about what she meant, but he ignored his questions for the moment to appease Twilight's.  After Twilight ordered for food from the waiter, which Kayl stayed out of for lack of any knowledge about what horses in this world ate, he began to explain how he had arrived to this situation.  He began by explaining the party he had been throwing, his girlfriend Beth, and Barbara.  It should pointed out that when explaining what happened with Barbara and the rest of the party, he described Barbara as a friend, but everyone else as merely 'guests'.
When Kayl reached the part about the mirror, the flash of light, and the lurching pain.  Twilight's eyes sparked and she got so excited her wings flapped out and nearly knocked the waiter over.  After apologizing and thanking the waiter for their food, pancakes of all things, Twilight exclaimed the reason for her excitement.
“Kayl!  You must have found a magic portal mirror like the one in this world!  Who would've known that your world had such things!”
Kayl shook his head, “We don't, I don't think it was really magical.  To be perfectly honest Twilight,” Kayl looked as his pancakes with some amount of confusion, “How do I eat?”
Twilight shrugged, saying matter of fact, “With your mouth?” Then, she realized the issue. “Oh! I'm sorry Kayl, but you'll just have to eat like this.”
Twilight bent over the plate and began eat the dish.  Still, for only having to use her mouth, the procedure seemed quite delicate.  So Kayl did what he could and imitated the act.  To his amazement, Kayl's new face structure made it much easier to eat this way then he would have imagined.  Strangely, many years of listening to his mother talk of animals helped Kayl adapt to his new body.  When they finished eating, Kayl wanted to address the elephant in the room.
“Well, it's good, that's at least promising.  Twilight, I've given this some thought.  I still don't believe that all of this is truly real.  But even if it is, I can't stay here.  I have to return to my own world.  So whether this is real or not, what are you planning to do with me?”
Twilight nodded, somehow she could understand Kayl's rationale.
“I know you might think you're dreaming, but I think you'll find that you can't be.  Scientifically speaking, dreams don't have such vivid reality.  Sure they can convince you of such, but you seem smart.  I'm sure if you really think about it, this can't really be a dream.”
It was a hard blow, but hearing a talking magical horse bird talk about science presented Kayl with an unsettling resolve.  If he was dreaming, than Twilight was merely emanating the same kind of rational thought he would have presented himself with.  Which, if that is true, than perhaps this all was real.
“Either way, I doubt you're simply planning to let me fend for myself.  If not, I would gladly trade this free meal in exchange for further hospitality.”
Twilight's eyes popped in surprise, “Kayl, you're my new friend!  I'm certainly not going to abandon you in your time of need!  I certainly have a plan.  We're going to go to my mentor, Princess Celestia of the city of Canterlot.  She's the ruler of all of Equestria, and rules alongside her sister Princess Luna.  If there is anyone who would be able to help you get back home, it would be her.”
Kayl couldn't accept this plain explanation.  Not the idea of a monarchy rule, but of these ideas of friendship that as you might understand, are foreign to Kayl.
“Twilight, I literally only met you today.  You're certainly kind, and I'm not insulting your hospitality, but I'm sure friendship means the same thing here as it does in my world.  Frankly, I don't think you understand what friendship really is.”
Twilight stared long and hard at Kayl.  At first Kayl thought he had been reasonable, but the unsettling look he received from Twilight caught him off guard.  He saw something in her eyes, a mixture of sadness and pity.  It infuriated and shamed him, and Twilight didn't find words to respond with.  After paying for the meal, Kayl thanked Twilight and the waiter.  
Twilight gave little response but to say, “Come on, we'll need to catch the train to Canterlot.”
The walk to the train was painfully slow and quiet.  Twilight didn't look at Kayl, and said nothing.  A few times, Kayl wanted to speak to her, but found himself commenting on the quaintness of the town.  
He was doing what he was best at, changing the topic of conversation to smooth over the rocky start he had found himself in.  But it was useless, and he knew he had spoiled his first impression in some way.  Something he could not understand and had said had offended Twilight.  Sure, his point of view might have been odd for a world of technicolor horses, but it couldn't have been so offensive.
When they finally arrived at the train station, Twilight went straight to the counter and purchased two tickets.  Kayl tried to insist that he do something to help.  But Twilight didn't respond, not even to exclaim again that her reason for hospitality was to help her new friend.
The wait on the train platform couldn't have been longer than an hour, but it was painfully long.  It might have felt like a day had passed in all of the thickness of anguish he had caused.  When the train finally arrived Twilight boarded first, and Kayl followed slowly behind.  But this silent treatment was starting to grate on Kayl.  
If he had done something wrong, he couldn't have known.  If he had violated some local custom, there was no way of seeing how it would have been taken so harshly.  On top of it all, despite the offense he had caused, Twilight was continuing to show the same hospitality that she meant to show as a friend.  Before Twilight excused herself to a private cabin Kayl's silence and patience finally broke.
“Twilight!  I'm not putting up with this!  First, you tell me your hospitality is meant as a sign of friendship.  But now, I've upset you somehow, and you're still helping me!  So what does that mean!?  And what did I do to really offend you?  I only feel the way I do because I think it's odd for people to consider themselves friends so quickly!  Why must you be angry at me because I don't share your idea of friendship?”
Twilight stopped, she didn't look back for a time, perhaps only a few seconds, but it dragged on as all her silence had.  Then, looking back with a look of sadness and remorse, she took a deep breath and collected her thoughts.
“Kayl, what you said was insulting.  But I don't think you understand.  I'm not blaming you for that.  I'm upset, but true friends don't deny their hospitality simply because they' been upset.  I've been quiet because I'm not really sure what to say someone who hates friendship like you do.  Frankly, Kayl, your insinuation that I don't know the true meaning of friendship is just naive.  Sadly I pity you, because I don't think you really understand the magic of friendship.”
Kayl's mouth hung from his jaw, and his eyes burned in confusion.  What kind of Saturday morning cartoon nonsense was she spewing?  Surely, you and I would know better than to question Twilight, for few understand these things like her.  Kayl was left speechless, except to say the only thing he could think of saying.
“I'm sorry...”
Twilight shook her head, “I'm not sure if you really mean it.  But it's alright, friends forgive each other.  And I certainly forgive you.  But for now I think I need to sleep.  It's going to be a long trip.  I gave you the room right across from me, you should probably get some sleep too if you can.  You've had a very stressful morning, and the rest of the day is likely to be just as much so.”
With that she turned and entered her room.  Kayl struggled mentally with what he had heard, but his body moved automatically to the room across.  With out hands, he was forced to grip at the handle of the door with his teeth.  After struggling to get his wings through the door his frustration began to return.  
But it was coupled with something else.  Fear.  Fear and shame.  He was a stranger in a strange land, and the anguish he was feeling was too real to be a dream.  If this was truly real, how would he return home?
But he was overwhelmed with heartache.  In any other situation he could have simply smoothed over any mistake with kind words.  But just as he had done with Beth, and Barbara, here was someone who could see right past his fake words, and not put up with his way of thinking.  And that alone, filled him with remorse.
> The City on the Mountain
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Kayl had a dream during his sleep, though it was unsettling.  There were bright lights above him and he was stricken down and immobile.  There were waterfalls falling around him and he was surrounded in a red pool.  And in the distance, there was another of those horse creatures like twilight, but she was dark, and shrouded in shadows.
He woke to knocking at his door.  Instinctively he looked for some clothes to put on, but realized soon that creatures of this world had no need of such things, oddly enough.  He walked in somber over to the door, expecting to see a conductor informing him that he had missed his stop.
Instead, Twilight stood there with a sorrowful look.  The first thing she did was apologize for earlier.  Kayl shook his head and explained that he was not himself, the pun of which was lost on him but made Twilight smile.  Twilight wanted to show Kayl the ride into Canterlot.
Kayl went to Twilight's room, where the window faced out away from the hills.  As Kayl stuck his head out he was caught off guard by the scenery.  The mountain sides rock face shot up into the sky as the rolling hills stretched for miles around.  Here, there, and anon there were houses placed like ranches across the barren hills of the region, as Kayl turned towards the north where train was leading he saw the great city of Canterlot, placed upon the side of the mountain, built remarkably in the structure of some mix of Arabian and European architecture.
“So that's Canterlot I take it?”
Twilight gave a pleasant hum, “Yes, that is where I was born.  It is the capital of all Equestria and the home of Princess Celestia.  Don't worry, I'm sure your own world has large cities like this right?”
Kayl pulled his head back in and smiled at Twilight, “Not really, the kind of architecture here doesn't look like anything that I've seen.  But I suppose my world would probably look wondrous to someone else if they saw it too.”
As the train came into the station of Canterlot, many winged horses wearing bridles and assorted armor pieces lined the walls and walked the train platform.  Twilight led Kayl off the train and into the city.  The inner city was filled with horses, mainly unicorns that were dressed in attire not unlike the social elite of 1920s England.  Parasols, tuxedos, and bags of things bought from merchants reminded Kayl of visiting Venice Beach in California.
“So Kayl, I'm going to need to ask you for a favor...”
Kayl had heard the line many times before, but now it felt a bit smug.
“This is what friends truly mean to Twilight eh?  Alright, I'll play along...”  He thought to himself.
“Kayl, Do you think you would let me take you to a nice place for lunch before we visit Celestia?  There's this one place I want to go and I know you probably want to see Celestia really soon but I'm also really hungry and aren't you hungry too but I could understand if you're not but I really want to go but I don't want to be rude and it won't be too far...”
Kayl put up his hoof and stopped Twilight short.
“I think lunch would be a good idea.  Thank you for everything Twilight.”
Kayl smiled and nodded.  Twilight bounded off down the road and Kayl tried to keep up.  Kayl didn't think Twilight understood the meaning of favors either.  He was hungry, after an exceptionally long and restless train ride with only a couple of pancakes to sate him he felt like taking in something a bit more filling.
But what interested him more was the reaction of the town.  Many of the folk were bowing to Twilight as she passed, some even bowed to Kayl but they seemed more shocked to see him than delighted.  Twilight had said that she was a princess, and that they were going to see another princess.  How many of these relations were there?  
Twilight eventually led Kayl to a restaurant called “Trotters”.  There was a line outside, but when Twilight and Kayl arrived, people stepped aside happily and allowed Twilight and her guest to enter.  They were seated in no time and Kayl felt almost spoiled in their treatment.
“Does this always happen Twilight Sparkle?”
Twilight giggled, “Please, you can just call me Twilight.  Also, it's only started happening in the past year.  It's kind of a part of being an alicorn princess.  It's kind of hard to get used to.  You noticed they were treating you the same way right?”
“Yes,” replied Kayl, “But I don't understand, I'm not royalty.  How exactly does that work?”
Twilight gave another hum of thought, giving light to her thoughtful nature.  Clearly she was always careful to choose her words wisely, which Kayl thought was admirable.
“Well, you have to understand I'm not sure what you have to compare to in your world.  I'm not that knowledgeable of your world's politics.  I guess you could think of me as a kind of celebrity.  Wait.” 
Twilight shook her head, “I really would rather not be thought of as a celebrity.  I mean, I'm a librarian, not royalty.  The thing I'm trying to say is I haven't always been an alicorn, I became an alicorn about a year ago, and it's been a kind of roller coaster ever since.  Wait, you have roller coasters in your world right?”
Kayl nodded, but he was more confused than anything, “Yes, but what do you mean?  Is that why it's so rare to see an alicorn?”
Twilight nodded, “Yes, in fact most of us aren't really sure how an alicorn comes to be.  For me I became an alicorn after I discovered a higher level of magic.  So now I have responsibilities to lead people, it's kind of overwhelming really.”
“So, a sort of destined monarchy...but who develops the economy? Who makes the tax code?  Who sets the budget?  Who argues pensions and retirement and medicare?”
Twilight shook her head, “I'm not even sure what half of those things are.  If you mean how we take care of our laws? I suppose all of the communities and cities have their own law enforcement to stop people from causing trouble.  We have a society based on harmony, so most ponies just want to get along.  There aren't really any taxes, but we do pool money together to help take care of the poor and elderly.”
Kayl, who didn't consider himself political in anyway, thought this kind of socialist madness would never had been sold back home.
“So there are no elections?”
Twilight nodded her head, “Well Ponyville has a mayor, and we have had elections, but no one really runs against her.  Mayor Mare organizes community events and everyone helps out.  You know, when I visited your world, I had to go through one of these election type things.  It was really stressful, I don't think any pony here would want to have one of them.”
Just as Kayl was about to ask about this, another pony appeared wearing an apron and suit.  Speaking with a thick french accent.
“Your Highness, I must say Trotters is delighted to have you with us, but we are also equally abuzz about your guest.  She, or he, is a real alicorn yes?”
Twilight smiled and nodded, “I guess he is.  But he's a visitor from another land.  Would you mind getting us two cups of tea.  Also, two salads and...” Twilight turned to Kayl, “Kayl is it alright if I make a suggestion for food?”
Kayl nodded, he didn't know what to say really.  He had walked into some form of soviet communist socialism society with ponies.
“Right,” Twilight returned her attention to the waiter, “Right, than can we have the share plate of five cheese and tomato ravioli?”
The waiter nodded and whisked away, returning shortly with two cups of hot steaming tea.
“Kayl, I know this might all be unsettling for you.  I can't imagine the kind of life you had before coming here.  I got to thinking that in your world status plays a big role, and perhaps I wasn't sympathetic enough to that.  I hope you can understand that for both of us we have a lot of learning to do.”
Kayl couldn't contain his curiosity any longer.
“Twilight, when did you...”  But he stopped short.
Just as he began to speak he saw Twilight's horn glow.  In unison the cup below her began to glow, and floated up to her lips as she carefully took a drink.  She looked at Kayl with a smile on her face.
“Twilight, what is that that you're doing?”
Twilight's eyes lit up and laughed, “Oh that's right, this must seem crazy!  Well it's magic.  Every unicorn with a unicorn's horn has some amount of magic, usually having to do with their special talent.  You have a horn too you know, I guess you don't know how to use it?”
Kayl wasn't sure how to think about that.  But he looked down at his own cup of tea, wondering how he was going to drink it too.  After a moment it came to him that he had no idea how to do what Twilight did.  Apparently his special talent was not moving cups of tea.
“No, but this world I think is far stranger than I thought.  If talking horses wasn't strange enough.” Kayl shook his head and gave a stern look to Twilight.
“Hold on...I'm getting side tracked at every turn that I try to bring this up.  You said you visited my world?  What do you mean? When did you visit?  I think our world would have known if a talking winged unicorn had arrived and started making cups of tea float around.  It would have been in the news, or at the least in some NSA document.”
Twilight laughed for a moment before nodding, “I'm sorry, it was a bizarre experience for me too!  I'll be happy to answer any question you have about it.  Well, actually, I think it might be connected to your problem too!”
Kayl perked up at this.  “Finally,” he thought.  “Now we're getting some where in all of this insanity.”
Twilight began to tell the tale of her tiara, a tool of the elements of harmony (a topic which she glanced over sadly).  She explained that a former pupil of Princess Celestia, Sunset Shimmer, had stolen the tiara and taken it through a magic mirror to another world.  
It was the mention of the mirror that interested Kayl more than anything else.  Of course, you and I would almost certainly know this story by now.  If you haven't, I do not wish to spoil things for you, but I fear they must be spoiled.  But, Twilight did explain how she was tasked to enter the world alone to retrieve the tiara.
“And when I appeared on the other side of the mirror, after flying into a bright shining light, I arrived looking like a human.  With hands, and a nose, and not a tail, wings, or horn to be seen.  I have to say my first day in your world wasn't easy either.  
But to make a long story short, I had to take part in a pageant to become princess of the fall formal at Canterlot High.  Of course, the dance ended in a succubus attacking the school and enslaving the people before I and a group of other girls who were a lot like my friends here in Equestria bonded together and formed the elements of harmony to take her down.  But um...that's a long, long story.”
Kayl shook his head, “No...I'm pretty sure I've never heard of any placed called Canterlot high, and I'm pretty sure I've never heard of a succubus attacking a school and enslaving everyone.  Also, I'm pretty sure if that had happened in my world, it would have been too big to keep under wraps.  Are you sure it was my world?”
Twilight thought for a moment, “Well gosh, I hadn't even considered that yet.  But I suppose that's what we'll have to find out won't we? I'm sure together, all of us can help you find a way back home!”
Kayl looked down at his cup of tea, it was quickly becoming cold and he wanted to drink it.  So, lacking any other way he simply bent his head down and lapped at the tiny cup.  It was humiliating, but he was far below humility at this point.  But a thought occurred to him.
“Did you say, 'all of us' Twilight?  Don't you mean just you and me?”
Twilight shook her head and smiled brightly, “Of course not! I wouldn't let my new friend have to get by with just my help alone!  All my friends and I will help you figure this all out!  That's what friends do Kayl!”
There was a moment of silence, and it was uneasy.  The last time this point had been made, Kayl had made the mistake of offending Twilight by questioning her motives or understanding of friendship.  To Kayl's surprise, he found this friendship that Twilight kept speaking of rather legitimate.  Her face was tense, waiting to see if there was going to be a repeat of the morning's insult.
Kayl took a deep breath, and then sighed, “You're really going to hammer this friendship thing home to me aren't you?”
Twilight took a deep breath and nodded.  She clearly knew she was pushing boundaries, but her insistence and convictions were clearly not going to be breached.  
Kayl saw something in Twilight he had never seen in another human being.  It was a spark of something he had felt when he was younger.  People wanting to help others for no reason but to help them.  Friendship without goals or fortune.  Cooperation without revenue progress.  Everything he had ever felt told him this was foolish.
Still, he was in absolute need.  If it had been the other way around, he would never have agreed.  He didn't believe in this kind of selfless philosophy, it didn't work in his world.  But he was in a new land where society was formed for a very different means.
“Alright Twilight, I'll gladly accept any help you and your friends can give me.  Still, I don't know what you're expecting of me in return.  But for what it's worth, I'll consider you a friend as well as I understand the phrase.”
Twilight smiled brightly, “That will work for now then.”
They happily finished the rest of their lunch.  Kayl shared stories of his work in business.  He explained what politicians were, and what a lawsuit was.  Many things that you and I would take for granted were complex and confusing to Twilight.  Kayl began to understand Twilight more, seeing that at least in this world where magic was such a key part, a different kind of political structure free of strife was possible.  For the time at least, he envied this new land and the peace that it had found.
After lunch, Twilight took Kayl on a tour of the town, showing the school where she went to learn magic, the parks where she used to hang out and read, and the many places she avoided because she was too busy studying.  Finally, she and Kayl arrived at the castle gates where their goal awaited them.  A meeting with this fabled Princess Celestia.
“Now don't worry, the Princess is a really nice pony.  She's incredibly humble, and I know she'll help you in any way she can as well.”
Kayl tried to relax, but even he knew that he was meeting the supreme ruler of all citizens of this land.  He had never met presidents or kings in his own world, and he was taken aback by the realization that the first true royalty that he was going to meet was going to be a winged horse with a magic horn.
“Goodness, it’s going to be past dinner time by the time we finally get to Ponyville.  I really appreciate you letting me see the city a bit before getting here, Kayl.  I know it might not seem like much, but this place really does mean the world to me.”
Kayl, who was still half distracted in thought robotically replied, “Don’t mention it.  It’s no problem.”
And so it was as they finally entered the grand hall of the castle that there upon her throne surrounded by heavily armed guards stood a mighty sight, Princess Celestia.  There could be no mistaking it this time.
        She was tall, a giant amongst the others in comparison.  Her wings were unfurled and stretched out like a coat of winter apart from her. Her mane and tail sparkled like the evening sea, just as her bridle and tiara did, and they flowed like the river from her.  She was of milk white fur, and had Kayl seen this creature in his own world, he would have been floored by its grace.
It wasn't only her stature that was off setting.  The creature had a presence amongst her that made Kayl speechless.  He was not enamored by her, not in any romantic way.  Rather he feared her, as a child fears a parent.  Here, where ponies were among their own kind, she was truly godlike.
        She was smiling, and her eyes were looking brightly down at her two guests, though Kayl saw that hidden behind the eyes was so much history.  He was instantly humbled by her, and wondered how Twilight could have thought that this Princess could be considered humble.  Perhaps if a god were to come down as a man in this form, that would be a humble step.  
And then, Kayl had to wrestle with the idea that what he was seeing might very well be a god of this world.  With that, he became quite shaken.
        “My dear Twilight, student and princess.  I had received a letter from spike this morning, hastily written saying that you were coming with another princess.  Spike sadly couldn’t give me anymore information than that, as it seemed you were already on your way to meet me.”
        As Twilight approached the throne, the guards along the hall saluted her.  Kayl began to truly feel that he was in a place where he didn’t belong.
        “I apologize Princess Celestia.  I didn’t want to waste any time.  As you can see, the one I brought wasn’t a princess.  This is Kayl, and although he might not look like it, he’s actually a human.”
        Celestia’s smile brightened as she walked down the steps from her throne to meet them.  In his world, if Kayl had introduced people to someone who was in fact a winged unicorn from another world, they would have been thrown in prison.  Celestia either had very little concern about the comings and goings of other worldly creatures, or she was far more knowing than she was letting on.
        “A male alicorn.  What a rare sight.  Kayl, please step forward and let me get a good look at you.”
        Kayl was powerless, his legs moved and his wings unfurled themselves.  He wasn’t being bewitched, but after all of his troubling thoughts and stress he had very little concern with preserving his sense of masculinity against a creature that very well could have banished him to the moon (a feat that you and I would certainly know she was capable of).
        “My name  is Kayl Jayden.  Yes, I’m a human.  I come from the planet Earth of the Milky Way Galaxy.  I don’t know how I’ve become the creature I am, or how I have arrived here.  But I assure you I am in no way special like yourself.”
        With that, Celestia’s look changed.  At first her eyes widened.  Not in insult, but as if someone simply committed a social flub.  But then she began to laugh and shake her head.
“My dear Kayl, first I welcome you to Canterlot, and Equestria as well.  You are my honored guest here, and I wish you well.  I will admit that this is my first time to meet someone from your world.  Do not be so quick to judge yourself poorly.  All peoples, ponies, and creatures are special in my eyes.  And you especially, are incredibly special.
        Being an Alicorn is no small feat for pony kind.  The fact that you have received such blessings and talents speaks volumes about who you are in your own world.  Of course, I am sorry if that is not how you see it yourself.  Twilight, I’m sure, would attest to the struggles of adapting to another world.”
        Twilight gave an exasperated groan and laughed, “Oh yes, I would definitely attest to that!  Just getting used to only two legs was troubling enough!”
        Kayl tried not to laugh, but he found the expression on Twilight’s face to be ridiculous.  He cracked a smile and shook his head to Celestia.  
The entire situation, everyone’s behavior, this world and its social structure, the ideas and foundations of friendship and harmony were so very different from Kayl’s view of the world.  All at once he found himself feeling very amused and yet quite annoyed at the same time.
        “You’re far too kind, thank you.  I hope that I don’t sound rude however, as I say that you are right about one thing.  I do not wish to remain this way.  It was not my wish to come here, and unfortunately I have a great deal of responsibilities to uphold in my own world.  
Twilight has told me that you might be able to help explain how I got here.  She also says that all of her friends would be willing to help me.  Me, who they hadn't even met.  
She can't speak for so many so quickly I think.  Her hospitality to me has been overwhelming, but I’m afraid it might be wasted on one like me.  Where you all speak of friendship, I see only extortion.  
And even now, I find myself more at your mercy then at your leisure.  There's no use in such a thing as friendship.  And while I find I can't refuse your help, I'd rather not be pandered to.  I just have no time for friendship, your highness...”
        His words had fallen from him with out care.  He was honest, brutally so, and it garnered quite a number of stares from everyone in the room.  Kayl had insulted this idea of friendship again, and as he stood frozen in the center of the hall he did not know what to say, and was unsure if what he had done was a crime.
        Unbeknownst to him, Twilight had exchanged views with Celestia.  In her wisdom and skill, the ruler of equestrian could easily divert attention between the two just as easily as if she was showing it equally to both.  Kayl however, was still wracked with fear.  Finally, Celestia spoke.
        “It would seem that you have come here Kayl, for perhaps some greater purpose than what you initially thought.  However, I’m afraid that Twilight’s belief that I will be able to send you back to where you came is unfortunately untrue.”
        Twilight lunged forward, “What do you mean Princess?”
        "Unfortunately Twilight" began Celestia, "since you have passed through the mirror to the human world.  The mirror has been destroyed.”
> The Darkness Within
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Kayl and Twilight both looked on somberly.  It would have seemed all hope was lost.  There was a great silence in the hall around them. Kayl realized very quickly that this might mean he was lost for good and that he had once again insulted the very people trying to help him.
Twilight’s jaw dropped, “How did this happen?”
Celestia was quiet for sometime.  This was certainly something she had not told Twilight, perhaps this matter was not something that had been discussed with anyone else.  Kayl could not have begun to understand Twilight's shock at these revelations.
“I had destroyed the mirror, realizing after the events that led you through the mirror that such a device could bring great harm to this world, or to the other.  The mirror’s origins date back to a time long ago, back before even I or my sister were rulers of these lands.  Back even before the time of Discord.”
“Therefore Twilight, you will have to discover a new way to send Kayl back to his own world.  And of course, you will have your friends to help you.  And if I can help you, I will.”
Twilight instantly became happier.  It was a strange change to the mood of the room.  Celestia had inspired such hope in her student that even the despair of hopelessness could disappear in her wisdom.  Kayl was floored, and still utterly unconvinced of either the sincerity of their words, or the wisdom of them.  Either these new ‘friends’ were naive or manipulative in Kayl’s eyes.
“Princess Celestia.  I promise we will do everything we can to make things right!  Just let me know where to start.”
Twilight’s enthusiasm was counter balanced by Celestia’s calm nature.
“Twilight, this is a task that I can not simply set you to.  Where as before I could see the turning of events, such as with the return of Nightmare Moon, now you must determine where to begin your research.  I can offer you the entire library of Canterlot and this castle however, if that is what you will need.”
Twilight gave a sigh, “I’m sure I will. I have a feeling I’m going to be stuck in Canterlot for a while then.”
Celestia gave a shake of her head, “No, I think you work best in your own element.  For that reason, I want you to return to Ponyville.  I will have every book that I can find brought to you, if it suits you.”
Twilight gave a bounding leap of joy, “Of course it is!  We'll leave right away!  Come on Kayl!  If we hurry we can catch the train!”
But just as Kayl and Twilight had turned to head out the door, the voice of Celestia halted them.
“Just a moment, Kayl.  I want to speak with you in private before you go.”
As he turned, Kayl became aware of the commanding nature of Celestia.  Kayl's earlier outburst was not going to be allowed to simply pass on.  But, Kayl was not ready to simply give up his freedom just yet.  If he had thought things through, he would have realized that Celestia had no intention of imprisoning him.
“Am I required to?” replied Kayl, coldly.
“Of course not Kayl, but as your new friends, I feel that I must speak with you in private about some things.  And perhaps, share with you some advice that might help you in your future quest.  Of course, if you wish to refuse that hospitality, you may leave when you wish.  You are free to come and go as you please.”
She knew exactly what to say, and the offer of freedom was enough to lighten Kayl up enough to turn around to face Celestia.  With a short nod he followed Celestia back through the inner halls of the castle.  Twilight looked on with concern, as the doors closed behind them.
The corridors inside the castle were exquisite, with bright walls lit by the open roofs, allowing sun to bounce off of the walls, tapestries showing stories of the past, and torches that were lit with bright fire flies.  Kayl could not make sense of any of it, nothing like this existed any where in his world that he knew, he had traveled through Europe and Asia as a younger man, had spent time in Africa with his mother as a boy, and had been across every state with his father in America.  Besides this, he had never seen a world like the one where he was.
“As I explained Kayl, I have never had the chance to meet an individual from your world like this.  I thought it would be good if we talked for a bit.  Why don't you begin by telling me more about yourself.”
Kayl thought for a moment before responding, “I'm not really sure what there is to tell.  I'm a businessman in my world.  I'm a project leader for my division and the junior manager of the floor.  I have a great many responsibilities, which is why I'm trying to return home.”
Celestia nodded with her approval, “That's wonderful, well we will certainly do what we can to help you.  But what about you?  What do your friends say about you?”
Kayl gave a scoffing laugh, “Well the people I work with probably think I'm crazy right now.  But I suppose they have a good view of me.  I really don't worry about what they think.  If they approve of me than good, if not, than I just avoid them.  Work isn't about making friends, your highness.”
Celestia turned a corner through an archway, leading to a balcony that looked out to the north.  From here, Celestia had a view of the entire northern valley of Equestria.  As Kayl approached the side and looked out he was taken aback by the view.  The sun shined high into the sky, it seemed as if it was still noon, but suddenly Kayl realized that the sun had sit high in the sky for quite some time.
“Let me show you something...”
Celestia raised her horn into the sky, and Kayl saw it begin to glow, and then the shining force of her light lit her eyes and filled the sky.  And Kayl was shocked to see as the sun in the sky began to shift, and the lights and shadows of the ground below began to bend and stretch.  It was impossible to imagine, and yet it was happening right in front of him.  Celestia was moving the sun with her magic.
As the sun shifted, he saw the beauty of the land before him.  The rolling meadows, plains of grass and farmlands, thick forests, mountainous landscapes far off in the distance, flowing rivers that stretched for hundreds of miles.  And speckled along the golden landscape, shimmering from the light of the setting sun, he could see hundreds of thousands of ponies, some winged and flying through the clouds, and others walking along the ground.  He had not simply found himself on a strange island of sorts, he had discovered a whole other world.  There was no way that all of this existed with in his own world, and no one had known about it.
“It's amazing, but how did you do that!?  You moved the sun through out the sky, didn't you?”
Celestia nodded, “Has Twilight had a chance to explain about the talents of ponies?”
Kayl nodded, “Yeah, sort of.  She said every pony has some kind of special talent.  That they have a cutie mark that shows off that talent.  But that certainly can't be what your special talent is?  I mean the sun doesn't move through the sky!”
Celestia sighed and shook her head, “Don't feel insulted, but the nature of this world does not work like your own world.  I think you'll find that while you are here, everything is quite different from what you may think.  I control the sun as it moves through the sky, and my sister, Luna, controls the moon, bringing in the night.  Together we rule Equestria, though...”
Celestia trailed off, “My sister and I have not always been friends.  Forgive me, I'm rambling.  The one whom I wish to speak about is you.  Tell me about your friends back in your world.”
Kayl stared at Celestia for a long time.  He couldn't ignore the fact that the sun had moved on the command of Celestia, and clearly the world around him was quite real. But this fascination on friendship was starting to wear him down.
“To be frank Celestia.  I don't have any friends.  In my world, friendship is merely something that people make up to hold expectations of each other.  In my world, friends simply expect more of each other than those they hardly know.  It's much better to have acquaintances in my world than friends.  Those who will do what you need, but you don't have to care about.  And I think that's suited me just fine for many years, your highness, but what is your fascination with this fact about me?  Why is it that everyone here cares so much about friendship than anything else?”
Celestia's eyes peered through Kayl, and to his amazement, he found that his defiance was gaining in strength.  Despite his fear of being lost in this world, Celestia did not hold her power over Kayl.  He found it easier to speak the truth, he felt no reason to hide himself, and he was not afraid of her.  But deep with in him, he knew he was a speck of nothing in comparison to her power.  If she had commanded it, the entire armies of Equestria could have him imprisoned.  Or worse, she could have taken the sun and crashed it into the world if she wished to.
“You have spoken much for your disdain of friendship.  I warn you of this Kayl, that there is a darkness in your heart.  Here in Equestria, friendship makes up not only the structure of our society but the power that gives us magic, and the harmony that keeps our world together.  If not for this power, the powers of disharmony and evil would take over us.  It's this darkness that scares the others, and is the reason for my concern Kayl.  I fear that if this continues, it is going to take over your heart, and use you as a conduit of its madness.”
The words sounded like religious fanaticism, but what if they were real in this world? Where was truth and where were lies?  He was lost in this world and now he was being told of darkness in his heart.  But he was feeling it too.  At first it was simply fear and confusion, but ever since arriving in Equestria he had felt that he was slipping away, that perhaps a darkness was taking him over.  He turned away from Celestia and looked out to the land again.  After a moment of silence, Celestia leaned down and spoke softly into his ear.
“Do not fear, because you have many friends here Kayl.  There are many who would fight dearly for you, and you must not turn their friendship away.  But I fear that you yet do not understand the power that friendship holds.”
Kayl shook his head, “How can I believe you?  I'm not saying I won't help Twilight and the others, and I'm certainly in no condition to refuse your help either.  But how are you expecting me to befriend creatures I've just met.  To me it seems like you're taking this for granted, that in your world friendship is something thrown around with out care.  Something given easily, taken greedily, and forgotten just as conveniently.”
Celestia stood tall and spoke firmly, the force of her presence made Kayl back away in fear.
“Silence that darkness inside of you Kayl!  Tell me, do you feel that your life at home has evolved so greatly because of your hatred of friendship?  Be truthful, and tell me if you are happy back in your world.”
Kayl's thoughts returned to the party.  In his world, he had just lost Beth, Barbara, and every associate he had at his firm.  Even if they didn't outright abandon him, he would certainly have to contend with the suspicion of being a fake friend, because that is what he had been all his adulthood.
And there it was, clear as day in his thoughts the response of darkness gripping.  Kayl shook his head and bowed his head low.  Shutting his eyes.  He wanted this to be done and gone, and he wanted it to be over.  And as he thought this he felt that the world around him was also growing dim.  But before it could be taken over Celestia's light powered through.  Kayl was blown back and shocked.
“Do you see it now?  Do you understand the threat that you are in?  In this world, fear and doubt is what will consume you.  Friendship is a light that breaks through that darkness, and keeps your mind whole.  It is not a meaningless thing Kayl, and you must learn it well while Twilight helps to return you home.  Do you understand?  Your future depends on learning these lessons.”
Kayl was silent, he didn't know what to think of it.  Her words had not helped quench his fear, and the world around him felt gray through his eyes.  But what else could he do?  Even if he didn't believe any of this, he could do nothing to help himself.  He needed every hand he could.  So what if all of this was just a game?  Perhaps a technique that Kayl need only master as he had everything else.
“How will I learn this than?  Who can teach me about your friendship?”
Celestia gave a laugh, “Kayl, doesn't such a question sound bizarre to you?  Your world must be full of sadness to be devoid of such friendship.  But do not despair, hold no fear, and worry not because there are those who can show you that.  The elements of harmony can help you.  Kindness, Generosity, Honesty, Loyalty, and Laughter.  Remember them and they will help guide you.  Together these elements of harmony and friendship create the spark that holds the magic that protects this land against the threat of evil.”
Kayl shook his head, “I don't understand, where do I read about them?”
Celestia laughed again, longer this time.  Kayl looked rather confused.
“Dear Kayl, dear new friend, the elements of harmony can speak for themselves.  You will meet them soon.  But I sense you understand more now than you did before you arrived.  Now I think you should leave.  By the time you return to Ponyville it will likely to be night, and you will need rest before tomorrow.  Besides, Twilight I'm sure is waiting nervously for you.”
Kayl took the message and turned to leave, but he stopped short and turned back to Celestia.
“Twilight, she's going to be mad again because I insulted friendship isn't she?  What can I say to her to make her feel better?”
Celestia shook her head, “She might be mad, but friends can get mad at each other any number of times.  The sign of friendship comes when they are willing to forgive, and be forgiven.  Do not fear, Twilight was once not much different from you, but if anyone can show you the truth of friendship, it's her.  Trust her, at times she has shown to be wiser than even I.”
Kayl stood there for a moment.  He had thought he had met the greatest of the entire land, but she could clearly not help him return home.  So he turned and left, returning to Twilight.  Despite his opposition, he had made two friends without even trying.
> Getting to Know You
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The return to Ponyville had not been much different than the train ride to Canterlot.  Kayl was busy in his own thoughts.  How much of this world could he trust to be real?  He had seen great magic performed right before him, but how could he believe such ridiculous religious teaching of friendship.  Celestia had spoken in riddles and theories.  But, if talking flying magical horses were possible in this world, there could easily be more that he could not see.  It was the thought of the unknown that scared Kayl the most, but thankfully it kept conversation with Twilight to a minimum.  She didn't have much to say to Kayl, and neither did he to her.  It wasn't until dinner on the train that Twilight spoke up.
“Kayl, do you think we can talk about something?  I think maybe I should be honest about something that bugs me about, well, you.”
Kayl had just begun to dig into a sandwich with his mouth again as he had been forced to before when she brought the question up.  He was dreading this, but thinking back to Celestia's words, if he wanted to be forgiven, than Twilight would forgive him.  So, whether or not she was still mad, she clearly wasn't going to hate Kayl.
“Alright,” said Kayl with a nod, “I suppose it's too late to say I'm sorry, but I didn't mean...”
Twilight shook her head and cut him off, “No, that's not what I mean.  I'm way over that, I told you.  I understand that there are a great deal of things different about our worlds.  Besides, I'm sure Celestia said more than I could since you did agree to come back with me.  No, what I wanted to talk about was something you said.”
Kayl had said many things that she might want to comment on, but it was certainly going to be about friendship.
“You said you had no time for friendship, that it was no use, and you had a great deal of responsibilities in your own world.  The thing is, I think what stung most about what you said was that, well, I was once that way too.”
Than this is what Celestia had meant?  Kayl found it hard to believe that Twilight had ever thought that way, but he didn't contradict her.
“When I was very young, I was performing my entrance exam for magic academy.  It was there that Celestia and I had met, and she took me under her wing—no pun intended—to help me learn more about magic.  From the youngest age I dove into my studies and ignored everything else.  I didn't take time for friends, well, unless you counted my brother and my foal sitter.  But it wasn't until I became an adult that it finally changed.”
Kayl finished another bite of his sandwich and asked the obvious question, “What happened?”
Twilight looked out the window, recalling the memory.
“I had been researching the legend of Nightmare Moon, the pony in the moon that had been banished by Celestia for attempting to cover the land in darkness.  I had learned that she was destined to return at the night of the Summer Sun celebration.  I knew I had to do something to help, but Celestia instead sent me to Ponyville to help with the preparations of the celebration.”
“But you live there now.  And I take it that Ponyville is more of a home to you than Canterlot.”
Twilight smiled at Kayl, “You're very observant aren't you?  Yeah, I suppose that might be true.  But it's a hard thing to admit. But that's not the point I think.  When I arrived in Ponyville, most of the ponies there wanted to be my friend, and honestly, I responded—exactly, I might I add—like you did with me.”
Kayl pondered this, “But if you know how I feel, than why are you mad?”
Twilight groaned, “I just told you I'm not mad.  But there's a reason why I'm concerned about it.  You see, what I had learned from my research was that the elements of harmony were the power that had banished Nightmare Moon in the first place, and I knew they would be needed to stop her again.”
Kayl perked up, remembering Celestia's words, “Yes, Celestia mentioned something about them.  What are they? I take it you found them?”
Twilight smiled and laughed, “Yes, sort of.  But that's what I thought.  That the elements were things.  Tools, something that could be understood and used like a trough or a spade.  Little did I know, that the elements were something much more mysterious.  You see, it was those friends that I was turning away that actually made up the elements of harmony!  When I finally realized it, it ignited a spark that...”
Kayl recited Celestia's words, “...that holds the magic that protects this land against the threat of evil.”
Twilight blinked, and then laughed, “Yes. It created the sixth element of magic.  Something that, I've been tasked with learning a great deal about since I have since lived in Ponyville.  After unleashing the elements of harmony, we were able to stop Luna and quell the darkness in her heart.”
Kayl's eyes widened, “Luna!?  Celestia told me she was her sister.  She banished her own sister to the moon?  But how? And why?  And...”
Twilight cut him off, “Kayl!  Calm down!  Long ago, Luna had let darkness into her heart, and was upset because she was alone at night.  She became Nightmare Moon, and tried to cover the world in darkness.  Yes, Celestia did banish Luna to the moon.  But that's not my point.  The point is with the magic of friendship, and the true elements of harmony, we were able to destroy that darkness.  My point is I learned how important friendship is, and if I hadn't realized it, we would all have been destroyed.”
The darkness seeping into his heart, taking control, and filling him with evil.  So that is why Celestia was so concerned.  Her own sister had fallen down this very path and had almost destroyed their world.  Kayl was saddened to see that everyone merely saw him as a threat.  He knew that friendship was bogus, but if he didn't at least show concern, he might just as well be banished to the moon too.
“So, I need to learn the magic of friendship or else I'll also become a dark evil that will have to get banished to the moon?  Well I certainly don't want that.  I suppose that's why Celestia wants me to meet these elements...”
Twilight raised an eyebrow, “Celestia wants you to...oh!  Of course!  Well that makes sense!  I was going to introduce you to my friends anyway!  What did she say to you? I mean, I don't want to pry, you don't have to tell me.  But I'm really interested since not many have that honor to talk privately with her.”
Kayl cleared his throat.  He was just beginning to get a grip on himself after being around Celestia.  He didn't want to lie, but if Twilight didn't know about this darkness in his heart, than she would certainly be less inclined to trust him.
“Well, she told me that friendship was the source of all the magic in the world.  She showed me how she could move the sun, or rather, make the planet turn so...or maybe it was the sun.  I don't know.”
Twilight gasped, “So she did show you!  Oh that's quite a sight to see isn't it?  I'm always spellbound when I see Celestia raise the sun.”
“Yeah but,” Kayl chose his words carefully, “She does that everyday?”
Twilight nodded, “I bet it seems pretty crazy doesn't it?  But yes, and Luna brings out the moon at night.  When Luna was banished in the moon for a thousand years, Celestia had taken control of both sun and moon.”
A thousand years.  The words echoed in his mind.  The creature that he had defied had lived for over a thousand years.  Perhaps she was immortal.  Perhaps Celestia really was a god.  If she was, Kayl's fear would have been confirmed, that he was in threat of banishment if he didn't at least prove that he was not a threat of evil.
“Kayl?  You look horrible.  I know Celestia can be overwhelming, but she wouldn't hurt you.  She tasked me and my friends to help you return home.  If she had hated you, I guess she could have banished you to the moon too.” Twilight finished her comment with a laugh.
Kayl took a deep breath, “I guess that's just crazy to see a god in real form...”
Twilight laughed, “Oh, I don't think she's a god.  She's been...well she's old...”
With that Twilight began to laugh, long and loud; and Kayl found himself laughing too.  He hadn't thought of it like that, but Celestia really was an old hag when you put it that way.
The rest of the trip home was quite happier.  Kayl talked about his family, about his work, and about his travels around his world.  Twilight told him stories about some of the different kinds of battles she's had.  She told him all of the stories about Discord, The Changeling Queen, and Lord Sombra.  When they finally arrived in Ponyville, Kayl realized something that he hadn't thought about since arriving.
“Twilight, I don't have a place to stay.  I don't suppose, I mean I hate to impose, and I know you've said you would help and...”
Twilight giggled, “Kayl, you can stay with me for tonight.  I know you might not understand it yet.  But it's really easy to be friends with someone.  If it'll make you feel better, you can do me a favor tomorrow.”
Oddly, it did make Kayl feel better.  Doing a favor for a favor seemed the easiest way to make sense of all the help he was getting.  He wondered how he was going to meet these elements of harmony.  However, he hoped that he would not have to meet these things until tomorrow.  He was exhausted tonight and felt like sleeping soon.
He would soon get his wish.  Just as soon as they had finished speaking and eating.  They found the train back in Ponyville.  Since it was late, they decided it would be best to head home and wait till tomorrow to meet the others.
When the pair finally returned to the library, Spike was waiting for them at the door.
“Twilight! Come quick!  There's so many of them!  They're everywhere!”
Twilight gasped and with a flash of light she popped into the house.  Kayl ran in after to see a laughing Twilight and the source of the excitement.  The entire house had been filled with books.  Stacks and stacks of books lined one whole half of the room, and a nice sign had been place on the empty side of the room that said “read books”.  Kayl began to chuckle in spite of his worries.
“Haha, Twilight,” Spike exclaimed with thick sarcasm.  “You know when you run off like that, you should probably give me more info than just “I'm leaving to Canterlot, tell Celestia you may drop in” you know?”
Twilight smiled at Spike, “Well, I knew my number one assistant wouldn't have any trouble with interpreting me.  I'm sorry Spike, but we were hard pressed for time.  I promise I'll make it up to you though if you want to go to Canterlot next time.”
Spike gave a laugh and waved his hand, “Nah, I had a good time relaxing around here.  Without the large list of tasks you normally write for me, I was free to just relax, that was until the books began arriving magically.  What are all of these?”
Kayl walked over to some of the books, looking at their covers.  They had bizarre titles.  He also realized he could read the language, to him it appeared normal, but the writing was foreign to him.  He wondered if speaking was the same way.  Perhaps being in the new body, despite having no logical basis in reality, also gave him the ability to read and speak the language.  He wondered if he could write it as well, then realizing he had no hands to write with, ignored this.
“Forbidden Magic: Chronicles of the Necromancer, My Portal and Me, Dimensional Theory: How I learned to stop being afraid and embrace worm holes?”
Twilight turned to Kayl, “Wow, I've never heard of those books.  Do you think we're going to find what we need here?”
Kayl turned to Twilight with a confused look on his face, “Shouldn't I be asking you that? I have no idea what any of this.  I suppose if we don't than I'm doomed, so I surely hope we do...”
Twilight trotted over to Kayl and placed a hoof on the back of Kayl's neck, “Keep up that hope than.  We should get ready for bed.  Let's see if we can get you set up with something.”
Kayl tried his best to help Twilight, who was able to use her magic to summon a plethora of extra blankets to the spare room.  Kayl used his mouth to grab a few blankets as well but was little help in this.  Suddenly the blankets stopped and Kayl looked towards Twilight.
“I'm not really much help am I?”
Twilight sighed, “look at the blanket on the ground.”
Kayl did as he was told, wondering what he was going to learn.
“Now, the elements of harmony draw from the magic of friendship.  But a unicorn's magic is inherit to their structure.  I can tell you have the ability to perform magic, you just need to tap into that ability.”
Kayl looked over at Twilight with confusion, “Do I need to harness some kind of element of harmony?  If I say you're a pretty pony will that allow me to levitate the blanket?”
Twilight turned red and laughed, “Well, you can if you want, but no it wouldn't help.  Here, let me try and show you the way I learned.”
Twilight walked over to Kayl, and with her horn glowing she reached up and touched her horn to his.  He felt the spark of magic hit him like a jolt sensation.  It was pleasant, and oddly it felt like had had reached out and touched Twilight with an invisible hand.  He felt that spark travel through his body, and in his thoughts he could see points in him that were like little balls of energy.  He hadn't noticed them before, but suddenly he could see them.  They were numerous and very small, but there they were.
“I feel weird, like I'm covered in small dots...”
Twilight nodded and bounced around in excitement, “That's great! It normally takes foals weeks to see just one of the sparks.  How many do you see?”
Kayl didn't have to look with his eyes to see them.  It was more like seeing with in himself.  It was like feeling a touching sensation on a point of his body, he just knew where it was.  And at the same time, he knew where they all were.  But they were also fading, and quickly.
“Oh, well, they're fading.  But...there's at least a hundred...”
As quickly as she started bouncing, Twilight stopped short, “at least a hundred? And fading?  That's incredible.  Are you sure you're not over exaggerating?”
Kayl shook his head, “I'm not sure, but it's a lot, I'm trying to hold on to as many as I can, but at best I can only still see twenty or so.”
Twilight gave a sharp whistle, “That's impressive.  Perhaps you have a talent for magic Kayl!”
He looked at Twilight with surprise, “Really? Well what are these things?”
Twilight took a deep breath, “Well, think of them as little balls of magic that surround you.  You use your thoughts to bring the balls of energy to your horn.  That lights it up and prepares your magic, you have to visualize the magic you're about to perform, and with more complex magic you have to align the energy in such a way as to channel that energy.  Once you've done both of those things, you can begin to levitate objects with considerable ease.  It takes about one ball of magic, and all you have to do is visualize the blanket floating with you.  It's sort of the first...”
Twilight hadn't finished her sentenced when Kayl had caught on, and with ease that he didn't think possible, picked up the blanket.  It floated there and moved around him at his thought.  All he had to do was hold on to that tiny ball of energy in his thoughts.
Kayl was very excited, it wasn't much, but being able to help Twilight was all he needed to feel better.  Together Twilight and Kayl finished making a bed, and Kayl was delighted at himself for his new found power.
“I've gotta say Kayl, any foal who was just learning magic would have been so jealous of you right there.  It can take months for a foal to focus their ability like that.  Are you sure you didn't do some research while I wasn't looking?”
Kayl shook his head, laughing as he did, “No, I have no idea how I did that.  But it wasn't all that much, you know?  I mean, you were moving like ten at a time.”
Twilight scoffed, “Kayl, I've been studying magic since...well probably since before you were born.  I really don't know...how old are you?”
“Twenty-five years.  Um...that's three hundred and sixty five days.”
Twilight pondered, “How does that work?”
“Thirty days, have September, April, June, and November.  All the others have thirty-one, accept for February which has has twenty-eight, and on leap years it's twenty-nine.  There's twelve months.  So...yeah, three hundred and sixty five.”
Twilight did some quick math in her head, than her eyes popped and she laughed, “That would make me twenty-five too!”
She gave a laugh, and Kayl joined in.  The author laughed, but was not going to explain his own theories on the calendar of Equestria.  It was hardly important.  Twilight was just making small talk.  And that's exactly what they continued to do.  Resting on the newly made bed of blankets, they began to talk more of magic.  Kayl wanted to learn more about it, and he continued to ask about these sparks.  Every now and then, Twilight would give Kayl another spark from her horn so he could see all the little balls of energy around him.
“So couldn't every pony perform the same magic?  Because of these balls of energy?”
Twilight shook her head, “Not really.  To be honest, you and I might be pretty special.  My special talent happens to be magic.  So I'm pretty well versed in many different kinds.  Most ponies can use levitation, since it eventually helps them in their talents, but pony magic generally focuses around the talent that they have.  What do you think your special talent is?”
Kayl wondered that himself.  His special talent wasn't magic, since he had never been able to perform magic before.  So what would it be?
“What exactly is a talent?”
Twilight chuckled, “You don't have talents where you're from?”
Kayl sighed, “You know what I mean.  What makes talents in your world make little things pop up on your ass.”
Twilight blushed, “Don't say that...it's...called a flank.”
Kayl laughed, “I'm sorry.  But it is weird, it's an odd place to find something like that, and odder that it just grows on a pony.  How do you figure out what your talent is?”
“Well, we often tell our fillies that when they discover the special something that makes them unique that their cutie mark will appear.  It's more complicated than that though, and it's kind of a strange phenomena that occurs in ponies.  It also happens to zebras, but not to bison, buffalo, cows, griffons, dragons, or other kinds of creatures you'd find in the Everfree Forest.”
Kayl shook his head, “Griffons and dragons?  There are griffons and dragons in this world?”
Twilight nodded with a smile, “Pretty neat huh?”
Kayl groaned, “People at work have talked of those, and I never really paid attention.  Who would have thought that I would need to be prepared for that.”
Twilight laughed, “But Spike is a dragon!  What about him?”
Kayl looked out into the main room where spike's small pudgy body was running around with an owl.
“That's a dragon?  Yeah, I suppose that is pretty neat to have a dragon pet.”
Twilight shook her head, “Oh no, Spike is not a pet.  He's my assistant.  Owilicious is more of a pet, Spike is equal to me as anyone else is.”
Kayl turned red, “Oh, sorry...”
Twilight got up and smiled, “No, it's alright.  You don't need to apologize.  I'm sure in time you'll start to figure things out around here.  Of course, I'm sure you'll want to return home soon too.”
Kayl nodded, “Yeah, that's true.  Well...I suppose I should get to sleep.  It's been a long day.”
Twilight nodded, “Yep, tomorrow I'll introduce you to Apple Jack.  And don't worry, I'm sure everyone is going to really like you!”
Kayl sighed, and then with a yawn curled up into the makeshift bed.
“Goodnight Kayl.”
“Good night Twilight.”
With that Twilight closed the door behind her and went to bed herself.  From the room he could hear Spike grumbling and asking questions about himself, but he clearly heard Twilight tell Spike to not be nosy and that Kayl was a good person who needed help.  That was comforting to Kayl, whether he saw Twilight as a friend or not, she was certainly a good pony.
Kayl fell to a deep sleep and began to dream.  He dream that tiny balls of lights were dragging him around, and carrying him into the sky.  As the dream continued, it became hard to see, and there again was a bright flash of light, and suddenly he was scared.  He tried to run from the light, but he couldn't move.  He heard someone calling out, but couldn't understand them.  Than he saw it.  The same shape in his last dream.  It was the alicorn, but it certainly wasn't Twilight.  She was dark, with a dark sparkling mane.  Her eyes were pure white and as Kayl saw her she called out to him.
“Embrace the light!”
And then he awoke.  And it was morning.
> A Lesson of Integrity
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Despite his sudden awakening, Twilight had woken up an hour at least before Kayl, making pancakes for the both of them.  Not having talked about what else Kayl would like to eat, Twilight figured pancakes were as good as any other idea.  She was a light sleeper, and wanted to get a jump on everything that she needed to do today.
“Well, I can't wait to help.” Kayl responded as he ate pancakes. “Surprisingly I'm well rested.  What will you like me to help with first?”
Twilight chuckled, “I'd like you to help build a shed.”
Kayl shook his head, “Do I have to live in a shed now?”
Twilight gasped, “No!  That's not what I mean!  You're more than welcome to stay here Kayl.  No, what I want you to do is help someone build a shed.  I need to organize the books, and unfortunately I have this thing about organization.”
Kayl smiled, “You have to do it by yourself.  So is this the favor you want me to do for you?”
Twilight nodded, “Yes, we could say that.  Applejack is always telling me that if I ever need something she'd be willing to help.  So I figured this might be a good way to help me help you.”
Kayl considered this for a moment.  The foreign nature of people going out of their way to want to help each other was very alien to him.  But also, he wasn't sure what Twilight wanted Kayl to accomplish here.
Having just finished his pancakes, he figured he had better get along to doing something.  Sitting still would not help his still frazzled nerves.  Albeit, Twilight had done what ever she could to calm Kayl.  It was rather obvious, but it was quickly wearing thin again.
“Will building a shed, um, help me gain respect from the community or something?”
Twilight grabbed the empty plates and returned them to the kitchen.  As she walked, the snoring of Spike—who apparently was a very late sleeper in contrast to Twilight—nearly drowned her out.
“Well, I hate to point something out.  But I've been watching you get around and walk, and you seem to be making on like, well, you could probably do for some training.  Helping AJ build a shed should do just that.”
Kayl looked down at his legs, they were still shifting about.  He wanted to argue with Twilight, but she was right.  He had learned how to use magic before he had even got a handle on walking.  Had he looked so silly walking through Canterlot too?
Twilight smiled wide, “Also, AJ is just as sincere and fun as any pony could ever be!  I think she'll make for another good friend to meet while you're here.”
Kayl fought with every ounce not to laugh.  He had never had to walk on the edge of a wire so much before in his life, but everything he said might very well be the thing that dooms him.
“You know, I think I'm actually looking forward to it.  Just uh, what should I expect from meeting AJ?”
Twilight grinned and giggled, eyes closed as she finished cleaning up, “Oh don't worry, AJ is very nice.  She works a ranch on the outskirts of Ponyville, Sweet Apple Acres.  She has a brother, a younger sister, and her grandmother lives there as well.  Do you have cow ponies where you're from?”
Kayl had often met a few ranchers in his world, usually they contacted his firm for marketing and accounting.  Those accounts required a certain kind of careful speech, the kind where you could sound just as brash as they were, but also as wholesome too.  Ranchers believed in two things, God and Guns.  If AJ was a rancher, he knew exactly how to her.
“We have ranchers, although there aren't many female ranch heads.  Applejack must be a strong willed worker.”
Twilight whistled loud and nodded, “You have no idea.”
Twilight pulled out a saddle bag, packing it with food and water.  At first, Kayl thought that it was for her.  However, she placed the bag on Kayl's back instead.  The extra weight threw him off balance, trip, and fall to the ground.
“Yeah, you see what I mean?”  Twilight stooped down and helped Kayl to stand.
Kayl gave a sigh and a nod.  Standing while wearing the bags was painfully embarrassing.  If he hadn't been so focused, he might have broken down and cried right there.  If not for Spike's snoring, he would have had nothing to distract him.
“I'm not putting him out am I?”
Twilight shook her head, “Of course not.  Spike always sleeps up by my bed, and he always always sleeps in.  Come on, we had better get going before AJ finishes the shed without us.
Twilight led Kayl outside, and soon enough they were walking down a dusty country road.  Thankfully, the more he walked, the easier it got to walk.  Still, Kayl was now more aware of himself, and tried not to let anyone see him walking.
Twilight groaned, “Come on Kayl, there's no one even out here.  Besides, it's hardly noticeable...”
“Lamb sakes Twilight, what's wrong with your friend?  He's walkin' all funny like!”
The voice came from nearby, and it drew Kayl's attention.  Hopping over the fence was an orange horse.  She had a golden mane that hung long from her head that was tied with a hair tie, just as her tail.  Freckles around her eyes, and a cowboy hat adorned on her head.  Strangely, Kayl seemed to think that if ever there was a close enough look alike to a cowgirl—or cowhorse—this was it.
Twilight walked over to Applejack, “Oh AJ! There you are, we were coming to meet you, actually.  I want to introduce you to someone.  This is Kayl.  Kayl, this is my friend Applejack.”
Applejack walked over to Kayl and, pulling off her hat, gave a polite nod.
“Well howdy there Kayl!  I hadn't figured that Twilight made a new colt friend!  It's certainly nice to meet you!  You feeling alright?  You're walking kind of...”
Twilight coughed loudly, making large movements of her head.  Kayl didn't need her protection however, and was perfectly capable of explaining himself.
“Yes, it's nice to meet you too Applejack.  Well, the truth is I haven't got used to this body yet.  You see, I'm...”
But he didn't get a chance to finish his sentence.  Applejack pointed towards Kayl and began to stutter and exclaim in shock.
“What in tarnation!  Are you a prince!  Twilight!” Applejack turned on Twilight, “What are you doing letting me make fun of a prince!”  Applejack turned back to Kayl with a sheepish look about her.  But she was also very curious.  It was apparent that she was willing to say whatever was on her mind.  Sounded just like the ranchers from back home, really.
“Well shoot me full of holes and call me swiss cheese.  You're really an alicorn.  I don't know of any colt alicorns.  Well, I hope you can forgive me for being so blunt.  I beggin' your pardon of course.  I didn't mean no harm by it.  But what do you mean?  Is Twilight lettin' me jump the fence before looking for the mud?”
Twilight began to explain all that had happened.  Applejack had apparently already known about the human world as well, but was shocked at the turn of events none the less.  Especially when Twilight explained the meeting with Celestia, Applejack let out a long whistle.
“Wow, Kayl, look at you!  Gettin' to meet the ruler of Equestria on your first day here!  Well celery stalks, that sure explains your funny walkin'.  Looks like we need to get you movin' soon here.  Too much standin' and talkin' don't get nothin' done, ya know?”
Twilight nodded, “Yes AJ, that's actually why we're here.  Have you built that shed you were planning to you yet?”
Applejack shook her head, “Well, no I hadn't yet.  Oh I see, give our friend here some work to get him using his body.  That's a right near perfect idea Twilight.  What do you say Kayl, ready to get your hooves dirty?”
Kayl took a deep breath, suddenly he felt like he was being sold into slavery.  The image of pony slave traders throwing bags of golds around for his hide would have been more comical if it didn't feel so real.  Still, the importance of paying for his debts to Twilight was too important.
“Ready as ever.  I hope I can be of help to you, I'd hate to be a burden to...”
Applejack waved her head and exclaimed loudly, “Well now don't get your feathers bunched up Kayl.  I'm not hiring you.  You're my new friend, and we'll do what we can to get you walkin' good on your feet in no time!  Just you make yourself at home here.”
The grating pain in his temple would have crippled him had he not become accustomed to hearing the word friend being thrown around so much.  Twilight and AJ exchanged a knowing glance and nod.
“Well, thank you.  I'll um...do my best...”
Twilight smiled and nod, “You'll be fine Kayl, AJ and you should get along great.  AJ is the most honest and sincere pony in Ponyville.  If she says you're welcome here, you most certainly are.”
Kayl glazed over what Twilight was saying, he was too distracted by his loathing for the joy of this world.  Normally, Kayl wouldn't have thought himself a scrooge, but compared to the land of Equestria he was as miserly as a wall street banker.
Twilight said goodbye and AJ led Kayl back with her to her farm.  The sight of the farm just around the corner was nostalgic.  The hand painted sign, the settled barn in the background, acre upon acre of apples—obviously—livestock in pens, and dust clouds rolling around the farm.  It was as calming as the country could be.
Still, it was unique.  Colorful, almost cartoon, landscape was laid out as an artist's dream upon a canvas.  Everything felt so animated, eccentric, and even chaotic in its energy.
Kayl was led past the barn and house to a small area of construction set up quickly.  Tools had been laid about, but many other things also lying around gave the suggestion that his host had been ready to do this, but had neglected to go through with it.
Kayl cleared his throat,  "Well, look at this!  Everything's all ready for us to begin.  If I didn't know better, I would've thought my whole reason to being pulled into your world would be to help you build a shed."
Kayl gave an empty, dry laugh.  Applejack chuckled, which was bursting with life.
"Aww shucks, I'll admit I've put this off.  Truth is I just didn't need it enough to really work on it.  And, I didn't care enough to move the stuff back in storage after bringing it all out here.  I promise you though, there's been no conspirin' on our part.  Twilight is just a real nice friend who can plan ahead.  I've known her for about three years now, and she's become one of my best friends."
Applejack and Kayl got the work underway.  First however, Kayl needed to learn how to use tools like a pony.  Applejack showed him how he could grab things with his teeth easily.  This was disgusting, but Kayl thought that if he could use his new found magic instead to carry things, than he could be spared that.
Kayl also learned how the bottoms of his feet were incredibly thick, like horses.  He could hammer nails into boards just by smacking them with his forelegs.  When it came time for lunch, Kayl was just as surprised to see AJ kick the trees with her back legs, forcing all the apples to fall from the tree.  He wondered if horses in his world could be used like that.
Kayl had a mind of how to handle ranchers, but AJ began surprising him with her warm nature.  But more than her warm personality was her mind that she seemed to hold on her sleeves.  Everything she thought about came out of her mouth at some point.
"I gotta say, I'm gosh darn excited to meet a colt alicorn.  It's something else, you know?  Ever since Twilight Sparkle became an Alicorn I've always wondered how it happened.  And here you are, falling through mirrors and sprouting wings and a horn.  Well apple turnovers, I'd be just as shocked as ever if all of a sudden I was flapping around with a magical horn. 
But don't you worry none about me, I'm not jealous.  Actually, I've always just been happy as a cow on the pasture to be as strong as I am.  Let me tell you though, there's a lot of things that might make life easier, but there's no one else I'd rather be but me.
Well lamb sakes, you must feel pretty much the same way about your own state.  Well I hope you don't mind me saying.  But you're just about as nice as a can of worms in a fishing boat, if you get what I mean.  And you're right lucky too!  Why if you hadn't met Twilight when you did, you might have scrambled yourself into a lot more trouble.  So that's something to look up to right?"
Kayl gave a polite nod, but said very little in response.  Most of the time he merely gave a slight hum of agreement.  He could hardly listen to her go on and on.  It was true that ranchers were never one to shy away from conversation, but AJ was just being a down right blabber.
"So Applejack, should I call you Applejack or AJ?"  Kayl wanted to try and move the conversation away from whatever it was that AJ wanted to take it to.
"Well Kayl--if I can call you Kayl that is--You can call me whatever suits you.  A lot of my friends call me AJ, but sometimes they call me Applejack.  Only you gotta be careful with how you say it there.  This one time, I got into a lick of trouble with the apple harvest.  Wouldn't accept help from no pony if you know what I mean.
Of course Twilight--great friend she is--came to me and she said, 'Applejack, you're working yourself too hard!  You need help!'  Well wouldn't you know that at the time I was so exhausted I swore she said kelp!  I don't even like kelp!"
Kayl gave an uneasy laugh, "Oh that's a stitch of a story, um AJ, but could you perhaps put that aside for now and help me figure out why I'm walking around funny?"
Applejack gave Kayl a once look over and shook her head, "Oh you're not walking around too funny.  You've certainly got better since you took that saddle bag off.  Why the fuss over it?  Did Twilight say something to you about it?"
Kayl shook his head, suppressing the truth, "No, it's fine.  I was just curious."
And just as quickly as she had stopped to answer Kayl's question, she started her rambling again.
"Now if you want to hear about someone moving and acting funny, let me tell you about my terrible experience at the rodeo last year.  Woo, was it rough.  See, the roof of the city hall had been busted, and I went to the rodeo to win some prize money..."
AJ continued to tell story after story, and with each one, she would continuously divulge her fears, her worries, her flaws, and even her frustrations.  She was especially frustrated with some pony named Rarity, though Kayl had no idea who that was.
There was no clock to tell the time by, but I assure you as the author of the time of day.  However, by the time they sat down for lunch, several hours had passed.  For Kayl, he felt as if days had been passing.
Despite his mental frustrations, Kayl was still full of energy.  But AJ insisted that he had earned a break, and Kayl didn't want to argue.  He was getting a hand of his movements now, he could stand on three legs, but he still had a hard time getting on two.
"So Kayl, what do ya'll think of this world of ours?"
Kayl wanted to decry how alien it was, and that he was terrified of being labeled a terrorist, or worse banished to the moon.
"It's quite a fine place.  Very different from what I'm  used to, if you understand my meaning.  But I couldn't be happier with the hospitality I've been shown here."
He was of course, lying.  All the hospitality he had been shown here was grating on him.  He had to con Twilight Sparkle into giving him a task to do to earn the help of this new associate.  But it would seem that for Twilight, Kayl's help was not even needed, and that alone was what bugged him.
Applejack gave a curt nod of the head, "Well that's might kind of you Kayl, though you seem troubled by something.  Why don't you tell ole Applejack what it might be?  Well I bet ya, I could help you with whatever it is.  I'm the most dependable of ponies in all of Ponyville.  I would never lie to ya, that's the truth!"
Kayl gave a polite nod of the head as he ate as his apple, "Well thank you, that's very kind of you too.  I assure you if there's anything wrong then I'll late you know alright?"
After a bit of quiet, Applejack refused to take the rejection.
"Kayl, now listen.  You can't expect me to believe that after your harrowing experiences that you're merely just fine.  Isn't there anything you want to talk about?"
Kayl cleared his throat, "Well I mean, it doesn't really matter though.  I just have to deal with this issue, and things will work themselves out.  I just take one step at a time.  What more do I need to say?"
Kayl fought to keep from sounding defensive ,but AJ was hardly one to be deterred.  She had it in her mind that Kayl was upset, and unless  he did her friendly duty to help out, she was some kind of horrible friend.
"Well sugar cube, you need to just let everything go.  You can tell me anything you know?  And I promise I won't say a word.  But if you don't let your friends help you, then how are you going to feel better."
He had reached the end of his rope, the same grating annoyance he felt while speaking with Celestia returned to him.  He reeled on AJ and scoffed.
"You can't just expect me to share everything that's on my mind.  You know, in my world we have such a thing as tact.  We don't just run our mouths off unending until we're blue in the face.  You have to practice self control AJ.
But you know what?  To be perfectly honest, being a winged magical horse isn't really bothering me as much as I think it should.  Actually it's kind of interesting to fly around, use magic, kick trees, pound nails with my feet, and generally have a lot more energy than I normally would.
But do you want to know what really pisses me off AJ?  It's everyone's view on friendship!  You're all naive!  You say I can trust you to keep my secrets!?  Ha!  Don't take me for a fool Applejack, and what kind of name is Applejack!  Twilight Sparkle?  Applejack?  The only name I've heard that sound even half normal around here is Spike and that's a name for a flipping dog!"
Kayl became flustered, "And...where was I?"
Applejack, who during this rant had been very quiet and braced cleared her throat finally.
"I thought you were about to go on some rant about me not being able to keep secrets?"
Kayl's eyes popped as his excitement and frustrations got control of him again.
"Yes!  How can you expect me to be so naive?  You know the people who say that they promise to never spill secrets?  They're the first one to start gossiping!  It starts simple, telling them what your favorite brand of ice cream is.  But later, you're telling them who you'd rather date too. 
Oh it's all nice, until they start telling other people who aren't involved and can't keep secrets as well.  And then the whole office is in an uproar because someone wants to file sexual harassment charges.  
Do you know what I see when I look at my work mates getting into that kind of mess?  I see the most valuable lesson of keeping my trap shut.  So, yes AJ, I'm not handling things well.  Is that what you want to hear?  Is that the hoop you wanted me to jump through?  Because, no thank you, I'd rather not talk about my feelings with you."
There was a long pause of silence.  Kayl looked at AJ for a while with a fierce look.  AJ had held the same stern look she had when Kayl first began shouting.  But then, AJ gave a smile and took off her hat.
"There, now that wasn't so hard was it?"
Kayl was about ready to scream, "What wasn't!?"
AJ held up a hoof, "Now easy, I know you're mad sugar cube, but you don't want to overdue it.  Don't you see how much better it feels to finally let it out that you're upset?"
Kayl stomped his hoofs around without care, "Why must you all pry!  I don't get it!  What is the point of all of this!?"
AJ closed her eyes and took a deep breath.  She was still smiling, and she seemed to radiate a glow of wisdom that Kayl had not noticed yet.
"Honesty, an element of harmony.  Integrity for your promises, sincerity for your words, and truthfulness for your feelings.  Don't hide things from your friends, because if you're friends are true, they can accept anything you have to say."
Kayl paused for a bit, he was still flustered but he quickly began to calm down.
"Are you...the element of honesty?"
AJ nodded, "Sure as rain am!  Why? What have you heard about me?  I assure you whatever it is it's probably true."
With that AJ gave quite a giggle.
Kayl shook his head, "But I just mocked your entire belief!  Hell I even made fun of your name!  I'm sorry now, but why would you want to know that?  Does that make you feel better?"
AJ sighed and nodded, "It does Kayl, I understand how you feel.  It doesn't take a city slicker to see that you're upset.  And I think there's more to it all than you're letting on.  Listen Sugar cube, I'll be honest, I have no idea how you feel.  But I can honestly say that you have every right to be angry right now.  But unless you tell us, how will we help you be happy?"
Kayl burst out in anger, kicking at a nearby tree so that the apples fell from the tree.
"Why is my happiness so important to you!  I don't want to be your friend!  I don't want any friends!  I just want to be alone so no one can hurt me!"
Kayl had missed the point of the lesson.  He was still angry, and AJ could see there wouldn't be any reasoning with him now.  But AJ had learned what she needed of Kayl.  Friendship at its core, disgusted Kayl.  AJ had given Kayl every ounce of hospitality and Kayl had returned by revealing the very thing he wanted to keep secret.
"Alright Kayl, I'm sorry for pressing you.  You want we should get back to building that shed?"
Kayl fumed, and after taking a deep breath gave a short nod.
"Alright then, let's go build us a shed."
Kayl calmed down shortly after.  The process of building the shed took enough of his focus that he had forgot why he had got angry in the first place.  Also, Kayl's pride would not allow him to admit to AJ that the angry rant from his heart had made him feel better.
Just getting his anger out there, and not being judged for it.  Why did it seem so weird to him?  But secretly, in his heart he knew the answer.  Since he had spent his life denying friendship, he had never had anyone with which he could say whatever was on his mind.
Even Beth, who was his girlfriend, never truly got the whole truth from Kayl.  He had bottled up years of disgust and anger with the world of friendship, and only after being plopped down into a world full of it that he could not hold it in any longer.
However, he felt that if he admitted that truth to AJ that he would have died of humility.
The rest of the work seemed to fly by, and shortly after lunch the shed was built.  AJ and Kayl were looking on at what they had accomplished together when AJ stamped her foot and pointed to the roof of the shed.
"Consard it!  I knew I forgot something!  I left my tool bag up there."  Turning to Kayl, AJ cleared her throat and tried to speak a bit softer, "Sorry, but Kayl, do you think you could fly on up there and grab that tool bag for me?"
Kayl had never been asked to fly anywhere.  He knew he had wings, but suddenly occurred to him that he didn't know how a bird did what it did.  Let alone, he had no idea how a horse was supposed to fly.
"I'm...not sure I know how to...can we get a ladder?"
Applejack threw a hoof to her forehead and laughed, "Well I'm just the pinnacle of rudeness today.  First I push your buttons, then I'm pushing you into the air!  You must think I'm a right crazy horse, haha! Well gosh, don't be upset.  I guess the next thing you're going to have to learn is how to fly.  Iffin you want to, that is.  I'd say you're walkin might fine now.  You just needed to get that swing of alternating your steps."
Kayl blushed a bit.  Kayl had bitten her head off, and there she was taking the blame.  Was she really being honest?  If Celestia and Twilight were to be believed, then AJ really felt remorseful.
"AJ, don't feel bad on my account.  I know you're just trying to help.  Heck, it's probably what's making me as mad as I am.  But I'm not resentful of it, I'm just not used to it."
AJ nodded her head happily, "Don't mention it partner.  Hey!  I know what we can do.  Let's go find Rainbow Dash and see if she'll teach you how to fly!  Wouldn't that be something!  Learn how to build a shed and fly in the same day.  Doesn't that sound like fun?"
Despite AJ's excitement, Kayl could only muster a slight chuckle and a nod of the head.  He thought nothing different of the idea of friendship, but if Twilight Sparkle and Applejack had been human, they might have been the nicest types of folk to have around.
"Sure, sounds like fun.  I've never flown before.  I mean, I've flown in airplanes but..."
Applejack began leading Kayl back down the road towards Ponyville when she looked back, confused.
"What's an airplane?"
Kayl gave a hearty laugh, "Maybe I should tell you more about my world while we find this friend of yours.”
> A Lesson of Loyalty
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	“So your special talent in the other world is marketing?”
Kayl and Applejack had made it back to Ponyville.  Along the way, he had talked all about his work in marketing.  Kayl was surprised to see that marketing didn't really exist in the same way in Ponyville as it did in his world.
“I don't know about it being my special talent, but it's what I'm good at.  Our firm is hired to help sell products to people.  I don't know what kind of, what did they call it?  Cutie Mark?”
Applejack nodded, “Yeah, but I wouldn't worry about it.  You're plenty talented in my opinion.”
Kayl smiled and shrugged as he continued to walk on three legs.  He had really improved his walking, but it was still odd to do.
“Well thank you I suppose.  But if my special talent could be building ships that take me to my own world, I'd take that instead.”
They shared a laugh, though Kayl was far from kidding.
Talking with Applejack had been fun, though he honestly didn't think he was sharing much more of himself than he would share with anyone else.  Walking through the emotions and same ideas he had spoken about before were familiar, but it was interesting to try and explain his world to a complete outsider.
“Well, I don't think Rainbow Dash is here...”
Kayl looked over at Applejack, who was looking up into the sky.  Kayl followed her eyes to see the clouds in the sky.  They were small and fluffy.  Condensed in an almost comical fashion.  It looked peaceful enough, so Kayl wasn't sure what the problem was.
“Rainbow Dash is a pegasus.  She's in charge of clearing clouds in Ponyville.  And as you can clearly see, they're still up there.”
Kayl looked around in the sky.  Clearing clouds?  But clouds are particles of H2O in the sky, suspended by their lighter then air consistency.  How would you clear them?
“Applejack, does nature just not work without the intervention of ponies?”
Applejack looked at Kayl with confusion, “What do you mean?”
“Well...” Kayl began, but his voice was cut out.  Just then, there was a boom of air that blew past Kayl, throwing him to his side.  It took him a moment to regain himself and stand back up.  As he looked up into the sky he saw a vision out of a dream.  Streaks of rainbows stretching in multiple directions as clouds flew into pieces.  And just as soon as Kayl had seen it, it was over.  Every cloud in the sky he could see was gone.
“Well tarnish my tail, Rainbow really did get that done quick.  Are you alright Kayl?”
Kayl looked over to Applejack.  He was still at a loss of what had happened.  But he also didn't have much time to respond.  With an explosion of force something landed near by that startled Kayl.
“Ugh, Rainbow!  Stop showin' off will ya!  Yer scarin' our new friend!”
Kayl looked to see a blue pony, a mane and tail of many colors, and strong wings.  She had a smirk on her face, and began laughing at Applejack's response.
“Heh, sorry Applejack.  But did you see my moves!  Eight seconds!  Soon enough I'll be able to pull this off without even thinking about it!”
Applejack snorted and shook her head, “Well Rainbow Dash, if you go any faster, you're going to clear all of Ponyville away along with the clouds!  Just look at poor Kayl here.  You right near tore his head off with that move!”
Kayl gave a nervous laugh, “Oh I'm alright I think.  I uh, just wasn't expecting that.”
Rainbow gave a little trot over to AJ and Kayl, “Well good, so I've heard a new pony came to Equestria.  Word is you're from another world, is it true!”
Kayl cleared his throat, looking around for Twilight, “I suppose word travels fast...”
“Ha!” Rainbow exclaimed, “I'm way faster than words, I am the word!  Ponies in Equestria have been saying you talked to Celestia yesterday!  That's so awesome!”
Kayl had to admit he had made quite the scene in Canterlot, but it had taken hours to travel to Canterlot by train.  How far had this pony traveled in that time?
“I know you look confused Kayl, but Rainbow Dash is just about the fastest thing in all of Equestria.”
Rainbow scoffed, “Just about?  More like the fastest thing in all of Equestria, Period!”
"Don't y’all think you should properly introduce yourself Dash, before you go asking a bunch of personal stuff about our guest?"
The bright blue horse laughed, more like a hoarse chuckle.  Such puns are lost on Kayl, but you're welcome.
"Oh, good point.  Hi, my name is Rainbow Dash.  Ponyville's number one pegasus, fastest flier, and element of loyalty, battler of all evil, truest of all true friends, the greatest...!"
Applejack groaned and stamped a hoof, "Consard it Dash, stop being such a egotistical pony and just introduce yourself!  I swear, sometimes Dash you ruffle my mane something..."
The element of loyalty, Rainbow Dash, greatest of all pegasus?  Well, Kayl supposed since he knew of none other that he had no reason to argue.  But by god, what boasting!  This was one of the pinnacles of the so called friendship that everyone else had been raving about?
How could Twilight Sparkle or anyone else stand such a egotist like this?  Kayl however, tried to keep those thoughts under wraps, as he realized that this was not only going to be someone he had to appease, but also someone that was going to teach Kayl to fly.  A feat that he could not imagine himself taking on yet.
"It's a pleasure to meet you Rainbow Dash," Said Kayl, turning on his charm to suck up to the attention seeking Rainbow Dash.  "My name is Kayl Jayden.  Traveler of worlds, the marketeer of earth, the purveyor of charm and excellence, knowledge incarnate, and avid shoe wearer."
Kayl knew one great thing, that those who sought attention preferred two things. The first to be showed respect and admiration.  The other, was to be surrounded by others who thought highly of themselves as well.  Just as Kayl suspected, Rainbow Dash smiled brightly and bounced around Kayl in excitement.
"So it's true!  You're really from the other world!  Oh wow!  So you wear shoes!  Like, all the time?  You're an alicorn!  That is...so awesome!"
Applejack stamped her hoof again, shouting at Dash, "Rainbow!  Will you settle down!  Sometimes I think you need to learn a bit of humility along with all that fancy flying.  But I don't have time to lecture you right now.  I need a favor."
Rainbow stood, chest out and proud, and declared, "Whatever you need Applejack!  What feat of strength do you want me to take on today?"
Applejack waved a hoof over at Kayl, "Kayl here just got his wings, and it seems that he hasn't had a chance to learn to use them yet.  Do you think you could help him learn to fly?  I'm not looking for any miracles though, Dash.  I'm sure flying is hard work."
"Hard?  More like hardly impossible.  I bet you I can teach this guy to fly in no time!  What do you say Kayl?  Are you ready to learn with the greatest flier in all of Equestria!?"
Rainbow Dash struck a stance like she was ready for battle.  Kayl, who had just recently learned how to use his new limbs effectively put out his legs much like Rainbow Dash's and gave a shout, which was forced from his years of faking enthusiasm.
"I'm ready to push myself to the next level Dash!"
Rainbow Dash gave a laugh, "Alright, come on.  We should find somewhere where you can learn.  Everyone has been bugging me for lessons.  First Scootaloo, than Twilight, and now you.  I should just open up a school at this rate."
As Kayl moved to follow Rainbow, as she began to fly away from Ponyville, he turned back to Applejack.
"Well Applejack, thank you for letting me help you with that shed.  Also, I guess thank you for being so up front with me."
Applejack gave a nod, than she stammered a bit before taking a step forward, "Hey Kayl, before you go, can I ask you something important?"
Kayl shrugged at first, but than nodded.  He couldn't see why not.
"I get that you have problems sharing your feelings.  But why is it?  Did something happen to make you hate friends?"
Kayl paused.  He wasn't sure how to answer it.  It was such a blunt question, but perhaps that's what made Applejack the supposed element of honesty.  To be honest, as it was the custom with AJ, Kayl had his own question for her.
"Yes, but I'm not interested in talking about it.  But let me ask you something.  You talk of honesty and friendship as if it is easy.  You make it seem like there's no risk in just speaking whatever is on your mind.  What about tact?  And besides, you can't tell me that everyone is always honest all the time can you?  Aren't there times when people lie?  Or when they break promises?"
Applejack nodded, "Well of course there's tact, and yeah, ponies lie.  Didn't y’all hear me tell about the rodeo I went to?  I lost, and instead of telling my friends what had happened, I lied and stayed in Appleloosa.  And breaking promises?  Sure ponies break promises.  Heck it's frustrating as anything else."
"So..." Kayl began, trying to choose his words wisely, "What's the point of trying to be so bluntly honest with others who could just as easily betray you?"
Applejack took a deep breath, and then nodded, "It does hurt when friends don't keep their promises.  And I've seen many a friendship end because of it.  But I'm talking about what makes a friendship good. 
Can you really tell me you don't feel better now that you told me how you feel?  Even now, can you really say that asking a question on your heart is wrong?  If you have bad friends, I think you'll find that they will break promises.  But if you can find good friends, you should always be honest to them."
Kayl was confused, but also lost.  Was Applejack implying that his old friends had been poor friends.  But they were everything he knew that friends were supposed to be: caring, supportive, sociable, giving, and nice to be with.
"But, if all that I've ever had is bad friends who break promises, than where do I find good friends?"
Applejack shook  her head, "I can't really answer that.  But it starts when you stop looking at friendship as something so painful and horrible.  Whatever happens Kayl, I think you're a good guy.  And it's heart breaking that your world has left you thinking like this.  Take care with Dash, she's nicer than she seems."
With that Applejack turned and walked back off down the road.  Kayl turned and ran off after Rainbow Dash.  He was overwhelmed.  His friends in high school, whom had hurt him by abandoning him.  If they were not his friends, who was?  Had Barbara ever been her friend?
No, or maybe yes.  Kayl wasn't sure what to think, but he quickly realized he was putting too much trust in Applejack.  He picked up speed to try and catch up with the rainbow stream of Rainbow Dash's tail.  Applejack had spoken profoundly, and it had distracted him, but she couldn't have known what he had gone through.  These were two completely different worlds, after all.
After a minute, Dash came flying back to Kayl, "What's up Slowpoke?  I've already been to the peak of the mountain and back twice!  I guess I have a lot of work to pull off with you."
Kayl looked off into the distance, there far on the horizon was a looming tall mountain, impossibly steep and narrow.  But it must have been many miles away.  Dash could not have traveled that fast, and yet as Dash zoomed around, he was amazed to find that it was likely possible that she had.
"Um...Rainbow Dash?  That's your name right?" Kayl started hesitantly.
Dash came landing down beside Kayl, "What's up buddy!  Got a question for your new teacher?  Shouldn't you wait until after I've shown you some more sick moves?"
Kayl suddenly realized what Rainbow reminded him of.  Punk kids with too much time on their hands who sat around all day and didn't do anything.  Kids who went out on skateboards, and subsequently thought the world of themselves.  They would jump around with their parkour, or grind rails with ease, but give one of them a tax report and they were as lost as the children they were.
Kayl suddenly felt himself in a better situation with Rainbow Dash.  Dash wouldn't be as upfront as Applejack, and not nearly as insightful as Twilight or Celestia had been.  Getting her to keep at a safe distance would be easy!
"Well it's just, and I'm sure I'm going to learn a lot.  But, before you show me your sick moves, maybe you can show me how these wings are supposed to work?"
Dash nodded, "Well sure, you just flap them up and down, and do it enough and you'll pick yourself off the ground.  Then do it even harder and you can fly forward.  But you have to keep your wings steady and tilt your body forward.  Okay, now go for it!"
Kayl blinked.  There was a long pause of silence and Kayl finally shook his head with confusion.
"Um, but could you explain how it works?  How do the wings left my whole body off the ground?  The weight alone would be more than the wingspan could handle and..."
Dash groaned and bumped into Kayl.  She used her hooves to lift Kayl's wings into the air.  They held there and finally Dash gave Kayl a firm slap on the flank.  Something about all of this was beyond humiliating.
"Just start flapping!  The rest will explain it self."
Kayl wasn't sure what to think, but he looked at the wings.  One by one as he put his mind to it, he saw he could move his wings.  But he couldn't get them to flap together.  He kept looking from left to right, flapping one wing than the other.  Rainbow back flipped, landed gracefully in front of Kayl, and--with both hooves--grabbed Kayl's head and pointed it ahead.
"Kayl, buddy, need you to focus up front.  The wings do the flapping.  All you need to do is look to where you want to go, flap hard, and go there.  It's that easy.  Now flap!"
Kayl worked his muscles as hard as he could, but he could hardly lift the wings.  These were not muscles to him, and he had never had to use them before.  The strain was great, and his heart sank as he remained rooted to the ground.  But still Rainbow continued her chants.
"Come on, don't give up!  You're getting the hang of it now!  Just keep flapping!  Up and down, up and down.  Don't focus on anything else but flapping.  You're doing great!  Keep it up!"
With each chant, Kayl was growing more frustrated.  Think only of flapping?  Two days ago all he had to think about was a party.  Entertaining guests, avoiding Beth's complaints, keeping Barbara involved on plans, planning ahead for tomorrow.
He was living a lie.  Of course he was, that’s what he wanted wasn't it?  Or maybe he had convinced himself that he was the better friend.  But this is how he had become.  This is what his friends had made him into.  He couldn't stop being that, he had to keep lying.
But all the while, Rainbow's constant berating kept Kayl in pain.  He didn't take the chance to look down at himself, his mind was focused on his anger, not the fact that he had actually began to lift off the ground.  Suddenly his wings stopped and he stamped his feet down.
"Will you cut that out you lazy, little, good-for-nothing punk before I smack you!"
There was a pause. It had just been the same as with Applejack and with Twilight.  He had spoken his mind, but he knew he regretted it.  Before he could properly respond, Rainbow was already on him.
"What did you say!?"
Rainbow glared hard at Kayl, and Kayl averted his eyes in shame.
"No, I"m sorry.  I didn't mean that..."
But Rainbow wouldn't take it.  She took a step closer and put herself eye to eye with Kayl.
"No, don't try to back out now!  I want to know what you have to say!"
Kayl began to pant.  So this was the power of Rainbow Dash.  She had pushed Kayl to the limit and forced him to speak his mind, just as applejack had done.  In doing so he had showed himself unworthy. 
He wasn't any closer to making himself a more likeable person, let alone learn some magical lesson about friendship.  All he had really accomplished was pushing away everyone who was trying to help him.
He only had one other choice now.  He had to run.
"Hey!  Why are you just standing there.  Say something already!"
But Kayl didn't say anything.  In a panic he turned around and quickly ran for his life.  He ran as fast as his newly developed legs could take him.  He had to find some escape from the banishment.
But it was to no avail.  Rainbow Dash was easily able to keep up.  She flew along side him and shouted at him as he ran.
"Alright, you wanna do this the hard way?  We'll do this the hard way!  Hustle!  Run run run!  Now start flapping those wings."
Kayl did try; he flapped them and sputtered and ran and all he could do was trip over himself.  Even though he did not succeed, he could not stop his flapping.  The constant words of Rainbow Dash's chants had forced his wings to flap as his legs ran.
Kayl ran into a canyon, not realizing it was a dead end.  When he saw he was being blocked he turned to run the other way.  But Rainbow was blocking the way.
Kayl was terrified.  He had lost everything in his world and now was going to be imprisoned, or worse, for the crime of not understanding an alien world.  Rainbow opened up her mouth to speak, but before she could say a word, Kayl was already screaming.
"Stop following me!  I'm sorry alright, but I can't do this!  I can't understand what you want from me!  And yelling and screaming at me won't help me understand what friendship is!"
Rainbow cocked an eyebrow, "Friendship...?  What are you...?"
But Kayl's shouting drowned out her words.  And the tears streaming down his eyes blinded his vision from Rainbow's face.  He had barely recovered from the thoughts Applejack had planted in his brain, and Rainbow wasn't making it any easier.
"I get it!  I don't have any friends.  Hell, maybe I've never had friends.  Is that what you're all trying to get at!?  That I'm some miserable freak who never had friends!  Well, you're wrong!
I had friends once!  I had good friends, and I was a good friend!  And you know what?  Those friends betrayed me!  So what?  So I've taken care of myself all these years.  And now..."
"And now you're flying..."
Rainbow's words glazed over Kayl.  But what he hadn't realized in his furor that he had continued flapping his wings as he stood there bearing his heart to her.  And the momentum had carried him off the ground and allowed him to flutter in front of Rainbow Dash.  Only now did Kayl finally look down at the ground to see he was no longer standing on it.
"I'm...flying!?"
Rainbow jumped up fluttered in front of Kayl.  Kayl looked at Rainbow with tear stained eyes.  His mouth agape in shock.  The wings kept flapping, he found it so easy now, as if the wings could not stop flapping as long as he wanted to stay in the air.
"Well not a bad first try.  Though I'm still a bit miffed about being called a punk.  Ha, you know when some fillies learn to fly, coaches get them riled up.  I had no idea you were upset though.  Sorry about that.  No hard feelings right?"
Kayl shook his head, "But...why didn't you just tell me how it worked? I mean...how does it work!?"
Rainbow Dash groaned, "There you go again, let me ask you something.  Do you know how fish breath water?"
Kayl's mother would have slapped him if he didn't know this.
"Well they don't breath water, but they gills that allow them to take water into their bodies and extract the oxygen and release the hydrogen."
Rainbow nodded, "Yeah, but how does that work.  How does the fish make the gills work."
Kayl shook his head, "It's their gills.  They just do that."
Rainbow nodded, "Right, their isn't a real explanation for how they work, but the fish can use them because he has gills.  So how do birds fly?"
Kayl shook his head, "It's not the same thing though!"
Rainbow Dash bumped her head against Kayl, sending him landing back on the ground.
"How does a bird fly!?  Answer me Kayl!"
Kayl panted, regained his footing and thought.  A bird flies with wings.  The bird flaps the wings in just a way that pushes air under the body.  The body's structure allows the bird to move the wings effortlessly to keep flight.  The bird can fly because it has the structure to fly.  That was the answer.
"The bird can fly...because..."
"Because it has wings."  Rainbow landed in front of Kayl and smiled.
"There's plenty of things that we don't know about.  How do dragons live so long.  Or why do changelings feed off of love.  But they do because, they just do.  They're made that way.
Pegasi can fly because we have wings.  Oh sure, I could tell you about thrust, and wind power, and physics.  Still, a pegasi doesn't need to know those things to fly.  All they have to do is want to fly, and get the work of the wings.
Usually though, it takes a bit of hard coaching to get a filly the confidence to really start flapping.  I didn't mean to get you mad.  But than you yelled and ran and I wasn't going to let you get away."
Kayl shook his head, "You weren't trying to chase me down and get rid of me?"
Rainbow Dash gasped and then laughed hysterically.
"Get rid of you!?  Yeesh that would be weird wouldn't it?  For some pony of my caliber to let a brand new friend to Ponyville run away?  No way!  Never in a million years Kayl!  I would never abandon you!"
Never to be abandoned.  Kayl could hardly believe the words.  To live a life where no friend he had ever had betrayed him.  If this totally complete stranger was willing to put everything aside to help him, than why would those he knew as child abandon him when he was in his greatest need.  But there it was, staring him right in the face.
Kayl collapsed.  He could not bare the truth, it had haunted him for years.  An idea he had run from as a child that he had only been forced to face now.  He had been abandoned by people who were not good friends.
But then was Barbara a true friend?  She was one of them, but she was also the only one who showed up that night.  Where Kayl was looking for support, he found only emptiness.  And believing that friendship was worthless, he refused to question if those he had found as friends were every really friends.
Rainbow stood there quietly as Kayl continued to weep.  She had a pained look on her face that Kayl could not have seen.  As she walked over, she tried her best to talk softly.  And even as she laid down next to Kayl, Kayl could barely look at her.
"Kayl, do you know what it means to be loyal?"
Kayl couldn't respond.  He was hurt, confused, weeping miserably, and above all filled with sorrow.  All of his life had been devoid of friends, as far as he could tell.  Something that he had never valued had been a lie from the start.
"Loyalty is when you never let your friends hanging.  And it's hard.  Sometimes, when you try to be loyal to your friends, you end up being taken as being harsh, or even unkind.  But it's not easy to never give up on friends.
I don't know what you've been dealing with.  I don't know what kind of help I can be.  I'm not smart like Twilight and the others are, and sometimes I don't always make my friends happy.  But no matter how many times I mess up, or even if I make a friend mad, as long as you don't give up on them.  You're always the better friend."
Kayl calmed his tears, but he was still filled with sorrow.  His friends had given up on him.  But did he not also give up on them?  When his friends abandoned him that one night, didn't he turn around and betray them?  Did he not reject their reasons, even to the point of forgetting them at that point?
"I don't think I'm a very good friend."
Rainbow sighed.  With her hoof she laid it on top of Kayl's, "I think you might be a very good friend if you give yourself a chance."
Kayl chuckled, picking his hoof up he wiped away his tears from his tear stained fur.
"I just called you a lazy punk..."
Rainbow rolled her eyes, "Well technically you called me a lazy, little, good-for-nothing punk.  To be honest I took the most offense when you called me little."
Kayl let out a laugh and shook his head, "I'm really sorry, I was completely wrong for even thinking that.  I owe you...a lot."
Rainbow stood up and stretched her limbs, "Yeah, well that's just a day in the life of...Rainbow Dash!"
She struck a pose and Kayl picked him self up.  He felt himself lighter, though the great burden of darkness on his heart was still there.  Rainbow was there to help Kayl carry it.  He wasn't sure how to feel about friends, but he knew who he could trust.  Although, he would never in his life come to trust creatures like these.
On the way back to Ponyville, Kayl recounted the events that led him to Equestria, part of his meeting with Celestia (he left out the part about Celestia's warning of darkness, but he did mention that Celestia wanted Kayl to learn about friendship).  
Rainbow Dash taught Kayl that pegasi had to clear clouds as well as create them.  She promised to take Kayl there some time if they had the chance.  But Kayl mentioned that with any luck he would be back in his own world before too long.  Before long, it was evening.  And they found themselves in front of Twilight's library.
“You know, it's getting late.  But I think tomorrow you should go visit a friend of mine.  She's as sweet as a button, and if the Princess wants you to learn about the elements of harmony.  I bet that Fluttershy could help!  She's the element of kindness, and she certainly lives up to her name.”
“You know, would I be wrong to assume that all the elements of harmony live here in Ponyville?”
Rainbow nodded, “You'd be right.  Twilight told you the story about us didn't she?”
Kayl nodded, “Yes, but from my point of view it sounded more like horses from all around the land joined together to fight an evil force.  So, did you all know each other before hand?”
Rainbow nodded, “Yeah, but I suppose ever since that day we grew a lot closer.  This is a small town you know.  Anyway, Twilight's been in there all day.”  She pointed to the library.  “No doubt she had to reread a whole series about some egghead topic or other.  You gonna be alright?”
Rainbow took off slowly, hovering into the air.  Kayl gave a nod.
“Yes, I think I'll be fine.  Thank you Rainbow Dash.  I have to say, you're the nicest bunch of magical horses I've ever met.  I appreciate everything you and Applejack did today.”
Rainbow gave a short salute before flying off.  Kayl turned to the door, as he approached it he saw the door knob and instinctively began to reach for it.  But he stopped, remembering Twilight's lesson from last night.
“Beads of energy, keep focus, visualize the need, focus on your talent.”
With in moments he felt his horn glow, and visualized the door opening.  Slowly, the knob turned and the door gave way to his movement.  Kayl gave a sigh of relief.  It had taken a great deal of focus, but he felt happy to have accomplished something so magically simple in this world.
As he walked into the library he was surprised to see that most of the books that had been placed there yesterday were still there.  But as Kayl recognized the books he also realized that when he left that morning, all the books had been on the other side of the room.  At first he thought that Twilight might have already had an answer.
And then, he saw the sign that showed the big empty side of the room to be used for checked books.  Twilight had apparently moved all the books, and then organized them—alphabetically by title no less—on the other side of the room.
“Twilight?  How long did this take you?”
A voice came from above, “She's been at it all day!  I've never seen her so pumped at research.”
Kayl looked up to see Spike sitting on the stairs.  It appeared as if he was chewing on a gem.  It shined and glimmered in the claws of the young dragon.
“Oh, Spike!  Are you, I mean I could be wrong, but are you eating a jewel?”
Spike smiled and waved it around, “Yeah, you never heard of dragons eating jewels?”
Kayl thought for a moment, then shook his head, “I guess I shouldn't be surprised by that.  But where's Twilight?”
Spike pointed his thumb up stairs, “She got done organizing the books and then passed out.  She's been really working hard on this.  How did building the shed with Applejack go?”
Kayl sighed and shook his head, “It was quite an experience, I can't believe this though.  Twilight went through all of this.  I really should have been here to help...”
Spike jumped down from the stairs.  He had a smirk on his face and he was shaking his head.  He walked over to Kayl, spinning the gem like a wand at Kayl.
“You know, I think you and I should have a bit of a talk.”
Kayl raised an eyebrow, “About what?”
Spike pulled over a stool and gave Kayl a good look over, “I've been keeping an eye on you...”
Kayl stepped back, he wasn't particularly scared of Spike for his size, but he hardly knew what to expect from a real dragon.
“Okay, so you've been watching me.  And what of it?  Are you going to ask me to explain what I said to Applejack?  Or to Rainbow Dash?  I don't know what you want.”
Spike shook his head, “Nah, I went to the human world once.  I think I understand where you're coming from.  You look out for numero uno!  I'm a dragon, I totally understand that feeling.”
Kayl smirked, “So, what?  You think all of this friendship is a load of crock?”
Spike gasped, “No!  That's horrible!  No, but I know why you'd want to take care of yourself.  It's in dragon nature, maybe in your world you're a dragon!”
Kayl stared at Spike for a moment.  Was he being serious?  But he wasn't too far off.  He did try to take care of himself, and he hardly cared to really help others.  But that didn't answer the important question.
“Spike, what is it that you're trying to ask me?”
Spike blinked, and then rubbed the back of his head, “Well...”
Spike took a deep breath, “Twilight seems worried about something.  I tried asking her what it was and she wouldn't tell me; but I could tell it was about you and she was scared about something; and every time she looked at book titles she got terrified; and then when I mentioned your name she looked around paranoid; and then she would get mad at me for making her think you were here when you obviously weren't here...”
Kayl waved his hoof at Spike, “Spike, buddy, you need to calm down.  What are you getting at?  Twilight is worried about me? She's...”
Kayl's words caught in his throat.  Twilight was scared of Kayl.
“Spike, do you want to know if I intend to hurt Twilight or the others?”
Spike stammered, “Well no, I mean I wouldn't want you to.  Is that what it is?  Are you...I mean...”
Kayl's expression grew somber, “No Spike, I have no intentions of hurting anyone.  I promise I will be out of your hair with in good time.”
Spike gave a sigh of relief, “Oh well then that's good.  Did I, do something wrong?”
Kayl gave a short shake of his head, “No, I admire your concern.  But you have to promise that you not tell Twilight what you've asked me.  She probably would not be happy if you were telling me her worries.  She clearly has a lot to think about.”
Spike gave another winded sigh of relief, “Phew!  Alright!  Good night Kayl!  Nice to have you here and everything!”
Kayl nodded, “Good night Spike.”
His voice was cold, heart numb, and mind racing.  It didn't take him long to start piecing things together.  The kindness he had received from Twilight, or maybe everyone hadn't been because they were all so friendly.  They knew what Celestia had warned Kayl of, about the darkness.
He had thought he was ahead of the curve, but he was playing in their hands—or hooves—perfectly.  That's why Twilight wanted Kayl out of the house.  Had she planned ahead for Applejack to watch over Kayl?  Of course.  Element of Honesty, Applejack would have reported him to Twilight already.  Applejack would have clearly stopped by before dropping off Kayl to Rainbow Dash.
Rainbow Dash had known more about Kayl than reasonably believable.  She knew where Kayl had come from, and that Twilight was helping Kayl return.  Of course she couldn't have made such a trip by herself.  How had Kayl tricked himself to thinking such ridiculous stories?
Well that wasn't hard.  Look at the world he was in.  He had been so busy trying to understand the world's magic that he forgot how similar the world could be to his own.  People would treat you like a king if they thought you could become a tyrant.
He was growing more exhausted with each second, and by the time he finally arrived to his bed he crashed and fell asleep.  That night he had no dreams, but he could hear the sound of a voice telling him constantly to embrace the light.  Still he ignored it, and let himself fall into a restless sleep.
When he awoke, it was barely morning.
> A Lesson of Kindness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Kayl walked out into the main room of Twilight's house.  Light from the early morning sun was barely creeping above the window sill.  It was quiet in all of the house, all except for the loud snoring of Spike.  It was a wonder Twilight could sleep with that racket.
His mind was barely awake, but he remembered the warning that Spike had given him last night.  He was still filled with dread.  And if there was a darkness in his heart, it would have soon consumed him.  So what would he do?
"For starters, you should stop being so trusting of new people.  Which is the lesson you were supposed to learn from high school."
As Kayl thought to himself, he wondered what would truly happen if he was thought of as an enemy.
"I doubt they would really banish me to the moon.  That sounds too ridiculous to be taken seriously.  But imprisonment?  More likely.  Perhaps even execution, if they were so inclined.  I wonder what the socialists would think in these kinds of situations."
Kayl looked to the kitchen, and he became hungry.  He also had a good idea.
"If my hope lies on the approval of these horses, I'll do what I can to delight them.  Perhaps if I make some breakfast for them..."
Kayl had started walking to the kitchen as he thought, the soft, clip clop, sounds of his hooves against the wooden floor gave the soothing sound of oriental tea houses, something that Kayl rather enjoyed.
However, when he reached the door he found he could not push it open.  Annoyed, he tried again to summon the will of his new found magic to open the door, but it rejected him.   Try as he might, the door would not give way.  Something was holding it still.
Kayl tried again to push the door through.  It would not budge, even when he tried to bang it open.  He had not realized the ruckus he was making until Twilight called from above.
"What are you doing!?  Don't break my house!"
Kayl spun around and saw Twilight looking terrified as Kayl had booth hooves on the door.  Kayl thought quickly, he must have looked crazy at the moment.
"I...wanted to make breakfast.  It was going to be a surprise.  You've been, uh, working so hard that I wanted to do something nice."
Twilight yawned, and the smiled happily.  She was clearly too tired to read much into it.
"Kayl how sweet!  Of course you..."
But then, she stopped.
"Oh!  No, um.  You can't!  Not today.  The kitchen is a mess and only I know my way around it really..."
In a heart beat, Twilight was down the steps and racing for the door.  Kayl had to back away, mostly in fear that Twilight was about to run straight into him.
Twilight laughed, "Sorry, I'm such a forgetful mule sometimes.  I'll tell you what!  I'll make us breakfast, and you can...um..."
She looked around and saw the stacks of books she had organized.
“Go read a book!  Pick a book and start skimming through it!  And then I'll have breakfast ready."
Kayl refused to argue.  He was fighting not to yell back at her.  He wanted to call her out on her deception.  It was clear that something was in the kitchen that Twilight was holding to.  What was it?
Kayl nodded with a smile so fake it would have paled to the diamonds of Twilight's kindness.  He turned and made for the books.
"Perhaps the cage for which I'll be put into shall I fail my tests."  Thought Kayl.  "I can't let it deter me.  I've done this a thousand times before, I can fake it now."
Kayl sat down near the books, and decided to see how his magic would work on books.  With a deep breath he was able to focus two beads of energy.  With one he brought the book over, and the other brought over a small stool to sit it on.
Kayl started skimming through the books, but was not sure what he was reading.  He understood it, or at the least he thought he did.  But the kind of words he was reading about were confusing.  Was the crystal kingdom a real kingdom?  Or was it a forest?  And what was behind that door in the kitchen.
Kayl shook his head, "Pull yourself together."
But the thought wouldn't go away.  What if Twilight had no intention of letting Kayl go back to his own world.  What if Kayl seemed too dangerous to them to allow to be free.  He had to know.  He had to confront Twilight.
He got up and walked over to the kitchen, he gave a call out to her before pushing the door in.
"Twilight, there's something I need to talk to you about..."
Kayl began to push open the door, and to his surprise he caught a small glimpse beyond it.  There were bright colors flowing everywhere.  He could tell nothing of what it meant, but he would not get the chance to investigate.
"Don't come in!!"
Twilight used her magic to force the door closed.  Kayl jumped back suddenly.  It certainly didn't seem like any cage, but he wished he had got a better look at it. After a minute, the door opened, though everything behind Twilight was as dark as the blackest night. 
Twilight came out from the kitchen, with a parade of objects floating behind her: two plates of omelets, two big glasses of milk, two plates of toast, a plate of butter, a bowl of gems, a glass of water, and a bowl of some strange pellets that looked like animal food.  She used part of her magic to reclose the door, and Kayl heard a very distinctive lock from the other side.
"Twilight, we need to talk..."
Twilight sighed, "I'm sorry Kayl, I know you wanted to do something nice.  But the nicest thing you can do right now is to be patient.  I promise it'll all make sense very soon."
Kayl could hardly hide his disdain, but he did what he could to change the subject.
"These books...I have no idea what most of these words are talking about.  Would you help me?"
Twilight nodded, "Yes...let's do that!  But first everyone should get some breakfast.  Spike!  Spike!"
Twilight effortlessly moved the objects around her to a near by table as she ran upstairs to fetch Spike.  As the bowl of animal pellets came to rest, Owilicious came swooping down from the rafters to eat heartily of the meal.  Spike came grumbling down the stairs.
"But why do I have to wake up so early?"
Twilight grunted, "Well, if you don't want the bowl of gems I have placed for you, I suppose I could find some other dragon to give them to."
Spike's mouth dropped, his eyes burst awake.  He looked up to Twilight with a smile and declared his undying devotion to Twilight Sparkle, and then he raced to the table.
Kayl decided to set aside his problems while he ate.  It would be hard enough to confront Twilight, but harder to do it on an empty stomach.  As they sat down to eat, Twilight was the first to break the silence.
"So Kayl, I want to hear all about your adventures yesterday!"
"Why Twilight, I thought your spies would have reported everything to you by now."
Kayl's thoughts would have come out of his mouth had he not been in control of himself more.  Thankfully, Kayl was able to keep a straight face with his reply.
"Oh, well I went to help Applejack like you wanted me to.  I've got a pretty good handle on my body now.  It's a strange thing to move like I am, but I'm getting a hang of it more and more as time goes on."
Twilight nodded, "That's great!  What else happened."
Kayl cleared his throat with a smile, preparing to eat his food, "Well this all does look good.  Oh what else?  Well after lunch, Applejack thought I could use some flying lessons.  Apparently having wings doesn't mean I know how to fly, you know?"
Twilight smiled, "That doesn't surprised me.  Oh!  Does that mean you got to meet Rainbow Dash?  She's the best flier in all of Ponyville you know."
Kayl smirked, "Yes, in fact it was odd.  Applejack seemed ready to deliver me to her.  Can you imagine?"
Twilight gave a chuckle, "Well that seems weird.  Because I hadn't talked to Applejack since the day before yesterday."
Kayl took a big bite of his food and chewed happily.  He was delighted to be playing the same game he had always played.  Here he was, in his element.  Feigning kindness where all he wished to do was to play his hand.
"So what did you all talk about?"
Kayl swallowed his food and cleared his throat, "I'm sorry?"  If he had not been so focused on his own devilry, he would have agreed that the food Twilight made was fantastic.
Twilight spoke a bit slower, "I said, what did you all talk about?  I can't imagine that you spent all day not saying a word to anyone."
Kayl smiled, he wasn't going to give Twilight the satisfaction of knowing what had happened from his own lips.  That's what her spies were for.
"Well actually, Rainbow Dash did most of the talking.  She was excited to have met me.  Apparently I'm all the news from here to Canterlot.  She didn't seem the least bit surprised when I told her I was from another world.  Almost as if she had expected me to say it."
Twilight laughed nervously, "Well, I wonder where she might have heard all that?"
"Oh Twilight," thought Kayl.  "You are far too easy to read for your own good."
"Oh," Kayl continued speaking, "Well she did say she had heard all about me in Canterlot.  So I suppose that's where she learned I was a human"
Twilight thoughtfully prodded her chin, "I didn't Rainbow Dash went to Canterlot.  Although I wouldn't be surprised if they were talking about it in Cloudsdale."
Kayl neither knew nor cared what Cloudsdale was, but he smiled and nodded exceptionally.  Just then, there was a knock on the door.  Twilight nearly jumped out of her seat and ran head long towards the door.
"Who on earth is calling on you at this hour of the morning."
Twilight laughed as she reached the door, "Oh I don't know, maybe the mail man is starting early today."
Just then a loud boisterous sound from a girl came from the other side, "Twilight! I'm here!  Rise and shine sleepy head!"
Twilight stammered and yelled, "Well would you look at that! That's my mail man alright!  Spike!"
Kayl turned around to see what was the matter, but to his surprise he saw Spike sitting with his bowl doing nothing.
"What?  I was hungry..."
By the time the door slammed behind Kayl he was too late.  He had already fallen for Twilight's scheme.  It was then he started hearing loud murmuring from behind the door.  Kayl approached the door to see what was going on, but the two from outside had already started running away. 
Kayl caught the sight of Twilight and some other horse creature running around the side of the library.  But at best, he could estimate they were going to the kitchen, where Kayl could not gain entry.
"For a scheme to capture and imprison someone, this is pretty weak," thought Kayl.
Since Twilight was distracted, he decided to head outside for some fresh air.  He wasn't too afraid of what she was planning.  He doubt that anyone was so terrified of him, or else they would not have pretended to act so friendly to him.
 The morning sky had come into view, but it was still early.  In the distance he could hear the pulling of carts and the cry of small children, or perhaps foals would be better to say.  The early birds were singing in the trees; several squirrels were scampering around for food on the ground; and somewhere off in the distance Princess Celestia was using her power to raise the sun.
    	Had that all been an illusion to?  Kayl had not had the time to properly think over the weight of deception he was facing.  He knew he was powerless against the creatures of this world, but what else would they be planning for Kayl?  Then, he heard the familiar whoosh of a dare devil pegasus come from over head.
    	"Well hey Kayl!" Rainbow Dash came floating down to meet Kayl.
    	Kayl looked up in the sky.  Not a cloud to be seen for miles.
    	"Working hard this morning Mrs. Rainbow Dash?"
    	Rainbow snorted and shook her head, "Just call me Dash. Mrs. Rainbow Dash is my mother."
    	Rainbow gave a short laugh, and Kayl even joined her reluctantly.
    	"So what gets you up so early in the morning?"  asked Rainbow Dash
    	"That's what I was going to ask you."
    	Rainbow shook her head, "Nah, I asked you first."
    	"Just woke up early I guess.  Twilight's already awake, if you wanted to talk to her."
    	Rainbow looked towards the library, "Yeah I know she's awake.  She wanted me to come by today to do her a favor."
    	Kayl turned a stink eye back towards the library.  So Twilight hadn't been awoken so abruptly.  And he had almost felt ashamed of himself for making so much ruckus.
    	Twilight came bursting out of the library.
    	"But Twilight!  What about...!?"
    	The same high pitched voice from earlier was cut off as Twilight slammed the door behind her.  She began to laugh nervously as she trotted up to Rainbow Dash.
    	"Haha, Rainbow Dash!  You're here, what a surprise!."
    	Rainbow laughed, "A surprise? But you..."
    	Twilight laughed loudly, obviously covering up for her lies, "Oh let's not fret over details Rainbow Dash.  Well you're here, and I guess that's as good as anything."
    	There was a slight pause.  Kayl stood there, smirking between the two.  It was comical to see the two attempt to cover their tracks.
    	"Oh!" Dash shouted.  "Twilight, can I borrow Kayl for the morning!  I want to take him to visit Fluttershy today."
    	Twilight was caught off guard, stammered a bit, then gasped.
    	"Oh...oh! Oh, um, yes!  Yes!  That's a great idea.  I think you should take Kayl to see Fluttershy.  Take him and make sure he enjoys himself.  Kayl, you'll absolutely love to meet Fluttershy.  She's just as precious as an angel, I promise you!
    	But I'll warn you that she's also very timid and shy.  So try not to be too loud with her, or you might scare her, okay?"
    	"Just play along," thought Kayl, "Soon enough everything will fall into place any way.  You don't want to burn bridges with the horses you just met.  If I ever get back home I will never visit another ranch."
    	Kayl nodded.  With that Twilight bid Kayl goodbye and hurried back into the house.  As she opened the door, Kayl could have sworn he saw the same colorful arrays that he had caught a glimpse of earlier.  Kayl turned back to Rainbow Dash with a smile on his face, but his mind and heart were full of frustration.
    	Rainbow Dash could not hide well the fact that she was in on this game.  Perhaps she had merely slipped when she explained that she was there at Twilight's request, but now that no one else was there besides Kayl and Dash, she had nothing to defend herself with.
    	"So, let's get going.  Ready to use those wings today?"
    	Kayl sighed, looking back at his wings, "Do we have to go through the same ordeal as yesterday to get them to work?"
    	Dash floated down to Kayl, putting a leg around his neck.  She pulled Kayl in and, what best could be described, gave Kayl a warm embrace.
    	"Hey, no hard feelings remember?  Just look straight ahead and don't be scared.  I'll be right beside you the whole way, okay?"
    	Perhaps it was because he was tired, or maybe he was doubting his own resolve against these conspirators.  Perhaps Rainbow Dash played her part too well, or perhaps she wasn't truly in on the tricks of Twilight and the other strange mysterious pony inside.  Whatever the case, Kayl felt a personal bond with Dash.  She had drive, confidence, and she was encouraging:  all signs of a great coach and mentor.
    	So as Dash moved away to give Kayl his room, Kayl spread his wings and began to flap them slowly.  He picked up speed as he kept the lesson he had learned yesterday in his mind.
    	"Bird's don't know how they fly, they just know that they can.  Look ahead and don't be scared.  I can fly because I have wings, that's how a pegasus flies."
    	As he continued to repeat this Rainbow was chanting softly, "You can do it!  Be strong!"
    	And then he was in the air.  The wings pushed him up with such force that he almost lost control as he flew into the sky.
    	"Yeah!  Right on Kayl!"  Rainbow Dash cried out as she flew up to follow him.
    	Kayl began to soar through the sky, wind blowing in his face as he flew over buildings.  His wings continued to flap hard; his heart was pounding with each push of the wind; and he dared not look below, for fear that he might fall.  Dash caught up to him and laughed.
    	"Look at you!  You're really soaring!  Hey, are you sure you're not related to Soarin?  You're a real natural!  Come on, lean your body to turn, like this."
    	Dash banked off to the right and Kayl, still ecstatic about the experience of flying, gently curved his body around.  His wings shot out and held firm, and soon he was turning with grace.  It all made sense, as if he had always had the wings, now that he had them.
    	"Come on slow poke.  Fly this way and we'll get to Shy's place in no time!"
    	Sure enough, the trip to Fluttershy's cottage was short, and the view from the sky was amazing.  But as they came to the edge of Ponyville where a dark forest was on its brink, Kayl fell hard from the sky as he realized he was not sure how to land.
    	Dash sped down and caught him just in the nick of time, and Kayl stumbled weakly along the ground as his lungs panted for air, feeling that each gulp might surely be the last.
    	"Whoa there!  Maybe we should have covered landing before we got so ahead of ourselves."
    	Kayl shouted from his heart, "That was amazing!  I've never felt such a rush!  Is that how it is all the time?  How have I lived so long and never thought of the thrill of and rush of the air through my hair, or the control of the world around me by the simple turn of my limbs.  It's incredible!  I've never felt so alive! I..."
    	Dash held up a hoof to Kayl's lips, "Easy there, you don't want to get too hooked on the rush.  Trust me, I've got myself into a lot of injuries that way.  Come on, let's introduce you to Fluttershy."
    	Rainbow Dash led Kayl to the cottage ahead of them.  As he looked on ahead he was amazed to see fish swimming freely through the brooks, with ducks swimming with them.  Birds were fluttering everywhere around the cottage, of many different kinds.  He saw pigeons, doves, falcons, hummingbirds, and vultures sitting around the rims of the house.
    	And then he heard the singing.  With in the house, a sound of chorus, joined by birds and led by a woman.  Dash trotted over to the door, giving it a knock on the door.  But then, the singing stopped.  With in a moment, the door opened and there was another pegasus.  Her yellow fur was barely visible behind the mountain of hair that came from her pink mane.  Behind the mane was a soft face with charming, eyes.  Her wings were tucked in tightly, but as she saw Dash, they unfurled comfortably as a smile crept on the meek creature's face.
    	"Oh Dash, thank you for coming."  Fluttershy turned to Kayl, she nearly fell over in terror, "Oh! Oh my, you're an alicorn princess, I'm so sorry..."
    	Fluttershy began to bow to Kayl, an act that made Kayl incredibly uncomfortable, but not nearly as uncomfortable as being called a princess.
 Kayl wasn't sure what was worse: being confused for royalty, or being confused for a woman.  All at once Kayl found himself feeling both ashamed at his own bigotry and honored by this treatment.
    	"Whoa whoa, Fluttershy.  You don't need to bow.  This is Kayl."
    	Dash turned to Kayl as Fluttershy picked herself up sheepishly.
    	"Oh, Kayl," Fluttershy began, "I'm so sorry.  Please forgive me."
    	Kayl now understood the warning he got from Twilight.
    	"Oh, no worries, um, Fluttershy is it?"
    	Fluttershy bowed her head and nodded quickly.  And then, all at once it came to Kayl in his thoughts.
    	"What a petty creature.  Pathetically sheepish.  Such meekness is not real, and if it is it's hardly endearing.  Where was the enchanting voice Kayl had heard from the garden? Because, it did not belong to this creature."
    	Dash gave Fluttershy a small nudge, "Shy, don't be so...well, shy!  Kayl is from the human world.  He's a friend of Twilight's, I brought him here so you could show him the forest!"
    	Fluttershy all at once brightened up, her wings fluttering out like a butterfly.  Such a comparison would be fitting considering her name, but Shy was much more excited to hear about her precious animals.
    	"Oh is that true?  Did you come here to see the forest?"
    	Dash gave Kayl a very big wink.  So, she wanted Kayl to play along with Fluttershy, and allow her to show off the beauty of the forest.  Fair enough, he had nothing else better to do at the moment, but wait for his fate.  So why not waste that time in the forest where he could get lost if need be.
    	"I'd be delighted to see your forest," Kayl began with a bright smile.  "I have heard quite a bit about you Fluttershy.  You're the element of kindness I take it?"
    	Fluttershy smiled brightly, nodding her head, "Oh yes, I mean, well.  I am, but that's not such a big deal.  Mostly I just take care of the animals here in the forest."
    	Kayl stifled a laugh, "Oh, well, don't be so modest.  If you're a hero of this land, if may I ask, what did you mean you take care of the forest?  Are your forests under the attack of deforestation as well?"
    	Fluttershy shook her head, "Oh no, not that I know of.  Come, let's go see them!  The bears are very playful today, since they're getting ready for hibernation a bit early."
    	Fluttershy pushed past Kayl and Dash to walk around the side of the house.  Kayl shot Dash a sidelong glance. He wanted to ask her if this was all for real.  But Dash just smiled and motioned with her hoof.
    	"After you hot shot!"
    	Kayl gave a nervous laugh.  It wasn't that Kayl had never been out into the wilds in his life.  His mother had brought Kayl along on forest trips on many occasions.  He very well could have written a book about his adventures with his mother, and I promise that it would be filled with many great tales.  But needless to say, Kayl was well versed in such things.
    	What scared him was that this world was certainly not like the world he had come from.  There were already dragons. What of the griffons and other creatures?  Could this world have all the many kinds of mythical creatures that his co workers back home would talk about when they discussed such silly things.
    	As Kayl and Dash followed the exuberant Fluttershy out through the paths of the wood, Kayl had wished he had paid more attention to their ramblings.  But at the moment, Kayl was slightly distracted by another site.  A family of foxes, no doubt from the woods, had come up to join the group in their trip.
    	Kayl was dumbfounded, because even then several birds came around Fluttershy and perched on her back.  And field mice were dancing around her hooves.  Fluttershy herself had resorted to flying gracefully over the land, probably to avoid stepping on a single woodland creature.
    	Fluttershy was not protecting the forest from attackers.  She was the care taker of its animals.  And as it became clear, she was not only their watcher and muse, but also their physician, tutor, and even nanny.  She conversed with them and helped any that was in need.
    	"Ah, the bears are just around the corner."
    	The declaration from Fluttershy brought Kayl out of his trance.
    	"Now Kayl," As Fluttershy turned to Kayl she smiled, "The bears are used to Dash and I because we come to visit them every year together.  But they may not notice you.  Please, be patient with them.  They'll be more scared of you at first, but once they see us all together they'll probably be more curious."
    	Kayl nodded, he wasn't about to mess around with bears.  Dash however, wasn't nearly as worried.
    	"You'll be fine.  Bears don't attack the really cool fliers.  Once they see you, they're gonna know what you're made of!"
    	Shy shook her head at Dash, "Don't you remember when you first met them?"
    	Dash blushed, laughing nervously at Kayl, "Well, you should probably do what Shy says any way, she knows her way around the animals better than I."
    	The three of them together walked around the corner.  Sure enough, there were a family of three bears playing in an open grove. As they approached they took notice, the mother of the two cubs started walking out ahead, putting herself between her offspring and Kayl.  Her eyes were nailed to Kayl, and as fear took over Kayl; he froze.
    	But the most amazing thing happened, and Kayl could hardly believe it.  Fluttershy flew right over to the bear and nuzzled up next to it.  The bear took one look at Fluttershy and they had an understanding.
    	How Fluttershy could have conveyed so much communication with the animal with only a look, Kayl could only guess.  How anyone could be so talented, to be able to calm a bear by sight.
    	A talent.  Is this what all the fuss was about?  The ability to speak and calm animals.  Fluttershy's talent, perhaps?  Rainbow Dash, clearly faster than imagination can fly and a streak of rainbows left in her wake.  Applejack, strong and diligent farmer of apples.
    	As Kayl was still recovering from his thoughts, the mother bear sat down and proceed to motion her cubs towards Kayl.  The cubs bounded over to Kayl as he began to give a shrill gasp.
    	"Don't worry Kayl," called Fluttershy who was busy petting the mother bear behind the head, "The mother said any friend of mine is a friend of hers."
    	It was insane.  Impossible for for Kayl to comprehend, it was, to be faced with such trust.  He was a threat of darkness, a time bomb that was feared by Twilight Sparkle.  But here, nature it self was bounding to declare friendship with Kayl.  All because of the words of one pony.
    	Kayl stood still and watched as the bears ran around him.  He smiled at their playful nature, but he was over all scared and confused.
    	"I don't understand.  How can I be friends with bears.  I can't even speak to them, and yet you call them friends.  This has to be some kind of trick."
    	Fluttershy shook her head.  "Of course they can be your friends, this is no trick.  Why would it be wrong to be friends with the bears?  Just because you can't understand them, doesn't mean they don't like you!"
    	Dash flew over to Kayl and laughed, "What's wrong, you don't have any bear friends in the human world?"
    	Kayl shook his head.  No where in all the world where he was born could such magical engagement of nature exist.  Trainers would spend years gathering rapport with animals, gaining their trust, training them, being with them.
    	And most importantly showing them kindness, as Fluttershy was doing.  He found himself weakened again, and sat down on the grass as the bears sniffed him and climbed on top of him.  Their warmth was a catalyst to his spirit, and words flowed from him just as easily as they had with Rainbow Dash.
    	"But such kindness, it only works on animals.  People, at least people from my world are not moved by such kindness like you say.  Kindness that you exhibit towards these animals has little weight when you are talking about true friends."
    	Fluttershy nearly gasped, but Dash held up a hoof.
    	"Yeah, it's a long story Shy.  I promised Kayl it was our secret, and I have to keep my word.  But Kayl, maybe you should listen to Fluttershy.  If anyone could tell you what kindness really amounts to, it's her."
    	Kayl was numb from head to toe.  Animals were appearing from all corners of the grove.  Deer, owls, falcons, eagles, bats, wasps, and many other animals of the forest.  It was impossible to imagine.  Nature was not accepting of humans, it was scared of the dangers it brought, this was madness.
    	Fluttershy flew down to Kayl, speaking in as soft as a tone as could be heard by all in the forest.
    	"Why do you think that kindness only works on animals?  Are we not all animals?"
    	Kayl shook his head, "You are perhaps, but humans are creatures of greed and malice.  Kindness is wasted on us."
    	Fluttershy sighed, "You give the pony kind too much credit Kayl.  There are plenty of pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies who let themselves be ruled by greed.  Plenty others who are not caring.  From what Twilight has told us, we can tell that we are not so different."
    	Kayl shook his head, "But it is different.  Surely you do not show the same kind of kindness to other ponies as you do the animals.  These animals must be trained.  Animals do not gather around humans, they run, they're scared of humans.  This is impossible.  It can't be real.  It has to be a trick."
    	Fluttershy stamped her hoof, "Can't? Trick?  Impossible?"  Her voice was stern, but still as elegant as ever.
    	"What are these things but distractions?  I show the same kindness to anyone, whoever they are.  It's true that the animals do not run from me because I care for them.  But how then do you explain the friendships I make with ponies as well?
    	What about Rainbow Dash?  I love her as my own family, and I show her no special kindness that I would not show to the animals here in the forest.  What do you make of that then?"
    	Kayl shook his head, his breath was catching in his throat, and he felt something grip at his chest.
    	"I don't know.  But such kindness is wasted.  Friends can't last forever.  They betray you, they hurt you, they will abandon you."
    	Fluttershy took a long look at Rainbow Dash.  Theirs was a friendship as deep as the sea.  They were as one, knowing each other through looks and observation.  It was just as it had been between Fluttershy and the bear.
    	Dash broke the silence, "Actually Kayl, I have let my friends down before.  I've made mistakes.  I think we all have at one point.  There are times that Fluttershy has made me mad too, but she's always come in the end for me."
    	Kayl felt himself well up with tears.  He was humiliated, and had been ever since he arrived.  He had never cried so much before in his life, and he hated it.  He hated all of this.  He hated being deceived.  He hated being led around.  He hated being belittled.  He hated being controlled.
    	But most of all, he hated what his own friends had done to him.  He had shown such kindness to his own friends.  And they had repaid him with abandonment.  He couldn't contain his frustration.  .
    	Birds had landed upon his back, and foxes had started to rest against his legs.  The entire forest was sitting with him, and creating a blanket of comfort to draw out his heart.  He was powerless, and less than tears was his anger at the betrayal he had suffered.
    	"So what does this kindness mean then?  What does it matter if you show kindness and you are betrayed!?  You've hurt each other, and then what?  Do you simply forget it?  What is all friendship worth it is forgotten by inconsiderate acts?"
    	Kayl could not have known what Shy and Dash were thinking.  There was a time when Rainbow Dash need Shy's help.  Shy's fear had consumed her and kept her from creating a tornado for Cloudsdale.  Dash remembered the time she let her ego control her, and she cared more of her own success than the friendship she had.
    	"Kayl," Fluttershy spoke weakly, "That can happen in friendships.  But I would never stop showing Dash my kindness, even if she were to beat me away with all her might.  Because I know that deep inside of her, and any pony, lies the desire for it."
    	Dash flew over to Shy and embraced her.
    	"Yeah, and sometimes it takes a great deal of loyalty to stand behind a friend.  Because I know sometimes, even if you try to show kindness to your friends, it takes two to be friends."
    	It was always hard to relive hard memories.  Still, rather than letting it split them, it brought them closer together.  Kayl could barely look anywhere without seeing the face of some creature looking at him.
    	"I don't understand.  I just don't understand...why would you show kindness without reward?"
    	Dash turned to Kayl, "Why should it be so crazy?  What about you?  Have Applejack and I not been kind to you?"
    	Dash's tone wasn't accusatory.  In fact it was inquisitive.  Kayl shook his head.
    	"No you have been very kind.  But, you must have had some motive?"
    	Dash and Shy both shook their head.  Kayl laid down on the grass.  He knew they were lying.  They had to be.  Twilight was lying.  There was deception lying all around him. He felt himself drift, and his eyes closed.  Had he been tired, or had the experience in the forest weakened him to sleep.
    	Soon he heard the words again, and there near by in the darkness of his own mind was the dark alicorn again.
    	"Embrace the light, Kayl."
> A Lesson of Generosity
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	  "Where am I?"
    Kayl could think of no other question to ask.  The dark alicorn in front of Kayl not disappeared as before.  He could have asked who the creature was, or probably just as important would be to ask what it was.
    "You are in a dream, Kayl.  Your dream to be exact.  And I am Luna, Princess of the Night.  You have traveled far to get here, and you must now journey far to return home."
    Kayl was silent for a moment, but his thoughts were racing, "So this is my dream?  But then why do I only dream of darkness?  And how is this princess here?"
    Though he was sure these were only his thoughts, Luna responded openly to his questions.
    "Your dreams are clouded in darkness because your mind is filled with the doubt that consumes you.  It is as my sister told you, and I am here because I am always in the dreams of ponies' minds."
    "But that's silly," Kayl began.  "How can you invade my dreams?  I must be imagining you then, because such a thing is not real."
    Luna took a step forward, Kayl saw that her hair sparkled like stars in the night sky, and a crown of dark blue sat on her head.  She had the same regal look of her sister, Celestia, but she was shorter.
    This was the sister that had been banished to the moon, she herself could control the moon just as her sister controlled the sun.  Oddly, Kayl was reminded of the story of Zeus, Olympic god of lightning, and his brother Hades, Lord of the Underworld and brother of Zeus.  Or worse, perhaps the similarity between God and Satan was comparable.  Had Luna craved the power of God so that God had to smite down its own sister?
    "Princess Luna, it is you that keeps telling me to embrace the light.  What does it mean?"
    Luna looked out to a greater expanse of darkness, Kayl looked out with her and saw that the expanse of darkness had shape, though it was veiled in darkness.  There however, on the farthest end of the valley of shadow was a bright light that was shining.
    "It was a light that brought you to this world, and that same light you must follow to return home.  I can only infer that from your dreams, but I sense a great sorrow that will follow you wherever path you choose."
    "Then," Kayl asked has he turned back to Luna, "Do you know how I came here?"
    Luna shook her head,  "No, but your dreams may yet elude to why you are here.  Think not of this now, for it is time for you to awake."
    And so Kayl opened his eyes.  He was in a small cottage; nearby, Fluttershy was watching over him.
    "You're in my cottage Kayl.  You fainted in the forest so we brought you inside.  I'm so sorry if we hurt you in some way.  Are you prone to fainting?"
    Kayl looked around.  He was still in a stupor.
    "What do you mean?"
    Fluttershy stammered, "Well, you just asked where you were.  So that's where you are.  You've only been out for a few minutes, but Dash already had to Dash."
    Fluttershy gave a slight giggle at her pun.  He had asked a question in his sleep, and she had answered.  Time seemed to be moving very relative to however it was best suited.
    "Did I say anything else in my sleep, Fluttershy?"
    Fluttershy shook her head, "You were murmuring, I figured you were waking up.  You didn't answer my first question, are you prone to fainting?"
    Kayl shook his head, "No, but I think I was overcome by something in the forest.  It also probably didn't help that I slept very little last night.  I'm sorry if I worried you."
    Fluttershy hopped over to Kayl, her body shrunk to a petty size as her whimpering voice squeaked from out of her.
    "Oh you don't have to apologize for anything.  It's I who should apologize.  You must be so tense right now, and we certainly didn't do you any good by berating you with questions.  You really should try to relax while you're here with us."
    Kayl sighed and tried to stand up, but Fluttershy was already putting her hoof on Kayl's body to keep him still.
    "Now I won't be letting you get up so quickly just yet.  I want you to have some soup first."
    Fluttershy flew over to her kitchen and then, fast as a woodland stream, she returned with a pipping hot bowl of soup with a spoon.
    "It smells really good," Said Kayl, as he leaned over the bowl to inspect it.  He focused his mind again, reaching for his beads of energy to pick up the spoon, but he was weak, and couldn't find the strength to even lift the bowl."
    "Good heavens!  You must be tuckered out mighty bad.  Here, let me help you.  It's really no trouble!"
    Fluttershy picked up the bowl and brought it closer to Kayl.  Kayl hardly had to move to drink from the soup, but he was forced to lap it up.  Still, for all the humiliation he had gone through, this might have been the best soup he had in months.
    "It's delicious," Said Kayl after he could have no more, "But you really shouldn't go through so much trouble.  I seem to only be weighing down on people."
    Fluttershy sighed and moved the bowl aside.  She used her snout to nuzzle at Kayl's neck.  There was a strange level of comfort he took from this, like receiving a kiss on the cheek, or a big hug from Beth.  But Fluttershy looked on with sadness still.
    "Kayl, you are certainly not a burden.  It's an honor to have you as my guest.  But you seem so tense, I'm worried if you can even walk right now.  We must do something to help you relax more while you're here.  And I think I know just the thing.  Come on, let's help you stand up."
    Kayl slowly moved his legs to the floor as Fluttershy supported him up onto his feet.  His muscles were tense, and his head spun as he stood.  Clearly something had caused him to lose his strength, or perhaps all of the stress of his predicament was taking a toll on him.  Surely, any other man would have gone mad by now.  It was a miracle he had not lost his mind completely.
    "You and I are going to go to a spa.  I hope that's okay.  Today is the day Rarity and I meet together for our weekly spa treatment.  I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you joined us.  She's a very friend.  Goodness, you look as if death is taking you Kayl!"
    Kayl wondered over to a mirror.  When he saw himself he became startled.  It was still a shock to see how he had changed, but there was more.  His eyes were puffy and he looked worn.  He felt worn too, and perhaps what he needed was the chance to simply forget his troubles.
    Slowly, Kayl turned back around to Fluttershy, "Alright, I'll join you."
    With exuberance, Fluttershy led Kayl out of the small cottage.  Before they left on the road back into the village, Kayl could have sworn he saw some strange creature slipping about.  With a strange tail like a lizard.  But, he paid it no mind.
    Soon, the two were already well into the village, and Kayl noticed a chic building close by.  There was a sign that hung from the outside wall with a picture of two ponies, one blue and one lavender, or perhaps some other shade of pink.
    "There's the spa, how are you feeling now?"
    Kayl sighed, giving out a deep breath and taking it in again, "Strangely weak, but I think I'm feeling better.  I think this might turn out to be a good idea, and this friend of yours.  What is her name?"
    Fluttershy opened her mouth to speak, but was cut of by the call of another voice near by.
    A white unicorn, with curled purple mane and tail trotted up to meet the two.  It came as a shock that the creature was actually wearing clothes!  He wondered if he was supposed to be wearing clothes the whole time and had simply not realized it yet.  The dress the unicorn wore was layered with satin and lace, streaked with colors of purple, sapphire blue, and red.  A hat adorned her head, fitted with feathers and lace.  The entire outfit glittered with small tiny gems on every trim.
    "Fluttershy darling!  You're finally here!  Oh, and you've brought Kayl!  Oh Kayl, it's a pleasure to meet you."
    Rarity curtsied to Kayl who reacted by nodded, "You must be Rarity.  I guess you already know who I am."
    Rarity giggle and fluttered, "Oh well darling, you're the talk of the town!  Everyone in Ponyville wants to know who you are!  And when Twilight told me of the ordeal you had to go through getting here.  My my my, but you are a strong and dashing alicorn aren't you?  But are you alright? You look rather pale..."
    Kayl fought back a groan.  Twilight was at work again.  No doubt all of the land of Equestria was aware of the threat to their peace.  He did his best to force a smile and a nod.
    "Oh Rarity," Fluttershy stammered.  "I hoped you wouldn't mind.  As you can see, Kayl is just in an awful state of stress.  I was hoping, by that I mean, I was wondering.  Of course, if you wouldn't mind..."
    Rarity laughed and pointed a hoof at Fluttershy, "Oh Fluttershy dear, don't stammer so much.  You want to know if I'd let young mister Kayl join us on our spa date?  Why of course!  Kayl, it would be a pleasure to have you join us.  I have so many questions too!  But we mustn’t spend all day, Kayl.  I insist that after our spa date you come have dinner at my boutique.  Doesn't that sound grand!?"
    Kayl was a bit lost to care.  More schemes perhaps, he wasn't worried now.  Either he would be trapped here forever, or else he would return home.  All he could do was nod and smile.  Rarity in turn looked on Kayl with a great deal of concern.
    "Darling, you seem filled with dread.  Not to worry, I think this spa will be just the thing to perk you up.  And I even brought along something for you to wear later."  With that, Rarity gave a soft snicker as she led Fluttershy and Kayl inside.
    Upon entering the spa, Kayl smelled the aroma of oils and herbs wafting through the air.  And two ponies, the same two that were pasted on the billboard outside, came forward to take care of them
    "Ah, we have an extra guest with us today.  Go ahead and put it on my tab.  Kayl is a special guest from Canterlot, and I want him to experience the full rejuvenation experience!"
    Favors, gifts, kindness unending, and no way for Kayl to turn anything down: just some of the reasons Kayl could not get out of this mess.  These were traps worse than any cage, they were traps of caring and generosity.  Than, it occurred to him that Rarity might in fact be just another pawn of the game.
    "Excuse me Rarity," asked Kayl as they headed back into the spa area.  "But are you by chance one of the Elements of Harmony."
    Rarity blushed and giggled and stammered repeatedly, "Oh gosh, well yes.  I suppose I am the element of generosity, if you must know.  That's very astute of you Kayl.  But I'd rather think of who I am as a pony.  I am Rarity.  Diva of Ponyville, Mistress of Fashion, Passion of the Gems, and I am of course honored to have such a find colt in our town."
    Kayl laughed weakly.  Inside the spa were a number of tables, pools, and shelves full of oils and ointments.  The aroma he had sensed in the lobby outside was only a small portion of the smells he found inside.  He took a deep breath and felt immediately at peace.
    Once long ago, he had gone to a spa, but he hadn't enjoyed it.  The only reason he went was to help seal the deal with a client.  He had never gone for himself, but the sensational spa was something much more luxurious than anything he had been to before.
    "I guess  I have no choice but to simply enjoy myself," Thought Kayl, as eh submitted to the graces of the spa matrons.	
    First, they were led to a sauna.  It was exotically ancient.  With heated stones and matrons pouring water for them.  As they sat there, Rarity spoke unending about her day.
    "And then darling, you will not believe what she said..."  and "But let me tell you what I think..."  were repeated every other sentence.  Fluttershy sat and quietly commented on the comings and goings of Rarity's day.  Kayl had very little to say about any of these things, except the one thing he wanted to say was how generous Rarity was being with her words.
    "Kayl darling, do you have a lover back home?"
    The question came out of left field and Kayl had to shake himself back into listening before he could even respond.
    "I'm sorry, what did you say?"
    Rarity laughed, "Oh well would you look at that sheepish face.  I bet there's a special some pony in your heart back home isn't there.  Or do they say special some human?  I don't know.  Oh good gracious, you must be worried sick about them aren't you?"
    Kayl had not thought much of Beth for the past few days.  Everything he was dealing with brought his thoughts more and more into this world and farther away from anything back home.  And for a moment, Kayl did not know how to rightly answer.
    "Well, I do, or did really.  I'm not entirely sure.  We had a fight recently."
    "Oh!?  Oh well tell me darling what happened!  You must certainly tell us the whole story, and leave not a thing out of your tale."
    Rarity descended on the topic like a hawk, talons out.  She was ready to grab at any piece of information Kayl had to offer.  Kayl began his story as they were moved from the sauna to a massage parlor.  Every muscle in his body was kneaded and broken down, leaving him free to speak about everything that he had experienced that fateful night of the party.
    He told them everything.  How he thought perhaps that Beth wanted too much of Kayl, and how she didn't understand why Barbara might have been the only friend he had.  He also told them how he had hurt Barbara too.  Rarity was polite the entire time, listening to everything they had to say.
    "Well darling, it seems like Beth is insecure about your relationship.  She might be jealous, but perhaps if you were more generous in the relationship, she would not be as uneasy about your friendship with another woman.  Especially if, as you say, Barbara is the only other friend you can truly speak to."
    Kayl hardly realized he had divulged so much.  But as the massage was finished they were directed to another area with luxurious tubs filled with water.  Kayl wasn't sure how to answer to Rarity's question, but he was feeling much more calm now that he was here.
    "I don't really know what to say Rarity.  I'm just not ready to have someone in my life like that.  I've survived so long on my own.  I've taken care of myself, learned how to work hard, and I've learned to trust myself more than anyone.  Maybe I'm just not in love with Beth."
    Each pony stepped into their own bath and were treated to the most luxurious full body wash.  Brushes of soap and moisturizers scrubbed over Kayl's body as he stood in a small bath.  On top of it all, small snacks and drinks were offered at the smallest whim. Kayl divulged, and ate whatever was given to him, and drank whatever was offered.  Everything was sweet and refreshing.  His body felt strong, and as they were all rinsed off, Kayl felt delighted with himself.
    Rarity gave a sad sigh, "Oh well darling, if you didn't love her you wouldn't be so upset over what you did.  Friendships and relationships are really no different down at their cores you know.  Why take Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy!"
    Fluttershy gave a squeak, "Rarity, what are you saying!  You know Rainbow Dash and I aren't like that!"
    Rarity laughed, "Oh come darling, it's nothing to be ashamed of!  Those two are just as close as two friends could be, they would gladly give their lives for each other.  Now you tell me Kayl, what is really different between that and a lover hmm? Well, I could tell you a few things, but we're rather in public and all..."
    Fluttershy's wings flapped out with a gasp, soap water splashed around as Kayl and Rarity laughed out.  Once they were rinsed, each pony was dried with towels and escorted to the large pool in the main area.  There they all enjoyed a refreshing dip in the hot pool.  Bath salts, oils, herbs, and lotions were tossed into the pool, and Kayl waded in the neck deep pool for at least an hour.  It felt as if his fur was being painlessly removed from his body, and every pore of his skin was opening up completely.  It was a heavenly dip, and the whole hour was spent in calm reflection.
    "Why, take my Spikey Wikey and I!  Why he's just as charming as a dragon can be.  But if he wasn't so kind and generous I don't think we could ever be together."
    Kayl looked over to Rarity with a start, "Spike?  Spike the dragon?  That little thing that lives with Twilight?"
    Rarity took offense to this, "AH!  Well, hmm, that little thing I'll have you know is my Spikey Wikey.  Oh sure he's not perfect, no one is.  But he's a gem, brighter than any gem o any gown.  Now don't you be rude to him just because he's, well,  he can be a bit odd at times I know.  But I do love him."
    Surprised, Kayl swam over to Rarity with more questions.  Here was someone who wasn't just talking about friendship, but romance, and claiming it was the same thing.  For better or worse, he wanted to know more.
    "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude Rarity. But could you explain more?  You say there's little difference between friendships and relationships.  Does that mean I might love Barbara more than Beth, because I trust her more?"
    Rarity bit her lip and rolled her head this way and that, "Oh how scandalous.  I know how you feel.  The short answer is yes, but the long answer is only maybe.  It all depends.  To be honest Kayl, it sounds like you don't really know much about friendship, so I wonder if you would know romance if you saw it?"
    Kayl couldn't argue that point.  Maybe it was the luxurious treatment of the spa, but everything he was hearing was more agreeable.
    "Supposing you're right, although I'm not sure how much I trust you either.  Then what can I do?  I've been learning quite a deal from you all here in Ponyville.  Still, as ideal as it all sounds, it just doesn't make sense in my world."
    Rarity smiled and nodded, "Not everyone here is like that either Kayl.  You've been meeting a few of us that, admittedly are quite special.  Now all ponies are special, but we are the elements of harmony.  We represent a bond of friendship, and although we sometimes have our disagreements, we are all the best of friends.  But the same formula works even with those who don't believe in friendship."
    Kayl had to ask the next question, because he could bare not asking it any longer.
    "Has there been a scheme to lead me on this journey?  How in the know are you all about me?  What have you been told to tell me? And why are things being hidden from me?"
    Rarity and Fluttershy looked at each other in shock.  They were embarrassed; they blushed; and it was clear they had been caught red handed.  Rarity was the first to speak up.
    "Very well Kayl, you caught us.  You see, it all started yesterday while you were having your flight lesson with Rainbow Dash.  Applejack came racing around and talking to each of us about you.  Explained you were in need, well, guidance of sorts."
    Fluttershy could hardly speak up from shame, "We of course were delighted to have you as a friend, but we thought it was important for you to know more about friendship, because you seemed to be hurting.  And then, while you had fainted, Rainbow Dash, um.  Rainbow Dash told me about what happened at the flying lesson."
    Kayl sank lower into the pool.  Applejack had been behind it?
    "But what about Twilight?  What part does she play in all of this?"
    Rarity shook her head, "Oh well, she didn't want us to stress you out.  Said you had been through so much as it was.  But since she's been stuck up that library for the past day we decided to intervene on her behalf."
    Fluttershy nodded, "We didn't mean to upset you though.  We had no idea how much pain you were in.  And we hope you accept all of this as an apology.  Not only from us, but from Applejack and Rainbow Dash as well."
    Kayl looked down into the water.  Each pony he had interacted with since arriving he had yelled at, screamed at, insulted, and belittled.  And yet they were the ones who were sorry.
    "This all must be a dream. I can't believe it at all."
    Rarity sighed, "Well, I think we had best get on our way then.  We still have to stop by my boutique."
    Kayl followed Fluttershy and Rarity out of the pool.  He felt a thousand times better, but he was still bewildered.  Applejack had instructed everyone to talk to Kayl, and Twilight had been stuck in the library the whole time.  What was going on?
    "Rarity...where are we going?"
    Rarity turned back with a giggle.  "Oh we're just going to stop by my boutique.  I've made something up for you, and I have to make sure it fits first."
    Rarity paid with a small bag of coins, which to Kayl seemed like as much money as he could have imagined.  Fluttershy left in another direction as Rarity led Kayl across the road to a luxuriously designed, yet quaintly small building not far from the spa.  With in a minute, Rarity had opened the door and led Kayl inside.
    "Now come on dear, we don't have much time.  I just have to make any adjustments before I finish your outfit."
    Rarity lit lights in the room with her magic, and sure enough, the room was filled as a fashion boutique.  It was as elegant as any store could be found in the city where he lived, and more so.  Precious gems sparkled everywhere and soon Rarity had Kayl in front of a mirror.  Flowing fabrics around Kayl with such grace and speed that Kayl barely had a chance to comment.
    "Rarity...what's going on? Where are we going?  What are you doing?"
    Rarity laughed, "Darling, how do you feel?"
    Kayl wasn't sure why she asked, but he smiled and nodded, "I feel delightful Rarity, I'm so thankful that you treated me to the spa.  Really, I mean it.  But I'm rather confused.  So if Applejack has been running around playing the pawns, what has Twilight been doing?  Who was she talking to this morning?  And what has she been hiding in her kitchen?"
    Rarity giggle delightfully, "Oh darling, you'll figure out soon.  But you know, can I ask you one question before we leave?"
    Kayl sighed and shrugged, "I don't see how I can refuse."
    "Do you think," Rarity started slowly, "That friendship would be something you would want if it was not what you thought it was?"
    Kayl thought on this for a moment, "Do you mean, would I want friends, if friends were the kind of idealistic harmonious types that you all are?"
    Rarity nodded, "Mm hmm."  She wrapped Kayl in satin cloths.  In the mirror, Kayl thought that for a horse,  he looked rather handsome.  A bow tie wrapped nicely around his neck, and a top hat upon his head.  Rarity made adjustments in a flash and soon Kayl was looking like one fine pony.
    "I suppose I would..." Kayl finally admitted.  "But I still don't think such an ideal really exists..."
    Rarity nuzzled up to Kayl, "Oh Kayl.  Come on...we must hurry now.  Twilight and the others are waiting."
    Kayl looked to Rarity, "So this is it? I finally get to find out what Twilight's been preparing?"
    Rarity nodded, "Yes, now we mustn’t make them wait.  You've had to wait for this long enough..."
    Kayl nodded, and followed Rarity out of the boutique and down the road to Twilight's house, and the town's library.  For better or worse, his life was in the hooves and will of his host.  Whatever devilry Twilight had been planning was soon to come to light.
> A Lesson of Fear
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	    The door to the library was shut tight.  Kayl could not see beyond the windows.  Curtains had been drawn, and there was only darkness inside.  Around the town, other ponies were going about their business, taking notice of Kayl, but seeming to be much less shocked by the sight of him.  Clearly, the town had been made aware of Kayl and assured that they would soon be rid of their new threat.
    Rarity looked over Kayl once more, using her magic to straighten his cuffs and tie.
    "Well now we have to make sure you don't go in looking like a ragamuffin don't we?"
    Kayl sighed and nodded, "I guess this is it then?"
    Rarity giggled, "Now don't ruin their surprise!  We've all worked very hard to keep it a secret, and it won't do any good for you to mope about the future."
    They all had worked hard to keep it a secret from him.  Kayl believed that it must have been a sick joke.  How else could he have taken it?  What else could all of this secrecy be to Kayl but the set up to be imprisoned, or worse killed.
    Suddenly a great weight lifted from Kayl  He fully realized that everything was lost, and he no longer had to control the outcome of the following few minutes.  Everything that was going to happen would simply happen, and Kayl could not, and would not need to fight against it.  He was finally calm, at ease with whatever was going to be sent before him.
    As the door opened and Rarity nudged Kayl in, giggling as she did, Kayl found a serene peace of mind fall upon him.  But nothing could have prepared him for what came next.  Kayl entered the dark abode, lit slightly by the light coming in from outside.
    "Surprise!"
    The flash of light forced Kayl's eyes to shut.  The shrill voice's cry announced the attack from all sides. He was surrounded by sounds of whooping, hollering, and the blowing of party horns.
    "Who brings party horns to an execution!?" Thought Kayl, when he at last started to put the pieces together.
    He slowly opened his eyes, and there all around was the blasts of colorful streamers hung about the wall.  Sparkling like diamond satin as balloons bounced around in the ceiling.  Kayl's eyes followed the scene down to all of the others standing around, cheering at Kayl 
    Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash flying over head, and Fluttershy giving a quiet cheer.  Rarity was giggling excitedly behind Kayl  And there in the center of it all, standing right in front of Kayl, was a bright pink horse with a pink curly mane.  Her cheers were loudest above all the others, and she was bouncing around as if the floor was made of a springy trampoline. 
    Kayl darted his eyes down, and yet there was no trap set to capture him.  He looked back up, still unsure of what was happening.  Most of the cheering died down as each pony was now looking straight at Kayl  Each judging his expression with concern.  All except the bring pink host of the party, whose excitement could not be quelled by the terror in Kayl's heart.
    "Hi!  I'm Pinkie Pie!  Were you surprised!? I told them you would be! Twilight was like: He's going to find out!  But No one has ever guessed a Pinkie Pie surprise party!  Especially not Twilight!  Because I surprised her good at her first surprise party!  So were you surprised!?  I bet you are, I'd be surprised.  I AM SURPRISED!  Wow!  You're really an alicorn!  That's so super neat!  We should throw an alicorn party!  Because now I have so many friends who are alicorns!  Twilight's an alicorn!  Princess Celestia is too!  So are her sister and Princess Cadence, but Princess Cadence is out in the Crystal Kingdom.
    But you're an alicorn!  So that would mean I know five alicorns!  Still, it would be a party, even if there were only two alicorns.  OH!  That means this IS an alicorn party!  That's great! Because I wasn't sure what to call this party.  Twilight wanted it to be called your welcome party, but I said: Twilight he's already been here for two days, if he hasn't been welcomed yet then what's wrong with us!?"
    Twilight reached out and placed a hoof on Pinkie's mouth, and there was a great sigh of relief amongst the others.  Kayl's mind was lost, and he wasn't sure if he was annoyed by this pink devil, or if this was yet another god of this world.
    "Kayl, are you alright?  You look like you got hit by a train."
    Kayl's head began to hurt badly, and he tried to get out of the circle of ponies to see the rest of the room.
    "Kayl darling, this isn't the kind of reaction one generally has at a surprise party!  Oh I knew he knew what we were planning..."
    Kayl shook his head.  It was both to exclaim that Rarity was mistaken, and to exclaim his disbelief.  Where was the traps?  Where was his fate?  Kayl saw one table had been set up with gifts wrapped in colorful paper and bows and upon it was a cake.  Kayl peered atop it to see a simple sheet cake adorned with frosting.
    "Welcome to Ponyville Kayl" Kayl read out loud, and Pinkie Pie gave another cheer.
    "Oh he is surprised!  He's so surprised he's practically speechless!"
    Kayl turned around, "No, not speechless.  But I'm confused.  I thought you were planning to imprison me, or worse execute me!"
    Pinkie Pie gasped, "No pony said this was an execution party!  I don't even throw those!  That's a terrible terrible joke!  I know much better jokes anyway, you should have come to me for a joke!  Like did you hear about the colt who walked into a bar?  He tripped! Haha! Get it!?"
    Kayl shook his head, "No, what?  Oh I get it, because it's a bar.  Um..."
    Pinkie Pie jumped forward, "Not funny enough for you?  Okay I have a lot more!  What do you call a wood chuck that can't chuck wood?"
    Kayl shook his head, "I'm not sure that's a joke.  Woodchucks don't chuck wood.  That's the whole point..."
    Pinkie Pie laughed, "No!  You call him Chuck Less Woodchuck!"
    Kayl shook his head, "I don't think this is a time for jokes..."
    Twilight laughed, "I don't know, that was a pretty good one.  Pinkie Pie is a master of making ponies laugh."
    Pinkie Pie nodded, "Sure am!  I bet I can get you to laugh!"
    Kayl smirked, "Well I think this entire situation is ridiculous, so I suppose you have a start."
    Pinkie laughed again.  She sure was the element of laughter alright.  Here they all were.  The elements of harmony gathered together.  But, for a party?  Kayl wasn't sure what kind of game this was, but he had already resided himself to his fate.  Was he being expected to laugh himself to death?
    "Okay, why did the chicken cross the road?"
    Kayl sighed, "To get to the other side?"
    Pinkie snickered, "Because he didn't want to become the main dish!"
    Kayl snickered in return, "Okay, I hadn't heard that one before.  That was pretty good.  But what's the point of all of this?"
    Pinkie struck a pose, standing up on both hind legs.  Her forelimbs waved about magically in mid air, "You snickered!  That's close, but I can't stop till I get a full blown laugh out of you!"
    Kayl sighed and shook his head, "Listen, I'm not in a big laughing mood.  After being deceived, and conspired against, I just want to get whatever is coming to me over with."
    Twilight looked around, "But Kayl, this is it!"
    Kayl looked around again.  "A party?  Why?  I mean, I haven't done anything but make life a pain for each of you.  Why are you throwing me a party?"
    Pinkie Pie whimpered, "I don't get it, doesn't he know what a party is for!?  He doesn't even know how to party!  Wow Twilight, where did you get this one!?"
    Kayl sat down on his flank, lifting a hoof to hold his head.  He felt his brain throbbing, his heart had been racing moments before and now he was feeling light headed.
    "Kayl, are you alright?  You look like you're going to pass out..."
    Fluttershy gasped at Twilight's question, "Oh no!  Don't tell me he's allergic to me is he!"
    Kayl shook his head, "No, wait a minute.  I don't get it.  Rarity told me that Applejack had been running around telling every one of you to meet me, so I could learn about friendship.  Is that right?"
    Applejack pulled her hat down with a blush, "I only thought you'd be happier after making some new friends here."
    Rainbow Dash shook her head, "I hadn't talked to Applejack till today, but yeah.  I had the same thought when I took you to meet Fluttershy."
    Fluttershy continued to shake and quiver, "Oh please don't be mad at us.  If you don't want to be our friend, we won't force you to be."
    Kayl shook his head, "That's not important right now.  What about this morning Twilight?  You wouldn't let me in the kitchen..."
    Twilight laughed, "It was to plan all of this!  I couldn't let you know about the surprise party we were planning."
    Pinkie Pie jumped up and down, bouncing around the room, "Yeah silly!  It wouldn't be much of a surprise party if you knew it was going to happen!"
    Kayl looked to Twilight, "So you were planning this since yesterday when Applejack told you what happened?"
    Twilight cocked her head to one side, "She told me that you had gone to have flight lessons with Rainbow Dash, and if it would be alright if you were kept busy today.  I said that was a good idea, because Pinkie Pie and I were busy getting your party ready."
    Pinkie finally came to a stop next to Twilight, "Yeah!  You see, I heard from Rainbow Dash that there was a new Alicorn in town!  And I said that was awesome, but why didn't anyone tell me about the surprise welcome party!  And Rainbow Dash said there hadn't been one that she knew of.  And then I realized that was because I'm the master of parties in Ponyville!  So I asked Rainbow Dash where you were staying, and she said that you were probably with Twilight Sparkle.  So I went to Twilight's house to ask her if there had been a party or not, there hadn't, but I had to ask anyway.
    So she told me that you had gone to help Applejack, and I was about to go and find Applejack when Twilight told me I should help her get a party ready.  So I said of course!  But of course, I knew that Rarity would want to make something for you to wear Kayl.  She has a passion for fashion!  So I ran off and told her everything I had heard from Rainbow Dash and Twilight.  And she got to work on working on an outfit for you to wear!  I came back here to help Twilight with making the cake and getting decorations ready!
    But we were running out of time!  And Twilight kept running out to the living room and asking Spike if he had seen Kayl, and Spike hadn't so Twilight ran back into the kitchen!  Twilight!  Did you know you didn't even tell Spike what we were doing!  But I thought it was a surprise party, so I didn't say anything either!"
    Kayl looked around to see a bewildered Spike munching on snacks, "Yeah, I know that now!  But it would've been nice to know that yesterday.  I must have looked like a dweeb when I asked Kayl why Twilight was acting so scared."
    Kayl looked back to Twilight, "So you were scared of me because I might have come home and seen..."
    Twilight laughed out loud, "Yeah, I was pretty paranoid yesterday.  But I figured you'd be mad..."
    Kayl shook his head, "I'm not...I mean.  I'm just confused.  Why would I be mad?"
    Twilight opened up the door to the room where Kayl had been sleeping.  It was filled with all the books that Princess Celestia had sent to Twilight.
    "I got so busy with helping getting the party ready that I didn't have the chance to look through any books. I know you really want to go home, but if you might be here a while, I wanted to make you feel more welcome.  I figured if you felt more welcome, you may want to be my friend."
    Kayl finally stood up.  He turned around and looked at the cake.  A smiling Kayl was looking back at him and Kayl shook his head in disbelief.  Had he truly become so cynical, that he couldn't realize a surprise party when it was being thrown right in front of him.  And all Kayl had done was insulted each of these ponies.  And after receiving nothing in return, they had thrown a party in his honor.  Kayl had never received such selfless kindness, generosity, honesty, and loyalty before.  And no one had ever tried so hard to make Kayl laugh.
   Pinkie Pie chimed in on que, "Why wouldn't us ponies throw a party for our new friend!  We're just trying to be neeeeigborly."
    Before Kayl even had a chance to register what had been said, something ignited from within him.  It came from the pit of his stomach and burst through out his body.  He tried to hold it back, like a flood of emotions he didn't want to deal with.  But he couldn't help it.  Soon he was snickering uncontrollably as he looked at Pinkie Pie's smiling face.  Soon he was laughing out hard.  The others were looking on in confusion.
    "I don't get it..." Twilight shrugged.
    "Neighborly!" Kayl blurted out.  He couldn't control himself. He was laughing too much to care about how he looked.
    "Neighborly?"  Twilight began, "But I don't get why, oh!  Neighborly!  Oh I get it!"
    Twilight and the others began to join in the laughing.  It became contagious.  Pinkie cheered and laughed along with them, which caused her to get the hiccups.  Kayl had to sit down from the laughter.  It was a rippling sensation of nerves that flew through his body from head to toe.  It was almost crippling, and as the others joined in the laughter, Kayl was almost struck with fear in spite of himself.  How could laughter be so painful?  He felt a stabbing sensation in his sides, doubling him over as he tried to suppress this joy.  But it would not be quelled so easily.  How could such laughter bring such pain?  And how had he not noticed it before?
    "Because," Kayl thought to himself, "You have never laughed this hard and real before."
    In all of his adult life, he had only laughed to appease others who wanted to tell jokes.  Even the funniest jokes he had heard from his own world had only forced a superficial laughter from within him.  He had only laughed because it was socially acceptable to laugh, and here he was laughing without care for anything.  This was real joy, in spite of the pain, and it was a joy he had not felt since he was a child.  No, perhaps he had never felt such joy before in his life.  He felt the tears stream down his face as the pain overtook him.
    "Kayl, please don't cry..."
    Kayl didn't understand what Twilight meant until he realized that no one was laughing anymore, not even Kayl.  His laughter had turn to cries of pain and woe, crippling him to the ground in a heap of his own emotional baggage.  Kayl fought to silence his cries but it was as painful to stop as the laughter he had experienced.  Soon he regained control of himself and stood back up. He bore a smile on his face as he walked over to Pinkie Pie and threw a hoof around her neck.
    "Thank you Pinkie Pie...."  Pinkie returned the hug with a cheer.
    "I know how to get a pony smiling!"
    Kayl pulled back and turned to everyone else, "Thank you everyone.  I know I've been pretty impossible to deal with.  But I'm touched, I'm really moved.  I've never met anyone so selfless before in my whole life.  If this is what it means to be friends...and if you truly still wish.  I'll gladly accept your friendship!"
    There was a great amount of cheering and hugging.  Soon every pony was dancing and eating cake. Kayl began to tell stories of his world, and the places he had visited.  But he asked questions mostly, he wanted to know things he had never known about anyone.  He wanted to know their dreams, what they were hoping for.  He wanted to know what kind of foods they liked to eat, and he wanted to hear stories.  Together Twilight and the others told as many stories of their times together as they could.
    Kayl danced with Pinkie Pie and Twilight.  He drank cider with Applejack and Rainbow Dash.  He sang songs with Fluttershy and Rarity. He acted silly, and if anyone had seen him they would have thought him crazy.  Despite being a winged unicorn, Kayl was delighted.  But soon the party drew to a close.  Kayl was not saddened, though.  For the first time in eight years, Kayl remembered the joy of having friends.
    After the party, they quickly cleaned up what was left.  The last slices of cake were wrapped up and given to Pinkie to save for another time.  And with everyone's help, soon the decorations were all wrapped up as well.  Everyone helped, and no one had to be coaxed into helping.  Kayl was amazed at once to finally realize what true friendship really looked like.
    As everyone left, Twilight sighed and opened up the room where Kayl had been staying, "I'm sorry, but I'm so exhausted.  I don't think I have the strength to move all these books back tonight."
    Kayl chuckled, "That's alright.  Do I at least have a place to sleep."
    Twilight nodded, "Yes, I took some time to set up a bed for you.  I'm going to hit the bed.  Do you need anything else?"
    Kayl shook his head, "I don't think so..."
    Twilight turned and began to fly slowly up to her loft.  Kayl felt something rush inside of him and he called out before she reached the top.
    "Twilight!"
    She turned and looked down from above, "What!?  Is everything alright?"
    Kayl took a deep breath, "I just wanted to say how thankful I am to have met you.  Thank you..."
    Twilight smiled, a tear came to her eye and she wiped it away, "I knew that deep inside was a good heart."
 Kayl retired himself to his room.  It had been an exceptionally long day, but he was still not tired.  In fact, he was more than wide awake.  He felt so alive and free.  The feeling of friendship, it was a marvelous thing.  He tried not to cry, but he felt his emotions bubbling around in the pit of his stomach.  He maneuvered through stacks of books to find his bed of blankets set up for him.
    But he still not sleepy.  Looking around, he saw several books near by that had been organized.  He peered through them, noticing that they had been organized by title and author.
    "Well Twilight, you certainly put a lot of work in to this."  Thought Kayl, "Perhaps if I read a bit of these text books I'll be able to sleep."
    So, Kayl sat himself down upon the bed, and focusing the beads of magic that he had come more accustomed to, he brought a particularly old looking journal from the top of a stack down to him.  The cover was worn, and it had a strange marking on it, stars swirling around in a circular motion.
    "Hmm, The Journal of Star Swirl the Bearded." muttered Kayl, "A record of experiences with the traveler"
    Kayl nearly set it back.  He nearly believed that Star Swirl the Bearded might have simply been a sight seer.  But the sparkling rune on the front of the journal encouraged Kayl to read on.
    "I first met the traveler while roaming through strange unsettled lands.  Sparkling mountains full of gems, and fertile ground.  By chance, I happened upon a sight.  An alicorn with no mark to his flank."
    Kayl looked back at his own flank.  He was also an alicorn with no cutie mark.  But it couldn't have been the same as him, could it?  Quietly he read to himself.
 	   "He called himself Soul, or perhaps that is not how it was spelled, but I did not question it.  He \described a world I had never heard of: ruled by bipedal creatures; Tall structures speckled the landscape; and impossible to comprehend technologies to be told of.  I perhaps would have been better suited to speak of such things if I could see the world where he had come from.  Sadly, he called such a land 'China'."
    Kayl's heart nearly caught in his throat.  Whoever Star Swirl the Bearded was, he had clearly met someone from his own world, from China no less.  So if Star Swirl was able to understand this "Soul" then perhaps it was no mere coincidence that Kayl could understand it as well.
    "I traveled with Soul through these new lands, and eventually he told me how he longed to return home.  His family, he knew were waiting for him back home.  I worked with Soul to develop some means to travel to his world.  Sadly, such a way for I to travel to a world I have never been was beyond my scope.  But, all hope was not lost."
    The journal continued on.  Star Swirl and Soul had faced many challenges together.  They fought against monstrous creatures, and developed a bond of friendship.  Part of the journal talked of someone named Clover the Clever.  With instructions for Clover to not attempt such feats at her level of magic.  An hour or so had passed since he first began reading, but time was still for Kayl.
    Kayl continued to read carefully, "By chance, since Soul was a native of another world, there was a simple spell that I had known of to return an object to its original owner.  It took some hard work, from which Soul was an indispensable help, but I developed a spell to return a traveler back to their home."
    With breath held fast, Kayl dared not utter a word till he finished reading.
    "The spell was a success, as far as I can gather.  It has now been three months to the day since I sent Soul back to where he came.  I will probably never know if the traveler had made it to his destination, but I do know that he returned home.  I will not be publishing this spell, as it is surely dangerous to try on anyone who is not a traveler."
    And there it was, a spell designed to send Kayl home.  It was all written out, the once in a life time chance for Kayl to return home!  Kayl could not understand the spell, but he was sure Twilight would.  She would easily be able to pull it off.  By chance, Kayl had found the one book in a stack of hundreds that would bring him back home.
    He would return to his old life, and soon he would be with Beth again.  And he would see Barbara.  He would return to everyone he knew.  And never again would he see the light of Equestria again.  And soon, he would never see Twilight again.  Or any friend he had made here.  They would all be gone, forever.
    Without thought, Kayl took the book and slid onto a shelf.  He quietly tucked it away behind another book.  And without a word or thought, he lied down to sleep.  He shivered in the blankets, made cold not only by his fear, but also by his guilt.  He forced the thoughts away, because today was too happy of a day.  And he regretted ever looking through the books in the first place.
> A Lesson of Regret
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	    Kayl awoke the next day feeling very refreshed, and immediately he rolled out of the blankets to head to the light beaming in from the window.  The day was bright; light shining down upon the dewy grass caused it to glisten and shimmer.  Kayl felt a smile pull on his face, and everything that had happened before falling asleep was far away from his mind.
    He turned and headed for the door; eyes avoiding the shelf as he did.  With an almost second hand nature to it, Kayl summoned the power to open the door.  He began to whistle as he left the room to the delight of Spike and Twilight.  Who were now just coming down to prepare breakfast.
    "Well good morning Kayl!  You're certainly in a chipper mood this morning!"
    Kayl nodded at Twilight, "Sure am, I don't think I've been this happy in quite a while!  I feel like a brand new person!  Or, pony rather."
    Kayl let out a chuckle as he pranced to the small kitchen.  Despite the protests from Twilight, Kayl insisted he fix breakfast for each of them.  For Twilight and himself, he was able to whip up a tall plate of french toast with strawberry cream cheese filling.  It took longer then perhaps he would have taken if he had the use of hands, but the ability to float things around the kitchen with magic gave Kayl freedom a thousand fold than he could ever have before.
    "Kayl, I'm really moved." Twilight spoke behind a beaming smile as she saw breakfast arrive. "But you don't have to do so much for me.  Besides, I really haven't been able to help you at all!"
    Kayl shook his head emphatically as he sat down opposite of her.  He placed an omelet mixed with gems aside for Spike.
    "Lighten up Twilight," decried Spike, "If he's going to make omelets like this! He can make breakfast everyday!"
    "Spike!  Kayl isn't here as our butler, he's a guest!  But I have to say." Twilight took a big bite of her french toast, "This is great!  I'm glad you're feeling happier!  So you're not mad at us for putting off our studies?"
    Kayl swallowed a bite of his breakfast before giving a bright smile, "Twilight, what you and the others did for me.  I don't know how to thank you.  To be honest, and I suppose I should be honest with my friends right?"
    Twilight laughed, "Yes, honesty is the best policy between friends."
    Kayl nodded, "I think I needed it more than anything else.  Twilight, I think I understand what I've been missing on.  In my world, I've never had the chance to meet such wonderful friends.  I really thought people were only meant to use each other.  Where I'm from, it's a very dark and cruel place.  What you've done is shown me that there are those who can have a true and honest friendship.  I haven't felt so happy since I was a child."
    Twilight clapped her hooves together, "Yay!  And all we had to do was throw a party!"
    Kayl laughed, "Well no, it wasn't just that.  All of your friends helped, too.  Applejack's integrity.  Rainbow Dash's brutal loyalty.  Fluttershy's unending kindness.  Rarity's selfless generosity.  Even Pinkie Pie, who in my world would have annoyed me, made me realize why it's great to see others happy. 
    I want to see others happy too!  I want to discover what it means to bring joy to people, and how that can really feel. It's an overwhelming sense of curiosity.  I can't wait to explore it all."
    Twilight smiled and nodded, "I'm sure you will.  When you have the chance to return home, perhaps you'll have the chance to teach these kinds of lessons there."
    Kayl's face was smiling, but everything else had gone numb, "I believe I will."
    Twilight and Kayl finished eating without saying another word.  Kayl kept smiling, and Twilight never questioned Kayl on what he was thinking about the return home.  Kayl forced the journal of Star Swirl the Bearded out of his mind.  But the curiosity was getting to him.
    "Twilight, do you know who Star Swirl the Bearded is?"
    The question brightened Twilight as she bounded in her chair, "Star Swirl the Bearded!  I'm only the biggest fan of Star Swirl the Bearded!  He's practically the father of unicorn magic!  I have a book club dedicated to him, although it's hard to get others to be as excited as I am.  Oh I'm so happy you asked!  But I'm curious, how did you hear about him?"
    Kayl cleared his throat.  He immediately regretted asking the number one Star Swirl Fan Girl about something he didn't really need to know more about.
    "Oh well, I had pulled one of your books out to read before going to sleep.  It made some kind of mention about him.  Didn't really tell me much about him though.  I was just curious.  Is he a fictional character of some kind?"
    Twilight laughed, "Oh sweet Celestia no.  Star Swirl the Bearded lived so many thousands of years ago.  Some say that even Princess Celestia learned magic from him!  Can you imagine!  Oh I've never really asked Princess Celestia that question!  I should ask her the next time I see her.  What book did you read about him?  I have quite a collection of them in my library here."
    Kayl rubbed the back of his head with his hoof.  His eyes diverted away for a moment.  "I can't really remember.  I only read it for a bit.  If I remember I'll let you know.  But could we talk about something else?  I'm sort of curious how large this world is?  Surely Equestria isn't all there is in this world?"
    Twilight shook her head, "Oh gosh no.  Equestria only makes up a part of the world, albeit it's a rather large part.  There's also the Crystal Kingdom to the north.  It's led by Princess Cadence and my brother Shining armor.  There's the wild lands of the dragons to the west.  They stretch on for quite a ways.  Of course the griffons have their own kingdom.  Technically the Everfree forest is part of Equestria, but it's rather large in and of itself.  And no pony settles there now a days besides Zecora.  She's a Zebra."
    Kayl nodded, "Yes, so...has anyone ever seen all of it?"
    Twilight laughed, "You're certainly very inquisitive today.  No, I'm sure there are unexplored lands in this world.  It might very well take a whole life time to see it all..."
    Kayl repeated it silently, "A whole life time..."
    Twilight leaned over on the table, "Are you alright Kayl?"
    Kayl snapped back to reality.  He laughed and shook his head, "I'm alright.  I think I would like to go out for a fly though.  Is that alright?"
    Twilight looked with a perplexed look from Kayl to the secondary room, "But wouldn't you want to get to work on hitting the books?  We have quite a bit of reading to do..."
    Kayl cleared his throat, shook his head, and left the table for the door.
    "No, not just yet.  I can never read on a full stomach.  Besides, I may never get another chance to fly, right?"
    Kayl looked from Twilight's concerned face to the dishes on the table.
    "Oh well, I'm sorry!  Here I am running off and I'm leaving the dishes all for you to do.  Come on, let me help you get these done!"
    Twilight smiled and shook his head, "It's okay.  You made dinner, so we'll clean.  If you really want to go for a fly, I could join you!  It would be a bit of a learning experience for both of us.  I'm still not that great at it."
    Kayl coughed and shook his head quickly, "No no, actually.  By that I mean, I don't want to be rude.  But, I sort of need to go take a fly alone.  What I want to say is, sometimes I like to go for a walk alone.  So I would tell people that I was off to take a walk.  But since I have wings, I just figured it would be nice to fly.
    But I really prefer to do these things alone.  You understand yes?  Once I get back I promise we'll hit those books.  But I mean, I'd hate to impose upon you..."
    Twilight shook her head.  The concerned look on her face returned, "Kayl, you're not imposing.  I've said that before.  Are you sure you're alright?"
    Kayl nervously nodded his head, "Yeah, sure am.  Just, well."
    Kayl stammered his words for a moment.  Unable to think of a proper thing to say.  After a moment, Twilight nodded her head and gave him a smile.
    "Kayl, you know you don't owe me anything."
    Kayl blinked and shook his head, "What do you mean?"
    Twilight laughed, "I mean, if you're planning some kind of surprise for me...you don't owe me anything.  But, if you want to know, I'm always a fan of receiving books."
    Twilight gave Kayl a wink.  Kayl instinctively gave Twilight a wink back.  He didn't care what Twilight had thought, as long as she let him go.  Kayl turned and, with a rushed goodbye, ran outside.
    He wasn't sure where to get a book that Twilight wouldn't have for her library, but he was sure he would need to get one to keep his cover.  But he didn't want to think about that.  He didn't want to think about anything.  Having breakfast with Twilight was almost too much to keep his guard up.
    Kayl needed time; he needed time to figure out what he was going to do.  What had he planned on?  He didn't want to think of the book, but he couldn't put it out of his mind.  He had taken the book with the answer to his return to Earth and hidden it.  Perhaps the only book that would help him.
    Kayl wanted to forget he had ever seen it, and let it be lost.  Refusing to answer why, because the truth was too great a sin to face, he began to flap his wings.  With a new found ease and a lighter spirit, he found it easy to take off into the sky.  Everything about flight was natural  now.  Suddenly, Kayl forgot his entire conversation with Twilight.
    The rush of air flowing through his face; his body twisting this way and that to turn; the feeling of leaves brushing under his feet as he flew over trees; everything that he saw and felt as he flew through the sky was a glorious sensation.
    This world felt realer to him then it ever had.  He felt gloriously happy.  He had often been told of angels, and how they flew through the heavens on wings.  Kayl refused to believe in angels.  But he couldn't refuse the idea of being an alicorn.  Magic that could continue to grow, power of flight, and great friends.  If there was a true heaven, it would pale in comparison this world.
    Kayl's flying was slow, and at times rocky, but he was unshaken by it.  It didn't matter how silly he must have looked, or how other ponies below found his flying to be humerus.  He wouldn't hold it against them.  The whole land of Equestria was more of a home to him than he could even imagine his own home to be.
    "My home...I don't want to go back." Kayl finally said out loud.
    He stopped in mid air, wings still flapping about.  Pausing, his eyes looked down below him.  He continued flapping his wings briskly, taking him higher into the sky.  This world, he realized, was great.
    "Back home," Kayl thought.  "I would have to return to a home where everyone hates me.  Beth won't want me now that I've rejected her far too much.  Barbara wouldn't forgive me for betraying her.  And all of the people at the party, and everyone I worked with.  I know I never cared about them.  And why would I?"
    Kayl finally realized how indifferent he was to his own world.  And why wouldn't he be?  Could anyone deny that the world we live in is perfect?  Wars are fought across all sides, and a prevailing greed and anger fills all hearts.  Kayl had been a spawn of that world all of his life.  Only when he found himself in Equestria did he finally see how jaded he had become.
    And what of his world that was great, that could not be found here?  Kayl had already seen the beauty of nature a hundred times fold against his own world.  On earth, animals are kept in cages to protect them.  In Equestria, even the creatures of the forest live in harmony under the loving kindness of Fluttershy.  Here, even nature would be his friend.
    But something was bothering Kayl.  There was an unanswered question that lingered in his heart.  If he truly wished to stay, would he be able to?  The only one he could ask this was the one who had warned him of his life in Equestria, Princess Celestia.
    Lacking money, Kayl decided to fly to Canterlot.  It was not difficult to find, as the mountain where it resided was in perfect view from Ponyville.  The flight was long, and Kayl kept his mind clear as he flew.  All of his thought resided on one wish.  To remain in Equestria for as long as he could.
    The more he flew, the faster his speed increased.  After a couple hours of flight, Kayl realized how much control he had.  He was flying with grace he had never known.  Perhaps, if he had continued to practice he would be one day be able to take on Rainbow Dash in a race.  In his mind, he was filled with limitless possibilities.  But if Celestia were to think of him as a threat, he would need to know for sure.
 When he finally arrived in Canterlot, the time was nearly half past three.  He had flown for nearly seven hours straight.  He was exhausted, but in his mind he knew it had been worth it.  Quickly now, he flew to the castle as fast as his tired wings could take him.
    Kayl approached the castle around the back, eyes looking for the balcony where he and Celestia had last spoken.  That's when his caught glimpse of her.  Princess Celestia, in all of her splendor was waiting upon the balcony.  Kayl attempted to fly down but was immediately surrounded by a group of pegasi guards.
    "Halt!  Don't move or we will be forced to take you down!"
    Kayl startled at the guards, but stammered and cried out, "I'm sorry.  I...I need to see the Princess immediately!"
    "Guards, it's alright.  Lead him down to meet me."
    Princess Celestia had clearly caught sight of the situation.  She was looking on with a look of stern but compassionate command.  The same eyes and face that had floored Kayl before.  Even now, he was reminded of how enamored he had been with her before.
    With swiftness the guards led Kayl cautiously but quickly down to their Princess.  Despite the command of their princess, they were clearly not ready to give him any leniency for his direct flight to the castle.
    Kayl let out a breath of fresh air as he landed.  If he had known that his endeavor to meet the princess directly would have been met with such force, he would have perhaps thought of simply walkin through the front door. Thankfully, Princess Celestia somehow had been expecting him.
    "Well Kayl, what a pleasant surprise for you to have arrive, and now of all times.  I had instructed the guard at the station to escort you if you had arrived.  Should I have to talk to him about ignoring his duties?"
    Kayl panted and shook his head, "No, I think not your highness.  Because I did not come by train.  I have flown here from Ponyville.  I apologize if I have scared or done wrong by coming at such an unspoken time."
    The princess laughed out and looked to his guards, "Fear not, you may all go back to your post.  For now, I should speak with Kayl privately.  Thank you, but I can take care of my self now."
    The guards bowed and headed away.  Kayl caught his breath and laughed as he looked at the princess.  He was charmed by her, and suddenly the feeling of joy of living in a world under the rule of such a gracious and wise leader inspired Kayl.  Even if this land had all the makings of a communist society.
    "Princess Celestia," began Kayl.  He wanted to make as well a second impression as he could.  "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.  The past two days have been a gloriously event filled time.  I do not know where to even begin..."
    Princess Celestia held up a hoof, "You need not, unless my own eyes deceive me.  I am already aware that you have been quite busy.  And I'm delighted at what I have heard."
    Kayl shook his head, confusion sparking inside of him, "I don't understand..."
    The Princess pulled out a parchment roll of paper with her magic, "I recently received a very telling letter from my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.  Would you like me to read it to you?"
    Kayl felt himself go pale from head to hoof.  Twilight had reported him to the Princess, but how could the letter have been received so quickly?
    "Um, yes, please."  Kayl's only response that he could stammer out was filled with curiosity and dread.
    The Princess cleared her throat, holding the letter up to her face.
    "Did you know, that I receive letters from Twilight almost every day?  She often writes me, and uses Spike the Dragon's magical power to send the letters to me.  I hope you do not think that we have been gossiping about you.  But Twilight had something she absolutely had to tell me about you.  Now, let's see.  Ah yes, as every letter begins.
    Dear Princess Celestia.  I meant to write you last night, because my heart was filled with so much joy.  But after an amazing party, I was also so exhausted that I did not have the strength to think of the right words.  Sorry!"
    Princess Celestia looked down at Kayl with a smile, a smile that Kayl returned.
    "When you left Kayl with me, I thought that perhaps it was only my duty to help him return home.  But, I also was reminded of a lesson about trusting in your friends.  So, because of Pinkie Pie's suggestion, we decided to throw a party for Kayl.  I regret to say that we have not even looked at one book that you have sent us yet.
    I also discovered that in preparing for this party, my other friends were already working on plans of their own.  Each of them interacted with Kayl, and from what I can gather, each of them moved his heart in one way or another.  I was aware that Kayl was a very bitter male when he arrived, but last night the most amazing thing happened.
    He laughed, and even cried!  And I hadn't seen him truly do either of those things since he arrived.  I think he's really changed!  In fact, I'm pretty sure he's off right now to find a gift.  I hope he doesn't try too hard, because I think he should know that he's a really nice pony too!  Or, not a pony.  Haha, he's nice, whatever he is."
    Kayl felt himself turning red.  Perhaps because the letter spoke so kindly of him, or rather perhaps he was filled with guilt for lying to Twilight.
    "I hope that my diversion from the studies can be forgiven.  As Princess, you told me that I should not only learn lessons about friendship but teach them as well.  I thought that this was a great chance to help someone who was hurting.  Perhaps what I've also learned, even when you have an important task ahead of you, you should always take time to truly help your friends.  Always your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle"
    Princess Celestia put the letter away and smiled at Kayl brightly, "Well Kayl, you have certainly surprised me.  Not only you, but all of your new friends as well.  What can you say about this letter?"
    Kayl laughed and nodded, "I can tell you that it's the truth.  It feels like ages ago when I was last hear, telling you off about your views on friendship.  I feel like such a fool now, to have wasted so much of my life the way I have.  I'm filled with a kind of joy that I could never have known without their help, and your help Princess Celestia.  I know you must have done something to help in this..."
    Celestia shook her head curtly, "No, I have to say that honestly I have done nothing to help except move some books  to Twilight's library.  Which, according to this letter, have been ignored."
    "Not all ignored," Kayl thought.  But he didn't want to think about that at the moment.
    "I apologize, please don't be mad at Twilight.  It's my fault for being such a basket case that needed help in the first place."
    Princess Celestia laughed, "No, apologies are not needed Kayl.  Princess Twilight Sparkle has delighted me again with her surprising wisdom.  It's true that I did not task her with helping you learn about friendship, but I'm happy that you were able to take the initiative and learn those lessons yourself.
    But I'm confused Kayl, the letter was sent to me hours ago.  And it says you were looking for a gift for Twilight?  Why would you fly all the way out here...?"
    Kayl sighed and shook his head.  He remembered his true purpose and felt confession was needed to clear his soul.
    "Princess, I will admit that I deceived Twilight.  You see, I didn't want her to know that I wanted to speak to you.  I thought she would perhaps worry and want to join me.  I needed to ask you, have you told Twilight about me? That I am a threat to Equestria?"
    The Princess's eyes were sparked with curiosity, "What do you mean?"
    Kayl eyed the the letter that was placed upon a nearby table, "I can see that you are able to communicate with Twilight quickly.  I just need to know.  Was Twilight informed by letter about me?  And, does this mean I am no longer a threat?"
    The Princess narrowed her eyes curiously, "Kayl, I understood what you asked me.  What I do not understand is this business about being a threat to Equestria.  I"m confused, are you referring to the conversation we had three days ago?"
    Kayl nodded, "Well of course, should that not confuse me?"
    "Kayl, I think you may have misunderstood me.  You have never been a threat to the safety of Equestria, or any of its citizens."
    The words dropped from Celestia and hit Kayl upon the head with such weight that it nearly floored him.
    "But you told me that..."
    Princess Celestia leaned down to meet Kayl face to face, "Dear Kayl.  Think back carefully, do you recall what I told you that day?"
    Kayl thought, but shook his head.  He had thought she had warned him about the darkness in his heart, that it was a threat to him.  But now he was not sure what to think.
    "When I spoke of the darkness in your heart, a darkness that could consume you.  I did not mean to make you think you were a threat to others around you.  Goodness, I'm terribly sorry Kayl.  But, if you had been a threat to Equestria, don't you think I would have wanted to deal with you personally?  Or why would I have left you so comfortably in the care of Twilight Sparkle?"
    Kayl found himself without words.  He had wondered it himself as well, thought that everything had been conspiracies.  Twilight had proven him wrong, and now so had Celestia.
    "Also, to answer your question, I did not tell Twilight Sparkle about our conversation.  I actually have not written her at all, except to make sure that the books had arrived safely, which they had."
    "But," Kayl stammered, "What about Discord?  And Nightmare Moon, whom you banished once long ago.  You said that darkness consumed their heart, did it not?"
    Princess Celestia shook her head, "Well, your memory needs work.  For starters, I don't believe I ever mentioned Discord.  As for Nightmare Moon.  You are correct about that.  Nightmare Moon, whom was also my sister, was consumed by her own hatred.  But as she was the controller of the moon, the darkness in her heart was a threat to all of Equestria."
    Kayl shook his head head in return, "But what do you mean then? I'm not a threat to Equestria because I couldn't possibly have any control over it?"
    Princess Celestia nodded, "Precisely.  What I wanted to warn you of, was no the threat you would be to all of Equestria, or even to Twilight Sparkle.  But that the darkness in your heart could have consumed you, and in sense you would have been your own threat."
Now Kayl wasn't naive.  And he was very open minded.  But there seemed to be something off with Celestia's point of view, as far as Kayl could wonder.
    "Princess Celestia, you say that I am no threat to Equestria.  But only a threat to myself because of the darkness that would consumed me.  But this darkness could warp my personality, yes? Make me dangerous?"
   	 The Princess nodded, "That's true, though I would hardly call you a threat.  Do you truly think you would mean to destroy others?  Besides, with what power could you do so, even if you wanted to?"
  	  Kayl looked down at himself, "I have grown stronger with each day I stay here.  Wouldn't it be true of any creature, that if they gained power, inevitably they could be a threat to Equestria?"
   	 The Princess paused a moment, and then nodded, "I see what you mean.  You want to know, that if you became stronger with magic, would you then be a threat to Equestria?"
   	 Kayl shook his head, "not just Equestria, but to anyone.  I don't want to hurt anyone here..."
  	  Celestia's eyes widened, at first she frowned, but it quickly changed to a smile.
  	  "You surely have changed Kayl since I last saw you.  Fear not, I do not believe you would have it in your heart to hurt anyone.  But there is something I must admit to you."
   	 Kayl leaned in close, curiosity spiked by the Princess' declaration of guilt.
  	  "I am not as wise or great as you might think I am."
  	  Kayl snickered, "You're joking."
  	  But Celestia did not smile, or even smirk.  She shook her head.  There have been many times that I have found myself to be wrong.  Tell me, has Twilight Sparkle told you of their battle against Queen Chyrsalis and her changeling army?"
 	   Kayl thought back to a few days ago when they had indeed talked about that.  But he couldn't recall all the facts.  Princess Celestia obliged her self to recant the story to Kayl once again.
   	 "You see, Twilight believed that Princess Cadence was evil.  And all of us, including I were blind to the facts.  She may not have mentioned, that during that battle, I was powerless to stop Queen Chrysalis. 
  	  If it had not been for the heroism of Twilight and her friends, and the power of love that the real Princess Cadence shared with Shining Armor, then all of Equestria would have fallen to her power."
 	   Kayl pondered for a moment, attempting to recall Twilight's telling of the story, "Princess Celestia, if I'm not mistaken, Twilight Sparkle does not think herself that big of a part of the tale."
 	   The Princess sighed and shook her head, "No, I believe she probably refused to tell of my own sins in that matter.  But it was that event that fully made me realize how powerless I can be.  And also, how wonderful Twilight Sparkle could become.  It was the main reason that moved me to have her prove that she could become a  Princess."
  	  Kayl thought about Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia, side by side, as he had seen them three days ago.  Then, Twilight Sparkle was meek and lowly compared to Princess Celestia, whose radiance had made Kayl quake at the knees.
 	   But in Celestia's confession, the opposite is true.  Princess Twilight Sparkle was admired by Celestia as the greater, so it seems.  Or perhaps they were equals, for now.  Then who was truly the ruler?
  	  "I suppose," Princess Celestia smiled, "That to an outsider, this admission by a ruler of Equestria would seem shocking.  I assure you that while I greatly admire my student, I am firmly comfortable in my rule over these lands."
  	  Kayl quickly nodded his head, "I agree, I did not doubt it.  But it surprises me that I have been living with someone for three days whom you regarded so highly."
    Princess Celestia leaned over, touching her crown to Kayl's forehead.
  	  "Kayl, when I met you, you were so angry.  And while I could not think of any instruction to tell Twilight Sparkle, she showed that she was fully capable of helping you.  Even though it was not planned, the magic of friendship was powerful enough that I did not need to manage it myself.
  	  I think it's wonderful that you have created such a close bond with Twilight and her friends.  And I hope that this conversation has quelled any fears you might have had."
  	  Kayl nodded, "It has.  That's all I needed to hear your highness.  I'm going back home now..."
  	  Celestia held up a hoof, "Just a moment...I think you should allow me to help you back to Ponyville.  Flying back would take far too long, and it is already getting late."
   	 Kayl looked out and was surprised to see the sun was already getting low in the west.  Soon it would be nightfall.
   	 "I've spent all day away from Twilight.  I don't think she will be happy that I wasted so much time."
   	 The Princess smiled and shook her head, "I think you will find that Twilight can be far more forgiving then you think.  But, if you want my suggestion, I would advise you to remember to pick up a book from the store here in town before you leave.  It might help..."
 	   With that, the Princess gave Kayl a sly wink.  Kayl laughed and began to follow Celestia out of the castle.  His body felt light again, renewed with vigor from the truth that he was a changed man.  He would never want to hurt Twilight Sparkle, or any of his new friends.  And now he knew that as long as that friendship remained strong, he would never want to.
  	  He would be able to learn great magic, fly to great heights, and all of the rest of his days would be filled with joy in this new world.  What an amazing future that would await him!  
   	 But, he was also unsure of one last thing.  Before he left the castle grounds, he turned to Celestia and quietly asked:
  	  "Princess Celestia, about this mission to find a way for me to return back home?"
  	  Celestia nodded, smiling calmly at Kayl.
 	   "What if we can not find the answer we are looking for?"
 	   Princess Celestia looked deeply into Kayl, her eyes piercing him.  She looked at him as the day he first met her.  He felt as if his whole inner self was being turned inside out to be put on display, but after a short moment, the Princess spoke.
  	  "I would not worry, I am sure you will find the answer you are looking for."
    Kayl shook his head, "But what if we can't?  What if I am stuck here?  What would I do?"
 	   The Princess nodded, "I believe you will find that answer you are looking for too..."
 	   Kayl gave a knowing nod.  Perhaps it wasn't what he was looking for, but Princess Celestia had certainly not turned him away.  As long as he would need, he could remain in Ponyville, or perhaps even all of Equestria. 
    Celestia gave Kayl a small bag of bits to return home with.  Instructing him of a particular book that could be found at the local book shop.  He would give it to her when he returned to Ponyville, perhaps it would be worth an apology.
 	   But first, he needed to do something more important.  Something that he should have done earlier today, but lacked the strength to.  Kayl would go and ask Twilight to let him stay in Equestria for good.
    He wondered if she would say yes.  Why would she not?  After all, would not friends want to remain together?  And with nothing to pull him back to Earth, why should he leave?
    Kayl boarded a chariot with two pegasi guards pulling, a gift from the Princess.  The chariot was a beautiful face of white marble with gold plates and trimming.  After heading to the bookstore, and quickly procuring the book, "Fifty Shades of Rainbows", he quickly let the pegasi champions escort him back to Ponyville.
    The return flight was swift as a bird, and when they finally arrived, it had only reached dusk.  Kayl thanked his escorts, handing them the bits that were left over in the bag.  Money was not important now, he would have plenty of time to make more in Ponyville.
    Kayl looked upon the library, lights were on inside.  He smiled, and trotted graciously up to the door with a small bag in his teeth containing the gift for Twilight.  With ease, he used his magic to swing the door open and flapped his wings as he floated inside.
    Kayl called out through grit teeth.  "Twilight! I'm home!"
    There was a silence at first, but then Twilight came out from the side room.  She wore a look of concern, as Kayl probably expected from his all day excursion.
    "Where have you been!?  I was getting worried sick about you!"
    Kayl turned red and nodded his head shamefully.  He put his bag down upon the ground to clear his mouth.  "I'm sorry Twilight.  I know it was wrong for me to be gone for so long without a real explanation.  I did have something else I needed to do, but I was afraid to tell you."
    Twilight shook her head, "But where have you been?"
    Kayl picked the bag back up and brought it over to a nearby table.  Quickly he tried to get the book out of the bag, and after some effort pulled it out and presented it to Twilight.  She looked at it with surprise, but she was still concerned.
    "Fifty Shades of Rainbow.  Princess Celestia had told me about that book..."
    Twilight's pause was short, and she gasped in shock.
    "You went to Canterlot!?"
    Kayl laughed nervously, "I had, the truth is I had something I wanted to speak to the Princess about.  Please don't be mad."
    Twilight shook her head, "But how did you get there? Did you have money for the train!? For that book!?  Kayl, have you even eaten all day!?"
    Kayl laughed weakly, he hadn't realized how long it had been since he ate.  He was starving, but he was also too elated to really care.  Meanwhile, Twilight's concern was growing colder and Kayl started to realize he was in hotter water then he originally thought.
    "Twilight, please listen.  I know I should have said something, I know that.  But I had a worry that I had to speak to Celestia about.  But now that I have, I am no longer worried.  But there's something I need to talk to you about..."
    Twilight cut him off short, "I'm quite sure you do, but before you do, there's something I need to ask you about..."
    Kayl nodded his head quickly, "Yes, anything!  I'm an open book!"
    Twilight quietly went behind the same table Kayl had used and quietly pulled something up from below.  At first it looked just like a lump of trash.  But Kayl's eyes widen, and his heart quickened as the familiar leather bound item came to view.  It was complete with glittering swirling stars upon its face.  The Journal of Star Swirl the Bearded had been found.
> A Lesson of Acceptance
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	    "Kayl, do you know anything about this book?"
 	   After Twilight's reveal of the book, Kayl had remained quiet for a moment, feeling like an eternity for both parties.  The silence, now broken, had been Kayl's only defense against his shame.
  	  "Where did you find that?"
 	   Kayl's question couldn't have been more telling of his guilt, and he truly had no reason to ask it.  He knew the answer.
 	   "I found it on a shelf, it was hidden behind another book."
  	  Kayl nervously laughed, "Yes well, books do belong on shelves don't they?"
  	  Twilight didn't laugh, nor did she smile.  She clearly didn't find the joke humorous.
 	   "Yes, but this is a very special book.  I could tell it was special when I had finished sorting the books, and I remember placing this book on top of a stack with the rest of the books we received from the library."
 	   Kayl's wall of defense was crumbling, weakening with each mortar that Twilight sent his way.
  	  Twilight placed her hoof on the book cautiously, "Did you move the book there?"
  	  Kayl paused for a moment.  Despite how much he would have gained from deceiving them, he couldn't resist her.
  	  "Yes..."
 	   Twilight took a deep breath, "This morning you were asking about Star Swirl the Bearded.  Did you know that Star Swirl the Bearded kept this journal?"
 	   Kayl could barely speak above a whisper, "Yes..."
 	   Twilight's eyes narrowed in on Kayl, with fire burning behind them.  Each word Twilight pushed out was filled with shock and disappointment.
 	   "Did you read this journal?"
 	   Kayl stammered, unwilling to answer to his crime, "Well I mean, it's a very confusing book..."
 	   Twilight slammed her hoof on the book.  As she did, the shimmer on the book's cover gave a spark of light.  Twilight shouted her question again.
 	   "Did you read this journal, Kayl!?"
 	   Kayl was broken.  He had come back to Ponyville hoping to be received as a friend.  Now he felt as a criminal.  Perhaps he had committed a crime, wishing to be an illegal immigrant to Equestria.
 	   Kayl's breath shook as he forced his confirmation out from his lips.
    "Twilight, let me explain..."
    Kayl's words were drowned out next to the flood of Twilight's anger.
    "Kayl!  Do you have any idea what this book contains?  Listen, Star Swirl the Bearded met a traveler from another world.  A world of bi-pedal creatures, where there is no magic!  This journal contains a spell that could very well send you home!  This may very well be the one answer to sending you home!  Why in all of Equestria would you go and hide it?"
    Kayl shrugged, "Well, I mean, there's no guarantee that it would work right?"
    Twilight shrieked, "Kayl!  What the hell is wrong with you?  How in all of Celestia's name am I supposed to help you return home if you take possibly the only piece of evidence that might help us and hide it away!  Thank goodness I was able to see the shimmer of the title from behind the other book, or else I might never had noticed it!"
    Kayl's mind jumped from place to place, and it suddenly lurched into defensive mode.
    "Yes well," Kayl spoke without thinking, "Why were you looking through the books anyway!?  Just trying to find something to get me in trouble?"
    Twilight's reaction was filled with confusion and disbelief, but also pain.
    "For your information, Kayl," Twilight fumed behind gritted teeth.  "I was so excited about the idea you might be going to get a book about Star Swirl the Bearded that I was combing through my older books to see what ones I might not have!"
    Kayl stammered to apologize, but Twilight didn't want to hear it.
    "How dare you insinuate that I have some kind of ulterior motive to hurt you!  How can you think like that after last night!  After this morning!?  Do you think this is a game?  That if I keep myself busy long enough that you'll have some reason to hate me!?"
    Kayl gasped and shook his head, "No, it's not like that!  I want to be your friend! I am your friend!  Please don't be mad!"
    Twilight slammed a hoof on the table, "Then why did you hide this!?"
    Suddenly, a new fear came over Kayl.  More than hurting Twilight, he wondered how deeply he had dug his grave.  He had delighted so greatly in the prospect of remaining in Equestria.  Now, perhaps it was clear that Twilight was not going to abide by that.  Even if she would have before, she would not now.
    Kayl's four knees quaked, and Twilight stood there firmly. She was waiting for her answer patiently, and Kayl couldn't speak.  And for a moment, Twilight might have appeared to be softening her tone.  But Kayl was over come by fear.
    With a flash he had turned and bolted out of the door, slamming through the door with his hooves.  From behind him he heard Twilight calling after him, but he neither heard what she said, nor cared to stop.  He had to run, running was all he could think about, not his guilt or shame, not his desires to stay in Equestria.  Not friendship or the lessons he had learned.
    As he ran through the darkening streets of Ponyville, by chance he happened to stumble past five other familiar faces.  Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie had all been strolling through town together.  Kayl blew past them as they all turned and called out to Kayl.
    From behind them, Kayl could hear Twilight calling to them.
    "Stop Kayl!" Was all he could hear, and his heart quickened and his panic rose.
    He tried to duck through side ways, but he was unfamiliar with the lay out of the city.  Soon enough, he was backed into an alley.  As he turned to make his escape, the six ponies he had called friends had surrounded him.
    "Listen sugar cube, calm down alright? What's got you all excited?" Applejack's calm voice did very little relax Kayl's nerves.
    Rainbow Dash kept a position above, ready to dive on Kayl if he tried to escape by air no doubt.
    "Hey slick, if I knew you wanted to race, you should have said something!"
    Kayl laughed, "No, I don't think I could beat you in a race." Sweat beat down his head as his eyes turned from one pony to another.
    Twilight stamped a hoof, "Kayl!  This is gone far enough! What is wrong with you!?"
    Rarity put a hoof on Twilght's shoulder, "Twilight, whatever is going on?  Would you please explain it to us?"
    Twilight took a deep breath, and calmly explained.
    "Kayl found a book that contains an answer to send him back home..."
    There was a great amount of cheering amongst the other ponies, all except for Twilight and Kayl.
    "Yes, but then he hid the book in a shelf in hopes that I wouldn't find it!"
    The others scratched their heads in confusion, suddenly also perplexed by these turn of events.
    "Kayl, why on earth would you want to hide the one thing that could send you home?"  Fluttershy walked softly to Kayl.  It was that soothing glow from Fluttershy that broke him down.
    "Enough alright!  I hid the book!"
    Kayl screamed out as tears started to stream down his face.
    "I found the book last night after Twilight went to sleep!  I hid the book because I didn't want Twilight to find it, it's true!"
    Kayl panted and shook his head, "I didn't want anyone to find it, because..."
    It took all of his strength to force out his words, "Because I don't want to leave..."
    There was a great gasp around him. His crimes were now clear.  But something just as amazing happened.
    "Kayl," began Twilight quietly, "Why didn't you just tell us that?  I thought you wanted to return home."
    Kayl laughed weakly and shook his head.  He stood up tall, ready to defend and fight for his new found friendship.  He wasn't going to be deterred, and if this was where he was taken down for his desire, then so be it.
    "I did, when I first got here I couldn't think of any world where I wouldn't rather be than Equestria.  But that's different now! You six, six amazingly wonderful friends, have melted my heart.  You taught me the magic of friendship in a way that I had never known it before!
    And I've fallen in love with each of you, and this world!  This whole world is wondrous!  Everything about it is a glorious gem of life and friendship.  Love and harmony are ever present wherever I turn!  I'm overwhelmed, and I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be?"
    Applejack chuckled, "Well you're mighty considerate, Kayl.  We think you're rather great too!"
    Twilight shook her head, "But Kayl, are you sure about this?  What about your home?  Your friends?  You'd be abandoning them all?  Is that really what you want?"
    Kayl turned to Twilight, "What home? What friends?  Twilight, in my world I have no friends, and my house is just a place I stay.  Not to mention that at this moment, I don't think too many people would miss me if I didn't return."
    There was a gasp amongst them, with Pinkie Pie's being loudest.
    "But we would miss you!  You are a great party animal!"  Pinkie Pie whimpered helplessly.
    Kayl laughed, "Yes, and I would miss you all too.  So, why shouldn't I stay then?"
    There was a great amount of murmuring from the others.  None could quite come up with an answer to that.  Twilight however was quiet, listening intently to Kayl.  Only now did she speak.
    "Kayl, I think you're being to brash.  For starters, you shouldn't worry about the party with your work mates.  You might have to work harder to be friends with them, but it's never too late to be friends!  Why, when I went to earth, Sunset Shimmer had spent all of her time trying to hurt others, and I'm sure she would find a way."
    Kayl shook his head, "I'm not so sure about that, besides. Have you actually returned to Earth since then?  Are you sure Sunset Shimmer is making friends?"
    Twilight shook her head, "I haven't returned, but there are plenty of cases where ponies here have been able to make a new start!  Why couldn't you?"
    Kayl sighed, "I think the situations are different.  Even if I could, people in my world aren't as willing to want to be friends as ponies are here."
    Applejack shrugged, "I don't know about that.  There are plenty of ponies who don't want to be friends.  But, I guess we all do get along.  Don't people get along in your world?"
    Kayl shook his head harshly, "No they don't!  There's war, hatred, and bigotry everywhere!  Everyone is filled with greed and even I had fallen to their level.  The truth is, I don't want to go back..."
    Twilight scratched her chin, "This world is not so much greater than your world.  Sure, this world has magic.  But your world has great scientific marvels.  It has such creativity and imagination!"
    Kayl laughed, "Yes, but you don't know the atrocities that our people have done!"
    Twilight nodded her head, "Yes I do, when I visited earth, I took time to study your people.  I learned about a great many things that happened in your world.  And, I admit, it's not something I would want to see happen here."
    Rainbow Dash landed next to Twilight, "You never told us anything about Earth..."
    Twilight shook her head, "No, I believed that information should stay there.  I admit Kayl, your world has some horrible past times.  But it does have something that this world doesn't..."
    Kayl cocked his head to one side, "What's that?"
    Twilight sighed, "In your world, people can do any number of things they want.  They can be good at so much!  They can get tired of doing one thing, and work on doing something else.  They're so diverse!"
    Kayl laughed, "Twilight, you're all the most diverse group I've ever met!"
    "Yes," admitted Twilight with a smile, "But our destinies are tied to our cutie marks.  Everything we are surrounds them, and it defines what we are to an extent."
    Kayl looked back at his flank, "But I don't even have one, so what does that mean? That I couldn't stay here because I don't have a destiny?"
    Twilight scratched her chin in thought, "I had thought about that.  Because you're certainly talented Kayl.  But, where we're all talented in one thing or another, you are talented in many areas!  And no, that doesn't mean you're perfect.
    But what it does mean is that you have so many talents that it would be hard to say what your cutie mark could be.  So then I thought, 'What if you don't have a cutie mark for a reason?'  and it clicked!"
    Twilight smiled and looked at her own cutie mark, "I'm not saying I don't love who I am, but the talent you have to be good at anything you put your mind to?  Kayl, you have a cutie mark, I think.  The cutie mark is blank, because you don't have to let anything define you!  And would you want to give that up?"
    Kayl shook his head, "I don't, but I don't care if I don't get a cutie mark either.  I stopped caring about that as soon as I spoke to Princess Celestia today."
    Pinkie Pie jumped up and cheered, "Then he gets to stay!?"  Pinkie smiled brightly at Twilight, looking for her approval.
    Twilight sighed, giving a weak smile from Pinkie Pie to Kayl.
    "Kayl, I don't know if you're making the right choice.  But at the same time, I suppose I can't be sure you're making the wrong choice.  But, you have to make this choice carefully."
    Twilight pulled out The Journal of Star Swirl the Bearded, "According to this journal, if you can not call earth your home, then the spell will not work.  Once you are sure and make this choice, you may never get a chance to change it.  Are you sure you have no reason to want to go back?  What about your family?"
    Kayl's breath stuttered at the mention of his family, "My family?  You mean my mother and father?"
    Perhaps they would have missed him, Kayl would admit.  Perhaps there might even be others who would miss having him around.  But as he thought of his family, he thought of the words his mother told him when he was much younger.
    "The most important thing is that you're happy Kayl, wherever you go after that is up to you."
    Kayl smiled and nodded at Twilight, "Everyone, I'm sure.  I can think of no better place to call home then here..."
    There was a great amount of cheering amongst the others, and even Twilight had to admit her defeat.
    "Well," Twilight said, putting the book away, "I suppose the only thing left is..."
    Kayl smiled and nodded, waiting for Twilight to finish her sentence.  She stood there with a smile on her face, mouth open and ready to speak.  She was still, and the more Kayl looked at her, the more Kayl found it odd that she was standing so perfectly still.
    Then his eyes were diverted, not only Twilight, but everyone had fallen silent.  They were all still, even Pinkie Pie who had frozen in mid air.  Rainbow Dash had just launched from the ground, but had frozen mid flight.  Suddenly, Kayl became frighteningly aware that everything had stopped moving.
    "Embrace the light Kayl."
    Kayl first felt the shock of pain to his chest.  Something burning inside of him, a pain greater then he had ever felt.  It gripped at his chest and threw him to his four knees.  As Kayl looked around for the source of the voice he saw from the end of the alley a dark smoke seeping down the alley.
    "Kayl, it is time to leave this place."
    Kayl turned, now aware that Princess Luna was standing near by.
    "Princess Luna!  Wait! I don't want to leave!  What's going on?  Why is the darkness taking me?"
    Princess Luna made no movement, her lips merely repeated again, "Embrace the light Kayl."
    Kayl began to cry as the shadows crawled farther into the alley.  And then, with a whisk of movement, Applejack vanished.
    "No! Applejack!" Kayl cried out, but the pain in his chest was growing.  The pain was so great, he began to hear sounds.  Beeping, yelling, crying, and a great amount of commotion all at once.  And before Kayl could even begin to contemplate it.  Soon Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie were all taken by the shadow.  Each smiling and laughing just as they had when Kayl was sure he had found eternal happiness.
    "Please! Princess Luna make this stop!  I don't want to go!  I want to stay here, please don't send me away!"
    Princess Luna did not answer.  Soon the shadow took her as well, and she was gone.
    Kayl scrambled towards Twilight, reaching out to grab on to her.  She was cold to the touch, but Kayl wrapped his limbs around her, trying desperately to hold on to his first friend.
    "Please Twilight, do something!  Please save me from this!  I don't want to go yet!"
    But she could not answer.  She was wearing the same pleasant smile she had before, but Kayl noticed that deep in her eye, Twilight had begun forming a tear.  Kayl began to cry into Twilight's shoulder, but soon nothing was left to support him, and he fell to the ground.
    All around Kayl, there was darkness.  His pain was immense, the noises grew louder, and Kayl could \only weep helplessly.
    "Please! No!  I don't want to go!  I want to stay!  Please, don't let me go!  Mom please!"
    And then, there was nothing.  Darkness had completely enveloped Kayl, and he could not see even his own limbs.  The pain Kayl had once felt, pain immeasurable, had now subsided.  And all of the commotion that he had heard.  The screaming, crying, and beeping that he had heard were all gone.  All except one.
    The high pitched endless tone of a heart monitor, and its patient who had breathed its last.
> The Final Lesson
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	 "That was mine."
    Kayl had barely heard the words.  In his drunken state, he wasn't sure if he had simply imagined it or if he had said it and didn't realize.  Kayl looked around the cramped room of his house, and realized quickly that he wasn't alone.  Barbara was standing in the doorway.
    "You don't remember?  That mirror was a gift from my grandparents, and..."
    Kayl nodded, "You gave it to me as a moving in gift.  Yes, I remember...
    Kayl took another drink from his bottle, by now he had forgotten what he had been carrying.  Ever since the party ended he hadn't thought of anything else.  Kayl pointed the bottle in his hand lazily towards Barbara.
    "You were always giving me things.  It pissed me off..."
    Barbara laughed and shook her head, "I know, but you never said no.  At least you were gracious enough to not throw it away."
    Kayl looked around his room, it was the same.  Nothing had changed, and as far as Kayl knew, he had been standing in front of a mirror.  For how long, he did not know.  He couldn't recall much of what had passed.
    "D*** Kayl, you're drunk as hell..."
    Kayl looked back to Barbara and laughed, "I don't even know what you're talking about.  This is only my first bottle!"
    Barbara walked over and took the bottle from Kayl's hand.
    "Yeah, your first bottle of Vodka!  Kayl, this thing is almost empty.  Honestly, you're going to hurt yourself if you're not careful."
    Kayl reached over to take the bottle back, but Barbara refused, instead offering her arm.
    "Not right now, I think we need to talk."
    Kayl sputtered and lazily swung his body around, "Talking is for weirdos!"
    Barbara led Kayl out of the room.  In his state, he was unable to really put up much of a fight.
    "Well then we are a couple of weirdos Kayl.  But I think we should talk anyway."
    Carefully, Barbara helped Kayl down the steps.  The house was a mess.  Plates of food were still left around, reminders of the party that went so terribly.  Barbara and Kayl walked past it all, grabbing Kayl's keys, wallet, and leaving the house all together.
    Barbara's car was parked outside, a light blue Toyota Prius.  Comparatively, Kayl drove around his much more powerful Ford Taurus.  Barbara had always been the more Eco friendly of the pair, and Kayl had always said it was the one reason they had never dated.
    "Where are we going?" Kayl muttered out through slurred tones.
    "We're going for a drive.  Don't worry about where we end up, because right now you and I have something much more important to talk about."
    Kayl groaned as he opened up Barbara's passenger side door.  Trusting in the instincts of his body, he miraculously made it into the car without a great incident.  Barbara walked over to the other side and go into the driver's seat.
    "Buckle up."
    Kayl mumbled something about Barbara being a pain and made to pull down the seat belt, but after several failed attempts, Kayl merely forgot about it.  Soon, they were on the road.
    "So, what should I talk to you about first?  Do you want to know where we're going, or do you want to know why I came back?"
    Kayl shrugged, "I suppose I'd rather talk about the weather.  It's a nice night out..."
    "Fine, be that way," Barbara snapped back, but Kayl was busy lowering the window, "You should know that Beth and I have had a nice long talk."
    Kayl groaned at the thought, he was sober enough to realize how terrible it was that his girlfriend and his only real friend were conversing.  But as he was sure Beth didn't want to see him anymore, and Barbara probably didn't want to be friends now, Kayl couldn't find much to complain about.
    "What did you talk about?  How much you both hate me?"
    Barbara laughed, "Actually, that's not far off.  We both fumed about how much you ignore each of us.  At first, Beth didn't even want to talk to me, but you should thank me.  Because of me, Beth just might take you back if we can at least get you cleaned up.  Or if not, we could just make you look too pathetic to be left alone."
    Kayl chuckled weakly, "How happy for me, now I get to beg for forgiveness."
    Barbara shook her head, "Kayl, friends don't beg for forgiveness, they just give it and that's that."
    Kayl shook his head and smugly responded, "But I don't have any friends."
    Barbara looked over at Kayl, there was a pause in the conversation before Barbara looked back to the road and sighed.
    "Kayl, you know I've never talked to you about this.  I don't need to ask if you remember what happened in high school.  You've never let go of the fact that most of your friends abandoned you when you needed them.  And we both know that sucks.
    But you have let it take control of you.  Now you can't make close relationships with anyone, not even working friendships.  Honestly, if you didn't have me around, I'd doubt anyone would really want to talk to you."
    Kayl sighed, "I don't really care what people want to say to me.  Friendship don't mean anything, maybe all relationships are pointless.  Why should I bother if people end up just using each other?"
    "Kayl, when we were in high school, most of our friends wanted to come to your speech.  But some of them had other things that got in the way like homework, or they got distracted with a game or something.  It wasn't right, but afterward you were so butt hurt because of it that you refused to talk to any one of them."
    Kayl looked over at Barbara and gave her a raspberry.  Barbara smiled and shook her head.
    "You're always so childish when you're drunk."
    Kayl sighed, "They didn't want to talk to me either.  They were perfectly fine with letting the friendship end.  That just goes to show you how flimsy and frail it is."
    Barbara nodded, "Yes, you're right about that.  Friendship is frail, and all of your friends back then weren't willing to fight to keep it safe.  But you can't escape responsibility for the fact that you didn't try to protect it either!"
    Kayl leaned up and shook his head, "What was the point of fighting for friendship when you're the only one trying?"
    Barbara got quiet for a moment.  She reached up and wiped a tear quickly from her eye, "What the hell do you think I do with you!?"
    Kayl didn't respond, though if he had, it would probably had made the matter worse.
    "Kayl, d*** it.  I was so mad at you back then, and I'm honestly mad at you now.  But I'm your friend, whether you want to believe it or not you at least have one friend in this miserable world!  And it may sound naive, but I'm going to fight for our friendship no matter how badly you try to push me away.  That's what friends do!"
    For years, Kayl had often wondered if Barbara had realized that Kayl had no wish to be friends with Barbara  At times, he had convinced himself that Barbara was merely sticking around for the fun of it.  But clearly, Barbara was emotionally invested.  Kayl looked over to see Barbara watching the road, tears streaming from her eyes.
    "Why would you really want to be my friend even when I ignore you?  No one else would want to."
    Barbara laughed behind a faltering smile, "Well, I know I might seem crazy.  But despite being an asshole you're actually a pretty good friend."
    Kayl shook his head, "I'm just good at faking it..."
    "No you're terrible at faking it.  Let's start with the fact that you have always been honest with me."
    "Honesty?" Kayl mumbled, and he suddenly felt as if he was in a grove of apple trees. "I just told you I've been lying about being anyone's friends.  How is that honesty?"
    "Kayl," Barbara sighed, "That's what I mean, you've always been honest about how you feel about friendship.  But you could have lied and told me that you wanted to be friends and then faked it.  You're missing the point that with me, you're at least honest about your feelings, even though that's concerning to me.  Maybe I can't say the same about anyone else, but I appreciate it.  Besides, you're also pretty loyal to."
    "Loyalty?" Kayl mumbled, as the word sunk into his skull.  He felt as if his body was on air, fueled by Barbara's unwillingness to simply let Kayl go.
    "Kayl, I was one of your friends in high school.  And I gave you plenty of opportunities to simply leave, but you never did.  You always stuck around with me..."
    Kayl shook his head, "You were the only one who was there..."
    Barbara laughed, "Because I didn't have anything else going on.  That hardly makes me much better.  You know, most of us were so confident in you winning that silly school president race that we thought you would’ve done it all by yourself.  We forgot what loyalty meant, but when it came to me you didn't.
    Also, you might be surprised to hear this.  But you are unquestionably kind of heart."
    "Kindness?" Kayl sighed, and he felt a forest grow around him, surrounded by a blanket of his own emotions.  He had always thought that he deserved no praise, and wished for none.  Barbara was shattering walls down one by one.
    "Oh yes, as kind as any person could be as a friend.  You have never forgotten my birthday.  You were with me when my dad died.  And except for tonight, you have never let the situation between Beth and I keep us from hanging out.  You always know what to get me as a gift, and I never have to ask.  You may think that it's just a game you play, but I know you don't do it that well with anyone else.  Oh, and since we're on the topic of gifts, why don't we talk about your generosity?"
    "Generosity?" Kayl felt himself sink into warm water, and all of the guilt and shame of the night was washing away.
    "You give more of your time and money to other people then most people I know.  Why do you do that?"
    Kayl shook his head, "I don't have any need for money..."
    Barbara laughed, "That's just not true.  You like to help people.  You like to make them happy.  So you do things for people.  Oh sure, you can tell yourself that in the end you get something out of it, that it's all a big game to you.  
But generous people may have motives of their own, the point is that you always give.  If the worse thing that can be said about that is that people help you in return, that still makes you a great person.  Besides, you're always good to give people a laugh when they're feeling down?"
    "Laughter?" Kayl said with a snicker, "So I am a big joke then?"
    Barbara laughed, "No, it means you like to make other people feel good about themselves.  You know what everyone says at these parties you throw?  They always tell me how much fun you are to work with.  People say that if you weren't as entertaining to be with as you are, they'd never come to your parties.  I've heard some tell me that they give up family get togethers to be at your parties."
    Kayl laughed, it was probably the funniest joke he had heard all night.
    "Neighborly of them isn't it?"
    Barbara laughed, "Kayl, each and every one of them brings things for your parties.  They bring you booze, food, and whatever they can bring.  You may be lieing to them, and you may not trust them, but for someone who hates friendship, you certainly act like one really well."
    Kayl shrugged, there was a silence in the car for a lingering moment.
    "So what?  Why can't I just live like that?"
    Barbara nodded, "It's worked really well for you for a while hasn't it?  But the problem is that while you're able to act like a friend, you won't trust anyone like a friend.  You close yourself off and at least with Beth, you don't open up your feelings. You avoid confrontations that get into your personal life, you usually try to change the subject.  Thankfully you're drunk, so you can't really fight me off."
    Kayl snickered, "So where are you taking me then?"
    Barbara paused for a moment, "I'm taking you to see Beth."
    Kayl choked and looked at Barbara, "I don't want to see Beth like this!"
    Barbara shook her head, "Kayl, you are going to talk to Beth; you're going to tell her you love her and you want her to move in; and you're going to explain that you have been an ass.  I have been on the phone with her for over an hour to try and make things better, and you are not ruining your life just so you can continue to be alone.  Or do you like being drunk and alone in your house when the party is over?"
    Parties, Kayl finally realized how much fun they are.  He thought of cakes, and streamers, and suddenly he wanted to have more parties.  He wanted to have parties with many people over.  Good times, laughs, and people being sincere with each other.  What he wanted was everything friendship stands for, but he didn't want people to care about him.
    Kayl let tears stream down his face, reluctantly crying in front of Barbara.
    "I don't want to go see Beth.  She deserves better.  So do you Barbara.  I guess I just wish I had realized how much I needed you sooner..."
    Barbara looked over at Kayl.  For a moment in time, Barbara pitied Kayl more than anything.  Here was a man who in every way wanted to have friends, but didn't want to show them his heart.  Barbara reached out and placed a hand on Kayl's shoulder, and for the first time, Kayl wanted to go back to being friends again.
    And then there was the sound of a horn.
    Barbara looked back to the road to see another car streaming out of control, she barely had time to avoid it as she turned hard on the wheel.
    Kayl flew from one side of the car to the other, and grasped at anything he could to get back in his seat.  He could barely see anything that was going on until he looked out of his open window.
    It was a light, bright and gloriously shining.  As the light bounced off of the wet road, it created rainbows of colors in Kayl's eyes.  It was the light that had taken him to Equestria.  And soon he would go on many adventures with Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie.  Names he had hardly heard before, and soon he would learn them as friends.  The light of Equestria was pulling him in.  But this light was not from Equestria.
    It was from an oncoming truck.  And as the two vehicles collided, Barbara screamed out and grabbed hold of Kayl as tightly as she could.
    The collision threw Kayl around, contorting his body this way and that.  He lurched forward, just as he had done when he traveled to Equestria.  And the worse pain he had felt as he traveled through the mirror, was the same pain that he felt as shoulder, leg, and neck were all broken in the accident.
    The car rolled, and Kayl hit his head several times, knocking him out quickly.  He did not feel himself fly from the car through the open window.  By the time he hit the ground, Kayl was just waking up in Twilight's living room.
    As Kayl was traveling to Canterlot as an alicorn, Ambulances had arrived and taken Kayl and Barbara from the wreck and taken them to the nearest hospital.  Barbara was beat up badly, but she continued to scream and cry out for Kayl.  Kayl's human body was in a second ambulance.  He was bleeding profusely, he had a severe concussion and multiple injuries.  He was wounded in several spots, and it was a miracle he had not been decapitated during the crash.
    In Equestria, Kayl could barely learn to fly or use magic.  On earth, Kayl was lying in a comma in the hospital.  Doctors kept Kayl constantly medicated as they performed emergency surgery, staunched bleeding, and prayed that Kayl would be able to recover.  His wounds would soon be staunched, but Kayl's brain damage had left Kayl severely incapacitated.
    As Kayl finally learned the true value of friendship from Twilight and her friends, doctors had discovered the damage to Kayl's body was too severe, and the only way for him to be kept alive was by life support.  Months ago, Kayl had signed a Do Not Resuscitate agreement.  Kayl believed that if it was his time, he should pass on.  There was nothing else to do.
    And so his life support was stopped.  As Barbara shouted and screamed for the doctors to ignore the DNR agreement, Beth cried and sobbed next to Kayl's body.  Kayl's parents had been notified, but were out of state and were busy rushing to the airport to catch a plane.  And Kayl, finally at peace, realized how much friendship meant to him.
    Now, you may be confused, or angry, or perhaps you are sad.  Certainly it is a tragic ending to Kayl's life, that at his last hour of life, he would finally learn how much friendship meant to him.
    You may remember at the beginning of this tale, I explained that this was a story about a man who would learn a valuable lesson about friendship.  As we saw, Kayl learned many lessons about friendship, many that you and I might already know.  But this story was written so that you may learn a valuable lesson about friendship.  The one lesson Kayl learned far too late.
    Life is fleeting and friendship is frail.  You must always take care of your friendships, and be willing to work hard to maintain them.  But most importantly, I hope you learn this one thing.  When you are wondering if you should tell your friends how much they matter, or if you wonder when you should show them that you care?
    Don't wait.