Prologue: A glimpse of the past

Prologue

“What is the past but a story to be told to the children, a lesson so that they might learn from our mistakes?”

Unification +50 Years

Lights flickered in their sconces as the cloaked figure made his way down the corridor, the sound of hooves clacking on the crystalline floor echoing all around. After walking for what seemed like an hour the corridor widened into an enormous cavern more than a hundred meters across and curved upwards in a dome just as high. The corridors exited into the cavern from halfway up the dome forming a bridge towards a central platform. Four thrones populated the platform surrounding a large unadorned circular table.

The domed ceiling swirled with representations of the sky above. On its surface pinpricks of light could be seen moving around in relation to their real world counterparts, the stars that made up the night sky. The entire multitude of stars that dotted the night sky was represented here. From the birth of the newest to the death of the oldest, the stars and their nebulas could be seen in real time from within the cavern.

A complete disk of the purest white sat at the zenith of the dome marking the position of the moon. Shadows formed by the craters marred the surface and every small detail could be seen, from the Valley of the Tribes to the Lunar Observatory. Around the very edge of the cavern a thin band of blazing light, broken only by the entrances of the four corridors, marked the waiting sun.

Underneath the represented sky clouds rolled covering the dome in patches. Along the eastern entrance a miniature storm could be seen brewing, foreboding clouds rolling towards the centre of the cavern with sheet lightning flashing periodically. Just north of the centre a mass of white clouds resisted against the simulated motions of the air currents, the beginning of a new cloud city in the infancy of construction. On a solitary cloud in the west quarter pooled the waters of a rainbow spilling down towards the ground and evaporating into mist ten meters from the ground.

Upon the ground lay a multitude of environments. The deserts to the south bore rolling dunes of sand, craggy rock formations protruding from the surface in a haphazard manner, their tips windswept into sharp points. To the far north the ice fields blew in a blizzard, the flat chilled surface of the tundra holding no landmarks bar one. A kingdom of crystal sat in the very centre of the wasteland pulsing with warming light at a constant rate, all the effects of the snow negated by an invisible shield. This wasteland of snow petered out into a taiga filled sporadically with tall coniferous trees before melding to a temperate forest.

The east bore plains of tall grass dotted with trees and water holes, a river running in a drunken diagonal the only thing to mar the constant landscape. Continuing to the east wall the plains gave way to rocky outcrops and at the furthest point mountains began to form. To the far west a beach of shimmering blue waves and sun-bleached sand stood blackened by the simulated night. A rippling image of the moon mirrored onto the surface of the water. The beach gave way to mangroves and wetlands the rivers and tributaries fed by the ocean. This in turn gave way to a tropical forest of emerald green.

All biomes eventually gave way to a ring of hilly countryside that made up the centre of the dome’s floor. Lush green hills marked with the occasional gorge and mountain was the main feature. The centrepiece of this dome was a mountain towering above the landscape seemingly untainted with the marks of construction. To the immediate north of this mountain lay a small forest, a clearing could be seen with the beginnings of construction of a palace.

The figure gave a content sigh while gazing upon the wonders of the room. The tribes had done a marvellous job replicating the land of Equestria within the cavern. He continued his journey across the bridge to the centre platform and took seat upon the western throne, joining the two mares and stallion sitting and waiting.

“About time you got here,” muttered the unicorn mare sitting on the southern throne, “We were beginning to think you got lost traversing the straight corridor to get here.”

“Oh leave him be,” said the crystal pony mare sitting on the northern throne, “You only got here a few minutes ago so you are one to talk.”

“If we could get this meeting to order,” demanded the pegasus stallion, “I have important tasks at hoof that also need to be attended.”

“Seconded,” commented the late coming earth pony stallion, “I would like to get this meeting underway, I believe there is much to discuss?”

“Firsts things first,” interjected the crystal pony, “Tradition cannot be forsaken just because we are all busy. Names ranks and the pledge first, then we can get down to business.”

“I’ll begin,” exclaimed the Pegasus, “Fleeting Winds, Grand Marshal of the Pegasi Forces, and we pledge to the unity of Equestria lest we bring havoc to the skies above us.”

“Shimmering Dusk,” said the unicorn, “Arch Mage to the Unicorn High Council, and we pledge to the unity of Equestria lest the magic which flow through this land desert us.”

“Red Vine,” said the earth pony, “Chief Productions Officer for the Earth Pony Governance, and we pledge to the unity of Equestria lest the ground on which we walk reject us.”

Finally the crystal pony spoke. “Garnet Wonders, Advisor to the Crystal Kingdom, and we pledge to the unity of Equestria lest the love we have for each other fester into hatred.”

“With respective regions introduced and pledged,” said Dusk, “I retired the position and hand the leadership of this meeting to Red.”

“Thank you Dusk,” said Red, “And with that I bring the tenth successive unified council to order. Down to business and the first point of discussion is the future of crop productions of the land. The five year period between now and our last meeting saw the introduction of the crystal ponies into our family. As you are all aware this had the effect of straining our resources to capacity to produce enough food. As a side effect the emergency stocks will be reduced for the next five years whilst stores are refilled. Also census data for all ponies will need to be delivered before the year is out so that we may plan accordingly to avoid emergency rationing…”

And so the meeting continued with discussions back and forth about the state of Equestria and the plans for the future. Winds’ was looking to expand the borders of the land utilising the unicorn’s affinity for diplomacy. Dusk told of the unicorns unlocking more and more power through devoted researchers to which Red raised concerns about the safety should experiments go awry. And then came the time for Garnet to take the stand.

“If you don’t already know once in a generation there is a crystal pony whose abilities are unparalleled. For the kingdoms safety these ponies are isolated and taught to utilise this gift for the purpose of insight. These ponies are moulded in the perfect tool of peace for our people. And upon their deathbed when the next heir to this responsibility is chosen they may gain glimpses into the future.”

“Yes we know this already,” grumbled Fleeting Winds, “Why are you telling us what we already know?”

“What you don’t know is that these visions are the seer talking with a future seer upon their own deathbed. I am telling you this because not a fortnight ago our seer passed away giving us our once in a lifetime glimpse into the future. As with all glimpses a timeframe cannot be established and as with all previous predictions they have come to pass.”

“And what was seen?”

“A period of peace and harmony with life in Equestria flourishing.”

“So what’s the problem then, why do you sound so concerned?” queried Dusk.

“Because this was not all that was seen… Beyond this peace was seen a short period of fear and then nothing as if the seer was just gone.”

“Has this happened before, has there been a time without the seer?”

“Well no even before the crystal unification when we were still very herd-like there was always an elder among the herd that had the abilities, although tamer, that our seer does in one form or another.”

“That does not bode well then,” commented Red, “Was there any more to the vision?”

“Yes there was, the darkness parted with a monumental love that trumped a great evil, but with it fear and strife continued in a new form. One that threatened a race alone and at the same time all races combined, one that threatened the return of the Windigos and something similar.”

“Were there any clue to the cause?” asked Dusk.

“Yes a group of beings that kept the balance of emotions in check, it is hard to theorise with this information being so new, usually it would take months to analyse all the entirety of the vision. It seems that an imbalance of some sort occurs, again we can only theorise but we predict that a last hope type of drastic action is taken with the result ending in some sort or confrontation.”

“And a solution?”

“We don’t know, the vision isn’t always clear, no path of direct action could be seen to avoid this and even if we could we have never been able to alter the outcomes. We theorise that the unclear path is because of the darkness we saw but we have no way of being sure.”

“Well there must be something we can do,” shouted Wings, “Can’t we kill the current seer to gain another vision maybe one of what we need to do?”

“You would kill a foal,” condescended Dusk, “For the sake of a vision you would kill a foal that has only been conceived two weeks ago. Such an act is cowardly and would reveal no relevant data.”

“But we have to do something we can’t just sit here and do nothing.”

“We could let it happen,” remarked Garnet, which received a round of ‘WHAT’ from the other ponies. “Just hear me out what if we treated this like an unexpected natural disaster. We try to minimize the damage after the fact as we won’t be able to stop this from happening.”

“And how to you propose we do that?” questioned Wings.

“Outside help,” said Dusk, her voice rising in tone as though having a great epiphany. “We call on the help of a being not of this land.”

“And why would we do that, you should just let the pegasi take charge to ride this one out.”

“No it is obvious that this problem is based in magic, as is our land and everything that resides within it. All of us united are linked to magic from birth through one form or another. As such we need somepony or, dare I say, something outside of this land to learn our ways, to help us and if need be to lead us.”

“And just how do you plan on doing that? It’s not as if we can just reach into somewhere that isn’t here and ask somepony to help us.”

“Why not, it would take but a spell, a very complex and specific spell but a spell none the less.”

“I’m not happy with this idea,” grumbled Wings, “But I can’t seem to come up with a better idea short of killing a foal.”

“Then is it decided?” asked Red, “Are we in agreement that we need this outside help?”

Four reluctant ‘ayes’ came from the participants of the council. The vote was unanimous.

“Then as head of this council so shall it be, in addition to their duties to raise the sun and the moon the Arch Mage and her unicorns shall research this spell. Help in this endeavour shall be provided by the Advisor and her crystal ponies. In the meantime the Grand Marshal and his pegasi shall watch over us. The earth ponies and myself will keep the people fed. As all points of order have been discussed I hereby bring this council to a close. May Equestria remain united until next we convene.”

“And for a long time after.” Came three replies, and with that the tenth unified council of the pony tribes was brought to a close.

Prologue: The death of Noah

View Online

Prologue

”Is death truly the end, or is it a chance to become something greater?”

Unification +60 Years

“And will this spell work?” asked Red Vine, his voice echoing around the cavern in which they held their meetings, “Will it find the being we need and bring them to us?”

“Yes,” replied Shimmering Dusk, “After a decade of work the spell is finally ready although we cannot be sure of its results.”

“And why not,” demanded Fleeting Winds.

“Because it has not and will never be tested beyond this day. For the safety of all Equestria this spell is not written down, as a part of the requirement all knowledge of the spell will be eradicated upon its casting, it cannot be replicated.”

“Is this by design?” asked Garnet Wonders.

“Yes, I designed this spell specifically to be used only once before all knowledge of it purged and lost to time. There are, however, a few drawbacks to its use… The first is that a large portion of land will be thoroughly decimated in the process, the magic expended on initial casting will cause monumental damage.”

“Easily avoided,” said Winds, “There is a desert far south and east of our fair lands that barely hold water let alone life. The land might even benefit from such an expense of magical energies.”

“You would so happily let entire swathes of land become decimated?” asked Red angrily.

“I would if it kept our Equestria safe,” retorted Winds in a similar tone.

“And you two have no problem allowing this to happen?” demanded Red.

“If it kept our country safe,” began Garnet, “well into the future then it is an acceptable price to pay, I am not happy with it but it must be done.”

“The land will recover, it will just take a little longer that’s all,” consoled Dusk, placing a hoof across Red’s shoulders.

After a few minutes of quiet contemplation Red finally spoke up, “I am not happy with this but I see no other choice in the matter, I just hope no unforseen harm comes from our actions.”

“I acknowledge your reluctance but this is not the only problem with the spell,” said Dusk, “aside from the damage to the land the spell itself maintains intelligence enough to choose correctly when to actually activate, it may happen right away or it may happen towards the end of the timeframe of the vision, a thousand or so years in the future maybe, I can’t be sure.”

“Any other surprises for us after this dramatic bombshell?” asked Wings.

“Yes. One more and it’s bad. The spell needs a lot of power to work, more than any unicorn could ever hope to muster. This spell requires the combined magic’s of unified tribes,” said Dusk solemnly, she let that last point sink in before continuing. “This spell is so complex it needs the magic of an earth pony to provide a solid connection to the ground and the magic buried beneath. It needs the magic of a pegasus to provide oversight throughout the entirety of the spell. It requires the concentration of a unicorn as a focal point to direct the spell and finally it needs the love of a crystal pony so that the choice made is the right one.”

“And you propose that we provide the magic required for this spell to work?” asked Red.

Dusk took a deep sigh before replying, “You always were a bright one, Red. Yes I propose that we four provide the power for this spell, our energies will help shape it and we may be able to guide it to the being we need. I trust nopony else to get this job done.”

“I’m in,” spoke Garnet in the softest voice, “My love for all ponies should be enough for this spell to work.”

“As am I,” declared Winds, “Let it be said that Fleeting Winds never backed down from impossible odds. Besides I always wanted to go down in history for something grandiose.”

“We might simply be forgotten not recorded, labelled as missing and nothing more,” commented Red, “But none the less count me in, you will not find an earth pony more stable than me.”

“Then let us make plans for the oncoming storm,” said Dusk, “Fleeting Winds, in two weeks and three days you need to arrange for transport for all four of us to this desert, from there we shall make a camp and prepare ourselves for the spell. It will take a lot of time to cast, two full days if I’m not mistaken, as such we shall need nourishment for this trek, Red, if you would be so kind as to organise provisions. Leave the rest to Garnet and myself.”

“Then if there is no more to be discussed,” said Garnet, “I call this the twelfth unified council to close. May Equestria remain united for a long time after our actions have passed.”

“And the gods know this pray will be needed,” replied Winds, and with that came the end to the twelfth and final unified council.

Earth Current Era

The wind ripped back the hood on the Noah’s jacket as he exited the lecture hall. He hoisted a backpack over his shoulder and began to run across the campus to his next exam. Glancing up at the sky he took note of the ominous clouds rolling in turmoil above him. Thunder roars overhead as a crack of lightning strikes, a rolling boom assaulting his eardrums no more than a second after the light faded.

As he paused to take a breath a nagging voice in the back of his mind criticised him for not being more active, for focussing too much on his studies and too little on his body. It’s not my fault, Noah reasoned to himself, the university life has made me soft. The truth lingered in his thoughts, years of study has left him with a weak body, but a mind alive with the buzz of number and the machinations of situations and fantasies.

A less hectic exam schedule in this final semester would have been welcomed by him. It would have been fair. But unfortunately the world had a different definition of fair, demanding his entire intelligence for the rare promise of success. In his first year dashing from one class to another wouldn’t have been a problem.

However four years of a sedentary lifestyle and the location of the classes at opposite ends of the campus were providing him a challenge. He could not help but wonder why life had played such a cruel joke at his expense, to have two of the most important exams just minutes apart, but located at what could have been the opposite ends of the earth.

Resting for a minute he gave himself the chance to take a deep breath, to rest his burning muscles and try to slow his racing heart. “The first thing I’m going to do when I graduate,” he mutters, “is join a gym.” He takes a moment to glance around at his place of respite.

A lamp post, he thinks, of all the places I could have stopped in a lightning storm I choose a lamp post. The situation is not lost on him as he begins to question his intelligence, thinking that his degree is further out of reach than he thought if he chose to take shelter under a lamp post. He goes to move on, to press further towards his next class, as he notices a peculiar sensation surrounding him that makes him stop.

The air around him was becoming charged, tingling sensations ran down his spine, spreading out from his core to his extremities, and the hair on his arms began to stand on end. He noticed dust particle appearing frozen in mid-air, no longer subjected to the wind that had been whipping up before. Where is the wind? He thought as he noticed not even a slight breeze ruffle his jacket.

There’s more, he thought suddenly. Looking up at the lamp posts he notices them start to glow brighter than before, as if the globes are being charged with more energy. He flinches as suddenly the lamp five posts in front of him explodes with glass showering down onto the path. A second later and the fourth lamp explodes in a brilliant firework, then the third.

The nagging voice is back in his head no longer berating his choice of lifestyle but instead at his inability to react. It is screaming at him to run, run very far away and not look back, but he can’t. He seems frozen to the spot, mouth agape at the lamp post, in wonder, maybe in astonishment? The lamp two posts away detonates, he recognises the emotion, fear.

The bulb in the lamp post right in front of him explodes. He shuts his eyes against the flash of light and throws his arms up in front of his face for protection. Slivers of glass from the bulb bite into his forearms, rivulets of blood form and trickling down dripping from his elbows onto the ground. The pain snaps his mind back to reality.

Recognising the peril he faces he turns to run, a moment too late as the bulb above him explodes showering him with sparks and glass. The sting of a thousand piece of shattered glass burying itself in his back and neck causes him to curl into his knees, crying out in pain.

The voice from before is back, but different, brash and demanding it asks him why he hasn’t run. Noah thinks his answer, Because it is braver to face the unknown head on. The questioning voice changes its tone again, in a softer voice it asks what he would give for love and admiration. He answers in his head, I would give just about everything I could.

The voice changes for a third time in a grounded voice asking for his thoughts on stability, Noah’s answer, A strong footing is required for the best step forward. The voice changes for a final time asking that if he could, would he do it all again, learn a subject like he had done so before and become a master in his own right. He think for a split second before a simple affirmation is given, he would do it all again.

No longer questioning his actions but instead telling him to stand and face what is coming. He complies and rises unsteadily to his feet, he can feel a change in the air again and as he looks around he takes in the wonder surrounding him. He can see everything as thought time slowed to a crawl.

All around the dust particles that hang in the air begin to glow, a luminescent tower begins to build from the ground to the heavens. The path just hangs there softly illuminating the space around itself. Sparks begin dancing from one speck to another. All around him the particles are doing the same things, each one creating a path to the clouds. Once again he casts his gaze skyward and sees, as if in slow motion, a wave of light coming down to claim him.

The light starts to envelop him cascading down over his head to his toes and in an instant a tug is felt from his feet. The energy front that will pulse skyward from the arc of lightning begins its ascent towards the stars, claiming the stranger’s life in the process.

He sees the atoms of his existence start to break apart as the energy moves up through his body, their bonds holding them together simply vanishing, and they are pulled to the clouds by the pulse. As the wave front reaches his chest the small voice can be heard again, soft, asking that if the chance was given to do it all again would he make any changes.

He smiles inwardly thinking that if the chance was given he would do it all again, the joy of learning was too great a feeling to simply let go, but, he thought, simpler would be nice. As the surge reached the top of his head the small voice starts again, soothing him, it sounds content with his answer. The final words in his mind are an acknowledgement of his answer being the absolute truth and as suddenly and as instantly as the lightning struck, he was no more.

Chapter 1: Of bravery and walking

View Online

Chapter 1

“Before you can run, you first need to walk.”

Canterlot Current Era Day of the Royal Wedding

Six mares stood bound and defeated, their heads hung low from the weight of their failures. The changeling queen had won, she had infiltrated the highest level of governance, she had bested Celestia herself in one of one combat, and she had routed the Bearers of Harmony in their endeavours to reach their beloved Elements.

From high up in the palace Chrysalis looked down upon the royal city of Canterlot, small fire burnt where houses fell. The initial wave of the attack had almost decimated the lower reaches of the city and badly damaged the upper regions. Not even the palace had been spared, scorch marks marred the once perfect marble and rubble littered the rooms and corridors.

Chrysalis thought that this was the most perfect ending to the invasion, the battle had been brief and clean-up had commenced immediately. Even now pockets of resistance were being sought out and incapacitated. Guards and civilians alike were being rounded up and take to the crystal chambers below the palace for processing. Her orders were clear casualties were acceptable but no fatalities.

But Chrysalis did not count on two things the first was the determination of Twilight Sparkle to see her brother and old foalsitter happy even for a fleeting moment. The second was the power of the love that the Captain of the Guard and the Alicorn of Love held for each other.

A spark shot forth from Twilight’s horn shattering the goo binding Princess Cadence, “Go to him,” she whispered.

With the last of her strength, bolstered by the hatred for the changelings for what they had done, Cadence stumbled over to her fiancé, nuzzling him gently. With that one simple gesture the spell of hypnosis that had been cast upon Shining Armour broke. Looking down into his beloved’s eyes he gave a faint smile and nuzzled her back.

A soft sigh escaped both of their lips, they leaned into each other and with every ounce of the love they had for each other formed a spell. Using her affinity for love Cadence channelled her energies to fill the spell with the power of love. With his knowledge of magical defence Shining Armour created a kinetic barrier, his target of choice the changelings.

Distracted by her flawless victory Chrysalis did not notice the humming of a spell powering up. Singing a song for her victorious day she was too distracted with her gloating to notice the impending danger. The humming loudened, droning out every other sound until it was impossible to be ignored.

Turning around Chrysalis’s eyes went wide at the sight of the happy couple together, “What are you two doing?” she screamed, lunging forward to break them apart. She managed to halve the distance between them before the spell cast, a wave of love seeking out and stripping away changeling disguises immediately before the kinetic barrier forcefully removed them from the city flinging them high and far.

In the distance towards the direction of Ponyville as the spell had been building an ominous cloud had taken shape. The blackest black against an empty sky, as the spell lightning forked from the edges of the cloud racing towards its centre.

As the individual branches of electricity reached the centre of the cloud a blast of light shot skywards from directly below the unnatural formation. As the heavens and the ground became connected a bolt of electricity shot downward. The already blinding light dimmed before pulsed brightly and then fading into nothing. The clouds dissipated as though they were never there, a scorched ground denoting the impact sight of the bolt of lightning.

Ponyville Current Era Day of the Royal Wedding

Blackness and then pain, flooding the mind of Noah, searing as though every nerve ending was on fire and every part of him torn to shreds then reassembled a thousand times over, unbearable, but quickly lessening. The voices in his head had stopped, replaced by a low buzzing of white noise. A disembodied voice spoke, but no words were intelligible, like the tones of 56k modem.

From the ground on which he lay Noah slowly began to stir, his ears twitched as the disembodied voice shouted once more. As his mind restarted he realised his lungs held no air. Gasping in a ragged breath and exhaling in a throaty sigh he heard the tell-tale sign of footsteps landing, like someone had just jumped backwards.

Again the shouting continued, albeit a little more subdued, until actual words could be heard. “Mister, Hey mister are you alright?” hollered the voice, soft in tone and volume like that of a small girl.

Suddenly Noah felt pressure on his spine, then nothing, then pressure again, like… like someone was jumping on my back, came the stark realisation. “Hey mister wake up,” shouted the voice again, this time a little louder and behind his head.

“Augh,” was Noah’s response, an unintelligible groan to signify his level of alertness to the situation.

“What was that?” asked the voice from behind him again, “I didn’t quite catch that.”

“I said Augh, and I feel like hell” whispered Noah in a hoarse voice, his mind still reeling from… from whatever happened. I must have done some damage to my throat, I sound like a bloody insect, he thought to himself.

“Well you don’t look so good,” said the voice, “your coat looks like it has been burnt off, your mane and tail are all tattered, and your horn and hooves have holes in them.”

“My what?” replied Noah, “what do you mean my horn and hooves?”

“Like I said, you have holes in your horn and hooves.”

“I know what you said I don’t have a horn or hoov… ARGH!” screamed Noah as he opened and then promptly shut his eyes, the sun blinding him for the fraction of a second he held them open. “Sweet Jesus that burns,” shouted Noah.

“Who’s Jesus?” asks the voice of the now white void.

“Who’s Jesus,” Noah repeated, “He’s the guy you blame whenever your luck turns good or bad in large quantities,” he said, his voice rife with sarcasm.

“Well it’s not his fault you looked at the sun now is it,” retorted the voice, Noah swore he could see a tiny tongue poking out at him, in his mind’s eye.

Noah tilted his head down, trying to shield his eyes from the sun with his brow, and slowly squinted, his eyes opening slower this time, letting them readjust to the light level at their own pace. As his sight slowly returned the colours started to overtake the shades of grey. Slowly, as though a veil was lifting, he took note of the dirt and cobblestone road he was laying on.

Feeling returning to his limbs, thousands of pinpricks rolling across his body as the nerve endings came alive, the pressure on his back solidified. The pressure moved up his back, his neck pressed into the ground slightly at the weight until it came to rest at what he thought was the top of his head.

Peering up for a moment he caught the sight of impossibly large and impossibly cute golden eyes looking down at him with wonder and astonishment. Tracing the shape of the eyes in his mind he took in the sight of the small muzzle beaming down at him, a short horn protruding through choppy blonde mane.

The golden eyes of the face above scanned over his own features, drinking in as much information as possible, emotive ears covered in the same powder purple coat as the rest of the face flicked every so often displaying what seemed to be fascination, confusion and sometimes fear and bravery.

“Something doesn’t seem quite right,” remarked Noah, his brain not yet catching onto the identity of the creature on top of his head.

“What’s not quite right?” asked the face above him, in sweet innocent voice.

“Well it’s just that there seems to be a small and impossible cute face of baby horse, or baby pony, laying on my hea…” his voice drifted off as the cogs in his brain finally meshed together and started turning in unison.

“What was that click?” asked the face.

Noah’s mouth hung agape, a soft sound of air escaping from his lungs in astonishment, slowly the soft whooshing of air became louder until a most horrified scream erupted from his lips. The face, not ready for the audible onslaught, clenched a pair of hooves over her ears. Unable to find a balance on his head the face, and the attached body, rolled forward off his head and landed on its back with a solid thump on the ground.

Unready to process the verbal assault and startled by the sudden fall to the ground the face began to pout slightly, its muzzle downturn, its eyes began to water, sniffles could be heard (if Noah had stopped screaming then sniffles could be heard) emanating from the face. Then with almost no other warning the bundle in front of him broke down into wails and sobs of terror.

Noah quickly shut his trap upon noticing the crying creature in front of him. Lowering his voice to a whisper he tried to comfort the small being. “I’m sorry for startling you,” he tried, “really, I’m so sorry, please stop crying, I didn’t mean for you to get frightened.”

The sobs from the small creature reduced down into whimpers and then sniffles. “I’m really sorry I frightened you,” repeated Noah, “But you just frightened me and I’m quite jumpy at the moment.”

“How could a filly as small as me frighten somepony as big as you?” asked the being.

“A filly, is that what you are?” a nod was received as affirmation, “Well I must admit that even the largest of us get frightened from time to time, anyone who say differently isn’t telling the whole truth.” He said in a comforting tone, adding a small smile at the end for good measure. His attempt to lift the spirits of the filly works a broad smile replacing the quivering lip of her muzzle.

Now smiling, the filly rolled over onto her front, picking herself up and dusting herself off, Noah took the a chance to see the filly in her entirety. The powder purple coat continued across her entire form, her blonde mane in a ragged cut finishes at her shoulders a long blonde tail accompanied the mane finishing just off the ground. In all, the filly stood no more than half a metre tall.

“My name is Dinky Doo,” said the filly, holding out her hoof for a shake, “What’s yours?”

“It’s very nice to meet you brave Dinky,” replied Noah, “And my name is No…” His voice trailing off as he notices his hand he raised to shake Dinky’s hoof. Noah’s mouth opened and closed several times with no sound coming out. Raised in front of him was not his regular hand attached to his regular arm, but a hoof, covered in black chitin and perforated by numerous holes.

“No, that’s an odd name, I know I already asked this but are you alright mister?” Dinky enquired once again.

Noah’s mouth hung agape once more for a second, a deep breath in was heard, a most frantic scream building in his throat. Looking upwards from his newly discovered hoof he spies Dinky’s bottom lip start to quiver again in anticipation of another verbal assault. Realising his scream may set the skittish filly off again he quickly jammed the hoof in his mouth before his scream could be expelled.

Focus on something else, he thought to himself, ask questions, indulge your inquisitive nature, and for god’s sake don’t focus on your sudden transformation. “What does the rest of me look like?” he asked, a hint of desperation leaking into his voice. Brilliant the one thing I told me not to focus on.

“Welllll,” said Dinky, drawing out the L to give herself more time to think, “You look like a Bug,” she exclaimed happily, “But you also look like the princesses, are you a princess?” she asked, her voice tinged with confusion.

“A bug,” Noah stated, “So six legs, triple segmented body, antennae, the whole lot?”

“Well no, four legs, like us ponies, I don’t know what triple means but your body looks like a regular ponies, well except for no fur and a hard shell, like a bugs.” As if to emphasise her point she took a step towards Noah and rapped her hoof on his upper forearm, a solid knock was heard.

“And how do I look like royalty?”

“Well the princesses have a horn and wings because they are alo-ala-, no that’s not right, alicorns, yes they are alicorns, and you have a horn and wings, so therefore you must be a princess,” she beamed, oblivious to the gender assignment that comes with the term princess.

“Pretty sure I’m not a chick, wouldn’t I look like a prince?”

“What’s a prince?”

“What’s a prince? Don’t you know what a prince is?” he repeated dumbfounded, “Umm, Oh, like a princess except male.”

“Oh so like a stallion princess that make more sense,” she exclaimed happily, eagerly grasping the new concept.

“Okay, well semantics aside are you able to help me to the nearest hospital?” Noah asked in the most innocent manner possible.

“Um alright, but why?”

“Well you see I believe I am having hallucinations and may require the use of a padded white room and the strongest antipsychotic drugs available.”

“What’s a hall-hallac-, what’s a hallucinana?” asked Dinky as innocently as possible, her limited vocabulary proving a mental block for the more difficult word.

“A hallucination,” began Noah, “Is when you are seeing things that aren’t really there.”

“Oh, like my imaginary friends,” she innocently stated, “and what about the other word, the anti-something’s?”

“Antipsychotic drugs, those should, normalise my brain chemistry and make me stop seeing things.” Dinky looks at him with a confused frown upon her face. “It should make me see things better,” He said.

“Ah, okay, well come on, get up and I’ll show you to the hospital.”

Noah tucked his forelegs underneath his chest and slowly pushing up on them to raise his front half off the ground. Carefully he brought one of his outstretched hind legs forward and then the other till he stood upright. “Okay step one, stand up, check, step two, walk.”

He took a moment before lifting his foreleg off the ground… and promptly fell flat on his face. Dinky jumped backwards to avoid being flattened. She opened her mouth to speak but was cut off. “Yes,” Noah groaned, “Before you ask, yes I’m all right.

Casting her gaze downwards, Dinky began scuffing a hoof against the ground in front of her. “I wasn’t going to say anything” she muttered under her breath.

“Right take two,” exclaimed Noah, he pulled his foreleg in again, pushing against the ground until he stood upright again. Wary of his new centre of balance he carefully lifted his left foreleg off the ground again, placing it back on the ground a few hoof spaces in front.

Unused to his new stance he then repeated the step with his right foreleg. Feeling himself stretching like a plank he quickly brought his left and right back legs forward in quick succession.

Watching from in front, Dinky tilted her head to the side, trying to figure out what he was doing. “Don’t you know how to walk?” she asked.

“I know how to walk,” he replied curtly, a hint of shame creeping into his voice, “But I’m used to walking on two legs while this body walks on four. How the heck do you even walk like this?”

“Well when I was really little and learning to walk, my mommy taught me a little trick. Start with a front leg, follow with the other back leg, swap and repeat,” she said proudly.

Mother, Noah thought, I’ll ask about that later. “Alright so front left, rear right, front right, rear left, I can do that.” Carefully lifting his front leg he placed it forwards of his position, repeating the steps in his head he slowly walked forward a couple of metres.

Turning his head to the side slightly he altered his path and began to walk in a circle, completing his loop to stand back in front of a happily smiling Dinky. “I think I’ve got this” exclaimed Noah happily, “Thanks Dinky.”

“Not a problem, mommy says I should always try and help those in need, come on I’ll show you to the hospital.”

Dinky turned around and started walking down the road at a snail’s pace so that Noah could keep up. “You mentioned her before, your mother,” said Noah, trying to pass the time with idle conversation, “Where is she, shouldn’t she be taking care of you?”

“I think she’s working her job right now, she works as a mailmare, and she needs that job to provide for us.”

“Oh, well what about your dad, what does he do?”

“Um my dad,” she mumbled softly, moisture could be seen collecting in the corner of her eyes, “We don’t really know where he is, or who he is, or…” She trails off.

“Oh geez, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories,” said Noah, his mind reeling from his lack of judgement, “Hey want to hear a joke,” he asked, his voice as upbeat as possible.

“Um, okay,” Dinky replied, still feeling quite down.

“Okay, what do you call a deer with no eyes?” Noah asked with a cheery voice.

“Um, I’m not sure,” said Dinky, a hint of anticipation creeping into her voice.

“No Idea, get it, No Eye Deer,” said Noah, now cracking a wide grin at his own bad joke.

“I don…” Dinky started, her mind taking time to mull over his words, “Oh No Idea, hehe ahaa, oh that’s really bad.”

“Hey don’t knock the bad jokes they made you smile didn’t they,” He said, her response, a small tongue poking out at him in a silly manner. Noah’s smile grew a bit larger, he thought for a second before asking his companion, “So where is everyone? I can’t imagine you and your mother living in a deserted town.”

“Well they’re probably all hiding,” she replied, “The same thing happened when Zecora came to town. She was a zebra and everyone was scared of her, they still are a little.”

“So you’re saying that of an entire town a small filly is the only… pony? Are you ponies or horses?” He asked, a little confused about the population.

“We’re ponies.”

“Alright out of an entire town of ponies a small filly is the only one brave enough so say hello,” His voice growing in volume towards the end to project it out into the empty street. In the windows of the distant houses curtains could be seen parted slightly in the middle, inquisitive eyes peering out from the darkness.

“Well mommy said bravery is doing something even when you’re scared, I just wanted to be brave.”

“You certainly are little one, the bravest I’ve yet seen.”

The walk Dinky had taken Noah on led them straight to the double doors of the local hospital. “Um thanks,” Dinky said, pawing at the ground with her hoof, a little embarrassed at the level of praise received, “We’re here, the hospital just like you asked.”

“Thank you, this shouldn’t take longer than a moment,” he said, nudging open the large doors, making a beeline for the front reception, the filly hot on his heels.

As he reached the desk an alabaster white pony with a neat pink mane noticed his hoofsteps and spoke out, not even looking up from her work. “I’m Nurse Redheart, how can I direct you today?”

“Ah thank you,” replied Noah, “I believe I’m suffering hallucinations and may require a psychiatrist and some antipsychotic medication, also a white padded room may be in order.”

“Alright I’ll need your name to begin with,” the nurse started. Glancing up from her work, she placed a sign-in clipboard with a pen on the desk in front of Noah, her mouth slowly dropping closer to the floor as she looked him over.

“Well my name is No-,”

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH,” came a screaming reply, overpowering all other sounds and filling the room with a terrible din.

Chapter 2: The screams of no one

View Online

Chapter 2

“Do not confuse bravery with stupidity, for brave actions may be stupid, but stupid actions are rarely ever brave.”

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH,” the girlish scream echoed throughout the reception. Nurse Redheart narrowed her eyes and bore daggers to the mare sitting in the lounges to the left, her hooves shooting to her ears to block out the infernal screams.

Sobbing sniffles emanated from Dinky, she was trying to hold back the floodgates and avoid another moment of fear induced crying. Noticing the filly’s plight Noah hobbled over to the mare, tripping forward as he reached her seat and fell flat on his face.

The terrible scream still echoed around the room, the sobs from the filly became more noticeable and with a last course of action plotted Noah’s hoof shot forward into the open mouth of the startled mare, silencing her scream.

With the sound of screaming no longer present all that could be heard were the tears Dinky was trying desperately to hold back. Narrowing his eyes at the now thoroughly frightened mare, Noah rose to his three remaining hooves, his fourth still occupying the space between the mare’s upper and lower jaws.

Putting on a stern look, he tightened then muscles in his stomach, carefully lifted his other front hoof to his lips making a shushing sound before pointing over his shoulder to the crying filly. Carefully placing his hoof back on the ground for support he raised his brow in query, silently asking if the mare understood to keep quiet.

With fear still very much present in her eyes she nodded slowly, flicking her gaze from the stern look upon Noah’s face and the exasperated eye rolling of the nurse. With an understanding met Noah extracted his now thoroughly soaked hoof from the mare mouth, repeating his shushing sound and accompanying action.

Nurse Redheart, now happy that the situation was almost resolved turned her attention to the still sniffling Dinky. Reaching under her desk and rummaging around in a draw, she searched for an item that was sure to calm the filly.

Her tongue now poking out of the side of her muzzle in concentration, her hoof wrapped around the stem of a large lollipop. With a loud “AH-HA” she pulled the lollipop from the draw offering it to Dinky with a sweet smile on her face.

Dinky, now noticing the treat held enticingly in front of her face, eagerly wiped away her tears, the sadness on her face now replaced with a smile wider than a mile. Elsewhere in Canterlot where the party of the century was raging, a warm shiver ran down the spine of an astonishingly pink mare.

“A suitable treat for a brave little filly like you,” cooed Nurse Redheart, “Now back to the seemingly psychotic patient, care to tell me about your symptoms.”

Noah looked up and back over to the nurse, shaking his hoof of excess saliva he made his way back to the front desk. He smiled looking down on the happy and content filly suckling on the lollipop, before turning his attention back to the task at hoof.

“Well,” he began, “I can’t recalled much of my short term memory but I woke up to the hallucination of a filly asking if I was alright. She showed me to this hospital in this town that I have never seen in my life before. Where I asked the receptionist, who looks like mare wearing a most seductive nurse outfit, to admit me to the psych ward.
“And I can say that simply due to the fact that I am hallucinating right now and your image before me is a figment of my imagination. After that there was another mare, again a figment of my imagination, screaming at what I can only assume to be my appearance, I silenced her with a carefully placed imaginary hoof in her mouth and you gave the hallucination of a filly a lollipop to calm her down.”

The implications of his words had not yet registered in his own mind. Nurse Redheart looked at him with curiosity and raised an eyebrow at him in an innocent questioning manner. Noah simply stared back, not comprehending his words or her actions. The nurse then again raised her eyebrow. A puzzled look spread across Noah’s face.

Exasperated at the progress he was making the nurse gave a soft sigh. “A filly you say,” said the nurse in a most condescending manner, “That wouldn’t be the same filly standing to your left?” A nod was received in reply. “A small powder purple unicorn filly with a blonde mane and tail?” Another nod.

The nurse left out another exasperated sigh, louder this time with a bit more force behind it. Looking dead into Noah’s eyes she said, “The same filly sucking on a very large lollipop which I, the seductively dressed mare nurse, gave to her to calm her down.” A third nod was given, the nurse continued to look at Noah dead in the eyes, waiting for his brain to turn over.

“There it is again,” muttered Dinky in between licks of the lollipop, “That weird clicking sound, what is that?”

Noah’s mind finally turned over the information and registered his words for what they were. “N-not a hal-hallucination,” he stammered, a nod received in return, “So I just put my hoof in another mare’s mouth?” A second nod in agreement, his mouth slowly dropped lower to the floor, “And I called you seductive?” A third nod.

His mouth shut with astounding speed, air rushed into his lungs through his nostrils creating a faint whistling sound. Eyes opened wide with realisation of his predicament he made to ask a question but was cut off before he had opened his mouth a fraction.

“Through the double doors in front of you, take the third corridor on your right and finally the sixth door on your left, I’ll come and check up on you in five minutes.” Noah clamped his muzzle shut again, nodded his thanks and rushed as fast as he could hobble to leave the room, “And thanks for the compliment,” shouted the nurse at his hasty departure.

Following the directions to the letter Noah found himself inside a rather spacious and comfortably padded white room. Thankful for the nurse’s precognition he quickly shut the door, breathed in the largest lungful of air possible, and proceeded to scream his heart out to the walls.

Back in the reception the muffled scream could still be heard six rooms and three corridors away, thankfully it was muted enough to allow for idle conversation. “So what was wrong with him?” asked Dinky, in between licks of her lollipop, “I asked him before but he never actually said.”

“Well if I had to guess I would say he suffered a concussion of sorts, woke up thinking everything around him was a hallucination, and is currently venting at his realisation that this is all in fact real,” answered Nurse Redheart.

“So he thought he was dreaming everything?”

“My best guess would be yes.”

“So why did he get scared then? Even if he was haluci-whatever-ing, he was startled by my appearance and his own hooves.”

“You know, I’m not quite sure about that, you may need to ask him when he finishes.”

“When do you think he’s gonna finish?” enquired Dinky.

“Well he has about three more minutes before I come and check up on him, let’s give him till then,” said the nurse reassuringly.

A moment passed before the filly spoke up again, “He called me brave, do you think I’m brave?”

“Well,” Nurse Redheart pondered for a minute, “Judging by the reactions of the weeping flower sister huddled behind her magazine, I’m assuming the townsfolk had the same reaction as Zecora?” A nod of affirmation, “Well then you faced a strange new pony that no one else had could, I would call that brave.”

“Hmmm,” the filly pondered on the nurse’s words, lapsing into silence with the occasional lick of the lollipop.

Two more minutes rolled around before the nurse decided to investigate what had happened to the strange pony screaming his head off. Trotting through the halls of the hospital she stopped in front of the door she had directed Noah to. No sound could be heard, no incessant wailing, no grief filled sobbing, nothing.

She raised her hoof and knocked four times out of politeness giving Noah some time for composure. Sounds of movement could be heard inside and a few moments later Noah’s voice was heard bidding her to enter.

Pulling the door wide open she took note of the occupant sitting in the very centre of the room, his back turned away from her. His ears tattered ears drooped down as though a sad realisation had dawned on him. Still hoarse from the shouting his voice still maintained a bug like buzz, “So not a hallucination?” he asked.

“Not a hallucination,” the nurse repeated, she added a touch of kindness to her tone in an attempt to calm his spirits.

“You’re a pony?” he asked, an unknown sadness leaking into his words.

“Yes,” she responded, “An Earth Pony to be exact.”

“And Dinky, what is she?”

“Unicorn,” she replied, matter of fact like.

“Any others?”

“Pegasi, Bat Ponies, a small number of hybrids and of course the Alicorns.”

“Huh no kidding, and what is this place called?”

“Well, currently you’re in Ponyville, which is a town in Equestria, which is a country in Equis.”

“Wow,” he said, a small whistle escaped his lips before he muttered, “Definitely not in Kansas anymore.”

“I don’t really know what that means, but… will you be alright?” she asked, a hint of concern tinged her words.

“I don’t know,” he replied, a matter of fact more than anything else, the sadness in his voice growing, “All I know is I’m lost a long way from home and I don’t know how to get back.”

Nurse Redheart looked down at the ground for a moment, her mind torn between keeping a professional demeanour and comforting the lost soul in front of her. Near silence was acknowledged for a few moments before the patter of tears shed without sound could be heard.

Her mind made its choice in an instant. She entered the room quietly, keeping the door held open a smidgen. Carefully she walked over to the figure and sat herself down in front of him. She raised her fore hoof off the ground and placed it under his chin, lifting his head until she could look up into his eyes.

“You may be lost,” she whispered, “But a good friend will always help you find your way.” With those words she wrapped her fore legs around his shoulders pulling him into warm embrace. “And I would be honoured to be your friend.”

He was silent for a minute, tears dripping from his muzzle onto her coat. He leaned further into the embrace, dropping the weight of his head onto her shoulders, and wrapped one of his own hooves around her shoulders.

Giving a strained chuckle he asked, “Just like that, you don’t even know me, I don’t even know me. If I’m happy and kind, full of joy. Or if I’m malicious, full of hatred and anger, just waiting to hurt, and you want to be my friend.”

She flinched at his last words, apprehension filled the air for a split second, and then she relaxed, breathed out softly and said, “Of course, if a small filly can be brave enough to befriend you, why can’t I.”

“Huh,” he muttered, mulling over the nurse’s words, “If I am truly lost, I will need some friends, I would be glad to count you among the first.”

“Well then as your friend I should advise you that you may want to freshen up before heading out, come on I’ll show you to the wash room.”

Nurse Redheart led Noah out of the padded room and back down the hall towards the main corridor. Stopping at the second door on from the end of the hallway she pointed him into the restroom, allowing him some time to freshen up before showing him back to the reception.

“So I didn’t see any other patients at this hospital, or staff for that matter, what’s up with that,” he remarked.

“Well the wards where the patients sleep is on the second floor while this first floor is all operating theatres and such. As for other doctors and nurses we run a fairly small workforce and they were probably checking up on the other patients.” She finished speaking as they re-entered the front reception.

“So I don’t suppose you have a full length mirror around, the one in the bathroom was a little small to check out my new body.”

The nurse and the filly both look up at him with intrigue in their eyes, “New body?” the nurse asked.

“Well yes new body, this certainly isn’t my regular self, and I was barely able to check out my head with the mirror in the bathroom.”

“Oh sorry, no,” the nurse replied, “However, I know that Carousel Boutique has a full length mirror, oh but the owner is away for the royal wedding, she won’t be getting back for some time. Hmmm, Oh I know, you could try the spa they have also have a full sized mirror.”

She giggled at him before continuing, “Only if you’re brave enough though, not many stallions I know can handle a trip to the spa.”

“Well I could definitely take a page from Dinky’s book and be a little brave. Also I may be requiring a lot of information, does Ponyville have a library.”

This time Dinky piped up, “Ooh, OOH I know where the library is I could take you there.”

“You could but Twilight isn’t here right now, I don’t think the library’s open,” Nurse Redheart commented.

“Of course it is,” beamed Dinky happily, “Ms. Cheerilee our school teacher is looking after it while Twilight is away. She was so happy to be able to work at the library, even if it is temporary. Oh but she’ll probably make you take a test on the stuff you learnt.”

“Test,” Noah rolled the word over in his mouth a few times, “Teesstt,” It clicked, “Oh Jesus, my exam, I’ve missed my exam. All that study, all that work, all for nothing.” He broke down slightly, bottom lip quivering a little as tears began to pool in his eyes.

“I’m sure they’ll let you retake the test, when you get back, everything will be fine,” the nurse said quickly, attempting to lift his spirits before depression set in.

Noah still looked downturned until Nurse Redheart laid a hoof across his shoulders in a reassuring manner, the frown from Noah’s face brightening into a smile to match her own. “Yeah,” he replied, a little more upbeat, “I think they would. I mean I would need to redo all that study, but my notes were rather comprehensive. If I just review them from time to time I should do fine.”

“There’s that clicking sound again,” mentioned Dinky, “Really what is that.”

Noah’s face had frozen in a look of near horror, “MY BAG,” he exclaimed loudly, “Where is my bag, it has all my notes, my project, it has everything in it.”

“Oh this bag,” Dinky said, rather nonchalantly, “It fell of your back when you rushed over to shove your hoof in that mare’s mouth.”

Noah’s eyes slowly returned to a normal-ish state from one of abject terror, “Oh you really are a life saver Dinky, thank you.”

“It was nothing,” the filly replied bashfully, scuffing her hoof against the ground.

“In any case, thank you,” praised Noah, “Now I’m going to need a friend to show me around, you wouldn’t happen to have the day free and want to spend time with me?”

Dinky looked up at Noah, the implications of being a friend realised, her smile shone like a beacon to the sad and disheartened. Bouncing in place she eagerly replied, “Of course, I thought I was going to be bored today, but now I get to spend it showing a new friend around town, this is great.”

Looking upwards for a moment he spied a smirk spreading across the nurses muzzle, returning the smile in earnest he looked back down saying, “Well then time is wasting, how about you show me to the spa so I can really see what I am.”

Noah gathered up his bag in his mouth, tossing it over and unfortunately over his shoulders a couple of times before managing to land it in a stable position on his back. The filly at his hooves tugging him towards the door and the big wide world awaiting them, he turned back at the sound of the nurse’s voice.

“But wait, you never said who you were.”

“New face, new body, I don’t know what I am let alone who I am, right now, I’m No One.”

“No One,” she repeated, “Mysterious.”

And with that the party of two were off, in search of the spa, and the wonders of the town around them.

Chapter 3: The rhythm of a gift

View Online

Chapter 3

“How do you know if what you see is really what you see and what you hear is really what you hear, for there is no reality, just perspective.”

“You know, you’re really, really big,” said Dinky, a good few minutes of silence had passed since Noah and the filly had exited the hospital, “I think you might even be bigger than Big Mac.”

“Who’s Big-,” a loud ‘EEEYUP’ echoed over their heads, originating somewhere outside of town, “Okay, what was that, and who is Big Mac?”

“That was Big Mac, he says that a lot,” the filly stated all matter of fact like, “and he is big, like really big.”

“Okay, I get it, he’s big, but who is he?”

“He works in the apple farm on Sweet Apple Acres.”

“Oh so he’s a farmer, makes sense a farmer being big, although I can’t imagine that I’m bigger than a farmer,” Noah slowed for a moment, pondering how big this big pony could be, before taking off after the filly.

Idle conversation continued throughout their trek, Dinky being particularly emotive when recounting her favourite sugary foods, muffins taking the priority. Noah, on the other hand, avoided answering questions preferring redirection.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want to answer the questions but a mental block, much like amnesia, was stopping him remembering a lot of his memories from before his arrival. He enjoyed listening to the exploits of the filly and descriptions of the town whilst becoming absorbed in the architecture of shops and houses.

Distracted by one outlandish gingerbread house in particular Noah suddenly came crashing into Dinky. Frozen to the spot at the intersection of two perpendicular streets, her eyes began darting back and forth as though looking for a place to hide. Concern quickly spread across Noah’s features, “What’s wrong?” he asked, full of worry.

Before an answer could be provided he spied a figure cloaked in grey meandering slowly down the side street towards them. It paused for a moment before flicking its head towards them with eyes of the sickliest yellow glowing bright beneath the darkened hood.

Leaning down to pose the question once more to the now visibly shaking filly, Noah received a hoof in the mouth as an answer. “Shhhh it’s, Zecora, maybe she won’t notice us if we quietly back away.”

“Wait,” said Noah, his voice now betraying his confusion, “you’re not scared of me but you’re scared of someone, er somepony, named Zecora.”

“Of course I’m scared,” whispered the frightened filly, “I heard she can put a curse on somepony from twenty metres, she even did it to six ponies a while back.”

“Uh huh, a curse,” he stated, resisting the urge to roll his eyes or sigh Noah went on, “So you saw the six get cursed?”

“Well no, but I saw what happened to them, it was horrible. And, AND, everyone says she’s evil, or they used to, but I still think she’s bad.

The pony in question stopped in her tracks, not ten metres from the pair. Lowering his voice to barely a whisper Noah went on, “But you didn’t actually see it happen. And don’t you think it’s a little mean to be so judgemental if you haven’t even met the pony?”

“Well I suppose, bu-.”

“No ‘buts’,” he said, raising his voice to make his point, “Weren’t you braver than everyone else to come out a see if I was alright?”

“What’s an everyone?”

“Every-, oh everypony, but my question still stands, what’s the difference between me and that Zecora, shouldn’t you try to be brave and ask her if she did in fact curse those ponies?”

“I suppose, alright, let’s go say high,” Dinky sighed, her face no longer framed with abject fear, but apprehension still lurked.

Dinky stood for a moment longer, weighing her options before slowly making her way over to Zecora with Noah in tow. Standing in front of the pony in cloak she opened her mouth to speak, only to be beaten to the proverbial punch.

“Tell me please, brave one so small. Are ponies still afraid, when into town I call?” Zecora asked, her voice, distinctly feminine yet exotic and deeper in tone.

“Huh did not expect the rhyming,” said Noah surprise evident in his words. Turning to face Dinky he posed a question, lowering his voice in the process, “Is this why you thought she could curse you, because she talks in rhyme?”

A defeated nod was all he got for an answer, “Well,” Noah paused, thinking, before whispering, “Why don’t you be brave and ask her?”

Another nod was given, this one backed up by a face of determination. Turning to face Zecora, Dinky held her head high, asking with a wavering voice, “Are y-… Are you a witch, are you going to curse us?”

Noah’s hoof quickly found his face and strained laughter echoed from under the hood, a moment later Zecora’s exotic voice heralded her answer. “Even if I could, I would not curse you. My abilities revolve, around the healing brew.”

Noah pondered on the cryptic words for a moment, his hoof held to his chin in contemplation. A moment later he exclaimed, “A healing brew, are you a herbalist by any chance?”

Another bout of mirth, this one softer with relief evident in its echoes, as Zecora raised a hoof to the tip of her hood. With this action Dinky grew afraid again, shaking slightly on the spot. Noah turned, concerned upon seeing the change in the filly once more and moved closer, lifting a hoof to her shoulders in a show of comfort.

Slowly Zecora pulled back the hood of her cloak revealing a short Mohawk of a mane with black and white stripes, hoops of gold hung from her ears and rings of the same metal were worn around her neck. Upon seeing this reveal, Noah exclaimed excitedly, “You’re a zebra, aren’t you.”

Zecora bowed her head in acknowledgement and Dinky visibly relaxed sitting down on her haunches, a whoosh of air escaping her lungs. Raising her head once more Zecora spoke again, “You still didn’t answer me, little one. Was it me, that made these ponies run?”

Noah interjected, lifting a hoof in admission, “Actually, I think it was my appearance that spooked them, they seem to be avoiding me like the plague.”

Nodding in remembrance of similar mistreatment, Zecora gave a small grim smile in knowing. “Please take my cloak, if you feel it’s needed. It may stop other ponies, making you feel feared.”

“You’d give your own cloak to a stranger to help them, with no payment asked for in return?” Noah asked, thoroughly stunned at the kind gesture. A nod accompanying a shallow bow of her head was given as answer.

Zecora quickly and carefully removed her cloak, and with skill attained only through years of experience threw the garment over Noah’s shoulders. The fabric slid over his frame, not fitting quite right with his added height and build over the sleeker zebra. This had the effect of making the cloak hug his body tightly, instead of drop off the back, and end only a few centimetres after his knee.

The hood of the cloak thrown back Noah smiled brightly at the bearer of the welcomed gift. Already ponies were starting to come out of their hiding places, those that noticed his uncovered head simply shied away from the trio instead of running in fear.

Turning once more to Zecora, Noah exclaimed, “Then I cannot thank you enough, I will find some way to repay your kind deed.”

“If it is to repay me, that which you seek. Then come along and visit me, later this week.”

“Alright,” beamed Noah, ecstatic he had made yet another friend in such a short time, “Oh, but I don’t know the way to your house, can Dinky here come along too?”

At mention of her name in the conversation the filly quickly perked up, only to realise that an extended invitation would herald a trip into the outskirts of the Everfree Forest. Growing fearful at this Dinky quickly spoke up, “I don’t think I can, I don’t think my mommy would let me, also it’s a very scary place.”

About to chide the filly again about bravery Noah was quickly interrupted, “The path to my house for children is much too dangerous and dark. If it pleases you then I shall meet you in the park.”

Agreements all round and the ponies of Ponyville slowly exiting their dwellings the trio parted ways in the middle of the street. Zecora continued in her original direction towards the centre of town where stall vendors were cautiously hocking their wares.

Dinky and Noah started off in the opposite direction of the zebra, the presence of the tall, yet thankfully cloaked, Noah creating a field around them where ponies dared not tread. Although disheartened by the wary actions of the surrounding ponies Noah agreed to himself that this was better than a frightened panic.

A short while later the two found themselves at the door of the Ponyville Day Spa, looking the place up and down, Noah’s eyes stopped at the roof, “That’s a very purple roof.”

“Yeah, kinda reminds me of a circus tent,” Dinky replied.

“And you’re sure there is no other place in town with a mirror large enough for me to see what I am?” He asked hopefully.

“No… Nope the only other place is closed while the owner attends the wedding.”

“Alright then, let’s get this over with,” Noah said, his voice heavy with shame, “Never thought I would actually attend a spa, not in a million years.”

He placed a hoof on the door, making no actual effort to open it. “Oh come on, it’s not that hard,” Dinky chided. With a deep sigh he pushed the door open, adding unnecessary emphasis on the action, a small bell trilled at the entry.

“Yeah you’re right, well, one small step,” Noah replied, he lifted his forehoof across the threshold and placed it down with upmost care. Taking another deep breath he made his way over to the front counter as slowly as possible.

“What does that even mean and where does it come from?” asked Dinky.

“Not entirely sure on both accounts. My mind is still a quite muddled but I believe it’s a saying about exploration and the unknown,” He answered as they both reached the counter.

“Well in any case, it’s weird, you’re weird,” she commented, turning her head to look at the receptionist. Dinky quickly realised that Noah was yet to ask to use the mirror, “Hurry up, it’s starting to get late and I need to be home before my mommy starts to worry.”

Noah turned and looked down at the filly, adjusting the hood on his cloak so that his features where still well covered and sighing in mock surrender, “I suppose you’re right.” Turning back to face the receptionist he collected his thoughts on how to spin the story of his presence.

“Good day to you sir and miss, and Welcome to the Ponyville Day Spa. My name is Lotus, how might I be of service?” The mare who greeted them beamed up at Noah with a smile that could only have been developed through years of experience.

Her bright, powder pink mane was pulled back over her ears, a strip of cloth that could only be described as a sport’s headband keeping her mane pinned back. An azure coat cover her small and slender frame was next noticed Noah’s eyes wandered over the features of the mare.

A low whistle left Noah’s lips, “Do all you people put a lot of effort into your looks, or are you all naturally attractive.” The words had slipped from his mouth before his brain had comprehended the full ramifications.

Dinky’s lower jaw dropped slightly, her head tilted to the side as she tried to make sense of what he had said. The newly introduced Lotus was in a similar state, her mouth agape in reaction to the unexpected compliment.

Realising what he had said Noah’s forehoof made another quick ascension to his forehead, the force enough to leave a mark as a resounding ‘Thwack’ echoed through the room. He tried stammering out an apology, but his brain was attempting to overdrive its damage control, leaving him sputtering at the front desk, his eyes darting nervously everywhere.

Thankfully it was Lotus herself that came to the rescue. A small giggle left her lips, “Ooh such a charmer this one, you will get on well with the town I think.” Her voice carried an accent, not as thick as Zecora but noticeable, extending her i’s and e’s.

Letting out a deep sigh of relief that a potential crisis had been averted he began to explain what he needed, “Well you see, I’m a little unsure as to what I am, I can’t seem to remember much before waking up in the town square and I don’t seem to recall what I look like.”

“Now I heard from a lovely mare at the hospital that the Day Spa was the only place in town that was open and had a full floor to ceiling mirror. And I am wondering, if it’s not too much hassle, would I be able to use it,” he finished.

“I’m very sorry sir,” Lotus began, her voice growing monotonous as if reciting a training manual, “But company policy does not allow the use of company equipment without the purchase of a spa treatment. And before you ask, no, I cannot make any exceptions.”

Noah’s ears drooped slightly, his head hanging lower. Before he could say thank the mare for her time she piped up suggesting, “Our cheapest treatment is a back massage, only fifteen bits.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Noah said dejectedly, “I don’t think I have any money to pay you with. Thank you for your time though.”

Noah turned to leave, a hoof came down on his shoulder from his right, turning to look at the hoof’s owner he saw a mare that was the same as Lotus yet different. This new mare had the same colourings as the receptionist but swapped around, a powder pink coat covered her earth pony frame while a familiar headband tied back a bright blue mane.

“I’m very sorry about Lotus,” said the new mare, “sometimes she gets a bit too business-y and forgets about the customer. How about this, we give you and your little filly here a back massage, you get to use our mirror and we can arrange for payment at a later date.”

Noah now beamed at this proposal, the use of the mirror and a back massage he wouldn’t have to pay for right away. “Oh thank you, thankyouthankyouthankyou,” Noah practically shouted, “I can’t repay your generosity right away but I will find a way to. However if it’s all the same I would it be possible to omit my massage, my looks seem to send ponies running.”

The new mare’s head tilted slightly in puzzlement, “You can’t look that bad,” she stated firmly, “Besides it’s a part of the deal.”

“I really don’t think I should though,” Noah defended.

“Nonsense, look, just take off your hood, then we can decide.”

“I really don’t think that is would be a good idea.”

“We’ll be the judge of that,” the new mare said, Lotus walked around the desk standing next to the pony, a ‘Mm Hmm” given in support.

Seeing there was no other way out Noah spent several moments looking between the mares before caving, “Alright, but please don’t scream.”

The two mares looked at each other, a small amount of worry creeping into each of their faces. They gave each other a small nod before turning back to Noah, eyes on his hood and the head hidden underneath.

Sighing softly in surrender Noah lifted his hoof to the edge of the hood, bowing his head slightly he paused for a second before slowly lifting the fabric over his head. Small gasps escaped the mares’ lips, angling his eyes up towards them Noah noticed the worry on their faces replaced by a mixture of fear and apprehension.

Both mares took a deep breath as if ready to scream. Both noticed the others action and, in an attempt to stop the other from screaming, quickly placed a forceful hoof over the mouth of the other.

Looks of confusion darted across the faces of all four ponies present before all present broke down into nervous, although sincere, laughter. Realising the situation had moved from suspenseful to jovial the unnamed mare moved to talk.

“Well I must say that your look is not what was expected, but I digress, if you’ll follow me, your filly too, and we will get started on the massage.”

“My name is Dinky,” said the filly in question, huffing a little in the process, “And I’m not his filly, I’m just showing him around.”

If the mare was put off at all she didn’t show it. “My apologies Miss Dinky,” she said in a very professional manner, “If you will follow me we shall begin.” She turned slightly to face Noah once more, “I know you’ve met Lotus already, my name is Aloe, and it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, mister…”

“Oh it’s a pleasure to meet you fair Aloe, my name is –.”

“AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH,”

Chapter 4: Mirror mirror

View Online

Chapter 4

“They say you only ever get one first impression, so when do you first meet yourself?”

Déjà vu rushed through the minds of Dinky and Noah, the blood curdling scream echoed throughout the Day Spa. Aloe and Lotus had their hooves over their ears, their eyes wide in terror at the noise. Spinning around to face the source, Noah’s gaze fell upon the mare that had entered, her hoof still resting on the half open door, her mouth wide open in a scream, wild eyes fixated on Noah’s bare head.

Fearing a repeat of the scene from the hospital Noah looked down to Dinky, the filly had shot prone to the ground, her small hooves covering her head trying desperately to shut out the noise. With the horrid noise still coursing forth from the frightened mares mouth Noah took quick action.

Not fully comprehending the ramifications of his actions Noah rushed forward to the mare, his eyes wide, a scowl present across his lips. With his large form, face filled with anger, and quick motions the mare judged this to be an act of aggression, her fight or flight reaction kicking in in an instant.

Before Noah could reach the mare to silence her with another tactically well-placed hoof she fled from the premises, the door swinging at her abrupt exit. For a moment Noah swore he could see a faint dust outline of the pony, shaking this thought from his head, the only evidence of the mare’s presence was the scream echoing down the street, slowly diminishing as the escape was made.

Ponies that had been minding their own business watched as the mare tore down the street away from the Day Spa. Before any could catch sight of Noah, he drew his head back through the door, shutting it quickly to avoid prying eyes.

Turning to the three ponies still standing in shock horror at the scene that unfolded. “I’ve had just about enough of that for one day,” he grumbled, “That’s the second time since I woke up that some crazy pony has screamed at me.”

He walked back over to Dinky, kneeling down before her and prodding at her side until she uncurled. “It’s alright, the crazy pony’s gone,” he said softly. A thankful nuzzle against his forehoof was received in response.

Aloe and Lotus relaxed at the gesture, “Well if she didn’t like the spa,” started Aloe.

“She shouldn’t have walked in,” Lotus finished. Both mares seemed more curious about Noah after the little scene. Lotus walked back around the desk, looked over the schedule, and hummed thoughtfully to herself. “We are both terribly sorry for the inconvenience Tiger Lily may have caused.”

Tiger Lily, Noah thought, that must have been the name of that scared pony. Many questions were now bubbling through Noah’s mind about the identity of the pony, possible relations to the ‘flower sister’ from the hospital, and how everyone knew everyone. He was unable to voice his questions as he was quickly cut off again.

“There aren’t any more bookings for today, and as recompense for Tiger Lily’s scene I would like to offer you both a complimentary soak in the spa. Free of charge.”

Noah looked at Lotus with an incredulous look upon his face. “I couldn’t possibly accept this as you’ve done nothing wrong but be the most courteous of hosts.” Dinky looked up at him with pleading eyes, “But my little conscience here is saying otherwise,” gesturing down do Dinky, “Alright but add the cost to the rest of the deal, I’d feel bad taking this from you for free.”

“It’s a done deal,” said Lotus quickly, “Now if you wouldn’t mind following Aloe to the changing rooms to get ready while we prepare the spa.” She walked off through a door behind the desk.

Aloe turned to the duo motioning for them to follow her through to the change rooms. “Now I am assuming this is your first time to a Day Spa,” Aloe turned her head towards Noah as she asked the question a small nod was given as response. “Well then running through procedure, we first ask you to change out of any clothing you may be wearing.”

Noah grew a bit worrisome at this as they rounded a protective screen, a row of lockers sat in front of them. “You don’t have any robes that I might wear instead I don’t feel very comfortable going in the buff, so to speak.”

“Well ah, well we actually don’t at the moment, we usually do, but they aren’t used that often, why, aren’t you uncomfortable without any clothes, if I may be so forward to ask.” A hint of confusion leaking into her voice, “The only reason we wear clothes if for formal events, or dress-ups, or *ahem* dress-ups,” her voice lowered slightly towards the end, her eyebrow raised.

Noah looked at her for a moment, puzzlement blossoming across his face. Is she implying what I think she’s implying, he wondered before shaking his head and disregarding her last words. “Well I’m having a bit of trouble remembering everything, so far I have little to no memory of what happened before I woke up and I’ve only gotten a few select memories back, but I feel a strong need for modesty almost bordering a taboo on nudity.”

“I am very sorry, but we just don’t have the robes in at the moment,” she replied apologetically, “But please don’t worry, we take the utmost care in privacy and confidentiality, there isn’t a thing you need to worry about,” she assured.

Noah took a quick minute to think of his options, he didn’t want to offend the mare and her hospitality, especially given that she was allowing him access to the mirror he so desperately wanted. “Alright, you’ve already offered so much,” he conceded, “And I can’t turn down such a pretty mare as yourself,” he followed, a most visible blush forming across Aloe’s cheeks, “But might I use the mirror first and save the massage and spa for last?”

Aloe looked up with a confident smile upon her face. “That shouldn’t be a problem I’ll take your belongings and place them in a locker for you, and then show you to the mirror, in the meantime I shall show Miss Dinky to the facilities.”

Nodding in acceptance Noah started to remove his cloak, throwing the hood back over his head he tried to grab a bunch of the fabric from his shoulder with his hoof. With no avail he tried desperately to drag the cloak over his head shoulder and head, yet every time he released the cloth it would fall back into place over his shoulder.

Two full minutes passed of this repeated action, Dinky and Aloe had started giggling after his first few attempts, and by the pass of the first minute the giggling had devolved into outright laughter. Soon Lotus had walked in, curious to see what was taking so long and what could be providing such mirth. She too quickly joined in with the chorus of laughter and by the time two minutes had passed and Noah officially given up and started pouting at the ponies rolling over the floor.

Not long after Noah had stopped his unsuccessful attempts at removing the cloak did the ponies stop rolling and laughing, their joyous hoots reducing back down to jovial giggles. Lotus was the first to recover, standing shakily to her hooves and wiping away the tears of laughter.

“Did you need a hoof with that cloak, you seem to be having a little trouble,” she said in between chuckles, before completely cracking up again and dropping back to the floor.

Noah’s pout grew slightly, before it softened into a small smile. “Actually a hand, err hoof, would be much appreciated, I do know when I’m in over my head and need help.”

Aloe and Lotus stood up to shaky hooves, Dinky was still on the floor in tears of laughter, each of the Spa ponies grabbed the cloak in their mouths just behind Noah’s shoulder. Moving as one they dragged the fabric up and over his head, only stopping when the garment was resting on the floor in front.

Small gasps where elicited by the pair at the sight of Noah uncloaked. Strips of fabric, torn along seams and shredded in some places hung from his frame, the colours faded and edges where burnt. The two pairs of eyes continued to roam across his form taking in the scary and exotic nature of the pony in front of them.

“I know I must look bad, but I still don’t know what I look like,” Noah said in an irritated huff, “So I you could please help me get out of these rags so I can finally see what I look like that would be great.”

Snapping out of their stupor the Spa Ponies carefully went about removing the remnants of cloth. “These look like they’ve seen better days,” Aloe commented.

“Would you like us to keep them for you or just throw them out?” asked Lotus.

“Keep them,” said Noah quickly, “They’re important to me, one of the few things I have, so please be careful as well.”

The two nodded quickly finishing their job in silence and marvelling at the strange pony that stood tall before them. After yet another awkward minute of gaping from the pair, Noah coughed lightly, startling the ponies into action.

Dinky was led away but Aloe to the main room where a large spa stood in the middle of the room, flanked by massage tables, lounges and mud baths, the large mirror visible against the back wall. While Aloe started on her massage, Lotus prompted Noah to close his eyes and directed him out into the main room, stopping him in front of the mirror and turning him to face it.

A minute passed with nothing happening, Noah debated whether it was worth it to look in the mirror, Lotus attempted to persuade him with kind words and gentle nudges. You’ve gone this far, a deals a deal and you don’t want it to all be for nothing, he thought to himself, Alright here goes, three, two, one. He mouthed the words as he thought them.

On one he didn’t open his eyes, preferring to keep them scrunched up tight, fearful of the monstrosity that may mirror his every move. Lotus saw his mouthing, saw his hesitation and took action into her own hooves. She walked around to face him head on, the top of her head not even reaching his chin.

Leaning back on her haunches she raised a hoof to his cheek, just barely within her reach, drew it back and slapped him across the face. Surprised at this action Noah’s eyes shot open immediately throwing his gaze down to the mare in anger. She simply stared right back at him, her face unreadable, before a smirk spread across her lips and she gestured with her head to the mirror behind her.

Noah’s gaze followed, his eyes narrowing slightly at the sight in front of him before widening in horror. His mouth hung wide open, his knees start to buckle, his flank finding the floor fast with a heavy ‘Thunk’. The image in the mirror could not be described with a single word however Dinky’s description of a ‘bug’ was the closest.

He stood tall, he could tell before when he had to look down to the others when talking to them, but faced with a mirror and Lotus as a comparison he could see that he was tall, almost half her height higher than she was. But with that extra height did not come added girth.

His legs were no thicker than Lotus’ and dotted with holes, perfect cylinders cut through in odd places from his hooves up to the leg joint. Some of the holes weren’t even centre, giving the appearance of sharp scythe-like blades. Continuing further up the leg the holes stopped but instead of a soft coat as he had seen, and felt, with the other ponies, hard chitin plates overlapped, covering the dense muscles beneath them. On his legs alone the carapace stopped being armour like plates and turned into his hooves just above where the holes started.

Turning on the spot to get a better view he analysed his body. Again his added height had not increased his width, his torso still rather thin, streamlined and sleek. On the underside of his shoulders the chitin became softer and more pliable whereas on the top it hardened further to protect his internal organs. His belly maintained the hard armour through the middle softening slightly where his limbs and neck joined.

His back was another question all together, the thick plates continued from his neck to his tail, each one overlapping for protection. But the features didn’t stop there, two plates of chitin larger than the rest moved freely on tertiary joints at his shoulders. He tried moving them apart, succeeding in this act his reward was two vivid wings unfolding from their protection behind the plates.

Dinky’s bug-like description was really spot on, Noah thought to himself, his mouth had slowly been dropping closer to the floor with each moment he spent analysing his reflection. His wings shivered with a slight buzz as he tested them, not trying to do anything more than move them. Their colour was beyond anything he had seen before; at least that’s what his feelings told him. The deepest blood red coloured the membranous wings, much closer to black but still undoubtedly red.

The colour was matched by his tail a tattered and torn membrane, similar to the wings yet not, sprouted from his tail bone. Through the elongated membrane of the deepest red stood out several strands of pure black. With a care test he tentatively flicked these strands side to side, the rest of the tail following suit.

Turning his attention to the last item on the agenda, his neck and head, he braced himself for the worst. The plated carapace that covered his back continued up his neck, finishing just shy of his ears, beyond that a single plate of chitin held the features of his face. This chitin softened around his ears, eyes and jaw allowing for a normal range of emotions to be viewed. The carapace of the underside of his neck hardened up again, its plates joining with those covering his chest.

His face was most interesting, he had caught glimpses of it in the hospital mirror but here he was able to see it all at once. At the top of his head lay a short frill like mane, the deep blood red of his tail and wings, cropped short and ending halfway down his neck. His eyes were next, almost solid globes of blue in stark contrast to his mane, the only evident of pupils being the slightly darker blue circles laying the centre of his eyes and darting around wherever he looked.

His teeth were most frightening, incisors as front teeth, smaller canines and grinding molars at the back. All of his teeth a bright white yet the scariest part where the sharp fangs jutting from his top jaw. Sharpened to a point, he thought, No wonder the townsfolk where frightened. Closing his jaw the fangs slid over his bottom lip resting comfortably against the chitin the sharp white contrasting against the gloss black, smooth and flawless throughout the entirety of his carapace.

Noah gave one more spin, just for good measure, before sinking down to the floor in defeat, a thought pierced through all other, half thinking it and half muttering, “This isn’t me, this is a monster, this is all wrong.” The thought whirled around, this was all wrong, but he couldn’t understand why only that it was, he was stuck in a cyclical process of thoughts until a crisp voice broke through the haze.

“Are you ready for your massage now?”

Chapter 5: The hall of the mind

View Online

Chapter 5

“Learn something new every day, but try to take it with a grain of salt.”

Noah continued staring at his reflection, he had heard the voice, but it was drowned out in a sea of thoughts, barely registering as an actual question. Noah couldn’t think, his mind drew a blank as to what he was, the only thoughts pertaining to his being were the feelings that this form was not his own. But he couldn’t justify why, a mental block prevented him from finding any memory of what he should look like.

Lotus gave, the statue that Noah had become, a gentle nudge, this too barely registered in his senses, his mind still unable to comprehend what he was. A dull buzz grew from a silent part of his mind, quiet and muffled, at first he didn’t realise it was there, but upon a random thought he noticed its presence. The buzz was insignificant but constant, only truly noticed if he was purposefully looking for it.

Noah focused in on the buzz in the back of his mind, his face contorting in concentration. Noah began picking through the haze until he could see it in his mind. He spied a sphere of bright white fading out into a light magenta coloured outer shell, random bolts of light pulsing in a flash from the centre to the edge.

“Are you alright,” Lotus asked nervously, Noah had been standing in the same spot for a full five minutes, concentration etched upon his face, “Whenever you want to start your massage just join us by the tables.”

The voice was barely a muffled drone against the buzz of the sphere Noah was concentrating on. He closed his eyes, focussing on reaching out and touching the strange orb. When he was almost upon it the orb receded and shrunk in on itself, before the centre began to charge with more bright white light.

Noah retracted his imagined hoof and started to retreat from his mind, but was too late. The now pure white orb drew a pulse inwards once before releasing its imagined energy, expanded outwards until its light pierced every corner of Noah’s mind before vanishing.

The wave of mental energy that had filled his mind radiated calm and comfort, bidding him to relax at the sight his new form. The light that had filled his mind faded, the memories were no longer jumbled, instead ordered into windows of an endless hall, but the scenes that lay behind them were still blank or fuzzy.

Noah physically recoiled at this action, the distraction enough for him to lose his focus on the orb. He could still feel its presence somewhere in his mind, the dull buzz, but on further concentration he was unable to properly grasp it in his focus.

Blinking once he turned to the anxious Lotus beside him, “Pardon, I was lost in thought for a moment, what was it you asked?”

“Oh, um, sorry, just wondering if you are ready for your massage now.” Lotus still looked worried, but her previous anxiousness had been removed by Noah’s abrupt question. He nodded once in answer to the mare’s question, turning on the spot to face the massage tables he allowed himself to be led over.

Dinky took no notice as Noah attempted to clamber up onto the table, the filly deep in bliss over the wonders that Aloe was subject her tired muscles to. For Noah the table was that little bit too small, his attempts to lay down soon became a balancing act where if he went too far in any direction he would begin to slide off in that direction. When it became apparent that a single table was not going to suffice a second was brought in for stability.

Finally being able to lay comfortably on the tables Noah turned to face Dinky across from him, an enormous smile plastered across her face, her eyes closed in relaxation, Aloes hooves were doing wonders for the small filly. “The poor thing’s been doing so much walking today,” he commented, a knowing smile grew upon Aloe’s lips

Turning back to Lotus he motioned for her to start the treatment, and promptly closed his eyes in anticipation. A few moments of nothing passed, Noah cracked open a single eye and starred at the mare in front of him, a look of confusion spreading across her face. “Is something wrong?” he asked nonchalantly.

Lotus hummed for a moment, clicking her tongue against the roof of her mouth a couple of times, “I’m not really sure how to start to be honest, I’ve never worked with a carapace before.”

“Well just do what you normally do it’s no real fuss to me,” Noah answered, he closed his eye again in wait.

Another quick minute passed before Lotus let out an exasperated sigh and walked around to the edge of the table. Hopping up onto a step that bordered the table she raised her hooves, placing them gently on his back at the back of his neck and began to apply pressure. “Tell me when this starts to hurt,” she instructed.

Lotus kept increasing the pressure under her hooves more than any normal pony could usually stand. “Yep, I can feel that working, a little more and you’ll have me in pain,” Noah commented with a slight sigh.

Altering from the usual massage pattern Lotus instead focussed the pressure of her hooves on the softer chitin around the joins of his limbs. Noah sighed contently at the motions, all the worries that had plagued his day thus far simply left him. Seeing the reaction that her massaging had on the large pony, Lotus increased the pressure slightly, giving the muscles beneath the armour plates a true workout, releasing all the stress that they held.

“So where are you from?” She asked casually, attempting to elicit idle conversation.

“Hmmm,” came the reply, Noah stirred from his quasi-slumber, “Wha wassat,” he asked in a most relaxed manner.

“I asked where you were from.”

“Oh, um I…” Noah contemplated his answer for a moment, “I actually can’t recall. The memory of home is quite fuzzy, all that I know is it isn’t here.”

“Well then are you from another town, Manehattan perhaps, Las Pegasus, Canterlot even, or somewhere more rough and tumble like Dodge City?”

Noah shook his head in disagreement, “No, none of those names sound familiar and I’m definitely not from any of those places. Even the name of your country, Equestria, it doesn’t ring any bells either, nor does the name Equis.”

“How could you not have heard of Equis, it’s where everything is, you can’t not have heard of Equis,” shock and horror had entered her voice.

“Maybe they called it something different where he’s from,” Aloe commented, “I doubt Dragons or Griffons use the same word as us, so it remains possible that where ever he is from doesn’t use the word Equis.”

“That’s a fair point,” Lotus tried to move the conversation forward, “How about what you do, what’s your job?”

“I’m, …” Noah paused for another moment, carefully thinking about his answer, he had had a small memory return in the hospital, one of tests and exams, he thought carefully to formulate his answer. “Well again I’m not entirely sure I do remember a test or exam, it was recent as well, right before I woke up, as well as bits and pieces from my bag, I think they are a research project, I was probably a student.”

“A student eh, what were you studying?”

“I really don’t remember, but I do remember a lot of formulas, equations theories and the likes, in all a real affinity with designing, building and in general, creating. I think I was studying to be an engineer.”

“Ooh,” oohed Aloe, “An engineer, you might do well in Manehattan.”

“But the real question,” Lotus interjected with a mock scholarly look, “Is what kind of engineering, roads and such, buildings, or more mechanical, or thaumatology.”

“Umm,” Noah ummed, propping himself up for a moment to think before resting back down, “Mechanical I think, but with something else thrown in, there is only a word, but I can’t find a real meaning for it, Electrical, does that mean anything?”

“What is Electrical,” Aloe asked quizzically, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that word before.”

“I can’t remember, but I was studying it, something like electricity, or the flow of power, or somethi-ooooh.” Noah drifted off into a satisfied groan as Lotus’ nimble hooves forced a particularly tight muscle into submission.

Continuing the relentless beat down of stress filled muscles Lotus focussed for a minute on a knot in Noah’s right shoulder. Dinky was thoroughly enjoying her treatment delivered by Aloe, the filly’s smile hadn’t faltered once.

“Flow of power huh, can’t say I know much about that, sounds a lot like magic though, I reckon you’ll get on fabulously with Twilight, the resident librarian, she’s a magical prodigy.”

Noah perked up for a moment, remembering a thought from before, “That’s another thing, how big is this town that you all know everyone, or is the population just that small.”

Lotus finished her assault on Noah’s muscles, motioning for him to get up, “I suppose a few questions about our fair town are in order, but your massage is finished, come over to the spa and let us converse there.”

Noah slid off the table, landing roughly on his hooves he wasn’t ready for the total relaxation of his muscles and folded gracelessly to the floor. Letting out a feinted whimper at his unruly muscles he slowly brought himself upright making his way slowly over to the spa. Dinky was having less trouble, having persuaded Aloe to act as personal transport she too made her way over to the spa.

Noah quickly tested the water with the tip of his hoof, judging the temperature to be suitable he slid into the soothing water letting out a small sigh of relaxed pleasure. Dinky took the most opposite approach, seeing that the water was suitable, she took a step back before making a running jump into the spa, landing with a large splash in centre.

Both Aloe and Lotus looked at Dinky with disapproval, before each let out small giggles at the filly’s antics. Noah joined in on the mirth as Dinky resurfaced, spouting water like a fountain as she breached the water.

Noah settled down into a comfortable position, the water soothing the well worth pain from the massage. “So about your town, how large is the population that everyone knows everyone, a few of thousand at most I’m guessing,” Noah asked.

“Not even, less than a thousand ponies reside in Ponyville at most,” Lotus commented, Aloe nodding in agreement, “Some of the larger towns like Dodge City have larger populations closer to ten thousand only the main population centres like Canterlot have populations in the hundreds of thousands.”

Talk of populations, towns and cities spurred something inside of Noah. He felt a tugging in his mind and closed his eyes to focus on the thought. In his mind he found himself wandering the corridor, in front of him no end could be seen, the scones on the walls fading into darkness behind him held the same sight, an endless corridor.

A dozen meters down the hall a window flashed with bright light. Running forward Noah stopped suddenly, turning to see a clear picture in the frame, an opposite to the windows that surrounded him. Looking through he saw a vision of a planet, a scourge of brown slowly spreading and devouring the land, turning the green forests into wastelands, blue steaks representing majestic rivers drying up in front of his eyes.

In his mind Noah stepped back, startled at the memory presented to him. Home, populated by billions, turning the natural resources into synthetic products, complete disregard for the environment and pollution running rampant.

To Lotus, Aloe and Dinky all they saw was Noah concentrating, before his face paled to grey and shock marred his features. With the memory restored Noah’s eyes snapped open, quickly taking in the sight of three ponies starring anxiously back at him.

Noah quickly composed himself, drew a quick smile and asked a simple question. “Wow, such a small population, you must have a lot of untouched land, natural formations not yet destroyed by industrious hooves, and very little pollution.”

Thrown back by his quick change of demeanour Aloe stammered a quick ‘no’, “Well I’ve heard Manehattan has some issues with smog but aside from that we do our best to minimise damage to the land.”

Happy with the answer given Noah flashed a quick smile and closed his eyes, sinking further into the spa. The ringing of a bell from the front of the building registered in his mind, as did the sound of hoofsteps and one of the Spa Ponies retreating to the front.

“So what’s the deal with the royalty here?” Noah asked casually, not even cracking open an eye.

“You don’t know,” shot Aloe, her voice betraying her surprise.

“They are the best, most awesome and powerful princesses ever,” Dinky gleefully described.

“Yeah that’s what I mean,” Noah pointed out, “You have princesses, what about a king or queen?”

“You know I’ve never really given it much thought,” Aloe said contemplatively, “But if I had to guess I’d say that Princess Celestia wants all us little ponies to do things for ourselves.”

“Hmm, fair enough, but wait Dinky said ‘princesses’, who’s the other one?”

“Well that would be Princess Luna, she controls the moon and the stars while Princess Celestia controls the Sun.”

This information about princesses controlling celestial bodies was unsettling to Noah. With his eyes still closed, he found himself back in the hallway from before with this new information. From behind him a light was flashing, turning and trotting over to it he saw another memory, the planets and solar bodies from home. With his home highlighted orbiting a large sun, and with its own moon orbiting it in return.

Princess ponies that control the motion of the sun and moon, that preposterous, Noah thought to himself, he opened his mouth to explain his disbelief, but was interrupted by the re-entrance of Lotus with two other sets of hooves, a polite cough given to announce their arrival.

“I’m terribly sorry to disrupt your spa,” Lotus began. Noah hadn’t yet opened his eyes but listened with visible interest. “But these two are from the town guard and they would like to have a word with you.”

At the mention of guards Noah’s eyes shot open and widened at the sight he beheld. Before him stood unicorn mare and earth pony stallion, both dressed with plated armour, both bearing harsh scowls and both displaying small amounts of fear and apprehension.

The stallion took a step forward, speaking in a voice that would put gravel to shame. “Yes, as this fine mare said, we are from the town guard and we need you to come with us to ask you some questions about a couple of assaults.”

The mare stepped forward into an aggressive crouch, her horn lighting up. Her partner lowered his stance as well, subtly moving his hoof up to the spear that lay across his back. “If you would slowly step out of the spa and come quietly with us, let’s not make any trouble,” he said with a sneer.

Chapter 6: Questions and answers

View Online

Chapter 6

“Damn I’m tired.”

“Out of the spa and come with us,” the gravelly stallion ordered, no longer posing it as a question. He moved forward menacingly, the action filling Dinky with fear, and Noah and the Spa Ponies with apprehension.

Noah saw the transformation of Dinky from bubbly to frightened, saw how her bottom lip quivered slightly, and saw her eyes dart across the faces of all of the ponies present. Noah also saw that the guard had not seen the reaction of the filly, but that his unicorn counterpart had.

With a slight sigh of exasperation Noah place a caring hoof on Dinky’s neck, gently stroking her mane in an effort to calm her down. In the same instance he raised his other hoof in the air, calling the stallion to halt before dropping it back down into the water.

“We can do this the easy way, or the hard way,” Noah said, projecting his voice to all instead of directing it to the guards in front, his eyes searching wistfully around the room. The unicorn guard stiffened slightly, the glow on her horn deepening as she readied a second spell for quick successive casting.

The scowl on the stallions face deepened further and with teeth gnashed together he ordered one word, “What!”

The atmosphere in the room chilled, not a sound was made except for the rolling bubbles of the spa. Noah stopped his goalless gazing and turned his stare on the stallion that ready to attack in front of the spa.

“We can do this the easy way, or the hard way,” Noah stated again, as the guard moved to speak once more, Noah held his hoof up again for silence, a solemn look covering his face. “If you’re going to be all intimidating you need give a suspect the choice of an easy way out, that and the line is so cliché that it begs to be used.”

The guards faltered, the scowling faces dropping slightly in astonishment, Lotus and Aloe had undergone a similar transformation at Noah’s actions. Only Dinky remained slightly fearful, Noah’s caring caresses of her mane soothing her anxiety.

Upon seeing the filly for the first time, the guard before Noah stood back from his low stance. “Will you come with us quietly, or do you prefer kicking and screaming?” He asked stoically.

A smile drifted across Noahs face, “Now you’re getting it, but back to the matter at hand, am-

“Don’t you mean hoof?” the unicorn asked.

“Hmm, oh right sorry slip of the tongue, back to the matter at hoof, you want to take me in for questioning concerning a couple of assaults, are you arresting me?”

“Well we just wanted to question you, but we were trying to do it without confrontation.” The mare shot her partner an angered look.

“And why can’t you just ask me the questions here?”

“Protocol,” spat the stallion, “We follow protocol to the letter and protocol says that we talk at town hall.”

“And if protocol was ignored just once?” Noah asked innocently, waving his hoof casually around.

“Impossible. It doesn’t happ–”

“Hypothetically speaking,” Noah interrupted, “Would there be any problem with you asking your questions here?”

“Ye-” started the stallion.

“No, no problem at all,” the mare interrupted, rubbing a hoof across her brow in exasperation.

Noah turned to Aloe and Lotus. “How much of a tab have I run up so far?” he whispered.

Aloe looked downward thoughtfully, mumbling numbers to herself, “So far with the two massage and spa packages you’ve accrued a one hundred and twenty bit tab.”

“Hmm, and how much extra would it cost to have these two relax while they ask their questions so that I can enjoy the rest of the spa?”

Lotus took over counting in her head, “Umm two standalone massages will cost another eighty bits all up.”

Noah looked thoughtful for a minute weighing the options in his head. He could cut his treatment short and go with the guards for their ‘questions’ or he could stay and enjoy the spa while they asked their away to their hearts desires.

“Alright,” Noah started, “You want to ask me questions, but I don’t want to get out of the spa. So it seems we have a little bit of a problem.”

“There will be a problem if you don’t get out of the spa and follow us,” the stallion replied, he received a quick rap on the back of his head by his partner.

Noah held a hoof up again for silence, “As I was saying, we have a little bit of a problem, so here is my solution. You can each get a massage and ask me the question here, that way you’re happy, I’m happy and Dinky doesn’t have to do anymore walking.”

The stallion opened his mouth to retort, but was quickly hushed by a tactically placed band of magic over his mouth by his unicorn partner. “We’ll be happy to accept your offer,” the mare responded with a bright smile. Whispering to her partner, “I don’t get to have a massage every other day so this is a treat for me, so you play nice, ask your questions and enjoy your massage or so help me I’ll kick your flank into next week,” she said with a snarl.

The stallion grumbled under his breath for a moment, “You know what,” he exclaimed out loud, “No I will not enjoy a massage, I will do the stallionly thing and take this guy in for questioning. At. Town. Hall.”

“What’s wrong,” Noah said sweetly, his eyes narrowed and a small sneer curled at the edge of his lips, “Too much of a coward for a massage, not brave enough.”

The guard looked at him through slitted eyes, “no-pony, NO. PONY. Calls me a coward-,” he started.

Noah quickly interrupted with a deadpan look and a flat voice, “Well then do the brave thing and get the massage, I’d hate to think what the rest of the guards would think of you when they found out you were too scared to get a massage.”

Four mouths dropped to the floor, Dinky was an exception, trying to hide her breakout of giggles behind her hoof. The stallion stood there, eyes wide at the mistreatment, sputtering in astonishment. “Told you, you should have just accepted the massage,” the unicorn whispered smugly.

“Shut it,” he grumbled back, “Fine you win, I’ll get the damn massage and I’ll do so with pride and bravery,” he exclaimed out loud with a proud look upon his face, more for his own benefit than anyone else’s. Strained smiles crept onto the faces of all the other ponies, grimaces at the pain of the stallion’s emasculation.

Noah nodded once the turned to Aloe and Lotus, “If it’s not too much hassle you wouldn’t mind seeing to these fine guards,” he said in a voice full of sincerity, “Make their troubles melt away whilst they ask their questions.”

The two nodded, Lotus motioned the guards over to the changing room whilst Aloe reset the massage tables. The spells the unicorn was charging were dropped, and the aura around her horn disappeared in a fizzle. The stallion holstered his spear across his back and followed his partner, his head hung low and he grumbled as he plodded behind her.

Returning not a minute later the two guards took up prone positions on the massage tables, each turning to face Noah dead on. “So down to business, what did you want to ask me?” Noah casually enquired.

“First of-oooooh,” the unicorn’s question drifted into contentedness as her massage began, her smile now emulating Dinky’s from before.

“First off,” the stallion took over, “Did you attack Tiger Lily earlier this hour?”

“No,” Noah’s response was hard and to the point, not wanting to dance around the subject.

“And did you attack Cherry Blossom at the hospital?”

“Was that her name?” Noah absently enquired, “No I did not.”

“Then do you want to explain to me how these two sisters both filled complaints of assault against, and I quote, ‘An unknown black behemoth of a bug pony.’” The guard had produced a small notebook and was flipping through the notes relevant to the investigation.

“Without any context, I was trying to get them to shut up,” Noah stated matter of fact, the unicorn perked up at his explanation, her ears swivelling to pay more attention whilst the rest of her body went on holiday.

“And with some context,” the mare asked, not wanting to jump to conclusions.

‘With context,” Noah thought for a moment, “With context they were doing a wonderful job at frightening poor Dinky here into tears and it is most heartbreaking to see such and adorable thing cry.”

At mention of her name and the role she had played Dinky rested her head over the side of the spa, looked the two guards straight on and began pouting as though she were about to cry. Three mares melted at the sight and the stallion felt his heart begin to crack. Only Noah was unaffected simply because he was behind her.

Noah gave a short laugh, “I swear, if you could weaponize that look, it would take down armies at a time.”

The two guards mulled over this new information, the unicorn seemed certain that Noah was in fact innocent and the flower sisters had been overreacting again, but her partner needed more convincing.

“It’s obvious the sisters were overreacting as usual,” the mare whispered, a rolled of her eyes accentuating her remark.

“No I don’t buy it, even when they are exaggerating they usually just run down the street screaming their heads off,” he whispered back.

“Well you have to admit he is very big.”

“Well yes.”

“And rather scary looking.”

“Yes, there is that.”

“And apparently rather quick as well.”

“I suppose, but I still don’t buy it.”

“Alright role play,” the mare stated, her tone of voice conveyed her displeasure to her partners bull headedness, “Something almost as big as a princess, covered in a bug like armour that is as black as night, comes rushing at you as you’re screaming and the only things that you see are those scary long fangs, deep blue eyes as big as saucers, and a blood red frill of a mane. Imagine that and tell me you wouldn’t be scared, even a little.”

The stallion had his eyes closed as his partner regaled his imagination, Lotus had stopped her massage of a moment and looked down at the pony, and the stallion was visibly quaking under her hooves.

His eyes flashed open, the fear that had filled them slowly was replaced with calm, he took a big gulp of air, “Alright, I concede that may be a little scary, fine you win, they overreacted.”

The mare pumped a hoof in the air in victory and turned to Noah, “Alright after a little deliberation we accept that the sisters may simply overreacted. Is there anything else you would like to add?”

“Well to be honest I did put my hoof in one of the sisters mouths, Cherry Blossom I think, and I may have done so a little too roughly, but I wasn’t trying to attack her.”

“Okay, we’ll add that to the report, and we will also need to interview anypony who saw that incident.”

“Oh um, Nurse Redheart would be able to help, she saw the whole thing.”

The unicorn nodded in acknowledgment before turning to Aloe and Lotus, “We will also need to take statements from you two, shouldn’t take too much longer.”

The Spa Ponies voiced their agreement. The guards took their statements one at a time as the massages went on. Noah and Dinky relaxed further into the spa, any worries, any troubles, all were left to float away as relaxation took hold.

Once more Noah found himself drifting in his thoughts, the sphere from before still remained elusive, but its burst of emotion was still evident. In his mind he floated above the hallway, looking down at the passage that housed his memories, he imagined himself rolling over and looked upward at a sky that felt familiar.

He could hear the echoes of four voices, two female and two male, their words could not be comprehended but it sounded like an informed discussion. Noah took no effort in attempting to decipher their words, instead basking in the relaxation. Before long the voices grew still, and above the silence two of voices came through clear, ‘A life may well be ruined,’ ‘This is of necessity, it has been decided.’

“Excuse me,” Noah came out of his semi slumber abruptly, the unicorn mare now redressed in her armour stood before him, “I said it has been decided, we need you to come with us to finish of this paper work.”

Noah looked towards Aloe, “How long have I been asleep?” he asked blearily

“Long enough,” Aloe responded, “You’re approaching the hour limit for the spa, any longer and I’ll need to start charging you again.”

“Well I suppose I should finish up now,” He turned back the guards in front of him, the stallion had finished in the change room as he was speaking, “Let me finish up and you may lead on. Dinky, will you be coming too?”

A soft yawn was all the response Dinky could muster, her eyes were falling shut at the levels of relaxation she had been subjected to.

Noah led the band of ponies into the change room he walked behind a privacy screen and threw the cloak back over his head. “Um, a little help here please,” came his cry not a moment later, Lotus gave a small sigh and rolled her eyes before helping out.

As he finished up all six made their way back to the reception, Dinky taking up a spot on his back behind his neck. “So how long is this going to take?” Noah asked absently, “I should probably get Dinky home soon.”

“It shouldn’t take too long,” the stallion replied, “We just gotta take down your details and finalise your punishment, shouldn’t be too heavy, just a public apology to Cherry for smacking her.”

“You shouldn’t worry about Dinky,” his partner said, “Her mother works out of Town hall as the mailmare she can take her home after her rounds.”

“Well sounds like a plan, just let me finalise the tab here and we can be on our way. Lotus how do you want to handle this?”

“Standard debt, pay it off over the course of a two months or sooner if you can and no hard feelings, just need a name,” She replied from behind the counter.

“You know what, I’ve given this name to just about everyone, sorry, everypony else. Put it down as No One, I don’t really know who I am.”

“No one huh, Mysterious. Well it was nice meeting you. See you soon.”

“See you soon Lotus, you too Aloe,” Noah called out, “Alright my guard ponies. Lead on.”

Chapter 7: The swift kick of grey

View Online

Chapter 7

“Don’t come between a child and her mother, no matter what the species the result will be messy.”

“That’s not your real name is it?”

“Hmm,” Noah replied absentmindedly. He and Dinky had been walking in silence with the two guards flanking them for almost ten minutes. In reality Noah was walking while Dinky was snoozing soundly on his back, He had lifted the chitin covering his wings somewhat to guard her from falling.

“No One, that isn’t your real name,” the unicorn mare beside his spoke again, slight eagerness residing in her tone.

“You’re right it isn’t my real name, but it suits me.”

“So then what is your real name?” The stallion beside him spoke up, intrigued at the conversation.

“Spoilers,” Noah said with a smug smile, “I do have another name, but I prefer to keep some secrets to myself, besides I’ve already introduced myself as No One to a few ponies, I might as well keep the name.”

“Fair enough,” the mare grumbled under her breath.

“What about you two, I can’t seriously call you my guard ponies for as long as I know you, what are your names?”

“Secret,” the mare responded with a smile, her partner snickered.

“Hey that’s not fair, I’ve given you the name I go by, now what is yours?”

This time the stallion spoke up, “That is her name, Secret Strike, and I’m Pointguard.”

“Huh, kinda weird those names, reasons for them?”

“Well I my name relates to my unique ability,” Secret spoke up, “I can cast any spell without the tell-tale signs of a glowing aura, look I’ll show you,” and with that the spear across Point’s back levitated upwards, rapped Noah across the head lightly and dropped back down, not a single sign that a spell had been cast, “See no glowy horn, no glowy spear.”

Noah had stopped, over exaggerating the force that the spear had struck with and attempted to pout whilst rubbing the back of his head. The intended effect was not achieved with both guards breaking down into small laughter.

“Oh suck it up,” Point chuckled, “As for me my parents named me for the job they hoped I would grow into, both they and I are damn lucky I like charging into the fray, otherwise I might have some hassle over my name.”

Noah had resumed walking, increasing his pace to catch up with the others, “So what about you, why the name No One?” Point asked.

“Well it just suited,” Noah slowed as he pondered his answer for a moment, “When I first woke up I didn’t know who I was, when I was told this wasn’t a hallucination I didn’t know where I was, when I first saw myself I didn’t know what I was.”

He stopped for a moment, thinking of the rest of his answer, before hurrying along again, “And with the limited technology that I have seen I don’t know when I am either. So I took the name No One simply because it suited for the moment.”

“And when you know all of that what will your name be?” Secret asked sagely, a look of amazement flashed across Point’s face.

“It would b-, Uh Ah, it is still a secret, I may indulge that information to closest friends, but not to a couple of guards who tried to attack me in a spa,” he finished with a smile, “Nice try though.”

“Yeah,” Point commented, “They should have called her Sneaky Strike, it suits her a little better.”

The band of ponies had arrived at the town hall. The two tiered building sported a smoothly sloping roof, slight repairs where in order, a broken window here and there, and a hole in the floor as well as patchwork on the roof, one of the supporting posts looks bent out of shape from an impact, ugly struts had been erected to support the building.

Noah frowned slightly, “You’d think a governmental building would be kept in better shape than this.”

“Yeah we try to keep up with the repairs, but Derpy-, err Ditzy, sorry, she has a tendency to crash,” Point replied.

“Who’s Ditz-,” Noah started. A loud swoosh was heard as an object flew over his back, barely brushing past his cloak. He looked back to see that Dinky had disappeared, searching around frantically he saw the filly now resting peacefully upon Secret’s back, a look of slight astonishment crossed the mare’s face.

“How did she d-,” he started again, this time the unidentified flying object approached from the front, all Noah could see was the blur of a face full of anger, and grey. His mind didn’t even register the impact until his left legs were swept out from underneath him and he started to topple over.

At this time Pointguard had sidled up next to Secret Strike, whispering into the mare’s ear, “Timmmberrr,” to which he received a small chuckle as Noah struck the ground with a loud thud.

“Should we stop her,” was the soft reply of his partners whisper.

“I’m impartial to his predicament for how he treated me at the spa,” a roll of the eyes was the only answer he got, “But we should intervene if it gets to the breaking of bones.”

At the impact with the ground all of the air from Noah’s lungs was forcibly removed, leaving the figure heaving and gasping for breath, his diaphragm refusing to work. A loud thud above his head heralded the arrival of a third party.

While still gasping for breath Noah attempted to crane his neck to get a better view of his assailant. The sound of hooves slowly walking towards him was unnerving, before he could field the stranger in his view a swift kick was thrown. The sharp crack of hoof hitting chitin reverberated through the air and heads swivelled to see the beatdown. Noah’s head snapped down towards his chest at the force, a sharpened pain coursing through his skull.

Noah tried arching his neck again, trying in vain to see his assailant, another kick, just as hard as the last one sent his head back to his chest. Witnesses of the second kick winced in pity, no one wanted to be on the receiving end of those, the ponies that hadn’t turned at the first kick now had their eyes glued on the scene.

“Should we stop her?” Point whispered to Secret, wincing at the second kick.

“Only if she tries to kill him,” came the answer, “I want this to test his fighting capabilities.”

Noah got the message with the second kick, keep your head down. He desperately looked upwards, the sound of the attacker walking around into his field of view made him tremble. All of a sudden forceful hooves found his throat, turning his head upwards into view of a face full of anger. Try as he may Noah couldn’t look the pony straight in the eyes. Not without his desperately trying.

The pressure on his neck tightened, his throat closing at the force being applied. “No Pony Foalnaps My Filly, NO PONY.” The mare’s voice full of malice screamed at him. She began tightening her hooves further around his neck, cutting off his air supply.

“but i didn’t,” came Noah’s strained whisper, his eyes bulging out, lungs burning for air, black dots began to swarm his vision.

“Mommy,” the sound of Dinky’s worried voice snapped the mares head upwards her look of anger replaced by one of thanks that her foal was safe. The pressure she was applying on Noah’s neck disappeared as she turned to face her daughter.

The filly had woken at Ditzy’s yelling, still bleary eyed she carefully dropped down off Secret’s back and trotted over to her mother, nuzzling softly at her forelegs. In return two wings of grey swooped forward lifting the filly into a warm embrace her mother nuzzled Dinky urgently.

Dinky looked over to where Noah was gasping on the ground, his hooves pawing helplessly in the air. “What are you doing to him?” the filly asked.

“I’m teaching him a lesson sweetie, that it’s not alright to foalnap little fillies,” Ditzy responded.

“But he didn’t foalnap me I was taking him on a tour.”

“What,” the grey Pegasus did a double take, looking incredulously between the monster gasping for breath on the ground and the innocent filly wrapped in her wings.

“It’s true Miss Doo,” Secret interrupted, “We were investigating alleged attacks on the flower sisters, as it turns out No One here was simply being given a tour.”

“No one where?” Ditzy replied, a little confused at the mares words.

“That’s what he calls himself, No One,” Point interjected.
“Oh,” Ditzy said, “That’s a little confusing.”

“Tell me about it, we’d better get this sack of potatoes off the front porch and onto a couch, looks like he may need a bit of a rest after the beating you gave him.”

Ditzy knelt down for a moment, enough time to allow her daughter to jump up on her back and nestle in between her wings. Secret and Point sidled up next to Noah, roll him onto his front before shoving him onto his hooves from behind.

Ditzy took the lead, walking up the stairs to the front door and holding it open. With gentle and not so gentle coaxing from the guards Noah managed to clamber up the stairs, his vision still blurry and his breaths coming in ragged gasps.

“Somepony fetch us a fainting couch, a bucket and some wet cloths,” Point ordered as the trio made their way into the town hall. Within second a large couch dropped from a telekinetic grasp, a bucket and tray of wet cloths followed suit soon after.

Point and Secret manoeuvred Noah to the couch, bidding him to lay down. He took a step forward, unready for the unassisted stride and pitched forward, his head rebounding off the floor with a sickening ‘thwack’. Noah scrambled back to his hooves, dazed and disorientated his head was spinning, his stomach heaving against itself.

Point saw the signs and quickly moved the bucket under Noah’s muzzle. Just in time too as not a moment later the contents of Noah’s stomach relocated themselves outside of his body in a hasty purge. Point wrinkled his noise at the smell Ditzy covered Dinky’s eyes, and turned her own head away. For his part Noah began to pitch forward again, consciousness fleeting from him.

Secret quickly cast a spell to stop him, holding his head just off the floor and levitating him slightly. Point manoeuvred him over to the couch and laid him down gently, his head lolling about. The hood of Noah’s cloak was drawn back eliciting a gasp from Ditzy and the other employees of town hall. A wet towel was brought over from the tray and laid across Noah’s forehead, the cool cloth bringing him back to the conscious realm.

“Did anyone get the licence plate of that elephant,” Noah whispered, his eyes still rolling about in his skull.

A round of ‘huh’ echoed from the four ponies surrounding the couch. “Um very sorry for attacking you,” Ditzy started feebly, her voice soft and filled with remorse, her forehoof pawing at the ground nervously, “But I was told you had foalnapped my little Dinky and I guess I just snapped.”

Noah looked up at the apologetic mare standing over him, “You may have to apologise later, I’m not sure if I’ll remember this one.”

Ditzy nodded in response. A pair of hooves drew Noah’s attention clopping together in front of his face and rousing him from his stupor. “Now that you’re done playing a sack of potatoes, we need to get your information to file this report,” Point said sternly.

“Right details,” Noah repeated absently, “Please ask away.”

“Alright to begin with, please restate your name for the record.”

“No-, oh, No One.”

“Species?”

“Not sure,” came the wary reply.

“Not sure,” Point responded in disbelief, “How can you be unsure as to what you are?”

“Well it’s difficult to explain, my memory is blocked regarding what I am, all I know is that I don’t usually look like this,” Noah said, a few stars of disbelief cutting through the last of his haze, “But I think Dinky described it best as a Bug Pony,” he finished quickly.

“Bug Pony,” Point repeated slowly, “Alright, now sex?”

“Whoa not so fast, three dates minimum first buddy.” Noah’s response was quick and sharp, several more heads of the ponies surrounding the band snapped towards the speaker, Point had a look of shellshock upon his face.

“I mean, Male, or Stallion?” Noah quickly said, hoping in vain to save face.

“Uh huh, alright, what is your citizenship status?”

“Um I’m not too sure, I don’t think I’m a citizen, I’m sure I would remember that, maybe asylum seeker.”

“Asylum seeker,” Point repeated, “Do you have your papers?”

“Um, no, I don’t think so I only just arrived.”

“New asylum seeker, Alright we can set you up with a temporary visa, this will afford you all the right and responsibilities of a regular citizen, however you need to check in with the town guard every two days, and you cannot break any laws.”

“Alright, sounds good,” Noah replied warily, “And what about the longer term?”

“We will automatically word to the Princesses of the arrival of an asylum seeker, they will judge your application personally and decide whether or not to grant you full citizenship. Either way the temporary visa will last for three months.”

“Alright I’ll do that, anything else you need?”

“Yes, but you will need them also, you need a job and a place of residence, even temporary.”

“Ooh, ooh, he can stay with us,” Dinky exclaimed.

“I suppose we can help with the residence,” Ditzy said, “It would go a long way to say that I’m sorry.”

“Are you sure, I won’t stay with you just because you feel indebted to or sorry for me, I won’t stay where I’m not wanted, I won’t be a burden,” Noah stated.

“Well yes and no,” Ditzy said, “Yes I am doing this because I want to apologise, but you won’t be a burden, and I think Dinky would like you to stay with us, at least for a little bit.”

At this Dinky leaned over her mother’s shoulder, cocked her head slightly and smiled the sweetest smile she could. Noah’s heart melted right there, luckily Secret and Point had their backs turned and were saved from another blast of the Adorable Dinky.

“Alright, I’ll stay with you, at least for the time being,” Noah surrendered, “But what do I do about a job?”

“Well lucky for you one became available up at Sweet Apple Acres,” Secret read from a job description, “Applejack is away at the wedding and won’t be back for another fortnight or so, so Big McIntosh is looking for some help with manual labour.”

“I’ll take the job,” Noah said quickly, “Best I get a job sooner rather than later right.”

“Yeah sooner is better,” Point said, “No one else applied for the job so I’ll take it off the register, you should introduce yourself to Big Mac tomorrow. It’s a Sunday but he’ll still probably be working, it’s a bit late to do so now.”

“Alright place to live, job, anything else I need?”

“Nope, Ill finish up the paperwork and you can be on your way. Oh while I remember there will probably be a delay with any correspondence with the Princesses. They’ve halted all non-critical mail and information for another five days or so after the wedding. Something about giving the new couple time to relax, anyway there will probably be a bit of a back log so the review may take longer than usual.”

“Not a problem, I don’t think I’m going anywhere soon,” Noah responded.

“Well wait around for a little, we will deal with this and you can be on your way.” And with that Secret Strike and Pointguard retreated to the next room to complete the paperwork, leaving Dinky, Ditzy and Noah to converse.

“So Bug Pony,” Ditzy asked causally.

“Bug Pony,” Noah responded matter of fact.

“I really am sorry for attacking you.”

“It’s forgiven. I can’t really blame you anyway.” The conversation drifted off into a comfortable silence. “You do have a mean right hook though.”

Chapter 8: At home in the mind

View Online

Chapter 8

“A memory is a powerful thing…”

“Alright, that’s all the paperwork done,” Point exclaimed as he exited the adjoining room with Secret in tow. Both had discarded their armour, and weapon in Point’s case, “Sorry it took so long, we had to fill out a species discovery form to be sent along with your application for asylum.”

“But not to worry,” Secret interjected quickly, “You are now a fully-fledged citizen of Ponyville and Equestria… or you will be soon, I doubt the princess will find any reason to refute your application.”

“Woo Hoo,” Dinky screamed enthusiastically, the little filly bouncing on the spot, quick as a whip she darted over to Noah, jumped up and latched onto his neck in an excited embrace, startling him in the process.

“Ready to head home then?” Ditzy asked.

“Most definitely, I’ve had a long and exciting day and I can’t wait to put my feet up, I mean hooves up,” Noah replied, he turned back to Pointguard, “What about the investigation, is that all resolved?”

“Not quite,” Point replied, “We will still need to interview Nurse Redheart before we can finalise the report but for the moment it looks like a lot less than assault, not even a misdemeanour, a simple apology would be recommended but it won’t be enforced.”

“It helps to clear up any possibility of bad blood between the ponies involved,” Secret added.

“In any case we will finish the investigation tomorrow and send you a copy of the report as soon as possible,” Point finished. “The only other thing is this,” he dropped a small sack down in front of Noah, “It’s a once off stipend to help new citizens of Ponyville acquire things they may need in the short term.”

Noah nodded in reply and placed the sack of coins in his bag with the rest of his belongings. Salutations were spoken and the trio turned to head for home, leaving the guards to the rest of their day. Before Noah could make his way out the door Secret shot forward, quick as lightning, and blocked his escape.

Noah took a small step backwards in shock, the mare in front of him looked down, as if unsure of how she should proceed. She wrapped her forelegs around Noah’s neck, nuzzling him gently. “Thank you,” she whispered, “For the spa gift, it’s not something I can indulge in regularly, and while ponies here may be pleasant and kind, not many would treat others to such an expensive gift, let alone a complete stranger. So thanks.”

Noah looked down into the mare’s vibrant green eyes, their gaze darting all across his features, a soft smile swept over his face, and he returned the embrace in earnest. Leaning down further he craned his neck over the mare’s head and placed a gentle kiss on the crown of her head, just above her horn. “You… are very welcome,” he said softly, before ending the hug and making his way out of the town hall to the patiently waiting Dinky and Ditzy.

Point stood by Secret a smirk spreading across his face, “You’re smitten aren’t you?”

“What can I say, I’m a sucker for mystery, and they don’t come as mysterious as that one.”

“Whatever, just don’t let it interfere with your job, I doubt this new arrival will be a walk in the park, come on let’s finish up here and head to the pub, first round’s on me,” Point finished, leading enamoured mare from town hall to the local tavern, the sun beginning its final descent below the horizon.

A short walk away Ditzy and Noah were engaged in idle conversation, passing the time while they walked.

“I think she likes you,” Ditzy commented offhand.

“Huh, who,” Noah asked in surprise.

“Secret, the way she looked at you, a bit of wonder in her eyes, and her goodbye was anything but subtle.”

“She was just expressing her thanks to me, I did treat her to a massage while she asked her questions,” Noah reasoned, a little unsure of what to think about the notion.

“A trip to the spa isn’t cheap let me tell you, with all other expenses I can’t even afford to go more than once a month at most.”

“Huh, so that really was a treat then?”

“Yeah, might want to deal with this one sooner rather than later, just my opinion however.”

“Yeah, you’re right,” Noah agreed, “It’s not nice to lead someone, sorry somepony on. Besides I barely even know who I am, I should get to know me before I get to know somepony else.” The trio continued along the road in silence for a moment, Dinky had fallen back to sleep upon Noah’s back, soft snores rising from between his wings.

“Enough about might be’s,” Ditzy said suddenly, “How about what is and will be?”

“Well while where walking what do you want to know?”

“Um,” Ditzy stopped, pondering her next question, “How about your family.”

Noah sighed this was one of the memories that still eluded him. He could remember the scent of lavender, his mother’s favourite perfume, and he could remember the emotions when they embraced as clear as day. But for all that he could remember his mind still drew a blank when it came to a name and a face.

“I don’t know, I mean yes I have a family, I can remember that fact but I can’t remember them specifically.” Noah grew more solemn, “It’s not as if the memory is missing, it’s right there in front of me, waiting to be grasped. But like most of my memories they remind me of a tale called the Torment of Tantalus.”

Ditzy displayed a mixture of emotions, empathy at the poor soul’s inability to remember something as important as family, and slight confusion at this parable she was being told about. She had heard the story before, a long time ago when she was young. “That’s the one about a stallion, he was a hybrid, the progeny of a powerful Alicorn and lowly Pegasus. He was forced to stand in a pool of water that would always recede when he went to take a drink, underneath an apple tree that would always bear fruit just out of reach.”

Noah cocked his head slightly, the tale was the same in its elements, but he remembered it as being a myth from his home. “How can you possibly know that story, it’s just a myth from my home, and even then it’s not widely known.”

“Well it was a myth here as well, my mother once told it to me when I was just a filly.”

“Still it’s weird, I don’t know why, but I fell like that story wouldn’t be known here,” Noah disregarded the thought and continued on with the conversation, “And that’s what my memories feel like, just out of reach. In any case I have, or… had, a family, I know I love them very much and I will want to return to them soon.”

“Well then that begs the question, how did you get here?”

“Honestly I couldn’t tell you, all I remember was a brief sense of contentment, acceptance and simplicity and then I woke up, I think Dinky might be able to tell you more.” At the mention of her name the filly rose with a large yawn, smacking her lips together.

“Huh, what are we talking about,” she asked still half asleep.

“Just wondering how No One got here, that’s all dear,” Ditzy spoke softly.

“Oh that’s easy, he got here by lightning.”

“Lightning?” came the startled reply from Ditzy and Noah, both shared a look of disbelief.

“Yeah, there was something going on with the bubble at Canterlot,” the filly gestured to the mountainside capital, the sun had dipped past the mountain, bathing the entire scene with a surreal glow. “It disappeared all of a sudden then reappeared and grew really large, and then clouds rolled overhead, lightning struck the ground and BAM, he was just laying there.”

“Huh. Lightning,” Noah repeated, “Did not expect that,” as he spoke they passed the spot where he had awoken, scorch marks had blackened the area but aside from that no other damage was visible, “Wait what was that about a bubble at Canterlot?”

“You don’t know?” Ditzy responded, “With the royal wedding came a threat of attack so the captain of the guard bolstered the physical defence around Canterlot. On top of that all transport and mail going into or out of the capital has been postponed until five days after the wedding, only military correspondence can get in or out. For everypony else a proverbial curtain has been lowered around the city.”

“Huh, can’t blame them for being extra careful, still the block on transport and mail must be frustrating.”

“Oh actually it’s not too bad, the mail has slowed down considerably, I might get to spend most of next week with my precious Dinky,” the mare nuzzled at the small bundled that rested upon Noah’s back.

“You have tomorrow off, don’t you?”

“Yes, Sunday and all, no mail on Sundays.”

“I don’t suppose you have any plans for the day?”

“Not particularly, relaxing, need to go to the market, and of course I’ll try and spend as much of the day as possible with Dinky.”

“Sounds like fun,” Noah said earnestly, before falling back into silence. As darkness began to set in the trio had arrived at the front door of a modest sized building, not small enough to be called a cottage, but barely large enough to be called a house, from the thoughts running through Noah’s mind.

With a small garden out the front, the building was compact on two sides, yet two stories tall. “Quaint, and different,” Noah mumbled.

“Home sweet home,” Ditzy replied as she opened the door, “I’m going to get some dinner started, any requests?”

“I’m a guest in your house,” Noah said humbly, with a smile, “I’ll eat whatever you cook.”

Ditzy smiled bashfully as she walked inside, she reached over her back and grasped her saddle bags in her mouth, and giving her head a deft toss she launched the bags across the front room to a waiting rack.

With the skill of an expert the bags landed perfectly on the hooks, Ditzy gave herself a satisfied smile at the achievement and trotted past the rack to toward the kitchen. Giving her head another toss as she passed the rack she flicked her hat onto another waiting hook.

“Wow, that was an amazing shot, just brilliant,” Noah applauded.

“It really wasn’t anything,” Ditzy replied, “It doesn’t work all that often,” she gestured to the wall pockmarked with dents.

Noah looked back and forth between the wall, the rack, and Ditzy, “Still practice must make perfect. Um, where should I put Dinky,” Noah gestured to the filly snoozing on his back.

“Just lay her down on the couch and we’ll wake her for dinner, feel free to pass the time as you like.”

Noah trotted over to the couch, gently kneeling down and tilting so that Dinky softly slid onto the couch. He carefully lifted the filly’s head a placed a pillow under for added comfort. “Pass the time,” he muttered softly to himself, “What did I do to pass the time?”

Noah closed his eyes, letting out an elongated breath he allowed himself to focus. Within his mind he found himself back in the endless corridor, in front of him a number of windows lit up. The first described his love of books and reading, the next a TV showing his favourite programs, the last a computer with numerous programs open.

The flashes of memory sent Noah reeling backwards, tripping over his own hooves and finding himself flat on his back. But the resurfacing of the memories also trapped his mind within itself. He struggled against the influx, trying desperately to recall the information as he was constantly swamped with new memories.

Ditzy jumped at the loud thump that came from the living room, rushing from the kitchen she spied Dinky, her head perked up and looking around, having been awoken by the loud noise. Ditzy surveyed the room further, her gaze falling upon the twitching body of Noah. Taking a few steps closer she noted his eyes, wide open and darting rapidly around yet taking in no sight.

“No One,” she called, nudging at his side, “Can you hear me, are you all right?”

He remained still, not comprehending her words, nor showing any sign of receiving stimulus. Ditzy looked nervously at her daughter, a similar expression crossed the filly’s face. Rushing back into the kitchen she grabbed a glass and filled it with water. She hastily navigated her way back to the twitching form and threw the glass of water in his face.

Inside his mind Noah was having no luck coming to terms with the influx of memories, he felt a tapping at his side, a calling voice and shortly afterwards a simulated rain began to fall within his realm. All of a sudden the magenta orb returned, passing between Noah and the incoming memories.

It spoke to him, not in words, but in emotions and feelings, <Let us help you,> it called to him. He relax and allowed the flow of memories to renew, the orb siphoning them off leaving nothing but their shell for Noah to glance over and understand.

“NO ONE,” Ditzy screamed at the now still figure, he had stopped his twitching, his eyes had stopped roaming and their lids had closed. Dinky was likewise up and trying to gain Noah’s attention, shaking his shoulder urgently.

In no time at all, the orb had catalogued all of the memories that Noah had perceived, and in the process a new construct to the endless hall had been created. At the perpetual zenith of his mind shone a blazing sun, wisps and tendrils linking the memory shells it contained to their information counterparts in the hallway below. The magenta orb that had helped with the onslaught of memories now drifted far above, accessing the shells of the sun at random.

A dull noise pierced through the black veil of his mind, “No One,” a muffled and disembodied head yelled. In a flash Noah found himself pulled from his mind his senses fully returning. His eyes shot open and immediately fixed themselves upon the mare above him, smacking at his face with her hoof. Noahs burning lungs sucked in a gasp of air greedily, before exhaling slowly, a smile grew upon his face, much to Ditzy’s confusion.

“I remember,” he stated out loud. A similar smile grew upon Ditzy’s face, before it turned into a scowl, one last hoof flashed across his cheek, stinging the flesh beneath the chitin. “Ow what was that for,” he complained.

“For scaring Dinky and myself,” Ditzy huffed, her scowl was quickly replaced by a smile one of almost motherly love, “Next time you remember something, try not to pass out.”

Noah smirked back, rolling onto his side before standing upright, “No promises.”

“Dinner is just about ready, Dinky can show you to the bathroom to wash up I’ll have the table set by the time you get back.”

At this instruction Dinky shot down the hall, stopping in front of the door that led to the bathroom. She stopped for a moment, allowing Noah to see where to go, before darting inside. Noah hummed to himself, pleased with the progress his memories were making, before following the filly into the bathroom to wash up.

The Bucking Bronco Pub,

Pointguard and Secret Strike were on their eighth round of Sweet Apple Cider. Holding a dart in one hoof Secret eyed the dart board carefully, judging the distance, flight path and wind speed with careful precision.

“Just take the shot already,” Point called, “You’re going so slow I can feel myself aging.”

“Shove it Point,” Secret retorted, she took the shot, it sailed high for just the right amount of time, dropping at just the right moment, and embedded itself in the wall two meters away from the board, a hairs breadth above the head of another patron.

“RIGHT,” the barpony yelled, “That’s enough for you,” he turned to Point, “Take your drunken mare home before she really hurts somepony.”

Point sighed, a fun night relaxing at the end of one weird shift, not ruined but ended by the crazy antics of his crazy partner in crime. He threw back the rest of his drink and bundled up the mare in question, she herself having devolved into a fit of giggles at the near miss.

Point flicked a bit towards the barpony as they exited the establishment, Secret leaning her full weight against him as they staggered down the dark street. As they walked they passed many houses, most with their lights on, the ponies inside silhouetted on the windows.

As they drew past one particular house Secret stopped, her gaze fixated on the shadows of the ponies that resided within. In particular her gaze rested upon one massive shadow being cast. Point sighed in mild annoyance, they had stopped outside of Ditzy’s home, the pony that had taken in Ponyville’s newest and strangest pony.

Secret sighed as well, not in annoyance but in wonder, a million thoughts running through her befuddled and inebriated mind.

“Just forget about him will you he’s probably going to get you into trouble one day,” Point commented.

“But he’s so…” Secret started

“Mysterious,” Point interrupted, “Yes you said so before, let’s just get you home, I’ll have a slightly better chance at convincing you tomorrow, when you’re sober.”

The duo continued their walk into the quiet night.

Chapter 9: The night mare (pt1)

View Online

Chapter 9

“A well placed shoulder can hold the heaviest burden.”

“That meal was delicious,” Noah praised, smacking his lips as he finished the last of the salad, “I just wish there was more, I’m still famished.”

Ditzy blushed slightly at the praise, “I’m glad you liked it, but it was nothing special, a simple home cooked meal.

“Nothing special,” Noah asked in disbelief, “A home cooked meal is anything but nothing special, all the effort that you put into it, the love, and the care. All that can make a simple home cooked meal better than fine dining.”

Ditzy blushed further at the continued praise, “Well… Thankyou, I’m glad you liked it.”

“Liked it, I loved it,” Noah pondered a moment, his hoof raised to his chin, “Although it needed something, maybe a bit more protein.”

Ditzy froze for a split second, “Well I was all out of fish unfortunately, I can maybe pick some up in the market tomorrow but it can be a bit expensive.”

“Hmm, yeah, fish would be great. However I think a bit of red meat would really hit the spot,” Noah said rather nonchalantly. He began salivating slightly, “I know, a nice steak would really hit the spot.” He stopped, noticing the shocked face of Ditzy and Dinky’s confused expression, “However just some fish would do fine,” he quickly added, hoping to avert a crisis.

Ditzy relaxed a little, she was still a little worried about Noah’s penchant for red meat, however she cast that thought aside for a moment, “I’ll see about getting some fish for tomorrow night,” she quickly replied.

“So what happens now?” Noah asked casually.

“Well I could show you to your room it might help you to get settled in early tonight.”

“Sounds fine to me,” Noah replied, “Lead the way.”

The trio left the table, led by Ditzy and flanked by the ever adorable Dinky, Noah soon found himself in a sparsely furnished room. A small bed was push up against one corner, a nightstand accompanying it, against the opposite wall stood a wardrobe and chest of drawers combination, and against the third wall a small bookshelf.

Ditzy looked around the room, “This is the guest bedroom, it has everything you should need,” her tone grew sombre, her head dipped, and her voice lowered, “It was going to be Dinky’s room for when he returned, but she prefers to sleep next to me.”

Noah saw the change come over the mare, a spark of empathy lit in his heart, a nod of understanding was given, no more words needed to be spoken. Noah drew in close to Ditzy, and embraced her with compassion, “It’s perfect,” he whispered to her, “More than I could have asked for.”

Ditzy drew in a ragged breath, her eyes watering at the corners, for all the love she had for her child, she missed the feeling of a strong embrace from another who cared. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, she turned away, and quickly excused herself to go clean up the dishes.

Dinky looked up at Noah, her own mind and feelings in turmoil, unable to truly comprehend what her mother or even herself was feeling. She wrapped her forelegs around one of Noah’s, in return he began to stroke her mane soothingly.

“Mommy doesn’t get sad often, but I don’t like it when she does,” Dinky spoke in a soft voice.

“Everyone needs a cry every now and again, and I can’t blame her, all she needs is a strong shoulder to cry on,” Noah responded in an equally soft voice.

Dinky buried her head in Noah’s cloak, “Thank you,” came her muffled reply before she broke off the embrace and rushed from the room.

Noah was left to himself, he stood for a moment mulling over the scene that had just played out, he was sure that he had done the right thing in comforting the mare but he had a nagging feeling in the back of his mind that told him this might cause some trouble.

Shaking himself from his thoughts he turned to the wardrobe, carefully pulling his gifted cloak over his shoulders and placing it on a single coat hanger, taking a moment to revere the gift and the kind soul that had given it.

Noah next turned to the bed, took off his backpack, and unceremoniously emptied the contents onto the sheets. He began to pick through the contents, the strips of cloth and rags denoted the damaged clothing he had woken up in. He made a mental note to find a seamstress to repair the articles of clothing before placing them carefully into the top drawer of the chest. I’m hoping that they might glean some clue as to who I am, or were, he thought.

The bag of currency he had most recently received was emptied out into a neat little pile, two hundred coins, Noah thought to himself, should be enough to pay back the spa ponies, however I may want to avoid spending it all at once. He scooped the coins back up into the bag and placed that into the draw of the nightstand.

The next items he turned to were a number of large books, study material for my tests if I remember correctly. He took the books and arranged them in the empty bookshelf, “I’m going to have to get more books,” he said to himself, “That shelf looks pitifully lonely.”

There were fewer items on the bed now, a number of notebooks he flicked through, hoping that they might spark a memory. While they felt familiar, and he understood their contents no memory had yet to surface. He resided himself to investigating them later and placed them in the bookshelf alongside the textbooks.

The next few items caught Noah’s undivided attention. A flat device, seemingly a sheet of glass, and rimmed by plastic on five sides, a number of buttons and holes were noted. A similar rectangular block of plastic was broken along all sides, contained two hinges along one side and a latch like mechanism on the opposite face. A couple of cords leading to and from smaller blocks of plastic were among the final items he looked over.

These items sparked fierce familiarity within Noah he closed his eyes finding himself once again in the realm of his mind. The magenta orb was listing lazily above, picking at random shells from the sun above, analysing them and replacing them.

Noah found himself in the hallway below, a single window before him lighting up and flashing for his attention. In the window he saw technology, nothing like he had seen here yet very familiar to him. The orb above returned the current shell, its attention drawn to the new memory, <May I?> came the felt question.

You may, Noah responded in his mind, the thought echoing all around. The information from the memory, while still overwhelming was a trickle compared to the earlier onslaught. With the help of the orb he processed the information quickly and efficiently the shells of the memory floating up to join with the sun.

The orb before him radiated intrigue and confusion, apparently this technology was very much alien to it, as such Noah decided to school the orb in the memories it had processed. They began to float above the hallway and soon found themselves in a place between the sun and the hall.

A multitude of pictures began to swirl around them as Noah picked appropriate shells from the sun. Information on computers, laptops and tablet PC’s were drawn on in an effort to explain. The orb continued to radiate intrigue, yet it became more and more confused. Searching further for the right information Noah looked to simplify the concepts, narrowing down the information to the most simple of ideas, yet the orb continued to radiate more and more confusion.

Noah became exasperated, with a last ditch effort he pulled up the simplest idea he could, a diagram of the Hydrogen atom. All other pictures stopped flowing, the information flowing back into the shells of the sun. The orb sat in wonder, wonder exuded from its core, along with the constant confusion. It posed a one word question, <What?>.

Noah looked to the orb, confused at how such a simple concept was so unknown, then and there he knew he was truly lost. He thought for a moment, unable to explain the concept any further, a flicker of light crossed the sky, a voice heard once before echoed a statement for Noah to hear, Simplicity, the voice reminded him, before silence fell upon the realm. Noah mentally sighed unable to proceed any further, and withdrew from his mind, he snapped back to the conscious world in time to hear a knocking on the door frame.

“How is your unpacking going No One?” Ditzy asked, she entered the room slowly and surveyed what Noah had already put away, her gaze drifting past the bookshelf and landing on the items on the bed as she sidled up beside him.

“Good, I remember what these are,” he gestured to the Laptop, Tablet and their associated chargers, “But I came to a stark realisation.”

“Oh and what is that,” Ditzy replied, confused at the items that lay before her.

“I’m more lost than I first thought, and so I’ve come to two conclusions about where I am,” he looked into the eyes of the mare beside him, drawing her undivided attention, “This isn’t a hallucination I know that much. So this means I’m unconscious and this isn’t real, or I’m alive and fully awake and one a completely different planet or in a completely different universe.”

“It’s also rather simple to determine which one it is. If I am alive then I will wake up tomorrow remembering this conversation and any dream I had. If this is another planet then I can find home by studying the stars, they wouldn’t have changed. If this is another universe…” Noah grew quiet for a moment, “If this is another universe, I am well and truly stuck.”

“And what will you do if you wake up tomorrow and remember this?”

“First thing, I’m going to go to the hospital a rent out their padded room for an hour, after that I’m going to continue on with my day.”

“Well even if you do forget, I won’t,” Ditzy strongly stated.

“Oh and why is that?” Noah enquired.

“Because you were kind to me, comforted me however briefly and gave me a shoulder to cry on. Kindness like that shouldn’t be forgotten.”

Noah stood silent and thoughtful for a moment, “I don’t think I’m going to fit on the bed,” he said suddenly.

The sudden change in conversation threw Ditzy slightly, “Well you can drag the mattress on the floor, and I’ll pull out some spare pillows and try as make you as comfortable as possible,” she turned to leave.

“Thank you Ditzy,” Noah said, he paused for a moment looking like he wanted to speak, finally as Ditzy began to exit the room he spoke softly, “And Ditzy… between you and me, I want to remember this conversation too.”

Canterlot Castle, East Wing Tower,

As dusk settled all over Equestria the revered Princess of the Night stirred in her sleep. Unaware of what had befallen the kingdom earlier in the day she rose slowly to begin her royal duties, setting the moon in motion across the inky sky and guarding the dreams of the ponies that slept.

The first task ran like clockwork, the moon obeyed her very command and peeked above the horizon as the final rays of sunlight disappeared from the world. The silent handover between sisters had been completed once more and the ponies began their foray into the realm of dreams.

As usual Princess Luna started her shepherding with the ponies in the more remote parts of the country. The dreams of those isolated could be especially troubling to the simple pony and thus the Princess took it upon herself to remedy those nightmares first, the thanks she received in reply an earnest pay for her duties.

It was a few hours into the night when her ethereal sight fell upon Ponyville, throughout the population dreams where most pleasant, some a little odd but nothing too frightening. Except for two particular ponies, a couple of sisters reliving a nightmare about being attacked by a behemoth of black, a living shadow.

Luna analysed the dreams and found them not to be figments of imagination but memories turned nightmares. Playing her role as shepherd she soothed the mares, and pulled at the strings of the dream to imbue an ending not so terrifying. At the end of her excursion into the dreams she had the two mares easily escape, and run into the open hooves of the town guard who would protect them from this ‘monster’.

Luna sighed at the thought ‘monster’ all too often the mind would play tricks on itself, recreating harmless objects and animals in the world around into merciless beasts. Though with her job done for these two mares, the sisters slept peacefully, no longer dreaming of nightmares, but instead of the family they loved and cared.

Luna thought it strange that the sisters had dreamt about the same black shadow-pony, and in near identical situations, as she floated through the dreams of the rest of the Ponyville citizens she noticed a continuous figure consistent in quite a few. A very large cloaked figure, in a number of cases caring and gently, guided along by a small filly on nonsensical adventures. In other cases the figure was viewed with a deep sense of apprehension, and slight fear of the unknown.

Luna pulled herself from the trance, unsure of how to proceed, to act on incorrect or inadequate data could be harmful, especially if innocence was to be assumed. She delved back into the dream world, searching out the town guards of Ponyville. In all cases she found not a single mention of the shadow performing acts of harm.

But in the mind of one particular mare, the dream took a different turn. The setting, a regular spa with faceless ponies milling about and enjoying their treatments, as the dream wore on the same cloaked figure entered the premises. The figure in question turned to face the mare, her breath caught in her throat, swiftly the figure drew forward, not an inch from the mare, the glint of white fangs seen from beneath the hood.

A black hoof drew back the hood with a sharp action, a flash of deep red then solid blue and finally shining black covered all sight as the dream grew to darkness. Luna sat perplexed at what she had seen, the dream was not a nightmare, she could easily deduce that much. As the dream continued the blackness was replaced by clouds and the soft blue sky.

The setting had changed, a lake, surrounded thoroughly by grass that grew at least two metres tall. On the bank of the lake there lay a picnic blanket, the picnic settings discarded as the two figures seated on the blanket lay wrapped in each other’s embrace. The same ‘monster’ from the sister’s dreams was viewed in a new light. With their forelegs entangled the black shadow-pony leaned down across the mare’s neck, his large size dwarfing her.

With careful movements he drew his fangs from his mouth and slowly dragged them across the mare’s neck, stopping just over her major arteries and giving a little nip before continuing across her neck. The mare sighed contentedly in response…

Luna hastily withdrew from the dream, the emotions present and the isolated setting warning her of the nature of the dream. Nightmares where meant to be soothed, but the type of dream that the mare was experiencing, that was best left to the dreamer. The Princess of the night continued her foray into the dreams of ponies, soothing the nightmares and cherishing the thanks received, yet remaining vigilant for any anomalies that may point to the shadow-pony.

Author's Notes:

Alright this chapter is broken up into two parts, it was becoming a bit too long for me to handle as a single chapter. Don't worry though the next part is almost ready to go. However I'm going to stick with my schedule of posting at most once a day, it will allow me a bit of breathing room, should anything come up.
I've attempted a bit of sorrow in this chapter, both parts, as well as a continuation of the romance. I'm getting a feel for if I can write specific genres, quite literally throwing writing at the wall and seeing what sticks.
Once more, a big thanks to those that subscribed, all of you that have liked and everyone that has read the story. Please leave a comment about anything you wish to know, (not spoilers however), whether or not you like it and how you think the story is going.

Chapter 10: The night mare (pt2)

View Online

Chapter 10

Noah had packed away the Laptop and Tablet, stowing them deep into the chest of drawers. He sighed at the final items of his bag that lay resting on the bed. A clear plastic container that had been divided into two internally, in one half lay a miniature vehicle, the other a number of microcontrollers and similar components.

His trip back down memory lane had gleaned information on what these items were, his hobby, and subsequently, his final year project. A small quadrotor drone to be controlled autonomously was his grand idea for a final year project, his hobby with robotics and electronics meant he had purchased a number of microcontrollers and add-ons for general tinkering and spare parts.

Useless now, he thought to himself, with no readily viable way of charging the batteries in any of his devices they would be of limited use, Better to live without them, he concluded. He packed the box up and slid it into the wardrobe behind his cloak, out of sight and out of mind. He turned back to the bed where one final object remained, a black silk pouch, which he carefully opened. He drew the contents of the pouch onto the bed, a small rock, a shooting star that had fallen, one last gift of good luck from his family.

He recalled the memory fondly, not the faces, nor the names, but the feelings and emotions that lay behind the gift. He drew the rock to his chest and held it there for a moment, a solitary tear rolled down his face, the thought that he might never again see that family that had loved him so much was unbearable.

Ditzy stopped by Noah’s room again with the pillows and blankets, noticing that he stood still, one hoof clasping an object to his chest. “Are you alright?” she asked, concern hinting in her voice.

“Just remembering my family,” Noah replied, a sniffle escaped him, and another tear joined the first.

Ditzy moved towards Noah once more and embraced him in a motherly hug, “It’ll be alright,” she said softly. “I’m sure you’ll find your family one day.”

Noah leaned into the embrace, not speaking for a moment, just glad for the shoulder, “This was the last gift they gave me,” he unclasped his hoof from his chest, revealing the stone he held, “It’s a shooting star, they gave it to me to bring me luck in my tests.”

Ditzy looked at the stone, and stood thoughtful for a moment, “I’m sure that this gift they gave you will bring you all the luck you will ever need,” she dropped the blankets and pillows on the floor by the bed, “Dinky and I are heading off to sleep, I would suggest you do the same, a good night sleep might help clear your mind.”

Noah nodded to her and mumbled his thanks as she left the room. He gingerly placed the stone back inside its pouch and stowed the gift with the money he had received in the nightstand. As carefully as he could he grabbed the corner of the mattress and began to drag it off the bed. Once that task had been completed he nudged the bed, lifting it up onto its side, creating more floor space in the room and set about constructing his bed for the night.

Ten minutes later Dinky popped her head in to say goodnight, at the sound of the filly’s voice Noah poked his head out of the bedding now turned pillow fort. Halfway through the construction his childish side had taken over, revelling in the chance to put away his sorrow for the time being and bring out the inner child to play. He replied to the filly’s good night, wishing her sweet dreams in return, and withdrew into his little sanctum, laying his head down and quickly drifting off into slumber.

It felt as though no time had passed between Noah’s head hitting the pillow and him finding himself within a dreaming realm. Noah found himself waking in an endless void, not used to such a level of dreaming, he spun around a number of times, trying to get his bearings, his voice calling out for help, echoing around against the nothingness.

A lucid dream, he thought to himself finally, Let’s see what I can do with this. In a flash the scenery changed from an endless void to a hospital setting. With another thought the dream changed again to spa he had visited earlier that day, a third thought followed and two ponies popped into existence, the lovely Aloe and Lotus who worked at the spa.

An obscure thought occurred to Noah, what if he dreamt of the realm within his own mind. With another thought the dream changed once more, the sun shone bright above, the spherical shells that made it up wafting slowly back and forth. He decided to dig a little deeper into his mind, I’ve got the free time, he reasoned. He began by analysing the day that had passed, he could remember nothing from before waking up, but afterwards everything flowed like a movie.

As he saw the world through his own eyes, a peculiar thought occurred, What if I changed the perspective, with that the scene around him changed, he found himself floating above and looking down upon the scene at the hospital, in the manner of a play. As the scene played out he found he could drift around, looking from different perspectives, in some cases only blackness could be seen, Something I obviously didn’t see then, and in others he found gaps in the scenes slowly filled in from previous and future memories.

Maybe my entire collection of memories can recreate a scene, and objects outside of the scene, he reasoned. He tested the hypothesis, recalling the memory of the spa, the guards barging in and demanding he leave with them. He paused the scene halfway through, and changed location, finding himself back at the hospital. Instead of the nurse he recalled who had greeted him before the reception remained bare, not a pony in sight, no sound, and no movement.

I wasn’t there, he thought to himself, So I can’t know what happened.

<Correct>, the orb from before had returned, separate from the memory as though another entity altogether. It had startled Noah with its appearance, the scene before him jumping and dissolving back into nothingness. <May I watch your memories?>, the question was clearer, almost like words and not just the usual feelings.

Noah thought once more and the scene changed, back into the realm of his mind, the endless hallway stationed bellow, the blazing sun of shells in its stationary position at the zenith. Together they analysed the memories, storing the information into more shells for the sun to hold.

High up in her tower and deep within her own tranced slumber the Princess of the Night had almost finished soothing the dreams of the residents of Ponyville. As her mind began to wander to the next town over the dreams of a small filly caught her attention, the small figure reminiscing about the events that day.

Of particular interest was the shadowy figure that had emerged in a flash of lightning, at first the filly’s perception was of a monster, straight from the depths of Tartarus, but as the scene unfolded and the figure remained motionless on the ground the filly’s curiosity go the better of her.

Luna sat and watched as the dream skipped about, fragments of memories polluting a nonsensical adventure, as the filly and the shadow continued on their day. Luna withdrew from the filly’s dream sure of herself that the memories would not falter into nightmares, and she began to search through Ponyville’s dreams again, looking for one last sign of the shadow-pony that had surfaced in so many dreams.

As she continued her search, she found no trace of the pony she sought. She expanded her view, thinking that maybe this pony’s dreams might be held outside her normal range of sense. Much to her pleasure she found an anomaly, a lucid dream, alien in origin. Normally she avoided lucid dreams, as not only could the content shift rapidly, but she held a weakened power over these dreams.

She bit into her mental hoof, having trouble deciding whether or not to investigate. She was still filled with much apprehension, yet her curiosity got the better of her, she took a deep mental breath and dove into the dream.

Within she found a scene most strange a bright sun hung at the zenith of the realm, composed of the shells of memories, each lazily listing through the air in a weak sphere. Its light both penetrated and did not penetrate the atmosphere as the blackened sky of realm was still starkly visible. The only other feature of the realm was an endless hallway with sconces on the wall flickering with light off into infinity.

There in the supposed centre of the realm sat two figures, a large shadow, matching the description of the pony she had seen in so many dreams, and a magenta orb, radiating an unknown energy. As Luna watched the pair a window appeared before them, the scene playing out was an embrace between the shadow and the enamoured mare she had previously seen. As the memory played on it changed, as if a filter had been placed over the window, in addition to the original scene wisps and tendrils of energy could be seen emanating from the mare, similar to the orb that accompanied the shadow.

Within his realm of dreaming Noah and his compatriot, the magenta orb, sat in silence reviewing the scenes of the day. All of a sudden curiosity spiked in the orb as Noah’s memory of town hall began its conclusion. The memory before them that was playing out, the embrace he had shared with Secret.

As the scene ended the orb piped up <May I?> it asked. Noah was confused for a moment, not sure of how to proceed, he wasn’t exactly sure what the orb wanted to do but it hadn’t lead him wrong so far, he gave a shallow nod in consent, and the scene reset itself to when Nah was about to leave.

This time as the scene began the orb pulsed with a flash of energy and the sight before Noah changed. The exact same scene was playing out but it was as though a filter had been applied. From the ponies in the memory an unknown energy could be seen emanating from them, wafting about and hanging in the air. Noah posed a simple question to the orb, What is that?.

<Emotions>, the orb answered, <Directed emotions,> the scene changed flicking to Noah’s encounter with Tiger Lily, in particular the energy she exuded when she had fled was directed straight towards Noah. <Radiated emotions>, the scene changed once again, Dinky, happily enjoying her massage, the energy flowing off her and drifting around her.

Noah took control over the memories, flicking back to the frozen picture of his embrace with Secret, These are emotions? The orb radiated confirmation, And what is this emotion in particular?

The orb was silent a moment, as if debating whether or not to let Noah in on an untold secret. <Love>. The single worded answer struck Noah as odd he hadn’t known the mare more than half a day, how could she have fallen in love with him. Noah let the rest of the scene play out, the orb beside him radiating contentment mixed with hope.

As the memories played on, filtered to show the emotions present he spied a new figure within his dream realm. Far away behind the window showing the memories of the day sat a midnight blue pony, larger than any other he had seen that day, sitting still and watching the pair with intrigue.

I don’t remember dreaming of that, Noah thought offhandedly, his emanating words drew the attention of the orb, it searched around until finding the pony sitting and watching. With the notice of the pony the demeanour of the orb suddenly changes, no longer emanating calm radiance it began to exude what Noah could only describe as apprehension mixed with fear.

Luna, having found herself been discovered, began to walk forward towards the pair. As she did she maintained a composed atmosphere, regal in all its forms attempting, not to startle the beings before her, but to project an aura of control and convey the immense forces she wielded.

As she drew closer still she raised her wings into the air, splaying her primary and secondary flight feathers to their furthest extent. Her impressive wingspan obstructed the light from the pseudo sun, casting a fearsome darkness over the pair before her. She charged her horn, not with any particular spell but simply as a show of strength, her power was not to be laughed at.

Finally she closed her eyes, focussing on the power she tapped into when controlling the moon. When she finally opened her eyes again, they shone with the raw power that would bring ponies to their knees, she reasoned that anypony would know these signs of a Princess, one that would shield them from any danger, and any terror.

As they were not regular ponies, to Noah and his partner this display of power invoked a primal fear, a feeling to hide from the awe. The orb drew backwards slightly, attempting to hide itself behind Noah, feelings of apprehension growing stronger.

Luna, seeing this reaction, spoke first, “DO NOT BE AFRAID,” she bellowed in the royal Canterlot voice, “THE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT HATH ARRIVED.”

To Noah the intruder’s words did not match her actions. As the trespasser of his dream wandered closer still he began to shake, frightened beyond belief, Run, he thought to himself, the thought echoing around the realm, For god’s sake just run. He fled, the orb close behind him, as he ran he fell from the space he occupied, landing roughly on his hooves in the hallway. He continued onwards, the ever present orb close behind him.

In Luna’s mind her entrance had been picture perfect, she had displayed her power and introduced herself to her subject as one normally would, the reaction from the two entities now fleeing should have been of reverence and much bowing and scraping. Confused at the response se had received she gave chase, her thunderous hooves echoing down the hall in pursuit. “STOP,” she bellowed after the figures.

For Noah his mind had begun to play tricks on him, his perception of reality slipped as the midnight princess took chase. Lucid dream, he thought to himself, Let’s control it. He projected a thought and suddenly the hallway ended, yielding to a maze of rose bushes. In his mind he thought up the path that would hopefully lead them away, and proceeded to follow it.

Luna stopped suddenly, the dream had changed, the endless hallway now shifted into a garden maze of the most beautiful roses. She stopped, re-evaluating her position and whether or not she should stay within the dream. Her curiosity rebelled against her, her power in the dream, while lessened, were nothing to be scoffed at.

The princess too flight, her large wings once again casting a shadow upon the ground. She spun once in the air, gaining the position of her targets. She angled towards them, giving one last flap and diving down towards them.

A shadow fell across Noah and the orb, he gazed upwards, and spied the shape of the Night Mare silhouetted against the sun. He took a breath, seeing the predator above them angle towards and dive down to intercept them. With a single thought the sky went black, the sun blotted out. Noah had reconstructed the maze adding in a roof of roses to hide them.

He began running forward once more towards the exit he had created. All of a sudden Noah and his counterpart found themselves once again in the space between the sun and the hallway. The maze had disappeared, the Princess before them dropped to their level, just meters away, her eyes glowed a vivid white, her horn shrouded in a magical aura.

Luna’s dive had been perfect, her angle and speed faultless, yet her targets eluded her. In this meeting turned game of cat and mouse her targets had created yet another barrier to block her, the maze had shifted, where once she found a pattern of walls stood a sheet of roses, covering all beneath from her sight. Exasperated she focussed, drawing on her power and letting out a bolt of magic. The maze vaporised, her prey materialising right in front of her. She opened her mouth to speak, when the dream changed once more, she found herself face to face with… nothing.

Noah threw one last ditch attempt at disrupting the intruder, in the hopes that she wouldn’t be able to chase them if she couldn’t see them, he materialised a set of glasses. Fashionable and yet still functional, their job, they filtered out Noah and the orb. He hoped that would stop the Princess dead in her tracks. The trick worked the mare before him spun around not knowing where her prey had disappeared to. He allowed himself a moment to rest.

The orb relaxed also, radiating calm once more, though apprehension and the fight or flight instinct still hung in the air. <May I try something?> the orb enquired, Noah gave a wordless nod in return, and the orb set to work. Inside his dream a wall materialised, a door its only feature, the orb reflected on its handiwork, <Follow>, it commanded, before disappearing through the door.

Noah opened the door, following through to yet another realm, once again filled with endless nothing. What is this place, Noah thought.

<This is a mind between minds, do not be fooled, it is still dangerous and will not protect you for long>.

How can I understand you better? he queried.

<Your own mind is not accustomed to us, we only have a limited presence>, came the reply, <There is not much time, and I cannot explain everything please listen>. Noah nodded in understanding. <I alone cannot help you, others might but I did not have time to contact them. The Princess roams your dreams and may discover she can access your memories herself. She cannot be allowed to, you have to wake up>.

Noah nodded once more, a questioned still formed in the back of his mind, How?

<You can fall, that alone should wake you, but if you do any in your dream who are not ready may be trapped. You must give the princess a chance to escape, she may be dangerous but she is an innocent, and you must give me the chance to leave>.

But what if I can’t fall, what if I’m not brave enough to do it?

.

What do I do?

<Relax>.

Luna was stunned, her targets had disappeared right before her very eyes, she searched madly, turning on the spot several time in an effort to find them. As she turned once more she spied a new construct within the dream, a wall, containing nothing but a solitary door. She tilted her head sideways trying to figure the turn of events out, she scratched her hoof against the bridge of her muzzle, a technique she learnt from her sister when a strange problem emerged.

Her hoof contacted her muzzle, and then an accessory that she didn’t remember putting on. Her magic fixed on the object on her face, picked it up and brought it close for inspection, a simple pair of sunglasses. She hadn’t remembered putting these on at all. She placed the glasses back over her eyes, lifting them up slightly as she looked at the door, testing to see what they did.

On one such test as she dropped the glasses back over her vision she spied a flash of light out of the corner of her eye. Lifting the glasses she immediately spied the shadow-pony and the orb standing in front of the door. Perplexed at this sudden appearance she lowered the glasses once more finding that the pair had disappeared again from sight. Realising the nature of the glasses she took them off for a final time, casting them aside.

Noah stood stoic in front of the Princess as the orb floated beside him. He watched in slight amusement as the mare put on and took off the glasses several times before finally noticing them. As she threw away the glasses he thought one command to her. Leave this dream, for I shall end it soon, I have been told you are innocent and I don’t want you harmed.

Harmed, The princess thought to herself, “THOU CAN’T HARM THE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT, NOT IN OUR REALM.”

Noah closed his eyes, the scene changing, the sun and the hallway disappeared, giving way to a cliff, overlooking a featureless desert, lit only by the light of the moon. Last chance, please leave.

Luna’s eyes went wide, she knew from the location what the shadow’s plan was, to fall and to wake up. Such a sudden change might possibly trap her in this dream. “FINE IF THAT IS HOW THOU SHALL BEHAVE, SO BE IT.” The Princess withdrew immediately from the realm, her body hardened, and its colour faded, before it collapsed into a pile of sand.

<Still not brave enough?> the orb asked, Noah shook his head in response, <Then allow me to help you>.

The orb shifted, enveloping Noah’s form in an aura of magenta, the emotions he felt emanating from it intensified. Hope, love, a motherly affection, tinged with hints of sorrow and regret of actions passed, these last emotions not fully felt before. The aura took control over Noah limbs, <Don’t fight it>, the orb commanded softly.

Noah relaxed allowing his limbs to be moved, the edge of the cliff drifted closer and closer. Weightlessness took over Noah, he found himself floating out into the open space above the desert. In an instant the orb relinquished control, one last burst of emotion conveying heartfelt apologies before the orb faded from existence. Noah spun through the air, twisting as he hurtled towards the ground.

The surface he had seen as flat before sharpened into spires of rock, windswept by years of erosion. One particularly large spike drew Noah’s attention, its point ending higher up than the other, and right where he would fall. Fear gripped his mind, doubt clawed its way forward, What if I was wro…

Chapter 11: The soothing of minds

View Online

Chapter 11

He was afraid…

The only thing that Luna thought while she withdrew from the shadow’s dream, Why was he so afraid, ponies would see that kind of regal power and fall to their knees in praise and wonder. Yet the shadow-pony she had confronted had the opposite reaction. Instead of being showered with love and admiration she was beheld with raw fear.

The Princess couldn’t dwell on the thought for much longer, there was one more town to check on before she reached the ponies of Canterlot. No doubt the nobles were once more dreaming about their riches and power. She scoffed at them, rarely would they visit her Night Court, if they would shun her, she would return the favour.

The last town before Canterlot was cleared in record time. Due to the wedding that day most ponies were dreaming their own fantasies of marriage to royalty, or simply of the happiness and love that they had for their own families. At last she could deal with the nation’s capital and the self-centred ponies who called it home.

The first family of dreams she visited, and always the ones she started with when entering Canterlot’s realm, were not experiencing the happy thoughts she had expected. The middle class ponies were usually so ecstatic to work in such a fine city that their dreams revolved around raising a family in the wealthy metropolis, a stark contrast to the upper class who so regularly dreamed of their expensive taste and their imagined piles of money.

Instead the dreams of the first ponies she visited were nightmares, some of chase, some of war, some of capture and kidnapping, but all had a common element. Bugs, their chitin a coal black, shined to a gleam like the armour of the royal guards, shaped like a pony, smaller in stature yet as ferocious as a Timberwolf.

Fangs, twin gleaming daggers of ivory jutted from their mouths, eyes a solid green, devoid of feelings. Where one might find a mane or tail were only tattered frills, horns like scythes jutted from their foreheads, their very existence fear inspiring. Wings of a beetle protruded from their backs, the hard carapace coverings lifted to allow for flight.

And the noise, the constant drone of buzzing, the screams of other ponies a regular background to the rapid heartbeats of the dreamer. More, the flashes of light, green fire as the insects changed form, monstrous conglomerations of their base insectoid figure and former loved ones that the ponies dreamed of.

Luna withdrew for the many dreams she was witnessing, she scanned the realm, and found all the ponies in Canterlot were experiencing these horrific nightmares. She snapped out of her trance, consciousness eluding her for a moment before the physical world yielded to her sight. She silently drew up from her bed, making her way across the black marble toward the mahogany double doors of her abode.

She opened the door quietly, allowing a soft cough to escape to calmly drew the attention of her two bat-pony sentinels, “Guards,” she spoke, not wanting to wake the entire wing with the royal canterlot voice, “We have a task for thee to complete.”

The guard posted to the left of her snapped to attention, “Ma’am,” she replied.

“The Night Court is to be cancelled, Our duties in the dreaming realm hath been extended, more nightmares than there art minutes in the night, We shan’t be able to attend the court.”

“Yes ma’am,” the guard responded once more, “Your orders?”

“Go to the court, inform the court advisor of this change in plans, Our apologies for those who came.”

“Yes ma’am,” the guard saluted the princess, snapping to attention and saluting her comrade before making her way quickly down the hall. Barely a minute passed before another guard replaced the errand runner, standing to attention as thought they had been there the entire night.

Luna retreated back into her chambers as the guard disappeared around a corner, We must report this to thine sister at the changeover tomorrow morn. She let out a deep sigh, steading herself for the long night ahead, as she climbed back into the comfort of her bed. With one sharp breath she re-entered the dreaming realm, tending to the nightmares that plagued their minds.

Noah awoke with a start, the trick that had worked quickly fading from his mind. He had fallen, but never landed, waking up just as his mind would have been speared upon the spires. His eyes adjusted slowly to the darkness, the moonlight trickling in through the open window. In the background he heard soft hoofsteps clopping up the stairs to the main bedroom, a second heavier pair joining them soon after on the trip down.

A soft glow cast the shadows of the night aside, a small lamp held in Ditzy’s mouth, the look of worry that was plastered across her face, repeated across Dinky’s features. “Are you alright?” Ditzy asked softly, her voice barely a whisper.

Noah looked at them strangely, the fear he held for the Night Mare slowly dwindled, but he couldn’t fathom what caused the two concern, “I’m fine, is everything okay?” He asked back, confusion spreading in his voice.

“You woke Dinky,” Ditzy pointed to the filly, “You were thrashing about, sweating like crazy, you even started mumbling in your sleep.”

Noah looked at them with more confusion, he remembered having a lucid dream, but like a word on the tip of his tongue he couldn’t remember what it was about, “What did I say?”

“Mostly nonsensical mumblings,” Ditzy’s voice grew softer still, “But then you said something clear, a warning almost, ‘Run, for god’s sake just run’, were you having a nightmare?”

The dream came rushing back, the playing around with his memories in the lucid dream, the magenta orb filtering the emotions, the emergence of the Night Mare, the chase and the fall. Noah took a gasp of air as the memory of his dream returned. he tried to rise quickly to his hooves, bumping aside the pillow fort that he had built, the structure collapsing into a nest of pillows and blankets.

Dinky gave a small laugh at his dilemma, before diving right into the pile, jumping all over Noah and the mess. Ditzy shook her head at the filly’s antics, smiling at her daughter’s ability to find the fun in everything. Noah’s head popped through the mess, a blanket covering his head leaving only his fangs to show in a goofy smile.

Noah extracted a leg from the pile, removing the blanket hood and capturing the bouncing filly in his grasp. He gently tucked her against his chest, her small heartbeats vibrating against the chitin. “I just had a nightmare,” he said as Ditzy walked over, laying down next to Noah and her daughter.

“Just a nightmare,” she replied, thoroughly unconvinced, “Dinky’s had nightmares, I’ve had nightmares, what you experienced had to have been a true terror.”

“It was quite unnerving,” Noah softly agreed, “It was like I was being chased through my own mind but some all-powerful deity, scary thing to experience,” he said. His words weren’t a complete fabrication and he knew it, he had made the simple metaphor so that the mare might better understand.

“Well whenever Dinky suffered from nightmares I would always hold her close and sing,” Ditzy explained, she began to shy away a little, “I could… I could sing for you if it made you feel better.”

“You would sing for me?” Noah asked, the chitin ridge of his eyebrow raised slightly in disbelief.

“It would be as a thank you, for comforting me, and helping Dinky have a good time today,” she said, her voice quickening in pace as she gestured to the filly.

Noah mulled the options over in his head, the harrowing experience of the nightmare still plagued his mind, perhaps a lullaby would help. He nodded a yes, relaxing as the mare drew closer, leaning against him and began to sing. As Ditzy’s soft melodious voice filled the room, the sweet notes of the song she sang soothed Noah.

Noah’s grip on Dinky relaxed, the filly clambered around, adjusting her position to find a more comfortable spot, her eyes began to droop, her breathing became slow and soft, a small yawn escaping from her muzzle. As Dinky laid her head down to rest across Noah’s front legs her mother joined suit, her body relaxed, her weight resting against Noah’s side, she laid her head down across his hooves.

As the mare fell asleep Noah found his eyes drooping as well, slowly his head became heavier, to the point where he couldn’t hold it up any longer. As he began to drift off to sleep once more he laid his head across Ditzy’s neck, a soft sigh and a small smile escaping the mare. The feeling of the soft coat and silky mane tempted him further into slumber to the point where his eyes closed and did not open. He eased into a dreamless sleep, the warm feeling of the mare and the filly pressed against him ever present, the slow cyclic breaths of both soothing to his mind.

The entire night, that’s how long it took for the Princess to quell the nightmares of Canterlot, it wasn’t bad enough that the entire populace was inundated with the terrors but her work almost never stopped. She would sooth one mind, only to have it fall back into nightmare later on. The never ending cycle continuing, until she came up with a plan, a Need It Want It spell, modified to be fair less potent and to break with the setting of the moon.

She only cast the spell on the ponies with the most troubling dreams, the royal guard, those that slept, were the hardest affected. The spell would have them seek out a fond childhood memory whilst they slept. This would force the mind to dream of the good times, and ignore the bad.

As the moon finished its excursion across the night sky, the sun sat in waiting at the world’s edge, ready to being a new day. The time for handover grew closer and Luna withdrew from her trance, seamlessly leaving the realm of dreams and arriving in the waking world. At once she cast her magic to the moon, the lunar body obeying her command and slipping below the horizon to rest. As it did the sun took its chance, rising steadily above the trees of the forest, the orange hues of the sunrise piercing through the curtains of the sleepy.

Luna yawned, she yearned for the bed so that she might rest from her weary night, but duty called, she needed to discuss the nightmares of the people with her sister, and the appearance of the intriguing shadow-pony. She made her way hastily over to the door swinging it wide open, she turned to the startled bat-ponies that flanked the door, “Why is Our Sister, We have need of conversation with her regarding this night.”

The mare on the left was first to recover, the same mare that delivered the message, Luna thought. “She is in the royal meeting room with the Princess Cadance, Prince Shining Armour, Lady Twilight Sparkle and the rest of the Elements.”

“We thank thee dear guards, thou may relieve thyself of duty.”

As Luna made her way towards the meeting room the guards behind her slouched, exhausted at the long night stationed at the door, “You’d think we would have split shifts across the night,” the mare on the left spoke as she nudged her counterpart, “We do have enough Lunar Guards for the job.” He words went unheeded as the guard she spoke to collapsed into sleep. “Newbie,” she muttered dragging the sleeping corpse to the barracks.

Chapter 12: A plan for the day

View Online

Chapter 12

Noah awoke from his light sleep with a start, accidentally jostling the mare beside him and the filly across his forelegs. The moon had begun its descent behind the horizon, the sun slightly illuminating the sky in an ethereal twilight. Noah looked around, Ditzy gave her head a toss in her sleep, not awakened by Noah’s movement, Dinky simply rolled over, slipping between Noah’s forelegs.

Noah slowly rose to his hooves, careful not the wake the mother or her daughter, and tiptoed around their sleeping forms and making his way over to the door. He opened it slowly, a small squeak the only noise it produced, and he made his way to the back door. He snuck outside, the sky lit further by the twilight glow. Turning to face the coming sun he stood in awe as the sunrise painted vivid orange hues across the sky, his muzzle slightly agape in an honest smile at the wonder he beheld.

A soft yawn heralded the arrival of another pony. Ditzy had slept light, noticing Noah’s absence almost immediately. Dinky was perched upon her mother’s back, the filly had also taken note of Noah’s leave, the squeaking door waking her from her slumber. The trio stood together, not speaking just marvelling at the sunrise that unfolded before them.

As the horizon finally relinquished its hold on the sun Ditzy turned, and trotted back inside, “I’m going to start on breakfast,” she said stopping at the door with another yawn, “Come in whenever you’re ready.”

Noah didn’t respond for a moment, thinking about the events of the previous day and night, “I remember,” he said softly as Ditzy retreated inside, pausing a moment longer before following the mare inside.

Breakfast both was and was not a simple affair. As Noah walked into the kitchen the smell of butter in a frypan hit his nostrils. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, the scent of batter and oranges filling his sense. “Pancakes?” he asked casually.

“A good nose on you,” Ditzy replied with a sleepy smile, “Blueberry pancakes and freshly squeezed orange juice.”

Opening his eyes Noah saw the mare at the cooktop, a bowl of batter perched on the bench, a ladle held carefully in her wing. Ditzy spun on the spot looking for something unknown with her wing still outstretched, the jug of juice lay in its path. Time seemed to slow for Noah as the mare’s wing swept closer to the jug. Just before contact was made a soft golden glow enveloped the pitcher, raising it up above the wing and placing it back down on the counter.

Noah stood stunned, his jaw dropped to the floor, he had honestly thought that the mare’s wing would clip the pitcher, sending it crashing to the floor. A soft giggle from behind alerted him to the saviour, making him swivel on the spot. Dinky picked up a tea spoon from the table, the tell-tale glow of magic surrounding her horn and the cutlery. She waved it in Noah’s face a couple of times, bopping him on the head before putting it back onto the table.

“Cheeky,” he muttered, pouting a little before letting a smile crawl across his face.

Dinky’s horn regained its aura, Noah turned around just in time to see Ditzy swing around again, a plate of pancakes balanced on one wing, a platter with the juice, some cream and fresh cut lemon on the other. Both items were shrouded in Dinky’s magic, any sharp movements that her mother made were softened allowing for the meal to make it to the table intact.

“Oops left the stove on again,” Ditzy said, she turned around quickly, her wing catching a glass and knocking it from the table. Noah watched as Dinky’s quick reflexes caught the glass before it hit the floor, setting it back upright on the table.

“Nice catch,” Noah mentioned, the filly on the end of his compliment beaming back at him.

“Yeah mum can be a bit clumsy sometimes,” Dinky replied, “It helps I can do magic to catch things.”

“You weren’t that clumsy yesterday when you were beating the stuffing out of me,” Noah said, turning to the mare, giving her his attention.

“Well, when it comes to Dinky I’m as careful as anything,” Ditzy replied, somewhat bashful at the compliment, “But she is right, I can be a bit of a klutz.”

“Surely you can’t be serious.”

“You saw Town Hall?” Ditzy dropped him a dejected look, “They call me Derpy because of my clumsiness, I’m the reason it’s in such disrepair all the time,” her faced turned down, a saddened look upon her face.

“That can’t be the whole story,” Noah sounded unconvinced that the mare was simply ‘a klutz’.

“It’s not, my condition makes it hard to perceive distances,” she looked up at Noah, catching his full gaze for the first time. Her eyes wouldn’t line up, one always looking off in another direction.

“Your eyes,” Noah gasped, a hoof quickly covering his mouth.

Ditzy nodded, “The doctors called it Wall Eyes, I can’t focus properly, it doesn’t mean I can’t see, it just means I sometimes miss some things in front of me or misjudged how far away things are.”

Noah’s mind went into overdrive, a problem like this felt familiar. He found himself quickly lapsing into his realm of memories, he looked quickly searching for when he might have encountered any similar problem. The sun above pulsed once, a shell of a memory drifting down to Noah. He had the answer.

Noah snapped back to a confused look upon Ditzy’s face, “I might have a solution, I’ll let you know after breakfast and a bit of thinking,” he said, leaving the mare even more confused as he dove back into his pancakes.

Luna strolled confidently up to the meeting room doors, nodding at the Solar Guards defending them, she grasped the handles in her magic, flinging the doors wide open, “THE PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT HATH ARRIVED,” she bellowed into the room.

All the attendees cringed at the sound, bar the Princess of the Day. Celestia stood at the head of the table, towering above her subjects she merely rolled her eyes at her sister’s antics. “It is so nice of you to join us Lu-Lu.”

“Oh Tia, We have the most interesting news,” Luna exclaimed with obvious excitement, bounding over to her sister, “We met somepony new last night, he-.”

“We are in the middle of a crisis here,” Celestia interrupted, agitated at her sister antics, “I don’t have time for you to regale me with tales of some new pony with lucid dreams again. We are trying to deal with an invasion that occurred yesterday, during Cadance’s wedding. The culprits ar-.”

It was Luna’s turn to interrupt, all excitement left her voice, she spoke with a flat tone. “Bug-like ponies, smaller in stature, white fangs, pure green eyes, almost pupil-less, tatter frills for manes and tails, gossamer wings resembling a beetle almost, and a horn that looks like a dagger.”

The ponies in attendance all stopped, staring at the Princess, she had been absent for the entire time, how could she have known what the culprits looked like. “Well you know what they look like, but they-,” Princess Cadance started.

“They have both flight and magic, using a previously unknown technique to take the form or at least image of loved ones, making them almost indistinguishable from regular ponies,” Luna interrupted once more.

Mouth’s that were agape now dropped to the floor in the Princesses knowledge. All at the table thought that she had not yet been brought up to date. Twilight Sparkle broke the silence, “How could you know all that, you weren’t even there,” a hint of disbelief edging into her voice.

“You forget, Magic, that We are the Princess of Dreams, and through all of last night We hath been soothing reoccurring nightmares of our little ponies,” Luna responded with a smug smile, “We learnt almost all we needed to know except for the most important question, why.”

Celestia nodded at her sister, recognizing her knowledge, “So you know that we talk of the changelings.”

“Changelings,” Luna muttered to herself, rolling the word around her mouth a couple of times, “We Cannot say We’ve heard of the creatures,” she said to the room.

“No nopony can, nopony even knew they existed until yesterday, they were barely a myth before the invasion, and now we are discussing how to handle the situation.”

“We should scour the towns closest for remnants of the changelings, they need to be captured before they do any further damage,” Cadance stated, hatred seething from her words.

“Yeah, Ponyville could be in trouble, we should go there right away and make sure they’re all right,” Rainbow Dash added, launching herself up into the air and hovering a few meters above the table.

“Normally Ah don’t like ta jump ta conclusions, but Ah agree, these varmin need to be dealt with,” Applejack’s strong southern accent entered the fray.

The four other elements, muttered their agreement with the plan, adding in parts of their own accord, protect Ponyville and kick some bug butt. Even the captain of the guard Shining Armour was nodding, his usual stoic expression replaced with barely hidden rage.

“ENOUGH,’ Luna bellowed, making the occupants of the room jump once more, “Our first duty is to take care of this city and its citizens.”

“My sister is right,” Celestia said, a grim expression rising in her features, “We should search the city and make sure any remnants are taken into custody, and then we can search the surrounding towns.”

“But they attacked my wedding!” Cadance screamed at the solar princess, “You don’t know what it’s like to have one of your most magic days almost ruined.”

“AND YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND,” Celestia roared back at the pink princess, Cadance cowering at the anger that rolled off Celestia in waves, “You weren’t there, you weren’t at Marelem during the trials! None of you were even born and Luna had just been-.”

Celestia broke down, a small sob escaping her, tears trickling down her muzzle. All in attendance watched in shock, unknowing how to deal with the situation. Luna trotted over, raising a comforting wing and draping it across Celestia as best she could.

“It was right after the banishment of Nightmare Moon, only a couple of months had passed,” Celestia began, her volume so soft that all leaned in to hear her whispers. “Have you ever wondered why there are so few bat ponies?” she asked, not waiting for an answer, “There was a cult, they were very small but they grew to immense power immediately following the events of Nightmare Moon.”

“They began a rumour, a terrible lie that the bat ponies that followed Luna were as evil as Nightmare Moon herself. They started this lie so they would have a villain to rally the ponies against, and this lie… it grew.” She sobbed once more, burying her muzzle under Luna’s wing. “They spun this lie growing it to the point where in one small town, Marelem, the ponies snapped. In fear the lie of the evil bats had grown to the point where random ponies on the streets were being accused of colluding with them.”

“There was no basis for these accusations, no basis for the lies, yet in their fear the ponies of Salem put hundreds of their own townsfolk to the trials. Water, fire, dirt, cloud, all these trials and more were used on innocents to determine if they were in conspiracy with the bat ponies. Held underwater, torched at stakes, buried alive, dropped from clouds, if a pony accused survived just one of these trials they were guilty and hung, if they died, they were sometimes found innocent posthumously, most other times they were branded weak but still associates of the bat ponies.”

“The bat ponies themselves… they fared much worse… I was weakened by the battle, unable to help them… to stop the cult before it all got out of hand. By the time I managed to intervene the bat ponies had fled, I’m not even sure how many were left to flee.

The silence that hung in the room was palpable, heads hung in shame at the considered action, mouths agape in horror at the story that had unfolded. “Is that what thee wants,” Luna asked Cadance softly, tears of her own forming, “Another Marelem, and with the changeling’s ability to take ANY form, how many innocents doth thou think will fall?”

Shame infiltrated its way across Cadance’s features, “No, I don’t want that,” she said softly, she faced Celestia dead on, “What would you do?”

Celestia allowed a small smile, the victory was Cadance’s common sense, “There is still a media blackout about the whole wedding, it is likely that no one outside of Canterlot knows what has happened, we need to reassure the citizen of this city that everything that can be done is being done.”

“We are almost certain that no more Changelings can be found within the city, but I will have all available guards on search duty reassuring the ponies,” Shining Armour stated, a stoic look resuming its rightful place on his face.

“See that it is done,” Celestia said with a small smile, “However I will need you and Cadance to submit to analysis, there is likely some changeling magic residue that we can use to our advantage, maybe come up with a countermeasure. What’s more we need to avoid media frenzy on this, as soon as the media curtain falls there might be pandemonium let’s try to avoid that.”

Twilight stepped forward, raising a hoof in a scholarly fashion, “A well written royal notice on the matter would probably help avoid a nasty situation, it should clarify a few points on the changelings, and make sure that vigilantism is entirely avoided.”

“Good point my dear student, we shall send out a preliminary report for the town guards at once, it will avoid any them jumping to conclusions but it should make them keep a closer eye on the townsfolk. A follow up report shall be sent in a couple of days when we have more information, this will include the royal notice about the incident, and hopefully we can nip this in the butt before the media create frenzy.”

All in attendance nodded in agreement, “Then it is decided, Captain, organise the searches and have the Wonderbolts report to me to deliver the preliminary report to the towns, Twilight, you and Cadance should start researching the changelings and their magic, also try to find out what kind of spell was used to eject them from Canterlot. The rest of you, take a well-deserved rest, I’m sorry but I need to keep you here a little while with the Elements of Harmony just in case.”

“But Princess Celestia!” Rainbow Dash started, “I really want to help, can’t I fly the letter to Ponyville, check up on home while I’m there, piece of mind for the rest of the girls and all.”

“I suppose that would be alright, it will be up to the Wonderbolts to let you join with them but I don’t see the harm, I’ll send somepony to set you know what they decide. Now please, the rest of you, try to relax, we shall let you know when there is something to tell.

“So what’s this solution?” Ditzy asked as she stood at Noah’s door, Dinky had run in after Noah, jumping onto the pillow pile, finding the most comfortable spot.

“Your problem is somewhat similar to one that I was having with a project of mine,” came the muffled replied from the back of the wardrobe, “AHA,” Noah exclaimed as he pulled out his box of electronics.

“Aha?” Ditzy enquired, confused at how a box might help her situation.

“I don’t want to get your hopes up just in case this doesn’t work but here’s the deal,” he pulled out the micro quadrotor, “This device I was building had the problem where it couldn’t see, it couldn’t process the vision fast enough, so to help it see I used these,” he placed a set of components on the night stand.

“What are those?”

“Ultrasonic sensors, they use high frequency sound waves to detect objects and then sends a signal based on the distance away from the object,” Noah explained happily, thoroughly immersed in his field and teaching what he knew to another.

“Now I can’t be sure this would work, and even then it would take quite a bit of time, and I would need to find a way to power the device, but two of these devices when working together would detect an object in front of you to your left or right and would send a signal, probably a vibration. The vibration would be on the left or right of your body, or both, this would tell you where an object is, and the strength of the vibration would tell you how far away the object is.”

Ditzy was growing more and more entranced at the description as Noah went on, although he couldn’t promise that it would work, so many doctors had told her she would be like this for the rest of her life, she allowed herself a brief moment of hope.

“Like I said,” Noah began finishing up, “I can’t promise it would work, or if I could power it, but if you are willing, I’ll try and help you.”

Ditzy nodded furiously in agreement, any possibility no matter how slim, was better than nothing, “If you would be so kind as to try, I… we would be so grateful.”

“Well I can’t get started on it right away, I need to go see Big Mac, I wanted to check out the library, and I think I need to head to the hospital once more,” Noah said, stroking at his chin.

“Well what are you waiting for,” Ditzy practically yelled, “Go, GO, hurry up,” she ushered Noah and Dinky out of the house, barely giving Noah enough time to grab his cloak, “Where to first?”

“First I want to go to the hospital once more, just by myself, you had some shopping to do yes?” Noah asked.

“Yeah,” Ditzy said dejectedly.

“Well point me in the direction of the hospital, and I’ll meet you in the market in about an hour or so, yeah?”

“Yeah,” Ditzy said, now excited, pointing Noah towards the hospital before heading off to the market with Dinky in tow.

Chapter 13: The flight and the friend

View Online

Chapter 13

Noah stepped through the doors of Ponyville hospital, his heavy hoofsteps alerting the nurse on reception to his presence.

“Hello and welcome to Ponyville Hospital, I’m Nurse Redheart, how can I direct you today?” the mare asked not looking up from her paperwork.

“Oh I’m just in for a check-up,” Noah jovially answered in a buzzing voice.

The nurse looked up from her work, a look of puzzlement crossed her face at the tall cloaked pony before her. Noah drew back the hood of his cloak, giving the mare a toothy grin. “No One,” Nurse Redheart exclaimed, “Almost didn’t recognise you, as hard as that may be to believe, how may I help you?”

“Oh well I’ve figured out I’m not hallucinating, and I’m not unconscious, and I’m still quite a long way from home,” he stated, “So I thought I might borrow that wonderful soundproof room you have and scream at the walls for another half hour, I should be fine after that.”

“You really like to scream at walls don’t you,” The nurse jested.

“Yeah, I suppose so, it’s a good way to get it all out of your system.”

“I might have to join you sometime and just scream.”

“Hah. Join me sometime and I can give you something to really scream about,” Noah replied quickly, a large smile upon his face as he stood oblivious to his own words.

The nurse’s jaw dropped, not expecting that sort of remark. Noah’s face fell as his mind clicked over and he realised what he had just said, his hoof found his face with another resounding thwack. “I’m sorry, that sounded didn’t even sound good in my head, I don’t know why I said that,” he mumbled.

Nurse Redheart gave a short laughed, her agape mouth reforming into an honest smile, “I haven’t had a chat like this in such a long time. It’s a welcome reprieve from all the uptight doctors.”

Noah let out a long breath, thankful that the nurse hadn’t taken offense to his quick tongue and slow mind. “Thanks,” he said softly, a warm smile replacing his previous grimace, “I’ll definitely owe you a favour.”

“Third corridor on your right and the sixth door on your left, I’ll come check up on you in about twenty alright,” she said with a wink.

Noah gave a few flustered huffs, stumbling through the double doors and making his way through the corridors. As the door to the white padded room closed with a soft click Noah gave a contented relaxed sigh, smiling for a moment, before screaming to the walls.

Nurse Redheart’s ears perked at the sound of muffled screams emanating from within the hospital, she gave a small chuckle, “Weird one he is,” she mumbled to herself, returning to the paperwork before her.

The earth pony maid trotted briskly through the halls of Canterlot castle, the clop of her hooves hitting the marble echoing down the long corridors. Two rights, a left and then another right, third door on the left, she thought to herself. As she arrived at the door she tidied her uniform up, brushing over the creases that had formed, and knocked politely.

Her hoof hadn’t struck a second time as the door was almost wrenched from its hinges, a wild eye Pegasus stood holding the handle, “Are you here from the Princess,” the blue mare demanded, “Well what did she say, can I deliver the report to Ponyville, can I fly with the Wonderbolts?”

The maid had trouble following the ecstatic Pegasus, from being in her face one second to flying tight loops in the doorway the next. Her saving grace came from another voice inside the suite, “Rainbow, settle down before ah take ya down,” came a southern toned threat.

“Ahh miss Rainbow Dash I presume,” the maid said calmly as the Pegasus dropped to her hooves, still wild eyed but much more subdued, “To answer your question yes, the Wonderbolts have agreed to let you deliver the preliminary report to Ponyville, if you would like to follow me, I shall show you to the courtyard.”

“No time for the scenic tour,” Rainbow exclaimed loudly, “Hold on tight.” She grabbed the mare around her barrel, holder her tight as she launched herself and her cargo into the air and out of the room through the balcony.

Down in the courtyard screams of distress could be heard emanating from the castle high above. As the source grew louder the noise began to unnerve the ponies who stood at attention. Moments later a rainbow streak delivered thoroughly frightened mare in front of the group, performing a tight loop before dropping down next to the mare, landing to face Princess Celestia.

“Isn’t she too reckless to be in the Wonderbolts?” Fleetfoot muttered to Soarin.

“I saw that as a calculated risk, besides, she has the raw talent to be one of us,” Soarin whispered back.

“Raw talent’s nothing if she can’t control it or herself,” Fleetfoot hissed.

“Hah,” Spitfire chuckled, interrupting the discussion, “You should have seen Soarin when he first joined up, full of talent, but he couldn’t use any of it, we taught his how to fly like a Wonderbolt though.” Spitfire took a moment to look over Rainbow Dash, “Rainbow, she has the skill, it’s just whether she can apply them to a team scenario, that’s what this is, a test for her to see if she could be the next Wonderbolt.”

Fleetfoot grumbled, Soarin chuckled as he reminisced his first few months of Wonderbolts training. “No complaining, if she passes she’s one step closer to joining our little group, if she doesn’t no harm no foul,” Spitfire continued, “Either way I don’t want to hear any insubordination.”

“Yes boss,” the two snapped back automatically, they stood to attention once more as Princess Celestia turned to face them.

“Alright my little ponies, your job is to deliver these preliminary reports to the towns and cities of Equestria as quickly as possible. They contain no information that could be used to target any innocent group or individual, all they mention is an incident during the wedding and for the guards to keep an eye out for any odd behaviour of their citizens or any new arrivals. As soon as the reports are delivered you are to return to Canterlot to assist in aerial patrols. Is this clear?”

A chorus of ‘YES MA’AM’ resounded through the ranks of the Wonderbolts. “Good,” Celestia continued, “Then a safe trip until next we meet, Spitfire, a word if you please.”

Spitfire turned to the rest of her comrades, “Take five guys, but don’t stray we move out as soon as I’ve talked to the Princess.”

The group broke, each pony relaxing and trotting about, Spitfire made her way over to where the Princess and Rainbow Dash were talking. “You wanted to see me Princess?”

“Yes Spitfire, I know you’ve already agreed to allow Rainbow Dash to deliver the message to Ponyville, but I want you to take extra care, nothing can be allowed to happen to her. I know it’s a lot to ask but I want one of your best guarding her for the duration of the exercise.”

“But Princess,” Rainbow began.

“No buts,” Celestia interrupted, “There is very little known about the Changelings, and with the large threat that they pose I don’t want to take any chances, the one condition that I place on you going is that you are guarded. Spitfire, can you see that it is done?”

“Yes Ma’am,” Spitfire responded confidently, “I’m sure Soarin would love a chance to hang with a possible recruit,” she hinted, a twinkle flashing in her eyes.

“Then go forth, and please do be safe,” Celestia finished, turning and leaving the two pegasi to converse.

“So Rainbow,” Spitfire started, a knowing grin spreading across her face, “You can fly above the speed of sound yeah?”

“Can I ever, you are looking at the only mare to perform a Sonic Rainboom in this generation,” Rainbow exclaimed loudly, drawing the attention of some of the other Wonderbolts.

“Nice, nice, but how long can you fly at that speed?”

Rainbow’s face dropped, she didn’t know the answer, she hadn’t even tried to fly distance at those speeds.

“Well now is your big chance, this task will double a chance to test your ability to fly in formation at speed for longer durations. You won’t be following us the entire distance, we’ll drop you off at Ponyville and continue on our flight. That should give you enough time to recover while we continue the mission. We will swing by and pick you up again about four hours later, should be enough time to get fully rested.”

Spitfire turned to the rest of her team who had crowded around the pair, “Soarin, Celestia wants Rainbow with guard at all times, you’re the one with the most training, so you’re on babysitting duty. Rest of you understand the mission?” A chorus of ‘YES MA’AM’ reverberated through the courtyard, “Then let’s fly.” She shouted, launching herself into the air with one large flap of her wings, followed shortly by the dozen other ponies the made up the Wonderbolts.

Noah sat in silence, he had screamed to the walls for a good ten minutes before collapsing into quiet contemplation. More easily than before he drifted into his mind, the magenta orb that kept him company joined him soon after. You look different, Noah thought as the being materialised, No longer a sphere, now a vague pony-like shadow, still magenta though.

The shadow let off a pulse of amusement, <You are becoming more suited to this method of communication, as this continues my form will grow stronger and stronger. Similarly if you were in my thoughts you would look like this.>

Noah reeled for a moment, the orb had always spoken in feelings and emotions, bare words spoken when needed but nothing so complex, You can talk?

So who are you then?

<Depends on who’s asking, to you a friend.>

And to others? Noah enquired.

<To my subjects I am a ruler, to my equals I am a visionary and a saviour, to the ponies…> The flow of thoughts drifted off into silence.

New question, Noah thought quickly, What am i?

<That is a tough question, and quite dependent on the context.>

Alright then do you know what I am?

<Maybe.>

Will you tell me?

<Maybe.>

Noah was becoming exasperated at the half answers he was receiving, his emotions becoming clear.

If you didn’t want to tell me you could’ve just said so, Noah thought angrily.

I can always find out myself, this town does have a library, Noah stated.

<Then I shall help you along, conduct your research into myths and legends, that may help you find yourself.>

Always the cryptic aren’t you, Noah thought dryly.

<It is in my nature, but do try this, when you leave this place, look how I taught you to look, it may help.>

Yeah I’m still gonna hang around here for a while and meditate, see if I can get back some memories.

<Then I shall help you, if you will allow it.>

Oh you know what they say, misery loves company, Noah replied, and earnest pulse of laughter emitting from the magenta shadow, So do you have an actual name?

The shadow was quiet for a while, mulling over a response, <Are we friends?> it finally asked.

Yeah, I suppose so.

<My friends call me Chrissy.>

“You did good Dash,” Soarin exclaimed once they peeled from the group, rapidly bleeding speed as they descended into Ponyville, “Kept up pace, kept in formation, how are you feeling.”

Rainbow panted beside him, the trip had been absolutely exhausting, travelling at such high speeds in formation. “I’m good,” she wheezed, “Ready to go another round.”

“Whoa don’t push yourself too far,” Soarin replied, “We rarely take trips like that, I’m surprised you actually made it, and at our top speed too.”

“Well at least I have some time to rest, I don’t believe you guys do that speed that often.”

“We don’t, and we’ll be taking it easy on the way back too, so don’t worry, some good grub, a quick nap and you’ll be right as rain.”

The two swooped down in front of the town hall, Soarin held open the door as Rainbow trotted inside, “After you,” he said with a grin.

Rainbow poked her tongue out at him in response, before making her way over to the guard on duty, “Hey Point, I got you a letter from the Princess for the town guard.”

“And here I was thinking you’d dropped in to see little old me,” Pointguard replied, smiling sarcastically.

“Har, har,” Rainbow said, “Look there was a little incident in Canterlot during the wedding, nothing too major,” she winked at Soarin, a gesture to show her unparalleled subtlety, Soarin smiled in response. “This just says the town guard needs to keep an eye out for odd behaviour and any new arrivals.”

Point read the letter over, and reread it again to make sure, “And you can’t tell me what this was incident was?”

“Sorry Point,” Rainbow responded with a shrug, “Classified.”

Point shrugged again before turning to Secret Strike, “Take a look at this,” he said solemnly, “You don’t think…” he trailed off.

“Can’t be, besides I’m not going to jump to that conclusion,” Secret replied.

“Still best to do a check-up, I think Derpy will know where to find him.”

“Is everything alright? What’s going on?” Rainbow asked, the hushed whispers of the two guards concerning the mare.

“Oh nothing too much, we’re just performing a routine check up on all recent arrivals,” Secret replied casually, “Just like the letter says, I’ll let you get on with your day, looks like your friend is waiting for you.” Secret nodded toward where Soarin was standing patiently, “Cute looking one too, good catch Rainbow.”

“He’s not my… I mean… I’m going,” Rainbow firmly stated, as she turned and stormed out of the town hall, the ever relaxed Soarin in tow.

“What was that about?” he asked as the door to the hall closed.

“Nothing,” Rainbow almost shouted at him, “They’re just checking up on arrivals, obviously want me out of there.”

“Well isn’t that a good thing, them doing their jobs?”

“It is, but they acted like they knew something, and they mentioned Ditzy,” Rainbow had her hoof to her muzzle deep in thought, “I’ll bet she’s involved in something, quick let’s find her and see what she knows.”

“Aren’t you just jumping to conclusions?”

“No I’m making sure Ponyville is safe, just like I said I would, now let’s go,” Rainbow was nearly jumping with excitement.

“Ahh, I’m going to skip this one out, I think you can handle anything that gets thrown your way, know of any good grub?”

“Oh try Sugar Cube Corner, I’ll meet you there in half an hour when I’m done investigating.”

“Right half an hour before I start beating down doors.”

Rainbow took off in the direction of the markets, Soarin took the time to admire her form before turning on the spot, “Right Sugar Cube Corner, Sugar Cube…Sugar… Dammit she didn’t tell me where it was.” Soarin turned to a mare that had trotted out of Town Hall, “Excuse me ma’am, can you tell me where Sugar Cube Corner is?”

“Certainly,” Secret replied, showing him to the café before heading out into the markets herself.

Chapter 14: Weird communications

View Online

Chapter 14

Rainbow dash flew low over the houses of Ponyville, skimming bare meters from the rooftops. Her goal, Ditzy’s house, where it was rumoured a ‘new arrival’ was lodged. She swooped upwards, gaining some altitude and bleeding off her speed, before tilting over and dropping like a stone. Seconds before she hit the ground Rainbow Dash flared out her wings and killed her speed, landing lightly on her hooves in front of Ditzy’s door.

She trotted up, rapping at the door before leaning back for a response. After a few moments of silence she tried again, no response was given. Rainbow turned around, now slightly worried that something bad had befallen Ditzy and Dinky. She spied a neighbour exiting their own house and trotted over to her. “Have you seen Ditzy today?” Rainbow asked urgently.

“Um, she went to the markets with Dinky I think,” the mare replied, thrown at the abrupt question.

“Thanks. Oh you don’t happen to know if she is playing host to a new arrival in town do you?”

“Well that would explain the other pony leaving her house. Missed them by about ten minutes I’d say.”

Rainbow began peppering the mare with questions. “This stranger, was he small, black body, weird wings and such?”

‘Um I don’t know,” the mare was clearly flustered by the barrage of questions, “He was wearing a large cloak that hid most of his features, but he wasn’t small, quite large… very large now that I think about it.”

“Hmm, strange, did you see where he went?” A look of intense thought crossed Rainbow’s face.

“N-no, just went in the opposite direction of the markets, sorry.”

“Well thanks anyway,” Rainbow replied cheerfully, her demeanour changing from intensely inquisitive to strangely happing in the blink of an eye.

“You’re…welcome?” The mare said to the now empty space in front of her, a rainbow coloured contrail that shot upwards betrayed Rainbow’s hasty exit. “Well that was weird,” she muttered to herself.

“What was weird?” Secret Strike asked from behind.

The mare jumped into the air in surprise, as she landed she turned quickly on the spot, identifying her possible attacker as the town guard. “Secret, you really should sneak up on ponies like that, you almost gave me a heart attack.”

“Terribly sorry, just passing through to check up on the newest arrival, I didn’t mean to scare you,” Secret replied honestly.

“Huh, you too.”

“What do you mean by ‘you too’?” Secret enquired.

“Oh, Rainbow Dash wanted to know where he was as well, told her I didn’t know and that she should go ask Ditzy.”

“Okay do you know where Ditzy is right now?”

“Nope sorry, my best guess is the markets she headed off in that general direction.”

“Well thank you for the info,” Secret replied earnestly, trotting off to the markets, “And sorry about scaring you,” she called over her shoulder.

No new memories, Noah thought solemnly.

Oh, Noah perked up, What kind of skills?

<First of all the basics, flight?>

Nope

<Magic?>

Nope

<Any morphic skills?>

What the heck are those? And nope.

Chrissy sighed, <This might be harder than I first thought.>

I can understand you better and better. Your thoughts are less like structured emotions and more like words.

<Hmm, alright let’s test something I want to see how far your communication skills have developed.>

What do I need to do? Noah enquired.

<Awaken from this state, then without returning back into this realm think to me, and try to communicate.> Chrissy replied cryptically.

Noah took a deep breath in, as he released he found his mind drifting back to reality. With one last snap his eyes flicked open, his blurred vision clearing in an instant. He quickly thought back to the last command given by his friend. As hard as he could he thought to contact the one he knew as Chrissy.
A full minute passed with nothing happening, Noah concentrated further determined to make contact outside of his mind. Slowly he began to feel a familiar consciousness in the in the front of his mind. He pressed against it with his thoughts, determined to break through the wall that divided them.

With one final push the barrier dissipated, a familiar feeling washed through his thoughts, touching every corner of his mind. A half second later the racket of thousands upon thousands of minds flooded into his thoughts, invading his mind with constant chatter. Noah screamed at the sudden onrush of thoughts, unprepared for the onslaught his eyes rolled back into his head as consciousness fleeted from him. Gravity won its battle against Noah’s balance as he pitched forward, unconscious.

Rainbow Dash circled above the markets, like a hawk scanning for its prey, her eyes darted from the features of one pony to another. She hadn’t been searching for long when she spied the features of Dinky sitting on a bench by the fountain. Rainbow circled once more before lazily drifting down in front of filly.

“Hey Dinky, don’t suppose your mother is around, I’ve got to talk to her about the ‘new arrival’ that’s staying with her.”

“Um she’s in Sugar Cube Corner getting some muffins, but she’s probably gonna be a while.”

Rainbow grumbled in annoyance, the one thing that Ditzy loved after her daughter was a muffin, no doubt she would be in the café for a while deciding what to get. “I don’t suppose you know anything about the new pony? Like maybe where he is right now?” she asked Dinky, desperation creeping into her voice.

“Oh that’s easy, he said he’d be at the hospital, he was going to meet us in about half an hour though, but that was back at the house.”

“Hospital,” Rainbow muttered to herself, “Thanks squirt,” she exclaimed as she shot off toward Ponyville Hospital.

“Huh… weird,” Dinky said to herself as she returned to her own thoughts.

“What’s weird?” Secret asked as she approached the filly, she arrived just as Rainbow Dash had shot off into the air.

“Oh, Hi Miss Secret, just Rainbow Dash, she wanted to speak with my mum but then she wanted to know where No One was,” the filly replied casually.

“Oh and how is your guest? Behaving himself I hope,” Secret asked subtly.

“He’s doing fine, had some sort of nightmare last night, a bad one that woke me and mummy up. We all slept together to comfort him.”

The first thought that went through Secret’s mind was ‘dawww’, the next was a pang of jealously at Ditzy luck to sleep next to the mysterious stallion.

“And this morning after breakfast,” Dinky continued happily, “He said he might have a way to help mummy with her condition.”

“You mean her eyes?” Secret asked confused about what No One could do to help the poor mare.

“Sort of, he said he had a similar problem once, and then something about sound. I didn’t understand all of it, but he said he would try to help, and now mummy is really happy.”

“So he’s been an absolutely wonderful guest by the sound of things.” Dinky nodded in agreement. “I don’t suppose you know where I could find him?” Secret asked.

“Yeah he said he would be at the hospital for a while and then he was going to meet us around here.”

“Thanks Dinky,” Secret said, smiling at the filly, “Also I may drop around tonight just for another chat with your mum and No One together, do you think that will be alright.”

Dinky thought hard for a moment, “That should be alright, mummy always likes to entertain guests.”

“Thanks again,” Secret said as she turned to leave, “Oh don’t forget to mention this to your mum, I wouldn’t want to drop in unexpected.”

“You’re welcome Miss Secret,” Dinky called as she waved at the withdrawing mare.

“Hey sweetie, did you miss me?” Ditzy called to her daughter as she exited Sugar Cube Corner a few minutes later and approached the bench.

“Yeah, but I got to have a nice chat with Miss Secret just before you arrived.”

“Oh and what were you two chatting about?” Ditzy enquired

“Nothing much, she just wanted to know how No One was doing,” Dinky replied with a smile, “Oh and she said she was going to drop by for a chat with you two later tonight, I said that would be alright. It is alright isn’t it?”

“Yes sweetie, you know I love to have guests over,” Ditzy said with a smile, she tussled the mane of her child before they both moved on to continue shopping.

Rainbow Dash landed in front of the hospital with a soft thud, no longer in the mood for any theatrics with her landings. She quickly trotted though the front doors and made her way over to the front desk.

“Hello and welcome to Ponyville Hospital, I’m Nurse Redheart, how can I direct you today?” the nurse on the front desk asked not looking up from her paperwork.

“Hiya nurse, I’m looking for somepony, a new arrival, would have come in within the last twenty minutes or so.”

Nurse Redheart looked up from her work and she placed a hoof to her muzzle as she thought. “Oh,” she exclaimed suddenly, “A new arrival, well No One is here rig-.”

“Uagh,” Rainbow Dash interrupted in defeat, “Of course I’d miss the new pony by minutes, thanks for your time anyway.” She made her way back out of the front doors, the feeling of defeat weighed heavy on her mind. She took one large flap and launched herself into the air

As Rainbow Dash left for Sugar Cube Corner Secret Strike entered the hospital, trotting straight up to the front desk. “Hi Nurse Redheart, I’m just wondering if you’d seen No One today?”

“Oh yes,” the nurse replied as she looked up from her work, “The funniest thing, I think Miss Dash was looking for him, but didn’t know his name, I tried to tell her he was here but she just up and left.”

Secret looked at the mare in confusion, “What exactly did you say to her?”

“I said, ‘Well No One is here right now…” she tapered off, realising why Rainbow had left so suddenly. The two mares shared a small chuckle.

“I don’t suppose I could go see him?” Secret asked casually.

“I’m terribly sorry but he is otherwise preoccupied screaming at walls and I’m not sure how long he will be.”

“Well when he comes out, tell him I said ‘hi’ and that I’ll see him later tonight at Derpy’s.”

“I will do,” Nurse Redheart replied, “Can I help you with anything else?”

“No not right now, however Pointguard will probably come around to interview you about an incident yesterday. It’s nothing too big just a formality.”

The two mares shared a knowing glance. “Flower sisters?” the nurse asked.

“Flower sisters,” Secret replied. Another small chuckle was given before the guard departed.

Nurse Redheart looked at the work in front of her. She hadn’t been able to get any of it done with all the distraction of the day thus far. As such she decided to go check up on No One, make sure he was still alive at least.

Noah’s mind drifted in and out of consciousness, and at times he thought he could hear the voice of a mare calling his name.

“NOoo ONEee” the disembodied voice echoed once more.

Recent memories returned to Noah, the flood of information jolting his mind into a conscious state.

“NO ONE,” the voice screamed at him.

Noah snapped his head around to the source of the voice. The sudden movement disorientated him and dizziness overtook his senses as he found himself collapsing to the ground once more. Before he toppled over, a pair of strong hooves wrapped around him, and pulled him into a seated position before stroking his mane in a comforting fashion.

“There there, it’s alright,” the voice cooed, “You’re alright.”

“What… what happened?” Noah asked, confused about his current state.

“You did something I didn’t think you could and as a consequence collapsed, don’t worry you’re alright.”

Noah looked around. The lazy sun above illuminated the pitch black sky, he saw himself floating above an endless hallway held tight in the caring embrace of a very familiar and very large mare.

“Chrissy?” he asked hesitantly.

“Yes?”

“What happened?”

“In short you accessed my swarms hive mind. Your sudden alien presence caused my subjects to attack you before I realised what you had done.”

“Isn’t that what you asked me to do?” Noah asked, confused about what he had done wrong.

“No… Well not really. I created a separate connection for you to find, I thought you may be drawn to that, and I was most surprised to find your consciousness within my swarms hive mind.”

“So I wasn’t supposed to push at the barrier that felt like you?”

“No not at all,” Chrissy answered, “In fact only those from my swarm are able to enter and exit the hive mind. You weren’t supposed to even be able to do that.”

“I’m sorry,” Noah responded dejectedly.

“I’m not angry, if anything I was worried about how far my people had gone to attack you before I intervened. You should be alright, additionally I’ve told my hive to give you space should you ever re-enter the hive mind.”

“So what is this place?” Noah asked, confused about the difference between the hive mind and this place.

“This is your mind, or at least a representation of it, the only reason I can access it is because you reached out for help and I just happened to answer. You alone continue to allow me access.”

“I…I,” Noah started, unsure of what he should ask, “I have so many questions, I don’t know where to start.”

“Start with the most important question as I will only answer one, you need to rest from your ordeal.”

Noah thought silently for a moment, just one question kept floating into his mind, “How are you holding me right now? You were just a shadow.”

Chrissy sighed, taking a deep breath as she thought of her answer. “When you joined the hive mind, you saw me how everypony else would see me, this combined with your leap forward in this type of communication allows me to project my actual form into your mind. A test for you, you should have the most basic information on me, recall it and repeat it to me.”

Noah thought hard for a minute, delving back into the information contained within the memory he found what he was looking for. “Your name is Chrysalis, Queen Chrysalis, you are… A Queen. I’m sorry any other information just isn’t there.”

“That is for good purpose, I… We are a secretive species, the less ponies know of us the better. As such all you will find of me in my hive mind is a name and maybe what I look like. Outside of the hive mind you would be very hard pressed to find even that much.”

“So Queen Chrysalis-,” Noah started.

“Please, you are my friend, you may call me Chrissy, not many do and it is nice to know someone who would.”

“Sorry Chrissy, may I ask you one more question?” Noah asked.

“No, you may not, you need to recuperate and more information will not help. Besides you’re drawing close to being late to meet with Ditzy.”

Noah grumbled his reply, yet he followed the request and quickly drew himself back into the waking world. He stood up silently and made his way over to the door.

The door swung open just as Nurse Redheart was about to knock, she pulled her hoof back from the action to avoid striking No One in the face. “Ah I was just about to come and check up on you, you know make sure you weren’t dead,” she said with surprise.

Noah felt a smile upon his face, “Not dead yet,” he said as he made his way down the hall towards the entrance, “Very much alive in fact.”

“So I can see, and very popular it seems,” the mare replied, falling into step behind him.

“Hmm how so?”

“Well Rainbow Dash and Secret Strike both came in a few minutes ago looking for you, seems like they couldn’t hang around though.”

“Huh don’t know a Rainbow Dash, what did Secret want?”

“She just wanted to let you know that she may join you and Ditzy for dinner tonight and ask you some questions. It didn’t seem like anything big though.” She tapered off as they reached the front desk.

“Well thank you very much for your services this morning, I’m not sure if I’ll need them again but I’m sure I can count on you in the future,” Noah said as he walked up to the front door.

“You can count on my services any time,” Nurse Redheart said, she had dropped her voice down to an alluring level and winked seductively at No One.

Noah’s eyes went wide, his mouth dropped open and he hastily stumbled through the doors and out onto the street.

Inside the hospital Nurse Redheart gave a hearty chuckle, “Still got it,” she said to herself before she returned to her paperwork with renewed vigour.

Chapter 15: Farmhand

View Online

Chapter 15

Noah rushed forward when he spotted Ditzy and Dinky waiting for him, his small trip from the hospital to the market had been somewhat uncomfortable. He had to ask three ponies for directions. This was a feat in itself as almost all that were on the street seemed to avoid him like a plague, most just gave him the blank as they walked passed, others made the effort to cross the street before he had even arrived.

Of the three ponies he tried to ask, the first mare simply ran off screaming, the second was a stallion who wet himself and then passed out, and the third mare tried to make herself as small as possible whilst pointing further down the street. Noah had sighed at her behaviour. He picked the small mare up and onto her hooves, and gave her a quick hug. She just stood there, terrified out of her coat a small squeak the only noise she made.

“Hi Ditzy, hi Dinky,” Noah exclaimed as they met. He extended a hoof out, catching Dinky as she jumped at him, and brought her up and over his shoulder. She clambered out of his grasp and onto his back, perching herself high above the other ponies.

“Hiya No One,” Ditzy replied, “How was the hospital?”

“Good, good… Screamed at a wall for almost fifteen minutes so I think I’ve got most of it out of my system.”

“That’s good… I think, oh I got some muffins for a little snack are you hungry?” Ditzy asked.

“Actually no, I’m still rather full from breakfast,” he replied, a soft grumble emanated from atop his back, “However I think we can stop for a moment before we head off to the farm.”

“I know just the place, a nice little park not far from here, come on I’ll show you.”

Ditzy silently led the trio to a clearing amongst the cottages and shops. A nice sized park, many a family were spending the day there in relaxation. Noah felt a sense of Déjà vu as once again ponies would actively ignore or avoid him. He sighed, “I don’t think they like me very much. I think they’re scared of me.”

“Nonsense, you’re just a new face… and body… and species,” Ditzy tried to comfort unsuccessfully, “They just need a bit of time to get to know you, that is all.”

“Know me… huh,” Noah dismissed, a ball rolled to a stop at his hooves. He looked around for the owner, nearly missing the small filly quivering behind a bush on the second pass, “If I’m not that scary, then why is that filly not running over to come and pick up her ball?”

“She’s a filly give her a break, she’s probably scared of everything, and it probably doesn’t help how big and ominous you are,” Ditzy retorted.

Noah let out a long breath, “Dinky wasn’t scared of me,” he muttered under his breath. He resolved to prove to the ponies of Ponyville that he wasn’t scary, not a monster, he stood up slowly and picked up the ball in his jaws. Trotting over to the quivering shrub he dropped the ball on the ground in front of his feet. “Don’t worry little one I’m not going to hurt you,” he said with a soft buzz.

“Who are you and what are you doing to my daughter?” a gruff voice from Noah’s left demanded.

Noah turned and looked down to stout, brown coated, earth pony, his chest puffed out in a show of intimidation. “I’m just returning her ball, trying to show you all I’m not any sort of threat,” Noah replied earnestly.

“Likely story creep, beat it before you give her nightmares,” the pony yelled.

“But I-,” Noah began.

“I said. Beat. It,” the pony hissed through bared teeth.

“Fine. Terribly sorry to have frightened you little Miss, that was not my intentions. Have a good day, both of you.” Noah trotted off back to where Ditzy and Dinky where laying.

“Didn’t go too well?” Ditzy enquired.

“Bigotry and misconceptions,” Noah replied, “The filly thought I was a monster and her father thought I was a creep. I even apologised for returning the ball.”

“Well to be fair it could’ve gone worse.”

“How could it have gone worse?” Noah asked, an incredulous look upon his face.

“The Flower Girls,” Ditzy deadpanned.

“Oh yeah, you’re right could’ve gone much worse, at least no one was screaming.”

“But you weren’t screaming,” Dinky interrupted tilting her head to the side in confusion.

“I-,” Noah looked up as he realised what the filly meant, “Sorry I meant nopony,” he corrected with a laugh.

Ditzy muffled a giggle, “Shall we head to Sweet Apple Acres?”

“Sounds good to me, lead the way,” Noah replied. He allowed Dinky to hop up onto his back before he trotted after the mare.

Soarin let out a yawn as he exited Sugarcube Corner, he looked up, spying a rainbow contrail leading to a solitary cloud home above Ponyville, and took to the sky. He let out a low whistle as he landed on cloud that held Rainbow Dash’s home. “Nice place, Dash, good view too.”

“Thanks,” Dash replied from inside the house, “Why don’t you come on in, I’ll give you the tour.”

“That’s very kind of you. Did you have any luck with the mystery pony?” he asked.

“No luck, Dinky, that’s Ditzy’s daughter, thought he might be at the hospital but the nurse said nopony was there.”

“Ditzy,” Soarin said offhand, “Describe her.”

“Oh, um, pegasus, grey coat, blond hair, stream of bubbles as a cutie mark, weird eyes, and kind of, well derpy,” Dash described as they entered the living room.

“She was buying some muffins from Sugarcube Corner. Kept going on about some new guest she had, something about him helping her with her problem too.”

Dash rushed forward grabbing Soarin by the collar, “What did she say, did she describe him, is he a changeling?”

“Woah, settle down there, all she said was that he was very nice, a bit misunderstood, and tall.”

“Tall,” Rainbow pondered letting go of Soarin, “No those changeling were all short, he can’t be a changeling. Unless it was the queen in disguise, quick we have to go warn her.”

“For the second time settle down, you’re going to look the fool if you jump to the wrong conclusion and accuse somepony of being something they aren’t. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt for now. Just relax, it’ll be about three hours before Spitfire gets back, and I’m sure there are more relaxing ways to spend that time.”

“You’re right,” Dash said defeated, “The girls wanted me to check up on a few things, let’s start by checking up on the library.”

She led Soarin to the front door, looking around she trotted over to the edge of the cloud, leant forward, and dropped like a stone. Soarin gave a low whistle as he admired the mare’s skill. She flared out her wings last minute, take a sharp turn out of her dive only a few metres from the ground. Soarin took a few steps back, allowing a running jump before following her performance.

Rainbow pulled up, completing a loop before settling into a glide next to Soarin. She gave a sly smile before tilting her wings. She led the Wonderbolt through a serious of tight manoeuvres, a large barrel roll led into a steep climb which dropped into a tight corkscrew downwards. Soarin flashed a smile at the mare leading him through the routine. A sharp scream pulled them from their concentration and Rainbow levelled out scanning below to find the source.

Her eyes narrowed on a frightened mare running through back alleys and side streets. Soarin looked to Dash giving her a quick nod. The pair banked back towards the mare, angling on an intercept trajectory.

“Big farm,” Noah commented as Ditzy led him down the road. For the past fifteen minutes they had trotted along a faded white fence, acres and acres of apple trees the only scenery.

“Yeah well it is Sweet Apple Acres,” Ditzy replied putting emphasis on the acres.

“Are we there yet?” Dinky whined from Noah’s back

“You’re not even walking,” Noah chided, “However is that a gate up ahead?”

“It is,” Ditzy confirmed, “We’re pretty much there, the house shouldn’t be too much farther.”

A short time later and the trio found themselves at the front of a large house, a large red barn stood off to one side, and a wrinkled mare sat snoozing in a rocking chair on the porch. A few moments later and a large, thickset, red earth pony wandered up, his height about two heads shorter than Noah. He stopped in front of them, chewing absently on wheat stalk, his stoic face revealing no emotion.

After a minute of awkward silence Noah decided to take the plunge and break the ice, “Big Mac I presume?”

“Eeyup,” the pony said with a clear southern drawl.

Noah drew back the hood of his cloak and gave a small uncomfortable smile, “I heard you had a job going around.”

“Eeyup.”

“I’d like to apply for it.”

“Would ya now dearie,” an old southern cackle spoke from behind him.

Noah spun on the spot, the green coated mare from the rocking chair slowly climbing out with a creak of her old bones. She wobbled her way over, Noah stood unsure of whether to help the old mare or let her do her own thing. “Um yes, yes please, but I’m sorry, I’m at a loss as to who you are,” he said.

“Tha name’s Granny Smith,” the mare shouted at him, “Ah own this here farm, it’s been in ma family for generations. Why Ah remember back to when we first settled ere-.”

A gentle cough from Big Mac broke Granny from her monologue. “However that’s a story for another time, ya here about tha job aint ya boy?”

“Yes ma’am,” Noah responded with a nod.

“Hmm,” she hmmed as she walked around eyeing him up, “Even with tha cloak on Ah can tell ya just big. Ya might have some power behind ya but ya don’t know how ta use it.”

Another soft cough from Big Mac interrupted Granny’s observation of Noah.

“A’right A’ll leave ya with ma grandson here. Mac’ll see if ya can handle workin on tha farm,” Granny Smith finished. She slowly wandered back over to the house. “You there little one,” she said pointing towards Dinky, “Come in for a treat with ya ma, I’ll tell yall a couple ah stories ta pass tha time.”

Noah turned back to Big Mac as Dinky and Ditzy entered the house. “Cheerful,” he said honestly, “A bit eccentric, but who isn’t these days.”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac gave a chuckle and a small smile before leading Noah into the orchard. “Right, can ya buck a tree?”

“Excuse me?” Noah asked, perplexed at the request.

“This here’s an apple farm, we need ta buck the tree’s for them apples,” Big Mac stated, “Like this.” He turned on the spot, expertly lifted a single hind leg and struck the tree. A loud crack echoed and the tree shuddered under the impact, half a second later and the three half barrels that lay under the tree were suddenly full with apples. “Now you try,” Big Mac ordered.

Noah readied himself behind another tree, he emulated the stance the Big Mac had shown, and lifting his hind leg skilfully he struck out, connecting with the tree with a sharp crack. The tree barely even shook, Noah looked expectedly into the barrels, and upon finding nothing but leaves sat down on his haunches with a sad look upon his face.

“Try again,” Big Mac ordered, “But this time use two legs.”

Noah readied himself once more, he prepared, leaning forward and digging in his front hooves. In a swift motion he leant forward on his forelegs, striking out with his hind legs. Almost immediately he found himself flat on his stomach, the wind punched out of his lungs. Big Mac simply shook his head and sighed, a disheartened look upon his face.

“Wait,” Noah said quickly, “Let me try again, just give me a minute to think.” He brought himself up to a seated position and closed his eyes sending himself deep into thought. When he opened his eyes again he found himself back inside his mind, floating between the hallway of his hidden memories and the sun containing his enlightened thoughts.

“Chrissy, I need your help,” Noah thought.

“I’m here No One,” Chrysalis replied, her form a slender shadow of a pony about a head taller than Noah.

“I’m looking to unlock a few certain memories, mechanics and physics, I know where they are but I need your help to process them.”

“I’m ready when you are,” she replied.

Noah drifted down to the hallway below, a couple consecutive windows lit up on his arrival ready to impart their information. Noah took a step towards the first window, the memory flashed and a steady flow of information bridged the gap. The memory flowed between Noah and Chrysalis, its information disseminated until a spherical shell was all that was left. The shell rose up to join with the others in the faux sun that hung in the sky.

“I haven’t seen this type of science this in depth before,” Chrysalis stated, “I see and understand the basics and such but the advance information is so grand I cannot understand it.”

“Shouldn’t having the information be enough?” Noah enquired.

“Not necessarily. While most consider information to be power, I consider information to be a weapon, and wisdom to be true power.”

“Explain.”

“I may have the information, but unless I can use it and use it to its fullest potential it may as well be considered worthless.”

“Hmmm,” Noah pondered, he made no other speech as he trotted over to the second window. Repeating the process from before, they quickly added two new shells to the sun, the information completely at Noah’s disposal. “Thank you Chrissy,” Noah thought with a smile, he gave the shadow mare an affectionate hug before withdrawing from his thoughts and back to the waking world.

“How long was I out?” He asked Big Mac as soon as the pony came into focus.

“Minute, two minutes tops,” Big Mac replied, “Get watcha need?”

“I think so.” Noah stood closer to the tree, he coiled himself up like a spring, and dug his fore hooves into the ground. He turned his head behind him, eyeing up the perfect spot to strike the tree. Too low and the force wouldn’t be enough, too high and it would be absorbed by the tree’s natural dampening. With a quick motion he uncoiled, his rear hooves lifting up and striking the tree about a metre from the base.

A smile crept upon Big Mac’s face as a sharp crack resounded through the orchard. “Nice buck,” he said as the apples began to rain down.

Noah beamed at the red stallion, quickly rushing over to the barrels to see how well he had done. His face dropped as he saw the fruits of his labours. “Only a quarter of a barrel,” he complained.

“That’s pretty darn good,” Big Mac commended in his southern accent, “Most wouldn’t be able ta manage that.”

Noah resettled himself by the tree, coiling up and striking out another three times. After the third consecutive crack he peered back at the barrels, beaming happily at how full they were.

“Looks like ya might have tha job,” Big Mac congratulated, “Let’s continue this work for a while longer to see if ya have tha endurance.” He walked up to another tree, giving it a hard buck, before he gestured to Noah to continue. Noah happily trotted over to the next tree, and four bucks later the barrels beneath were full. They continued this in silence, enjoying the fulfilment that hard work brought.

Rainbow Dash and Soarin landed with a soft poomf in front of the distraught mare. “Are you alright Roseluck?” Dash said trying to comfort the mare.

The pony broke down in tears, grasping desperately at Dash for compassion. All Dash could do was hold her in a loving embrace and gently stroke her mane in an effort to calm her down. “Oh it was horrible,” the mare finally confessed after a minute of sobbing.

“What was?” Soarin enquired.

“It was like some monster, cloaked in a weird garb and tall as the princess,” the Rose sobbed.

“Did it attack you?” Dash asked in a worried tone.

“No, much, much worse, it asked me for directions to the markets.”

Dash had to restrain herself from facehoofing, Soarin wasn’t so lucky, the Pegasus face planting into the ground at the mare’s response. “And where was this?” Rainbow asked with a groan.

“Over on Saddle Avenue, just at the crossing of Mane Street. It couldn’t have been more than ten minutes ago.”

“We should probably check this out, will you be alright Rose?” Rainbow asked extending the Miss into a question of itself.

“I’ll be fine, thank you for your concern,” she replied, quietly trotting away constantly looking over her shoulder.

“We should just leave it for the guards,” Soarin muttered as the mare departed.

“No this is a lead, we should check it out just in case,” Rainbow countered, “Come on half an hour at most and then we’ll check on the places the girls wanted us to. Plenty of time for a rest before Spitfire gets back anyway.”

Soarin sighed in defeat, “I’m only doing this because Spitfire told me to guard you.”

“And because you like staring at my flank,” Rainbow teased.

Soarin stammered and huffed at the mare’s brash retort, “Uh no, not at all,” he tried to defend, “well maybe a little,” he muttered under his breath.

Author's Notes:

To start off with I am terribly sorry for the short hiatus I took. Christmas knocked the stuffing out of me (Please don't hit me) and it took a while to get back into the writing.
I'd like to dedicate this chapter to all those readers who have been waiting for an update, I hope you enjoy it.
Once more constructive criticism is always welcome, and I will at least read if not reply to as many of you as possible.
On a couple of side notes I have a short story, Hearths Warming Saviour, that I made for Christmas, I'm planning on adding another chapter/epilogue that will feature a future Noah so if you want to check that out let me know what you think.
Lastly I'm going to be looking for some original artwork as a picture for the story so if you are an artist of any degree, have a piece that you think is suitable and want a chance to show it off, send me a quick pm.

Chapter 16: Silence in the Library

View Online

Chapter 16

“An entire hour,” Noah grumbled to himself, wheezing as he trudged through the front door of the farm house.

“How’d he do Mac?” Granny Smith cackled, the wrinkled green mare rocking back and forth in her chair, “Worth hirin’?”

“Eeyup,” Big Mac answered, his indifferent expression giving nothing away.

“How was it No One?” Ditzy asked from her spot on the couch.

Noah pitched forward, landing with a thump on his stomach, “That was some of the hardest work I have ever done, you wouldn’t believe it.”

“I carry saddlebags weighing around sixty kilos all day,” Ditzy deadpanned, “I think I know how you feel.”

Noah raised his hoof and opened his mouth to retort but thought it better to let the issue slide. After all, the mare had hoofed his arse to him on a silver platter at nothing more than the drop of a hat.

“Looks like he’s got some smart in im too,” Granny Smith chuckled with a smile, “Just one last thing for ya to do.”

“And what might that be?” Noah enquired with sarcasm leaking into his tone.

“Contract,” Big Mac levelled at him. In his hoof he held a tightly bound document with small arrow stickers pointing to where signatures needed to be signed.

“Hmm hmm hmm. This here in, hmm hmm, upon termination of,” Noah mumbled to himself whilst reading the document. He scanned over the last few pages a few times before looking back at Big Mac. “I’ve only skimmed over this and this can’t be right,” Noah said with a disbelieving look upon his face, “This contract locks me into your employment for a minimum period of two months with absolutely no way out. How is that anything but indentured servitude?”

“Oh pish posh, it’s nothing like slavery,” Granny Smith said cheerfully, “All tha contract does is ensure that ya our employee for two months. Tha jobs we assign ya have ta be farm related, we’re allowed ta work ya ta tha bone but not an iota beyond.”

“Those two months are what we need of ya, we pay ya a decent wage, allow ya time off, and ya have all the securities of a regular job,” Big Mac continued, “Do a satisfactory job and we may even keep ya. Ma sis don’t want ta admit it but with increased sales we are needing an extra hoof around here.”

“Take the job No One,” Ditzy encouraged with a smile, “It’ll take up some spare time, keep you fit, earn yourself some bits. I don’t mind you living with us, but this’ll get you out of the house.”

“Alright, get me a pen and I’ll sign this thing.”

Four heads tilted in confusion at his words, “A pen?” Ditzy asked, confused at the term.

“Um, pencil maybe,” Noah replied, “Quill?” he asked lastly.

“Ohhh. No no no,” Granny Smith responded knowingly, “Ya sign with ya hoof.”

Noah nodded and Big Mac retreated from the room, returning quickly with an ink pad for Noah to sign with. He raised his right fore hoof pressing it against the spongy surface of the inkpad before pressing down on the contract.

“Welcome ta tha family,” Granny Smith exclaimed with vigor not usually matching an elderly mare.

“Ya start work tomorrow,” Big Mac interjected, “Ya pay is ten bits a day, paid at tha end of each day, and we all get Sunday’s off hard labour.”

“I’m employed,” Noah beamed, mostly to himself. He looked up shareing a smile with Ditzy and Dinky.

“Eeyup,” Big Mac commented, “Seeya tomorrow No One.”

“A whole hour,” Rainbow Dash complained as she glided alongside Soarin, “An entire hour, three leads and no pony knows anything about the mystery stallion.”

“Like I said, we should have just left it to the guards to chase up,” Soarin chided, “On top of that we’ve spent way too long racing around playing detective when we should be resting up for the trip back.”

“We still got plenty of time,” Dash said confidently, “At least two hours by my count.”

“Maybe by yours, but not by Spitfire’s,” Soarin retorted, “You ever wonder why all the higher ups like her. She gives them a reasonable timeframe for her to complete something and then smashes that because she can. She is always overestimating how long something will take her so she looks good when she comes in under time.”

“Sounds like a bit of harmless self-promotion to me, but if you’re right, how long do you think she’ll be?”

“Probably an hour, hour and a half tops. Whatever your friends wanted you to do needs to be done quickly.”

Rainbow pondered for a moment weighing options in her mind, “Alright here’s what we do. I’ll head off to Fluttershy’s cottage and check up on the animals, she had somepony covering but she just wanted to make sure. After that I’ll head to Sweet Apple Acres and check up on Big Mac and Granny Smith. You’ve already been to Sugar Cube Corner so check up on Cheerilee at the library and then swing by Carousel Boutique to make sure it’s all intact. Once you’re done head to my place, we’ll compare notes and catch some zee’s.”

“Um-.”

“Good I’ll catcha later, half an hour tops,” Rainbow yelled as she banked left and jetted towards the edge of the Everfree Forest.

Soarin smiled once more as he watched the mare depart, he honestly would watch her all day if he could. He shook his head clearing his thoughts, “Alright, where is the library?” he asked to himself. He groaned, “Bloody mare didn’t give me directions again.”

Soarin descended towards the ground, alighting next the unicorn mare who pointed him towards Sugar Cube Corner before. “Excuse me Miss,” he enquired, “You wouldn’t happen to know where the library is would you.”

“Of course,” Secret replied. She pointed the Wonderbolt towards the centre of town before heading on her way, ever vigilant for the dangers that may lurk.

“So where to now?” Ditzy asked as they trudged along the road back into town.

“Well I was thinking that some research at the library would be nice,” Noah said as he ambled along behind the mare. “I might be able to find out what I am, what I’m able to do, and maybe find some clue as to how I got here.”

“Yeah, ‘arrived by lightning’ is a fairly confusing way to say how you got here,” Ditzy agreed.

“Don’t suppose you would like to help me?” Noah enquired.

“Ahh, no, sorry, I still have a bit of shopping to do in the markets, it’s usually better to get that done sooner.”

“Fair enough, just point me towards the library. I don’t want to keep you from your day any longer.”

Ditzy directed Noah towards the library parting ways as they re-entered the town. “I’ll swing by the library later with some lunch,” she promised as they departed.

Noah smiled as he watched the mother and daughter pair wander off. He was amazed at how kind hearted the family was and hoped that his efforts to help Ditzy’s condition would be enough to repay them. A short walk later and he found himself at the front door of the library, a huge oak with windows and even a balcony. Noah stood in awe at the feat that stood before him, here a living tree had apparently been turned into a building.

His stupor was disrupted when a pale blue Pegasus exited the library giving salutations to a pony inside. “Hold the door please,” Noah buzzed as he walked up to the library. He thanked the stallion as he brushed past and entered the tree.

Soarin’s mind stopped, he had finished off a pleasant conversation with Miss Cheerilee, and just said his quick goodbye when a distinct voice filtered through to him. The peculiar buzz of the stallion’s voice may have been off putting but the sheer size of the pony was simply scary. Soarin glanced down as the behemoth slipped past and noticed the cloak he wore stopped short from covering his hooves. Pitch black and shined to a polish, a changeling? Soarin thought to himself. He slipped back inside, closed the door quietly, and watched intently at the strangers actions.

“Excuse me Miss,” Noah said as he tried to get the librarian’s attention, “Miss Cheerilee?”

“Yes,” the fuchsia mare replied as she turned around. She gave out a small ‘eep’ and shrank visibly as her gaze fell upon Noah.

For his part Noah just sighed, “You’re scared of me aren’t you?”

Cheerilee simply nodded and tried to curl herself into a tight ball.

Noah lay down on his stomach, he folded his hooves in front of his chest, and rested his hooded head upon them. “My assurance that I won’t hurt you isn’t going to change that opinion is it?”

Another small nod was given by the teacher.

“Well how about this. What if I promise to not move from this spot while I’m researching?”

Cheerilee perked her head up a little, “Do you Pinkie Promise?” she asked with hope.

“Sure, I pinky promise.”

“No if you’re going to Pinkie Promise you need to do the actions and say the words,” Cheerilee chided, uncurling from her ball slightly, “Like this, ‘cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye’”

“I cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my ARGH!” Noah repeated as he accidentally poked his eye.

Soarin watched the antics from afar, barely supressing the laughter building at the stranger’s misfortune.

Cheerilee giggled, she relaxed and trotted in front of Noah. “First Pinkie Promise huh.” Noah nodded a yes. “Well you did promise, so what can I help you with?”

“I’m looking for a book on different species,” Noah replied, he remembered what Chrissy had said about looking at mythological creatures, “And a book on mythological creatures too please.”

Cheerilee nodded, “Biology and mythology, I happen to know of a couple of books you might like,” she said before trotting off to the other side of the library

Why would he want with those books? Soarin thought to himself, Definitely not acting like any changeling from the wedding, maybe I was wrong.

“So what do you want these books for?” Cheerilee asked casually.

“Well, I’m not sure what species I am,” Noah stated, “A bit of research might help me remember what I am.”

“How can you not remember? Amnesia?”

“Not amnesia, it’s as if I don’t even know what I am, instead of the memory just being fuzzy or blocked, it just doesn’t exist.”

“Well I might be able to tell you, I am a teacher after all,” Cheerilee offered.

“Promise you won’t scream?”

“I promise.”

“Pinkie Promise?”

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” Cheerilee responded, “Now take off the hood?”

Those Pinkie Promises must carry real weight around here, Soarin thought.

Noah slowly removed his hood, with one hoof he drew back the fabric over the top of his head, and let it drop onto his shoulders. Soarin shot upright, his fight or flight instincts on the edge of activation, Definitely a changeling, he thought. Miss Cheerilee gasped, a hoof shot to her mouth to stifle the scream building in her throat.

Noah’s head drooped in response, “I seem to have that effect on ponies,” he said dejectedly.

Cheerilee’s features softened at Noah’s admission, “I’m sorry, it’s just… a lot to take in that’s all,” she comforted putting a hoof around his shoulder. “Still I can’t say I’ve ever seen a species quite like yours, I don’t know what you are.”

“Changeling,” Soarin croaked from behind them. His voice caught in his throat.

Noah turned his head and Cheerilee looked up at the Pegasus she had failed to notice, “Ah Mr Soarin, I thought you had left.”

“Cheerilee, run, that’s a changeling, JUST RUN!” Soarin shouted. He jumped up and gave a flap of his wings, putting himself between Noah and Cheerilee.

“Oh you know what he is?” Cheerilee asked, confused at the stallion’s actions.

“I know he’s a monster,” Soarin stated definitively, “I know he’s evil, and I know you need to run now!”

“Hey now wait a minute,” Noah interjected angrily, “I’m not evil and although I may look different I’m not a monster. What proof do you have that I am any of these things?”

Soarin flinched at Noah’s words, he cowered slightly, but still held himself tall between the bug and Cheerilee. This awkward standoff continued for several tense minutes before Noah broke the silence. “What are you doing?”

“I’m protecting Miss Cheerilee from your inevitable attack,” Soarin shot back defiantly.

Noah laughed, his buzzing chuckle causing Soarin to flinch further but raise an eyebrow. “Oh that really is funny. But I couldn’t hurt anyone.”

“Anyone?” Cheerilee asked.

“Anypony, sorry, it’s seems as though I’m using an old syntax when talking. Needless to say I couldn’t hurt anypony.”

“Prove it,” Soarin demanded.

“Well just yesterday I had my arse handed to me by Ditzy when she thought I had kidnapped her daughter.”

“You tried to kidnap Dinky?” Cheerilee gasped.

“No, no, no, no,” Noah backpedalled, “The adorable filly was simply showing me around town. Apparently some other mare got spooked from my appearance, told Ditzy I had kidnapped her daughter, and she handed me my flank on a silver platter the moment I walked up to town hall.”

Silence fell in the library. Soarin’s mouth was agape at this retelling of a story, his mind fought a desperate battle to convince himself that the story was a lie, but the facts lined up with what Ditzy herself had discussed at Sugar Cube Corner earlier. Cheerilee just sat there chuckling behind her hoof at the absurd story.

“You’re No One, the No One that Ditzy chatted to me about earlier this morning?” Soarin asked cautiously.

“Mmm Hmm,” Noah nodded in acknowledgement, “The one and only.”

“No, no, no,” Soarin mumbled to himself. He got up from his guarding position and began to pace back and forth. “You can’t be, the No One Ditzy talked about is supposed to be kind hearted, gentle and caring. But you,” he raised an accusatory hoof towards Noah, “You are a changeling, a vile creature of malice and pain and suffering. You are not No One.”

Cheerilee and Noah shared a confused look. Unsure of what to make of the Wonderbolt’s ramblings, Noah posed a question. “Is your accusation who I am supposed to be or what I am supposed to be?”

“Is there a difference?” Soarin snapped back angrily.

“There is,” Cheerilee interjected flashing a knowing glance towards Noah, “What he is, is a preconception, a mould determined before he was born. Who he is, well that’s the pony he is right now, and the pony he will become, not necessarily the pony whose picture has already been painted.”

Noah nodded in agreement with the teacher’s wise words before speaking in a soft tone. “You may have me painted as a monster, but I will assure you with all my heart that is not who I am.”

Soarin stopped pacing, he blinked, and turned his head towards Noah. “Not who you are?” he repeated while backing down slightly, “I… I’ll think on what you’ve said… I’ve not come to any conclusion on what I should do with you. The guards will probably come looking for you tomorrow anyway. If you are innocent… Don’t run… The innocent don’t run.”

With that Soarin departed quickly, blasting out the door and into the crisp air of Ponyville. “Certainly an odd one,” Cheerilee commented as the door to the library swung shut.

“I’d drink to that,” Noah replied with confusion still etched upon his face.

“Would you like some help with your research?” Cheerilee offered kindly.

“Only if you want to help, I am fine just on my own.”

“I want to help,” Cheerilee decided, “Soarin’s outburst has me wondering about you just as much. Come over to the couches where it’s more comfortable and we can research together.”

“No I’m fine, I did promise to stay here while I researched.”

Cheerilee giggled, “Your calm demeanour through all that tells me you won’t bite, I think I trust you enough for you to move. Plus if Ditzy can handle you, I think I could do some damage.”

“Thank you. I’m No One by the way,” Noah said raising a hoof to shake.

Cheerilee took Noah’s hoof in her own, giving a soft shake before speaking, “It’s a pleasure, No One, my name is Cheerilee.”

A soft clip clop echoed down the marble hallway. Although her mane ruffled as though a breeze were present, the pennants that hung along the hall made no movement. Celestia stopped for a moment and she gazed up at the sun hanging at the zenith of the sky. She gave a contented sigh before continuing onwards.

The enormous mahogany doors made no sound as the slid open, the regal white alicorn trotted through calmly, the soft tapping of her royal hoofshoes on the marble the only thing to give away her presence.

“How goes the research my faithful student?” Celestia asked in a motherly manner.

“Oh Princess Celestia, well I’ve got good news and bad news,” Twilight looked up from a mound of tomes as she responded in an agitated tone. She scuffed her fore hoof against the ground in worry.

Celestia looked down on her student with minute worry flashing across her muzzle. Twilight’s eyes were darting around wildly, a small twitch had formed in her left cheek and her normally straight mane had taken on a maniacal frizz. “Please Twilight, no need for formalities. Calm yourself and tell me what you have learnt.”

Twilight stood still for a moment, she closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath whilst raising her hoof to her chest. On her slow out breath she swung her hoof wide, and opened her eyes with the same rate. “The truth is… Not much Celestia.”

The Princess raised a quizzical eyebrow as if to spur the purple unicorn on.

“The magic used was similar to unicorn magic, but different enough that it needs further study. It’s almost like a whole new branch of magic and I don’t want to jump to any conclusions. That said with Shining’s help I have been able to narrow down the spell used to eject the changelings from Canterlot.”

“Do you need more time, Twilight?” Celestia asked calmly.

“Yes, yes, more time would be exactly what I need. I think another day to nail down the ejection spell. Another two days afterwards to complete my report on the changelings and their magic,” Twilight replied quickly, the twitch in her cheek stopping at the prospect.

“Twilight,” Celestia started in a motherly tone. She nuzzled Twilight gently as she continued, “Calm yourself. This needs to be done right, not fast, take the time and make sure you are certain with your findings.”

Twilight took a few deep breaths to calm herself further, “I will Princess, you can count on me.”

The Princess nodded before turning to the second occupant of the room. “Prince Shining Armour,” she began, “Do you have news of the search of Canterlot.”

“Yes your Highness,” Shining said with a quick salute, “The original search time was grossly underestimated. I have however assigned the situation to the Day and Night Guard Captains. The thorough search will be finished by tomorrow and I am told the preliminary search did not find anything extra.”

“And the status of my citizens found in the crystal caverns?”

“All unharmed, incapacitated but healthy. They have all been transferred to the guard hospital to undergo recovery and analysis as determined by Twilight and Canterlot’s top doctors,” Shining replied, he cast a proud smile at his little sister.

Twilight blushed at the praise, her hoof once more scuffing at the marble. A small smile formed upon Celestia’s muzzle at the sibling’s antics. She turned to leave but was stopped by one final question.

“Princess, what are you going to do?” Twilight asked, worry evident in her tone.

The Princess sighed, thinking of an answer that would suit, “For now, nothing. I need as much information before I can make an informed decision. As such I wait for your report before I make any final judgement. However I shall send out the Wonderbolts tomorrow to deliver an apology for this delay and a timeframe for a response.”

Twilight and Shining Armour nodded in agreement. Each had a smile upon their face in support. It is going to be a long time before I can relax again, Celestia thought to herself as she slowly withdrew from the room, the doors gliding silently shut.

“What took you so long,” Rainbow shouted as Soarin finally alighted on her cloud home, “I finished my checks in like ten second flat, it’s been almost twenty minutes.”

Soarin shot the chromatic maned mare a fearsome glare. He was clearly angered about something in particular, “You could’ve told me that Carousel Boutique had a shield spell erected around it.”

“Didn’t I?” Dash asked innocently.

“No, just like you didn’t tell me where it was, or the library, or Sugar Cube Corner.”

“Oh sorry, just a little excited I guess,” Rainbow offered as an excuse.

Soarin sighed and rubbed his nose with his hoof, “That doesn’t excuse the fact that you left me hanging. If you want to be a Wonderbolt then you need be able to work as a team and tell us everything we need to know. Not just ‘wing it’ because you’re in a hurry.”

“But I ju-.”

“I know,” Soarin interjected, his tone of voice becoming softer as he spoke, “You wanted to prove yourself as able. You’re also the Element of Loyalty and you don’t want to leave your friends hanging, but you left me hanging. I may not be your friend but you still left me hanging.”

Rainbow shrunk down onto her haunches at the realisation, she had indeed screwed up, and in the eyes of a Wonderbolt, royally. “I’m sorry,” she whispered, tears welling in her eyes, “I just wanted to prove myself as capable.”

“But you have,” Soarin said reassuringly, “You kept up pace with us at near Rainboom speed for the entire flight, that in itself is impressive enough. You don’t always need to prove yourself at everything you do, but you do need to work with anypony you can to help.”

Rainbow simply nodded in acknowledgement, the dejected mare not moving a muscle.

“Anything to report at Fluttershy’s cottage or Sweet Apple Acres?” Soarin asked softly in an attempt to change the subject.

“The cottage is fine,” Rainbow sniffled, her voice cracking only slightly. As she spoke further her voice grew stronger and filled with the confidence that the mare was commonly known for. “Although at the farm apparently Big Mac hired somepony as a farmhand for a couple of months but wouldn’t tell me the pony’s name.”

Soarin opened his mouth a couple of times almost bewildered that the mare had not realised the strange pony’s name.

“But how about you?” Rainbow asked before Soarin could speak, “How is the library?”

“Miss Cheerilee is good, the library is all good,” Soarin commented. He bit his tongue when he thought about his encounter with the changeling. He decided against telling the mare, out of fear that she would react in the wrong way and the crisis of opinion he was having himself.

The two continued chatting as they ambled on inside the cloud home flopping down of the couch shaped clouds to rest. “Don’t suppose you have any Daring Do books to read while we wait?” Soarin asked.

Rainbow’s eyes went wide at his question, in an instant she had jetted off into the next room and returned with stack of books upon her back. Soarin marvelled at the collection the mare possessed, he flashed Rainbow a quick smile before their conversation turned to the subject of Daring Do.

Author's Notes:

A thousand apologies for how long this chapter took to write. I made three attempts at it before giving up and reading some of the wonderful work of other writers. Most of it is M rated so I won't be posting what I read. After Randomanous's comment about stringing the story along I took a look back over the story and realised he/she was right. As such I threw out the original plan I had and took the time to replan the next few chapters and the story as a whole. Trust me the original plan was a napkin compared to what I've done. In any case I hope you can forgive me for the lateness of this chapter. Big thanks to all that have read the story, liked it and favourited for more.
For those looking for information on Hearths Warming Saviour. It has been delayed a bit due to the aforementioned reasons but should hopefully be released by the end of the week.

The Chronicles of No One

by Pr1me Sh0ck

Prologue: A glimpse of the past

Prologue: The death of Noah

Chapter 1: Of bravery and walking

Chapter 2: The screams of no one

Chapter 3: The rhythm of a gift

Chapter 4: Mirror mirror

Chapter 5: The hall of the mind

Chapter 6: Questions and answers

Chapter 7: The swift kick of grey

Chapter 8: At home in the mind

Chapter 9: The night mare (pt1)

Chapter 10: The night mare (pt2)

Chapter 11: The soothing of minds

Chapter 12: A plan for the day

Chapter 13: The flight and the friend

Chapter 14: Weird communications

Chapter 15: Farmhand

Chapter 16: Silence in the Library