Just Another Week

Sunday

Waking up just a little after dawn like I preferred, I rubbed the bridge of my gray muzzle, then got up and gave myself a quick brush before getting dressed for my morning run. The laborious jobs I had today would suffice for working my muscles.

Once stretching was done, I was out the door. I liked getting some exercise first and most days it’s a full workout before breakfast. Made the food taste a little better.

Like always, I had a surreal moment as I got moving. I never quite got used to running on four paws, even if it was more comfortable and faster to me ever since I wound up here.

By mid-morning, I was over at Sweet Apple Acres with my tool bag. It was common enough for me now, but learning how to fix all kinds of things was a new experience. I’d learned so much from my first job here that I expanded my efforts to much success.

Applejack and Big Mac appreciated how much time I saved them with the occasional tricky or hard to access repair, though they still did the majority of things on the farm. In addition to some little things here and there around the farm, they had a leaking pipe in the house. Neither of them liked plumbing, and AJ was the only one small enough to fit in the access spaces to reach the pipes, but it was awkward for her no matter what was wrong. I had an easy enough time, thanks to my hand paws and flexibility. I was done tracking down and replacing the leaky pipe by lunchtime and invited to join them.

Once again, the Apple family proved just how good they were at cooking and I was ready to leave when AJ stopped me on the porch, same as last time. Big Mac was with her as they looked at me with concern.

“Ah know I asked ya last time, Tobias. Whatever it is ya got runnin’ through yer head, ya know me an’ Mac would listen. Ya know Ah won’t pry it outta ya on account o’ it bein’ so personal, but Ah wish ya’ll would tell us what’s eatin’ ya,” she said.

“I know, AJ. Big Mac. It’s just...something I have to deal with on my own. I’m sorry I always have to leave you worrying,” I tell them before heading off, keeping my friends in the dark again.

I was forever grateful to Applejack, considering she was the first pony that gave me a chance, along with her family. I caused a few ponies to get upset by standing at their shop door, had been chased a few times, and was just having a really bad day by the time I’d made my way onto Sweet Apple Acres. She was respectful enough to hear me out, she says it was because I wasn’t trying to sneak around or anything, and gracious enough to let me work around the farm.

She was also kinda pissed with me three days later when she found out I was homeless and sleeping in a cave on the edge of the Everfree. AJ demanded I borrow a spare room in the farmhouse until I got established. It was her word that got the town to accept my presence as a general rule, rather than only having a few exceptions friendly with me. And her standing with me months later when I got the deed to my house after some initial resistance.

Been long enough that most of the town just sees me as a regular member of the community now, rather than a stray diamond dog wandering around. Most of them even greet me just like anypony else on the street. There’s still some holdouts, but I can’t fault them too much after all the things the typical, painfully stupid mutts have done. I grew up used to insults and jeers because of what I used to look like, so it isn’t hard to ignore and none of the ponies are interested in going beyond words.

My afternoon is taken up at the train station, helping the ponies there replace some of the platform. We finish up just as the sun is setting and it’s time for dinner. They thank me for my help and give me my pay for the job.

I head off to a quiet dinner at my house, content to read the latest Daring Do novel I got the day before. There wasn’t a book club meeting this week, but I liked to keep ahead.

***

Monday

Wake up, brush, stretch, exercise before breakfast.

Taking a more thorough than usual shower, I spend extra time brushing myself down after I finish getting dry, trying to get as many of the loose hairs as I can before my appointment with Rarity. Once my slate gray pelt is as immaculate as I can get it, I’m out the door a bit early and free to enjoy a relaxing walk on two legs.

It gives me a certain amount of amusement whenever I think of the contrast between myself and her cat, Opal. Thanks to my frequent efforts, I shed little, regardless of what my couch would seem to suggest.

Rarity was making all kinds of marks and adjustments as I stood like a statue in whatever position she requested. She never said much while ‘in the zone’ and that was fine with me. I still thought it was odd for ponies to value fashion like some did, considering they didn’t wear anything most of the time. Worked in my favor I suppose, since I couldn’t stand walking around without a shirt and pants. Shoes were just a distant memory now. My foot paws didn’t like anything Rarity and I had come up with. Socks and such wouldn’t last long without protection.

Today was just prepwork for the photo shoot Rarity and I had next week. As it was an interesting way for her to showcase unusual designs, and I got to keep most of the outfits when we were done, it was a small thing to model them for her. I was absolute in refusing her trying to pay me, saying her usual prices, when compared against the clothes I get to keep, calculate to a decent wage for my time. She relented only when I promised I wouldn’t discount any repair work I do around her boutique, which isn’t uncommon due to her high standards.

I hoped she wouldn’t yell at anypony when we went to the next show. Even if it was appreciated that she stands up for me, it tends to cost her some potential rich clients when somepony asks how she had me trained, or if I was available for sale. Those moments tend to make her furious.

It was funny, in a way, that it bothered her more than it did me by such a wide margin. I just pushed back by remaining well-mannered and delivering carefully worded verbal slaps regarding their ignorance if it wasn’t a pony that might turn into a client. It was far from all of them anyway, as I still remember the surprise I felt when Fancy Pants and his wife were respectful and treated me as an equal. Upper class personalities with no depth, that’s all the unpleasant ones were.

As expected, as I’m about to leave she speaks up, “Tobias, darling, have you changed your mind yet on telling me what puts such dark clouds in your eyes? I do so wish you would share.”

I sighed, “I’m sorry, Rarity. I know you want to help. It’s just something I have to deal with myself.”

Grabbing a simple lunch at my place and getting into some work clothes, miscellaneous repair work in the Town Hall keeps me busy for the rest of the day. Mayor Mare gives me a concerned look, but nothing more before I’m on my way home.

Another quiet dinner and more reading.

***

Tuesday

Wake up, brush, stretch, exercise before breakfast.

It’s a weightlifting day where I work with a partner. There’s a special kind of joy I get from it after growing up with limitations like I did after that accident I was in as a kid. Working through sets with Snowflake also burns off much of my troubles, both from keeping my friends at a certain distance and from my secret. It’s left me far more muscular than the common mutts, though I leave the beefcake look to Snowflake. He gets me a good deal on protein powder and supplements, since he goes through so much himself.

Where most say it out loud often enough, Snowflake only asked once when he noticed, but otherwise he doesn’t say a word once I said it’s private. Sometimes it isn’t quite a relief though, as he tends to push me harder, or himself when I’m spotting for him, when he’s frustrated about it. Unspoken as it is, my hidden troubles are still on his mind.

After lunch, I’m in the kitchen of Sugarcube Corner with Pinkie and the Cakes, helping prepare for a big party Pinkie was throwing that evening. I only do it because Pinkie pesters me to and always makes it fun. Pleasant small talk and Pinkie’s antics pass the time until she has to head off to somepony’s birthday celebration.

“You know I gotta ask, Maxie, even if you always say no.”

Pinkie always did the same thing too. Before I was allowed out of her sight, she would call me by that abbreviation of my last name. I had a very personal grudge against being called ‘Toby’ that she was respectful of once I explained it. Then she’d ask the same question, “Will you tell me yet why you always have to work so hard for your smiles?”

And I always respond the same way, “I’m sorry, Pinkie. It’s just something I need to deal with myself. If ever I thought you could help with it, I’d tell you right away.”

Then she hugs me, complete with nuzzle, and makes me wince as she tugs my heartstrings, which is funny for someone that used to dislike getting touched. She reminds me she’ll keep trying to help me smile, no matter what.

Mr and Mrs Cake don’t say anything themselves after the first time, letting Pinkie say it for them, though I know from their looks what they’re thinking.

Another quiet dinner at home and another book ends the day.

***

Wednesday

Wake up, brush, stretch, exercise before breakfast again.

This morning has me hurrying over to the spa. I have massages to give and a schedule to keep with Aloe and Lotus.

I’m still glad I took the initiative ten months ago and asked if I could try out my capacity as a masseur. While I was weak on technique at first, the spa sisters recognized the potential and agreed to take me on and teach me. It was odd how shocked they seemed when I said I’d never been trained, but I never felt like thinking about it. Since then, my services have gained a bit of popularity and it brings them extra business. I still didn’t think that much of my skills, feeling I have a long way to go yet. I was also impressed by the lotions they have, as my callused hand paws turned soft as warm butter with the right ones.

It makes Aloe and Lotus happy enough to stay a little late once a week so I could use some of their services without bothering other clients, which was how this whole agreement had started off at first. Now they’re close friends, and we’re planning to attend a spa convention in two months out in Manehatten, as much for fun as business.

Our arrangement was a bit necessary, even though I looked a little different from the usual and was always well-groomed, some residents and most out of towners got upset if I tried to visit the spa during regular hours. I wasn’t sure how to feel about nopony minding if I was working.

Either way, it was a few extra bits and a chance to relax. While I didn’t suffer the painful muscle spasms I used to that all but required regular massages to alleviate, endless worry seemed to do enough on it’s own. Not to mention the fact a massage by either Aloe or Lotus was a wonderful experience every time.

As I’m bidding them goodbye at the end of the day, they always give me a hopeful look at a minimum, wanting me to tell them. All I can do is turn them down, unable to talk about it.

None of my friends or associates would understand and I wouldn’t drag them into something they couldn’t help with no matter how much they wanted to help, even though I knew it made my friends a little sad by keeping it to myself. Part of me knew it couldn’t continue forever, but I just couldn’t bear letting it out after all that had happened.

I happened to pass Twilight on the street on my way home and we ended up stopping at the cafe for an early dinner between friends. It was nice that the staff didn’t care what I was beyond being a paying customer.

Twilight was still strange to me. A princess that lives in a huge crystal castle, yet she was head of the Ponyville book club and the astronomy club. A capable enough leader when necessary and quite sociable, yet she tended to be a shut-in when left to her own devices. Some of the conversations we’d had about novels and authors made us lose all track of time. Her knowledge of a multitude of subjects was always fascinating to explore, though it was hard to get her to stop once you got her lecturing.

It was her and her friends that had been some of the first ponies to welcome me to town, Rarity’s initial scream for no immediate reason notwithstanding. The ruckus made sense after I heard the story, at least. They’ve all become dear friends since then.

Twilight was also the second hardest to refuse when she asked.

“Tobias, it’s been months! I know you keep saying it’s something you have to deal with on your own, but we’re your friends! No matter what it is, we’ll help you through it! Whatever it is you’re dealing with, even if we can’t help with it specifically, we can still help you face it…,” Twilight told me with a sad frown, looking a little hurt while she made that same unintentional pouty face that was so adorable and disarming. The fact she doesn’t even know she does it makes it worse.

I heaved a sigh, looking at the empty pasta plate before me as I put the necessary bits on the table, still thankful I ended up an omnivore after whatever it was that happened to me and allowed me to continue being vegetarian. Before I left the pack that took me in for those first two months when my problems started, I struggled to eat enough to stay healthy, as the dogs all ate meat with every meal. Eating something with eyes makes me sick. Even fish.

I was still a long way from bringing my burdens onto my friends, raising my eyes to look at her again, “I’m sorry, Twi. I know how much you want to help, but I can’t tell you. It might be difficult to be left in the dark, but I would feel worse by getting any of you girls involved. I just can’t do that.”

As always, she jumped up and hugged me tight, putting her wings into it this time, “It isn’t that easy, Tobias. It’s harder every passing day for us to stand on the side every time we see you carrying this secret hurt around. We care about you, you big dummy!”

It was harder to resist telling her than usual before we went our separate ways.

I had a hard time staying focused on my book of choice before going to bed, but I don’t want to go back to my locked desk just yet.

***

Thursday

Wake up, brush, stretch, exercise before breakfast. Celestia’s sunrise was extra fancy this morning, by the look of things.

I made my way to the park and met up with Rainbow Dash as planned.

We helped each other with agility training, sometimes even doing a little light sparring. I couldn’t help her with flight training, but zipping around obstacles on the ground was something we both enjoyed. She also liked the challenge I gave her, since I was a little better at getting through an obstacle course and really made her work for her wins.

Today we decided to end our session with a sparring match.

I remember how boggled I was when she first suggested it to me. She had to teach me everything, once I agreed to give it a shot. Dash wanted a partner to work with and we were already making a habit of exercising together, so it was a natural enough progression.

Now that we’ve been doing it for almost a year, our matches were much more interesting as we danced around each other. Dash still had to hold back, but I was much better and she sometimes got taken by surprise. The look on her face last month when I managed to pin her and win for the first time was gratifying. She hadn’t let me repeat it, but I could tell she was enjoying our matches a lot more ever since.

We were getting close to the time we called it for the day when she managed to knock me onto my back and pinned me, grinning in her victory as we caught our breath, “Still not good enough, Tobias. You’re getting better, but Rainbow Dash is still too awesome for you!” Then she narrowed her eyes with a light glare and a frown, voice low as she approached me her own way, “You got anything to tell me? I don’t like it when somepony’s hiding stuff.”

Through trial and error, I had to give her a different kind of response so she wouldn’t start pressing me for information for the next hour, “Not unless you’re going to Rarity’s for a frilly dress and makeover first.”

As usual, she snorts and stalks off a little ways in frustration, starting to stretch herself out now that we were done, “I’m starting to consider it, Tobias. I don’t like seeing you hold back whatever it is you won’t talk about.”

That was a new response from her. Most of the time, she just scoffs at the suggestion and ignores the subject for the rest of the day.

“Sorry, Dash. Like I keep saying, it’s not something you could help with,” is all I can tell her.

I saw her give me a hard stare before she grumbles about my being a bucking idiot and she might just try and drag it out of me if I kept refusing to talk. She gave me a grumpy goodbye and took off into the sky.

That it was starting to make her so frustrated that it was coming out like that hurt. I stared after her for a time, reminding myself just how impossible my situation was and how pointless it would be to make them worry about something they couldn’t help with, but how much longer could I keep denying them learning about what was hurting me? And why was I so adamant to keep it to myself anyway?

I knew I was getting too close to them to keep hiding it against my own conscience. The draining effect of dealing with it all by myself for the past two years was weighing heavier than ever.

I had to drop by the school today since Cheerilee had asked if I could help her with a lesson about differences between species and I was happy to help. The window shutter repair she also needed could be done after the lesson and lunch.

One thing that had amazed me, all other troubles aside, was how similar young ones were to back home. Apart from some cultural differences, they were really no different at all. Even if they were ponies, they were still full of the same innocent curiosity. While I only stopped by the school when Cheerilee needed something fixed or wanted my participation in a lesson, I very much enjoyed my visits with her students every time.

Sitting outside on the playground, many of the fillies and colts were sitting around me as I told them stories I’d adapted from Dr Seuss to work without visuals, among some other books I remembered. Sometimes, I told stories from movies I had seen back home. They were always fascinated at the things I told them.

And more often than not, I would get swarmed for a group hug at the end.

After I fixed the shutter, Cheerilee thanked me again for being so good with her students before reminding me she’d listen if I needed somepony to talk to, but never pressed.

As I walked through town on my way to a leaky pipe at Bon Bon’s shop, I heard one of the common insults thrown my way. The pony in question was trying to degrade my intelligence, though I happened to know the mare had a hard time reading the newspaper, so it rather lost it’s effect. I barely flicked an ear as I ignored them.

“I’m sorry there are still a few that do that, Tobias,” came the familiar gruff voice of Sergeant Kite Shield, head of the local Guard that looks after Ponyville and the Everfree Forest. Not quite a friend, but a welcome familiar face.

He and the other guardsponies had been wary of me at first, but time had made it clear I was harmless. Since trouble tended to find me at times because of what I was, the town’s guards had taken to keeping an eye out for me. Twice, they were present and able to thump some sense into a visiting pony making wild accusations, so the additional consideration was most appreciated.

I just smirked sidelong at him, “It is not a reflection upon myself, but upon the one throwing it, sir.”

“And stop calling me ‘sir’ already, lad. Just ‘Kite’ is fine. But then, we’ve done this song and dance enough…,” he said with a sigh, walking along next to me now, “You know I always see you around town, usually got something in your eyes that seems like the weight of the world’s on your shoulders. You’re a good dog and...ach, sorry, that sounds terribly condescending. Well, you’re a good sort. If you ever want to grab a drink and chat about what’s on your mind, just ask and I’ll buy, alright?”

Even Kite was asking now? Maybe I needed to start making sure I wore a fake expression or something.

I sighed, letting my shoulders sag as my ears fell, it wasn’t like he’d be fooled right now anyway, even my fluffier than normal tail drooped, “Thanks for the offer, Kite, but it’s just something I have to handle on my own.”

He just nodded and went on his way as I went along mine.

A few fix-it jobs and I was home for a simple dinner.

I found myself staring at my locked desk, brooding in silence for a time, before I forced myself to read a book on Equestrian history. I wasn’t opening that desk tonight.

***

Friday

Wake up, brush, stretch, exercise before breakfast.

I headed into the market for a some fresh produce, having finished what I had. The rest of the morning was spent haggling with the various stall vendors.

Learning how to haggle over prices had been something of a culture shock, but some conversations with AJ, and a lot of observation and experimentation, left me with a reasonable capacity for it. I knew I was at times charged a little more over my appearance, but overall I was just another customer.

While I was getting some apples from AJ, glad to have no need for haggling since we’d settled a standing price and preferred to chat when she didn’t have customers present, the one pony I was truly afraid of happened to come along to buy some apples herself.

“Oh hello, Tobias. How have you been?” Fluttershy asked in her quiet way.

She terrified me every time I saw her, though I never showed it.

I just gave her a small smile, “Keeping busy with odd jobs as usual. Cheerilee asked me to help her with a lesson yesterday, since I was stopping by to fix a shutter. How about yourself?”

Just being around her made my nerves fray.

She gave a soft giggle as she covered her mouth with a hoof, “I’ve seen how you good are around foals and it’s very cute. I’m doing just fine. Poor Harry needed his back realigned yesterday, but otherwise my animal friends have been doing very well. Oh! While we’re here...,” she added, causing my worry to skyrocket, hoping she wouldn’t ask for help, “Do you have free time today or tomorrow? A tree branch fell on my chicken coop and while the girls are fine, it made a hole in the roof. There’s a rainshower scheduled on Sunday and I would very much appreciate it if you could fix it before then.”

Dammit.

With how things had been going, this was bad news. Twilight was difficult enough, but Fluttershy was on a whole different level.

She was far too adorable and sweet. And even with how safe I always felt around her, she had no idea I was wrapped around her hoof.

Even as I smiled, letting her know I had most of the afternoon free today, I was afraid of what was going to happen. She was my bane because she made it hard to keep holding it all in. Just being around her, especially when it was just the two of us and I didn’t have to worry somepony would overhear, made it hard to stop myself from breaking down.

I privately referred to her as the Gentle Terror and Compassion Incarnate, from whom none may hide their sorrow.

“That’s wonderful, Tobias! I’ll see you later then. Thank you so much for agreeing to help,” she replied with a happy smile after I said I’d be along after lunch, bidding AJ and I goodbye before she headed for her cottage.

“Ya know, every time Ah see ya ‘round Shy, ya act all funny like.” Applejack spoke up, poking my arm with a hoof, “Ah’m tempted ta say ya got a crush on her, but ya ain’t actin’ quite right fer that at times. What is it that gets to ya about her?”

Looking at the ground as my ears and tail fell, I heaved a long sigh once Fluttershy was out of sight and I wouldn’t worry she might turn back for some reason, “Honestly, AJ… She… Let’s just say she makes it very hard to keep certain things inside.”

AJ sighed, “Tobias, sugarcube, Ah wish y’all would talk about it. Ah ain’t gonna press too much, but...maybe ya should give in later and let it out with her. At least let somethin’ out, ya stubborn varmint. Ain’t healthy of ya ta keep holdin’ it all in like ya are. She ain’t gonna breathe a word ta any of us if ya asked her not ta share. As yer friend, Ah want ya ta think about lettin’ somepony at least carry ya through whatever yer feelin’ with a good cry or somethin’, even if ya ain’t willin’ ta say what it is. Please, Tobias. Me an’ the girls are hurtin’ from watchin’ ya holdin’ it all in.”

I winced, rubbing my left forearm from an old habit. Now it had been said out loud and I couldn’t avoid it anymore, however flimsy the argument was before.

Raising my eyes, I met hers for a moment, unable to mask my burdens and seeing the sadness I was causing her, then glanced away, “I’m sorry, AJ. I’ll...I’ll give it some serious thought when I’m out at her cottage. There’s just nothing any of you could help with…”

She huffed, poking my arm again, “Sugarcube, if it weren’t fer the fact ya keep bein’ so darn set on keepin’ it private, me an’ the girls woulda hogtied ya ages ago and dragged it outta ya. Long as we can be there fer ya, understand it or not, at least ya ain’t gotta be dealin’ with it alone.”

I caught her hoof and gave it a squeeze, unable to meet her eyes right then, “I think I’ll...just drop my groceries off at home and give Fluttershy a visit. Thanks for putting up with me, even if I’m having a hard time not being an idiot. It’s… Whatever you think one individual could go through, my secret’s bigger, I…”

When I froze up after saying more than I ever had, as little it had been, AJ pulled me in for a hug. She didn’t say a word, she didn’t need to, and soon I was able to hug her back as I got myself back under control.

It was clear I was reaching my wit’s end, no matter how hard I had fought it. I’d been holding everything in for almost two years and had let out little of it. Sometimes, I even had myself convinced I was stuck in a coma and it was all a fever dream, but too much had happened for me to rely on that. Other times, I just figured I’d gone completely nuts, but things were too consistent to come from an unstable mind.

Pulling back from the hug, I gave her a weak smile, “Let me see what happens with Fluttershy this afternoon, AJ. I’m not sure I even can bring myself to say anything.”

“Tobias, if’n ya don’t soon, Ah don’t think yer gonna keep it together. Whatever has ya so afraid, we’ll help. Ya know darn well me an’ the girls have done some mighty wild things in the past coupla years. Crazy as yer thing might somehow be, we just might be the best darn ponies in Equestria ta help ya figure it out,” Applejack told me, more open about her concern than ever.

I bid her goodbye for now, thanking her for putting up with me before rushing home, satchel of food bouncing at my side. I needed to shutter myself away for a bit and get myself back together before I fell apart. I didn’t know how I was going to handle visiting Fluttershy less than two hours from now.

Lunch was as bland as it was untasted, only eating on autopilot before I was carrying my tools down the road the moment I was done. I knew Fluttershy kept some basic materials at her cottage, so fixing the hole shouldn’t be difficult so long as it wasn’t too big.

Coming up on the pleasant cottage outside of town, I relished the faint smile I often got when I saw Fluttershy’s home. I needed even that tiny spark of joy with how I’d been feeling. There was always a strong sense of peace and refuge around the place. Even the animals seemed filled with that sense of peacefulness.

I had to swallow a lump in my throat as Fluttershy stepped out her front door with a feed bowl, her eyes lighting up when she saw me.

As soon as she’d placed the bowl down, she trotted over with a smile, “Hello, Tobias. Thank you so much for taking the time to come all the way out here just to help my chickens stay dry.”

Giving her a small smile in return, “Fluttershy, you know I’m always happy to help. And, uh...if it’s alright with you, I’m going to fix the coop roof and...well...could we, you know, talk over tea or something afterward?”

In all the time I had been able to call the girls my friends, those were words I had never uttered.

Fluttershy’s eyes widened as they filled with hope. The look on her face just about did me in right then and there from how adorable she was.

Freaking super-adorable ponies were my damn kryptonite and this mare was their Empress!

“I’d love to! Please take your time fixing the chicken coop. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt by trying to go too fast. Then we can have some tea and I’ll listen to anything you want to share, alright?” Fluttershy said, still wearing that damned painful adorableness. I’d probably shatter on the spot if she hugged her pet bunny and giggled at the same time.

The hole in the coop wasn’t as bad as I expected. It was good and bad that it took me less than an hour to prepare, cut and install the repair. I had it done in short order and spent longer than I needed, maybe over ten minutes even, just staring at the job I just finished because I knew what I was about to walk myself into.

I was terrified of that one adorable pony because I knew I was going to break and nothing was going to stop it this time.

It wasn’t long before the two of us were sitting on her couch, enjoying some sort of pleasant minty chamomile kind of tea I missed the proper name of. We hadn’t said a word since we sat down, but I figured since I had asked to talk, she was expecting I would start when I was ready.

My half empty cup was set down and I turned to her, swallowing as she looked at me with that kind smile, already feeling myself starting to waver, “I-I… F-For the past two years, I’ve… It started when I-I…”

Her hoof touched my cheek as tears began to fall from my eyes as my voice failed. I lasted only as long as it took for her other hoof to come up to start brushing away the tears. The dam finally burst open as I fell into her and hugged her tight, feeling her forelegs pulling me in as I began crying hard in somewhat barking sobs.

I cried because of how miserable my life was from pushing my friends away so much.

I cried because of the things I had to do to survive when this first started and I was staying with that Diamond Dog pack that discovered me unconscious in some random place.

I cried because of how alone I’d been in a strange place with no rhyme or reason I could find.

I cried because of the strange body I’d woken up in, even if it all worked right.

I cried for the family and friends I would never see again.

I cried for the entire life I’d lost and could never get back.

I cried because after everything I’d been through these past two years, I couldn’t take it anymore and it had to come out.

Through it all, Fluttershy just kept holding me, even weeping along with me as I let out all the pain and loss I’d been through. She didn’t know, none of my friends did, but she held me tight anyway. It left me feeling like such a fool for holding back this long, afraid to let the friends I’d made get close just because I doubted they’d ever understand.

By the time it was done pouring out of me, the only strength I had left was put into holding Fluttershy close. I couldn’t even lift my head as my chest hitched and jumped in the aftermath of the immense emotional release.

When I’d been quiet for a bit, Fluttershy lifted a wing she’d pressed to the back of my head to rub my neck a little, one hoof also rubbing my back, “Tobias… Sweetie…are you feeling better now?”

Sniffling, I nodded against her, unable to talk just yet.

“Whenever you’re ready, sweetie. There’s no rush. I’ll hold you as long as you need me to.”

She hummed a comforting melody, letting me remain in her embrace as I finished calming down from everything I had to release. My entire body was still tingling when I managed to pull back and give her a grateful, if weak, smile.

Fluttershy returned the smile as she brushed the tears from my cheeks before giving me a kerchief she must have had waiting. I felt guilty for using it as I blew my nose.

A glance at the window informed me the sun was getting close to sunset, causing me to feel even guiltier for how long I must have been crying against Fluttershy.

Taking a slow, steadying breath that still shook a little as I realized what I needed to do, I turned my eyes back to her, “Thank you for helping me through that, Fluttershy. I...I am so sorry it’s taken me this long to open up.”

If the dampness on the fur of my shoulder and shirt where she’d rested her head was an indication, I expected I’d left much more after crying into her fur so long.

She smiled that same kind smile that was my undoing, “I’m glad I could be here for you. Do you feel up to telling me what you’ve been hiding for so long?”

I swallowed against the lump in my throat, feeling stronger than I had in quite a while, “Um… Actually, do you mind if I wait until we can get the rest of the girls together first? I’m ready to talk, but I think I should tell all of you at the same time.”

“I don’t mind. I’m just so happy you’re finally ready to tell us what’s been troubling you,” she said, rubbing her hoof against my forearm.

We talked about less important things for a little longer, ending up leaning against each other on the couch until I felt it was time to go. I felt so much lighter on my paws when I stood up, even if I had a headache from all the crying.

“I’ll talk to Pinkie on my way home and have her set up a meeting next week so we all have time to prepare. Then, I’ll...I’ll tell you what I’ve been hiding. I’ll even be able to show you a little,” I told her as we reached the door.

Fluttershy looked at me with curiosity, “What do you mean show us?”

I gave her a genuine smile, “It’s a surprise for now, but I think maybe it’s time I shared that part of myself with you and the girls, too. On top of telling you what I’ve been dealing with for so long.”

She smiled and said she was looking forward to it as we made our goodbyes.

A quick stop at Sugarcube Corner, I found Pinkie sitting on the front steps with a big smile as I came up to her. I knew better than to even try asking why she knew I had something to tell her.

Pinkie was more than happy to get a private meeting together, though I did have to remind her she couldn’t make it a party because there was a lot of sadness involved for me. Since she somehow knew everypony’s schedules more often than not, I wasn’t surprised when she said next week on saturday was perfect since we were all free or had time to move things away from that afternoon.

Of course, I didn’t escape without a giant hug and a giggly happy dance over being ready to talk.

When I got home, I stood in front of my locked desk in thought for a time after I had a light dinner, deciding it could wait until morning. I went to bed early when I was done, needing the rest after crying like I had.

I slept better than I had in over a year.

***

Saturday

I woke up and had a shower before making breakfast on my day of rest.

Things felt different as I stood in front of my locked desk. Opening up and letting so much of the pressure come out yesterday had left me feeling so much more like myself again. It was a feeling I almost didn’t recognize after so long.

Unlocking the desk and opening it up, I looked at all the organized stacks of drawings with a new feeling mixed in with the rest. Going through my normal ritual, I grabbed the first of the stacks.

I was slow as I went through the things I had drawn from memory. This was my last connection to where I had come from. Though it had just been a passion, my talent with life drawing had become a lifeline I had guarded with jealousy once I was able to keep my drawings safe again.

People and places and memories passed in front of my eyes as I refreshed them in my mind. Members of my family as I remembered them, rosy as their portraits were. It was through these drawings I would never be afraid of forgetting a face forever. I hoped they hadn’t suffered too much after I vanished. It pained me to know how my disappearance would have affected Mom.

Three stacks of memories passed by as I sat at my desk. I couldn’t add to them very often anymore, after so long apart.

Then I moved to a small stack of something even more personal.

With mixed feelings, I looked at what I remembered of my old face and body. Some were done in pencils, others in charcoal or other mediums I had access to here. Each held something I wanted to remember, good and bad.

Some might not understand as I looked at the particular portrait that showed my full nude body in as much detail as I could muster or recall. For all it was and all it wasn’t, it was still who I had been.

I looked at all the scars and the disfigured leg that used to be my everyday.

It used to be I couldn’t walk much without crutches. The car accident we were in when I was eight left a hard legacy twelve years ago and took my Dad in the process. A drunk driver had initiated a pileup that was blessedly mild, despite the severity. Mild for everyone but us.

Thanks to circumstances at the time, we couldn’t afford much medical care and Mom couldn’t cover the cost to reconstruct my leg because the mangled bone couldn’t heal right, let alone fix the damaged muscles in several places. Despite the modern world I lived in, I had to grow up crippled. My weak health kept medical bills coming and Mom was only keeping our heads above water, unable to make progress.

It was thanks to her I found some peace with my broken body. I’d never get to run again or do any sports, but it got me to discover my ability to draw. My left arm was a little tricky and missing three fingers, but my dominant right was flawless and gave me freedom to explore the images around me, and the ones I saw within.

I taught myself many different styles as much through observation and experimentation as by books, or even instruction the scant few times Mom was able to hire an art teacher for a day. Life drawing, photorealism, that proved to be my strong suit and Mom joked sometimes I was like a living photocopier.

I didn’t know how or why I was stuck in this strange, softer-featured diamond dog body that wasn’t quite like the others, reminding me of a husky or a wolf to a point. All I knew for certain, it was in perfect working order, and though I relished the freedom to move without restrictions much like I recalled as a kid, it still wasn’t quite mine. I think I might have sunken into an unending depression, maybe even turned to suicide, if I’d not had hands of some kind and been unable to draw my way through all that had happened once I had some level of stability again.

I gave the image one more look with mixed feelings, always feeling a very specific kind of guilt because I wasn’t sure I wanted to go back to the restrictions it had, even if that was my real body. The funky bits I had now didn’t bother me much. The sensitive ears and nose were kind of nice, although the fur care was annoying as hell, despite being used to it by now. And it was so very embarrassing, but my tail wagged when I was happy if I didn’t keep control of it. I slipped once in front of Pinkie and had to put up with comments for a week straight.

With those stacks again arranged to perfection, I turned to the next two stacks.

The first was a series of images depicting what I went through when I first woke up here. The filthy pack of diamond dogs that had taken me in and tried to help me find a place. They were a bunch of idiots with no education to speak of and the dumbest obsession with shiny gemstones. I still got shivers remembering how nasty their hygiene was, even if they did try to help me when they didn’t have to.

Despite teaching them some useful things that I hoped made their lives a little better and trying to educate them some, I hated hunting and being underground, had zero interest in gems, despised digging through the dirt like they did, and could get physically ill over eating meat. I’d only managed what little I did because I had to survive.

I was deliberate in trying to forget the horrors of the females I had to avoid. They seemed to think I was trying to attract a mate all the damned time and made rather blatant displays.

In just two months, working from discussions about other residents of this strange world and feeling I would do better elsewhere, I said I was leaving for the town several miles away. They weren’t sorry to see me go, since I made no sense to them in turn with frequent bathing and only going into the tunnels at night to sleep.

My time there was not great, but working to survive and helping them with my unique knowledge gave me time to get a grip on my bizarre circumstances, at least inasmuch one could get a grip on what happened to me. I knew from experience that it was a valuable time, regardless of how pleasant or unpleasant it had been to my sensibilities.

I never did figure out why I was a natural survivalist, considering I couldn’t do things as simple as backyard camping growing up after the accident. Things just made sense when I had to get something done and I knew what to do.

Turning to the next stack, I smiled to myself. The drawings were some of the happier captured moments since coming to Ponyville, including when I first met each of my now many friends, starting with some of the closest.

I looked at the drawing I made of my impression from when Applejack had been kind enough to hear I just wanted a job and let me start working on the farm. Even I thought the drawing was a little flowery, but it was an important moment for me.

I smiled wider as I looked at the drawing of Twilight’s face when I mentioned looking for the town library, not knowing who she was at the time. The gravity-defying powers Pinkie displayed when she bumped into me the first time. Rarity screaming when she opened the door to see me standing there. Rainbow Dash when she found me exercising one day and wanted to race.

And Fluttershy, when she found me on the edge of town for a quiet walk, having managed to trip on a sharp rock that cut my pads and sprained one of my funny digitigrade ankles. She ignored my protests as she more or less dragged me back to her cottage and gave me some first aid, pretty much by force.

That mare has the absolute scariest glare I have ever seen. And that was including the time I saw Mom browbeating a guy for insulting my beat up body when I was eleven.

It’s absurd how adorable and graceful she is, yet at the drop of a hat can turn into She Who Scares Dragons.

Since then, conversations with her about everything and nothing were a bright spot in my week that I could never get enough of.

More and more images passed in front of my eyes. Images of friends, moments I shared with them, milestones in my life here. Each was a worthwhile memory I’d made since coming to Ponyville in hopes of a simple, quiet life while I tried to figure out what happened to me.

Setting the drawings back in place when I was done, I prepared a new sheet of paper and some pencils. I wanted to capture my moment of release with Fluttershy yesterday while it was fresh in my mind.

I spent the rest of the day working on that image and some initial sketchings for others, pausing only for lunch. I didn’t lock up my desk when I stepped away for the first time since I’d gotten it. I felt ready to share my drawings again and planned to share most of this stuff with the girls when I tell them what little I knew about the impossible thing that happened to me.

As evening closed in, I lit the lamp I’d placed on the desk with the odd little enchanted igniter stone I’d found at Filthy Rich’s general store ages ago. I only went as far as the basic operation of touch to wick, think of fire, light the lamp. I tended to avoid thinking about magic over all. I was more used to it now, thanks to Twilight more than anypony else, but it made me feel weird, with all the physics-defiance going around. Something about it always unsettled me on a deep level.

The new drawing was finished just as sunset ended and I stared at it for a while. The private moment with Fluttershy was a turning point for me. Far more than she realized.

In the past two years, I’d struggled with acceptance.

I felt like I could finally accept making a life here.

And accept letting go of Earth as my home.

I’d been so guilt-ridden, making friends even as I told myself not to get close because I was going back as soon as I figured out how to get my body back and return to Earth. Telling myself I was just working to get by until I could go home to my real friends and family. Sometimes trying to trick myself in a belief this was just a long bad dream.

Now…

Now I had realized how much I’d been lying to myself.

My friends were far closer to me than I’d wanted to admit until now. I hoped they would forgive me and understand when I admitted everything that had been going on. The life I once had isn’t something I can reclaim, even if I did figure out how to return to my original body and world. I’ve been through too much, become too different. I had changed in a lot of ways beyond just the obvious physical one. For reasons I did not know, even in my dreams I was stuck in a dog body.

And I’ve made friends here as valuable as any I’d ever made before on Earth.

Heck, aside from a few imbeciles, I was even accepted here as a familiar, valued member of the community that would be missed if I disappeared. Wonder how everypony will react when I start drawing openly again, as I’ve never heard of a diamond dog artist. Be nice to do a landscape, or capture one of Celestia’s sunsets sometime.

Looking at the folded letter I’d written myself, I mused to myself that it was just another week, then I would come clean with all the friends that I’d been worrying. Starting with the six most important to me.

I opened the letter I’d written early on after coming to Ponyville as a reminder and an affirmation.

It would have a rather different meaning to me from now on.

~~~~~

My name is Tobias Jonathan Maxwell.

Through means I do not know and beyond my control, I was brought to this world against my will. I will do whatever I must to survive, knowing I must change to suit my strange circumstances if I am to find home again. I will stumble, but I will not surrender.

My body may not be my own but it is what I have right now. Until I have cause to change again, I will adapt to what I have and put it to good use. Should this new form be found to bring new instincts, I will evaluate them for their worth and determine if they should be encouraged or suppressed.

Regardless of what has happened or has yet to happen, I will remember that who I am has not changed. My mind remains my own as far as I am able to discern. The foundation of experiences in my life continue to define me. I will not forget where I come from, nor whom I have left behind.

Although I have seen, and will continue to see, things in this world that defy explanation by what I knew before, I can face them bravely. Where I do not know how to respond myself, I will keep an eye on the local populace for cues and respond as they do. Unless I have cause to conduct myself otherwise, respect and adoption of customs shall be my approach.

I will remain Tobias, no matter what has happened.

I am, and always will be, human within.

The Helping Hoof Needed

View Online

Luna scowled as she approached the dreamer that had been eluding her for so long.

Around her stretched the infinite Plane of Dreams, resembling the beauty of her night sky in every direction, without land to interfere. Unlike her night, each point of light was not a star, but a dreamer in the midst of sleep. Most of them never needed to feel her presence, unlike the troubled one before her as she began to study.

“What secrets do you have to reveal to me, my elusive dreamer? How can it be that you have continued to dance just beyond the touch of my hoof for this past year and a half since I first glimpsed you?” Luna mused to herself as she circled the dream, at once a pinprick and equal with her in size, the veil that had kept it concealed now being dispelled as it peeled away like the skin of an orange to disperse back into the aether. It had been frustrating her with how well-hidden it had been.

Now she would find out in moments just what those reasons were, and why this dreamer had been having progressively worse nightmares for the past five nights. She had been troubled enough to see an almost regular schedule of them the entire time since this dreamer had first caught her attention. This newest string was of a much greater severity.

The raw strength of the the nightmare tonight was also what allowed her to latch onto the dream and dispel what had been hiding the dreamer from her. It was one of the longest hunts she had ever engaged in within her own domain. She was surprised to discover just whom she had been tracking for so long as the shroud finished falling away.

“Hmm… It is quite intriguing to discover you were the one so hidden from me, Mister Tobias Maxwell. What could possibly have happened that you appear to have nightmares thrust upon you? Most curious of you, my enigmatic subject.” Luna commented to herself in a whisper.

Luna remembered her surprise, when one of Twilight Sparkle’s letters mentioned a rather civilized, well-mannered diamond dog moving to Ponyville. He was even the subject of a letter recently, when she had sought additional thoughts on how to help her friend when he was so adamantly reluctant to let others help him shoulder a secret that burdened him.

Both Luna and her sister had been looking forward to meeting him when they held the Summer Sun Celebration next month. They were planning to invite Twilight Sparkle and her friends, along with extending a special invitation to this more unusual resident of the little town. They were both intrigued, wishing to learn more about him and why he was so different from other diamond dogs, but all that could wait.

Right now, she feared he was suffering Dream-lock. Much like waves of heat, the dream was radiating intense fear that turned inward, feeding the nightmare further. It was rare, but it did happen on occasion and demanded her immediate attention. Such events left the affected dreamer trapped in their nightmare, unable to wake as they experienced it over and over until they either broke free, or their heart gave out from fear and they died from it. It was usually the latter.

In most cases, she would not interfere with a diamond dog’s dreams due to political headaches, even up to moderate nightmares. This Tobias Maxwell was different though, having willingly chosen to live amongst her ponies in harmony. It made him her subject as well, and she would work just as hard to guide him to peaceful dreams as any of her ponies.

Even if he were not, this nightmare could not have been left alone.

As she always did when travelling through her Plane of Dreams to ensure she could respond to any that needed her, Luna’s personal flow of time was so much faster than what mortals perceive that all appeared frozen around her. Now, she needed to attend to the troubled dreamer before her.

While something yet unknown to her had been hiding him, she could not detect any intrusions in his dream or the rest of his mind. She had even checked twice for a dream demon, due to the similarities of what they cause. All she could find was a trace signature of strong magic that troubled her.

She would need to consult with her sister over this. Whatever being had created this nightmare had power enough to endanger far more than dreams, though she did not yet know to what extent. And for beings on higher levels to threaten even one of their subjects, it was akin to threatening them personally.

With the faint but clear touch of chaos magic that Luna saw was different from Discord’s own, there were other concerns that something more dangerous could be readying. She felt it might even be prudent to seek counsel with Discord as well. The very thought of dealing with him on a serious matter was not something she looked forward to, but the safety of her subjects mattered more than putting up with that annoying miscreant. She let out a snort at the thought.

When Luna felt she had learned as much as possible from outside the dream, observing the general state of Tobias’ mind and that of the unknown magic that had touched him, she moved to dive within and see for herself what was terrifying this dreamer so. Perhaps she could also learn how this nightmare had been forcibly induced and hidden from her, or why they were repeating with such frequency.

Much to her surprise as she moved into the dream, a formless mass of thought, an aspect of Tobias’ subconscious mind, attempted to bar her entry despite the disparity of her flow of time against his. It was an impressive display of will on his part that suggested a level of strength she had not anticipated.

As she had come to aid, Luna took the time to meet this aspect of Tobias at the edge of his mind, rather than swatting it aside with nary a blink as she could have. She let his mental defenses recognize she had come to help him and bring calmness to the nightmare he was experiencing. It was with the speed of emotion that this aspect of Tobias calmed, turning inviting instead of protective.

It did not prepare Luna for the severity or scale of what she witnessed as she entered.

As she dove through the dream, keeping it almost frozen as she studied, she was boggled. It was not one or two great fears chasing the dreamer like usual, nor even the rare upper limit of a dozen she sometimes happened across.

Instead, Luna found hundreds of them. Yet even that wasn’t what concerned her most as she trotted through the vast menagerie she found herself moving through. In all her time as the guardian of dreams, no mortal had ever borne so many things at once in such a cacophonous maelstrom of dread and frightening darkness.

Every single one of the fears she was now passing between was drawn from an actual memory.

And there at the front of the collection of fears was Tobias, in the middle of a desperate attempt to run away from what he could not escape.

His softer-featured long muzzle and face was a rictus of terror, teal eyes wide as saucers with ears flat to his head. Even his tail tucked against himself. He wore a plain simple shirt, lighter than the slate gray of his pelt, and black pants. Luna knew what would have happened if she had not been able to reach him this night, what would have ended this nightmare before dawn arrived, and she would ensure she brought calmness to his face before she was done.

Taking her time, Luna stalked among the memory-created fears that had manifested, the wings of her dream body twitching in agitation. She needed to understand how he could have personally witnessed so many things he found worthy of real fear.

In one area she passed amongst the many fears as she moved her eyes from one to the next, feeling stunned by the sheer multitude of things he feared, she spotted great metal carriages, unmoving to her perspective, that she found were making loud blaring sounds like feral roars before they would crash down upon Tobias in violent impacts of twisting metal. It was odd to her that they were some of the less terrifying ones for him. She had never seen such metal beasts before and could not fathom why they were mere minor fears to Tobias.

She turned to one of the greater fears as she stepped nearer to Tobias, this one close to him as he tried to run away. It was a clothed bipedal creature with little fur beyond a brown mane, light brown skin and no tail. A moment of study as she looked through images and impressions of the creature and she was further confused when all signs said this was the dreamer’s mother, declaring he was abandoning her for some reason.

Luna stalked around another minor fear, looking over the memory it came from. A gryphon that had once hunted him in the past for three straight days before Tobias escaped, and as she stepped around it, she froze.

Before her stood one of the greater fears, one of his worst, drawn from yet another memory.

The force of how much fear it instilled in Tobias was one of the most powerful ones she had seen in a nightmare, and as terrifying to him as any other gained from a traumatic experience. In her traveling her Plane of Dreams, few experienced something this severe, solidified as it was from it having been lived, rather than imagined.

The unsettling visage of an eyeless earth mare, trails of blood dribbling down from the empty sockets, that had been shaved of her green coat from the neck down stood before Luna. Most of her mane was trimmed to remain above the ropes around her neck and almost to her knees, a strange color and appearance to her bare skin. Though she dreaded what she was about to learn, she probed deep into the horrible memory.

Luna’s ears falling as she covered her mouth with a hoof, her wings spreading a touch in shock at what she found.

The poor mare had been boiled alive and Tobias had been forced to watch, the ropes around her neck holding her head out of the water and keeping her in place. Her eyes were even plucked from her head and tossed into the water after she had cooked enough to die and stop her crying and screaming. Their captors forced him to stare at her the entire time as they laughed.

Even that would have been horrifying enough, but as she learned more, she discovered Tobias had been forced to eat with the four gryphons responsible. The told him they would make him their brother and he’d be happy for it soon, reveling in their utter madness. They had forced his beak open, even jammed a tube down his throat, forcing him to eat the mare’s boiled flesh.

Once he had a chance, after the ghastly meal had ended, Tobias had attacked and mortally wounded all of them in a heartbroken rage, himself bleeding out minutes later from wounds he had taken in return.

She paused, looking at the memory a bit closer.

...his beak?

Luna realized there was far more that she needed to know than she had expected, and soon, as she could not let this nightmare continue a moment longer. Luna opened herself to the fears and horrors around her to learn their secrets, her power over dreams allowing her to reach out a hoof and touch them all, one at a time and all at once.

Images, impressions, entire memories flashed through her perception as she flitted from one fear to the next, delving into the depths of each and anything immediately connected to it. There was so much more behind just his fears as Luna took in more details as the web of her understanding grew wider.

As she learned about his many fearful memories, she wept in sympathy for him from the overwhelming sorrow she found. In all her long years, few had endured so much, and for no greater reason than mere whim.

Tobias had been used as a plaything, an amusement to a being of power.

He would spend five to ten years in one place, then be ripped out of whatever life he had managed to build for himself. It was never long before he was forced into a new body and tossed into a wide array of varying situations, most with the apparent intent of hardship and struggle. Each cycle, his conscious mind had been wiped back to where he began, leaving ever more hidden memories in his subconscious that left behind a growing number of phobias he might trigger and preferences he would not know the reason for. She could see he was fraying at the edges a little more each time, each life a little more unstable, yet somehow finding the strength to remain himself and survive where he was placed.

She saw he had once been what his mind called human, which also explained the creature he thought of as his mother. After many incarnations as other humans, the being playing with him moved to new heights and began sending him to their world.

Many times, he’d been remade a gryphon, a minotaur, a diamond dog, a dragon. Males and females. He’d only been a pony twice, it seemed. Luna also noticed so long as he’d had opposing digits, his first true escape through art helped give him strength and he did best in bipedal forms.

She saw at times the being playing with him had altered the species he was remade into, giving different conditions, maladies, contradictory physiology to his appearance. Sometimes even forcing Tobias to live crippled as he had been in his first life from which he was stolen. In essence, he had been manipulated on almost every level imaginable when setting him up for a new place.

Luna could not believe what Tobias had been put through and endured for so long, with only his subconscious mind left to remember. He had taken such hardships time and again and made the best of it. She saw he had learned and relearned skills so many times that many had become so ingrained that they expressed without his knowledge in each life he was thrust into.

There had also been happier times mixed in, lives he could actually enjoy for the duration. Times he had found a real measure of peace. Perhaps that was why his spirit had not yet broken. She would have to look at his strength of will again before leaving his dream.

As she made her way to his side and prepared to match herself to his flow of time, she struggled with what she could tell him. Would his mind fracture if she let him know the full truth? Might he even prefer to remain ignorant?

For now, all she could do was prepare to comfort him as she quelled the nightmare and banished his fears. Perhaps talking would help her learn what this tormented soul needed.

“ENOUGH!”

In the fashion Luna preferred to make her entrance to such nightmares, she bellowed through the dream as a reflection of herself appeared to descend from the moon to stand before him. As she did, the crowding fears crashed upon an invisible wall she put around the two of them, the horde of them splashed and dispersed like ocean waves turning to black mist and fading away, slowly changing their surroundings to a grassy field beneath a starry night sky and full moon.

She saw Tobias stumble and curl up on the ground at her hooves. It was clear he was afraid things were to get worse, even as she forced the shadows of fear to keep dispersing around them. Luna allowed him some time to calm as she settled down beside him, a gentle wing stretching over his shaking dream body.

“You need not fear anything further this night, my subject. You are safe now,” her voice was soft as she stroked him with her feathers, beginning to radiate calm peacefulness like a pleasant fire in the hearth on a winter’s night. It would help put him at ease in a manner better for him than forcing it onto his mind.

It took some time, but his shaking reduced in the stillness around them. When he managed to raise his head to look at her, his eyes widened and he groveled before her, hands over his face and head in fear. “Y-Your highness! I-I’m sorry, I didn’t know you had arrived! Please forgive my lack of obeisance! I’ve never harmed a pony! I beg of you not to hurt me!”

Luna winced, realizing he had not quite separated from the nightmare’s grip yet. She shushed him and kept stroking him with her wing, “Be at peace, my subject. You were having a terrible nightmare and I have come to put you at ease.”

Tobias was slow as he raised his head a little to look at the princess before him, moving with great caution as he came to awareness, “N-nightmare? This...this is just a dream?”

“It is, Tobias. I have been trying to reach you for quite some time. How are you feeling now?”

Still full of jittery nerves, Tobias moved so he was sitting before Princess Luna, ears flat to his head with his tail wrapped around him. Swallowing, he looked at her with a mixture of fear and hope, “I am...doing a little better. May I ask why you have come to my dreams? Surely I’ve done nothing to warrant your visiting me, Your Highness. I haven’t done anything of much merit.”

Luna allowed herself a small smile that belied how she was feeling after what she had learned, “It is my duty to guard the dreams of my subjects. You are a resident of Ponyville, are you not? That means I am always watching over you, as much as any other citizen of Equestria.”

“You are too generous, Your Highness. Please do not spend your time on me though. I’m sure others need you more than one as inconsequential as I am,” Tobias returned, turning his eyes to the ground.

“Stop discounting yourself, I will not hear it in my presence. I visit those in need, Tobias. No matter how many, all that need me shall feel my presence. I am not restricted to just one dream after all, and your need was great this night,” Luna told him, wondering how she should approach matters.

Tobias sniffed, unable to raise his eyes as he hugged himself in front of her. Luna brushed the tips of her feathers against his right arm, hoping to bring him comfort. After the severity of the nightmare, she knew it was best to remain until he woke with the dawn, so they had time to take a slow pace.

“Might I ask you some questions, Tobias? I witnessed many things in your nightmare I wish to understand, and I may be able to help you with more than just a nightmare. You are also welcomed and encouraged to call me by name,” Luna added, her voice still soft.

She watched him tremble a little more before he relaxed further, eyes still downcast. When he said nothing for a long pause she considered questioning him again, but then he moved to bow to her in a kneel, his hands flat on the ground as he lowered his head near the ground before he spoke, “Princess Luna, I...I thank you for gracing my dream with your presence. I’ll offer whatever I am able and answer any question. Even offer myself to your service if you require it for helping me. What would you wish to know?”

Luna touched the ends of her feathers under his chin and raised his eyes to hers with a comforting smile, “That is unnecessary, Tobias, but your offer is appreciated. Now that I am here, you are safe and free. Tell me, what do you know about your arrival in our world? I know you are not from ours, and that you were born human, so make no mistake as to the whole of what I ask of you. You need not tell me anything if you find it uncomfortable. I am not here to interrogate, but to counsel.”

Tobias swallowed and looked less nervous as he moved into a sitting position, her calming presence still working on him as his mind settled, “I...I see. What I know isn’t very much, unfortunately. I know I was found by some diamond dogs in a rocky wilderness and they said there were no tracks around me. Prior to that, my life seemed ordinary. I spent my days mostly just drawing and trying to sell my work when I could. For all intents and purposes, I arrived in my sleep like I’d been carried or something. The only thing strange before I simply woke up here was my last day on Earth, but that’s only because I know it happened and nothing more about it. Every time I try to think about that day, it causes me a painful headache, sometimes even all manner of images flashing through my head faster than I can understand. I’m sorry I don’t know more, Princess Luna.”

Luna nodded, pondering even as she hoped for a little more, “You are certain that is all you can remember?”

“I really wish I knew more. In two years, I have learned nothing else of merit. Though I have tried to tolerate the headaches that come from thinking of my last day on Earth, what images I’ve managed to grasp never make any sense. It’s just random things with no order at all, even if I could almost swear it was a lot like trying to recover a forgotten memory. It’s only given me more questions.”

“Hmm, you are right. That is not much to work with at all. Perhaps you would like to ask me a few questions instead? Mayhap I can aid you in your quest for answers, even though I do not know what questions to ask of you just yet myself,” Luna said.

She was quick to suspect the memory of that day was where his conscious mind had been wiped into each time he was returned to his initial state, locked from him so he would not be overwhelmed, without erasing anything. That it was the reason behind how he had grown in subtle, deep ways during the course of his ordeal, and how he remembered all he had been forced to experience. Though she had a look of calm, her mind was running with her countless questions.

He looked at her with a sudden glimmer of hope in his eyes, sounding more at ease, “I have one that’s bothered me more than most, and since we’re in a dream, I suppose this is the best time to ask it. As far as I can tell, my mind has remained my own, and yet I’m still a diamond dog even here. With what little I know about dreams, I should be free to be anything here. Why don’t I dream myself human like I would expect and want to?”

Luna tilted her head in thought, knowing the line between things she was going to ask about did not truly exist and it was more about giving him freedom of choice, “You are right. That is most curious. May I have your permission to explore your mind beyond the nightmare I quelled? Though I have learned much by that alone, there is still more about you that is quite mysterious.”

Giving her a slow nod, Tobias looked more hopeful, “I have nothing to hide, Princess Luna. If you can discover more about my circumstances, I would be grateful. You have my full permission to look at everything, if it might help me understand what happened.”

“Very well, Tobias. Please give me some time,” Luna replied, raising her head to look at the dream night sky above them as her horn lit. She would have touched her horn to his head for this, were they not already in it.

Luna began by following where else that strong magic had touched his mind, her own mind accelerating once more to bear witness to most everything that made Tobias who he was. Impressions and emotions crashing against her awareness in a manner that to her, it was like waves against a wall of stone.

She soon found her suspicion confirmed and that the memory of his last day on his Earth was indeed a sort of vessel containing all his accumulated memories for all his many forced incarnations. She had no need to study them, knowing answers were not to be found there. All she needed to see was the sum of years. Moving through his mind at a steady pace that let her observe most effectively, she felt rising amazement at just how long his chain of experience ran.

Upon reaching the end, she knew it had been a span of centuries. It was possible he could never take it all back in, lest his sanity crumble under the weight. That was without even considering the hardships he had often experienced. She would need to see him face to face to know more.

Turning her attention to her next task and tracing the foreign magic further, she found that not much else was changed, but there was something she had feared would be present as her chest tightened in alarm.

Tobias was carrying a form of tracer spell, one easy to find even if the caster vanished to another realm for a time, but subtle enough one would miss it if not looking for it. What troubled her most was discovering it also sat beside something that ensured even if Tobias died outside this being’s influence, it would contain his spirit to the place he died until he could be collected, meaning he would never be free, even in death. That his torment had been so absolute stirred the embers of Luna’s anger.

It also meant Tobias was in constant danger of being stolen away unless she could find a safe manner in which to undo the spells, or confront the being responsible. She feared he had been placed in Dream-lock with the intent to kill him, perhaps to prevent him from doing something, or to collect him early with minimal notice.

Luna realized Tobias may well have been placed in such a state and managed to break free from the preceding four severe nightmares she had not been able to reach. That one of her subjects had been under such attack, through her own domain, was adding fuel to the fire burning within her.

Unbeknownst to Tobias, she shifted her mind’s prime focus back to the throne room. Her wings spreading to express some of her ire as she let out an angry snort, a flickering glow of her horn and a simple pair of signaling spells cast, she had only to wait a few seconds.

Two silent bursts of shadow flared outward like swirling pillars of black flames before the dais of her throne, coalescing into the armored forms of her elite umbramancers, both Lunar unicorns and master battlemages. They snapped off salutes, gravelly voices speaking in unison, “What is your command, Mistress?”

“Thank you for your quick response. One of my subjects has suffered a near fatal forced nightmare, and I fear he may be in further danger. For now, journey to and locate a Mister Tobias Maxwell. You are to watch over him as he rests and until I can arrive to see to this personally. Anticipate strong magic with a chaotic nature and prepare as such. Make no mistake, the one responsible has power greater than your own, but they are not nearly as powerful as Discord and I know you are capable enough to delay them for a fair amount of time. At the very least until I can arrive, should it come to that.” Luna ordered, her stern expression conveying her seriousness as much as her tone.

One of her guards responded with a faint tilt of his head like it was an everyday request, “To clarify, you speak of the Diamond Dog of Ponyville, Mistress?”

Luna nodded, her Lunar Guard had long since been briefed on his unusual presence, “I do, Cloak. It seems he has been put through much. If we are fortunate, you need only escort him to me when I call for you. It is most probable I will have him brought to Princess Twilight Sparkle’s castle to continue this further. I am guarding his dreams until dawn, so finding him should be simple for you. I will inform him that you will be there when he wakes. Now please make haste to his side, both of you.”

Both umbramancers saluted once more before they burst into swirling shadow again and left. She knew they would arrive in Ponyville in a few minutes and moved the prime focus of her mind back into the realm of dreams.

Despite her silent stillness, Tobias had been waiting without a word before Luna. While she gave her guards their orders, along with other things elsewhere in the dream realm at the same time, she had found the block in his mind that prevented his freedom to dream of himself as human. A small thing to give back to him after all he had endured, but she would make sure it was just a first step to setting him free.

Turning her eyes away from the night sky and back to him, her wings shifted and resettled as she focused on the good she could now bring, “Tobias, I have found why you have been stuck dreaming yourself a diamond dog. Would you like me to remove it for you now?”

She watched his face flash with different emotions, an almost mad desperation stood out for a few moments as something he wanted back, right down to his core, was offered to him, then his eyes just misted in pure relief as he gave her a nod, appearing unable to speak.

“Very well. I fear I cannot tell you everything I have learned, but I can make certain to put things to right. Starting with this,” Luna said with a motherly smile, knowing the answer to another of her questions.

More for effect than function in a dream, she lit her horn again and her influence brushed away the appropriate parts of the foreign changes.

As she brushed the intruding magic aside, Tobias morphed into a human form much like wisps of smoke were blowing the change across his body. A whole and undamaged version of what he was born with, from what she had already learned of him.

Luna watched as tears began falling from his now green eyes as he was restored, looking at and feeling his hands before running them over different parts of his body. He let out an occasional faint laugh, appearing fascinated by his pale face, by the motion of his legs and ankles as much as with his toes.

It wasn’t long before he was just hugging himself, quiet sobs escaping as he rocked back and forth until Luna’s blue wing came up around his back and pulled him against her. His arms wrapped around her neck moments later as he continued to cry, muttering his thanks over and over.

Luna draped her neck over his back and held him close. She could understand his feelings to a degree, remembering when her own body was not her own and she was possessed by the Nightmare. Only her sister knew the tears she had shed just for having her own body back. Something so intrinsic to one’s sense of self being taken away bit deep, but Luna had only changed into something still equine in nature, not a whole different species. She was still able to understand the relief.

As she waited for him to calm again, she felt her umbramancers signal their arrival. A part of Luna relaxed a slight amount, knowing they would now be wrapping him in defenses and would allow her time to physically arrive if the worst happened. Whatever being had been playing with him would not be allowed to have him ever again, she would make sure of it.

When Tobias had calmed and began to pull away, Luna tugged him back with her wing, humming to herself and gave him a warm smile, taking some inspiration from her sister, “And just where do you think you’re going, my little human?”

“I...isn’t it improper for me to...hug you like this, Princess Luna?” Tobias replied, looking uncertain, the results of his tears all but vanished in the dream as his heart lightened.

“It is only us in your dream, Tobias. I will not tell if you will not,” Luna returned with a smirk and tilt of her head, hoping to bring him some cheer, or at least keep him at ease.

She felt him settle against her again, leaning his head against her neck as stroked his back with her wing, seeing him remain nervous but calmer. As she prepared to share simple conversation with him to pass the time, she also began delving into his strength of will and what prevented him from breaking.

“You know, my sister and I were going to send out the invitations to the Summer Sun Celebration next week, and we had intended to extend an invitation to you as well. We have been ever more curious about you since Princess Twilight first mentioned you in a letter some time ago. She talks about you from time to time, though her recent worries are now placed in a different light. Might I ask what brought you to Ponyville?” Luna queried as she studied.

“Um, well...it was mostly to get away from the diamond dogs I was staying with. I didn’t fit in with them and the bits and pieces I heard from them about the town suggested it was at least a lot better than where I was. After living there for a while, I have to say I like the atmosphere. Most of the residents are really friendly, now that they’re gotten used to me. Never lived in a small town before when I was on Earth,” Tobias shared, unaware of her efforts.

As they continued to converse, Luna listening and giving smiles or frowns in response, she discovered his ordeal had left him with a resolve of tempered steel he had put to great use. Where once he had been frail and somewhat cautious, now he had a strength of will to nearly rival even herself and her sister. Luna was unsure how he was managing it, but much of it was focused within and keeping his vast set of experiences in order so they served him or stayed back, rather than push him to the edge of sanity and beyond. His conscious mind was not even aware of the constant effort he faced within. She was further surprised when she learned why.

Over time and trial, Tobias had grown his inner will to such a degree that he had begun absorbing some of the foreign magic he contained to make it his own. She saw the almost separate personality his subconscious had become, the same embodiment of his will she met upon entering his dream, had recognized a need for new tools and pulled in what was around. She also saw his inner self assumed all external magic was a potential threat and nudged him to avoid it when possible.

Were it not for his hidden burdens weighing him down as much as they gave him strength, Tobias might have been a world changer in some manner. The most he manifested day to day was a subtle aura meant to draw help towards him, knowing something was manipulating him, but did not know what help he needed and left it undefined. Somehow, he had an instinctive understanding such would be nigh impossible to detect without deep study into his mind and essence, as Luna was doing now. He had found a way to fight back, however small, and she felt proud of his managing something so difficult. Beyond that, his desires for himself remained simple. He just wanted a quiet life with friends and hoped for one special individual to share it with.

Luna intended to ensure he would have that chance.

Though she would have to withhold most of what she had learned from his conscious mind so as not to upset his self-enforced stability, at least for now, she could give him guidance in a manner few others could. She reached out to him again and touched his subconscious to begin a very different kind of discourse through raw instinct and emotion. She shared with his hidden self some of her knowledge by way of concepts and impressions, the almost primordial essence of his inner self already starting to put her teaching to use. It would do little for his waking mind, but it would ensure all he bore within never became too much, should his emotions rise too strong from deeply felt experiences. Luna would need to see him in the flesh to do more.

Turning more of her focus back to their conversation, Tobias was in the middle of a rather amusing retelling of one of his visits with the foals at the Ponyville schoolhouse and the foals’ reaction to a rhyming story from his former home, drawing a soft laugh from her.

He went on about how just after the story, a known pair of local bullies tried to start harassing some classmates. Tobias had watched for a short time to understand enough, then intervened and with careful words, left them exposed for their misbehavior by their own actions. Then as the former victims started to tease, he reminded them it was no better. While not friends at the end of the exchange, the parties had parted without further ill feelings. She understood that much more of why Twilight Sparkle had praised his skill with little ones in one of her letters.

Luna was surprised to feel a longing from him to spend time with the young ones more often, but felt like he should stay away. Perhaps when he was truly free again, she could suggest he do it more often to help himself heal.

As the dawn at last got underway, his dream began to waver as he made the first signs of waking up, bringing his stories to an abrupt stop. She had enjoyed speaking with him enough that Luna felt a little disappointed that their time was up.

“It seems you are beginning to wake, Tobias. I have found my time in your dream most enjoyable. Before I depart, I must inform you that you will not be alone when you arise. Two of my guards are going to stay beside you until I can meet with you face to face when I come to Ponyville in a few hours. I learned much about what brought you to our world and felt it prudent to ensure your protection as a precaution, though I must consult with my sister before I say more,” Luna said as she hugged him with her wing before releasing him to stand, both of them now facing each other. A short signal to her guards alerted them she was soon departing the dream and they would be ready.

Tobias gave her a small bow and a smile, so different from the state he had been in earlier, “Thank you for your help, Princess Luna. I will listen to anything your guards tell me. You know, I was actually supposed to meet with Twilight and the girls this afternoon to tell them about me being human and appearing here in Equestria in a different body. Today’s going to be more momentous than I expected.”

Luna’s interest piqued at that, suspecting that may well have been important enough for the forced nightmares as it would draw attention. She let none of it show and gave Tobias a graceful nod and smile, “So it would seem. Would you like me to visit your dreams again from time to time? I may be able to counsel you through some of your troubles, if you care for the company.”

“I would be honored, Princess Luna,” Tobias returned, causing Luna some amusement at the delight that crossed his face. Most of her subjects had gotten over her past, but such open acceptance was still refreshing.

“Stay safe, Tobias. I will meet with you soon,” Luna said as the dream faded away.

…

As more dreams came to a close, Luna turned her attention back to the throne room and signaled her sister. Enough importance placed to impart she should come to talk without delay, but not declaring an emergency. Luna sipped a morning cup of tea a servant had left as she waited for Celestia.

Within a few minutes, her sister arrived from a side door and made a hurried trot to join her.

“What is the trouble, Luna? You only rarely find need to call upon me with urgency,” Celestia asked.

“It will be best if I share the knowledge directly, sister. One of our subjects has been put through much hardship and may be in imminent danger by a being of power I have yet to learn of,” Luna replied as she lit her horn and tilted her head forward, Celestia touching her own horn to her sister’s as the vast collection of relevant knowledge, impressions and images were conveyed. A small gasp escaping as Celestia began to understand what had transpired over several seconds.

When all the knowledge of Tobias had been shared, Celestia gave a sad shake of her head, “Mortals never cease to find new ways to impress me with what they can endure. I remember that mare, and the aftermath from when the rescue team found what little remained aside from her head and bones. She was foalnapped, and were it not for the sound of fighting, we might have never found out what happened.

“To think it was the same Tobias Maxwell that now lives in Ponyville,” Celestia continued, “The rescue team reported discovering a dying gryphon by the same name at the campsite that swore he made sure the five monsters that ate her never got to see another dawn. They said he wept until he passed away, but it wasn’t until mages studied the course of events that led to her death that we learned how terrible it had been, or what that gryphon had meant. It happened 112 years ago.”

“Tia, I believe it best we call upon Discord for counsel in this. You now know what I detected,” Luna said.

Celestia wore a frown only her sister would recognize the full meaning of, though the flickering tongues of flame at the edges of her mane and tail would not be missed, her voice a deceptive softness that belied the depth of her fury, “Do whatever you feel necessary to see this through, Luna. You have my full support in whatever you find fitting. Engage in battle if you must. He became ours when he joined our ponies. Put his ordeal to an end and set him free.”

Luna nodded and cast another signaling spell.

Discord appeared in the air not far away, bouncing on the underside of a large mass of blue jello the size of a wagon that hovered in the air, “Oh good morning ladies! Goodness, we’re getting an early start today! What did I do this time, hmm?”

Luna ignored his antics and gave him a calm look, “Discord, something unusual has taken place and I require your counsel in hopes of protecting one of my subjects. There is chaos magic involved that is not your own and I wish to ensure there is not a hidden threat at play.”

Discord’s impromptu trampoline vanished with him as he reappeared before the Princesses wearing a rare serious look, “Considering I’ve reformed and wouldn’t have put somepony in danger, that’s not something I want to hear. Especially if there is a chaos being involved. I banned the majority of the others from playing on my turf, with promised consequences for defying me.”

“While under normal circumstances I would never put up with doing this with you, touch my horn and learn what I have gathered. No tricks, knave,” Luna told him as her horn lit.

Discord started to grin, then frowned when she demanded him to play nice. He huffed and touched an eagle talon to her horn, drawing it back a moment later as a glowing strand of magic spaghetti followed. Once it separated from her horn, he twirled it around a talon and slurped it into his mouth, taking in the same knowledge Celestia had already learned.

He then let out a dark chuckle as he learned, grinning with clear malicious delight, clapping his paw and talon hands before rubbing them together, “Oh my, this is going to be such fun, ladies! I won’t know who did it until I take a close look at our sad little friend for myself, but I can tell you I’m going to be quite interested in having some words with the responsible party. There’s enough power involved to almost guarantee someone has been misbehaving. This is out of your hooves, my dear Princesses. I’ll handle the one responsible for this.”

“You seem more engaged and serious about this than I would have expected, Discord,” Celestia said as she raised a brow.

“Oh Tia, you have no idea just how territorial I can get with my things. Even if I’ve found having friends surprisingly pleasant and have agreed to play nice with you two and your little ponies, I still claim this world among other delighters of chaos,” Discord said with a smug, sleepy grin that did nothing to hide the predatory glee on his face, “To think this was right under my lovely nose for so long! Mister Maxwell was amusing enough to watch at first, what with all his making ponies chase him down the street and not knowing how to give up, but lately I only bother to look in on him when I need a dose of someone doing a steady routine. He’s been terribly angsty and seems to enjoy boring me. Seems I should have looked closer. I think there’s a few things I’ll need to share with you, Lulu.”

Luna frowned in turn as her wings flexed and resettled, disliking the things Discord had added, but they would have to talk to him later, “Very well. On our way to Ponyville, we can discuss the manner in which we shall proceed.”

Randomness Of Fate

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Twilight was waiting on the steps with her friends, all of them looking worried as Luna’s sky chariot landed and the Princess of the Night wasted no time heading towards them with a dark look. The chariot took to the sky again after a moment.

As she ascended the steps, Twilight spoke up, “We’re all here, Luna. What’s going on? All your letter said was to gather the Elements together for an emergency while you were on your way from Canterlot. Is there about to be an attack? Another sealed evil that got free?”

Luna shook her head as she looked at the young Princess, “Nay, Twilight Sparkle. It is not an impending attack, but the danger of one that concerns me. Let us speak within the castle walls and I will tell you what gave me reason to assign two of my umbramancers to guard your friend, Mister Tobias Maxwell.”

Six ponies and one small dragon looked at Luna with widened eyes before multiple voices started trying to ask worried questions at the same time. A raised hoof from Luna silenced the incomprehensible flurry and she looked at Twilight.

Twilight frowned, taking advantage of the pause before Luna could say anything further, “You assigned elite guards to protect Tobias?! What happened? Has somepony tried to hurt him?! Maybe we shou--!”

A dark blue wingtip touched Twilight’s lips, silencing her before Luna spoke again, “Calm thyself. At present, he does not appear to be in immediate danger, as my guards now with him have not raised any alarm. It will be best if we speak inside while we await my guards to bring him here, now that I have arrived. I wish to keep this matter more secret, for I know not if the responsible party could be listening as yet.”

Twilight grimaced, wanting to ask a thousand questions as she saw Luna’s horn glow for a brief moment and detected a signal spell, but nodded before glancing at her friends, “Alright. We’ll talk inside. Let’s go, girls. Our throne room will probably be best. If we need to put up spell protections, they’ll be strongest there.”

The group made their way along crystalline hallways, still gleaming as bright as they day they had formed. Occasional decorations were dotted here and there from the past two years of adventures since the castle had appeared after Tirek’s defeat. Twilight still only had minimal staff working at her castle, preferring to do much of her own housekeeping when her schedule allowed. Most of her duties had remained light, when she was not off with her friends on another friendship mission or tackling a threat to Equestria.

Six ponies and one dragon moved to their crystal thrones that surrounded the table covered in an illusory map of Equestria as Luna looked on. Once they had all seated themselves, Twilight willed the table to retract into the floor, allowing Luna to step into the now open space. Both Twilight and Luna cast a few spells to ensure security as a precaution.

Luna faced Twilight after they finished, twitching her wings a bit, “I will waste no time. Last night, I found Mister Maxwell in a nightmare most severe and Dream-locked. To make matters worse, it appears it was intentionally induced. I suspect the preceding four nights he also was Dream-locked, but somehow managed to free himself. Possibly by sheer force of will.

“It was not until the strength of his nightmare last night that I was able to catch his dream after a year and a half of hunting. He had been shrouded from me during that time and I had not previously been able to reach him,” Luna saw Twilight’s look of growing alarm, well versed in dream studies as she was, “An as yet unknown being, bearing as yet unidentified strong magic with hallmarks of chaotic energies, has been playing with him in a manner most severe.”

Twilight and her friends stared in disbelief at Luna. There was a lot of things they had been expecting, but they were at a loss on how to react as she continued.

“I understand Mister Maxwell was to meet with you today and tell you a secret he has been withholding for some time now. Under other circumstances, I would prefer to let him be the one to tell you of such matters. Things being as they are, I do not know if time may be limited and do not wish to tarry as he is brought here from his residence,” Luna locked eyes with Twilight, her expression serious and leaving no suggestion of humor, “It would seem he is not of our world. Nor was he originally born a diamond dog.”

A long, loud gasp was heard from Pinkie Pie, her hooves on her cheeks as she drew out maximum drama over a couple seconds. Luna waited a moment, glancing at her, and once her moment was over Pinkie resettled herself and noted, “Ok, I’m done.”

Clearing her throat, Luna continued, “For reasons I do not yet know, this unknown being has been setting him in various places, often in difficult circumstances. And I do not mean relocated, but pulled from the realm of life, forced into a new body, and placed again. He has been used as naught but a plaything to a powerful being right under our very noses.

“While I surpass this unknown being in power and shall not allow them to take Mister Maxwell again, I know not what they are capable of just yet. Much to my surprise, Discord is also involved and quite interested in finding out the responsible party, though for his own reasons. He shall join us at some point when your friend arrives. He did not tell me where he was going when he departed halfway to Ponyville.”

Luna looked around at the Element Bearers, noting that all of them had taken her words as truth. Rainbow Dash and Applejack both looked angered, while Rarity and Fluttershy appeared worried. Pinkie Pie appeared to have a faint twitch in one eye and an odd-looking neutral expression. Twilight Sparkle had a similar look to the one Luna had seen on her sister earlier, though with less flickering flame present.

“Luna, what do we need to do to best help him?” Twilight said in a low, even tone, giving Luna a moment of intrigue as she noticed how much the younger alicorn had learned in controlling her emotions. In time, she suspected Celestia would have competition for having the best poker face.

“Discord shared with me a few things you and your friends will need to do as we go about setting your friend free. The most important of which is you must not leave his side or allow him to leave yours. Mister Maxwell is potentially under a form of compulsion to obey and serve any being of sufficient power, based upon what Discord has told me and what I observed in your friend’s dream, though neither of us shall be certain of specific effects until we can see him face to face,” Luna replied, pausing a moment before she continued.

“When we make contact with the being responsible, if he is under compulsion as we suspect, you must restrain Mister Maxwell. Most of this matter will be handled by Discord and myself, but there are strange rules in play. Even more unusual is that Discord is abiding by them, despite being unclear on the specifics of why. All you must focus upon is not allowing your friend to stand and escape you if he tries. If you allow Mister Maxwell away from you, it is unlikely we will ever see him again.”

Rainbow Dash growled, “Why the hay can’t we just beat up whoever’s been messing with Tobias? If you’re stronger, can’t we just pound them until they know not to mess with our friends?”

Luna turned an understanding look on Rainbow Dash, “While I confess to having some similar sentiments, Discord warned me that doing so will not guarantee this will end for Mister Maxwell. He said that so long as we play along in the manner he has asked, he will ensure Mister Maxwell is covered under a ban he has placed on our world against other chaos beings. Strange as it may sound, this would put Mister Maxwell under Discord’s personal protection.”

Pinkie let out a faint grumble under her breath about some institute being a bunch of meanies again, which Luna dismissed with a flick of an ear as another of the random mare’s oddities. Luna had no intention of telling them all of Discord’s suspicions and guesses. What little she knew of some of those beings he mentioned she desired to know nothing further, and for them to remain as far from their world as they had been for countless ages. Strong as she and her sister were, some were powerful enough to cause them no end of grave trouble before they would be able to drive them off again. Enough trouble that Luna was thankful Discord was taking personal interest in the matter and as somewhat direct as he was in dealing with it himself. If it came down to an actual battle at such a level, he would be an invaluable ally. Only the three of them were capable of going between dimensions as would be necessary.

Her horn glimmered for a moment as she checked on her guards as they escorted their charge to Twilight’s castle. They signaled back to her that no threats appeared present and they were already approaching the castle steps.

“It appears my guards are just now reaching the castle with Mister Maxwell. Beyond restraining him if necessary, you need only be present for him. As you learn more about what he has endured, I am sure you will understand just how much he will need your friendship and support when we are done. Also, please remember not to use magic to restrain him, as that will not be permitted. Let us ensure Mister Maxwell need never worry about this ever again from this day forward,” Luna said as she held her head high, looking at each of the Elements in turn.

Not long after, the doors to the throne room of the Elements opened to a pair of armored Lunar unicorns on either side of Tobias, stoic and serious. Tobias was dressed in simple black slacks and brown button up shirt, his satchel over his shoulder with the strap across his chest. For his part, he looked tense and uncertain, but relief crossed his face when he saw Princess Luna and his friends waiting for him.

Fluttershy didn’t even blink before a few flaps of her wings carried her over to him and she began checking him over, as if looking for hidden injuries, “Oh dear, oh dear, are you alright, Tobias? Princess Luna told us you’ve been going through something terrible. We’re going to make sure those mystery meanies never get to take you again. Don’t you worry about a thing, Tobias. We’re not going to let anything happen to you from now on.”

Tobias blinked as she started hovering over him, her closeness forcing him to stop as she began poking him here and there, even smooshing his cheeks as she tried so hard to be comforting. While he thought it was endearing, it was also a little nerve wracking because he didn’t know much of what was going on, gentle hand paws catching her yellow hooves and trying to get her to ease up, “Fluttershy, calm down. I don’t know what’s happening. All I know is Princess Luna helped me with a nightmare and told me she sent some guards to protect me until we could meet face to face. What meanies? What’s going on?”

“Miss Fluttershy, please calm yourself. If this is to go well, I must be careful and gradual in what I reveal to Mister Maxwell, so that he may understand without suffering undue distress. It is going to be difficult enough for him already,” Luna said in a calm, yet stern tone.

Despite Luna chastising her, Fluttershy continued to hover closely over Tobias. After a moment, she did move around so he was free to walk again. When he was a respectful distance from Luna, he bent over in a bow and waited for her to respond, “I’m here as asked, Princess Luna.”

Luna nodded to him and beckoned him to rise, then glanced at her umbramancers, “Rolling Shadow. Star Cloak. Did you experience any sign of the hidden transgressor?”

The guard on Tobias’ left spoke up, “Mistress, there were some probes when our charge awoke, but by every indication the one doing the probing retreated after a few minutes. Our best estimate is upon finding no immediate openings they chose to remain hidden rather than attempt anything aggressive.”

Luna frowned, but nodded, “Very well. Thank you for watching over Mister Maxwell. I will handle the matter from here. Please stand guard by the door of this room until I have ensured this matter is settled. After the critical time has passed, you shall be released to your leisure for the remainder of the day and free to return to Canterlot at your own discretion. I am unsure when I shall be ready to depart and do not have need for you to remain longer. My chariot guards shall suffice as representative presence.”

Both guards saluted and stepped back out of the throne room of the Elements, closing the door behind themselves.

Turning to Tobias again, Luna saw his yellow pegasus attachment now on her hooves at his side, “I am going to scan you with my magic, Mister Maxwell. After that, we can work on ensuring this matter may be left as no more than an unpleasant memory to move on from.”

Tobias watched as Luna’s horn lit up with her blue aura as she eyed him. A similar aura covered his form as the girls looked on.

Luna blinked as she finished her scan and her horn dimmed again. Tilting her head a bit to one side, she made a face before speaking, “It appears our suspicions are confirmed. Mister Maxwell, I fear you have a strong form of compulsion upon you. Due to the nature of it, and the situation you are in, I cannot immediately dispel it.”

“I don’t understand, Princess Luna. Compulsion? Does that mean I’m forced to obey something? Can you tell me what’s going on?” Tobias replied, looking confused and nervous.

“It means exactly what you suspect. To properly explain the situation you are in, we require time. For now, I feel it best to ensure your safety first and explain after. I have already informed the Elements that you are not of our world, not originally born a diamond dog, and that you were taken from your former life against your will. I ask that you give me your trust right now and let me reveal things to you a little at a time, so you may deal with the full weight of your situation at a pace you can absorb it and not be overwhelmed. Over time, I will tell you everything, but for now you carry a great burden in your mind. I do not wish to overwhelm you by thrusting too much upon you all at once. May I ask you give me your trust for now?” Luna inquired with a steady look.

Frowning, Tobias looked even more uncertain, but nodded after a moment.

Luna waved a blue wing towards Fluttershy’s crystal throne, “As I suspect Miss Fluttershy is not going to depart your side for the time being, if both of you could please have a seat, I will explain what I can until Discord arrives.”

Nosing his arm to draw his attention, Fluttershy nudged Tobias with a wing towards her throne, “Please come sit with me, Tobias. I’ll be right here with you the whole time.”

Tobias just allowed himself to be led along, setting his satchel against the base of the throne and taking a seat on the floor right in front of the crystal throne, which caused Fluttershy to frown.

He spoke up before she could argue, “Fluttershy, it’s not my seat. This is strange enough for me right now. Please let me just sit on the floor and not have to debate whether or not to take your seat.”

Her look softened and she nodded, settling herself on her haunches at his side, a hoof touching his shoulder, “Alright, if that’s what you need right now. I’m going to sit next to you and be right here the whole time.”

He gave her a somewhat tense smile, wondering what exactly had brought Luna down to Ponyville to meet with him personally after meeting him in a nightmare and telling him she was assigning guards to him for protection. Today was supposed to be relieving, and about opening up to his friends, not whatever it had been turning into. Looking around at those same friends now, he saw worry in their expressions.

Before any further discussion could take place, there was a sound like ripping paper as a set of gold-colored talons tore a glowing line in the air. Once it was a few feet long, the talons were joined by a tawny lion’s paw as they pushed the line open like the door on an elevator, complete with a ding, and Discord slipped into the room. A snap of his talons made the arbitrary doorway vanish once he was clear.

Discord turned to look at Tobias, a curious brow raising as he did, “You know that’s hardly the reaction I go for when I make an entrance. Or are you always that pale, puppy boy?”

Fluttershy was quick to set her wing around Tobias’ back and pulling him closer as he began shaking. All color had drained from his face as he sat in obvious terror, even his ears were flat against his head. He did not even blink as he kept his gaze locked on Discord. His only response to Fluttershy’s actions were leaning closer.

Luna scowled, placing herself between Tobias and Discord, she had expected this and placed a bit of magic into her speech, “Tobias, listen to me. You are safe here. While he may at times be a most annoying miscreant, Discord does not wish you harm. Take a few breaths and calm yourself. None of us shall allow you to be harmed in this. You are safe here.”

When Luna had interrupted his line of sight, Tobias blinked as he tried to do as he was told. Leaning further against Fluttershy and taking some steadying breaths, he was able to calm back down a fair bit. The hidden calming spell from Luna was helping him overcome something deep within.

His color returned, though he still trembled as he looked up at Luna, “Why d-did I get so terrified all of a sudden? I-I have never seen him myself, but I know enough about Discord to know he’s not going to hurt me.”

Luna gave him a gentle look, “I fear it is some of what lay buried within you, Mister Maxwell. Beings of power with a chaotic nature appear as extreme dangers to you that you must escape from. Discord is one of the most powerful chaos beings in existence, so your reaction is not unexpected. And you are right. He is not going to do you any harm. I doubt he would even intentionally offend you right now, if for no other reason than it would upset Miss Fluttershy, whose opinion he treasures greatly. Are you alright now?”

Tobias swallowed and took another breath before sitting up straight again, nodding, “I think so.”

“Very well. Unfortunately, I must ask you to allow him to look you over. Discord needs to see what has happened to you for himself in order for us to get you through this. If it helps, close your eyes and focus on Miss Fluttershy. I will not permit you to be harmed this day,” Luna told him, holding his gaze with her own.

Tobias nodded, though he did not close his eyes. He did put a hand paw around one of Fluttershy’s hooves as he took slow, calming breaths. He saw Luna move, but felt no more than minor panic now that he was aware and forced himself to stay calm while keeping an eye on Discord.

Discord hummed to himself, moving right next to Tobias as he studied the hapless mortal. He hovered beside him for a few seconds before lightly swatting the back of Tobias’ head with his lion paw hand, causing his target to sneeze and shoot out a glowing glob that he caught in his talon hand, then floated back to the middle of the area between the crystal thrones. He kept eyeing what looked like a tiny glowing glob of gooey magic as everypony stared at him, wondering what he would say.

Then Discord’s eyes widened in disbelief, “I don’t believe this! That newbie?! Tch, I am going to have a few words for him in a bit,” he turned his eyes to Tobias, “I don’t know what you did to get his attention in the first place, but I suppose I can tell you now that after we’re done here, you won’t be bothered by anyone of the chaotic variety again.”

Rainbow Dash looked confused, “What newbies? Are you part of a club or something?”

With a smile, Discord let the glob of gooey magic vanish in a poof and snapped his talons, causing a business card to appear in front of all those present in the room, “Oh just a little group I put together ages ago.”

Twilight took the card in hoof and looked at it, then looked at Discord with a flat expression, “You founded an organization for chaos beings and trickster gods called the Dimensional Institute of Chaos, Kleptomania, and Subversion? Messing with mortals for fun and profit? …seriously?”

His smile bigger, Discord chuckled as he made the cards start dancing cabaret in the air as they circled him, complete with brightly colored tiny paper skirts and kazoo music, “Well it wouldn’t make sense for me to found a rock appreciation club, now would it?”

Pinkie grinned, “Well that wouldn’t work! My sister Maud already made one!”

Luna broke in before things could escalate and worsen her growing exasperation, “Must I remind you we are here for reasons other than to discuss such nonsense… Discord, if you would please continue with the reason we are here?”

“I would have hoped you’d be less of a stick in the mud now that I know who did it. Not even half as problematic as I was expecting. Although I have to admit, this whole thing with hapless puppy boy here doesn’t seem to fit his style. Too extreme. I’ll ask him in a minute,” Discord replied, then directed his eyes to each of the girls other than Fluttershy, meaning there were five pairs of disembodied floating eyes hovering before each of the girls, “May as well get started. All of you should crowd around your friend. Like Luna said, don’t let him get away from you. I already agreed to make sure this is a permanent fix if you all play along, since I don’t like the rest playing in my neck of the woods. And remember, no using magic on him now.”

Looking a bit confused, Pinkie’s smirk aside, the girls and dragon all crowded around Tobias, giving him a pat on the back or catching his eye with a supportive smile. Luna stood a little off to the side, a stoic expression on her face that hid her mixed feelings over what Discord was about to do.

Once they were settled, Discord clapped his paws together with a broad smile, “Fantastic! Time to get this show on the toad!” A toad croaked a few times as it hopped from behind one crystal throne and behind another, “Now let me see here…”

Discord ran his talon hand through the air, creating another glowing doorway beside him on the other side of the circle of thrones, opening it and thrusting his talon hand through. He seemed to dig around for a few moments before grinning and pulling his arm back out.

What came with him was a large vibrantly colored brown and red spider held by the abdomen with legs drooping. It’s body looked to be over a foot in length before including the legs and seemed very unhappy to be there as it stared at Discord like a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar.

After being put on the floor, the spider grumbled as he looked at Discord, “Aw crap.”

The gathered ponies stared in confusion. Fluttershy had a few spider friends, and she was tempted to go comfort the new arrival but not wanting to leave Tobias’ side. Both she and Twilight cast a glance at Tobias’ face, unnerved upon seeing he had gone completely blank. While Fluttershy was just confused, his utter lack of reaction set off a number of alarm bells in Twilight’s mind.

Folding his arms, Discord scowled down at the new arrival, “Going to tell me why you decided to risk making me upset, Iktomi? You haven’t even been a member for that many centuries yet.”

This seemed to make the spider named Iktomi bristle, “You know I don’t do this crap, Discord! Did you even look very hard at Toy? I was just making use of Toy on Earth for playing tricks and teaching indirect lessons to other humans until Nyarlathotep caught wind of me successfully getting a permitted tool and decided he could do more entertaining things with Toy. Mica and I only just got that jerk to play with something else and I’ve been trying to undo some of the mess he made of Toy so I can take him back to Earth.”

Iktomi grumbled, “Besides that, you know how bored we’ve been getting over there. Was much more fun before The Others demanded we all step back and let humans go mostly untouched for a couple millennia. I’d been hoping to get Toy back in order enough to avoid this.”

Discord gave an exasperated sigh and scrubbed his face, “Seems I’ll have to have a few words with Yoggy about controlling his boys again… You know I’m still not happy with you, Iktomi. Since when did anyone in our group avoid tattling?”

“Look, I’ll just take Toy and be done with this. Gimme Gimme rules or the Make Me set?” Iktomi grumbled.

Discord grinned as he stood up straighter and folded his arms again, “You have to use No Happy Touchy.”

Iktomi gave him a scowl but didn’t argue, instead turning to Tobias and the six mares and one dragon crowded around him, growling as he spoke, “Let’s get going, Toy. I guess I just have to fix you in The Between first. Stand up and come here.”

The girls were shocked as Tobias slowly started to rise. Fluttershy and Applejack were the first to pull him back down.

“Tobias, why the hay are ya listenin’ ta that varmint?!” Applejack said with alarm as she felt her friend starting to put a little strength into his movement and despite both her and Fluttershy holding on, he began to rise again.

Iktomi growled again, stamping his first pair of legs, “I said get up, Toy. Come here so we can leave.”

Rarity, Spike, Pinkie and Rainbow Dash added themselves to the effort and tried to hold him down, pushing Tobias back down again even as he made no visible reaction to their efforts.

“Talk to us, darling. I know you want nothing to do with this ruffian!” Rarity said, her worry escalating with her elevation.

“Fight it, Tobias! What the hay are you listening to him for?!” Rainbow Dash added, garnering no reaction as she tried to pull him down even as Tobias continued to rise.

Giving a snarl, Iktomi was louder, “Toy, get up and come here!”

Twilight swallowed as she kept running mental estimates and calculations. Even as she moved in front of Tobias, he continued to rise. She realized her own body weight wasn’t going to be enough to hold him down against his muscle mass. Her eyes misted as she tried to think how to counter this somehow. His own passion for exercise was working against him.

If Twilight could use her magic she could stop him with ease, but that was not allowed. She had a moment to wonder if Discord would actually let Tobias be taken if they failed, though she knew Luna wouldn’t. Yet even if they used magic to spare him, Tobias would be at risk of being stolen at any time. How long could they truly keep up a vigil before they slipped at the wrong time and he was taken away?

“Get over here, Toy!” Iktomi called again.

Just as she watched Tobias manage to stand despite the weight of her friends trying to restrain him, she thought about his compulsion. Luna said he was compelled to obey beings of power, but did not say a specific being.

For a brief moment, Twilight closed her eyes and hoped her only idea worked. And if not, she’d be ready to fight for her friend without missing a beat.

It was rare they ever needed it, and apart from occasional tense moments, they had only put it to use once since defeating Tirek. When the ancient necromancer Grogar had managed to return.

Now she called on that same power, in hopes it made her register with Tobias’ compulsion. A momentary bubble of energy passing over her as she let her inner power come to the fore as a rainbow of colors spread across her hooves, feathers, mane and tail. The gift of power from the Tree of Harmony was their last resort at times, and now she called on it again.

Tobias had managed one short step when she opened her eyes, standing in his path as she looked up at his blank expression and unseeing eyes, saying a single word to him that carried every bit of her feelings in the moment, both a command and a heartfelt plea, and how she felt about the thought of losing him like this…

“Stop.”

A tense few moments passed and Twilight noticed Tobias had relaxed into a standing position only.

Iktomi made a sharp growl, “I said get over here, Toy!”

They all tensed as Tobias made a slow move forward, but before he could do anything, Twilight spoke again, “Tobias, stop. Sit down.”

Twilight almost cheered as Tobias began to sit down, the tension waning considerably as the rest of them helped him back to the floor. They stayed tight around him, but their hold made a slight transition to more of a group hug than just clinging to him for dear life.

Even as Iktomi tried again and Tobias tensed, Twilight countered further as she struggled to keep her voice from shaking with relief, “Tobias, stay. You will listen only to me. I want you to stay where you are and not move. Close your eyes and hug your friends. W-we want you to stay.”

As Tobias did as she commanded him and another attempt by Iktomi had no effect, Discord started to chuckle, looking down at Iktomi, “Well I think that’s settled. You lose, noob.”

Turning a sour look to Discord, Iktomi harrumphed, “Ugh… Fine… May as well tell me what my punishment is now.”

With another chuckle, glancing at the girls squeezing Tobias before eyeing Iktomi again, “I think I’ll make you sit between Cthulu and Slaanesh at the next several meetings.”

That made Iktomi blink and his eyes widen with alarm, waving his front pair of legs frantically as he took a step back, “What?! You know what those two are like! That’s like getting caught in the middle of a damned live action yaoi tentacle hentai! And you know how they get about shapeshifters! Can’t you pick something else?!”

Discord just gave a haughty sniff, “You should have tattled then. It’s not my fault you weren’t acting appropriately. Still, you’re lucky I thought this was hilarious or I’d have made it more than just the meetings. Don’t feel too bad. Mica knew and didn’t say anything either, so he’s gonna have to pay up too. Off you go, lanky legs!”

With a casual flick of a hand, Discord sent Inktomi sailing through the still open dimensional doorway with a yelp, eight legs flailing, the doorway vanishing a moment later. The game he wanted was over now, knowing exactly what he was doing the whole time and just wanting to have some fun because he could.

Turning back to the painfully precious pony pile prodigiously pressing their pathetic puppy partner poignantly, Discord sighed to himself. All things considered, even if he’d never admit it out loud, he was glad he could help his friends help one of their other friends. Perhaps in the future, he could talk with Tobias a little, see if there really was more to the unlucky traveller than the daily routine he’d kept to so rigidly in an effort to hide himself. Mortals had surprised him before, after all, and he was genuinely happy to call the girls and the royal sisters his friends.

A mare named Screwball too, though he didn’t tell anyone about their adventures. He once again found himself wondering why her smile made him so much happier than anyone else’s. Or why that one doctor of hers that knew of the visits once commented to him that she was always calmer afterward. Some things never seemed to make sense, but such was chaos, even with his mastery of it.

Already knowing about the drawing habit from looking over his shoulder while invisible, a frequent habit he did with almost everypony that gave him some level of entertainment, Discord mused over maybe setting up fun scenes for Tobias to draw could be a fun idea later. Photos of chaos always absorbed a little of what they captured, leading said photos to morph over time. Drawings were the only way to capture great chaos moments in a way that could stay put. While he did enjoy his self-transforming decorations in his house, he had to have drawings of him with his friends, as even his own presence distorted photos. It was one of the few things about chaos he didn’t like, and yet couldn’t prevent.

Luna turned her eyes to Discord with a frown, needing him to confirm with finality, “Is it at last ended for him?”

Hovering closer, Discord pulled off his lips with one hand, holding them close to her and whispered in Luna’s ear so the others wouldn’t hear as they enjoyed their victory, “Yes. I agreed no tricks about it and you let me have my fun. Short of one of them outright defying me and incurring my actual wrath, they will never touch him again. Also, his enchantment is rather straightforward, despite the chaotic tangles. You won’t have to worry about any hidden tricks when you lift most of them away, other than what’s holding his mind together…”

Pausing a moment, genuine emotion came into his voice, “…will my guilt from helping Tirek ever go away, Lulu?”

She gave him a sad smile of understanding, her own voice low, “No more than my own will, for allowing jealousy to consume me as it did. All we can do is move forward, and ensure we continue to do better. You have done much good today, even if your love of such games is distasteful to me. You have learned much since then. That is why I began to and continue to call you my friend in the time since. Care to help me bring some strange dreams to a few ponies in need of them tonight to celebrate a job well done?”

Discord put his lips back on and smirked, relishing the feeling he had in the moment and seeing Luna giving him that little smirk, “I’d like that. I know I should avoid him for at least a few months to avoid slowing his recovery, so I’ll go let Tia know how it went. I’ll see you at the castle later.”

She gave him a faint nudge of her wing before he snapped his talons and vanished.

Luna approached the ongoing pony pile that was starting to relax, her horn glowing for a moment as she dismissed her umbramancers outside the door and speaking when she stopped beside the pile around Tobias, “While the threat of Mister Maxwell being taken has now passed, I must still attend the enchantments placed upon him.”

Giving one more squeeze to Tobias, they all backed off of him but stayed close, wearing relieved smiles. For his part, Tobias was still tense, but appeared relieved as well.

“Mister Maxwell, I am afraid I can only remove most of what has been cast upon you at this time. As we move forward and you are able to heal further, I will be able to remove more. The compulsion and the magically induced fears shall be lifted for now. I shall need to speak to you privately on a few things before I depart, but that can wait for the moment. Now be still…,” Luna said in a gentle voice, her horn starting to glow.

It did not take long for Luna to peel off layer upon layer of chaotic energies wrapped around his mind. Were it not for the need to leave certain things in place so the release did not shock his sanity, it would have been only a few seconds of effort. There was little she could do about healing his mind from the strain, knowing it was something he would have to work on for himself.

Once her task was done and her horn ceased to channel magic, she gave him a warm smile, “I can do no more for you right now. You may not notice much difference at this time, but you shall no longer lose your will when a being of power gives you a command. There is still much to tell you, and a question I must ask you later, but for now I do believe you have some things to discuss with your friends…?”

Tobias gave her a grateful look and a small nod of respect from his sitting position, “Thank you, Princess Luna,” he said before reaching for the satchel not far away as he started to look both happier and mournful at the same time, “Uh, girls, I… I know I should have come to you with this a long time ago. Like Princess Luna told you, I wasn’t born a Diamond Dog and I’m not from this place, this world. I was born as something called a human. On a world called Earth. You don’t have anything like us here…well, I suppose I don’t quite count as one myself anymore either. I can’t show you any photos, obviously, but I can show you something kind of close…”

Opening his satchel, Tobias pulled out the stack of drawings of his family and memories of Earth. He started passing the drawings around, “I’ve been keeping it a secret, but I know how to draw pretty well. These are all drawings of stuff I wanted to remember from Earth. Friends and family, places I remember, memories I wanted to preserve…”

Tobias felt himself relax as his friends looked at his most treasured possessions with care and wonder. He had a moment of worry they still might have not believed him, but he didn’t see any signs of that now.

Watching from closeby, Luna just kept smiling as she watched Tobias explain drawing after drawing to his friends. Knowing the things she had seen in his mind she was not taken by surprise as the Element Bearers were, though she still found herself fascinated by the imagery he had created of his former world. She had to clench her jaw to restrain her coo when his explanation of his once broken body caused Fluttershy to give him a teary-eyed hug. Luna refused to acknowledge any signs of misting in her own eyes, simply needing some extra blinks against dust in the room.

After he had shown them all the images of his life on Earth and his own self-portraits, he lifted another stack of drawings from his satchel as Twilight neatly stacked the previous sets beside his satchel to put away when ready, Tobias’ voice growing a bit bashful as his cheeks gained some extra color, “The rest of the drawings I’ve done are about my time since I ended up in Equestria, moments I wanted to always remember and ponies that left an impression on me. These first ones are the first day I met each of you. I, uh, hope you girls like the way I drew you…”

He passed each of them their respective drawings, feeling more nervous as he watched their reactions.

“Huh,” Rainbow Dash commented with a smirk, looking at an image of herself wearing a cocky smirk and a challenge in her eyes, “You made me look pretty cool.”

“Ah look like a regular show pony, standing among the apple trees like this, sugarcube,” Applejack added with a pleased look.

“Heehee! I remember making that particular ‘new friend’ gasp I made when I found you walking down the street!” Pinkie wore a wide grin.

“Tobias, darling, you are quite talented at life drawing. I could not be certain before, not knowing what such things on your Earth look like for myself, but I can tell quite easily now. You made me look quite magnifique, even if it was the moment I screamed upon first seeing you,” Rarity commented as she gave him a sly little smile.

Rubbing the back of his neck, Tobias blushed a little brighter with a sheepish look.

Fluttershy hummed to herself, kind of bemused that Tobias’ first memory of her was her giving him The Stare when she was dragging him to her cottage upon finding him injured on the path near her cottage. She didn’t know how he did it, but he gave her such a look of authority and yet still full of gentleness somehow. Blushing a little herself, her eyes danced as she said a thank you with her eyes upon meeting his, not quite trusting herself to speak with how flattered it made her feel to see herself presented in such a way.

“Tobias…,” Twilight began, looking at the drawing from when Tobias had asked her where the local library was, the delighted expression and smile she’d worn that appeared to light up the world, her eyes slowly filling with happy tears, “You…you made me look so beautiful in this…”

“I…I only drew what I saw, Twilight,” he replied, his blush quite strong now, “It-it’s got some mistakes that I made. S-some of the other drawings I’ve done of you came out better…”

Twilight put a hoof over her mouth for a moment, sniffled once, then had to move straight in to hug him tight around the neck as she nuzzled his cheek, her voice a little choked, “I think it’s perfect…”

More drawings and explanations went around as Tobias showed them many of the memories he had captured. Fluttershy had her own teary hug and nuzzle upon seeing one of her outside her cottage, smiling towards the viewer, from the first time Tobias had come to repair something at her cottage. Rarity laughed at the one marking the first time she’d yelled at a rich snob thinking Tobias was for sale at a fashion show, remembering the day and still feeling pleased with herself. Rainbow Dash gave Tobias a devious grin and joked there would be extra payback next time, having seen the image of herself with an astonished look from the one time Tobias had managed to beat her in a sparring match. Spike thought the one of him belching fire made him look pretty impressive.

Eventually the drawings were all seen and explained, leading Luna to break in as they all decided to head to the park for a picnic lunch, which Luna had to decline joining, “As I still need to speak privately with Mister Maxwell, please go on ahead and I will send him along to join you when we are finished speaking.”

Some quick hugs went around and the girls departed with only a few words, since they would see Tobias again in a short while.

Once they were alone in the throne room of the Elements, Luna turned her eyes to Tobias with a contemplative look, “Mister Maxwell, I desired to speak with you privately as there are a few more things you should know about yourself. I felt it would be best to let you decide what to share in your own time, rather than inform you of them with the Element Bearers present. I can give you more thorough details another day, but for now it will not take long to explain.

“The most important part you should be aware of at this time is the fact you absorbed some of the chaos magic that was cast upon you. How much exactly, I am not yet sure as a great deal of what you have gained control of is wrapped around your missing memories. As I promised, I will tell you everything eventually, but all you have endured is vast. As you heal yourself from your long ordeal, I will slowly tell you more. For the time being, though it brings you discomfort, I would like you to meditate for an hour each day upon your last day on Earth that seems so strange to you. Most of the knowledge I need to withhold is actually contained within that place in your mind, needing only steady effort over time to recover.”

Luna gave a soft sigh as she looked at Tobias as he listened intently, uncertain how he would take the next part, “In addition to absorbing some chaos magic, the manner in which you have been manipulated also led you to absorb a great deal of life energy. Recovering your lost memories will take more than a century if you follow my advice, but that will be naught but a fraction of time to you. While I am uncertain if you are truly ageless at this point or not, you have enough essence within you that you shall live at least a few thousand years. And as you need less of your latent chaos energies to protect your mind and contain your memories, you shall eventually gain some minor magical abilities. I expect the one that will mean the most to you is the capacity to change your own form as you wish, which is something I cannot do for you outside of dreams as a direct result of that very chaos magic holding your mind together within you.”

She watched Tobias rub his left forearm as he looked down, breathing a little heavier as he absorbed her words. Luna knew it was a lot to take in, and certain parts were touching his hidden inner limits he was not quite aware of within himself just yet. Her estimate of his present strength of self was correct however, watching as Tobias took a calming breath and raised his eyes to hers again.

Tobias looked a little strained, but nodded, “I don’t completely understand all that, but thank you for telling me, Princess Luna. I will make sure I meditate daily from now on.”

With a faint smile, Luna gave him a nod, “That is good to hear. Now I have a question for you, as I mentioned earlier. In your dream, you offered yourself in service to me if I could help you. With the compulsion and other influences removed, are you still willing to extend the offer?”

He blinked once before responding earnestly, conviction in his eyes, “Without hesitation, Princess Luna. If for no other reason than because you’ve helped me so much already. Though I confess that I hope you won't ask me to move away from Ponyville to Canterlot, or anything like that.”

Luna gave a soft chuckle, her smile gaining a teasing hint, “No, nothing of the sort is necessary for what I have in mind, although there shall be visits to Canterlot on a semi-regular basis involved with you becoming my personal student.”

Tobias had to blink again and looked a little confused, “You want me to be your student?”

“I wish to take you on as my student because you have absorbed a certain amount of magic that you shall need to learn how to control over time. I can teach you how to make use of it, and later, when you have healed sufficiently, Discord can instruct you a bit as well as he is the most skilled with chaos magic itself. I will require you to come to Canterlot for a few days soon and I will explain all this shall entail. While I demand excellence, I am not demanding if you give me honest effort. We can discuss it later. Do you accept?” Luna said.

“I… This is more than I deserve, but yes. I accept, Princess Luna. I’m honored,” Tobias replied with a bit of wonder.

Luna grinned, “Huzzah! It shall be a most enjoyable apprenticeship as I instruct you. I shall send a messenger with appropriate details for you tomorrow. For now, you need not worry of it,” then she sighed, her grin fading into a small somber smile, “I also have a request if you will hear it.”

Unsure what else she could say, Tobias nodded and remained respectfully silent.

Casting her eyes to the crystal thrones of the Elements, Luna spoke in a more subdued tone borne of a long life and all that came with it, “I expect it would have happened regardless, but both I and my sister wish you to continue being close friends with the Element Bearers. It is not publically known, but the Tree of Harmony gave them more than great power when they defeated Tirek. It also made them ageless, perhaps even properly immortal, though the mysteries of their powers are an ongoing study. The Element Bearers are already fully aware of this.”

Luna turned her eyes back to Tobias, a faint shine in her eyes that spoke to being familiar with loss and acceptance, “When my sister and I first confronted the reality of our timeless lives, that all others we knew would age and die, ourselves frozen in time in a way, the anguish it brought us nearly caused us to abandon Equestria. For a time, all we wanted was isolation so we would never suffer such loss again. We felt we had only each other to rely on in the end, no matter how long a mortal being might live. Even a dragon we were friends with in those early days has long since passed into memory. Her wisdom, and acting like a sort of second mother to us for a few centuries helped. She was part of the reason we managed to make peace with an endless life.

”The Element Bearers will always have each other now, but they are much softer hearted than my sister and I were when the time came for us to face our existence. They battle as needed, but they are not tempered by war. The transition is going to be very hard on them. Even Spike will eventually grow old and meet the end of his days. A friend outside of their circle that they will not lose to time will be a boon for them they do not yet realize. And though you have no family in this world, you shall lose friends of your own in due time. I believe it will help all of you a great deal to have each other to lean upon. As much as we would like to be otherwise, my sister and I cannot be quite as close with all of you as your rulers.”

Tobias stared at her for a long moment before looking down and closing his eyes, taking time to consider what she said and what it meant before looking up again, giving her a slow respectful bow at the waist, his right arm across his middle, speaking when he straightened, “Princess Luna, I will always be their friend and help them whenever possible. I don’t quite understand all that properly yet, but I can understand the concept behind it. If for no other reason than all the times they have helped me already, I’ll be there for them.”

With a gentle smile, Luna nodded and turned towards the door, nudging Tobias to walk with her, “That is most everything I wished to speak with you on… Oh, there was one other point,” her smile then turned sly, “Several months from now, should you finish most of your healing and feel the urge to pursue romance, please know you have my encouragement. I do recall seeing particular signs of interest while visiting your dream, after all. I believe it was yellow, with a chance of lavender, yes? Perhaps both would even share you?”

She had to fight the urge to burst out laughing as Tobias froze in place, ears going back with his face ablaze as he spluttered, unable to respond for a second, “Uh… That’s… I’m not… I haven’t…”

Allowing herself a small chuckle, Luna opened the doors with her magic, “Just something to think about for later… Now come along, my student. You have a picnic with your friends to attend, and a new life to begin.”

Tobias began to sense Luna was going to tease him a lot while teaching him. After a moment to consider the thought, he decided he could learn to appreciate it. For now he got himself moving again, somehow feeling a depth of calmness he couldn’t recall having in years. She was right, about everything she just said, but they were things to consider later.

A picnic with those he treasured and a new start in life were waiting for him out there.

Not A Dog

by ScrambledCrackers

Just Another Week

The Helping Hoof Needed

Randomness Of Fate