> Suddenly, Young Again! > by RealityWarper > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Child Services? No thank you. > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Does this count as a bad trip? I can only wonder why the fuck I thought it'd be a good idea to mix DMT, Salvia, LSD, and mushrooms all together in one giant cluster-fuck of a psychedelic. Not to mention, I'd put shit load of amounts of it all at once. I literally wasn't even in the same damn world anymore. Which is exactly why I found myself looking into the reflection of what I suppose was... Myself. I say myself, but really the techni-colored small horse was really what I saw. The foal had a coat that was white as snow, it's eyes were a terrifying charcoal black. For such a cute cartoony horse it's eyes sure were chilling, cold even. They observed me from my current perch- Which was actually in a puddle, on the edge of a forest. The mane followed, it was oddly also familiar- A deep black tinged with some hints of hints of silver running through them. It was done in a rather haphazard scene hair cut. Which, looked slightly off on the body of a pony. Kinda cute. There was a horn jutting out the middle of well, my forehead. It looked sorta jagged. I was actually wondering if it was sharp enough to hurt. I gave it a small rap of my hoof. "FUCK ME SIDE-WAYS!" I pulled my hoof away, to note that it had been cut into lightly as I'd applied more force than intended. The blood lightly dropped onto the ground. This is either the best, or the worst thing to ever fucking happen to me. Though, let's try to keep that thought process out to avoid a bad trip. This was amazing, no amount of words could do this justice. It was so startling, to look into a reflection and see someone- something- else other than yourself. Though, it did look similar to me. Just... a tiny pony. I'm going to assume, until further notice that I'm currently inhabiting the body of a child. I've always wanted to be a little kid again. Wish come true, sorta? I'm experiencing it, just not in the world I would have preferred. But perhaps this world would be better, just have to see what comes out of it first. Even if it is my own world, created by my drug addled mind. Firstly, I need a plan. Perhaps locating civilization. If my mind even conjured one. Though, usually when I'm on a lifetime trip I do live in towns. This is the first I was on the outskirts of a forest. Hell, in the distance I could make out a town. Suddenly, a shadow fell over me- I craned my head to look up. Above me, I saw a circling creature that I'd assume was a bird. Strangely, it looked to be debating whether or not to come down. It seemed to ascend, and descend. After about a minute it turned tail and flew back to the town's direction, though. Was still cool to watch seeing as I was actually tripping out, and that was rather vivid looking. To be honest, I'm just glad it decided not to eat me. I don't care where the hell it went, as long as it wasn't bothering me. Best. Fucking. Trip. Ever. Now, the truth is I was likely at home doped up on the floor drooling like an idiot as my body was splayed for all to see that weren't on trips with me. Currently though, in my own mind I was in a whole 'nother world so it wouldn't really matter. Now, due to change in time perception I could literally be here for years. I need food and water- even in my brain it seems- as I was hungry. And here I was thinking I ate. I was sure I'd eaten a bag of chips before tripping out. Guess not. Giving a tiny shrug- as much as I possibly could anyhow- I then made my way to town. First, find people. Second, find food. Next, find shelter- I'm going to be here for awhile. Lastly, I- Oof. I landed on my ass from the impact- though whatever I ran into hadn't been so hard. Suddenly, blocking my vision was a large fluffy light blue colored wall... No wait, that's not a wall... That's a huge ass horse! Looking up, I saw the face of a concerned bizarrely rainbow maned , fuchsia eyed, sky-blue pony. Who may I add; was much larger than I am, which means my child theory was correct. "Uhh..." The Rainbow Pony began with the universal sound of curiosity. I simply sat there, expectantly as she expressed her confusion vocally and physically as she peered around the surrounding area, looking for someone or something apparently. Or maybe she was checking for someone before she tried something to kidnap and molest me. "Squirt, what are you doing out here? Where are your parents?" If my theory hadn't been confirmed then, it sure had now. I'm a child. Suddenly, I was young again. "I don't have any. You're not here to kidnap me are you? Because I have ROTC ninja skills. I'll kick your shit in." I warned, half-honestly, as I was an orphan- And I did know SOME ROTC, and was far used to all the name calling that came with it. I'd gotten into plenty fights in my time though The rainbow haired pony, though looked like she'd been slapped in the face as soon as I said that. She licked her lips, glancing around the surrounding area. She didn't know exactly what to do. "You've got a filthy mouth. Where 'ya comin' from, kid?" Where was I coming from? Was she asking the location that I'd been previously. I needed to go about this very carefully, as if I didn't this would be very catastrophic. "I don't... know?" So hear me out, that was as careful as I could be. I couldn't go telling her that she was a figment of a drug induced stupor. So I could only tell her something that wouldn't enrage her. Best option being, I don't know exactly where I'd come from. I'm a lost child, and I need help. She could give me food, water, and shelter- and hopefully wasn't a pedophile. If she was, things were going to go south fast. 'Rainbow' for her part looked baffled. "You don't know? Wha'ddya mean you "don't know"?" "I don't know." She seemed highly skeptical. I pushed my statement, with a little more force than necessary to let her know that I wasn't going to be questioned. Her face did this really weird thing, like it contorted between something of annoyance and concern- before concern won out. "I don't really know what to do." She began slowly. "But I know who would, she's a bit of a egg-head but she's a good pony. One of my best friends, actually." She said proudly, huffing her chest out. Which I personally found adorable- not that I would ever voice this outside of my thoughts. But being hallucinations, I suppose she already knew that? Before I could so much as even think about protesting, I was snatched up from the ground. "Wha- Hey!" Now here's where things got wild. It happened in only a few seconds; Firstly, I felt my gravity fight itself- And I felt compressed from the sudden motion. Secondly, I couldn't breathe. There was too much air assaulting my face for me to breathe correctly. Nextly, my eyes began watering and the world began blurring before me as we were moving at fast speeds I didn't even register. This is the most realistic hallucination I've ever experienced... Lastly, we had landed outside of some hollowed out- still-living tree. She had me by the scruff of my neck the whole way, still being held by her teeth. Without warning, the door was forcefully busted open and the blue pony gently lowered me onto the floor like I was going to break the moment she let go. She then patiently waited for the patrons of this... literal tree house to come down. "Jesus H fucking Christ, what the hell were thinking doing that shit without warning?" The Rainbow pony cringed, to my delight as she was bombarded with my foul mouthed cursing due to; A: Her recklessness, and B: her horrible mistake of thinking I was going to take that mind fucking lying down. Absently, as I was inhaling deeply to keep from lunch from coming out- I noted the sheer size of this library. It was amazing, I was a huge book nerd too- so this was just heaven for me at the moment. I'd need to read all this, but I needed to wait for the librarian. Which didn't take very long, as I was greeted to the sight of an extremely tired looking lavender Unicorn who immediately locked eyes with 'Rainbow'. Her face shifted from wary- only to change once she saw who it was to a look of fury, simmering down to annoyance, then to curiosity as she suddenly turned her wondering gaze on to myself. "Rainbow Dash, we need to have a talk now about breaking and entering. And, who is this little guy and why does he look like he went through a storm?" True to her statement, I still felt jittery from the mind blowing experience of having my internal organs shifted from the sudden acceleration. I was shaking, whether for anxiety or adrenaline was up to the imagination. Numbly I note how stupid it is that her name is actually Rainbow, how cliche could it get? Why couldn't my mind be more creative? "That's not important right now, Twi'." She rushed out, apparently not wanting to retell the tale of her sheer recklessness. I was halfway to putting the blue blur in her place. I bit my tongue, I would allow her to get away with this, if only because I was still reeling from the experience. Vengeance would be mine, as soon as was in the right of mind. I think my heart was in my skull now. Shakily, I turned to shoot a withering glare at the rainbow Pegasus who at least had the decency to look sheepish, and slightly nervous. That alleviated some of my anger, and turned it into an annoyance and confusion. This did draw a raised brow from who I assume to be the 'Egg-Head'. "Besides, this is a public library. I should be allowed to come in." Rainbow pointed out. "Anyway, I was having my mid-day nap when-" "Wait wait, Mid-day nap? Also, there's a difference between disturbing the peace and announcing your presence." "-Fluttershy came knocking at my door, saying some kid was coming out the forest. Apparently, there were dragon sightings in that area so she rushed to me since she was too afraid to go. I talked to him." She motioned toward me with her hoof, completely ignoring the miffed slightly red Twi's words- to my utter amusement. "Annnnd, apparently he..." She leans in, speaking lowly like she was afraid of her execution, which I found hilarious. "Doesn't have any parents." 'Twi''s mouth shaped into an 'o' expression. The red faded from her cheeks, and instead she donned a look of worry and concern. Her big cute expressive eyes conveying their apparent distress for me. Though, their eyes were... Insanely huge, so it was also very creepy. How the hell are their eyes not rolling out their skulls? "A-Are you sure?"Life seemed to continue even when I wasn't paying attention. The Lavender pony held a hoof up to stop any accusations, as she saw the scathing glare given to her by Rainbow Dash with annoyance laced in from being questioned in her authenticity in making such a claim. "Yea'. Ask him." She said, nudging me with her big meaty hoof. I was just about ready to snap at her hoof and bite off the offending limb. I for one was still shaken, and had to force down the urge to also scream 'PEDOPHILE' and jab a my hand- no hoof, at Rainbow Dash- because of her sudden kidnapping. This was one hell of a drug, though. Rainbow Dash didn't seem so bright. She just asked a 'kid' who might have been recently orphaned. It showed by the dawning horror on Twi's face. Rainbow Dash followed soon after, after she realized what she just did. I didn't reply vocally, I only nodded at them both, only half paying attention. My gaze was roaming around the library, and landing back on the two ponies. Two talking ponies, this FUCKING hallucination is amazing! To them though, I was wide eyed, shaking, and looking generally lost- Which was reflected by Rainbow Dash's expression of guilt. Twi bit her lip, wondering what she should do next. After about a moment of consideration, she finally spoke up. "We need to talk to child services. There's a department here, but I don't know where it is, and this is out of my field. I can't control what this little guy does without proper permission." One; Control? Someone here is a control freak by the looks, and these guys- girls, horses- WHATEVERS- were going to try to put me in an orphanage? Over my cold dead body. Which, hopefully wasn't actually dead in the actual world. I shook my head profusely. "Child Services? No way! You are NOT sending me to some shitty place where they send you to a hell-hole where the adults get paid to secretly fuck kids. Been there once, not going with that one again. This is my trip, and I'm not gonna waste it letting you guys parade me to hell." That admittedly, wasn't always the case but I needed too express my point to these kidnappers they weren't going to send me to some hell-hole. They apparently, got the point as they were both openly gaping at me like I'd admitted I was a serial rapist. They were trying to apparently wrap their heads around just how bad Orphanages was. What I didn't expect, was both of them to turn white as sheets though like they'd seen ghost as they slowly began registering my words. "I think this is out of our hooves... We're going to need to get some... professional help." The lavender pony said meekly, completely ignoring my words. Plan B then. Run the fuck away. "Fuck that shit! Nope nope nope!" I turned tail, instantly trying to run away to get somewhere- anywhere away from these assholes trying to send me to a nightmare. I wasn't going to waste my awesome ass trip reliving my horrible child-hood. In hindsight, I think I should have known that this wasn't just a trip. I wouldn't have ran my mouth as so freely as I did. Apparently, Fate had other plans as something collided not so painfully with the back of my skull and I fell on the floor dreaming blissfully as my world faded to black. I had fell asleep before I even hit the floor. Ain't that some shit? > Does this mean I have STDs? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ugh... Today already wasn't going well, at least not in this world of nightmares created by drugs. I felt groggy, not to mention I felt like I'd been drugged. Well, double drugged somehow. Now officially grouchy, hungry, and sleepy, I had become at my worst state in a combo. The good news was? I'd woken up somewhere dark. Which would ease my aching eyes and headache filled cranium. The bad news was? I'd woken up somewhere dark. I have no idea to move in the dark without stumbling on some random object and drawing attention to the room and letting my captors know I'm awake. Seeing as they didn't bind me, I doubt they were planning to use me very much for anything. Now at this point, there was nothing left to do but sit there in the dark room I'd assumed to be some sort of bedroom. If the soft cushy fabric I was laying on was any indication I wasn't in a dungeon. Obviously, I doubt there was nice big bed for criminals. I rubbed the back of my head where I'd been apparently bludgeoned. How peculiar... The thought suddenly occurred to me, curiously I note that there was no visible sign of where whatever blunt object that knocked me had ever even hit me. What was more unnerving, was the fact that I'd felt like I'd been drugged- When I had clearly been knocked out. What manner of sorcery was this? I had no idea. Suddenly, the door swung open and a light was flipped on- JESUS CHRIST! Though I didn't vocally express my ire, it showed in the form of an irked glare that I manage to pass off before I was forced by instincts to use my hooves to rub me eyes free of any pain- It didn't alleviate it in the slightest, but it did make me feel better. After blinking and rubbing away at the spots in my vision I was finally able to see who was responsible for my kidnapping. It was that stupid Unicorn 'Twi'. She nervously rubbed at her leg while she sat on her haunches in the door way. "I'm... sorry about knocking you out. I overreacted." She started off, all slow and sweet like I'd fall for her propaganda bullshit. I went to tell her to shove her words where the sun don't shine but I was interrupted by her- apparently not finished. "But! You need professional help." The way she was using small words made me think that she was undermining my intelligence. For a hallucination, that wasn't very much like one. Suspicious. I tried to think of something to say, anything at all. "Go fuck yourself!" It wasn't the most appropriate response, but she wasn't making this easy for me. I just wanted to explore this awesome new world, and she was trying to contain me in this house to put me into hell. Immediately, I jumped off the bed and put on a fearsome scowl. I ran toward the large pony in an attempt to run under her legs, which was a success as she flinched- not having been prepared for me to run at her in such hostility. After running from under her legs, I weaved around the corner- And came to my current biggest weakness. Stairs. I felt like I was suddenly a paraplegic. Now, I could try jumping up on the rail and sliding down- But, it looked new and frail. Not well built. I could fall and damage myself. But this was a hallucination! I couldn't actually hurt myself. Right? But my hooves wouldn't let me move. I was frozen in fear from thinking about falling off. I remembered poking my hoof on my horn, so pain could still happen. Egg-Head was right on me, and boy did she look annoyed. No, there had to be another way around this. The answer came in the form of a brown box that was to my left, but I had to stall. No, I didn't have enough time to stall. I only had one option... "Don't do it!" She was just out of arm's reach. She seemed to panic. I had to jump. So, like an idiot- I did. The stairs were pretty high up, actually. Upon jumping, I realized my grave error. I could feel the wind from falling from this height. That meant I can feel pain. Is this really a hallucination? I could only hope that the landing wouldn't hurt too much. I saw the floor rushing up to meet me halfway like a true pal. I clenched my eyes shut. bracing for the pain I knew was coming- And it sure didn't disappoint. I felt a blunt agonizing pain shoot through my body- I'd landed head first from high up. I blacked out once again from the pain. The last thing I heard were multiple hooves running over to me and the calling for medical assistance. "DEAR CELESTIA! Spike! SPIKE! Get help! NOW!" Grudgingly, I forced myself awake- my head was spinning, metaphorically, as I pried open my unwilling eyelids- Aggh, sunlight right in the eyes. Squinting, I turned my head upward to escape the damnable sun. It was all for naught, as the sun had brought back up. Artificial lights. Wincing, I tried looking anywhere- everywhere but where there would be light. Alas, everywhere I looked there a bright light that hurt my eyes like never before. It was then that the familiar strong smell of bleach filled my nostrils- causing me to flinch from the suddenness. I knew where I was by heart. A hospital. Now the only question remained, was I actually in a hospital for drug over-dose and likely running into traffic? Or, was I still in the hallucination? I remember falling, and a bunch of pain. I could tell, currently I was doped up- The pain was just lurking behind the abundance of pain killers ready to turn my world into hurt. I looked down at my hands for confirmation- No, hooves. Hooves, for confirmation. I was still a horse. I heaved a sigh of relief. Nothing had gone terribly wrong, and I'd still have the chance to explore this place. It was just then a nurse had entered, she looked surprised that I was woke. Torn between keeping me company and going to do something else- likely getting the doctor- she gazed between me and the door. "...Stay here sweetie, I'll be right back with the doctor." Stay here said the horse. You know, now that I realized it- my leg was stuck in a cast. I couldn't move it. Don't they put down other horses with a broken leg? OH SHIT! Nope nope nope, I wasn't going to be turned into glue. I wasn't quite sober, but I knew my immediate danger and needed to find a way out of it. I sluggishly glanced around the room for anything to put together. It'd actually take me a few hours, but I could do it. But just like with the stair incident, I didn't have time to stall. I'm actually a very good engineer. In my own humble opinion, I could make all sorts of things. I could build computers, guns, submarines, cars- All from scratch. I'm extremely experienced in coding, and could even do Ruby. I was once a hired hacker. But none of this would help me now I'd need to figure out how to get out of here. "Look who's awake!" Fuck! "FUCK ME!" The doctor looked shell-shocked at my avid use of vocabulary. Not outright just shocked, I think he was a little green. "Jesus Christ, don't you guys knock?" "I did. Several times, actually." Oh. "I didn't believe her when she said it- But I guess it's true. You're..." He moves over to the side of my bed, looking very concerned. "Has anyone... done anything inappropriate, like...Say, touch your private areas?" Plenty of people, I'm a grown man. Why would a horse ask me this question? "Well... yes, but I don't see why this is any of your business Doctor." I was very uncomfortable with his questions, a perv doctor was not on my list of things to sit next to. "Is this about a sexual disease or something? I swear I'm clean doctor, I use condoms! When I'm in the mood... Oh my God, please tell me I don't have STD..." Click-Clat Wondering what the sound was, I gazed down to the Doctor's hooves. And there lied the clipboard that he had been somehow holding in his front hoof. "Does this mean I have STD?" BANG. Whirling my head to the door, there two three ponies lying in a heap- gaping at me, apparently having had been ear hustling. One Egg-Head, one Rainbow Jerk, and one canary colored pink maned winged pony. I could only wonder why everyone was so shocked, before I just remembered my physical age. What was I... Nine? Ten? "I fucked up didn't I?" > Firin mah laser > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Following my outburst, I realized that I've been fucking up left and right. What I need, is a moment to think to myself. Some time to just blow off some steam. My favorite of all activities included creation. I needed to do that, then The group outside the door, and the doctor had both been frozen in terror. I knew I couldn't took back what I said, I could only take action to paint over what I'd said. This in mind, I turned to the doctor and decided to salvage what I could. "Sir, could I talk with you for a minute. Alone? Hint hint, wink wink. Get lost." I shot a glare at the three, who scrambled to their hooves to get out once the Doctor had given them his own glare. There would be words later for their ear hustling. "Ahem." "There's... Alot to be done here. But what is it that I can help you with firstly?" The kind pony Doctor was indeed kind. "Well mister Doctor-" "Doctor Sleeping Pill." "That's hilarious." "Number one, that's not what you think it means, and number two that's not really a joke you should understand..." And I messed up again. "Yeah, I know. But, seriously. I need some time to myself." Seriously, I was worrying everyone I'm sure I hadn't been here for more than two hours. I needed my fix, more than anything. More acid, more shrooms, more weed. A cigarette even. "Can I step out for a smoke, Doc?" The Doctor choked. "Right. Forgot." Sighing, I rolled over to my side to stare at the window. I didn't have my cancer sticks anyway. God, I need a cigarette. The Doctor slowly made his way out the room, shooting a concerned glance at me. I simply sat on my bed giving him a patient, yet somewhat shy smile. Bless his fake pony heart, he smiled back at me even if it was half-hearted. He opened the door, then took one last look at me- to which I gave him a wave. He waved back hesitantly. He then took a moment to stare at me, as if he was afraid I was gonna vanish. I waited patiently for him to go. He then left out the door, closing it behind him. I waited longer. ... The doctor cracked open the door, and poked his head in. I was still sitting in my spot. Seeming satisfied, he then pulled his head from out the door, and slowly shut it behind him. ... Immediately, I bolt out my bed landing as softly as I could on my hooves- which was surprisingly silent. Time to get to work. The first thing I do is, check to see if I have the ability to spawn stuff in this hallucination. That'd be key to making sure I was sane. Now, I could I do this? My first option is the horn on my head. Maybe it's key. I'm a unicorn. Maybe I can shoot lasers or something out of it. I sat in silent contemplation, wondering about my choices. I focus, as hard as I can- I felt the build up churning in my gut. I COULD FEEL IT! The POWER! No wait, that's gas. Giving up, I decide to try something else. Meditation. I sit on my haunches, inhaling deeply and closing my eyes. I began to visualize lasers, large lasers. I could feel the power blooming in me now! Yes! I'm positive this isn't gas! Well, I mean it still could be but I'm hoping not. I felt really really strange. PEW! "DEAR CELESTIA!" There on the floor, in pieces lied the door- smoking, charred, and mother fucking LASERED! Holy shit, I'm a mother fucking laser shooting bad ass unicorn! There was no words for how awesome that was! I've always wanted super powers, and I've always wanted to be a little kid again! I'm getting everything I've always wanted! Now all I need is to be extremely rich and have a girlfriend as hot as the fucking lasers I'm shooting right now! If I was robbing a bank they couldn't say it's an arms robbery now could they? This is the best day ever! Though the group on the outside of the door didn't seem to think so. Rainbow Jerk, Egg-Head, and Timid were all outside the door along with the Doctor. They were gaping at me, especially the Egg-Head. She was the one who screamed in alarm too, if I'm right. "THAT WAS A CLASS A OFFENSIVE SPELL! HOW'D HE EVEN DO THAT!?" Class A offensive spell? My mind was functioning off of RPG logic? Oh boy, good thing I'm versed in it! "BY THE POWER OF GREY SKULL! I HAVE THE POWER!" Suddenly, I splayed forward, my ever long tail draping from my back to my nose like a blanket as I lied on on my stomach- completely spent from the single laser. I couldn't rob a bank with one laser like that! Clearly I had some work to do. The ponies rushed over to help me, Doctor Sleeping Pill grabbed me by my scruff and placed me on the bed. "What were you thinking!? You could have hurt someone! Including yourself!" Twi' seethed from jealously obviously, not everyone could shoot lasers like me. Then again, she was a unicorn too. She probably had much more experience than I. 'Experience'. Since she's just a figment. I start to proclaim 'None of you are real'. After all, how could I hurt was wasn't there? Then again I did fall earlier. And I was picked up, even if this is a hallucination. "I'm sorry, I didn't know I could do that." "You didn't know? " Twilight looked confused, and impressed at the same time. "Nope. I was just thinking of a laser. And then that happened." Twi nudged one of the planks created from the laser with some confusion. After inspecting the piece that she laid her eyes on, she kicked it aside. "You shouldn't have the reserves to shoot a laser spell that powerful. I know powerful sorcerers who still don't. Plus, I've never seen a laser spell like that. I didn't even feel a magical build up in the area. Well, that's not true. It was just so instant, I didn't have time to realize what it even was. For all intents and purposes, that was an instant laser. Nonfunctional, to boot." I was peeved! Nonfunctional!? "Uh, Twilight..." Ah, so her whole name was Twilight. "I know you're the magic wiz' and all but how was that laser nonfunctional? He just turned that door into debris!" The Doctor looked ticked, but didn't say anything to me yet about the clearly destroyed door. Rainbow gently nudged Timid out the way, who backed down immediately to make some room for Rainbow Dash. "Still hot too." "Well, that's the thing Rainbow Dash. Lasers don't explode like a bomb, which was clearly exhibited here. That's exactly what it was, a bomb. Lasers disintegrate things. As far as lasers go, that was a flop. That door shouldn't even be in existence anymore. It's actually really peculiar...It may have to do with his horn shape. It's jagged, and curved sort of like Sombra's." Oh, she's right. I guess it kind of was a flop- but I was the first human to have ever shot a laser with MAGIC! So I was gonna chuck that as a win. Who the hell was Sombra anyway? The Doctor cleared his throat, and everyone turned their attention to him. "I appreciate the lesson, but I have to replace this door now." Oops. "So if you could all leave our mystery colt alone, and if you could kindly resist the urge to shoot lasers of any sort... I would deeply appreciate it." Grumbling, I turned over in the bed. The other ponies slowly shuffled out in a single file line."And you, young colt won't be discharged until tomorrow if you haven't aggravated your head wounds. I have a few things to talk over, and my need to even bring Princess Celestia to this case." Princess? What? "Right." I decided for now, I'd caused enough trouble- So I wouldn't ask. "Later Doc'." He walked out the door, and then he engaged in a conversation I couldn't hear with Twilight. After a moment, her horn lit up too! Was she gonna blast the good doctor?- Nope. Instead, the door had began putting itself back together in the doorway. Soon, all the pieces had levitated in place. The door unheated and un-charred itself before looking like it was never even blown through. I had a lot to learn about magic, it seemed. I closed my eyes, and turned over on the bed to face away from the window. "Wonder if I could conjure a cigarette..." > Tomorrow Is Another Day > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- As I sit here on the bed, I have to wonder. When did my life become a bad comedy? Gazing out through the window, I saw ponies all over the streets, gadding about their business in their beautiful world. A great sky that was bluer than I thought to be possible. The sun's radiant warmth cascaded off of my fur and rolled off of me in waves. Rolled off my fur. Fur, that's something animals have.That's what they were, correct? Ponies. Beings that truly lived and breathed? Probably not so much. I don't believe in God. I don't believe in souls. I don't believe in a lot of things. But, in reality I know nothing about this world. I can keep trying to convince myself, this is fake. With no pony in sight, only myself I'm free to wonder exactly why this is all happening. Scrape Glancing back outside, I flinch back as the once beautiful sky I knew had turned several shades darker. A haunting crimson blend filtered over the sky, bleeding it's unholy light over the surface of the world. The ponies that once filled the streets with such a lively wonderful feeling of the present was now empty. The streets were old now, weeds growing out the cracks of the asphalt. The grass had long dried up, turning into an earthly shade that represented hay. He -okay? The feeling of being alone, in this world suddenly wasn't so comfortable anymore. I'd regretted pushing away those ponies, this is scary. This isn't what I want anymore. I could feel eyes watching me, I don't know where from. Glancing back down outside the window, the paving was fraught dried blood. -suffers from delusions- My eyes swept the grounds, and I found where I was being watched. There standing at the the gateway to the hospital was a large muscular bi-pedal horse creature. It's body was littered with nails, driven deeply into it's body. It was skeletal, mostly skin and bones, but it was tall- giving off an intimidating feeling. It's head was covered by a burlap sack that was ridden with tears and blood. And funny, more nails. It was a fucking pin-cushion. I'd say living, but I'm not sure if it was dead or undead. Is this real? This isn't what I wanted, this isn't why I did drugs. Oh god, make it stop... But it wouldn't stop, there in the distance the figure still sat there- haunting me, mocking me. It was going to kill me, and I knew it. Immediately, I hurled myself off the bed- crashing into the old floor that had been peppered with age and dust. Glancing behind me, even the hospital bed I'd been sitting on was not spared by the wrath of time. Worn out, broken and forgotten. Just like me. This is your home now. Was that me? I don't know. I heard thousands of whispers, some familiar- Some not. I heard screams, suffering. And I'd brought this on myself. Flinching back, I turned toward the door that once so innocently sat there. It'd been broken down, like someone or something rammed it repeatedly. This place, I couldn't see. There wasn't a light in sight. I could only see what the moon in the window barely lit up. I fumbled, grabbing a stick of wood from the debris. I willed a fire to appear on the edge of the stick- And without disobeying me, it inflamed. I thanked whatever deity out there responsible for this. I stepped over the broken wood, and into the hall way. Glancing around, I'd noted that no- The creature that I'd seen outside was nowhere within sight. And hopefully, it didn't know where I am. Taking a deep breath, I stood in this dark hall by myself. Creak Frowning, I lifted the torch to illuminate the pathway. I could hear the pipes behind the walls being beaten on by something blunt. Not on this floor, but below it. Is this what you were trying to achieve. No... I swear, it wasn't. I just wanted, just want to be happy. Blood concealed the concrete walls with a thin layer, the wall paper had long dried and decayed- mixing with the withered blood that cascaded across the ceiling. I can't figure out how it managed to get up there, but it had. I took a single step- only for a stray breeze to filter on in right from the broken window's hole, blowing out the makeshift torch I'd made. I'm alone in this dark place, no light. No hope. This is my home now. I huddle into a small ball, pitifully hoping upon hope that whatever this was would just go away. "Stop..." But for the love of God, it wouldn't. From the corner of my vision, I noticed something on my cheek. A hand. I tried desperately yanking my arms out of confines, but they were firmly tied to the bed frame. It squeaked with protest as I'd begun pulling against the cloth, scrapping into my wrist- hooves. I don't care anymore. Something jabbed me in me side, I swerved my head to the offender, praying that it wasn't the creature I saw outside. ... It was only Rainbow Jerk, who had a concerned expression on her as she tried to get my attention. Silently, I gazed out the window to find it in it's rightful place. Full of life, and not a hellish reality. But what blurred the lines of reality and fiction? "Can you untie me?" "You're not tied, kid..." Sure enough, I wasn't tied down, my hooves were there at my sides. The cloth that had been restraining me was gone. I could feel my mind reeling in the form of a take two from my sudden shift in reality. I fell silent. "What's your name, sport?" What is my name? Max? What if that was fake too? Not knowing how to answer, I gave her the same answer I gave her when we met. "I don't know." I freely admit, I don't really care at this point. Psychedelics ruined me. I'd say that I was done with drugs. I truly would like to say that. There was this... sickening want to get that kick again, to go back. To see what I could find, to feel alive again. "Doctor Sleeping Pill, do you have any information at all on this child?" Twilight sat impatiently, along with her friend Rainbow who'd found the colt alone. His personality since he'd woken up yesterday had done a completely one-eighty. Where he had been bold, brash, and foul mouthed- generally lashing out toward everything that came near him, he was now silent. Eerily so, Twilight had a hard time being in the same room with him now. His eyes seemed to hold this broken feeling to them, as if he was trying to process reality itself. When he did speak, it was for the essentials. Occasionally, Fluttershy would check in on him. It was mostly Twilight and Rainbow Dash though. They'd taken to watching over the currently not-so foul mouthed child. "None at all, I'm afraid. We've checked with every agency in the system. There's nothing on him, anywhere. My personal guess was he was kidnapped at birth- but I haven't found any missing child reports. Not even a single court case that may have suggested it was our colt without a name. You saw what happened yesterday, he suffers from hallucinations of grandiose. A few of our staff ran test on him, the results were questionable." "Questionable?" Twilight inclined in her seat, raising a brow as she listened to Sleeping Pill's rather saddening news. Even Rainbow Dash looked nervous to hear what other grim report he had for them. "Traces of unknown substance in his system from plants of Everfree where he'd been found. Repeatedly abused, may I add. We were previously guessing it was ingested on accident. After looking it over though, we realized that he'd purposely gone to the forest for the exact purpose of finding these plants to use this effect. This is a case of substance abuse." Twilight furrowed a brow. Rainbow Dash grimaced. "Why in Equestria would you say that? Do you have evidence?" Twilight rapped her hoof on the desk, rather conflicted betwen checking on the kid, and talking with the Doctor. Sleeping Pill saw this, and sought to ease her worry. "Please Ms. Sparkle, our staff are carefully monitoring him. He's in perfectly capable hooves. As for the evidence, that actually came from the scene Ms. Dash found him. It's been taken into the sheriff's office and being kept there, as proof. It's a written 'to-get' list with various harmful substance from the forest or from illegal trades that haven't even been reported in Griffon territory. We have no idea where they could have come from. This is a very sensitive case, and needs to be treated with care." I stared at the disgusting food laid on my plate. A hay burger wrapped up in plastic, hay fries- And the only edible thing, a milkshake. I sourly frowned as I gazed at the haphazard these horses dared to label as food. I nudged the wrapped hay burger with my casted hoof. I'd inquired how my leg got broken when I landed on my head, I was told I'd actually bent it from my awkward landing position. I don't know why I'd ever jump from a large height and expect something good of it to come. I was supposed to be released yesterday, but after my mental meltdown I was told to stay for longer. I hated being alone now. I might find myself back in that place. There was almost always a nurse by my side. We didn't talk, though. I just requested their presence and they'd be nice enough to stay with me. "Hey kid, you doing alright?" Rainbow no-so-Jerk decided to grace me with her presence. At least it wouldn't be so dreary with her around. Infact, in her saddle she was holding a book. "I'm fine, what's that?" I rudely pointed toward the book that was innocently poking out the bag. She didn't call me out on it. "Actually kid, I brought this from the library for you. With Twilight's permission, I mean." Oh, so she brought something for me to be entertained with. The thought pleased me. "Thank you, Rainbow Dash." "No biggie, kid." "Max." "Huh?" Rainbow Dash cocked her heard slightly, so I tell her once more. This time being somewhat more informative. "My name is Max." Rainbow Dash seemed to mull my name over. "Max what?" What? Was she expecting a pony last name? I didn't answer her, opting to stare at the book she said she brought for me. I waited for her outburst of anger, but it never came. "Jeez kid, you think you'd have a little trust in me by now." It wasn't a matter of trust. I just can't remember anymore. I didn't say that outloud though, just drew my mouth into a tight line. Rainbow Dash shrugged, then took the book off her side with her teeth and dropped a book into my lap next to my food. Daring Do was the title of the book. Atleast I had something to do for now. Rainbow Dash slinked over to her side, and sat there peacefully reading her own copy of the book. Apparently, she wasn't supposed to be released for a few days due to hurting her wings. She shouldn't have even been out the hospital when she found me. I appreciated the company, and silently contemplated over yesterday's events. Tomorrow is another day. > Chicken, or Eagle? > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- They say time flies by when you're having fun, and for me these words couldn't be any truer. However, the bad news to this I'm not having fun, thusly time was all but moving on the pendulum. The clock in question ticked and tocked mercilessly, echoing it's dramatic powerful sound waves in my skull. All I had was this Daring Doo book, and I found out the hard way that this stuff is in a strange script I can't read. I did have some time to do some inspection, besides the currently missing Rainbow Dash there seemed to be few other patients in this place. If I didn't know better, I'd say none. Well, that's not completely true. Just a few prior hours earlier I'd noticed a strange swirl eyed pony with an even stranger ever propelling beanie on her head. Said pony looked to be creeping around the hospital, but I'd seen her name on the patients list in the board room. I forgot what her name actually was but I was pretty sure it started with an "S". She was the only thing that actually entertained me, well her and Rainbow both. And both of them were equally not here, thus my current bored predicament. Though, earlier there had been a huge commotion, the lights had shut down, and the whole place got increasingly dark, luckily I was situated near a window where the light was pouring in. "Hey Max, you doing alright?" Sliding to a halt before me, Rainbow Dash gave me a concerned look. "You haven't been the same since you woke up earlier kiddo, something you wanna talk about? If you don't, that's totally cool too. I know how it is to have a problem and not being able to tell some pony something. " I glance over at the pony, giving a long measured stare as I contemplated her deeper existence. How could you tell someone that they were simply figments of imagination that existed within the fabric of my drug addled mind. Simple answer? You don't. Who's to say my universe wasn't any more real than hers? That in itself was kind of hard to swallow though, but no one knows what reality truly is. Hard to say. Simply shaking my head, I give the prismatic pony a feigned amicable smile. "I'm fine." I ponder asking her about the strange currently missing pony, but shrug it off in the end. "So, where am I going once I'm out of here?" Rainbow Dash glances up at the ceiling thoughtfully. "Well, your case is kind of... different. So, there are a lot of ponies out there that's willing to help you out. I'd welcome you to stay with me, but you're... Well, you don't have wings." What? "I didn't mean it like that!" She quickly corrects herself, seeing my betrayed look. "I stay in a cloud house above Ponyville, and Unicorns and Earth Ponies can't walk on cloud surfaces." Ah. It's a good thing she probably A: Thinks since I'm a kid I don't know, or B: Thinks I'm generally stupid or uninformed. Either way, it worked out in my favor! One point, me. One point, Rainbow. The odds are a little too even for my taste. "So really, it's up to you to chose for any pony who is up for taking care of you. It'll be temporary, y'know. Till we find your parents. Fluttershy offered, but we all agreed her place isn't exactly the best place right now. She's kind of got her hooves full with another kid right now." Another kid? I didn't take her for the child friendly type. Well, that meant Butter is out the question. That leaves the Bookworm, and the orphanage. Seriously debating on which one is worse. On one hand, I get to get knowledge, access to a library, and free food! On the other, I have someone telling me what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. That's something I'm not very fond of. On the other hand, I could wander around and try to do something fun. But I might get in danger again like I did earlier. Could I die here like a video game? Wait, would I get a game over screen? Freaky thought. That's some creepy-pasta grade shit right there. I think that meant I'd get my own theme song! I wonder what it would sound like... I hope it's Dubstep! Oh, I lost track again. Hey! Music, track, dubstep, I'm on a roll today! I half pondered hopping off the bed and trying to roll around like Sonic to amuse my inner muse but I was pretty sure I'd just be branded a retard and not fit to leave the medical care unit. Given that they haven't already done that from my less than acceptable behavior. "What's wrong kiddo? Why the long face?" Rainbow gave me a concerned look, apparently seeing my emotions as my newly flattened ears weren't quite adept at hiding my feelings like my face could. Wait did she just make a horse pun? Rainbow Dash was staring at me as if waiting for an answer, and I had been staring at her to figure out if she was trying to be funny. After a few moments of staring, I shake my head and turn back to look at the floor. It's been far too long without my precious substance, I'm probably going to have to go out on a run to see what I could scrounge up. '-ax? You there bud?" I blinked, coming to, to notice Rainbow Dash staring at me with a confused look so I guess she'd said something or she was wanting me to pick somebody to go with. Well, let's weigh our options once again... Free food, books, bossy pony bookworm, or take off in the night when no one was around to go exploring. Now, this option had to be weighed carefully as this could be an event, and I might even get special items or something like that! I guess I can stick around for a little bit, it seems interesting enough, I didn't have any income if all this actually is real, so I'd prefer to actually try to survive than find out if I can live forever by DYING. Only other choice was the orphanage, and they couldn't shove me in there even if they had telekinetic force! "--Crap! They actually got telekinetic force!" Why couldn't I just be the only magical being!? Twilight had me in her magical grip after I decided that the best course of options was booking it out of there. "Release me at once!-- Please." I add mostly as an after note. "I'll fight you one v. one!" Now, let me clarify. I hate being told what to do, end of story. Taking orders for years on end does that to you. I know it was a stupid choice, but it's my stupid choice to make! "Max! You can't just run away from all your problems in life! Neither can violence!" Twilight chastised, 'dragging' me through the town with her telekinetic grasp. "What're you talkin' about?" I ask incredulously. "I do it all the time! Works out fine for me! You see the problem is that most pe--onies are assholes, and by kicking their asses you're solving the problem!" Whew, caught myself. Both ponies gave me aghast looks for my foul language. What? It's not like I was actively trying to curse, it just slips out from so much usage that it's hard to go cold turkey! "Do you kiss your mother with that mouth, kid? If I was you and an adult was near I'd have gotten soaped jammed in my throat!" Something tells me suds didn't taste good, and further more I would like to not have any object of any form lodged down my throat, thank you! "Who taught you how to talk like that?" I open my mouth to willingly get myself into further shit before I take a moment to realize how stupid I would have to be to continue to dig my own grave with anything I said. 'I got something to jam down your-' "Are you going to be a chicken your whole life? Or are you gonna be an eagle!?" Rainbow Dash demanded an answer from me with an irritated frown forming. "BAWK! BAWK- BAWK! BAH-CHAWK!" I cluck. I got a bunch of strange looks from the town inhabitants, but it looks like they were used to stuff like this because they just turned a blind eye, continued to stare at me, or completely ignored my presence. Twilight rolled her eyes. "Ugh! What's it with these foals and them trying to run away?" Rainbow Dash complained. Wait, what? Foals? As in more than one? "Pardon?" Rainbow Dash turned to me with a sheepish smile on her face for some reason, waving her hoof dismissively. "Regardless, I've seen that library of yours, and I'm not too fond of chores!" "So... You're lazy." She stated. "I plee the fifth." I gave them my best poker face, or at least my best as I could as I was being dragged through the air by a Purple Pony by magic. "The what?" Rainbow Dash cocked her head, giving me an inquisitive look. "You can't do this! There has to be somewhere written in my rights that this is kidnapping!" "Actually," Twilight began. Oh here we go... "By law it's required that either you're admitted to an orphanage, or within one of our cares." She then lowered her voice, giving me a sweet smile. "We're your friends! We only want to help you, don't you want some help? It's not like I'm a slave driver or something." "ACHOO!" Spike rubbed nose, sniffling and wiping away the bacteria with a handkerchief-- "--Wait, Uh oh..." Spike's eyes slowly roamed upward as the large stack of books wavered from the force of the sneeze, he'd been re-organizing Twilight's library for her, again-- and he got a great idea to stack them all alphabetically instead of walking back and forth to the shelves. "Well, that's SNOT good..." He punned to himself, grim humor to himself seeing as he was about to be bear witness to hours worth of work coming undone within the second of a single sneeze. To his dismay, all of the toppled books were now falling in his direction. Spike's last moments awake would be followed by the wake of a wall of black, created by the wave of books. The baby dragon's pupils dilated. "Mommy..." ... 'What's with this ominous overwhelming feeling of pity in my gut?' I thought to myself, shuddering as I felt the anguish of some poor soul. I glance back up at the awaiting Twilight who had a patient smile etched on her muzzle, but to me it was the church bells ringing, sounding my impending doom. "I've got a bad feeling abut this..." I mutter to myself, as I see the tree house up ahead slowly rising over the hill into my view. > Chapter 6 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- As we arrived at the door to Twilight's comfortable little literal tree house, I had to wonder if the tree was actually alive or hollowed out. It appeared to actually be alive still, and that was pretty wicked if you ask me. Weird, but in drug trips nothing really made sense at times, so I just chucked it up to a job of my brain's, but still this was an overly strange sight to see. It was odd, but this weirdness was exactly what I was looking for when I took those drugs, and thus I am happy with the outcome of the situation. What I was not happy with was the fact that everyone else here got magic too. My eyes roam upward slowly to let it sink in I was a baby magical pony that could shoot lasers, and apparently perform A-ranking spells like D&D. That was freaking awesome in itself, but there's something creepy about this whole town. While I had spaced out, Twilight had said something about... well, something, but I hadn't been listening as I found myself in the building standing in the middle of the library without a Twilight or Rainbow Dash in sight. "Well, this sucks." I say to myself, realizing my current predicament, but hey! They left me alone, so chances are I could probably run off. The question is, what exactly was in this world? It likely wouldn't be a good thing to run off if this world had a class ranking system, and then again every world has it's own evil, and story. Running off like this would only get me killed. "I honestly don't think he's gonna run off Twi', but I'm telling you there's something off about him. He seems normal enough, besides the obvious things, but for some reason I get a creepy feeling coming from him." Rainbow Dash was hovering behind the purple pony, the two in question were helping an upset Spike pick up books after Twilight had excused them, but Twilight's idea was actually to inspect the troubled colt from afar while helping Spike to see what would happen if she left him alone. "I'm all down for like, making sure he's not up to no good but don't you think this is a little... Well, wrong?" "Shush Rainbow Dash, this is the only way to make sure that he isn't doing anything shady. If we're staring at him, he'll only make the effort to not be himself." "Yeah, but-" "Twilight, we need to have a serious talk about you doing your work with your magic." Spike cut off Rainbow Dash. Twilight blinked, glancing at Spike with a bewildered look. "Shh, not now Spike I'm busy." Twilight huffed, wanting to turn back to stare at Max-- but noticed the very specific tome Spike was holding in his claws. "And be careful with that tome! It's--" "NO! You're ALWAYS busy! And I'm SICK of it!" Spike threw down his book, folding his arms in dismay-- To Twilight's genuine horror, the book he'd managed to throw down in his fit of anger was one of the magical spell tomes that was meant to be held and cared for very carefully. "-OOPS!" "Ah, pony feathers." The three cursed simultaneously, as the book began to quiver angrily at the mistreatment of itself, the whole library began to quake as the book's rusted chains shattered from the force shooting out the book, and into the library ceiling, causing a thick blue circular magical hole to open as the beam of light held a steady kinetic output, ominously, it began to shift from the blue color to an eerie dark red, causing the whole room to turn shades darker as if the book was stealing all the light. "Spike... You're grounded forever..." Twilight scolded, her coat going pale with terror as the book began doing something she didn't even know was possible until today. "Like I already wasn't!?" "HEY! This isn't a time for argument! We gotta stop this book! Hey- where'd the kid go?" Sure enough, the two had looked over and the tiny pony was currently missing from his original perch. "Double ponyfeathers..." Twilight muttered under her breath. "And watch your mouth!" She berated firmly to Spike's earlier usage of foul words. "You have set an amazing example." He deadpanned. "And is this really the time to be worried about that!?" Twilight's cheeks turned red with embarrassment, and ire for Spike's smart remarks, but before she could open her mouth she realized they didn't have time for that, right now there was a book spouting large enough of energy-- with no effects happening in the library at all, and Max currently missing! "...If nothing is happening in the library..." The three turned to the currently open door, where they now knew that Max had officially left, and that currently the book was causing something to happen inside the town. "PONYVILLE!" Rainbow Dash and Twilight shouted in terror, dashing out the library by foot and wings respectively as Spike was left in the library to himself, with a currently dangerous book shooting out huge amounts of energy. "Well, crud." Spike turned slowly to the creepy book, to notice to creepy aura of the room getting even only creepier as the two had departed, leaving only him in the room. "Sup. Are you like a lizard or something?" Spike blinked as he turned to now note that the pony hadn't fled off, and was currently standing in front of him with a nonchalant look, before he'd turned to notice the book currently spouting magic with it's dark effects. "Uh, what the heck is that?" Max paled with abject terror as he witnessed what could possibly be the start of a very bad trip. "Trouble, that's what it is... Wait, but if you didn't open the door... Who did?" , a loud slamming sound- suspiciously like that of a door startled the two as they whirled their heads to look toward the now shut front door. "Ponyfeathers! Something really creepy is happening right now..." "You're telling me, and I thought it was just this town." Max muttered, realizing just how strange this whole situation was. Excluding the whole on the floor in comatose state in the real world deal, and the fact this was some sort of hallucination. "Wait, where'd Twilight and Rainbow Dash go?" "They went after you! Well, at least we thought they did... But something tells me that was a ploy to get them out of the library..." The two turned their heads slowly to the ominous book, the walls began to shift from it's wood brown, to a soft looking red organ material found in internal organs. The two paled heavily. "I knew coming here was a bad idea!" Max cursed. Spike proceeded to flail his arms, screaming and running in a circle in horror.