It was a crisp autumn day in Sweet Apple Acres. The sun was just behind a hill, ready to signal the end of the day. Applejack wiped the sweat from her brow. "And done. That's the last of 'em." She looked back to the basket full of apples and smiled. Another big harvest just in time for the autumn market tomorrow, too. She was about to bring to back to the barn but a strange object caught her eye.
"What in tarnation?" She slowly stepped closer to it. It, as it turned out, was an odd green mask. The strangest thing was that it wasn't a pony-shaped mask; more like a diamond dog shape. She picked it up, examined it, and thought that maybe Applebloom or Granny Smith had left it there. With Bloom's various toys and costumes and Granny's relics of the past, it seemed to make sense. Plus if she was wrong, she could just ask Twilight.
-
"Hmm. Just from off memory, I'm not sure I've seen anything like this before," Twilight said. After not having any luck with asking her family, AJ brought the mask to Twilight. "I'd like to study it and identify it if that's ok," Twi said with a spark of curiosity in her eye.
"I don't see why not. It's a load off my back anyhow," AJ replied. She said goodbye to her friend and went home. The lavender alicorn looked around the crystal castle and then back at the relic.
"I don't think it's a byproduct of the box from the Tree of Harmony. Though..." she looked at the bookshelves. 'There's definitely a lot of books that detail relics like this. I just hope this mask will show up somewhere in one of them.' She took a deep breath and before she could say anything, her dragon assistant, Spike, appeared in the door, looking inquisitively at the mask on the cutie-map. The now taller and stronger drake had been growing even more recently, thankfully not due to greed or a potion. Twi can still remember the day he got his wings. He was so happy, he buzzed around the room like Scootaloo in the early years.
"What the heck is that thing," he asked, pointing at the mask.
"I'm not sure. Applejack found it at the far end of her orchard when apple bucking and her family hasn't seen it before," she explained.
"That is strange."
"So, wanna help me find stuff out about it, my #1 assistant?" She put out her hoof towards him.
"That's what I do," he replied, bumping her hoof with his fist.
"I'll get started. Spike, please make some tea and lots of sandwiches. Feel free to bring some topaz, energy drinks, and cookies. I have a feeling it's going to be a long night." Spike saluted as he made his way to the door. "Oh, one more thing," he stopped at the door and looked back.
"Yeah?"
"Make coffee. Lots and lots of coffee!"
-
"NOTHING!" Twilight screeched out. "Four hours and still... nothing!" She plopped into the couch in the library, burying her face in the cushions and pillows, sighing heavily. Spike came forward with the last of the tea he made in preparation; Fortunately, it was still warm.
"Don't worry, Twilight. I'm sure we'll find out what this thing is eventually." He put the tea on the side table and put a claw to her shoulder. Twilight sluggishly moved to sit upright. Once she was, she took a deep breath, put her hoof out, and motioned the calming technique she learned so long ago. She levitated her cup of tea over, took a sip and put it back. She smiled and brought Spike in for a hug.
"Thanks, Spike. I don't know what I'd do without you." He blushed at the praise. She released her grip on him. "That's enough of that for today. Do me a favor and get Starlight for me please and tell her to meet me in the training room. We were going to work on interdimensional portals." He raised an eyebrow at that last part. "What? It's for researching other worlds." He sighed at that, knowing full well he couldn't do much to dissuade her and Starlight, but be his sarcastic, funny, and handsome self.
"You got it." He headed out of the library to get her. They only figured out one thing about the mask: that holding it in telepathic magic had no consequences. She had heard of holding magical or spiritual objects in unicorn/alicorn magic giving special powers before. She read up on it briefly during the search for mask information; One passage, in particular, recalled holding a magatama granted the ability to see physical manifestations of lies taking form as red or black locks only breaking when shown evidence. She had no idea what it meant but felt a sense of knowing about it before she even read the passage before. She just brushed it off thinking it was just deja vu or something like it.
"Now then." She picked the mask up in her magic, put it in a glass case and walked with it to the underground basement underneath the training room. This is where the three of them kept mementos, magical objects, and spell/potion supplies; all of which were labeled precisely by Twilight herself. As she made her way to the room and down the stairs of the basement, she couldn't help but wonder what the mask really was capable of. She set it on a low shelf in case Spike was asked to get it and left the basement, not having noticed how loose she accidentally left the lock on the glass case.
-
"So, we doing the interdimensional portals today?" Starlight asked, confident in knowing the answer already. Twilight smiled with glee, finally being able to try something they were both interested in. Spike just sat in a chair, reading a comic.
"I already set everything up. All that's left is to cast the spell. Fortunately, by the end of this, we should at least have enough magic for something like... let's say heavy duty levitation." She smiled confidently. "Let's get to work." They both started to cast the spell, but Twilight realized she'd need a glass container to hold whatever they get from the portal. "Spike, go down to the basement. I'll tell you what to get when down there." He put down his comic and entered the basement. Unfortunately for Spike, the spell made it difficult to hear what Twilight was saying from above when in the basement. "...bring...up...Mask..." is all he could make out. He shrugged and started the search. Luckily, it was next to him. He picked it up and headed back up. When Twilight saw what he brought up, she frowned. "No, I-" was all she could manage before a male scream was heard coming from the portal. Suddenly, a strange bipedal creature with pink skin reminiscent of a shaved monkey laid before all three of them. Not long afterwards, several objects came through the portal, the like of which varied in size immensely; From a large screened television and a desktop computer to several gaming consoles and some plushies. Twilight and Starlight had managed to catch them all and gently place them on the ground. Unfortunately, this meant the spell was now starting to break apart and was close to releasing all of its raw magic.
Spike started to walk towards them, but he tripped, letting the case go. Its lock released, the mask flying out of it right towards the creature. As soon as it touched what they thought was its face, the mask violently attached itself to its face and, without warning, the raw magic was released. Assuming the worst, they closed their eyes. But when no explosion was heard, Twilight opened her eyes to a shocking sight: The raw magic was being absorbed into the creature through the mask. Starlight and Spike also opened their eyes to the unbelievable sight. Once all the magic was absorbed, the creature let out a wail and he suddenly got upright and spun, thunder and lightning roaring from both inside and out of the castle which was odd as tonight was supposed to be clear enough to see the moon. As the creature slowed their spinning, everyone was shocked at what was once a bipedal hairless ape was now a green alicorn with a lime green mane and eyes. His cutiemark looked like a green lightning bolt crossing over a pencil.
"Smokin'!" he bellowed out. He suddenly zipped over to Twilight. "I know you! You're Twilight Sparkle. Wait...AM I IN EQUESTRIA!?" He suddenly shouted. He then stretched his forehooves to impossible lengths and grabbed Starlight, Twilight, and Spike in a big hug. "I love you guys!" he said. He looked over to all of the objects that fell through the portal. "Thanks for catching my stuff." He released his grip on them. Twilight was trying to understand what was going on and tried to communicate her frustration, but it came out like "ba...wa...huh...ma...na...ga..." "I'll be back for my stuff later. But first..." He then took off out the castle and into town. When all three could finally speak coherently, they had the exact same reaction.
Sundown had hit Ponyville. The street lights were aglow with either bright yellow or white lights. The streets of the town were more calm than the afternoon as it had been a big rush at the marketplace and everything finally settled down. Fluttershy, saddlebags full of groceries in tow, was headed back to her cottage in Ponyville adjacent when she was grabbed and forced to the wall of an alleyway. "Gimme all your bits!" the mugger growled. He covered her face so she couldn't scream. She tried to struggle, but it was no good. She braced herself for the worst when...
"HEY! Leave worst pony by process of elimination alone!" a voice said. The mugger looked further in the alley and shrugged. "Over here, dipstick," the voice said, now much closer.
"What the-" is all he could say as Green separated both ponies, Fluttershy scurrying to hide behind a trashcan, holding her nose; The mugger wasn't so lucky. "Wanna be all high and mighty?" Green remarked. He charged up a spell and sent him flying into the air, the punk screaming like a filly all the while. Green took out a watch and whistled while next to a garbage can. As he started to come back down, Green put away the watch and held the trashcan under where he was going to land. Like clockwork, he landed on target, now dazed and confused and slipped into unconsciousness. Fluttershy came out from underneath the other can, nervously wondering who this mysterious green alicorn was. She didn't have much time as he started to go towards her. "Are you ok, Fluttershy?" he asked, offering a hoof up. She took it, still shaken.
"I believe so...who are you and how do you know my name?" she asked confused.
"I'll explain later, I pinkie promise, but for right now, I have ponies to hug!" he exclaimed proudly. He reached off screen and pulled out Pinkie Pie, hugging her tightly. At first, she was just as confused as Fluttershy, but she quickly got into it and hugged Green back.
"He's fuzzy," she snorted. As soon as they released the hug, Green started to spin away.
"Go find Twilight, you two," he called. A flash of lightning later and he was gone.
"Um...what just happened?" Fluttershy asked Pinkie, half knowing she wouldn't get one.
"I don't know, but he seems fun," she replied. They quickly composed themselves, exited the alley and went in search of Twilight.
"HUGGIES!" Green shouted as he zipped through town square from pony to pony, hugging each in quick succession: Vinyl, Octavia, Lyra, Bon Bon, Colgate, Carrot Top, Derpy and the Doctor; They all seemed surprised more than unwanting of the hugs though. He released the final pony and sighed in contentment. "There. Now to find her." He said to himself.
"And who might that be?" said a mature scratchy female voice. He turned to see a pony he had never seen before. She had a grey-blue coat and a mane color not dissimilar to toothpaste. She was a pegasus, but he could tell she was no ordinary pegasus as he sensed an odd type of magic within her. She also wore a blue vest with multiple pockets.
"I could ask you a similar question, miss. I know Ponyville like the back of my new hooves and I don't remember you at all. Only pony I can think who looks similar is Colgate," he explained. She sighed and looked at him with irritation.
"Ordinarily, I'd clock you for comparing her to me, but I can see you are new in town so I'll let it slide just this once." She said, slight venom in her voice.
"So, what's a pegasus like you doing with some weird magic?" He looked at her with the most serious expression he's displayed ever since he "arrived." She cleared her throat.
"I was born with this magic, if you must know. My mother..." she began. Green then cut her off abruptly.
"Yawn. Boring," he said. She stared at him for only a moment before disappearing and reappearing behind him, having now gotten in a punching position and proceeded to get him right between the eyes. Green then flew across the town square, hitting a lamp post and smacking into a tree. His eyes managed to get through to the other side in a cartoony manner popping the sections of the tree out leaving his eyes in their place. "Mares, amiright?" he said to no one in particular. She appeared in front of him, looking at him in a superior manner.
"The name is Star Flight. It would be in your best interest not to forget it or interrupt me when speaking. I unfortunately think this won't be the last time I see you. So until then, learn some manners," she trotted away in a huff.
Twilight, Starlight and Spike, having left the castle, sprinted through town and soon enough hear of the minor inconveniences left by their new guest. "Twilight," a soft voice said.
"Fluttershy, thank Celestia you're all right. Did you happen to see a green alicorn with problems regarding over affection?" Twilight asked.
"Um...actually I did and so did-"
"I DID TOO TWI!" Pinkie shouted in Twilight's ear. "The nice stallion went to help Fluttershy when she was gonna be mugged...I never thought I'd see the day. Usually she's so much more assertive compared to when we first met."
"He...um...caught me off guard. I'm still a little freaked out. But he did save me and knocked the mugger out. He then grabbed Pinkie from the 4th wall I think and hugged her with vigor."
"He was fluffy and cozy," Pinkie exclaimed, bouncing up and down happily.
"You do realize we are all fluffy and cozy, right?" Starlight said.
"But he was different. He had all this weird warm energy coming off him. Like Discord's hugs." Twilight's eyes grew huge and her pupils shrunk to pinpricks. Her left eye twitched.
"WE NEED TO FIND HIM NOW!" she shouted. She ran off only to be stopped by an orange hoof.
"Wait just a minute, sugarcube," said a voice in a southern accent.
"Don't be hasty, darling," said a voice in a proper tone.
"Rarity. Applejack. Sweetie Belle. Applebloom. What are you all doing here?" asked Spike.
"Well, I heard there was a stir at the castle, so I got Applebloom from her art classes in town and we started to head back when we ran into these two," Applejack started.
"I was coming back from the Spa when I also heard the commotion and went to pick up Sweetie Belle from her playdate at Button Mash's home. That's when I ran into these two," Rarity finished.
"Hey!" said a voice in the distance. They all looked towards it and saw a gray-blue pegasus. "You looking for a freaky green alicorn that's too over affectionate?" Twilight nodded her head. "He's gone towards the edge of town near Dash's place." She started to walk away when Fluttershy noticed her cutie mark was moving.
"Um...Twili-" she began.
"Not now, Fluttershy. We have a minor inconvenience to track down," Twilight said. They all began towards their friend's home, Fluttershy storing that detail in the back of her mind.
Nightfall had come to Ponyville as the fireflies flew in beautiful displays, the occasional bat soaring by overhead. Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo were resting under Dash's home. "Great job today, squirt. You nailed hovering for 5 minutes. That's a lot better than yesterday," Dash said proudly, ruffling Scoots mane playfully. The filly just sat there happy to get this attention from her "big sister." As this continued, Green looked on, eyes now filled with hearts, hearts also flying around his head. He wolf whistles and zooms over to his cyan target.
He grabs her in his hooves, a rose appearing in his mouth. "Hello, lovely mare. How are you this evening?" he says in a seductive tone. Dash just looked at him with confusion. Scoots looked on, also confused. He turned his head to her. "Hi Scoots. How are you, as well?" Just then, the others came running.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" Twilight boomed.
"I'm just telling a beautiful mare how beautiful, sexy, and awesome she is," he responded. Dash started to blush from the complements. "Not to mention having an adorable and awesome honorary sister," he said looking at Scootaloo; She also blushed, fidgeting at the nice words. Everypony just looked at Dash worried. Dash closed her eyes in panic, trying to figure out what to do next. She came to a quick decision.
"Sorry, stud," she said as she brought her back left leg back and proceeded to kick him in the genitals. He quickly let her go as he staggered back and forth, Dash landing on the soft grass below. He fell on his belly, unconscious. They all looked at each other then looked at Dash. "I guess I don't know my own strength," she laughed nervously. Spike slightly stepped back from her.
"Let's get him back to the castle," Twilight said. She scooped him up in her magic and they all headed back, most of them talking about him and wondering who he was and why he was both nice and super powerful.
Green was still hazy on the details on why he was unconscious, but he remembered feeling pain in his balls; Though that pain was severely reduced right now. He could almost make out what the other ponies were saying.
"We...can't leave...all...lone..."
"He seems nice. Plus he complimented Scoots and I. What bad pony does tha-" Dash started. "He's waking up." Green put a hoof to his head and moaned in pain.
"What happened?" he asked. He then noticed all 7 mares, 3 fillies and one dragon were staring at him. He rubbed his head in embarrassment. "I'm sorry if I freaked anypony out," he said.
"If you're really sorry, you can start telling us who you are, what you are..er...were and how you know all about us and Equestria," Twilight stated. He cleared his throat.
"Well, my real name was Robert and I was a human on the Planet Earth in the country of the United States in the state of New Jersey aka the butt monkey state," he stopped for a moment, Twilight motioning for him to continue. "I was what you might call a nerd, geek or media junkie. I loved cartoons, movies, anime and video games. One night while talking to my friends on Discord, I-"
"What?" they all said in confusion.
"It's a program on a computer that let's you talk to people and share things like pictures over the world wide web aka the internet." They all sighed in relief as he continued. "Anyway, one day...I believe it was Saturday night...we were chatting about a show I'll tell you about in a minute when a portal in the floor of my bedroom appeared and I, along with my stuff, was sucked into your world. I was starting to get up when that mask got attached to my face. Then I felt a weird energy course through me. I assume it was magic," he looked to Twilight, Starlight and Spike who all nodded. "After that, I began to feel so powerful and so full of energy. It brought out my inner most desires and emotions. I wanted to punish the bad ponies and hug everypony I held dear," he paused for a breath. "As for why I know all of you and a lot about Equestria is because..." he took in a breath, "there is a show called My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic that exists in the real world. It is basically what you might call a documentary or reality television in your case." He stopped to see everypony's reactions. Twilight, Starlight, Rarity and Fluttershy turned so red, they were a match for Big Mac, Applejack and Applebloom stared at Green in awe, Pinkie looked like she already knew that and Rainbow Dash, Scootaloo and Spike smiled wide, thinking they were now famous.
"Sweet!" Dash exclaimed. "I'm famous in two dimensions!" She took into the air and looped around. Scootaloo buzzed around the room and Spike pretended to shred on guitar. Twilight got out of her stupor.
"THIS IS AMAZING! A TRAVELER FROM ANOTHER DIMENSION! I MUST DO A STUDY ON YOU!" She shouted at Green. She looked around nervously and blushed intensely.
"But what are we gonna do with him?" Starlight asked. Everypony went silent until Twilight stepped towards Green.
"Since we don't know anything about him, I say he stays with us here in the castle for a while. So we can get to know him and so I can study his weird magic." Nopony had any better suggestions so they nodded in agreement. Twilight then realized something important.
"Do you want us to call you Robert like before?" she asked. He shook his head.
"I don't think that would fit me anymore. I actually already came up with a name for my new self: GREEN THUNDER!" He struck a dramatic pose.
And so it came to pass that Green Thunder leaving was too dangerous and he would stay with Twilight, Starlight and Spike in the castle.
As the others trotted out, Dash and Scoots were still a bit confused. "I still don't get why he said all those nice things to Scoots and me."
"And I, darling." Rarity corrected. Dash didn't notice."Perhaps he has a crush on you and likes Scootaloo?" she suggested. They all went silent. Dash then got a faint blush on her cheeks.