When Twilight accidentally transported Gregory into their world, she will have to help him get his life back together and back on his hooves.
Gregory was not having a good life after he escaped the Pizzaplex, Freddy was dismantled after he saved the boy by pushing himself and Vanny off the rooftop, Gregory finding out that the Security Guard working there is the same one responsible for the kids disappearances, and now he’s on the run, all alone, no family and no one to turn to… until fate strung him up.
When Twilight Sparkle uses a spell from the Chamber of Creation, she accidentally summoned Gregory into her world. With no way for him to go home and no family to even go to, Twilight Sparkle must have to now help Gregory, now Glamrock Superstar, to adjust his life in Equestria.
“Freddy! Come on! We gotta get out before the building comes down!” Gregory calls out as his robotic protector set the plush toys ablaze and exit through the fire escape. They made their way out out and to the Pizzaplex’s rooftop, Gregory looks behind him, checking to see if Freddy was behind him. Suddenly, he was grabbed by a familiar face he didn’t want to run into.
”Hello Gregory,” said Vanny, holding tightly on the boy’s arms, lifting him off the ground, the red glowing and menacing eyes gazed into Gregory’s, “Our playtime hasn’t finished yet. Your friends were worried that you’re not coming back… but I’ll ease their worries, once you join them.” Gregory tried to kick the psychotic rabbit out from her grasp, but her hold was overpowering.
“Gregory!!” A robot male voice suddenly cries out, their heads turn to the source of the voice to see a protective Glamrock Freddy Fazbear, charging at the white rabbit like a mad rhino. He rams into Vanny, causing her to lose her grip on her victim and send herself and the robot cascading off the ledge of the building, an in-human scream can be heard the two falls.
Gregory got back up and saw the two figures falling off the roof and then… Bam!Freddy’s pieces and shrapnel of his casing scattered and flew through alleyway’s pavement, Vanny on the other hand had laid motionless, her head still looking up at the dark blue dawn’s sky.
”FREDDY!!!” Gregory cries out, no response was returned to him. Worried and scared, he ran back to the fire escape staircase, went down the staircase and went out to the back of the building to see both Freddy and Vanny… dead. “FREDDY!!” The boy calls out again, running to the robot bear’s side, “Freddy!! Freddy, are you okay?!?!”
The robot’s head looked at brown haired boy’s eyes, his optics’ eyelids were halfway open, if he could smile to show him that he’s happy to see he’s still alive, he would. “G-Gregory…” the robot croaks as his voice glitches, “Y-You’re my-y… S-Suupersta-ar…” he placed his clawed hand on the boy’s left side of his face, his light blue eyes flickered.
Gregory’s eyes watered, holding up Freddy’s head. “J-just hang on!” He cries, “W-we can get you fixed! I-if we-“ he was cut off but Freddy’s head shaking no.
“Gre-egory… I’m a-alre-eady too-o broken be-eyond repa-air…” his friend says with a broken-hearted tone, “L-listen to me-e… you must le-eave this pla-ace… keep moving-ing… do no-ot return here-re… I’ll be-e with you-u… a-always…” with that, his eyes flicker once last time and his optics lights fades out, his body remained locked with his hand still placed on Gregory’s face.
“Freddy?” He asked his deactivated protector, his voice quivered and scared, he shook his head, trying to wake him up, “No, Freddy, please! Freddy wake up!! FREDDY PLEASE!!!” Gregory’s tears were running down his cheeks, pleading and begging for his friend to get up. “FREDDY PLEASE WAKE UP!!! I DON’T WANT TO BE ALONE AGAIN!!! FREDDY!!!”
…
Still no response. He cries his eyes out as he hugs his friend’s head. His cries echoes out through the alleyway. Gregory may have left the pizzaplex alive, but he lost his only friend in the process. Gregory wiped his tears with his forearm as his attention is now to the dead rabbit lady, he cautiously walked to the body and grabbed mask. Removing it reveals an adult woman with blonde hair. This made Gregory really confused, the security guard Vanessa is Vanny? Why would she even do this? Why would she cause all of those disappearances? He walked backwards, dropping the mask and began to hyperventilate. Suddenly, the rabbit’s body got up and lunges at him, causing him to scream.
2 weeks later
Gregory’s eyes snapped open and breathed heavily, his breath visible from the winter weather. He looked around to see if Vanny was around… but then he remembered that she was already dead when Freddy… He didn’t want to dwell on that anymore. He could only sigh in relief that Vanny coming back to life was only just a dream, nothing more, nothing less.
Gregory got out of the makeshift cardboard box and grabbed his oversized Glamrock jacket, he leaves his resting spot and heads out onto the sidewalks once again. The bluish gray sky set in a depressing afternoon, after news broke out about a security guard being revealed to be the kidnapper and a certain robot ‘killed’ her, the restaurant owners decided to have the place refurbished, the animatronics rebuilt, and the security guards’ background checks swept until they can find a replacement for Freddy.
Gregory walked past by a couple of buildings, then something caught his eyes, promoted TVs broadcasted news info about Freddy’s Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex. “In other news for the Pizzaplex,” a woman narrates, “There has been reports that Bonnie, one of Freddy’s band companions and friend of the franchise, will finally make a grand return to the stage and as a temporary replacement until Freddy’s finally and officially repaired.”
The news cuts to a old man with a suit and tie, his brown eyes staring at the camera as he began to speak, “I can’t really confirm that Bonnie would indeed return, but we are debating on the option for either him or Mr. Hippo… which honestly I think it would be too mediocre for the cast. As for Freddy, we don’t know why he suddenly attack one of our own security guards, despite her being a kidnapper to what reason we have no knowledge of.”
Gregory’s eyes began to water again. His only friend and protector that understood and comfort him was going to be reprogrammed, even a single question as to if he even remembers the night they spent together was not going to help either one of them. If he had some technical know-how about robotics, he would be able to get his friend back up and running, but even he’s too young to know such study, it would take years of dedication, perfection, and geometric study.
In his mind, there’s only one thing left to do… say goodbye to Freddy Fazbear and end his traumatized experience behind for good.
Freddy Fazbear’s Mega Pizzaplex
Surprisingly, Gregory has gotten through the construction without anyone noticing him. He went downstairs and had a quick look at the cylinder chamber, through the window, he could see that Freddy’s was going through many changes, more noticeably, having his memory of what happened last night erased. Gregory could only just watch as the technicians reworked his programming.
“That’s should be it for the memory wipe process,” one of the technicians said, typing on the keyboard, “Jeez… this is going to cause a huge backlash on us, all because an animatronic killed a security guard.”
The other technician just scoffs as he closed the casing on Freddy’s forearm, “You kidding me, right? You seriously skipped over the fact that she was that white rabbit kidnapper? Luis, she was trouble from the start, you have to see that.” Luis just sighs and ignored him. His partner continues, “I mean come on, you offered to help her with that game you two were beta testing, she hacks the game for odd reasons; lest I also mention the trigger word you kept mentioning to me?”
“I don’t want to discuss this further Rodney.” Luis says with a deadpanned expression, finishing up with his work, “The sooner this mess gets cleaned up, the sooner I can go home and pretend that none of this ever happened.”
Gregory sadly slunked away and started to make his way to the fire escape, but as he does so, he also noticed that some of the security bots weren’t roaming around… did they cause some problems because of what transpired here? That didn’t mattered to him anyway, he quietly opened the fire escape door and went up the staircase.
All of this effort to be just a kid for once, all of this work to put the disappearances to end and get closures for their families, it all just came crashing down like a brick wall knocked down by a wrecking ball. He then went up to the rooftop, looking down at the ground below him as his climb made him think back could’ve been if Freddy would leave this place with.
Gregory then sat on the ledge of the rooftop, his eyes watering up again at the last moments with his friend and guardian… This was his own fault, if they had known that could’ve done so much more. Plus, had he known and put two and two together the the guard was indeed Vanny, they could’ve found a way to have her turned herself in to the authorities.
He then looks down at the alleyway where Freddy, to Gregory, had died. If this is how life has treating because he has no family, no friends, no one to help him… then he shouldn’t have any other reason to continue on anymore. What’s the point if anyone’s going to listen a little boy who has gone through too much trauma?
He stood up and took a deep breath, looking down at the alleyway one last time. He closed his eyes and took the plunge. The pull of gravity taking him to the concrete and to his death, hopefully, he could wake up knowing he would be someone else to have a happy family that would accept him…
Meanwhile in Equestria
It was a stormy night, rain was falling, winds blowing a five mile per hour wind and thunder was rolling. As the weather continues it’s downpour, a lavender unicorn mare and purple baby dragon were making their way to the haunting pathways of Everfree Forest.
The lavender unicorn mare has a dark sapphire blue mane and tail with moderate purple and brilliant rose pink streaks, moderate purple eyes, and each flank had a symbol of a pink star surrounded by smaller white stars. The little dragon meanwhile is purple with green scales on his back and a round belly.
As the lavender mare grabs out her notepad out from one of her saddlebags, she starts to take down some notes. Taking a second to look at her surroundings, seeing the trees, flowers and tall grass, she went back to her notepad.
The little dragon looks around the with his flashlight, shining brightly at the dark areas of the forest. “H-hey Twi?” The dragon asked, his voice shaking, “Remind me a-again as to exactly w-why we’re here?”
Twilight Sparkle stops writing for a moment to answer, “Well, according to Princess Celestia’s message, there has been an unknown source of magic that’s coming from Everfree… looking around, I don’t see anything that would cause an unknown source, but I can feel like here somewhere.” A flash of lightning suddenly crashes, causing both Twilight and Spike to jump, startled by the loud crash.
“W-we should hurry and find it b-before it gets worse.” Spike suggests, tugging on his coat’s hood to cover his head. Twilight nods in agreement as they continued on through their search. With the unicorn’s magic acting as her own source of light, it’s difficult to see in front of her, due to the forest’s reputation of dark areas and unnatural conditions, such as the Poison Joke flowers and the notorious Timberwolves. Spike shivered a little, “S-sure wished there’s a s-sign of that unknown by now.”
“Don’t worry Spike,” She reassured her assistant, not paying attention to where she’s walking, “By the time we find it, we’ll get what we need, leave, and report it to Princess Celesti-aaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!” she unexpectedly fell through a hole, Spike was shock and look where Twilight fell, then he heard a loud thud, then another, then a bang and a loud crash.
“Twilight! Are you okay?!” He shouts, looking at the dark hole, he couldn’t see where Twilight is.
The lavender unicorn slid out from slope and slammed against the wall. She groans in pain as she tries to get up, then she heard her assistant shouting. She went to the slope and tries to shout back, letting him know she was okay. “I’m alright Spike!” She calls out, she looks around and found herself in a tunnel, then she could see some sort of light, “Spike, I think there’s something down here! I’m going to check it out!”
“Okay, but be careful!” Spike shouts.
Twilight continues down on the path, many questions were racing through her mind. The question were on hold as she then saw something shocking, inside was a wrecked room, outlines of the room glowing a bluish white glows that leads to consoles, in the center of the room was a pillar electric blue light, something about that pillar was mesmerizing.
Her attention then turned to the sound of a humming noise, one of the consoles jumped to life and an blue orb appears above it. She looked at the orb curiously, this is something that you could never find in Equestria, nor are there any mention or records of some phenomena like these. She reaches out to orb with her front hoof, the orb suddenly goes from a round circle to a wavy pattern, causing her to retract her hoof, making the orb back to it’s normal circular form.
“What even is this?” She asked herself, her hoof then guides back to the orb, it once again goes into a wavy pattern. She then touches the orb and her eyes glowed a bright blue.
She looks around, a pitch black endless void, she was lost and uncertain as to what just happened. She then looked down and sees something very shocking, two figures were on top of a building, in the middle of the night, nothing like Manehattan or Appleloosa, at least from what she’d seen. The figures in question were something she hasn’t seen either, one a is a tall white rabbit and the small figure is something she can’t put her hoof on. However the scene that is playing out before her is terrifying, the small creature was trying to release itself from the rabbit’s grasp, as to why, she doesn’t know.
From behind her, hydraulic noises charging at her, Twilight was like a deer in the headlights, seeing this enormous shining bear coming at her, she ducked for cover and closed her eyes. When she snapped them, it all of a sudden became daytime. She looked around again and then sees the same little creature, but it’s appearance changed. She then heard countless voices, voices she can’t recognize.
”No, No! Wait, I'm still here!”
“I bet you don’t have any friends.”
“You really don’t think we won’t find you?”
“There’s no record of him!”
"Lights on! Lights on! I warned you- I WARNED YOU!"
“There you are. See you soon.”
Twilight then see the creature about to step off the ledge, not before hearing one last sentence.
“I’m trapped…”
Twilight’s eyes went wide as to what is happening, this creature had gone through harsh and terrible times. The creature than walks off the ledge. She rushed towards the creature, hopefully she could stop it in time. Too late, one quick drop and Twilight could watch helplessly to see the creature descended down to the concrete.
“NOOOOO!!!!!” She cries, her horn suddenly glows brightly, unintentionally casting a spell and shot at the creature. The body made contact with the ground and the aura’s shot hits the small creature in the back. Silence, the body had not made any movement… was she truly too late?
Before she could even find out, the world suddenly was covered in a bright light and Twilight was flung back towards the entrance of the chamber. She regained her strength to stand up again and she looks at the console, then she realizes that this isn’t just an ancient room. No. This was the Chamber of Creation! Explorers and Archivists were looking for this place for centuries, heck even Princess Celestia’s mentor, Starswirl the Bearded was looking for it!
She looked at the pod and noticed that the interior was containing an outline of somepony, it then fades in a figure of a little colt, not anypony she recognized… until she noticed the key feature of the colt, his mane was unkempt and a light shade of brown, his fur coat is a almost a fair shade of white, his tail is short and also unkempt, he’s wearing a blue collared T-shirt with grey stripes and a black oversized jacket with grey collar and sleeve cuffs, a electric blue lightning blot on each side of his jacket, as well around his sleeves. This was the creature’s reborn as!
Twilight was piecing together exactly as how this place functions, but those thoughts were put on hold as the pod starts to hiss out steam and the glass casing splits open. She looked at the colt curiously, noticing some multi colored bandages and some cuts exposed. She could only wince at some of them, she had them before, but none of them that deep.
“Oh, poor little guy…” she says to the unconscious colt, “You’ve been through a lot…” Looking back from the memory and piecing together from the aftermath, she could only imagine how she lost his parents, even that giant bear that she saw only a moment ago. If she lost any of her family members or friends, she wouldn’t know what to do.
Using her magic, she lifted the colt out from the pod and placed him on her back. “Don’t worry,” she says to him softly, “You’re gonna be safe when we get out of here.” She went out from where she first came in and went to the slope and calls out, “Spike! Are you still there?!”
15 minutes earlier
Spike was waiting and was getting nervous, Twilight has been down in that tunnel for at least nine minutes and hasn’t came back yet. He was about to call to her again, but then he heard somepony humming. It was Fluttershy, the timidly caring yellow pegasus mare with the pink silky mane and tail.
“Fluttershy! Fluttershy!” Spike called out and ran to her, getting her attention.
“Spike?” The soft spoken pegasus asked, tilting her head confusion, “Why are you hear alone? Does Twilight know you’re out here?” Spike explained the situation and where Twilight is, this made Fluttershy gasp in shock, “Oh my goodness! Is she alright?”
“She sounds fine,” Spike explains looking at the hole, “But if she hollers back and says she needs out, we somepony’s help to get her out of there.”
“I’ll go find Rainbow Dash and Applejack,” Fluttershy suggested, “Find something that we can use, like a rope or a vine.” Spike nods as she flies off to alert her friends, while the little dragon went to the closest area to the hole to find rope. He found a couple of green vines and tied a couple of them, making them longer and hopefully to reach Twilight.
“Spike! Are you still there?!”
He heard Twilight’s voice, so he ran back to the hole, the vine rope wrapped around his shoulder. “Yeah! I’m still here!” He calls out, “Did you find something?!”
“Yeah! I found something down here!” She shouts, “I’ll tell you when we get out! Do you have any rope?!”
“Yeah! I just grabbed some-“ he paused for a second, did she say we? “Who else is down there with you?!”
He heard a sigh and then Twilight shouts, “I’ll tell you later! Throw the rope down here!” Spike tossed one end of the rope down through the tunnel, hoping and praying to Celestia that it’s long enough to reach her.
Twilight can see the end of the rope being unraveled, she quickly grabbed it and tugged it, telling Spike she’s got it. She then wraps the rope around her waist and the colt, securing him to make sure he doesn’t accidentally fall off, she felt like one fall was enough for this poor colt.
She tugs on the rope again, she is then pulled up and through the slope.
Once she got out, she finds not just Spike with a look of relief, but Fluttershy, Applejack and Rainbow Dash as well!
“Are you okay there sugarcube?” Applejack asked her friend, placing her hoof on the unicorn’s shoulder, “When Fluttershy told us that you were in trouble, we came here as quick as we could.”
Rainbow Dash noticed the peach colored colt on Twilight’s back and then she asked, “And who the heck is that?”
“It’s a long story,” Twilight said to her, “For now, let’s get out of here before the Timberwolves find out we’re here.” They all agreed and head their way out and to Fluttershy’s cottage. As they do so, Twilight explained the unknown source of magic, the Chamber of Creation and the current situation regarding the colt she managed to recovered.
Fluttershy looked at the colt with a sad look. “Oh, the poor little colt,” she says, “It’s awful enough that he lost his friend, but to take his own life? He shouldn’t deserve to suffer like this!”
“This all sounds crazy though,” Rainbow Dash said skeptically, “I mean, I feel bad for the kid, don’t get me wrong, but it’s just weird as to how he got here! One suicidal thought and jumping off a ledge, and all of a sudden he just got into a Celestia-knows-how-long pod?”
“There will be plenty of time to get some answers,” Twilight confers, “But right now, I don’t think he’s in any condition to speak as to how or why, in fact I don’t think he doesn’t know how he got here either.”
“But how do we know he isn’t dangerous?” Rainbow asked her, “What if the last moments of his life were just a fabrication of you wanted to see?”
“What, this little guy?” Applejack asked the prismatic pegasus, “He looks like he wouldn’t harm a fly. Besides, Ah’d say that what he needs is some good amount of rest and help get back on his hooves, getting his life back together!”
Twilight smiles at Applejack’s encouragement for the colt, she then looks at the unconscious foal, stroking his unkempt mane gently. Then the thought occurred to her, what about his parents? What happened to them? Did they know he’s already dead?.
They will have to answer those questions and figure things out tomorrow, as much as Twilight wanted to learn more about this creature now into a colt, she and the others were very tired. Twilight went under him, wrapping her hooves around the unconscious colt.
Hopefully, everything will make sense for everyone in the morning.
Twilight started to stir awake, seeing that the little colt hasn’t woken up yet. Maybe his soul hasn’t reached his body yet? She could only hope for now that he would wake up soon, from the memories that the lavender mare saw, he was in dire need of help.
She looked around the room, seeing that the sunlight has shined though the glass window. She looked at the colt again, a sad smile curved on her lips, there are many possibilities to why he would take his own life. But what even drove him to do so? Perhaps the rabbit and bear that she saw in his memories were trying to get him? Looking back, the bear seemed to be somewhat protective for an unknown reason, but protecting who or what? The colt? Then Rainbow’s words caught up in her mind, what if it’s what she wanted to see? No, that would be crazy to think about! Wouldn’t it? The Chamber of Creation would only chose those who would deserve a second chance, or those who don’t deserve to live for any reason, or think they’re beyond help, would be reborn as a different being, at least according to it’s legend.
She looked at him once last time, but this time, something caught her attention, there are many cuts and bruises on him, a couple of band-aids here and there, some were left exposed. She then noticed the state of his clothes, ripped holes on the left sleeve of his jacket, dirt patches on his blue shirt and a tear on the right side of his shirt collar. She could only imagine what kind of torment he had to go through, but then again, something about the clothes and his body would mostly shock Rarity, but given as to her expertise in fashionista, she can get his clothes patched up no problem.
Twilight got up and stretched herself out, she got off the bed and went downstairs, seeing that, the girls and Spike were still asleep. She went to the little dragon and whispered for him to wake up, his eyes groggily open.
“Twilight?” He yawns, stretching out his arms, “What’s going on?”
“I need you and the girls up,” Twilight explains, “We need to go back to Everfree and into the Chamber of Creation. I feel like there might be something we’re missing there.”
“What do you mean?” Spike asked, raising a brow.
“According to legend, the Chamber was said to be birth place of pony kind,” she begins, “Grogar originally wanted to use these pods to created a army ponies to do his bidding, but there was a guardian that saw the cruelty that Grogar and stepped up against the creator. I believe that the guardian is still in the Chamber, but he wasn't in there the first time I went in there.”
“I take it we need to go back to the Golden Oaks to find the books about the Chamber?” Spike asked as he got out of the bed.
Twilight nods as she placed her saddlebags back on, “This is very important Spike, just think! This could be an answer for some little foals like that colt can be saved from their awful fates!” She then thought of many other possibilities for teaching young gifted unicorns magic, and how much that would be approved by The princesses themselves! Her eyes then went wide…
“Oh my gosh!” she shouts, waking up her friends, “Spike! We need to write a letter to Princess Celestia right away!”
Twilight looks at the groggy Rainbow and got excited, “Great! You’re up! We need to get going!”
Applejack and Fluttershy woke up and were explained by Twilight of the plan to head to the Chamber of Creation. “You sure you don’t wanna inform Rarity and Pinkie Pie on what happened and where we’re going?” Asked Applejack, “It wouldn’t hurt havin’ their help.”
Twilight gasped, “Oh my gosh, you’re right!” Her brain was racking with so much to do, “Wait! Who’s going go to watch the colt while we’re gone?!” The friends could see that Twilight’s in responsibility mode in an instant, ranting on and on of what would happen to him, maybe if he’ll wake up when they get back? What if he doesn’t and they’ve just carried a dead body?
“Twilight, just calm down,” Spike said to her calmly, “I’m sure he’ll be fine here, besides, if something happens, one of Fluttershy’s birds could inform us.”
All of a sudden, there was a knock on the door. Twilight looked confused and asked Fluttershy if she was expecting somepony, to which she said no. They went to answer the door and there stood waiting patiently was three fillies, a filly pegasus with a light brilliant gamboge coat and small wings, a moderate cerise colored mohawk-like mane and tails, and grayish purple eyes; a yellow earth pony with a red mane and tail and a large pink/red bow on the top of her head, and amber orange eyes; and a white unicorn with a sweet pink and purple striped mane and tail, and sap green eyes.
“Scootaloo? Apple Bloom? Sweetie Belle?” The lavender mare asked respectively, “What you three doing here?”
“Well we were wondering if Fluttershy could let us borrow the-“ Scootaloo explains, but then notices the saddlebags, “Where are you going?”
Applejack explained the trio that they’re going to Everfree to check something out, of course this gotten the three fillies excited, some of their Cutie Mark searching has mostly been in Ponyville. This actually gave the librarian an idea, since the colt seems to be around their age -at least, she guesses- he could possibly make some new friends with them!
Just when the fillies were about to ask, Twilight stepped in and said, “Girls, I have something I can really use your help with.” The three fillies looked at her as she continues, “I need you to watch somepony while we’re gone.” She motioned her head to have them follow her upstairs. They then looked at the sleeping colt, Scootaloo then rushed towards the side of the bed, getting a good look at him.
“Whoa,” the gamboge pegasus says in awe, “Who is he?”
“That’s what we’re hoping to know once he wakes up,” Twilight explains, “If he does, I need you three to take some notes about him. Who knows? Maybe he’ll join you as a fellow Cutie Mark Crusader.”
The three fillies looked at each other, Sweetie Belle’s attention was only focused on the unconscious colt, who’s breathing softly still. Apple Bloom then spoke up, “He doesn’t have a Cutie Mark?” Twilight shook her head no.
“I don’t know,” Scootaloo said unsurely, “I mean, we tried some methods of getting our Cutie Marks, but helping out a colt that we just met? I don’t think I want ‘Colt Watching’ as my special talent.”
“Scootaloo, he’s been through a lot,” Twilight says to her, “From what I’ve understand in the memories I saw, he seems to be living in a rough life, just look at his cuts and bruises.” She pointed a couple of cuts on him, “It wouldn’t be fair for him to be left alone again, that wouldn’t be fair if the same happened to you three, would it?”
Sweetie Belle, not paying any attention to the conversation, still kept her gaze at the colt. There’s something about him that just feels awful for, it just reminded her that a months ago, before she even met Apple Bloom and Scootaloo, she and Rarity were walking along through Canterlot, but then whom she would hear none other than the bratty bully herself and her mother, Diamond Tiara and Spoiled Rich, talking disrespectfully to a couple of homeless ponies at the outskirts of the town. For some of the homeless, it was thankfully not as bad as Manehattan, at least from what she had heard.
She was always told by many ponies, except for her sister, that they need to figure out their problems and deal with them. Up until the Cutie Mark Crusaders were formed, they’re willing to help each other’s main problem: Getting a Cutie Mark. Perhaps this colt could be a great solution?
“I know it’s not the most fun or exciting,” Twilight continues, “But if you three are willing to-“
“We’ll do it.” Sweetie Belle cut the lavender mare off, that took them off guard, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo were giving her a really confused look, “Girls, I think that maybe we should put finding our Cutie Marks on hold, just look at how many times we try to get ours by forcing them, not to mention that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon calling us ‘Blank Flanks’ just to get under our pelts. If we’re just trying to get our Cutie Marks because of them and trying to prove a point? That would just make us feel too greedy!”
Twilight was just in awe, this is the first time that Sweetie Belle, the brains of the CMC, to put her crusading aside and focusing on something else entirely! If Rarity saw and heard her little sister saying this, she would be proud.
Apple Bloom and Scootaloo just looked at each other at first, then back at Sweetie Belle. “But what about our crusading?” Scootaloo asked worryingly, “We’re just gonna keep getting called ‘Blank Flanks’ by those two if-“
“Sweetie Belle’s right Scoots,” Apple Bloom interrupted, “Right now, Ah think he needs some help.”
Sweetie Belle went to her friends and held onto their hooves with hers and corrects Apple Bloom, “Our help, and we’re not gonna go anywhere until he’s fully healed and get him through whatever’s going on with him. Ready to do this Cutie Mark Crusaders?”
The fillies smiled at each other and nod as they looked at Twilight, she smiled at them and looked like as if she was going to cry. She wiped her tears away and said, “A-alright, I’m counting on you three. If you ever need us, we’ll place a guide rope to show you where we are in case of emergencies.”
The three gave her a salute and said in unison “You can count on us!”
Twilight makes her leave with the others, leaving just the Crusaders and the unconscious colt. Silence was there was in the room, until Scootaloo then asks, “How long do you think it will take him to wake up?”
A few hours later
Groaning and murmuring to himself in a sleepy state, Gregory opens his eyes to see the vision of the world presented in front him. The world seemed to be… colorful? Not like the neon colored lights from the Mega Pizzaplex, and not like the dark alleys. The world around Gregory seemed to be cartoon-like, like the artstyle that Freddy and his friends had on their post-board standstills.
Looking around, he seems to be inside of a house, cream colored walls and light green floorboards with wood brown boards and beams holding up the roof. His head then turned to see a mirror a surprising sight, his entire body had changed.He became a young, fair white horse! He seemed to be confused and scared as to why this is happened. Didn’t he just offed himself back at the Pizzaplex’s rooftop?
He then looked at the other side of the bed and saw a white horse next to him, asleep. Then looked at the far side, two other horses were asleep, one thing he noticed was that one of the horses has wings, tiny wings to be exact. This is crazy, he was transformed into horse and was brought here in some house that’s probably full of horses!
He tries to get off the bed the way that a regular person would, but due to his body now into a form of a quadruped, his hind legs were no help getting him stable. He waved his forelegs to keep himself balanced, but even that started to fail him, causing him to fall forwards and land on his belly, the floorboards squeaked below him. He gasped quietly and looked at the bed… no movement, the three young horses were still asleep, how they didn’t wake up from that, he’ll never know.
He then noticed, upon close inspection of his body, he realized that his jacket, shirt, and shorts are not present on his person at all! Either the horses removed his clothes and probably took them somewhere… Gregory had a much frightening thought, were they aliens disguised as horses and this house is just an illusion of their mothership’s examination room?
Then, he noticed that something else was missing, he looked at his wrist and found that the Fazwatch is not present. It’s gone… his Fazwatch was gone… the only other connection to and a gift from Freddy is gone. He just sighs sadly and tries to get up again and started wince in pain, feeling it from the collar bone up, like as if twenty to thirty boxers beaten the ever living life out of him and without mercy.
He once again tries to stand on two legs, but with a quick look to the floor scared the living daylights out of him, a little white rabbit with round, black eyes, a yelp escaped his lips, causing him to once again lose balance, stumbles backwards toward the staircase, waving his forelegs again and leaning forward to catch himself from falling. Unbeknownst to him, the white horse’s ear twitched from the yelp. Her head raised and saw him clumsily and awkwardly walked backwards on his hind legs, heading straight to the staircase.
Gregory hyperventilates as he tries to keep his balance, but result to be brought backwards and stumbles downstairs, but not before hearing a young girl’s voice shouting, “Hang on! I got you!” One quick look and Gregory sees the white horse quickly tries trying to grab his right foreleg, but that resulted with with both of them falling down the flight of stairs. Loud banging and groaning of pain could be heard, so loud that clucking from chickens, chittering from squirrels and chipmunks and a loud honking from a duck could be heard from outside, scaring them.
Gregory’s sight quickly came back to him and saw the white horse’s feature, with one look at her and the squinting of her sap green eyes, he screamed very loudly as he thought she looked like Roxanne Wolf. He shove her off and clumsy tried to get to the door.
“H-hey!” She calls out to him in worry, “Where are you going!?” Gregory, scared out of his mind, tried to use his fore hooves to push the door open, and with enough force, he got it to swing hardly. He looked back at his assumed pursuer and warns her, “S-stay away from me!” He quickly turns around and failed to realize that the door swung back and smacked his face, he heard a gasp from the white horse, but that didn’t matter to him as he clumsy ran out.
“WAIT!” He heard her call out again, “WATCH OUT FOR THE-” her warning was too little, too late, he crashed into the mailbox and fence, and fell into the pond below him. The splash scared the water creature in the pond and swam as quickly as possible, thankfully they weren’t hurt.
The same couldn’t be said for poor Gregory. He just laid in the pond, moaning in pain, too hurt to even move, and unknowingly, his cuts were opened and started to bleed through the water.. This was not how he even imagined what would happen after he died. He just imagined that he would’ve ended up in heaven, but apparently, God just noped him out and into this colorful nut world.
He then looked up and saw the worried expression of the white horse, he then heard another young girl’s voice with a heavy southern accent, “Sweetie Belle! What the hay happened!?” He didn’t have time to listen, he needs to leave, now! He grunted and groaned in pain as he got out of the pond, blood trickling down his cheeks and legs, leaving a trail of red behind him.
Sweetie Belle looked at the unintended self beaten colt with a worried look on her face, the event that just unfolded before had horrified her, his blood that spread out from pond’s water. It made her feel sick to her stomach just seeing the water tainted with red, she took a moment to look away from the sight.
Suddenly, she heard Apple Bloom’s voice, “Sweetie Belle! What the hay happened!?”
“I-I-I don’t know!” Sweetie explains in a worried but rushed tone, “I saw he was gonna fall down the stairs, then I tried to catch him, but we both fell, then he shoved me, bashed his face against the door, and now he fell in the pond and he’s not moving and I don’t know what to do!!”
Both Apple Bloom and Scootaloo just went wide eyed for a few seconds, of course, the gamboge filly lets her mouth run again, “Wow, and here I thought Rarity and Twilight are the ones having break downs.”
“NOW ISN’T THE TIME SCOOTS!” The white filly shouts.
“Hey, where is he anyway?” Apple Bloom asked her, she and Scootaloo looked at the broken wooden fence, and went to look at the pond.
“AB! Scoots! Don’t look!” Sweetie tried to warn, but alas, a scream was heard from Apple Bloom as the two saw a watered down, blood soaked colt limping out of the pond and heading straight to the Everfree Forest. The yellow filly just turned away from the sight and started to hyperventilate, while Scootaloo couldn’t tear her eyes away from the blood in the water.
“What. In Celestia’s name. Did we just saw?” Scootaloo asked, her voice went quiet and sounded so traumatized.
Apple Bloom continues to breath very fast and mutter that she swore she never saw this and never again, Sweetie Belle helped her calm down with the breathing technique that Twilight taught her. Once everyone was calmed down, they noticed the bloody trail.
“Oh no! He’s gone to Everfree Forest!” Apple Bloom pointed, “He doesn’t know what’s lurkin’ in there! We gotta get him out!”
“Hold on, who’s going to warn Twilight about the colt?!” Sweetie asked, then they looked at Scootaloo, she waved her hoof in front of face… nothing, “SCOOTALOO!”
“HUH?! WHA?!” She then looked back at where the colt was, then put two and two together, “SWEETIE! AB! HE’S AT THE EVERFREE FOREST!”
“We know that already!” The two said annoyed.
“O-okay, who’s going to after the colt, and who are the two going to warn Twilight?” Sweetie reasked her question.
“I’m faster than you two,” Scootaloo says to them, “I’ll go find him, you two go warn Twilight.”
“Ain’t no way I’m going to let you go in there alone!” Apple Bloom argued, “You go with Sweetie, I’ll go find him!”
Sweetie was really stressed and just says, “Okay, we’ll all go in Everfree, we’ll all go warn Twilight, we’ll all go get our soaky colt. Alright?”
“Right!” “Right!” “Right!” “Right!” “Right!”
“Hold on! Hold on!” Sweetie Belle says, looking at the both of her friends, then asked, “Everypony alright?”
“Yeah, we’re alright.” The two fillies says. And so, they head on their way to the forest, running as fast as their legs could go. Following the guide rope that was tied around to one of the trees on the forest’s outskirts, they would finally reach the hole. From out of the hole was Twilight, Spike, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, a white unicorn with a purple mane named Rarity, and an energetic pink earth pony name Pinkie Pie.
“Ooh! I really can’t wait to meet him!” Pinkie Pie bounced in excitement, “I bet he really like parties! Parties are what I do best, as you probably know by now!”
“Hold on Pinkie,” Twilight giggles at the party pony’s enthusiasm, “Let’s take this one step at a time, first we need to go back to Fluttershy’s and-“ she then noticed the frantic looks on the fillies that appeared before her, that could only mean one thing. Before she could even ask, the three started to speak irrationally and overlapping with each other, not even understanding what they’re saying. “My little ponies!” She shouts, their overlapping explanation stops, “What’s going on?”
“WE LOST HIM!” the three shouted in a panicked unison.
Gregory felt like he was running around in this forest like an absolute klutz for hours, though it’s been practically fifteen minutes. He was getting exhausted, in pain, and was on the verge of collapsing, he thankfully found a hiding spot behind the bushes and rested himself against a tree. His breathing was getting shallow, his fair white pelt and brown mane became stained from his own blood, some of his band-aid came off from his work out run.
Gregory’s body was really shaking, his hind leg twitching in pain from his self beating he took back at the house. His eyes were watering from the fear and confusion that was playing through his mind, scared as to why he was brought to… whatever this world is.
“I might as well die here…” he said to himself quietly, perhaps whatever this purgatory is, maybe heaven can finally let him in this time, he just closed his eyes, tears running down his face and quietly crying to himself.
“HEEYY!!!!” a voice suddenly calls out, his eyes snapped open from the voice… he recognized that voice, it belonged to that white horse… Sweetie Belle, was it? “WHERE ARE YOU!?!?”
“Little colt!” There was another voice this time, but this sounded like an adult.
“Hey kid! Where are Ya!?” There was another. Were they looking for him? He then noticed when he looked at his hind legs that he made a blood trail as where he hid, he want to cover up the trail, but he’s in too much pain to even move at point.
“Twi! Over here!” A southern voice calls out, he then heard footsteps, then they suddenly stop. He breathes shallowly again.
“Oh, the poor darling,” said Rarity, “He sounds so frighten!” She went to bush and then turned to Rainbow Dash, “Rainbow, be a dear and help move these bushes please?”
“Wait! Don’t look at him!” Apple Bloom warns.
“Oh relax AB,” The prismatic maned pegasus said cocky, “There isn’t anything we haven’t dealt with!”
Rarity nods and went through the bushes, in a hushed tone for the colt, “Sweetie, I know you’re scared, but you need to be—WAH-HA-HA!!” She yells as she backs by the state he’s in, “Good heavens! What in Celestia’s name ever happened to his pelt and coiffure?!”
Rainbow raised a brow and scoffs, “Oh come one Rars, I think you’re just overreacting again.” She then went through the bushes, “Come on kid, time to out of the—“ she then got a good look at Gregory and too screamed very loudly and zoomed back towards Rarity. “What the heck happened to him!?”
“Is literally nopony’s ears are working!?” Scootaloo asked annoyed.
“Okay, okay,” Twilight mutters under her breath at first, rubbing the side of her temples. She then decides to take a different approach, instead of going in through the bushes, she just talked from the her side of the bush. “Hey, are you okay?” At first, there was no answer, so she tries again, “We’re not here to cause you any harm, we only want to help you.” Again, there was only silence.
Sweetie Belle then stepped next to Twilight and spoke to him, “Please? We can’t help you if you can’t talk to us.”
They heard him muttered something under his breath, but couldn’t make out what he was saying. Twilight then took a different approach by introducing herself, “My name is Twilight Sparkle, could you tell me your name?”
”G-Gregory…”
“What was that?” The lavender unicorn asked in confusion.
“I… I-I’m… Gregory.” He says to her, his voice was quivering like he holding back his sobbing.
Twilight’s ears flattened when hearing his voice, troubled and heartbroken, but she doesn’t want to rush to that point yet and continues talking, “Gregory? That’s a very nice name. Gregory, me and friend of mine are gonna help you get back up, okay?” She stares at Applejack and motion her head towards the bushes. They gently move the bushes aside and see the blood covered colt.
Gregory sees them and tries to move back away from them, his breathing once again became shallow, fresh tear were rolling down on his face, his eyes went wide in fear of them.
“It’s okay.” Twilight reassures, “Everything’s going to be alright.” She then reached out her hoof for him while Gregory looking away from her. “Hey, you don’t have to be scared. I won’t hurt you.” The colt then tried crawling away from them all, his breathing now began to hyperventilate. Twilight took his left foreleg, while Applejack grabbed his right, pulling him up from the ground.
“There, that wasn’t bad, was it?” She comfortingly asked, giving him a kind smile. Gregory just stared at her for a few seconds, such kindness and willing help him… almost reminded him of… Freddy.
Overcome with emotions, he rushed to the lavender mare over and hugged her tightly. Twilight was taken a back at first from the colt’s grip, but she hugged him back and gently rubbed his back. “Shhhhhh, shhhhhh… It’s okay.” Gregory then leaned against Twilight and nuzzled with her chest. Twilight then smiled motherly while seeing the poor colt cuddle with her fur.
The others took notice Gregory hugging Twilight, and they were smiling at the tender moment.
Applejack then looked at the sky, seeing some storm clouds gathering. “Ah hate to be a pardon, but I think we need to skedaddle on out of here before we need up like wet dogs at a pool party.”
Everyone, except for Gregory, too looked at the dark skies. Twilight then used her magic to lift the colt and put him on her back. “Let’s get you out of here,” she says to him, “Everfree Forest isn’t really safe in the night, or in stormy weather for that matter.”
As they walked through the forest, the lavender mare looked back at the colt, she wondered what ever happened to his parents, were they even alive? “Gregory? Does your parents know you’re missing?” She asked him, that question made him buried his face into her back, her ears flattened in sadness, did they not really care for him at all?
Applejack then spoke to him, “Well, don’t worry your messy mane there Sugarcube. Whatever you need, we’ll help ya’ll out.” This made Gregory raise his head and looked at the country mare and gave her a weak smile. “You can call me Applejack. This here is mah little sister, Apple Bloom.”
“Hi!” The yellow filly says happily.
“Ooh! Me next!” The party pony exclaims, “I’m Pinkie Pie, and you’re all better we throw a “Welcome to Equestria/Get Better Soon,” party!”
He never had anyone put together a party for him before, neither could he remember being in one, or what’s it’s even like, “I-I’ve never been to a party before.”
This made Pinkie gasp dramatically, “Y-you never been to a party!?”
“Settle down Pinkie Pie darling,” Rarity giggles, patting her shoulder, “We’ll have plenty of time to get one set up for him before the day is out.” She then turned her attention to Gregory, “I’m very happy to make your acquaintance Gregory, My name is Rarity, I apologize for taking your shirt and jacket without your consent, but they looked terribly damaged, I couldn’t let a colt like yourself have rain seep in onto your pelt.”
“Wh-what about my shorts, my underwear?” He asked, his cheeks went red just asking that question, “D-did you take them too?”
“No dear,” she said, “You weren’t wearing any when Twilight found you.” He couldn’t believe what he was hearing, he was half naked when he was found?! He face was redder than a cherry by the fact. Rarity giggled, “Oh darling, that’s nothing to be embarrassed about, we don’t wear clothes, except on some occasions, of course.”
Gregory chuckles a bit, his attention then turned to the little white unicorn filly. “You’re Sweetie Belle, right?”
Her eyes went wide a little and asked, “Y-yes? How did you know that?”
“One of your friends called you and you seemed to respond to that name… you have a cute name.”
Seeing him smile and calling her cute made both of them blush. “O-oh! Hehe, thank you.” She says to him, trying to hide her blush with her mane.
“Hey, easy there Romeo,” Scootaloo teases, “She’s a colt eater.”
“Scoots!” Sweetie Belle’s voice cracks in an unapproved tone, her cheeks blushed a brighter red. She looked at Gregory and smiled and tried to played it off, “S-sorry about Scootaloo, she can be a joker sometimes,” she gritted through her teeth at her fellow Crusader, “If she minds herself.”
Rainbow Dash looked at Gregory. “You know kid, you have a weird name.”
“Rainbow.” Twilight scolds.
“Well he is!” She protests, “I mean, what the heck even were you anyway?”
The colt begins to stutter, but Spike cuts in, “He’s a pony like you Rainbow Dash. Sure, he’s strange, but then again, so are other ponies with some hobbies.”
“Spike’s right Rainbow,” Fluttershy adds, “Besides, who would leave their foal behind?” She then turns attention to Gregory, giving him a kind smile, “I’m sorry about Rainbow Dash, she’s been on edge recently. I’m Fluttershy, I take care of my animals at my cottage. I hope my bunny Angel didn’t give you any trouble.” His eyes went wide, that rabbit was hers? Fluttershy took notice, “Oh my, he did, didn’t he?!”
“N-no no! Nothing like that!” Gregory says panickingly, “I-It’s just… he looked like someone I was… scared of.”
“You’re scared of rabbits?” Spike asked curiously, “Huh, and I thought being scared of dragons were a norm.”
“No, not rabbits in particular,” the colt clarified, “Just someone who dressed up like a rabbit… sorry for confusing you.” He then tracked back to what Spike has said earlier. “Wait, you’re a dragon?”
“Yep,” Spike said proudly, “The name’s Spike by the way, Twilight’s number one assistant and messenger for her and Princess Celestia. Plus the best gem eater in all of Equestria.” That gotten Gregory to chuckle a bit, perhaps wherever he ended up in might not be so bad.
As they made their way to the cottage, they noticed that the pond had a red mist in it. Fluttershy gasped at the sight. “The pond!” She cries, rush flying to it, her eyes darting at the pond’s water, “Wh-what happened to the pond!?”
Gregory chuckles nervously, “S-sorry Fluttershy.” Twilight just sighs and used her magic to purify the waters, the fish freely swimming about once again and no sign of Gregory’s blood anywhere. The colt’s eyes went wide in awe, “Whoa! How did you do that?!”
“She’s a Unicorn,” Spike explains, “she has the capability of using magic thanks to her horn. Like wise, Alicorns are also capable of magic, their’s are much powerful.”
Gregory raised a brow. “A what now?” He asked him.
Twilight just giggles, she could tell he has a lot to learn. “We’ll lecture on Equestria’s history some other time, for now, let’s get you cleaned up.” They all went inside the cottage and they were relaxing in the living room, while Twilight, Gregory, Fluttershy and the CMC went upstairs and into the bathroom.
“Okay Gregory, I’m going to be careful with carrying you into the bath,” she says to him, using her magic to lift him off of her back. Twilight started up the barrel tub with both faucets for warm water, and then she dipped her hoof to check the temperature as it was just right, and then let it fill up the tub. “There we go, I think this should be warm enough. Let me know if you want it warmer or cooler, okay?”
Gregory nods, then Apple Bloom then got an idea, “Hey! Maybe we should have a bubble bath!” The colt blushes at the three of them, “What wrong? You never taken a bubble ba-“ then she realizes that he doesn’t live with anyone, “O-oh! Ah’m sorry! I forgot that you-“
“No no, i-it’s okay!” He reassured her, “I-it’s just that… well, guys like me usually do something like this with other guys and veese verka… p-plus I’m naked.”
“So? So are we!” Scootaloo butts in, “We don’t wear clothes and that doesn’t bother anypony.”
“Plus, we needed to get cleaned up as well.” Sweetie Belle said to him, “We were sweating our flanks off for running through Everfree Forest! It’s important that we wash ourselves in case we got touched by something.”
“O-okay, but are sure about this?”
The three fillies nod, then Scootaloo added, “And if you feel uncomfortable, you can just tell us… unless you’re too chicken for bubble baths with girls like us.” She gave him a teasing smirk, making him blush.
“I-I’m not chicken!” He says, bring up his hooves in defense.
“Great! Ladies first!” Scootaloo calls out, she rushed into the barrel tub, all the while Fluttershy was grabbing some bathing materials, including a shower sponge brush, some shampoo, and a bar of soap.
Next Apple Bloom went in, then Gregory jokes, “I’ve heard of apples in a barrel, but I think that’s taking this a little too far.” Twilight, Fluttershy were laughing at his joke, Sweetie and Scootaloo were just groaning how that joke was absolutely punny, leaving Apple Bloom confused.
“I don’t get it.” She says as she fully settled.
Sweetie Belle says, “It’s best we don’t.” She then got in the tub next, Gregory blushes harder, just looking at this scenario he’s going to place himself in. Twilight carefully lifted Gregory with her magic, then she set him down into the tub. Gregory looked at Sweetie, her eyes closed and giving out a sigh of relaxation, “Mmm… this feels nice.”
He just has a goofy grin and a chuckle, “Y-yeah… I-I guess it is.” Twilight smiled warmly and then rubbed his shoulder, before he looked up at her and returned a smile of his own.
“Alright, let’s get you clean.” Twilight says to him, she then took a small pitcher, filled it with the tub’s water and pour it gently over his head to wash the dirt and dried blood out of his mane. Feeling the water drizzle on some of his cuts, he hisses in pain until Twilight shushed him and rubbed at his side with her hoof, calming him down.
“Hey, Fluttershy?” She asked her yellow pegasus friend, “You wouldn’t happen to have any Healer’s Bath Bomb, would you?”
She gave it a little bit of thought, she then looked at her sink and next to was a heart shaped powder mold with a green leaf engraved on it. “Will this do?” She asked.
“Perfect!” She exclaimed happily, using her magic she hovers the bath bomb above the water, but not before warning Gregory, “Okay, this bath bomb is going to help with your cuts, ready?” He nods and braces himself, she tells him to think of it like a massage for soothing cuts. She drops the bath bomb making a splash in the water, then it began to dissolve and glow a bright healthy green. He yelped in shock as what is happening, but was calmed down by Twilight shushing and rubbing his shoulder, he then felt so… relaxed. For the first time ever since the Pizzaplex, he felt at peace, he can also feel his cuts and bruises were healing, the dark spots were fading away to match his pelt, his cuts were merging like a stitched and pain free surgery.
His eyes went wide seeing this happening, he should be freaking out, but he doesn’t, instead he felt very happy and calm. Then some bubbles started to form, he knows that there weren’t any jets, nor was anyone moving the water around. Gregory suddenly got a bubbly feeling (no pun intended), chucking as he has a hoof full of bubbles, then he got some blown at his face. “Hey!” He exclaims, “Who did that?” He then heard Scootaloo giggling, getting the suds off of him and sees the gamboge filly quickly shutting herself up from laughing.
Realized that it was Scootaloo, he then chuckles again, “Oh you’re in for it now!” He quickly got another hoof full of bubbles and blew them towards the pegasus, but of course, Scootaloo being Scootaloo, she quickly grabbed Sweetie Belle as a filly shield and the suds got onto her instead, a squeal from the white filly came out. She got the suds off and sees a blushing Gregory, trying to explain that it was meant for her friend and not her.
“Why you-“ Sweetie Belle started, she then got a her own hoof full of bubble, next to her, the filly pegasus was expecting her to chuck it to the colt, chuckling at the thought, but instead the small mountain of bubble was chucked at her!
“Mmrph?!” Scootaloo muffles, then it was her turn to hear laughter from her friends and the colt, wiping the suds off and sees them laughing their heads off, “Okay, no more Ms. Nice Scootaloo! SUD ATTAAAACK!!!!” She then grabbed more sud bubbles and chucked it at them.
Twilight could see the splashing and playful laughter from the kids, more importantly, seeing Gregory smile and having fun. She could imagine that’s what he wanted too, to be a kid in his life, making new friends, and having fun. She looked at Fluttershy and whispers to her, “C’mon, let’s have them enjoy themselves, right now I need to discuss with you girls about the future for him.” The shy pegasus nods in agreement and left the foals alone.
For Gregory, to have fun for once and to not hide from the world, or get hunted down by a dancing, rabbit costume wearing, child kidnapping psychopath and animatronics? This is exactly what he needed, the need to have this stress, tension and anxiety melt away into fun, joy and laughter.
Perhaps his stay in Equestria wouldn’t seem so bad after all!
Twilight and her friends gathered in the living room, they can still hear some squeals and laughter from upstairs, thankfully some of the animals weren’t too bothered by this, except for some rodents like squirrels and chipmunks.
“Ah don’t know about you,” Applejack starts, “But I think havin’ him here in Equestria might be the greatest thing than the Grand Galloping Gala! Eh, no offense to it’s tradition, but havin’ a new kid like Gregory is such a heart healin’ moment.”
“I quite agree!” Rarity chimes in, “Though, I do say, he was indeed in a dark moment before coming here. Beside, have you see his clothing?!” Twilight rolled her eyes, predicting when she was going to overreact about that as she continues on, “Honestly, it was such in horrible condition! But, it’s nothing that a fashionista like myself can’t fix.”
“What about you Pinkie?” Twilight asked.
“I think he’s very adorable!” She exclaims, “I mean, earlier he wasn’t in the best condition, but who can say no to that little cutie?! He’s so adorable, I just wanna hug him all day!”
Rainbow just scoffs half jokingly. Twilight took notice at the prismatic maned Pegasus’ attitude. “Something you have to say Rainbow?”
“I-I don’t know!” She retorts, “I mean, all we know is that he’s some other creature of some kind, then all of a sudden he became a colt, and we’re supposed to feel sorry for the kid?” Twilight was shocked to even hear those words coming out from her friend’s mouth as she continues, “Plus, from the memories that you described earlier in that Chamber, he could’ve ordered that bear thing to attack the anthropomorphic rabbit to toss her off the roof! Or, again, it could-”
“Oh no, you’re not gonna say it again,” Applejack cuts her off, “Did your eyes went too blurry when doing your stunts? He’s an earth pony, he wouldn’t have any ability to cast any magic!”
“Then again there’s Pinkie Pie.” Rainbow argues.
“Pinkie’s different Rainbow Dash,” Twilight explains, rubbing her sleepy assistant’s head, “There’s just something we can’t explain about her an her Pinkie sense, but in Gregory’s case, he is indeed an earth pony, he wouldn’t be capable of performing any type of magic of any kind.”
“Hold on,” Rarity butts in, “Wasn’t there a Crystal Pony that was capable of summoning a horn and wings of an Alicorn from the rediscovery of Equestria?”
It caught Twilight’s attention, “No, I don’t think there wasn’t any record or mention of that in any book that I’ve read.”
“Wait wait,” Rainbow interrupts, “You’re not referring to Diamond Comet the Crystal Pony, are you?”
Rarity nods, “In fact, it was my father who told me the story of her.”
Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack was in shock, their jaws nearly dropped to the floor and they said in unison, “Get out of here!”
“Your dad told you about her?” Rainbow asked.
Rarity once again nods her head, “Oh, she was an inspiring mare to all of Equestria! Story goes is that she was once instructed by the “creator” of Equestria, Grogar himself, but when she what he was doing to Equestria, she decided to face against him. As expected, Diamond Comet had banished her teacher away and she became the first Guardian of Harmony."
“Wow… That’s one tough mare.” Rainbow says in awe, Twilight nods in agreement, but the main question was this: Why wasn’t there any mention and/or record of Diamond Comet, and why wasn’t she told about this when she first became Celestia’s student?
“Tougher like her namesake,” Rarity continues, “But she was also the first to become an actual element herself.”
That caught the librarian’s attention yet again, “She created herself a Element of Harmony?!”
“Well, more specifically, she became and encased her spirit as an Element of Harmony.”
This kind of knowledge blew everypony away, from being Grogar’s acolyte, to being a literal living element, but that still doesn’t explain why and/or where the Chamber of Creation came into play. Twilight then pulled out out an object, it was six inches wide and ten inches tall, it’s frame was a silver-gray smooth stone with a a symbol, it appears to be the head of a bear, it’s silhouette was a orange-brown, on one of it’s ears was a red earring, on the top of it’s head was a top hat with a blue streak across it, and in front of the silhouette was a electric blue lightning bolt.
She looked at it curiously, it looked like the design from the huge bear from Gregory’s memory. Does this bear really have a strong connection to this boy? If so, then why? Why would it sacrifice itself to save him from this rabbit lady? She would have to ask Gregory about that, he’s the only one who knows what that bear was, and what happened on that.
“Twilight darling?” Rarity asks Twilight, snapping her back to reality, “Are you alright?”
The lavender mare nods and says, “I just think that Gregory needs to open up and tell us what happened, it could give us a reason as to why he’s reborn here.”
After some bath time shenanigans, Twilight got Gregory and the Cutie Mark Crusaders squeaky clean and dried off, Gregory’s feeling of a warm towel was very comforting to him, finally the chance to have fun and get clean at the same time was a very good experience compared to living out on the streets from the past two weeks. Unfortunately for him, he was still having trouble with standing and walking, thankfully Twilight was there to help him with support and says that will be the first lesson… for tomorrow.
They went back to the living room and the lavender mare settled the colt down on a couch.
“Gregory, I know you’re just having a good time,” Twilight explains to her new friend, “But we a some questions that needs answers.” Gregory looked at her, he was hoping that she wouldn’t bring any of this up. “If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s completely understandable.” She added, placing her hoof on his shoulder, comforting him.
Another choice.
He could either be straight with them and tell them what he was, what happened at the Pizzaplex and why he decided to take his own life, or just not talk about it and let the nightmares continue to haunt him until he’s at the point of an emotional breakdown. He looked at the floor and gave it some thought, he trusts completely of Twilight and Sweetie Belle, then there was Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Apple Bloom, and Rarity, they helped him and make him happy, probably the happiest since forever.
But then there was the two skeptics, namingly Scootaloo and Rainbow Dash. Sure, Scoots did help him to be calm and got him to be a friend, on the other hand though, she doesn’t seem to be a believer in highly advanced technology. Rainbow Dash was gonna be much harder to have her believe him, yes she seems the type of mare to be interested cool gadgets and high tech, more notably machines, but to tell her the night at the Pizzaplex with killer robots being controlled by a security guard who was responsible for hacking them? She would find it completely absolutely absurd and not believe in every word.
“Y… you will really believe me Twilight?” Gregory asked, sounding a little scared and hesitant, “I-I just… I’m gonna get the feeling that you might think I’m crazy after what I have to say…”
“Oh darling, whatever it is that you want to tell us, we are willing to believe.” Rarity encourages, all eyes were on the only male pony in the room, some were smiling and waiting to listen, while Rainbow Dash was just staring at him, like as if a black robed judge was ready to give out a final verdict.
Gregory took a deep breath and explained the horrific situations he went through. “W-well,” he starts, “I-I guess I’ll start by saying that, I kinda lived in the Pizzaplex.”
“You live there?” Twilight asked him curiously.
He nods and goes to specify, “I-I mean, I don’t literally live there, I just live there to get away from the outside problems.”
That caught Rainbow Dash’s attention, but then jokes, “Like what? Did the weather patrol team forgot to have storm clouds set with lightning?” Gregory looked at her very confused, and that ultimately made her dumbfounded, “Seriously?! You have no weather patrol team from where you’re from?!”
He shook his head and continues, “I mean, I’m a human being, we don’t have magical powers to control weather… that does sound cool though.”
“Cool?! Try awesome!”
“Alright, Rainbow,” Applejack says, patting her shoulder, “Just settle down, you got plenty of time explaining weather control later.”
Gregory then further explains about how he snuck in the backstage and met his robotic guardian bear and friend, Freddy Fazbear. Twilight finally got one of the questions answered and started to connect more dots in her mind, he was indeed protecting Gregory, and it seems their relationship seems something more than just friends.
He continues on, “I thought he was going to slow me down on getting me out, but he was very cool to hang around with, even behind closed doors. He was supportive, funny, he even called me ‘Superstar’ sometimes.”
“Wow, he seems like a cool dad!” Scootaloo says to him. “How cool would it be to adopted by a robot?!”
Gregory blushed at the idea, Freddy Fazbear? As his dad? Would the Pizzaplex would even allowed that? To have an animatronic as a parent, that’s incredibly unheard of. Then again, all that time he spent in the Pizzaplex with Freddy, with him being worried about his safety, helping him get through some of the security protocols, he could go on.
“W-well…” he stutters, “I-I mean, he kinda acts like a dad, but him as my adopted dad? I would stretch that far as to call him that.”
“Admit it,” Scootaloo teases him, giving him a gentle punch to the shoulder, “You wanted to ask Freddy to be your dad…” she pauses and ponders for a second, “Or would that be your Frad?”
He blushes like mad, Sweetie Belle could notice that and reassures him, “It’s okay Gregory, Scoots is just trying to give you a hard time. Please continue.”
He gave her an embarrassed goofy grin, making her giggle a bit before continuing on with his story, further explaining about the security guard, his near run in with the other animatronics, and his prized possession, the Fazwatch. During on their exploration in the Pizzaplex, he explains that there use to be a rabbit animatronic named Glamrock Bonnie. From what Freddy had told him, Montgomery Gator accidentally smashed the rabbit into pieces, that info shocked everyone, except for Rainbow Dash yet again.
“Why that’s awful!” Fluttershy cries out.
“I know that alligators were vicious, but that was just cruel!” Rarity adds in.
“Look on the bright side,” Pinkie Pie chimes in, “At least Gummy isn’t like that!”
Gregory looked at her confused, she owns a pet alligator? He puts that question on hold for now as Twilight then asked him a question, “But Gregory, why would you live in the Pizzaplex alone? I know the outside world can be scary sometimes, but think about your parents. They might’ve been worried sick about-“
“I really don’t know who my parents are…” Gregory cuts her off, his voice sounded broken, she went wide eyed hearing this, but what she heard next broke her heart, “And now I know why…”
“Aw, c’mon Sugarcube,” the country pony reassures, “I’m sure that isn’t true. Heck, even when we were your age caused some sorts of trouble.”
“Not the same kind of trouble like you did.” He said sadly, “T-Twilight? H-how would you react if I lied to you about… I-if I…” he kept stopping himself, the memories of seeing Monty being broken in half, chucking a speeding go-cart at Roxy, and sending Chica into a garbage smasher.
“Gregory?” Twilight asked, snapping out of his trance, “If you lied to me about what?”
His lips started to quiver, his eyes started to fog up again, to even have the gall to lie to his own protector by nearly sending his friends into scrap and taking their upgraded parts, sure he only did this because they were probably reprogrammed to find him and he wanted to go through another way out of the Pizzaplex and have Freddy coming with him… only to get himself nearly killed by Vanny and instead had Freddy sacking her and sending them careening off the rooftops.
“I-I… I’m a bad kid…” he whispered to himself.
Twilight heard this, her was shattered a million times over hearing him say that, she hugged him comfortingly and shushes him. “Don’t say things like that,” she coos, “You’re not a bad kid Gregory.”
“BUT I AM!” Gregory shouted into her chest, “I TORE FREDDY’S FRIENDS APART! I STOLE THEIR UPGRADE FROM THEM AND LIED TO WHERE I ACTUALLY GOT THEM! EVEN WORSE, I BROKE INTO THE PIZZAPLEX! I’M THE REASON WHY FREDDY’S DEAD! I’M EVEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SECURITY GUARD’S DEATH! I’M SELFISH! I’M A MONSTER! I-I-!!” Gregory was shushed once more by Twilight, rubbing his back. He kept blaming himself despite the comfort, he felt like shouldn’t receive love of any kind in return and could’ve gotten a slap in the face, or would’ve been kicked to the streets. Everyone in the room was dead silent, Gregory’s sobs filled the room.
Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy were absolutely heartbroken for the colt. To see this little guy have his own heart ripped to pieces by what he did, it's bad enough that he doesn't have parents of his own. Though not like Applejack, whom has lost her parents due to an accident, the other three mares couldn’t imagine what would’ve happened if they were in Gregory’s hooves.
For the CMC, to see a kid who views himself as the bad guy? This isn’t how a colt like him should see himself like this, he should live in a life of happiness and wonder. Scootaloo tapped on Gregory’s shoulder, making him quickly turn his head to look at her.
“Hey, Gregory? I want to say I’m sorry.” She starts, this made him confused, “You did looked suspicious when you came here… and to be honest, I was more focused on getting a Cutie Mark and it made me looked greedy. I didn’t wanted to get Cutie Mark that screams “Foal Sitter,” but Sweetie Belle is right, you’re more important to help out than finding a Cutie Mark.”
He smiled at the CMC and they gave him a group hug. Gregory never made such good friends like them back on his world, he’s always been alone on the streets, even inside the Pizzaplex.
Rainbow Dash now couldn’t help but feel bad for the kid, but the story that he just told them, some of those things doesn’t really make sense to her. Machines? Security turned kidnappers? This sounds way too suspicious, even for her.
Twilight took notice and asked, “Rainbow? Is there something you wanna say?”
Rainbow Dash looked at everyone in the room, then at Applejack, giving her a look that say, “Don’t even think about.” She just sighs and say, “No, not really.” She just forces a smile. Twilight could tell that she really wanted to him straight to his face that he could be lying. Twilight looked at Applejack, seeing the country pony motioning her head out to the door.
“Girls, could you comfort Gregory please?” The lavender mare asked, “I need to talk to Rainbow Dash.” The fillies agreed and four of the six mares went outside, while Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie remained in the cottage.
“Oh!” Fluttershy gasped softly, “I forgot I made water for some warm drinks! Gregory? Do you anything? Tea? Hot chocolate?”
“C-could I just have water please?” He asks her politely.
“What?! No hot chocolate?!” Scootaloo exclaims in shock, “Don’t tell us you never tried it?!”
Gregory was blushing in embarrassment as he then says, “W-well… let’s just say… I had a bad experience with chocolate in particular…” the fillies were confused as to what he meant by that, and before Apple Bloom could ask what he means, he then clarifies to them, “I-I’m allergic to chocolate.”
The three went wide eyed about this piece of info. “You’re allergic to chocolate?!” Scootaloo asked in shock once again, “How in the hay could somepony be allergic to chocolate?! That’s like Apple Bloom being allergic to apples! And she’s an apple farmer!”
The yellow country filly just rolled her eyes and then asked her, “Was that a farmer joke?”
“…Yes.”
“Wait, how do you know that you’re allergic to chocolate?” Sweetie Belle asked him curiously.
He blushes a rosy red and then stutters, “I-I… um… W-well… I-it makes me feel itchy, it makes my belly growl a lot, and I don’t mean a hungry kind of way… and the smell alone, it just makes me sneezy.”
“Sneezy?” Apple Bloom repeated that last word, “Gosh, I don’t know anypony that have that type of allergy.”
Sweetie Belle nods in agreement, “So, no chocolate, anything else you’re allergic to?” Gregory gave it some thought, thinking really hard aside from the night, but he just shook his head and said, “No, nothing I could think of.”
Scootaloo then decides to change the topic and then asks him, “Was there any good things when you’re at the Pizzaplex?”
Once again Gregory gave into thought, just for a moment and chuckled a bit, “W-well, there was one, before I got discovered on the night Freddy and I met, there was a place called Fazer Blast, I really couldn’t make friends because… well, I’ve never been good at it, due to the having some bad rumors about the Pizzaplex, but that’s besides the point. When I snuck in, I met a pretty cool kid name Wizard.” The three fillies gave him a weird look, that made Gregory chuckle, “It’s weird, I know, not many kids know why he was called that, it could be a nickname. Anyway, Wizard was like a ghost of Fazer Blast. One moment you could be shooting at your opponent, then bang! He comes out of nowhere and shoot ya back! I did got back at him a couple of times and we got acquainted after that.”
Apple Bloom smiles and says, “Wow, that does sounds like fun! That could be somethin’ we should try and get our Cutie Marks next!”
Gregory got confused, “You mean a brith mark?”
Sweetie Belle realized that he’s still new to their world and explains, “Cutie Marks represents to what they’re good at. We ponies are born without a Cutie Mark. They’re are obtained when ponies discover a unique characteristic that sets themselves apart from others.”
“We've been trying to get our Cutie Marks to appear,” Scootaloo adds in, looking at her flank, “But we haven’t exactly gotten ours yet.” Gregory noticed her looking at her flank and then blushed at the fact that Cutie Marks is literally are on their butt… he could imagine what his would even look like, perhaps an arcade machine? He’s pretty good at video games. Or maybe gear cogs and wrench? He’s been getting the hang on upgrading Freddy back at the Pizzaplex.
“So, you’re meaning to tell me that you tried almost everything to get them appear?” He asked them, the three of them nodded, “You mean you’ve tried drawing?”
“Yup.” AB says.
“Singing?”
“Done that already.” Sweetie Belle chimes in.
“Sports?”
“Tried, didn’t work out.” Scootaloo says plainly, “Trust us, we’ve nearly tried everything, but we can’t seem to be able to appear!” Gregory could tell she was absolutely frustrated with this Cutie Mark business as she took a swig of water. He gave it some thought, they were call the Cutie Mark Crusaders for a reason… maybe… just maybe…
“Maybe I could join you?” Gregory suggested, that made the white and yellow fillies wide eyed and pegasus filly to do a spit take and coughing out the leftover water, that made him a little nervous, “D-did I say something wrong?”
“U-um… well no,” Apple Bloom said, a little nervous as to what she’s going to say to him, “A-Ah don’t know how to put this, b-but-“
“You’re more than welcome to join us!” Sweetie Belle says joyfully, that ultimately made the two fillies jaws drop.
“R-really?” He asked in surprise
“R-really?!” The other Crusaders asked in shock.
“Tomorrow, at the clubhouse, we’ll give you a speech and you’ll be an official Cutie Mark Crusader!” She declares, giving him a pat on the back, “You’re gonna be great helping find our Cutie Marks, and who knows? Maybe you’ll get yours too!” Gregory smiles, feeling nervous, he wasn’t expecting Sweetie to just answer right out of the gate, but if finishing a Cutie Mark may help him get his life back together, this could be it.
At the same time
Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash went outside to continue their discussion. Twilight was absolutely upset that Rainbow was going to tell Gregory straight to his face that he could be faking, again. “Rainbow, I know what Gregory has told us may seem like a stretch, but-“
“A stretch?!” Rainbow asked her in shock, “a stretch is an understatement! Try those big words you always use, like falsification, mendacity, or prevaricate!? I mean seriously! That’s the kind of stuff you would read or hear about in a comic book!” Twilight could absolutely tell suspicion in her tone of her voice, but she could hear a hint of… jealousy?
“Darling, please,” Rarity reassures, “If Gregory does intends on hurting us, he would’ve told us. Besides, he’s a colt! He wouldn’t be strong enough even have the capacity to do so!”
“Maybe that’s what he wants-“
“Rainbow, for pete sake, knock it off!” Applejack scolds, annoyed by such terrible accusation, “Ah swear, you’re getting this whole “Gregory might be lying to us,” schtick on my nerves!”
Rainbow was twiddling with her hooves a little, Twilight, ever the observer, starts to take notice, the hint of a jealous tone, playing with her hooves. “Rainbow Dash,” she begins to ask, “A-are you… jealous of him?” She could see the pegasus’ eyes went wide by that question, a rosy blush on her cheeks. Twilight gasps at this revelation, “Oh my gosh, you are!” Now Rarity dramatically gasps, while Applejack’s eyes went wide, the other time when she became jealous was in the Mare-Do-Well incident, but there was the proof and the poor cyan pegasus was caught.
“Am not!” The prismatic maned mare retorts, her voice cracks, she could hear Applejack now snickering, trying to hold her laughter in, she shot her magenta eye daggers at her country friend and protests again, “I am not jealous!”
“Heh, I would believe you Rainbow,” she chuckles, “but if the blush wasn’t a dead giveaway, Ah don’t know what is.”
The pegasus began to stutter, trying to explain, “Y-you… But h-he could-!” She looked at Rarity who wore a look of concern for her, then she looked at Applejack who a face that plainly says, “Gotcha.” “I-I… you…” her face was redder and redder, steam literally coming out of her ears, she couldn’t take it and screams at the top of her lungs, “ARRGGHHHH!!!! OKAY FINE!!! I’M JEALOUS, OKAY?! YOU DON’T HAVE TO RUB IT IN!!!”
“Rainbow dear, please don’t shout,” Rarity shushed, “It’s the middle of the night.”
The pegasus’ face was now a very dark shade of crimson, at this point, everypony in the area could possibly hear her. “But, why are you so jealous of him?” She heard Twilight asking her. “I-I can’t really talk about it…” Rainbow says, her voice is shaking, “I-It’s embarrassing.”
“Oh c’mon,” Applejack says to her, punching her shoulder, “It can’t be as bad when you accidentally ripped your pjs and havin’ your rump exposed in our sleep night.” She chuckles at the memory, “You knew that it was a little too tight, and we tried to warn ya-“
“Okay first of all,” she cuts her off, “That was three months ago! Secondly, after that happened, if you recall, I got that fixed!”
“Heheh, yeah, gettin’ a few wiggles in there too if Ah recall.”
“AJ!”
The country pony couldn’t help but chuckle again, “Sorry Sugarcube, that’ll be the last time. But still, it can’t be bad as that.”
“But it is!” She retorts, both Rarity and Applejack raised a brow of their own. She sighs and says, “Okay look, I’ll tell you… tomorrow.” Applejack raised a brow, she knows that line all too well, last time that happened, it was her that tried that, but that resulted in breaking Pinkie’s Pinkie Promise, and running for her life and away from a very belligerent Pinkie Pie. If there’s one thing she could take from, aside the friendship lesson they learned that day, it’s to NEVER break a Pinkie Promise, especially with Pinkie Pie.
“Rainbow, you better hold up your end of that statement.” She warns.
“Yeah, yeah, I know, cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye.” She says, doing the Pinkie Promise.
So much was running through Gregory’s mind as he was on Twilight’s back, joining the Cutie Mark Crusaders, learning about Equestria’s culture, including Cutie Marks. But he did have a lot more questions, like what kind of magic will he’ll experience? What other kinds of creatures he’ll encounter?
“How much further is it Twilight?” Gregory asked her, as they’re on the path heading to Ponyville.
“Not too far now sweetheart.” She reassured him, of course, she had a tired Gregory and a sleeping Spike on her back, hearing her little dragon assistant snoring, she tried her best to not laugh at his loud snores, but then she sees a dim light up ahead, indicating that they’re almost towards their destination. “Ah, here we are!” That caught Gregory’s attention and gasps softly as Twilight gives him the introduction, “Welcome, Gregory, to Ponyville. It may not seem like a bustling town right now, but tomorrow, you’ll see what it’s like.”
As they entered the sleeping town, Gregory’s eyes darted around at some of the buildings, lot of them seems like village houses that you would typically find in medieval fantasy books, from behind some of the houses, he then notices a train station. He’ll definitely have to ask Twilight for a train ride sooner down the line. Also in that view, far from the station, there was a hospital, thankfully it doesn’t seem to be rundown like that one hospital he stayed in if he recalls.
As they went past a couple of houses, his eyes gazed at a huge oak tree, it seems to tower over the other houses and probably the biggest tree he ever saw comparing to some of the trees in his world. “Whoa…” he gasps quietly, “This is where you live?!”
“Yep,” Twilight says as she opens the door to the library, the room’s interior was a sight to behold, shelves filled with so many books, probably some are about spells, legends, items, so many to even know and find, “and since we really don’t have a guest bedroom, I can probably sleep in a sleeping bag and you can have my bed until I can get another bed for you.”
They went upstairs on the second floor and into Twilight’s bedroom, more shelves, more books, Gregory was in awe of her. “How many books do you even have?” He asked.
Twilight was about to answer, but then she stops to think, she giggled awkwardly a little as she then says, “Um… to be honest, I think I stopped counting at around two hundred and fifty-seven.”
“That many?” He asks in shock as he was lifted up by magic and onto Twilight’s bed, she nods to his question and then she lifted Spike, and into his little basket, tucking him in with his blanket.
“Okay, now, I gotta study this relic I found in the Chamber of Creation,” Twilight explains the young colt, “But if you ever need me for anything, give me a holler, okay?” He nods and tries to get comfy in her bed, she strokes his head, tells him good night and she leaves the room with a lamp light dimly lit. As she leaves the room, she took off her saddlebags and took out the stone tablet again, she has never seen anything like this. So she grabs out some of her books of magical relics, ancient tablets, and her reference notes during her exploration in the Chamber.
She opened one book and began to scan through one sentence at a time, then down another line, then another, then another… nothing, so she turns to the next page, then she reads another line, then another, then another… once again, nothing, and turns another page to repeat the process.
Two and a half hours later
Her research was not meeting her expectations, no answer came to her in any of these books, at all! She looked back at the notes and tried once again to match up to anything that books may hold an answer… once again, there were no answers to the questions she has.
“Urgh, this is frustrating!” She groans quietly, becoming very agitated and putting the notepad down, “There are no records of the Chamber of Creation, or this stone tablet!” She then tries to calm herself down with the breathing technique her foalsitter, Cadence, taught her, she inhales slowly through her nose and exhales through her mouth, she does again, and again, until she’s finally collected her thoughts and tries to think aloud, “Okay… so there are no records, where else can I find about these in particular?” She looked at the bookshelves again and began to scour through the alphabetical order of books, from myths and legends to forbidden items and arcane magic.
Once again, the process repeats, she was about to give up, but then she finally, finally comes across a excerpt from a book that was written by Starswirl the Bearded himself! The text reads:
”Something that was peaking my curiosity is these stone tablets, they don’t seem to be Equestrian by any means, but somehow Equestria’s ancient text are engraved on it’s frame.
I’m beginning to believe that the source of these tablet are indeed coming from the Chamber of Creation itself… where that is, it’s still out my reach.”
Twilight smiles and says to herself, “Out of reach, until today that is.” She kept reading:
”I really can’t explain this in much detail, but I can only hypothesize that something that is tied to the individual in question, a tablet like this one shown in this drawing, like an object or memory that they last saw or have before dying.
What’s interesting about this is that a few ponies that I came to mentor have experienced memories of their reincarnated forms, but that’s a very rare case, or in other case, the object or memory in question doesn’t have any ties to their reincarnated souls.
In an extremely rare case, I met a mare who’s name is-
“TWILIGHT NO!!!!!!”
Her eyes went wide as she heard an ear killer’s scream, this nearly made Twilight’s heart stop placing her hoof on her chest. She looked at the staircase and she went immediately to mom mode, going upstairs and into her bedroom to see Gregory covered in sweat, his eyes bloodshot, bags under his eyes… she could see that he was having a really hard time sleeping. That wasn’t the only thing, he screamed so loud, it woke up Spike.
“Huh?! Who?! Why?! Where?!” The dragon asked, fully alerted and awake, looking around the bedroom and took notice that Twilight was in the room. He then heard somepony hyperventilating.
“Gregory, honey? Are you okay?” She asked him, she went to the side of the bed, the colt did answer her as he kept hyperventilate, “Gregory? Sweetheart? What’s wrong?” She stroked his head, drenched in sweat, his entire face went pale from the nightmare he just had.
“Whoa, Gregory! What happened?!” Spike asked in shock, taking notice of Gregory’s condition, “You looked like you came out from a rapid lava lake!”
“I SAW HER!!” he screamed, tears were running down his cheeks, “VANNY WAS HERE!! SHE WAS COMING HERE TO KILL US!! SHE GOT SPIKE, THEN YOU, THEN… Then… OH PLEASE, I DON’T WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN!! PLEASE, JUST MAKE HER GO AWAY!!” Twilight felt awful for Gregory, he was still traumatized on the night from the Pizzaplex.
She sat up on the bed and pulled him in for a hug. “Shh... shh... It’s okay, Gregory. I’m here, I’m here,” She whispers tenderly into Gregory’s ear, whom is now crying and hiccuping into her chest “She not going to harm you. She’s already gone from your world, right?” He in turn hugged tightly, grunting from the tight wrap from his forelegs, not even wanting to let go. She continues to calm him. “Oh, Gregory…” she sighs sadly.
“Man, and I thought dealing with Discord’s reign was bad.” Spike says, troubled with the nightmare the colt had. He patted on his shoulder, getting the boy’s attention, his bloodshot eyes starring right at him, “I don’t know who Vanny is, but whoever she and if she’s ever giving more trouble, you got us to count on. By the time she even lays an appendage on ya, we can send her packing and buck her out of here in no time!”
“B-but what if she found her way here like I did?!” Gregory timidly asked, “W-what if she does something horrible to you?! W-WHAT IF-“
“She won’t,” Twilight cuts him off, placing her hooves on his sweat and tears soaked face, “You’ve been through a broken life before, and since I’m the one that remade you and resurrected you soul, I’m going to make sure nothing awful like that will ever happen to you again. You have me, Spike, and our friends to help you, and believe me when I say that nothing bad will happen to you, by Celestia’s life, I mean it. I will help you get your life back together.” She kissed his forehead and hugged him once more.
As she let go of him, he seems calm and gave her a weak smile. “T-Twilight? Can I ask you something?” Gregory timidly asked again.
“Anything.” She replies with a kind smile.
“In… Instead of sleeping in the sleeping bag… can you sleep with me?”
Twilight was taken aback by his question, but she smiles and then says, “I’m more than happy to do so Gregory, scoot over and I’ll join you.” He does so and she got her hind legs into the covers.
Spike sees this and then he asks, “I don’t suppose you got room for one more?” Twilight giggles at Spike’s question and pats behind the colt. As the little dragon sets himself in a sleeping curl, Twilight begins to hum a melody for Gregory. Her voice was gentle, soothing, as if one of God’s angels was sent down from the heavens and had given form of this mare, this guardian angel.
🎶Rest now, my dearest star Luna’s moon has arrived Let it’s light embrace you And cast your fears aside 🎶
🎶 You may feel sad And you may feel broken But I’m here to guide you So please here the words that are spoken 🎶
🎶 Let your heart dance like the stars Finally shining in the darkened sky And let your eyes rest and see your happiest dream Let it take flight and let it soar high 🎶
🎶The day has come and gone Now the sun too needs it’s rest Now the illuminating moon is here Your flight to the dream’s realm will be blessed 🎶
🎶 They will forever share your laughter Even not knowing why Let it be seen now and forever after Through the sky, through the sky 🎶
🎶 Let your heart dance like the stars Finally shining in the darkened sky And let your eyes rest and see your happiest dream Let it take flight and let it soar high 🎶
🎶 Rest with me now until day breaks And dance with me as the light points the way Dream your dream, and it will set you free Glide among their soirée 🎶
🎶 Let your heart dance like the stars Finally shining in the darkened sky And let your eyes rest and see your happiest dream Let it take flight and let it soar high 🎶
🎶Let it soar high 🎶
Twilight looked at the sleeping colt and dragon, smiling at what she’s achieved she let out a yawn and held Gregory close to her. “I promise,” she says to him quietly, “I will keep you safe… just flow where the stars and Luna guides you and have good dreams. Good night Gregory.” With that, she closed her eyes and went to sleep.
The next morning, sunlight’s rays beamed through the windows, making Twilight start waking up from her peacefully calm slumber in her cozy bed. She was about to get out of bed until she feels small forelegs wrapped around her barrel. Twilight looked down at her body to see Gregory under the covers with her. Twilight smiled to see the colt holding onto her barrel, after last night seeing him this calm and peaceful with a smile in his sleep from the lullaby she sang to him, he has been startled awake.
She gently moves his legs off of her and quietly left the room, she went into the main floor and noticed that Spike has sent some of the messages, blowing his fire breath on them, sending them to their respective senders. “Good morning Spike!” She greets her assistant, “I’m surprised to see you up this early. Any particular reason why?”
“Well, see as to what happened with Gregory last night, I’ve been sending out letters to some ponies we know of the situation,” he explains, “I’ve also been waiting for the last three for your parents, Princess Cadence and Princess Celestia.”
She sighs, “Thank you Spike, but please have me notified next time, please.” She then heard a ringing at the door, she went to it, and opened the door and who would be by the door nopony other than the party and fashion ponies themselves. “Pinkie? Rarity? I’m quite surprised that you’re here what are you brings here?”
“Morning Twilight!” She greets in a singsongy voice, “I got you, Spike and Gregory some breakfast on the way here, the cute little colt’s gonna need his strength today for his ‘Welcome to Ponyville party!’”
“I’ve also took the liberty to get his clothes repaired,” Rarity added in, “Poor thing, these were in such terrible condition, and the smell, ugh, it’s awful, just awful! Thankfully, they weren’t too damaged.” She used her magic to give them to Twilight. The lavender unicorn was shocked, they took the time to help out a colt. A colt who went through trauma, lost a friend, and lived out in the streets, dirty and bruised.
“Thank you, both of you.” She says to them with a warm smile, “By the time we show him around Ponyville and throw this party for him, I’m sure we can see a smile on his face.” Her eyes widened and says, “Oh! Spike, would you kindly please get the letters ready for the Princesses and my parents?”
“Already working on it.” Spike gave a mocking salute and went to grab parchment paper and went to the writing desk, “Ready when you are Twilight.”
“Alright.” She says, she cleared her throat and began her message:
”Dear Princess Celestia,
I have some news regarding to the mysterious source of magic that you instruct me to locate, and I believe that I’ve found it! As you may recall, when you”re studying his teachings, Starswirl the Bearded was looking for a place where new forms of life can be born and created, only known to explorers as the Chamber of Creation.
Spike and I went to find the source you’ve mentioned to me, and you’re not going to believe where it was! It was in Everfree Forest, and nopony ever knew about it! That’s not all that found however, I’ve encountered one of it’s many designed functions and purpose it serves, one of the pods was lit and created a new body for a young soul that… sadly took his own life from a night of trauma and heartbreak.
He goes by the name Gregory, a human boy who has nopony to take care of him and has nowhere to go. Currently, he’s living with me right now, but last night he had a nightmare which regards me and Spike, and if I can further guess, my friends as well. From what he told me, he was scared that we would perish by this white rabbit named Vanny, someone of which, from what Gregory told us, was responsible for the disappearances of children for unknown reasons.
She has been defeated by an anthropomorphic bear named Glamrock Freddy, a friend and guardian of Gregory, who unfortunately sacrificed himself to save this boy, sending her and himself off of a building. Gregory was traumatized by this event and the night during lockdown in a place after it’s closing.
I’m doing all that I can to help get through this trauma and getting a life he always wanted, to have a chance be like a kid and be with a family who can raise and love him. I hope you and Princesses Luna and Cadence are hoping to help him too and give me any other advice as to handle this situation.
Your Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle.”
Spike finished writing, rolled it up, and blew his emerald green flames on it. “Alright, now we just need to let your parents know and we have nothing else to do, but wait.” He grabs another piece of parchment paper and wrote down another message, “Ready to relay the message.” She nods and explains her message as the same for Celestia’s letter and it was sent through Spike’s flames.
“Speaking of Gregory, where is he?” Rarity asked, looking around the main area.
“He’s still asleep in my room.” Twilight explains to her, “I’ll go get him.” She went upstairs and into her room, seeing a sleeping Gregory, his sleepy smile hasn’t faded from his lips, his mane now messier from his movement from the pillow. She couldn’t help it as she let giggles escape her lips at the sight of the colt, he must’ve had a better last than the nightmare he had. As much as she wanted to let him sleep, it was time for him to get up.
“Gregory…” she whispers motherly to him, placing her hoof on his right shoulder, “Time to get up sweetheart.”
Gregory groaned and squirmed a little, he mumbles something in his sleep, “Mm… I got… flowers…” Twilight giggles quietly, she knows who he’s referring to in his sleep, he has been talking with Sweetie Belle the whole time back at the cottage and the two became close friends. As much as she wants to continue hearing him mumbling in his sleep, she had to wake him up, she gently shook him until he woke up. He looked into Twilight’s eyes and smiled. He then said, “Good morning, Twilight.”
“Feeling any better today?” She asked him.
He sat up and yawned, “Yeah! Much better! I feel like I can take on anything now!” He then looked at his hindquarters and chuckled in embarrassment a bit, “Th-though… heh, it’s kinda weird sitting like this, I feel like a dog or a cat.”
Twilight giggled and said, “Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. Now let’s head down and get some breakfast.” Twilight then got out of her bed, and then she used her magic to levitate Gregory off of the bed. She then placed him onto her back, and then headed on back downstairs.
Gregory took notice that Pinkie Pie and Rarity, whom of which has his clothes, were on the main level of the library. "Good morning, Gregory darling!” Rarity greeted, “I hope you're feeling much better today!"
“Much better thanks!” He says with a bright smile.
“Oh! I also have your clothes sweetie,” she levitates them towards him and Twilight, “I hope you like them, these clothes are unlike I’ve ever seen, the fabric and cloth on these have such terrible weather resistance, so I took the liberty of enhancing them with rainproof fabrics, all thanks to Sapphire Shores.”
Twilight set Gregory on the floor, helping him stand up, his legs were shaking a little, trying to keep up right and in balance. He stumbled a little, but luckily, Twilight caught him with her foreleg. She giggles a bit and says, “We’ll learn how to walk once we get these on you.” She helps him get his shirt on first, then his oversized jacket, which seems to almost go over his front hooves.
“Ooh!! He looks adorable in them!!” Pinkie Pie says excitedly, bouncing around him, then she caught a clean scent from his clothes, “Oh! Did you use the adventurer’s dryer sheets?”
“Oh yes, every new day is experiencing journey darling,” Rarity says with pride, “and considering how Gregory can get himself into any kind of adventures, I figure that it would be a good opportunity to use them.”
He smiles back at the fashionista pony and blushes, then he mutters under his breath, “Not many of them are good though…”
Twilight heard him muttering and asked in curiosity, “What was that?”
“N-nothing!” He says, blushing harder.
Twilight then stood up and went next to him, “Okay then, Spike, would you kindly please be in front of him in case he needs help?”
“Sure thing!” Spike agrees and went up to the colt, holding his shoulders in case he falls forward, or lean too far on the sides. He then looks at him and says, “Don’t worry, once you get through Twilight’s ‘How to be a pony 101,’ you’ll be moving about and around in no time!”
“Spike.” She giggles, then to Gregory, “He’s right though, so let’s start with walking. Just do what I do. Right left, left right.” She demonstrates as she first moves her right front leg and left hind leg, then her opposite respective legs, but given how tall she is comparing himself and Spike, it’s like a giant walking in normal motion.
He looks down at his front legs, which were still shaking, he then looked at Spike. “Hey, you got this.” He heard him say, “There’s nothing to be scared of.” Gregory, hearing those words reminded him when Freddy encourages him to be brave, if he could crawl through a dark vent shaft and take on animatronics to the height surpassing humans, then walking like a pony should be no problem!
He took a deep breath and started to walk and says to himself out loud, “Right left, le- whoa!” He caught himself from nearly fall, also in thanks to Spike holding on to him, he was now looking at the floor. Okay, so maybe this isn’t gonna be as easy as he thought.
“Hey,” Spike encourages, “Don’t be scared, you’re doing great.”
The colt nods and tries again, keeping himself straight and upright. He began his walking slowly at first with a few slips, but Gregory learns to keep his balance. With in a few seconds, slowly but surely, Gregory began to walk towards Twilight. “H-hey! I did it!” He cheers.
“Heh, see?” Spike says, giving him a pat on the back, “We knew you got this like the back of your hoof.”
“Okay, now why don’t we enjoy some breakfast before I give you a tour around Ponyville?” Twilight suggests.
Gregory suddenly gasps and cries out, “Oh no! I’m supposed to be meeting the Cutie Mark Crusaders at their clubhouse!” He began running to the door, but then suddenly stops and looks at them sheepishly. “U-um, could one of you lead me to where the clubhouse is… I have no idea where I’m going.”
The mares just giggles, while Spike just claw palms himself, shaking his head in disapproval. “Gregory, you got a lot to learn.”
The colt just chuckles in embarrassment, but Twilight then suggests, “Spike, why do you take him to the clubhouse? Some of the girls and I need to meet up Rainbow Dash.”
“Leave it to me! C’mon Gregory!” Spike exclaims as he went out the door with the basket of muffins and other pastries, Gregory’s excitement has sparked like a lighter and quickly followed the dragon. Twilight looked on as the two boys have left the library, so many memories went through her mind of her and her older brother Shining Armor. How she wishes she can turn the hands of time again.
“Perfect,” Rarity says, “Pinkie, while Gregory’s away, let’s get everything set up for his party!” Pinkie Pie gave Rarity a mocking salute and instantly got to work on the banner, she then turns to lavender mare, “Twilight dear, you go and enjoy your breakfast. Go on, shoo shoo!”
Twilight leaves the library and went on her way with a chuckle, “At least Gregory’s going to have a good time with some good friends like the CMC, I just hope Spike would make it back in time in case the Princesses or my parents sent a letter back.” She walks on her way to Sugarcube Corner, as she does so, many other ponies were doing their daily routines. Some taking care of their flowers, others were busy delivering mail. Twilight stops by at a building and smiles, remembering that she has an appointment with a certain doctor who has been here for three months.
“Good to have you helping everypony Doc.” Twilight says to the building as she resumes her trot to Sugarcube Corner. She opens the door to the bakery and greets Fluttershy and Applejack, whom have saved seats for her and a certain prismatic maned pegasus. “Hey Fluttershy! Applejack! How are you two?”
“O-oh! Hello Twilight.” She says timidly, giving her a shy wave.
“Hey-howdy-hey there Twi!” Applejack greeted, “Ya’ll seen Rainbow yet? I’ve gotten mah good ol’ rope in case she tries to fly off.”
Twilight chuckles just looking at the rope, “I don’t think you need your lasso of truth to keep Rainbow in place Wonder Mare, besides she’s the element of loyalty, remember?” The country pony just rolled her eyes from the nickname, earning her a chuckle. Suddenly, the bell above the door rang and who shows up none other than the Pegasus Speedster herself, who was panting heavily to what the unicorn could attest from her flight, but something tells her that was flight must’ve been different than her usual flights.
“S-sorry… I-I uh, phew,” Rainbow pants, wiping the sweat off of her forehead.
“What in the hay happened to ya?” Applejack asked, “You looked like you went through a stampede of ragin’ cows from the farm. D’oh, consarnit! Did I seriously forgot to lock up the fence again?!”
“No no! It’s nothing like that!” Rainbow reassures her, taking her seat at the table, looking around, she notices that two of her friends are absent, “Wh-where are uh… Where are Pinkie and Rarity?”
“They’re busy setting up the party back in Twilight’s library,” Fluttershy explains, seeming more concerned about her speed obsessed friend, “What happened to you?”
Rainbow Dash sighs in reluctance and explains, “Okay… before coming here, I was planning on backing out-”
“Ah knew it.” Appletree interjected with a crossed look on her face.
“Hey, hold on a sec, let me explain!” She snaps, making the three shocked from her sudden shouting, she once again sighs and continues, “S-sorry… anyways, I gave out a lot, and I mean a lot of thought. I just couldn’t get myself thinking at all, so I tried to do practicing with some of the new tricks… even that wasn’t helping an I’m just… I-I’m just-“
“Having a struggle to whether you want to discuss it or not?” Fluttershy asks filling in her friend’s words for her.
“Yeah…” she nods, “I just don’t really know what to think or feel about Gregory.”
Twilight then groans, “Get to the point!”
“Okay okay, jeez,” Rainbow says snotty, “So, after a few tricks, a thought came to me. Twilight, do you remember one of the functions of pods? To create, right?” Twilight nods, confusion was spelled all over on her face. “Well, I went back to make him and into my room. I remembered that there was something odd in one of Daring Do’s books and… well, here I’ll show you.” She pulls out one of Daring Do’s books.
Twilights reads the title, “Daring Do and the Secrets of the Shadow Prism?”
“Yep! And if you turn to page 66, there’s something that caught my eyes.” The speedster says, Twilight does so as she turns the pages with her magic and on the page there was a five panel artwork. There, Daring Do was reading one of the inscription on the wall, but next to Do was some kind of body.
The body was slumped against a dark stone wall, the bones seems like a different color, rather than white it seems like… a stony graphite? It’s hooves we’re a metallic blue. On it’s chest seems like some kind of insignia, a dimming glow of blue emanated from it, markings on it’s legs were etched on them, almost like the writings on the stone tablet. What caught Twilight’s attention was the eye sockets, one was blacked, but the other was also had the same dimming blue glow, as if some source was trying to keep it alive.
“Okay?” Applejack shrugs not even knowing what she’s trying to show.
Rainbow groans and rolled her magenta eyes and points at the drawn skeleton, “Look! Look at the design of it! Doesn’t this look familiar to something in the Chamber of Creation?!” Pointing mashing on the skeleton with every word she spoke, causing the table to shake.
Twilight looked closer at the drawing… Rainbow was right! From the colors, to the writings on the legs, it would seem likely that whoever this pony was, they seemed to be looking for the same artifact, but was it the author of the books, A.K. Yearling’s intention of including this detail?
“I don’t know Rainbow Dash,” Fluttershy says skeptically, “It could just be a coincidence, besides-“
“Coincidence?!” She asked her quiet friend, slamming the table and getting up in her face, causing an eep to escape from her friend, “There is evidence that she saw the Chamber’s skeleton and you’re saying it’s a coincidence?! I! Don’t! Think so!”
“Rainbow, calm down!” Applejack commands with such stern in her voice, “Gregory’s just a normal pony like you and everypony else in this town. Plus, this doesn’t help your case as to why you’re so gull durn jealous of him!”
“I just didn’t want him to steal you guys away!” The pegasus raised her voice, a quiet and awkward silence once again returns, she sighs and explains, “Ever since that kid showed up, I felt like a weird feeling about him like if he’s trying to steal my thunder, being the cool one and getting the center of attention.”
“Rainbow,” Twilight says in a reassuring tone, “Gregory isn’t trying to take your spotlight, he just wanted to be loved like you do.” Rainbow just lowers her head in shame, Twilight just chuckles and adds in, “We all want to have that feeling to be loved Rainbow, you need to remember that it’s not just you that just needed to be loved, you need to take in an account that everypony needs to be loved as well.” She places her hoof on the pegasus’ shoulder. “You’re the element of loyalty Rainbow Dash, don’t ever forget that.”
The cyan pegasus raised her head to look at her bookworm friend, giving her a weak smile. “Yeah…” she simply says, “I know, I haven’t forgotten who I am. I’m the awesome Rainbow Dash for crying out loud!”
Suddenly, the bakery’s front door burst open, and to the ponies surprise, it was Spike, who seems to be out of breath from running. “Twilight!” He calls as he hurries to his friends side, “I just received a letter from Princess Cadence!”
20 minutes earlier
“…and that’s how me and Twilight moved into the library, and became fast friends to everypony in Ponyville ever since!”Spike said, finishing his story.
“W-wow,” Gregory says in shock, “Twilight must’ve been a brave sorceress to stand up against Nightmare Moon, but knowing she was Princess Luna and the sister of an opposing source of light? That’s one heck of a plot twist!”
“Heh, if you like plot twists, you should check out Power Ponies!” The assistant dragon replies to him, taking another bite of the gemstone muffin, “They have some interesting plots and characters that makes want to connect with them!”
“You have comic books here too?” Gregory asked
“Sure do! I can let you borrow some if you’re interested.” Spike offers. Gregory got intrigued and says that he’ll look into them later. As they continued on their way, Spike all of a sudden felt a bit queasy, clutching his stomach.
“Spike? Are you okay?” Gregory asked him, Spike nodded and burped out green flames, causing the colt stumble back in shock. “What was that?!”
“Oh! Sorry!” The dragon apologized, “That was a spell that Twilight placed on me that would send and receive messages and letters through my fire breath. I should’ve warned you ahead of time.”
“Okay, but next time, do it away from me. I don’t want to end up like a burnt pretzel.”
“Noted,” Spike replies, he looks at the scroll that has the emblem of heart, he knows all too well as to who sent this, “Oh! Princess Cadence sent a letter! Sorry Gregory, I gotta run this back to Twilight, but you shouldn’t be too far from the clubhouse now. Just continue on to the path and you should have no trouble finding it.”
Gregory nods and the two went on their separate ways for now. As the colt went down the path that was a secluded place from Sweet Apple Acres, home of Apple Bloom and Applejack, he then suddenly heard a shriek from Sweetie Belle, “IT’S NOT LIKE THAT SCOOTALOO!!” That made him walked back by a couple of steps, he never heard anyone scream that loud before. He decided to go and investigate, as he got to the entrance ramp way to the clubhouse, he went under the house and listens in on the Crusaders’ conversation.
At the same time
Sweetie Belle was pacing back and forth, watching her was her fellow Crusaders. Scootaloo just groans in annoyance and says, “Is he even gonna show up? I know it’s a secluded spot, but it shouldn’t be that hard to even find!”
“I just hope he’s okay.” Sweetie Belle says as she looked at the doorway.
“That reminds me,” Apple Bloom says in curiosity, “It’s kinda odd that ya’ll suddenly invite him as Crusader, don’t ya think we’re kinda rushin’ things a bit here?”
“I actually second that,” Scootaloo adds in, “You do seem awfully close with Gregory, but it was really odd that you just invited him with even holding a conversation with us.”
“Oh, come on you two,” Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes, “I know it does seemed rushed, but think about it! We could have a equal gender group! This could give out some sort of support for other fillies and colts like us to find Cutie Marks of their own!”
“Well, yeah,” Scootaloo says hesitantly, “But why him? It’s like not he could-“ she stops, connecting the dots and thinking back, the agreement to watch him, being really kind and sweet to him, the nice attitude towards him. “Wait a minute, I see what’s going on here!”
“Huh?” Sweetie Belle tilted her head in confusion.
“I can see through your disguise Sweetie!”
“What do you mean?”
The gamboge filly calls her out, “You’re not doing this just because you want to make him a Crusader, you’re doing it because you…” she then says in a mocking dreamy voice, “Loooove him.~”
“W-what?! No that isn’t it!” Sweetie Belle protests, but try as she might, Scootaloo and now Apple Bloom caught on through this act, “P-plus, I thought you don’t like romance?”
“Oh, I don’t,” Scootaloo shrugs teasingly, “But when somepony does get all kindy and lovey dovey to somepony she just met, then you know you’ve pretty much given yourself up to him.”
“I don’t have feelings for him Scoots.” The white unicorn says in a deadpan tone.
“You have feelins’ for Gregory?!” Apple Bloom asked Sweetie Belle, whom by now is blushing a rosy red.
“No! I don’t- did you not heard me the first time?!”
“She’s hiding it AB,” Scootaloo teases again, giving her a smug look, “She in love with him. She won’t admit it, but it’s there to show itself.” She then pretends to be Sweetie and says, “‘Oh, don’t worry Gregory, not only you be a Crusader, I will be your one and only somepony you can depend and love on.~’”
“IT’S NOT LIKE THAT SCOOTALOO!!” Sweetie Belle shrieks, her face becoming more red than apples. “I like him as friend! He’s just a colt that is a Cutie Mark Crusader, and our friend! Don’t say anything about him like his… like his dreamy brown eyes, and his very cute smile… a-and his-“ She realized that she went into La-La-Land and sees Apple Bloom with a concerned and confused look on her face, while Scootaloo has a face that says, “Admitting already?” Sweetie Belle clears her throat and continues her arguement, “D-don’t get any ideas! We’re just friends and nothing else!”
“Uh-huh,” the pegasus filly nods, pretending to that she’s no longer interested in Sweetie’s intentions.
Gregory couldn’t believe what he’s hearing just from that part of their conversation, Sweetie Belle likes him?! He wouldn’t like to tell this to her, but he isn’t exactly Prince Charming and he’s far from rich or royalty. He shook the thought out and went up on the ramps and knocked on the door. “Sweetie Belle? Girls? Are any of you there?” He heard a squeal, no doubt coming from the white unicorn filly, then some muttering.
Gregory then tries to tidy his mane a little, sweeping his tussle to the side of his head and puffs out his chest. The door opens and sees the white unicorn, who greets him with a cheery attitude with a squeak in her voice, “Gregory! Glad you could make it! You’re just in time.” She fully opens the door, welcoming him in.
“Whoa…” he gawks in awe of the clubhouse, “This looks very nice.”
“Well, ya’ll got mah big sis to thank for this, “Apple Bloom explains to him, “This use to be her’s, but she offered and rebuilt the clubhouse and this became our HQ ever since!”
“Alright, alright,” Scootaloo says getting impatiently excited, “Let’s get the ceremony underway!”
“Oh! Right!” Sweetie Belle exclaims as she goes to the pedestal, “AB, capes, Scoots, the declaration please?” Scoots nods, but before she could get the paper, she heard her say, “And the short and revised version this time!”
“Yeah, yeah, I got it.” Scootaloo groans, last time the declaration took a little longer was with Babs Seed’s ceremony as a CMC member, while they admit with Scootaloo’s ability with a quill is remarkable, it’s just too wordy and long to even get to the point. She gave Sweetie the declaration, while they get their capes on with Apple Bloom holding Gregory’s cape under her right foreleg.
Sweetie begins to clear her throat and began reading the speech, “‘We, the Cutie Mark Crusaders, elect Gregory to join us as a brother, a friend, a confidante-’”
Gregory couldn’t help but chuckle at Sweetie’s mispronunciation and corrects her, “I think it’s actually confidant.”
The white unicorn’s eyes went wide in realization that she said the word wrong, “O-ohhh… that’s how you say it.” But that aside, she clears her throat once more and continues on, “Now, where were we? Oh, yes! ‘and fellow Cutie Mark Crusader! You are solemnly sworn in, here this day, in witness of your fellow sisters, friends, confidantes, and fellow Cutie Mark Crusaders of their activities, ideas, and projects, and working together to earn your and our own Cutie Marks.” She walks down from the pedestal and walks towards Gregory and continues, “Now Gregory, I want you to raise your left hoof and repeat after me, ‘I, state your name.”
He raised his left front hoof and says back, “I, Gregory,”
“Will promise to help my fellow Crusaders.”
“Will promise to help my fellow Crusaders.”
Then Scootaloo cuts in saying, “Even if I kiss you.”
“Even if I-“ Gregory completely stops himself before continuing that sentence.
“SCOOTALOO!!” Sweetie scolds, seeing her friend giggling.
“Okay, okay,” She says raising her fore hooves in defense, a few giggles escape her lips, “I’m done. No more, I swear.”
Sweetie sighs in frustration and continues on, “Sorry Gregory, from the top.” “Or the bottom.” She heard Scootaloo joke one last time, earning a her a glance for a few seconds to shut her up and resuming the oath, meanwhile the gamboge pegasus came up with another teasing idea, grabbing a couple pieces of paper and writing something down. Will it get more glares from Sweetie Belle? Sure. Will it be worth it? Absolutely!
She sighs, calming herself and says, “Repeat after me, ‘I, state your name,’”
Before Gregory could speak, he sees a sign that’s been lifted up and his mind went elsewhere as he then says, “‘I, Your Coltfriend?’”
Her eyes went wide as she looked behind her, only seeing AB and Scoots, whom of which her lip was twitching. She looks back at Gregory and clears her throat saying, “Try again, ‘I, state your name,”
Once again, the colt saw another sign and instead says, “‘I, Your Filly Swooner?’”
She turned her head around again, once again, just AB and Scootaloo, trying to keep her snickering in. Sweetie Belle now knows who was getting Gregory distracted, she was grinding her teeth and growling, but she calms herself again, keeping her composure and says in a soft tone, “Again, ‘I, state your name.’”
Gregory caught sight of another sign that said-
“Okay, I’m not saying that!” He protests, making the unicorn’s head quickly turn and sees… Apple Bloom was the one who raised the sign?
“Don’t look at me, she wrote them!” The country filly says defendingly, pointing her hoof at her friend.
“Can we get on with this without any form of interruption, please?!” Sweetie asked in a very agitated tone, she sighs as she turns to her attention to Gregory, who is now the one trying to keep his laughter in, but keeps his composure as she began again, “Now, let’s try this again, one last time, from the top, ‘I, state your name,’”
“I, Gregory,” he repeats.
“Will promise to help my fellow Crusaders.”
“Will promise to help my fellow Crusaders.”
“‘Even when I earned my Cutie Mark.’”
“Even when I earned my Cutie Mark.”
“‘I stick by my friends.’”
“I stick by my friends.”
“Congratulations Gregory,” She says, as Apple Bloom puts the cape on the colt, “You’re now an official Cutie Mark Crusader!” The three fillies cheer loudly, he winces and flatten his ears to block out their cheer.
“Say Gregory,” Apple Bloom says their new Crusader, “Since we’ve nearly tried every other activity, or talent, you should try to come up an activity!”
“M-me?” He asked, his eyes went wide, then he placed his hoof on his chin, thinking for something that they could do to earn their Cutie Marks. He looks around the room, then he noticed underneath the window sill was what looked like roller skates, the boots looks like they’re a mixed hybrid a human boot, but they seemed to be made ponies, the boot stops on the front were rubber black with a faded orange, the laces were an amber colored, and it had transparent orange wheels.
“Whoa! Are those roller skates?!” He asked in surprise.
Scootaloo looked at the roller skates, then back at the colt with shock, “You have roller skates back in your world?”
Gregory nods and went to the skates, “They we’re the talk in 2080s, though I… I never really tried them.”
“Seriously?! You haven’t tried roller skating?!” Scootaloo asked in shock, “Jeez, first not trying chocolate, now roller skates?! That’s like Apple Bloom being allergic to apples, or trying a rodeo! And she’s-”
“Scoots, you already did that joke.” Apple Bloom points out before her friend could finish the joke.
The gamboge pegasus looked at her confused and asked, “I did?” The fillies and colt nodded in unison, she shrugs then she looks at Gregory, “You want to give the roller skates a-“
“Absolutely!” He answers her before the question was fully asked and gets Scootaloo to help him get them on.
“Be careful Gregory,” Sweetie warns, “You have to keep your balance and don’t go too fast!”
“Oh relax Sweets,” Scootaloo says casually, “This is just gonna be a couple laps around in the clubhouse, what’s the worse that could happen?” She then ties up the rear skate’s laces and helps him up.
As he got up, he noticed that was a little taller, he chuckles as he tries to walk, but his hind skate’s wheels went backwards, causing to flail about and then went forward, “W-whoa! Whoa!” He cries out as he went to wall, slamming into it and fell backwards.
“Gregory!!” Sweetie gasps, she quickly rushed to his side, so did AB and Scoots, they looked at him with concern, his eyes was seeing stars when he had that impact to the wall. “Gregory! Are you okay?!” The unicorn filly asked him. The colt slurs on his words and then gives out a chuckle as he’s getting up, causing him to slip and spreads out his legs to keep him supported and in balance.
“Umm, maybe we should head outside before he wrecks the clubhouse.” The country filly suggests, the other Crusaders agreed and help Gregory roll to the doorway, a couple of slips here and there, but they got him safely to the door.
“Hehe, this isn’t so bad.” He says to the, looking down at the skate with a smile on his face, but then quickly to shock and horror as he accidentally went down the ramp, and then plummeted to the grass, but somehow still rolling through onward to the path.
The fillies shriek in fright as they see this happening, running as fast as they could to catch up with the roller skating colt. Sweetie Belle shouts, “Gregory! Slow it down!” He couldn’t hear her as more focus on not getting hit with the trees and bushes, as he barrels down to the path of Sweet Apple Acres, he quickly got up on his hind legs and grabs the wooden railing of the fence, his rear legs skating in place and breathing heavily.
“This is… this is harder than it looks!” He pants as his friends comes to his side.
The Crusaders were panting breathlessly as well from the running, then Apple Bloom quips, “I’ve been to many family activities that requires runnin’ and exercisin’, but this ain’t one of them!”
“S-sorry Apple Bloom,” he says to her meekly, “Th-this is my first time skating!” Then they heard a whooshing noise that surprised the fillies and startled Gregory, causing him to accidentally let go of the fence and fall onto his back. They all looked to the skies and saw a crystal carriage being pulled by two pegasi with golden armor, glimmers and sparkles trail behind them.
“Hey! That’s Princess Cadence’s carriage!” AB exclaimed excitedly, pointing at the flying carriage, “It’s going to Ponyville!”
“Who’s Princess Cadence?” Gregory asked them, tilting his head in curiosity and confusion.
“She’s the co-ruler of the Crystal Empire,” Sweetie Belle explains to him, “Ooh! You just have to meet her! Come on!” She took Gregory by the hoof ran to the path to Ponyville. The colt couldn’t believe it as he was wheeled away to town, meeting a royal? A ruler of an empire? He was excited at first, this is the first time to ever meeting a princess, on the other hand, this is first time meeting a princess.
“W-wait wait!” He shouts, pulling his friend to stop, “W-when you mean a princess, a-are you talking about like a princess that wears a lot of makeup and a dress?”
“Well, she doesn’t necessarily wears dresses,” Sweetie Belle explains further, “But she’s very kind and she wouldn’t hurt anyone! She’s the Princess of Love after all!”
While they continue on their way to Ponyville, Gregory was left with so many thoughts on mind, aside from how he should greet himself to the princess, he can’t just go up to her and say, ”Hey! I’m Gregory, I’m a human being and I wreck animatronics with a garbage compactor! Please to meet you!”
“S-should she be worried about the fact that I’m human?” He asked nervously.
“Ah, relax Greg,” Scootaloo says to him, “By the time you get to know the Princess, you’ll be friends in no time flat!” She gave him a punch on the shoulder and that sets up an unfortunate chain reaction.
Gregory wobbles about as the skates now picked up speed downhill, Sweetie tried to hold on, but her strength wasn’t enough and got dragged along, then her grip loosened and she watches in horror as the rollaway colt was heading to Ponyville with no one stopping him, off the dirt road and into the woods.
“HELP!!!” he cries as the wheels rolled on the grass, the colt kept getting hit by tree branches and bushes… this was not how he imagined how his first arrival to Ponyville was gonna go. He was going to cry out for help again, but then he remembers the lesson from Twilight.
“Okay,” he mutters himself, looking at the roller skates as his decent downhill continues, “Left right, right left!” He speed was picking up, a little slip one or twice, but his screams of terror turned into exclamations of excitement as the wheels suddenly hit the concrete and passing by pedestrians. He cheers out loud as he zooms around the town, the surge of adrenaline coursing through him as he skates past shops and the town hall.
Meanwhile with the Cutie Mark Crusaders
They’ve gotten to Ponyville, but no sign of Gregory anywhere, nothing skid marks from the roller skates. “Ohhhh, I seriously hope doesn’t damage them!” Scootaloo says anxiously, her fellow Crusaders looked at her confused, earning her a nervous chuckle, “Uh… I forgot to mention to him that they were Rainbow Dash’s skates.”
“Why the hay do you have them? Does Rainbow know?” Sweetie asks her.
“Well, yeah, why else do you think I have them?” Scootaloo asked deadpan, “I was gonna try them out to help go into flight by jumping off a ramp.”
“WHY THE HAY YOU THINK THAT’S A GOOD IDEA?!” Apple Bloom asked in shock for her friend’s plan for the skates.
“We’ll discuss this another time!” Sweetie reminds them her friends, “We gotta find…” she stops when she notices two fillies that were trotting their way, one filly was a light pink coloration, with a purple-grey mane, she wears a diamond encrusted tiara, which is also her Cutie Mark of said tiara. The other filly has a gray pelt with a two-toned gray mane, she wore light blue framed glasses and a pearl necklace, and her Cutie Mark has a spoon with a pink heart at the top of it’s handle. These two were not the ones that the Crusaders didn’t have the time to put up with at the moment, but then again, they’re Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.
“Well, if it’s the Blank Flank club!” Diamond scoffs with chortle, “What are you up to this time? Trying to get a worm collecting Cutie Mark?”
“We’re trying to find Gregory,” AB explains to them, not having the patience for the two bullies, “He’s probably losing control of the skates when he came here!” Looking around, no sign of him at all.
“Who’s Gregory?” Silver Spoon asked them in confusion.
“He’s our friend,” Scootaloo says to them defendingly, “And if you two try to get on our nerves because of him-”
“Ugh, another Blank Flank?” The tiara groans, “I swear, today’s society are having a non-Cutie Marked ponies more than Cutie Marked ones! Hmph, I bet this Gregory is like the rest of the other Blank Flanks I come across.”
Sweetie Belle was not having any of this and retorts, “Don’t talk about him that way! He may not have a Cutie Mark, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t anypony different from you or I.”
Silver’s teasing then began, “Ooh, seems like the seamstress’ sister already has a coltfriend!” The two began laughing at her, making the unicorn blushing madly and tries to deny, but was interrupted by Silver yet again, “Hopefully by the time you find him, you can tell him to-”
“HEADS UP!!!” A familiar voice as a black and fair white blur zooms past the fillies, laughter and cheers came from the colt who oddly looks like Gregory, hearing him shout, “SORRY!!” As he continues on his skating spree.
“Gregory?!” Sweetie asked in shock.
The looked like he was having the time of his life, skating by and zooming through the town without any care of the world, he felt as if he was free… up until he notices that he was going too fast at a what appears to be a gingerbread house, he screams in horror as he’s speeding to the door.
At Sugarcube Corner
Twilight had turned another page on one of Starswirl’s books, scanning through the paragraphs. “Sugarcube, ya’ll should take it easy with the research,” Applejack says, “Ah’m sure answer will come once Cadence gets here.”
“I know, Applejack, I know,” she says with a sigh.
“Somethin’ on yer mind?”
The unicorn nods and explains what happened last night with Gregory and the nightmare he had, the three mares’ heart sank when they heard about this, especially for Rainbow Dash who is now having second thoughts about him being a threat and her jealousy instantly went away. Some element of loyalty she is, she’s supposed to be supportive of her friends and help those in need without question, but her whole conspiracy about the colt has rubbed off her the wrong way.
“Poor thing,” Fluttershy’s says sadly, “At least the lullaby you sang to him seemed to help.”
Rainbow puts her forehooves to her temples and sighs in frustration, “This is my fault.”
The three mares looked at her confused. “What do you mean Rainbow?” Twilight asked.
“All of my resentment and jealousy to him, me thinking he could be some kind of other creature than a pony, thinking he would steal my spotlight!” She sighs before she could loose herself, “I’m suppose to be example and inspire those around me. Instead I just got zealous from him and I acted out.”
“It’s okay Rainbow,” Twilight comforts her, “I’m sure he’ll understand if you just explained it to him.”
The athletic pegasus sigh and looked at her, giving her a sad smile, “I know Twi… If he’s in here right now, I just wanna say I’m-”
“COMING THROUGH!!!!” A shout blared out as the front door broke and a black and fair white blur zoomed through and slammed to the desert counter, the mares jumped in shock, with Rainbow Dash clutching to her chest as if she was about to have a heart attack. The slam caused a pie to jump off and splat on his face, a muffled moan of discomfort can be heard from him.
“Gregory!!!” Twilight exclaims in shock, rushing to the colt, removing the pie off of his face. "Gregory! Sweetheart, are you okay?!"
Instead of being scared or terrified in the beginning, he’s started to laugh as he wipes some of the pie off of his face and says, “I’m fine Twilight! More than fine, I never felt so alive! I haven’t gone that fast ever since I rode one of those go-carts at the Pizzaplex!” Twilight was caught by surprise, seeing him so happy even after an accident, laughing like as if nothing was wrong. She helps him up to sit, letting him catch his breath, that’s when they heard his name being called by the out of breath Cutie Mark Crusaders, with Sweetie Belle giving him an unamused look. He chuckles, the adrenaline still pumping through him as he says, “I’m definitely gonna do this again!”
“Again?!” Sweetie asked him in shock, then back into agitated as she trots to him a whacked him on the head, “You’ve nearly gave us a heart attack!” Then another whack, “You could’ve hurt yourself!” And one last harder whack, “And you nearly ran somepony over!”
Gregory rubs the top of his head, keeping his fun filled smile, “Hey, at least it was fun, wasn’t it?” Sweetie could not believe the words she was hearing, even after all of the chaos had settled, he still wants more?! She felt light headed and passed out.
Being witnessed to this was her older sister Rarity, who came in and asked, “Oh goodness, what did I miss?”
“Sweetie paaased out.” Apple Bloom explains.
“I can see that.” Rarity says deadpan.
“If you can see it, then why the hay are you asking us?” Scootaloo points out.
Ignoring that response, Rarity looked around and asked, “Where are Mr. and Mrs. Cake? Pinkie Pie needs to check on the cake that’s for the delivery.”
Twilight knows what she was talking about and replies, “Oh, they closed up shop a little early today, but they’ve allowed us to have breakfast here. I’ve also received a letter from Princess Cadence that she’ll be arriving in Ponyville.”
“Oh shoot!” AB says in shock, “I forgot! We saw her carriage heading it’s way here!”
“Yeah, that’s right!” Gregory chimed in, “I guess I forgot about that during my skating race.”
“Is that who I saw while on my here?” They heard a voice, they all turned to the source and there stood a mare and a stallion.
The unicorn stallion was taller than the mares, his pelt is white, at the end of each leg exposed a dark gray-blue hoof, blue eyes shined brighter than crystal sapphires, his mane and tail were mixture of blue and light blue with dark blue streaks and has a Cutie Mark of a six pointed Magenta Star on a Blue Shield, topped by three light blue stars. Something about the stallion carries a commanding and fierce presence to him, which almost makes Gregory nervous.
However, his eyes locked on to the alicorn mare in question, whom is none other than Princess Cadence herself, standing as tall as the stallion next to her, a graceful light pink covers her pelt and wings, eyes like purple gems, flowing purple, magenta and yellow colors serenes boldly from her mane and tail, and a teal crystal heart with a golden lace signifies as her Cutie Mark, she also wore golden shoes on her hooves and a crown with purple gems, showing a sign of royalty. Like the stallion, she shows a commanding presence, but she shows more love and gracefulness through her.
“Cadence! BBBFF!” Twilight greets excitedly as she and Spike went to them and embraced them both.
“Twily!” The white unicorn greets in return, “We gotten your letter, so we thought we would like to meet the little guy.” He looked at the already timid colt, “I think you’re him, aren’t you?” He gave him a kind smile, the same kind smile Twilight would give.
The colt got up and looked in awe and wide eyes at the pair. “W-wow… you’re really tall…” he says to them, causing the light pink alicorn giggle for a bit, causing to turn to his attention to her, bowing his head to her, “I-it’s also an honor to meet you Princess! I-I’m sorry for trouble I caused earlier.”
“Hehe, such a young gentleman,” she remarks, “You didn’t cause any trouble at all Gregory, you’ve put on quite a show for both myself and Shining Armor.”
Gregory lifts his head up at the white stallion and asked, “That’s your name?” The blue maned stallion nods in response. He began to stutter, “O-oh! Well, u-um, it’s a good name!”
He chuckles both he and Cadence noticed how nervous he was. Cadence then says, “There’s no need for formalities and to be nervous Gregory, here you can call us Shining and Cadence, we’re normal ponies like yourself.” Gregory was going to say something else, but then Cadence adds, “And there’s no need to apologize, believe me, we met many ponies that were in formals. It’s still takes me a while of getting use to.”
Gregory then looked at Twilight and then asks, “Hey Twilight, you called him your BD… BE… what was it?”
She looked at him confused at first, but then realized what he’s talking about, “Oh! BBBFF, that stands for Big Brother Best Friend Forever.”
Gregory had to do a double take when looking at the stallion first, then back at the lavender unicorn, finally looking back at Shining.
“Heh, I know,” he admits, “Other than our Cutie Marks, we don’t have any resemblance.”
“Other than your Cutie Marks?” The colt asked in shock, “Forget that, I couldn’t tell at all! I thought you would be Rarity’s brother!”
Hearing those words, Sweetie finally snapped out of her pass out and shot up and sat straight up and squeaked out, “I have a brother?!” She then noticed Princess Cadence there and she blushed madly. “I asked that out loud, didn’t I?”
The colt chuckles at her little mishap, but his attention was turned again when Cadence then spoke to him, “I’m quite surprised that you’ve settled in quickly to your new environment, but considering what happened to you in your old world, it’s very sad to hear as to what you went through.”
He hid his saddening expression and says, “I thought it would be a place I could stay for a while. Heh… boy was I wrong.”
“Well, look at the bright side Gregory!” Spike chimes in, giving him a gentle punch to his shoulder, “You’re gonna love Ponyville, even though you might have tough customers, we’ll be here for you.”
Applejack gave some thought and then says, “Mind if Ah make a suggestion? Ah know we’ve gotten used to his name, but it ain’t somethin’ exactly a name ya find here in Equestria. Don’t ya’ll think we should change it?”
“A new name?” The colt asked her tilting his head in confusion, “What’s wrong with my name?”
“Oh, there’s nothing wrong with it darling,” Rarity explains, “It’s just that… Well, it doesn’t really fit here in this world.”
Twilight gave it some thought and made her decision, “Well, if Gregory’s going to be staying with me and Spike, maybe we should give him a name that would at least be similar to my family or my traits for educational study, like the stars for example.”
“Wait, why stars?” The colt asked in confusion.
“Well, maybe I should’ve been more specific,” the lavender unicorn clarifies, “Basically, my family traits isn’t on just stars, but astrophysics and astrobiology, researching comets and planet in our solar system.” She gave him a smile as she continues, “I know a perfect last name for you Superstar.” The colt’s eyes went wide as he heard that, not that he wasn’t ungrateful for the last name that was given to him, but the sudden call back to what Freddy called him throughout the Pizzaplex. Twilight’s smile fades away as she notices the shock and then says, “O-or um, I could give you different name-”
“No no!” Gregory blurts out, “I-I like it, I… I just wasn’t expecting you would chose that one.”
She looked surprised at first by the sudden blurt, but then smiles as the name settled in for him and her. “Well, I’m happy that you think so. Now, for your first name…”
“How about Spikey?” Rainbow suggests.
“Oh, no, darling,” Rarity said. “That’s Spike’s nickname. It would be a little bit confusing for the both of them because they wouldn’t know who I’m calling if they’re in the same place, just so you’re aware.”
“Good point,” Rainbow Dash shrugs and crossed her forelegs, then a thought came to her, Spikey Superstar, she just had to chuckle at that.
“Ooh! Ooh! How about Moonstone?!” Sweetie Belle suggests.
“You seriously want to name him after a stone?” Scootaloo asked raising a brow.
“I thought it was good!” Sweetie retorted.
Gregory gave it some thought on his first name, then he thought back to type of animatronics that and style of his jacket, almost making him look like a glamorous rockstar, the only thing was missing was a rockstar hat.
“How about Glamrock?” He recommended to the others, causing all eyes to look at him. “Not a good one?”
“Actually, I think it fits you darling!” Rarity admits.
“R-really?”
“Oh Gregory, the name suits you as well as the style you have!” She continues, “The colors, the glamour, oohhhh, I can see it on the headlines! ‘Glamrock Superstar takes Equestria by storm!’”
“Glamrock Superstar, hmm…” Twilight says as she gave some thought, “I like it, and I think it suits him well.”
Gregory, now Glamrock, smiled at the new name, for the longest time, he was just known as Gregory, or by some other names, to many other kids on the streets, he was known as ‘The Kid with No Name.’ He finally has a name of his own and that’s in a world that cares for him and friends that like him!
“Well, Glamrock,” Twilight says with a warm smile, “I think it’s about time we head home. Shining, Cadence, care for an evening stroll with us?”
“Absolutely!” Shining answers her.
“Twilight, there’s something that I should discuss with you since Glamrock will be living with you and Spike.”
“What about the Crusaders?” Glamrock asked his surrogate guardian, “Can they stay for the night too? Please?” He gave her a begging look.
Twilight playful gave it a thought, “Hmm… well, I don’t see why not, as long as Applejack, Rarity and Ms. Holiday and Ms. Lofty are okay with it.”
“Ah’m alright with that,” Applejack agrees, “But remember Apple Bloom, we have some serious work that needs to be done back at the farm, so don’t stay up too late, ya hear?”
Rarity chimes in, “Sweetie Belle, that goes for you as well, I don’t you to be tired in the morning, father wants to be prepared for a trip that’s coming up in two days.”
“You guys can go ahead and head your way there,” Scootaloo informs her fellow Crusaders, “If I don’t make it, it’s probably because my aunts and I have some company coming over.”
Twilight suddenly gasps and claps her hooves together, surprising everyone in the room, "Ooh! I just thought of something! I think this is a perfect chance to have another one of those sleepovers at my house!"
“A sleepover?” Glamrock tilts his head in confusion, “What’s that?”
“We’ll show you when we get there,” Twilight reassures him, “Rainbow? Fluttershy? Wanna tag along?”
“For a sleepover? Twilight, you know I can’t say no to that!” Rainbow says excitedly.
“I would love to go,” Fluttershy explains sadly, “But I promised that I would help Zecora with an animal problem she’s having back in her home.”
“That’s alright,” Twilight reassures, “There’s always next time.” They all say their respective farewells and head on their own way.
“Hey Twilight?” Glamrock asked his guardian, “Do you think this sleepover will be fun?”
“Oh trust me,” she says in playful manner, “You’ll be surprised how fun they are.”
As Shining Armor, Candence, Twilight, Spike, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, and Glamrock walk through Downtown Ponyville, the lavender unicorn smiles down at him motherly, see the colt being talkative to a group of friends he can be dependable and hang out with. “I can see somepony’s moving about and talking a lot more than last time since you got here.” Twilight remarks to the colt.
Glamrock looked behind him to look at Twilight for a moment and smiles. “I guess it’s because I’m in a world talking ponies and dragons exists.” He suddenly tripped himself up and fell face first. Twilight’s motherly instincts kicked in and checked on him, “Glamrock! Sweetheart, are you okay?!”
He giggled a little as he got up, dirt on his face, “I’m okay Twilight!”
She sighs in relief and helps wipes off the dirt from the colt’s cheek, from behind her, both her former foalsitter and brother started to laugh a little too. “Don’t worry Twilight,” Cadance says to her, “Once he get better balance at walking and running, he won’t trip and fall as much.”
Twilight give the Princess of Love a smile and a nod, of which Glamrock also chuckles a little. The colt looks at the the two of the three Crusaders, Sweetie Belle in particular, she’s been kind and caring for him ever since he got here yesterday, he wanted to give her something in return. That’s when he began to concoct an idea.
“Miss Twilight?” Glamrock asked politely.
The lavender unicorn looked at him. “Yes Glamrock?” She responds.
“I-Is there a flower shop here in Ponyville? I want to get some for someo- I-I mean, somepony special.” He had to correct himself at that last sentence, of course, if he’s going to stay here, he might as well try to fit in to their culture.
His guardian just giggled at his mistake and then says, “You don’t have to speak like we do Glamrock. If you’re not ready or comfortable with how we speak, just take your time.” Glamrock was relieved, “Besides, I am interested as to how your lingos work. As for a flower shop, I am sure that there is one around here. Say BBBFF, didn’t you say that you sent a letter to a shop that sell the best flowers in Ponyville?”
The white unicorn stallion nods, “I’m sure that I did, in fact, if I recall correctly, I think that place is still open even to this day.”
“I know where that is.” Cadence explains to the group, “‘Gardener’s Paradise,’ it’s about a couple of blocks from the Carousel Boutique. I can take Glamrock there if you like Twilight,” she leans over and then whispers into her ear, “I’ll keep him occupied while you get the party for him ready.”
The lavender pony’s eyes widened at first, but then letting the hint sink in as she see her former foalsitter wink at her with her left eye, she winks back with her opposite eye.
“Sounds like a plan Cadance,” Twilight says turning her attention to the colt, “and besides, I think Glamrock wouldn’t mind being the Princess of Love’s bodyguard for a day. What do you think Glamrock?”
He gave it some thought about it, a bodyguard for the Princess? Considering that Shining Armor is captain of the guard during one of their conversations on their way to the library, but then again, it would be a good opportunity to learn from his guardian’s brother as to how he keep Equestria safe! “Sir Glamrock Superstar,” he gave a salute to the captain, “Reporting for duty Captain!”
Shining chuckles as he gave a salute in return, and says, “At ease soldier. Let’s get our Princess to the flower shop.”
“Lead the way captain!” He says as he stood at attention and the three went on their way.
“Great!” Twilight whispers to the Crusaders cheerfully, “While they are heading to the flower shop, let’s get to the library and finish up with the decorations for the party.”
As the pair walked to the shop, Glamrock was still in awe as he looked around the town, from one side there was some tent set up markets, selling rugs, necklaces, and interesting knickknacks. On the other side, there some refreshments like lemonade and homemade milkshakes, which is to be expected, but quite exciting to see.
Another building that caught his attention was the buildings, there was a spa, a café… a bowling alley?! They have bowling here?! he asked himself in thought, How do they even fit their hooves in the finger holes?!
He turned around excitedly and ask as to how they even had a bowling alley, but noticed that Cadance was slowing down with Shining Armor checking up on her, this made the young colt concerned.
“Is she okay Shining?” He asked his captain.
The white stallion heard the question and looked at the colt. “Don’t worry kiddo,” he chuckles as ruffling Glamrock’s mane, “Cadance is alright, she’s just having a little problem with her package.” The colt was confused at first, but from a little pointing from the captain’s hoof at the pink alicorn’s belly, this ultimately raised the colt’s brows and pieced it together. During his time as a human and before the lockdown, there was a woman with a belly bigger than Cadance’s is.
“Wait… YOU’RE PREG-MMPH?!?” His muzzle was quickly covered by Shining’s hoof as the older male chuckles again.
“Yes,” he answers, “But we can’t let anypony know about that yet. This is a secret that only you, me, and Cadance know, okay?” The colt nods in response as Shining slowly removing his hoof off his recruit’s mouth.
“You mean Twilight and the others haven’t been told yet?” Glamrock asked him to which the captain nods yes.
“We’re saving this as a surprise,” Shining explains to the colt, “in around a couple of months, that’s when Cadance and I will break the news.”
Glamrock couldn’t help but giggle at the sight when once Twilight gets the news that she’s going to be an aunt, squealing like a school girl and trotting in place. “Miss Twilight’s going to be in a when she finds out.” Glamrock remarks to the couple, earning them a chuckle of their own. Upon reaching to the flower shop, Shining opens the door for Cadance and Glamrock.
Upon entering in, Glamrock could smell many different aromas from many flowers, roses, tulips, daisies, and lavenders. As he searches for some flowers, he could only think of the colors of Sweetie Belle, her white coat, her pink and light purple mane and her beautiful green eyes. I-Is this what’s like to have a crush on someone? he questions himself in thought, I-I mean, you’re suppose to be in love when you’re older, right?
“Hey you!” A voice calls to him, almost accusingly in tone. Whipping his head around and sees a very angry duo of a grey and pink filly earth ponies, charge trotting towarding. The pink filly yelled at Glamrock, “You do you think you are, messing up my mane and tiara?! This tiara cost almost a thousand bits to have it clean and have those scratches buffed out!”
Glamrock looked at the silver jewelry on top of Diamond Tiara’s head, then he says, “Oh, that was you that I passed by?”
“Do you know who I am?!”
“Uh, no,” He answers in a confused tone, “But I have a feeling you’re about to.”
Tiara harrumphed as she says, “I am Diamond Tiara, and I am a royal here in Ponyville, so are my mommy and daddy, and you, Blank Flank, have nearly costed my tiara to be ruined, and I demand an apology!”
Glamrock went wide eyed for a moment, then confusion returned to him from the name Diamond gave him, “Um, my name is actually Glamrock Superstar, if you’re looking for whoever this Blank Flank guy, I don’t think you’ll find him here.”
The duo looked at each other, then at Glamrock and began to laugh at him, leaving the messy brown maned colt even more puzzled. Silver Spoon then says, “Boy, are you stupid?”
“Blank minded like his flanks are.” Diamond teased him. Looking at his own flanks, he then puts two and two together. They must be talking about the Cutie Marks. Are they really that important in Equestria? he asks himself in thought. “So, listen up, and listen up good, if you ever, ever try to embarrass me in front everypony again, I will do terrible, horrible things to you. Are we clear?”
Glamrock was yanked a little when Diamond grabbed the collar of his jacket. He nervously nodded and said, “C-crystal.”
She scoffs and let him go, “Good. Now get out of my sight.”
The colt does so with flowers on hoof and mutters to himself quietly, the duo didn’t even bother hearing what he said. As he gone back out of the flower shop, Shining and Cadance were waiting for him. “Hey, everything went okay in there?” Shining asked the colt, noticing a troubling look on his face.
“Um, yeah, it’s all good.” Glamrock said with confidence, “Let’s head back.”
Shining and Cadance knew something that happened in the flower shop, so Cadance’s mother instincts kicked in and asked Glamrock, very kindly, “Honey? I know something’s going on. What happened?” The colt, looked at the flowers for a moment, then he sighs and explained about Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon threatening him. Cadance sighs in frustration and then asked Shining, “Shiny, please notify Spoiled Rich about what Diamond and Silver were doing and tell her that this is a warning from Princess Candance, ‘Should her child would do anything like that again, I won’t hesitate to put her into community services.’”
“Understood.” He salutes and then looked at Glamrock, “I’ll catch up with you kiddo, for now, I need you to escort her to the Golden Oaks Library, can you do that?” Glamrock then piped up, and gave him a salute and a nod. “Dismissed.” So, the duo of the Princess and colt went on their way.
“Hey Miss Cadance?” Glamrock asked the Princess, “While I was in the flower shop, Diamond Tiara called me a blank flank. I get that I lack a Cutie Mark, but why go bullying others about that?”
She sighs sadly and explains, “To be completely honest, a lot of nobles who think highly about themselves, they looked at ponies with no Cutie Marks with no regards for them whatsoever. It’s sad really.” Glamrock nods in agreement, knowing now what the CMC had to go through with such bullying from Diamond and Silver, but he knows he’s going to help them change that… not today perhaps, but someday.
Golden Oaks Library
As they they came across the Golden Oaks Library, Glamrock stood to the side and stood at attention. “Such a gentlecolt,” Cadance giggled and the gestures for him to go in as she then says, “Glamrock, I think it would be best if you check if the coast is clear from the inside.”
He looked at the door at first, then back at the Princess. Now getting hint, he gave her a wink, thinking he knows what could go wrong. Opening the door, he notices that the room was quite dark. “Twilight, we’re back! Are you in here?” he called out, no response came back, “Where’s that light switch?” Just as he said that, the lights came on and Sam was greeted by a lot of ponies looking at him with happy faces.
Surprise!” they all shouted, this scared Glamrock so much he actually screamed in fright, but as he looked around, he realized that we’re decor around the library. “W-what’s going on here?”
“Silly Glammy!” A familiar voice says through the crowd, Pinkie pronked to as she further added, “It’s your ‘Welcome to Ponyville!’ Party!” She then proceeded to grab and hug him like a plush toy.
“Ack! P-Pinkie! C-can’t… Breathe!” He gasps as he tries to get some air, kicking his hind legs. Pinkie realizing she’s squeezing him, she let him go, unintentionally dropping him with a thud. Glamrock got back on his hoof, finally getting oxygen back into his lungs.
“Sorry,” Pinkie says rubbing the back of her head, “I kinda get excited when it comes to parties, hehehe.”
Glamrock returns a chuckle, “I-it’s okay.”
And so, the party had started. Glamrock and the Crusaders were having the time of their lives, dancing and laughing. At the party tables, Twilight was keeping an eye on the foals, especially Glamrock. Ever since she taken care of the colt, she couldn’t help, but be responsible for Glamrock being here in the first place. “Thought I’d find you here.” Cadance’s voice caught her attention, seeing her former foalsitter sitting next to her, looking at Glamrock, “That little colt… he’s been through a lot from what you’ve told me in your letters.”
Twilight nods and explains, “It’s just… when I saw his memories… when he made that jump off of that building… I felt like I was there… and I couldn’t do anything about it.” She couldn’t shake off that memory ever since Glamrock came into their world. “He even told me that he never knew his parents. He went as far as to doubt that he’s a very nice foal. I can’t help feel like I was responsible for this Cadance… I want to help him, but how?”
The Princess of Love could only sigh and say, “Well Ladybug, I could tell you this: he’s needs somepony to take care of him. He needs a family to love him. I think… I think you should raise him.”
“M-me?!” Twilight asked as she looked at her former foalsitter in shock, thankfully, everypony was too distracted to even know what the conversation is about.
Cadance gave her a nod. “From the letters you’ve written to me and Shiny, from how you described how he came here, he sees you as his guardian. I think you should be more than his guardian. I can’t think of anypony but you to raise him as your own. Plus, if it weren’t for you bring him back to life, he would’ve gone to a much darker place.”
Twilight’s eyes then looked back at Glamrock again. Would it be possible? A mare unicorn raising a formerly human boy now a earth pony colt? Sure, some ponies wouldn’t mind, but would the other Princesses and her parents accept this? Her parents… how are they going to react to seeing him? Having question after question popping in her kind made her all the more scared for the colt… he needs somepony yes, but she can’t leave him with somepony else.
“Twilight?” Cadance asked her, “Are you alright?”
Twilight, snapping back into reality, looks for assistant and found him next to the colt dancing. “Spike!” She calls for the baby dragon, which got his attention, “Would you come with me for a second?”
He looks back at Glamrock, telling him he’ll be right back and went to Twilight. “Hey, what’s up?” He asked her, he then notices a nervous look on her face, “Is everything okay Twilight?”
“Spike…” she bit her lower lip for what she’s going to ask may change her life for better or worse, “How would you feel... if we had added Glamrock... as part of the family?”
“You mean, like a brother?” Spike asked her, she nods as both of them looked back at the colt. “Well,” he says with a smirk, “He hasn’t done anything, other than hanging out with the Cutie Mark Crusaders most of the time. Nothing seems to be wrong with him, except for his hard life. Why do you ask?”
“Well, I’m thinking about introducing him to the Princesses, and my parents,” Twilight explains. “But, I need a little more support on this before I make this decision.”
“Wait… we’re asking me that, because you want to adopt him?” Spike asked her with a raised brow.
Twilight nodded and said, “A foal needs a loving mother Spike, and I can’t give up on him. His human parents may have left him behind, but I’m not going to make that mistake.” She walks off to the side as she could see that Glamrock and the Crusaders were off the dance floor to take a break, giggling and smiling.
“Man, I don’t remember having this much fun back at the Pizzaplex.” The colt remarks to the Crusaders.
“Heh, that makes two of us.” Applebloom agreed.
Twilight came up to the group and says to the colt, “Glamrock? Would you come outside with me for a moment?” The colt looks confused, but he did as he was asked and they walked outside, standing by the front door. She took a deep breath and began to speak, “Glamrock, I know this is really sudden, but I want to ask you something really important and it’s okay that you don’t have to answer this now.”
“What is it Twilight?” The young colt asked her, he cocked an eyebrow.
She took a deep breath and then proceeds to ask her question, “How would you feel if we let you stay here until we can get an adopted family?”
This question confused the colt. “Why do you ask?”
“Well, I figured that once you’ve recovered from the trauma you’ve encounter back on your world, we can find you a good family and home you can reside in.” She then explains to him further, “I’m only asking because, well… I just wanted you to live in a good life without any more trauma and such violence. A colt like you shouldn’t live in this life.”
This is such information to take in, even at a child at an age as his. “H-How long do I have to think about it?” Glamrock asked.
“You can take as much time as you need.” She’s explains to him, “and if you feel like you don’t know what to do, come talk to me. I’ll do everything in my power to help.”
“Including finding a new family?”
“Absolutely?” She tells him, then she pulls him in for a hug, “I just don’t want to see you alone without anypony taking care of you. No child, even in a lifetime, should ever live that life.” The colt gave Twilight a gentle squeezing hug, not even wanting to let this moment go too soon. “Now then,” She says as they looked back at the door,” I believe that there’s a party we need to get back to. We don’t want Pinkie to get heart attack thinking her guest of honor left.”
Before they entered, Glamrock asked, “By the way, how does she even make these parties?”
She chuckles, “It’s best not knowing Glamrock. Trust me, I know from experience.” She needed to make her decision known to the colt… clearly to her, she didn’t. Perhaps tomorrow would be an improvement.
Sleepovers, this the first time he ever had a sleepover with anyone, let alone with a group of girls. Thankfully, Scootaloo got permission and she was able to join them. They have an indoor campfire, told stories about the Crusaders’ adventures of getting their Cutie Marks, some of which made them cringe, or laugh depending on how they viewed the story.
“Man, you girls sounded like had some quite of adventures.” Glamrock said with a chuckle.
Scootaloo smirked, “Well, comparing to the adventure that you went through, I’d say nothing tops it.” Glamrock’s happy expression dropped, yes his life-or-death adventure in the Pizzaplex was an experience, but it wasn’t anything that exciting that any normal kid would go through. Scootaloo immediately regretted what she said, “Oh… I-I’m sorry, I should’ve have-”
Glamrock shook it off and said, “I-It’s not a big deal, really!” It almost sounded dodgy from the way he says it. Neither Crusader said anything of the topic, and moved along through.
As soon as the foals fell asleep, Twilight, who was continuously working on her research of the Chamber, she could hear whimpers from the colt. She stops what she was doing and she went to comfort him. She could feel sympathetic with the colt as his whimpers stopped as she place her hoof on his head, rubbing it gently.
She couldn’t help but sigh to herself sadly. Oh Glamrock… I really want to help you, but I don’t know what to do.
She then hears him whimper again, she looked at him in shock as he then heard that she would never hear from any foal. “N-no! Freddy please! I-I’m sorry! I-No! Please! D-don’t, don’t put me in there! Freddy please!”
“Glamrock?” Twilight shook him lightly at first, but his frantic babble and muttering continued. “Glamrock!” She shook him a little harder, that got him to scream very loudly, causing the Crusaders to wake up in fright. He looked up at his guardian, sweat dripping down from his forehead and bloodshot eyes staring at her. “Sweetheart? Are you okay?”
He didn’t answer her but tears were already began to leak from his eyes. Without another from each other, she brought him close to her chest as the colt cries.
“Did he hadnightmare?” Applebloom asked quietly the group.
Scootaloo shrugs as she whispers, “Probably. Jeez… I don’t even want to know what he was dreaming about.” That caused a little slap to the back of her head by the country filly.
Sweetie Belle felt bad for him, so she tries to comfort the colt. “Glamrock?” He looks at her, looking frightened. “Do you wanna talk about it?” He shook his head no, as it was too personal for him to even tell them about anything.
Twilight then says to the fillies, “Girls, why don’t you get some sleep? I’ll take care of him.” The Crusaders sadly looked at the colt, and seeing as Twilight comforting him right now, they returned to their sleeping bags and went back to sleep. “Glamrock, I think we may need to see a doctor to help you with your nightmares. And I think I know just the one that can help.”
“Y-you do?” He asked her.
She nods, “He’s the best that Equestria ever had. He’s always liked to help others, and I think you’ll like him.”
