Chapter 6: Separation

I sat up in my bed; looking around

George the creeper was slumbering peacefully; my hut hadn't burned down while I was asleep so I guessed that was a good sign

I got up and went to pick up my journal; only to see I misplaced it again

'Stop doing that! Who knows who might read that!' I scolded myself

I made a woolen cloak and put it around my neck; covering my head with the hood

I grabbed my sword and went outside; trotting to what now seemed to be a bustling Ponyville

I trotted into town; a couple of ponies looked at me strangely but nopony approached me; except for a few young fillies

"Hey there mister! What's your name?" Applebloom asked

I did what I could to make my voice different, "I'm Zack"

"That's a funny name." Sweetie Belle noted

"Where are you from?" Scootaloo asked

"I'm not from around here; I'm just dropping in for a bit."

"Did you hear about what happened to Skarfly mister Zack?" Applebloom asked

"No; what happened?" I asked

"He was murdered in his tower on the hill; are you a detective?" Sweetie Belle asked excitedly

"I'm not a detective; just passerby." I assured them

They left disappointedly

I kept walking into town; only to be hit from the side by a rainbow blur

"Wha- hey!" I cried out; startled

"Are you the one who did that to Skarfly?" Rainbowdash demanded

A lasso wrapped around her tail; pulling her back

"Simmer down Sally; he doesn't look like he did." Applejack said

"If I did then I would have left town" I rolled my hidden eyes, "I live in a hut on the Everfree Edge."

"So you decided to look around right?" Rainbowdash asked

"It was a bit of an experience here in Ponyville; getting speared I mean." I joked

I then felt sad, 'I wish I could show them it's really me…'

"So was Skarfly a close friend of yours?" I asked

"He saved my sisters life; I assume you met Applebloom." Applejack answered

"He was pretty cool; he couldn't let anypony get hurt if he could do something to save them." Rainbowdash said proudly

"So how come I've never met you before?" Applejack asked

"I built my house recently; I'd be surprised if you had." I answered

"Well if you need help in Ponyville let us know." Rainbowdash flew off

"I wish I could…" I whispered

POV: Cheerful

"So you need an escape ticket huh?" the mare asked

This mare had a fire red mane; her eyes were green and her coat was a light brown; just darker than Cheerful's

"Yes; I need to find a friend on the outside." Cheerful answered

"Well we're in Baltimare at the moment; far off from wherever you're from" the mare said, "My name's FireCracker; you'll need my help if you want to survive in an all mare's prison."

"Is there any way out?" Cheerful pressed

"Well there is one way; but it's far too dangerous for a mare like you." FireCracker answered

"I'll do whatever it takes to find my friend." Cheerful said, "Even-"

The iron door swung open; the princess walked in

"Princess?" Cheerful asked

"Cheerful; I wonder what you did to get in Baltimare…" the princess looked genuinely surprise

"I think it has to do with- Agh!" an electric collar shocked her

Cheerful didn't even notice how she was wearing a collar; it felt degrading

"I came to tell you; things aren't going well; I need you and Skarfly to-"

Cheerful handed her the picture

When Luna looked at it her expression was one of shock and disgust

"Who would do this to a pony?" the princess of the night asked

"I need to find out if it was really him; he would leave his mark." Cheerful said

"Come with me; this is terrible news…" Luna led Cheerful out

(Did you think I introduced FireCracker for no reason? Wait for it… for another dozen chapters or so.)

Location: Canterlot-Ponyville Transit

Twilight settled in with the journal; it didn't feel right reading it but her curiosity got the better of her

Journal

I saved three fillies and saved a hospital staff; I'm no more virtuous then the next man but I have a strong desire to help these ponies

I almost slipped today; Herobrine is making it harder to keep the weak trust I have in this place; if my friends were to turn against me I would likely be unprepared

I hope it doesn't come to that; I have friends and they aren't going behind my back for rituals to Satan; at least as far as I know

Twilight is getting used to seeing surprises from me; just wait until she sees the instant structures

Twilight smiled, 'He was planning that…'

If this journal fell into the wrong hands it would be a disaster; if you hold this now then beware; many a mob are after this book you hold

August 23rd

My home was burned down; I am being summoned to Canterlot for an adventure; I wonder what's in store…

I have met a pony named Cheerful; she is from Minecraftia the same as I am; she and I make a good team while fighting; we nearly got ourselves killed fighting and I write this as I look into the night sky; the silence around me calms my frazzled nerves

Twilight sighed, "Nothing new here; I wonder if…"

I want sorely to be home; my blocky house and my companions; however I need to be here; if the mobs want Equestria then I'll do whatever I can to stop them

Also; Herobrine appeared before me today; stepping out of his own picture; I was ready for an attack but he just gave me a diamond pick and left; I can make a portal home once this is over

Twilight re-read that; was Skarfly losing his marbles?

Then she remembered him having a diamond pickaxe when he went underground; she didn't see him resurface before she got his journal; Twilight put the book away and settled in for a good night's sleep

POV: Skarfly

I closed the doors; ready to sleep and maybe figure out my next move

'You told them you're actual first name!?' I scolded myself, "I can't believe this!"

George sensed my tension and nudged me; I sighed and laid back to close my eyes

MEANWHILE; OUTSIDE THE DOORS

A solar guard and a lunar guard were standing there

"Do you think the fears are well grounded?" the solar guard asked

"One way to find out; let's question him." The lunar guard suggested

"And if he is the murderer?" the solar guard looked at him

"Then we take him down" the lunar guard rolled his eyes

The lunar guard took the lead and knocked the door down, "We need to bring you in for questioning."

I barely held George from exploding; he hissed at the guard

"Is that a creeper?" the solar guard poked his head in the doorway

"His name is George thank you very much." I rolled my eyes

"Anyway we need to question you on the murder of Skarfly." The lunar guard said

I shed the cloak, "Why didn't you just ask? The door was a pain to set up."

They both looked at me in shock

"What?" I asked

I looked myself over; I still looked the same; I couldn't tell what wrong

"You're… a ghost…?" the solar guard asked; eyes wide

"Don't be a buffoon" I laughed, "I never died."

"How did you survive?" the lunar guard demanded

"I wasn't in the tower at the time" I answered, "That was a friend of mine."

"So whoever did it messed up…" the lunar guard smiled

"He must have had the same cutie mark; but that's nearly impossible." The solar guard countered

"He did to be honest" I pulled out the two pieces of the hit list, "This is what I found while I was there."

The guards looked at it, "Well we know it was intentional"

"And we know you're alive; a great thing." The solar guard laughed

"this calls for-" I started

*Knock Knock*

I went over to the rubble of the door; Luna was standing on the other end

"Would thou mind if We joined you for dinner?" Luna asked; using the royal we

"Sure; come on in princess" I answered, "Watch what's left of the door."

Luna trotted into my hut; it was bigger than a hut but smaller than an instant structure

I grabbed the things I needed and baked my small group of guests a cake; while I did that several pastries were passed around

"A truly amazing meal." The solar guard approved

"Not done without dessert" I got the cake and put it on the table, "How is Cheerful doing princess?"

"She is fine now; although she thinks you're dead." Luna answered

"Everypony but us do" I sighed, "Well I guess everything's okay now." I saved a slice of the cake for Cheerful; passing it out to the others

"I need to speak with Skarfly" Luna said after the cake was finished

The guards nodded and left; promising to tell Celestia that I was alive

"What do you need princess?" I asked

"I wanted to tell you" Luna smiled lightly, "You have left quite the impression on the ponies here."

"Well when you're from a faraway place and know things that aren't common…" I shrugged

"You are a noble pony; you know that?" Luna asked

"I'm just helping those who need it." I said

"But it is the sole fact that even though you wish to return home you keep fighting for Equestria; taking our burdens upon yourself." Luna nodded slowly

"Well I haven't exactly had a normal life; it makes sense I wouldn't be a normal guy." I sighed; looking out the window

"There will be a time when you are faced with a choice" Luna warned, "If you make the right choice is up to you; follow your heart and you won't be steered wrong."

Luna left the hut; I made another door and put it down; now being safe from the mobs of the night

Location: Canterlot-Ponyville Train

There was another hour or two on the train ride; Twilight went to the food cart and got a dandelion sandwich; she read the journal while she ate

I just got back to Ponyville; Twilight was there to meet Cheerful and I; I don't know why she read my journal but I feel a bit… violated. No one read my journal without permission before so I'm not sure how I should feel; should I be angry or sympathetic?

Anyway I plan to go mining while this blows over; see you then.

Then the entries cut off; nothing else was inside

'So that's what he feels' Twilight thought to herself, 'I wonder if he'll mind that I read his journal again…'

Location: Ponyville

Cheerful stepped off the train; she needed to get to the tower before anything else; then she noticed town was empty

She trotted through the seemingly abandoned town and then was jumped

"SURPRISE!" the crowd shouted; jumping out from various areas

Cheerful looked at them; and then she saw the smirking face in the crowd

"Skarfly?" Cheerful asked, "Is that you?"

Skarfly rolled his eyes, "No it's Chuck Norris."

Cheerful grabbed the shocked pony into a tight hug; he then handed her some cake

"Sorry for making you worry like that." Skarfly apologized, "But what I don't understand is…"

"What is it?" Rainbowdash asked; floating above the group

"Who is that?" the young unicorn pointed at a tall and imposing stallion

His build was more of a horse than a pony; his mane was ethereal and as dark as shadow; his coat was hidden behind golden armor plating

His eyes were what worried me; a snake-like pupil in a purple iris; they gave off a faint glow

"My beloved subjects…" he purred; his voice baritone, "It's been so long since I've seen you."

"Wh-who are you?" Mayor Mare demanded

"Did Celestia not tell you?" he asked; amused, "My daughters were always like that weren't they?"

"Don't try bringing the princess into this!" Rainbowdash tried to go at him

Applejack held her back by the tail, "Whoa Nelly!"

"Who are you?" I ended up asking

"I am the true ruler of Equestria" he glared at me

I didn't flinch under the scorching blaze of his glare

"The true rulers are Princesses Celestia and Luna." Cheerful asserted

"Not anymore" he stated, "Now it's me. The king of reality."

"I don't care who you are" I stood up, "You are not; I repeat; you are not the ruler of Equestria."

He looked at me with what appeared to be reluctant respect

"It's a shame I have to do this" he lifted his hoof

What I can explain as only a B-slap took place; I don't know how far I flew exactly but I remember hitting a wall

The alicorn stood above me; ready to go in for the kill

I still don't get what happened next; but what I saw was George lunging out from the shadows and slamming into the king of reality

I felt pain as my creeper companion exploded; knocking me around further

I grabbed bread from my saddlebags; I ate it and felt better; I stood up and looked at what happened

George had died; he rammed the king and saved me; somehow reality warped and now I was no longer in Ponyville

I was in what was left of Ponyville

"What in the name of Celestia?"