Twilight Sparkle was happy.

She had just bought a bundle of books, and was bringing to the Library. Twilight was lost in fantasies of curling up in a corner and reading the night away with the new books. Twilight waved to Mr. and Mrs. Cake as she passed Sugar Cube Corner. They waved back

"Twilight, have you seen Pinkie Pie around?" Mr. Cake called out.

Twilight shook her head. "I cant say I have, I'm sorry."

"That's fine dear, we were just wondering. Heavens knows the kind of trouble she can cause." Mrs. Cake said. Twilight nodded, then continued on her way. Shortly thereafter, she reached the Library. Twilight smiled as she pushed open the door to enter. She never made it inside. a pink blur shot out, tacking her and pinning her to the ground.

"Oh hey Twilight, you'll never guess what I found in the woods! oh, never mind, you're taking to long, and you'd never guess it. I'll just have to show you!" Pinkie Pie blurted, hopping around Twilight. Twilight slowly picked herself up.

"So you found something in the forest, did you Pinkie?" Twilight asked.

"Yep! It's really cool. I just cant wait to show you!" Pinkie responded. Twilight sighed, then used her magic to gather the books and put them carefully inside.

"Then let's go." Twilight said, slightly weary of what Pinkie might be leading her to.

"Yay!" Pinkie said, bouncing off down the road, north of Ponyville, Twilight in tow.

---------------

'ugh... my head...

where am I?

there's a breeze... I must be outside

I'd better get up, or I'm going to be late... for... for what?

I cant remember...

except... a name? My name.

Kentarvos Keaton.'

Kent attempted to open his eyes, but he couldn't. they felt like metal plates, weighing them down. even breathing was an effort. Kent heard a pair of voices, as if through a layer of down, both female.

"Alright Pinkie, where is it?" The first voice said, a little wearily.

"Almost there Twilight! Right past this little shrub!" the second voice said, bright and bubbly. There was some rustling, then a gasp.

"Pinkie, how long has this poor pony been here?" the voice called Twilight said

'Poor pony?' Kent thought 'What on Earth are they talking about...?'

"Oh, I found him an hour ago. He looks like a pile of snow!" The one called Pinkie said, giggling

Kent groaned slightly, as his head throbbed, and he managed to open his eyes slightly. He promptly closed them when he saw two brightly colored ponies, one purple and one pink. 'Whatever did this to me, it seriously messed me up...' Kent thought, then opened his eyes again. The ponies were still there. The purple one stepped forward.

"Hello. My name is Twilight Sparkle. My friend here, Pinkie Pie, found you out here, passed out. Are you okay?" She asked hesitantly.

"I" Kent started, then winced slightly, coughing. It seemed his whole body hurt for some odd reason. "I'm... hurting all over, but nothing... to serious it seems.... besid the fact that I'm probably hallucinating." Kent finished.

"Hallucinating? Why in Equestria would you think that?" The one called Twilight said.

"Oh.. I don't know, maybe the fact that I'm talking to a couple of technicolor ponies who are talking back." Kent said, sarcasm dripping from his tone.

"Hey, you aren't so dull yourself snowboy!" The pink one responded, giggling at the nickname.Kent cocked his head confused, then looked down at himself.

"Holy Lord!" Kent said, panicking as he saw himself. He'd been transformed completely, and was now a pure white pony, some bizarre thing like the other two. He balked, rearing up onto his hind legs, his wings flaring. 'wait.. wings?!' Kent thought as he overbalanced and fell backwards, crashing into the pond.

"What... what happened? How?" Kent spluttered as he surfaced. The two mares appeared very confused

"I know as much as you do. What do you remember?" Twilight asked.

Kent sighed. "that's the problem... I can't remember anything, save my name. Kentarvos Keaton."

"Forgetty forgetterson, how could you manage to forget everything?" Pinkie said, bouncing up to him, stopping, then turning to Twilight. "Twilight, I thought Celestia and Luna were the only Ali-whatsits."

"Alicorns." Twilight corrected. "And I thought the same, until now." She finished, mystified.

"What on earth is an Alicorn?" Kent asked, equally confused.

"It means you've got these" Pinkie poked Kents wings "and you've got one of these" She finished, poking something coming out of Kent's skull.

Kent turned to the now-peaceful pond. "Will wonders never cease?" he said as he saw a foot long horn extending from his forehead. He turned back towards the other two, sighed, then sat. He hung his head sadly.

"Hey, what are you so down in the dumps about, Kentsie?" Pinkie asked, sitting in front of him.

"I'm some kind of freakish pegasis-unicorn hybrid, I can't remember anything save my name, and on top of it all, it's getting dark and I don't have anywhere to stay!" Kent stood, advancing slowly on the pink mare "I ache all over from being turned into whatever the hell I am, and I'm soaking wet! Why on earth do you think I'm upset?!" His voice rose the whole time, turning away from the two and walking back to the other side of the clearing and pacing angrily.

"Look, i understand you're upset;" Twilight said, walking over to Kent. "But there's no need to get angry with us, and certainly no need for such language" she admonished sternly.

Kent looked at her, slightly dumbstruck. 'Yes mother.' he thought to himself, then said "I know... and I'm sorry Pinkie. I'm just so... so... confused? Lost?"

"Cold and wet?" Put in Pinkie, apparently unaffected by Kents spiel.

Kent laughed darkly, a warm rich sound. "Cold and wet too."

"I know what'll cheer you right up!" Pinkie Pie said energetically. "A party!!! I'll go get the others, and set it up. Twilight, you take Kentsie and get him back to Ponyville." She directed, then bounced off into the brush.

Kent blinked. "A party?" He asked, confused.

Twilight laughed. "That's Pinkie pie for you. When in doubt, party!" she explained.

"Right." Kent said wearily. "Lets get back to... what did Pinkie call it?"

"Ponyville." Twilight responded. "I'll show you the way. Come on!" She walked towards the bush Pinkie had disappeared through. Kent followed after her. After a fifteen minute walk, they reached a hill overlooking Ponyville, a scenic looking town, with cottage-like houses standing in picturesque rows.

"So, where is it that we're headed exactly?" Kent asked, curious about the new world, and resigned to his fate for the moment.

"Sugar Cube Corner, that's where most of Pinkies parties are." Twilight responded as they approached a structure that reminded Kent of a gingerbread house. "that one right there." She finished, pointing at it. They walked up to the door, and Twilight knocked. Nobody answered, so she tried the door. it swung open, revealing an almost studiously empty space. The two of them walked in, and flinched as five ponies jumped out at them, shouting

"Surprise!" Several confetti poppers went off, as well as a small sparkler

"Well? Were you surprised? Be honest Kentsie." Pinkie said as she bounced over to him.

Kent nodded slowly "Yes. very much so, yes." He said faintly.

Pinkie giggle then bounced over to the other four ponies, all mares from what little Kent could tell.

"This is Rainbow Dash" a cyan pegasus with a rainbow-hued mane, "Apple Jack" An orange earth pony with a yellow mane and a cowboy... or girl? hat atop her head, "Rarity" An ivory unicorn with a dressy purple mane, "and Fluttershy." a yellow pegasus with a pink mane she seemed to be trying to hide behind. "You've already met Pinkie." Twilight finished.

Kent nodded, committing the names to memory. 'Ha. memory, a vague thing anymore.' he thought darkly to himself.

"Nice ta meet ya" Apple jack said.

"A pleasure, I'm sure." Rarity greeted.

"Eh, you seem alright." Rainbow Dash said dismissively.

"Oh, hello..." Fluttershy said quietly, clearly intimidated by Kent, who had just now realized he was a good head taller than all of them.

"Its good to meet you all." Kent said, slightly stunned by the variety of colors between the mares.

The party lasted well into the night. They played games, such as pin the tail on the pony, bobbing for apples and the like. Kent found the other ponies amusing to be around, and quite likeable. However, one of them, Twilight, seemed to stand out to him. She was possessed of a confident nature, and seemed at ease with the others, taking their antics in stride.

Eventually, The party drew to a close, and Kent had to decide what to do for the night.

"Is there anywhere I can stay, like a hotel?" Kent asked the six mares.

Twilight stepped forward. "There's a space at the library I can lend you." She said. Kent cocked his head, confused.

"The Library?" he asked.

"Oh yes, didn't I tell you? I live in a library, it's great! There are hundreds of books, fiction nonfiction, children's books, novels, poems, and all other kinds!" Twilight said, lighting up.

"That wasn't tha best question ya coulda asked her." Apple Jack told Kent in a conspiratorial whisper.

"Right, I'll remember not to bring it up." Kent whispered back, then said to everyone "Well, it seems as if I'll be staling at the Library for now. It was nice meeting you guys- erm, girls."

Twilight and Kent left, and the others made their ways home as well. Kent looked around as Twilight led him to the Library. "So, everybody back there, how long have you known them?" Kent asked.

"What do you mean by 'everybody'?" Twilight responded, confused.

"All of those ponies at the party."

"Oh, that must be how you say 'everypony' where you come from." Twilight concluded.

"I guess so." Kent said, shrugging. "You never answered the question." He said after a moment of silence.

"Oh, sorry. I've known them for roughly a year, since I came to Ponyville." Twilight answered. Kent nodded, then stopped as they reached their destination, the Treehouse Library of Ponyville.

It towered over most of the neighboring buildings, and had several terraces and windows peeking out from its leafy canopy. as the two of them entered, Kent gasped. the central room wound up to the top of the tree, with recesses all along the walls. And inside those recesses were books. Hundreds upon hundreds of books lined the recesses, of all kinds, ages and bindings, presenting a vast array of knowledge, entertainment to any who simply reached out and took a look.

Curling up the wall directly to the right of the door was a staircase leading to a second floor room. There was a gap in the shelves where a door to another room, presumably where there were more books.

Twilight laughed at Kents amazement, then pointed to the back door. "Your alcove is in there, up the staircase." She told him. "I'm heading to bed. Goodnight Kent, and I'll see you tomorrow." Twilight finished as she scaled the staircase into her room. Kent stood there a moment more, then headed to the back room. he pushed open a door, revealing a room similar to the first, albeit smaller. There was a similar staircase, which Kent climbed up to a small alcove.

In the alcove, there was a bed, and a glass door leading to one of the terraces Kent had seen outside. There was also a vanity opposite the bed, with a mirror and a brush. A desk stood next to the headboard, Ink and quills neatly lined up across the top. Kent thought this odd. 'How am I supposed to write if I don't have hands?' Kent shoved the thought aside for the moment as the events of the day washed over him, and he sank onto the bed, lying prone on top of the covers.

Strange half-formed beings haunted his dreams, hovering at the edge of a thick mist that shrouded his mind, clutching at him, yet never completely physical, never quite gone. Yet still he slept until morn, safe for the moment from reality.

:iconkentarvos: Next Chapter: Chapter Three: Unlocking Magic Estimated time remaining: 38 Minutes