What you will hear from me, Princess Pixel Berry, is the full and exact truth of my origins. It was many years ago that I was born, twenty years to be precise, in a land that nopony has ever heard of. I was born in the year of 1998 A.D. in New York in the United States of America. My explanation for this? Because I am not from Equis in any form. I was born on a planet in another universe, one known as Earth. This land is inhabited by only one sentient species: humans. Humans are bipedal creatures that look like hairless, tailless monkeys. Their greatest feature? Their minds. Human minds are filled by imagination and dreams that aspired to create technologies that puts some of Equestria’s greatest magic to shame. Humanity built towers that rose into the skies as much as mountains, created machines that could ferry one or hundreds across land, sea, and air. Not even space travel was outside of their reach. That’s right. Humans traveled into space, they lived in space, and even landed on the moon many times.

Now you must be wondering what this means about your princess. Well, it means that I, too, was once human. Actually, I still am human, but that comes at a later time. Allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Leandra and I am human. I hail from this world and know many of its technologies that I have assisted in bringing to Equestria. Television, better trains, and even better movies and music are inventions that I brought with me from Earth. I, of course, can’t take all the credit as most of it was the work of my brother, DJ, but again that will come at a later time. Did I come to invade your world? Am I a threat? No. To this day I do not know how I got to Equestria and, to be honest, I couldn’t really care how or why. This is my home now.

On to the reason I tell you this. Now that I am an official princess of this land, I can no longer hide who I am and where I come from. So now that you know my real name, the name of my home, and what I really am, we focus on my story.

It began three years after I was born. There was a terrible accident that took both of them from me and I was forced into an orphanage. Life there was unbearable and hard. I tried to make friends; I tried to live a good life, but it never worked. I was bullied and punished by our sadistic caretaker. She would force us to do everything she wanted us to. Whether it be clean the entire house on our hands and knees with our toothbrushes or something just as humiliating. And if we disobeyed her, our dinner was taken away and shoved outside for the night. Whether it was clear, raining, snowing, even if a hurricane was raging, she would throw us out. It was not a happy time of my life.

The only thing that made my life there bearable was my older brother, Harry. Well, actually my brother was really my sister, her name was Harriet, Harry for short. I called her my brother because that’s how she acted: she would protect me from the bullies, save me from punishments from our caretaker, and would give me her dinner whenever mine was taken. It also didn’t help that she was the biggest tomboy that I had ever seen, even her voice was gruff at times. She was always there for me. I just wish I knew what happened to her. See, Harry was always a rebel and never just agreed to do something. DJ reminds me of her so much. Always needed all the facts, could never take things as just the way are, and if something wasn’t right then it needed to change.

In short, she was our caretaker’s least favorite ward. The two of them were always arguing and fighting. Harry spent a lot of nights outside alone. Harry didn’t care though, she wanted things to be better for us, for everyone at the orphanage. Even the bullies. No one deserved this horrible life and Harry tried to fight tooth and nail to change it. There was the last straw, though. One night, Harry and our caretaker were in a heated argument over the conditions of this house. Harry threatened to take me and leave this house before it collapsed and killed us all. That really lit the fire in that old cod’s britches. She grab my brother by her ear and dragged her to the door. With a heavy shove, she threw her out into the fierce storm that was raging right outside. She yelled that if Harry wanted to leave so bad, then she better not come back. Then with a loud slam, the door was closed and my sister was gone.

The next morning, the caretaker opened the door again, expecting to see Harry lying on the front porch, waiting to be let inside. Only she found nothing. There wasn’t a single trace of my sister anywhere. My sister was gone. From that day on, my life went into a massive down spiral. The bullies attacked me relentlessly without my older sibling to protect me. The caretaker took all her anger that she held for Harry on me. There were nights that there was no way I could lie down of sit comfortably, my bottom was just so sore. Most of the time, I didn’t even do anything to deserve punishment.

It was a few years after that, when I turned seven that everything changed. By that time, I was the only child left at the orphanage, the others having either been adopted or ran off on their own. Everyone but me. I was all alone with that… that… monster! She was so much worse with only one child to look after. She was constantly intoxicated and was brutal on me! I had to get away, so one night, when she was passed out drunk, I took everything I could: food, clothes, and any valuables I could get my hands on. Then I got the Tartarus out of there! I ran for days on nothing but adrenaline. I had to get as far away as I could before I decided on my next course of action. I wanted to make sure there was no way she followed me.

I eventually found myself in New York City, Manhattan to be precise. There I took up the life of a petty thief. Yeah, that’s right, I stole so that I wouldn’t starve. I did what I had to do just to survive, even if it meant doing things that I wasn’t comfortable with. I lived like this for months, always on the run from angry stall tenders and merchants. I had very little money and was always on the verge of starvation. After one of my ‘raids’ I found myself in a narrow back alley. I had barely gotten away, but I could hear the authorities hot on my trail. Then I heard someone calling over to me. I turned around and saw a small child, couldn’t have been more than five years old, gesturing me into a dumpster. I knew that this wasn’t going to be pleasant, but I held back my revulsion and dived on in.

After a few moments, I could hear the police search the alley way, but left after a few minutes since they were unable to find anything. I pulled myself out of the trash-filled receptacle. I turned around to thank my savior to find that he wasn’t alone in the dumpster. There were six in total, all no older than the one who saved me. They all looked so lonely and broken. My heart felt for them deeper than anything I had ever felt before. I couldn’t leave them, not like this. They saved me from getting arrested and probably sent back to that witch. I had to help them, so I made them a proposition. Together, we promised to find a home for all of them; a place with parents that would care for them with love.

As a group of seven, we set off on journey for homes that took us all over the East coast of the country. It was a hard journey, filled with hitchhiking, petty thievery, and a few prison escapes. You can’t evade the police every time. It took months and years, but one by one, I found my wards the homes that they deserved, the lives that they so desperately needed. Along the way, we gathered more and more orphans and I promised to help each and every one. It after the first six that I had found homes for that I discovered a new way to help children. I discovered that there were children being abused and neglected by their parents every day and I felt that somehow I could help them.

Thus, came into being the Leandra Rescue Missions. We would watch these children’s lives from the shadows to confirm our suspicions of abuse and when things were confirmed, I would sneak into their house in the dead of night and convince the child to come with me. Sometimes, I would take the child with us to find them a home somewhere far away. Most times, I just got them to the local police station and delivered the evidence we had collected. The first couple of rescues went off without a hitch and we had developed quite the squad of child saviors. I could even hear my name whispered among the orphan slums in some of the larger cities. I was being called a savior amongst those without hope. It made me feel happy, and hope that wherever my sister was that she was proud of what I was doing.

Then the worst possible thing happened. On my fourth rescue mission, we hit a snag. This young girl, only four years old, was being constantly verbally and physically abused by her father. Her mother had succumbed to illness after she was born and the dad was drunkard. We had enough evidence that would have put him away for years. But that never happened. As was getting the girl out, the dad woke from his drunken sleep and stopped us. He was furious! I tried to put myself in front of the girl to protect her just like my sister used to do, but he simply slapped me away. I was thrown into a desk and broke a few of the drawers upon impact. I was in so much pain, but I couldn’t pass out, not while we were still in danger. Then I saw her father pull out his large shotgun (a projectile weapon designed to kill in an instant) and ready it at her head! I knew I had to act, but what could I do? I looked around frantically looking for something to save us both.

Then I saw it, in the remains of one of the drawers was a silver pistol (smaller version of the shotgun designed for up close use). I grabbed it and aimed it at the father I pulled the trigger as hard I could and the recoil once again sent me into the desk. I felt the dizziness and fatigue begin to set it, but I still needed to complete my mission. I looked up and was horrified by what I saw. . I meant to just graze him or get his arm or leg, but what I did was much worse. The projectile had gone right through the older man’s head and splattered his brain out the other side and onto the nearby wall. The girl had seen the entire thing, while I had been blinded by the flash of the fire. I had killed someone! I had taken a life, it may not have been innocent life, but I still took something that I had no right to take. And in front of his daughter!

I freaked! I grabbed the girl and ran, leaving the gun behind. Once we were at the local police station, I forced all of the collected evidence we had into her hands and left her there for the police. I couldn’t bring myself to be around her. I had taken her only family from the world of the living. I did something horrible and I could never forgive myself. I took my group, eight others at the time, and headed out to the next destination. It was on that day that my life was consumed with darkness. It was the start of my true randomization. I sealed away my true emotions behind a metaphorical mask so that they could never be seen. I needed to be strong for these kids, I couldn’t let my fears or my emotions stop me from finding them homes.

I wasn’t always on the road, though. Every now and then there was a family who would happen upon us and give us a temporary home. These times gave us a chance to resupply and get some real rest and relaxation. It never lasted, unfortunately. I had some kids in the group who were not big fans of mine and my murder of another person was the perfect tool they could use against me. Anytime someone who took us in told me that they were considering adopting me, the brats would step in and bring up the fact that I was a killer. The next was when we were always sent off, and my heart would always break at getting so close. After five times, I gave up on the notion of ever getting adopted myself. I just had to focus on the children in my care, even the ones who felt that it should be them in charge, not me. I never let it get to me, but I always focused on finding them homes before anyone else.

This lasted years and years. My only time to myself was when we had to split up before we were caught by the authorities. It happened in several cities and I usually found myself in either some electronic store or a library. It was there that I learned so much, most of which I was just intrigued by instead of wanting to use. Knowledge for knowledge’s sake. During this time, I came upon all of you. In my world, we have certain television show called My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. It is a cartoon that tells the story of Twilight Sparkle, student of Princess Celestia, and her five friends who protect Equestria through the magic of friendship and harmony. Sound familiar? My sister and I grew up watching the original series at the orphanage (thankfully TV was available or I probably would have ran off sooner) and fell in love with the new series that told of this land. Equestria, it was everything I wanted. Friendship, harmony, peace. It was the stuff of dreams and I would always dream that I was there, or rather here. But dreams had no place in the real world, they never came true. Or so I thought.

It was five years ago, in the city of Pittsburg which was large factory town that was famous for being highly abandoned. This was one of the rare times where I had no children to look after, I had found each one a home, but that didn’t stop me. I was always looking out for those in need, and I found one in a young boy who was around seven years old. It was the killing incident all over again: dead mother and an alcoholic father. Now that I was fifteen and several more rescues under my metaphorical belt, I felt I could take this on no problem. Boy, was I wrong! It started off easy, these are never easy. In hindsight, that should have been my first sign that things were gonna go wrong. I had gotten the boy all packed up and ready to go and we were just making our way out when the lights in the room we were turned on suddenly and without warning.

The two of us turned around to see the boy’s father brandishing a black handgun. He was ticked that I was taking his ‘property’. Hearing him say those words really got me riled up. With a quick motion, I threw a chair at the old man causing him to get distracted as he dodged. I urged the boy to run and get the police as I ran off in a different direction. I called insult after insult after the drunken jerk trying to get him to chase me instead of his son. I don’t know how long I ran, I only knew that he followed me the whole way. Eventually, I ended up running into one the many abandoned factories of the industrial district. He chased me all throughout the building, floor after floor, until there was nowhere left to run.

I was cornered, nowhere to go except out the big window right behind me. That way out led to certain death via a five story drop. Then, I heard the police sirens blaring outside the window. I let out a sigh of relief, but it was too early to relax as the drunk father entered the room, his gun brandished in his outstretched hand. He had me backed up against the window, scared for my life. I wasn’t ready to die, not yet, not now! A nearby door burst open, the police had arrived to save me. But they were too late. The sudden shock caused the man to pull the trigger on the gun. I saw the flash, I heard the loud bang, and then all I knew was pain.

I was falling, falling farther than I ever had. All though on was that I wished that boy would be put in a better home, that someone would love him as he should be loved. My own life was gone now, I was dying, I just knew it. Then, I finally hit the ground; only I wasn’t dead. I wasn’t in pain anymore, well, not deathly pain. I felt sore from the hard landing, but I was alive I knew that. I slowly stood up from the ground, realizing that I was in a bush. Which was strange, as there were no shrubbery around the factory that I saw when I ran inside. I was curious now, so I stood with as much effort as I could. And what I saw made me immediately forget my pain.

I saw all of you. Ponies; ponies as far as I could see. My first thought on the matter was that this was the best dream ever! I gasped out loud and nearly screamed, “OMG!! Ponies!!!”

The ponies around me were nowhere near as happy as I was at seeing each other. They screamed and one even whacked me with her purse! Can you believe that?! I mean that’s just plain rude!! The way those ponies were acting was no way to treat a stranger, they didn’t have to be nice, but that didn’t mean they had to be jerks. Wasn’t until later when I found out that I landed in the more stuck up areas of Canterlot. Knowing that put a lot in perspective, if you know what I mean. I got a little ticked at their bad behaviors and I started chewing them out. Next thing I know, I have the flat of a spear hitting me in the back of the head. As my world begins to go black, I overhear some of the guards saying that things were about to get interesting around here. They had no idea and neither did I.

DJ finished reading the chapter that told their entire family how their good friend Pixel Berry started her life. DJ was aghast at the awful things that his sister had gone through, but also a little hurt that Berry never told him that she had another sibling. The rest of the table was quiet as well. Of course, it was the evil moron who spoke.

“Well, damn,” said Malice rather nonchalantly and with an emotionless face. “And I thought we had problems.”

“Get back in my head,” DJ retorted looking unamused.

“Hay no! I want more story time!” DJ let out a large groan at his other half’s tendencies. DJ really wished that Malice would just go back inside his mind right now. Why did we have to learn how to separate again?

“I really want to give Aunt Berry a big hug right now,” commented Nyx. The rest of the table, save a demon, nodded in agreement.

“Well, come on bro,” said Spike. “Keep reading. Not like we had any other plans today.”

“Agreed young Spike,” Trixie spoke. “Trixie wishes to hear more about her sister in law’s history.”

Twilight put a hoof on DJ’s shoulder while cradling their son in her hooves while he slept peacefully. “I know it is heart breaking, DJ, but Berry sent us this for a reason. Please keep reading.”

“You’re right, Twi,” DJ said while wiping a tear from his eye. He reopened the book to where he left off. “Well, Berry, let’s see what you have in store for us next.”

Next Chapter: 2 - Welcome to Equestria Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 13 Minutes