Author's Notes:

The Game begins 'our' little human, may our gift and changes make things different.

Number of Edits: 4
Number of OCs: 2
2nd Crystal Princess Pandora By: Author of Story
Metal Heart By: Blacksilverflames

Beginnings and Changes
Prolog – MLP Convention day, Displaced Perspective

‘By the divine or any that exist please make the singing stop!’ I groaned thinking of the [shudder] 5 hour drive to get out here, with ear buds in place connected to cellphone playing Magic of Wizard’s Dream with joy. Movement from the left gains my attention seeing my brother-in-law gesture to unplug to talk but doing so begrudgingly so not to be rude to my sister’s husband.

“What’s up?” raising an eyebrow at him as the metal costume rubs against my body with a grudge only to intensify my natural glare that most who don’t know me presume I am just hostile.

He took a sigh before beginning in an apologetic tone. “I would like to say that we’re sorry that we tore you away from work for a few days as our friend got sick and you were well being close enough in build to join us for the cosplay contest your sister hoped to win.” He extended a hand as from what I knew he was cosplaying as someone named ‘Shining Armor’ or some such while knowing good enough my sister ended up being some ‘Cadence Princess of Love’ the one of many reasons why was it was close to her real name and oddly being born on valentine’s day..

‘Okay now that I am thinking on this again it sounds completely crazy that some character ended up being like my older sister..’

“It’s no trouble #$%@ as we came to a stump in [air quote] ‘differences of opinion’ [air quote], but beyond that perhaps this trip will help trigger my battle action plots for our upcoming simulation like the others are to their thing. Also doesn’t hurt being this badass dark crystal wizard like you both told me that I am playing as.”

Giving out a dark chuckle only to be slapped from up front in the passenger seat by my sister giving a knowing grin. “If you are not careful little bro I’ll set you up with my girlfriend &^#(@! here since she’s playing Twilight Sparkle.” I give her a raised eyebrow in response upon my neutral sneered face.

Much to ‘&^#(@!’s’ response she only gawked with a blush remaining quiet before muttering about some type of vengeance. We finally arrive at the hotel about twenty minutes later for the girls to sign in for us while mark was the one to suggest we go ahead to the convention and they meet up with us at the artist’s wing, or even the food court as upon entry we were literally swarmed by others as mark beamed showing off his craftsmanship but I get the feeling he made this costume for my size but knowing mark I wouldn’t put it pass him..

‘They did do this just to get me to come along? Well this I hope will make up for my screw up at their wedding, on the bright side at least they have the funniest wedding picture on the net.’

Sighing before something red glinting caught my eye turning to see various items being sold at the booth to wander over as it seems I should try and improve the outfit perhaps. “Greetings merchant keeper, we require an item that would be suitable for our personage.” The strange older man looks me over appraisingly with a gleam in his eyes before motioning to a container opening it for my eyes as he responded.

“Well young man it is good to see someone who is well versed in being their character though I may have something that would actually fit your being and it is called the ‘Alicorn Amulet’, an item of supposed great power that could match a god of the same species with dark influences that would complement your cosplay, also a rather popular buy if I must say so.”

He gave a knowing smile as it did have a pull and looking at it than to the full body mirror to get a better display as if thinking on it, wearing metal armor that mark made, the red cape that my sister made with good detail and the horn.

The hooves from that weird lower leg setup took a while to get use to and that tail thing behind me actually provided balance unless I ran. Nodding in agreement pulling out my wallet motioning to buy the necklace and also a ‘Crystal Heart’ for mark and my sister.

Soon returning to them seeing my sister and her friend &^#(@! with mark having perhaps beaten away the fan girls squealing about ‘Captain Shining Armor’! With a tongue flick before handing my sister the crystal heart before putting the necklace on with a grin. “Well sister I got that cool thing for you and your hubby and I got this for -”

Blinking owlishly before losing all feeling in my legs only to collapse as the sound of a dark purple pulse beats nearly in sync to my heart with a fading male scream as someone who looked just like me except more horse like, just got swallowed by my own shadow. A faded sound of a door opening and soon enough being lifted until sleep feel upon me.

Unknown Void – Architect of Realities Perspective

‘Ah, finally an agent of flesh and blood has awoken to the ‘gift’ that was offered. Let us prepare a bit of help that would prove useful for his rough journey.’ A purple glow starts to form upon the floor with several appendages pushing into the breach apparently latching onto something before turning to taunt cables slowly dragging what appears to be a metal bodied pony with a black mane and tail up dangling into the empty dark room.

‘This won’t do for where he is to be from..’ Forcing some of its appendages in between the spaces of her form, forming the female four legged pony tiny pony body to bend and rework a painful process into a more Anthro version of herself adding the feature for her to change from her original four legged self to a bipedal shape. Seeing her eyes open an almost unnatural purple glow affects both her irises and her internal operating hud color.

“Welcome ‘our’ little pony, we have chosen you to act as our agent to help one we have influence over. Which you will be rewarded when the task is complete, by either staying or taken back to your reality with an altered fate.” Taking a moment to pause so she may digest what was said as a floating view comes into vision showing a bipedal sleeping anthro Sombra being tended to by two individuals, one who looks to be a Rosaline crystal pony maid and the other a shimmering regal white crystal pony wearing a traditional Crystal Empire crown fitting for a princess.

Crystal Empire – FE (Founded Equestria) 0035 – Sombra Perspective

Grumbling with a growing headache as my armored fingers rub my forehead. ‘First thing that flashed into mind was seeing a weird version of this Sombra as some Anthromorphic Pony? Than my shadow killed him? Than my shadow eating said body..? I’m having some fucked up dreams?’ looking around now it is clearly showing that this room was made out of crystals, there was quite a bit of the red theme, my armor on a armor stand and a vanity mirror.

All thoughts stopped the moment I looked into the mirror and saw the black eyes with red pupils and purple glow seeping from the corners of my eyes, I felt powerful and ‘different’ the necklace glows softly only to brighten when I rub it gently feeling it purr? ‘Let’s try to relax and meditate on what in the beyond is happening right now.’

The amulet pulses again as images flood our eyes as scenes of being the royal court crystal mage and personal friend to Princess Pandora, though the most recent memories being of her personally coming to make sure you were well after a recent experiment…

Which may have been us popping into existence here and possibly murdering the fuck out of him while under some influence and ‘eating’ him… ‘TOTALLY NOT FUCKING CRAZY HERE!?’ the amulet flashes when thinking this.

‘Also possibly understanding my amulet friend..?’ It dimly flashes as if in agreement but still a shiver roams my new body.

Sitting upright on the rather comfy large bed, my bed? ‘Possibly though I need to meditate and relax, focus and center myself.’

Taking a deep breath, letting it out slowly to calm the body. A tingling sensation is felt slowly building up, settling our breathing to a calm rhythm there is a tugging sensation as we feel each other. So close yet separate that it is rather confusing yet familiar? It’s the room also?

Focusing on the closer of the two, relaxing a breath before reaching out to touch the amulet hanging from us. The feeling is similar to communing with another who feels so alien here as well, but older and amethyst? No, it’s the aura we are. It feels like a shard of something greater yet was changed? Not what it once was but helps us willingly, like an old friend desperately clinging to our very soul. We share a changed fate don’t we? Something is different than intended but feels right? [CREAAAAAAK]

The moment our eyes opens to register the noise we are struck to lay back against the bed with a whap to the muzzle and nuzzled by white.

“We hath worried about thy wellbeing dearest Sombra! Thou has been slumbering for three days!”

the white crystal pony violently hugs and nuzzles passionately, once pulling back we recognize her as our oldest friend Pandora Second Heir to the Crystal Empire. The same mare whom had helped fund our crazy ventures into attaining the same or similar use of magic like the unicorns, with the result being our new horn which grew out of our forehead into a curved dark Amethyst gem horn.

Memories and spells start to trickle into our head from the source we had focused on before, our amulet friend here? It glowed softly once as he cough’s once to regain Pandora’s attention in as calm as can be. “We find thy attentions to us to be a flattery onto our fragile ego and it reinforced through fires of thy passionate glomp long hence from foalhood.”

That time it got her to glow with a blush before retreating off our bedding and straiten her dress only after to retrieve her hoof shoes and crown to tidy herself with our mirror. “When thou art able our roguish friend, we will call for thee in an hour to join us for lunch with our family.” What?

Hold on a second what?! Before a single word could be uttered the door was closed leaving us confused and dazed for a couple reasons…