I woke up in the morning. The birds are singing, ponies are talking in the streets. And the warm bed I'm lying on calls me to go back to sleep.

Unfortunately, there's school today, so I have to get up. I pulled out my smartphone from my pocket and saw that the alarm is sounding in twenty minutes, and that means I woke up at six forty in the morning. Well, I often get up before the alarm rings, so that's not really a problem.

Anyway, I have to do my morning routine before doing anything else. School starts at eight thirty, so I have a lot of time to do everything.

My mane's a big mess, so I think it's time to fix that.

...

Something isn't right with the room. I felt it when I returned here last night, and I still can't—

Where the heck is Moonshine?!

***

After making sure she's not in the room nor in the bathroom, I started to worry. Where would she be so early in the morning? Her bed's empty and not made, as if she just got up for a second. Where is she?

Hm...

Well, all I remember is that during the night, I felt like I was being watched. Maybe Moonshine was watching me for some reason? Spying? Ugh, that's so stupid! Where is she now? Why didn't she get home with me if she had been spying on me? What if something really terrible happened?

I must find her.

After half an hour of searching around the hostel and school, I came to a conclusion that she is not anywhere nearby.

But there's another place she may be. That garden I went to last night.

I don't know why I worry so much about her, but it ain't a good thing when your roommate just disappears without a trace. That often leads to horror movies' plot. I don't want to be in a horror movie, or book, or whatever! It’s a certainty that I’ll act stupidly and foolishly. Heck, hardly anyone does anything right in those movies! They split up, they don't use good flashlights, they live in some kind of old and scary mansion with most of its rooms closed. I hate those clichés.

And I don't have a shotgun with me to kill monsters that could jump at me. That’s the worst possible thing!

The good thing is, there are ponies in the street. They look normal, and that’s good.

Still, I want to have a shotgun with me. Or a minigun. Or a BFG 9000, for my own sake. Anything would be useful if the horror comes true. Heck, I wouldn't deny a Death Star if it was available for me to use. Sometimes it's better to leave the planet and destroy it than try to survive there, shaking every moment of your life.

Or maybe I'm just being very paranoid right now. But better to be ready for everything than die a horrible death. Y'know, you can never be too careful.

Oh, here's the garden! I didn't even notice how fast time flies when you think about scary things.

Here's that creepy, chaotic statue. Hello, I hope you're not alive! Stay that way and we'll be fine! Okay? Okay. Thanks, creepy statue! Good day to you too!

And...

...

Seriously?

...

Moonshine is sleeping on a branch of one of the trees. And there's a binocular hanging on a smaller branch nearby. Where did she get those?

Well, no creepy monsters, that relieves the tension. Whew, she had me worried. So, I should probably bring her home.

After bringing her back and setting her on her bed, I let myself sigh in relief. Well, it's good that she's not hurt and seems okay.

And I've just realized that if I flew at night I would have let my secret be discovered. Good thing that I'm careful. See, told ya! You can never be too careful.

***

After some time, Moonshine woke up. When she saw me, her face showed confusion. She looked around, took in where she was at that moment, and... a massive blush of embarrassment came upon her as she realized what a stupid thing she's done. I think that frowning at her adds to this but, well, I think she's not too stupid not to realize her mistake. I don't know, she's a child, after all.

Then, she looked at me with something in her eyes... is that fear? Does she expect me to yell at her or do some other sort of immature shit? I now feel sorry for her.

As I opened my mouth to speak, she closed her eyes and turned her head away, her ears flat against the head. Is she that afraid of me? Somehow, I feel like shit...

"Moonshine," I addressed her, speaking rather quietly, so not scare her. "Please, don't do anything so stupid ever again, okay?"

Slowly, she turned her head to me in confusion as if she didn't understand what she's just heard. Her eyes opened and looked at me with some kind of innocent look... I don't know, but it seems she's thankful that I didn't yell at her. Well, why would I? She's not behaving like some kind of spoiled piece of shit, and she didn't get into any trouble. There's no reason for me to yell at her. And I'm not one of her parents to scold her, after all. I'm not one to get into conflicts with others over small things.

"If you want to know something," I continued. "Just ask. No need for these spying games, okay? Hey, I don't know what you wanted to accomplish by that, but you could've just asked."

"You meet with Princess Luna at nights?" she asked out of the blue, staring at me.

"I do." I nodded.

"Luna is the best princess, don't you think?" she asked me with a childish innocence, smiling widely.

"She definitely is." I smiled back. Well, I haven't gotten to know Princess Celestia yet, but I sure do like Luna. Well, not in a romantic way, y'know. I just like her as a person. She represents the night, and I like the night. It's as simple as that.

So, the problem with Moonshine is solved now. Time to get ready for the school.

Well, the first three lessons of Math and History passed rather fast. Nothing really difficult in the first one and a lot of interesting information in the second one. For example, minotaurs invented the system that would allow electricity to be used. And they've created the first phone! It is said that they are the most technologically advanced race of all, since they don't have strong magic of any kind that could replace technology. I think they are partly human in some way. Maybe they evolved from humans that, a long time ago, inhabited these lands. I know from mythology that minotaurs are partly human in nature.

So, the history is still rather exciting. Inventions here, there, magical stuff all around, that sort of things. For example, a great battle between ponies and griffins took place at the year 2012 after the Foundation of Equestria, and that battle featured a famous battle mage by the name Ignis Aegis. He created massive firestorm that helped equestrians win the battle. There was known no more powerful battle mage than he since that battle. After it, the war turned good for the equestrians, and a year later Beak-Peak, the capital of the Griffin Empire, was taken by storm. A peace treaty was signed after that, and many years later griffins and ponies became friends, remembering those times of war as dark times.

Excitement all around, yeah! If I could take any of those history books with me, I would earn lots of money by selling them. They’re like very well-written fantasy books, except all those events took place in reality! Just... wow. It still really amazes me!

So, there are only Magic lessons left. As I found out, there are three types of magic, according to the races. The earth ponies use magic to grow different things, enhance the earth itself. The pegasi use their magic to control the weather. Finally, the unicorns use magic directly, shaping it into different spells. Well, I fall into the last category, so let's go and see what waits for me there. Oh, and it's the first Magic lesson in the year.

The lesson takes place outside the school in a small park nearby.

"Hello, unicorns." our teacher said. It's a mare with icy-blue mane and fur, as well as eyes. Her cutie mark is a wand with blue star on it's end. "My name is Icicle, and I'm going to teach you how to channel your inner energy into your horns. That will help you develop your magic, as well as better control yourself, both in body and soul."

For someone with a name, like hers, she speaks rather warmly and smiles at us.

I still can't really understand why ponies have such names. Of course, it's easier to remember each pony's name just by their appearance, but... How many Icicles have there been throughout the history?

Wait, that comes for the human names as well... There were lots of people named like me. Huh, maybe ponies' names do make sense, after all.

"So," she continued. "Is there anypony that can use their magic already?"

Well, time to raise my hoof.

"That's surprising." Icicle looked at me with interest. "Well, such things happen from time to time... So, your name?"

"Flame Metal, ma'am."

"Well, Flame Metal, how many things can you levitate at once?" she asked me.

"Uh, I don't really know." I rubbed the back of my neck. "The maximum that I did was three to four."

"That is pretty impressive, considering your age." the teacher replied. "So, can you demonstrate us? There are many small boulders lying around, levitate them."

Well, time to demonstrate my mad skillz of levitation!

Channeling my inner energy in my horn, I used my magic to levitate as many boulders as I could see. About... Twenty, I think.

"That is impressive." Icicle praised me. "Can you control them, like spinning around in circles?"

I used the boulders to create three circles that I span around me like acrobatic hoops. I'm a jedi master, wooo!

"That is very impressive!" I was praised again. "Well, I see that you don't need the lessons I'm going to teach your class. But I ask you to help other students achieve what you did."

"Um, it kinda just came to me." I told her. "I didn't train it."

"Well, then it means you're an early bloomer, and will be a very talented person in the future." the teacher replied. "Well, you may go home if you want."

"I can?" I blinked in surprise. Well, I kinda expected that but, hey, I've never been let go from the school back on the Earth. They just told me that I must stay even if I know everything. That really sucked!

"Don't be shy, of course you can." Icicle smiled at me. "You'll just waste your time by staying here and doing, well, nothing."

***

It's good that the teacher didn't make me help others. I have absolutely no idea how would I help them. This magic just came to me like... I don't know! Magic is easier than a piece of cake eaten by a sweet-tooth. Anyway, I like this magic stuff. Magic! Something out of fantasy, that has become a reality, and that is very fucking good!

Ahem.

I should stop freaking out, it can’t be good for my health. For some-kind-of-world-creator's sake, I've been in this land of magic for a few months already, it's time to get over those simple facts! Yes, magic exists. Yes, it still seems to be a little crazy, but what is impossible? By myself, I've experienced that nothing can be impossible. Maybe in some other dimension everyone can create everything like gods or make chocolate rain or... all kinds of stuff!

Yeah, crazy...

...

Well, I think I just have to relax a bit. Maybe the lack of listening to music makes me insane?

When I get home, I'll go through the Bible of the Beast album of Powerwolf.

Home... I've just noticed I had started to think of Equestria as a home. I call it my home! It still saddens me that I’ll probably never go back to my real home on Earth... Of course, Equestria seems really nice place to live in, but... I think I'm a little homesick. How is everything there, back at my real home? Did anyone try to find me? Did anyone even notice that I'm gone?

Good thing that I have a small door for my cat to go out of my house. I... I want to see my cat again. I... Damn, that makes my eyes tear up somehow, even more than the fact that I'll probably never see my friends and family. What if I didn't make the doors for my cat to go around the house? It would just die there, waiting for me to return. Does it wait for me? Did it survive? It would be horrible if it died because of my disappearance...

Really dark, sad thoughts cloud my head. It just makes me want to cry!

***

I returned to my new room. I dropped my saddlebags near my bed. I climbed onto the bed and pressed my face against the pillow, melting into it.

And I cry. I cry because my real home is very far away. I cry because I'll never see my family again. I cry because there is no one here to embrace me to make the tears go away...

I... I’m broken now. After the two months I’ve spent here... Only now I cry. There is no one to see me, no one to hear me break under the mountain of sadness...

But still! I... I still have to adjust. I live. Life goes on. My life goes on. I'll find new friends, I'll find a new pet. I'll find a way to live here, even if it takes years or decades.

But all I need now is to cry... I need to let it go.

***

I don't know how much time has passed since I buried my face in my pillow. I still feel bad, but better than before. Still, it could be better.

I glanced at the clock and saw that the school ends in five minutes, and then Moonshine'll come back. I better get myself in shape. I don't like people seeing my weak side, after all.

I slowly got up from the bed and went to the bathroom. As I closed and locked the door, I looked at myself in the mirror.

Well... I look kinda bad. Red eyes, disheveled mane, trace of tears. Damn, I look like shit.

Yeah...

So, I need to take a shower. Or maybe a bath. Yep, a bath will do. I just want to lie in the warm water for some time. That'll clear my head and get my body in at least normal shape. Maybe I should go to that spa I've heard about in Ponyville. They say a good massage is done there.

Wait, I can't. My wings are still attached to me.

Maybe someday, just not now.

***

Well, I got the warm water flowing, and soon the bath was filled up. I added lots of bubbles! I love bubbles!

Ahem.

After positioning myself comfortably, I let myself relax. A warm bath is always good.

I'd been lying in the bath for at least fifteen minutes before I heard Moonshine entering the room. I heard a heavy sigh, after which a thud sounded. Was that because she took off the saddlebags or because she is so tired she can't make her way to her bed?

I don't think I want to know.

Anyway, she tried to enter the bathroom, and, of course, failed. I think she didn't fall from exhaustion, after all.

"Flame, are you in here?" I heard her ask me from behind the door.

"Yeah." I replied.

"Can you let me in? I really need to... you know..." she mumbled quieter and quieter. Oh, I guess she really needs to relieve herself.

Damn, I would hate myself if I don't let her in. I've been in such situations a few times... Almost pissed myself quite literally. That is the worst feeling ever!

So, I unlocked the door, and Moonshine passed me like a blur, getting out of my view almost as soon as she entered it. That’s a good thing though, 'cause I don't want her to see my wings. The bubbles help me, though, since they obstruct her view of my body.

I heard a sigh of relief. Yeah, the best feeling ever is the one when you get to relieve yourself. I understand that.

So, maybe some would ask why didn't I exit the bathroom first. Well, it would take some time, and I didn't want Moonshine to wait the torturous moments it would take me to leave. The second reason is that I still want to lay in the bath. I kinda don't mind her doing her business, so, well, why not let her in?

I know that letting someone be in the bathroom with yourself is kinda intimate thing, or at least that is how people think of it, but I don't really care or mind at all. You want to take the white throne? Okay, I know you really need it, go ahead.

And I know that kids can't, y'know, keep it within themselves for too long. I didn't want Moonshine to make a very awkward and disgusting scene.

***

Some time later.

Moonshine has left the bathroom by now, so I am all alone here again. And I made sure I locked the door. It wouldn't be good if she catches me while I'm nude. Well, ponies are nude, mostly, but I‘m an exception. Wings are my secret, too. So, I can't go nude even if I wanted to.

Well, there's some time before dusk, and I need to do my homework.

After I've done everything in the bathroom and put on my hoodie, I exited, and heard my name being called.

"What is it?" I asked Moonshine.

"Um, there'll be a medical examination tomorrow after school." she told me.

Oh, fuck.

...

FUCK NO!