June 29th

Opening my eyes I looked around my heart beating hard. I didn’t know what was going on. I looking down at my arms seeing deep claw marks from my claws. But looking at the blood on the bed. I saw grass and flowers growing. It was growing pretty quick. When my breath from my nose hit it. It grew even more and turned into a small meadow in that spot of the blood. Slowly getting off the bed quickly looking at the wounds now. They slowly heal but when it heals. Vines shut the wounds, what kind of species am i? Slowly getting out of the bed groaning a bit. Looking towards wilted flowers, gently breathing on it. The flowers slowly renew and grow but slowly die again.

Thinking of a test, taking a claw cutting my leg a bit letting my blood drip into the dirt of the flower. It grew strong with just one drop. What kind of species of dragon am I? Looking to the other bed seeing that Lyra is awake and outside. Walking towards the outside. Seeing Lyra she smiled when I walked out. But the look on my face worried her. " Russell are you okay? You look spooked."

“Come with me a second Lyra I need to show you something.” Lyra nodded followed me to the dead brown grass sadly it's normal around this time of year. But even more without folks to water it. Lifting my claw cutting at least one spot on my foot allowing my blood to touch the soil. The grass quickly turned from brown to green. Lyra had a wide eyed with a surprise look on her face. " Something tells me i'm starting to understand why I have been so tired lately. It's so dry here that it's not healthy for me. I think I need to eat more and drink more while I'm here. But sadly I'm not fully sure. Just nature and I seem to be one."

Going to the car, I opened a water bottle and began drinking it slowly. Keeping it with me. Looking to the Subway meat I had with me this entire time. I doubt it's good anymore. Opening it up a moment it smelled awful tossing the gross meat out onto the driveway. Opening the cooler that more of the meat next was frozen pork chops. Opening them up eating up placing the rest back into the cooler. Placing the bitten raw meat on the holder between the two front seats along with the water.

" I don't wish to stop anymore Lyra but we might have to from time to time. No more stopping at attractions. I can't stand this driving anymore. It's getting on my nerves." Lyra nodded getting in the other seat. Turning on the car and leaving the hotel. Leaving Rapid city behind.

0000

It's been an hour since we left Rapid city but we were still in South Dakota it's going to be awhile before we get to the next state. Looking over to Lyra she was still reading the Hobbit. She looked close to being done. But she looked to savoring it It would be another two hours before we get out of this state. Looking around my eyes started to have strange effects. I don't know what was going on but my vision turned to a green color. Looking around feeling worried stopping the car quickly looking around. Looking at the nature around me. I could see seeds floating around. Most of them had no life in them. Most of the seeds that floated in front of me seemed to have little force of life to be able to grow.

" Russell?" Lyra called I started looking around seeing more seeds. Life in nature. " Russell?!" I couldn't handle it anymore. I started panicking. I felt magic hit me in the back of the head. Passing out.

I didn't wish to do this again. But now I had to move her. I slowly got out of the car, placing her in the passenger seat. Then I got into the driver’s seat, stroking my head and feeling upset and unsure. Now the car was still running. Thinking on how to drive it, my eyes slowly drifted downwards till I was looking at the peddle. Using my magic to press it down, the car launched forwards. At first it was too quick and I felt myself fly back into the seat. ‘Ow! That hurt.’ I thought to myself. I slowly pressed down the petal, allowing it to speed up at a much more desirable rate. Now i clicked the cruise with my hoof and I moved my magic from the peddle looking up to see a turn a panic filled me not sure what to do. I grabbed the steering wheel with my magic. Twisting the wheel swerving a bit. I screamed loudly enough to wake Malla. But she didn’t even wake up. I removed the magic from the pedal shaking as it came to a stop slowly. I shook taking a deep breath putting magic pressure on the pedal again and slowly moved. Still shaking and feeling very scared.

How do humans do this? Looking towards the GPS it said kept going along this road. So trying to follow it. I could hear Malla groaning and sobbing in a way. Looking over to her. Something inside her was causing her pain. I wish i could help her, but I can't. Maybe whatever is going on took this long for it to fully effect her. Malla cried loudly in pain in her sleep. Looking over to her I could see her crest spreading out. The spikes on the crest grow a bit. Maybe that is what is causing her pain. But it's hard to tell. Mostly I just think she is getting used to the body.

0000

It's been an hour since I took over. I was told on the GPS we would be in a state called Minnesota soon. Malla has been clawing the chair she is in ruining it. Tears streamed down her face. I felt so bad for her. I wish I could help her. But it seems she has to allow yourself to go through whatever she is going through. " Malla...." She opened her eyes.

My eyes opened looking around in a panic looking to Lyra who is now driving. Sobs came out. " Do you want me to Stop Malla?" I shook my head " You sure?" I gave her a nod trying to move but too much pain.. I could speak so much pain in my body. " Where does it hurt?" I pointed at my chest and then my stomach..My neck " What does it feel like." I couldn't speak because of all the pain. Looking around for something to write. But I can't find anything. Groaning deeply in pain tears, stream down my face. The tears hit the floor causing grass to grow. I had no idea what is going on..

" Malla.." I lifted my claw, shaking my head to her.

" Let me....get through this.." Groaning deeply feeling the pain fill me. My heart beat hard closing my eyes. I groaned deeply. Feeling my blood flow through my veins. I wanted so hard to claw something I couldn't allow it. But I screamed loudly to the point it hurt my voice. Opening my eyes again screaming loudly in pain.

" Russell...please.." Lifted my claw again groaning a bit feeling the pain still stay but it's no longer a throb of a pain. It's now a very dull pain. " Russell I can't just sit here and allow this." Looking at her. My eyes back to very gentle self. Looking at her.

“Call me just Malla now Lyra. I think whatever happened to me. I think I was either fully changing what is left of human or I have been drinking and eating some nasty water and meat.” I was Closing my eyes breathing deeply the pain still a dull thump. But it's gently subsiding. But I feel tired weak. " I feel that my start of the story..Like in an old tv show I watched ages ago. That i'm now in the middle of my story. The middle or if you want to get poetic I'm now fully what you see or it could..Be that not everything was there at the start." Shrugging slowly closing my eyes. " Now Lyra I trust you to get us there..." Falling asleep.

0000

It's been an hour after all that. Finally we are in Minnesota. Looking to a warning seeing of the wheels said it was low on air? I didn't know what to think of that. Looking over to Malla who is finally relaxed and resting. Sighing softly I'm still worried about her. I felt that my bladder was full and I needed to ease it. I looked behind me to see the dogs. They were fast asleep. So it would be just be doing this. Seeing a rest stop pulling in so I could go to the bathroom. Hitting the break on the car opening the door leaving it running and then closing the door. Trotting quickly into the bathroom. Getting on the toilet closing my eyes allowing the fluid to drain from me.I looked at the stall walls. I could see writing on there. Reading it loudly to myself" For a good time call Candy. " Blinked then looked at the other side.. Blushing seeing something I shouldn't speak of. Quickly rushing out my face still bright red.

Using the spell that Chris or Crystal I think. How me how I could use my magic on the locks. My horn glowed on the lock of the cook machine. Slowly working the tumblers with my magic to open it up. With my magic I picked up at least four cokes. Because I feel that I am going to need it. Getting back into the car it's still running setting down the four cokes but I needed to get going again. Pushing down the gas with my magic. Pulling Now looking at the coke vending machine. I need some soda in my system. .out of the rest stop. Getting going at a good pace and turning on the cruise again. Opening the soda it hissed. Slowly drinking from it feeling it go down me it felt so wonderful.

Setting it back down feeling whatever is inside these drinks making me feeling charged. Looking around calmly wondering what's next but I heard a nasty pop looking at a warning. I didn't want to wake Malla. Pushing the break with my magic. Getting out of the car looking at the wheel the thing on the dashboard she called it looked like the wheel was almost gone. All wheels looked old and about to blow to. Looking back we aren't far from that rest stop it had many other cars there. But I have no idea how to change a tire. Now i would have to turn us around to get to the other cars. Getting back in doing what I have been doing turning back into the rest stop. Now I need to figure out how I can do this. I looked at Malla, who looked so peaceful in her sleep. So i figured I would do this the magic way. My horn glowed brightly the bad wheel of the car glowed with a good wheel of another car and I switch them. But the other wheel looked a bit bigger. I doubt she would notice though. Now I need more soda this is highly stressing.

Getting back into the car again turning back out to the right way drinking the soda i had opened down. Opening another because their so good. Looking to the gas it was still full. But I needed to get us through this Minnesota. Drinking the second coke down. Feeling so weird now. I didn't know what to think but it made my brain feel turned on. Opening the third one drinking it down. But kept the fourth one for later. It was getting pretty dark since we have been on the road for awhile to get through Minnesota. Looking at the clock it was already eight at night. But I didn't feel tired It's so amazing to me that I didn't feel tired. So maybe I can get us through Minnesota faster so I pushed the pedal down fully. I was going to fast but from i was reading on the Gps it was pretty much going this fast just to get there. Since I was going to fast I smacked right into a deer and it flew like it was nothing. Blinking stopping the car and rushing out of the car quickly looking at the dead deer.

Looking at the body. I didn't know what to do. There was no blood at all, but looking at the car with my horn glowing, i saw there was a giant dent. Oh my. She will be upset at me. But I'm sure she won't notice it. I rushed to the car breathing heavy panicking. I killed a deer a creature with this care. Would Malla be upset at me?! I had tears streaming down my eyes. I had to calm down I took a deep breath and played my lyer to calm myself.

00000

June 30th

I opened my eyes we were still driving looking over to Lyra her eyes were bloodshot and looked down to the four cans of Soda. It was nine in the morning and we were already half way through Minnesota. Should be through it tonight. But Lyra looked so overly charged. She started speaking to me.

“Oh!! Malla you’re awake.” She was pretty jumpy while she spoke. Her sense of judgement didn’t seem very good at the moment.” Did I ever tell you about my wife Bon Bon? Oh I am sure I did she is an amazing mare. She puts up with me and how Lazy I am. I don’t mean to be that lazy just I’m not the best unicorn at anything.” She looked sad for awhile then got happy again. “Most are jealous of me that I was able to get her to fall for me like I did.”

I chuckled softly. " Lyra, did you drink too much?" Lyra looked to me with her Blood shot eyes.

" No...but I did crash into a deer." Blinking looking at her. I didn't see any blood but I put down the window poking my head outside to check. I saw the large dent I am sure she felt awful about this. I sighed softly to myself. Putting my head back in looking towards her with a sigh. Reaching over with my claw patting her shoulder. " I am fine.." She looked a little wired. " Just know I haven't been truthful to you.. But I can't tell you everything. But I'm happy to be helping you so much my dear friend." Sighing shaking my head leaning in the seat watching her be good at driving. But of course another thing happen we ran out of gas.

"Lyra did you forget to fill the tank?" Lyra looked over to me with a blush forming on her cheeks.

" Maybe I..." She passed out from over doing it with the soda. Sighing I moved her away from the driver's set placing her in the passenger seat. Looking up, i saw it's about to rain. Grabbing the gas cans, i am hoping four is enough. Rain slowly started to pour from the sky when it hit me. I felt energy filling me. Pure clean rain slowly sliding along my scales. I stopped for the moment from filling the gas. Closing my eyes groaning feeling the pleasure of the rain. I feel like I'm being cleansed.I lifted the gas cans to the tank to fill it up. Closing the gap I will have to find another Rest stop or visitors center. Getting back into the car my body so wet now. But it feels like i am fully absorbing the rain into my body. Feeling like my veins are being cleaned out of all the impurest from the food I have been eating the past month. Having no idea what the hell i am.

Sighing deeply starting the car back up. Turning the windshield wipers on. Looking towards the GPS. It was another six hours through Minnesota. Hopefully nothing else will go wrong.

0000

Whelp something else went wrong. Sighing to myself it's raining so hard that it's causing some of the road to flood. So I needed to go through here slowly. Turning the lights on as well looking at the GPS hoping I will get there soon but I doubt I will be able. If needed I will have to stay at a rest stop till the rain passes. Because this could get very bad. Then suddenly of course it did. Streaks of lighting break through the sky like a web. Some of it was purple,red, and Green. I have seen this before. A heat storm mixed with heavy rain. At least I think that's what it was or just a freak storm that wanted to say OH HELLO.

Grabbed the wheel tighter making sure the wind doesn't blow me off the road. Looking to a sign seeing there is a rest stop ten miles ahead. So I feel i need to make it there to stop to car till this blows over. Lyra opened her eyes looking around with fear.

" Malla?" I hushed her.

" Relax we will be fine. I'm getting us to a rest stop. We will stay there till this storm blows over." Looking over to Lyra who had panic in her eyes. It looks like she has never seen a storm this bad before. But maybe she has. But driving in a car like this with this weather yeah it's not pleasant. Turning on the cruise I wrapped my tail around Lyra. " It's okay all we will be fine." Lyra nodded shivered. Ten miles later we finally made it to the rest stop. Turning off the car looking to Lyra who shook.

" Lyra you act like you have never seen a storm like this."

" I...we have storms...Like this but they normally mean something evil is coming." Looking around quickly with her fear. I could tell it affected her badly sighing.

" Lyra I am sure whatever happen to this world. It hasn't changed the weather. Now if it starts walking around and saying I’m going to eat you run!!: I thought to myself ‘Damn these ponies are scared of everything. I heard the wind pick up hearing pelting on the car. Turning the car back on.

" Alright Lyra, hold on." I tried to drive as quick as I can out of the rest stop. The wind blew hard it was hard for me to stay on the road. But I looked in the mirror to look behind me. I saw a tornado touching on the ground. Lyra had fear in her eyes I could tell she had never been this close to one before. " Okay Lyra what I am doing is not wise. " I pressed my tail hard on the peddle. We quickly along the road. Fence pieces falling along with the road with parts of barb wire as well.

“ What is my life now? An action movie?!”I said as a joke. Lyra looked at me with a lot of anger in her eyes. " What?" I asked.

" Malla this is very reckless." Giving a shrug and more parts of fences fly all over missing the car. It's gotten to the point that Lyra is covering her head with her hooves. Behind us the tornado ate everything that stood still. Wood flew through the back window of the car stabbing right between us into the empty cans. Lyra started to whimper.

"We will be fine. I promise." Soon the tornado started to move the other direction. But of course that didn't help Lyra feel any better. A tire blew when I drove over some of the barb wire. Hearing the tire go pop. I need to find time to fix it. Then a nail hit another. Driving further watching the tornado move away from us. I sighed finding a visitor center. We are a few hours away from the next state. But I needed to calm Lyra down and check the damage. The rain let up as well. Going outside of the car after turning it off to see the damage. The outside of the car is very dented planks of wood jammed into many parts of it. But the fuel is not one of the spots. But three tires have been hit. Looking at the trailer. Thankfully it's all good. But I need to get more gas. Opening the door Lyra was sobbing hard. Calmly pulled her out.

"Lyra it's okay. Shh." Hugged her gently stroking her back with my claw. " I need you to relax. Go take the dogs for a walk and try to find a jack."

Lyra gave a nod shaking a bit. Opening the door for the dogs. " Co...Come Toby..Luna." The two get out of the car." Watching her leave to find a jack. But she turned with a weak smile " What does a jack look like?"

" You will know when you see it. It should be inside." Sighing unhooking the trailer placing the stand up and pulling it away a bit. Grabbing the four gas can I used up. Grabbing the siphon, Going around to other cars. Prying open the gas containers to fill up the four gas cans. One would think I should start feeling bad for stealing gas from these cars. But sadly I can't. It took thirty minutes to get the gas and Lyra finally found a jack.

" I also found the tool from what it said to use to get the tire off." Giving a nod looking towards the cars. I am going to be replacing all four tires. I found another Ford Expedition. Nods to her getting the jack under the other car. It took two hours to finally get all the tires from the other car. Lyra helped me by floating the tires in her magic. Then it took almost two more hours just to replace all the wheels.. I had a feeling that this jack and the ratchet would be useful. From how I felt it wasn't tired just very annoyed at the fact that I need to clean off the dirt now. But there is no pure water here for miles.

" Come on Lyra get the dogs and lets get on our way. No more stopping only when the dogs need food and water. I have had enough of this." Lyra gave a nod we got back in the car and left to head to our next two states.