Elu was placed in a small crib for newborn foals. The lighting was dim, the sun had already set below the horizon, and yet the former human couldn't sleep. His eyes were wide open, looking around. His mother was sleeping soundly on the bed nearby, his father was gone from the room. There was a window to the outside but Elu couldn't see anything: he was small, couldn't walk, and was lying in a crib, and he had no intention of escaping it. Why would he? After all, he could hurt himself and he knew it.

His ears swiveled as he heard the door to the room opening. It didn't creak, but he could still hear the soft turning of the hinges. Some air rushed in, brushing against his short fur and skin underneath. He turned his head and saw a familiar figure making its way to him. Soon, he could see a pair of aqua eyes, and he immediately knew who it was.

Luna's horn glowed softly, illuminating her face. Elu felt a sensation in his mind, and he let it flow freely. The next moment, he sensed a sort of connection between him and the alicorn, something he couldn't quite put in words.

"Hello, Elu," she said without opening her maw. "How are you?"

"I'm good, thanks," he replied in a slightly cheerful tone, his maw stayed closed as well. "Just... glad to be here. I'm glad it's all real." he smiled at her, his eyes glistening with happiness in the pale moonlight. "And... can you lean a bit closer?"

Luna craned her neck, her muzzle a few centimeters away from his, curiosity in her eyes. What did he have to show her?

"Like th—" she began to say only to be interrupted with Elu's hoof firmly pressing against her snout, even silencing her thoughts.

Boop!

Elu giggled softly, retracting his hoof, watching as the princess blinked before letting out her own chuckle. She returned to standing upright, her bright eyes looking at him with interest.

"I hope you do realize that this gesture means trust," she commented, a more serious expression on her face. "It is not uncommon but even we ponies don't use it often."

"I trust you," Elu said without hesitation. "You are my favorite princess!"

"Oh, I'm glad to, um, hear that!" Luna stuttered as a sudden blush appeared on her face. "But may I ask..." the blush slowly disappeared. "How do you know about me and this world?"

"Um..." the former human thought about putting it in words she would understand. "Well, uh, Equestria is a place in... children's book about friendship." this statement was almost entirely correct. "As in... it's fiction. At least was..." he paused, thinking. "So yeah... I am here now."

"This is a surprise to know that we are just fiction." Luna's ears twitched with curiosity. "However, it seems it confirms the multiverse theory. If your words are true, of course."

"M-maybe," he replied nervously. "It would be better if multiverse theory was false."

"And why is that on your mind?" the princess inquired, her eyes widening slightly.

"Well, uh... It's that thing about everything that is possible being true? Something like that, right?" he asked for clarification.

"Yes, it is," Luna nodded in confirmation. "An infinite number of universe, each choice that could be made was made, each possibility realized in full."

"If that's true, then there is an infinite amount of... bad things." he paused, a frown forming on his face. "V-very bad things..." he went silent, a few memories resurfacing in his mind, deepening his frown, turning it into a semi-shocked expression. His eyes were wide and watering. He blinked a few times to clear them away. "It's... best this thing isn't true."

"...I see," the princess nodded in understanding. "I presume you know of another universe, then? And if so, is it hurtful?" she paused, noticing his pained expression. "I have a feeling it is indeed," she glanced at him again. "Very much hurtful."

"Uh... we could be in the, um, same universe," Elu brought up a point while evading the second part of what the alicorn said. "Like... there are thousands of galaxies. This world could be just a really small part of one of those galaxies."

"Seems reasonable," Luna nodded. "However, why would we ponies be fiction on your planet?"

"...I don't know," the former human admitted. "There could be... coincidences, maybe. But honestly I don't know. And um..." he looked into the eyes of the alicorn, "What's waiting for me?"

"Your parents already know just how special you are," Luna replied, a smile returning to her face.

"I'm... not that special," Elu tried to correct her. "I mean, I'm just one of... who knows how many, uh, sapient beings there are. I have different experiences and all, but... Uh... I'm really not that special," a semi-embarrased blush formed on his face.

"Trust me, you are," the princess continued. "It's the first time in recorded history that a foal like you is born."

"Just... don't make it into a celebration," the former human chuckled slightly nervously. "I, uh, don't want to get... stuff... just for, um... being born like this. I already have a sort of advantage, so... I really just want to live, um... with a good family and all that..." his voice trailed off as he realized that he might've said something very personal. He was unsure whether he should share his thoughts so bluntly just yet.

"Of course, El,." Luna nodded. "Your origins aside, you are still special, even if it just by the fact that you're one of the first few foals to be born to mixed pony couples. Your father is a lunar pegasus and your mother is a unicorn, after all. To my knowledge, there are just around four other couples like this."

"Still doesn't change much..." Elu muttered. He did wish he would be born with some lunar pegasi things like excessive fur, maybe fangs, but it didn't go beyond a few pictures he had drawn. But now, he was his own pony self. A newborn colt but, from what he managed to understand, he was still exactly like he wanted.

"Perhaps," the princess agreed. "Forgive me, I have to go now. My duty calls, and I can't leave it unanswered. Sweet dreams, Elu, and may the moon protect your dreams and may the sun illuminate your way."

"Goodbye, Luna," Elu smiled, even though a part of him was somewhat sad that she was going away. Nevertheless, she would return, he knew it, and their separation was only temporary. He just had to be patient.

And so he lay there, listening to Luna's steps growing further and further away until he could no longer hear them.

It had to be a dream but it seemed to be way too long to be one, way too realistic to be one. In dreams, he had never felt anything. His brain generated sensations but they were always off, he couldn't truly feel them. However, this time, he could feel everything. The pressure of the soft mattress he was lying on, the warmth of his own body, the heartbeat, his breath, air going into his lungs and then exhaled through his nostrils, muscles shifting under his skin as he moved. Every single little detail was there, it was something beyond what his brain could make him feel, not to mention what he could see. Everything had way too many details to be a dream. There was no fog, no mist, everything made a certain sound, even if it was too quiet to be heard.

However, he feared that it was all was untrue and he was lying on a hospital bed back on Earth, his brain sustaining permanent, irreversible damage, and he was in a coma until someone would pull the plug. But even if such a thing was the case, he could enjoy what he was experiencing. He believed it was indeed true, everything he had seen or felt so far supported it, leaving little room for that little bit of irrational doubt. While it still remained and might remain forever, he could let it go and allow himself to enjoy his pleasant dream.

He remembered his usual dreams. Chaotic, without structure, sometimes very discordant, sometimes very realistic, and he rarely had good dreams. In fact, he remembered just one; he had it when he was around fourteen. It was a very realistic dream at the time, and the dream he couldn't forget.

It was a snowy day, he was returning home from school. There were no sounds, only images and strange quasi-real feelings. He remembered seeing the road to his house, all covered in puffy white snow. He crossed those last hundred meters in an instant and then he stood in front of the door to his house. He opened the door, getting inside the entrance, and there, on the steps of the stairs, the love of his life stood, smiling at him.

Elu broke from the memory. He didn't want to continue. It was his past, his life on Earth, and it never led anywhere but to pain. Some would call this pain light, meaningless, easy to move on from, but no one could really see what another felt. They could guess, they could make assumptions, but they would never understand it completely.

The former human exhaled slowly. He needed to calm his head, he needed to sleep. He didn't feel tired much but he definitely could use some rest. He closed his eyes and purged his thoughts, his body relaxing, and soon he drifted off to peaceful, undisturbed sleep.

Elu blinked, coming awake, clearing the blur in his eyes. The sun was shining bright, a ray touching his crib. He yawned, stretching his small limbs, ready for the new day and definitely looking forward to it. Then he heard voices.

"...carry him for you," he heard a familiar voice speaking. Unfortunately, the language was indeed foreign to him. However, it did sound pleasant to the ear. It was flowing smoothly, reminding him of his native language, Russian. But even then it was very different, more akin to English, as far as he could hear. He knew he could be wrong, however.

"Alright, thanks, Stel," another familiar voice said in the reply to the first one. Elu turned his eyes and saw his parents, his mother standing up from the bed. "Oh..." she grimaced in slight discomfort. "No exercise for me for now, heh," she chuckled and then turned her head to the crib. "Ah, Elu's awake!"

The colt grinned when he heard his name. He could sense the joy, the happiness in his mother's voice, and it made him happy as well. Even though he couldn't speak yet or understand anything that is spoken to him, he uttered a sound, showing that he did understand his mother in a certain way that was yet simple and primitive.

Soon, Ring Keeper's face was right above him, her eyes looking at him with adoration.

"I know you can't understand us yet, but we love you, Elu," she said, smiling, and the former human reacted by smiling back at her, looking into her warm eyes. "We're fine to go now," she lifted her son out of the crib. "But we need to do something first," she gently moved him to a special table and placed him on it, belly up. "I have no idea what you'll think about it, but it's necessary for now."

Elu watched as diapers appeared in his vision. He frowned at them but he knew they were necessary. After all, he was just a newborn colt, he couldn't control his body as much as he'd like to, not yet, at least. So, he had to tolerate this for quite some time until he learned to control his bodily functions.

He looked away as the diapers were put in him. Soon after, a bottle of milk was moved to him. Internally, he sighed in relief, knowing well where the teats of the mares are and how awkward would it be for him to drink right out of the source.

"I figured this will be more comfortable for you," Ring Keeper commented, removing the cap, exposing the artificial nipple. "Here."

As shameful as it was for Elu, he drank the milk without much hesitation, a bring blush forming on his face. He didn't even remember himself ever drinking milk; he didn't even like milk in the first place, but this one tasted surprisingly good for him. He kept on drinking until his mother stopped him.

"Enough, for now, don't get greedy," she said, pulling the bottle away. Elu didn't protest, knowing well that she knew better. "Now, let's take you home, little one."

He was picked up again and placed in a basket, lined with soft sheets. He relaxed, looking at his mom as she strapped the basket to herself, her chest fluff brushing against its edges. Elu couldn't help himself but stretch out one of his forelegs and touch the fluff. His mouth opened slightly as he realized just how soft it was. He tried to sit upright so he could just smother his muzzle into his mother's chest.

"He's certainly playful," Stellares commented, standing by his wife's side. "I almost forgot he is already a grown-up in a certain way," he chuckled lightly, extending his hoof and ruffling up the short mane of his son. Elu looked back at him and smiled. The father noticed where Elu's eyes were looking, and so he craned his neck, bringing his muzzle close to the son.

Boop!

Elu giggled childishly and his father smiled while Ring Keeper was trying to contain her laughter.

"He's so cute, isn't he?" she said, looking at her son with joy in her eyes.

"He certainly is," her husband nodded. "He will definitely be a good son, I feel it."

Elu nestled in his basket and, once he was comfortable, closed his eyes. All the fidgeting that he did made him somewhat tired, so he decided to take a nap as he would be carried to what he assumed would be his home. Very soon, he drifted off to sleep, a wide smile not leaving his face even after he finally fell asleep.

Author's Notes:

More cuteness!

...

*boops everyone*