I didn't believe that I would get away without an explanation. However, all we did was silently get out of the car and head to my apartment. Once there, I showed Twilight my sleeping room and offered her my bed. Though it was not even night time, she fell asleep pretty quickly, most likely because of today's excitement. I closed the door behind me and went into the cellar to my brother’s room. I knocked on the door before I entered. The ground was covered by empty bottles, rubbish, and god knows what else. This was one of the times where I missed shoes. My brother and his friends were sitting on the couch in the corner and watched as I made my way through the chaos.

“You seem to be not quite right in your head.” I looked at my brother. “Don't you think that was a stupid idea? And not just Toys'R'us but also telling these fools of me in the first place.” If I still had arms, they would be crossed by now. “How did you even get that brilliant idea?” None of his friends said anything, so Nils answered.

“After I told them what happened, and by the time they had calmed down, we talked about it. And we thought it would be hilarious to put you into a Toys'R'us.” Well, I had to admit it could have been fun for me if they would have let me in on the plan.

“How did you convince these idiots? I mean, if I said that someone got turned into a pony, they would put me into the madhouse.” Nils pulled his IPhone out of his pocket, tapped it several times, and showed it to me. It was a picture of me trying to walk with socks on my hooves. The next picture showed me crashing into the cupboard. He must have taken photos from the floor without me noticing. Nils put the phone back into his pocket.

“Now explain where you picked up this other pony? Was she transformed like you?” I took his keyboard off his computer table and threw it over to him, which knocked over several tins and bottles.

“Search for My Little Pony and play the first episode you find.” Nils didn't let me wait for long and found an episode. I told him to forward to about the middle and showed him a scene with the Mane Six. I pointed at the screen.

“You see this pony there? Guess who's sleeping upstairs.” Nils and his friends stood up to have a closer look. “Exactly. That is Twilight Sparkle. A pony which doesn't exist in our world and therefore must be from another world. Equestria to be precise. She came here by accident, and you stupid idiots scared the first alien who ever got to our world half to death. Bravo!” I would have clapped or rather clopped if I could have stood on two hooves. With those words, I went back upstairs and left them to their thoughts. I knew they probably didn’t intend any harm, but it wasn't right either. And I had a block of wood awaiting me which would be either levitating or in the stove by that very evening.

I don't know what time it was when I woke up. I was still lying on the floor in the living room beside my friend, the wooden cube. I got up from my uncomfortable position and staggered slowly to the couch. I picked up the TV remote from the table and pressed the first button which came under my hooves carefully. I didn't care what was running on the channel; all I needed was some background noise, and as tired as I was, I fell asleep quickly.

I was awakened the next morning by a splitting headache. The TV was still running and was showing a news broadcast. I usually didn’t watch any of the news channels, but it seemed like I didn't care yesterday. I stood up and stretched myself. Then I went into the bath. A shower was exactly what I needed to get my thoughts organized. When I was finished, I unlocked the flat door which I had locked before. It seemed to be the best for Twilight to ensure that no one would take her away again. In front of the door, there was a basket with apples and carrots. Hotel Mama, somehow I got in again. I took the basket with my snout and went into the living room, where I found Twilight sitting on the couch. She could have been here for half an eternity, and I wouldn't have noticed her. She sat quietly, and with rapt attention, she stared at the television. I placed the basket on the table and took an apple for myself and another one into my hoof and went towards the couch. I nudged Twilight and held one apple under her nostrils.

“Morning....” I said. “You want one as well?” Her look was entranced, staring at the TV, and I decided it would be the best to turn it off. I placed the apple on the table, and with a simple push on the remote, turned the television off. Twilight seemed to awaken out of her trance as she turned around to face me.

“What is that?” she asked hesitantly and pointed at the still flickering TV. I really had to buy a new one soon.

“A television. It receives picture and sound. You could say it’s a picture book which narrates itself.” I didn't want to explain to her the complexity of electrical engineering, or at least not at seven o'clock in the morning with the headache I had.

“So these are only invented stories?” She probably meant the news broadcast.

“No, that's what we call news. Comparable to a newspaper.” The fact that the media was manipulated was something I kept to myself. My head was really humming.

“How can that human be so calm then? He just said that over one hundred humans died somewhere. That's a catastrophe.” She really seemed concerned. Her voice was like a mirror of emotions.

“Such a thing happens every day in this world.” I sighed and took a deep breath. “There are about seven billion humans in this world. A few hundred are seen as collateral damage. It’s sad, but that's the way it is here.” I could see from her face how horrified she must have felt.

“That's terrible! How can you live in such a place? This is dreadful.” I could only agree. The world really was a nightmare sometimes.

“We also have love and hope though, Twilight. The people who are important to us make all of this bearable. Here, you are strong together.” I didn't know how to express it differently. Surely she knew what I was talking about since Equestria also had to have bad times. “I better get practicing again. After all, you want to go home,” I said after a small moment of silence, but Twilight just nodded slowly. Just when I was about to start practicing, I had an idea that could cheer up Twilight for sure. I went to my bookshelf and took my copy of the Christmas tale and threw it over to her. “Now you also have something to do,” I said with a tired smile as I sat down next to the log. I saw how Twilight first had a look on it then read the cover and then the book itself.

The hours just flew by without me making any kind of progress. Twilight, on the other hand, proceeded pretty steadily and had already read about half of the book. I needed some music; that always relaxed me and also helped with the thinking. I took my laptop from the table and put it onto the kitchen table next to the wicker so that she couldn't see it from the living room. I opened it, and my usual working place greeted me. I navigated through various files and changed my background into a simple blue in order to solve one of my minor problems. I opened the media player, and a few clicks later, my music collection sounded through the room. Twilight was so lost in the book that she didn't even notice the music. I went back to my wooden friend and hummed to 'Rise Against - Satellite'. I could feel how the tension of the last days fell from my shoulders, and for the first time since my transformation, I could relax. I closed my eyes and quietly sang in my head. The wooden block could also wait a couple of minutes.

I opened my eyes again when the player started the next track and looked to my right onto the bare floor. I looked to the other side, but I couldn't spot the block either. I stood up and looked where I just sat, but as expected, I would have noticed if I had been sitting on a wooden block, which meant that there was only one option left. I looked up to the ceiling and there it was as, floating as if it had always been there. I could feel how my smile became wider and wider, and out of joy, I started jumping through the room which gained Twilight's attention.

“Hey, you did it.” She nodded, satisfied, as she put away the book. My horn was still glowing in a bright white, and the same aura was covering the log of wood. It didn't last long as the aura faded, and with a bang, the wood landed on the ground, leaving a notch in the laminate.

“So, how do we call this Trent now?” I wanted to visit Equestria as soon as possible, and Twilight also seemed to be happy about returning home soon.

“Well, we have to send a magic shock wave through a tree. Trent is the soul of all forests. Wherever a forest is, he can take form,” she explained. I was as excited as a kid the day before Christmas. I was just about to run through the door to try it out when I got a better idea.

“Do you mind if we wait till tomorrow? I would like to tell my family that I will be gone for quite some time. Besides, I would like to take some things with me.” I also had an idea how I would transport them.

“Sure, no problem,” she said with a strange smile. “I still have the book here. Take the time you need.” With those last words said, she continued reading. Meanwhile, I went into the basement and searched for something I had used ten years ago. In a chest with tires and other things one would use on their bicycle, I found my saddlebag. I had used it when I was thirteen to carry newspapers in order to earn money for my own computer. Others went to confirmation classes, but I worked. I threw the bag over my back, and I had to say that it fitted like fist and eye. I went upstairs and started to pack my things like boxer shorts and medicine. When I held the medicine in my hoof, I noticed that I didn't need them since my transformation, but just to be sure, I placed them in my bag. I put my laptop in the other saddlebag before taking my mobile phone. I didn't have to worry about Twilight since she was still lost in the book. If I ever came into a situation where I wanted to get rid of her, all I would need was a good book. I would have liked to try to see how long she would have needed for the three “Lord of the Rings” books, but this wasn't the time. My mobile phone was only important because I wanted to take some photos since I doubted that I would have reception in Equestria. Half an hour later, I was finished packing for my short trip, so I sat down on the couch again and turned the TV on. It wasn't easy to change the channels with hooves, and I often went way further than I wanted, but then I stopped on a channel.

“Yesterday, something unbelievable happened in a Toys'R'us. Eyewitnesses reported that two ponies ran out of the store and that one was even able to speak.” I held my breath. “The whole action was caught on tape. Here it is.”

On the screen, I could see how Twilight and I were running through various corridors while getting chased by kids and then the scene of us standing near the exit and me teasing the two men towards us. The view changed and now the focus was on one of the men, who told the cameraman what he had seen, followed by the narrator. “It's unclear whether it was a prank, but the police was able to narrow it down to several suspects. Witnesses told of a group of juveniles which left shortly after the incident in a blue Reno Clio. The license number was relayed to the police, and the owner is being tracked down at this time.” She took another piece of paper. “Berlin—” I hammered the big red button on the TV remote. Our cover was blown. I began to panic as it was only a matter of time until the police was knocking on the door. Twilight looked at me and seemed to realize that nothing good had happened.

“It looks like we have to leave today...” I said quietly and walked downstairs. I needed to tell my mother, so she wouldn’t be completely devastated if I would be gone for some time. I went down the stair, opened the door in the hallway to let my dogs out of her room, and then I entered my mother’s flat.

Everything was quiet, and nobody seemed to be home. I searched in all rooms, even Dirk’s room, but nobody was there. Well, I couldn't help it. There were more important things. If the police found two speaking ponies, hell would break loose. I wanted to get Twilight when I saw the dogs scratching on the door. They probably wanted to go in the garden, so I opened the door. They rushed down the small stairs and went around the corner into the front garden. I was just about to follow them when I saw two policemen getting out of their car which was parked in our driveway. The driver was just closing his door when his colleague nudged him and pointed his finger at me. I turned around on point, and with a bang which was even louder than the “Stop, police!” of the policemen, slammed the door shut. I could hear them opening the door in the fence and entering our property. I ignored their demands and ran upstairs.

“Twilight, if we wanna go, it has to be now!” She stood up from the couch.

“What is going on?” She must have heard the shouting from downstairs.

“Remember that I told you humans must not know about us?” I didn't give her time to answer. “That ain't important anymore; they saw us. We have to go, doesn't matter where, but we have to go!” Humans searching for her was definitely scaring her. What else could be expected after my brother’s prank? We ran down the stairs. One of the officers must have had the idea to look through a window and was now calling his colleague. We went into the basement, and through it, went into the garden. If we just had to reach a tree, it shouldn't be much of a problem considering that the forest was just behind the house. The officers were not born yesterday, though, and followed us at the side of our property.

“How do I call this Trent now?” The officers just didn’t give up and now jumped over the small fence, landing in our garden.

“You have to cast a spell on a tree. That should gain his attention,” said Twilight while running next to me. The forest came in range, and I hurried over to the first tree and tried to do the same as I did to the wooden block, but nothing happened. The officers slowly gained ground, so we ran further into the forest.

“It's not working,” I said to Twilight after the first couple of meters in the forest. The weight of the saddlebag slowly made itself known. I got slower, and I knew I couldn't hold this pace with the weight on my back. “Twilight, you see the big black thing in my bag? Take it and throw it out!” She didn't hesitate long, and my laptop flew towards the officers and smashed into pieces. The crocodile tears would flow when we were out of here. We got a small lead, and I tried to call Trent again without success. We kept running, but I slowly ran out of steam as the magic was exhausting even without two officers chasing me. We came across another large tree which was blocking our way, so I had a look back. The policemen weren't as fast because of the forest floor, so we had about a minute until they would reach us. “The police are to protect and to serve! Can't you just leave us alone?” I shouted at them, but they simply ignored me. Again, I tried to cast the spell but without payoff. I was so frustrated that I banged my horn against the tree, which caused sparks to fly and made the tree glow white. That took the last bit of my strength, and I collapsed. However, before I fell on the ground, a limb caught me.

“Trent! You found me!” screamed Twilight. The limb heaved me up and put me down next to Twilight. I looked up to the tree and saw a big green eye looking down on us.

“But of course, Twilight Sparkle. I've been waiting for a sign of you,” said a very monotonous voice, one that was devoid of emotions. I couldn't see from where the voice came; it seemed to resonate from everywhere. The policemen also heard the voice and yelled at us.

“Are these friends of you?” asked the voice. Twilight only shook her head. A branch next to the running officer moved, and they got knocked back.

“So, I suppose you want to go home, right? Dawn is worried. He visited me a couple of times and asked where you were.” The eye focused on me. “And who is this?” I gulped. This being just injured two policemen and didn't even seem to care. I asked myself what he would do to me, but Twilight beat me to it.

“That's a friend; he helped me to call you. As you see, my horn is gone once again,” she said grimly, somehow reminding me of myself and my glasses. Another limb touched Twilight´s forehead, and with a flash, her horn was back. “Thank you, Trent.” She bowed. I decided that it would be best if I let Twilight do the talking. With a being that mighty, I didn’t want to somehow screw things up. “Could you send us home?” The tree didn't answer, but another limb came out of nowhere and drilled a hole into the ground. Shortly after, a puddle formed, and Twilight stepped happily into it. I did the same since she was the expert. The water wafted up my legs and covered me with a film of water. Twilight remained calm during the process as I took a deep breath when the water reached my throat before we got pulled through the puddle. I closed my eyes, and everything went black.

When I opened my eyes again, we were standing on a small meadow near a forest, but everything was different from what I've seen or at least with my real eyes. I could see the edge of the Everfree and the strange green eye.

“Be more attentive with your magic, Twilight Sparkle,” said the voice before the eye slowly faded, leaving an ordinary tree behind. Twilight walked towards a small hill and indicated for me to follow her. I stepped up to her, and I saw the village of my dreams— no, the village of dreams for so many. Ponyville stood before my eyes. The houses had a rustic flair even when they on the show, now even more so in reality. A river separated the small town in two parts. On one side, you could clearly see the residential area, and on the other side, the marketplace with its tents and booths. The biggest building was the town hall. It rose over the whole village. I also recognized other houses. One was a large tree not far from the town hall - the only rounded house in the whole village. As I gazed over the borders of Ponyville, I saw how one apple tree followed the next. Twilight nudged me and said:

“Welcome in Equestria!”

Author's Notes:

Again, thanks to Darth Keks who translated this chapter.

Edited by JBL. Thank you!