Chapter 2

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Two beings stewed in a void, one eons older than its talkative cellmate. Both had just finished an argument, one of the innumerable in this prison.

“You know I didn’t mean to hit him too,” Discord defended.

An exasperated voice emanates from the left of draconequus, “So be it, as long as this results in your leaving.” Any peace after a veritable eternity with this insufferable demigod would be a reprieve.

“Tired of me already?” Discord wheedles in return.

The only response is an echoing sigh.

I have no clue how long I wandered the trail. More food had been found along the way, each berry giving me energy with my growing fatigue. I still have yet to figure out how my method of food intake functions. Even still, I am hesitant to call it “eating” due to no mouth being involved. But for now, finding someplace safe to sleep would be a better choice. Darkness had come at an absurd speed, with the sun practically dropping from the sky.

What kind of world am I in? I think in bewilderment. A sunset of that speed means the planet undergoes some sort of rotational acceleration at each sunset-sunrise period. Then again- a different world or dimension, different scientific mechanics.

Of course, this couldn’t be Earth, although with similar flora- a parallel universe of some sort? Far too much to process has been thrown at me. Perhaps civilization is beyond this forest somewhere where I would be able to study this further. A shaft of moonlight illuminates my vision as I float along, causing my eyes to adjust. An eerie wolf howl in the distance makes me shiver. Another howl nearby causes a sense of cold fear to trickle down my spine.

With that reminder, I should find someplace safe to sleep for the night. Focusing, I light the ends of my arms and increase the brightness to single-diode lamp levels. The feeling was akin to flexing phantom muscles, with a limit causing me to stop as the lights flare. No other way to describe the feeling came to mind at the moment. Shining said lights around, I look for a suitable tree to sleep in. A high branch in what appears to be an oak tree should suffice. Levitating moss from the forest floor, I float up to the tree and lay my makeshift mattress down. Coming to rest on the branch, I drape myself carefully to not fall off.

As a method of relaxing before sleep, I try to review the events from the day. This is absolutely absurd now that I think about it. Woke up; am Pokemon. Throughout the day, adapting to this unfamiliar body. Then- stranger still- the suddenness of this coming at almost no shock.

The sound of something breathing and padding by below me interrupts my thoughts. This tree was a better place to sleep than the ground, that was a sure fact.

Picking up a new train of thought after the creature passes, I ponder the abilities of the Pokémon, Elgyem- my new body. It was clear that my basic hovering was a passive ability, whereas the telekinetic manipulation was another unknown move. However, the bursts of speed I could pull off were most likely the move Telekinesis. Whereas the attack that I had used in my frustration earlier was most likely Psychic. Any other moves would probably either have to be learned or discovered.

Throwing my stubby arms out in front of my face, I let them dangle and bump the branch. Sleep would do wonders to organize the events of the day. Knowing this, I close my eyes and try to sleep. A faint sound of wolves howling echoes before sleep takes me.

I am standing in my office once again, the power is still out. Looking around, I try to spot familiar shapes in the darkness. Without warning, my vision moves as I walk over to my desk. The lamp is knocked over and off. Despite this, a faint glow still flickers from the center of the desk. The gameboy is on, with the Pokémon cartridge in the slot. On the cracked display, a pixelated loading screen repeats itself as I stare at it. With an unknown signal, my hand slowly reaches out and presses the start button.

The screen goes black for a spell, with a flicker a grey backdrop scrolls across the battered LCD. Its half-broken speakers emit an ominous chime as the backdrop flickers. Without my action, the screen lights up again, this time with a trio of circles; red, green, and yellow. They begin to flash in a hypnotic pattern. With each flash, the lights begin to fill my vision. Vertigo overtakes me and everything begins to stretch and spin. The beeping increases in volume until it becomes nearly unbearable. Then, with a jolt, my vision goes black as laughter echoes from the void.

Bee~p..

I wake up with the morning light assaulting my eyes. Birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and I still feel like shit. Sleeping on a branch was a regrettable choice, but it seemed to keep me safe overnight. Lifting my head, I turn my neck. My vertebrae pop as I stretch and twist. Taking care not to fall, I twist and move myself to a sitting position on a branch.

Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I make tired beeps and chirps. Oh, how I missed coffee. Hopefully, a washing of some sort would suffice to wake me up. I was sure I heard a stream up ahead last night, maybe that would work. A swing of my arms and I am floating down from the tree. My concentration quickly falters and I drop to the ground, landing painfully.

“Oww~” I groan with an outstretched arm.

Pushing myself up, I float slowly into a comfortable position. The stream up ahead sounds a reasonable distance, some more bushes with variations of berries lie further along the path. Meandering in the general direction, I realize I still feel full from yesterday’s meal. The benefits of being almost a third of my original size it seems. Hovering directly above the stream, I look down at the water. Clear and crisp, no pollution or taint of any kind is present. Well, no better time than the present it seems, I lower myself into the water and sigh. The water is somewhat bracing, but a definite relief from the aches and pains of a night on a branch. Rolling over, I cover myself completely in the cool water. Not caffeine, but a good substitute nonetheless.

Willing myself upwards, I glide out of the water and shake myself off. Air-drying will have to do for now. Onwards to the path and wherever it leads.

Sunlight streams onto vivid green fields in the distance. I had finally reached the edge of the path- and therefore the forest. Mountains loom behind me and a railroad leading onwards towards... A town?

Not holding back, I rocket towards the tracks up ahead. Grass whisks by beneath me as I shoot forwards. This was exhilarating! In mere minutes the rails and wooden tie plates are beneath me. Shielding my eyes against the sun as I slow, I look along the tracks. The forest lies in the east- or the west for all I know, the sun’s bearings could be different. A diminutive mountain range lies to the southwest. Another slow spin shows nothing else new, save for that carriage heading my direction.

Wait.. A carriage!?

Shit- for all I know the life here could be hostile, is there anywhere to hide to observe the life here? A leaning tree in a nearby field seems appropriate. Taking another look at the carriage, I deduce that I am probably not visible yet. The tree is close enough to the road for me to dart over with no risk. A twitch of my mind and I arrow over to the target tree. Now to settle in and wait...

[Trixie]

That insufferable unicorn! She had made a fool out of The Great and Powerful Trixie, not to mention completely ruining her reputation! With enough distance, maybe my reputation could be salvaged. I had used most of my bits from a performance in Manehattan to buy supplies along the way. Maybe a small town well beyond the Whitetail Woods would have something to spare.

The wheel of my mobile stage hits a rut and something snaps. Coughing through the dust that was kicked up, I unbuckle and try to see the damage. The right rear wheel spokes had snapped, leaving the axle damaged and frame cracked. I would have to find help, there was no way to fix the wheel here. At least a tree nearby has some shade to offer until somepony passes by. The Great and Undefeated Trixie will now very proudly shuffle over to the tree and shed tears of happiness- yes, happiness.

A strange noise coming from behind the tree causes me to pause. Was there somepony else here too? Maybe they could help. Sniffling and trying to regain my composure, I shuffle over to the tree and call out.

“H-hello? Is anypony there?”

A grey shape pokes out from behind the tree. Followed by the rest of an egg-shaped head with black markings that end above large green eyes. The half of a small, grey body follows the arm around the edge of the tree. Red, green, and yellow lights flicker at the end of the stubby arm.

“El-gyem?” The strange creature asks with a timid voice. Noticing me, it darts behind the tree again.

[William]

Whelp. I have officially gone absolutely, indubitably insane. Nope, The Great and Powerful Trixie is not standing on the far side of the tree I am hiding behind. Just to be sure, I peek out again.

“Erm..” She begins to say as I jump behind the tree.

No wonder the forest I found myself in was so vibrant. This is Equestria, every My Little Pony fan can attest to that. It was clear that the town I had been on the path towards was Ponyville. The woods I had come from could have been anywhere, though most likely to the west with my current bearings. As for the timeline; The lack of a massive shining crystal castle shows that I was thrust into the early show.

While all of this was being processed, Trixie had snuck around the tree and was now staring at me in shock. Her mouth hangs open and her eyes are as wide as dinner plates. Turning, I let out a yelp of surprise and reflexively hold my arms out in front of myself. Something flows from my hands and I hear a faint thump in front of me. I slowly crack open my eyes, The Great and Powerful Trixie is lying unconscious in front of me, her cloak spread around her like a purple blanket. Her wagon- Err.. mobile stage lies at a skewed angle in the middle of the road due to one wheel missing. No wonder Trixie had tried to wait under the shade of the tree. Well, now I know when I am; Anywhere from a few days to a few weeks after Boast Busters. As to why I was in the body of a Pokémon and not a pony, no answers are presented.

Still, a bigger issue was on my hands now. Either Trixie had fainted, or I had just discovered Hypnosis- The latter most likely being true. Holding my arms out in front of me, I stare at the lights and try to replicate the feeling. Concentrating, a rushing feeling flows out of the now flashing lights and fogginess begins to break my concentration. Pink waves ripple outwards and twist with a psychedelic effect. My vision just begins to fade as I rip my gaze away from the hypnotic flashing. Definitely Hypnosis.

Now, how to wake up the unlucky sleeper in front of me...

Author's Notes:

Ponies are heavier than they look. Let’s hope cleaning this mess up doesn’t take too long...

The second chapter is here! My writing should have increased in quality from the last chapter. Extra time to edit does wonders to the story. My original thought was to add Trixie in later, but when I realized that Hypnosis could be useful later on, I couldn’t resist.

I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter and be sure to shove any mistakes into the spotlight. Feedback is appreciated.

-Melodiac