...Or was it?

It was. There's no use in kidding myself. I'm just a depressed teenager who had an elaborate dream about my favorite TV show. I guess I can just try to run into the street and get hit by a car tomorrow. For now, I need to sleep.

At least... This is what I THOUGHT...

"ROY!" I opened my eyes only seconds later to a familiar voice. Saibot? I was in the black room again. Perhaps it was not a dream. All the time I was thinking about this, Saibot was pacing back and forth frantically.

"MOY! RED! FOCUS!" Saibot forced out of his mouth.

"I... I didn't," I was confused.

"SHUSH!" Saibot cut me off, then he wiped his brow. He took many deep breaths, and then finally began speaking.

"Ok. So... Music Medic is dead."

I interrupted "I am?"

"SHUSH!" Saibot was hyperventilating again. He began talking again after about thirty seconds. "Yes, Music Medic died. That bar went right through his pony brain."

He paused, then continued. "The problem is, in order to make you a new body and put you into it, it will take three months tops, now that it's only me and Doctor Whooves working." He was half talking to himself, half taking to me.

I started to ask about Lyra, but I decided to keep my mouth shut.

"The reason it would take even longer is because Lyra's still in the hospital. She broke her horn and it's useless until they can fix it. You following?"

I nodded.

"You can talk now."

"Why can't I just wait out the three months on Earth? The time change makes it seem like only about half a day to me."

"You've actually been gone for a few days already. We already had a funeral and..." He changed to a facial expression that said 'I should just get to the point...' then yelled, "CHAOTICA KIDNAPPED EVERYPONY!"

"Eh?"

Saibot began to hyperventilate again. "CHAOTICA, SHE... SHE TOOK... THEM ALL... TO THE HIVE!"

"Of the... Changelings?"

"YES!" Saibot paused for about a minute to calm down again. "Last night, Chaotica paid a surprise visit to Rainbow, Appleseed, Sweetpea, and Cutie Pie. She knocked them out when she opened the door and stuffed them all in a bag. I saw it. She came to my house to bring me, but when she hit me, she forgot I was in armor. I saw the other four ponies tied up and attempted to grab her, but she flew away to the hive with the bag, and I don't have wings."

"Perhaps Chaotica was replaced by a changeling somewhere along the way?"

"Always I possiblity. But I... I DON'T KNOW!" Saibot let out a grunt. We were teleported into the training room. He began speaking immediately. "OK, so you're going to fight an entire army of changelings. Any questions?"

"I... I can't do that!" I retorted.

"I know... But what other choice do I have? I'm not going to have four... Maybe five kids be killed!"

"...Can you go?"

Saibot looked completely shocked by this question. "No." was all he said.

"Why not?"

"I can't" Saibot was being stubborn.

"WHY NOT?"

"I just can't!"

"Well, that's fine... I'm sure five innocent teenagers wanted to die anyw-"

Saibot put his fist over my mouth. "Do you want to know WHY? You want to know WHY I can't go alone?"

I nodded. Saibot appeared to be contemplating something for a few moments, and then he reluctantly began to lift his hooves to his head. He took off his mask for a few milliseconds, and then collapsed to the floor. Through his deep coughs and spits, he managed to get his helmet back on.

"Roy. I have never told anyone this before. I am actually a human, transported to Equestria, just like you." Although I didn't show it on the outside, on the inside my jaw was dropping to the floor. "I can't remember my exact origins, but I was a powerful ancient warrior for years. That is, until I died. It wasn't until years later that my body was seen again, dead on the battlefield. A sorcerer named Quan Chi had heard all about what I had done, and resurrected me for a mission. This mission was to save Equestria from destruction at the hands of the Scorpioponies. These were viscious creatures who spread hatred throughout Equestria, interrupting the balance of harmony. I was given 24 hours on a portal to either kill their leaders or negotiate with them, and hell, they wouldn't negotiate. So I went to assassinate them, as instructed. Unfortunately, I was caught, and I had to fight off hordes after hordes of Scorpioponies. I fought off a lot of them, but I eventually fell to the ground, weakened. They took me into a prison camp, where I was tortured in anguish for about five years." He paused a moment. "That's when the previous controllers of the Elements of Harmony, six ponies just like the mane six today, except all males, came to defeat the Scropieponies. They found me just barely struggling for life. So they quickly took me to the doctor most qualified for the job, a stallion known as The Doctor, although he is known to most ponies as Time Turner, or the occasional Doctor Whooves. Turns out he used to be a human too. Actually, he was a Time-Lord in human form, but he knew and loved the human race well before he was marooned here. After he took me into his care, he built me this suit and saved my life. We became good friends after that, which was obvious considering we with both from the same dimension and he saved my life. He showed me the wonders of being a pony in Equestria. I quickly learned it was so much better than being a human, and I decided to stay." He paused again, and he didn't look like he was going to continue.

I started to laugh as if he was joking. His gaze was dead serious.

"Yes," I said, "But what are we going to do to save the others? There's no chance in Hell I can defeat all the changelings on my own."

"Roy." Saibot placed a hand on my shoulder, and looked as if he was holding back a grin. "We're gonna have to reveal your secret."

**********************************

They came one by one. Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and then Pinkie Pie. Saibot walked in last.

"Meet the highest trained warriors bits can buy! I'm sure you're familiar with them."

Raibow Dash piped up, "So we're getting paid?"

"Unfortunately, I have nothing. But that's beside the point. I'm sure you're all wondering why you're here, and why there's a human standing in front of you." They all nodded. "Ladies, meet Music Medic!"

Twilght chimed in, "Music Medic? I thought..."

"Yes! He is dead! At least his pony form, that is. BUT, he was actually..." Saibot gulped. "A human."

"Human?" Applejack questioned, "What in tarnation is a human?"

"I think I heard about them in my books. Some theorists believed that humans existed in an alternate dimension." This was Twilight.

"WHAT'S A DIMENSION? IS IT EDIBLE?" This was Pinkie Pie.

"FOCUS!" Saibot interrupted their idle chat. "You're all familiar that the ponies that were controlling the Elements of Harmony mysteriously vanished last night, correct?"

"Correct."

"Excellent. They were humans, too."

There were a couple gasps from the crowd of five.

"Yes. Rainbow Eclipse, Sweetpea, Cutie Pie, and..." He looked at Applejack. "Appleseed."

Applejack looked a little green. She then attempted to shake it off and spoke, "Well what in tarnation are we gunna do? Those darn changelings m'aght eat 'em, or work 'em to death, or push them into Gasley Gorge, or..."

"Or make CUPCAKES out of them! I like cupcakes!" Pinkie Pie interrupted brusquely.

"I am well aware of the power of the changelings." This was Saibot again. "That is why you five are here. From seeing you guys fight the changelings at the royal wedding, I can tell you're the best candidates out there."

The mane six began talking simultaneously, so I could only pick out a few sentences. "I think that was more of a fluke, I can't do that again!"

"Are you kidding? I could take down a changeling army twice that size in ten seconds flat!"

"Ummm... Guys?"

Saibot interrupted the chatter. "I'm sorry, guys. I see no other options."

"But there's just no way!"

"DO I NEED TO GET MY PARTY CANNON?"

"Ah still can't believe mah Appleseed lied tah me..."

"Uhhhmmm... Guys?"

"Perhaps if we work out an attack strategy..."

"Come on, Twilight. Who needs plans when you have this brawn?"

"GUUUUUUUUUYS!" Everypony instantly turned to look at the blushing yellow equine. "I was thinking... I mean... If it's alright with you guys... That we could... Just like... sneak in... instead of fighting all those... scary changelings."

Rainbow Dash interjected without hesitation, "But I was really looking forward to kicking some changeling tail!"

"That's actually not a bad idea!" This was Saibot again. "If we can sneak in, stealthily, grab the ponies, and then get the hell out, we'll avoid the chance of death!" Everypony in the room, myself and Rainbow Dash included, winced at the word death.

"But what about Chaotica?" This was me, finally saying words.

"I'm sorry to tell you, but there's really nothing I can do, Roy."

I sullenly shrugged. Trying to think beyond the cloud of confusion in my mind was beyond impossible at this point.

"Alright, Twilight, do you still have that book on the research of changelings?" Saibot asked Twilight.

"Yeah. No one ever checks that one out."

"Good. We're going to need that. We'll pick it up along the way and plan. As for the rest of you, follow along."

"What about me?" This was... Me.

"Oh, right. We can't just bring a human through town, now can we?" He contemplated for a moment. "I'd assume we could stuff you in a bag and carry it..."

To be perfectly honest, I just wanted to do whatever it took to get back to bed the quickest. "Ok..." I said, raising the tone my voice as if I was asking a question.

"I have a better idea! Be right back." Twilight said, before running off. She returned with two books about ten minutes later. "I brought my spell book which I had previously bookmarked on the page with the human-pony transfer spell, as well as the guide to Changelings, so that we don't have to pick it up later.

"So you're suggesting we turn Roy back into a pony?" Saibot asked.

"No, I thought I'd utilize this book as a hat." Twilight responded, not one to resist sarcasm. "Yes, that was precisely my suggestion."

"Brilliant idea, Twilight, why hadn't I thought of that?"

"Oh, it's no big deal. There's one small problem though, it only lasts 24 hours. Do you think that would be enough time to be able to rescue Roy's friends and escape?"

I thought to myself: "I have friends?"

Saibot responded: "No. But it's always worth a shot." Him and everypony in the room who was paying attention shrugged.

"Ok. Then let's do this. Roy, come here." Twilight was talking to me now. I stood up and walked over to her. "This may sting a little, because I'm positive human bodies weren't built for this." I nodded and braced. She stepped back, strained, and shot me with a purple stream of light. I immediately felt anguish as my organs shifted and buckled into a different form. My hooves finally hit the ground, my transformation complete.

I breathed heavily. "Why didn't this hurt that much the first time?"

"Simple." Saibot responded. "Your body was filled up with anesthesia before the transport. We didn't have time for that now."

"Ok." I responded, unable to give an intelligent response with the time given.

"Alright, now that that's settled, let's head off for the Hive!" The five mares and myself trotted reluctantly after Saibot, Twilight quickly emerging from the pack to the front to discuss plans with Saibot. We walked through the town in silence, until we reached the edge of the Everfree Forest, at the exact point where I had originally spawned. Except this time, it was different. The dim light of the moon casted an eerie glow upon the trees. A bird swooped down and grabbed a worm, then proceeded to smash its head in, leaving the oddest looking puddle of cartoon blood. The whole place seemed ten times more cryptic in the early morning.

We continued into the Everfree Forest, every small sound in the dark causing our ears to perk up. Even Rainbow Dash looked scared, despite the failed mask of courage she tried to show. Twilight and Saibot continued discussing plans regardless. They suddenly stopped when they were interrupted from a certain pink equine. I had remembered from the very first episode that Pinkie Pie laughed in the face of danger, so my heart sunk as I looked over towards Pinkie...

Nothing. Nothing but a laughing pink equine.

"Pinkie!" Applejack broke the awkward silence. "What in tarnation are y'all doin'? Ya' nearly scared the apples outta me!"

"Sorry." Pinkie was having trouble talking through laughter. "I think this is a Pinkie sense." She laughed again. "Never had this one before, my belly tickles like craaazy!"

"Well stop it! We have lives to save and we don't want your laughing messing it up!" This was Rainbow Dash.

Pinkie Pie couldn't stop. Whatever this sense was indicating, it was close. We all stood in silence, minus the laughing pink equine, who was laughing so hard she was crying. I believe I heard the words "Help me" escape her mouth, but it was extremely unclear. With that distraction, we didn't notice what was approaching right behind us.

Suddenly, two black figures jumped out and pounced directly on Saibot. One of these figures grabbed Saibot by the helmet and pulled it off. Gasping for air, Saibot struggled in trying to fight back, but appeared to be losing. The rest of the ponies seemed to be frozen in shock.

"You're transferring your weight too much to the front." Lyra had said, "Remember, you don't have feet anymore. Try standing on your heels, then moving your weight to the front of your right hoof and kicking out with your left."

I did as instructed, and I gave a hard kick right to the side of Lyra's thigh.

I turned red. "Oops, sorry! I didn't mean to..."

She interrupted, "No, it's... alright." She gave a halfhearted smile and trotted away.

The memory of my training flashed through my mind's eye, and the next thing I knew, my shin was in a Changeling's face. The blow from my hoof sent him flying backwards into his partner, as they collided head-on and tumbled a few feet away. Before I could react, they ran away whimpering, leaving behind more oddly colored cartoon blood. That's when I remembered Saibot. I looked back down to see Twilight already putting his mask back on and asking him questions.

One problem though, he wasn't responding. Twilight placed an ear up to Saibot's chest.

"He's breathing guys, he's just unconscious!" Everypony breathed a sigh of relief. "We still need to make it to the Hive quickly, though. Does somepony want to volunteer to carry him?"

The orange cowfilly spoke up brusquely. "Ah think Dash here can take care a' him. She's got the wings."

The mentioned pegasus groaned. "Ugggggh... Can't Applejack do it?"

"Nope!" She replied, and gave a proud smile.

The Pegasus looked at the purple unicorn in hope of assistance. "Sorry Rainbow Dash, but Applejack has a point there."

"Ha!" Applejack got in the first word again, still glowing with pride.

"Fine..." She groaned, then stuck her tongue out in annoyance at the proud cowfilly. She then picked up Saibot and placed him on her back, then started flying with a bored expression.

"Alright then, I think I remember enough of Saibot's plan. It was rather peculiar, but he knows this place better than I do, so who am I to argue?"

"So let's go PARTY!" The energetic pink equine interjected.

"Quietly." Twilight gave Pinkie a look and went on her way as the rest of us followed. She then slowed down a little and came close to my side.

"That was a nice move you did there, Med." She said, winking.

"Yeah. Honestly I have no idea how I did it, it just kinda happened." I responded in an almost bored tone.

"Well I'm sure you can do it again, being the awesome fighter you are." She winked again.

I started sweating a little. "Yeah" I repeated. She then walked back to the front. On the plus side, I was no longer in an awkward social situation. However, I was no longer talking to Twilight.

We continued on the rest of the path in silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts and realizations about what we're about to do. Fluttershy tried to sneak back home a few times, but the sounds from the Everfree Forest frightened her and she huddled closely with the group. After about 10 minutes of walking behind Twilight's guidance, it came into view. The "Hive" was what appeared to be a large system of caves, each guarded by hundreds of black figures, which I couldn't make out from that distance. Twilight took us to the side and instructed her in her plot.

"Each of the changelings can fly and use magic, but their powers are limited. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash, we need you two to..." When Twilight looked at Rainbow Dash, she noticed something. "RAINBOW DASH, WHERE'S SAIBOT?"

"Oh! I left him out on the path."

"GO GET HIM! NOW! WHAT IF HE GETS ATTACKED AGAIN?"

"Alright... Fine..." Rainbow Dash flew groggily out of the bushes, and returned with a limp body. All of a sudden, this limp body shook its head.

"Wh... Where am I?" When Saibot spoke, Rainbow Dash dropped him on the ground.

"RAINBAH DASH!"

"Sorry!" The blue mare lifted up Saibot's head, and he spoke again.

"What happened?"

The studious unicorn spoke again. "Two Changelings jumped out at you and attacked you. You were incapacitated by them. We were just about to begin your mission."

"Excellent!" He grinned.

He was cut off by the sound of bushes rattling behind us. I turned my head to see what was happening.

The last thing I remembered was something hard cracking the back of my skull. Next Chapter: Part 6: The Life Held In Your... Estimated time remaining: 28 Minutes