Send Me Away

"C'mon, Spike!" Ash called. "You know this meteor shower only happens only once every one hundred years."

"A centennial celebration we don't wanna miss," the little dragon said with a laugh. He led a large wagon behind him that held an amazing culinary compilation and a giant telescope.

Ash could see his friends in the distance. They had already congregated at the top of the hill. They covered the peak with a red and white checkered blanket.

"I'm sure I put the astronomer's guide back," Ash said as he made his way up the grassy slope. "That book would have helped me identify all the planets and stars tonight."

His assistant's eyes shifted side to side. "Well...maybe somepony borrowed it. Besides," Spike added with a nervous grin, "you don't need that book. You can already name all the planets and stars, cause you're super smart and astronomically awesome!"

Ash chuckled. "Thanks, Spike. You're such a flatterer."

Spike laughed. "Yeah, I'm a sweet talker alright."

"Speaking of sweets..." Rainbow Dash hovered over the wagon. "...do I smell cookies?"

"Yup, freshly baked home-made triple-decker nut-crazy vanilla cream," Spike declared, presenting one over his head proudly. "Also, apples, bananas, and fruit punch."

Rainbow's mouth watered. "Wow, Twilight, you're so lucky to have such a rad assistant. I wish I had somepony that did anything I told them to."

"Ooh! Ooh!" Scootaloo hopped up and down, her tiny wings fluttering at every leap. "I'll do anything you ask, Rainbow Dash!"

"Oh yeah, pipsqueak?" Rainbow said with a smirk. "How 'bout taking out the trash?" The Pegasus tossed an apple core to the side. She raised an eyebrow as Scootaloo dived at the eaten fruit and bounced away happily. Rainbow turn to Ash for an answer. He shrugged and helped Spike unload the wagon.

"Do we have Spike again to thank for this amazing spread?" Spike blushed under Rarity's radiant beam. "Isn't he just amazing?"

Pinkie rubbed her hoof through Spike's spikes. "Who would have thought that big ferocious dragons started as cutesy-wootsy as Spikey-wikey?"

"Spike," Rarity continued, "you are such the little star I just had to make this for you." She held a large red bow tie encrusted with several gemstones. Carefully, she helped the young dragon put it on.

Again, Spike blushed beneath his scales. "Gosh, you guys are embarrassing me." He turned to his guardian. "Well Ash, is there something you want to say?"

Ash had finished getting the tripod in place and was now in the process of setting up the telescope. "Did you recalibrate the apertures on the nine and a quarter inch telescope?" he asked. His indifferent tone hid a hint of teasing.

Spike crossed his arms but continued to smile. "Of course."

"Well, there's a reason why you're my number one assistant," Ash said as he balanced the heavy telescope.

"Hurry up!" Sweetie Belle cried, pointing to the sky. "It's starting."

Dots of bright lights filed the night sky, like millions of little fireflies resting on a black blanket. Several streaked across the heavens, inciting oohs and ahhs. Like dancers, the stars waltzed around the sky. Lights Ash identified as meteors flew by like rockets with little tails.

"Have yah seen anything like this before?" whispered Applejack. "Ah...it's jus' amazing."

"It's breathtaking," Rarity agreed.

"So...nice," Fluttershy added.

"Is that one of them consta-thingies?" Apple Bloom asked, pointing upward.

Ash looked into the telescope. "That's Orion. See those three bright stars? That makes up his belt."

"What about that one?" Sweetie Belle asked.

Ash stared at where the young Unicorn had been pointing at. "I...don't know," he admitted. "It looks like the stars are grouping up together there."

As he stared, the location Sweetie Belle had brought up seemed to gather more stars, as if the stars were being attracted, like paper clips to a magnet.

Several long streaks of stars were beginning branching off from the rest. The tendrils seemed to reach out toward their planet, toward that little hill.

"What is that?" Ash muttered. "It looks a little like a...a..."

...hand?

Ash cried out as the telescope was filled with light. He clutched at his blinded eye. "I'm fine," he said. "Nothing to worry about."

There was a disturbing lack of concern. There was a disturbing lack of silence.

With his good eye, Ash scanned the area. Everyone had disappeared. "Guys?" he called out. "Hey! Where are you guys?" As if looking for an answer, he looked up to the sky and gasped.

A colossal being stood there in the sky. It seemed to wear the heavens as a hooded cloak that cover the figure's eyes, but not its skeletal jaw and its uncanny grin. Ash took a step back as the being lifted its arm. With a thin, bone-like finger, it pointed behind him.

Ash turned around in time to see a Unicorn horn bury itself into his heart.

"Gah!"

Ash clutched his head where he had smashed it against the low ceiling. More cautiously, the Mage propped himself with his hand so that he sat up in the all-too-small bed he had been laying in. He blinked out the last of his tiredness and tried taking account of his surroundings. They felt oddly familiar; weird wooden masks on the twisted walls, a mixing bowl on a table, a cauldron in the corner.

"Ah, good, you are wake."

Zecora winced as the strange creature in her bed once again sprung up and left a large imprint in her ceiling.

"Shh..." Ash hissed, holding his head between his knees. He looked up. Zecora could see a large swelling already growing from his forehead.

"Zecora?" he said uncertainly. "Then that must mean...what happened last night?"

"We were attacked by a timberwolf pack but miraculously we made it back," Zecora said. "Much of which we have you to thank, though such secrecy was not needed, to be frank."

"Secrecy?" Ash's eyes widened as his fingers brushed against his smooth, furless skin. "Crap." Taking the covers with him, Ash rolled off the side of the bed, landing on the hard floor with a loud thud. "Crap."

"Applejack and Rainbow told me your story last night," Zecora explained, her eyebrows raised. She pointed to the huddled clump of blankets to side. They heaved up and down as gentle snoring drifted from beneath them. Applejack's hat sat at the edge, where a hint of red, yellow, and orange stuck out.

"There's no need for such fright." Zecora continued. The zebra gave the Mage a sad smile. "Even if you are of a different form than before, that would not mean we are friends no more."

A mess of white hair peeked out from behind the cot. Two brown eyes soon followed warily.

"A friend is friend, no matter size or shape," Zecora added sagely as she approached the bunkered Human. She continued to smile, though her grin was now exuded happier emotions. "Be they pony, zebra, or furless ape."

Ash scowled. "Why am I always being compared to an ape?"

Zecora laughed. "Do you disagree? Tell me, what should your comparison be?"

"I...grr." Ash growled and buried his face into the bed sheets much to Zecora's amusement. The sight of this tall, power creature that had dominated an entire pack of adult timberwolves admitting defeat in such of matter was quite the scene from the zebra's point of view.

"Fine, ape it is," Ash conceded, resting his chin on the back of his hands. "Um, I'd appreciate it if you kept this information to yourself."

"I...suppose I could," Zecora said, "but may I ask why? No good can come from hiding secrets and lies."

A low mumble came from beneath the blankets. Pinkie Pie shifted onto her side.

"Easier to blend in," Ash explained, crossing his arms. "If Rainbow and Applejack told you the entire story, you should know I'm not around here-"

Zecora raised an eyebrow. "I figured as much, with all your various 'traditions' and 'sayings' and such."

"-and I'm stuck here permanently," Ash plowed on. He sighed. "Whether I like it or not, and I'm trying my best to like it, this is my new home and it's hard to get that homey feeling if you can't walk down the streets without inciting mass panic."

"Ah, I was once in your very place," Zecora said with a chuckle. "There was a time when my presence sent ponies running as if being chased." Zecora sighed at the memory. "But with time and a young filly's help I was accepted. In the end, everything was better than expected. You do not need such an elaborate disguise, to hide your true self from everypony's eyes."

Ash shook his head. "As much as I miss my fingers and magic, this body creates too many problems. It's better this way, even if the transformation isn't permanent yet."

"Very well, if that's how you will be, your secret is safe with me," Zecora said, sounding a bit disappointed.

"Thank you...um, can I ask a question?"

"Is there something you need? If you like, we can have an early breakfast and tea."

"It's not that...just...where the hell are my pants?"

"Are you sure you can not stay for a bite?" asked Zecora. "It is still early; there is barely daylight."

The grey Unicorn shifted his saddlebags so that both sides were balanced. In them was a large vial of Zecora's custom sedative. "Sorry," he said, "but we really need to check up on Twilight."

"Maybe next time," Applejack suggested. "Better yet, why don'cha join us fer brunch? Ah'm sure Twilight'll 'preciate tha company."

"Ooh, ooh, and the Cakes are trying a new oatmeal-raisin muffin recipe," Pinkie exclaimed, grinning wildly. "I convinced them to add cinnamon too and frosting and everything! We've gotta try it."

"I am tempted to accept and I would but there is an except," their zebra friend said sadly. "There are things at home I must attend but tomorrow morning my time I will gladly lend."

"Tomorrow then, when we've got something to celebrate," Ash said, extending his hoof. "It was an honor meeting you, Zecora. Keep safe."

"And to you the same," Zecora responded, accepting the hoofshake. "Ash the Human, I will not be forgeting your name."

And with one final wave, Zecora melted into the forest's background, disappearing among the bushes and low branching trees.

"You know," Rainbow Dash said, scratching her head as she stared at where Zecora had been standing, "you'd think with her color scheme, that'd be sort of difficult."

"Because it's dramatic," Pinkie exclaimed. "Draaamatic!"

"Oh, I almost forgot to say." Zecora popped her head out of a dense brush. Rainbow nearly jumped as her striped head seemingly appeared out of nowhere. "Give Twilight my regards and and ask her if we're still having tea this Tuesday."

"It'll depend on her recovery," said Ash. "Which is why we should probably get going..."

"Ah, oops, I apologize for the delay." Zecora nodded toward the beaten dirt path before them. "Follow that trail for the quickest way."

"Thanks," Ash began but the mysterious zebra had already disappeared. Instead, he turned to the three mares accompanying him. "Well, ready to go?"

"Well, duh." Rainbow groaned as she stretched her wings. "Man, I can't tell you how much I miss the open sky."

"It was nice seein' tha original zap apple trees tho," Applejack admitted. "Ah wonder if mah granny ever went back there."

"Too bad there weren't any actual zap apples." Pinkie licked her lips. "Ooh, I can't wait for the next zap apple harvest. Wait!" She gasped suddenly, startling her friends. "Ash has never had zap apples before. And that means he's never had zap apple jam or zap apple pie or zap apple fritters or zap apple dipped in caramel..."

"Hold on, you mean car-o-mel."

"Silly Dashie, it's pronounced car-a-mel."

"What? Are you kidding me?" Dash said incredulously. "Everypony knows it's pronounced "car-o-mel."

"Ah always thought it was car-mel," Applejack interjected.

"Are we really having this conversation?" Ash asked, rubbing this forehead. "Let's get out of this forest already."

"...Why are we still standing around then?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"Um, truth be told," the Unicorn answered, staring at the clump of bushes before him, "I'm kind of waiting for Zecora to pop out again. I don't know why." He sighed. "Guess she not going to. Let's go."

They had travelled some distance before Pinkie Pie asked, "So Ash, car-a-mel or car-o-mel?"

"How bad?"

Ash hurried up the stairs as quickly as he could with his four limbs. Fluttershy tailed behind him closely.

"How bad?" he repeated.

"I-I'm not sure," Fluttershy said nervously. "She got some sleep but she had such a high fever last night and I didn't know what to do because she's a Human right now and not a pony or a bunny or mouse or bird and I wasn't sure what I could do without making things worse because I don't know anything about Humans and you were out and in the Everfree Forest and you were busy and I wasn't sure if I could go see a doctor and-"

Ash stopped the panicking Pegasus with a light tap on her shoulder. The poor pony had spent the night on the edge of the Everfree, waiting for the group to return. When they had emerged, she dragged Ash half way across town before explaining the situation, leaving a bewildered Rainbow Dash and Applejack in the dust. Pinkie Pie disappeared shortly.

"Fluttershy, breathe."

"I-I..." The yellow pony gulped and shook as she took a deep breath in. "Oh, what are we going to do?"

Ash stood before the entrance of Twilight's personal room. Fluttershy and Rarity managed to move Twilight into her own room and had tried their very best to provide her with comfort. He hesitated from entering, fearful of what he might find.

This isn't right he thought. We should have had more time. I know we had-have-more time...

"Let's see how Twilight's doing first before we make any hasty decisions," Ash suggested. He hoped his voice wasn't as shaky as he thought it was.

With a final nod of encouragement toward Fluttershy, Ash stepped forward.

He was greeted by the sight of a young, raven-head lady laying in a all-too-small bed, calmly reading a large tome. Spike laid on her legs, curled up like a cat.

"Oh thank goodness," Fluttershy said quietly in relief. "Twilight, you're-"

"Wait." Ash cut her off with a swipe a his hoof. He slowly made his way to Twilight's side. "Excuse me, ma'am," he said slowly.

The young girl raised an eyebrow. She put her book down. "Huh? Oh, hey Ash. You're back!" Twilight's grin swiftly disappeared as she noticed Ash's grim expression. "I-is something wrong? Wait..." She leaped up, smacking her forehead against the ceiling of her own library. Spike fell to floor. The dragon turned onto his side and continued to snore. Ignoring her growing bruise, Twilight asked, "Where's Applejack and Rainbow Dash? Where's Pinkie Pie? Did something happen to them?"

"Ever-y-thi-ng is f-f-fine, T- stop shaking me!"

"Oops." Twilight removed her hands from the grey Unicorn. Ash grabbed his head and held it straight, hoping to re-align his eyes as they swiveled around in their sockets.

"It's fine," he said. "I'm just relieved you still remember enough to be worried about your friends. Fluttershy had me worried when she told me the trouble you caused last night."

Both Fluttershy and Twilight blushed and both began to stumble over apologizes.

"I didn't mean to-"

"Omigosh, I probably made such a mess-"

"-but I was so worried-"

"-oh, and I got everypony all riled up-"

"-I'm so sorry my worrying got you worried-"

"-I'm so sorry I got you all worried-"

Ash's stern appearance crumbled as he chuckled. "Ah, it sounds like things are returning normal. Well...besides the obvious," he added, nodding to the black haired girl sitting in Twilight's bed. "Is it just me, or is your hair darker than it was before?"

"I think it's darker," Twilight said. "Rarity left for some mane dyes." She rolled her eyes. "I tried telling her it wasn't permanent but...well, you know Rarity. It's...not permanent, right?"

"Yeah. Once I've gotten rid of that piece of my conscious hiding in your own, your appearance will return." Ash frowned. "What's wrong with black?"

"I dunno. It's...just not me. Besides, a black mane?" Twilight giggled. "Really, this is more in Rarity's territory but even I know that'd look silly."

"...That's my natural hair color," Ash said, his frown deepening.

"But, um, isn't your mane white?" Fluttershy noted.

"It turned white 'cause I got old. What? Don't your manes change color with age?"

"Not that drastically," Twilight said, shaking her head. "Wow...black, really?"

"Yeah...looks like that fragment is taking hold though, if your physical form has changed this much already. Still..." Ash took the saddlebags off his back and set them on the floor. He opened them and carefully removed the vial of purplish liquid. He placed it on the nightstand. "If you're still retaining your own memories, it looks like we have some time."

"Oh thank goodness," Fluttershy sighed again. "Um, I'll go get breakfast ready. Excuse me."

"Hold on. I'll give you a hand-er-hoof."

"Actually, uh, Ash?" Twilight caught the stallion by the shoulder. "Can we talk for a sec?"

Ash gave Fluttershy a silent nod, one that the Pegasus returned before she left the room. Turning back to Twilight, he asked, "Is something the matter?"

"I didn't want Fluttershy to worry anymore than she already has so didn't say anything," Twilight began, "but this morning wasn't so great."

"What do mean, wasn't so great?" Ash questioned. "Did you...forget something?"

"It was a lot more than something," Twilight hissed quietly. "I panicked when I saw Rarity. I had no idea where I was, who she was, who I was even..." Twilight swallowed hard. "I can't believe I forgot who my own friends were. Rarity, she looked devastated when I couldn't even call her by her name, when I...screamed at her, at Spike." Twilight stood up and knelt next to her assistant. With a shaking finger, she stroked the top of his scaly head.

"I've never yelled at him before. Scolded him plenty of times, maybe even raised my voice but yelling at him, to stay away when all he wanted to do was to help?" Still snoring, Spike grabbed hold of Twilight's arm and dragged himself closer so that he laid his head on her knees. She smiled and pulled him into a light hug, cradling the young dragon gently. "He's always trying to be helpful..."

"Number one assistant," Ash muttered.

"Yeah, my number one assistant. His greatest fear is being sent away, you know...and I told him to get away from me, to stay away," Twilight finished bitterly.

Spike's snores were the only noises as the Human that was a Unicorn and the Unicorn that was a Human sat in silence. Ash cursed his inability to comfort. He considered resting a hoof on her arm as a form of silent but physical support; his hoof never left the floor.

"I don't want to forget," Twilight declared suddenly. "I don't want to forget my friends, not even for a second. I don't want to lose any memories of Ponyville, of Princess Celestia, of Spike..."

"Twilight..."

"Ash, I need to know." Twilight's words were demanding but her tone was tired, with little strength but plenty of urgency. When she turned to face the grey Unicorn, Ash saw how locked and determined her expression, almost chilly. Her eyes, however, were pleading, like the eyes of a mortally injured man or a horse with a shattered leg.

"I need to know," she repeated. "C-can you really fix this?"

This time the hoof found the hand. The smile that slowly grew across Ash's face was reassuring.

"You won't forget anything. You won't lose your memories. You won't lose Applejack or Pinkie Pie or Fluttershy or Rarity or Rainbow Dash. You won't lose Spike. I promise."

"Don't...don't make a promise you can't keep,"

"Well, this is one I can and will keep. I'll even...what was it?" Ash tapped the floor as he racked his brain. "You know, the thing about flying cupcakes or something?"

"Pinkie Pie Swear?"

"Yeah, that's it. How did it go again?

"Cross my heart..."

"...and hope to fly..."

"...stick a cupcake..."

"...in my eye," the two finished together, sharing a laugh.

"That settles it then," Ash said. "Don't worry about anything. I'll succeed."

"Yeah." Twilight smiled. "I should have more faith in my friends."

"I'm going to go help Fluttershy with breakfast then. Thinking of anything special?"

"Actually, I have a weird craving for croissants with jam and cream cheese. Weird."

"Well, we'll see what we can do," Ash said. He lifted himself onto his feet and headed down the kitchen. He turned and looked behind him just in time to see Twilight press her check against Spike's. Ash smiled sadly.

What he said was true. By the end of tomorrow morning, Twilight would be a pony once more. All her memories would be intact after the fragment of Ash's own mind was destroyed.

Ash let out a small sigh; he had told Twilight all she would not lose but never did mention what could be lost.

It's fine a voice seemed to echo in his head. It's not like you belong in this world anyways...

Celestia sat on the grassy floor, wearing a glare that few, if any, ponies had the misfortune of witnessing.

"Is that you, Discord?" the princess asked angrily. "What are you planning?"

The statue said nothing.