As I ran, I pushed back tears. I may have overreacted, but come on! They just practically admitted I was worthless! You really think I’m gonna be able to sit and take that?! I thought these ponies were my friends…friends don’t call each other worthless. If they did, I’d be friends with half my school.

I ran for who knows how long before I heard a weird buzzing noise. I stopped, confused. Looking around, I saw that I had run all the way out of Ponyville and into a strange, peaceful-looking area. There was a forest (not the Everfree, mind you) in one direction and a large river in the other direction. There was a cliff that the river flowed over, creating a rather neat-looking waterfall. I was in clear view of the sun, so it wasn’t dark.

My mind snapped back to the buzzing noise. Turning around, I saw something coming towards me, fast. It looked like an orange blob, but when I squinted I could make out a young filly riding a scooter. Scootaloo? What the hell is she doing? Of course, I already knew the answer, but asking myself rhetorical questions is just a habit of mine.

Scootaloo screeched to a stop about twenty feet away from me, and I saw a wagon attached to the back of her scooter. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle were in the wagon, and as soon as the scooter stopped the three fillies threw off the helmets they were wearing and galloped over to me. I took a step back, half-expecting them to tackle me.

“Hold on, Rylan!“ Sweetie Belle called as the three of them caught up to me. “What are you doing?”

I looked at them, sighed, and sat down. I figured they hadn’t really understood what just happened, so I decided I may as well clue them in.

“Well…I’m assuming you three know why I was brought to this world.”

“Yer gonna stop the evil!” Apple Bloom cheered. I shook my head sadly.

“I can’t, Apple Bloom. I can’t stop the evil.”

The fillies looked confused. “But…you’re a human! Humans are awesome warriors and stuff!” Scootaloo insisted.

“Not all of us are. Sure, some of us are strong, cool, talented…” I looked away, staring at the river as I spoke. “Not me. I’m not a hero in any sense of the word. I’ve never helped anyone else. I’ve always been too late, or too weak.”

“You helped me,” Apple Bloom said, putting one of her front hooves on my knee. “You saved mah life last week.”

“I don’t really – last week?!” I jumped up in surprise, startling her. “I’ve been out for a whole week?! What happened?”

“After you helped Apple Bloom, we found you almost dead,” Scootaloo explained. “Princess Celestia found out about this somehow, and came by really quickly to heal you. It took her a lot longer than it should have because something was putting a restri…rest…”

“Restriction,” Sweetie Belle interjected.

“Yeah, that! Something was putting one of those on her magic powers.”

True Force… I thought to myself. “So she came by every day to heal me, or something?”

“Actually, she spent the whole week healing you,” Sweetie Belle corrected. “The rest of us came by every day to see how it was going. You didn’t show any signs of waking up until today.”

“She spent the whole week healing me?”

“She stayed in that room, all day and all night, working her magic,” Apple Bloom elaborated. “She was really set on bringing you back.”

“Because back then, she actually believed I was a hero,” I snorted. “I’ll bet if she realized a little earlier that I was worthless, she wouldn’t have bothered.” I sighed and sat back down. “Why did you three come after me?”

“We wanted to help,” Scootaloo said simply. “Why’d you run away?”

“Because that’s all I know how to do.” I looked down at the ground. “When there’s trouble, I run away so I don’t get caught up in it. I never think twice about anyone else. I always say to myself, ‘It’s their problem, not mine’.”

“You didn’t run away when those Timberwolves attacked Apple Bloom,” Sweetie Belle pointed out.

I paused, having seriously no response. When I spoke, I sounded rather unsure. “…That was a one-time thing, I think.”

“Ah think yer just changing,” Apple Bloom smiled. “Everypony can change. Yer changing for the better.”

“It’s too late for me to change!” I yelled, standing up. “Do you know how many people have died because of me?! Because I ran away when they were in trouble, or because I couldn’t help them?!”

“None?” Sweetie Belle tilted her head innocently.

“A lot more than that! Like…” I counted on my fingers until I ran out of fingers and had to re-use some of them. “Fourteen! Not counting the thousands, or even millions of ponies in this world who will probably die because I can’t stop this bad guy!” I turned away from them, facing the edge of the cliff. Something clicked as I looked over it.

My life on Earth sucks, and I can’t even have one on Equestria…why am I still here? I looked at the cliff with renewed interest. Not like I’m gonna be missed… I know, I wasn’t in the right state of mind. I wasn’t thinking straight.

“Rylan?” Apple Bloom ran in front of me. “What’re you doing?”

I looked down at her darkly. My hair fell in front of my face, falling in front of my eyes. I didn’t even notice. “Apple Bloom, move.”

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle ran beside their friend. “What’re you doing?” Scootaloo asked with concern.

“Go away,” I ordered. They didn’t listen.

“We just want to help!” Sweetie Belle insisted. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo nodded in agreement.

“You can help by going away.” I looked back at the cliff. “You don’t want to see this.”

They turned and saw the edge, instantly catching on. Apple Bloom glared at me, but less in anger and more in determination. “We’re not letting you.”

“Too bad. It’s happening, like it or not.” I stepped forward and jumped over them, an easy feat thanks to their small size. “Goodbye.” I ran for the cliff.

“No, wait! Please stop!” I heard Sweetie Belle yelling behind me. “NO! RYLAN, NO!”

I jumped.

As I fell, I looked down. Below me was a large, open field. The waterfall fell down into another large river a short distance away from where I would likely land. Least I get to die in a nice place, I thought to myself. I closed my eyes and waited for the collision.

Instead, I felt something grab my shoulders and hoist me up, saving me. I fought away the sense of déjà vu and opened my eyes. I was being lowered safely to the ground.

“Why couldn’t you just let me fall?!” I complained to whoever was holding me up.

“Because nopony wants the hero to die!” I recognized the voice. When I reached the ground and was released, I turned around to see my saviour. Scootaloo. So much for filly pegasi not being able to fly well.

“For the last time, Scoots, I’m not a hero!” I protested again.

“A hero doesn’t have to be somepony with awesome powers. A hero is somepony who is brave enough to do what they think is right to help others.” She sounded as if she was quoting someone.

I raised an eyebrow. “What are you, a dictionary?”

“Oh, the irony,” she sighed dramatically. I don’t get it… “Anyway, so what if you aren’t what we expected from a human? You’re still a human, and you’re still a hero to us. You were willing to likely kill yourself to save Apple Bloom. If that doesn’t make you a hero, nothing will!”

I thought over what she said. I did save Apple Bloom and nearly lose my own life in the process…but does that alone make me a hero? Heroes are supposed to be strong, talented, and able to stop whatever troubles are coming. I’m not any of those things…am I?

After thinking for a few more minutes, I looked up at Scootaloo. “Alright. Let’s get back to Ponyville.”

Scootaloo cheered and flew up into the air. “Let’s go!” she called back at me as she flew up.

“Hey, wait! I can’t…” She vanished over the edge of the cliff up above. “…fly.” I facepalmed.

Fortunately, there was a path up the cliff near the river, so I started hiking up that. It took me almost an hour according to my watch, but I finally reached the top. When I got there, the Cutie Mark Crusaders had left, likely heading back to Ponyville. I looked around until I saw the town in the distance and headed in that direction.

When I finally got back to Ponyville, the sun had begun to set. I looked around to try and make a guess where the girls would be, eventually settling on Twilight’s library. Walking over to the giant tree, I knocked on the door.

The door swung open quickly, revealing…nothing? I looked down and saw Apple Bloom. She smiled and turned around. “He’s here!”

I stepped inside and saw the whole group there. Celestia hadn’t left yet, so she was there as well. I deduced that they had all stayed there after I left, or come back when the Cutie Mark Crusaders told them about what happened while I was busy trying to get back to town.

“Rylan!” I turned my head to face Twilight, who looked relieved, angry, and upset at the same time. (Weird combination of emotions, I know.) “We were so worried about you! Why did you run off like that? And why would you try to kill yourself?! That’s just-“

“I’ve heard this speech before, Twilight,” I cut her off, irritated. “About four times. I don’t need a fifth one. What I did need was a little common sense drilled into my head.” I looked at the CMC and smiled. “Thanks, you three.”

The fillies grinned as Celestia stepped forward. “Rylan, I must apologise. I did not mean to offend you earlier.”

“It’s fine, princess,” I waved it off. “And I’m sorry too. For storming out and everything.” I paused for a second, trying to figure out what to say next. “…It’s really been a whole week, hasn’t it?”

“Indeed it has. I would have healed you quicker, but something was limiting my magical abilities. I fear the being of evil may be closer to escaping than we thought.”

“You mean the Tr-” I stopped myself. Do I really want to tell these ponies about that dream? It might not be a good idea. I don’t want to freak them out any more than they already are, especially after the crazy events that’ve been going on. “…tricky little bastard that I came here to stop?” Great last-second word swap, idiot. Everypony’s gonna see right through that.

“I’m afraid so,” Celestia nodded. Wait, they bought that?! “I’m afraid I don’t know much about this evil. I know it – or rather, he – was formed by darkness and hatred. He was the one who possessed my sister and turned her into Nightmare Moon, as well as a major force in Discord’s release.”

“So this guy is the cause for both Nightmare Moon and Discord?” Twilight summed up, shocked.

“Yes. Because of this, he has taken to calling himself the True Force.”

Rainbow suddenly looked pointedly at me. “Hey Rylan, wasn’t one of your human myths about that guy?”

I rolled my eyes. “No, you’re thinking of the Triforce. I know they sound similar, but they’re entirely different. For one thing, the Triforce isn’t even real, but this True Force guy apparently is.”

“Most ponies dismissed myths and rumours of him as just old pony tales,” Twilight mentioned. Oh, pony tales. Ponytails. Hilarious. “I myself didn’t even think he was real until just recently.”

“True Force is more powerful than anything this world has ever faced,” Celestia said darkly. “He is likely even more powerful than anything from your world as well, Rylan. I can understand if you do not want to fight him, especially after what we said earlier.”

I crossed my arms. “Princess, even the Elements of Harmony wouldn’t be able to stop me from taking on this guy.”

The ponies looked at me in surprise. “Wait, yer still willin’ to fight him?” Applejack asked.

“I’m not a hero. I never was and never will be. I’ve done heroic things, but that doesn’t make me a hero.” I leaned against the wall, looking away. “I’ll tell you what I told the Crusaders. I’m a coward who either runs from trouble, or is too weak or too late to fight it. I’ve caused plenty of people to die because I couldn’t save them, or didn’t even try.” I looked right at the ponies. “But that was on Earth. I’m changing, as of right now. I am making a vow that I will not let any evil harm, conquer, or destroy Equestria, or any part of it, even at the cost of my own life.”

Finished speaking, I smiled at the surprised looks everypony had. Obviously they weren’t expecting me to actually be willing to take on True Force.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, I believe I left some important stuff upstairs.” I turned to the stairs and walked away to get my things.

A couple of days passed without much happening. I continued practicing with my sword, though I couldn’t help but notice I was suddenly a lot more skilled with it than I was on my first attempt. Even though I didn’t really need to, I also continued doing archery, since I had a feeling a bow and arrow would be a good weapon when I eventually went to face True Force.

I kept my dream to myself. I didn’t want to worry the others. However, after what happened on Post-Suicide Attempt Day Three (it was the best name I could come up with, okay?), I’m starting to wish I told them.

I was practicing my swordsmanship, as usual. Bastion, being a trained fighter, agreed to help train me. We were in the middle of a session when I heard a voice in my head.

Hello, not-a-hero. How are things holding up?

I paused, confused. I turned to Bastion. “Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?” he asked.

It’s rude to not answer somepony, you know.

“There it is again!” I looked around for the source of the voice, but the only pony around was a rather confused Bastion.

“Maybe we should stop for today,” he suggested hesitantly. I was going to argue, but figured it would be a bad idea to train with a voice in my head.

“Yeah, probably. I’ll see you tomorrow.” We went our separate ways. I started heading for Twilight’s library.

Now that you’re alone, we can talk.

“Okay, seriously, where are you?” I called, confusing some nearby ponies.

In your mind. Only you can hear me. Don’t you remember who I am?

I suddenly recognized the voice and gritted my teeth. “True Force…”

At your service.

I figured I didn’t need to talk out loud to communicate with someone who was in my head, so I started thinking what I wanted to say rather than just saying it.

What are you doing in my head?

Just visiting. I wanted to see how you were doing.

I’m doing fine. Perfect. Never better, until you came along. Get out of my head.

Oh, I’ll be getting out of your head soon. I just wanted to stop by to tell you something.

And that is?

Don’t mess with me. You don’t know what I’m capable of. I’ve learned from Nightmare Moon and Discord. I won’t be playing games or passing up even a single chance to violently murder you. I suggest you just surrender now.

True Force?

Yes?

Screw. You.

I heard True Force give a huff of disappointment and annoyance before my mind felt clear again, as though he left. I was glad he was gone. Having a villain in your head is really nerve-wracking.

When I got back to Twilight’s library, I knocked on the door. A certain draconic assistant who has not been mentioned yet answered the door. I had only recently met Spike, but we got along surprisingly well (likely because we were the only non-ponies around, as well as the only males in our main group).

“Hey Rylan,” he greeted me as he opened the door the rest of the way to let me in.

“Hey yourself.” I looked around and didn’t see Twilight. “Is Twilight busy?”

“She’s in the basement working on something,” Spike explained with a shrug. “I don’t know what it is, and frankly I don’t know if I want to know.”

“I’ll go have a look. Thanks.” I walked over to the basement door and opened it quietly. Peeking down the stairs, I saw Twilight tinkering with a bunch of weird machinery I had never seen before.

Since she didn’t seem to notice me, I saw an easy opportunity for some fun. I snuck down the stairs, trying to make as little noise as possible.

“No, that doesn’t work…no…I don’t think that would work either…” Twilight was mumbling to herself as she continued working on the weird device, her magic holding several tools in the air around her. I reached the floor and walked silently over to her. When I was pretty much right behind her, I leaned in until my face was mere inches away from her ear.

“HEY TWILIGHT WHAT’RE YOU DOING?!” I yelled as loudly as I could. Twilight shrieked and lost concentration, dropping all the tools she had been levitating. She whipped around to face me, and her scared expression slowly turned to one of anger.

“Rylan, what was that for?” she accused. I shrugged.

“I’m a troll.”

“…a what?”

“Inside joke.” I turned and headed for the stairs, stopping when I reached them to turn and face Twilight again. “By the way, did anypony ever tell you you’re kind of cute when you’re scared?”

Twilight blushed, having no response for that. I chuckled and walked back upstairs. First I freaked her out, then I embarrassed her. My work here is done.

Next Chapter Preview:

"Rylan Watch."

"Yes, princess?"

"Something went wrong. I thought we had a bit longer, but I miscalculated."

"What are you trying to tell me?"

"I'm telling you...it's time."