Nathan Fink

The tread with Peach was an awkward one indeed. Being that she was in her shy personality at the moment. She was quiet. Not exactly the best conversational companion for a stallion who barely partook in any pony interaction. The walk to the Carousel Boutique seemed to take much more time than it actually did. The whole time was spent with only silence being shared, not even a glance between them. Once they arrived at the boutique, the ponies, three little fillies to be exact, demanded to see Peach's dress so that his outfit could be made to match. Why, any decent stallion would match their date. SiFi only felt more awkward as he was wisked away for fitting by the three abnormally hyper little fillies. The end result was rather surprising though. As SiFi looked into the mirror, he found himself to look rather different in black with needle sized crimson pinstripes shooting through the fabric. They then topped it off with a deep red dress shirt. SiFi couldn't help but grin a bit as he spun around, inspecting himself. It seemed these three little ponies had a knack for priming up ponies for special occaitons. SiFi turned to Peach. "So uh... what do you think?" He asked shyly. It was the first time one of them had spoken since they left Peach's home. He bit the inside of his lip when he noticed her rosey cheeks, and then the fast retreat of her gaze. She said nothing, but the expression seemed obvious to him that it did something for her. That she might've liked it. He hoped so at least. It wasn't long before his tux was folded up and placed in her saddlebag, bought and paid for. He insisted it be rented because it was cheaper, but Peach would have nothing of it, and silently put her hoof down. He would own this tux. He thought about arguing, but who was he to fight about it...especially if she liked it on him that much. From there, they set off to catch an air ballon, if there were any left. It WAS the night of the Grand Galloping Gala after all.

SiFi's attention snapped us, towards Peach as she started to leave. "W-wait, wait just a minute now!" She called out to her. She stopped just before leaving the doorway. "If the journey with this type of information was a dangerous one to take before, don't you think it will be again? I mean, things have only gotten worse since then!" He could not, would not let her go alone. Somepony did not want this information getting to Princess Celestia badly enough that something 'mysteriously' made two ponies disappear. He didn't want Peach ending up the same way. After all, he'd just met her. He noticed her start to shake her head in disagreement of the assumption that he wanted to accompany her. "Look, Peach. Just...just let me go with you! They'll be fine here on their own. They're safe here. You won't be if you just take off like this." His eyes shifted around the room wracking his brain to think of something...anything that would make her sway to his side. Finding the perfect idea, he swallowed hard and started to blush "I...i know where Celestia will be. Um...do you, happen to own a...dress?" He asked, hesitantly, as he watched her eyebrow raise in question.

Sifi walked into the library after the other ponies, still edgy and in a foul mood. His spirits were still quite down from all that had happened, but once the sight of all of the books caught his eye, he nearly forgot the troubles he had been through. His head rose, his eyes widened and his frown slightly lifted, slowly, into a smile. He began to walk around the room, quietly naming books that he has read before, his eyes sparkling just a little as he made his rounds. He found many classics that he had loved, ones that he knew of and had never gotten a chance to read, and some he had never heard of but sounded thrilling!

Stopping in his tracks, his ears perked at Peach's invitation. His thoughts swirled, trying to figure out what to do. She's the one who got me mixed in to all this...but, i guess she does only mean well... He turned to her and looked her up and down a bit. "...ok then. But if you dont mind, im just going to get my stuff and I'll be right over..." he continued on his way to the Inn. Though noticeably faster than before. He reached the Inn, walking in and heading straight for his room to get his pack. He headed back down the stairs and headed out. Though as he reached the door, he stopped and turned his head to the spot where Discord had made the stairs which let to the illusion he had been trapped in. I simply mustn't think about it... He sighed wistfully and headed out, making his way to PeachPalettes cottage.

Everyword spoken to him stabbed him deeper with shame. Serahs Scornful look made him avert his gaze, filling him with shame, and surprisingly, anger. Wait a minute, what do i even have to be ashamed of? I didn't ask to be a part of this! All i did was help some fool human pony things get out of the woods before they froze to death! Its not my fault that i didn't live up to their expectations! These new thoughts began to ease his pain and started replacing the shame with anger and excuses. Hearing the new 'plan' that he was somehow automatically group into, he remembered his things. His plans, the new books he had just gotten from the library. Then his thoughts turned back to the library that Discord had created for him to keep him busy, and he longed for it painfully. I know it was just a trick...but the words were real enough for me. Oh to just be back there... He slowly got to his hooves, his depression at letting them down now replaced by a different kind. Though he was sure none had noticed that there were a change. He started slowly walking off in the direction he could only hope would be the inn. "Ill be at the inn, in my room... Probably sleeping if anypony needs me..." His words were soft, but he hadn't really cared if any pony had heard him, his mind was too full of his own thoughts to be bothered by others.

He lay there in a miserable, crumpled heap. The shame from what he had done, or rather, failed to do, weighed heavily on his mind. I failed them. I had my chance, my opportunity for glory...and i blew it. I dont desrve to be imortalized after all, im just a book worm with big dreams and nothng to back them up. He went eagle spread, his head flat on the ground. His face very obviously showing the disappointment and shame that he felt. Every ponies words to him felt like another knife in his heart, another brick on his back. Discords final gave towards him told SiFi all that he needed to know. He had been the weak link in the group and Discord knew it. He had used him, wormed his way into his head and made him falter at the critical moment, causing the valiant efforts of the others to count for nothing. I was his tool...i thought i could stop him, but in the end he used me to succeed where he would have otherwise failed... He closed his eyes, supressing the tears. He simply laid there and listened to the others.

SiFi simply could not bring himself to move. His mind was pulled in so many different directions. What was she asking of me? To help her defeat a GOD? Im...im just one simple earth pony. What could i possibly do to bring down a force like chaos incarnate? Going down in history was tempting, he would give her that. But doubt struck at him throughout his mind. It was only a silly dream he had and silly dreams never come true. He could never truly belong in the books with so many great and powerful ponies that had come before him. It could simply never happen. Besides, he thought even if he had an element, which one could i possibly possess? He chuckled at himself. Self doubt. Yes, that one seemed to fit him just right at the moment. He had always kept to himself, lost in his ever continuing reading and studying. He hardly even knew how to be social. He took a few steps back. "I'm...im sorry. I just...don't know what to do." He stepped back as his eyes shifted from Peach, then to Discord as he watched the stone fade back and finally disappear off of the tip of his tail. Flight set in. All he wanted to do was run....go back home where it was quiet and normal. He flinched as Discord stretched and then eyed him with a wink as a 'thank you' even though saving him was never SiFi's intention.

SiFi stood there, his head spinning. His memory was blurry and his coat was back to its normal shades. Looking around, he got a basic grasp of the situation relatively fast. But i was just...werent they trying to...oh dear sweet Celestia... Realizing in an instant the charade he had fallen into so easily, he felt shame that he had let his drive for knowledge allow Discord to take him in so easily. He was just grateful that they had broken the hold over him, even if the thought of it shamed him. Looking up, seeing Discord incapacitated, he looked around and listened, assessing the situation. Focus my energy on Peach, how the blazes am i supposed to do that!? Thinking back on a story he had read a long time ago, he figured that focusing his mind on her, trying desperatly to lend what strength that he had was all he could do. Stop... The echoing voice in his head was back, though feinter than before. It startled him and broke what little of his concentration he had. He now understood who it was and where it was coming from. Looking up at Discord, he could see the corner of his eye looking at him. Don't you see my curious little pony? I could give you all that you've ever dreamed! All the knowledge of the cosmos would be at your disposal! They took that from you and now they want to use you to keep it away forever! Do you think the dismal little hovels they call libraries in Equestria will ever truly satisfy you, now that you know what i could give you? Stop them, stop them now before its to late, and it could all still be yours! He looked around slowly, nervously, at the others. His mind in the grip of conflict, unsure as to what he would do. He knew what he should do, but Discords words had pierced the deepest core of his being. Tormented, sweat began to form on his brow. "I...I dont know...what should i do..."

He turned to the two slowly, his anger somewhat lessening. He looked at them, his thoughts full of conspiracy theory and accusation. The voice mad sense, they were working with Discord surely. They wanted to stop him from learning, why else would they do such a thing? "What do you mean you didn't do anything? I had the source of all knowledge at my hoofs and you did something to take it away, teleported me here to your prison where i cant harm your master!"

The jolt that Dexterity had given him caught him by complete surprise. He had neither seen nor heard anyone, and yet now he was in pain, and accompanied by a unicorn in a bare and dusty room, his coat still a noticeably grayer shade.. "Aah, what was tha-NOOO! What did you do!?" He was on his hooves in a flash, his eyes searching the room frantically. "The books! What did you do to the books, my library! All gone, how!? Why!?" He looked around in a panic now. His breath getting quicker and quicker. " I had it all...all the books i could ever want, all the knowledge of the universe! Why would you take that away from me? What did i ever do to you!?" His voice was getting louder, conveying more and more of his anger and frustration towards the Red and white unicorn. She's with them, the new little voice in his head proclaimed. She was sent to stop you from figuring out how to use chaos to stop Discord! All these Ponies, they just dont understand you. They think he can be stopped by 'Friendship' it spat out the last word with scorn. But you know better dont you...you know that embracing the chaos is the only way to truly, stop it...So use that brain of yours. Figure out how to stop these Ponies from getting in your way...

He heard the words that were called out for him, but they barely registered in his mind enough to warrant the "....huh?" that came out as his eyes were glued to the book he had in his hooves. When he had reached the bottom of the stairs he had expected a cellar, or a storage room of some sort. Instead he had found a library. One of limitless size and filled with books whose titles he had never heard of. The one he was reading was about animals he had never heard of from a planet whose name he could0'nt pronounce. Such fascinating detail! Oh, how interesting! Ooh i wouldn't have guessed that! On and on he read, every now and then he would look around for the next book he wanted to read and added it to a growing pile next to where he sat. The problems that were just minutes ago weighing so heavily on his mind had vanished, replaced by the fantasy made reality he now resided in. *Meanwhile, in reality* Sifi, his coat and hair colors significantly more grey than before, sat on the dusty floor of the basement, his hooves held out in front of him as if holding something, hoof prints showed that he had moved from that spot several times to varying locations.

Peach stopping him from getting closer to the door just made his condition worse, now he felt like he was trapped. To many Ponies, to many Ponies! His breathing began to speed up, he began to sweat and his eyes shifted. He looked over at PeachPalette and whispered ""Oh come on...you dont need me here...i just need to step out for a bit..."" His mind slowed down greatly when overwhelmed by a large group, as the majority of his cognitive functions were busy worrying about what the other Ponies were thinking of him or what they would do. All the fighting and bickering wasn't helping, he didn't react well to emotional arguments. He looked around for a way to hide, ar least feel as he was. As he panned his head for the third time, he spotted something he must have missed the first two times. Stairs leading down. But...the stairs to the cellar are on the other side of the Inn... though this thought was merely a shadow in his mind. "I'll just uh, ill just go get some...food. From the cellar! Yeah, ill be right back" he walked calmly over to the new stairs and started to descend, stopping when he heard a feint crackling noise.

Seeing all that had changed outside, he ran to the window once more and looked out. Seeing the twisted, unnatural scenery before him, his heart was filled with equal parts excitment and fear. The scene was terrifying alien, but so strange and new that he couldn't help but get excited at the educational possibilities. This is Discords world? Has he brought the chunk of Equestria we occupy here or is this an illusion? What kind of environment could this kind of space possibly sustain? The questions continued to run through his head as he gazed out the window, a big smile on his face. Turning back to the group, his smile faded, his mind froze and his questions stopped as he saw how many ponies were now walking around, talking about this and that. To say that he had never done well in groups would be an understatement. He got nervous, mush mouthed and empty headed. He side stepped slowly to his pack next to his chair and slipped it on.While all the discussions were going on his quietly slipped closer and closer to the door, trying his best not to get noticed.