private Shifted: The Remake

[Dave247 568]

uh....let's introduce ourselves

"Oh...Um...please take care of me!" she spoke without thinking

"Don't worry, I'll take care of you" Day said nuzzling Starry. He then stopped suddenly as a pang of realization hit him about the situation he had just got himself into to. He would now have to say something to the group, and he hated speaking in groups. If the others hadn't seen them together before they had now, and it would look bad for not just himself but Starry as well if he didn't say anything now.

He looked at starry, he could deal with himself looking bad but he couldn't bear making others look bad at his expense, especially Starry. He took a deep breath before he spoke, "I'm doing this for her" he thought.

 

@

"M-My name's Daylight" he said as he stammered due to his nerves. He made sure as not to look at anyone directly as he spoke so to not make him more uncomfortable. "I-I agree with Artsy. It's about time we moved from here and from this cursed lake". He then looked down at the ground as to not see anyone's faces who had looked over at him due to him saying something.

[Legendary Emerald 622]

“This was a mistake.” Serah muttered to herself.

 

Unlike the library, which had stank of must and old paper, the scent in the library could be best described as pure sugar. The smell certainly matched the look of the room; on nearly every counter, some manner of desert sat on display, tempting potential customers with its high calorie countenance. Even the non-edible decorations were plastered with images of candy canes, cakes, and all manners of sweets.

 

“I can almost smell the diabetes.” Serah remarked, heading towards the empty counter. Nopony else seemed to be around, and the smell of smoke grew even stronger near the back of the building, presumably the location of the kitchen. “Abandoned. Might as well help myself.”

 

Serah looked at some of the treats that sat in beneath the glass window on the front of the counter. Nothing that could constitute an actual meal was to be seen. Next to her sat a smaller table, upon which little bags and boxes of candy sat. Strangely enough, Serah picked out a familiar sight amongst them all.

 

“Not a complete waste of time, I suppose.” Serah said, picking up a small rectangular pack in her hoof. The label read 'Manticore'; an unfamiliar brand, but that was to be expected. “Still, smoking on an empty stomach...”

 

A small bell rang behind her, and she quickly put the pack down and she pivoted around on the spot. The movement caused her to lose her balance and land on four hooves. The pony who'd entered whizzed past, a blur of beige, pink, and blue. The door behind the counter opened and closed in the blink of an eye as the pony rushed into the kitchen. The next things Serah heard were a great amount of coughing and swearing, followed by just a bit of crashing and banging.

 

When the door next opened, a mare with pink and blue hair stepped out, wiping a dark smear of smoke off her forehead. Only then did the pony notice Serah's presence.

 

“Oh, hello! W-welcome to Sugarcube Corner!” the pony said, quickly taking her place behind the counter. Serah didn't respond, instead looking over to the closed door and raising an eyebrow. “Ah, don't worry about that. It's nothing, just... I was out on my break, and then... well, you know how these things are.”

 

“I am not unfamiliar with fires.” Serah stated, nodding her head slightly.

 

“Oh?” the mare said. “I'm not sure I recognize you. Are you one of... oh, are you one of the new group of ponies who arrived in town earlier?”

 

“No. Just passing through.” Serah answered after a short pause. “New ponies. Is that why the streets are so empty?”

 

“N... yes. We have to be careful these days.” the pony said. “With those changelings around, you can never be too careful.”

 

“Changlings?” Serah repeated.

 

“You don't know about the changlings? They're everywhere these days.” the mare explained. “Inky black creatures, with wings and sharp fangs. They capture ponies and feed off of their emotions. And they take on the appearance of any pony they meet.

 

“The demons from earlier...”

 

“How do I know you aren't a changling, then?” Serah questioned.

 

“W... h-how do I know you aren't one?” the pony stuttered.

 

“Perfect.”

 

“You don't.” Serah responded. “Which is why you should treat this particular customer with care.”

 

The mare gulped.

 

“Do you have any actual food here?” Serah asked. “Anything that doesn't include sugar?”

 

“No. B-but I could bake you something, if you need it.” the pony offered. Serah frowned.

 

“No time.” she answered, shaking her head. She picked up the pack of cigarettes from earlier. “Be taking these.”

 

“Really? I've never seen any pony buy those before.” the pony remarked.

 

“Have any lighters?” Serah asked. Immediately after, she came to a realization. “Never mind. Don't need one.”

 

“Okay... I guess you can have that, then. No charge.” the mare replied.

 

“Wasn't planning on paying.” Serah thought, turning around.

 

“Oh, wait, but before you go...” the pony disappeared behind the counter. A bag rustled, followed by a tiny hiss and a cracking noise. The pony reappeared over the counter, holding out a cookie. “F-free cookie with every purchase.”

 

Serah looked at the cookie, and then back at the mare. Shrugging, she took the cookie in her hoof. Then she nodded her thanks and started to leave.

 

"If you aren't a changling, don't trust anypony!" the mare shouted out after Serah as the door slowly swung closed.

 

---

 

“Could get used to ponies being frightened of me.” Serah thought to herself when she was back outside. She examined the cookie; a plain, hard biscuit with two curious holes in the middle. “Next time threaten someone who can actually bake.”

 

Serah opened the pack of cigarettes and took out a long, white stick. She placed it in her mouth, and then lifted her hoof up to it. She closed her eyes for a moment, and they began to twitch. After about two minutes of effort, a tiny flame began to hover over her hoof. Smirking, Serah waved the light over the end of the cigarette.

 

Nothing happened.

 

Serah held the flame under the stick for several seconds, but it refused to light. In fact, the end of it seemed to be melting.

 

“What the...” Serah's brow furrowed. She tasted the end of the stick in her mouth, and then took it out. “God damn it, it's a sugar stick!”

Edited September 25, 2012 by Burt Cocaine

[Somebody 570]

Magenta was happy to have everyone agree with her idea to go see Princess Peach, the princess who somehow thought she was pretty in pink. Which reminded her of happy, upbeat, sugary pink music. She began singing a catchy tune, when suddenly she noticed Daylight and Starry Sky getting kissy with each other. "Awww, how cute!" Magenta cooed, sighing contentedly. She loved to see others in love.

 

Continuing with her tune, she lied down on her belly in the grass, holding herself up on her elbows. Magenta gazed dreamily at the two newest lovebirds in the group. Perhaps trans-dimensional travel had some sort of effect on people's romantic sensibilities. She wondered if it might have the same effect on that other aspect of love... With her face blushing and a goofy grin making its way onto her face, Magenta drifted off into a daydream of how a pony might go about enjoying such things, her thoughts turning to Klopp...

 

Soon, Magenta was so absorbed in herself that she failed to notice more ponies falling into the lake and being silly as usual. Though she did hear funny noises coming from the direction of the group. Calmly looking over in the direction of the other ponies to see what was going on, she realized most of them were soaked again. Artsy was covered in some sort of icky green residue, and Klopp's awesome fedora was somehow less cool now that it was drooping on his head like a... well, like a wet hat.

 

"Maybe we should get going?" Magenta asked the group, rather embarrassed at the group's clumsiness, as well as her own absentmindedness. "We're never going to see Princess Peach if we keep falling in this lake...."

Edited September 26, 2012 by Questio and Amy

[Alex Night 870]

As Alex caught up to Aurora outside the door with his history book underneath his wing, he contemplated on how to explain their situation to Aurora. "She has done so much for us already and I have to try and explain ourselves to her. It just wouldn't feel right about her being confused about who we are and where we come from... How do I tell her though?" Alex thought to himself. As he got to her right side, he noticed that she noticed his presence. Alex had made up his mind and once he does, he doesn't go back on it. Alex cleared his throat as he got ready for his explanation. "Hey, Aurora. Thanks again for your help. We really appreciate it. Although, I really want to talk to you about something and I just wouldn't feel right if I don't try to explain it to you, especially after all your generosity." Alex said to Aurora. Alex paused for a moment, trying to figure out where to begin.

 

"Okay, I know you might be a little confused about who we are exactly. It will sound crazy I know, but it's the truth. We don't come from another town in Equestria. You see, our home is a different world called Earth, but I don't think that you'll find it anywhere in the stars you look up at in the sky. I can't really tell you why because I honestly don't know. I don't how it exactly happened for the others because I've never met them in my life. What happened for me was there was some kind of strange glowing crack in the ground over by a swing set I passed by when I was walking home from school back at Earth. It gave off some kind of weird energy. When I got too close to it, it pulled me in and the last thing I remember seeing was nothing but pitch-black." Alex said to Aurora as they walked. He gave her a moment of pause so she can take in the information he just gave her.

 

"As for what we are, we are called Humans. The difference between us and ponies is that we don't move on all fours and don't have hooves. Instead, we have 5 tiny extensions that we use to interact with things at our home. We don't have a full furcoat like the ponies here. I don't want to try and bore you with all of the other details, so I'll just say that we are actually a different kind of species from a completely different place. It's just that we don't know why we look like ponies here instead of Humans to you. There are still so many things I don't understand here." Alex said to Aurora, giving her another pause for her to understand what he just said.

 

Alex could tell that it all sound so crazy, even to him when he was the one explaining. "So, that's all I really know at this point. Even to me, it sounds crazy, but.." Alex voice trailed off a bit. "Ah man, what am I doing?" Alex thought to himself, feeling slightly embarrassed. He quickly made an effort to hide it by proceeding to address her once again. "I just feel like it's something I should do." Alex simply said to her. "So, is there anything else you wish to know?" Alex asked to Aurora, giving her a chance to speak.

[Aureity 3,055]

As Aurora finally made her way out of the stifling library, enjoying the fresh and non-dusty outdoors air, she glanced back at the doorway to the Golden Oak library, which the rest of the group was beginning to slowly trickle out of. Patiently, she waited for the first few out the door to catch up to her before she resumed her stroll towards Sugarcube Corner. Aurora was grateful that at least most of the group had learned to walk...normally by now. Even still, she cast a nervous glance at each resident they passed, hoping that the group following her wouldn't seem a little strange to them. Thankfully, nopony seemed to mind them too much.

 

 

They had barely even gone halfway when Aurora noticed Alex hastily zooming towards her. He still wasn't a perfect flier, veering to either side more than any other pegasi would have - except that gray mailmare, Derpy Hooves, she reminded herself - and she stopped, waiting for him to catch up. She tilted her head questioningly as he dropped o the ground next to her and awkwardly announced his intention to clear up a few things.

 

 

Maybe I'll find out what human means, Aurora thought hopefully. The question had been burning in the back of her thoughts, and every time she had managed to put it to rest somepony else always seemed to bring it back up. And there were quite a few other questions she had, most relating to their odd behavior. I'm still not sure that they aren't a bunch of nutcases escaped from the Canterlot dungeons, she thought worriedly, half-expecting Alex or one of the other ponies trailing behind her to throw a rock at her at that very moment.

 

 

Unfortunately, Alex's explanation didn't satisfy her curiosity in the slightest. As soon as heard the first sentence, she was skeptical. A-another world? Haha, yeah right. And the only cracks in the ground here are called rivers. Disappointment rose within her, but was stifled quickly as Alex began to launch into his description of "humans". She had no doubt now that Alex was telling her some sort of fantastic lie - but it was still fun to play along. Suppressing a giggle, she tried to imagine what a "human" would look like. Five tiny extensions...umm, like...tentacles? And they don't move on all fours? I guess they, um, trip and fall a lot. Unless they hover or something. A small smile on Aurora's face, she tried to combine the details she was given into a single picture. It was not pretty, to say the least - she had seen better faces on a Diamond Dog. It was this comparison that overwhelmed her resolve and reduced her to a round of uncontrollable laughter as she dropped on the ground, tears of mirth streaming down her face.

 

 

"Tha-that's funny!" she managed to choke out as her laughter finally began to subside. "One of the best stories I've ever heard!" Wiping the tears off of her face, Aurora, still on the ground, gave Alex a playful smile. "Okay, I take it back," she announced happily. "There's no way you're a nutcase from Celestia's dungeon - you're too good of a storyteller!" Still holding back an inkling of laughter, Aurora picked herself up off of the ground and dusted off her coat.

 

 

"It's okay if you don't want to tell me," Aurora said with a cheerful tone in her voice, even as disappointment began trickling back into her heart. "You don't have to if it's not something you're comfortable with." She glanced past Alex to count the others, who by now had all managed to catch up. "Um, okay. S-sorry about that," she said ruefully to the assembled crowd. "Umm...let's keep going, then. I'm sure we'll all hungry for some treats right now!"

[Ice Storm 1,020]

Ice began following everypony towards sugar cube corner. It seemed that they were finally starting to establish some sort of organization. Once they were able to piece together what was going on and who they needed to talk to in order to get the answers that they need, they would be good. She heard Alex trying to explain the situation to Aurora just ahead of them. It didn't appear as if Aurora believed any of it though as she commented with that he couldn't have been from Canterlot Crazy Dungeon because he was too good of a storyteller.

 

"Unforunately Aurora, he speaks the truth. If I had a bit more control over my ice magic and had a bit more energy, I'd try to show you what a human looked like by creating a sculpture of a human out of ice. Unfortunately I don't even know what I'm capable of yet and I don't want to accidentally hurt something with a power I cannot yet completely control. That being said, I think it's fair to say that we are technically still on earth, just in a parallel dimension. Everything hear is still very much earth-like and I even heard mention of the moon. So a dimension shift isn't completely out of the question. That still doesn't answer why though, and that's what has got me worried." she spoke.

 

What IS going on here though? What were those insect like things in the forest? Why did they attack us? is there a war going on of some sorts? Where are the Element bearers? Even if Twilight and the others don't exist in this setting, I can't imagine the princesses letting things get this bad. They are way too powerful for that. One thing is for sure though until we actually find out whats going on, we have to remember that our only friend in this world right now is this white unicorn here. Without her, we have no sense of direction or any type of notion of what to expect of defense in general. For all of us from earth, and for our own protection, I have to get to the bottom of this, Ice thought to herself with her other thoughts running rapid at the moment. She could only hope that book had some answers. and shed some light on what's going on.

[Flow 1,629]

@@Dave247,

After hearing Daylight's response, Starry smiled "Daylight........Th...Thank you... I..I know you'll always be there for me." She blushes again, "And I guess that's why..I...uh..like you," Then she thought, "I can't say that I love him, it would be too embarrassing to say in front of all these...ponies? More like....former humans."

 

"Maybe we should get going?" Magenta asked the group, rather embarrassed at the group's clumsiness, as well as her own absentmindedness. "We're never going to see Princess Peach if we keep falling in this lake...."

 

When she heard the magenta pony mention about everyone falling into the lake, she realized that everyone in the group, including herself had fell into the lake at least once, she actually found it funny and laughed about it

 

"Ahahaha, We...We all did fall into the lake at least once! Ahhh, My... I find it funny that we were all clumsy enough to fall into that lake, anyways....um...you mentioned something about some place called Canterlot right? And um...were all going there to meet this...um Princess Peach or something..because you believe she could help us? Now that I think about it, let's go there instead of going this zebra in the....um...Everfree forest? Nevermind about that, but yes, let's go to Canterlot and see the princess, um...besides, I would like a change of scenery, I'm getting tired of being out in the wilderness, oh yeah, one more thing...I haven't learned your name yet....uh..what is it?"

 

She asked politely.

[Alex Night 870]

As Alex went on with his explanation, he could tell that she was looking disappointed for the most part, which only made him feel more awkward by the minute and started having the same thought running in his mind over and over again, "Oh man, why didn't I just keep my big mouth shut? Now, this is just embarrassing." Alex thought to himself, who was sweating over this on the inside. When he went on about describing humans, he couldn't actually tell if she was surprised or in awe. Her reaction when he was finished gave him an unexpected answer.

 

It was this comparison that overwhelmed her resolve and reduced her to a round of uncontrollable laughter as she dropped on the ground, tears of mirth streaming down her face. "Tha-that's funny!" she managed to choke out as her laughter finally began to subside. "One of the best stories I've ever heard!" Wiping the tears off of her face, Aurora, still on the ground, gave Alex a playful smile. "Okay, I take it back," she announced happily. "There's no way you're a nutcase from Celestia's dungeon - you're too good of a storyteller!" Still holding back an inkling of laughter, Aurora picked herself up off of the ground and dusted off her coat. "It's okay if you don't want to tell me," Aurora said with a cheerful tone in her voice, even as disappointment began trickling back into her heart. "You don't have to if it's not something you're comfortable with." She glanced past Alex to count the others, who by now had all managed to catch up. "Um, okay. S-sorry about that," she said ruefully to the assembled crowd. "Umm...let's keep going, then. I'm sure we'll all hungry for some treats right now!"

All of a sudden, she started laughing so hard on the ground commenting about his "story" and saying that he was too good of a storyteller. Alex was left in total shock at her reaction, unable to give a remark. She went on after finally regaining her composure speaking how she was okay about me not telling her the truth. All feelings of awkwardness was gone as she started laughing and Alex was too busy processing how the exchange went down like this to pay attention to Ice Storm giving him her defense. "I... But... That was the..." Alex tried as he might to put together the words for Aurora, but to no success. Finally, Alex had a moment of pause in his shock as he played back his explanation and realized how it actually did sound completely ridiculous to Aurora. His look of shock went away and was replaced with a few chuckles. "Okay, maybe it did sound ridiculous." Alex said to himself. Although it didn't go as he expected, he was glad that she didn't think he was crazy and deranged. "At least I tried." Alex thought to himself.

 

@@Ice Storm, When Alex finally realized Ice Storm was in front of him, he just remembered something she said in the library that he didn't take an interest in until now. He trotted up next to Aurora and Ice Storm before speaking to Ice. "Hey, Ice. I just remembered something. You mentioned something about three princesses here in Equestria, but I only found out about Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Who was this third princess you were talking about?" Alex knew that finding Princess Celestia was important, but he doesn't know anything about this new princess he heard about from Ice Storm. As Alex finished this question, he noticed an odd looking building in front of them with a cupcake on top of it. Just in front of it was the red unicorn from earlier back at the forest and it looked like she was trying to light a cigarette in her mouth. "Really? They make those here too? I can't believe it! I guess some vices do carry over between dimensions..." Alex thought to himself with disappointment. However, that went away quick as he saw her exclaim in disappointment that she was trying to light a sugar stick, which Alex laughed out louder than he'd like to. He turned back to Ice Storm, awaiting her reply.

Edited September 27, 2012 by Alex_Night

[Electrobolt 2,069]

@

 

Electrobolt had let out a small sigh, as the group had seemingly decided to just get a snack, before continuing the tour of Ponyville. *I'm not really in the mood for sweets right now...* he thought, with his stomach growling again in protest. *But I suppose it's better than nothing... At least it'll shut my noisy stomach up...* He looked around, before having noticed one of the ponies that had come with the group not having joined in the huddle. A gray pony with a light-blue mane and tail, along with a peculiar mark on his rear that looked similar to that of a symbol normally seen on calculators.

 

Noticing that he seemed kinda lost in thought or something, and that the rest of the group had already gone on ahead, he shook his own head. *Don't wanna leave anyone behind, stranger or not...* Once he approached this pony, he lightly tapped his side as he cleared his throat. "Um, hello," he started off, hoping he got his attention. "Um, the group is already going off to get a snack before continuing the tour here. But I didn't quite want to leave you behind... Oh, and I don't remember if I told you my name already, but... You can call me Electrobolt."