you've never been to the circus before, but it's always filled you with a childlike wonder
it just so happens that you are standing in the grassy field where the circus has setup in
its overcast, quiet and it seems like you're the only person there, but you don't seem to notice anything odd with the whole situation
you walk up to the big top,
 its big, red and yellow stripes cover the whole tent,
as you run your hand along the tent, your fingers catch slightly to the plastic feel of the canvas, you walk along the side approaching an open slit, you enter.
 
its surprisingly dark except for the center if the big ring, lit by 4 dim spotlights, but still it's not that strong of light
it reminds you of the light of a street lamp standing in the darkness
the grandstands are just visible circling around the arena
you walk towards the centre, stepping over a large thick rope that make the outer edge of the performing area
walking towards the centre feels like it's going on for ages
 
as you walk the slit you had entered from has closed, leaving no trace that it was there
the grand stands pull back into darkness fading into nothingness
the ring grows but stays dimly lit, until what seemed like an hour you reached the center
you heard a loud clunk and suddenly are blinded by light
you try to shade your eyes from the sudden light, raising one hand up above your head, you try to find where the blinding light is
it suddenly dawns on you,
is this a dream?
 
you spin yourself around trying to take in your surroundings
What happened to the stands?
Where's the exit??
you get snapped out of your train of panicking thoughts by music
the music starts out very quiet and slowly starts to get louder
you get a cold chill go down your spine, the music is that classic old timey melody you'd always heard play when you thought about the circus,
this music was different, it made you feel weird, scared and unnerved
your heart starts thumping, almost like it wants to break out of your chest and escape
that's when you see it
 and when they see you
the music still going louder and louder but now it's accompanied but manic laughing
shapes start to shift from side to side from the darkness where the grandstands should of been.
 
the laughing gets louder as the shapes turn into silhouettes
“A-are those clowns?”
as your eyes strain to adjust to the shadows, a glint of silver sparked out from some of the silhouettes
This isn't normal,
 
your heart sinks deep in your chest, and starts racing, you've never thought your heart to beat this fast or hurt this much.
adjusting your stance between waves of head spins, you hear a high pitched cackle behind you.
 
the silhouettes are advancing all around you
their laughing is ear piercing and the loud eerie melody is making you feel sick
“T-this can't be real, it has to be a dream”
 
Your  trapped, surrounded, with no chance of escape.
 this is a dream that you can't wake up from, your eyes are like their sealed shut, you try calling out but nothing happens, except hot tears running down your face and the pounding of your heart, trying to break out from your chest.
 
the shapes have reached the outer edge of the shadows,
you're able to see more of them now, as one steps in from the darkness, you now see the horrors that were hidden in the darkness,
 
they're clowns but as luck would have it, it's the worst possible thing that are clowns,
 the silver glint that had caught you eye now has a fucked up source
“F-Fucking zombie c-c-clowns”
 
everything seems to speed up after that, they all suddenly burst into the light, their faces distorted, axes, knives bits and pieces of metal are embedded in them, their skin sloughing off, some with chunks taken out of them, their clothes are worn and bloodstained, with section barely being kept together by stray threads.
 
you feel like a deer frozen in headlights,
your heart thunders inside your chest as ice cold hands claw at your arms, you try to scream but nothing comes out, more and more hands start shooting out, pulling and tearing at your body,
within moments you're pinned on the ground,no amount of struggling and failed screams can help to as they descend upon you, blocking out every bit of light you could see from the spot light above, as they all  try to get at your soft flesh until there's nothing left but darkness.
 
You eyes burst open, gasping for air from what you’ve just awoken from,the tears are still running hot down your face.
It had been years since you last had that dream, and it being as violent as was when you first had it,
 
-----------------------------------
 
The moon still shines high in the night sky, the wind is cool and softly sways the trees around you, the light from the moon faintly illuminates the trees, making your surroundings almost appear monotone with a slightly blown out haze along the tops of the treelines.
 
The sounds of the leaves rustling in the wind and the faint sound of a running stream in the distance calms you slightly,
 a new train of thought starts to fill your head.
You don't remember going to sleep outside, but things had been playing on your mind, and you did use to sleep walk as a kid, maybe the stress has finally  gotten to you,
 
You start to walk towards what appears to be a path, you feel a little strange, but your main focus is to get back home.
 
it feels like you've been walking in circles, but as the density of the trees and shrubs start to open up, you notice a treehouse in a large apple tree.
 
From what little light shines on the treehouse, it feels familiar but still you are lost as to where you are,
Maybe with a little rest and the light of day would be a better idea to try and find you way home.
 
The ramp creaks under you weight as you stagger up, eyes growing heavier with every step,
“i must really be out of shape”
Just barely squeezing through the door you collapse and you vision once again fades into darkness.
 
 
-----------------------
 
 
The skys are a clear deep blue with a few small fluffy clouds sprinkled here and there.
Today is the day, the strange weather has finally cleared, making way for a beautiful sunny day, where you can get ready for your big campout with scootaloo and sweetie belle.
 
With a big stretch you jump out of bed and make your way downstairs, the sweet smell of honey porridge and pancakes fill the kitchen, where big mac and granny are sitting at the table and applejack cooking up the last if the batter.
 
Aj: ah was wonderin’ when you were gonna get up
 
Applejack stacks up the last of the pancakes and places it in the table.
 
Aj: now ah won't be able ter take you camping with yer friends, but twilight wanted me and the girls tah help figure out this strange weather.
 
Gs: back wen i wus a filly, we had rains that could shame mer water critter of its own pound..or wus it wind so hawt it could melt tah paint from the windahs?
 
Granny smith, continued to ramble on as applejack shook her head with a smile, picking up her saddlebags and puts on her hat.
 
Aj: now ah already packed yer bags, if yew hurry up and finish yer breakfast ah can walk with ya to get scootaloo and sweetie belle.
 
You had only just started on your second pancake, and hadn't even touched your glass of apple juice yet.
Struggling to swallow the pancakes you had stuffed in your mouth,  you are just able to get out “ ids oh kay”  
 
Aj: alright then, just make sure yew come straight back ter the farm, ah don't want any silly business until me an twilight figure out what's been going on.
 
With a sigh you agree, at least you don't need to pack anything and can now fully enjoy your food.
 
Applejack throws packs on her back, and trots out of the room, and reminds you again to be careful and not get into any trouble.
 
 
Your hurried pace has slowed, taking smaller bites and enjoying the warmth and sweetness of your breakfast.
The sticky golden syrups from your pancakes covers the sides if your mouth, collecting crumbs and little bits of fruit from your porridge.
 
Granny smith is still rambling on, but has now switched to a completely unrelated subject, big Mac has just finished his second helping of porridge and pancakes and is starting to clean up his plates and start on his chores.
 
It's been a long while since you had a nice big breakfast like this, but you know you'll need the energy to help keep you going as a cutiemark crusader, and this weekend is going to be different,  cause this'll be the day you and the girls will finally get your cutiemarks.
 
After finishing your breakfast and helping granny with getting the rest of the dishes washed and put away, you decide to check over the bags applejack has packed for you.
 
As you look through them, you find a surplus of camping gear, way more than what you think you'd need, as well as snacks, blankets and even one of your favorite stuffed animals.
 
With everything packed here you're a little disappointed that applejack can't go camping with you.
Packing everything back up again you make your way to the clubhouse where scootaloo and sweetie belle should be waiting for you.
 
-----------------------
 
Standing in a dim room, the faint sound of dripping can be heard in the distance with no visible source.
The air is thick with a lingering stale taste. you try to take in your surroundings, the emptiness of the room seems to shift and bur, a dizzy flurry of unease flows over you, making your blood run cold.
 
Each movement you make feels delayed and distorted, sending your head into a spin.
 
walking gingerly towards the wall, your chest getting heavier and heavier each breath gasped in the thickening fog, vision blurring with every step, as new sound slowly starts to echo and fill the room,
 
The laughter, pierces through you, as your grip and muscle tighten, trying to distort yourself into as small of a ball as possible, Shifting yours hands along the back of your neck, sudden sharp burning pangs runs down your spine.
 
“n-no, not again” gripping your head with your hands, curling up even more as you slump against the wall, you can't take another attack like that.
 
 you already know something is wrong.
you manage to see the silhouette of your arms split in two before, you are blinded by a sudden flash of white light that envelops the whole room.
 
-----------------------
 
You wake, still blinded from the flash of light from your dream, with only faint blotches of colour scattered around you.
 
Your attention shifts by a sudden gasps and piercing screams, throwing yourself back you are met with a short free fall instead of any form of solid wall.
 
Winded, you shakily pull yourself off the ground, your body still feels distorted, if this is still a dream you would mind waking up.
 
The sound of approaching hooves pound through your ears and sets your heart into overdrive as you fumble yourself into run.
 
“W-wait!, are you alright”
 
The sound of the child's voice and the panting of your own breath rings in your ears, as every step, leap and bound slowly brings back a small portion of your vision to narrowly avoid running into the darken blotches of trees.
 
“H-Hey! Wait up!” another child's voice calls out, slightly muffled by the sound an almost humming flapping.
 
Taking longer strides you feel every muscle in your body move in unison, a sudden sickness rises from your gut, this is not your body, this is not how you use to move.
As colour and clarity returns to your sight, the truth of the situation, two sets of purple clawed arms zip in and out from under your chest, tearing at the soft grass below.
 
You leap into the air, letting out a curdling shriek, the few seconds of hang time before hitting the ground again gave you to glance at the rest of your body.
You have a long slender purple body with a pair of fin-like membrane that runs down either side of your back, ending just behind your hips and fans out again around the end section of your tail.
 
Landing heavily on the ground, you bolt off to the side, adrenaline fueling your limbs to new speeds but that new found speed is short lived before you come head to head with an old oak tree, hitting it with sickening thud.
 
-----------------------
 
You awake to find yourself in a large room, bundled up in a large wooden bed with thick blankets stitched together in a fanciful assortment of coloured patches.
A sweet fragrance fills the room and the sound of various animals can be heard, as well as the shuffling of hooves from the other side of the door.
 
The warmth of the blankets make you feel safe and almost lulls you back to sleep before a sharp, throbbing pain snaps you back into focusing on your surroundings.
 
Letting out a small groan, you vaguely think back to how you got this headache.
“d-did i run into a tree?” you grumble out as you go to rub your head, scrunching your eyes shut as you do.  
“why am i'm such a spa-”
 
The sound of the door opening, grabs your full attention, and derails any train of thought you had, as a red horse enters the room carrying a tray in its mouth.
 
You hide your head under the pillows as the red horse makes its way towards you.
Peering out from under the pillow slowly poke your head back out before you look away and wiggle down into the bed, pulling the cover up more, you can see that it looks a little nervous, so any movements you do make are slow.
 
As the red horse places the tray on the side table, you can't help but instinctively say thank you.
It stands by the side table for a moment, still looking a little unsure of you.
 
“i-is that for me” you ask, you're not sure why you said this, but you didn't want to be rude.
 
The red horse nods “Eyup”
 
you leap out of the bed, tripping over the blankets and yourself as you hit the other side of the room, almost throwing yourself against the wall as you make distance between you and this talking horse.
 
“Woah there” the red horse reared slightly from your sudden movement
 
“Y-Y-YOU TALKED” you pinned yourself to the wall
“You can talk! …. You can talk?”
 
“uh...Eyup”
 
“H-HOW CAN YOU TALK?!”  
 
Confused and concerned, he goes take a step closer but stops, pausing for a moment to think “don't dragons talk too?”
 
“drah-wha?...you're not a...”
You take a gulp and shakily look down at
yourself.
 
Purple scales cover your body, you stretch out a leg in disbelief that it's even yours. What used to be a you foot is now a cloven claws that's connected to delicate digigrade legs and between those legs a tail with light purple fins that runs around the end of it.
 
Shaking and tears forming in your eyes, you hesitantly bring your arms into view.
Your breathing quickens and your heart starts to beat in your throat.
 
you go wide eyed, taking in the sight of your new body. You struggle to say something as your gaze shifts back to the red horse, but all that comes out is a winded shriek, that soon intensifies as three fillies run in shouting with excitement.
 
Shaking, your full attention goes to the three fillies prancing around the room as they leap and bounce in small circles.
 
“i told ya she'd be ok” a small Orange pegasus cheers out
 
“hey!, you were freaking just as much as we were scootaloo” the white unicorn retorts as she scrunches her nose at the pegasus.
 
“focus you two, this could be our chance to see if we can get a dragon based cutiemarks” the small yellow filly rears up
 
Before the fillies could attempt to get closer, the red horse grabs them and pushes them out of the room, closing the door as the let out a harmonious whine.
 
“ahm sorry ‘bout that”
He pauses for a moment before he sits down by the door
“ah don't ‘magine after havin’ a knock on the head you'd want ter be around too much noise”
 
You slink down the wall, keeping your eyes locked on the red horse. His green eyes putting the lushest pastures you've ever seen to shame and his orange mane more golden than the sweetest of honeys.
 
“mah names Big Macintosh” he scratches the back of his neck looking off to the side
“y’can call me Mac fer short if ya like”
 
“mm...mac?” you bring a set of claws up, running them along the side of your muzzle
“how, how did i get here?”
 
His ears prick forward, he takes a deep breath before his calm, soothing, deep voice breaks the silence of the room.
 
“well now, ahm not sure how you came to find yer way to ponyville, but i carried you here after you knocked yerself out” he smiles softly “ applebloom an’ her friends found you in their clubhouse, said they gave you a right scare”
 
“i..no, h-how did i get here, here?” your eyes still burn as tears continue to well in your eyes “the last thing i remember is being in some fairgrounds…” grasping your head you curl into yourself “but, but was that just a horrible dream...or...or am i still dreaming?”
Letting out a sharp exhale as you start losing control of your composure, your sniffles and coughs cause your voice to crack.
“i-i can’t remember home, i cant-”
 
As tears start to fall, you're startled by a sudden embrace, you lift your head up to find mac sitting next to you, his hoof placed over you, pulling you close to his chest.
 
He doesn't say anything, just looks down at you with concern in his eyes but a welcoming smile as you find yourself resting your head against his chest, sobbing as you start to focus in on his heart beat.
His warm and strong heartbeat numbs your thoughts and fears as you take in more of his embrace, closing your eyes and wrapping your arms around him, he brings his other hoof up and around you.
 
“its alright, i won't let anything bad happen ”
Softly stroking your side, lulling you into a sleep
“home can be here for a while”
 
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