>"Anon, wake up."
"Mrrrgh."
>You hear a sigh.
>"Anon, come ON, you told me to wake you up early."
"T'rrly..."
>Twilight blinks, apparently not understanding you through the pillow.
>"I'm sorry, what?"
>You lift your head, shielding your eyes from the sun that somehow seems directed RIGHT AT your eyes this morning.
"I said that it's TOO EARLY. Jeez..."
>Twilight chuckles, and shakes her head.
>"You think this is early? Applejack and her family all get up before sunrise!"
>You frown. Suddenly you're glad you elected to stay in the library, rather than stay at Sweet Apple Acres.
>Twilight turns around and heads into the kitchen. It's not long before she returns, carrying two steaminng hot mugs of your favorite beverage; coffee. Delicious, caffinated coffee.
>"Two teaspoons of sugar and a splash of milk, just the way you like it, right?"
>You nod, grasping the mug loosely as she drops the field that caused it to levitate. You hold the mug to your face, inhaling the aroma, the steam tickling your face before you tilt it back, letting the brew cascade down your throat.
>Damn, she knew how to brew a good cup of joe.
 
>As you finish slurping down the last of the coffee, you look to Twilight, who was busy burying her nose in that "Myths of Equestria" book, occasionally sipping from her own mug of coffee.
"Thanks, Twilight. I needed that."
>She stops reading for a moment, offering you a small smile.
>"You're welcome, Anon. Glad I could help."
>You return the smile, and trudge back upstairs.
>You sit down on the bed in the guest room, or rather, guest "area", putting on the outfit Rarity had made for you.
>She had been rather excited to work on this outfit for you; Twilight explained it as Rarity being sort of a "fashion pioneer", or something. If it could walk and talk, she'd want to make clothes for it.
>You rub your chin; That could explain why she acted like that back in the Boutique.
>You chuckle; Twilight had some rather strange friends; some stranger than others.
>Of course, you wondered if she considered YOU a friend...
>As you think it over, you slip on the coat, the tingling returning stronger than before. Fortunately, it subsides soon enough.
>You stare at your left hand. It didn't look any different than it had when you first came here, but something about it certainly FELT different.
>You're broken out of your train of thought as you hear a clattering of hooves outside the library.
>As you descend the stairs, you see Twilight conversing with stallions clad in golden armor, who turns to you as you climb down them.
>"Oh, Anon! Good, you're all dressed. Your escort's here."
 
>You walk towards the armor-clad stallions, who, upon closer inspection, were pegasi, like Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.
>The two of them eye you up and down, not quite sure of what to think of you. Finally, what looked to be the elder of the two stepped forward, his voice low and gravelly in tone.
>"Sir... Anonymous, correct?"
>You nod.
>"Her Highness, Princess Celestia, Sovereign of the Sun has requested your presence in Canterlot Castle. We are to depart immediately."
"Understood. I'll be out momentarily."
>You, along with Twilight and Spike, step out into the streets of Ponyville, where a team of pegasi were hitched to an elaborate golden chariot, which you assumed to be your "escort".
>As you step onto the chariot, you glance back to Twilight Sparkle.
"I'll be back soon, okay?"
>She smiles and nods. "Tell Princess Celestia her faithful student says hello."
>You nod in return, but as soon as you get one foot into the thing, you spare a glance back at Twilight, who seemed rather saddened that she wasn't joining you.
>Confound you, conscience. Why must you make me feel feelings of sadness and guilt?
 
>As you hesitate, you receive a few annoyed glares from the pegasi team. You shrug them off and walk back towards Twilight.
"Why not tell her yourself?"
>Her eyes widen, honestly surprised at your words.
>"What? But... I..."
"Hey. If it wasn't for you and your friends, I wouldn't even BE here. I think she would understand if I brought along some emotional support."
>Squealing like an overexcited schoolgirl, she wraps her forelegs around your sides in a bonecrushing hug, and bolts for the chariot. Laughing, you join her, and soon, the two fo you are lifted into the air, the chariot being led by the pegasi team.
>Below, Spike watches the two of you disappear over the horizon.
>"I get the feeling that I should feel insulted right about now..."
 
>Meanwhile, you're holding on for dear fucking life as you fly through the air in nothing more than a FUCKING CHARIOT.
>It takes all of your fucking willpower to not scream like a little bitch at the fact you have so little footing, and that it was COLD AS HELL up here. Fuck the cold.
>"Anon, we're almost there, look!"
>You shiver, looking in the direction that Twilight indicated, your eyes going as wide as dinner plates when you see the fuckhuge castle sticking out of the mountainside.
>Any and all sense of fear is immediately replaced by awe as you circle around the castle, slowing to a stop as the chariot slowly descends, landing softly in front of a large multitude of steps that lead up toa massive door made out of what you assume is mahogany.
>With a groan, the massive doors part as the tallest fucking pony you've ever seen walks down the stairs. What's more, not only does she have a horn like Twilight, but she's also got a pair of wings that seem to be flared twenty-four/seven.
>"So, you're the 'Anonymous' I've heard so much about..." she says, her eyes focused on you as she descends the stairs at a pace you consider AGONIZINGLY SLOW. "The legends were true, then... A Human walks amongst ponykind once more..."
>A tiny sneeze from behind you causes Celestia to crane her neck, her eyes widening in surprise, then chuckles as a small smile appears on her face.
>"Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student... It is quite a surprise to see you!"
 
>Twilight laughs sheepishly, stepping out from behind you.
>"Sorry for dropping by unannounced, Princess. I haven't seen you for so long, and Anonymous invited me to accompany him... It was an offer I couldn't refuse."
>Celestia smiles, looking from her, to me, then back to her, and nods.
>"I understand completely, my faithful student. I suppose it's just as well, then. These dreams young Anonymous has been having concern you as well, do they not?"
>Twilight nods.
>"Yes Princess."
>Celestia turns around, motioning for the two of you to follow her with one of her impressive wings.
>As the two of you trail behind her, she begins to speak.
>"So, Anonymous, tell me about this dream of yours... The one that has my dear Twilight Sparkle so worried..."
>You sigh, once more recounting the strange visions you witnessed, her eyes widening in shock when you tell her of the immobile forms of Twilight and her friends, with the broken jewelry, and her eyes narrowed when you began to describe the creature that you were facing. She is silent for a long time, and the walk throughout the halls of the castle became somewhat uncomfortable.
>"This is most troubling, Anonymous..." said Celestia, eyes lingering on Twilight. "For the Elements of Harmony to be destroyed, and for Discord to return... I am worried that what you have seen is no mere dream, but perhaps a... vision of the future."
>You look from Twilight, to Celestia, laughing nervously.
"Y-You're kidding, right? Right?"
>Silence was their only answer.
 
"You've got to be joking... No way I can see the future... That's impossible!"
>"It is no joke, Anonymous... and as for the issue regarding your supposed clairvoiyance... With all the dangers our fair kingdom has faced, we cannot afford to be careless."
>You sigh. Of course... Twilight had told you of the things she had seen, and how she and her friends had played a role in each of these incidents... You couldn't blame either of them for being so cautious.
"Even then... I'm not even sure I can USE magic... All I'd gotten out of that dream was a headache and a tingle in my arm..."
>Celestia raises an eyebrow, stepping closer to you.
>"Show me."
>You nod dumbly, extending your left arm, your palm facing upwards.
>Celestia offers you a smile. "Very good. Now I want you to hold still... I need to check something."
>You gulp, but nod nonetheless as she leans down, her horn hovering mere centimeters above your palm. Your eyes widen as you feel that tingle return, and before you can say anything, her horn makes contact with your hand, causing a flash, and a surge of energy to erupt from the point of contact, causing Celestia to be pushed backwards, whereas the left sleeve of your suit was shredded into oblivion, and your body sent spiraling into the opposite wall.
>Twilight, eyes wide, begins screaming. "WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT?"
>Celestia, groans, stepping forward to explain.
>"That..." she said, holding a forehoof to her head. "Was magical feedback... a lot of it."
 
 
>"What? But how, Princess? I mean..."
>Celestia shook her head, still trying to rid herself of the headache. "Simple. I tried to force a fragment of my own power into his body."
>Twilight blanched. "WHAT." was all she could say.
>"Now now... I didn't necessarily GIVE him some of my power... that would be foalish. I simply had a fragment of my power enter him. If he was magically inclined, his body would force it out using its own magic, causing a magical feedback. If not, I would have to pull my magic out of him myself." She paused as she hears you groaning in the background. "Unfortunately, I had no idea he had so much magical power within him. He could be a magician on par with your own abilities, given practices and patience..."
>Twillight blinked. "That's... That's..."
>You groan again, causing the two of them to look at your battered and bruised form.
"That's nice and all, but could you get me down from here?"
>Celestia give you that stellar smile of hers, and levitates you to the ground, where you promptly collapse.
"Ow... So this is what it feels like to be a crash test dummy..."
>Celestia raises an eyebrow and turns to Twilight for some explanation, but she only shrugs as Celestia raises your limp form into the air once again, draping you across her back.
>"Come along, Twilight, Anonymous. I'll have the maids prepare you a room for the evening so you can recover. We'll talk more tomorrow."
>You groan your thanks, feeling yourself slipping into unconsciousness as you're carried along.