Sarah's admiration for My Little Pony blossomed into a cherished passion that colored her childhood. Each episode was a portal to a vibrant realm filled with enchanting landscapes and delightful characters, igniting her imagination. The vivid hues and cheerful expressions of the ponies resonated deeply within her, evoking a sense of joy and nostalgia. As she gazed at the screen, longing to step into that magical world, she felt a bittersweet pang of reality, realizing that the barrier of the computer screen kept her from experiencing the warmth and wonder of Ponyville firsthand. Yet, the connection remained strong, allowing her to escape into that beloved universe time and again.

If there was any world that she would love to live in peace in, it was Equestria.

But she never thought in a-million years that a day like that would come in such tragic circumstances.

"No way…" Matthew was genuinely shocked.

"Oh, heck yeah!" Sarah shouted, leaping high in the air out of joy.

Joel remained transfixed by the system log's cryptic message. The words flash before him like a digital heartbeat, while Sarah frolicked across the sun-kissed beach. Her laughter echoed in the salty air as she leaped and twirled, embodying the carefree spirit of summer. Matthew turned away from the screen, his expression a mix of disbelief and wonder as he stared at the sandy floor. He placed both hooves on his face and shook his head. Mia nestled beside Joel while sifting her tiny hooves through the warm sand, her giggles punctuating the moment with innocent joy that created a whimsical contrast to the serious atmosphere surrounding Joel.

"You've gotta be kidding me," Matthew said, pulling his hooves away from his face and stared forward. "Out of all worlds that we could've been reincarnated in, it has to be this one? Of all things?!"

Sarah walks up to Matthew with a giggle.

"I don't know why you're upset, Matthew," Sarah said, as she nudged him playfully. "I mean, you watched and love the show just as much as I do."

Joel turned his gaze towards Matthew.

"You watched My Little Pony?" Joel asked, looking at his son curiously. Heat rushed up from Matthew's nape to his cheeks.

"Yeah," Matthew replied, shifting his gaze towards his father. "I didn't watch it at first because I thought it was too girly, but then one day out of curiosity I decided to watch the first episode with my sister. Thus began my unexpected obsession."

Sarah nodded in agreement.

"He's a really big fan of Twilight Sparkle, and has a wallpaper of her in his laptop," Sarah added with a teasing smile. Matthew snapped his gaze back at Sarah with a glare.

"Hey! He doesn't need to know that!" Matthew shouted. Joel chuckled, amused by his son's blush that matched.

"But hey, you can't deny that all of this is amazing," Sarah said, gesturing towards the colorful landscape. "We actually landed in Equestria! The real thing! Oh my god, think about all the possibilities; we could actually meet Twilight and her friends, the princesses, and—"

"No."

Sarah and Matthew turned toward their father as he looked back at them, his expression stern.

"No?" Sarah was confused.

"No," Joel said firmly. "We can't just recklessly intervene in any of the events that'll come according to play in the future. One slip up or one alternation could change the course of history."

Matthew arched a brow at his father.

"But dad, don't you think that with us here it hasn't already been affected?" Matthew asked questioningly.

Joel blinked in surprise. That actually shook him slightly, and he realized that his son was right. The show never mentioned anything of four other alicorns in Equestria, let alone them. Although he may not have watched the show himself, he understood the potential consequences of intermingling with the story's many routes. Another issue was the timeline that they're in. Joel wasn't entirely sure how far into the story they were, be it the medieval era with the two sisters or the start of the show when Twilight came to Ponyville.

Many like his daughter would've made the decision to befriend the lavender alicorn the moment they met Twilight. Most probably choosing to try and do something to change the future. But Joel knew that rash decisions would only lead to chaos. The story was delicate, threads intricately woven to maintain balance. There were so many unknowns of he and his children's existence here in Equestria that charging foolhardy into the future could have dire consequences.

"Okay, you got a good point," Joel admitted, his voice tinged with a newfound caution. "But no one is aware of our existence in this world. So for now, I intend to keep it that way."

"But for how long, Dad?" Matthew asked, tilting his head.

Joel briefly looked at the sandy floor then back at his son.

"As long as I hope it'll be," Joel replied.

Joel looked back at the blue interface. Below the enigmatic text, he notices one word standing out prominently: 'Continue.' Joel took a deep breath before raising his hoof, feeling the cool surface of the button beneath his touch. He pressed down firmly, and a melodic jingle echoed through the air, signaling the transition to a new message. As the screen flickered to life, he began to read the new text.

[ Inhabited by magical ponies and other talking creatures, such as griffins and dragons. Other animals and creatures also live in Equestria. As new inhabitants of the world, you must leave behind your old identity and choose a new name for yourself. ]

[ Continue ]

Joel gently punched the button.

[ YOUR NAME ]

Three notification logs popped up in front of Matthew, Sarah, and Mia. The family stared at their own respective interfaces, sharing a saddening frown on their countenance upon facing the sad reality. They were no longer the humans they had once been; the memories of their former lives felt like ghosts haunting their thoughts. A wave of grief washed over them each time they thought of their old names. Reminding them of the life they could never return to.

But they realized that embracing their new identities was essential for healing. The idea of selecting new names became a symbol of their rebirth, a way to honor their transformation while letting go of the pain. They began to brainstorm names that resonated with their new forms, reflecting the qualities they hoped to embody as alicorn ponies.

All four of the notification logs echoed a jingle once they had typed down their new names.

[ Welcome to Equestria:

Astral Shroud (Joel)

Duke Bravestone (Matthew)

Windy (Mia)

Ray Brightbloom (Sarah) ]

The log closes and opens up again before the pony family.

[ Each of you four new ponies have been granted with a magical program simply called [u]System/u]. The system is designed to assist your development through your journey in this world. Failure to comply with the system will result in losing your skill points and money. ]

Everypony exchanges glances with raised eyebrows. The panel briefly vanishes then reappears shortly after.

[Daily Quests: Basic Training

Comfirm ]

Astral presses his hoof on the button. The panel vanishes then reappears in front of them.

[ [QUEST LOG]

( Daily Quests: Basic Training has arrived )

GOAL

Number 1: Learn how to walk properly.

Number 2: Learn how to sprint properly.

Number 3: Learn how to fly properly.

Number 4: Learn how to activate your Magic through your horn.

Reward: 1,000 Skill Points and a new Skill. ]

Duke raised a brow as he looked at the log panel's instructions.

"Is it just me? Or does this look like something out of a video game?" Duke questioned, raising a brow.

"More like an rpg," Ray replied.

Astral placed his hoof on his chin in thought.

"Well, I've played enough rpg games myself to know how this works," Joel said, looking between Duke and Ray. "We're gonna be here for a while, so at least with this it'll give us something to work on. I say we take it. So, are you guys ready?"

Duke shifted his gaze towards his father.

"Ready when you are," Duke replied.

Ray nodded her head.

"Always," Ray added.

Windy chimed in. "Boo boo."

Astral redirected his gaze back at the panel.

Staring at the confirm button before pressing his hoof on it.


Two Weeks Later…

Two weeks have passed since Astral and his kids were brought back to life in the Equestrian realm. He did not want to come across as overly dramatic, but he has changed significantly in the last two weeks. During their second day in Equestria, he was able to lift an island in mid-ocean using only his hooves, demonstrating how strong his body is. He and his kids have also successfully flown for the first time, executing some acrobatic maneuvers and consistently avoiding obstacles. All four of them do, however, have one issue.

They are not proficient at landing after two weeks of practice. However, it is not always a bad thing. In particular, Astral views his mistakes as a pathway to success that also teaches him and his kids something new about themselves. They are capable of withstanding a severe beating. Could be useful.

Magic was another issue Astral and his children struggled with. Duke was finally able to utilize his magic on the tenth day of their time on the island. For his reward he unlocked his first skill: Cloak. Basically the power to hide the presence of oneself, other ponies like his family members for example or locations, preventing others from discovering one's location. Since he was a level three, he can only stay invisible for five minutes. However, the system stated after he had earned his skill that if he continues leveling up, the minutes will increase.

Although Duke didn't know any spells to cast. He spends his time using his magic by picking up the smallest of things, taking baby steps before setting his sights for higher goals. Sometimes he would juggle pebbles above his head in front of Windy as a sort of show for his baby sister. Other times he'd be turning his magic off and on again, trying to get used to the feeling of his power flaring around his horn.

Ray had been trying to balance her time between training. Flying in the air frequently and practicing maneuvers she'd only dreamt about. But if she's not doing that, she would occupy herself by testing the limits of her magic by creating small balls of energy to illuminate their checkpoint at night. Each glowing orb shimmered brightly, casting playful shadows that danced along the grass. After ascending to the same level as her brother, Ray unlocked her skill to be immune to certain magical projectiles or spells; meaning if an opponent were to use any kind of spell or shoot a beam of magic at her, it will not affect her whatsoever.

Windy had been sitting around observing her family training their abilities. Due to her being a foal, she was the only one among the family that didn't receive the basic training quest. Much to Astral's relief; it meant she could stay by his side, free from the pressures he and her siblings faced. But that didn't stop the adorable little foal from watching her family training their new skills with wide, curious eyes. The soft rustle of leaves and the rhythmic beating of wings lulled her into dreams of adventure.

Astral received a skill called production magic. An extraordinary skill capable of producing anything as long as he had the right ingredients; whether it was wood of all types, crystals, or gems. It is with the loads of wood he had gathered with his magic that he managed to create their first house a few feet away from the beach. The house was big enough to accommodate all of them comfortably. However, upon entering the rooms Astral noticed there weren't any beds. So he had to gather more wood to create one for himself and his children.

Now he can put his worries of sleeping outside to rest.

Astral had also assigned his son Duke the important task of exploring the surrounding area for edible sustenance as recommended by their new system. Since their transformation, their dietary needs had significantly shifted, leading to a unique culinary routine. Each morning they would enjoy crisp apples, relishing the sweetness as part of their breakfast. On fortunate days if Duke managed to uncover any eggs during his foraging, they would delight in those as a supplementary meal, adding variety to their diet. This ongoing search for food inspired Astral to design a layout for vegetable patches just a few feet away from their home, utilizing his production skills to cultivate a sustainable source of nourishment. He envisioned a thriving garden that would not only provide for their needs but also serve as a testament to their resilience and adaptability in this new world.

Astral watched his daughter Ray walking confidently past a pot filled with dirt. Her horn began to glow in light as she concentrated on the spell, whilst whistling a musical tune. The pot was then shrouded in a magical aura, then with a swift raise of her horn, the light grew brighter in a colorful and bedazzling cyan. Within the pot, limbs of roots and branches began to sprout from bottom to the top as it slowly began to grow bigger, and bigger. More roots stretched as they danced around the tower-like mangrove while another grasped tightly around it. Astral's lips formed a proud smile as he watched the now gigantic tree have fully reached its prime.

"Looks like you're getting the hang of it, Ray," Astral said.

Ray rolled her body around to face her father.

"You bet," Ray responded, staring down at her raised hoof. "And the crazy part is, I'm not even tired. I have so much magic overflowing throughout my body. It's amazing!"

Duke suddenly materializes beside her with a smug grin.

"Couldn't agree more," Duke chimed in, his own horn aglow with faint energy. "Seems like we're quite the powerful trio, huh?"

Ray stumbled back with a startled shout escaping her lips. Her heart raced while her hoof instinctively pressed against her chest as if to calm the frantic beating within. Ray's eyes widened in disbelief, locking onto her brother. The moment hung in the air, thick with tension, but as she recognized the familiar face, her shock quickly morphed into a fierce glare. The anger simmered just beneath the surface, her expression hardening as she confronted him.

"Why do you keep doing that?!" Ray demanded, glaring at him. Duke chuckled a little.

"Because you're too easy to scare," Duke replied.

Astral raised a brow at Duke.

"And where have you been?" Astral asked, raising a questioning brow at his son.

Duke shifted his gaze towards his father.

"I was just doing my flight training until I saw something down below," Duke replied.

Ray blinked at her brother.

"Saw what?" Ray asked, looking at her brother curiously.

"A village," Duke replied. "I was gonna come back to inform you guys, but I decided to go down and take a look for myself. What I found there was…something.."

Astral stared worryingly at his son.

"What did you find?" Astral inquired, standing up from his position.

Duke rubbed the back of his nape.

"It's bad, Dad. Really, really bad," Duke replied. "Have you ever seen photos of those concentration camps during the World War 2 era? Imagine that but replace humans with Ponies. When I arrived at the entrance, I noticed the gate was barely hanging on. About twenty-five huts were still standing while a-hundred of them were destroyed, and the whole village is inhabited by earth ponies. But all of that pales in comparison to the main issue."

Astral and Ray exchanged glances before looking back at Duke.

"And what is the main issue?" Astral asked.

Duke sighed.

"They can't speak our language," Duke replied, shaking his head.

The quest log suddenly materialized before the alicorns. Astral stared down at the panel, reading its new message displaying in front of him.

The last sentence sent a chill down their spine.

[ [QUEST LOG]

( Daily Quests: Create a New Village has arrived )

GOAL

Number 1: Teach the villagers the modern language.

Number 2: Rebuild the village.

Number 3: Create a water well.

Number 4: Bond with the villagers.

Reward: 2,000 Skill Points and a new Skill.

Failure to complete this quest in seventy-six days will result in both the villagers and the village receiving a great Penalty ]


A/N: Hope you all enjoyed the second chapter. No words could describe how surprised I am at how much love, support, and attention this story received. Not a day goes by where I wake up to find my notification filled with so many likes, favorites, and saved bookshelves. I really can't thank you all enough for it. Now I know there are some of you who might not like this whole system thing going on in this story.

I have established before that I was writing this story for my entertainment. So I already know better then the next man that not everyone is going to like this take, so I won't blame any of you at all if y'all decide to stop reading. While I was writing the second chapter, I had so many ideas swirling around in my mind on how I should start the first section; whether it be a small scene of Celestia staring at the sun rising in the sky, Twilight hanging with her friends, or something else. But I decided to scratch that out of the drawing board.

I wanted to keep my main focus on Astral and his family. Showing them adjusting their time in Equestria, and perfecting both their skills and magical power. I also have some ideas on how the system should be used in the story's setting; making it more then just a holographic, touchable panel that pops out of nowhere and make it become something much more. Next chapter will feature Astral and his family trying their best to help the villagers however way they can, and make the village even better then before. (If God wills), I'll be sure to get started on chapter 3 soon. With all of that said I'll be going now. I hope you all have a wonderful day or night wherever you are!

See you all in the next chapter, my little shimmerings!