Chapters The New World Chapter One
Randis Janeson is a man in his early twenties. He is about six feet tall, with slightly wavy mid length red hair, and green eyes. He was naturally built a little stocky, but had never attempted to exercise his form into that of an athlete, which had resulted in a slightly pudged looking man who had seemed slightly out of place everywhere he went.
Perhaps that is why he had chosen to go to college for a career in science. Particularly a science that was merely theory, at the time of his high school graduation, but had quickly developed into reality, during his college career, and especially after his college graduation. When he had walked into the small class, whose professor seemed slightly deranged, he had been asked a question concerning a certain high level principle in the science in which he wished to partake, Interdimensional research.
The question had been shocking at first, it isn't often one walks into a room and is assaulted by an eccentric man who insists you answer, “How do we currently split the universal-dimensional barriers, and why does this work?”
Randis took a moment to contemplate the answer, absentmindedly sticking his right hand fingers between the buttons on his over-shirt, and scratching at his belly. After seemingly conferring with himself, and nodding, he stated simply, “We don't, but we think that if we could create a pair of gravity fields strong enough, and have them pull a common point in multiple opposite directions at once, we could cause a temporary rift in our space-time, which we could potentially manipulate to align with a similar rift in another's space time.”
His professor stood, shocked for a second, and then smiled a slow, knowing smile. He nodded, and said, “you may take your seat, my student. You are the first to pass that test, and I believe you should realize now that you have raised the bar for yourself. For once I wont trip when I leave my classroom.”
That had been six years ago today, since then, Randis had graduated, and been granted a research laboratory and research funds to last him ten years. He had assembled a team of the worlds top minds in a number of fields including energy, physics, nuclear, graviton (still a fledgling science in his time), and of course, interdimensional research.
He, and his team, had spent two years now developing and refining techniques for crossing the interdimensional barriers. Their first breakthrough, and headlining, moment had been just under six months before. They had successfully opened and maintained a portal and had been able to send a small drone through with a camera to grant a live feed to the lab monitors.
What they had seen had taken their breath away, as they had opened a portal right above an alien world, in a conceivably different universe. Below their drone, now helplessly floating (or, perhaps in free-fall orbit around said planet) was a large, rocky world. However, it was all a drab gray-black, with little atmosphere, and no signs of life. Their drone slowly spun in the vacuum, and offered them a view of the surrounding space. As it spun clockwise, they were given a view of a beautiful red dwarf, and further to the right, the planets small moon. Then, it spun just a bit more right, and they got to see a small bit of space debris, which happened to be floating straight for their portal.
This had caused minor panic and forced them to cut power to their devices and close the portal rather abruptly. This had caused a few minor failures to equipment which was rather essential to their work. However, after footage of the event was released to the world, donations and corporate sponsorships began to flood in. This the amount raised was more than enough to repair, and replace, their damaged equipment. They were able to replace their lost drone, and purchase another fiber optic line to run signal back to their monitors, and continue their research.
Over the next six months they had spent more time optimizing the operation of their portals, and making their opening, maintaining, and closing a more efficient process. At least, that is what their official operations had consisted of. Most of the scientists working with Randis were doing just what their reports said, however a small group had been working with Randis on how to target the portal.
Their portals had opened in a number of random places over the course of their work, but they had finally gotten their software programmed to the point where it could reopen the same portal, or even create one in the same area, which could view the location of the previous. They had, in fact, recovered their original drone, and the other half of the severed cable. Which proved to be another important step.
Their drone had been equipped with various sensors that were to monitor the rift they created. Several were just to test the integrity, and strength of the portal, while others were to monitor its impact on various substances.
The drone had been housing a few small insects, to see how biological creatures faired in the portals event horizon, and in the theorized space between the first portal, and the output portal. While the bugs were long dead, an unfortunate consequence of being left in space for several months, the drone had recorded their existence while they interacted with the portal, and had some good results. However, others were less than desirable.
On the plus side, the insects had not been harmed by the event horizons on either end of the portal. However, during transit between the portals the insects had been mentally scrambled. Their behavior became unpredictable and irrational. Ranging from spinning in a small circle on one spot in their enclosure, to eating their own limbs. This behavior was part of a group of possible reactions to the high-energy area created between universes. This had been discovered just seven days previously.
~~~~
Today Randis walked through the halls of his labs, hardly sparing a thought to what had brought him to where he was. His life had been a good one, despite his feeling of incongruence, and he wished nothing against his fellow man. However, he did not wish to live among them. As a child he had often given thought to fantasies of elves, dwarves, and evil goblins. When he had gotten older he had kept these thoughts just below the surface, as a main driving force toward his work, and had come within inches of completing his goal.
As Randis reached the portal generation chamber, he paused. He thought back to the previous Saturday, when he had informed his team that experiencing the barrier caused the subject to lose their wits. He had sent them on a short vacation, under the preface of having them think up an answer in their spare time, while he would spend some time alone in the labs.
Of course, one did not become the head of a field of science, unless they were not fairly good at problem solving within that field. As soon as the insects had been studied, he knew had to get around the issue. The real issue was that conscious mental exposure to the rift could drive one insane, which is most easily solved by unconsciousness.
Now, here he stood. The hallway containing various pieces of equipment to monitor the portal generator was behind him, and the portal room itself was in front of him. He opened the door, and began adjusting the equipment. He was programming the various devices as though he were in a dream. Of course, that almost was the case.
Each of his most important breakthroughs had come from dreams, as had his original wish to join this particular science. He was currently calibrating the machines based on the calibrations he had seen in one of his oldest dreams. His only reoccurring dream. One that took him from his current world, and placed him into a world of medieval technologies and a multitude of races. A world of magic, mystics, and gods. And, while he was unsure of the exact nature of these races, he could wait no longer.
Randis had been taken over by a sense of urgency over the last few weeks. This feeling had driven him on, and forced him to accelerate his plans to travel to this world. He was receiving a message from a heavenly voice while he slept, and it was telling him that one of his closest allies was going to intervene. Or, maybe even take his place in going to the world. He couldn't have that now, could he.
~ ~ ~ ~
While Randis was busy doing final calibrations, calculations, and procedure, on his target world six friends were getting ready to have a picnic. They each laughed as they trotted up a hill just outside of their hometown of Ponyville. They were exchanging trivial gossip and recent happenings with the occasional giggle, until a chase broke out between a pair of the group, one having stolen the other's hat.
The other four stopped to laugh while their friends raced to their destination. Twilight Sparkle, a purple unicorn with a pink striped purple mane, took the first step forward, and beckoned the others to follow. As her four remaining friends folllowed, one of the group broke away from the rest to join the chase, bouncing onto Twilight, and after Rainbow Dash and Applejack. This caused Fluttershy and Rarity to laugh again, while Twilight was left grumbling.
“Pinkie Pie!” Twilight called, knowing it wouldn't help, “Guh, fine. Come on girls, lets catch up to those three.” With that, they made their way up the rest of the hill and found their friends in a pseudo-wrestling match with Applejack and Rainbow Dash fighting over the hat and Pinkie Pie making counts whenever one pinned the other to the ground.
“Oh, dear. They are going to get absolutely filthy rolling around in the dirt like that! It rained just the other day!” Rarity claimed, in slight exasperation. However, she did so with affection for her friends.
“Oh, um. I think they'll be alright. But, um, I was wondering if, um, we could start the picnic. I am, um, well kinda, just a little bit hungry... oh...” Fluttershy attempted to state. She started strongly, but her sentence got weaker and quieter with each syllable.
“Thats a good idea, Fluttershy. We can go ahead and set up, they will come over when they get hungry,” Twilight replied. After which, she used her magic to take the basket from Fluttershy, the blanket from Rarity, and the dishes from her own saddlebags. Once every item was in the air she bergan to prepare them for use, laying out the blanket in a perfectly-smooth and unwrinkeld manner, setting the picnic basket in the exact center of the blanket, having calculated the position on the way over, and placing the dishes for each member of their group. “There, perfect,” she concluded.
Fluttershy clapped her hooves at the spectacle, while Rarity smiled and unpacked the basket. Placing the various foods at cardinal points around the picnic basket. Fluttershy tentatively began to place a small serving of each of the six choices and quietly dug in. Twilight and Rarity each decided to wait for the other three, and gossip a little more before eating their share. However, they were interrupted.
Just as Pinkie, Rainbow, and Applejack began to head back to the picnic (two of them panting from exertion), they stopped and looked skyward. Pinkie let out a famous gasp, which caught the attention of those by the picnic basket, who looked skyward as well. And what a thing they saw.
~ ~ ~ ~
Randis finally finished calibrating his equipment and was finally able to activate the portal device. He had just a couple of things to do before stepping through. First, he wished not to be followed. To stop anyone from catching up to him he had written a simple command line which would run the portal for just long enough to get him through, then it would close the portal, then it would delete the coordinates and calculations he has used to get himself to his new world. Once the programme had been activated he was given a set amount of time to get through his portal.
The second order of business was to be unconscious. This was a bit more difficult. He had purchased some knock-out gas the night they retrieved the first drone and had since had a small amount ready for this instance. He prepared the dose, and opened the portal room door. Once inside he experienced massive pull from the rift, as was expected. He grabbed a hold of a rail to his right with all of his might and the forgotten door was pulled closed by machinations of the lab. He felt the pull of the portal increase as it reached its maximum strength and his feet were pulled free of the floor. As he became parallel with the floor, he applied the gas.
His goal was to use the portal to pull himself into the other world, as soon as he gained full unconsciousness. Randis had done some thinking, and came to the conclusion that if he could no longer hold himself in his world, and was pulled to the other, then he would probably be unconscious. And, so far, it seemed his plan would work.
He felt his last vestiges of active thought slip away and off he went. His hand came free of the rail and his feet entered the portal. Just about ten seconds after he disappeared the portal closed and the traces of his last act in the world of his birth were destroyed. However, one had seen everything.
~ ~ ~ ~
As each of the six picnic-ing ponies looked toward the shimmering rip in the sky about twenty five feet above them, they could think of no action to take. Then two, one of the brightest and one of the boldest, moved a small distance closer to the rift. One being Twilight Sparkle began to probe it with a few spells to see what this was. From her initial observations it was clear to be some form of teleportation magic, though the duration of this spell seemed to be incredible. She attempted to scoop a sample of the power used to create the portal before her, but was shocked and thrown backward. A sharp pain occurred in her head, similar to the magical overburn that young unicorns feel once they learn telekinesis. Rarity apparently had a similar pain, as she screwed her eyes closed and put a hoof to her forehead.
The other who moved happened to be Rainbow Dash. She had been tentatively moving slightly closer to the rift until she had seen Twilight get thrown back and Rarity gasp in pain. Both of these instances were more than enough to get her back on the ground and next to her friends to see if they were alright.
As the six gathered together, a small flash occurred. They looked upward and saw a form falling from the portal. It was rather strange, with a short neck, odd clothes, and long legs. The thing seemed to be vaguely aware of itself, as though it had just woken up. They all heard a short scream before it collided with the earth about forty feet from them with a loud thud.
Each of the ponies paused taking a moment to cringe at the pain likely experienced by the creature. “Oh, that's gotta hurt!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, likely from past experience.
After a few seconds the six friends cautiously trotted over to the creature, who's face had buried slightly in the ground. “This is quite strange,” Twilight Sparkle began, “I have never seen anything like this! It kind of resembles a minotaur, but t doesn't have hooves or a tail. And so little hair!” She began to poke at and prod Randis while he lay, twitching the occasional finger, on the ground. “I think it is unconscious. It seems to be breathing fine and it has a pulse, but I can't think of any other reason as to why it hasn't really moved or done anything. Strange,” She finished.
“Well, what do ya' recon that we do, Twilight? I don' think we have ever dealt with somethin' like this before...” Applejack said with uncertainty.
Each of the six looked toward the De facto leader of their group, and she looked back. After a few moments of pause, Twilight answered, “I think I need to write a letter. But first, lets move this thing somewhere safer. Where it can't escape from, just in case it is dangerous.” She then picked the unconscious form of Randis up and looked to the others.
“Well, uh, I suppose we could put it in a barn. We can always lock the door from the outside. I can keep an eye on it until the princess tells us what ta' do,” Applejack offered.
“Good idea,” Twilight responded, “Girls, let's go. We need to get this thing somewhere we can keep an eye on it and where it can't cause trouble. Rainbow Dash, I would like you to go get Spike and take him to Applejack's where I can have him send my letter to the princess. Everpony else, lets go!” With that they each took off, Rainbow Dash flying toward the town library, and the other five galloped to Sweet Apple Acres, where they would lock up their temporary prisoner.
Once each group had completed their task and Rainbow Dash had deposited Spike next to Twilight, the purple unicorn began her letter.
“Dear Princess Celestia...”
Chapter Two
Princess Celestia had been dozing while attending a court meeting to settle the differences between a pair of nobles. They had been discussing, or arguing, about ownership of a particular parcel of land between their estates. The Bellerose family were insisting ownership over the few acres had belonged to their family for years while the Eisenbergs, a more humble if rather fiery group of partyers, were fairly certain that they had owned the land dating back to the founding of Canterlot, if not even before that. Celestia had to agree with the Eisenberg nobles, being as she had at one time attended a number of their outings. However, she was forced to sit through negotiations and bickerings in relative quiet, since her role was that of the neutral observer.
Though, that was only what they had been doing. Now, she was having a bit of fun. The generally regal and proper princess had been given the opportunity to act nearly out of character and much more violent due to a letter that had materialized next to her from a puff of green fire. The arrival of which had stunned everypony in attendance and provided her with the chance to set into motion what was bound to be one of the more entertaining moments of the month.
“Please, princess,” The legal representative of the Bellerose family had said, moments before the letter's arrival, “Do take a look at these plat books. They contain proof of my client's ownership of the five acre section, halfway down Foal's Creek. These books show ownership for the last thirteen years, and...” at that point he had stopped, mouth open and speechless.
Princess Celestia had been similarly startled by the sudden materialization of the letter, but, knowing it's origin, she had not been overly concerned. However, upon seeing the startled, even worried, looks of those in attendance, she decided to have a bit of fun. It had been, after all, not long since Nightmare Moon had made an appearance on the scene and things had gone astray for the nobles for the period of a day, what with the prospect of having a slightly evil monarch taking power and land from them.
Celestia took the opportunity to go into full commander mode, immediately tearing open the letter and ordering guards brought to the throne room. As she read the contents of the letter from her student, being as there were few if any others who could send her a message in such a manner, she maintained an authoritative pose, in an attempt to look as in command and imposing as possible. Given the way most ponies usually reacted to her calm and kind stance, the reactions she was getting from this were priceless. She was sure at least two court nobles had soiled themselves, and several others had quietly slipped from the room.
Smirking slightly, Celestia continued the letter. She had reached the quarter way-point when she reacted with complete surprise. She had reached the first accurate enough description of the creature Twilight was requesting assistance with to be sure of what it was. This had the best reaction yet. To see their leader's completely shocked expression had caused hysteria within the court nobles. Many had collapsed and were crying lightly, for fear of what ancient foe had come to conquer them this time. This brought Celestia quickly out of her own shock, and into proper action for the situation.
She stood from her throne, putting as much effort as she could into acting calm and proper again. She then called for her younger sister, Luna, and addressed the court while a guard fetched her.
“Nobles and Royal Guards in attendance with the Royal Court. An issue has arisen that I must be personally present to take care of. Canterlot life will not be affected, and neither will the daily life of Equestria as a whole. Please, calm yourselves and PLEASE stop cowering in my court,” she paused for a breath and then continued, “My younger sister, and co-ruler, shall take over the rest of the court for today. As for this issue we had been discussing, the land belongs to the Eisenberg family, as I have had personally been on those lands under their control, and I would ask for you of the Bellerose family to drop the issue unless I should investigate the tampering with the county plat books that you brought to our court today.”
At those last words the Bellerose family perked up, eyes wide. They quietly gathered their things, and headed toward the court doors. While they left through the main doors for the court, Princess Luna entered through a side door near the thrones. She looked a bit tired, which was to be expected as it was only early afternoon, and she had likely been just woken up. She looked to Celestia, eyes accusing, wanting answers.
“Don't worry Luna, it is just a small situation in Ponyville with my student. She has stumbled upon another ancient relic,” Celestia offered.
“Sister, the guard told me what you did to the nobles. You go play with your student, I am surprised that these ponies even follow you anymore,” Luna replied annoyed by lack of rest, slight insult at being referred to as a relic, and upset by her sister's occasional childishness.
Celestia took her sister's sour tone in stride, more or less expecting her reaction. She was, however, quick to leave at the look her sister gave her after the retort. Some days you just need to act your age, and not annoy another being capable of leveling Canterlot.
With one last look at the court, somewhat calmer after her sister took over, she teleported to her study with the letter. She sat by her desk and reread the letter, carefully this time to catch every detail. Once she was sure of what had transpired in Ponyville, she gave action a bit of thought.
She couldn't remember any prophecies that were set to occur around this time, nor any old foes or allies who had been cursed and set to be released. Regardless of this, she could not remember meeting a creature like her student described.
From the description of the creature, it was a human. While not unknown to Equestria and the other races, humans had not been present for some time, many millennia in fact. They had disappeared some time before the founding of Equestria. Whether from war, famine, pestilence, or hubris depended on the legend. Humans had been depicted as everything from kind and thoughtful, to lofty and philosophical, and to war-hungry and cruel. Which was correct was unknown. However, Celestia had some trust when it came to humans due to an old friend.
Some two-thousand-five-hundred years before Celestia had been fairly close friends to a very old dragon, perhaps the oldest that the species had ever seen. This dragon boasted nearly five thousand years of life, and had been one of the best story tellers of the era. Old Firetail, he was called. Pretty easy to remember, being as he was old and he knew the wonderful trick of lighting his own tail on fire to impress a crowd, and get free drinks. Another interpretation of the name could have been from his stories, which was likely. He had been a plain red drake, with gold eyes that had seen everything. He wasn't even a god for his species.
Firetail had been one of the better influences Celestia had been graced over the last three- thousand some years, a good majority of her life, and had told her much of what she knew of the other races and the history of the world. The humans had been a popular subject of her younger days, at that time their legends had recently regained popularity.
“Firetail,” a young Celestia, barely larger than Luna after her return, said, “You are probably one of the oldest creatures on our world right now, and as such know a good deal of tales and history. However, I heard a new legend recently. One that you have never mentioned.”
“Oh? Something I haven't told you about?” Firetail asked, in mock disbelief. While he was old, and knew many stories, it was not too far fetched an idea that he may have missed a few. “Do tell me; what was it about and who told you this legend. I would like to know!”
Grinning, knowing something that Firetail apparently didn't, Celestia began, “It was an old earthpony stallion, about a century old by his count. He went by the name Three-Hoof, because his fourth leg was wooden, lost in combat with the Diamond Dogs over a small piece of border territory.”
At that, Firetail smirked. He had either heard about the skirmish of a war, or knew the storyteller. Either way, Celestia wasn't about to give up the chance to tell a tale.
She continued, “He opened the legend with 'Thousands of years ago,' as most legends start, and then described an ancient race. One who had long since disappeared.” That had Firetail's attention. He had once said that he had met every race, and had even listed them to Celestia as a way to show credibility when she questioned his word. He opened his eyes fully, the golden orbs seemingly begging for her to continue.
So she did, “They were a very widespread race whose home was unknown by the time they died out. They stood on two legs, like Diamond Dogs and Minotaurs, but had little fur. These creatures seemed to be nearly completely bald, in fact, other than a patch on the top of their head and a few sparse patches on their males.” By about this point Firetale was slowly nodding, possibly remembering something he had forgotten years before. Still Celestia pushed on, perfectly happy to play the role of storyteller, for once.
“These creatures had often participated in war, usually against one-another, but occasionally with other races. Their race, known as the Humans, were known by their enemies as monsters, and by their friends as protectors. Now, the Humans ...” She began to trail off as Firetale began to speak.
“... the Humans were as a whole peaceful and good, but could be easily led astray by the wants of their hearts. Oft times they would spark bitter rivalries over what they believed gave another group of their race and advantage over the rest. On occasion bloody wars, on a scale not seen since those times, would be waged... Did I never tell you about the humans?” Firetale asked, seemingly surprised.
“No, Firetale,” Celestia answered with a slight huff, “That is why I began to tell you the tale.”
Firetale thought, then replied, “Interesting. Just so you know, I met the last of the humans. It may seem crazy, considering they 'officially' went extinct before I had even been conceived as a little brown and pink speckled egg. However, like other races, they did have members with extreme longevity. This human had just passed his two-hundredth year on our world, and I was just barely fifteen myself. Our time was short, with him passing later that year. However, he did pass as much of the information about his race as he could, to me,” Firetale paused, he gave a small sigh.
“It isn't easy seeing someone you come to care about leave you so quickly,” He said, “especially for a young dragon with ages ahead of you. I digress, though,” He stopped again, and looked toward the sun setting in the distance. “Celestia, we can continue this story tomorrow. You know how dangerous these lands can be at night,” Firetale said, with a small flap of his wings to indicate the speed at which Celestia should head back to her home. Surprisingly quickly.
“Are you alright, Firetale? Did I upset you by bringing up the Humans?” Celestia asked, genuinely concerned for her friend.
Firetale looked down to the pony, and gave a chuckle, “Not really, young one. I just have much to think about and it will take a little while to get everything straightened out. Though what I say about the danger's of the dark are not false, you had best be off. I will see you tomorrow!” He finished on a happier tone, and spread his wings.
The old dragon gave three great, if tired, beats of his wings to get off the ground and fly back toward his home in a high mountain cave. Celestia decided to heed his advice and trotted home as quickly as she could, she knew her parents would be worried if she was out after dark.
Celestia opened her eyes, flowing hair and castle room around her. She knew there was more to be remembered, but at the moment needed to focus on aiding her student. From the letter, Twilight Sparkle's most pressing concerns were what to do with the creature, what it was, where it came from... Actually, her student had mentioned a lot of questions in the letter, but those three were the most important.
Celestia began her own letter;
To my most Faithful student, Twilight Sparkle,
I received your letter concerning the strange creature that you have currently locked in Applejack's barn. I have thought over the most pressing concerns of your letter, and am going to provide you with answers as best as I can at the moment.
First, the creature is a Human, from the description I would say that he is male. Humans are omnivorous but don't typically eat sentient beings. He is probably harmless, but I would be careful none the less.
Second, I would like for you to keep track of this creature for some time. I will set up a meeting by the end of this month for him to be brought to Canterlot, along with you and your friends, so we can assess any potential threat, or need, this Human may represent.
Third, I will have to admit that I know nothing about where this human came from. Humans have been extinct on our world for thousands of years, without even hoax sightings of them. The anomaly you described in the sky sounds like a crude magic portal, but I don't have the slightest idea where it may have originated at.
Lastly, I have another task. Do your best to learn about the Human while you have him with you. Ask about where he came from, what he is doing here, and whatever else you can think of that may be important to our later investigation.
Your mentor,
Princess Celestia
There, that looks very good, Celestia thought to herself. Short and to the point. She could have gone and seen the Human to assure that her assumptions were correct, but she needed to devote some time to memory, and attempt to remember those events that had occurred so long ago. She was sure that Twilight could handle it.
She felt a slight chill run down her spine when she thought that. Strange.
Chapter Three
Twilight Sparkle and the others waited patiently by the side of Applejack’s barn. The group had shrunk considerably since the ponies had brought the unconscious creature to Sweet Apple Acres. Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had each gone off to take care of their own personal business that day. Rarity obviously to open the boutique and Fluttershy to care for her animals while Rainbow was likely napping somewhere or simply performing flight tricks.
Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Spike and Applejack, however, had stayed behind. Twilight and Spike were waiting for the Princess’ letter, while Pinkie Pie was straining to do the same. Applejack had busied herself with chores on the Acres, though she was still interested in their discovery she also had much to do. As such she had moved away from the barn to check the orchard and harvest what fruit was ready.
This had left the other three to their own devices while they waited. Twilight had pulled a book from seemingly nowhere and started to read, while Spike settled down to take a nap on some nearby straw and Pinkie had started to bounce around the barn. Circling like a bird of prey waiting to dive on its victim. This had continued for a good twenty minutes until Twilight had finally had enough.
“Pinkie!” she had called, sharply, when the pink mare bounced by again, “what are you doing?”
“Oh, Twilight, I was just waiting for the letter to come!” Pinkie Pie replied, “I got bored and you had a book to read and Spike went to sleep and I didn’t have anyone to talk to and then my legs got tired of standing so I decided to move and wait at the same time! It was great! Has the letter come yet!? I really want to talk to this thing! I welcome everypony and it would be rude if I didn’t welcome this… thing? It might not like me then! What would I do~”
By that point Twilight, feeling sorry for interrupting her friends relatively quiet bouncing, had pushed her hoof into Pinkie’s mouth. Then spoke again to the mare, “Pinkie, I can tell you when the letter gets here. Why not just sit down for a bit and wait patiently? I mean, it can’t very long now. The Princess is always quick to write a response. She was probably just held up by a midday meeting with some nobles or something. She should be done with that at any time now. So come on! Walk over here and we can sit for a few minutes until the letter gets here.”
While Twilight walked back to her book, Pinkie stared after her. It had never occurred to the baker that sitting may be a way to pass the time. She thought to herself: Hey! Maybe sitting is fun! Oh, I think I should try, Twilight really wanted me to, and she sits a lot! Okay, I will sit until the letter gets here!
Now, with the duo sitting near the sleeping Spike, they waited. Little did they know that the Princess had indeed just left a meeting with some nobles, though in a strange manner, and was planning on writing the letter. However, she had just gotten caught up in her memories. Something that can take some time for a pony like Celestia to come out of.
~About half an hour later~
Twilight had made great progress on her book since Pinkie had decided to be still. The pink pony had distracted her every time she came around the barn, which had been surprisingly often, and had limited her progress to only about a quarter of the book. After Pinkie had sat down and become surprisingly still, however, Twilight had been able to nearly finish the book. She looked at the number of pages she had progressed and estimated that they had been at ease for about half an hour now. This brought something to the unicorn’s mind, though.
She thought: How strange, I didn’t know Pinkie could even sit still, much less for nearly half an hour! Had she dozed off while waiting? Or did she possess a greater discipline than I had previously thought and seen?
Twilight looked over to the mare to check on her, and was taken a bit aback. The pony had become a vibrating mass of pink. Scant bits were identifiable on the extremities of the shaking object. Maybe a bit of hair there, a flash of a hoof, nothing more was discernable though. Twilight began to wonder what should be done with this when Spike suddenly sat up.
The dragon belched, and out came a letter. He groggily picked it up and broke the seal.
“To my most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle,
I received your letter and was indeed puzzled by the creature which you described. However, you don’t need to worry because I do know what it is. This creature is something that used to live in our world thousands of years ago. Something called a Human. He should be perfectly harmless, but I would still recommend that you be careful. He may be slightly startled by the new surroundings and could act a bit like a cornered animal. Humans can also be dangerous if provoked. Just be nice and make sure that he is looked after. I would enjoy to meet with you, and your friends, about this matter sometime soon. I will schedule some time for us next week, when there are less nobles needing my assistance.
Your Mentor,
Princess Celestia”
Spike finished the letter, and then he laid back down to continue his nap.
Twilight Sparkle though over the letter for a little bit, and then turned to speak with Pinkie, “Well, since the Princess said it was okay… Pinkie?”
Pinkie Pie had gone, leaving a blur in the air behind her as she raced toward the door of the barn. Once there she threw the massive doors open knocking Randis over in the process and throwing him toward the rear of the building. Again knocking him unconscious.
~~ Five minutes before the letter arrived ~~
Randis came to, and thought the worse. Oh, no. ;He thought; I must not have gotten the correct dosage of gas. I think I must have been conscious for just long enough to scramble my thoughts because there is no way I saw what I remember seeing. Equine forms standing over me. One prodding me. That hurt a little.
Oh well, its gone now. I wonder where I am? At that he sat up, and fell back down.
Still a bit woosie. Let’s try again. This time he sat up and propped himself up using his left arm. Looking around he saw fairly familiar surroundings. The barn was scarcely lit, only the occasional beam of light protruding through some hole or another in the walls provided light. However, it was enough to see bits of equipment scattered around, like a horse-drawn plow and a few feed buckets against one wall. There were some hay bales at the back of the building and loops of rope hung from various nails on the main supporting posts in the building.
As he continued to glance around he found what he thought was a door. The light showing beneath and around the rectangular chunk of wall became his guide. He stood up slowly, and staggered toward the potential opening. He tripped halfway to the door when his feet became tangled on a rake handle, but valiantly got up to continue his quest. As he got to the door he reached for the wooden surface.
Finally, to see what this place looks like on the outside! Alright, new world, here I co~
The door was then flung open into poor Randis and he was flying through the air. As his thoughts again left him he caught a glimpse of a smiling pink… pony? And then his vision again went black.
Pinkie looked sadly at the again prone form of the human, unhappy with the bad luck that had befallen her in causing further ailment to the creature. She heard Twilight galloping up beside her, and then heard her attempt to speak, while also gasping for breath.
“Well *gasp* how is *gasp* our new friend?” Twilight managed to say. Then, as she cast her gaze into the barn she found her answer. There, at the rear of the building lay the human, facing them, with what was an apparent expression of ultimate surrender. The two ponies moved into the barn to get a good look at the human.
As they approached he seemed to stir a little. As they came within ten feet he gave a bit of a groan and righted his head in orientation with the ground. There the ponies stopped, waiting for the creature to act.
Randis first opened his eyes, saw the colorful equines, and then closed his eyes again. He spent a moment thinking about this turn of events.
Okay Randis, here you are. You live in a world, completely untouched by mankind, and it is inhabited by these. Maybe you are insane. Or you could have brain damage, you did just hit your head twice in what was, I think, a short period of time. That hay was surprisingly hard…
Randis left his thoughts at that and returned to the world, opening his eyes to see a pink face right in front of him.
“GahH!” He shouted, the pony backed away suddenly, and he collected himself. “Uh, hi? How are you… ponies? Am I insane?”
The friendly greeting was all that Pinkie needed to move on with her plans. “HEY! We are GREAT! How are you! OH! I bet you’re great too! Of course you are! You have Pinkie looking out for you now! Here to welcome you to Ponyville and Equestria!” the mare continued to prattle on about partying and meeting everyone, and Twilight stepped forward.
“Don’t worry too much about her. She is just… excited… Actually she is being completely normal now. Anyway I don’t think that you are insane, you may have a minor concussion though. I am here to welcome you on behalf of Princess Celestia, ruler of the Day and of Equestria. My friends and I watched you fall from a portal in the sky and hit the ground pretty hard. How are you feeling” Twilight asked.
Taken aback by the fact that these creatures actually talked and what they were Randis did his best to answer. “Well,” he began, pausing for a second before moving on, “I think that I’m okay. My body is sore, and my head more so, but I think that I will be fine. I guess I should introduce myself. I am Randis Janeson, once a scientist in a much different place. Best in my field. I think I can say that since I don’t live there anymore.”
“Oh, you were a scientist? I love science!” Twilight began. “Wait. Before we talk science I will introduce myself and my friend here,” she gestured toward Pinkie Pie, who was still talking and had wandered over toward the side of the barn, “I am Twilight Sparkle and she is Pinkie Pie. I live and work at the Ponyville library and she lives and works at Sugar Cube Corner. Now, about your science…”
“You mean my field? Or do you mean our science in general?” Randis asked, not quite sure which the mare was implying.
“Yes.. uh, I mean both. However, your specific work can come first,” Twilight clarified.
“Oh, well I-” Randis was cut off by Pinkie Pie’s sudden return to the conversation.
“Welcoming Party!” Pinkie screamed, pulling a cannon from nowhere and firing a payload of confetti, balloons, streamers, and other party supplies upon the human and the purple unicorn. Twilight took the sudden intervention rather well, while Randis was shocked to the point of nearly fainting. It wasn’t every day that someone fires a cannon at you.
“Really, Pinkie? This isn’t the time. … Actually that reminds me, I should probably get you back to the library. Other ponies in the area might be more shocked by you than us, and they get a bit mobish at times. Come on, I can teleport the three of us there if we can all sit still,” Twilight directed the last bit at Pinkie. She had the power to easily teleport three ponies, but it would be easier if one wasn’t halfway across the room when she did it.
“We’re going to… what? Did you just say we were going to teleport? How is that-” Randis stopped talking on his own when he saw the horn on Twilight’s head. He would later recall how strange it would be to miss that obvious a feature.
“I can explain later, first we need to get you away from prying eyes. Need to keep you safe until the Princess can see you!”
With that Twilight cast her spell, briefly enveloping the group in a brilliant white light and with a pop and a flash they were gone. The building around them had changed when the light dimmed, Randis found himself on a wooden floor surrounded by shelves. He couldn’t quite believe what had happened, and kept his mouth agape to signify such a thing.
“Oh, it can’t be that strange! You fell from a hole in the sky not three hours ago and us teleporting less than a mile is something strange. Hmf! It’s like you don’t have anything like this where you came from,” Twilight said.
Randis took a breath, and gathered his thoughts. Then, sighing, he said, “Well, you can say that again. I suppose that I really should tell you about my world. Though, I will expect the same in return.”
Twilight assured him that she would inform him of this place, and led the trio over to the sitting area of the library, offering a chair to each. There they would begin to tell their respective tales.
~~
Back at Sweet Apple Acres a small purple dragon had just been awoken from his nap by the tell-tale sound of Twilight teleporting. He sat up groggily, then, realizing his predicament, he ran toward the doors of the barn. Seeing none inside other than the bits of party regalia he sighed.
“She always does this to me! It’s like no one can wait to go get poor Spike. Nope. Just have to make me walk all the way back to the library. Jeeze…” he muttered to himself as he thought about the trek home.
~~
Another incident of note occurred back near the place Randis had entered this world. There was a small rift twenty five feet above the ground, barely large enough to fit a mouse through. But out came… something. A creature that was definitely hard to describe. Which then made its way to the ground, in a much more gracious manner than poor Ranids, and off it went. Towards some distant mountains upon which a city dwelled. This creature had a mission, one he had waited a quite a while to complete.
