Pulse

-=Pulse=-

A My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic Tale

-=Part 4:  *“She is mine!”*

Star Sign slowly stepped over an exposed root that had grown over the main path of the walkway she was on. Soon after discovering the cavern her excitement turned into caution. That in itself slowly turned into apprehension and some fear as she kept going. Her torch only illuminated so much into the gloom, and the sun that was seeping in through the cracks seemed to be covered up by something. She tried to discern what could be blocking the light from above but it was simply too far to make out and the sun wasn't high enough.

She came across a pedestal with some black goo inside of it. She poked at it with the torch and it instantly caught on fire, lighting up a bit more of her pathway. She looked around and noticed she missed a few while walking in the dark. Backtracking seemed to be something that was increasingly common in Keeper's place. Lighting her way made it a bit faster going through the cavern and Star finally made it to the centre courtyard. It was a seating area made mostly for ponies, though there obviously was seating for Keeper too.

She took Keeper's seat and looked around the giant cavern. Trees and moss where growing everywhere and it seemed more like a half-made swamp than an underground paradise. Bits of dead flowers were strewn about the place possibly hinting at a time where it was more lush and green. She turned her attention to the centre of the courtyard.

A large table was the centrepiece of the platform. Around the outer edge there were multiple carvings of different objects and ponies. There were larger bits that symbolized the elements of harmony, with the sun and the moon on the sides. She also noticed two markings that didn't seem to make any sense to be placed there, a “D” and on the other side there was an “N”. She studied the symbols a but more but nothing of importance came from it.

Considering how the only thing she could hear was the crackling of the flames as they burned, she found it safe enough to take a reading break. Looking around the cavern, she could hear nothing but the cackling of a few sparks and embers from the flames. She was safe, she was absolutely sure of it. Curiosity was really getting to her as well. Maybe his journal spoke of this place? Only one way to find out.

It was strange, I thought for a second that it was all a dream. I expected to wake up on my couch with a killer hangover and a blinking TV. Instead I was staring into black, a few lights blinking in the dark. I groaned and sat up feeling along the wall for a light while I shook the sleepiness from my head. I felt way more refreshed and I was in a way better mood. I was alive! That in itself was enough to make me look forward to the day, even if it wasn't going to be filled with ponies and I woke up in my room.

I walked through the house to find it empty. Vinyl must have been out doing something. I found a piece of paper and looked around for a pen or something. Instead, I found an inkwell and a quill in the den for writing. I used the note I was going to write as practice for it. It must have been Octavia's, the quill had 'fancy' written all over it. I made a quick note explaining that I was going to go visit Twilight, then walk around Ponyville plus the outskirts to get the lay of the land.

I decided to leave my jacket behind since it was summer, but I thought it was best to keep my folded knife on my person. Shenanigans always seemed to happen in Ponyville and I felt like being a bit more cautious. After I took a few bits out of my bag I left the house looking forward to the first day in Ponyville. I remembered that I didn't have a key to the house after about five steps from the front step. I ran back inside the house, locked the door from the inside and slipped out a side window hoping that was good enough for Vinyl. I couldn't remember if I have heard of any thefts from homes in the show though.

Walking away from Vinyl's house I made my way across Ponyville. Everypony was out and about doing whatever their jobs were. I quite frankly was terrible with names, and I don't think I could remember most of their names. Back on Earth I had enough trouble remembering people I just met. Oh your name is Chris? Well good fucking luck asking me to remember it. I felt a little bit hungry and decided that I would go to the pony in town who knew everybody.

Sugarcube corner was easy to spot, even if it wasn't shaped like a sugar-nut's dream come true. If looking like a compressed Willy Wonka factory wasn't enough, the most delicious smells of pies and cakes came from the store. Today seemed like a more quiet day and I assumed it was the middle of the week. I remembered that I never asked to see if calendars worked the same. I kept on pondering this, that is until I was almost knocked off my feet by an orange, white, and yellow blur. Three fillies were so preoccupied with riding out their sugar high that they didn't even notice me as they ran off into the distance.

“I am so sorry about that. Did you see how fast they went? They almost made a Crusader-boom, or maybe a Cutie Crash! I swear I didn't feed them that much sugar, well maybe a small amount of a lot of icing. Do you have sugar where you come from? What about chimichangas? What about cherries? Come in come in no need to stand at the door! You can point out the stuff you have as well! Follow me!” Pinkie Pie just annihilated my brain in quick succession of questions.

Following her into the bakery I was assaulted with more and more questions as I tries to answer them as much as I could. Seriously, my own mother had ADHD and she wasn't all over the place like this. I was able to answer most of the questions with a simple “yes” and was able to squeeze in more when I could. I figured that unless they made a molasses and brown sugar nuke, I could be open.

Looking through the dozens of delicious-looking pastries and pies, I didn't see what I actually wanted: a cinnamon bun. This was an absolute travesty since I used to work at a Cinnabon at one time in my life on Earth. After I worked there I actually made buns mostly for my family at home until I moved out. After relaying this information to Pinkie Pie, she stopped her story about something that Twilight blew up and exclaimed that “this tragedy must be fixed!” It was fine that she stopped her story, I was far from listening to her anyways. “This is a desperate time! We must use drastic measures in such a difficult moment!” she declared as she stood on her hind legs and pointed out to an invisible crown on her head, “I am officially naming you my assistant until the situation is normal!”

“It is an honour chef!” I saluted her. I decided that I was going to have fun with it. “Now let us be off to the stock to see what we have to use!”

The next two hours were spent making cinnamon rolls and icing. It was an insanely good time, and I did get messy doing it. It was also a tiny bit strange for me. Most stories I have read about with Anon in Equestria always turned out different from this. Discord or whoever was tied to some sort of Prophecy that only a being from another world could exist or something and needed to be stopped. All I have done is spent some time helping a techno-pony get better and was in the process of making cinnamon buns with Pinkie. I haven't even tried to jam my junk in Pinkie's fun-box yet. Anonymous would be so disappointed.

Funny enough, sex wasn't much on my mind anyways. Trans-dimensional travel with a near-death experience does wonders for reducing your libido for a while. Plus I was for the most part into the humanized stuff anyways back home. However there was one point where I got some icing on my cheek and before I could wipe it off, Pinkie licked it off my cheek with a “Ohhh! Sweet and sticky!”. That almost caused the bakery to explode in a spaghetti-nuke that would have brought the end of days to Equestria.

Soon enough I was munching away on a freshly-made cinnamon roll with my newest friend. Pinkie pie spent a little bit of time going over the new treat in front of her. Pinkie soon enough ate a piece and then lit up like a firecracker. She started describing the pastry in great detail, then she started telling me on some things she would improve for the next batch she made. Seems like she was a good baker after all. As I finished I got a few bits from my pocket.

“Oh no silly! Friends don't have to pay when I am on shift and making things! Especially when they are here for the first time!” she adamantly refused payment.

“I would feel better paying for the ingredients we used at least.” I mentioned, trying to compensate her.

She leaned in close to me as if she was going to spill secrets that would jeopardize Equestria's national security or something. “Trust me, as soon as you leave my store is going to be filled with ponies wanting what's been baking. We are going to sell so many of these new treats! Thanks so much for sharing these with me. I should be getting you a present for coming into Ponyville! Not the other way around!”

Turning in my seat slowly I noticed about fifteen ponies milling about outside trying to make it obvious they wanted to know what was baking yet trying to look busy. They definitely knew I was inside and they probably wanted to avoid me as much as possible. Oh well. I turned back only to see Pinkie take more out of the oven. When did she make a second batch? I didn't even see her make more.

“Well go on Keeper! Don't worry about me! Oh Twilight wanted to tell me that she wanted to talk to you in the afternoon. Thanks for being my assistant! I might even say you were better than Spike when he is helping Twilight! See-ya! I gotta get back to work, and we are gonna be buuuusssyyy!”

Then there I was, outside of Sugarcube Corner as if nothing happened. I made sure I waved to the ponies that were waiting for me to leave though. I took a little bit of pleasure knowing that they had to wave back just out of plain courtesy. I chuckled to myself as I made my way to the outskirts of Ponyville.

Walking along the road near Everfree forest I stretched my arms out. It was really relaxing to be honest, knowing that you didn't have work the next day or that you didn't have to work much at all. Certainly everypony DID work hard at their jobs, but they seemed to be so happy at it all that barely mattered. I briefly wondered what I could be before I stopped at the entrance to Everfree Forest after walking over a small bridge that was on a river.

I thought of all the things I have seen from the actual forest in the show. Cockatrice that could turn me into stone, Timberwolves actually made of wood and that blank pony thing I once played in a flash and even more. I decided to take a walk along the outside of the forest, just to play on the safe side.

Walking along the forest, I was able to be beside a crystal-clear river as well. I started walking towards a mountain, and noticed the faint image of Canterlot castle behind it. I tried to recall the map I once saw of Equestria. There was a small lake to the east of Ponyville, but I hadn't come up to it yet. Beside that was a small mountain range and to the north was Canterlot. I continued to walk along the river until I actually came across the lake.

The map in my head was certainly not to scale as the lake was huge. I just kept up my hike through the late morning as the sun was slowly starting to get high in the sky. Soon as I saw the last edges of Everfree I noticed something strange in the distance ahead, breaking my thought. It was a small crater that was almost inside the forest, but it wasn't smoking or anything that was usually related to craters.

Running up to it with my knife folded in my hand, I slid to the edge of it. The hole wasn't too deep, only about half a metre and a few metres across. It was what was inside the crater was what really threw me off. It was a pony-like creature which had a carapace that was jet black and wings that were a translucent teal. I knew this creature and I didn't know of what to think. Her horn was chipped and her body was cracked in several places and slowly oozing green fluids. She wasn't moving at all and was covered in small vines that were leading into the forest. Beside her was a broken set of Royal Guard armour and a spear with a broken shaft. The weapon could almost be mistaken for a sword, the top was that long.

As my shadow moved across her face however she immediately opened her eyes and hissed at me. She could barely move her head, but when she saw me she was confused. “What...” she coughed, “What are you? Some sort of illusion in the last moments? Something that Everfree made up to eat me?”

I hopped down in the crater. She was no threat to me at the moment. Even if she could move she was covered in a web-like vine net and she certainly didn't look like she could concentrate on using magic since she could barely speak. Hell, she could have used the spearhead to cut herself out of those vines. “I'm real, and you are real as well. Still living too, how is that going for you?”

“How do you think I am?”

Oh, Queen Cheese Legs is kinda moody. “Well, considering how you had a huge hive and power two days ago, probably not so good eh Chrysalis?”

M...

She looked at me wide-eyed. “You know of me?”

“Get used to it, I'm Keeper, new to this world and Equestria. I know things and I keep things secret and I reveal them at the right time. Now the main thing we need to worry about is you.”

She looked at me and tightened her grip on whatever she was clinging onto. “What do you mean. Out with it! I don't... have the energy to have a meaningless conversation.”

Mi...

Okay Damien we need her to fear us as well as play nice. “I'm deciding if I should leave you to die, rescue you, give you to Celestia...” I narrowed my eyes and leaned in “or just save myself a lot of time and just plain kill you.”

Now I am just going to make this clear: I am not this dominant or alpha the majority of the time. Seriously. I was always a smooth talker and that was a great thing for the sales job that I had before I came here. This however was Chrysalis, Queen of the Changelings. I had to make an impression and it had to be of a big nature. I had to make sure she knew that we were equals in terms of status for the moment. I wasn't under Celestia's rule per-say and she certainly wasn't.

Mine...

The fuck was that? It seemed like a whisper in the wind. “Look, if this was for the Equestrian wedding, I was desperate to save my hive. My hive was too large and we couldn't get enough love to sustain us and I figured that impersonating the queen of love would-” she got cut off from her tiny burst of energy with more coughing.

“'And as queen of the changelings, it is up to me to find food for my subjects.' That about right Chrysalis?” I had seen the episode literally yesterday.

She...

She looked at me stunned again as I got in closer to her. “I swear! It was only to have my hive live! If I was to be free and even if I wasn't one of the last changelings left I never would act out like that again.” She looked down into her legs. “I got almost my entire hive killed with my judgement.”

Mine...

There it was again, I looked up to try to figure out where that faint whispering was coming from. It seemed to come from everywhere at once. I saw what Chrysalis was hiding, a smaller changeling wrapped up in Chrysalis' arms and legs and even more wrapped by the vines. “Come here, closer.” she whispered.

She is...

I got onto my hands and knees to hear what she said. “Look, I gave up before you got here. If you chose not to kill me, you have to help me or I'll die with her. Everfree wants me, or something in the trees does. These vines have been slowly covering us and are going to take us in. I need your help, or I need you to end it quick.”

As she said that, I heard creaking in the trees and the vines on her seemed to almost grow. You know what I said about Anons getting into trouble? This was the kind of shit I didn't want to get involved with. Okay it is either Chrysalis' death by Everfree Spirits, my blade or I free her and whoever the changeling was.

My heart was beating as fast as it was on the bus. My mind raced through all my options as I tried to come up with a plan. My blade could cut through this small vine-like webbing easily enough. However I might need to defend myself against anything once whatever was trying to capture Chrysalis was onto me freeing the changeling Queen.

Then I heard creaking coming towards me. I looked up to see a bunch of sticks and twigs walking through the woods to me. It was a Timberwolf, it looked exactly as it did from the show. A mass of sticks, vines and branches forming into a creature. It reminded me of a Spriggan from Skyrim for a moment, but the yellow smoke coming from its golden eyes really threw my comparison off.

She is mine!

I made my decision then and there. I flicked open my blade and raised it above Chrysalis. Her eyes flashed with fear and I knew from that moment she was telling the truth. She was one to make lies and false stories, but it all made sense and looking into her eyes I knew. I thrust it above her head and into the mass of vines as I did the second most brazenly stupid move I could have done.

I kissed her.

It was one of trust and possible friendship. She was trying to save her race from starving to death and I could understand that. I have read too many stories and seen too much starvation on Earth to know that she needed to do what she deemed was best and it cost her so much. I reached out to her and connected as much as I could. I wanted her to live. She looked at me wide eyed for a second, then kissed back. It was slightly awkward over the differences in our species and I didn't feel like slipping some tongue. She still had those fangs, plus I wasn't really trying to get some tail... flank... whatever.

She stirred as her limbs began to move. I parted from her and rolled to the side as the Timberwolf started to run at us. “You got some juice in you?” She nodded in response, “Start cutting! I'll get us out of here but you need to cut!”

There was a branch near me as I picked it up with enough time to duck under the wolf's jump. A few thorns that must have been in his legs scratched at my face, drawing blood as I stood up to defend myself. I've been in a few fights with humans before and I have lost twice, also won quite a few times as well. I waited for it to strike first as if I was reacting to playing with a dog, albeit with more death and less cuddles.

We circled near the side of the crater and neither of us moving to fight as I saw Chrysalis use her mouth to take hold of my knife. It noticed me looking away and it slammed right into my chest. I jammed the stick into its mouth and fell onto my back. I used the momentum and added weight to toss the wolf over my head. My left hand was cut a bit as the stick was wrenched out of my hands. I got up to my feet to see the wolf flip off of its back and break the branch in his mouth.

I looked around to find another weapon. It detected my vulnerability and attacked again, this time taking swipes at me. I rolled out of the way and winced as my knee hit a rock. I looked down to discover that it wasn't a rock that I had hit, but rather a broken piece of yellow metal. Searching the immediate area I saw the broken spear. The wolf had pounced at me again while trying to get my arm into its jaw. I grabbed its neck and cut myself further in the process as I used my right hand to pick up the broken shaft of the spear.

She is mine! Mine to have!

My next move was something I had only seen in zombie games. I jammed the blade up under the jaw of the Timberwolf and through the bark of its head. A hissing sound escaped the crack in the bark as the yellow smoke dissipated and the wolf's body broke apart into a bundle of sticks.

I crawled as quickly as I could to Chrysalis. She was able to get free and was trying to get her brood member to get up as well. I raced forward and grabbed the blade from her mouth as I just cut around a few more vines before picking the changeling up like a bag. I winced as my left hand was holding the changeling as I helped Chrysalis to her feet. Seeing her without all the vines I saw that the damage was more extensive.

She could barely walk, her legs shaking as she tentatively took a step before falling down. First I folded my knife and slipped it into my pocket. Then I bent down and wrapped my arm around her to lift her up. They say that a hero is no braver than an ordinary man, but he is braver five minutes longer. I called bullshit on that since I was not feeling like a hero at all and it has only been three minutes tops. I just rescued one of the most wanted beings in Equestria. Hoisting the queen to her feet I helped her walk away from the forest as fast as we could manage.

The forest was not happy and is sounded furious. I was suspecting that it would send more Timberwolves after us so we got the get the hell out of dodge. We put as much distance as we could and moved towards the mountain range to the north of us.

The changeling in my hand wasn't light at all and dug into my hand but I kept walking. Chrysalis was making some more effort into walking but I assumed it was because I was giving her a weird sort of hug as I kept her walking straight. We headed towards a mountain in the distance. We kept on walking until we came across a cave.

“Think anything is living in there?” I asked the changeling Queen.

She groaned in what I assumed was pain rather than distaste of me saving her. “Doesn't... feel like it.”

Not questioning it further I stepped through the mouth of the cave. Placing the changeling down I grabbed a branch from outside and held it to Chrysalis. “Mind lighting this or do I have to kiss you again?”

She sat down next to the tied bug-pony and sighed as she tried to relax. “No need to kiss, a hug would have sufficed for some power. Here...”

With a spark, the top of the stick burst into a green flame. I again wasn't going to question magic and explored the inside of the cave. After stepping through the small tunnel I found a wide cavern with a few broken boxes and ropes. There was also a very old campfire in the middle of the cave. Examining the boxes I was dismayed to find that they were empty and extremely fragile. The wood breaking and flaking off at my touch. I tossed a bunch of the decayed and dry wood into the centre and tossed the torch in and the wood easily crackled to life.

I helped Chrysalis to her feet wand brought her over to the fire, as well as the changeling. She sat down and dozed off as I flicked open my knife and started cutting the vines that were wrapped around the changeling. I tossed the plants into the fire and they crackled as they resisted being burned. Examining the changeling I noticed that it was a female, just by judging on how it looked slightly different from the other ones I saw in the show. It had the softer features of the female ponies in Ponyville, plus actual hair was something as well. Her hair was black and it looked flat like Chrysalis'. Her body also had some cracks in the carapace and she looked terrible. She was at least breathing, which was pretty good considering what could have happened.

“Is she the last one in your brood?” I asked Chrysalis off-hand to see if she was awake.

Silence filled the cavern as the only answer back was “I don't know” that was soft enough to be a whisper.

“Think this cave is safe for you two?”

Chrysalis was able to move a bit more. With some laboured breathing she tried to come up with a theory. “It think it was used for smuggling gems a decade ago. I know Celestia was able to catch some smugglers around here, it would explain the empty crates. She wouldn't be keeping this place under observation. She is overconfident in her time of peace, though I might have shaken it up a bit.”

“I'm new around here, ponies do that under her rule?” I asked, seemed pretty absurd to me.

“There is more to the world than just her little empire. Bandits are common in the badlands, creatures run rampant in her forests. Even the San Palomino Desert is home to some nasty beasts. Yes, some ponies are not loyal.”

She was cut off with a small coughing fit. I thought about it a bit more before I gathered up and broke more wood apart to make a pile. “I don't know how fast this will go. I need to be back in Ponyville before someone thinks I am dead or something. I'll explain who I am tomorrow okay? Think you will be fine overnight?”

She smiled to herself for a few seconds. “I think I'll be okay hero”

I started walking out of the cavern. “I'm not a hero.” I thought I heard “kiss well enough” as I left, but I think that is what my brain wanted me to hear. Seemed good enough to me.

I walked along the outside of the lake on the opposite direction of the crater zone. It took almost just as long, but after crossing a bridge that also had a train track I found myself in Ponyville. I was lost in my thoughts for a while. First I felt truly fucked. There was no way I could get away with this. I had no experience in these matters and I was just making decisions on the fly. After a while I settled on it being at least a small good thing. After all, why should a wedding be marred by a genocide? I figured if I was ever caught it would be a decent enough excuse. What would she do? Kill me? Already been there. Might end up in a Pokemon land or something afterwards, catch a Gardevoir and nail it or something.

I guessed it would be about four in the afternoon when I got into Ponyville. I made sure I washed off the blood and dirt from my face and arms in the lake before I went into town. I did get a few more looks than this morning, but a dirty shirt would do that. I should try to see Rarity at some point in the next few days.

“Whoa Keeper, are you okay?” a purple unicorn asked me.

“Got in a fight with a couple of sticks. I won.” I said to Twilight, who came up to walk alongside me.

She looked at me weird. “What do you mean? Sticks don't fight. Mind if we talk, I want to get some research done on you as soon as possible!”

“No problem, and you get in a fight with sticks when they are shaped like wolves.” I said calmly like it was absolutely nothing. “By the way, your forest sucks.”

She paused a bit before she shook her head and came running up to me. “Wait you got attacked by a Timberwolf?”

I saw her tree-house library, “Yep, not as impressive as our timber wolves. Actual wolves, not timber. I shanked the thing in the skull and it killed it pretty well.” I flicked my knife open to show her.

“Well you are more taller than us so you had advantages. Nice to know that you can handle yourself without magic. Does the Princess know you have that?” she said with some concern.

I shrugged. “She went though all my clothes while I was in the hospital, not too hard to figure out what it is for. I used it to cut cardboard boxes at my old job.” That was a partial truth.

She stopped and opened her door and I had to duck under it a little. This thing had to be like a Tardis, it had way more space in it than outside. I claimed bullshit on the levels of magic that existed in this world. Sighing I followed her into the middle of her little house. I could easily see her bed from where I stood and I was surrounded by books, there was even a stack the size of my height.

“Whoa! She wasn't kidding when she said you were huge!” a baby dragon said.

“Who? Celestia or Twilight?” he looked at me with wide eyes. Was it because I forgot the 'princess' part or the fact that I could speak? “I mean, Princess Celestia. Getting hard to remember I am in a country with a monarchy.”

“That's actually what I wished to talk to you about! I need to record as much as you can remember about your world! You are the first inter-dimensional being we have had in a long time and the first human ever!”

In a long time? That implied that there was at least more that went in between dimensions. “You've seen more?”

“Not me, but a few book reference a few other beings here and there. They might be legends of course, even Princess Celestia didn't know about them.” she said matter-of-factually as she arranged her chair and magically gave me a pillow to sit on.

“Any idea of Discord is one?”

“A theory, but we think not. Thought it is a really good one.”

“Has Pinkie ever said 'Okie Doki Loki'?” I questioned.

She thought for a bit before telling me Pinkie says it a few times. “Funny how she says that. In one of our older civilizations, one of their gods was Loki. He was known as the god of mischief. Now how much do you want to know, I do have to keep some to myself.”

“Actually, I'm under orders from the Princess to be silent about things that you say. Here, see this.” She handed me a somewhat charred note.

Dear Keeper,

I am giving this note to tell you that Twilight Sparkle is authorized to gather information on your origins and world. This is a rare moment to see what lies beyond the beyond and she will not spill secrets or I'll be severely disappointed. She will also compensate you for your time. If there is anything you need, feel free to message me through Spike and I'll try to accommodate you.

That “severely disappointed” part was obviously directed to Twilight. Princess must have known she would have read the letter.

Also, I am not sure if you know about my sister Luna; Princess of the Night. She is very interested in meeting you and I sincerely hope that you two will get along nicely.

Well that sounded like it had a very underhanded message to it.

I hope you have safe lodgings and that the ponies are treating you well,

Signed, Princess Celestia. Monarch of – yada yada yada. Standard formal finishing of a letter from a Princess.

“Well if the Princess says so, then it will be. Spike, I hate to be a bother but could you please get me a stack of paper and some ink? Thanks a ton.” I said to him.

As Twilight and I talked, I drew as she recorded what I was telling her. She would ask me questions specifically about the more science side of Earth and even though I wasn't the best scientifically minded I still answered to the best of my ability. The stuff I could sketch out for her, I did for clarification on some things.

I put some finishing touches and possible measurements on what I was drawing. “Well you guys have cannons and spears but that is all good for ponies. I'm looking into more human-based weapons. You have firearms?”

“We experimented with powders and such, but we have no need for them. Magic usually does what a buck doesn't.” Twilight said. “Recoil was an issue as well. Only magic users could use them and well... have magic. Kind of took out the need for those weapons. We have Magic, pegasi could call in thunder and earth ponies could just buck or use pole-arms. Earth ponies are scarily accurate with them as well, as if they have their own brand of magic.”

We talked well into the afternoon and I was treated to potato soup from Spike. It was actually really good and I asked if I was imposing if I wanted seconds. I ended up having fourths and Spike was delighted that I loved his food. To be fair the bowls were kinda small. The potatoes were perfectly firm however which was certainly great. My sister tried out making potato soup once and the potatoes were barely keeping their form when she was finished.

“I don't mind that you are eating it, but don't you have good food back on Earth?” she asked me as I sat back.

“We have tons of food from all sort of different cultures. It is just...” I paused to just savour the feeling of hot soup in me. “I lived alone, I didn't have time to make good home-cooked meals. Actually that's a lie. I was just lazy. Why put time into a good meal when you can be fed by cheap pizza? I took too much time off cooking. I probably will have more time now though, I just really miss home-cooked meals. Mass production of meals really do work against you sometimes.”

“I still can't get over how you have millions of people living in one country, let alone seven billion in your world!” she paused for a second. “What about your parents?” She said, looking slightly concerned for me for some reason.

“I had a dream of living in a certain part of the world and I moved there. My family stayed when I left, we all were happy though. My parents thought it was great that I was following my dreams. Your parents are proud of you even though you are in a different city though right?”

She blushed and looked away, “Well how about we talk more about your world Keeper? How about we start easy instead of bouncing around? Just describe to me what you would do in a normal day and we will go from there.”

I doubted that. “Twilight, you do realize that my world differs a lot from yours and that everything I see, do or touch in twenty-four hours is going to be a hell of a lot to record right?”

“Well I figured that! I will make entries based on each thing and make an index on each new thing you tell me. Then I can start making a glossary of terms and a dictionary only on the human world! Then we can just go over definitions later!” She said, seemingly proud of herself for thinking up of an idea like that.

“Well, good idea, nice to know you thought up of everything like that. You really are quite the student.” I praised her.

“Don't encourage her, it goes straight to her head.” Spike said as he got my bowl.

Twilight scoffed and retorted “Don't you have some cleaning to do Spike? I am the Princess' student and I like hearing a compliment every once in a while.”

He mimed that he was being squished, “The ego! I don't think there is enough in this tree for us and it!”

I laughed as he left smiling. Annoyed, Twilight adjusted her papers and muttered something about him wetting his bed to which he mentioned something about her exploding a house. We began and I went on about how I normally did my day as if I was talking to a human. She was scribbling away at her papers as she listened to me. The look on her face as she wrote everything down was just like Vinyl's when I taught her my music.

“...then I turn off my television and go to bed. Sometimes drunk off my ass.” I finished.

“Sweet Celestia that is a lot of stuff.” Twilight just might have swore then, I have no idea.

“Hey you brought it on yourself.” I laid back on her floor resting my head as Twilight fell back on her plot.

“You weren't kidding though. It is going to take a lot to get through all of this. We are also going to be taking a lot of time to define more things that get brought up when you explain all of these things to me.”

“Well you might need to order more paper then,” I suggested. “I'm not going anywhere, so would a few hours everyday be fine for you? Take weekends off and such. We still can have time to meet up with friends and such and I can stop by before I sleep or something. Whatever is good for you.”

We set up some time and she thanked me again. I fist-bumped Spike since he didn't have hooves and thanked him for the fantastic soup. As he beamed Twilight did an impression of her being crushed by Spike's ego. “Yeah that's only funny when I do it.” he said as he yawned. “I'm hitting the sack early.”

I looked up into the sky and noticed the sun was going down. “Well I gotta go, Vinyl should be wondering where I am at the moment.”

Walking home was pretty calm and nice. A few unicorns were running around lighting lanterns here and there as streetlights. I was tall enough I could look closer at them. When they were lighting the lamps, they were actually poking a crystal with magic to cause the light. That was actually really cool. I wished I could toss a few of those into my home if I ever got one.

The night was perfect though, and after a few minutes there were thousands of stars in the sky and you got a view that you simply couldn't beat. I was going to think that it was lucky weather but I remembered that pegasi did a lot of the weather work around here. Either way I simply said “thanks for the good night Luna” and went on my way home.

The lights were off so I assumed Vinyl was either knocked out on her bed or downstairs working away. I opened the door and walked in taking my time to make sure that I was quiet so I didn't wake Vinyl u-

“Surprise!” the voices of a few ponies yelled out as the lights blinked on.

I looked around the living room. Quite a few ponies were there. Rarity, Applejack, Lyra, Rainbow Dash, Vinyl, Bonbon, Big Macintosh, Twilight Sparkle, and of course Pinkie Pie all were around a cake. “What's this for?” I asked dumbfounded.

“Why it's your 'Welcome to Ponyville and a whole other dimension' party silly! Not everyone gets to come here from another world so we need a party to celebrate it!” Pinkie said as she ran up and gave me a one-arm hug. “Plus I wanted to thank you for the rolls! They were so popular that Mrs. Cake is making them a permanent item!”

“Sup Keeper. Have a good day? You look trashed.” Vinyl asked.

I reassured her I'm fine and I'd tell her the story later. I started to cut the cake and gave pieces to all the ponies in the room. I walked around and introduced myself to the ponies that I hadn't technically introduced myself to while the others caught up with each other. “Hey, how are ya? Didn't expect to see you here Big Macintosh.” I said as I shook Big Mac's hoof.

“Well buck my trees, you do know a lot don'tcha Keeper? Mah sis' has been goin' on about how ya'll came from another place 'n' all and I just had ta meetcha face ta face.” Mac flawlessly said in a completely stereotypical accent.

“Now brother I haven't been goin' on about it.” Applejack said somewhat embarrassed.

“Well it's always a pleasure to meet someone from the Apple family,” I replied. “I plan on coming down to the farm to find a bit of work if that is alright with you.”

“Well ah reckon you could do a few things. Tryin' to find yer place?” he spoke just as slow too.

“I am. Figuring a helping hand would be okay if you know what I mean.” I said opening and closing my hand. “Height is a thing on my side too.”

We shook on it and I told him I would come by next week after I settled in. I went over to Lyra and Bonbon who were chatting with Vinyl. “Hey girls, mind if I introduce myself?” I said as I held my hand out. “I'm Keeper, nice to meet you!”

Not surprisingly enough Lyra was the first to shake my hand. “I'm Lyra Heartstrings and that there is Bonbon! We are so pleased to meet you Keeper I have heard so much about you from Vinyl!” Oh boy calm down there kitten.

I shook Bonbon's hand, who seemed slightly distracted trying to make sure that Lyra didn't explode. “She's had a lot of sugar! Yes, just a sugar rush that is all,” she awkwardly laughed a bit.

We all made small talk for a while and I actually got along with them. I parted ways and actually got a slice of my own cake. It was cherry flavoured with white vanilla icing that tasted a lot like the icing I used for the cinnamon buns. I made small talk with Twilight, who ran over here as fast as she could after I left in order to make it. She was talking to Rarity when I interrupted. Rarity looked like she was going to have a heart attack when she noticed my dirty shirt. “Darling, is that blood?”

“I scratched myself, I wiped a bit off on the bottom of my shirt.” I pointed to my face. “It's cool though, you free anytime soon for me to buy a few clothes from you?”

“Oh for a case like yours I simply must spare some time for you!” she looked mortified. “Though I have to say I haven't seen a species that is so adamant on wearing clothes all the time.”

“Keeper explained it to me. It's a cultural thing, goes back thousands of years.” Twilight looked absolutely thrilled to share that knowledge.

“Well with all those clothes you must have some decent designs I can borrow from. Mind if you come by at your earliest convenience?”

“Thanks I guess. Tomorrow after I take my walk?”

“It would be my pleasure darling.” The time was set.

“Hey Keeper, I have a day off from weather patrol in a few days, wanna hang? I can show you some new flying moves!” Rainbow Dash said as she circled me, poking my shoulder.

I agreed and talked to her a bit about flying and weather control for a while before I broke off and casually moved between ponies. Applejack did break out some hard cider after a while and we all started drinking. After a while we were pretty relaxed around each other. Twilight asked if I knew any good stories and I thought for a bit on what I could tell them. After some thinking I told them about the 'cursed dragon's paw' that gave wishes that were twisted. It was something on what I kinda remembered as the premise of the monkey paw story but I added my own details. They all enjoyed it though and I made the moral of it to be thankful for what you have instead of what you wish you had. I even added a creepy part of the main character wishing that their son was back from the dead only to have a zombie in their house. That really did creep them out.

After a lot more alcohol and a few impromptu songs later which included me singing a slightly modified “No Rest for the Wicked” from Cage the Elephant, we all winded down for the evening. Twilight escorted Pinkie and Rarity home while Bonbon dragged Lyra out. “But Sweetie Drops...” she almost was whining as she left with a mention of 'hands'. Mac took Applejack home and Dash flew off into the clouds. I did mention about drinking and flying but apparently she decided to ignore me. Not like I could stop her anyways with her flying and all.

Vinyl and I spent time cleaning up. She seemed a little on edge though, always taking a look my way. “Hm? You need something Vinyl?”

She looked away as she picked up an empty liquor bottle, “I am just... well you got attacked by a timber wolf.  Twilight told me. You don't have any magic and you can't buck like an earth pony. I'm just... well I want to know if you are okay.”

Well she did have a right to be concerned, I've been here for a day and got hit by a wolf. Even if she didn't know about Chrysalis it still is a big thing. “It's just, I kinda feel like you are my responsibility and all. You are new in Ponyville and I want you to be happy and okay but dude, that's pretty intense to be attacked and all.” She took a second and smiled, “plus you still have so much of that music in your head! Shame if you died before I could get all of it. I just wanna make sure you are okay.”

I laughed with her and knelt down beside her and held out my hand. “Hoof.”

She looked confused, “You aren't going to propose to me are ya?”

“No it's worse, I'm going to be sappy and slightly inebriated.” I winked.

“Well fuck, get on with it,” she giggled as she gave me her hoof.

I held her hoof over my heart. “Feel that?” I asked and she nodded. “That's my pulse. As long as I have that I'm alive, and I'm okay. Don't worry about me as long as I got a pulse alright?”

She rolled her eyes. “Fiiiinne. But you gotta be more careful. Get yourself something to protect yourself with if you are going to go off to piss off a few wolves. Just promise you won't bring an Ursa Major into Ponyville and I promise to stop worrying about you.” She emphasized the 'you' with a poke to my chest. “Don't need you dying on me. Princess would be pissed if you couldn't even stay alive long enough for Octavia to meet you.”

I got to my feet and finished up the cleaning. “It's fine, have you thought about how you are going to explain to Octavia how you let a being from another planet stay at your house?”

“Compared to me, she is totally from another planet. It's okay, I'll just wing it.”

“How are you gonna wing it when you are a unicorn?” I teased.

“You know what I mean Keeper. I'm going to bed before I do something stupid like convey my feelings more.” she wavered a bit before she started up the stairs.

I laughed and wished her a good sleep and moved my way downstairs. As I did I just-

“Hi!” a squeaky voice and a bunch of purple eyes blinked in front of Star Sign as she looked up from Keeper's book.

“Hello” she said without a second thought. However it clicked in her mind she just said hello to eight purple eyes suspended above her.

“Fucking fuck!” she scrambled back as she tried to get away from her surprise guest. “What the fuck are you?” she said as she prepared offensive and defensive spells.

“I'm a spider!” it said in a cheerful-high pitched voice. “You're cute!”

She could clearly see it was a spider, however it was five feet tall. It was black and grey furred with white markings all over it. It's mouth clicked as it talked a bit and it's hairy legs poked and wrapped around the long coil of silk it was hanging from. It was the biggest spider that she had ever seen it just called her cute.

She didn't exactly know how to take it.

It clearly wasn't hostile to her, so she collected herself and stood up straight. “Well spider, how long have you been here?”

“I've been here for a long, long time!” it happily said in its very disproportionately high voice. “Keeper had assigned me to the protection of this place for as long as I am alive!”

That was a long time, but she still didn't get the answer she really intended. “I mean, how long have you been watching me?”

“Well, you did come in and I was going to do some spooky things to mess with you for you to leave. However something about you seemed familiar even though I haven't met you before. So as you were exploring the throne room I put some wood by the fireplace in case if you got cold and made Keeper's bed. I know he isn't here to use it and I figured you could use it to sleep on! Oh I hope he doesn't mind whenever he appears again. That would be really bad if he got mad.” the spider seemed very worried at displeasing Keeper.

“You know where he left to or when he is coming back?” Star asked.

“I am so sorry but I am afraid I have absolutely no clue!” the spider said. “I am sure he would love to meet a cute pony like you though!” it twirled a little in the air.

She sighed deeply to herself as she calmed down from being scared. She felt a tiny bit better knowing that the mystery of the webbing was gone; but she didn't like the fact that the spider had been watching her the whole time. “I'm Star Sign, do you have a name spider?”

“That is my name! First name Spider last name Bro! I'm Spider Bro! Call me Spider or Spiderbro, either-slash-or!” he snipped the silky thread and thumped to the ground.

“Well Spiderbro I am pleased to meet you. I wish you introduced yourself sooner!”

“I would but I had to make sure you were nice! I sometimes see creatures coming in from the forest and I have to make sure that they don't try to make this place their home. I scare the little ones away and I eat the larger ones!” He did a little pantomime of scaring small things and eating larger beasts.

She hesitated to ask the obvious question, “You don't eat ponies do you?”

It shook its head. “I don't try to! Some attack me after they find me and I have no choice to! I don't eat them though, Keeper made sure he taught me that.”

She figured she should get more information out of Spider. He certainly seemed to like the conversation and she paced lightly since her nerves were still slightly shot. “When you last saw Keeper, how was he? Was he healthy? Was he happy?”

Spiderbro paused for a moment to collect his thoughts. “Why yes! He was going to meet up with Luna for a late dinner, or would that be an early breakfast for her?” He seemed even more in concentration. “He came back from a funeral and said he was going to come here for a nap and that I could go off exploring for the day. He never appeared again after that.”

Spider seemed quite sad as he said that. It had been a hundred years or so since he had had someone to talk to. He probably felt quite lonely. “You mind telling me how old he was? Did he show any major signs of age?”

Spider brightened a little at the fact he was having a conversation. “Actually he didn't look any different since when I had met him, and that is about a hundred and fifty years ago at least!”

“Really? You are over a hundred years old? Spiders don't live that long. How can you still be that old?”

“Magic.” It said simply. Keeper was right, magic is complete bullshit sometimes. “I told you how old I was, how old are you?”

“I'm eighteen.” she told him. “I don't want to think you are all alone, have you had any visitors over the years?”

He started to play with a sizable branch in his hands. “Actually yes! Two ponies came by maybe twenty years ago. They used to visit me all the time, but they told me that they were going to go away for a very ling time. I asked them if they were leaving like Keeper did. They said that Keeper was lost, not gone, and that they were going to find him. I really hope they do. They have been gone for quite some time too. You remind me of them with the way you move and such.”

“Who were they?”

“They told me not to tell. Keeper knew them and they were very good friends of his. I listened to them too because they were always very nice to me. They weren't as cute as you though.”

“So what are you going to do now?” she asked her final question.

Spider danced a little in a circle, “I'm going to be your friend! I haven't had one in such a long time and it would be nice to do something again! I'll keep the wood stocked and make sure that no beasties get in while you do stuff. Wait.” Spiderbro paused his dancing and scratched his head with an arm. “What exactly is a cute pony like you doing here?”

Star Sign just realized that she didn't even tell him her goal, let alone Spiderbro actually catching on to he plan! Surely he must be interested in it since he was going on about Keeper. She told him all that she knew so far and that she needed to find Keeper soon. He did a little twirl and then started to move back to the wall to climb up to what she presumed was his nest on the ceiling. Before he left he did ask her to keep his presence a secret, especially if she knew mean ponies that weren't cute.

Scurrying away into the partial darkness, she could barely see Spider's large form crawl up the walls before being illuminated by the setting sky. She picked up her books and made a trip back to the library. It was weird walking through the keep now. Knowing that she had something protecting her rather than hunting her was reassuring though. Then again. A monster spider thinking you are cute was still unnerving in her mind.

She levitated a candle to see in the library again. Lifting the books she had read from her bag, she slid them into the right order. Spider interrupted her on the last page of the journal so it didn't mass up her research. She took a few more books out and made her way back upstairs to Keeper's bedroom. She knew that Princess Celestia had Keeper's “Encyclopedia on Earth” in her room. Now that she knew more strange things about Earth, she really wished she could read it too for more of an understanding.

She laid out on the bed and tried to relax. It was getting late and she was running out of food. She would have to leave late tomorrow. She truly didn't want to though. She was peering into two worlds when she read Keeper's experiences; first being his Earthly views on Equestria and then her experiencing Equestria as well in the past.

She also loved his keep. His library was huge and his central area must have been absolutely beautiful at one point. His bedroom was nice and big and by Celestia his bed was amazing. She relaxed more into the pillows and soon sleep overtook her.