14 - I've Liked You For A Thousand Years

"Phew, at least we're armed..." I sighed. "Looks like it'll take more than a one-pony ensemble to make this thing scoot...Fluttershy!" I barked. "C'mon!"

"But...Game Changer...it's so...cute!" Fluttershy nuzzled the massive creature, her mane covering one of her eyes.

"Remember what happened last time?"

"Hmm..." The butter-coloured mare nodded. "OK..." She reluctantly left the creature alone.

"Why don't we just go round it?" Twilight Sparkle stepped in.

"Well...I would, but what if what's going on in this world is also happening in its equivalent?"

"Makes sense..." Twilight still looked a little confused. "Hold on..." She turned to the crowd, kindly requesting that they'd be a little more quiet, but something caught her eye. "Everyone, where's Princess Luna? What about Celestia?"

Nobody knew.

"Never mind, we'll just have to canter on without them. We need all the musical talent we can get! Vinyl, Tavi, Sweetie Belle..." I listed off everyone I could remember. "Guys, get ready. Weather Team, come with me. I'll go and grab some supplies." As everypony else assembled, the weather team and I left the forest for the town centre.

My hometown isn't a modern place at all. It bugs me. The nearest gaming store is about ten miles away, and I never get to go. The only place to get a film is the library. The library... "Guys, let's split up. I'll go to the library and grab some records for Vinyl to spin. You guys go to mine and grab my guitars. There's also a music shop down the road. Take the lot. We'll meet at this roundabout. Ready?"

The team saluted me, and off we went. I burst through the library doors, scooping some of my favourite albums off the shelf and holding them in my mouth tightly. But rather than leaving, I headed straight to the back. There on the shelf of a short wooden cabinet, among Death Note, Naruto and tons of Dragon Ball Z comics, were five volumes of Scott Pilgrim. I wonder if they've got graphic novels in Equestria? No matter, this'll rock their world! I love these... I placed a clumsy hoof over the top of them and dragged them off the shelf, catching them with my free hoof. Only five? What about the last? Damn!...hmm. I-dee-aa!

I dropped the books onto the desk near me and took a seat at the computer. Oh yeah...I've got hooves now, not hands! This'll be a toughie to f – got it! As another great idea popped into my head, I dashed for the cleaning room behind the support desk. Hurdling it, I bucked down the locked door to the cleaning cupboards. Sure enough, I found a plunger. Just what I need! Bullseye! I held the plunger over my right hoof, just as Samus might hold her blaster arm. Perfect fit! I'd better move, else the pegasi might get suspicious.

Booting the computer up in Safe Mode, I logged in as an admin. The password was beyond obvious, but it took me about a minute to type with the clumsy new finger replacement. I also had to keep balance on my back hooves, which was tough. Nudging the mouse over to Notepad, I prodded the left mouse button. The plunger shifted off balance. I didn't have much faith in my ability with it...

...but I soon picked it up. I still wasn't perfect, faltering regularly, but my productivity went up by a long shot. Leaving the computer on mid-sentence, I fluttered out to cover my back. "Guys," I called. "Thanks for your help. You can head back now. I'm struggling to find something, but I'll only be a few minutes. Well done!" I headed back in as the Weather Team left. Re-equipping the plunger, I typed:

Rarity,

If we part ways, let me leave you with this. I've given everypony else a great graphic novel to read. They didn't have the last one, so I'll tell you what happens.

I quickly detailed the ending of the book.

If it ever gets tough, if you ever go back to Equestria, just remember that I'm still out there. Keep this, remember us. If you don't go back home, I'll say this. I love you. I'm sorry I didn't leave you with a graphic novel, but hopefully I've started a great story you're going to love being the main character of!

Game Changer, or Simon

I held Ctrl with the top-right corner of my left hoof, then poked P with my plunger-wearing hoof. As the little note slipped out of the printer, I snatched it, struggling to hold everything at once. Why don't I have saddle bags like everyone else... Slowly ascending out of the library, I could see more and more of the road winding out into the next town. I flung the plunger away haphazardly and followed the road to the massive reservoir, catching a multicoloured speck above the forest. That'll be Dash. I'd better get down there.

I rejoined the group, collapsing in a heap on the ground. "Are y'okay?" Applejack helped me up. "And what'n the hay are these?"

"They're for you guys. Take one, any one. And can you get Rar –"

"Your special somepony?" Applejack teased, winking. "Sure thing, sugarcube!"

"Not just her. Round up the rest of the gang too, please!"

"Sure!" I nodded as she left my sight. My mind began to wander the mists of the day just gone. Luna's nightfall was approaching.