Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jason Stafford. I am an 18 year old male teenager who lives in Cincinnati, Ohio. I just graduated high school less than a week ago. I still can't believe it. I graduated high school. It felt so unreal when I grabbed that diploma. People say that it would go fast. But I didn't really believe that at the time. Now I realized why people said that. It does go very fast. But I wasn't all that excited about it. Because this meant I would have to work for the rest of my life, which I wasn't too enthusiastic about. Before I even had to get my diploma, I had to do graduation practices. The only thing I didn't like about that is because I had to do it with the rest of my classmates. You could say I was shy. I knew a lot of people, though, they were all acquaintances. I also had some people who didn't like me as well. And there were people who I didn't like too. And there were people who I liked as well. Sure I hung out with some of the kids I liked at school, but I never hung out with anyone after school. I preferred to be by myself.
Well like I said, its been less than a week after graduation, and I'm looking for a full time job. I had the help of my dad. Me and my dad are close. We have been through a lot together. I used to live with my mom and dad. Those were the best years of my life. I was happy. But then that all changed when my mom passed away. Ever since my mom's passing nearly a decade ago when I was 10, my dad agreed to take me in. However, that's when my troubled past started.
After my dad divorced my mom, and after her passing, my dad re married. I did not like my step mom since day one. Her name was Janice. I never did call her mom, I only called her by her name. She never liked me. She always made my life a living hell. She always made fun of my mental status (I had aspergers syndrome). And I wasn't very social (if any). I was the type of guy who was aware I had something wrong with me. I even did research on it. It took me years of therapy to help overcome it and be "socially acceptable." But over the years she didn't just mentally abuse me, she physically abused me as well...
We always got into arguments, we never got along. She would complain and yell at me for the most stupidest of things. We even got into physical altercations. When we did though, she would hit me, pull my hair and other things I can't seem to remember. My dad however, was stuck in the middle of all this. He would always try to keep the peace between us, but to no avail.
In time, through years of fighting, me and my stepmom eventually stopped fighting. However, the times we did fight, the times when we did get into physical altercations, the times she made fun of my mental status, and called me names like retarded and such scarred me mentally. When I turned 17 (around the time we stopped fighting) I didn't even like to look at her anymore. I hated Janice's presence. It was like she knew what she did to me, she knew all those years of physical and mental damage she did to me, she KNEW it. I always locked myself in my room for hours on end. Only coming out for meals and school, and other things. But I mostly stayed in my room. I would and still do, stay in my room on my computer browsing the internet for hours on end till midnight. Then I would come downstairs while everyone was asleep, and do what I wanted to do without fear of being judged, or mocked by Janice. Even though we didn't fight anymore, I still didn't like to be around her. I was always wary if she would mock me or judge me If I tried to come down during the daytime. I would go watch TV make myself some snacks, or just do things I couldn't do up in my room until morning, and other times I would just fall asleep until morning. When I did pull all nighters, I wasn't affected when I had to go to school. I could go on 0 hours of sleep and still function and do good in school.
But when I was up in my room, I got angry sometimes. I hated Janice for what she did to me. She literally RUINED half of my life. I didn't have the pleasure of having a normal childhood, which only increased my anger. I would bang my walls, punch my bed, and get so angry I just wanted to hurt someone. But I always kept my anger in check, even though it was hard at times.
A little less than a week after my graduation, me and my dad drove around to look for jobs. Me and my dad were discussing what type of job I should get. "Jason, I think you can do better that that." "I guess your right dad, I could do better than working at McDonald's." I suggested I could work there, but my dad opposed it. "How about Staples, Lowes, Sheetz, or a gas station?" I had to admit, I wouldn't mind working at either of those places. It did sound better that a fast food restaurant. "Ok dad, lets go to those places and fill out applications." I said. My dad nodded in response.
After we drove around these places and filled out applications, we arrived back at my house a little after 3:00 PM. "After you get a job and I see how much you bring home, I will discuss rent with you, I will let you live at home for a monthly rent. It should be no more than 50 bucks though." Wow, that was super generous of my dad. Until I got on my feet I could live at home with a very low rent. However, I would naturally hope I could stay for as long as possible. "Thanks dad, I really appreciate it." My dad didn't say anything but I knew he heard it. "I love you dad." I said as I hugged him. My dad only smiled and returned the hug. "I love you too Jason." I didn't care if you were 18 or 21 or any age for that matter. I always liked saying I loved my dad and hugging him.
After that, me and my dad walked in the house. Janice was waiting to greet my dad. "Hello honey!" As soon as I heard that voice, I promptly went up into my room. Like I always do. After I got into my room, I went on my computer. I spent hours of watching videos on YouTube, and watching free online TV shows (I can find free full length TV episodes, being in my room all the time with my computer, I knew my way around the internet) and playing some online flash games and MMORPG's.
Eventually my clock by my bedside reached 12:15 AM. For some reason, I decided not to go downstairs like I always do. Instead I yawned and grabbed my I-Pod from the wall jack where it was charging. I looked at my I-pod at it was fully charged. Satisfied, I took my I-Pod and put the headphones in my ear and played some music until I fell asleep. I was so tired I didn't even change out of my long pants jeans and my t shirt. I also had my socks on as well. I was so fast asleep I didn't even realize a bright white engulfed my room and took me and my I-Pod away. When the light subsided, I was gone. My bed was empty, leaving no trace or sound that I disappeared in the night.
The next morning, I was beginning to awake. I immediately realized something was wrong. My eyes were still getting adjusted. When my eyes were fully open, I immediately noticed I was not in my bed. I also noticed I wasn't in my room either. Come to think of it, I was outside! I could begin to hear birds chirping and a slight breeze go past my face. I felt something in my hand. I looked and it was my I-Pod. I checked and the time read 6:45 AM. When I looked up in the distance, I saw the sun was beginning to rise on the horizon. However, when I looked at my surroundings once more, I noticed I was sitting on a patch of grass, and behind me was a forest of some type. When I looked ahead, I noticed (what looked like anyways) a town of some sort. I knew right of the bat I wasn't in Cincinnati anymore. Something else told me I wasn't even in Ohio anymore either. I didn't recognize the town. Deciding I wasn't going to get answers just sitting in the grass, I decided to get up and check out the nearby town.
When I got up I checked my I-Pod again it read 7:00 AM. I put my I-Pod in my ear and decided to play some music while I walk. I then got up and walked towards the town. When I was walking towards the town, I passed by a sign. It read: Welcome To Ponyville. Ponyville? What town is named Ponyville? Seeing that only increased my curiosity to get to the town. However, I saw something that literally shell shocked me.
I stopped my music and immediately did a double take to see If I saw it correctly. I was standing close enough to see the town, but not close enough for the town occupants to see me... I saw the town more in detail. I saw the houses looked like they were from the 18th century. They looked like houses made of some type of hay of some sort. But the real shock were the inhabitants who where walking around...
I never seen anything before like this in my entire life. I saw colorful ponies of all different colors!!! I also saw flying ponies up in the skies as well!! I could feel my jaw hit the floor as I was observing and taking this all in. I saw the ponies had some type of stalls set up. They were, or what appeared to be buying and selling goods. It reminded me of a farmers market back home. Home. I rethought that word. From the looks of this. Wherever I was, I deduced that this town or whatever this place was, didn't have humans due to the fact that all I saw were colorful ponies and flying ponies. I was beginning to think I wasn't even on Earth anymore!!!
After my initial shock and observation. I decided not to walk right into town. I decided I would study them from a distance and then go from there. I felt if I walked right into the town, I would be met with something less than a warm reception. Due to the fact I didn't think they ever saw a human before. As I was walking away from the town to find a place to stake out and observe this place. I had only one thought: Where the fuck am I?
I decided after a couple of minutes I didn't need to set up base camp. All I did was sit under a nearby tree that was facing the town. I was still amazed. I got another shock when I saw them talking!!! For the second time today, my jaw hit the floor. They spoke in perfect English too!!! They talked about stuff humans talked about. They talked about gossip, the weather, and other things along those lines. I looked at my I-Pod and the time read 7:30 AM. I was glad that whatever or whoever transported me here, transported my I-Pod with me. I decided I would just sit back and relax for a bit. Meeting the ponies could wait. I scrolled through my I-Pod and decided to look for a song to play. I found the perfect song that suited my current predicament.
As I was listing to the song, I relaxed. As the lyrics were going, I couldn't help but frown that I could not let the pain heal. After all those years of hell that Janice put me through, I wonder If I would ever let it go. And I wondered If I did belong here. As I looked at the ponies I noticed they were all cheerful and It looked like they didn't have a care in the world. It made me very sad as I saw the smaller looking ponies with what looked like their mothers. I missed my real mother. The sad thing was I never even got to say goodbye to her. Seeing these young ponies with their mothers only made my pain worsen. I was so deep in thought I almost didn't notice a rainbow colored blur heading straight for me.
"LOOK OUT BELOW!!!" I managed to hear it in time to jump out of the way as a rainbow colored pony crash land into the tree that I was sitting against only a moment ago. I stopped my music and took my headphones out of my ears and put them both in my pocket. "Ow my head!" I heard the rainbow colored pony say. Judging by hear voice I could tell she was a female. But with a tomboyish accent to go with it. As she was coming to, she looked up. She looked at me and she froze. I saw her red colored eyes. "MONSTER!!!" before I had time to react, she pounced on me pinning me to the ground.
"Who are you and why are you here!?!" She yelled in my face. I was still surprised from the initial shock of her pouncing me it took me a few seconds to respond. "Please, I'm not a monster, I'm just lost don't hurt me!" I pleaded. I was very afraid of her because If she had the power to pin me to ground I didn't know what else she was capable of. "Woah!" You can talk?!" She screamed in my face again. "Please stop screaming in my face. I wont hurt anyone just let me go." I pleaded once more. She carefully got up off me. I got up afterwords and dusted myself off.
"I'm sorry If I scared you I mean no harm, I'm just lost and looking to return home." She eyed me suspiciously but after a few seconds, she relaxed a bit. "Sorry about that, I was practicing some flight moves and lost control." "By the way, what are you anyways?" I knew when she asked me that, I knew for a fact there were no humans here. "I'm a human" I told the rainbow colored pony. I decided I should tell her my name as well. "My name Is Jason, nice to meet you." I politely greeted. "I'm Rainbow Dash, the fastest flier in all of Equestria!!" She proudly proclaimed as she flew up in the air.
Equestria? Is that the name of this place? I decided I would ask where I was in more detail later and focus on getting introduced to the town. "Nice to meet you Rainbow Dash, I'm glad you came by." I was actually glad she came by. Maybe if she was willing, she would walk me through the town and make my appearance easier. "You are?" "Why?" She asked. "I was hoping if you could show me into town because from the looks of it, you don't have any humans, that's why I was sitting by the tree, cause I figured If I walked right into town, I would cause a panic or something." She put her hand (or in this case a hoof) to her mouth and thought for a minute. "I know who you should see." She finally responded. "I know this pony who Is an egghead and she could probably help you to return home, from the looks of you, you aren't from around here are you?"
"No I'm not, one night I went to bed at my home, the next morning I wake up here." "I don't know what brought me here." "Who is this pony anyway?" "Could she really help me out?" Rainbow Dash laughed. "Her name is Twilight, shes an egghead, always has her nose in books, If anyone could help you out, it would be her." I decided to ask Rainbow Dash what she was. I knew there were ponies here, but I never seen a pony with wings before. "If you don't mind me asking, what are you anyway?" She looked confused for a second but then her face lit up. "OH!, I'm a pegasus." "Dont you have any pegasuses where your from?" She asked. Interesting, she is a pegasus, I recall vaguely as mythological creatures.
"I'm afraid not. "Actually back at my world (I have a feeling im gonna be using the term "my world" a lot in the future, so I might as well get used to It) pegasuses are mythological creatures, they don't exist." Rainbow Dash looked shocked with her mouth hanging open. "Really?" She asked. "Yes really." "So this Twilight is she a pegasus as well?" Rainbow Dash laughed at my question. Then she stopped laughing. She probably remembered I wasn't from around here. "Sorry about that, I keep forgetting your not from here, no shes not a pegasus, shes a unicorn." My jaw hit the floor for the third time today. I had a feeling my jaw would keep hitting the floor as time went on. "A unicorn?!" I almost screamed.
"Ya she is." She responded. "I'm guessing unicorns don't exist were your from because your jaw is still hanging open." She chuckled. "I have a feeling my jaw is gonna keep dropping so I might as well get used to it." I remarked. She just laughed in response. "I like you, your funny, I can tell were gonna best friends." She smiled. Friend? She considers me her friend? We just met though? "Friend?" "You consider me your friend?" "But we just met?"
"Of course, you seem like a cool guy, and besides I bet you have loads of cool stories from your world anyways." Wow my first encounter with a local and I'm a friend of hers already. I hope the other town locals are just a friendly. But I have a feeling that might not be the case. "Sorry to cut our talk short, but can you help me walk into Ponyville now?" "I'm kinda afraid the locals will hurt me." I actually was scared. After the way Rainbow Dash reacted, I imagine it would only be worse If a whole town reacted in a similar way. "Don't worry, I'll protect you, I'll make sure no one messes with my new friend." "If anyone tries to hurt you, I'll make them regret it." She said while punching her hoofs in the air like a boxer. "Thanks, I feel safer already." I was really touched by her kindness.
"No problem, anything for a friend." She responded with a smile. I smiled as well. "Ok well should we go now?" I asked her. "Ya let's go to Twilight's." She said as she landed on the ground. "I'll walk you there, since you can't fly and your unfamiliar with Ponyville." Wow I was really touched by her kindness. It made me happy. "Thanks Rainbow Dash, It means a lot." I said gratefully. "No problem, I would never leave my friends hanging." She responded with a smile. And we were finally on our way to Ponyville. "Rainbow Dash, I'm nervous." I told her. I was really nervous. I was very shy, and I wasn't good in crowds. And me going into a town where I'm the only human, would make me the center of attention, didn't help at all. "Don't be nervous Jason. I'll be right beside you as we go to Twilight's, you don't have anything to worry about." She said with a reassuring smile. "Ok, thanks." I was still nervous as we were walking towards Ponyville. I hope the town won't be too hard on me I thought while the town got closer in sight.