The Mysterious Tale of the Man Who Didn't Do Much

Chapter 4: Hate to Love

I woke up and it felt like morning. You know that feeling that you get when it's morning, and you don't want to get up, but you have to, so you do. You know you know that feeling. I had it that morning. I'm a soldier, for crying out loud! I sit bolt upright when someone sneezes. All that aside, I felt like sleeping in. I just wanted to. That's when I remembered everything that happened last night. I am SO getting up. I need to investigate. (As dumb as it sounds...) No one was home... except for Rainbow Dash. I turned around without moving much, so as not to disturb the cyan bundle of... whatever (well, I don't know how to describe her.) near my back. She had rolled over a LOT in her sleep. About 5 feet. I chuckled a little under my breath. Oh come on, that's kind of funny. I stood up and walked over to the bookshelves and found myself directly in front of the "Non-Fiction/History" section.

I looked for a moment for something that would hopefully explain things that I wanted to know when I found, "Welcome to Equestria!" It looked like it was written with a lot of sarcasm, however, upon reading; I found it gave a brief, comedic tale of history, who ruled, how they ruled, and what the proper way to use subject/number agreement was, which was exactly like English. (A common lesson in beginning Spanish/French classes.) For instance, the difference between boy and girl, girlfriend and boyfriend relate well to the two other mentioned words, how to address royalty, etc... (This is much different than Spanish. It isn't sexist, either, mind you.) As for common terminology, I was sure I'd learn. Just... Avoid using words that may differ... For instance, I already knew that "anyone" is to "anypony". I can learn.

I sat on the floor while I was reading, because I decided that I was more comfortable. I looked back at Rainbow, who was still fast asleep. Wait, nope, getting up at this point. "Goooood morning." I said, not glancing from the book.

"Huph... Mhgnn..."

"Excuse me?" I chuckled. Bed-talk. I knew it too well. Rainbow cleared her throat and said, "Hi..." I glanced up and... okay... it was too much. "Ahahahaha!" I just died, there, on the spot. Dash was taken back and retorted, "Whoa. What up with you?"

"Me?" I managed to choke out, "Looks to me like that Rainbow mane is more of a major pain!" I pointed at her mane and kept laughing, putting the book down. Rainbow felt her head and realized what I meant. She blushed a little, but laughed it off before patting it down. "I'm so gonna get revenge on you for that..." She muttered. My eyes opened and I stopped laughing. She looked so serious! "Hey! Hit the floor, not me! That's what did it to you! Don't shoot the messenger!"

"What?" She asked, with a casual eyebrow raise.

"Earth phrase. It means don't get mad at the guy who delivered the message."

"Ah. I see."

"So, I take it you were comfy last night?" Dash stopped for a second and thought. "What do you- Oh!" That's when she must've realized what I meant, because her pupils were minuscule. "Oh pony feathers! You were... awake?"

"Haha, yup! It's alright, though. Secret's safe with me..." She sighed a breath of relief. I shot her a funny look and a wicked smile, "Or is it?"

"Better be... Hey, why aren't they all home?"

"Maybe the rain picked up. Had to stay at... the place they were going."

"Zecora's."

"Yeah, that..." I trailed off and continued reading. The door to the library opened, and in came five ponies and a dragon. "Hey!" I yelled, "What held ya?"

"The rain...." Twilight said, she was seemingly very tired. "We were up kind of late at Zecora's. Do you have the time?"

"Sure." Pinkie sighed, "Way too early o' clock..." And with that, she promptly crashed on the floor a few feet from where I was sitting. One by one, the ponies laid down somewhere on the floor. For a second, Twilight thought about going upstairs to sleep in her bed. I could tell, because she started going up the steps, froze, keep going, leaned against the wall, started to fall, regained her balance, went back downstairs, used MAGIC... magic... Nobody... nopony, rather, expects the magic inquisition! Seriously, I shouldn't expect anything from these fellas. Anyway, she levitated 6 blankets out of her upstairs closet, and put them on each one of her friends. Only one thing popped into my mind, and speaking as a soldier... 'D'awww...'

This... right here is the stuff that I never found at my home or town! The generosity... It speaks for itself. I liked it here, I really did! Nevertheless, I wanted to go home. I truly did. However I felt, in my heart, that that may not happen for some time. That made me happy, but then again, thinking of home made me happy too! Conflicting emotions is a pain in the bum that you never forget, ain't it? The feeling that I would feel when going home would be amazing... But it would be a feeling that I would hate to love. I feel like an evil monster.

I hadn't noticed, being as lost in the book as I was, but Rainbow Dash was right next to me. Everything was quiet until I heard a "Boo!"

"Ack!" I half-freaked and fell over, dropping my book and losing my place in it. It was priceless. For her, at least. Dash was on the ground laughing her face off. I couldn't stay mad though. The laugh was hysterical. "Hehehahahaha! Ahahahahaha! Th-the look on your face! Heheheh... Priceless." Called it. "That was too good."

"Hey! What was that for? You're gonna wake up the others, anyway." I snapped back, still a tad miffed. Not mad... miffed. She was still chuckling when she responded. "Well, it's true... Plus, you were teasin' me not TWO minutes ago..."

"True... But still, I'm getting you back for getting me back which technically you should be mad at yourself for, because it was something you did..." I took a breath and finished, "Just expect me. Or don't. I've learned not to expect anything from you peop- erm, ponies." I regained my place in my book and wanted to keep reading. Meh, sometimes I'm a reader. "Now shoo, you pegasus, you." I poked her belly and she giggled. "Don't you dare." She said, ever so quickly. Wait a minute. "So defensive. Something wrong?" I asked, maliciously. "Nope. Not-a thing." She feigned a smile. I could see right through it though.

"Right. Okay," I said, with the funniest look on my face, "Just expect... Revenging... I shall... revenge myself? I guess that's how you would say it." I thought for a moment but resumed quickly, "I will revenge myself... You won't even see it coming! Muahaha!" And with the cheesiest laugh I could muster up, I kept reading. Even though my eyes were on the book, in my peripheral vision, I saw a worried Dash backing up into a wall, getting scared by that, and backing away slowly to the point from which she woke up. I was quite the sight, and I laughed under my breath. Leaving was becoming less mandatory. More of a decision. I kind of liked it here.