Sarosian

Chapter 1: Party

“Don’t look at her, sweetie.”

“But mommy, she has different wings to me… Why does she-”

“I said don’t look.”

Just another innocent foal, who hadn’t seen me before. I ignored the two, used to such a reaction from the locals of Ponyville. “But mom-” I heard the foal start again, before being dragged out of earshot.

Such was life for me since I moved to Ponyville..

I thought that after Princess Luna reassimilated into society that our kind wouldn’t be shunned or feared. But it seems that from the thousand years of our race’s absence from the light of Equestria, that we were just forgotten to time, recorded but not remembered.

It was a hot Spring morning... To me at least. After living in the caves under Canterlot for so long, and avoiding direct sunlight for so many years, even the slightest rays caused intense heat on my coat. My wings I had to be especially careful about. As Pegasi have feathers covering their wings, mine are just straight skin, membrane and bone. I flexed them out quickly, giving the skin a breath of air. Although they were rather thin, they held heat in especially well. Great for winter underground. Not so good for Spring under the sun.

I opened the front door to my home, just a small two-bedroom home on the outskirts of town. Stepping inside I enjoyed the cool air and shade. I could almost feel the tips of my ears burning. I knew that going out for breakfast was a bad idea. Especially when I had to go to the market later in the day. I moved to my bedroom, and stood before the vanity mirror, preparing for the second trip.

Slitted yellow eyes stared back at me, I reached a hoof up to the dresser before the mirror and grabbed a few hair ties, quickly pulling back my dark violet fringe and tying together my pointed ears, hiding them in my mane.

Dark gray hooves worked on autopilot, making sure that my mane didn’t look too horrid, and that my ears weren’t visible. Reaching back with a hind-leg I picked up my saddlebags from the bedpost, and draped them over my back. I had learned quickly that normal pegasus saddlebags were designed to not obstruct the wings, whereas earth pony and unicorn bags covered my wings quite successfully. Sure, it was a little uncomfortable when the bags were full, but my house was only a five minute walk from the market, so I could survive at least that much discomfort.

Of course, the only part of my race that I couldn’t hide were my eyes, but thankfully, ponies don’t make eye contact all too often, and only getting glimpses at that. So while the other pony does a double-take at my slitted eyes, I would’ve already turned and left, leaving them to believe they were losing their mind.

Although I had only lived here for three days so far, I hadn’t drawn attention to myself. Yet.

Leaving my home for the second time today, I made one last check to make sure my wings weren’t visible, and returned to the sunlight. Thankfully, it didn’t take too long for my eyes to adjust to the extra brightness, but first-thing in the morning, it was still uncomfortable.

Thankfully, the streets were, for the majority, still empty. It was still early by normal pony time, myself still not quite out of being nocturnal, but almost. If I wanted to live in normal society, I had to live by their times. I couldn’t go market shopping at the middle of the night now, could I?

I continued along the road, the soft dirt making quite a good padding compared to the hard stone I was used to, same with the grass, no wonder ponies just lay down where they please, if everything was so comfortable. No Twilight! Concentrate! I flicked my tail and skipped my hooves in my walk, enjoying my new life. It was frightening at first, sure. But it was great once-

“Ohmygosh! Hi!” I found myself lying on my back, tackled to the ground and staring straight up at a particularly bright pink pony. “I haven’t met you before-and if I haven’t-” She gasped and took a deep breath, eventually lifting herself off me. I immediately jumped to my hooves at the opportunity and glared at my attacker.

“What the hay are you doing?” The pink pony just stared at me with wide eyes, holding her breath, a mix between excitement and confusing evident on her face. “Well? Do you just tackle-” And she was gone. The pink pony just took off in the other direction, sprinting at an unnaturally fast pace.

“I’ll have to report her…” I spoke under my breath, continuing my journey to the market. Sure, I was tackled by a random pony on what seemed like a regular morning. As far as I knew no special day had occurred. Although it didn’t hurt all that much, mostly due to the soft dirt anyway. Oh how much I love outside.

*

“Really, Pinkie. You saw a pony with- what did you say again?”

“I said, I saw a pony just then with cats-eyes! Like Opal’s! They were like anypony’s eyes but they weren’t round. They were like looking through a button-hole!”

Rarity rolled her eyes. “Are you absolutely positive that’s what you saw Pinkie? You had just tackled them to the ground, after all.”

“Yes. I. Am. Certain! How could I make a mistake like that? Me! Of all ponies! But this wasn’t a pony, this was a cat in a pony costume… Who could talk! That would explain how I had never seen her in town before.”

Twilight stepped through the library’s kitchen door and brought out a pot of freshly boiled tea. “If Pinkie did see what she says she saw, then maybe she is telling the truth.”

Rarity scoffed and waved a hoof in the air. “Oh please Twilight. You’re not going to believe her ‘cat in pony costume’ story…”

“No, Rarity. Such ponies do exist with eyes exactly like how Pinkie described. Although there hasn’t been a recorded sighting of one for longer than I care to imagine.” Twilight set the tea down on the table and started pouring the three cups. “So when is the welcome party?”

“What do you mean Twilight?” Pinkie Pie asked, taking her cup and taking a deep sip.

“Well, you said you hadn’t seen her around town before, so I expected you to-” Twilight stopped her sentence as her face was covered in tea.

“You’re RIGHT!” Pinkie Pie jumped out of the chair and made for the door, stopping a few hooves short. “I’ll prove to you that I saw what I saw Rarity! Because I know what I saw, I just have to show you that I knew what I saw before she gets lost!”

Rarity sighed and levitated a wash-cloth to Twilight. “Just give us the invitation and we’ll be there. But don’t tackle her again, from the sounds of it she was pretty angry at you.”

“Oh, I’m not going to do that, I only get to tackle everypony once. This time I get to use my party cannon!” Pinkie disappeared out the door.

*

Five minutes of discomfort my flank! I walked back down the road towards my home. It had taken a fair while longer than I had thought to finish at the market, which was doing a number to my coat, and my patience. The cherry stand in particular, one old mare took at least a week to work out how many bits it was for a bag. And the sun, while absolutely brilliant in every regard, was completely unbearable. I felt like my own personal swimming pool. Maybe I should’ve come here late autumn, at least then I’d have had more time to acclimatise.

My back was starting to ache too, thanks to that crazy pony tackling me before. I felt fine initially, but once the adrenaline wore off, the dull ache originated directly under a strap on my saddlebag. I remember walking past a massage clinic and day spa. If only I could get a massage. Then again, before I did too much of that I’d have to find a job. Task for tomorrow: Get a paper and start looking for work.

Thankfully, the rest of the trip home was uneventful. My wings begged for release, and my back ached from the added weight. And once I was safely inside, I put my saddlebags down on the couch, and untied my ears, feeling them spring back into natural position, and flexing my wings, feeling the cool air against my bare skin. Truly wonderful.

Just as I had finished packing everything away, there was a knock at my door. Unsure if they had the wrong home, I left it unanswered. Maybe they would figure out it was the wrong house if I left them alone. However, to break my thoughts the knocking returned. I sighed heavily, quickly doing up my mane again and throwing a saddle over my wings. Not something to look fancy, actually when I bought it, the saddle was labelled as a ‘back warmer’.

The knocking returned a third time, and once it had ceased I sighed and opened the door, revealing the same pony who had  tackled me earlier that day, and a bright blue cannon. “Hi! I know that you’re new in town because I’ve never met you-”

The pink pony paused again, staring at me. Oh no, she noticed my eyes. “L- look, I can explain-”

“I knew it!” She jumped in the air, firing off the cannon, which was filled with streamers and confetti, of all things. “I knew I didn’t make a mistake! I just knew it!”

“Uhh, knew what?”

“That you have cats eyes.” The pink pony gasped again. “How do you do it?”

“Do what?”

“Make your eyes like that! I mean, I told everypony how I grow my hooves!”

“Grow your hooves?”

“Yeah! See?” The pony took a deep breath and held her lips with one hoof while holding out the other. I watched with worry as five individual appendages extruded from her hoof. Once she let go of the breath they all disappeared again. “I show everypony how I do that, but how do you make your eyes like that?”

“I-” I paused for a moment, she honestly thinks I’m doing this on purpose? “I can’t tell you.”

“Why not?”

“Because I just can’t…”

“Well then, you’ll just have to show everypony at the party.” The crazy pony hoofed me a greeting card.

“W- What party?”

“Your welcome party! I am friends with everypony in Ponyville. And since you’re new, you have no friends. And since I’m friends with everypony, I’m going to be your first friend here!” She extended a hoof. “My name’s Pinkie Pie! What’s yours?”

I felt worried about the offered hoof, just moments ago it looked like worms were under her coat. But what choice did I have? I had to at least try to fit in. I took her hoof in my own and shook it. “Twilight Sun.”

Pinkie Pie gasped again. “Really? Wow! I have another friend named Twilight! You should meet her!”

“Another Twilight?”

“Yeah! And you can meet all my other friends too!”

“Wait, didn’t you say you were friends with everypony?”

“Yepperooni! Every pony, unicorn, pegasus, donkey, cow and alicorn in the entire town!”

“Donkey’s live here too?”

“Only two of them. But yes, and yes!” Pinkie put both hooves on her cannon and turned it around, crawling into the barrel of it. “But enough about me, the party will be about you!” She pulled out a match and lit the fuse. “See you tonight!” The cannon fired and sent her flying across town, her hooves grabbing hold of the cannon and carrying it with her as she flew.

I closed the door without thinking. Because shooting yourself out of a cannon was nuts, but taking it with you? That required too much thinking. I flicked off the saddle and ran a hoof through my mane again, getting back to normal. Opening the card I was hoofed several minutes ago, reading. ‘Your very own welcome to Ponyville welcoming party, starts at sundown at Sugarcube Corner. Don’t forget to bring yourself, because we’ll all want to meet you.’

I shook my head, and glanced out the window. It was midday at the latest, so there were quite a few hours to spare. I couldn’t quite determine if I wanted to go or not. On one hoof, if I went, more than a few ponies would notice my eyes and pull me up on it. Counterargument to that, if Pinkie Pie was anything to judge by, nopony even knew what a Sarosian was. But on the other hoof, if I wanted a job, I’d have to get to know ponies and start meeting them.

I sighed and sat down on the couch, letting my wings spread out as far as possible. It was going to be a long night if anypony in town is half as excitable as Pinkie Pie. But at least I’ll get to start my life. Meet new ponies. I yawned as I lay down on the couch, letting my wings rest against the soft fabric. It had been a long morning. I definitely deserved a nap.

*

Turns out that Sugarcube Corner is the giant pink building just visible from town square. Although considering that the sweets shop was the only building with it’s lights on within the entire town centre basically said it all.

I continued on my way, a few hundred hooves from the entrance, double checking my saddle to make sure my wings were hidden from view. I was still unsure of how everypony would react to my eyes. I actually hoped that they were all as naive as Pinkie, thinking that it was a trick of some sort. But there was something about that pink mare, she just seemed… Odd… Well, it is a new town, maybe everypony in this town is like that… Although I certainly hope not.

The closer I moved to the party, the louder the music became. It wasn’t deafening by any means, but it would certainly make talking to ponies quite a bit harder. Upon reaching the wide-open door, I was greeted with streamers and an oversized banner reaching from the serving counter to the far wall. “Welcome Twilight” was written in oversized bold letters on the violet banner, not too different from my mane colour.

Underneath the banner was an overlarge table amassed with chocolate, cake, muffins, punch, and countless other sweets. Several ponies were gathered around the table helping themselves, more than a few of them covering a plate in treats and moving to other tables around the shop. A jukebox sat behind the food table, a lone stallion operating the device searching for the next song to be played.

“Ooh- Ooh! There she is!” I glanced to the right of the banner, noticing Pinkie Pie jumping in the air and flailing her hooves, managing to stay airborne for longer than an earth pony should. Within an instant Pinkie Pie was at my side with an arm draped over my back. “Come in! Meet my friends and your new ones!” I was herded towards four other ponies seated around one of the larger tables. “Ok, first off, this is Applejack,” Pinkie pointed towards an orange earth pony. “Then there’s Rainbow Dash,” besides Applejack was a light-blue pegasus with a rainbow mane… Not too hard to tell how she got her name. “That’s Rarity,” A pure white unicorn with a styled deep violet mane waved as an introduction, although a look of shock overtook her face not a moment after I nodded to her. “And then there’s Princess Twilight Sparkle!”

“Pinkie, for the seventeenth time, stop calling me princess!” The purple alicorn sounded slightly agitated, then again, she was awfully short compared to Princess Luna.

“But you are a princess!” Pinkie Pie argued.

“Yes but-”

“Princess?” I immediately bent down on one foreleg and lowered my head. “I didn’t know, your highness.”

Twilight groaned “See Pinkie? This is why you don’t introduce me as a princess.”

“Well, how else am I supposed to do it? You are a princess and you are Twilight Sparkle.”

I lifted my head to the same height as the table. “If I may, Princess… Why aren’t you as tall as Princess Luna?” I asked, but shrinked back after drawing the five mare’s attention to me.

“Honestly, I don’t know.” Twilight folded her ears down for a moment. “Princess Celestia never explained that to me, and all my research material has no information on the subject.” Twilight paused for a second. “Although I do find it strange that you mentioned Luna and not Celestia. I assume you’ve met her without Nightmare Moon’s influence?”

Twilight’s gaze seemed to linger on me for a moment, I berated myself for saying the lesser known Princess’s name. “Yeah-”

Pinkie Pie grabbed my head and pointed it skyward. “And that is Fluttershy.” A yellow pegasus held onto the buildings rafters for dear life, shivering the whole time. “Say hello to Twilight Fluttershy.” The yellow pegasus uncovered her eyes for a second and squeaked near-silently. Immediately covering her face up in an instant. I gave a worried glance towards Pinkie, but she almost read my mind. “Oh don’t worry about her, she’s always like that. Give her a few minutes and she’ll be fine.” Pinkie disappeared for a moment and returned almost immediately. “Here, take a seat!”

I thanked her and sat down at the table, only then realising that the entire group was staring at me. “Uhh, hi?”

Rarity cleared her throat upon noticing my expression. “Beg my pardon dear, but… I must ask-”

“What’s with your eyes?” Rainbow Dash asked, cutting off the unicorn.

“Rainbow!” Applejack scolded, but immediately lifted her hat and turned back to me. “But, seriously though, do y’all have a horn hidden under that mane o’ yours?”

I sighed heavily. I knew this was a bad idea. “Actually, Applejack, I believe you’re partly right.” The Princess spoke. “Although not quite right in the details.”

Applejack looked at the princess in confusion. “Say-a what now?”

The princess turned to me. “You’re not a unicorn, a pegasus or an earth pony, are you?”

I sighed again, if I knew I was meeting a Princess, then I wouldn’t have come. I felt my wings get cramped under the saddle I was wearing, all of a sudden I just felt incredibly claustrophobic. But my problem still remained, there was no fooling a princess. I closed my eyes and nodded slowly, my wings aching for release.

“Wait wait wait. Hold up. You’re telling me that Twilight- I mean other Twilight, is not a pegasus, unicorn or earth pony.” Rainbow lifted herself off her chair into the centre of the table. There was a pause as I listened to the conversation play out. “Then what the hay is she? A donkey?”

“Twilight is a Sarosian Dash.”

“A Sar-what now?”

“I’m a bat-pony.” I finally said, looking at Rainbow Dash who just stared at me, as if I’d fallen out of the sky.

“A… Bat... Pony?” She repeated, and I nodded, expecting the worst from the group. “What do you mean?”

“Rainbow!” The Princess immediately scolded her friend.

“What? What did I do?” The pegasus lowered herself back into her seat. “Just because I’ve never heard of something doesn’t mean I can’t ask.”

“No, you’re right Rainbow. But it would be like me saying I’ve never met a pegasus before and asked what they were right in-front of you.”

“Well, yeah… But from what I see she’s just like Applejack or Pinkie Pie… The only difference is her eyes, and as far as I know, bat’s can’t see, so that’s obviously not it.”

The Princess turned to me, and put a hoof across mine. “I’m sorry for all this, but, is it okay if you just show them?”

I nodded slowly, as much as I didn’t want to, there was nothing I could say to deny a princess, of all ponies. Using a forehoof, I reached under my stomach and unhooked the saddle, then ran the same hoof through my mane, undoing the hair ties I’d set up not twenty minutes prior. Feeling my ears spring back into place, I shuffled my back enough to get the saddle to fall off, and flexed my wings slightly, revealing them to the small group gathered at the table. I opened my eyes expecting to find a look of horror or disgust, but instead, found looks of question and intrigue.

“BAT-PONY!” There was a loud shout from somepony behind me, throwing the entire store into chaos, ponies, pegasi and unicorns alike fled the party as if trying to escape the plague.

Once the chaos had finished, I found myself alone with the six other ponies I had been introduced to. Rainbow Dash was the first to break the silence. “Now that is cool!”