No one, to this day, throws a party like Pinkie Pie. I know, I've been to plenty of them. I've also been to plenty of parties that Pinkie didn't organize, and I can say right now that it's not the same. Many would disagree, and say that their patented Pinkie Party Package will make it feel like she's actually there, but it won't. It can't. It just can't. The first party that I went to that Pinkie threw was, of course, my Welcome To Ponyville party that she threw for me when I first arrived. However, even Pinkie Pie needs time to prepare a good party, so we had to hang out around town until dusk to go to Sparky's old library. Where the party was being held. So after getting off the airship we decided to waste some time and eat at Sugarcube Corner, plus me and Twilight hadn't eaten breakfast yet.

On the way there nothing particularly interesting happened. We just talked about normal things. Things that I would probably have talked to my friends about back on earth. What was going on in town, that mare down the street had been with that stallion, and other typical things.

And that might have been the first moment that I had really felt... comfortable... in Equus.

Which is strange, right? Twilight tried so hard make me comfortable those first few months (She even almost bought me a house!), but really all in took was a nonchalant short walk and a casual conversation.

Funny... the small things usually turn out to be the ones you remember most.

-Daus Skarr

*******

It was a modest party, if what I had seen in the show was anything to go on. Pinkie had kept her word and only invited the mane six and, much to Rarity's displeasure, Discord. As far as he was concerned, the show gave a fairly accurate description of him. He was eccentric and annoying, but I liked him. He hadn't turned me into anything... unpleasant... yet anyway.

"Daus! Come over here! We were just about to play a game I myself invented."

I was standing next to the food table talking to Applejack about her farm when I heard Discord yell at me from across the room. I glanced over and saw Discord floating in the air with a large bucket of water below him. Pinkie had her head in the water and was moving it around as if she were bobbing for apples.

I excused myself from Applejack and started to move around her, but before I could she reached up and grabbed my shoulder.

"Hold on there, sugar cube," she had turned to look at the bucket as well, "Let's just watch a moment."

I looked back to the bucket and watched. After a few more moments of bobbing, a tentacle reached out of the water and wrapped itself around Pinkie's head and started to drag her into the bucket. Pinkie jerked her head back, and after a brief struggle, pulled the octopus out of the water. Having won the tug of war, Pinkie bounced around showing of the octopus to Fluttershy and Rarity, who had been watching warily from close by.

I shook my head at Pinkie's antics and yelled back, "No thanks!"

Discord floated over to the food table with a bored frown on his face, "Oh come now my dear fellow. You've hardly done anything but stand around and drink punch the entire night. This party is for you after all."

I shrugged and took another sip from my cup, "It's good punch."

Discord scoffed, "Oh punch smunch, this is a party! I would hate to have to tell Pinkie that you're not having fun..."

"Someone's not having fun!?"

Pinkie appeared out of nowhere and gasped. I sighed and shot Discord a piercing look before turning to Pinkie, "Sorry no. Discord was mistaken. Nobody is not having fun."

Pinkie scrunched her nose and a look of concentration came over her, "So... nobody isn't having fun?"

"Exactly, nobody is-" I pause and thought about it for a moment before silently cursing myself, "Everyone is having fun."

"Awwww, but I haven't seen you play any games yet." Pinkie paused for a moment to think, "I know!" Pinkie grabbed me by the arm and started to drag me over to another table full of different games and props. Once she had gotten to the table, and I had spilled the remainder of my drink down the front of myself, she began to look through the party games that she had brought. While she was doing that the rest of the mane six had noticed me being dragged across the room and walked over to see what was going on.

I glanced around at their questioning faces for a moment then and started to look for something to clean myself with.

"Oh, darling what have you done to yourself?" Rarity lite her horn up and began to clean my shirt with a spell, "And what exactly is Pinkie doing?"

I shrugged and said, "Apparently, we're all going to play a game."

"A game?" Twilight asked with a confused look, "It's already eleven thirty, and I have a report that's due tomorrow."

I rolled my eyes, "Don't be ridiculous. You're a princess. Just tell them it'll be late."

Twilight got an affronted look on her face, "Just because I'm a princess doesn't mean I can blow off the ambassador of-"

"Found it!"

Pinkie cut off Twilight with a yell as she flourished around a small box of cards about the size of my hand.

"Pinkie, I really don't think-"

"Come on Twi, lighten up!" Rainbow Dash landed behind Twilight and spoke with the kind of confidence that only she could muster, "It's only one game. It'll be over pretty quick."

Twilight looked around at everyone before sighing and bowing her head in defeat, "Fine."

"Yay!" Pinkie cheered and opened the box of cards, reading the rules off the back of the box in the process. "Oooooooohkay, the rules are simple..."

***

There are many games that I would enjoy playing at a party. However, most of them would involve some form of alcohol, of which this party seemed to be lacking. Which I thought was odd, in and of itself, but I didn't question it. That left a scant few party games that I could think would be appropriate for a group a mature, adult... people... to play at a party. Needless to say, I was not expecting what Pinkie had in store for us.

"Truth: If you had to chose one pony from those playing to be your one friend, who would it be? Dare: Chug your drink and go get another."

We were playing Truth or Dare, with a twist. You have to chose from the options that your card gives you.

...*sigh*

"Well, " Rarity placed her freshly drawn card at the bottom of the deck and began to reshuffle the cards, "I think that I will be going with the dare-"

"Not fair!" Rainbow leapt up in protest, "We aren't even drinking cider!"

Rarity calmly placed the newly shuffle deck of cards back on the table before responding, "Rules are rule Rainbow dear. It doesn't ever say the drink has to cider, or even alcoholic in nature at all." Rarity pushed her chair back and stood with a yawn, "Although it is getting rather late, and I don't relish the thought of drinking so much punch before bed." She picked up her cup of punch and started walking over to the refreshments table while saying over her shoulder, "Twilight dear, how much longer are we going to play?"

"Whaa?" Twilight jerked awake, having fallen asleep since her last turn, "Oh, um, I suppose we could do one more pony."

She glance around sleepily before her eyes lit upon me, "Daus, it's your turn next I guess."

I gave her a dark look before saying, "No no no, we can end it here. I'm sure that everyone would rather-"

"Nice try sugarcube," Applejack cut me off before I could finish, "But I'm sure we can all stay awake for one more card."

Rainbow jumped in with a smirk, "Yeah besides, it's your party. You might as well finish it."

I gave both of them the same dark look I'd given Twilight, but all I got in return were a couple of shrugs and poorly concealed smiles.

I sighed before reaching for the deck Rarity had place back on the table. After drawing a card I looked it over and read allowed, "Truth: What city were you born in? Dare: Turn your mane green."

I blinked a few times then shook my head with a small smile, "Well since Truth hasn't steered me wrong yet I suppose I'll go with it." I replaced the card and reached for the box that they came in, "I was born in Canterlot of cou-OUCH!"

I flung the cards away from me as I felt a searing hot pain erupt from hand. I leaned back in my chair and began to rub the affected area, cursing under my breath, "What the heck was that?" I glanced up and saw everyone in the room, minus Discord, who was floating near the ceiling asleep, staring at me with wary looks on their faces, "What?"

Applejack was the first to speak, "Them cards got an enchantment on them that's suppose to catch you when you lie, and apparently, you just did."

"What?!" I glanced around at everyone else, who all seemed to be agreeing with Applejack. With the exception of Twilight of course. No one had noticed her yet, but she had a half curious, half worried look on her face. However, she wasn't talking, so I wasn't getting any help from her.

I half stood with an irritated look on my face, "That's just plain dangerous! What if a kid got a hold of those cards?!"

They all looked at each other with confused looks before Applejack responded, "Uh, sorry but, what's a kid?"

I face palmed. Of course, they don't have "kids" here. What did they call them again...?

"Uuuuuuuh, " I search for the word in my head, "You know a kid. Child? Offspring?"

"Ooooooooooooh," they all gave off a collecting noise of realization.

Applejack shrugged, "I guess it"ll teach 'em not to go messin' with magic they don't understand, but that's beside the point." Applejack narrowed her eyes, "Why'd you lie? It's not like it's a big deal."

"Yeah mister!" Rainbow Dash almost jumped out of her seat in her haste to chastise me, "So spill it!"

I was about to respond with an extremely clever comment which drew upon my vast knowledge of colorful language when Rarity returned to the table, "Rainbow please, if he doesn't wish to tell us then he doesn't have to. There was more than just one option to chose from. Although," Rarity seemed to be remembering something unpleasant, "I would suggest just coming clean. A green mane would simply clash horribly with that jacket of yours."

I grimaced, "Fine I'll do the dare."

At this Twilight started awake again and glanced around quickly. Pinkie, having notice Twilight's odd reaction, bounced over to her and said, "What's up Twi? Having a bad dream?"

"No Pinkie I'm fine, but..." she turned to face me, "I think you should go with the truth."

I blinked a few times in surprise, "Um, no Twi. It would take a long time to explain where I'm from. I'd rather just go to bed tonight with a green... mane, " I almost chocked over the word.

"Um, no," Twilight stood to look me eye to eye (or as eye to eye as she could get), "I really think you should just tell the truth."

I frowned at her. What was her deal? "No, just turn my mane green."

"I can't do that Daus, " Twilight looked a little frustrated by now, "Just tell the truth and we can explain in the morning."

"Really?" I pointed a thumb at the remaining ponies, who were watching our exchange with bated breath, "You think this bunch is just going to wait around ten or so hours for an explanation?"

"Well," Rarity said under her breath, "Certainly not now."

Twilight stomped her hoof on the ground, "Just tell the truth and I'm sure they'll wait as long as I ask them to!"

Rainbow laughed, "Sure, whatever you say Twi."

Twilight turned to growl at Rainbow, but then I had an idea, "Hey!" I yelled up at the resident lord of chaos, "Discord!"

Twilight's eyes widened when she realized my plan. Meanwhile, Discord had opened one eye and was looking down at me with a mildly baleful expression.

"Oh?" he yawned and stretched, "Done with your little game are we?"

I waited a few more seconds for Discord to unwind himself before continuing, "Not quite, there's just one more thing before it's over." I paused for a moment and glanced at Twilight. Surprisingly, she didn't look mad. In fact, it almost looked like she was pleading with me, but I was tired and not in any kind of mood to be reasoned with. I looked back up at Discord and said, "I need you to turn my mane green."

Discord raised an eyebrow and glanced between me and Twilight. After a second he laughed and did a back flip, "Oh!" He continued to laugh, "You certainly are an interesting one!" He stopped suddenly and looked down at me again with a slightly dejected look on his face, "However, I cannot."

"What?!" I was starting to get a little annoyed now, "Of course you can! Your Discord! Lord of Chaos! Ring any bells!"

Discord just stared down at me with a bored expression, "Oh don't worry my bells are sufficiently rung." I rolled my eyes, "However, Twilight here," Discord motioned with one hand to Twilight, "Made me promise not to use any magic to... how did she put it?" He waved a third hand that he had conjured from nowhere in a circular motion then snapped his fingers, "Oh I remember now!" Suddenly a miniature Twilight appeared out of nowhere and yelled, "...alter the composition of a pony because you think their hair could be used to 'catch leprechauns'!"

The miniature Twilight disappeared and we all turned to look at Rainbow Dash.

"Jeez," she turned away from us with a blush on her face, "It isn't that bad..."

I groaned, "Listen, I don't really care what she told you to do. I just need you to turn my mane green, and then we can all go home and go to bed."

Discord stroked his beard thoughtfully, "Hmmmm... tempting..."

"Discord!"

"Oh please Twilight, the only reason you don't want me to turn his mane green is because you have something riding on this." He gave her an intrigued look, "Which is very interesting and all, but..." He sighed, "Oh all right! I suppose I could sully my impeccable track record this one time, so..." With a flourish and a snap of his fingers Discord turned my mane green.

...or at least I think he did. The moment he snapped his fingers my vision was reduced to two small holes directly in front of my eyes. Almost as if I were wearing a mask...

I started and reached up to feel my face and, sure enough, I could feel the mask that Celestia had given me the other day sitting on my face as if I had been wearing it the whole time. I pulled it off and looked down at it for a moment before looking up at Twilight and then the rest of the group. Twilight had a blank look on her face, although I doubted it would be there for long. The rest of the group ranged from Rarity's horrified shock to Discord's surprised curiosity, and all of them foretold a long and sleepless night.

I raised my hands in front of me as if to ward off the questions, "I can explain."

And then Fluttershy screamed.

***

After Fluttershy screamed all hell broke loose, and it took all Twilight had to calm down the others. Thankfully Discord just floated above the chaos following me around with his eyes, a curious look on his face. The others were much more difficult to deal with. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash immediately took off, the latter trying to fly out the door, and when Twilight bared it with magic, a window. Twilight just barely managed to grab her tail and dragged her back in before she could yell for all of Ponyville to hear that the "Changelings were invading again." Fluttershy just drifted up to the ceiling and cowered there.

Much to my surprise the moment the chaos started Applejack leapt across the table and acquainted my face with her fist. Now, I'd like to think that I was a pretty solid guy, but the moment she hit me my legs turned to jelly and I was sent sprawling, only just barely avoided a cupcake that Pinkie had thrown. I probably would have taken another hit to, had Twilight not frozen everyone with a spell, having finished subduing Rainbow Dash.

"EVERYPONY CALM DOWN!"

Twilight stood in the middle of the fray breathing heavily. She took and deep breath and closed her eyes, bringing a hand to her chest. In a slow exaggerated motion, she moved her hand away from her chest and exhaled at the same time. After a moment she opened her eyes. Having regained some of her composure she pointed to me and said in a calm voice, "He is not a changeling."

Her eyes roamed over the room coming to rest on Rainbow Dash and lingering there for a moment before she closed her eyes again, "Alright, does everypony understand? He is no threat to anyone in this room."

I wouldn't say anyone... but that may just be my jaw talking.

After everyone grunted in acknowledgement Twilight let her spell fade away.

"Damn," I shakily got to my feet, "You didn't have to hit me that hard."

I glanced over sideways at Applejack. To her credit, she did look a little guilty.

"Sorry 'bout that Sugarcube, I guess I still got it out for the changelings after what happened in Canterlot." She gave me a wary smile, "No hard feelins?"

I rubbed my jaw and winced, "As long as you can keep your hands to yourself."

"Aw don't be like that!" She slapped me on the back, adding to my growing collection of bruises, "Least you know how to take a hit! First time me an' Dash here got in a tussle, she leaned into it!" She chuckled at the memory, "Didn't think ah'd ever hear the end of it from Fluttershy. Put Dash in the hospital for a week!"

Said cyan pegasus had been slowly circling us as we had be talking, taking in every inch of me. Not finding me to be as threatening as she had previously believed, she landed in front of me and stuck her face in mine forcing me to lean back. After a moment she snorted and pulled back, "Even if you aren't a changeling, what are you? I've never seen anything like you before, and I've been to Schunie!"

Rarity suddenly spoke up, "Weren't you two at the time dear?"

Rainbow Dash brushed her wing at Rarity in what I can only believe to be a dismissive manner, "Eh, I'm pretty sure even if I had been that young I would have remembered what one of these guys looked like."

"Rainbow!"

Rainbow turned to Twilight, "Chill out Twi it's not like I'm insulting him or anything." Rainbow suddenly turned to look at me with a sheepish look on her face, "Uhh... I'm not am I?"

I grinned, "Under the circumstances, I think I can let that one slide."

Rainbow immediately regained her confident exterior, "Yeah see-"

Rarity cut Rainbow off again, "Darling, maybe you could let our guest speak a little now?"

Rainbow shut her mouth and glanced around the room. Everyone, with the exception of Discord, who was continuing to give me a passively curious look, was looking at her with a slightly impatient look on their face. Even Fluttershy was peeking through her hands at me from the top of the library. Rainbow's face reddened a little and she retracted her wings and stepped a little away from me.

I continued to grin as I watched her embarrassment. Every single one of them was exactly as the show had portrayed them... and I found that amusing. I scowled quickly at that thought. I may be stuck here for a little bit, but that doesn't mean I have to enjoy it. Although... they were starting to grow on me.

...and I'm going to shut down that particular train of thought before it can derail itself.

Suddenly I noticed that everyone in the room had been staring at me expectantly for a while, and I think that more than a few of them had caught the dark looks I had been giving off.

I cleared my throat hastily to break the tension, "Your all going to want to pull up a chair, because this... will take a while."

Author's Note

None of the chapters from here on out will be as long as Canterlot Nights, not unless I feel particularly inspired.

Anyway, here's another chapter. The next one will be filler, but the one after that will probably be the Christmas special. It'll advance the actual plot some, and then I can get to the real meat of the story.