Close Encounters of Pony Kind

(General P.O.V.)

"Twilight, we need to get you and your friends to someplace safe." spoke the voice of Celestia.

  In the distance, more explosions were heard and smoke filled the air.

  "When will I see you again?" cried the purple alicorn.

  "Soon... very soon..." the voice slowly faded as darkness and silence flowed into the room.

  "Do not worry.  You are safe here.  Just rest.  I will watch over you." spoke a soothing male voice.

Twilight slowly awoke from her sleep.  She still feel groggy, but no longer sleepy.  Whatever sleeping spell Princess Luna put on her sure was potent.  Slowly opening her eyes to adjust to adjust to the sunlight emanating through the window, she looked around.  There was silence saved a little chirping from outside.

  "Where am I?" the alicorn muttered, "This doesn't look like any places I've been to in Equestria."

  She suddenly felt movement underneath her, as well as light snoring.  Looking down she noticed her dragon assistant, Spike, snuggling up to a sleeping Pinkie Pie.  She also noticed her other friends with her as well.

Why are they here, and why do I feel so cramped up?

  Twilight slowly begin to get on all four hooves, despite her aching muscles' protest.  However, as she noticed the round interior of the pod, she gasped.  She also remembered the voice of her mentor and the unfamiliar male voice she heard in her sleep.

Was it all a dream?

  Twilight yelped and held a front hoof to her head as pain shot through her sharply.  As memories pour into her, she finally remembered Princess Celestia saying that Sombra planned to take over Equestria by using her and her friends' Elements.  Celestia plans to send the Elements to a world of humans called "Earth".  That was all she remembered before they were put to sleep by Luna.

  After her head cleared, Twilight looked around again.  She realized they are in somepony's house.

Is this... 'Earth'?

  She couldn't help but feel a little tense.  After learning from Cadence about humans, which she called as "hairless, bipedal creatures that always wear clothing", known to be unpredictable, who wouldn't be nervous?

I hope I can find something that can confirm my question.

  With that thought in mind, she slowly exited the pod without waking the others and looked around.  Thought still nervous, she would love to learn some things about humans.  After all, her special talent is studying, reading, and learning new magic spells.  She soon saw a picture hanging on a wall at the left of the room, and went to examine it.

  What she saw was a human male wearing what looked like a graduation robe, with a serene smile and holding a diploma scroll in his left hoo-- hand, as Lyra Heartstrings called human "paws" with five little appendages known as "fingers".

Would Lyra have a field day if she came with us. she mused with a chuckle at the thought of the pony-anthropologist's reactions.

  What relaxed the alicorn a little is the human's smile.  It was as serene as Celestia's.  Then, she became saddened as she thought about her mentor.

I hope you and Luna will be all right, as well as all of Equestria.

  Her thoughts were interrupted when a loud yawn came from the pod.

  "Ugh... Twi?" spoke a familiar voice with a southern accent.

  "Applejack." replied the alicorn, who went to the groggy, stetson-wearing farmpony.

  "Where the hay am I, an' why do Ah feel a might sore?" complained the Earth pony as she stretched her body.

  "We're on Earth, and from the looks of this place, we are inside a human's home.  As for your soreness, you've been sleeping in a tight pod with everypony else, the pod that brought us here."

  Adjusting her stetson and clearing her eyes of the sleep, Applejack gave her a frown.  "Did y'all jus' say 'human'?"

  Suddenly, Pinkie Pie shot up like she never really was asleep, waking up Spike at the same time.

  "Humans?!" she cried in her usually cheerful manner, "We're on Earth?!"

  "What the hay, Pinkie?" whined the purple dragon, "I was having a nice dream about a huge and delicious gem.  I was just about to eat it, too."

  Twilight ignored him and addressed to Pinkie.  "Yes, Pinkie.  This is Earth, and we appear to be inside a house."

  Pinkie let out a loud gasp, then started bouncing up and down rapidly with her usual face-splitting smile.  "Then, we should throw a 'Welcome to Earth' party for us!  It would be the most exciting, superrific, stupendous party ever!"

  Twilight sighed and shook her head.  Typical Pinkie Pie.  Always likes to party in the most difficult situations.

  "Honestly, can't a lady get her proper beauty sleep?" whined another voice with a light British accent.

  All turned to look at Rarity who was frowning, mostly at the pink ball of energy.  Twilight stifled a giggle when she saw the fashionista's unkempt mane.

  "And what's this I hear about Earth and humans?"

  Twilight nodded.  "I will explain everything once everypony is awake.  For now, let's wake up Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy."

  At this, Rarity moved to shake the cyan pegasus with the rainbow-colored mane, who instantly shot up in the air with fire in her eyes.

  "Where is Sombra?!" she barked, posing in her battle stance, "I should teach him a thing or two for messing with Equestria!"

  She stopped when she noticed the others staring at her.  When Dash began scanning the room, she couldn't recognize anything.

  "Something tells me we're not in Equestria, right?" she asked sheepishly.

  Everypony nodded, and her determination vanished as she landed next to Applejack, who chuckled.

  "Always the loyal-type, eh, pardner?"

  Dash huffed.  "Well, I am the Element of Loyalty, AJ.  I wouldn't let anypony try to hurt my friends."

  When Fluttershy was the last to wake, she became frightened when she noticed the surroundings, but became calm as Rarity soothed her.

  "Everything will be all right, darling.  We're all her to keep each other safe."

  Fluttershy nodded, and the two slowly stepped out of the pod until everypony were in a circle.  Twilight begin to fill them in on where they are and how they got here.  When she mentioned about humans and their unpredictable nature, however, everypony felt really nervous.  Fluttershy, on the other hoof, instantly flew back into the pod and hid behind her front legs.  Dash went back to soothe her.

  "Well, what can we do, Twi?" asked AJ nervously, "We can't jus' stay an' do nuthin'.  Ah rather go back to Sweet Apple Acres where mah fam'ly's at.  They're prob'bly a might worried sick about me."

  Twilight sighed.  "I know, and I'm worried about them, too, but Celestia told us that we must stay until they defeat Sombra.  Hopefully they will."  Then, her expression turned to one with determination.  "But right now, we must tread carefully while we're here.  We do not know how humans will react when they see us."

  Everypony nodded in agreement, but Rarity interjected, "I will not go anywhere while my mane is like this, and my coat is dirty.  I must take a shower first."

  AJ scowled at her.  "How can y'all think about takin' a bath at a time like this?"

  The ivory unicorn returned with a glare.  "Unlike you, darling, I don't work on a farm, buck apples, and--" She made a face by sticking out her tongue in disgust.  "--sweat.  Sweat is sooo disgusting.  A lady must look clean and beautiful in public."

  "I still think you're beautiful." Spike cooed dreamily to his "not-so-secret" crush.

  Applejack, however, felt insulted.  "Unlike you, Rare, Ah like the feel of dirty.  It proves jus' how hardworkin' us Earth ponies are, an' y'all don' know a thang er two about hard work."

  This made the ivory unicorn angry, and it soon escalated into a heated argument.

  "Stop it, you two!" Twilight piped in, "This is no time for fighting!"

  "Ooo!  Fighting!  Sounds like fun!" cheered Pinkie.

  Now all four started exchanging heated words while Dash, Spike, and Fluttershy watched, the first two snickering at the scene...

"That's enough!" boomed a voice.

  Everypony froze in silence and fear at the tone.  It was male, calm yet loud enough to hear over the exchange.  Everypony turned to the direction of the voice, and stared in shock.  They saw what looked like a creature sitting in a chair, watching them through his eyeglasses.  He was resting his head in one hand, the elbow on the chair's armrest like a bored position.

  Twilight instantly recognized this is a human, hence the strange clothes he wore.  From the way this human is looking at them, Twilight could tell he was tired, and wasn't happy to be disturbed.

(Justin's P.O.V.)

I was having a dreamless sleep, and it wasn't long until I was hearing multiple voices.

Huh?  Why do I hear talking?  I don't recall having anyone over.

  I opened one eye a little to find the source, only to discover the ponies and dragon up and about, which snapped me out of sleep.  I was stunned when I heard the lavender pony talking, but I remembered reading in mythology that there are some unicorns and pegasi that can speak our tongue just perfectly.  I relaxed a little as I listened, though a little surprise that the dragon and the normal-looking ponies can speak as well.  I learned that all but the dragon sounded female.  They were completely oblivious to my presence, but when the stetson-wearing pony and the ivory unicorn started arguing, as well as the purple and pink pony joining in, I knew I had to intervene before it gets worse.

  Now, all was dead silent as seven pairs of colorful eyes looked at me as I stared back.  It was cute-looking, I'll admit.

  I sighed.  "As much as I find it amusing to see you at it, there will be no arguing in my house."

  They did not respond, only continued staring.  When I turned to the yellow pegasus, she hid behind the cyan one, only her eyes and mane visible.  The tension between us began to rise during the silence, and it's starting to make me feel uncomfortable.  Since no-one wants to speak, probably out of fear, I decided to break the silence again.

  "Sooo--" I began, but trailed off when I was instantly tackled by the cyan, pink, and orange pony out of the chair onto the ground.

  I was surprised by the sudden attack.  I tried to struggle, but was soon pinned down on my back.  My legs were held by the two normal ponies while the pegasus sat on my torso, facing me while giving me a glare.  My arms were held out sideways by an unknown force.  When I looked, they were enveloped in a transparent purple field.  I was completely immobilized, saved for my head.  When I saw the lavender pony approaching, her horn is glowing the same purple aura, which explains the field restraining my arms.  When she stood over me, I glared at her.

  "What's the big idea?!" I demanded hotly, "Why did you suddenly attacked me?!"

  She glared back.  "I'm sorry, but this only necessary based on our reasons."

  I raised an eyebrow.  "What reason?"

  "Humans are unpredictable.  You could be dangerous from what I know."

  I was stunned at this.  I tried to argue, but I realized she's right: We are unpredictable at heart without even knowing about it.  I sighed and looked at the cyan pegasus, then back.

  "You are right about us being unpredictable, but I assure you I'm not as dangerous as you might think."

  The purple pony raised an eyebrow.  "Why should I believe you?"

  I gave them all a hard look.  "Because I'm the one who saved all of you, okay?!"