A Way Into Paradise

Pink, White, Cyan, Yellow and streamers.

It didn't take long until we found the next element. Or rather, before she found us. After we went around two corners and were walking through a quiet little street, I suddenly found myself lying on the ground with a pink pony on top of me. That came very surprising to me because just the second before, there had been absolutely no one except for me and Twilight in the street. The mare simply gasped loudly and then she was gone again, disappearing as quick as she came. As I got up again I turned to Twilight and asked: "Who was that?".

"Oh, that was Pinkie Pie. She's the Element Of Laughter and also Ponyville's best party hoster. You'll probably get to know her this evening.", she said, a sly grin on her lips.

"Now what's that supposed to mean? How could you now that?", I said, rather frightened by her smile.

"Everypony who isn't born here gets to now Pinkie on their first evening in Ponyville. I doubt it'll be any different for you. You should probably just forget that you saw her at all.". The answer did not exactly help but  I doubted that I could get any more information about this evening from Twilight.

"Okay. Just one more question. How did she appear and disappear within a second and leave no traces that she was here at all? I mean, she didn't teleport or something like that, right?".

"Oh no, that was just Pinkie being Pinkie. You see, Earth Ponys and Pegasi can't actually use magic. They have special magic that helps them but they can't teleport or levitate things like Unicorns. Pegasi can stand on clouds and manipulite them, controlling the weather. Earth Ponys get extra stamina and everything they plant will grow much quicker than something planted by a Unicorn or a Pegasus. That's the reason why most Earth Ponys work as farmers and there are many Pegasi in the weather team, it just fits their abylities..", she said. I personally expected her to trail off again, but she kept herself under control.

"Huh. So what exactly does Rarity work as? Applejack's a farmer and you just said that Pinkie hosts parties. So what's Raritys job?"

"She's a designer and a tailor. Also her element is generosity."

That dumbfouned me somewhat. " I have jet too anyone of you wear any actual clothes. And Applejacks hat does not go under actual clothes in my opinion. How does she make a living by being a tailor when nobody wears clothes?."

"We do wear clothes. We just don't wear tthem on everday occasions. If you're meeting someone important or going to a noble festival you should be wearing clothes. She actaully makes quite some money. She doesn't get paid everyday but when she gets paid, she gets a lot of bits. That's Equestria's currency by the way.", she said, answering the question I was about to ask.

We continued to walk for a while after that and she continued to explain things about Equestria in general and about Ponyville to me. I had learned that there were several other creatures living here that were fiction on earth, such as Minotaurs and gryphons, which were the most important places to avoid in ponyville and the short version of how Equestria was founded by the time we arrived in front of a two-floor house with a mannequin in an an unfinished dress painted above the door.

"This is where Rarity lives and works, Carousel Boutique. Let's just hope she's here.", Twilight said, opening the door and making the little bell on the inside ring. Then a very lady-like voice came from behind the counter.

"I'll be there for you in a second!Just got to cut this here really quick, aaaand done. Oh yes, it's simply fabulous. Now, welcome to Carousel Boutique. How can I help you, oh Twilight hello. How can I help yooouuuu... are you aware of the creature behind you?", she asked, her expression somewhere between disgusted and terrified.

"My name's Alex. I'm a human and Twilight brought me here. It's nice to meet you.", I said, trying to ignore her expression and extended offering her my hand to shake.

"My name's Rarity and the pleasure is mine. You don't get to meet a new intelligent species all day. But if I might say so, you should do something about your wardrobe. If you have time, maybe I can even help you with it?". So that's where her expression came from.

"I'd be very nice of you to help but I doubt that I'll stay in Equestria for long. I have work to attend back home.". At that Twilight turned to me.

"You've got to stay at least until tomorrow. Please! I bet the princesses would love to meet you. And if you leave before today's evening, I don't want to imagine what would happen to Pinkie.". She shivered while saying the last part.

"Fine then. I'll see if I can come around at some point Rarity but I doubt it."

"It was nice seeing you Rarity but I'd like to show Alex the other bearers as well, so we got to go. I'll see you tonight, I hope."

"Yes, I'll certainly be there. Goodbye.", she said as we left the shop.

"So who's next?"

"Fluttershy. It's around midday so she should definitly be at her cottage.  And we're probably going to find Rainbow Dash sleeping on some cloud sooner or later.". We started moving towards the edge of Ponyville, not talking much this time.

"Watch Out!!".

Once again, I found myself lying on my back with a pony on top of me, though this time, the impact was painfull.

"Ohmygosh, I'm sorry! You okay?" The mare said while getting off of me.

"No, not exactly. I think you may just have rebroken one of my ribs. Ahh, shit that hurts. Is there a hospital anywhere arounnd here Twilight?", I said, trying to get up without making the injury any worse.

"Yes, I'll take you there! Rainbow, you come after us!", Twilight said, and then we teleported. When we reappeared, we wre in the typical hospital reception room: white walls, lots of chairs and a big door through which the patients went.

"We could use a doctor with healing spells, my friend here has a broken rib.".

The mare at the reception looked up. " Very sorry Twilight but I've never seen anything like that creature. I think you should go to the vet."

"Come on now, that's not exactly nice. I'm just as intelligent as you are. And if you're wondering about where my ribs or anything are located, I can tell you that perfectly."

"Oh. Very sorry Mister. I'll get you a doctor right away." She turned around to some kind of communictor and  started talking: "Hello? I have a patient with a broken rib over here. Okay. Uhu. Thanks." She turned to us again. "Room 215. Down the hallway 8. door on the right side. Doctor Quickstich will be there.", he said, pointing toward the door.

"Thanks Miss..." "Redheart." "Well then, thanks Miss Redheart.". We made way through the door and quickly arrived at room 215. As we entered, the doctor turned around.

"I suppose it's Alex with the broken rib?"

"Yeah that would be me. How do you know who I am?", Iasked laying down on the operation table as he gestured for me to do so.

"I was in the crowd this morning. Now, where is your broken rib located exactly?", he asked, lighting up his horn.

"Right around here.", I said pointing to a point directly under my heart. He touched the spot with his horn and the pain lessened really quick.

"There, it's healing. You'll have to stay here for some hours though."

"Damn. Now what?"

"I can make you fall asleep if you want that."

"Yes please. Rather that then staring at the ceiling for hours. You okay with that Twilight?"

"It's your decision and also it gives me some time to help preparing so... yes, that's actually a very good idea."

"Okay then.". Quickstich lighted his horn up once again and touched my head this time. I quickly drifted off into sleep.

When I woke up Twilight and the Cyan mare that had crashed into me were standing beside me.

The Cyan mare realized that I was awake before Twilight.

"Hey you're awake! I'm really sorry man. My name's Rainbow Dash, fastest being alive and the Element of Loyalty. Who and what are you?", she said, extending a hoof.

"Rainbow!" "What? Am I not allowed to ask direct questions anymore?"

"It's okay Twilight. My name's Alex and I'm a human. Nice too meet you Rainbow.", I said, shaking the hoof. "And about the rib, it's no big deal. Especially with the healing spells you guys got around here. It's nice not having to wait for day sto get out of ahospital for once."

"How can you just push off a broken rib as no big deal? You could've been hurt seriously!", Twilight said, disbelief filling her voice.

"I've got quite the history with bad injurys Twilight. A broken rib has simply come down to a not so big deal to me by now."

Quickstich came into the room. " You're awake already? The spell should keep you asleep until the rib is healed. Let me check that really quick.". A third time, his horn came to life and he touched my chest again. After he got back up he said: "Your rib is healed completely. That was the quickest recovery I've ever seen.". I got up and started to walk around. No pain at all. Healing spells are awesome! "Since this was your first time here it's free but next time you have to pay."

"Got it. Thanks Doc. Come on Twilight, Rainbow, let's get going." We left the hospital and stopped outside. "So where do we go next Twilight?". I was full of energy and felt even better then when I first came here.

"Hmm. I don't think we can make it to Fluttershy's place before nightfall anymore, so let's go back to the library. Fluttershy will probably be there as well."

"I'll go ahead. See you at the library Alex!". And with that, Rainbow left off in a blast.

We started walking to the library ourselfs. When we arrived on Ponyville's main square it was almost empty. The onliest pony that was there except us was a yellow-coated pegasus, heading for the library as well. Suddenly Twilight shouted next to me: "Fluttershy! Over here!". The pegasus flinched and then turned around. When she saw who had called her she began flying towards us.

"H-hello Twilight. Oh and you must be Alex. I've heard about you. I'm Fluttershy."

"Nice to meet you Fluttershy.". When I tried to offer her my hand, she flinched again. "Is everything okay?"

"Y-yes, it's just that I'm not so good at meeting new persons. Are you heading for the library as well?"

"Who isn't headed to library at the moment. We should get a move on as well.", Twilight said, starting to walk again.

"Would anybody please be so kind to tell me what is going on? I'm starting to get creeped out.", I said as we stopped in front of the library, which was completely silent and dark.

"Open the door and you'll see."

Hesitantly i pulled the door open. When I stepped in, suddenly the lights came on, a cannon was shot, I was suddenly covered in streamers and somebody yelled: "SURPRISE!" Then I realized that the room was full of ponys and there was a giant banner hanging from the ceiling which read: "WELCOME TO PONYVILLE, ALEX!"

I turned back to Twilight. "That's what was so special about this evening?! You prepared a surprise party?!"

"Yes of course! Everypony who comes to Ponyville gets one." That was the same voice that had shouted surprise before. When I turned around I saw Pinkie standing there. "Could've guessed that. Twilight told me that you were the best party hoster around. How did you now my name though?"

"Twilight told me when she came hear at midday. She was also the one who brought up the idea to have the party here. But come on now, you're the guest of honor we got to introduce you to the town!"

"Erm, Pinkie, sorry to tell you but I won't stay for long."

"Nahh. My Pinkie Sense told me there was someone new around who was going to stay in town and my Pinkie Sense never fails." Before I got to ask her what the Pinkie Sense was I was dragged into the crowd. I met many ponies that evening, but I'm not exactly the best at names. There ewre exactly four names that I could keep: Vinyl Scratch, the local Dj, Octavia her marefriend, cellist and the person who made sure that Vinyl wouldn't get too drunk, Lyra, a lyrist, who I only remembered because she seemed very interested in the human race and finally Bon-Bon, sweets manufacturer, Lyras marefriend and the biggest scaredy-cat I've ever met. The party all in all was pretty awesome, with some music provided by Vinyl. It went on until late in the night and when finally everypony was gone it was around half past three, so Twilight and I decided to go to bed as well. I simply slept on the couch.

Meanwhile, in certain house on earth: "So this is where we got a signal from?"

"Yes. It's pretty fresh and very strong. Whatever caused it will be a good refill of our storage. It's actaully the strongest signal we've ever picked up. Let's just hope it returns soon."