Following Mitch's little shout, he promptly tripped over his own hooves, with his face digging into the ground, forcing the other four ponies to collapse into a pile of giggles after him. Desperately pressing his fore-hooves off of Avi's back in an attempt to stand up, Scott promptly fell backwards onto the rough gravel pathway once again, bowling over Avi in the process.

"Come on guys!" Mitch shouted desperately, his face turning a soft red as he clambered to his hooves. He watched in disbelief as Scott fell backwards, his eyes thus falling blank, "Are you serious?"

"Maybe?" Scott replied sheepishly, tossing his forelegs out to the side for a moment, before giving a huffy face. Rolling over onto his hooves, he quickly stood up, his shoulders slightly scratched from the rough stones beneath them, "Spoil sport..."

"The only sport I'm good at!" he smirked, flicking his tail at him before continuing down the path, leaving the heap a few meters behind him before pausing and looking back.

"No!" Kirstie wailed pathetically, desperately struggling underneath Avi, waving her forelegs about in front of her. "Don't leave me with them!"

"You're not going anywhere!" Scott said, his horn flaring with energy, freezing Mitch in place, and flinging him backwards into a nearby bramble bush, "Heh... oops..."

"Oh for bucks sake!" Mitch hissed as he tugged against the sharp thorns entangled into his fur, before freezing. "Why can't I say buck?!"

"What word are you trying to say?" Scott chortled as he carefully levitated his friend out of the bramble thicket, and rested him next to the group.

"Why can't I say buck for Celestia`s sake?!" he snarled, before quickly covering his mouth for a moment, before drawing his hooves away and giving an exasperated sigh, "Oh, for Faust's sake, not this to!"

"It's part of the deal." Avi grinned as he retrieved his bag and attempted to sling it over his shoulder, which proved quite difficult considering his large wings.

"I didn't sign up for this!" he moaned as he picked a thorn out of his side, and flicked it away, leaving a tiny cut in its wake, "So, are we heading into town, or what?" he sniffed, gesturing his muzzle over in the direction of a small village, with some sort of crystalline castle looming above everything else, the sides shimmering in the light of the Sun as it slid slowly down the sky.

"Forgetting something?" Scott called, tossing Mitch's bag towards him, causing him to clumsily extend his fore-legs out in order to try and catch it, almost making himself topple over in the process. Eventually he managed to get his bag over his shoulder, after some trial-and-error, with much more error than trial, "Not fun." he commented towards Scott with a glare.

"Eh, not fun for you, but extremely funny for us!" he retorted behind a raised hoof, desperately trying to contain his laughter as he watched him fumble about, "But really now, c'mon!"

"Yeah, I want to meet all the ponies again!~" Kirstie sang excitedly, bouncing up and down as she walked.

"I'm just glad I can show these ponies the power of my Beyoncé!" Kevin grinned, gently levitating a large, white case, which held his beloved cello, around his other shoulder but he kept his magical grasp on it just in case something did happen to it.

"Celestia help anypony that tries to take your Beyoncé away from you." Avi chuckled, walking beside his friend along the rough pathway leading into the village.

"Wait, anypony? Oh, for Faust's sake, I've pretty much had it with this place. I want to go home, now." Mitch groaned as he continued to follow his friends at a slightly slower pace, making him fall back a bit from the rest of the group. Gently, a small, pink butterfly gently landed on his nose, making him halt for a few moments as the butterfly flew up and around his ears, the edges of it's small wings tickling him.

"Hey, stop that." he giggled softly as he held out his hoof, all of his worries melting away from him as the butterfly gently landed on it.

"Hey, Mitch, what's keeping you?" the sudden call from his friends quickly brought him back to reality.

"Nothing." He called back, gently tossing the butterfly into the air and rushing up to his friends, a smile plastered across his face, with the bubbly feeling some sort of new energy rushing through his veins which compelled him to forget about everything.

"What's made you so happy?" Scott grinned, Mitch's aura of joy spreading to everyone around him. He simply replied with a quick shrug, before bounding forward, releasing a gleeful note into the air, and spreading his wings awide.

"What's gotten into him, you think?" Mitch heard Avi ask the others just before he left earshot. Leaping into the air, he desperately flapped his wings, his bag slipping off his shoulder and hitting the ground with a soft 'thud'.

It seemed that just as he caught air, he dropped right to the ground once more. Eagerness churned in his stomach as he pushed himself up again and flung himself into the air once more. He closed his eyes and pounded his wings even harder in an attempt to gain more height, and just as he was about to go plummeting back to the ground, something wrapped around his left fore-leg, and clung onto him, massively slowing his descent. He braced himself for the impact of the rough ground, but it didn't seem to come to him. He gingerly opened his right eye, and saw the ground slowly approaching him, and he quickly set his hooves down.

"Heh, you're pretty good for a newbie." the sudden voice caught him off guard, and he quickly opened both eyes, and searched for the source of the seemingly female voice.

"W-What?" he choked out when he noticed a cyan pegasus standing before him, with a rainbow coloured mane and a storm cloud with a three-colour lightning bolt plastered to her flank. He tried to wrap his head around the fact that it was a pony talking to him. 'I guess this explains why we turned into ponies then...' he swallowed as she began to address him.

"Huh. Thought you would have heard about me by now, seeing as most of Equestria knows me for my Sonic Rain-boom." she boasted, stretching her wings for a moment, before hovering a few feet from the ground.

"A sonic what-now?" Mitch asked, tilting his head slightly.

Her jaw dropped for a moment. "How can you not know what a-" then a wave of realisation passed over her, "Ooooh, aren't you part of that group that was filling in for the Ponytones? What was it, Penta-rockets?"

"Pentatonix." he corrected the mare, irritation already burning through him. Luckily for him, his friends finally caught up to him.

"Oh, hey Rainbow." He heard the voice of Kevin echoed from behind him, and he quickly turned to face him.

"You know this pony?" Mitch asked, his eyes going wide with shock and confusion.

"Well, yeah. When we came here for a brief time for the music festival, which only comes around every century might I add, we got to meet the Elements of Harmony. Rainbow Dash here, is the embodiment of the Element of Loyalty." Avi explained to him, casting his eyes towards the rainbow-maned pegasus, his eyes glowing with admiration for her.

"Wait, Avi, that's you?" Rainbow blunk in surprise, "You look... different." she commented bluntly, floating around him in circles, observing his new dragon wings and horns.

"Gee, thanks..." he muttered under his breath before continuing, "So, how have things been going around here?" he asked, slowly continuing down the path.

"Eh, fine, I guess." she answered nonchalantly, floating along with her fore-legs folded.

"Are you forgetting the huge, freaking, castle in the middle of the town?" Scott blurted out, making Rainbow look up for a moment, before returning.

"Oh, yeah." she recalled her memories, "Yeah, Twilight's a princess now. She's got wings and everything."

"So you forgot that your own best friend has ascended into royalty?" Scott replied bluntly, astounded by the fact that Rainbow Dash, the Element of Loyalty, had forgotten that her own best friend was now a princess.

"I dunno. I guess that not much has happened since she got her new role, and things have been running just like normal. I guess it's that she doesn't want us to think that she's better than us, so she still spends a lot of time with us." Rainbow explained quickly, her eyes flickering into deep thought, leaving her silent for a few minutes.

"So... how's the rest of you guys?" Avi asked gently, trying to not let the conversation die.

"Huh? Oh, yeah. Rarity has come down with some sort of disease, and so has the rest of her group but Fluttershy. I guess it's because she's been busy but I can't help but think something fishy is going on." she confessed, her nose twitching slightly with annoyance, "Discord has been nothing but a nuisance ever since he was 'reformed'."

"Wait, your saying you released Discord?" Kirstie gasped, her eyes opening wide with shock.

"The Lord of chaos?" Scott sounded just as stunned as Kirstie at this point.

"Yeah. Fluttershy apparently 'reformed' him, but-"

"Ok, who the flying feather are any of these ponies?!" Mitch shouted in frustration, cutting off what Rainbow had to say.

"Uh, Discord is the thing that turned Ponyville into the chaos capitol of the world, where buildings floated, the land was made of quilts, night and day switched at random intervals, and clouds of cotton candy rained chocolate milk!" Rainbow explained in an irritated tone, continuing when she saw Mitch's deadpan tone, "He's a beast with a ponies head; a lions' paw and a hawks' claw for hands; a goats' leg and a dragons' leg; with a serpents tail; an antler and a goat horn; and a bird and bat wing too."

"Sounds like one ugly mother-bucker." he remarked, scrunching his nose as he tried to imagine such a beast.

"You should see him in the flesh, where he ain't much prettier." she sniffed, gently landing on the ground, "Ah, there they are." she smiled as she noticed a small group of four ponies waiting at the entrance to the town. Avi seemed to rush past the group and embrace a bright yellow pegasus with a long, light-pink mane in a tight hug while releasing a joyous laugh.

"Avi's got a mare-friend!" Kevin chanted playfully, making Avi blush slightly before releasing the mare from the hug.

"No, it's just been so long and I've missed her." he snapped back, his face still lit up by the red hue, with the mare in front of him game a soft giggle.

"Well, it's very nice to see you again." she said with a warm smile, "It's lovely to see friends again." she continued in her soft tone, flicking her light-pink mane from her eye, drawing back from the hug, and turning to face Mitch, "Hello there. Aren't you the other member that the others said was ill to join them when they visited? Mr..." she paused, unsure of his name.

"Oh, uh. The name is Mitch. Mitch Grassi." he answered quickly with an awkward chuckle.

"Well that's a lovely name, Mr Grassi. My name is Fluttershy, and this is Pinkie Pie," she introduced him, gently turning and pointing towards a light-pink mare with a puffy, darker mane, whom was bouncing up and down on the spot excitedly while chatting to Kirstie, "Applejack," she turned slightly, pointing towards an orange pony with a blonde mane, with a trio of apples on her flank, whom was talking to Kevin and Scott, "and it seems you've already met Rainbow." she assumed, glancing up to the cyan pegasus whom was quarreling with Avi about which one of them was closer to their friends.

"You mean big mouth over there?" Mitch grunted, glaring at her.

"I know she can be a little big-headed sometimes, but she's really nice once you get to know her." Fluttershy defended her friend, watching as Avi won the argument, releasing a smug laugh, with Rainbow tossing up her hooves frustratedly, and floating over to join Pinkie Pie.

Gently Avi stood up and sauntered over to them, a satisfied grin on his face, "Sup Mitch, sup Flutters."

"Not much." Fluttershy replied with an affectionate smile towards him, suggesting a close bond between them.

"Kind of odd meeting new ponies, but I guess I can get used to it." Mitch shrugged, stealing a glance of the town in front of him, taking in all the buildings, and their old-fashioned styles. The wooden supports and thatching rooves were reminiscent of old-timey houses from their world.

"So, where's Twilight?" his mind was dragged out of his thoughts and back to reality as he heard Avi's question.

"She said she had to fun a few errands, then she'd be right over." Fluttershy responded with a smile.

"I'd imagine that sort of thing would come with being a princess." Mitch chuckled slightly.

"Yeah... I guess. She's been awfully busy lately though. Since Tirek destroyed her library, she's been going through the wreckage lately, hoping to salvage something- anything, really." Fluttershy sighed wistfully, glancing to the large crystalline castle.

"That's terrible..." Avi sighed in a sad tone, "So much for this being a happy little land of perfect friendship."

"Yeah... She's been growing further and further apart from us ever since Tirek was defeated and sent back to Tartarus..." she muttered barely loud enough for them to hear, "Oh, please don't tell her I said that. If she found out she'd be devastated!" she pleaded desperately, her eyes wide with alarm and fear.

"Don't worry." Avi assured her, "Anyway, I'm just wondering, who is Tirek?"

"Oh, Tirek? He's an evil tyrant from another land, and was intending to take over all of Equestria by stealing all of our magic and-" she was suddenly cut off short by a new voice.

"Sorry I'm late, everypony!" called out a lavender pony with wings and a horn as she gently flew down into the centre of the group.

"Oh, it's no problem at all, Twilight." Fluttershy smiled towards her friend, gently turning towards her.

"I hope so..." the Princess muttered under her breath, before turning to the five new ponies scattered between her own friends, each one of their gazes fixed directly onto her, their jaws hanging open and their eyes full of astonishment and admiration for her, "Can you stop staring guys, I'm just like the rest of you. I'm no more important than any other pony..." she muttered, joining Fluttershy and the others.

"Princess..." Avi bowed before her, his breath soft and full of respect for the alicorn standing before him.

"Avi! I told you to stop it! I'm no more important than anypony else!" she pleaded desperately, taking a step backwards as Avi rose, blinking with surprise.

"I was just..." he gulped, looking away shyly, "...sorry, Twilight..."

Twilight released a short sigh, and shook her head slowly, "It's fine. I guess I just really hate this whole royalty thing..." she replied gently, with the others returning to their conversations, "Anyway, it's nice to meet you..." she paused.

"Mitch Grassi." Mitch prompted, smiling warmly towards her.

"... Mitch." Twilight repeated, replicating his smile, "No need for formalities, and everything." she continued, grinning sheepishly towards him.

"If that's what you want." Mitch shrugged, continuing to beam happily, seemingly oblivious that the pony before him was considered royalty, forcing the other ponies to look at him with shocked stares, "Anyway... shouldn't we be heading towards the town hall?"

"R-Right..." Twilight blinked, suddenly taken aback by the young stallions calmness and composure, "I'll lead you there if you want..."

"That would be much appreciated." Avi replied with a smile.

The alicorn returned the warm smile, and turned to lead the way through the small town. Avi beckoned the others to join them, and they said their farewells to the others, and quickly rushed up to join them. As they walked, Twilight pointed out certain buildings with significance, that they might want to check out later, and one building she pointed out, made Mitch squeal with delight.

Sugar Cube Corner.

"Are you kidding me?! I've heard of gingerbread houses, but this is ridiculous, and I love it!" he yipped, his eyes lighting up as he gazed longingly towards the gingerbread building, the air filled with the sweet scent of cotton candy, "I know where we're going next!~"

"To bed? I think I can speak for the rest of us by saying that I am completely shattered." Avi replied, stretching his jaws in a yawn as he walked past him, nudging him slightly with his wing, "C'mon, we don't have time to stand around loitering."

Mitch hesitated for another moment, taking in another breath of the sweet, sugary scent, before quickly bolting after them, "Oh come on, just one look?"

Avi chuckled, "Just because you got to sleep on the plane journey here, doesn't give you the right to decide what to do next." his tone remained firm with the others nodding with him.

A few moments of silence ensued, before Twilight got the nerve to break it, "So, Mitch are you enjoying Equestria so far? I mean, you don't have to say it's good, just because I'm a Princess and all, just asking for your honest opinion." she gave a wide grin, with Mitch glancing awkwardly at her.

"Uh... it's alright, I guess..." he replied cautiously, his eyes flickering to the others for a moment, as if to ask them if this was what she was normally like.

Twilight returned with a sheepish grin, "Oh, that's a relief, I was starting to think that you didn't like this place, and if you didn't like us, and if you hated everypony and-"

"Twilight, you seem a bit on edge. Is something wrong?" Scott quickly interrupted her rant, his voice brimming with concern and curiosity.

"Oh- I guess I am being a bit overbearing... Sorry..." she quickly apologised, her head drooping slightly from shame, "I guess I was anxious if you didn't like Equestria..." Mitch could tell this wasn't the real reason, but he was willing to give her the benefit of the doubt.

"Well, the transformation was a bit unexpected, but other than that, this place is nice. The ponies here seem nice enough, so, what would I have a problem with?" Mitch gave a reassuring smile towards Twilight, and she released a sigh of relief.

"Anyway, here we are, the town hall." Twilight stopped outside the tall doors of a large wooden structure, with huge stain glass windows cut into on the walls, with the roof reaching up into a tall spire which pierced the clouds.

"Wow..." Mitch breathed as he craned his neck backwards as he looked the tall, gorgeous structure built before him.

"I forgot just how beautiful this place can be..." Avi murmured in awe, taking in the intricate wood carvings on the supporting beams and small gardens filled with all sorts of little critters.

"Just go through the doors. I'm sure that Mayor Mare will be in there, awaiting your arrival." Twilight explained with a small smile, "I've got a small errand to run for Celestia, so if you need me for whatever reason, I'll just be at the castle." she continued with a more reassuring smile, and spread her wings, "Also, if your lost, just ask for help from the other ponies. They'll be more than happy to help you guys. I guess I'll see ya' later." she gently dipped her head, and clumsily flew off towards the castle.

Scott watched her go, and took a deep breath, and continued towards the doors, "Better get this over with..." gently placing his hoof on the door, he pressed gently, the door swinging open with a loud squeak.

Author's Note

Hey guys!~ Hope ya'll enjoyed! I'll probably wont be able to write for a little while, as I am now in 3rd year, which means RIP half of my time since srs bsns b happnin'. a.k.a- I have maths, art, English and biology homework for Monday, and I've barely started. Life choices validated! Also I have a maths, biology and chemistry test coming up soon... fun times... anyway guys, just a heads up for this. I wont be stopping writing, but it'll take me a bit longer to finish chapters. Wuv u all!~