Prologue: Welcome Team Lads (Revised)
It was a quiet and calm day in Equestria. Celestia's sun added warmth to the air which blew through the trees, bringing with it traces of the summer that had passed. Everypony was taking care of their business, happily going about their day positively worry free about anything going wrong. Twilight and the rest of the Elements of Harmony were helping to rebuild Ponyville after Twilight's and Tirek's battle. Also, they were taking care of the newly built castle that was given to Twilight after saving Equestria once again.
Out near the Everfree Forest there seemed to be nothing out of the ordinary. No random Ursa Minors or Timberwolves or other such monsters coming to terrorize the ponies of Ponyville. Yet, there were three strange creatures laying unconscious amongst the trees of the Everfree's border. One had dark brown curly hair with eye color matching his hair. It wore a thin black striped beanie on its head, a pair of thin wire frame glasses on its face, a grey t-shirt that read, "Team Lads" which had a flat cap with a pair of bold glasses underneath it, and it also wore a pair of dusty blue jeans.
The second one had light brown hair with the same eye color matching it's hair, and a rather large nose coming out of its face. It wore a green shirt that had the title, "Minecraft" and the shirt bore a blocky and mottled colored face. On it's legs it had a pair of blue jeans that were torn a little at the knees. Then there was the last creature, who had dark black hair with the same eye color. It had a had a strange black tuxedo t-shirt, a broader pair of black glasses than the first, and tan cargo shorts.
One of the three humans, for these creatures who looked so different than the inhabitants of Equestria were indeed human, the one in the grey t-shirt, woke up. He let out a pained groan as he stretched his back, earning a terrible popping noise. He rubbed his back and took a look at his surroundings for the first time. To his back was a large forest that stretched to the right and left. He couldn't see anything inside the vast depths of the forest, just the trees, bushes, and darkness that blocked the rest of the view. Taking a look back in front of him, they seemed to be next to a field that seem to stretch out widely. The man glanced to his right to see his two companions laying there, the one in green laying face down in the ground.
The man stood up and stretched out his stiff body even more before walking over to the one in green and kicking him in the head.
"Gavin, wake up dammit." He groaned cleaning off his glasses.
Gavin only continued snoring.
"GAVIN WAKE UP!!!"
"AH!!" Gavin jumped out of his skin, startled by his friend.
"Michael!" He exclaimed. Gavin's British accent made it sound like "Micool".
"What the fuck did you do?! Where are we?! Where the fuck is the car you dumbass!" Michael shouted.
"I don't know, what do you want me to do about it I mean..." Gavin spun around getting a look at his surroundings, "Where the bloody hell are we?" He asked.
"How the fuck am I supposed to know?!" Michael continued shouting.
"Well then how am I supposed to know? We were all drunk!" Gavin defended himself.
"Hey can you guys shut the hell up please?" Their other friend asked from his position on the ground.
"Oh it's good see you're awake Ray, now can you tell any of us where the fuck we are or what the fuck happened?" Michael asked, clearly frustrated.
"Like Gavin said, we were all wasted how the fuck am I supposed to know?" Ray answered, rolling on his side.
"Fucking perfect." Michael grumbled.
Gavin and Ray loafed on the ground for a little bit longer while Michael, fed up with these two lovable assholes, walked out of the tree line and to the edge of a nearby hill. He looked out onto the unknown environment, trying to get better bearings on where they could possibly be. After a while Michael walked back to the rest of the Lads with some grave news.
"Guys, I don't think we're in Austin anymore." Michael said.
"Please don't tell me we're in Mexico." Ray mumbled.
"If we were in Mexico you'd already be leaving, plus you wouldn't be liking that ground so much." Gavin replied.
"Yeah true." Ray sighed, putting an end to that line of conversation.
"What should we do?" Gavin asked.
"I don't fucking know. Find out where we are for starters, but I seem to be the only person doing that right now." Michael grumbled , thinking about maybe kicking Gavin again to relieve some of this stress.
"Maybe we should get going." Ray yawned.
"I agree." Gavin added. He didn't like the look of the sea of trees at their backs.
Everyone stood up and stretched out getting ready for the apparent trek they'd need to make in their search for civilization. They made sure they were ready and grabbed all of their possessions that they had with them before heading out. They made it to the base of the hill Michael was standing on earlier and Michael spotted something up ahead that he hadn't noticed before.
"I think I see, a statue or something." He stated.
"Of what Michael?" Gavin asked.
"I dunno, a star or some shit." Michael replied.
"Head for the star I guess." Gavin said.
"Yolo." Ray chimed.
"This is turning out to be like one of our Minecraft Let's Plays." Gavin chuckled. Michael was really starting to get an itchy foot because of Gavin's idiocy.
After walking for about an hour or so the "statue" appeared to be much closer. Being hung over and walking a long distance after shortly waking up was starting to turn into a bad idea for the Lads. Their legs felt like they were going to snap right beneath them. Michael had to constantly yell at Gavin to silence his complaining every fifteen minutes or so.
Finally it got to the point where Michael noticed that the star wasn't a statue and remembered what it was and picked up the pace giddily. Gavin and Ray exchanged confused looks before following close by. After a while they turned a corner and saw what the "statue" actually was.
"What the bloody fuck is that?" Gavin asked, confused at the giant sparkling monstrosity before them all.
"I don't think it's a statue." Ray added, clearly as put off and confused as Gavin.
Michael simply stared in awe, for he already knew what the enormous, towering castle was. Everyone stared at the castle for a few moments before something else caught their attention. A noise of something hitting the floor. The lads turned to the source of the noise and Michael almost squealed.
Before the lads stood an awestruck, scared looking, mouth gaping... pony. It's fur was cream colored and its mane was a mixture of red-violet with a streak of light pink down the middle which led the Lads to believe it was a mare. She had dropped a bucket of water, spilling it contents all over the ground, the water splashing her hooves and soaking into the dirt. The lads had their mouths hanging open also, Michael's out of joy, Ray and Gavin's out of shock. Suddenly, Michael broke the silence.
"HOLY SHIT!!!" He screamed in glee.
Roseluck screamed in fear.
"What was that?" A cyan, rainbow-maned Pegasus asked. They had all heard a large yell come from outside that sounded excited followed by a petrifying scream.
"I don't know Rainbow Dash." Twilight answered.
"Should we go check it out?" Applejack asked.
The six ponies nodded and stood up from their thrones before leaving the castle. They all stepped outside and witnessed Roseluck, the local florist, galloping from behind the newly built castle and into Ponyville, screaming her head off about monsters. The Elements of Harmony shared a look of confusion between themselves before they went round to the back of the castle were they found three strange... creatures, standing on two legs and dressed in strange attire. One of them had a look of gushing happiness while the other two looked utterly confused.
"What the hay are those things." Rainbow Dash asked.
The strange two-legged beings slowly looked over at the new ponies with their looks intensifying. Fluttershy saw the smiling one look at her and it seemed as though the look of astonishment on its face grew even bigger. It kind of gave her the creeps to have the thing stare at her so she hid behind Twilight who stared at the three beings, intrigued by their anatomy, and also by their attitude towards her and her friends.
"Um, hi! My name's Twilight Sparkle. Who are you three?" She asked, keeping a good distance between them and her. She wondered where they came from, thinking that they may be new inventions by Discord or some other unknown monsters that had fallen into obscurity until now. She didn't need this to happen right after the Tirek takeover.
The three creatures looked back at each other. The two confused one's screamed in terror before grabbing their friend, who looked as though he were about to faint from happiness, and running straight past Twilight and her friends into Ponyville. The Elements looked at each other confusedly before staring back in the direction of the three strange creatures. Then with a large gasp, and a collective fear of what could happen once the sheltered citizens of Ponyville saw these new creatures, they all bolted in the direction of the fleeing targets. Twilight hoped that things wouldn't devolve into too bad of a situation too quickly. I need a vacation, she thought to herself.
Meanwhile at Achievement Hunter HQ...
"Alright guys, um... we currently don't know the whereabouts of Michael, Gavin, or Ray yet, but don't worry. We're still trying our best, so just try and sit tight for the time being, alright?" Gus announced.
The Let's Play crew nodded in silence. The loss of their three good friends hit them hard as soon as they got word of their disappearance. Plus they could no longer make Let's Plays without them. They were a main part of the series, and now they've suddenly vanished off the face of the earth.
Everybody wondered where they could have gone. But nobody came up with any ideas. The crew gathered around their own work stations unable to work on anything, with the idea that their friends were out there God only knew where. Silence struck the room for the longest time.
This doesn't make any sense... Geoff thought.
What're we gonna do? How're we gonna find them? Ryan thought.
I sure as hell hope they aren't dead. Jack thought.
Gus let out a huge sigh. The amount of work stacked up on his table plus the disappearance of Michael, Gavin and Ray have stressed him out. He kept wondering where could they have gone? He conjured up all that he could remember of what they told him last night before they left.
He scratched his beard and let out another sigh. Gus was so busy with work as well as working on the podcast that he couldn't remember what they told him when they barged into his office all excited. The third sigh left his mouth as he leaned back in his chair.
They're all probably passed out outside in a ditch or something. He thought. He started up his computer and brushed aside those thoughts so that he could focus on working.
Equestria...
Gavin and Ray were still screaming as they ran through Ponyville dodging pony after pony. They no longer held Michael for he too was running with them. At first he had thought the ponies would be friendly, and be all tolerance and love or some shit. He thought that the ponies would be more welcoming of a new kind, but a few carrots to the face only pissed him off and proved him wrong.
The Elements were following them through the town with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy in the skies to watch over them. It wasn't very hard, they just needed to follow the empty area of ponies plus they were taller than most of them. The lads panted heavily as they ran harder. Their legs begging for a break from the endless traveling.
"Hey... maybe we could... split up ya know? So they won't be able to follow us." Gavin panted.
"There's six of them... you dumbass!" Michael yelled back.
"Yeah but it's better... to have two, rather than... all six of them chasing you!" Ray stated.
"Yeah I guess you're right!" Michael agreed.
The lads looked at each other before splitting up, Gavin taking a path down the left side of the street while Ray jumped into an alley way to the right. Michael continued ahead running as fast as he could.
Damn, why does everything good I get always have to end up bad? Michael whined in his head as he ran away from the ponies that he adored.
"Applejack! You and Rainbow go after the one on the left!" Twilight ordered.
"Right!" The pegasus and earth pony said in unison.
"Fluttershy! You and Rarity go after the one straight ahead!"
"O-oh, okay." Fluttershy replied.
"Pinkie! You and I will take the right!"
"Okie dokie lokie!" Pinkie cheered.
Michael looked behind him and saw no sign of the mane six. He sighed as he dove in between two buildings. He panted heavily, his legs stung and his throat burned from the running. He peeked around the corner and still saw no sign of the Elements. He let out a relieved sigh before turning around and seeing Fluttershy hovering behind him.
"WHOA SHIT!!!" He screamed.
"Eep!" Fluttershy squeaked as she flew away from Michael.
"Seriously darling, you must learn to watch your language." Rarity commented.
"Oh great..." Michael mumbled.
Rarity and Fluttershy neared Michael slowly. Michael let out a sigh before glancing up at the two ponies unnecessarily creeping towards him.
"Y'know you don't need to do that, right?" He asked.
The two mares seemed to loosen up a bit.
"Just making sure darling, never know when something could happen."
Yeah like getting teleported to another fucking world where you get goddamn CARROTS THROWN AT YOUR FUCKING FACE!!! Michael angrily thought.
"So, let us introduce ourselves..." Rarity began.
"Oh, no need to." Michael interrupted.
Ray slowed down to a jog as he saw no sign of any of the ponies following him. He made sure to triple check and see if they still weren't following him before slowing down and walking. He panted heavily as he placed his hands on his knees. His chest hurt more than anything. Knowing that he was in a world that was not his own, he pondered at what was going to happen.
Is this a dream? How're we going to get home? What're we gonna do? Where are--
Ray jumped a little when he heard the sound of cartoonish springs. He looked behind him for a split second and sighed before turning around and having his vision flooded with pink.
"OH JESUS!!!" Ray exclaimed.
"Calm down silly, I'm not Jesus!" Pinkie said gleefully as she sat on his chest.
"I-I know you're not, it's just that I'm still freaked out!" Ray replied.
"About what?" Asked Twilight from behind him.
Pinkie continued bouncing as Ray propped himself up against the wall and continued panting as he explained everything he could remember from when he woke up.
"I see..." Twilight murmured, tapping her chin.
"So... what now?" Ray asked. Twilight and Pinkie shared a look before nodding and helping Ray up.
Gavin panicked as he ran faster and faster. This is completely mental!, he thought as he ran through the cartoonish streets. He turned to see Applejack and Rainbow Dash hot on his heels. He let out a frightened yelp as he yelled for Michael, Ray, or really anyone to help save him from the mean, talking, killer miniature horses. Applejack sighed and galloped closer to him before tackling him to the ground. Gavin groaned in pain as he twisted in Applejacks hooves and tried to wiggle out of them.
"It's no use sugarcube, just try to calm down." Applejack sighed.
"MICH-"
Rainbow Dash plugged Gavin's mouth with her hoof. She glanced at Applejack then down to Gavin and waited for him to stop struggling. After a few minutes Gavin realized it was no use, and gave up. The two mares noticed he stopped and released him. He quickly scurried to his feet and stared in horror at the two... things he was looking at.
"Just calm down now, no need to go runnin' off. I can understand that you're a little spooked. Don't worry, we're not going to hurt you." Applejack said in her strong southern accent.
"O-oh, well that's a relief. You hear that world? Now I don't have to be scared by the buggering talking equines!" Gavin yelled out, clutching his chest. "Sausages..." He whispered to himself.
"Jeez, you really need to calm down." Rainbow said.
"Well, maybe we should send you to a different world and have you surrounded by our kind see how you react." Gavin retorted.
"He's got a point Rainbow." Applejack sighed.
"Whatever." Rainbow shrugged.
"So sugarcube, what exactly, are you, if ya don't mind me askin'."
Michael let out a slight grumble but happiness was still sparkling within him as Fluttershy doted on him, making sure he wasn't hurt and interested about where he and his friends had come from. Rarity stood off to the side as Michael adjusted in his seat. They'd just arrived back at Fluttershy's cottage (which Michael was glad to be in rather than Rarity's boutique).
"Where on Equestria did you come from?" Rarity asked.
"To tell you the truth, I don't know. I don't remember anything except waking up near the Everfree." Michael replied.
"I'm just glad that none of the monsters got you before you and your friends woke up, Mr. Michael." Fluttershy said.
Michael almost died just hearing her voice in real life. And she had said his name!
"Same here." He sighed.
He noticed Rarity observing his shirt closely. The look she was giving it was a look of confusion and interest. Michael pinched the collar and tugged it a little.
"It's a thing." He answered.
"What sort of thing?" Rarity asked.
"Well, you remember those two other guy's I was with?" Rarity nodded, "Well, those two plus me created the phrase, 'Team Lads' which was apart of this crew we were a part of back where I come from, Earth." Michael explained.
"Hmm, what exactly did you do back on this, 'Earth' of yours?" Fluttershy asked.
"Meh, played a bunch of video games while making videos. And please don't ask about that, I don't feel like explaining the whole process of playing a game then editing the videos. It's frustrating as it is..." He mumbled the last part.
"You should just be lucky that Ryan wasn't here or he'd trap you in a hole and call you 'Edgar'." Michael chuckled.
"Why would he do that?" Fluttershy gasped, scared and confused at the thought of a big monster stuffing her in a hole and giving her a different name.
"It's just an inside joke, he doesn't really do that... I don't think so at least..." Michael replied.
"Well, I'm glad he's not here. Or else we might not have known that it was just an inside joke." Fluttershy said.
"M'yeah he probably wouldn't have told you just to freak you out."
"Speaking of your friends, where are they?" Rarity asked.
"Well, if you're talking about Ray and Gavin, we split up and I don't know where those two idiots are. But Geoff, Ryan and Jack are
all back on Earth."
"Maybe we should meet up with the girls so we can find Ray and Gavin."
Michael agreed and stood up to follow Flutter's and Rarity. Oh man this is so sweet! He giddily thought. I just hope that Ray and Gav don't fuck up this opportunity for me?
