Soft Hearts and Hard Cider

Chapter 2: First Greetings

“What in tarnation is THAT?!” questioned the resident apple farmer, “Why, if I didn’t know any better, I’d say it’s a whole other world up there, hangin’ around in the sky”

“Don’t be so quick to doubt yourself Applejack. I think you might be right, that it is another planet,” quickly replied Twilight Sparkle.

“Well if it is another world up there, would you happen to know what said planet is Twilight?” asked a quizzical Rarity.

“Unfortunately I don’t. My books have mentioned the possibility of other planets being out somewhere in other solar systems and galaxies, but they are all described as the same: A terrestrial planet capable of supporting life must have an atmosphere, gravity, and most importantly, water. The one before us seems to have water if that‘s what the blue stuff covering it is, which would then cause safe assumption for an atmosphere and gravity. However, this is just too general, and the book never mentioned any specific qualities to any known planet we’ve seen to distinguish it.”

“Do ya think that there are any living things on there Twi?” Rainbow Dash asked nonchalantly.

“From what the planet looks like, it may be, but I can’t be absolutely sure. Maybe Princess Celestia will have a better ide-”

Before Twilight could even finish her sentence, a minute vibration could be felt around them in the air. As they both stand around looking at each other, confused and worried, several fading and shimmering figures can be seen appearing all across Ponyville! Their figures are ones no one has ever seen before. As they fade into their reality, it becomes ever more apparent that these “creatures” stand on only their hind legs, making them appear much taller than a regular pony, taller by about 2 feet in height. Each one slowly begins to solidify, their features becoming more prevalent and distinguishable from the other beings appearing around the town.

“What, in the hay, is going on around here?” asked an even more confused Rainbow Dash.

“Ooh, ooh, they must be new ponies here to visit Ponyville! I’ve never seen em before, so this calls for a party! But, there are so many, how can I possibly have enough parties for all of them? OH, I KNOW! I’ll throw one huge, super-fantastic-welcome-to-Ponyville-super-welcoming-party!” Shouted the over exuberant pink party pony.

“Uh, Pinkie Pie. I don’t think those are ponies, much less visiting. If you play close enough attention, they seem just as confused as we are,” rebutted Twilight

“But if they’re not here for a super-fantastic-welcome-to-Ponyville-super-welcoming-party, why are they here Twilight?”

“I don’t really know myself, but I think it’s a safe bet to say they weren’t expecting to pop up in Ponyville.”

“Well, if we don’t know, why don’t we go ask em?” proposed Pinkie Pie, plastering her trademark grin as she bounced eagerly towards one of the new beings.

“Because, we don’t know if they’re friendly or not, much less if they even speak our language sugarcube,” replied Applejack, grabbing a hold of the hyperactive pony with her lasso.

“That right Applejack, we have to be very careful. We know nothing about them, where they came from, what they are. We should go inform the Princess about this immediately,” concurred the lavender librarian.

“I agree with Pinkie though Twi, the best way we can find out is if we try talkin’ to em,” said the curious rainbow maned weather mare, “Besides, I think I can handle these things if they get a little violent.”

“Rainbow, wait,” Twilight prodded, but before she could even do anything, Rainbow Dash was already fast approaching one of the unusual beings looking around with their jaw hanging almost down to their chest with awe. The creature was absolutely stunned by what he was witnessing, almost unable to believe his own eyes. The image that splays out before him was none he was ever expecting to see, nor could he imagine. Across his vision were buildings, he knew that much, but stood by those buildings is what caught him entirely off guard. Ponies. Multi-colored, flying, horn on their head, ponies. He was seriously beginning to think he was going, quite literally, insane.

As he stared at them with his mouth agape, they returned the same expression and stare at him, some looking at some other people he noticed as he panned his vision across the mysterious, and strange town he appeared in. Slowly looking across, he saw more and more surprised, even frightened eyes meet his. Across his vision, if they were not looking at someone else, they were staring at him. As his gaze continued to stream across the stunned ponies, he was shocked to see one heading right towards him! His mouth dropped farther, almost unhinging itself when he witness a rainbow haired, bright baby blue colored pony with wings approaching him, and fast too. Just before almost being close enough to tackle him, the pony stopped sharply and gave him a look of fiery determination and questioning. It was apparent that it was not overly fond of his presence.

“Who and what are you? Do you speak our language?” questioned a fire eyed Rainbow Dash, completely disregarding Twilight’s warning.

“Wait, what?” babbled the confused being

“Well, that answers one question, but who, and what, are you?” Rainbow Dash asked, her patience starting to run thin.

“M-m-my name, my name is George… You can talk?” stammered George, absolutely taken aback at what he thought was physically impossible, a talking, pony. However, he soon realized normal possibilities have gone right out the window when he appeared in this town of ponies with horns and wings to begin with.

“I believe I’m the one askin’ the questions around here, bub.”

“I-I, I’m sorry. It’s just from where I’m from, ponies don’t talk. Or fly. Or have horns on their heads. They don’t even have an as colorful array of coats and manes either.”

“Wait, WHAT?! What do you mean they don’t talk or have wings?” Rainbow Dash choked out, utterly baffled by what just hit her ears.

“I don’t know, they just, don’t. They never have. They just never seemed to be able to, not as long as any of my people have been alive.” George quickly spat out, getting confused that he was talking to a flying pony, and explaining why the ones from his world do not have as many evolutionary traits as these versions happen to have. Rainbow Dash just hovered listlessly in the air, her mind totally shut down from what the creature before her just revealed to her. All the while, George is equally at a lost for words, his mind racing left and right, and all other directions as it still was trying to discern if what he was experiencing was real, or a dream. Off in the distance, the multi-colored maned pegasus’ friends notice their sudden standstill.

“Oh no, I think something bad just happened. Rainbow and that creature just stopped all of a sudden,” said Twilight Sparkle.

“I reckon we ought to see what just went on then,” Applejack said, tilting her head as she was getting ready to gallop at full speed towards her stunned friend. Without any more words, they gave each other a nod, and quickly set out to meet up with their friend, each one thinking of what could have possibly caused the most outspoken and brazen one of their friends to drop so silent. It was chilling to see her that way, the only one who could moderately keep up with Pinkie’s energy levels; so vibrant and athletic. Now, she looked as though every ounce of her own life forced was drained from every fiber of her being.

“Rainbow!” Applejack shouted, nearing her crestfallen friend. Her worried look quickly shifted into aggression towards the creature, now names George, “What did you do to her? Talk!”

“I-I, I didn’t DO anything, I just told her my name, and that it was amazing to see a talking pony! I told her from where I’m from, ponies don’t talk, come in wild colors or anything, then she got like this!” George sputtered from his lips.

“Why do I have a hard time believin’ that?” she replied, her brows furrowing in a look of absolute doubt.

“It’s true Applejack, what he said is true. Ponies don’t talk or do anything in his world,” muttered a hushed Sky-blue pegasus.

Taken aback from what she just heard, a mix of both shock and guilt was quickly plastered upon the apple farmer’s face. She hung her head down low in a shameful posture, unable to meet the gaze of the creature. The others soon filed in one after another, making their position next to their friends.

“I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions quite like that,” muttered Applejack.

“It’s alright, I probably would have done the same were I in your shoes.” replied George, attempting a gesture of sympathy.

“Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie! You must be new here, because I’ve never seen you, and if I’ve never seen you, then you must be new to Ponyville, which means a Welcome-to-Ponyville-Party!” Cut in Pinkie Pie, completely un-phased by the creature in front of her that was completely alien to them both literally, and in physiology.

“Uh, hi? I’m George,” he replied, hesitant and overwhelmed.

“Don’t mind her too much, it’s just Pinkie being Pinkie, she’s always like this,” said Twilight, giving a roll of her eyes and soft smile, trying to appear as friendly as possible, “If you don’t mind me asking though, what are you?”

“Oh, right, your friend asked me that earlier, but never got the chance to say. I’m what would be called, a human.”

“I see. I have another question. How did you get here?”

“You see, I don’t know myself. One minute I’m at my home, the next, I’m shifting over into this world.”

“Huh, I see. I have more questions, but it’s best if we find somewhere to go and sit down for a bit so we can all get our heads around this.”

“My boutique is still intact from the shaking, we can go there for a spell while this fine gentleman explains as much as he can,” chimed in Rarity.

“It’s settled then, we’ll show you where it is,” Twilight added in, excited to be learning about a completely new species, and a whole world to boot!