Mike finally came to his senses a few hours later. He still had the same splitting headache. What happened? He thought to himself, trying to recall the events that had recently occurred. I remember the car crash, and then… being transported to Equestria, he thought, still not believing the words for himself. Did it really happen? Was I actually sent to Equestria?

His thoughts were cut short by a shrill, happy voice. “Good morning, sleepyhead!” the voice called out. “I was starting to get worried. I thought you’d never wake up!”

“What… where am I?” Mike groaned, sitting up in what he now realized was a bed, complete with a pink bedspread covered in clusters of balloons.

“You’re in my house, silly filly! Welcome to Casa de la Pinkie Pie!” At this remark, Mike immediately recognized the voice… but no, it couldn’t be.

“Pinkie Pie?” Mike said in a confused tone.

“That’s what I just said, didn’t I?” said the party pony.

Mike could tell that the pink mare sitting in the corner of the room was just as cheery and upbeat as she was on the show. Her hair was poofy and went all over the place, and her unmistakable balloon-shaped cutie mark was displayed on her flanks.

“What am I doing here?” asked Mike to no one in particular. “I remember waking up in a meadow, realizing where I was, and then almost immediately passing out again, and then… I don’t really know what happened next.”

“Well,” Pinkie began. “I was on my way to get a potion from Zecora to help enhance the flavor of my cupcakes, but then I saw somepony lying on the ground, and I couldn’t just leave them there!”

Mike knew she was obviously referring to him. “But you hardly even know me! For all you know, I could’ve been a criminal or something! Why would you help me?”

Her next words echoed in Mike’s head, bouncing around, and not full settling in for what seemed like forever. “Because that’s what friends do, silly!”

Friend… The word, although it probably didn’t mean as much to her, hit Mike like a wrecking ball. His stomach felt like it had dropped right out of his body. “You consider me to be your… friend?” he said, still awestruck at the fact that Pinkie Pie was referring to him as a friend as though they had known each other for years, and not for just a few minutes.

“Well, why wouldn’t I? I’m always excited to make new friends!”

There it was, that word again. Friend. He still couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Mike had never had very many friends back in his own world, and even though some people acted as though they liked him, he knew that the only reason they acted that way was because they felt sorry for him. He had never truly had a friend before.

“Wow… That’s really nice of you to say…” Mike finally managed to choke out. He was so overwhelmed with happiness not only at the fact that all of this was really happening, but also at the fact that this pony wanted to be friends with a guy –or pony, I suppose -like him.

“Well, that’s enough of the chit chat!” Pinkie piped up after what felt like an eternity. “There are a few of my friends I want to introduce you to.” Pinkie bent over and picked up a small green reptile on the floor. “This is my pet, Gummy! Say hello, Gummy!”

At hearing this, the small alligator immediately jumped out of Pinkie’s hoof and latched on to Mike’s face. “AH! GET IT OFF ME! IT’S TRYING TO KILL ME!” yelled Mike, fearing for his life.

“Aww, that means he likes you! It’s good to see you two are getting off to such a great start!” said Pinkie, pulling the alligator from Mike’s face.

Mike collected his thoughts and began to look around. Streamers and banners of all different lengths and colors adorned the walls of Pinkie’s bedroom, and balloons were tied just about anywhere that it was possible to tie a balloon. Mike noticed a wheel poking out from behind Pinkie’s dresser and instantly recognized the party cannon.

Pinkie noticed where Mike had directed his gaze. “Ah, I see you like my party cannon! Want me to give you a demonstration?” Mike furiously shook his head no, but the party pony had already grabbed him by the hoof and dragged him over to the location of the party cannon.

“You ready?” She said as she dragged the cannon out onto the balcony of her second-story room. Mike nervously nodded his head, not wanting to disappoint his new friend. Pinkie pulled a matchbox seemingly out of nowhere, struck it against the box, and then, remembering that her cannon didn’t have a fuse, threw it away and slammed her hoof on the rear of the cannon’s barrel.

An explosion of colorful confetti and streamers erupted out of the cannon, covering the balcony and the street below with a glittering rainbow of color, and at that moment, Mike did something that he hadn’t done in almost two months: he smiled a big, goofy smile.

“I take it that you enjoyed my little presentation?” said Pinkie.

Mike couldn’t help himself any longer. He collapsed to the floor and started laughing like a madman. His hind legs kicked about in the air while his forelegs grasped his chest, greedily gasping for air any moment he got the chance. “Are you kidding? That was the greatest thing I’ve seen in my entire life!” he shouted, in between gasps of much-needed air.

And that was what surprised him. He knew that he had seen funnier things before, yet this still struck him as absolutely hilarious! Had it just been that long since he had felt any sort of happiness?

Pinkie waited patiently for her new friend to calm down. She loved to make people laugh, and she didn’t want to cut this short for either of their sakes.

When Mike had finished with his maniacal fit of laughter, Pinkie knelt down next to him. “You okay? I would think that laughing that much would drive anypony insane!”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Mike said, tears of joy still rolling down his face.

“Great!” said Pinkie. “Because there’s still a few of my friends who I know will want to see you.” Pinkie said.

The two ponies walked towards the entrance, heading out the door into a world that Mike couldn’t wait to see more of.

Author's Note

Felt like doing another chapter today because today was a Monday. We all know how terrible Mondays can be, and sometimes you just need a bit of stress relief. Be sure to tell me what you think of the story!