Standing the Heat

Richard returned to the world slowly, darkness replaced by light a little at a time. As he regained consciousness, he realized two things. Firstly, he felt numb and empty, not a single glimmer of sweat on his forehead from the heat flowing through his system. The second, he had no idea where he was. The last thing he remembered was sitting in a forest, Twilight's wings wrapped around him.

'Twilight...'

Richard tried to sit up, but found he couldn't. Something was preventing him from moving more than a couple of inches before he stopped dead in his tracks. It's almost as if something heavy was lying on his chest.

Slowly he opened his eyes and his heart almost skipped a beat. Lying there, her mane a mess and breathing softly was Twilight.

His mind was running a mile a minute. Where was he? What was Twilight doing sleeping on his chest?

Hypnotized, he lay there and watched her as she slept, there was a strand of mane over her eyes that was swaying in and out with each breath. She looked so beautiful that he couldn't help himself as he slowly raised one hand to move the strand of hair out of her eyes.

"I wondered when you'd wake up?" said Twilight smiling.

"You're awake?" asked Richard nervously. "For how long?"

"About half an hour." she hummed. "But you felt so comfortable and after the night you had I didn't want to accidentally wake you.

"So, you waited for me to move?"

Twilight nodded.

"I'm not exactly a master of telling when people wake up, it was the only way to really tell."

"I see," Richard said quietly. "So where exactly are we."

"Where do you think I'd go when the world is all trouble and strife?"

Richard nodded knowingly.

"The library," he said causing Twilight's smile to grow. "You're such a book worm."

Twilight laughed. "You should try sometime."

Richard didn't reply, causing Twilight to frown.

"How are you feeling today?"

"Numb," he replied quietly. "Empty."

He felt Twilight's weight shift and looked down to see her open her eyes as she moved forwards to nuzzle his neck.

"I'm here for you, Richard." said Twilight soothingly. "And I'm sure the rest of the girls will be as well."

"Thank you, Twilight." Richard struggled to respond as he felt the flames of heat starting to come back. As it did so, he tried desperately to avoid blood flushing to a different part of his anatomy.

"I don't mean to sound rude," she said lifting her head up to look him in the eyes. "But do you have any idea what you're going to do about all of 'this'?" She twirled a hoof through the air as she finished her sentence.

"I don't know," Richard shook his head. "I'm not even sure I've fully come to grips with the fact I'm stuck here."

"I'd say I know how you feel," Twilight said as she swung her hind hooves onto the floor and struggled to get up without hurting Richard. "But my situation wasn't quite as bad as yours."

"Your situation?" Richard was curious.

"Yeah, I once feared I was stuck on an alien world. In fact, it's almost ironic really."

"How come?"

"It was a human world," said Twilight, who quickly held her hooves up as Richard opened his mouth to speak. "But not your human world. It was more like a human mirror of Equestria."

"How did that happen?"

"Hmm," Twilight yawned as she stretched away from Richard, causing blood to rush to his face and other parts of his anatomy as her flank wiggled only inches from his face.

"Well, it happened just after I was 'ascended'," she started, before returning to the sofa Richard was lying on and moving his legs over to sit down. "I was staying in the Crystal Empire and one night a pony ran snuck into my room and stole the my crown. I followed her through a portal and found out that if I couldn't get the crown back I'd likely be stuck there."

"Why'd she steal your crown?" Richard was confused. "And why did you do all that to get it back? I know it looks good on you, but you could have made another."

"Well, at the time, it was an element of harmony." Twilight smiled at Richard.

"Oh," Richard nodded. "well I'm glad you got back. I'd have hated to have never met you."

Twilight blushed.

"I'm glad to have met you too. Speaking of which, back to the point at hand, I'm thinking of getting the girls together for a picnic this afternoon. I hope you can join us."

Richard frowned.

"I'm not sure if I'm up for that yet."

Twilight placed her hoof on his arm. "Like I said before, I understand. But if you don't mind me saying, I don't think shutting yourself out from others is the best thing for you, the only way through situations like this is forward."

"I'll think about it," Richard did his best to smile.

"That's all I'm asking, and don't worry, I won't tell them about any of this until you're ready."

"I don't mind you telling them," Richard shrug, "It's not as if I can hide this from them. Especially after all the help you girls have given me."

"Thank you," Twilight ran her hoof up and down his arm. A pleasant silence filled the air for a few minutes but it was broken by the sound of a clock striking.

"Damn, is that the time?" Twilight looked at the clock and back to him. "Sorry, I have to go, I promised to give a talk at the school house."

"That's okay, you shouldn't disappoint the school foals."

"Don't worry, I don't intend to. Please don't feel the need to rush off, take all the time you need, and if you need anything I'm sure Spike will be able to help you." Twilight stood up. "If you do decide to join the picnic we will be up at the pool at the edge of town at around 1 o'clock."

"I'll see how I'm feeling. Otherwise, we'll talk soon."

"We better," Twilight poked him. "Anyway, see you later."

And with a look of concentration and a flash of light, Twilight was gone, leaving Richard alone in the library and his thoughts.

Not knowing what else to do, stood up and walked over to one of the staggering array of bookshelves. He'd always been considered a bit of a bookworm back home on Earth, but with the hope of going home at any time he didn't want to start a book and have to abandon it halfway through. Now though, things were different. Maybe he would finally start that 'Daring Do' series he'd heard both Twilight and Rainbow practically gushing about.

He was just trying to find the fiction section when he heard a 'thud' behind him. He span around, worried for a moment, before he spotted a book lying open on the floor.

It was a large, heavy volume made of thick paper bound in what must have been faux-leather. The book looked fairly new, almost unread. Richard made his way over to it, bent down to pick it up and studied its cover. Its cover read 'A Treaties of Technomancy - Magic in the Modern age Of Technology'.

"Huh," Richard muttered to himself. "I wonder how you fell down off the shelf."

He moved to find a ladder, aiming to find a way to put it back on its shelf. He imagined Twilight was one of those ponies with enough OCD to notice when a book was out of place in her library. However, as he began to turn his head he could of sworn a he saw a rainbow shimmer run down the cover out of the corner of his eye. But when he turned his head back, the book looked completely normal.

"Curious..."

Now Richard's interest was seriously piqued. A book that fell by itself before glowing with a rainbow sheen was something he needed to take a look at.

"I hope Twilight wont mind if I borrow this."

"I'm sure she wont."

Richard froze before slowly turning around and letting out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding in.

"Spike? How long have you been there?"

"Not long," the young drake stood leaning in the doorway. "I heard the crash and wondered what was happening. Where's Twilight?"

"Um, she just left. She said she has a thing at the school?"

"Ahh, yes, the Friendship lesson." Spike smiled. "So how come you're here?"

"I, uh, guess I spent the night." said Richard shrugging. "Me and Twilight were talking last night and I guess I fell asleep."

"Hmm," Spike hummed. "Well, if you need anything let me know."

"Thanks Spike, but I think I'm going to go home to shower and have a think."

"Okay, well let me just show you out."

"Lead the way."

Richard ran his hands through his hair, sighing as he enjoyed the feeling of the warm water against his skin. Though he still had a long way to go before he felt good, washing away the dirt from the previous day was doing a lot to a help.

"What do I do now?" he muttered to himself, reaching for a bottle of shower gel. He thought back over the previous days events and nodded slowly.

"I guess I should go and accept Octavia's offer. Now that I'm stuck here I can't just do odd jobs for the rest of my life."

He supposed it wouldn't be that bad working for the musical mare, however he'd never really worked a proper job before, jumping straight from regular education to higher education, and straight from higher education to a portal to another world.

The rest of the shower was spent thinking about the previous few days. They really had been an eye opener in regards to his feelings for Twilight. Even thinking about her name suddenly brought a blush to his face as he couldn't help but think about the way she'd stretched earlier. Her lithe body taught as she arched her back. Her rump only inches from his face. The sigh of satisfaction as her muscles relaxed and joints popped back into place. The come hither look as she begged him to mount her.

Richard reached for the cold tap as he felt his imagination begin to run away from him, the sudden icy shock of the change in temperature bringing him back to his shower stall. Shaking his head he turned off the taps and stepped out of the shower reaching for a towel.

"I better get to Octavia's academy quickly. I think I'm starting to lose my mind."

*Knock, Knock*

Richard waited a beat after knocking on the simple wooden door.

"Who's there?"

"It's Richard, I've decided to take that job if you're still offering?"

There was a loud sound of something crashing to the floor.

"Celestia, dammit."

"Octavia?"

There was the sound of stuff being moved, followed by pained grunting and then the door opened.

"Richard?" Octavia smiled painfully at him, trying to smooth down her messy mane. "What are you doing here?"

"Are you okay?" Richard looked concerned.

"Of course I am," Octavia waved a hoof then shuddered as a spasm of pain ran up her.

"Okay, maybe I fell out of my chair and sprained my ankle when you told me you were here."

Richard sighed, and slowly placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Come on, we're getting you back into a chair."

"No, really, I'm alright," she hissed as Richard helped her limp back over to a chair to sit down.

"And yet you're eagerly letting me help you into a chair?"

"Maybe I don't want to hurt your feelings?" she asked rhetorically, a cheeky smile forming on her muzzle.

"I'm glad you care," Richard smiled briefly as he lowered her into her chair.

"So, what made you change your mind?" asked Octavia as she shifted in her seat.

Richards face's darkened and Octavia looked at him confused as she noticed his mood change.

"Sorry, did I say something wrong?"

"No," Richard muttered. "It's just..." Richard sighed. "I got some bad news last night."

Octavia's eyes went wide. "Are you okay?"

"I'm sure, I will be, I just need time."

"If it's not prying too much, does the news have anything to do with going back home?"

Richards eyes became damp.

"How did you know?"

"Last night you said you couldn't take the job because you were worried about being able to go home. But now you're here accepting the job. You'd have to be Vinyl to not put two and two together."

"I see..." Richard hummed. "Well if the offer is still open?"

"Oh Richard," Octavia took his arm in her hooves and gently pulled him down into a hug. "Of course it is, but are you sure this is the right time to be thinking about that?"

Richard blushed as he felt her soft warm fur pressed into his cheek. He had never been hugged as much as he had in the last 24 hours, not that he minded. After all, what warm blooded man would complain when beautiful mares want to put their hooves around you?

"No time like the present, right?" Richard sniffed. "Besides, I didn't do anything today, I'd probably collapse."

"I can sympathize. When I have a bad day I always find myself locking myself away and playing my cello for hours. This is probably a healthier response."

"So, when do I start?" Richard asked, pressed into her shoulder.

Octavia pushed him away and held him at arms length, studying him with an intensely piercing gaze. After a couple of seconds of intense silence she finally spoke.

"Let me get back to you on that, I think you could use a couple of days to get used to the news."

"Okay," Richard nodded, "But I do have the job?"

"Of course," Octavia smiled. "It can wait a few more days."

"Thanks." Richard felt a great wave of relief as he moved to sit down on a chair opposite the desk.

"So, anyway, please tell me if I'm overstepping my bounds, but what about the other topic we talked about that you said wasn't an option due to going home?"

"Which topic?" asked Richard, trying to remember what they talked about.

"The mare you liked, are you going to ask her out now?" Octavia's eyes practically sparkled as she asked her question, causing Richard's face to turn a deeper pink.

"I'll consider it, but I still seriously doubt I'm her type."

"Why's that?" Octavia looked at him curiously.

"Well, firstly, I'm sure I already explained about being human. And she's kind of above my station."

"Hmm," Octavia hummed. "I don't know why you let this 'human' thing be such a big thing. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. Besides, some mares might like that sort of thing, they might even prefer waking a walk on the wild side."

Richard looked at her confused, towards the end of her sentence she seemed to look off into the distance.

"Did you hit your head when you fell?"

"Oh," Octavia shook her head coming back to the present. "No, just my leg."

"So what was all that stuff about some mares walking on the wild side?"

"Umm," Octavia hummed nervously. "It's just something you hear about when you work in Canterlot."

"Okay..." Richard shrugged his shoulders. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

"Yes, I'm okay thanks." Octavia reached out and placed her hooves on his hands. "I'm sorry to hear about not being able to go home, but if you ever need anything, please let me know."

"Thank you," Richard smiled weakly. "Well, I think I've taken up enough of your time."

"Nonsense, Richard. My door is always open to you. But I understand that there are probably a few things you need to follow up on. She's a very lucky mare."

"If anything, I'd be the lucky one. But thanks again."

The walk to the park was slower than Richard had liked, but he had to make a couple of stops off on the way. First, to his house, to pick up that book on Technomancy. Second, he stopped at market to pick up some treats for the picnic; he knew they wouldn't mind if he didn't but he didn't want to turn up empty handed.

Walking away from the market with a bag full of various bits and pieces he couldn't help but wander if he had hit his head last night. Several times he noticed groups of ponies stop what they were doing and giggle and nudge each other when they saw him and he could have sworn Carrot Top had been flirting with him as they haggled over the price of her wares; much to her sisters annoyance.

Eventually though he found himself at the chosen picnic spot and noticed he was the first one there; which came with the large benefit of the best shady spot underneath a tree on the edge of the swimming pond. Sitting himself down he pulled out 'his' new book and opened it to the first page.

Almost immediately he started getting a headache.

The page was filled with a large color diagram of what appeared to be a pentagram with what appeared to be a different gem at each vertex. In between the gems were a series of different shapes and symbols of which he recognized at most one, something that looked like pi with a top hat and cane. Beneath the picture was the caption 'A childs guide to basic elemental concepts'.

"How come I did four years of university and can't even understand a 'childs' guide to magic?"

"Maybe because you're not a unicorn, darling."

Richard looked up to see Rarity walking across the grass, a pair of 'fashionable' sun glasses hiding her eyes and a large sun hat on hear head. Floating in her magical grip next to her was a large wicker basket which she placed on the grass between him and the pond and began to immediately unpack all the picnic supplies. Including a large, immaculate checkered blanket.

"I see you came prepared Rarity."

"A lady is always prepared for every eventually," Rarity smiled and pulled a large sun umbrella from her basket and opened it up pointed towards the water. "Like this for example."

"Like what?" Richard had barely opened his mouth before a large scream caused him to duck and hide the book behind his back.

"Incoming!"

Seconds later a large splash drenched him in water as a rainbow colored blur crashed into the pond.

"Woo, what a Rush. I didn't get you guys too wet did I?" Rainbow jumped onto the bank and started shaking the water off her wings.

"Well, thankfully for you and your childish antics you didn't get any water on me." said Rarity sticking her dripping umbrella into the ground near her blanket. "But I wouldn't say the same about poor Richard."

"Poor Richard?" asked Rainbow, looking up and spotting Richard who was already sitting in a puddle of the water dripping off him.

"Ahh Richard, I'm sorry about that. I figured the egghead reading a book under the tree was Twilight and she tends to have quick magic reflexes."

"Hmm," Richard hummed. "I don't know what should offend me more. The fact you just drenched me to the bone, or the fact you think I look like a mare."

"Well, you do have a certain womanly bearing, sugar." said Applejack as she joined the group, shrugging a set of bulging saddlebags off her back.

"Really?" Richard sighed. "Kick a man while he's down why don't you?"

"Trust me, Richard, if I had kicked you, you'd know."

"Only once he came around in the hospital." Laughed Rainbow Dash.

"Oh, um hi everyone."

Richard watched as Fluttershy glided over the grass, a small trail of birds and other creatures following in her wake. At that moment he couldn't help but compare her to any number of Disney princesses.

"Hey, do you guys have something called similar to 'Disney?' You know, something that produces animated films?" Richard asked, trying to remain calm.

"No," all four mares replied simultaneously, looking confused.

"Stop trying to change the subject, Richard. Hey Fluttershy, don't you think Richard looks like a mare?"

"Isn't a mare using looking like a mare as an insult a little ironic?" asked Pinkie, popping up out of nowhere. "Then again, I could be wrong, I struggled to listen when Twilight was explaining the definition to me."

Richard sighed, and quickly shook himself off before picking up the book starting to walk off.

"Hey, Sugar, where are you going?"

"I'm sorry, Applejack, I just remembered I have somewhere need to be."

"Really, Richard, running home because of a little insult?" Smirked Rainbow.

"No," Richard shook his head sadly before continuing on. "I'm not running 'home'."

Noticing his tone, the other girls looked at each other worriedly.

"Geez, what's his problem?" Rainbow joked.

Richard continued walking down the path towards the park's gate, but quickly felt a chill as a shadow grew around him, moments later there was a gust of wind blowing away leaves as the familiar shape of Twilight landed next to him.

"Hey Richard, you know the picnic is the other way right?" she smiled at him eagerly.

"I know, Twilight, where did you think I just came from? Thanks for the invite, but it's just too much for me today."

Richard started to move off but was halted by Twilight's hoof resting on his chest.

"Richard?" she looked at him concerned. "You're soaking wet, what happened?"

"Nothing, just some minor teasing you know."

"Richard?" Twilight asked more firmly.

"Well Rainbow soaked me with water and joked about me 'running of home' when I didn't appreciate the teasing. But it's no big deal, she doesn't know about me getting that ."

"I can't believe, Rainbow did that. Just give me a minute and I'll sort everything out."

"Twilight," Richard smiled weakly. "Please, it's okay, I don't want to turn this into anything."

"Okay, I'll let it be, but on one condition. You come back to the picnic and if you do, maybe we'll read that book together and I wont mention the fact you took it without asking."

"You're not leaving me much room for choice are you?" Twilight shook her head. "Alright, I'll come back up, but would you please explain about that letter. I can't really face telling everyone myself right now."

Richard felt Twilight bump his side with her flank. "Of course I will, what else are friends for. But first, let me dry you off." Twilight's horn flashed for a moment and then Richard felt his clothes dry within an instant.

As they walked back up to the picnic Richard started to feel terrible. The heat that had been kept at by by the sad news had started to return now that he was standing next to Twilight. By the time they had made it back to the pond and the others he was starting to sweat up a storm.

"Richard, why don't you go help set up the food and drinks while I have a quick word with everypony?" Richard nodded and moved to the where the others were currently setting up the picnic.

"Hey, everypony." Twilight smiled at the others and they all replied in greeting. "Any chance we can have a quick word before we start this picnic?"

"Sure, Twi, what's up?" asked Applejack as the mares stopped what they did and moved over to Twilight.

"It's about Richard," Twilight looked down at her hooves nervously. When she offered to tell everyone for Richard she hadn't realized how hard it would be. "He got some bad news last night."

"He lost the bet?" asked Rarity, her tone a little too hopeful.

"No," Twilight shook her head and made a mental note to try and resist throttling Rarity later. "He got a letter from Celestia, they've um..." she took a deep breath. "They've stopped the search for his world."

"Oh..." Rarity looked down guiltily as a awkward silence settled over the group. A silence that lasted about a minute before the sound of a hoof smacking the back of a head shattered it.

"What the hay, Applejack?!" Rainbow yelled, "That really hurt."

"You just had to go and open your big mouth didn't you?" Applejack seethed. "Mocking him for running of 'home' when that's the one place he can't go? No wonder he was so eager to leave."

"You think I'd have done that if I'd known?" Rainbow protested. "I mean sure, I'm a little rough around the edges, but not that rough. You believe me don't you, Twilight?"

"I do, Rainbow, but I still think you should probably apologize."

"Of course."

"Poor Richard," whispered Fluttershy. "How is he taking it?"

"He's holding up well," Twilight smiled weakly, "But you might want to ask him yourself."

"Ooh, ooh," Pinkie bounced excitedly. "I can throw him a 'Sorry you're stuck here party'."

"Hold it there, sugarcube," Applejack placed a hoof on her back and forcing her to stand still. "I think it might be a bit too soon for a party, besides, isn't there that other one coming up?"

Pinkie's eyes lit up.

"Ooh, yes, of course. Well I'll need to make it extra special now."

Twilight looked at the pair confused. "What party?" Rarity leaned other and whispered into her ear, causing Twilight to frown. "Oh, I can't believe I forgot."

"Ahem," Rarity coughed. "Ixnay on the artypay. Besides, don't we have a lunch to eat."

"Of course," Twilight nodded as the group started moving back towards the blanket Rarity had set up. "Hey, Richard, I think Rainbow has something to say to you. Rainbow?"

"Heh, yeah." Rainbow hovered in mid air, nervously running a hoof down her other arm. "I'm sorry, Richard, you know about before and the home thing."

"Don't sweat it," Richard replied. "You didn't know so no harm done."

"Thanks," Rainbow held out her hoof. "Buddies?"

Richard gave her a fist bump and nodded. "Buddies."

"Say, what do you say we get this picnic under way?" asked Pinkie as she reached into her saddle bags and pulled out a tray of cupcakes and added it to the sandwiches and bottles of spring water Rarity had already unpacked.

"Say Richard, I couldn't help but notice you brought a bag with you. You didn't happen to bring any food by any chance?" asked Rarity.

Richard shrugged, "Just a little something. But I'll go get it."

Richard went over and brought his bag back to the blanket, slowly he pulled out each of the items one at a time and by the time he'd finished he'd added a small feast to the blanket.

"You call that a little something?" asked Twilight, eyeing up the volume of food and drink.

Richard shrugged, "I'm a comfort eater. Besides, I needed to make sure there was some non cake food that a human can eat."

"And the tray of rose petals?" asked Rarity, her mouth watering at the sight.

Richard shrugged again, "I wanted to get you guys a treat as well."

"Yeah, but have you seen the price of Rose petals?" Rarity balked. "They're not exactly cheap." A comment which earned her a quick nudge in the side from Applejack.

"They're lovely," said Fluttershy appreciatively. "As are the chopped carrots and the cherry tomatoes."

"What the hay are we waiting for?" asked Rainbow Dash, bored already. "Can we please tuck in already."

An hour later, after they'd had their fill, each of them had moved away from the food and moved on to their own activities. Richard had returned to under the tree and was attempting to understand what little he could of the book he'd brought, meanwhile Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy had set up an impromptu hoof ball court; while Rarity reclined on a lilo floating in the pool of water, doing her best to avoid falling in while Twilight splashed around .

Coming to the end of the first chapter, Richard shook his head, he had understood so little of it he was beginning to wonder if it was worth taking in the first place.

"Hey, need any help understanding that book?"

Richard looked up to see Twilight standing there and felt his heat go into overdrive. Glistening from the water still dripping off her body, he couldn't help but feel his heart beginning to beat like a drum while sweat beginning to form on his brow.

"Um, I'd love to, but I'm not sure how we'd read together."

Twilight smiled wryly, causing Richard to shiver.

"I think I have an idea, just follow my lead."

Richard just nodded nervously and let her take over as she took the book in her magical grip before she slowly nudged his legs apart with her hooves and placed herself down down in his lap. As she leaned backwards and rested her head in his chest he had to hold his breath as he did his best to avoid letting the heat getting the best of him.

Unaware of his situation, Twilight summoned a small book stand and lay the open book on it.

"How's that?" Twilight asked.

"Um, yes, that's um, quite suitable." Richard nodded.

"Good," Twilight smiled. "Now, we'll take it slowly, and I'll try to explain everything to you. If you ever get confused, just let me know."