At first it was a normal day in Bluefield, Virginia. 18 year-old Anthony Davis woke up at 9:30 with the usual yawn and stretch routine. He picked up his hat off the floor. Ah probably fell asleep with it on again, he thought to himself, and sat it loosely on his head. He stood up and thought about what he was going to do today. After thinking about it for a while, he finally decided that he would eat breakfast before he did anything. Anthony yawned once more before heading upstairs. After carefully thinking over his choices, he settled on pancakes for his breakfast today. As he made his breakfast, he went to the fridge and grabbed a Coke. As he opened his pop to take a drink, he looked up into the woods behind his house. A look of bewilderment washed over his face as he saw a shimmer of light in the woods. He decided he would investigate it after he ate his pancakes. After he got done eating, he glanced back into the woods and noticed the light was still there. Anthony headed back downstairs, put on some bluejeans, a white t-shirt, and some black steel-toe boots. For some reason, as if by instinct, he reached for his hunting rifle. He stopped right before he touched it, Really Anthony? It's probably just a piece of glass reflecting the sunlight. He left the rifle where it lay, but he did grab his hunting knife, his can of Skoal wintergreen long cut, and a backpack. What kind of man would Ah be if Ah left mah house without a knife, he thought to himself. He looked in the backpack to see what he had. The backpack contained four bottles of water, a machete, a drawing notebook, a change of clothes, three extra cans of dip, deodorant, and an extra hat. He promptly removed the machete and set it next to the rifle. He figured he wouldn't need it to look at a piece of glass. He chuckled to himself at the thought of that. Anthony secured the knife to his belt, then picked up the backpack and threw it on his shoulders. He was now ready to see what the light in the woods was. Well, not quite ready. He opened his can of snuff and got himself a good sized pinch. He put it in his lip and closed his can. Now he was ready. He walked outside his house and was off. Anthony walked up the hill on the right side of his house. After getting his dip right where he wanted it in his lip, he spit out the juice. He continued to walk up the path until he got to the tree line. That's when Anthony noticed that the light was a little deeper into the woods than he originally thought. So he made his way through the trees and thorn bushes until he found it. He almost thought he was high when he saw it. It was a door....in a tree. So, the light Ah saw was just the sunlight reflectin' off this here door, he thought. That still don't explain why there'd be a door here. He blinked his eyes as if the image in front of him would disappear, but it was still there. He pondered as to why, and how, such a door existed. Pushing his questions aside, he let out a sigh and opened the door. He was almost blinded by the bright light emitting from the entrance. Without a second thought, Anthony Davis stepped through.
Anthony closed the door behind him. He looked around after doing so and found himself in the woods. Well, where else would he be if he stepped through a door in a tree? Obviously, he would be in the woods. He smiled at that thought. He looked and saw a clearing in the woods and headed towards it. After getting various cuts from thorn bushes - which didn't really phase him, he was used to the feeling - he stepped out into the clearing and found what looked to be a town. Now, this town was no different than any other small town. Except the houses had straw roofs. And they were very primitive in design. And there was a big ass crystal tree in the background. Other than that, it was just a normal town. He wanted to get a closer look. So he headed towards the town. As he got closer, he got a better look at the residents of the town. His jaw would have fell off his face if it wasn't attached. The residents of the town were....ponies? He quickly assessed the situation, and decided that his best course of action was to remain out of sight. He also decided that the crystal tree - which now that he was closer, revealed itself to look like a crystal tree castle - was his first destination. He also figured that the best way to stay hidden was to stick to the outskirts of the town. Anthony managed to stay out of sight, with only two or three close calls. He was now at the door of the castle. He thought for a second on how to approach this, then quickly settled for just knocking on the door. He raised his hand, hesitated, then knocked.
"Coming!" he heard a female voice call out from inside. All of a sudden, the door started glowing purple, and opened. There before him was a lavender colored alicorn with a dark purple mane and tail with a pink stripe running through each. She looked up at him - she didn't have to look to far up, her eyes were at his chest - with a puzzled look on her face.
"Um, howdy there miss, Ah was wonderin' if you might be able to help me." he spoke softly, trying his best not to let his deep southern accent frighten her.
"Uh...sure, I can help you." she spoke with a hint of fear in her voice, "I'm not trying to be rude but, what are you?"
"Oh, forgive me hehe, where are my manners? Ah'm a human. Mah name is Anthony Davis, but mah friends call me Mudd." he reached to shake her hoof. "Pleased to meet you." She gave him her hoof and they shook.
"I'm Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship, it's nice to meet you as well." She smiled, the fear she once had now gone.
"Oh my, please forgive me, Ah didn't know you was royalty," he took his hat off, knelt to one knee, and bowed his head.
"Please, no need for that." She giggled a little.
He stood up and put his hat back on his head. "Judging by the way you was lookin' at me earlier, Ah deduce that Ah am the first of mah kind you've seen."
"That would be correct. I've only heard of humans in books and stories I've read, but most of those stories were fictional. And humans were portrayed to be rather unintelligent, no offense meant."
Anthony laughed a little. "None taken your highness. Ah happen to be very intelligent, Ah have an extensive vocabulary, and Ah'm the smartest in mah class at school. Ah also have a card that states Ah could build you a house if you wanted me to." He pulled out his wallet, pulled out a yellow card and handed it to her. She picked up the card with her magic and read out loud.
"This card acknowledges that the recipient has successfully completed a 10-hour Occupational Safety and Health Administration Training Course in Construction Safety and Health." She handed the card back to him. "That's very impressive Mudd." she said with a smile, "I might get you to build a small vacation cottage one day." They both shared a good laugh with that one.
"Ah can do that. And thank you, by the way." he said with a warm smile.
She had a confused look on her face, "For what?"
He smiled, "Because you called me Mudd. And my friends call me Mudd, so that means we're friends now, right?" he said with a smirk on his face.
"Of course we're friends!" she gave him a hug, which he returned. "And since we're friends, it would only be fair to introduce you to my friends, right?" Anthony's eyes lit up when he heard that.
"Ah would be delighted to meet them." he said cheerfully. "Ah just hope the accept me too." he had a sad expression on his face.
"Oh, I'm sure they will," she said reassuringly, "and I'm sure you will be great fiends with each other."
He smiled, "Thank you Twilight."
"You're welcome." she smiled back. "Now, lets head off shall we?" Before Anthony could say anything, a cyan colored Pegasus flew in from a window.
"Twilight! I heard that you have the new Daring Do book came...." she paused when she saw Anthony standing next to Twilight. "What the hay Twi, did one of your experiments go horribly wrong or something, what is that thing?" Twilight looked at Anthony, who now had a sad look on his face. She turned to the Pegasus.
"Rainbow Dash! That was rude and prejudicial! I suggest you apologize to him right now!" Anthony looked at Twilight, who was very angry.
The cyan Pegasus hung her head low with her ears down, trotted up to him, and looked up at him. "I'm sorry I said that, it looks like we got off on the wrong hoof." she reached out her hoof, "I'm Rainbow Dash, Equestria's fastest flier! Who are you?" Anthony took her hoof and they shook.
"Mah name's Anthony Davis, but mah friends call me Mudd. Pleased to meet you."
"Cool. And, I am really sorry about earlier." she said with her ears down.
"Hey, don't worry about it, it's cool." he held out a closed fist for a fist bump - or hoof bump - which she gladly accepted.
"I think it's safe to say that you two will be great friends!" Twilight said with an elated smile, "Now, Rainbow, will you tell the others that I will be stopping by with a surprise. DO NOT tell them about Anthony, understand?"
"Sure thing Twilight!" All of a sudden, a rainbow colored blur shot out the window, leaving Twilight and Anthony alone.
"OK Anthony, are you ready to meet some more of my friends?" Twilight asked with a big grin on her face.
"Sure thing Twilight, lead the way!" he was exited as well.
They were completely unaware that something was making its way towards Ponyville, and that something had followed Anthony through the door. But they will soon find out.
