Living in Equestria

It was well after dark by the time I made it to the edge of Ponyville alone. I was pretty sure I could find my way to where I needed to go, Scootaloo had given me pretty easy directions. But first... there was something else I needed to take care of. I hoped the store was still open at this hour because I didn't know the next time I'd have a chance of being here by myself.

I'd had to work up the nerve to ask Twilight to borrow some bits before she and the rest of the ponies left the farm after the work was done, letting her know to keep the reason a secret. Her face had lit up and then melted with adoring emotion over why I was asking, letting a small "awww.." escape her lips. I told her I didn't know how much I'd need, but she'd assured me that there was enough bits in the small coin pouch pressed into my hand by her magic to get pretty much anything in Ponyville, let alone something from the Sports Corral.

I flew low and fast, following the direct northern route into town and soon saw the first lights of buildings glowing in the night's carpet of moonlit darkness that lay over the land. The store was right near the edge of town and I gave a small fist pump when I saw the large window still glowing from the lights within. The door was propped open when I landed and the pale blue land pony using a broom to sweep the wooden floor of the deserted establishment looked up and smiled when he heard me.

"You must be that human stayin at the Apple's place!" the shopkeeper greeted me warmly when I stepped inside. He had an open and trusting face, a kind voice and a welcoming personality. I instantly liked him.

"Yeah, My name's Mason." I smiled back.

"Well Mason, welcome to the Sports Corral! The name's Wilson Cage, pleasure to meet you!" he put his hoof out and I shook it before I even knew what I was doing. I'd never had a pony offer a hoof in a shake before, but it seemed perfectly natural.

"You're just in time, why... I was about to close the door for the evening! What can I help you with?" he set the broom against a rack filled with curious red balls that had a different shape depending on how you looked at them.

"That green scooter... the one in the window?"

"Oh yeah! The Jade Flyer! You interested?"

"Yeah... I'm looking to pick it up for a friend."

"Haha! He must be a lucky colt!" he laughed and moved towards the display window.

"Actually it's for a young mare... Scootaloo crashed her's the other day and wrecked it."

Wilson stopped and turned in recognition. "I know Scootaloo! Why... Rainbow Dash bought that scooter from me years ago. She finally destroyed that old thing?" he laughed.

"I'm afraid so... with my help too."

"Well, I'm shocked it lasted that long... it was just an entry level foal model, after all. I've never seen a filly ride one like her before. Heck, The whole town knows to get outta her way when they see her coming! Best rider I've ever seen and I be-" he stopped and his face lit up with an idea.

"Say... If you're here for Scootaloo... why don't I show you something else instead?" he turned and moved towards the far corner of the store in the back, beckoning me to follow. "The Jade Flyer is nice, don't get me wrong..." he spoke over his shoulder, "But she's got talent... and real talent deserves the best!"

We rounded a tall rack that held masks that were designed to protect a pony's face from something and reached the back wall. Hanging on large pegs at eye level was the coolest looking scooter I'd ever seen.

It was a bit larger than the one in the window with the same basic shape, two wheels and a slightly curved T handle for steering and balance. But it looked like it was made entirely from blue glass instead of wood. The wheels were a fiery red color and rubberized with lightening holes in the hubs. All along the tread plate were red strips of grip tape that I recognized from my brief foray into skateboarding back home.

"This here's the Wonderbolt Mark V. It's made entirely of the lightest and strongest stuff from the Crystal Empire. Both wheels are magically enhanced to have zee-ro resistance on the bearings and the grit of the hoof plate is specially designed to stick to our hooves. They only made a few hundred of these... limited edition and coveted by even the best riders." he touched the edge of the hoof plate almost reverently.

"Its beautiful..." I said in wonder. The thing really was. I could tell that whatever it was made out of was nothing ordinary, there was a quality to the light that passed through it... something in the way it shimmered. I imagined it would look incredible in the sunlight and I could easily see Scootaloo riding the thing at ridiculous speeds.

"Yep. But I'm not gonna sugar coat it for ya... this baby comes with a hefty tag. 500 bits." Wilson almost looked ashamed to tell me the price.

I had no idea how many bits were in the small pouch around my neck inside the shirt I was wearing, but I was sold on it already. If what I saw Scootaloo doing with that old clunky wooden scooter was any indication... she'd be unstoppable on this thing.

"Look... Wilson, This probably isn't the smartest thing to say right now... but I have no idea how bits work here. All I have is this." I said to him, pulling the pouch up from the leathery cord it hung on.

"Well lets take a look." he said in a resigned and friendly manner, moving behind the nearby counter with a surprisingly familiar cash register on it that looked like one of those old timey jobs you saw in museums. "I've been doin' business here my whole life, Mason... Selling everything from a foal's first hoofball to their eager parents all the way up to major league athletes needing a new glove. I ain't about to ruin my reputation. Folks 'round here trust me and I like that just fine, thank you very much."

I believed him too. He had a friendly and honest way about him that made you want to talk with him just to enjoy his company. As far as stallions go, he was the first one I'd met that I liked this much. Big Mac was alright... but he wasn't much for conversation.

I opened the draw strings of the pouch and carefully emptied it's contents onto the dark stained counter top. They clinked together dully as about fifty small gold, irregularly shaped coins fell out, each with a stamped symbol of the sun on one side and the moon on the other. Wilson gave a low whistle of amazement.

"Mason... you got about enough here to buy my whole store, you know that? These are Canterlots..." he picked one up and gave it a quick inspection. "... each one of these is worth a thousand bits. You plannin' on opening a bank with all that?" he joked.

"Ehhh.. no..." I didn't know what to say at this point. Twilight had given me more bits than I'd ever spend in year just on a whim.

"Suffice ta say, you got plenty here for that Mark V... you want it?" he smiled at me with the glint of a sale already sold.

"Yeah!... oh and I need a helmet too!"

_________________________________________________________

I wasn't much of a skater back home and the Mark V was a bit small for my body... but holy shit the thing was fast. The first kick with my foot had shot me forward as if it was powered by some unseen engine all it's own. I shot down the dirt path, not feeling any resistance from the ground underneath the wheels and almost immediately had to use my wings to lift myself and the scooter off the ground to avoid slamming into the backs of two fillies who were walking slowly, gabbing amongst themselves and unaware of the impending doom speeding at them from behind. They shrieked as I flew over the top of them, missing their manes by mere inches with the wheels of the weightless scooter underneath me.

I decided it would be best if I didn't ride it after all, electing instead to walk with the new, bright red helmet dangling from the black grips on the T handle. I couldn't be more happy that I'd gotten it for her and now I just had to think of a good way to give it to her. I spent the rest of the walk daydreaming about her face and what it would look like when she saw the scooter for the first time. It was an odd feeling... thinking about how much I loved her as I was getting closer to my destination, knowing what I'd probably be doing there once I'd arrived...

I found the building easily enough, it was as unique as Rarity's boutique had been among the rustic buildings around it. There were young ponies milling around outside and through the large windows in the front, I could see most of the tables inside were filled with other colts and fillies enjoying a wide variety of treats. Shakes, cupcakes, muffins and other pastries sat on the low tables in front of them and I could hear the din of happy and exuberant conversation drifting out of the open door that lead into the colorful, gingerbread house styled establishment.

Sugarcube Corner was a fitting name for it. Even from a distance I could smell the sweet icing and fresh baking going on inside that renewed my appetite even though I had eaten pretty well at the farm before leaving. Pinkie Pie had left sometime after lunch without saying anything to anypony, but during my talk with Scootaloo in the clearing, I found out why.

She had just started her heat the morning we visited her. According to Scoots, it was a known thing among mares that you usually didn't make observations about another mare's heat in groups. So her strange, quiet behavior wasn't mentioned over the course of the last couple of days by anypony else to avoid breaking that unwritten rule of politeness. Scootaloo told me that she had come to her during the morning hours secretly while I was working with Big Mac and asked if we could help... she had told Scootaloo that it was stronger than normal and had only gotten worse once she knew about the herd.

The bright, vibrant interior washed over me when I stepped inside, pushing through the young colts and fillies who milled around in a random fashion between tables while talking to their friends. Several of them stared openly at me with wide eyes and I began to feel a bit self conscious. But it wasn't just my appearance that had them transfixed... I found out quickly the scooter I was wheeling had captured most of their attentions as well.

"WOAH!" a brown and white colt said as he trotted over to me. "That's a Wonderbolt Mark V!!!" his eyes eagerly scanned the scooter before moving up to meet my own. He had an adorable brown patch in his coat over one eye that reminded me of those firehouse dogs you saw in pictures. "You must be a famous rider from somewhere! Where are you from?" he asked with the enthrallment that only young boys and colts could ever have.

Other colts and fillies began to cluster around now, curious not only by my appearance but also the scooter and began asking their own questions all at the same time. Soon a loud barrage of voices were coming faster than I could answer them.

"No, I'm not famous."

"Yes, it's really a Mark V."

"I'm not rich... no..."

"They're called shoes... no not like those kind of shoes..."

"Yes, it's fur but only on my legs."

"Hands... yes."

"No, I'm not a pony... I'm a human!"

I was beginning to get overwhelmed by their attention. They were all excited and eager to talk, and I was fine with that... I just couldn't handle this much at once.

Suddenly a loud, adult voice broke over the swirl of young questions clearly, saving me from drowning in them. "Alright, everypony! What's going on in here?" came a mare's voice and all the younger ones quieted down.

From a curtained doorway behind the large glass display case filled with cupcakes came a bright blue mare with a pink mane wearing an apron. She bore a matronly, annoyed expression that spoke of many years dealing with loud young ones with the practiced art of patience.

"Oh my stars! If it isn't the human Pinkie has been talking about! Mason, right?" she came around the corner and greeted me warmly. The colts and fillies settled back down to a low roar of conversation among themselves but one of them stayed, the brown and white colt from before. I could see his hoof slowly reaching up and touching the light blue crystal T handle's shaft like he was transfixed.

"Yep... that's me. Thanks for saving me!" I gave her a sheepish look. "I thought I was done for."

"Oh, it's not a bother at all! I'm Mrs Cake. It's a pleasure to finally meet you! My husband and I run Sugarcube Corner and Pinkie Pie lives upstairs. Are you here to see her?"

"Yes, ma'am." I nodded politely.

"Well come this way then... Pip! Don't touch things that do not belong to you!" she suddenly scolded the colt who had moved on to caressing the hoof plate. He slunk away miserably, looking over his shoulder with flattened ears. I kinda felt bad for him...

Mrs Cake took me behind the counter and into the back rooms. The large kitchen here was immaculately clean with the exception of the back corner that looked like a bomb went off in it. Frosting, flour and sugar coated everything including several large bowls still caked with remains of their last use and used mixing spoons lay everywhere. The floor, that had been recently swept and mopped, had a clear line where the cleaning stopped just before the disaster zone. Mrs Cake noticed my eyes drifting over there and commented almost defensively.

"Oh that's Pinkie's 'Experimental Area' as she calls it. She prefers to leave things right where she left them..." her own eyes lingered with something close to a worried expression before she stopped at a staircase leading up to the floors above.

"You'll find her up there... you can leave your scooter here, sweetheart. It will be safe." she smiled and then left me alone in the relative silence of the kitchen.

So here I was. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes for a moment, mentally preparing myself for whatever I might find. The tingling magic feeling along my spine, present since Scootaloo asked me this afternoon to come here, was stronger than ever. It was feeding me a slow steady train of thought that stoked my arousal and desire for Pinkie Pie just enough to give me an eager sense of anticipation at what I was about to do. I could feel the others with my mind too... Scootaloo's presence the strongest of the three, giving me a constant reassurance that I was here to help our friend.

I started up the staircase into the landing above. It was tight and narrow with wood paneling along the walls lit by wall sconces shining a dim, amber light to guide my feet as I went. Random items appeared, strewn about the steps as if their owner just decided this was a good place to leave them. A rubber chicken sat in a grotesque pose, legs splayed on top of an accordion... it's beady eyes judging me as I climbed by.

It turns out there were two floors above the sweets shop below. The middle one only consisted of a bathroom that didn't seem to be too particularly offensive, although I didn't inspect it closely. I could tell it had been cleaned recently with the same method used in the kitchen given the citrus smell of cleaner that matched the underlying smell of the workspace below. I wondered if Mrs Cake tended to this room as well.

"Pinkie?" I called out cautiously, cocking my head up to listen above me. "You here?"

I didn't get a reply so I continued up to the third floor. The debris on the stairs was thick here and I had to step carefully to avoid crushing the clutter of party favors, streamers and other random fun making objects that littered the steep staircase. When my head finally cleared the top floor's landing... I froze in a shock of terror.

Staring at me only a few feet away from my face was a small alligator. It had huge luminous purple eyes that blinked independently of one another and looked segmented by black lines fanning out from the pupils in a ray. It wasn't that big, maybe the size of a large cat, but alligators were known to have teeth and bite... at least the ones I was familiar with.

We sized each other up for a moment and just when I was about to turn around and go back down the steps... possibly to summon Mrs Cake and see if she knew there was an alligator upstairs... the thing flopped on it's belly and then rolled over, putting it's four stubby green legs in the air and looking all the same as a dog wanting a belly rub. It even appeared to smile a little.

"H-hey... little guy..." I said with a shaky voice. It only responded by blinking at me upside down and twitching one of it's feet.

I decided to press my luck a bit. Nothing much had been too threatening in this world that wasn't overly obvious up front... and who in their right mind would have a dangerous alligator in a place such as this? I took a couple of slow steps up the stairs and reached out my hand to pet the thing's belly.

With a slow and lackadaisical speed, one I should have been able to easily dodge given the jumpy state I was in... but didn't, It rolled over and clamped it's jaw on my arm in a smooth, fluid movement.

Since I arrived in this world, I've gotten into a fight with two insane pegasi and faced strange shadow creatures that sucked you into themselves. I didn't remember screaming like a girl at either of those occasions, but then again... they weren't alligators. I was too freaked out to register the fact that there was no pain or blood, in fact... the pressure wasn't even that much from it's clamping jaws and they felt soft and gripping rather than painfully cutting. Later on, I chose to believe that I was just tired from all the work I'd done at the farm that made my reaction as dramatic.

"YAAAAAGETOFFGETOFFGETTHEFUCKOFFMEYABASTARD!!" I screamed and shook my arm wildly, trying to dislodge the creature. My flailing caused me to lose my balance and I promptly fell down the stairs, tumbling over sideways in a thunderous crash and painfully barking my elbow on the corner of a step. It probably would have been worse, but the piles of party favors and banners actually prevented any serious injury.

By the time I'd stopped rolling, the alligator had let go and was climbing back up the steps. I sat, dazed and in shock for a moment, waiting for some part of my body to start signaling it was broken or missing before realizing I was fine. When I looked up, Pinkie Pie was at the top of the stairs, looking down at me with a strange expression that was somewhere between annoyed and insane.

"Pinkie! Jesus... what the hell is an alligator doing in here!!?" I asked confused and a little bit pride hurt at making such a spectacle of myself.

She regarded me for a moment, her expression unchanged before she broke and let out a howl of laughter that hurt my ears.

"That's not an alligator, silly! Well it is, but not really... It's Gummy! And you really shouldn't scare him like that because he doesn't deal well with being scared 'cause alligators aren't ever usually scared because there's never anything for an alligator to be scared of because...well... they're alligators!" she closed her eyes and grinned at me with a maniacal glee.

"He's frightened??" I looked at Gummy who had gained the top of the steps again and flopped over on his back next to Pinkie.

"Yeah! He's terrified... can't you tell?" she cocked her head at me like I had missed seeing the sun in the sky. I took another look at the green thing while I got to my feet, brushing a few random flecks of paper that had stuck to my leg hair. Gummy blinked one eye... then followed with the other seconds later.

"Sorry..." I grumbled "I must have missed it..."

"Hehe.. it's OK. Nopony understands Gummy anyways! That's why he's my pet and not somepony else's! Come on in!" she smiled and moved back into the landing and through the open door.

Her tail was pressed firmly against her flank when she turned her back to me.