Author's Note

This chapter is a bit shorter than usual, because I've been really busy with school and sports. The next chapter will be longer, I promise. I hope you understand :)

Also, I would like to remind you that I have a kik, @bombshelter1 where you can chat with me, or maybe if you'd like to give me ideas. Hit me up and we can talk sometime :)

Friendship Is A Rarity

"So, where is this little cafe you mentioned?" I ask as I stuff my hands into my pockets. Damn snow.

"Just around the corner darling. Oh it is absolutely to die for." She says with her refined accent. I'm not sure whether I really like it, or if it annoys the shit out of me. I have a problem with making up my mind about things.

"I sure hope so. I'm gonna die if I don't get there soon." I joke as I pat my stomach, which only makes me feel worse. Seriously, how did I not notice I was this hungry until just now?

"So, what exactly do you like to eat?" Rarity asks as we turn a corner.

"Uh, hamburgers, pizza, chicken, salads are cool, pasta... I like a lot of stuff really." I say with a shrug as I continue walking. I stop and turn around when I notice that the hoofsteps next to me have stopped.

"...Y-You eat meat?" She asks nervously, giving me a somewhat scared look.

"Yeah? Humans are omnivores and-... Oh, right, herbivores." I mumble as I facepalm. I didn't even bother to think that they'd only eat plants, much less the fact that they'd be scared of the fact I eat meat. "Look, I'm not gonna eat you or anything like that if that's what you're thinking."

"Are you sure about that?"

"Ugh, yes! If I wanted to eat you, which I don't, I would have done it already. Seriously, I saw that you own a damn cat back in your shop, but you dare care about her eating meat."

"Opal isn't twice my size..." She says quietly. She doesn't look quite as nervous anymore, but the expression is still there nevertheless.

"Look, I'm going to lunch with, or without you. You cal follow if you want, but if you're too scared of me just because of what I am, I don't want a part of it." I say as I start walking towards the cafe. My dad told me sometimes the only way to get to someone is to be straightforward and harsh. Hopefully he was right.

Turns out he was actually right, as I hear hoofsteps approaching me from behind. I don't even need to turn around to know who it is. We continue our walk in silence until the cafe comes into view. It appears to be completely outside, well, the tables are anyway. We take our seats, which are just glorified hay bales which are way too short for me, and kinda look around awkwardly until the waiter comes.

"Ah, what can I get for... you... two?" He asks as he makes eye contact with me. He manages not to freak out or ask any questions, and returns to his normal manner. Very professional, I respect that.

"Water and sunflower salad for me." Rarity says before looking at me to see what I order. I sigh as I realize that I'm basically limited to only a few things. Gotta make her happy though. I don't need my only friend to fucking book it because of what I ordered.

"Um, do you have tea and uh... pasta?" I ask, not exactly sure whether or not that stuff still exists. Thankfully, the waiter nods and walks away, though he seems to keep his eye on me as he does.

"I'm sorry about that." Rarity says once he is out of hearing distance. "It was just a bit... shocking, is all." She says with an apologetic look. I look down and sigh, folding my hands on the table.

"It's fine. I shouldn't have lashed out at you because of a natural reaction. I'd be nervous too if I was in your position. Honestly, I'm just glad you didn't totally freak out and run away."

"Well, never judge a book by it's cover, right? I mean, your size does still make me a little nervous, yet you're one of the nicest stallions I've ever met."

"Hah, then you obviously don't know me. I'm an asshole, and I know that. It's just my personality, I don't think I can change it." I say with a shrug.

"Everypony can change Zack."

"I'm not a pony." I say with a chuckle as I look down at my hands.

"Okay, every human can change, and I believe that. You're a good guy Zack, I can see that in you."

"Uh, yeah, sure. Whatever you say Rarity... Say, um, I'm really tired, is it cool if I take a nap back at your place after lunch? I wouldn't ask normally, but I'm kinda homeless right now..."

"You don't have a place to stay? Nowhere at all?"

"Unless I can make a house just magically appear, then no, I don't."

"Then I insist that you stay over at my house until you can afford your own!" She says confidently.

"You're really generous, and I appreciate that, but I would really hate to intrude." I explain. "Though that hasn't stopped me before..." I mumble under my breath, remembering how I pretty much broke into Fluttershy's house. Still need to fix that by the way.

"Zack, what did I tell you earlier?" Rarity says with a stern look.

"Ugh... that you wouldn't take no for an answer?"

"Exactly. You are a friend in need, and I am able to provide. Therefore, I will do so. From hereon out, until you can afford a house, you are hearby my roommate."

"I'll take you up on that offer, under two conditions."

"...Name it."

"First, I'm sleeping on the couch. No way in hell am I going to take your bed from you. Second, once I get a job, I'm paying rent. Deal?"

"Rent? Really?"

"Is it a deal or not?" I ask as I hold out my hand towards her. She gives me an unreadable expression before sighing and placing her hoof in my palm. I shake it firmly before sitting back and relaxing.

"Now, where is that food?"

"Ah, that was great. I didn't even know it was possible to be that hungry." I mumble as we walk back towards Rarity's house.

"I didn't know it was possible to scarf down two plates of pasta in eight minutes. Ugh, stallions." She says as she rolls her eyes, though I do catch a slight smile on her face.

"Hey, you would do the same if you hadn't eaten anything solid in like four days. I've been wandering around out here running off of nothing but adrenaline and determination. I think I deserved that pasta." I say as I point to my chest and let out a chuckle.

"I forgot to ask. Where are you from exactly? As I recall, you're the first human I've ever seen before. Did you come from some faraway country or something?" Rarity asks curiously. I sigh and look up at the sky, running a hand through my hair as I do so. Might as well tell her now if I'm ever gonna do it.

"It's a long story. Are you sure you want to hear it?"

"I have time."

"Fine, but don't blame me if you get bored. It started four or five days ago, for me anyway. I was touring this lab that I had been given an internship at. I was supposed to be helping to develop this machine called a Cryogenic Freezing Deivce, C.F.D. for short. The machine were supposed to let humans freeze themselves, and wake up at a certain period of time in the future. It would essentially stop the body from aging by freezing it, therefor allowing people to basically time travel. It was going to be used to medical purposes, so that patients could be frozen until a cure was found. However, that's not how things turned out, not for me anyway. This guy, Dr. Hendricks, forced me into one of the machines, and froze me in it... That was 3500 years ago..."

"Y-You're from..." Rarity stutters out, obviously shocked.

"The past? Yeah, I am. Back then, ponies didn't exist. Well, not like they do now anyway, and there was no magic at all. The human race was killed off by something called the PT virus. I guess ponies evolved or something to what they are now. I don't really know, nor do I really care anymore." I say in a somewhat sad tone.

"That's... horrible. So you survived this virus?"

"I'm standin' here aren't I? Yeah, I did, and it wouldn't surprise me if the virus was still airborne right now. It may have dissipated by now, but with the advancement of technology by the time it was released, I have no idea."

"Then wouldn't it still be affecting you?"

"Nope, I'm immune. I was injected with the cure for the virus while I was still frozen. I guess it worked because I'm still here, not dead on the floor or some deformed creature, because that's what it does apparently."

"That sounds awful! But to think, there was an entire race before us, and we never knew about it!"

"I wouldn't say you know nothing about us. Twilight has some old manuscripts that mention humans, but I doubt they really go into details. I haven't read them myself yet, so I can't really say."

"That sound inter- Oh, we're here." Rarity says as we approach her door. She opens it and enters. I follow behind, having to duck slightly as the door is about an inch or two shorter than me. Luckily she has a really high ceiling.

"I'll tell you more about my backstory later I guess. But for now, I'm tired as all hell. Sleep is another thing I've been deprived of lately. Well, comfortable sleep anyway."

"Alright then. Are you absolutely sure you wouldn't like to use my bed? It would definitely fit you much better, with your size and all that is. I'll probably working so I-"

"Rarity, I said couch, and that's that. Now, just point me in the general direction, and I'll find it myself."

"Very well... It's over there." Rarity points to a set of double doors across the room which I guess leads to a living room of sorts. I nod with a smile as I walk over to them, ready to get some sleep. "I'll wake you up when it's time to go to the party!" She calls out from behind me. I respond with a simple wave of my hand as I vanish into the living room.

Calling it a living room is an understatement. I'd say it's more akin to a fancy office. Bookshelves line the walls, and at a quick glance, it looks like a lot of them have to do with sewing or clothing in general. I never really would have taken Rarity for a book worm. Learn something new every day.

On the other side of the room, near a window, is a white couch that is just screaming my name for me to jump on it. I obey and kick my shoes off before leaping onto the thing, almost flying back off from the bounce. I rest my head on the arm of the couch, and close my eyes, already feeling sleep taking me over.

"I'll pay you back, I swear." I mumble to myself as I drift off into a peaceful, relaxing slumber.