After Us

Chapters

I'm Drawing a Blank Here
Okay, so now I'm in Horse-Land
Can I adapt? I'm a Killer!
So, what's a Spa?
What a Waste of Good Food / What in the Damn Hell?

I'm Drawing a Blank Here

Ellie felt them giving her hard, judging stares. First it was Joel, then his brother, and now Maria. She banged her head on the chair a couple of times and sighed deeply. In front of her was a list of supplies, mainly their hunting supplies. Zero arrows, a broken bow, a black eye and a broken wrist. It was Joel first that relaxed and covered his face. Oh, he was disappointed, but more happy that she was still alive. That was what mattered most. Although, her hard work for the past week outside of the small town had gone to waste when she was ambushed.

And they got away.

"I-...I just can't believe it." Maria sighed looking out Ellie's bedroom window. "How far away was this? Were you close?"

"I was two counties away..." Ellie felt so defeated, deflated with a pumf when her head fell on the pillow. " I was just done killing a couple infected, a Clicker and a runner-"

"A Clicker?!" Joel roared. "You put yourself into danger!?"

Ellie's face turned red with rage. "I'm nineteen Joel! And have you forgotten I can't get infected!?" to prove her case once again, she pulled harshly on her sleeve to reveal an old memory. The bite was roughly three inches from her wrist to the middle of her arm. It was gently faded from natural growth and time, but it was still slightly red. It was a sign that the fungus was still inside of her. "Besides!" She continued, calming down after a few ragged breaths and on the verge of tears. It was bad enough she was mugged, but at least she wasn't dead. "It was a couple of those raiders who asked to join us. They just wanted what I had, when I said no, they pulled out this gun lookin' thing and I passed out. Bow was broken, shit was gone, but hey! I'm still fucking alive!"

"I say we hit them hard!"

"Dammit Joel!" Maria snorted. "We just lost four good folk to the new turbine. No way in hell we're going to use violent diplomacy."

"Maybe we can cut a deal." Tommy cut in. "Maybe if we let them in, they'll give us the supplies? Maybe some food or fresh water? The new filters are working great thanks to Bill."

"Pft, they'll just hurt us like they did Ellie."

Maria stared hard a Joel, then relaxed her pose. "How 'bout we just sleep on this. Go get that eye looked at. Tommy, see if you can get Chuck Drowl to work on a new bow for Ellie, that one was getting old anyways."

"Can do, but what about Joel here?"

"What about me?" Joel frowned at his younger brother.

"Go see if we have a dozen potatoes, carrots, and ten gallons of water."

Joel looked offended until he realized Tommy's wife was too scary to deal with. "Fine...Ellie, I'll see you in a bit."

"Take your time old man..." Ellie said before covering her face with a pillow.

Tommy was next to leave, but Maria stayed yet silent. She sat down on her bed and looked on to the hydroelectric power plant. It's long waterfall made the early morning seem so peaceful. Nature was still dominate over this region, even before the Cordycepts hit twenty five years ago the land was lush with wildlife, land, and a beautiful way to restart civilized society.

"Did they hurt you?"

"Yeah, I got a black ey-"

"No, Ellie...Did they hurt you." Maria pulled the pillow off of Ellie and gave the young woman a hard stare. "Here-" She pointed to the black eye. "I know about, but what about here." She set her hand down on Ellie's belly button.

Ellie flushed up and looked away. "No..."

Maria pulled Ellie up into a very tight hug. And cried softly. "Oh thank God..! I thought you were hiding it and-"

Ellie hugged Maria and pushed her off gently. "Don't worry, there was a nice lady there, she made the demands, the guys just roughed me up a bit."

"You got lucky!" Maria wiped away a couple stray tears and breathed out. "I gotta go. Rest tonight, we'll see about talking to those raiders. We're running out of men because they're all so stupid."

Maria left and Ellie looked down at her stomach, resting a hand over it. Maria was right, she got lucky, and she knew it. Ellie grabbed her pillow and brought it under her head to lay on. She shut her eyes before feeling very odd. Shrugging in her mind, Ellie was ready to embrace.

*CRACK!* Then a long rumbling sound ripped over head. Ellie's eyes flashed open. All around her were dense woods and rain was pouring down in waves. She stood up realizing all too late she was in a nightmare of sorts. A ghostly figure walked over to her and held out a hand.

You should be dead. A dark sick voice rang inside her head. So I will make you dead in one place, and alive in another. Beware, or you shall truly find death more agonizing than bleeding to death while being raped.

"Who the fuck are you to say that?! This is a dream!" Ellie was a very lucid dreamer, always was. She thought deeply of waking up but the lighting struck once more. "The hell?"

This is no dream child of man, defiler of deeaatthh...Do you not accept and die?

"I'm not dying asshole!"

The hand snapped to hers and the figure turned into a Runner. It bit down on her right arm, pain flooded her mind before all went black once more.

This time she woke up in a different place. No longer was she in a clearing in the middle of the woods, but in an empty field with lights far-far off in the distance. A few miles perhaps, but once she got adjusted to her surroundings, she frowned.

"What the fuck that bullshit!?" She screamed as loudly as she could. Her only reply was a fading echo of the sick laughter from the sick ghost. Ellie rapidly turned her body in many circles, looking for attackers or otherwise, Infected. It was dark, the stars were out, unlike the morning she arrived back at Tommy Town.

When she found the field was truly empty minus the lights far ahead, one thing she wished she had was her backpack..and Joel... She shook her head, trying her best to break away from the safety she felt even from all those years ago. 'I gotcha baby girl...' The echos of his voice rang through her head. 'Stay down...don't move...DAMMIT ELLIE!' Loud explosions forced her mind away from her memories.

Off where the lights glowed, large and colorful explosions. All sorts of reds, greens, blues, and even violets lit up even as far as where she was. Perhaps it wasn't the town that was far away, but perhaps whomever or whatever that was making all these explosions were sure to draw the ire of the infected and where much closer than she thought. She must have been kidnapped while she was asleep or something. Could it have been that strange dream she had, yet barely could remember. Just the sick laughter of whatever forced her here.

Despite being really unsure what to do next, Ellie prepped herself for a couple miles of walking. Nothing quite like a walk across the continent of North America, she felt thankful. A mountain off in the distance also began making similar exploding lights. They were really daring, making so much noise. And on she began to walk.

About a mile and a half later, Ellie could actually see a large gathering as she stood upon a large hill. Although, even for how dark it was, she could see something very odd. The gathering consisted of people dressed up in more all-to colorful costumes that struck her as incredibly odd. Joel told her as much as he could about the Old Earth, the time before the Crotocepts, people wouldn't eat to remain skinny, people would go to massive...what were they...? Conventions and dress up as their favorite characters from comic books. But these, they looked a little too real.

Another round of these explosions, the sixth since she arrived where ever she was. She had to warn these poor people before the infected came. She tripped halfway down and began rolling down the hill. When Ellie was able to stop herself, she was already at the bottom but it also seemed that she had attracted the attention of the crowd. As soon as she was done dusting herself off, she looked up to see four figures moving her way. One was large and blue while the others were slightly smaller and in a multitude of colors, even a rainbow.

"Huh?" Ellie rubbed her head slowly, trying to figure out what the hell was going on.

As they approached, Ellie realized that these weren't costumes at all. Their eyes blinked and dilated, and wings shuffled oh so gently. Wait...

"Wings? The fuck did I get shot with?"

Now only roughly ten feet away from her, the large blue one stepped only a foot closer and took the lead.

"Greetings...we...heard your screams from up upon that hill."

Ellie looked around, still struggling to figure out what was going on. "Um... I don't think I'm in Kansas any more.."

"Kansas?" The blue one asked. "Oh, forgive me. My name is Princess Luna, these fine ponies are Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack. You must be from another land, we've never seen your kind before."

Ellie shook her head and pinched herself. When she felt pain, it was no dream. "Oohhh-ho-ho man...." She felt a little dizzy. Bringing a hand to her head, she sat down in the grass. "Yo-...you guys don't look like horses..."

"Well I sure hope so!" Rainbow Dash huffed in annoyance. "I'm not worth twenty bits."

"Wait, Luna, may I handle this?" Twilight offered, looking up at the taller princess. Luna gave a silent nod and she moved aside to let Twilight by. Twilight, like all other of these 'ponies' looked almost perfectly like humans, except for the fur, color of, and extra appendages. Oh, and instead of feet, they had wide hooves. "I think we may have a problem..." Twilight said after a little while of studying Ellie. "What's your name?"

"E-...Ellie...Williams..."

"Yep...she's a human girls." Twilight held out a hand for Ellie. "Come on, let's go see what we can do about how you arrived. Luna, you can keep the festival going, just make sure Celestia knows?"

Luna tilted her head in confusion before truly getting Twilight's words. With a curt nod, she lead the other ponies along back. "Come now, we must assure the ponies that all is well."

"Can I go with Twi, Princess?" Applejack asked.

"I don't see why not, you may even be able to assist me." Twilight looked to Luna, then the large blue mare nodded. "Great. Hey, Ellie?"

Ellie began laughing delusionally. "I'm drawing a black here...What the fuck is going on?!"

Twilight rubbed her chin and looked over to Applejack. "Think you can help her back to the castle?"

"Sure I can." AJ held out her hand to Ellie. When she hadn't she pulled on Ellie's right arm.

No need to say how wrong she was. Ellie flipped shit and threw AJ onto the ground and began screaming. "JOEL!!! JOEL!!!" Ellie cried and fell onto the ground. "No...nonono....not again....don't....again...." Ellie was stroking her arm right.

AJ got her barrings and brought her gaze upon Ellie. "That girl is mite troubled..."

Luna had returned quickly. "I heard screaming, what's wrong with her."

"Joel....Joel....Joel..."

Twilight's horn lit up and Ellie's body just relaxed. "Sleep." She knelt down and closed Ellie's eyes. "She was in shock and it triggered her. Sorry Applejack if she hurt you too bad."

"It's all fine and dandy Twi, I'm just worried about her." Applejack shrugged and pointed to Ellie.

Luna too knelt over Ellie. "She's dreaming, but because she's not a pony, I cannot enter her mind until I discover how... It's... strange..." Ellie was wearing a long sleeve t-shirt with a couple of characters. One was one that looked like Ellie but with long ears and the other was a furry creature with a pair of goggles. She wore a pair of faded pants just as faded as she shirt. Grime, dirt, and ash covered her head and hair to toe. "She is filthy...Twilight, I must take her to the castle in Canterlot. Have her cleaned, looked at, and given general first aid."

Twilight nodded. "Alright. Let's try to keep this low profile until we got the story. This could explode if things get out of hoof."

"I'll tell Rainbow and the other girls." AJ offered before departing.

Luna looked to Twilight then back to Ellie. "We have quite the mystery here I believe. Once I return to the castle with her, I'll inform my sister of these new events. Be sure that the Spring Festival continues if you'd please. I believe this matter should be in the care of my sister."

"Yes, Luna. I'll make sure. Will you return?" Twilight asked with little hope. This was a problem she may not return from for a short time.

Luna sighed sadly. "No, now this human is more pressing than another reason to party." Luna's horn charged up as she picked up Ellie in her hands. "Have fun."

Twilight smiled. "I think that speaking with her would be more fun than partying."

Luna vanished in a bright blue light. When it faded, Twilight looked over the crowd roughly six hundred yards away. Fireworks were still flashing high in the sky with loud explosions. As she stepped, she felt something under her hoof. Moving it to see, she saw a small wood and metal object. The wood was stained a deep red and copper color while the blade itself was slightly rusted. She pulled on the blade and it flicked out, forcing her to drop it in shock as it cut her arm.

After picking it back up Twilight carefully considered what this may have been used for. Protection, it seemed likely but it showed signs of extensive use. A small pocket knife like this seemed just a little off to her, but Ellie was alone. What was her story?

Author's Note

Ellie's reaction is explained I believe but I'm worried after beating the "Last of Us" six times now, I still kinda struggle to get a hold of Ellie's persona. Going for a seventh as soon as my step dad resubs to PS+. This time it'll be on expert.

Okay, so now I'm in Horse-Land

Ellie woke up with a massive migraine that rejected the fact light was shining in her room. Her eyes were clamped shut so that they wouldn't hurt so much. This was all before she realized she was sleeping on the most comfortable bed she's ever been in. By God it felt good just to feel something so soft. Curiosity killed the cat right? Ellie's eyes forced themselves open enough to see where she was. Sitting up in the bed, Ellie scanned the room, finding it so clean, lush with color, amazing looking furniture.

"Fuck, did I die?" Ellie asked herself, finding such a scene too unbelievable for her.

"No, but you are very ill." A deep voice hummed from her right.

Ellie's head shot to the right and saw a brass colored horned horse with gray mane. His teal eyes studied her before looking away with an almost uncertain gaze at the door. "How'd I not see you before!?"

"I make myself invisible to allow you to wake peacefully. Once you said something, my spell broke."

"Spell? What's that?"

The horse raised a brow then shook his head. "Never mind, allow me to introduce myself. I am Doctor Sano Victus, although you may call me Sano or Dr. Victus, and like I said just a few seconds ago, 'you are very ill'."

Ellie's eyes closed as she gave a sigh. Her body relaxing into the bed as air escaped her lungs in a long drawn out breath. "Yeah, I know. No biggy."

" 'No biggy'?! Miss, you are infected with an unknown spore and were placed under quarantine until we found you to be safe. This was six days ago."

"I'm fine, trust me. It won't get any worse because I'm immune."

"Fascinating! This must explain why it does not show any growth in the blood we drew from you! Are all of your kind immune to this like you?" The doctor felt the air around him grow cold from Ellie's sad expression growing on her face.

"No...I'm....I'm one of a few but....Humans are on the verge of extinction in just twenty years...J-Joel told me only about ten percent of humans are left...in the entire world." Ellie actually found herself chuckling. "F-funny thing is, those of us left keep on killing each other. Heck, I wonder now if I'm dead. Pft...I almost hope I am."

Dr. Victus stood up and walked over. A long flexible black tube and metal circle hung from his neck down to his hands. She forgot the name of it, but he closed in on her chest. Ellie moved away from it and looked at him with a death glare. "Ma'am, I'm only checking your pulse. I will not disclose any information about whom or what you are. It's oath all doctors take seriously." Ellie relaxed enough for him to rest it right on her sternum, then moved it to her left breast, then her right.

"One heart, pulse and breath seem normal when one is waking up in shock." He tried his best to lift the mode while staying professional. "To be quite honest with you Ma'am, I've already done checks on you six times over. I was calculating a rough range in which your heart banks and which rises."

"Ellie."

"Ma'am?" Dr. Victus asked.

"My name...is Ellie." Ellie took a few breaths and tried her best to relax. "I remember check-ups at the academy. Mrs....Mrs...Sedna..Mrs. Sedna was my doctor, her and I were close friends before I ran away."

"Ah, well, try to indulge that information to a psychiatrist. I'm afraid I'm not very good at dealing with emotions quite well. I wish you the best of luck, but I now must go inform Princess Celestia that you are awake! Goodnight Ma'am."

"Wait!" Ellie shouted out as he moved towards the door. "Where am I?"

"You are on the Planet Equus, Equestria is in which you now reside."All thoughts moved to how cool this was, quickly to how awful this meant. Just as she was about to say something he raised a hand. "I'm sorry Ms. Ellie, but there are questions you are about to ask, that I have no answer to. I'm only a low level unicorn, I could care less about how much deep magic that goes into all this, and so I don't have the answers you look for.....I'm truly sorry if you lost anypony very important to you."

Dr. Victus left with the door carefully shut to hold no emotions after his encounter, but he left post haste to the awaiting princess who currently held court. Since the sun was still up, Princess Celestia held the rights, laws, and regulations. Regulation stated he must contact her. As soon as he veered left on a corner, he ran as fast as his legs could carry him. He cared not for his materials if they fell off, this moment was important. He didn't have the magic to teleport but he did have enough to help him run if just a little faster by keeping himself balanced as he tilted his body forward to reduce drag.

In only five minutes of strait sprinting did he arrive at the court room doors. At long last he was gasping for air, regretting he ran rather quickly. He stepped onward and the doors opened on their own. Luckily the court hadn't begun its procedures for transition to the Night Court, represented by Princess Luna.

"Your Highness!" Dr. Sano called out running into large cathedral styled hall. At the end of it Celestia sat with her younger sister.

"We assume you give us good news?" Luna calls out. "The Human is awake and well?"

"M-more or less your highness...."

Celestia leaned forward. "Of the spores we found in her? Is that why she is not well?"

He gave a swift nod. "Yes, she has a bite mark on her forearm, which is why you found her wearing a long sleeved shirt. I have a good clue what resides within my patient."

"Due tell." Luna gave the order.

Dr. Victus took a deep breath in and thought for a second. 'This will change the world'. "I declare that she is right and well, but also that she should be placed under the protected species list and then placed under quarantine until we develop a vaccine."

"Are you saying the spore she carries will kill her?"

"N-no...Not at all. She even cleared this up herself, stating it must have mutated inside of her and became non-aggressive but could be for us. There are very few spores we know of that react the way they do, but less than ten percent of her species remains, which places her under the endangered watch list. The fact she is the only human on record in Equestria puts her in Facing Extinction." His somber words reached the princesses deeply.

"We will grant you the access needed to cure her, but unless she makes another pony sick until that time we cure her, we will not strip her rights away. Like you have said, she is infected, but I know for fact how diseases work." Luna stated. "Everypony who's worked within the castle would be infected by now."

"Take time to study this fungus and report any findings that lead towards a cure. Go see Master Scribe, Easy Words he'll know what to do." Celestia gave him a paper with an order on it. "Have a goodnight my little pony."

"Pleasant dreams!" Luna smiled.

Ellie wished that weird horse doctor didn't need to leave. She really didn't understand what was going on. She was feeling everything and it was so very real to her. She clutched her chest just now noticing how clean she looked, and how she was in a hospital gown again. Luckily she was still alive but how'd the fuck she get her was left to be unanswered. She sat up and looked around for her clothes. They sat across the room on a very clean oak dresser. She hopped up and swung off her gown like it was a leaf.

She put everything on in a jiffy, just pants, socks, shirt, and done. Now all that was left were her shoes. Ellie studied her clean clothes more now that they were on her. They felt so clean, so snug and...weird. She actually shuttered at the thought. These things looked brand new to her. No blood stains, dirt marks, hell, even the holes in her Jak and Daxter shirt were gone. Her pants more so, they looked longer and more flush where she could actually move in them without hurting her. These were almost as strange as the weird as the strange blue see though clothes that were laying atop her own clothes.

Never mind that though. She decided to take a look at the bookcase filled with fresher looking books. She took one off the shelf, "Bandits and Band-aids: How to Survive the Wild West?" Ellie read aloud to herself then moved on to the next one. "Daring Do: The Crystal Hoof? These all sound so cheesy..."

"I'm sorry our books aren't to your liking." A soft spoken voice rang in her ear. She did a full one-eighty to see who had just suddenly spoken. It was the second time this had happened. Standing nearly two feet over her own five-ten, stood a very proud and stern looking horse-woman thing. Only she had wings and a horn like the smaller blue and violet ones. "Oh, sorry." Now she had shrunken down to her own height, which was a strange sight to behold. "My name is Princess Celestia, it is a pleasure to see that you are finally awake."

"Ellie, um...Do I need to bow? Um...Your Highness?"

Celestia giggled softly and grabbed one of Ellie's hands. Celestia's hands were covered in fur but it felt so soft one could barely tell. "No, you are not a citizen but a guest here in Canterlot."

"I thought I was in Equestria? Oh! This is like some capitol. Am I in a castle?"

She smiled. "Yes, you have slept in the medical ward for six days now. You had a major shock suddenly arriving, but it seems you've slept it all off. Oh how I am glad, I was worried if you hurt yourself too bad."

Ellie scoffed, shoving off Celestia's remark. "Thanks, but I'm tougher than I look, Your Highness. I've been though some deep shit, traveled far and wide to cure humanity. Only to find out the government wants to let the infected kill us off while they're hold up somewhere safe."

"How'd you come to that? Surely your own kind would do such a thing?"

"Joel told me it all. How after they were before they tried to kill me in my sleep only for him to fight through three floors of Fireflies to get to me."

Celestia was taken aback by her off handed remarks about her own kind, trouble was soaked deep within this human female. "I-I...." How was she so at a loss for words, was it the despair in Ellie's voice? "How about we grab a bite to eat. You look too skinny for it to be healthy."

"Food?!" Ellie nearly ran before she could realize that Celestia had to take her there, or wherever they went to eat. "How much!?"

Celestia was having trouble maintaining a smile if it not were just a little touch of magic to keep it that way. "As much as you'd like. You are a guest."

Celestia and Luna sat in their chairs slack jawed to all hell as they stared with a mix of horror and curiosity as how the ever living fuck she managed to scarf down six pounds of food already. She started to slow down at four, but she had eaten so much it was a wonder where she put it all without her stomach all bulgy.

"H-how?" Celestia tried to grasp it, oh, how she tried without her horn flaring up because she accidentally used magic. "Where in Luna's wide space do you put that?!"

"No where I know of..." Luna huffed, annoyed at the big butt joke thrown at her by her elder sister.

"Hush you." Celestia said to Luna. "

"I'm just to eating as much as I can as fast as I can so I can have energy to keep walking." Ellie shrugged, wiping off the sauce on her lips. "Guess I should save some for you guys."

"No, we have our meals, you have yours. Ellie, please eat until you cannot anymore. What isn't it fed to orphans."

"What about Infected?"

The sisters looked at one another, then back at Ellie. Luna asked, "Do you mean the humans that were infected with the spore that is inside you?" Ellie nodded. "We have cures for many fungi, viruses, bacterium alike. We do not have the problem your species faces."

She paused, trying to process all this information. Placing down her silverware, she covered her eyes and sighed deeply. "Okay...Okay, so now I'm in Horse-Land, and there's not even a single infected. Don't know if I should cheer for joy, or cry..."

There was a long silence, Ellie's hunger long since vanished. She stood up and began to walk towards the hall doors. Just as she touched them, she felt a hand on her shoulder. "Please, Ellie...we need to talk about how long you'll be staying as a guest."

"Can I go back?"

"We have my star pupil Twilight asked the Spirit, Discord. He knows much of inter-dimensional travel. If he doesn't know a way home for you, then there isn't." Celestia said, trying to give Ellie hope. "Please, Ellie, do not let yourself get down. As strange as he is, he is very skilled in magic. But also, we must prepare should he be unable to aid in your return home."

"This...Discord guy...he a human-horse like you?"

Celestia stepped forward, smiling gently at Ellie. "No, he is a serpent-like being consisting of many different animals. And while we are similar in analog, we prefer to be called 'Ponies'. Guards, please take Ellie to the gardens for some air." She ordered and on her command two stepped up. "Luna will see you to your chambers later, for now, get some air, I'm sure you need it."

Ellie gave a sigh then nodded. "Yeah, think so too."

Celestia's hands clapped together. "Wonderful. Please, try to cheer up. We will work hard to help you home."

"I hope so too." Ellie departed.

"Was I too harsh?" Celestia asked, her attention moving to her sister.

Luna shook her head. "You where honest with her. There is a possibility Discord is unable aid her. We can't leave that out of her future."

"I'd like to get started on integration, just...just in case."

"Goodnight sister, I shall see you in the morning."

"Goodnight, Luna." Celestia said while she watched her sister walk off. "Okay ponies...let's make this last one count."

Author's Note

This is what a night of insomina and pot will do to you. Do drugs m'kay. 8/29/16

PS: I was saying goodnight to myself.

Can I adapt? I'm a Killer!

Ellie curled up and tied her arms around her legs. The sun had long since set over the horizon just over a half hour ago. After all she had been though, this was still not quite what she had expected life to take her. As long for she had dreamed of being in a world with not a single infected, this was all so hard to realize and ingrain on her mind. Since she was six, she was trained to kill, when she met Joel, she became better and better. First with a knife, now skilled in many ways.

Soft clops in the grass grabbed her attention from the stars. Her head turned slightly to see a tall blue 'pony'. Ellie knew who she was, she met her at dinner but never really engaged in a conversation deeper than where she had come from and what it was like. Luna sat down on the grass next to her and stared up into the sky.

"Here, I am able to decorate the night sky to however I may like it, or feel." Luna said after a few minutes passed by. "I used to think my time was wasted on giving beautiful nights to the ponies of Equestria...."

"Huh? What the heck are you talking about."

Luna looked to Ellie in the eyes and frowned. "Since our birth, my sister and I had to move the sun and moon because the world stopped spinning. Lava ran cold, and the core solidified. With us around, the world gave life unlike any other. The past was forgotten in order to save the world, and all civilizations from the past were lost, if there were any. When I lost my dream, it destroyed me and turned me into a monster. I was cured from my hatred and now I serve a new purpose for the ponies."

"What's that?"

"To protect them, to guard them and their dreams so that evil like the evil I was ruined with would never survive." Luna explained. "What I'm trying to say, is that even if we cannot find a way home for you, you should try to find a new dream. What was your dream before? What made you strive to survive."

"Joel..." Ellie answered, taking her eyes off Luna and back at the grass seen between her knees. "Joel saved my life so many times, protected me when he shouldn't have. Kept me afloat when I could keep myself afloat. Dealing with infected, raiders, cannibals, and trying to find supplies keeps our dreams away from us. Sleep, along with food, water, and shelter is a blessing anywhere you find it."

"You can adapt if you cannot return...Wait...why would you return? Your world sounds awful..."

"It may be awful...but...Joel's there...and I count on him. He's yet to teach me how to swim."

Luna nearly laughed out of surprise then regained some composure. "Y-...You cannot swim? Truly?"

"How Luna...Can I even?"

"Swim?"

"No, stay here. Can I adapt? I'm a killer! Luna some of your people could get me the wrong way...then the next thing I know I'm going to get killed back."

"NO!" Luna struck the ground with her fist. "You are an endangered species in Equestria, should you murder or get hurt by another pony, you have the fullest rights to protect yourself." Luna adjusted her spot in the grass and studied a set of blades. "I'm a killer too, and I have adapted, so so can you."

Ellie smiled but didn't let Luna see it. "All I've known is how to survive. You guys have everything here! Food you don't need to hunt and kill for! Fresh Water you don't need to boil! Not a single fucking infected here...All I've ever known."

Luna set a hand on Ellie's back, attempting in whatever ways to help the human before her. "All I ever known is how to shine though a shadow of my sister and my past. I have found one of those, and even today I still go to sleep every night how I am going to shine as bright as my stars."

"Heh...Pretty crazy of you to think the night's yours."

"But it is!" Luna grabbed Ellie by the wrist and pulled her up. "Come, we've yet to welcome my moon for the night. Tonight, a half-moon, waxing."

"Waxing?"

"When the shadowed side is facing away from the sun." Luna answered with an even tone. She wasn't going to act insulted at Ellie's remark, but educate her with proof. "For one thousand years my sister has moved the sun and moon around the world in attempts to make amends for banishing me to the moon. When I returned and was saved by my friends, I was so very eager to return raising my body." Luna began laughing. "Oh the night I had enough magic in me to jump start it-" Luna was trembling with giddiness of her memory. "I've never felt a rush like it before, feeling all my magic suddenly return to me. A thousand years of pent-up magic and much more left me feeling a state of high."

"You're so weird..."

"My accent won't change, but neither will my willingness to teach you of our ways, starting with how the day and night is carried." She said in a stern tone but her smile on her face left her words less serious and more instructor's -ish...Ellie wasn't sure how to describe it but just listened instead. She saw Luna point toward a set of mountains that had an odd glow behind them. "Those mountains are the Hollow Hills, home to the Hollow Shades Shadow Pegasi. They worship me far beyond godhood, like their mother. Their hills glow from the rich mineral that resides there called Moonstone, it gathers the moon's energy and converts it into raw liquid mana. When the moonstone glows at its brightest means they could release a massive amount of energy. Watch-"

Ellie watched with speculation as Luna's horn began to glow very brightly. Her once wispy mane began to flow up and wind began to blow faster. She rose into the sky ever so slowly, and just the glow from the Hollow Hills glowed brighter in response. The moon began to rise, slowly at first, then a swifter pace. It stopped at the first quarter of the sky. The moon shown down on the hills even more so now that they gave off a light much brighter than the moon before all the light just vanished.

Ellie dropped to her knees and could hardly form words, so her mouth was just making strange movements and noises. Luna giggled and knelt down over Ellie. "Just imagine what the full moon is."

"HOW!?" Ellie cried out, nearly shouting right in Luna's ear. "HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE!?"

"Magic!" Luna clapped and cheered. "When one is an alicorn, we are attached to elements or celestial bodies. It's the same magic that healed your wrist and helped feed you while you were asleep!" Luna gently takes a hold of Ellie's hands and cups them. Her silky blue hands moved softly over her hands then up Ellie's infected arm. "We live in a world of magic and wonder, and while I have spent the past three years returning from my banishment trying to adapt to this new world, it can be the same magic that may be able to return you home. And I know you will not forget us."

"How don't I know this isn't some fucked up nightmare? How do I know I'm actually alive? For all I know....I could have turned."

"Then let me ask you this." Luna let go and took a few steps away. There was a very long silence and just for that moment, Ellie heard a whisper in the wind. "Then why would you want to return?" It was Luna's voice no doubt, but Ellie felt off and wasn't sure how to explain it.

"For Joel!" Ellie took a step closer. "I-...I can't leave him behind! He's never left me, so I won't leave him!"

Luna sighed and nodded. "What a noble hope, Ellie. This Joel sounds like a good father."

"My real ones are dead....didn't even get to know them...But Joel was the first person other than my friends in the academy I felt that I could trust. He's....He's kinda like my dad..."

Luna chuckled and pulled Ellie with her magic into a hug. "Family is what we make of it. My sister Celestia isn't really my sister, but when you find another immortal being that could help you just as you help them, you forget the fact you don't share blood. Sorry." Luna released Ellie from her hug and let her loose, although, strangely enough Ellie was still planted on her. "Ellie?"

Ellie tightened her hold. "I don't want him to die looking for me..."

Luna patted Ellie on the back. "Need not to worry. Within a week, we should have your answer. Now, lets help you to your room. We have a long day tomorrow."

"Long day? We doing something?"

"Celestia and I must get visas for you so that you may walk freely around our land. Since you are not a citizen of Equestria." Luna helped Ellie around and began leading them to the castle.

After Ellie was helped to her room, Luna gave a sigh before closing the door. A guard asked if she was fine, but it was tiring when she became emotional. Clearly Ellie was facing a lot of emotional trauma, and talking about her own life aided the problem to help Ellie open up more. She had to get to the bottom of this so that the Nightmares would not claim her for their own.

She held her court after arriving and Celestia had long since gone to sleep. It was a tough night of thought rather than dealing with the few who wanted to be up this late. The hall was empty aside from a dozen or so Night Pegasi and a couple night-owls. The doors opened and closed with one last mare who was dressed in a pair of slacks and a long t-shirt. What struck her as odd to Luna was that she had a broken patch of fur on her right shoulder that was barely hidden by the neck hole of the shirt. It was an Earth Pony with stilted green eyes which was even more striking. Her pale orange mane matches with a peach colored fur.

Luna leaned forward, clearly interested now. "Welcome to the Night Court. How may you address yourself?"

The mare knelt down and held out her palm. "Side Step, and I was tasked with giving you this blade which was found on the ground outside Ponyville. Princess Twilight instructed me to do so."

Luna took the small object from the mare using her magic, and in doing so, the mare dropped her arm but kept herself in a deep bow. "You may rise Side Step. Thank you for giving this to me. We will have our guards look at it." That was a lie, but Side gave a nod anyways and left without another world. Luna studied the small thing, noticing that it was a 'flip-switch-blade', one very small, only just the size of her palm when she was at full height and power.

The blade was covered in rust and looked well used by the sheer amount of blood that was soaked into the wood, dying it an ugly pink color. She pulled on the blade part and it flipped out. It had an engraving on it that was crudely made. 'Joel'. "Joel must be very important to you, for you to put his name on your weapon of murder." She said to herself, feeling better for saying it rather than thinking on it. She needed to stop thinking, but she also had to return this to Ellie. 'Tomorrow' She thought and placed it between her legs to hide it.

Ellie sat on her bed, looking out the window. Why was she feeling so bad, it made her heart beat heavily. She was used to having a fast pulse, but this felt unlike a regular rest rate would be. They were slow, hurting beats that made her want to cry. What was it that she was feeling? Confliction maybe? Ellie wasn't sure but also sure of it. Just, unsure how to answer Luna question. This made her unable to sleep, and so she just stared out on the country side.

Why was a city built on a mountain, Ellie will never know for sure. She just kept thinking about Joel, and how she wanted to return to him. Things were all too different and strange for her, so clam and quiet. Each time she blinked she saw hoards of infected then raiders attacking them. How Joel saved her life, how he worked so hard to make her happy, looking for every last Savage Starlight comic.

Ellie blinked in surprise. 'Endure and Survive'...She thought, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. She laid down on her pillow -which felt just as heavenly as her bed- and closed her eyes, forgetting about the pains for just one moment.

Joel urged Ellie to follow him through the library. Hunters and Raiders all around them, for the last four miles it was just this. Her legs burned from the constant squatting she was forced to do, but she kept her mouth shut. Joel was doing his thing. After stabbing a raider in his throat, Joel lead Ellie up the stairs. Until he suddenly stopped. Placing his left ear on the wall, he paused his breathing.

"I can't believe it."

"What?"

"We ain't had no food, and now we got a couple of pesky tourists."

"How can a couple tourists be so bad?"

Joel let his breath go and looked back down at Ellie. "There's three in there. Stay close."

"I know..." Ellie sighed. Joel just shook his head and pulled out his handgun and checked his ammo. With only two bullets and a single shiv, he had little room to make mistakes. He hadn't seen alcohol in quite some time.

He tucked the gun away and pulled out a bottle. Sneaking more around to a small cafe lounge area, Joel peaked around. With one raider walking away and two guarding their exit. He threw the bottle at the two at the door and they looked away while the one walking stopped then continued. Joel readied his shiv and snuck his way towards the two trying to figure out what the noise was. He pulled one back and jammed his shiv right into his throat. Blood came pouring out of the man's body while he bled to death, and with the shiv broken, he readied his gun. Pointing it at the raider's head, he shot one off with the head exploding.

A pair bullets wiz by him. He ducks and rolls over. Ellie tries to take a peek but saw just enough to know Joel was fine. More shots thunder out of their casings which clang on the moldy floor. She hears Joel grunt in pain but doesn't see the bullet hole in his right shoulder, his shooting arm. The raider runs up on Joel and throws him into a bookcase. Joel yells out in pain, making Ellie jolt. She felt the urge to move and followed it.

Running up behind the raider Ellie flicked her knife out and jumped onto his back. Her small frame able to force him to fall over, firing off another round. Ellie begins ruthlessly stabbing him until the raider stops moving. She pants from the sudden exertion, but soon her eyes fall upon her escort.

Joel was laying on the wall, gasping out blood from his mouth. A bullet wound hit closer to home, the middle of his chest.

"JJJJJJJJJJOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

She screamed as loud as she could, holding no power back behind her voice, even straining her vocal cords. Four guards rushed into the room at her sudden cry. Ellie panicked and looked around for any sign of danger, only finding that day had come.

"Ma'am, are you alright?"

Ellie's head fell back in her pillow, tears streaming down her face. "Y-yes....leave, now!" At her order, they swiftly departed. She rolled in her bed onto her side and examined her bite mark. "Joel..."

Author's Note

Crazy right, two updates in a day. Plenty more, wait a couple days while I prepare them with final edits and additions. I like this one. No fame wanted with this puppy.

So, what's a Spa?

Ellie was not a happy camper. Luna tugged the half-awake human along the corridors of the castle, turning left and right every so often, but clearly they were heading in a single direction. Ellie complained along the way to wherever she was being lead to. Three days ago, Ellie would've broken bones if she couldn't get a good sleep, now she was ready to break bones on the simple matter of her leaving her bed against her will. She loved her bed almost more than canned bacon.

"Where are you taking me..?" Ellie groaned, rubbing her eye again.

"I am taking you to see a mare who is going to help you."

"A mare? Oh, a girl. Why though? I was sleeping, and it's too early in the morning to get out of that sweet bed."

Luna just kept pulling Ellie along. "The train ride from here to Ponyville is a six hour train ride, and this pony did not want to wait to teach you." She answered with a neutral tone, but Ellie heard a bit of snarky attitude to it. What she didn't know was that this was a little past Luna's own time to head to bed.

"Princess!" A woman's voice called out to Luna.

Ellie looked around until she saw a very white pony with curly purple mane. Luna smiled and nodded her head at her. "Greetings Lady Rarity. I do hope your trip here was good?"

Rarity nodded back and approached them. She gave a bow then rose back up, smiling at Luna. "I must say, she looks a lot prettier than I thought she'd be. I guess it does help she almost looks like us." She held out her white hand to Ellie. "Hello, my name is Rarity Belle, but you can call me Rarity if you'd like.."

"Ellie but just Ellie is fine I guess..." Ellie slowly shook Rarity's hand and dropped hers.

"I'll take my leave now that you two have met. Court was long last night, too many complaints to deal with." Luna waved goodbye and left them alone.

Rarity took a deep breath and exhaled. "So, we have a lot to get done today. First we need to get you washed up! Then, we hit the spa before running around town for clothes."

"Right...So, what's a Spa?"

Rarity inhaled with shock, and it took her a few seconds to come to terms of Ellie's culture less life. "Never mind that, for your sake, I shall forget that you said that. Now, for the bath, I was thinking on De'Del'Flure, sound good?"

"Pft, sure I guess. Still have no idea what most of you are saying."

"Now, no more of that Ellie, we have much to do, and all day to do it!" Rarity urged Ellie to follow her down another long hall which ended in two gigantic doors. "You're going to enjoy this day more than any other before it! Come-come!"

"It won't be hard." She mumbled under her breath low enough for Rarity not to hear her smart remark.

Ellie sighed and followed Rarity across the courtyard gates. Rarity was spouting off words and names she had no idea what they were. First she was talking about underwear and bras, she wasn't sure what those were, but she guessed that she was supposed to wear them. Although before she completely tuned Rarity out, Rarity had to say one more thing.

"Oh, I forgot to ask for your size."

"I'm not fat if that's what you're asking..."

"I'll assume you don't know then. Don't worry, Celestia caught me up with much of what is going on, but have no worry, you are safe with me."

"I think that's the other way around." Ellie scoffed. Her chuckles went right over Rarity's head. "You sound way too clean."

Rarity stopped, clutching her hands and taking a deep breath. She stomped a few steps closer to Ellie. "Don't you dare assume who I am! I have aided in the savior of this very land from beings that would make you shit yourself six times over."

Ellie pushed Rarity away. "I've traveled over four-thousand miles through plague infested lands with undead, raiders, murderers, rapists, cannibals, and Fireflies to fucking cure humanity! I'm no stick you walking case of starvation."

"THAT'S IT LITTLE GIRL!" Rarity's horn ignited in a blinding baby blue light, which just faded away. Her horn was sparking feverishly while she huffed and puffed through her snout. Her eyes were closed, so she couldn't see the four guards who were ready to defend Ellie. She drew a finger into Ellie's face and hissed. "You will not ruin this day for both of us. I know of you, your case, and how you're a protected species during your stay in Equestria..." She exhaled and straightened her blouse and adjusted her cleavage. "I will explain how I have become a very well trained mare."

And she did. To Ellie's surprise despite how peaceful everything had seemed, Equestria itself faced the brink of destruction several times over. From the mare who seemed so calm, Luna as Nightmare Moon, to even Discord, the same that was supposed to help her return home. Ellie was curious how he had turned sides, Rarity only said her friend's name. "Fluttershy." It was strange for Ellie, like everything was around her. Even being kidnapped by talking dogs and used as a slave to find and mine gems and other rare minerals Ellie didn't really care for.

There was a colorful looking building far from them that looked too out of place for all the other white marble buildings. It was taller than most of the buildings around it too. Even from afar Ellie could read the sign, Canterlot Carousel. Rarity hadn't said much about where they were going other than a few places she said at the castle. From here, the castle was a looming presence of art and engineering marvel. As it turned out, they were walking to the odd building. Rarity pulled a set of keys from her pocket and stuck it in the door.

"I forgot that I locked it when I went to Ponyville for an emergency supply run. Ran out of the only fabric Canterlot doesn't sell, linen." A click was heard and Rarity pulled the key out an pushed open the door. The room was large but from the size of the odd building, Ellie figured like most clothing stores it was just a front, but she'd see nothing like this before. The entire room was decorated and clean.

She wandered off to the left and slowly walked to a tux suit. She touched the fabric and inhaled through her nose, only to sneeze from the lingering perfume in the store front. She moved on to another analog, this one was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a plad flannel long sleeve t-shirt.

"Joel." She quietly said. She sighed sadly and followed Rarity past a set of doors only looking at the tiled marble floor.

In the next room, it was filled with massive stocks of cloth and materials. Her mouth opened a little while she tried to figure out how this all could have got here. She knelt down over a pink roll, pressed her hand on it. It was the softest thing she had ever felt in the world. She grabbed it and pressed it against her face, rubbing in.

"It's so soft!" Ellie shouted, catching Rarity's attention.

Rarity used her magic and pulled it away from her. It floated back to Rarity where she dropped it in her hands. "You like this? For such a ruffian, pink is your color?"

"I'm still a girl." Ellie huffed, standing up and nodded to it. "Can you make me a strap with that?"

Pursing her lips, Rarity tugged lightly on the fabric, it was her last roll of pink dyed spider silk from Saddle Arabia. "I-...I suppose I could...Before I do anything with spider silk, I must know what this strap is for?"

"A six string."

Rarity's eyes widened in surprise. "A guitar?"

"I guess, I play, and it would be better than leather sucking the life out of my neck." Ellie rubbed her neck slightly and turned away. "Joel taught me how to play to pass the time between stops when it was safe. Infected are drawn by the slightest of sounds from a couple hundred yards away. So they were pretty remote."

Ellie's request wasn't much, it wouldn't be hard, but now she had to get a guitar that fitted her size and measure it. It was a slight annoyance at best if push came to shove. With a defeated sigh, Rarity nodded. "Alright, I can make you one, but we'll need to stop at a band store in order for you to get a guitar. And I won't buy one unless I know you can play,...well. This spider silk was a gift, and while I may be the element of generosity, I won't be so willing unless you play well and I mean well."

Ellie saw Rarity's words of uncertainty as an insult. She knew well she could play, many of the small town she lived in liked her songs, while others sought to it as a moral booster during hard times. Joel knew well, and taught her much as if he were her father. But Ellie wasn't quite willing herself to allow Rarity to know. She trusted Luna, kinda, she was nice.

"Well then, let's find out once and for all shall we?"

"And if I do play great Rarity, you'll learn to play as well. You pissed me off when you said I couldn't play."

"I never-"

"You implied it. Now take me to the wherever this band store is."

Rarity huffed. "Alright, but with those small hands, I don't think you can."

Ellie smirked.

Stepping inside the band store, a white mare with electric blue mane raised her head and saw Rarity, and a creature she did not know. "Rarity? What in Hades are you doing here? And who's that?"

"This is Ms. Ellie, she would like a guitar."

"All we got are electrics. Sold out our last woody was maybe two weeks ago. Our supplier got pissed at Octy for not hanging with him after midnight."

"I'm so sorry to hear that Vinyl, I'm sure your wife is alright?"

Vinyl nodded and held a hand out to Ellie. "Vinyl Scratch, a pleasure."

Ellie raised a brow then took her hand and shook it. "Yeah, so you have electrics but no acoustics?"

"A bummer, I know. Octy is a classy mare unlike me. If I had that offer and wasn't married to her, I would've taken him over again for a free shipment." She stood up from a stool and motioned for them to follow her. "Come on, I'll take you to the studio. We have a acoustic that you can use but not buy."

"Not a problem." Rarity smiled gently and pulled Ellie along with her to the sound room.

The room itself had a large desk with a large number of dials, nobs, and switches Ellie had no idea what they were used for. There was a large frame of glass and a door way leading into another room with walls that looked like spikes. Inside this other room was a stool, and a hanging microphone. Vinyl told Ellie to step through the door into the other room while she 'set-up' some things. Rarity just smiled and prodded Ellie along into the room and left her in there alone. In the back left corner of the room was a polished golden guitar with six silver strings.

She looked back through the glass and Vinyl held a thumb up. Picking up the guitar, Ellie sat down on the chair and set herself up by plucking each of the strings. First plucking the thick E string, she noticed that it was in tune. Then A which was slightly sharp, next was D and that was sharp as well. On went strings G, B, and finally the thin E string, those sounded fine enough for play. A small ding and Vinyl's voice came through.

"Okay Ellie, just play and that microphone will pick up your song. Don't be afraid to sing if you feel like wanting to. I can't sing for the life of me." Ellie smirked and gave a nod to the mare.

So she began to play . Rarity was in awe at how intense she played as she got into the song. Ellie moved a lot while she played, rocking back and forth, and felt angry and sad. Vinyl's head rocked as she added just a bit of drums, using her musical talent to determine the drops and rises as Ellie played on. And just as she hit a big rise, she felt quickly into a last string of notes.

She set the guitar down and covered her eyes, sighing deeply. Emotions that were summoned during the song were hard to rid herself of. Another ding caused her to look up and Rarity opened the door. She stood up and looked back at the guitar before she left the room, closing the door behind her.

"That was pretty good Ellie. I'm actually impressed, and I'm sure Octy would like it too since it isn't electronic." She stood up from a spinning chair and grabbed a blue card from a small circular table under some gold records. "If you ever wanna become famous with that talent, come see me, I'll set you up with a great future."

Ellie took the card of Vinyl and saw the address of the studio along with Vinyl's name. "Vinyl 'Melody' Scratch? Scratchy Studios... I'll...um...think about it."

Vinyl gave Ellie a beaming smile. "That's all I ask."

Rarity tapped Ellie's shoulder. "I guess I owe you that spider silk strap. Now, let's go finish our day." She turned her head to Vinyl. "Thank you for allowing her to use your studio."

"No, thank you for showing me a piece of that awesome talent. Come around again, even if it's just window shopping."

With that, they said their goodbyes and Rarity and Ellie were on their way to a spa. Ellie looked at the card while they walked, actually thinking about it. This new world, as calm it seemed to her, she guessed some excitement could actually come to her. She thrived on it.

What a Waste of Good Food / What in the Damn Hell?

Ellie was beginning to enjoy the day, besides all the strange or distasteful looks she received, it was going well, or at least better than she thought it would be. All around her large buildings and the life of the city itself brought the excitement she thrived on, but the lingering thoughts of Joel looking for her still ached in her mind. Joel was important to her, she was willing ten or even a hundred times over to admit that. Joel saved her ass, whether by luck or sheer brute force. Not to say that she hasn't saved Joel from being found while he was recovering from his stab wound when they were at the university.

Rarity was quiet aside from the odd pony who would ask her how her day was, and what was walking next to her. Those hard stares of painful difference made her actually feel like she was being hunted. This was something she was quite used to when it came to the raiders or infected while out on supply runs, yet it felt so different. Was it because she was in another world, that's a very definite maybe. It was hard to tell if they wanted to know what she was, or if she was a danger. She could answer both, the second more so.

Rarity looked down at Ellie, a contemplative look on her face while Ellie just looked onward. She had a bit of time on the train to read the file Celestia sent her and it wasn't pretty. This human, Ellie, was a troubled on, who's dealt with pain far worse than Rarity could imagine easily. She couldn't think of what it would be like living on her world, dealing with these 'infected' seemed more and more like Spike's zombie comic books, and judging by the bite mark on her right forearm, they were as real as the day.

"Now, this spa we're going to, it's a lavish place. There are nearly sixty scents you can pick from for your bath, that's what we'll do first." Rarity said, trying to end the rather awkward silence they were in. Ellie just shrugged off Rarity and kept a blank stare. "Next we'll get a massage. How's that sound?"

Ellie shrugged and just looked around. "I keep thinking I'm being hunted, like someone's watching me. If I'm relaxed and something happens, I won't be fast enough. I may not get lucky."

"I assure you, this establishment has top notch security, and if it'll make you feel safer, I can place a spell to tell me when there's company coming."

She raised a brow and looked up at Rarity. "Never thought magic could do that. Then again, I'm still trying to get used to all of this." She flapped her arms and let them drop back to her sides. "Dunno I will ever."

Rarity led them around a corner where Ellie saw a lavish looking place on the other side of the road. Rarity made sure no speeding carts were close by so they walked across to the building which read De'Fure. 'So this is a spa?' She thought to herself and judging the building with a curious stare. They approached and walked in. A mare at the front was talking to a customer and showed them out, stopping only when she saw Ellie. The customer itself was a pony Rarity knew.

"Fancy Pants! A pleasure to see you!" Rarity chirped happily as a fancy looking stallion approached them. He was tall and white but also had a blueish tint to it. His mane was blue and dark grayish-blue meaning he was getting up in age, much like Joel was.

"Ah, Rarity Belle! It is most certainly a pleasure to see you, as always. And who might this be?" He made a gesture with his hand to Ellie.

"This is Ellie, Sir Pants. She's come here for a bit of much needed R'n'R. She's also new to Equestria. Ellie, this is Fancy Pants, one of my favorite patrons and a very influential noble-pony."

Fancy Pants took a bow and tipped his hat to her. "Yes, yes, enough about me though, she is the most brilliant looking creature I've ever come across." Ellie felt herself warm a bit. "Tell me dear, what are you?"

"I'm a human, or at least that's what I hope I am. Don't know if I'm a monkey here or not."

"A Hu-man? Odd name for a race, but Hobgoblins are the worst out there I assure you." He look towards the door then back at the ladies. "It was a pleasure meeting you, Ellie, but I must go attend a court."

"Today's Sunday already?" Rarity asked herself, tapping her lips if a finger. "You must have to deal with Blue's work then?"

Fancy lost his joyful demeanor. "If you mean by work, you mean sabotaging and authorizing a withdraw of over ten thousand bits from the treasury for a...legal brothel."

Her face turned to a scowl, and Rarity huffed. "I wished I had a dagger last gala. He had the gall to ask me for a walk around the castle, believing I didn't smell his lust already."

"Okay, ew, didn't need to hear that." Ellie closed her eyes and rubbed one of them. She looked away and then went to go sit over on a chair, her legs feeling a little heavy for some odd reason just now.

Rarity looks back at Fancy and smiles at him. "I hope we'll get to talk again soon. I'd like to show you what I've been working on, and I'm sure your wife will enjoy the winter line I have planned."

Fancy takes Rarity's hand and kisses it gently. His eyes look down at her when he stands back straight up. "Yes, I hope so as well Lady Rarity." He nods to Ellie. "Ms. Ellie." He spins on his "heels" and leaves them almost as fast as he came.

"I'm afraid he left a bad impression on you." Rarity absently commented to herself, not even aware the words just fell out, but otherwise just looked over them without much more thought than realizing what she said. With a shrug she makes the order and within ten minutes, Rarity and Ellie were being lead by a black coated mare with silk-white colored hair and bright green eyes. She didn't bother giving her name, which was alright with Ellie. All these names for ponies she might not meet again, Ellie wanted to get back to being herself. All this calm was getting to her without a doubt.

After a quick walk they entered another room with a massive tub and two long tables with round padded holes. It stunk of lavender, strawberries, and oddly enough - salt. She visibly cringed which didn't go unnoticed by Rarity instead the taller white mare choose to ignore it as well. She just chalked it up to simply how Ellie has lived. Ellie spoke in vivid detail of her life, how much danger she was almost always in. Living in a world were Darwinism took another step forward, flipped the bird, shat on it, and simply stating that, "Let's become as brutal as possible, Natural Selection." and Natural Selection said "Yes, that sounds like absolute fun!". Then fungoid zombie apocalypse, then suddenly in a tranquil environment. Just simply thinking that the shock was great was an understatement, and the fact she left someone important who could be in even more danger now that she was missing without a trace. This Joel was just as important to Ellie as she was to Joel.

But that was Rarity. Ellie couldn't stop thinking of her surroundings, then noticed Rarity getting undressed. Ellie watched it all, from how when she took off her blouse Rarity was wearing something under it.

"What's that?"

Rarity looked down at her bra. "This is a bra sweetie..." Then she realized what this meant, Ellie wasn't wearing one at all, and most likely no panties either. "Well, I'll see to it that you get educated on such matters. For now, we need to get undressed."

Ellie's face lit up, eyes widening. "W-why?"

"So we may take our bath. Don't want to get your clothes all wet now would you?"

She mulled Rarity's words over then nodded. She slowly began removing her shirt and tried her hardest to hide her scar. Next she slowly pulled down her pants and dropped them next to her. Ellie's head was facing the floor so she couldn't see Rarity studying her. Ellie was very tan, all over her body even which was something she wasn't expecting. She also saw a small patch of hair between her legs, and only a small bit of hair on her legs. She smiled and finished undressing, then threw them to a basket in the corner.

Rarity gently stepped closer to Ellie who continued to try to hide herself. Her moderately sized breasts fit her form well, but she also seemed a bit halfway through her maturity to a true adult. "You're very beautiful Ellie." Rarity said, resting her hands on Ellie's shoulders. At her touch, she flinched and shuddered a sigh. "Calm down, you're okay Ellie, we're just taking a bath now. We're both mares."

Ellie saw the hooves on Rarity, her legs, how they bent, to her belly, and then her breasts. They were the size of her head, and finally, she stared into her eyes and suddenly seemed to calm down. She took a breath and released it while nodding.

"Yeah...you're right." She said. "And...thank you...no one has called me beautiful before." Ellie felt herself blushing and quickly walked over to the large steaming tub. She tipped a foot in it and winced because she wasn't used to seeing or feeling hot water. It came as a blessing and was to be used wisely. Though it was hard and hot, she slowly got her body in the tub. She covered her breasts and her private with each arm.

Rarity fell in next to her and gave a relaxed sigh. "Oh Celestia this feels great...How does it feel Ellie."

"I feel like I'm being boiled from the inside..."She takes in a few sighs to try to cool off a little. "...on the outside." She looked away and spied a clock. "How long until I'm done cooking?"

Rarity smiled. "Ha, that was funny."

Ellie started to smile too. "I have tons of jokes. Here's a good one. 'I walked into my sister's room and tripped on her bra...It was a booby trap'." Ellie felt herself smiling at the end of the joke,

Rarity was laughing a little. "My little sister Sweetie Belle just got her first bra a few months ago."

"What is a bra anyways?"

"Right, you go commando..." Rarity pursed her lips and pointed to her pile of clothes. "A bra helps keep a lady's bust up and held firm so that they don't give us black eyes. We also wear panties which just help cover ourselves. I'm actually surprised that with mares like those you haven't had a black eye yet, or have you?"

"Unless you count a zombie fist, or a fight if a cannibal, um...no. No black eyes from my boobs." She shrugged then thought of something else that was funny. "Oh, here's another joke. 'Do you know what's the leading cause of divorce'?"

"What?"

"A stale-mate."

Rarity smacked her head. "Oh that's awful..."

"Joel said that too." Ellie shook her head too. "Here's another: I used to be addicted to soap...I'm clean now."

"Hehe..." Rarity's smile returned. "Another please!" At least she's trying to loosen up, even if it's making awful jokes.

"What did the mermaid wear to mathclass?"

"What?"

"An algaebra." Rarity tried to hold back a snort and let it fall out of her mouth with a short laugh. "Why did the scarecrow get a promotion?"

"Why?"

"Because he was out-standing in his field."

"That's so...bad..." Rarity shook her head but a long smile was on her face, clearly enjoying these jokes. "One more."

Ellie's smile faltered for a second, something Rarity caught. "Why can't your nose be twelve inches long?"

"Why Ellie?"

"Because....Because then it would be a foot." Ellie's mood suddenly fell and grew silent.

"Everything alright dear?" Rarity gently placed a hand on her back and rubbed it slowly.

Ellie scooted away. "No...I don't want to talk about it."

Rarity spied a few scars on her back while Ellie inched away from her. "It may help you if you do. You can trust me."

"No...No not right now..."

There was a few knocks at the door. "Let's get on those tables so Ruby and Sapphire can work their magic, maybe even help you feel better." Rarity used her magic to bring over a few slices of cucumber and gave two to Ellie. "Put these on your eyes."

Ellie stared at them with a confused frown. "Why? What a waste of good food." She grabbed each and began munching.

Rarity sighed. "I should have figured..." She laid down on the bed, only to feel Ellie grab her cucumbers. "I'll need to teach you proper manners as well." She said more to herself.

With a groan, a tall brown Earth Pony with grayish-black mane rolled onto his back and tried his best to figure out what actually just happened. He also carried a rougher looking goatee. There was a bright green light then everything went dark. When he was able to open his eyes, he found himself staring into the eyes of a odd looking horse. It was orange and wore a beige stetson hat.

"You okay fel-*THWACK*-OW!" The horse tried greeting but Joel's fist went faster than sound to her face.

After he punched it straight in the face and tried to run but ended up tripping on his hooves. "GAH! Dammit!"

"COME BACK HERE YOU VERMIN!!!" The mare cried out with rage while a small stream of blood ran down her snout.

"Shit!" He tried to get up again but fell back down when he noticed his hands. "What the damn hell?" Just as he was able to take a look at the rest of himself the mare rammed into him.

"Now why the hay did ya punch me for?! I was askin' if you were alright!" She yelled at him with a fist raised, but soon dropped it. She took a deep breath and let it go.

"Where the hell am I?" He asked mostly himself. "Well?" He asked her now.

"Yer in Equestria dummy..." She got off him and looked around. "You okay? You look a little sick. What's yer name?"

He struggled to stand up and dusted off his torn clothes. "My name is Joel Miller...and...I have no clue what the two suns of hell is goin' on."

"My name's Applejack, and if there's a question you need answerin', you gotta find Twilight. She's a friend of mine who could help. Although...." She thought for a few seconds then nodded to herself. "We might wanna find Discord too, he may know. You look like yer more than a little lost."

Joel thought for a minute or two while the mare stood over him with a hand to help him up. All of this was crazy, but something odd was going on. Whether it was a dream or not, Joel felt like the best course of action was to follow her as she knew better about this."Thank you. If I had a way to repay you, I would." He said and turned around. "Which way to this Discord?"

"This way, straight on that path and we'll make a left at the bridge. Her home is a tree, a big one so you can't miss it. Discord like's to hang around Fluttershy's all the time."

"Applejack...Fluttershy? Odd names...for, well, what are we anyways?" Joel felt more confused.

"We're Ponies, now, let's go."

"Could you at least explain? Maybe a little bit?" He asked, still up there in the confusisphere.

"Well, You and I are Earth Ponies, we're the strongest of all except the princesses. The unicorns have-"

"Horns and do magic? Let me guess, there are pegasi too?" Things were starting to come together. Something was up, this was all suddenly exactly like what Sarah watched a few years ago.

"They control the weather. How'd you know?" Applejack asked him, this time it was her turn to be confused.

Joel frowned and closed his fists. "My late daughter...she watched a TV show called My Little Pony...She watched it when she was a little past ten years old. I figured she grew out of little kid shows by then...." He shook his head. "Let's go find some help. I want to figure out what the Hell is goin' on! And soon! This is all too familiar."

Applejack scratched her head then gave a light shrug, leading Joel along with her. She figured once Joel got help sooner rather than later, he would be more willing to explain. What was a TV show? "What's a TV" She thought aloud.

She now lead Joel down the right road at least, like a good neighbor would. Joel was different, just by looking at him she could see where fur wasn't growing back in, but only on his exposed arms. He was wearing long dark blue pants made of a material AJ wasn't familiar with, and on his top he wore a red and black plaid long sleeve shirt but with the sleeves rolled up above his elbows. He was taller than her for sure, a good head above her own.

Now all that was left to do was to help Joel out as much as she was able, and maybe then, he would apologize for giving her a bloody nose. Maybe...

Author's Note

It'll be a while before they meet let alone hear about each other.

I'd like to say that I'm using my creative freedom to make Ellie completely unaware of underwear. Only for the bit of comedy in this chapter. Oh, and I wanted to make Joel's name Baker (after the actor since there really isn't a last name for him besides a M. you find after Joel's name in Sarah's room). So I decided to go with Miller because: Mercer, Miles were just too out there...

Also, I made a jab at anyone who makes the "Naked Ape/Monkey" cliche....Yes, including myself.