Punk Rock 101

I wake up in the dead of the night... looking around to see, to my disappointment, the same white room.  God, is this real? I ask myself as I contemplate the idea of being stuck here.  Celestia was gone, and it seemed to be nighttime.  Ahh! My head!  I grabbed my head and felt the throbbing die down.  My headache had ended, but my thirst for answers had not.  I need to know... I have to find out...  Just as I was thinking that I see something emerge from the shadows.

"Hello Mr. Chris, I am Moonlight Song.  Princess Celestia personally appointed me to be your night guard."  A gray coated mare with a black and dark purple mane says.  Moonlight's wings were not like Celestia's, they were well... bat like.  Her eyes were a deep purple, with black slits for better night vision.  She was maybe 5'2 in height, and had a soft, yet caring voice.

"Hi there Moonlight Song, I see... well you... M-must be *yawn* The pony Celestia was talking about."  I spit out groggily as my eyes just realize what the shape was.  Her smile showed the fangs I was warned about.  While most humans would run at such a display of teeth, I rather enjoyed looking at them.

"I see you are looking at the fangs, I promise you I am no blood-sucking creature..." She said like it was a routine.  Moonlight looked away for a second as if she was afraid of how I would respond.

"Well Yeah, I have to say they are very pretty, and I'm not afraid of them."  I say looking at her in the eyes.  I see that my comment made an impression by the way she blushed and looked away for a split second.

"Really? I-I haven't heard that one before Mr. Chris...." Moonlight enthuses as her eyes brighten up and stare back at me with appreciation.

"Well Moonlight, I have to say after looking at you, it's not just the teeth that are beautiful about you.  Please just call me Chris."  I smile as I deliver the best flirtatious line I could think of trying to make an impression.  As far as I can see, It worked.  The bat pony stood there giggling and blushing at the same time.

"I think I will like you Chris!" She jokes as her blush starts to fade slowly.  "I am a part of Luna's guard, I'm glad to have a fun assignment for once."  She said as her tone of voice indicated her pride for this 'Luna'.

"Who is Luna?" I ask genuinely confused at the ever-changing politics of this Equestria.

"Well you see Luna is Celestia's sister, and ruler of the night.  She's like Celestia but her duties are slightly different.  She arranges the stars, watches over nighttime creatures, and even does dream counseling.  While Celestia rules over the day, Luna rules the night."  Midnight informs as she exclaims enthusiastically, exited about the night ruler.

What?  Arranges the stars? ... I swear my life will never be dull again.

"That makes sense..." I muster out as the bat-pony walks by the bed and sits on the stool that Celestia placed earlier.  "So what time is it?" I ask wondering about how long I slept.

"Right now, It is 3 A.M.  You slept for quite some time Chris." She says while adjusting her mane.  "You woke up at 1 P.M. and fell asleep at 2 P.M."

"It's a hard adjustment, that's for sure... where I come from, horses are usually non pastel, and don't talk.  There are no flying ponies, nor unicorns... they only exist in stories or legends."  I say telling the truth about my world.  The same world that almost destroys itself ever decade.

"If you don't mind telling me, what is that place like?" Miss Song asks tilting her head to the side like Celestia did earlier.

That's absolutely adorable....

"Well, humans are the dominant creature on planet earth.  We have morals, but many act without them.  We wage wars on ourselves because of petty issues, logic is nonexistent, and love is a meaningless over-used word." I say truthfully, trying to vent some frustration about humanity.

Moonlight gasps loudly in disbelief.  I can see her genuine shock at how such things can go on.

"How is that possible?  I-i can't believe any-pony would do such things..."

"Unfortunately It is true.  But we aren't ponies... we are controlling, psychotic humans." I wonder the extent of their wars, I wonder if they are as brutal as ours.  Hopefully they are not, but that's yet to see.

"Hey I don't think you're psychotic." she remarks as her head returns to its normal position.

"I try not to be." I remark as I give her a grin at the possible compliment.  "Any other questions?"

"What are your interests?"

Finally something about me and not Earth.  I hate telling other people's problems, it just brings me down.

"My passion is music..-"

"...-ME TOO! What type of music?" She butts in seemingly as interested in the subject as I am.

"Awesome! Yeah, I play punk rock, and Metal mostly...."  Her gaze widened as she tried to understand this new style of music.  "It's a type of music that moves people.  Music that really connects with each person that listens to it."

"Wow... I really would like to listen to this music you speak of..."

"And you will, if I get some instruments."

Her face lightens up at the future promise of new and unheard glory.  Moonlight seemed like the type of person I would become friends with instantly... but she's a pony... so does that make it Somepont?  More thoughts of wisdom from Chris's brain.  But something about this pony was different from Celestia, more like a different type of cute.  Let's face it. Celestia was friggin' cute.  She was a white leader pony, bigger than me, but somehow seemed to capture the essence of a child's idea of a ruler.  That was adorable.  But Moonlight was different.  She is the type of cute that I might see in a girl my age back at home.  Ught.... Home.  This whole pony thing was cool, but nothing like earth.

"So what else can you tell me about yourself?" Moonlight asks as if she read my mind.

So what now?  They read minds... Greeat.

"Yeah I suppose I could tell you some more about Earth.  We have sports, movies, and the list goes on." I say legitimately trying to think of a good conversation.

"What about taking mates?" She asks me after I finish my thought.

"Why do you want to know about that?"  I ask as I think of something less.... awkward.

"Well um you know... It could be different."

"Fair point.  It kind of goes like this... a guy falls in love with a girl, he asks her on a date, if they enjoy it they do it again.  This process repeats until it fails, or they get married.  But within the past few years gay relationships have been on the rise so, if you're into that..."

"Interesting... That seems so crazy!  The guy asks the Girl?!" She states in disbelief.

"What..? I'm lost."

"Here in Eqquis, us mares almost break out into fights over stallions.  It's so hard to get a coltfriend, let alone get married.  So hard in fact, herding and lesbian relationships are on the rise."

"Herding?"

"When more than one mare is dating a colt."  She says in deadpan.

"Oh I see."  I comment nervously as I look at her in a 1,000 yard gaze.

"It is rather... unusual to me, but sometimes unusual is beneficiary."  Her eyes look to the ground for a moment and shoot back up at mine.  "Did you have a marefriend?  You know back in your world?"

"I-I Did not."  My face hangs low at the thought of past rejections. "I was never exactly the most popular of folks."

"I'm sorry... I honestly see no reason for a mare to reject you."  She said as her face blushes a little.

"Thank you."  Is she flirting with me?

"I mean you look very strong, and your eyes shine like the moon on still water."  She deepens the blush as I look at her still trying to find her motive.

"Wow uh, that was... a new one for me.." Yep flirting confirmed.   say... I wonder how she would respond if I played along...  "Don't sit here talking about me when you're the one with all the cuteness."  I smile as I deliver the complement.

She blushes a lot more and looks away for the slightest moment... what I said seems to have affected her more than I thought It would.

"NoPony has ever said I was THAT cute before...." she giggles and starts to let a side of her loose that I have not seen yet.

"Well, I am no pony...."  I wear a sly grin and await her response.

She giggles some more and stares at me and says "I have to say for not being a pony, you are quite lovely Chris..."

I sharply think about the many times I have ruined possible relationships, and I will not ruin this opportunity.  She's beautiful for a pony... but we don't even really know eachother yet.  Grr.  dumb circumstances!  I just want to see what she's playing at.  Hopefully we can just stay friends for tonight.

"Well for being a pony, I'd have to say the same about you Moonlight.  Say moonlight, can you tell me more about you?"

"well I'm glad to answer questions, but I don't know how to go about telling you about myself by a lecture."

"Do you have hobbies?" I ask as she looks up to the ceiling and scratches her hoof against her chin.

"Yes, music... I like to run... I also really like moonlight walks, and especially I'd have to say I love flowers but I'm allergic to my favorite one..."

"Allergic? what flower?"

"The white rose.  It's a bummer too cause it is the most beautiful one by far."

"White roses are lovely." I add trying to contribute something to the conversation.

"Have you met any other pony besides the Princess and myself?"  Moonlight asks, trying to switch the subject.

"Well, no.  I kinda was thrown into this world apparently a week ago, and even then I couldn't stay awake for more than thirty minutes..."

"I see, I'm positive you will be able to make friends with everypony."

"Thanks for the support, honestly I'm kind of worried I won't be welcomed.  I'm a new species around here so..."

"That's nonsense talk Chris.  Ponies will LOVE you...  What's not to like about you?  You're handsome, smart, adorable, and oh yeah... did I mention handsome?"  The pony lists as she forgets her first complement to me.

I think she has a crush on me.  "Thank you, that's way too exaggerated..." I laugh as she seems to smile at my acknowledgement.  "I really want to just get out there and play music, but that probably won't happen for a while."  Honestly saying, I will have to talk to the princesses more to even convince them to let me out.  I've only talked to them like once anyways....

"That would totally be amazing to hear a new type of music.  maybe you could play at the Nightmare Night festival, it's in a month and it I'm sure everypony would love to hear your new music."

"That's a thought... Say what exactly IS Nightmare Night?"

"Well you heard of Princess Luna right?  You know the one I serve under?  There was a time when she might have.... been kinda possessed by an ancient evil spirit who might have in turn-*cough* destroyed the entire free world then was defeated by the elements of harmony and brought back to normal-*cough*."   I sat dumbfounded that such a thing could happen.  "Soooo we make a holiday that you dress up as something other than yourself, and get candy from it."

"So pretty much Halloween?" I ask as I try to make heads and tails of the very thought of evil spirits.

"Whats that?  oh.  Never-mind, just please let that story not influence the way you view Princess Luna.  Nightmare Moon and Luna are two separate entities."

"I'll keep that in mind, but I'd like to defantely play for everyone then if possible."

"Alright!  Chris, can I get you anything like food or water?"  I see she noticed my stomach growling, and I did as well.  "I'm also to look after your every need at night."

"Yes I would love some water, say... what's on the menu?"  The words slip out of my mouth as I think of what I want to devour.

"Tomato soup was today's special, if you can eat that of course, being new here and all; you might eat differently than us ponies."

"That would hit the spot! I love tomato soup!  And also a toothbrush, toothpaste, and showering items would be wonderful.  I don't know what you ponies use, but I would like something that smells nice."  I looked at a now giggling Moonlight Song, wondering what she thought was so funny.   "Say what's funny?"

"Oh it's nothing... I hope you like roses... that's all I'm going to say Chris."  She giggles as she starts to walk out the room.  "The bathroom is that door on your left."  Moonlight points her hoof to the door that was to the left of the bed, obviously sized for ponies.

"Thanks, make sure not to leave your cuteness on the way out, ok?"  I say obviously trying to flirt with the bat-pony.  Her blush was very visible as she giggled.  Moonlight winked and smiled, showing her fangs, then her head slid out of the door frame.

That went well.  I hope?  I mean I was as charming as possible... and these women seem easier than the ones back home, am I right?  Anyway, I really have to use the bathroom.  I got up and felt the carpet under my feet, it felt well-made and expensive... but this was a castle.  I never thanked the Princess for the accommodations.  Ugh I'm a jerk!  No need to dwell on the thought, I'll just tell her later.

The walk to the bathroom seemed long and arduous, nevertheless, it was beneficiary.  I hadn't been awake in something like a week, something that was unfathomable for just a run-of-the-mill teen; and it seems like the sleep had taken its toll.  My legs felt like dead weight, I had bad stubble, and my breath smelled disgusting.  I just hope these ponies use toilet paper... or else I'm screwed.

I reached the bathroom and walked into the door that was about my height.  Yes! Toilet paper!  But the toilet was built into the floor... Something very unusual to me, but I didn't care.  I did my business and started to wash up at the sink.  The water on my face was soothing to say the least, but I desperately need a shower.    I turned off the faucet and heard a familiar voice humming.

"Chris I got you your things!"

I walk out the door to the bathroom and notice something about the room, there is now a table in the middle with my food on it.  Accompanying the food is a wine glass full of water, and topping off the whole sha-bang is a vase with yellow daffodils in the middle.  My first reaction to the overly fancy display was to laugh to myself.

"Do you like it?" she asks as she pours a water for herself.

"I love it!  How thoughtful of you Miss Song." I say as I smile widely and approach the table.  "Just one thing missing."

"Oh no... I'm so sorry Chris I just.. Please forgive me..."  She began babbling in a distressed voice as I walked over to the flower vase.  I picked up one of the flowers and broke its long stem off, and looked at Moonlight as she stared confused.

"I love every bit of it."  I say as i place the flower in her hair, as she sighs in relief.

"You got me all worked up for this?" she giggles as she looks at the flower in her dual colored mane.

I boop Moonlight's nose, and watch her muzzle scrunch up in a cute way.  Her face seems very elated as I smile back at her.

"Quite the gentlecolt I see Mr. Chris!"

"I try to be chivalrous when I can dear Miss Song."  I say as I walk over to the chair and look at the food in front of me.  "By the way, Miss Song... you look quite beautiful this evening."  Moonlight looks at me with a face of complete happiness as I start to eat my soup.  I make sure to eat it in the way my mother taught me to whenever I was with company.  Prim, and proper.

"Please tell me Chris... am I really... beautiful?"  Moonlight practically whispers as she looks me intently in the eyes.  I swallow the soup in my mouth and look up at her.

"Yes, you are.  I haven't seen many ponies, but I have to say you are very beautiful, Moonlight."  I say as I slightly lean forward as I put down my spoon.

"Thank you Chris... I have to say that is very special, coming from you... somepony who I've become very fast mat-... Friends with."  Moonlight remarks, catching her voice from letting lose a word.

"I'm glad to hear the feelings are totally reciprocated!"  I say as I wink and go back to eating my soup.

End Chapter 1