Adventures in Equestria (A Fandom's Journey)
You did it.
You are Mad Scientist. You are staring at your newest creation, the fruit of your hard work, the result of many labors. You are staring at your brand-spanking new, home-made teleporter. The mesmerizing glow of the white wormhole in front of you shines in your eyes while your face brims with a confident smile.
You really did it.
You discovered a small, near-invisible wormhole in the near heavens some time ago. It is many, many miles away from Earth, but even then, it is rather close. When you look at the night sky, it’s just nearby the Horsehead Nebula. Quite the coincidence.
You have spent the past year or so sending radio signals that way, and you were waiting, waiting for a response…
…and then one came.
A scientist, from the mythical land of Equestria, had contacted you. She said her name was Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship. As someone who actively watches MLP, this revelation was astonishing. The fictional world millions of fans adore? Real?!
Your eyes ache from having stared at your laptop for so long. They are dry, bloodshot, and begging to be shut, but you cannot stop staring at the mesmerizing light of your creation. Your mind has been racing at the speed of light for the past year, but time seems to slowly halt to a stop…
Frozen in this beautiful moment, your instinct to learn and explore barks at you to enter.
But not after some brief preparations.
You snap out of your trance and run across the room to a desktop you are all too familiar with.
Something pops up.
Would you like to install up—
Without hesitation, your hand guides the pointer to the red “X” in the top corner.
There is a file open, listing a few oddly specific co-ordinates. You compare these to a rough map you have sketched, using a set of basic data Twilight managed to send you through enough signals to double your electricity bill. Which is already extremely, extremely high. And still needs payment.
Your straining eyes gloss over the numbers and compare them to a basic co-ordinate system you put on the map.
Turns out, the basic teleportation software (developed by yourself) is a little whack. It only registered three possible locations to teleport. And after marking some points on the map, you are disappointed.
You say, “Alright, so we’ve got…the Everfree Forest?” You shudder. “Okay, I am not going there. Do you know what kind of creatures live there?!” You don’t mind a little bit of thrills. But traveling to those forbidden woods? Nuh-uh.
“Next, we got…the Canterlot mountainside. Close to the peak, huh? That’ll take a lot of walking and climbing. But Canterlot is right there, and maybe, just maybe…” The mountain would take you straight to Canterlot, where you could quickly find a way to contact the princesses.
“…and then finally, there’s the Badlands. Not dangerous. But I highly doubt the Princess will be in the middle of nowhere. Or even nearby in Appleloosa.” It would be a waste of time taking that route.
You stand up. “Okay, it’s settled.”
“Canterlot, here we come!”
Old, warm jacket, thick pants, and heavy-duty boots? Check.
Thinner clothing, packed into a small bag with water and snacks? Check.
Improvised picks suitable for some climbing? …Uhhh, check.
Some personal gadgets of your own? Check.
You stand before the portal yet again, streams of flowing light pouring out like a cascade. You have just sent a ton of radio blips to Twilight about your arrival, so that she could find you if you can’t find her. Butterflies in your stomach now act like leapfrogs.
You walk towards the portal, closing your eyes to keep yourself from being blinded.
The sound of the gentle breeze tells you of the change in setting. The chilly air softly caresses you. Your feet press against rocky terrain, and your nose slowly inhales in cold, earthy air.
You open your eyes. The light from the portal is still a bit blinding, and so you grab a circular object from your belt, place it on the ground just by the portal, and press a button. And with that, the light from the wormhole was hidden.
When you look up, the air is taken out of you by the sight you behold. Green plains and forests stretch widely far in the distance, with a small, quaint town standing out amongst the countryside. You whip out your rough copy of the map and confirm that the town is, indeed, Ponyville.
Curious, you walk forward a little towards a ledge and peer over.
Far below you, on the side of the purple-gray mountain, are exquisite towers and buildings that make up a large medieval municipality, complete with an ornate castle. Your map confirms that you are looking at Canterlot.
You rub your eyes and mutter to yourself, utterly dumbfounded, “I…I actually made it. It worked! …Oh my goodness!!!” Thankfully, you have your cell phone, which is fully charged. The lack of reception does not stop you from snapping a photo of this absolutely beautiful view.
Adventure awaits! After gawking over the gorgeous sights, you find a rough path that seems to lead down the mountain and begin your long walk down.
Every brony will envy you.
Thankfully, people—or, rather, ponies—seem to have used the mountain before. Vague, rocky paths guide you through the terrain. It seems obvious that a pegasus would fare better doing this than you.
Speaking of pegasi, you notice a figure hovering in the air nearby. It seems to be a pegasus guard, flapping his wings, his golden armor glinting in the sunlight. This is the first time a human has encountered a pony!, you think. This is first contact! Your eagerness to greet him leads you to call out to him.
“…Hello? Hey, over here!” You anxiously raise your hand.
The guard finally notices your presence and flies toward you, calling, “Hey, who are you? This is restricted territory.”
Once he can fully see you, though, his attitude makes a drastic change.
“AAAHH!!! MONSTER!!!” The spineless pegasus zoomed down towards Canterlot, whining like an arachnophobe in a spider’s nest.
You feel disappointed by the counter, mouth agape, peering down at the frantic guard. You definitely expected more from a loyal servant of Canterlot royalty. There also is a little bit of offense that you took. Monster?! Pffft. I’ve had some people praise my looks before…
You shake off the encounter. An entire journey still lies ahead!
Left, right, left, right, left, right…
Ughhh… This is getting sickening.It’s been approximately two hours and fourteen minutes since you began your journey down the mountain. It has warmed up the farther down you’ve gone. To shorten the trip, instead of always following the roundabout trail, you utilized a couple of points to directly climb down the jagged mountainside. Of course, you avoided any slopes that seemed too steep, as you are not the greatest climber.
Your inner petrologist is awakened by the types of rocks diversifying the path. There are some unique samples here. You investigate the rocks nearby the water streams that pour down the mountainside into Canterlot. The sedimentary rocks seem mostly familiar, but a few fossiliferous ones have very interesting looks to them. At each of the few streams, you grasp a couple samples, accidentally getting your wizened pants a little wet in the process. You toss the samples into your tightly strapped bag and return your focus to the trip ahead.
You heave a weary sigh. You are almost at the city. It will take a bit more walking until you are at “ground” level.
But…what if you don’t have to go that far?
You follow the rocky path to find that a tower-like part of a large, particularly pretty building happens to be right nearby the mountain’s edge. The cylindrical structure has a stairwell that leads into the building. How fortunate! A decent jump from the mountain’s edge onto the roof of this structure ought to do it. However, if you miss it…
You take a deep breath, say your prayers, and take a few steps back.
Here goes nothing. I hope this works.
Three. Two. One. GO!
You sprint and jump off the edge of the mountain path as gravity pulls you down for 5 metres. You roll upon landing onto the marble structure and spring right back up, grateful you actually succeeded.
“WOO!!!” you exclaim. It feels good to be alive! You notice purple-gray rock dust covering your clothing. You attempt to wipe some of it off before continuing.
The spiral stairs that lead down into this structure lie ahead. But before you step inside, you take a look at the ground far, far below. Your eyes behold countless, little ponies, bustling like an insect hive. Residents and tourists alike clamor far beneath you as they visit restaurants and shops, socialize about their experiences, and enjoy the warm afternoon.
“Wow…” you whisper. The awe that stirs up within you is painted on your face. The warmth of the sun cannot suppress the chills running throughout the span of your body. You have made it to Canterlot, Equestria’s source of high society. The laying of your eyes upon the city is a miracle, a dream come true.
You turn away from the edge of the roof and cautiously walk into the stairwell, prepared to face the unknown.
These wide, spiraling stairs are illuminated by light from the outside world, which seeps through small, translucent windows. You step rather slowly to prevent your boots from loudly squeaking.
The stairs lead into a medium-sized room where a chandelier provides warm light. This room directly leads into a lengthy hallway that is illuminated by more chandeliers. Here, there are bookshelves against the walls filled to the brim with books, along with a wealth of scattered boxes and crates that contain even more reading material. A few couches stand on the tile floor, tempting you to sit after a tiring journey.
The sounds of hoofsteps and talking echo down the hallway. Uh-oh! You frantically look around the room, hoping to find a place to hide. It just so happens that there is a large, empty cardboard box towards the back of the room.
Perfect.
Two pony guards pass by the room, engaging in amicable conversation.
“I heard that it’s going to be especially sunny tomorrow.”
“Aw… I was hoping it might rain soon. My garden could really use it.”
“Oh, yeah, how’s that garden working for you?”
“It seems like the herbs are doing rather well. My vegetables, on the other hand, are getting the attention of some wild animals.”
The two guards briefly gaze into the book-filled space. They see nothing suspicious, and they continue with their conversation.
“I wonder if it has to do with your crops being right next to the animal garden.”
“Hm. That actually makes sense.”
When their voices have almost completed faded, you silently take off the box. Something about doing that feels nostalgic. You enter the hallway and briskly tiptoe in the direction the guards originally came from, crossing your fingers and hoping nopony finds you. You perspire, both because of the warmth of the indoor setting and the intensity of your infiltration.
You start thinking to yourself.
Okay. We need to find Twilight. Hopefully, she is either here in Canterlot or somewhere in Ponyville. I just need to sneak through this building and then locate somepony who knows where she is. Given that I’m in Canterlot, maybe I could find the other princesses first. I’m betting they would be understanding and would like to help a newcomer to their world.
Going through many twists and turns, taking your time with a few sets of stairs, and taking refuge in the shadows, you find yourself deeper in the building. Every step through the ornate halls, sometimes showcasing paintings of what seem to be Equestrian historical figures, convinces you that you are in the Canterlot castle. You feel invigorated by this, as the princesses you seek to find very likely are in the same building as you. However, your heart pounds. What if things don’t work out? What if the princesses aren’t here? What if a guard sees you and mistakes you for a monster?
Fortunately, no guard has witnessed you yet. In order to maintain a covert presence, you’ve had to start using your portable light refractor, which is like the one you used to disguise the portal. Alas, as a result of making this one cheaply and with added portability, it overheats, meaning that long-lasting invisibility is a no-go. Thank goodness you took the time to make the small piece of machinery, though. Otherwise, you’d be mincemeat by now.
Every guard that comes nearby is met with the same regimen: find a corner, turn on the refractor, and make no sound whatsoever. Even the slightest breath could compromise the entire mission.
After thirty minutes of anxiously navigating the castle, you come upon a rather large hallway that screams of importance. The walls are made of dark, purple stone (from the mountain, potentially), with a thin, red rug running down the middle. Tall windows permit the sun’s illumination to flood in. Every other window, however, is made of stained glass that depicts moments in pony history. The further down you go, the more familiar the images become. The Mane Six and the Elements of Harmony, Discord wreaking havoc on ponies, Twilight’s alicoronation…
At the end of this epic hallway is a set of magnificent double doors. Your ears pick up on a voice past the doors. It is a female one that sounds…familiar. Vaguely familiar.
However, the voices of two guards echo from far down the hallway behind you.
One says, “Hey, I think we should stop patrol return to our posts by the throne room.”
The other responds, “Oh…we were supposed to be there?”
“Well, maybe you would have remembered if you weren’t so worried about your garden!”
You panic. You reach for your refractor and prepare to activate it, but you stop yourself when you begin analyzing the situation more thoroughly.
Hmmm…the guards will return to their posts here, and I won’t be able to enter the room. Either I go in and risk everything, or I skulk amongst the hallways for the entire evening.
Your gut tells you to go into the door.
Now.
With little hesitation, you push open the door a bit and squeeze through. A voice exclaims from the hallway behind you, “Hey…is someone entering the room?!”
But you don’t care if you are about to get caught.
The room you are in is adorned with a shiny, immaculate, white floor and a gigantic chandelier that illuminates the lustrous, pink walls. The red carpet continues down towards a throne, where two large alicorns gaze attentively upon a smaller, purple alicorn.
The purple one is speaking as she paces back and forth, “…I know it sounds a little odd, but…I’ve been working on these theories. Starswirl’s scrolls, if I am not incorrect, do leave room open for speculation. I just wonder if there’s any… Gasp!”
You freeze up upon the alicorn noticing you. She locks eyes with you, utterly stunned and totally speechless.
The door is burst open behind you by the intimidating guards from before. One of them, a unicorn, tilts his head forward and approaches you with his horn. The other, an earth pony, shouts to the alicorns, “Your highnesses, we have an intruder!”
You’ve had butterflies in your stomach before, but this was the most uncomfortable you have ever felt in your life.
You stammer, “N-no, wait! I c-can explain—”
The purple alicorn shakes herself out of her trance and shouts across the room, “WAIT!”
You glance at her and suddenly realize the owner of the voice you heard through the door.
Wait a second…a purple alicorn?
…that’s Twilight Sparkle!
Nothing on Earth could keep you from your fanatic loyalty to Twilight.
Nothing in Equestria, either.
And so, without even thinking, you blurt, “OH MY GOSH!!! TWILIGHT SPARKLE! I’m such a huge fan!!!”
The earth pony guard gives you a look of disgust and barks, “That’s it. Get outta here!”
“…Woops.” It seems that even the threatening presence of the two powerful guards could not hamper your brony nature.
Twilight Sparkle, though, appears desperate to know something, shouting, “…Mad Scientist? Is that you?”
Your brain immediately clears up at the mention of your name.
Mad Scientist…that’s me!
You sheepishly respond, “…Yes? That’s me!”
One of the alicorns, a white one with a shimmering mane and a commanding presence, booms, “Halt there, guards!” Without question, the two snarling guards stop prodding you out the door. They turn to face their beloved ruler, awaiting further instruction.
Twilight Sparkle, the Princess of Friendship, says, “…Is it really you?”
You slowly nod.
Her eyes glaring straight into yours, she cautiously begins walking down the red carpet towards you, her hooves making a gentle clip-clop, clip-clop.
You gulp. Staring back at her with a degree of fright, you slowly walk down the carpet as well towards the apprehensive princess. Your steps match the slow rhythm of hers.
The two of you meet halfway and come to a stop, with less than a meter of space between you. You both spend a solid 10 seconds looking at each other. Her big, equine eyes look at the new creature before them with insatiable curiosity. Under scrutiny, you feel rather nervous, but you are also enraptured by the presence of Twilight herself.
She slowly sticks out a hoof, reaching out to you. You look at it, slowly reach out your arm, and gently touch it.
Ponykind and humankind, united at last.
Mission accomplished.
After you indulge in history-in-the-making for a brief moment, Twilight breaks the ice and asks, “How…how did you get here?”
"Well, maybe I finished up my teleportation device a bit early and wanted to pay a visit."
“Really?”
The other two princesses come down from the royal throne to greet you. The large, white one cordially welcomes you, “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mad Scientist. I am Princess Celestia. This here is my sister, Princess Luna.” Celestia gestures to the second princess, who’s sparkling mane is like the night sky. “And I’m assuming you know Twilight already.”
Princess Luna greets you, “Welcome...to Equestria."