2: Welcome to Ponyville

I wandered Pinkie's house as I told her the story of Nightmare Moon. "Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape and she will bring about nighttime eternal," I finished. I found a mirror as I was wandering, and I looked into it. I was surprised to see that not only was I dressed like a soldier, but one of the rebel soldiers on Endor. I looked exactly like one of them. More of *that* franchise, I guess.

"This year is the thousandth year, isn't it?" she asked nervously.

"Eeyup. And the Summer Sun Celebration is on the longest day, so that's when she'll escape."

"Sweet Celestia... What's gonna happen when she escapes?"

"Your life's gonna change forever."

"Change how?"

"Can't tell you. Spoilers."

"Oh."

"I wish I could tell you, but I don't wanna risk changing something."

"I understand." A few seconds later, she gasped. "You never told me your name."

"Huh, so I haven't. It's Peter." I extended a hand, she extended a hoof, and we shook. My stomach growled. "Got anything to eat?"

"Oh yeah." She zipped off and came back with a large pile of sweets and baked goods on her back. "I have cake, cupcakes, muffins, donuts, cookies..." She kept listing, but I had stopped listening by that point. I was transfixed by the mountain on her back.

"Sweet Celestia..." I'll be darned if I wasn't drooling by that point.

"Do you just want everything?"

"If it's okay with you..."

She plopped the mound in front of me. I don't remember what happened next. When I woke up, what was left of the pile was just half-eaten baked goods strewn about all over the floor.

"Uuuuugh... What happened?"

"You ate a small mountain of baked goods and sweets before passing out on the floor."

"That explains the stomachache." A few seconds later, I remembered something and sat bolt upright. "I'm in Equestria! How the heck am I in Equestria?"

"I don't know."

"That wasn't directed at you."

"Was it directed at them?"

"Who?"

"Them." She gestured off in a seemingly random direction.

I just stared for a second. "You know what?"

"Not even gonna question?"

"Not even gonna question." I got up. "But I will say this: fillies and gentlecolts, Pinkie Pie." A thought occurred to me. "You know, I don't think it would be right for me to just stay here doing nothing like a bum."

"Oh no, it's okay. Assuming you don't usually eat like you did yesterday."

"I don't, but still. I don't think it would be right. I should get a job."

"That might not be particularly easy."

"None open?"

"No, it's just that... well... you kinda attracted a lot of attention yesterday just walking through town... ponies might not respond that well."

"... Ah, buck! How could I not have realized that? A bizarre creature just walking through town would be as obvious as the bucking princess doing the same, only with a higher chance of negative reactions!"

"Well, it probably won't be *that* bad."

I took a deep breath and forced a smile. "You're right. This is Ponyville. At worst, they'll just be weirded out," I said, mostly trying to convince myself. "I'm getting a job, and that is final."

"Well, the Cakes have mentioned that they could use a little more help at Sugarcube Corner."

"Then let's get going."

"Mr. and Mrs. Cake!" Pinkie bellowed upon entering Sugarcube Corner. I was waiting outside for the time being.

I heard a pony or two coming down the stairs. "Hello there, Pinkie," a mare's voice said "You're here early."

"You guys told me you needed some help, and I met somepony yesterday who needs a job, so I brought them. They're waiting outside."

"Oh thank goodness." This time it was a stallion talking. "Send them in."

"Before I do, I gotta tell you that he looks a little... strange."

"We've seen our fair share of strange ponies." It was the mare again. "I mean there's Derpy-"

"She's not that strange," I said loudly enough for them to hear me. "It's really just her eyes."

"Was that him?" Stallion again.

"Yeah," Pinkie answered. "He's also not really a pony. He's actually a... Huh. I never asked what he was. Just brace yourselves. Come on in, Peter!"

"Alrighty then." I came in, closing the lower part of the door behind me, as well as removing my helmet. Needless to say, the Cakes were a bit shocked. They jumped back a bit. "What were y'all expecting? Bugbear?"

It took them a few minutes to calm down. When they did, things got a bit boring. They let me get a job, but I'm not going to bore you with that process. I opted to work the register, mainly to help everypony get used to my presence, and started working that day. In all honesty, it was actually kinda boring. I got to see a few familiar faces, but I could count them on both my hands. Apparently, I was right about them having minimal negative reactions. They were only surprised. Nevertheless, the most interesting part of the day was when Berry Punch came in with Carrot Top.

"I'm telling you, it was tall, wore green, and just walked through town with Pinkie Pie," Berry said to Carrot.

"You're sure you weren't just drunk again?" ('Huh. So it's *that* version of her,' I thought.)

"I know what I saw!"

"Can I help you?" I interrupted.

They stared for a second. "Told you."

"Remind me not to doubt you next time."

Again, that was the most interesting part of the day. The novelty of being in Equestria probably died right around then. Unsurprisingly, I was a bit happy when it was time to close up. Pinkie and I then went back to her place, had dinner, and went to sleep.

Author's Note

New chapter: check. People who like this story: check. Thumbs downs: *counts* quadruple check...

Yes, I'm keeping this going. Most of y'all may not like it, but the few who do are all the reason I need to do so. The last chapter may have been a bit of an exposition dump, so I'm trying not to do *that* again. Emphasis on trying. I'm still new to this, so if y'all could comment suggestions, please do. Also, yes I use "y'all" in conversation.

I couldn't remember whether or not Pinkie or the Cakes live in Sugarcube Corner, and I was planning on there being *far* more major differences anyway (I have big plans for this, likely too big), so I decided Pinkie would have her own place and the Cakes would live in Sugarcube Corner.