3: This Just Keeps Getting Worse... And Weirder

I woke up just as Celestia was raising the sun. I didn't get out of bed for a while, but instead just started thinking. I thought about Equestria, the ponies that were living all around, and what I'd be doing next. Suddenly, I realized something: there was likely no way for me to get home. I had no clue how I had gotten there in the first place, and how I'd get back was even further beyond me. Besides, in most stories I'd read about people being sent to Equestria, they never got back. I was scared by the thought. I sat bolt upright on the bed. I'm not sure how long it was before Pinkie came in.

"Hey Peter!" I didn't respond, but I must not have been hiding my shock. "What's with that look?"

"I realized that I'm probably stuck here."

"Stuck in bed?"

"No, stuck on Equis."

"Don't you like it here?"

"No. I mean, I do. But I have people who care about me back on Terra. They'll worry about me, wonder where I am."

"Oh. That makes sense. Surprised it took you three chapters."

"Fillies and gentlecolts, Pinkie Pie."

She changed the subject. "Do you want some breakfast?"

My stomach growled. "Sure."

She dashed off and brought me a donut. "We've gotta get to Sugarcube Corner for work soon."

"Okay. I'm getting up." I got out of bed, ate the donut Pinkie brought me, brushed my hair (which is long enough that I wear it in a ponytail), put on my helmet, and went with Pinkie to work.

Work was similar to the day before, but somehow even less eventful. I spaced out a few times, but nothing of note happened. Or if it did, I didn't notice. After work, I took a walk, during which I bumped (literally) into a familiar white unicorn mare with a purple mane and a cutie mark of three gems. We both fell to the ground.

"Ach, sorry," I apologized. "Wasn't looking where I was going."

"It's alright," she responded. We both got up and she finally got a decent look at me. "Oh my."

"What?"

"Your clothes. Camouflage, really? And they're so messy."

It had taken me a second to recognize her. Once I did, what she said made sense. "Oh, I'm new in town and I only have one outfit right now."

"I could remedy that."

"No thanks, I'm good. Hey!" She lifted me with her magic and pulled me towards Carousel Boutique.

"Nonsense, I've never made clothes for... whatever you are, but if you only have one outfit, I might as well help you. My name's Rarity, by the way."

"Shouldn't have expected you to take 'no' for an answer," I mumbled.

"What was that?"

"I said my name's Peter."

"Hmm. Strange name."

"I'll take that as a compliment."

At the Boutique, she quickly figured out how to make clothes for me. I helped her out once I realized that there was no stopping her. I managed to convince her to make a recreation of the outfit that I'd wear back home: a grey hoodie, a plaid button-up shirt, a t-shirt, jeans, and a belt.

"You're not going to wear both shirts and the hoodie all at once, are you?"

"Yes, I am."

"All day, every day?"

"No matter the season."

"Really?"

"I don't care much about appearances, but I want to look how I want to look."

"If you say so. The customer's always right, I guess."

"Don't get your head too tightly wedged into that way of thinking. You're the fashion expert, and you'll regret that mindset one day, mark my words."

"Okay..."

I wound up getting back to Pinkie's place *much* later than I had expected. "Pinkie! I'm home!" I yelled with a chuckle. Suddenly, ponies came out of every possible hiding place in Pinkie's home, with the party mare herself dropping down from the ceiling. "Surprise!" they all yelled.

"Gah! What the...?"

"I remembered that I still hadn't thrown you your 'welcome to Equis' party, and you were running a bit late, so I decided to set it up before you got back."

"Why does that not surprise me?"

"You're not surprised?"

"No, I am. I just meant that your ability to set up *this* large of a party as quickly as you did doesn't surprise me." I noticed Rarity in the crowd. "How did she get here before me?"

"I helped her."

"Of course you did."

The party went great. I wound up running into the three members of the Mane 6 who I hadn't met thus far (bar Twilight, who was still living in Canterlot) and some background ponies who I recognized. It wound up going until around midnight, when Berry Punch got so drunk that she jumped off of the fridge (for some reason) and landed on Pinkie. (I'm surprised that didn't trigger her Pinkie Sense.) Pinkie was fine, but Berry broke her leg and I decided it was best to send everypony home. I took her to the hospital myself, just to make sure she got there okay.

"We're almost there, Berry," I told her as we went.

"Thanks-" *hic* "Petey."

"Please don't call me that. It always sounds patronizing."

"Sorry, Petral."

"Okay, that's not even close. It's Peter or Pete."

"Alrighty Pe-" *hic* "Pete."

"Thanks, Berry."

"You're kinda cute."

I stopped, and since I was keeping her steady, she had to stop too. "Excusez-moi?"

She lifted one of her forehooves. "You're," she said pressing the hoof against my nose. "Kinda." She did it again. "Cute." Again.

I stared straight ahead and started walking again. I didn't say another word the remainder of the trip. When I got back to Pinkie's after dropping Berry off, I went straight to sleep. I had some thinking to do.

Author's Note

Because reasons. I actually decided on the Berry Punch bit on the spot. Tell me whether y'all think it should go anywhere. I have justification. I might still do it even if y'all say not to, but I'd like y'all to weigh in. Please.