Interlude from the Intrusion
Standing at the doorway to your newly built cottage you fell a sense of pride, and accomplishment. You dreamed of having your own place in your old world, but that would have been years and years down the line if it happened at all. And here you stand in this strange new world about to open the door to your new home. You look down at your side to your companion.
"Thank you for all your help. I don't think I could have built this, and so quickly without your help." Large purple eyes look up at you, a smile on her face and perhaps a hint of a blush?
"Your welcome. It's not everyday you get to build a house to human standards. Besides" she adds with a little giggle "You need a place to live where the furniture is your size, and you won't bang your head on so many things so often". You bark out a quick laugh. Of all the combats and encounters on your world you never have had so many headaches and bruises on your noggin before. You wince in mock pain and sketch a bow towards Twilight Sparkle.
"Oh forgive me, great librarian for being able to reach the highest shelves in your library without magic. Or a ladde.......Ooof!" you finish your sentence with less bravado then you started it with as a purple hoof decided to playfully smack you in the gut. Laughing again she concedes.
"Yeah, yeah it would be nice. But at least Spike will get his exercise now climbing ladders since your place is finished". She responds. Playfulness trailing out of her voice at the end of the sentence.
You both grow quiet for a moment. A moment that seems to stretch on. Maybe she's thinking about all the nights you've spent sleeping on her tiny couch. Talking about magic. Learning about your old world, and her teaching you about hers. Those are rather fond memories for you now. A new friend in a new land. Most of the other ponies are still wary of you, and you don't blame them one bit. A tall, two legged creature shambling around their small abodes and shops would be like the Giant-kin visiting your old village you used to live in.
"Hey" you tell her, absentmindedly ruffling the top of her main, just above where her horn started on her forehead "Are we going to stand here and sulk or go in and get some tea? The furniture isn't here yet, but I do have my travelling gear and we could make a pot and chat while we wait."
She perks up at the sound of tea and nods her head "I'd like that" she responds. You open the door and step inside.
Shortly after your arrival in this world, she was assigned to see how well you are able to assimilate into life on this world. Or as the alabaster Immortal so cordially put it during your teatime meeting: Find a way to adjust to your new home peacefully, or she will help expedite your travels to another world post haste. Your not a hundred percent sure, but you think her raven colored sister actually paled a bit at that. She did relax a bit when you agreed rather quickly. You made a mental note to ask her sister about planar travel at a much later date. Much later. More small talk and then you met your parole officer for the first time. A nervous, excited, talkative Twilight Sparkle.
The talk before she arrived was of a much darker tone. Well if not darker, at least more grim you concede . They had your arms and armor such as they were, and they knew someone who participated in battles before. The talking came from mostly from you, and your experiences in your own world, but they did reveal a morsel or two of their world and history. War even on the small scales you were in was almost forgotten here. But all that changed in an unspoken agreement when she arrived. Light and cheerful, the room seemed to lighten up just by her presence. All talk of war and suffering ceased.
After a time, duty called and they all rose from their seats. Twilight laughed unabashedly when you offered your hand to clasp in friendship as they do in your own world. But she did so, clumsily. You bowed your most regal which isn't saying much to Celestia, who gave you a polite rulers nod. But what surprised you was Luna. The sable colored mare stuck her hoof out in an imitation of your worlds hand clasp. A tiny smile appeared on her face. You grinned, grasping her hoof.
None of those qualities have changed over the few months that you have been with her on this new world. Late night talks of history, magic, flora and fauna of both words. Your pleasant surprise that your type of magic worked on this world, and even the most mundane of everyday things. Your still not to sure about a lot of their technological advances, they are way past what you had in your world. Moving screens and stored music in boxes. Lights and electricity did seem useful, but those were a bit too much to process at that time. But your keen on the idea of indoor plumbing to a great degree. That would be something to put into any place you settled down.
Walking across the beautiful dark hardwood floors you start to get a fire going in the fireplace. Setting out the trappings for tea you gesture for your friend to join you. The sounds of her hoofs walking across the floor again remind you of how different your two species really are. And yet so similar, in so many ways. Enough that count, in your book at least.
"I'm glad you chose the indoor plumbing route. I know your old world was, um.." she trails off probably thinking of what to say without insulting you.
"Barbaric?" you respond with a grin. She looks at you somewhat abashed. You wave a hand dismissively "It's okay. Our level of technology was very far behind yours. But in some ways our magics were really farther along. I think with it being so prominent, it just kind of overshadowed the real need for advancing it any further. Some of the other Races on my old word were pretty good at building things though." You muse over what the other races would even think about all the new wonders they would see here. Their houses would probably be filled to the brim with every gadget and device they have seen.
Kettle ready, you make two cups of tea. At least this world had some decent teas. Sipping contentedly you watch Twilight use her magic to lift her cup to drink. It was still a marvel to watch these Unicorns handle such small items with such delicacy.
"So what's your next project now that your house is done?" She asks you. You take a moment to think.
"Well most of the Bits I've saved up doing odd jobs went to building my place, so I supposed I'll keep working that for a while until I can think of something long term to do." You shrug "Besides, I think I want to get to know the residents of Ponyville a little better before I start exploring other places. Aside from the forest nearby for herbs and such."
You gesture to her now empty cup and she nods, magic again enveloping it and floating it to you. After refreshing your tea you glance sideways at the purple mare.
"Now that your job of watching over me is done, what will you do now?" you ask her.
She ponders a moment and replies. "Well not much will change except my night time schedule will probably open up for more research and reading since you will not be at the library anymore."
Your not sure but she didn't sound all too happy at that. You give a small frown yourself. You really do enjoy her company. And she has become a really good friend. The talks you have had until the early mornings has given you more than just insight to this world and your own, but a bit more about yourself as well. Even though quiet study and research were a requirement for your kind as a mage, you decided that taking some time to visit a friend would become a priority too.
"Twilight" you start.
"Would" she says at the same moment you speak. You both stare at each other a second and start laughing.
"You go ahead" you wave. Her hoof imitates your hand almost the same moment your hand starts to move.
"You first she says". Redoubling the laughter it seems some sort of stillness in the house was banished. Some uncertain sad thing denied.
"Okay, look. I don't want to give up our nightly chats, but we both have duties to perform.".
She nods in agreement. "So are you thinking two or three nights a week to meet?" she says, smiling at you.
Returning the smile "I'd go for four, but I don't think we'd get anything done. Three sounds good." You both look at each other for a long moment, content knowing your going to continue talking and working on your friendship. Another comfortable pause while you just sit and enjoy you tea and your company. An expected knock at the door heralding the delivery of your new furniture has begun.