A True Self Insert, Season 1: How did I get here?

September 13, 2010.
5:00 P.M.
Ponyville, Equestria.

The door to Twilight's tree house closed as the last pony entered it for the night.

"Ok is everyponie here?" She called out looking at the now very big group of ponies all gathered here this night. "Wow I'm really glad Cadance was able to make some last minute adjustments." She took a deep breath in, held it for a second or two and then let it out. As she got herself settled on one of the benches in the main lobby she looked around and saw the little groups already forming.

Her brother and Cadance were off to the side whispering amongst themselves. Meanwhile, Spike had taken up a seat next to Rarity and the two were discussing the finer points of living in canterlot much to her surprise. "You go, little brother." She snickered as she saw Spikes scale's flush crimson for a little while. Across from them, Zepher Breeze had Applejack of all ponies enthralled with a discussion on the benefits of moisture farming. "Think about it AJ. You could save a bit on all the cost's for rain in the dry season if you would just set up some rain barrels in the winter and spring,"

Twilight shook her head as AJ told him she would take his advice to heart. Next, to those two Joseph and Dash were arm wrestling using her side table as a stand. "Come on furless! show me what all those daily exercises we've been doing for that last four months are all about!" Twilight shook her head. "Some things never change." As those two were trying to throw one another across the room with pure arm strength Fluttershy and Big Mac were off in a corner by themselves just watching everypony else.

"Aww aren't they cute together!" Came a voice from Twilights right side. She squeaked causing everypony to stop and stare at her. Dash seized the opportunity and hurled Joseph over the table. "Yes! Victory in mine!" She thrust her hoof into the air. Joseph just lay there laughing his head off as Dash began to strut around in the air. Twilight meanwhile looked to her right to see Pinkie Pie sitting on a soft bean bag with a bag of popcorn in hoof. Twilight took one more deep breath before she spoke up.

"Well, now that we have everypony here--" "Wait!" Pinkie shouted causing everyone to jump a little bit at how high her voice went.

"What now Pinkie?" Twilight grumbled as she rubbed her ear's trying to get the ringing to stop. Pinky just giggled. "Silly Twilight not everypony is here yet!" She stated as if it was common knowledge. Twilight's ear twitched.

"What do you mean by that Pinkie?" She asked feeling very perturbed at the moment. Once again Pinkie giggled and just hopped off her bean bag.

"Well, I ran into an old college buddy of mine and decided to invite him as my impromptu plus one?" She chucked hesitantly as Twilight's eyes narrowed. Just as she opened her mouth, however, Twilight's doorbell rang. She sighed, put on a fake smile and headed over to the door to see just who Pinkie had invited. "Hello?" Twilight called through the door while peeking out the peephole.

"Hello!" She was greeted by the sight of a mustard yellow stallion with a poofy mane and green eyes. "Um, Pinkie who is this?" Twilight muttered to her right as she continued to smile at the new guy.

"Cheese! How are you?" Pinky said shoving Twilight out of the way and strait into Rarity and Spike. Rarity put up a cushy shield so as not to cause Spike or Twilight any undue discomfort.

"Oh, you know Pinkie, just going around spreading fun and happiness with every party." to which she just giggled.

"Well that make's two of us!" Pinkie stated as Cheese came in and sat down next to her. Twilight looked around at everypony else. Then she cleared your throat.

"Well now we're all here we can head out to the train station." Everypony present, save Cadance, gave her a look of confusion. No pony objected however so they all filed out and headed to the train station.

5:15 P.M.

15 minutes later and the group was within spitting distance of the train station. "It feels great out tonight," Joseph said as he and Dash took up a position at the back of the group. As she flew next to him she gazed at the pink-hued sky and smiled.

"Yeah, it sure is. Perfect weather for flying," She remarked as she caught an updraft and climbed a few feet higher executing a perfect aileron roll. Joseph watched and walked smirking the whole way. "Why me?" He shook his head and sighed.

"That's the Rainbow Dash I remember!" Came a voice from the groups left. They all stopped and looked around. Even Dash was on high alert.

"Who's there?!" She said not sounding too pleased that some random stallion claimed to know her so well. A soft chuckling came to the group's attention as a cloud began to drift down from the west. As it dissipated a familiar sight took hold of Josephs vision. He stood there as his mind raced. "Oh, it's you!" He said as Spike took notice of the newcomer as the stallion form the Arcade.

Hello." He waved at the group. As Joseph stepped forward to give his hoof a shake the stallion gave him a confused look.

"Um do I know you?" He asked sounding more than a little embarrassed. Joseph looked shocked. "We met at the arcade?" He asked feeling more than a little out of place. The Stallion thought about it, then his eyes lit up, he then laughed until he was nothing more than a wiggling pile of pony on the ground. Dash meanwhile was more than a little miffed at the dude's antics.

"Hey, buddy whats so funny?" She asked touching down and trotting over not looking amused in the least. He finally got himself under control and sat up.

"Oh sweet Celestia, that was a good one." He looked over to Joseph. "Sorry, there buddy but the stallion you met was my brother." He said as he finally got his composure under wraps. Joseph thought about it.

"You know I never did catch his name or cutie mark." He said as he tried to remember every last detail of the stranger he saw. The Stallion just snickered.

"Yeah, that's Split for you. There one second gone the next." He said smirking. "So if you must know." He turned to show the group his own cutie mark, a fireball streaking across his flank. "The name's Hotshot." He extended a hoof. "Pleased to meet you?" He asked the only human around. "Joseph." He said shaking Hotshot's hoof. As Joseph stopped he thumbed over to Rainbow Dash.

"So how do you two know each other?" He asked as everypony stood there. Hotshot looked over to Dash and smiled.

"We went to Highschool together." He said as Dash sat there. Her brain went into overdrive trying to remember this guy. "I got nothing." But not wanting to be rude she held up her own hoof.

"Can't say that I remember you all that well." She said feeling her cheeks heat up. Hotshot just chuckled. "It's fine. It's been like what 5 year's?" He said as he began to sift through his memories. He shook his head.

"Anyway, you all seem like a fairly big group?" He looked around saw Princess Cadance and bowed.

"Princess." He looked up and smiled. "So where are all of you heading at this hour?" He asked. Joseph looked over to Twilight. "Um." She thought about it for a little while then looked at everypony else. As her eyes settled on Rainbow she could see that the sky blue pegasus was curious about this stranger who seemingly knew her. So she stepped forward.

"We're heading to Canterlot actually." She stated extending her own hoof. Hotshot looked ecstatic. "Well, what a small world. So were me and my brother." He said. "We came down here to Ponyville to see the sight's before we head out of Canterlot tomorrow." The group was all curious now. "Hook, Line, and Sinker." Hotshot thought as he basked in there admiration.

"So darling." Rarity said as the group got a move on. "What do you do?" She asked as they went over to the ticket booth.

"Oh, me and my bro work as booking agent's for the wonderbolts." He said as he grabbed a pass from around his neck and showed it to the ticket clerk. She waved him through and he went and sat down on the platform as he waited for the rest of the group. Rainbow was definitely curious about this stallion.

"So you two go around and arrange the wonderbolts show's and other public appearances?" She asked looking around for the other brother. "So where'd your brother get to?" she asked. Just then the whole group felt a sudden chill come over them but then it was gone.

"Hello, all!" Came a voice from behind them. Shining, Twilight, Big Mac, Dash, and Applejack all spun around to see another pegasus that was the spitting image of Hotshot trot up to them with the biggest grin manageable except were's Hotshot had a flaming ball for a cutie mark Split Second had a small stopwatch with a crack going through it and the primary feather's of his wings were a soft red instead of his brothers blue hue.

"Hey, Split." Hotshot waved him over and then gave him a hug. "So how was your time at the Arcade?" He asked. Split thought about it then shrugged. "Eh, it was ok." He said looking at the group. "So who's all this?" He asked. Hotshot brought his brother up to speed as the group entered the train. "Wow, So these are the ponies that all the fuss was about." He said pointing to the element barriers. They all shuffled as he gave each of them a once-over, his gaze settling on the mares just a fraction of a second too long. Then he settled on Dash and a low whistle escaped his throat.

"Well hello, ms?" He asked raising a hoof for a shake. Dash just scoffed refusing the shake. "Name's Rainbow Dash." She said feeling more than little miffed at his wondering eyes. He just chuckled and addressed the group. "Well it's a pleasure to meet all of you but my brother and I have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." He bowed. "So we will bid our farewells and hope that we can see each other again some time." With his piece said he trotted over to the train car marked Sleeping Car, opened the door and headed in. Hotshot rubbed the back of his head.

"Sorry about him." He shuffled. "He easily takes med's for some of his issues." He too got up. "But like he said we have a big day ahead f us and I for one need to hit the hay." He said. "good night." He bowed once more to the Princess and trotted after his brother. Pinkie just looked off to where they went. "What a strange duo." She said causing the whole group to explode with fits of laughter. "What?" Pinkie said feeling left out. "Seriously guys what did I say?" She asked as the whole group went to there own personal sleeping car. Once all was settled they all met up for dinner in the dining car.