Equilibrium, Book 1: The First Human.

August 29, 1000, C.E.
8:55 A.M.

"So Dash how've you been?" Hot Shot asked as he and Dash left Suger Cube Corner. Dash just smiled.

"Oh, the usual." She let a cocky grin come over her muzzle.

"Training for the upcoming Aerolympics and the Wonderbolts of course." She said as the two took flight. Hot Shot smirked as the two of them banked around a wall of cloud's as they made their way to the weather station.

"Say Dash I hear that your head weather mare for Ponyville correct?" She gave him a smirk.

"Yeah. Who else is going to manage all the air space between here Cloudsdale and Canterlot?" She said her cocky grin getting the best of her.

"So does that mean that you make the schedule's for the employees?" Rainbow laughed.

"you trying to play hooky on me today?" She asked to which Hot Shot snickered.

"Who me?" He pointed a hoof to himself. "I would never dream of it." He said snickering as the two came within view of the weather station. Dash just smirked.

"You do know I that I'm friends with Princess Luna right?" She smiled as Hot Shot blanched a little bit.

"Oh uh really?" He asked feeling very nervous all of a sudden. Dash flashed him a sly grin.

"Don't worry there buddy. I'm not about to go traipsing around in your head while you sleep." She said as the two made for a landing on the outcropping of cloud that was right outside the front door of the weather station.

As the two made their way inside the pony at the front desk looked up and gave Dash a slight nod as she and Hot Shot trotted past. Dash nodded back as the two made their way to Dash's office space. As soon as they reached the door Dash held it open for Hot Shot. He smirked as he entered.

"Thank you, Dash." He said as he scanned the little room. She stood there for a second thinking.

"Huh, where'd that come from?" She wondered as she entered. She trotted over to her desk and sat behind it. Then her face went from one of a friend to that of an employer.

"So Hot Shot you've seen the schedule I've had posted up out front and you feel that you should be switched out in favor of some pony else." She asked. Hot Shot nodded.

"That is correct." She thought about it for a second.

"Why should I grant this request?" She asked as Hot Shot pushed down a snicker. Hot Shot adopted a neutral face as he spoke.

"Well to be perfectly honest my reasoning is selfish in nature." He said causing Dash to raise an eyebrow. He looked her in the eye's and told the truth, a smirk crossing his muzzle as he spoke.

"There's an old friend I would like to hang out with but right now our schedule's conflict." He paused as Dash let a smirk of her own crack her professional visage.

"Oh really?" she asked as Hot Shot smiled and continued.

"Yeah. We haven't really gotten to hang out all that much in the past few months since I came to live here and I would like to make up for lost time." The two of them stared at one another for a while until Dash cracked a small smile.

"Well, I can talk to her for you and see what I can do." She smiled. "I hear that she has a rather busy day later but I think she'll be rather ok with trying to fit you in there." They both smiled as Hot Shot got up and Dash made her way from behind the desk.

"So yeah in a non-professional sense I do have some prior obligations today but I'll see if I can bring you along." She smiled.

"Trust me I know you and John haven't really hung out but he could use some stallion friends." Hot Shot smirked.

"Well, he's friends with you so he can't be all that bad." He smiled.

"I'll see you later Dash." He opened the door but stopped and turned around.

"And thanks for seeing me today." Dash smiled and nodded.

"No problem Shooter." She said bringing a Smile to Hot Shot's face. Soon he was chuckling as the two made their way to the front door.

"Haven't heard that name in year's." He smirked. They both stopped at the door and Hot Shot gave Dash a hug, one that she returned with a soft smile.

"See you later." The two parted way's and Dash turned back to the schedule board and sighed.

"Well, at least my old friends will get to meet my new ones."

4:03 P.M.

John's day had been rather uneventful, a fact that he was grateful for. Now that he was free to do as he pleased he headed back to Twilights. As he walked through Ponyville John heard the local hustle and bustle of various ponies at work and play that he had become so accustomed to over the few long months he had been here. Soon however he tuned them all out in favor of letting his mind wander onto other things. Things he had not really given much thought to in quite some time.

"I wonder how my family is doing?" His thought's continued to drift down memory lane as he walked through the town. Then a smile graced his face as he settled onto his current situation.

"I know they'ed be worried but I really wish they could see me now." He chuckled to himself. "At least they would know I'm safe." John cleared his head as he reached Twilight's front door and took a deep breath. Knocking several times he was delighted to see a purple glow envelope the knob.

"Hello and welcome to-" Twilight stopped as she saw who was outside. Her look of professionalism was then replaced with one of confusion. that was quickly overtaken with fear.

"Oh hey there John." She put extra emphasis on his name. John raised an eyebrow and looked around making sure there were no ponies hiding in the tree branches above. His eyes settled back onto Twilight who looked like she was starting to sweat a little bit.

"Is everything ok there Twilight?" He asked feeling concerned as to what could have his friend this worried. Twilight craned her neck out and looked around. Not seeing anypony else she held up a hoof and motioned for John to come closer. He did so after giving the surrounding area one more once over.

"There's something I have to tell you and you have to promise me to not tell anypony else." She whispered as John nodded.

"Ok. what is it?" He asked feeling very awkward all of a sudden as Twilight held him close leaning her head on his shoulder. Hiding her muzzle from John Twilight began to grin to herself.

"Can you keep a secret?" Twilight asked as John began to sweat.

"Of course I can." He said as he felt Twilight starting to shake all of a sudden.

"Twilight is every-" He stopped as he grabbed Twilight and held her face up to his. He was puzzled as he saw her squirming in his grasp giggling like crazy.

"What's so funny?" He asked feeling like he had missed a very big joke. Twilight continued to giggle and eventually, she roared with laughter. John slowly put her down as he looked around. His eyes, however, were glued to the cobblestone road that lead from Twilight's house/library to the rest of town were another mare that looked a lot like Twilight was now trotting from.

"What?" He vocalized the confusion permeating his mind and body as he did a double take, twice. Once to the Twilight o the road and another time at the Twilight in front of him as he looked at the giggling mess of a mare that was supposedly his same friend fro this mourning. All of this was suddenly swept under the rug however as a stallion's voice filtered from within the tree house.

"Hey honey bun's what's the holdup?" Soon giggling mess Twilight was joined by a big burly looking unicorn stallion that looked like he ate Big Mac for breakfast. John was at a loss for words.

"Shining Armor?" He said under his breath, or so he thought. The stallion looked up from the twilight on the ground and looked toward's the human that had been living with his sister for the past few months.

"Oh hey there." He said extending a hoof. John gave it a look but flinched as Twilight from down the way came up to the tree house. She looked around at all the people standing outside her tree house and then looked over to her brother.

"Don't tell me you two ruined the surprise!?" She pouted as her brother rubbed the back of his head and gave his sister a sheepish grin.

"Well, he kind of surprised us." He said as he let out a muffled yawn. Twilight squinted at her brother as she huffed.

"Well, the cat's out of the bag now." She began muttering to herself as she gave the Twilight on the ground a soft stare. Twilight had stopped rolling on the ground and gave her sister in law a look of bearly contained glee.

"Hey there Twily." She said as she erupted into green flame's causing John to once more flinch and even jump back a little. Standing there a hand length taller than her boyfriend was none other than Princess Mi Amore Cadenza herself, well mostly. John was flabbergasted.

"Y-y-y-you-your." He stammered as Cadance giggled into a hoof. His confusion was exquisitely amusing to her and she could see why her sister liked to have him around if he was this much fun within her first few minutes of meeting him. Cadance draped a hoof over Shining and the two cuddled as Twilight got John under control. As she was doing this the rest of her friends decided to show up.

"Howdy there Twilight!" Applejack shouted as she came sauntering over a hill to the south. Her red handkerchief flapped in the breeze as she held onto her father's stetson. She looked up to see a prismatic mane fly past. She smirked as she held onto her hat once more as Dash made another pass this time followed closely by red and orange blur.

"Oh my." Came a voice from beside AJ causing her to smirk. She glanced over at Fluttershy who seemed to fade into existence from Aj's shadow. Fluttershy watched as the two pegasi danced about in the sky until they finally came in for a landing just on top of the tree causing the whole thing to sway from the sudden force exerted upon its base. John had come out of his stupor and looked around at everypony assembled.

"Well, should we go in or wait for the other's?" He asked still trying to wrap his head around the fact that a princess of equestria was, in fact, a changeling.

"Cadance!" The group all looked over to see Rarity trotting up the road with a bubbly Pinky Pie in tow. Rarity immediately made a beeline over to Cadance and the two trotted inside the tree house leaving the other's outside. Pinky bounced over to the group and smiled as she gave everypony a hug.

"So are we ready to get this party started!?" She asked. John just stood there pondering.

"So what exactly is this party all about Pinky?" He asked as they all funneled into the library. Her response, however, was drowned out by the loud cheer of what seemed like the whole town that had somehow shoved itself into the small tree house. The group all walked over to the stairs and ascended to the loft getting some space from all the hustle down below. As soon as John plopped down on a coach Pinky was there by his side ready and waiting for belly rubs. John just chuckled as he obliged her.

"Oh, that feel's good." She said as she began to drift off into a blissful state of being. Rarity snickered.

"Please tell me you've been by the spa and asked the sister's for a job?" She asked while all of the other's got comfy. John smirked and wiggled his finger's for all to see.

"Well I've just had an interview with them today and I think it went pretty well all things considered." He stated as he went back to rubbing Pinky's belly. Rarity smiled.

"Good for you dear." She said looking over the rest of the group. She noticed Applejack was scanning the party down below.

"Applejack?" She asked getting the farm mares attention.

"Hum?" Aj looked over at Rarity.

"Yeah?" She asked as Rarity to look over the crowd.

"Looking for anyone special?" She asked as she spotted her little sister hanging out with her friends. Applejack spotted her own sister hanging out with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. She smiled as the trio mingled with the townsfolk. She then looked over at John and smiled.

"Looking for my brother." She said as she leaned up against the wooden railing of the loft and letting out a sigh. She scanned the crowd once more.

"He needs to make more friend's and John over there could use a stallion or two to help him get out of the house and just go do guy stuff every once and awhile." She said as she turned around and leaned against the wood. As Rarity and Aj talked Dash and Hot Shot sat off to the side and conversed.

"So what do you think about Ponyville so far?" Dash asked as she Hot Shot sat down on a cloud sofa. Hot Shot laughed.

"It's nowhere near as exciting as the guard." He said as he sipped on a drink he procured from a table down below. Dash smirked.

"Yeah, I can see that becoming boring real fast." She said causing Hot Shot to snort.

"Oh, it's not all bad." He smirked as he wagged his eyebrows. "Beside's I get to spend my day's surrounded my hot mare's." He said causing the whole group to look his way. Some in disgust, others with smirk's adorning there muzzles and blushes upon there cheeks. Dash herself chuckled as he continued.

"In all seriousness however I really don't mind all the peace and quiet." He laughed out loud.

"In fact the past few weeks have been to most exciting of my life." He thought back to the lovely earth mare he ended up plowing into the hotel bed he had been staying at all this time. His face lit up as he remembered his past sexcapades.

"Yeah, the last few weeks have been good." He said as he finished off his drink. "How about you Dash?" He smirked.

"Have your eye's set on anypony around here?" Dash just snickered and waved it off.

"Huh! No." She took a sip of her glass as she continued.

"Not at the moment. Can't really focus on a relationship right now with all that I have to d around here." She thought about it.

"Sucks to be alone, to be honest," Aj snorted. "Now now sugar cube don't you go stealing my element of harmony now yeah hear!?" She said as Dash snickered and stuck her tongue out.

"Oh haha AJ." She said as she put her now empty glass down on a side table.

"Like I'd give up my element of loyalty anytime soon." She laughed as Pinky trotted over and refilled their glasses.

"Thank's Pinks," Dash said as Pinky beamed. Nodding her head she let out a small giggle.

"Anytime Dashy!" She trotted down the stair's and waded through the sea of mingling ponies below. Meanwhile, Fluttershy was calmly sitting down next to John who was absentmindedly stroking her mane. Fluttershy commonly did this to her animal friends to help them relax and it was having the same effect on the little yellow vampony.

"If those spa sister's turn you down I might have to hire you for myself." She said purring as John just chuckled.

"Well, Mistress Fluttershy if it would bring you this amount of comfort and joy then I would be happy to give away my services free of charge." Cadance perked up at this. She snickered.

"Be careful what you say there, John." She smiled. "There are plenty of mare's that would love to take advantage of that offer." John just laughed.

"I'm sorry to say it princess but I'll have to disagree with you there." He gestured to himself.

"I fail to see how any mare can see this as attractive." He smiled even if it stung himself to here the truth. Rarity just giggled.

"Oh don't sell yourself short dear." She winked at him and continued. "Mares love the exotic and unknown." she pointed a hoof at John.

"And you are both of those wrapped up in an enigma." She smiled at him causing him to blush profusely. He cleared his throat a few time while trying to gt his heavy blush under control.

"Well either way I don't think I've been here anywhere near long enough to really get to know anyone all that well." Cadance however was curious.

"So just how long do humans normally take to court one another?" She asked. John nearly choked on his drink but a few pats from Fluttershy solved that issue. He looked around and saw all of the eyes in the loft on him. He chuckled nervously as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Um well, I don't know about most people but I personally think that six months to a year is a good time frame." He felt all of the eye's go wide.

"Really that long?" Rarity asked as Twilight counted off on her hooves.

"So then in about three to four more month's you'll find a nice mare to settle down with?" She asked smirking as John blushed even more. He smiled as he groaned.

"Even the book worm is making fun of my non existent love life. Oh how my life is one big joke." He laughed.

"So how long do you ponies take to seal the deal?" He asked. All eyes went over to Cadance who smirked.

Well dear that all depends on the couple." She smiled. "Some couples can instantly meet and click." Then she stopped to think about it.

"The longest courtship I've ever had a part in lasted a little over two month's." She said feeling rather proud. John just whistled.

"Wow you guys sure move fast." He said downing the last of his drink and sitting the empty glass down on the table. Feeling more than a little uncomfortable with the topic of conversation John quickly got up and looked around.

"Oh hey anypony else need a refill?" He asked as he made his way down the stairs. Fluttershy just sighed.

"I really thought we were making headway there." She sighed while glancing over at Rainbow and Hot Shot.