Author's Note

OKAY I wanna start off by saying I have not forgotten about Accidental Abduction. and the next update I do will be for that. the reason its taken longer is I have a lot I wanna update at once for that story.

As for this story , the process of writing it has been a little, well stop and go.
I write most of this on my phone when I have to ride somewhere, or I have to wait for 10-15 minutes. So that makes my rough draft such a mess. So I decided to edit to the best of my ability's and just post this as it is. Broken into two chapters because 6,000 words feels like too much for one update for me.

Act 5 - It’s My Party

“Bouncy Bouncy Bouncy” The pink mare said over and over. As she led Leo through the town. Hopping and saying hi to everypony they passed. The human stumbling along side her.

Normally this would be enough for Leo to start to get agitated. However just like it was on earth for him, others became increasingly more tolerable, the more he drank.

‘Heh dumb Non. I drank barrels. No booze for you loser. Didn’t mean to thou, damn small barrels.’

While lost in his thoughts one pony stood out to Leo in his drunken haze. Pinkie was talking to a very purple pony. And as much as Leo tried to figure it out he wasn’t sure why she was staring at him like that.

“Pinkie what are you doing walking around town with.. him?”

“Oh Leo just had his WELCOME TO PONYVILLE PARTY!” Then breathing in to catch her breath hurriedly before continuing. “And Non thinks he had a bit too much cider so I am taking him with me to sleep it off while I watch the twins.”

“I wouldn’t trust him around filly’s or colts. After how bad he scared Scootaloo I-“

“THATs IT!” Leo said a tad louder than intended. “You where the teacher that chewed me out for helping that little one to the hospital.”

“Well you were the reason she was there in the first place!” Cheerlie defended, walking past Pinkie to face Leo.

“She ran into me, should have been wearin knee pads or somthin.”

“You scared her half to death with the way you yelled. That's no way to talk to a little filly!”

“I know that, I just f-“

“Oh do YOU?, Who would ever let you near kids? You probably scare and yell at everyone you met.” Cheerlie interrupted. And at this point a small crowd had started to watch the two. Pinkie had elected to start eating popcorn rather then intervene.

“Your the one yelling.” Leo managed to say, with a small pout to his lip.

“Thats because I am their teacher. Its my job to make sure they are safe and I am VERY protective of my students. And if you so much as speak out of tu-“

“I used to do that”

“W-what?”

“Teach. Er, kinda I mean. I was good at math, so the school asked me to tutor on weekends some. Well till I had ta move.”

“Whats that have to do with anything”

“Do with what?”

“Whats wrong with you? Whats wrong with him?” She asked turning to Pinkie. Who responded with. “I think he drank all the cider at the party, so he’s a biiiiiit tipsy.”

“Of course your a drunk to boot. Well glad to have you here in Ponyville!” She said sarcastically.

“Thanks, thats, thats.. “ ‘oh wait that was sacasm.’ His mind slowly caught up with her tone. His demeanor leaving indifference to a much more somber appearance. “Damn thought someone said something nice.” He said just under his breath. Before Pinkie decided to start dragging him toward the bakery. Leaving a very confused crowd. And a more perplexed Cheerlie.

Once Inside the bakery Pinkie very calmly told Leo to just stay in one of the booths while she watched the kids in the house. Leaving a pile of sweets that didn’t sell through the day for him to eat if he got hungry and bolted to the back. He waved at the cakes as they left, Pinkie having explained why he was there to the Cakes. Who shot him sideways glances as they left.

Leo wasn’t paying attention to that, he was to busy mentally chastising himself.

‘Why cant I just not interact with these ponies. Wait job. There was something about work. No. Don’t wanna go back and listen to more of.. more of that. Plus I ruined the party. The one I DIDNT WANT. Whatever its over.’

Most of his thinking went on the same way, as he stared are the sugary pile on-top of the table before him. Never really a stress eater but realizing that he was still hungry from not really eating over the past few days he started to mindlessly eat

The sugar and crumbs stuck to him, as he rested his unshaven and scraggly face on the table. Quite a bit also getting into his hair. He stayed like this for a long while before he began to nod off. Sleep claiming him.

———————————————-

He was laying down, in the dark. That was all.

For the first few minutes Leo didn’t question it. Then as his drunk mind started to sober up he realized something was off. Sitting up felt weird like his body was covered by the blackness that surrounded him. Looking at his body he noticed that was the case. Thick oily sheets of black rippled over his body. Wrapping him coiling around around his arms.

“Stuck.” His voice bounded around inside his head until the sound itself came back thick and unrecognizable.

Looking up and forward as the cold slick continued to wrap around him. A small green light blinked. The light came from a broken metal contraption not two feet from him. He quickly reached out pain shooting through his arm as the dream faded. He felt himself being shook.

———————————

As the two re-entered their home to see Ponys still chatting. And having a good time not noticing, or not caring that the recipient of the party wasn't in attendance.

“There you two are!” Applejack exclaimed. Causing Non, Rainbow and Twilight to turn to face the farm pony. “I need the two of you to help me get Big Mac back to the farm.”

“What? Why?” The three of them asked, almost in unison.

“Well ya see him and Leo got into a bit of a bet.”

“What kind of bet?” Rainbow asked.

“Well...”

———

Rubbing his eyes Leo took his third cup of the party and tried to seem civil. He may not want this party but he still recognized the time and effort that went into doing it.

That was until he saw Applejack, apparently having arrived late with Big Mac. Seeing him she went over and started to greet him but Leo interrupted.

“Save it, don’t need to hear any excuses.”

“What? Oh that sorry for not meeting you when Ah said. Lost track of time.”

“Suuure, you mean you didn’t wanna tell me you didn’t have work so you sent big, red, and doesn’t talk much after me.”

“What are you on about? You been hittin the cider?”

With a scoff Leo continued very slowly and deliberately reiterate his words. “You left me waiting, then big red there.” He said pointing over to Big Mac who now looked to be sweating a bit, looking back and forth from his sister to Leo. “Told me you really didn’t have any work for me.”

“Ah said no such thing! Big Mac?” Applejack turned to her brother “Why would you do that? We Apples have always help when we could!”

While the two of them argued Leo had decided to self medicate his ever growing headache with more alcohol. ‘Maybe I could try and talk to some of the ponies here. Find some place that’s desperate for work.’ His thoughts were cut off as he realized as he moved toward anypony they all sort of moved away in reflex. All watching him nervously. At first glance it looked like they were all talking and acting like there wasn’t a problem.

But under that was a worry he didn’t see before, like they were afraid, as if the second something went wrong they were ready to bolt. ‘Maybe I should just stay near the cider then’

It wasn’t long until the two apple themed ponies had gotten Leos attention again.

“Ah Am really sorry about what my brother Big Mac here said to you. You are welcome to work at the farm if ya still need a job. He went and decided something that wasn’t his to decide.” With a snort from the Big Red stallion Leo shook his head.

“No, I don’t have a job yet. But no, I am not going to work on your farm.”

“Well now you can start- what now?” Unlike Applejack, Big Mac seemed to be happy with this.

“If a member of your family doesn’t want me their, why would I try? That's just askin for trouble.” Big Macs response was to nod. It had looked like he had won.

“Now wait a tick here, Leo you don’t have to worry about that. Ah would-“

“Don’t care” he said rubbing the bridge between he eyes. “I know I need a job to get my own place. Trust me I don’t WANT to be a burden on anyone. If your brother doesn’t want me there its not like he’s just gunna be okay with it cause you say so.”

“Probably couldn’t handle the work anyway.” Big Mac said feeling confident in his victory.

“Big talk for a guy who has to go around his sisters back.” Leo shot back.

Another snort was his response. “Now thats enough. Your both acting like colts. Leo, you really need this. Its going take a lot of good faith to get the town to start to accept you. Ah don’t know if ya noticed but, ponies are talking.”

“Oh I noticed. I noticed the first day I was here, none of you can whisper that well.”

“Thats what ah mean, with no pony to vouch for you, your stuck.”

With a long sigh Leo stayed silent. He knew she was right, he didn’t like it. But she was.

“Fine.” He said through gritted teeth. “You gunna be decent about this Red?”

Much to Applejacks surprise he responded with, “Nope.”

“Now what did Ah just say about you acting like a foal?”

“What if we have a little wager then huh?” Leo said looking at the large red stallion. “Pick something we can do here, if I win. I work like AppleJack he wants. And you gotta get over this petty shit your doing. If you win, I’ll just go without a job for awhile longer.”

Without a moment of hesitation he responded with “Deal.”

“You shouldn’t have done that, Leo Big Macs no push over.” She said worried about what BigMac might pick.

Looking over Leo and as he went for yet another cup of cider Big mac had decided.

———-

“Wait, he drank BIgMac under the table?” Rainbow interrupted her tone matching the level of shock on Non’s face.

“That he did, then he went on about human movies and kept telling stories. Some of the folks here actually enjoyed it. It was nice seein him not so.. um mean? No thats not right. Relaxed, he seemed relaxed.”

——-

“Waaaaaaaake uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuup”

“Uuugh” which is followed by a very heavy belch.

“Eeeewwww, smells like those sour liquor candy’s Rarity buys.”

Rubbing his face and slowly lifting his head from the table. The skin slowly pealing itself away. “What? Oo that is rank.” He states as he starts waving his hand to remove the odor.

With a giggle pinkie nodded. “I was really worried cause they say its bad to sleep with your face down like that in case you throw up! Cause then you could get stuck and drown on your vomit and thats no good cause it could-“

“Can I use the restroom?” Seeing the odd and maybe a littles miffed look she was giving him spurred him to add. “Sorry, it couldn’t t wait.”

After a short while in the bathroom, Leo comes back out to the bakery with a somewhat washed face thanks to the sink. Sitting back down and seeing how dark out it is he realizes its probably time for him to get out and stop being Pinkie Pies problem.

“Getting dark huh? Is it time for to go?”

Surprisingly Pinkie had waited patiently in the booth and only really roused once she realized Leo was back. “Oh not really! I just got the twins to lay down and wanted to chat! I was so busy introducing you to everypony that I didn’t even get to talk to you!”

“Oh okay. What do you wanna talk about?” He asked clearly surprised that he wasn’t being shoved off.

“Well Twilight told me about your little fight, what was that all about.”

“Your rather direct huh?”

“Well I heard her side, I wanna hear yours. You seem nice but, what you said was reeeeealy mean.”

“I lost my temper its just. People suck okay? Not everyone but It just seems every time something good happens, it goes sour.”

Pinkie nods slowly but doesn’t say anything. So Leo takes that as a sign to continue.

“I also was going off humans, so ponies are probably different. I mean everything else here seems so damn perfect, should have assumed you all have fairytale romances and live happily ever after with your soul mates.”

“Not always.” Pinkie, finally interjects. Her tone turning more somber “Has anyone told you how ponies date, or court or anything?”

“Well Non and Rainbow sure gave me a few sounds, but thats it.”

She gives a half-hearted giggle “Yeah, well I am sure that hasn’t helped your attitude. But when two people are soulmates here they share a song, its kinda like their magic ties together. Thats what happened to Rainbow and Non. They had this whole ballad in the middle of ponyville.”

Leo snorts, “Wait your telling me the two of them just started to sing like sone Disney cartoon. I cant picture either of them singing, let alone like that.”

“It was really nice, two ponies sharing a love song isnt super common. Everypony else usually a find a heard.”

“A what?”

“Its a group of ponies who get along, and decide to be with each other.”

“Well thats, different.”

“Yeah, Non told us how humans are. Mon-monga monagamaus? I think it was.”

“Uuh yeah, most of are anyway. Or at least try to be.” He adds on quickly, starting to wipe of the flakes of food stuck in the wiry hairs that have started to grow on his face.

“There you go making yourself sad again.” She says with a pout, “Why are you so negative about marriage?”

“Thats my business.”

A silence overtakes the sweets shop, Pinkie seems lost in thought. Then she starts again.

“Ill tell you a secret if you tell me yours. And I Pinkie Promise I wont tell anypony your secret if you wont tell mine.”

“What? Why would I?”-

“I am jealous of Rainbow Dashs special somepony.”

Leos face scrunches a bit. “Why?”

“I work hard everyday to make everypony smile. Is my job, I make everypony happy. And it keeps me reaalllly reaallly busy. So I haven’t had the chance to.... find somepony. And she got herself a LOVE song. Being just as busy, just like that. and she just. She just GOT one. While I still come home, and... somethings missing. I can feel it and. I dont like it.”

Pinkie seemed on the verge of tears. Leos face softened as she spoke. He barely knows this mare but yet. Maybe its because these pony’s are so adorable, yeah that must be it.

He hurriedly takes his ring off his finger and places it on the table between then. Pinkie looks at it and back to him with a questioning glance.

“What did Non tell you about human marriage.”

“Uum,” she think while she wipes away some of the tears. And a good breath in clearing her throat. “That the mare wears a white dress, they exchange vows.”

“Did he tell you how they propose marriage?” She shakes her head from left to right.

“The guy, presents the girl with a ring. And they both wear the rings to show they are married.” Shes nods in understanding.

“Oooooh, OH! NO! Your special Somepony is back on earth thats awful.”

“Not quite, we were but we split.”

“Oh, so thats why you said..”

“Part of it was, I am still trying to get over what happened. She, cheated on me Pink.”

“What like on her diet?”

“No, I caught her in bed with another man.”

“Did she not tell you? Or? ooooh thats right monogamy.”

“Yeah, it messed me up. Twilight didn’t do anything wrong. I was just being to sensitive.”

“Yeah, see though. Talking it out is good! Don’t you feel better!” Pinkies cheer coming back to her voice.

“Meh, maybe a little.” Leo says deadpan, shocking Pinkie a bit. Before a smile starts to creep on his face. Then the two start laughing. The hard and loud kind that comes with talking over stressful things.

As they start to get their breath back. “Don’t feel bad about being a little lonely, but if I may can I give you some advice?”

She nods, “Give yourself sometime to look. If you really wanna find someone, give yourself the chance to. I know its hard to say no sometimes but, you gotta make sure your happy too.”

“Yeah, your right. Guess I just needed to hear somepony say it. It is pretty late I wonder whats keeping them.“

“I wish I knew. Maybe they just assumed Id come back once I sobered up?”

“Maybe, wanna go ask?”

“Not really, but it is getting late. And I think I have a job to go to tomorrow.”

“Yeah, and it is getting late I guess.”

As Leo got up to leave he turned to Pinkie, “Mind if I come and see you tomorrow, Pink?”

“Not at all! Come here around five!”

“So long as I can.” He said with a wave as he left and started the walk back. Not looking forward to the conversations to come.

So Leo walked back to Non's and Rainbows house. The pitch black night engulfing the colors of the normally vibrant town. Leo felt lucky for the town lights, for without them he would be lost in the dark. The dark, just like before. His moderate pace slowed as the reminder hit him. He felt bad for lying to these creatures, but it was safer that way. So much better if they never had to know how he got here. Maybe he was just scared, that if they ever tried to send him back, he would end up back. Back. 'No, don't even think about it'
——