"995...996....997", I counted using all my upper body strength into every push up. My dragon friend Spike who'd been sitting on my back the entire time cheered me on as he kept track of a timer I gave him.
"Come on Alex, you're almost there. You're about to beat your record.", Spike mentioned egging me on to keep going. It definitely worked for sure and made me even more determined. Besides I only had three left to go, but my sore muscles made it feel impossible.
"998...999...1000", I plopped onto the ground, my muscles pulsating and straining. I mustered up the rest of my strength to at least look up at Spike who was patiently waiting for me to recover. "So...how'd I do?"
"Fifteen minutes this time. Twilight was right, your upper body strength is out of this world.", Spike responded, sounding quite impressed. Damn, I was really aiming for ten this time. He held out a clawed hand and helped me get to my feet, panting like a dog. Spike handed me a dry towel and I happily accepted it, wiping my sweaty face. My stomach gurgled and twitched with hunger to my surprise, catching me and Spike off guard.
"Well, I think it's about time we get some grub.", I joked, adding emphasis by rubbing my belly. "Then we can continue my training afterwords."
"Yeah, I could go for a bite.", Spike agreed.
"Alrighty then, hop on buddy."
Spike eagerly clung to my back before I took off to the skies with a force so powerful it shook the ground below. I felt Spike's claws gripping tightly onto my shoulders, making me slightly uncomfortable.
"This is gonna take some time getting used to.", Spike muttered, earning a chuckle out of me. Guess he must've had some kind of fear of heights, although he is a dragon so that just makes it even more confusing.
Though that minor thought didn't stop me from admiring the beauty of Equestria; it's nothing like Earth. Sometimes I wish I could go back, be with my own people, but I can't change what happened.
Before I had arrived in Equestria I lived on Planet Earth, my Planet Earth. The only difference was there weren't any talking colorful horse people, dragons, mythical creatures, or magic just...Humans. Over a couple hundred years past the Twentieth century, the human race began to change and evolve, in many ways. Not only did our technology, medicine, and military get better but our genetics began to change too.
People began to gain all sorts of abilities, some choose to use them for good and to help those less fortunate than them. Others choose to abuse their gift and use them for evil and to harm the innocent. As far as I'm aware my powers vary from Heat Vision, Flight, and Enhanced Physical Strength. I'm basically Superman, eh...kind of I'm certainly no man of steel, but I'm powerful in my own way.
I was one of the lucky few who understood the potential I had with these newfound abilities. Though even with all of our powers combined, nothing could prepare Humanity for what was to come. There was one thing that always held Humanity back, being divided was our biggest weakness.
Eventually we began butting heads and a war broke out. A war that in the end, nobody came out on top. I had lost everything, family, friends, and my home. But I never gave up on hope that things will get better for me. So far I'm still adjusting, but I have unabated faith that this will become my new home.
"Here we are, Sugarcube Corner.", I announced, slowly descending in front of the bakery. I swear just by looking at the sweet exterior of this place sometimes makes me drool. Spike immediately leapt off my back once my feet were planted on the ground. I followed the drake into the bakery, and straight away my nostrils were struck with an intoxicating aroma from the freshly baked goodies. Me and Spike went to the counter. Spike rang a bell to signify whoever was working that they had customers.
"Just a second!", the familiar voice of a pink party mare sang from the kitchen.
While we waited, I bent down examining all the delectable pastries protected by a glass casing. My breath began to fog up the glass as I panted in anticipation like a dog, to the point where I couldn't see. Bringing my hand to the glass I wiped away the fog before being greeted by a friendly smile from Pinkie Pie.
"Looks tasty doesn't it?", Pinkie asked, beaming at me. I yelped in shock and fell flat on my ass. I clutched my beating heart while blankly staring up at the ceiling. It was enough to make me forget about my current hunger.
"Pinkie…", Spike groaned and helped me up off the ground.
"Sorry, didn't mean to scare you Al.", Pinkie bashfully smiled. Back on my feet, I finally got a good look at my pink friend.
Pinkie wasn't like all the other mares in Ponyville, in more ways than one. She was more on the pudgy side while still somehow managing to keep a curvaceous figure, pink fur, cyan eyes, and a hot-pink mane and tail, both which were very unkempt and frizzy, and two ballon tattoos on both her wrists. She wore a light blue top that stopped above her navel with the words "Party Pony" printed in bold lettering, and cuffed jean shorts.
Her personality for one was...something I'm still trying to decipher, but she's there for all her friends and even strangers. Just like Spike, she accepted me with open arms into Ponyville when it seemed nobody else would. So I'll always be loyal to her and think of her as a close friend or someone that I can trust, Plus she threw me a huge welcoming party.
"So what would two like today?", Pinkie asked, swinging back into her more cheerful self.
"Geez, all that stuff looks mouthwatering.", Spike responded and looked up at me. "Guess I'll take one Ruby Raspberry Cupcake, What about you, Alex?"
"Hmm...ya know what? Surprise me Pinkie.", I answered as the pink pony wrote down our orders.
"Okie dokie!", Pinkie saluted before happily skipping out of view, presumably to get our orders. I clutched my stomach as it rumbled a lot louder this time, a blush spreading across my cheeks as Spike chuckled to himself.
As we waited patiently for Pinkie to come back I couldn't help but notice ponies staring at me from outside the bakery. Pointing at me, talking to one another about me. It made me remember that I still wasn't entirely welcome here, especially being the topic of everyone's discussion for the past week. I felt Spike dragging his hand across my back in a soothing manner to help put me at ease, I guess he could tell how uncomfortable I was from the unwanted attention coming from outside.
"Let them stare, everypony is still taking some time to get used to you being here is all. When Twilight and I first came here, I got all sorts of looks but I let everypony know I'm not all that bad like they thought.", Spike explained in a reassuring tone. "You know, you could do the same?"
I knew he was right. As much as this sucks, I'd have to prove to everybody that I can be trusted, that was gonna take some time but I'll be worth it in the end. Spike's words for sure gave me a lot to think about.
"Twilight! We're back!", Spike yelled as we entered the library. Though when Spike turned on the lights, we noticed crumpled paper balls were scattered on the floor. Across from us was Twilight Sparkle seated at the dining table. Her mane was completely matted and her eyelids were saggy, along with her usual attire which seemed worn out.
Twilight was scribbling on scroll after scroll while muttering to herself. She seemed kinda...out of it, it was unsettling really.
"Uh oh.", Spike muttered.
"What's up with Twilight?", I asked with concern in my voice.
"I know what that look is, she can't figure out what to write to Princess Celestia.", Spike mentioned.
I hadn't known Twilight for more than a week, but even then she never struck me as someone who'd stress over something like this. Though I felt like I shouldn't have been surprised, considering Spike once told me a situation similar to this. Apparently Twilight couldn't write one of her weekly letters to their Princess, so Twilight lost it. Then one thing led to another and somehow a doll was involved, but I'm not gonna go into details since I can't entirely remember the full story myself.
"You ok Twilight?", I piped up.
"Huh? What?", Twilight scrambled, her eyes darting around the room frantically before stopping on Spike and I. "Oh you two back early! Um...what time is it?"
"It's 9pm.", Spike casually answered. Twilight took a deep breath and sat back down. She put on a smile which I could easily tell was fake.
"So...What did you boys do today?"
"I helped Alex with more of his training, Then afterwards we went to Sugarcube Corner, then we did some more training.", Spike said.
"What about you Twi? You're looking a little under the weather. Is everything alright?", I asked with concern. I was genuinely concerned for Twilight's well-being. My intuition allowed me to quickly catch on and realize that something was up.
It took awhile until Twilight opened her mouth to answer. "I've just been trying to figure out what to write to Celestia. Today has been stressful enough with all the ponies asking about 'My New Pet' or 'The Monkey Man' living in my home. Did you know fillies and colts are starting to make up nursery rhymes about you?"
Geez, guess Ponyville was letting Twi have it ever since my arrival. I sorta felt like I was to blame for all this and I wanted to make up for it. Thanks to my quick thinking skills, I instantly came up with a solution. One that may just help Twilight and I. "You think I could write a letter to Celestia for a change? You can go get some rest."
"You sure?", Twilight yawn while rubbing her sore eyes.
I nodded. "Yeah, of course. Spike, could you help Twi get to bed? I'll be done shortly after I clean up this mess and finish this letter."
"Alrighty then."
Spike helped the half awake Twilight Sparkle make it up the stairs. I collected all the crumpled up paper balls scattered around the living room one by one while chucking them all in the trash. After that, I seated myself at the table and dipped the quill pen in Ink before I started bringing out my inner writer.
Dear Princess Celestia,
This is Alexander the human, I'm sure you've heard of me. I had to give Miss Sparkle a break before she lost her mind over this letter, so I decided I'd write to you instead. My first week here in Equestria has been unlike anything I've ever experienced. Still adjusting to my new life here, but I can't help but admire this planet and it's creatures. They're all so beautiful and Ponyville is filled with such kind sympathetic souls.
Those like Twilight and Spike. Of course some still fear me and haven't gotten used to my presence, but I don't blame them. I know I'll have to earn their trust through my actions.
My species could've learn a thing a two from all of ponykind. Everypony here looks so happy, there's no conflict amongst one another, no war. Just...happiness and pure joy, something I haven't seen in a long time. I'll do whatever it takes to keep seeing that.
I can only truly look forward to see what the future holds for me here and I hope that we meet face to face someday.
Sincerely,
Alexander Junis
I rolled up the scroll and had Spike send it to Celestia. That night while I laid on the couch thinking to myself, I couldn't help but still be baffled to know what my life has come to. I'm living on a Planet full of anthropomorphic equines and other sorts of creatures I simply thought were believed to be fictional.
But here I am living in it. Everyone I knew back home would never believe me if I could tell them. I felt a sudden warmth brush over me as I thought of my family and friends. I felt as if they were watching me from above, witnessing this life changing journey of mine. Seeing who I'd grow into.
I smiled to myself before shutting my eyes. I drifted off to sleep, wondering what tommorow will be like.
Author's Note
Thanks for reading, please do let me know what you think. I'm personally very self conscious of my own writing and would love to hear the opinions of others. I've been wanting to write something like this for awhile, but didn't know how to go about it.
