A whole new world; a long way down

I'm asleep I know it for a fact this time.

I mean I just had a dream about being chased by trees, funny thing being I was still a pony in the dream.

I don't remember falling asleep but wherever I am its comfortable and warm, not as nice as my cloud but still really nice.

i could lay here forever all warm and safe no more falling from high places or worse landing after falling from them.

Last time I was this comfortable I got struck by lightning.

Oh no, last time.

"GAHHDONTSHOCKMEI'MUP!" I yelled the jumbled mess of words tumbling out of my mouth as I shot up flailing my arms in front of me.

A small scared squeak and a blur of pink and yellow was the last thing I saw before the room span and I found myself passing out yet again.

I don't know how long I was out this time but I went with trying to open my eyes and work from there this time.

As my eyes adjusted to the light in the room i guess i must of been out for a good portion of the night and boy was i sore.

"W-what hit me?" I moaned a small spike of pain rewarding my new attempt at communication.

Rainbow Dash flitting in front of me hovering over my aching self.

"About two bushes and a rock" she said "I guess when you fell into that tree you took a knock to the head on the way down" her forehead frowning, I could tell she really regretted the shocking thing now.

At the mention of hitting I head my ha- uh hooves moved to my pounding head as I felt where there was a thick layer of bandages wrapped around my head right where that lump on my head was.

"We was close to her house when you fell so I took you to here, to Fluttershy's"

At the mention of the gentle pony I remembered so well from the show I heard a small and delicate voice.

"Uhm, hello Mr Cloud Dropper" her head rising next to me from where I assume she had been hiding living up to her name shyly waving a hoof as she did peeking over the edge of her bed whispering her greeting.

Mentally I Squeed, there is no other word for it she really was adorable, even more so in person than through a screen.

"I guess I have you to thank for this ?" Moving a hoof to my well bandaged head grinning awkwardly as yet again the heat rose up my face.

Ugh I am no good at meeting new people let alone pony's as awesome as Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.

"oh my did I wrap your head too tightly?!" Fluttershy gasped seeming to shrink smaller as she she did.

Oh no, I upset her, not good.

"Oh, no no no!" frantically waving my hooves as I sat up.

"You did perfectly I simply meant uh thank you for helping me" I mumbled looking down as I pressed my hooves together feeling terrible for possibly offending my impromptu nurse.

For the first time I actually felt my ears flatten against my head, I forgot they did that it was actually kind of cool, in a strange kind of way although the current situation prevented me playing with them in curiosity.

"Oh that's quite alright I'm just glad you are okay" the yellow pony replied smiling at me the confidence returning to her as she stood up beside the bed.

"oh my please excuse me its time for me to feed all the little critters their dinner" Fluttershy softly said as she glanced at the clock before she gracefully trotted outside humming a song to herself gathering a basket of what I assumed to be the "critters" food in her mouth.

After watching the pale pink tail vanish through the door curiosity got the better of me and I decided to climb out of bed and stretch my legs.

Climbing out of the bed proved a bit more problematic than I would have liked the blanket managing to get tangled in my legs and even getting wrapped around one of my wings causing me to pretty much fall yet again to the ground, which at least had the decency to be only a short distance away.

Climbing to all fours as I tried ignoring Rainbow Dash's sniggering from above me as I yawned and stretched my aching body after my impromptu nap.

Rearing up on my hind legs as I stretched yawning, this was where my human part of me decided to indulge myself on one of my less publicly acceptable sins.

Bringing my hooves together as I reached the pinnacle of my stretch I tried to crack my knuckles, something I had done for years every time I woke up from a good sleep, of course the motion of my hooves slipping off each other and my fore-legs to fly apart causing me to over balance falling once more to the floor hardly did wonders to my battered frame, Rainbow Dash rolling around in the air yucking it up did little to improve the situation.

Grumbling under my breath as I climbed to my hooves wobbling with a distinct lack of grace compared to that shown by Fluttershy as I made my way to the door way my kind host had recently left through.

My irritation instantly evaporated replaced by wonder as I saw Fluttershy moving around her garden from animal to animal kind words and food showering down everywhere she graced as she did, it really was hard to be in a foul mood with such a sight the sheer variety of wildlife in such a small area blew my mind, seeing it on a screen was one thing but to actually bare witness to such a spectacle truly impressed me with the yellow mares abilities as she seemed to glow in the light of the setting sun.

The sight of all the animals eating the food Fluttershy had given all the animals awoke a hunger of my own that had remained silent until now.

The rumbling of my stomach was loud enough to draw the sound of flapping wings behind me, turning to see Rainbow Dash floating behind me.

"Woah when did you last eat?" Rainbow Dash's hoop poking me in the flank to accentuate her point along with another small giggle.

I know I ate last night I knew that for sure, a big pizza to be precise but that was the me me not the pony me and i had the sinking feeling that Cloud Dropper's stomach was yet to be graced with food.

"Uhm I, I don't remember uh Either yesterday or never?" I answered on reflex yet again my brain taking the backseat and letting Mr mouth get me into more trouble.

Rainbow Dash's rebuke was intercepted by a meek "oh my" issuing from my direction, mainly through the open doorway I was blocking.

Turning around I realised I was face to face with Fluttershy who had I assume finished feeding the critters and had tried to enter her home only to find me blocking the way.

"Uhm I'm sorry Mr Cloud Dropper I didn't mean to be in the way, I can wait for you to finish what you are doing if that's okay with you" Fluttershy's ears had flattened against her head her posture shrinking down as she virtually whispered this to me.

Awkwardly shuffling backwards as I forced my legs to obey my intentions as I moved backwards to let the butterscotch mare into her home mumbling apologies as I did.

Typically the timing couldn't have been better as Fluttershy passed me my stomach decided that it was the perfect time to give another primeval rumble, eliciting a terrified squeak and a blur of pink as the shy mare rocketed into the air hiding behind her blue friend up above only the tips of her hooves and her eyes peeking over Rainbow Dash's flank.

"Sorry Fluttershy that was me, uhm well my stomach actually, kinda skipped a few meals today" I said an awkward grin yet again gracing my face as I sat back on my haunches pointing to my stomach wishing the ground would swallow me whole.

I don't know weather it was comedic timing or my own hunger awakening something in Rainbow Dash but a rumbling from above caused another flutter blur as Fluttershy vanished out of the room entirely.

"Ugh thanks Cloud now I'm hungry thanks to you I didn't get to snack or nap today" Rainbow Dash face hoofing with a grimace.

Holding my side I rolled onto my sides finally having a reason of my own to laugh since arriving here in Equestria.

I guess she saw the funny side as my new azure friends also joined in the laughter.

The sounds of laughter and not the sound of a vicious animal must have drawn Fluttershy from her hiding place as she cautiously stepped through the doorway back into the room.

"Uhm I was about to have dinner and if you are really that hungry you could stay for dinner, that is if you don't have anywhere else to be I mean" Fluttershy said to us one eye peeking out from under her mane.

"That would be wonderful thank you so much" I said nodding happily, I swear i could have been drooling at that point as our gracious host trotted out of the room.

Licking my lips as I began fantasising about the food I could eat  pizzas, burgers even massive piles of steaks or bowls of steaming spagetti bolognese!

I knew I was probably drooling at this point and i didn't care because my mind has just been using all those foods in build up to the holy grail of foods, bacon.

At this point i had retreated into my mind completely distracted with scenes of anything with bacon.

"Hey Cloud get over here!" Rainbow Dash called to me snapping me from my bacony fantasy beckoning over to me as she sat at the table as Fluttershy entered the room a huge bowl balanced on her back.

Food!

My enthusiasm and hunger had gifted me with sure footedness as I faultlessly trotted to the table sitting at a free place licking my lips at the sight of the huge bowl being placed on the table.

I was practically vibrating with excitement as Fluttershy took the ladle in her mouth and filled a bowl passing it over and placing it before me.

Oh boy oh boy...

Oh.

Salad.

I was a pony.

I had wings, hooves a dark blue coat of a pegasus and unfortunately it seemed I had the digestive system of one too.

Bugger.

"Oh dear you don't like it do you, I'm sorry I thought I followed the recipe like it said" Fluttershy obviously saw the crestfallen look on my face and I admit I hadn't tried too hard to hide it.

The salad looked amazing even better than Angel's salad, like the one I remember from the show.

I lifted one of the larger leaves hoping there was bacon hiding under there.

Nope.

"Oh uh no no it looks delicious, uh thank you" I forced a huge smile as I dipped my head taking a mouthful of greenery and chewing it economically before swallowing trying not to choke on the half chewed mass as I tried deluding myself it was packed full of meaty goodness.

I continued my meal in silence while Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy had their own conversation I was happy to be left out of

as I was too busy privately mourning my omnivore diet.

Fluttershy asking me a question snapped me out of my sulking.

"So where did you come from Mr Cloud Dropper?" she said in her soft voice looking at me a gentle smile on her face.

Scratching a hoof on my chin grateful for the distraction from my sulking, I wasn't sure how to even begin explaining where I came from.

My origins were from another world, that would be hard enough to explain as it is especially one where my equine hosts and their entire existence was just a kids show, a kids show with a phenomenal following but I doubt that would soften such a horrible fact, if they even believed me that is.

"Uhm well I guess I came from a far off place" I hesitantly began, that much was true enough.

"What was it like was there?" asked Rainbow Dash her curiosity also piqued.

"Grey, it was grey it was dull and lifeless like the energy and joy had gone and all that was left was the ghost of it all" I said smiling sadly, I couldn't vouch for every ones life back on earth but I knew my existence had been anything close to happy or eventful.

"That's boring, no wonder you came here its waay more cool sounding than that place" Rainbow dash said clearly not thinking her comment through, although I couldn't argue against what she said.

"What about your family or your friends, wont they miss you?" Fluttershy's eyes were wide with concern I could tell she didn't like the sound of where I had came from.

Ouch Fluttershy way to hit a sore spot for me.

"I - I uh don't exactly have any back home I kinda never really had the nerve to go out I just kinda stayed in and read my books" Ugh now i felt crappy and I missed my books too, great now I want my freaking cloud too.

"Great another egg head you sound like Twi's long lost twin" the blue pegasus snorted before laughing.

Yeah yeah Dashie I know about Daring Do.

I guess the knowing look on my face gave her second thoughts as she recovered herself.

"Uh not that there's anything wrong with books or egg heads" Rainbow Dash said waving a hoof a slight blush spreading across her face another awkward smile blooming below.

I had a feeling the questions were going to continue and I wasn't sure how much longer I could keep dancing around the truth that I wasn't a pegasus and that I didn't belong here and..

And I want my cloud.

Feigning a small yawn only to surprise my self with a real and much more enthusiastic yawn I turned to Fluttershy small yawny tears in the corners of my eyes that I wiped away.

"Oh my its gotten quite late do you have anypony that you can stay with tonight Mr Cloud Dropper?" my shy host asked me a small yawn following her question she daintily covered with a hoof.

Heh I guess yawns are as infectious with pony's as they are with humans.

"He could crash at mine but I'm not sure he could fly there" Rainbow remarked rubbing her chin with a hoof.

It would have been awesome to see the inside of her home and feel what a cloud house feels like, but like she said I knew my current limitations and anything higher than a hop was seriously out of my league.

"uhm well I guess he could stay here for tonight i don't mind if its okay with you that is" turning to me smiling as she said it.

"Oh well uh

"I have some blankets somewhere, I can set up my bed on the sofa for tonight" she began fussing around poking her head into a cupboard as she began her hunt for the bedding.

Oh no I didn't like sleeping in the bed it felt weird with wings.

"Oh no no its okay I like my cloud" I smiled this time honestly, I really liked my cloud it was like my own cloud and it made everything happening really real to me.

After all sitting on a cloud makes it hard to say it is anything but reality.

"Well if you guys are cool with Cloud staying here I'm gonna head home" Rainbow Dash said stretching her wings.

I was about to wish her a good flight when she turned to me pushing her face close to mine her face lacking any humour.

"If you try any funny business I'll buck the salad out of you" a hoof jabbing into my chest to make her point clear.

I nodded mutely but I understood what she meant.

"Uh yeah I know I would never do anything at all" I almost pinky promised but thought better of it what with technically never having met pinky before, that would have been hard to explain away.

Her rose coloured eyes narrowed slightly before she smiled at me turning around and flying out the door without a word.

Moments later a cloud floated through the doorway being nudged by the sky blue pegagus.

"Okay I believe you, here's your cloud Cloud" grinning to herself at her own pun.

Yay.

I buried my face in my cloud feeling the comforting softness looking up and smiling at her.

"Thank you and goodnight Rainbow dash" my voice came out muffled by my cloud.

"Goodnight Rainbow have a safe flight home" Fluttershy said as she trotted over next to us waving a hoof as Rainbow Dash waved back before bracing herself against the ground outside.

"Goodnight Fluttershy, goodnight Cloud" she called as she flew away blasting off at an insane speed leaving nothing behind but a multi coloured trail behind her as she became a tiny blue speck in the darkening sky.

I turned around nosing my cloud into the center of the room as I felt not using all my new found legs would have me on the floor again.

Satisfied I braced my self before jumping up and hooking my fore hooves on my clod and half dragging half hopped the rest of the way up falling back onto it with a happy sigh.

What a day this has been.

Thankfully this time I got to fall asleep without self injury, and that didn't take long either.

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Hello everyone I'm sorry for the delay on this chapter I had a nasty cold for the first week and I struggled to get into Fluttershys mind set so if it feels forced or off then I apologise.

However with your constructive critisiscism ( and I mean useful stuff please ) i can only get better, thank you all for reading my tale.

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I do putting it here.

D5