Metro: A New World

Ponyville's library was peacefully quite, with the only sound being that of certain purple unicorn lightly snoring and building intricate and expansive castles in her mind. Of course, Celestia's golden rays from her immaculate sun woke the unicorn out of her dream state. With a rather annoyed groan, the unicorn rubbed the sleepiness from her eyes as she sat up in bed. After yawning and contemplating on whether or not to sleep the day away, Twilight got out of bed and proceeded with her usual morning routine. After freshening herself up, Twilight descended the stairs and was caught off guard by what she saw. On her couch, the human known as Artyom was sleeping with her Egghead's Guide to Equestria on his face. She couldn't help but laugh as she could hear the somewhat suppressed snores from underneath her book. Twilight then entered the kitchen and filled her teapot with water. She then placed it on the stove as she began to procure mint leaves for her tea. Before she could continue, the sound of knocking was heard from her library's front door. She went to open it but froze when she remembered that Artyom was still on the couch. Looking around quickly, Twilight spotted a blanket and hastily threw it over Artyom's passed out form. After making sure it wasn't noticeable and saying a quick prayer to Celestia, she opened the door.

"Hey, Twilight!" exclaimed Pinkie.

A sense of dread began to form in the back of Twilight's mind. "Oh. Hey, Pinkie Pie. What brings you here?" she hesitantly asked.

"I haven't visited you in awhile, which made me sad because I feel as if I'm neglecting our friendship. So I'm here to remedy that."

Beads of sweat began to form on Twilight's brow. She couldn't let Pinkie in and risk her finding Artyom. Pinkie thankfully still hadn't noticed her couch and why her cover was oddly spread out on it.

"That's much appreciated, Pinkie, but I'm kinda busy right now."

"But you just woke up. I can tell by the faint smell of mint emanating from the kitchen. That means you're making your morning tea, which also means you woke up no longer than ten to fifteen minutes ago."

Twilight's jaw dropped. "How did you know that?"

Pinkie pulled a pipe out of cotton candy hair. "Elementary, my dear Twilight." The pink pony than blew bubbles out of said pipe.

"Riiiiight." said Twilight as she dragged out the one syllable word.

Pinkie quietly puffed more bubbles before asking "You gonna let me in or not?"

The sense of dread began to grow, making her heart rate increase.

With a fake smile, Twilight responded. "Sorry. No can do."

Pinkie squinted her eyes and got uncomfortably close to Twilight's face. Pinkie's cerulean eyes burrowed deep into Twilight's mind. It felt as if the pony before her were reading her soul. After a few tense moments, Pinkie removed herself from Twilight's face and smiled. "That's okay, Twilight. I'll come back when you're ready." With that, Pinkie turned around and walked into Ponyville. Twilight closed her door and sighed in relief. The purple unicorn removed the cover from the still sleeping human and proceeded back into the kitchen. Twilight prepared her mint tea and was about to enjoy her first sip when the sound of glass breaking was heard from the main room.

Oh no.

Twilight dropped her tea and sprinted into the main room of the library. To her astonishment, she saw Pinkie on the ground, knife to her neck, with Artyom on top of her.

"Artyom?"

"I take it that she is one of your friends, right?" asked the human.

"Yes. Now would you please let her go?"

The human sighed as he began to remove his weight and knife from the pink pony's body. Pinkie stared in amazement as Artyom stood up and showed Pinkie his tall form. There was a tense silence in the air until Pinkie's mouth began to form a smile.

"OMG IT'S A HUMAN!!!"

I had gotten a decent way into the book Twilight generously allowed me to read last night. The description of Equestria, the name of this land, was like something out of a fairy tale. Mystical creatures from dragons to phoenixes, to creatures only heard of from Ancient Roman and Greek myths. Before I slept, I decided on asking Twilight if I could tour the local town and get my bearings, but that decision was made for me by a rather hyper, and rather talkative, pink pony.

"OMG IT'S A HUMAN!!!" was the first sentence uttered by the pink pony. Not the reaction as I was expecting. I was waiting for something along the lines of Don't kill me! or I'm too pretty to die! Something along the lines of that. One thing that kinda creeped me out was the pony's smile. The pony just smiled at me, almost akin to Hannibal Lecter smiling before a kill.

"So, your name's Artyom, right?" inquired the pink pony.

"Yes. And your's is?" I responded.

The pink pony got up on two legs and began to shake my hand like a madman, well, in this case, madmare. "I'm Pinkie Pie and I'm super fantastically glad to make your acquaintance."

"Thank you. Nice to meet you to." I managed to say as Pinkie continued to shake my hand.

"Pinkie. Would you please stop shaking Artyom's hand?" asked Twilight.

Pinkie's face turned alight red as she released her grip on my hand. "Sorry. Got kinda carried away there."

"No worries." I said.

....Wait

"Ms. Pie?" I asked.

"Yes, Artyom?"

"How did you know that I'm a human?"

"Oh that's easy. There's a pony named Lyra that's believed that your kind exist and has tried to prove it."

"So you know from her."

"I have a very open mind."

I chuckled. "I figured as much."

"Uh, Pinkie, now would you kindly explain as to why YOU BROKE MY WINDOW?!" asked a rather annoyed Twilight.

Pinkie turned to Twilight. "My Pinkie Senses told me that you were hiding something. And I was right."

"But did you really have break my window?"

"I couldn't break through the door, silly. Wood is much harder to break through than glass."

Twilight placed a hoof to her face and groaned.

"Pinkie Sense?" I asked.

"It's like telepathy, or ESPinkie." the pony laughed at her joke.

I turned to Twilight. "Twilight?"

"Yes, Artyom?" responded Twilight.

"I've been meaning to ask you something. Is it possible to--"

"Give you a tour of Ponyville? Of course! It would be rude if she didn't." interrupted Pinkie.

I was taken aback by Pinkie completing my sentence for me. Twilight was also stunned by this.

"Pinkie, how did you know--"

"What he would say next? I told you, Pinkie Senses." heavily emphasized Pinkie.

"Have to admit. That's pretty cool." I said.

"Before we get off track, you were saying something about wanting a tour, Artyom?"

"Yes. I would like to gain my bearings of this place. That, and get something to eat." As I finished, my stomach groaned in agreement.

"Got ya covered, Artyom." said Pinkie as she procured a bag from her curly hair.

"Might I ask what exactly is inside that?" I asked.

"It's a cupcake, silly! I wouldn't put anything else in it."

"No offense, but I'm a bit apprehensive to eat something you pulled from your hair."

"Trust me. My hair is super clean, perhaps the cleanest, aside from Rarity's." Pinkie assured

I was about to continue my argument, but my stomach protested against that idea.

"Fine." I took the cupcake and closely examined white treat with pink frosting. After being thoroughly satisfied that this baked good wasn't a trap, I took a hesitant bite into it. Thanks to my curiosity, I was rewarded with an explosion of delightful taste.

"This is good." I said with my mouth still full.

Pinkie's mouth grew into an enormous smile at the sound of my compliment.

After I finished the treat, I turned back to Twilight. "Any ideas as to how we can go about this tour without causing mass panic?"

Twilight put a hoof to her chin and began mumbling under her breath. It wasn't long before Twilight's face started to beam in excitement.

"Wait here." said Twilight as she bolted up the staircase.

"May I ask who Rarity is?" I said to Pinkie.

"Rarity is the town's dressmaker. She runs a clothing shop called The Carousel Boutique." answered Pinkie.

"I take it by her name and job description that she is a woman of high standard, right?"

"Exactly."

"You think she can make some casual ware for me? My clothes have seen better days."

"Possibly. She is quite generous when it comes to this kind of thing."

"Excellent."

"Also, why are you wearing your armor now? Isn't hot in there?"

"Not really. I feels cozy in here, save for the mild pain in my shoulder and leg."

"What happened?"

"I was attacked by a pack of timber wolves."

Pinkie gasped.

"Don't fret, believe me, I have experienced much worse."

"How much worse?"

"Ever ride a motorized handcar down an abandoned train tunnel while horrid monstrosities try to chase and kill you?"

"....No."

"Then this is practically a paper cut. In a sense."

Before Pinkie could interject, a loud crash was heard upstairs.

"You okay, Twilight?!" shouted Pinkie.

"I found it!" exclaimed Twilight.

"You found Narnia?!"

"No! My invisibility cloak!"

Pinkie hung her head down. "Awww."

Twilight then came running down the stairs, levitating a pure black cloak.

"That's supposed to turn you invisible?" I skeptically asked.

"Oh ye of little faith. Pinkie, why don;t you prove him wrong." said Twilight.

Pinkie instantly perked up as she grabbed the cloak.

"Feast your eyes." Pinkie through the cloak over herself and sure enough, disappeared.

I stood there, stunned and bewildered.

Did...did that just happen?

I walked over to where Pinkie used to be and felt around. She was gone.

"That's freaky." I said.

"Freaky, but totally awesome!" said Pinkie.

I swung around to see if she was behind me. Nothing but the bookshelf.

I turned to Twilight. "May I try it out?"

"Sure. Pinkie, take off the cloak." ordered Twilight.

"Sure thing!" Pinkie then materialized before me, cloak in hoof. "Try it."

I took the cloak from Pinkie's grasp and threw it over myself. Sure enough, I could see through the cloak perfectly as if I wasn't wearing it.

"Can you see me?" I asked.

"Nope. All I see is my library." answered Twilight.

"I don't see you, Artyom. Where are you?" asked Pinkie.

I didn't answer. Instead, I quietly moved behind Pinkie and waited.

"Artyom! Where are you?"

I carefully removed the cloak and put my head on her shoulder. "Behind you." I said in growling voice.

"Ah!!!!" screamed Pinkie as she rocketed toward the ceiling in fright.

Twilight and I did nothing but stare as Pinkie broke through the ceiling and disappeared into the morning sky.

"Well...that escalated quickly." I said.

"Indeed it did." responded Twilight.

"I'll just put the cloak back on and have you guide me. How does that sound?"

"Sounds fair. Oh, and Artyom?"

"Yes?"

"Please warn me the next time you try to scare Pinkie."

"Will do."

Pinkie then came screaming back down into the library and landed with a loud thud.

"You okay, Pinkie?" Twilight.

Pinkie started giggling "Of course, silly. That was a good scare by the way Artyom."

I smiled "Thank you."

"Now." Twilight said as she moved toward the door. I put on Twilight's cloak and waited for her to continue speaking. "Welcome to Ponyville, Artyom." Twilight then swung the door open.

Meanwhile in the Royal Palace....

Celestia woke from her slumber. Her sun was shining brightly through her window.

Luna raised the sun for me. I will have to thank her later.

The alabaster alicorn stretched her wings and yawned away and straggling drowsiness. Celestia then got out of bed and proceeded to go about her normal morning routine. She proceeded into the bathroom and levitated her toothbrush and toothpaste before her. She then turned on the tap, wet the toothbrush, and placed a line of toothpaste on it. The sun princess then began the task of cleaning her precious teeth scrupulously. After a while, Celestia brought over the mouthwash bottle and filled the cap with cleansing liquid. After she spat out the foam from the toothpaste, Celestia took the minty liquid and began to swish it around her mouth. She then bent over the sink and spat out the mouthwash. As she came up to look at herself in the mirror. Instead of seeing her reflection, Celestia instead looked into the eyes of a solitary Dark One. The two locked eyes for what Celestia felt was an eternity.

.....We only wanted peace......      .....Why can't you see that.....?

Celestia began to sweat as she felt a pressure growing in her head.

.....We do what we must......      .....To protect our kind.....

"Sister?" called Luna distantly.

.....Why can't you understand.....?

Luna opened the door to Celestia's room. "Celestia?"

ANSWER!!!!

"NO!!" screamed Celestia as she brought her hoof up and broke her mirror. The sun goddess began panting heavily as the pressure receded from her head.

"Celestia!" shouted Luna in concern. The moon princess saw Celestia on the bathroom floor, sweating and bleeding from a cut on her hoof.

Luna sighed "The Dark Ones?"

"Yes, dear sister. I believe we must eliminate this threat at once." said Celestia. The wound on her hoof began to close up and heal as she talked.

"You know they mean no harm, Celly."

"Don't be so naive, Luna. You know what they did." bitterly said Celestia.

"They did it out of defense!"

"THEY TOOK INNOCENT LIVES"

Luna slowly backed out of bathroom.

"Just leave. I'll be ready shortly."