Unexpected Company

by Astiam300

Rating: teen
Tags: Adventure, Human, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Original Character
Length: 8318

A simple earth pony has found an odd creature in the woods. Simple as that... Or not?

A simple earth pony has found an odd creature in the woods. Simple as that... Or not?

All his life Green Mount has fought back the idea of friendship and adventure, wandering alone for years, chasing bits at every corner, and avoiding close pony contact at every moment.

But today, well, today his life is about to change.

---

Finally a damn update! :D

Published 2013-08-06 03:40:02 UTC
Last updated 2013-09-06 03:16:00 UTC

Chapter 1: The Creature

Ok, I admit it. I don’t have the slightest idea of where to begin telling my story. You see, I am really bad at storytelling, even though I read a lot, I am bad, I just... Don't know how to describe things, how to tell things, I just...

*sigh*

Have you ever wanted to forget certain things? Like, leave them out of your mind? Just forget them. What I mean, or where I want to go is that my story, the story I am about to tell you now, is based on something that I can’t... Um... How can I say it properly... I can't... Get it off my chest, and I don’t know... Um... Heck I'm going elsewhere excuse me, but it's just difficult to me. Especially because I don’t speak much... Hehe, that's ironic, right now I am giving you, and I will give you, a whole speech, a whole story!

Way to go Green! Irony on its best.

Anyway, I guess I’ll just have to get used to it.

I speak very little. I think too much... Maybe quite a lot...

Wait a second this is odd, why am I so nervous about telling you this if it wasn’t sooo bad?

It’s just that... I’m sure that none of you will ever believe what I’m going to tell you now. What happened to me, what happened to him, to everyone. But why do I care, who reads these kind of stories?

Well, you see, I was going through the woods, back to- Oh right, right, you still don’t know who I am. I can’t begin to tell a story without speaking about who are the ones that are taking part in it, right? I could just not do so, and leave it like those more ‘mysterious’ stories the more studious ponies adore, but I’m not like those academic guys, I’m more simple. My experience is my knowledge, not those complex books with subjects I will never use in my life, but I'm not stupid, I read a lot to have a decent vocabulary, reading is interesting to me, is captivating and also it relaxes me. Give me a good book and you’ll give me a good day, or month.

I won’t go further from the original topic and I will tell you the story.

My name is Green Mount, I'm a moss-green earth pony with black hair with a few shades of white, I am of an average-big height, and I work every day, I think that’s everything you should know about me, you’re reading my thoughts after all so I don’t think it’ll be necessary to say more...

Oh, and him?

His name is... Is... Um... I don't know really... Is... "He"... He said a name but I don't believe him, he evades his past and says he has his own reasons or something. And... Nor I know whence he comes... Or what he wants... Or... Ok let's be honest, right now I know NOTHING, I know nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing about him. So, why do I help him?

That’s because actually, I know one little thing about him; he saved my life, and now, I am returning him the favor. Or at least that’s how I like to see it.

Ok, let's see...

Should I start at the beginning? No? Should I explain to you what he looks like? The favor? My past? What?

Um....

It would be better if I stop babbling and start talking... At this pace I will surely end up driving you crazy.

So, to get on to the story. It was a sunny day, and I'd just finished my last delivery in Manehatten. And I was returning with my trusty cart to the house of Mr. Rustycrown, my client, on a small place near Fillydelphia to notify him that the delivery was made and so I can get the rest of my pay. He usually pays me one half when he gives me the package, and the other half when I finish the delivery. It may be a slow system, but I like it.

That day I was using one of my favorite routes. It’s one of those great dirt roads that run throughout all Equestria, many trees... Forest... Nature... Yeah... I kinda feel comfortable when close to nature, and actually to be honest, I prefer those kind of routes over the trains. That doesn’t mean I don’t use them, I just don’t like them so much, they always screw up my luggage, and that’s not pretty helpful to help me to do what I have to do.

And now you may wonder, what do I have to do, what I do, let me explain you briefly: I walk. That’s what I do, every day, every week and every month I walk from Manehatten to Las Pegasus, from Vanhoover to Hayseed, I walk across all of Equestria, and sometimes even beyond, I’ve met all kinds of creatures, cities, and languages, I mean, my Cutie Mark is a road for Celestia’s sake!

I’m always going from one place to another without stopping.

Hmm... Now that I think about it, I’ve never established somewhere. I could settle down anywhere without any problem if I wanted to. But... No, I don’t think I would ever do it, I could have a house though, but my home will always be somewhere else... In another time... In another place... Maybe someday I’ll tell you about that.

My job consists of carrying letters, packages, do some works, errands... Yes, I perfectly know that there are many Pegasi for that job, and that they could even do it faster than me, but believe me when I say this, not all Pegasi can do the job that I do.

I carry delicate things, rare things, heavy things... Special things...

Such as that old telescope from that Applelosian lord, a shipment of Zap Apples from the famous Sweet Apple Acres farm --I love their cider--, heirlooms, or any other thing that is "important". It's my job to keep them safe, in my saddlebags, in my cart, on the road. Well, and that has been my life for about 5 years... Or six... I think six. Some ignorant --I don’t mean it a bad way-- may ask themselves if my life was full of adventure, and you know something, the answer is no, unlike what other ponies may think, I prefer to avoid the conflict and almost nothing ever happens to me, but it's not like everything has been rosy. My life, my routine, is based on walking, and bring important things to their destinations. Go from point A to point B. Nothing more nothing less. Nothing big has ever happened to me.

Until he came.

In my life, I have visited many places, I have seen many ponies, griffons, zebras, and even minotaurs. But never, and I swear to Princess Celestia, never in my life I encountered someone as weird as this guy... And yes, when I say someone I’m saying it on purpose.

Back to the story.

It was a long dirt road, surrounded by trees, rocks and singing birds. Everything was completely normal, and to be very honest my dear reader --which amazingly has read this far and keeps reading... Thanks for that...--, I don’t know how to describe you this road, is a simple dirt road that connects two cities. What can I say, I’m not a poet.

Five minutes of nothing passed, nothing, I walked... Walked... Walked... A little breeze... There was a so relaxing silence... But my steps were lowering their speed so I quickly regain my original pace, you know, the important thing is to get to my destination without distraction or any important delay, my steps were now advancing at a more fluid pace and thus I kept walking, so I walked... And walked, and walked, and walked and- KABOOOOM!!!!!

Suddenly, all brightened up as if a firework had just exploded beside me behind the trees to my right, a great light began to emanate a few meters away from me, as a great lightning. It was as if something had fallen, or exploited, or both, it was strange, it was buzzing, the floor shook, the breeze direction changed abruptly and became wind... It was intense... I think you could describe that thing as a huge slow motion explosion... L-lightning... Whatever...

I somehow shivered.

The earth shaking and the wind was so strong that my cart flew out of my back, scattering all my supplies. Thankfully I wasn't carrying any important package, only food and supplies, then, after a small calm second, a second loud bang hit me with something like a roar mixed with a thunder. I bent down very unbalanced, and covered my eyes and ears. I almost fell.

Then, it stopped.

I opened my eyes slowly, a little nervousness affected me, I didn't stood up, nor I moved, I didn't do anything, just that for a couple of seconds. I waited to adjust my eyes again, they ached a little.

My ears stood up, and shook a bit, I shook myself, and then, I got to my hooves.

I turned around and unconsciously almost in an automated manner I fixed my eyes on the food, and the first thing I see, to my dismay, is that all my food, apples, sandwiches and the cake that the good-hearted mare Cotton Cloud gave me, was on the floor, absolutely everything. Dammit.

Well at least the apples are still intact, and the traveling supplies.

So, after my hooves pushed the already shattered food to the side, I lifted the car back, but just when I wanted to start stacking everything. A creak.

I raised my head as I noticed something at the bushes behind the row of trees, something has moved, something is in there, should I go?

I heard creaks again... But this time they were accompanied by a voice, a long, soft groan of pain.

"Ooouugh"

The voice was strange, husky, but not like the voice of a large creature, or a small one, I’m not sure, you could hear something different.

Ok, I'll go and see, something's telling me this won't be something you see everyday.

In the middle of all the trees, there was a big column of smoke, surrounded by a cracked ground, fully affected by a kind of shock wave or something. The ground had an average of about five meters in diameter according to my calculations. The ground, like I said, cracked, and at the center of this, all plants, shrubs, flowers and etcetera, flattened against it forming a perfect circle around one strange figure that was at the center, surrounded by smoke and sparkling particles that gave the view a bizarre magical feeling.

I stayed a few seconds without doing anything, just looking at the place and reviewing the site, I could not bring myself to get closer. I just watched. In the end I just shrugged and began to turn around.

There wasn't much else to do...

"Ugh my head"

Or that's what I thought.

I turned around surprised... And then I saw him... Finally I saw him.

And his special greeting.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" He screamed insanely.

"AAHG!" I gave a little jump.

In front of me he was, lying on the floor, on his back, screaming like a complete idiot, eyes wide open, and looking at me with terror, paralyzed and dazed. The smoke was now fading.

“WHAT THE FUCK?!” Great now I feel like a damn alien.

Well, this... Creature... Let's see, how do you describe it... Everything happened so fast...

His body, the first thing it reminded me of was a teenager minotaur, saw a few in my travels, his torso, arms, and limbs, the shape was very similar, but his head and his color, did not fit at all with a minotaur, it reminded me more of a dressed monkey, yes... A monkey... Forget the Minotaur, a monkey... A Shaved... Tall... Heavily dressed monkey... With small mouth, and with some hair on the head...

In short, imagine a monkey, as tall as a teenager minotaur, almost without muscles, skinny, completely shaved, small mouth, black hair on his head. One odd thing.

Oh and I almost forgot, he also had at the end of his arms, um, where you would put the claws of a dragon, or my hooves in my legs... I have it on the tip of the tongue, really, um... Imagine something that has... How they were called?

Hands! Yes! Of course! Hands! Sorry but that's a pretty rare word for me, especially because only scientists use it to describe animals such as primates. Maybe he was a primate.

Well I’m done with the form, now, the clothing... What a strange thing... Yes, he was wearing clothes, and a lot of clothes, at least for my taste, I honestly don’t give a flying feather about how other ponies dress, while they’re not looking like clowns (By the way I have nothing against clowns).

So, this bipedal creature was wearing a hooded sweatshirt, pants (with a lot of pockets now that I realize), and black colored shoes.

That’s how you call those things right?

He also wore even more clothes in the lower layers of his clothing, but I could not see much.

Maybe he comes from somewhere cold?

I don’t know but still, it would be interesting to see where he comes from... Or she...

Well, this creature was in front of me, in a complete state of shock with his mouth and eyes wide open, and staring at me as if I were the first pony he had ever seen in his life.

Seconds passed, I was examining him, and --I think-- he was examining me. I looked at him, he looked at me. This seemed already like staring contest.

"Uum... I can help you?" I spoke in a serious but friendly tone. (Yeah I can do that)

The creature sat and finally removed his attention from my face, suddenly, he begins to observe his body with great curiosity, especially his hands, he put them in front of him, and begins to examine them as if they were old jewelry being reviewed by a senile jeweler pony. He flexes his... Hands... As he sees them, he studies them, and observes them.

“H-h-h-holy... F-fucking... S-sh-shit...”

Great he’s obsessed with cuss words!

He looks at me again, and then after covering his face, he looks back at his hands, kneels, and grabs some dirt, he holds it, and then he drops it through his... Um... Hand... Limbs?. He watches the scene stunned.

Great he’s on drugs!!

"Hello?"

"Y-y-you can you talk?!"

"And you ask me? How you can talk?”

And great!! I'm talking to a dressed shaved speaking monkey!!!

How is that even possible?

The creature looked at me, and slowly, instead of feeling offended or bothered by my little comment, a big, big smile took over his face, it was, it was as if he had won the Las Pegasus lottery. An enormous smile.

He held his head in his hands as he begins to wobble back and forth. Then, out of nowhere he gets up and starts jumping everywhere, bouncing and bouncing, waving his arms, head, screaming and hopping filled with joy like a foal at Heart’s Warming Eve.

"YES YES YES YES YEAAAH!!!!! I MADE IT! I'M IN EQUESTRIA!!! WOOOOOOO!!!!"

Woah! Seriously? I didn't notice!

And his shock came from him... To me...

What. The. Hay.

He kept jumping and jumping to then get to give one last big jump and, start dancing.

“EVERYDAY I’M SHUFFLIN’ SHUFFLIN’!... IN YOUR FACES BITCHES!!!"

"Um what you have with female dogs?"

"YAAAAAAY!! I'M IN EQUESTRIA" Yes, we both know that.

He was mad.

He hold his head in his hands and walked in circles quickly.

"OH MY GOD I’M HAVING A LUCID DR-no..." He stopped and took a breath. "Wait, that's impossible, everything looks so real and... And..."

He turned to me and stood right there like a statue. Now it was not strange, now was plainly creepy, he stood there for 15 seconds, 15. Full. Seconds. He fell to his knees.

"Oh god so I really... No… Calm down calm down calm down..." He began talking to himself, I think he was about to lose the little sanity he might once had "I know..." He leaped forward and crawled towards me, trying to touch me with his hand, but just at that moment I hit his hand with my hoof. "OUCH!”

He looked at his hand and again his eyes widened, it seemed that a great truth had arrived before him, something, I'm not sure. He quietly started babbling a lot of things that I couldn’t recognize very well, he talked about the princesses, about some ponies I've never met, he mentioned like, three times the word Mane-Six..

Is he talking about a haircut or what?

"Wait, did I do that?!" He turned around, still on the floor, and pointed towards the center of where the explosion was.

"I don’t know, you answer me"

"I... I... Oh my god I can’t believe it" He constantly stammered as he covered his face with his hands.

"I don’t have time for this" I turned around tired and went to get my things. A voice stops me.

"Wait! Let me help you with that"

"No thanks, I’m just-"

He stands as he can, a little unbalanced, and trots up to me with an uncomfortably high speed (Did I mentioned that he’s bipedal?), he passed by my side, and then with his long arms and using his hands he collected all of my supplies at once, bags, apples, packages, all of them, and then, with little effort he puts them all in one go into my cart. It wasn’t very neat, but at least it was very fast.

"Uh, thanks" I thanked him as I approached.

"Yeah, no problem, I’m just... Ugh so diz-" He lost his balance, but before falling to the ground he rests on a tree just in time "I need help" Trembling he stands "Please"

"Look, I have things to do and-"

"Yeah yeah yeah, uh, look I need help"

"I see"

"Pleeeeeease help me, I don’t know where I am, and..." He now seemed genuinely lost. "Where are we?"

“Equestria”

“Yes yes I know... But... Um...”

I looked at him skeptical, there was something I didn’t liked about him, you know, safety on the road and that stuff, but in the end, I decided to help, I can’t leave him just like that in the middle of a road!

Alone... Sad... And abandoned... It’s just too much for my fragile heart!

I pointed my hoof to the opposite side of where I was going and spoke as clearly as I could.

"Look, there is a village over there. Follow this road for two miles and then you’ll come to a fork, then, go to the right, and you go forward a few miles. There you’ll find a good place for you to recover ok?"

“Um, ok"

While the creature looked at me puzzled, not knowing how to respond to my great act of charity, I got back to my cart and started to walk. I fixed my eyes on the horizon.

"If you can see Manehatten or the sea you’re close"

And I continued my way. But when I finally got my thoughts away from that thing back there...

Tap... Tap... Tap... Tap... Tap...

I stopped. They were hoofst- I mean, footsteps behind me. I looked behind and I see this creature, standing a few feet behind me, whistling and looking at the mountains.

I sigh lowering my head and then I look at him, he looked at me, and greeted me waving his hand from afar.

"You could at least try" I muttered growling as I was turning.

I walked some seconds, but again...

Tap... Tap... Tap... Tap...

I looked back, and I see him again, but this time kicking some small rocks. He was just as close as before. He was following me, and he was doing it wrong.

I keep walking and I tried to ignore it and play dumb. But it did not work, it was impossible, he kept following me and following me and following me. He didn't stop! I walked a little, I turned around, and there he was, again, right behind me, sometimes sitting, sometimes looking at the floor, others times walking in circles. He was so bad at following me. Though he had tons of perseverance.

I remember there was one time where I stopped, and he stared at me like an idiot, doing nothing... Just looking... Nothing... Celestia that was creepy.

"Could you please stop following me?!" I finally yelled, about to lose my patience.

"I'm not following you"

"Yeah right. Please, if you are going to follow me at least do it right”

"But I don’t wanna get lost"

"But you're a grown...! Grown... Uh..." I stood with my mouth open, paralyzed. I didn't know what to say, really, I didn’t know, and I didn’t even ask him what he was... Although that would be rude and... Oh nevermind.

"Human, by the way. But that really doesn’t matter, pleeeeease take me with you" Huh, human, never heard of that kind before. I might research those creatures someday if I have the time.

"No, it's your problem, solve it, I told you the way, leave me alone"

"But"

"No"

"But"

"No"

"But"

"NO!"

"Hey, don’t be like that!"

"Look, ‘human’, I must return to-"

"I HAVE AMNESIA!!"

Woah!

This might get interesting...

"Excuse me?"

"It's just... I-I do not remember where I live and... Um... You know where is Ponyville? Wait, no, that's too cliché"

I hit my forehead with my hoof.

I walked up to him and agreed to take him.

"OK! Fine, I'll take you to Fillydelphia"

"YAAAAAAAY!!! Wait, where’s Fillydelphia?"

I looked at him quietly, I shook my head quickly and then turned around. I wasn't with eager to answer questions, even more with such a dumb one.

"I know a good place to spend the night there, I'm a friend of the owner, you follow me, and when we get there you’ll have a place to stay ok?"

"Ok"

"And I know you don't have amnesia"

"But I have!"

"Yeah sure..." I smirked.

But you know... I wanted to hear some answers... Who is he? What is he doing here? Why there is a monkey talking to me? And why the hell I am asking these questions?

I have a ‘human’ in front of me, maybe he has something to say... I don’t know... But this one doesn’t really look so intelligent and... Um... I’ll see that later...

I nodded and started walking, dragging my cart, and on my way back, the human, meanwhile, relieved smiles at me and put himself on my left, walking at a pace slightly slower than mine.

We kept quiet, in total silence, I had nothing to say, he had nothing to say, and we remained silent most of the way... Of the first 5 minutes.

May Celestia give me strenght.

Author's Note

Special thanks to Guy_Incognito, Not a brony and reflexrex. These people even though they didn’t edited the story completely, they did gave me a lot of feedback to make this better. Thanks!

And also, thanks to YOU, the reader, for reading my story...

Bye!

ps. Comments are always welcome.

Chapter 2: Better off alone?

Psst! This is the author, before reading please take in mind that this haven't been edited by a native english speaker, so, if you find any mistakes, please tell me on the comments.

“So, how long until we get there?”

As we walked through the woods, my considered --and sympathetic-- brain began to process all the events that have unfolded since 10 minutes ago, and gave me this awesome conclusion:

Today, I helped a stranger, a total stranger, without asking for money.

I know I’m supposed to do that everyday, but it struck me once I realized, really. Yes I know, it's weird, but I'm serious about this, never before in my life I have “helped” anypony, or anybody, without asking for money, bits. I don’t ask for help, and no one ever asks me for help, putting aside my work. I’m helping someone, and I’m not asking bits for it. I can’t believe what I’m doing, it’s my job to give help for bits.

I can’t believe I actually followed that advice of being ‘random’ sometimes. Maybe I’ll ask him for something later, I already feel funny doing this.

“Dude, how long?”

But I don’t know, it feels weird... Ugh I can already see the 'Hey who's your friend?' coming. Ponies always have known me for being always alone, and if somepony sees me now with a ‘friend’, I won’t know what to say. Even more when that supposedly 'friend' is that thing.

“Dude.”

Something’s really weird with this guy. Smells fishy.

Oh I hope Karma will repay me eventually.

Anyway, I need to stop thinking about the past or the future, now I need to know where should I go NOW, because, if I bring him to Fillydelphia first, I might not have enough time to go to Mr. Rustycrown’s house before nightfall.

He's really picky with time... For example, the last time I got to his house a bit "late", I could almost tell from the looks he gave me that he was about to toss me an entire lecture about responsibility. And I’ve seen kids more responsible than him.

Speaking of which, if go to Mr. Rustycrown’s house first, I might not have time to go to Fillydelphia, and find a place to leave this... “Human”. And if find that place, I need to convince the owner to let a monkey b-, wait a second I'm not going to pay for his stay!!

...So, what else could I do then?

Hmm... Maybe I could use some camping, it’s been awhile since the last time I camped somewhere... I have everything on my cart ready to be used. Or I could even ask Mr. Rustycrown for... No, he’s way to stingy, he wouldn’t even help his own mother.

“Hey.”

Ugh. It's so hard to keep quiet?!

“What.”

“How long until we get there?”

“...Depends.”

“How much?”

“Let me think.”

We kept walking.

I’m going to be honest with you, I don’t like to talk to ponies when I’m walking, my mind is somewhere else. When I speak to someone, I'd like to give them my full attention --or at least my 90% to them--. If can't give somepony or someone my full attention when I'm talking to them, better to me to avoid such conversation.

If there is one thing that I hate the most is when ponies speak to you with false attention. I only see hypocrisy.

Damn, I just want to walk quietly with myself, the road, and my cart.

I turned my head back to my cart.

Huh...

Has seen better days.

I don’t like it when other ponies, or, in this case, creatures, talk to me when I walk, it is something like personal to me. Yeah, I can carry a conversation with no problem, I even enjoy the conversation sometimes when the proper conditions are found, but there is always something bugging me, always something, deep inside, telling me to stop and do what is important.

Sometimes I’d wish it could be different. That I could be different. I really do. But that's when I remember and I stop.

A few minutes later, I heard the human inhale a lot of air and then give a long sigh, he muttered about something, maybe complaining. With my head still looking straight forward, I focused my eyes on him.

He did not noticed my glance because of the difference in height, which I have to admit that it was a fair amount. My height reached him just above his waist counting my ears.

He looked distracted, and... Somehow more calmed. His walking had a slight tottering pace as if he had not yet recovered. Though I think he was doing just fine.

Then, I stopped looking at the human and raised my head to the sky, looking at the sun just behind the clouds. I could even watch some distant pegasi soaring through the sky, birds, more clouds.

Amazing sight.

I wonder how it feels... Say, flying, how does it feel?

Lucky bastards.

But I, myself, have... Have... What is he...

"What are you doing?" - I asked a little confused.

He didn't answer me very quickly, he was more focused on what he was doing. I'd say he was trying to pull something out of his pocket, I saw him do so, but I wasn’t so sure.

"Checking my stuff."

Oh, what else could he be doing?

"Ok."

He took out of his pants a strange blue wallet, an odd piece of what I think it was a black rectangular metal with the silhouette of a bitten apple behind it, and a pencil. He began to examine every piece with delicacy. Especially the metal piece, maybe it was an amulet of a culture I don’t know? Ha! What a curious choice of materials to do an amulet if that’s the case. And also where would you put it? I don’t see any chains or belts on it.

"I’m asking you again, what are you doing?"

“My phone..." - The human frowned. - "Maybe I have internet connection I dunno."

A phone? Like... Like telephone, phone? That thing is a phone??!!

I remember when I first saw one of those things, really impressive. I had to carry one of those with me in one occasion. It’s an invention of an old stallion that allows you to talk to other ponies by distance through a wire, it feels like you’re just next to them! Sitting next to them! And you talk to them as if it were nothing and stuff, and then the other pony hears you at the same time!

Same. Time.

And I’m not kidding.

Or at least that’s what the owner told me. I wanted to try it, but I didn’t asked for it when I had the chance and the owner mentioned that it was still a work in progress. Next time, I've gotta try one of those.

But that is not a phone, a phone is much more larger, full of electronics inside and with arcane indentations all over it. That’s a... A metal piece... A rectangular black metal, with a strange silhouette behind it. Maybe the silhouette was his cutie mark, or something similar, or maybe it was a family emblem, or maybe it was the logo of a multinational corporation... Pfft... What the hay are you thinking, Green.

And the human is... Caressing it?

“Maybe I could...” - He began poking the piece repeatedly and then pressed the top of the metal making a mild grimace while examining the thing... Then... Um... - “Damn it could you please work already!” - The thing... Exploded. - "Aagh!"

The human dropped the item shaking his hands erratically, the metal let out a few but strong electric sparks and then blew up in a tiny explosion as it touched the ground.

"GOD!! Please! Seriously!!??"

The human placed everything back in his pocket as he watched the metal on the ground annoyed.

"Man, you have got to be kidding me"

And you arethe one saying that?

The human smiled at me awkwardly and ignored the metal that was already behind us. His face looked strange, he was hiding something. I just knew it, I swear I knew it.

“Sorry.”

Sorry? About what? About making my whole day different and making me rearrange my entire schedule? Or the blowing up metal? Also, what the hay was that thing?

“And sorry about back there, I was just so excited!" - His grin widened. - "I just can’t believe it! I’m in the actual, real, Equestria! My god!”

I took some slight steps to the side. I don’t know about you, but his weird talks are starting to freak me out, especially that last part, what does he means by the ‘real Equestria’ anyway?

The human looked at the sky, cheerful yet composed, gave a sigh, and put his arms around his neck while grinning even more widely. I just looked at him sideways.

This is something that really give me the creeps, why is he so happy? So full of happiness?

Ah I need to stop thinking about that...

“So awesome!! And the best of all, I can explore all of my favorite places with all the time of the world!! And not just that, I also have this awesome little big pony who is sooo gene-”

“Woah!!! Stop right there!!!” - I halted as I got rid of his incoming hug.

“...Oh...”

I shaked my torso just like when you get out of the water and you need to dry yourself quickly, I felt the urge. I stomped the ground with my left forehoof, and turned to him angry. The human was petrified, and stared at me with a worried look on his eyes. He certainly wasn't expecting my reaction, almost nobody does, but I have all the right to react this way.

Who the hay does he thinks he is?!

Little big pony my flank!

And hug me?!

Why hug me?!

He doesn’t have any reasons to hug me!!

I don’t even know him!!!

I huffed angrily, my heart rate was increasing, I felt it deep inside, my whole world collapsed into one single emotion that I couldn’t put my hoof on. I can’t let myself be treated this way. This, ridiculous way.

I hate hugs.

“Woah nelly, hey, don’t be so grumpy! Come on give me a hug!” - He opened his arms to me.

“No," - I murmured - "please, no hugs.”

“...Well, at least can I know your name? My dear savior?”

Savior? He thinks I am his savior?

I sighed, trying to hold back my urge to kick him...

Strongly...

Sweet Celestia, I really need to control myself sometimes.

“Come on...” - He smirked.

“First,” - I took a long breath following a short gulp. - “who are you?”

I won’t answer any questions if he doesn’t answer my questions.

“I’m... Um... Well...” - He bit his lip and rolled his eyes. - “Uuh...”

This is really getting on my nerves.

Come on, is this really that hard to answer?

“I’m just a wandering human.”

“Seriously? Tell me the truth.”

There was a short pause.

“I’m an alien.”

"What." - I tilted my head, perplexed.

The human grinned again and chuckled to himself, as if mocking me for something I said.

"Just kiddin', I'm Eric, what's your name?"

Eric... That doesn't sound like a real name to me at all. Ponies and other creatures are used to name their children over certain concepts, objects, things. Not random gibberish.

Yeah, yeah, I know, that doesn’t mean we ponies don’t use original names sometimes or that I’m against them, lately it’s even becoming more and more popular to use those original names, and I’ve met a guy called Joe once and he was a pretty cool stallion.

But, ‘Eric’? Is that even on this language?

For some reason I don’t believe him... I don’t know why...

"Green Mount."

I hope my mind is just playing tricks on me and that this human is not an evil ancient creature of evilness. That would be a total bummer.

"Wait, that stands for mount as a..."

"As a mount."

"So... Can I mount you?" - The human contained a laugh.

“No.”

The human chuckled, and remained quiet a few seconds. Then he began talking again.

"What do you carry?"

"Stuff.”

"Yeah, but what kind of stuff?"

"Supplies." - Like clothing, waterproof clothing, ropes, hooks, knives, small swiss army knife, sunglasses, water bottles, sleeping bags, headlamps with spare bulb and batteries, tents, small first aid kit which also includes magically enhanced bandages, health potions and healing rock crystals, travel bags with more random equipment and etcetera...

Oh and my top 3 supplies?

My books, my food and my bits... Oh yeah...

"For what?"

"You're really curious, you know that?"

"Thanks!"

"That wasn't a compliment."

"Oh."

I turned my head back to my cart and checked it swiftly. I didn’t needed to, but I felt the need.

"I travel a lot, I need supplies."

"Wait, so what do you do?"

"I walk."

"No," - The human chuckled. - "I mean, work."

"I do errands, carry packages, actually I-"

"Wait, isn't that a job for pegasi? But you're a-"

"Do you have a problem with earth ponies?"

"No! No! Actually they're just my favorite race!"

Um... What.

"Excuse me?!"

"I-I mean, the peg-earth ponies! Yes! Yes!"

“...” - I took a long deep breath.

The conversation paused for a moment. I was expecting an apology, but instead, the human laughed loudly, almost hysterically. He was enjoying this quite a lot. And on my point of view, I really don’t know, this is the longest conversation I’ve ever had since... Last month?

"Who are you?" - I spoke.

"I already told you."

I just simply responded by raising an eyebrow.

"You wouldn't understand."

Before I could even open my snout to ask something else, the human answered me quickly, almost as if he had read my mind.

"Oh! The explosion?" - No, the meaning of life you idiot. - "Well, I have no idea!"

What.

You supposedly EXPLODE in the middle of a forest and survive as if nothing had happened, and you have NO IDEA??!!

How did he...?

I gave the human a second (or was it third?) glance sideways, and tried to spot any odd details on his appearance. The sunlight would allow me now to see better.

The jeans had mud on the knees and some cuts, the hands had soft bruises, the sweatshirt was covered in soil and stains, there was little branch on his hair on which a tiny little leaf has hanging, and the shoes were so full of dust they almost looked brown.

The only odd thing that I see here, is that he doesn’t look truly hurt at all, and yet his clothes were telling me that he was.

Did he... Fell?

Or maybe he teleported?

But, if that’s the case, how did he made a teleport spell? And how does he even talk? He’s an animal! Animals don’t talk! This doesn’t make any sense at all!

I’m beginning to suspect that it wasn’t really an explosion.

This human is so damn obnoxious and yet, interesting in a way.

Ok human, you have my curiosity, and when my curiosity strikes, it really strikes.

Next question.

"The clothes, why so many?"

"Oh, you see, us humans are really... Bashful with our bodies, so we usually cover it up with clothes," - Being bashful is ok, but being bashful with your own body? That is just weird. - "And not just that, if we take it off, it is considered 'sexual'."

"What." - I’m naked all day! Does that mean that in his culture I’m a freaking exhibitionist?

"I know right? We're just so awesome!"

"Are you sure you're not making this up? This sounds too weird for me"

"Pinkie Promise!"

"What?"

"Hey look at that!" - The human pointed to my left.

We stopped, and I looked to my left.

I didn't saw anything on my first look, but after some small moments I've realized where I was.

Ugh, why didn’t I saw this coming?

As I dropped a jaded grunt, I motioned the human to follow me. We walked again.

Behind the bushes, and behind the trees, it laid a long thin stone path that lead into the entrance of what it seemed to be a large area of woods of a country house --the supposedly ‘yard’ of the house--, surrounded by a long white fence that came out of the entrance, that was marked by two big rock pillars on each side.

Probably the fence was much more longer from what we could see at first sight.

The woods also had some small buildings and sheds scattered around, and at the distance on the center I could see a small plain site with a white wooden house.

No, scratch that, it was a mansion.

Mr. Rustycrown’s mansion.

I can’t believe we ended up here so fast.

“"Private Property?’”

“Private what?”

The human was staring at the text of small sign that was nailed on a nearby tree. I walked to the sign to have a better look. It was old and it was painted with a familiar deteriorated red paint.

“‘PRIVATE PROPERTY:’” - He read out loud. - “‘Do not enter without permission.’”

Huh, I thought he removed that sign a long time ago. Oh Mr. Rustycrown, welcoming as always, and also the red paint gives the sign an very nice touch to the ‘Stay away’ feel.

“Human, I need you to stay right here for a moment, okay?”

“Um, okay.”

“Thank you.” - I bowed slightly, and then rested a hoof on the fence gate.

“Do you need any help with your cart? I can watch over it for you, if you want.”

“No thanks.”

“Ok then, good luck!” - He smiled.

I closed my eyes, and I gave myself the time to feel the silence for a moment, so I could savor every single second of it. This won’t last so long, so I need to enjoy these little ‘moments’ as much as I can.

“What are you doing?”

I didn’t responded, I didn’t wanted to, and it wasn’t necessary.

I checked the leashes of my cart to see if they were well adjusted, cleared my throat, and spoke clearly.

“Hello? Sweetie Garden?”

Silence...

“Hello? This is Green Mount! I came here to see Mr. Rustycrown! I-”

“Who is this Sweetie Garden?”

“Sshh!”

The human grunted softly, frowned, and then simply sat on a tree crossing his arms and legs. The movement reminded me a lot of those grumpy kids who just simply don’t want to eat their dinner. I’m not an expert on kids, but I’ve seen a couple of examples...

“Hello?” - I knocked the pillars a couple of times.

“Waaaaait!!!” - I heard a tiny voice of a mare by the distance, a teen.

“Woah that sounds cute” - The human murmured, thinking that I wouldn’t hear him.

Heh.

A gallop, and then a fast flutter.

And then, there she was, Sweetie Garden, as always, behind that fence, awkwardly holding a garden hose on her smout. Just out of her work as the gardener.

Sweetie Garden is the smallest one of the 5 nieces of Mr. Rustycrown, she has long reddish hair, light green eyes, and a very pale yellow coat. The pegasus usually stays with his uncle on summers working with him, or for him in this case.

What a nice summer, huh?

“Good afternoon, Sweetie Garden.” - I don’t know her personally, but I think we get along well.

The mare spat the hose and brushed off the water out of her snout with a hoof.

“Good afternoon Green Mount, how may I help you?”

“I’ve came here to see Mr. Rustycrown, is he here?” - I leaned my head over the fence as I looked from side to side.

“Yes, please, come in.”

Before she even raised a hoof to open the door, the human stood up very rapidly, almost fell on my cart, and then supported his weight onto the gate in front of me, blocking part of my sight, I even had to put my head back very rapidly to don’t get hit. The human then stared at Sweetie Garden, on a very, very creepy way, smiling, with a wide creepy grin.

“Hi!” - He waved his hand - “Wow, she’s cute.”

“Uh... T-thanks?” - The mare looked puzzled.

I hit my face with my hoof.

I’m gonna end up killing him if he keeps acting this way... Please somepony kill him for a while, I know it isn’t possible but let me dream...

“I see you came with a friend?” - Sweetie spoke somewhat slow, almost as if not believing her own words.

“He’s not my friend, he’s-”

“A friend?”

“No, he’s not my friend,” - I reaffirmed. - “he’s... An acquaintance, he will wait for me here, and then we will be leaving.”

The teen mare stared blankly at us, but mostly to the human, who was simply smiling.

“An acquaintance.” - She spoke flatly.

“Yes.”

“You... Green Mount... Have an acq-”

“Can I please come in?” - I interrupted her somewhat annoyed.

“Oh! Right! Yes! Please, feel free.” - As she says this, she flies gently to the door and opens it.

“Thank you.” - I said as I nodded.

I walked through the gate and entered the stone path, it felt weird on my legs after all this time on dirt.

“Can I come in too?” - The human poked my flank, making myself jump on the spot. I had to gulp a little yelp. - “Please?”

I think I gave him a death glare.

“Whoops, sorry I touched your butt, won’t happen again.”

“Um... Are you two okay in there?” - Sweetie asked us from ahead.

I took a breath and closed my eyes.

“Yes Sweetie, we’re okay. And human,”

“Eric.”

“whatever, you can come in with me if you want, but please, please stay calm...” - I opened my eyes, and looked at him again. - “Don’t do anything stupid.”

“Ok!” - He saluted.

“Or you know what? Don’t do anything, just come with me, and don’t. Do. A thing.”

“He can come in, too.” - Sweetie commented.

The human hopped and cheered - “Yay!!”

I coughed.

“Oh! Sorry... Yay...” - He cheered again, very softly, almost like a whisper.

I heard Sweetie Garden giggle.

“Um, nevermind him.”

“Nah, it’s okay,” - She smiled. - “it’s good to see a happy face around sometimes.”

Yeah, maybe.

As we walked, the human kept the same grin on his face the entire time, it was more subtle, but it had the same radiance. I focused my eyes on the house that was already getting closer by each step we took.

And suddenly, I don’t know how, I found myself staring at Sweetie Garden’s flank.

No it wasn’t because of that, you dirty little readers!! I’m not that type of pony! Besides she’s too young for me! Too young, I swear!!

It was something else... There was something odd about her, something missing...

My goodness... She still haven’t got her cutie mark?

“Mr. Rustycrown have told me that you’d visit.” - I quickly moved away my stare.

“Really?” - The human spoke before me. - “And who’s Mr. Rustycrown?”

“Mr. Rustycrown is the current owner of this very land, you see. He is also my uncle, and my boss.”

“Woah, and what do you do here?”

Ugh, they’re gonna start chatting. I told ya’ they would.

“I’m... I’m the gardener.” - She sighed, not very enthusiastic on that last word.

“Oh, cool! What else?”

“Um, I’m... I’m also the housekeeper?”

Housekeeper?

“Really?”

“Really. But it’s not always, just sometimes, when Mr. Rustycrown needs me busy.”

“Isn’t that a bit too much?”

“No, it’s not, I just help Minty when she’s tired, so that’s it.”

“Minty?”

“The original housekeeper” - I said.

“And maid.” - She added. - “We’re friends. You will meet her soon.”

We walked a little in silence, the human looked very curious, and I could see on his eyes how much he wanted to just ran off to somewhere, it was weird. He looked nervous, but very controlled.

Ah, finally I was becoming a tad more comfortable, knowing that he’s controlling himself, and that he won’t do anything stupid.

“Hey, where’s your cutie mark?”

...

...

For crying out loud!!! Do you at least FILTER what you say?!

Promptly after hearing him, I kicked to the side hitting right at his leg.

“OUCH!!!” - The human squealed in pain - “Why would you do that?!”

That was oddly satisfying to say the least.

I pointed at Sweetie.

“What?”

I mouthed the words ‘Blank Flank’ to him, so Sweetie wouldn’t hear it. I didn’t wanted to hear it either, I hate those two words, even up until today I cringe every time I hear them, but that’s the only fast way to define that... ‘Situation’ some ponies have.

The human eyes widened.

“Oh god, I’m so sorry! I didn’t noticed that you were a bl-”

I kicked again.

“OUUCH!!!!” - He squealed louder.

“Pfft... I don’t even care about that anymore, so it's fine.” - Well that was a rather unexpected answer, her tone wasn’t very convincing, but it was comforting nevertheless. - “And, we’re here.”

Sweetie took a few steps forwards and opened the door.

Mr. Rustycrown was standing just behind, looking at his watch, and not very happy. He was wearing his usual monocle, plus that expensive suit which he always brags about.

“You have arrived... Finally.” - He said, still looking at his watch. - “We agreed that we would meet at 4, did something happe-?”

As soon as Mr. Rustycrown moved his eyes out of his watch, his pupils became tiny little dots, his face became almost white, and he muttered something behind that mustache that I couldn’t understand.

“...Hey," - He hid his shock. - "who’s your friend?”

Author's Note

Thanks for reading everyone....

And comments are always appreciated, they really motivate me to continue.

See ya'!