This Sucks: A Story About The First Human In Equestria

Chapters

The Everfree Sucks!
Recovering Sucks!
Being Alone Really Sucks...
Getting What You Wishes For Kinda Sucks
Having Friends Definitely Doesn't Suck!
Magic AND Humans? That Sucks!
Getting Answers Absolutely Sucks!
Saying Goodbye Really Hurts...
The Five Stages Suck!
This 'Fluttershy' Sucks!
Gifts And Drinks From Strangers Doesn't Suck.

The Everfree Sucks!

This fucking sucks.

That was the powerful thought that percolated throughout your mind as you felt your shoes filled with caliginous water. You lift your foot out of the murky shallows; a heavy sigh escapes your lips. Well this is just terrible. This is, was, the only good pair of shoes you had. A pair that you don't think was salvageable. That sucked hard, knowing that you have to toss them aside to dry your feet to prevent any kind of foot fungus or gangrene. Most, if not all of your clothes, have been ripped to an unsalvageable condition. You take a seat on a nearby rock to view your surroundings.

Shit.

This place is getting dark and getting more frightening. Your skin starts to prickle; it's getting colder as the minutes go by as well. It is as if this place has a supernatural level of chill in the air. This will not fare well for yourself if you don't have a place to hunker down until morning.

Your arm gets heavy and you realize that you have been holding an object for at least a couple hours now. You looked down to see It was a long black case that had a handle with your white knuckled fingers are holding on to so desperately. Near the handle are two metal latches that can be undone quite easily if desired to open this mysterious black case. Finally it sported four little feet to stabilized itself when place on the ground. You scrunched up your face.

I don't remember this, what is this? Why am I carrying it?

You think this, which in turn starts to mole over even more thoughts more alarming than the last.

I think I know what this is. But it came from…somewhere….yes it came from….I don't remember. Why don't I remember? I don't know how you got here, hell I don't remember my goddamn name!

You furrow your eyebrows. You should know who you are, but you don't and that is the most alarming. Your eyes gaze around this supernatural forest. This place.

This fucking place.

The creepy forest must of done something to you. Something to your mind. Maybe, it is supernatural.

Maybe, it wiped your memory and caused to wonder around for hours.

You look at the nearby trees.

These trees, they are not normal, none of this is normal! You bitterly thought.

The frustration broils within you. So much so that it started to get the better your judgement. With a wrathful yell you grabbed the nearest rock and hurled it into the darkened foliage. You winced twice, one from tweaking your shoulder. The other was from the rock tumble and made an echo of breaking branches, making birds scattering away from the projectile.

Your heart skips a beat as it was way louder than you thought it would be. Loud enough to carry out for quite some length into the darkened forest.

That is when you heard it. Crunching branches and heavy foot falls approaching you.

oh shit…oh shit shit SHIT!

You go into a panic and drop the case you were holding; you ducking into a nook of up uprooted tree nearby. You hold your breath and peek your head. Your body freezes as you see something straight out of your nightmares.

Up ahead to see a lion on the prowl. Sniffing the ground and keeping a watchful eye. However just this forest, this lion is not normal. You see that this lion is massive, easily towering over you. It carries mane that is blood red, rows and rows of teeth fit for an apex predator of these lands.

You see it thrashed an auburn scorpion tail knocking out the way loose debris from the forest floor. Faintly you spotted dripping of venom from its tail. More importantly, it was the growls of this beast is getting louder and getting closer to your hiding spot.

Closer and closer to your demise.

Fuck fuck fuck! I'm dead. I'm so fucking dead!

You fight with every bit of will power you have to not just bolt from your hiding spot. The towering lion is coming up on you sniffing the ground.

Go away please go away.

It walks four paces towards your impromptu hiding spot.

Fuck you and fuck off!!

It raises its head to flaring its nostrils, taking in a deep whiff of the night air.

Fuck...it I hope this works.

"Rrrrrraaaaaaaaagggggghhhhhh!!!!"

You unleash the loudest, most gut wrenching bellow of a scream. Bursting out of your spot, you raising your arms as wide as you can making yourself bigger than what you actually were.

Silence.

You stand your ground heaving at your performance of a life time. The creature however was not impressed nor amused by your antics. In fact, you could swear it raised a befuddled eyebrow at you.

"Ahhh….hehehe…." You chuckle nervously. What was once a great plan, now was a terrible plan.

The beast lowers its head while keeping its eyes on you. A villainous grin stretched slowly stretched across its rows of sharp predatory teeth.

"N-nice kitty?" You quiver under your breath.

The creature takes a step forward lowering itself to the ground.

"Nice kitty…" you take two steps back.

Two steps forward, followed by sprinting!

"FUUUUUU-AAARRRHHHHHH!!"

You roll out of the pounce narrowly missing the breast jaws. You hear it finds its mark on the tree behind you. An opportunity strikes now as you use this to your advantage get the hell away from this thing!

Behind your back you heard the splintering tree under the breast jaws. If it can break that thick tree trunk, surely it can break you far more easily.

Death has a funny way of giving people motivation, and this is just extra motivation.

You hoped that the direction you chose was the path of salvation from this cursed forest. Away from that terrible creature. Away from this forest. Just away from all of this nightmare. It had to be this way...

Right?

Just when you think you got away, the beast has found its extricated prey!

You turned, eyes widened at the beast is now on you. It raises its front paw and strikes down upon your smaller form. Your instincts kicked in as you narrowly dodge out of the way of its clawed strike. Another opportunity arose as you used your momentum to change your fleeting path.

But the beast was not going to let you get away this time. Somehow it knew you were going to go that way and prepared accordingly; with the other paw it swiped upward catching you right at the bottom of her sternum.

You gasp; the claws made contact with your tender flesh, ripping up what remained of your tattered shirt. At first you don't feel the pain, but you also didn't feel your feet leave the ground. After a moment of weightlessness you came back down onto the earth.

CRACK!

You land on your back; flashes of white hot pain rocked across your entire body. An audible shriek escaped your lips. This was very very bad. But you don’t care. No. You can take this. You have to take this. You have to escape. You are not going to die here in this strange land. This forest, this damn forest, will not be the last of you.

Survive.

Just survive.

Getting to your feet, you quickly chose another direction to go. There is a new smell that entered your nose. Iron With the corner of your vision you see hot life liquid seeping out of your body at an alarm rate. The time limit was set, your body was the hourglass, your seeping blood the sand counting the seconds before your expiration date.

But you push forward. Keep going. Just keep going, that's all you can do now.

Tha-thud. Tha-thud tha-thud.

You turn your head to hear the beast chasing you down. The look of frustration was apparent on its face. In a quick motion the creature lowered its upper body down and kicked its back legs to aim its nasty barbed stinger at its fleeing prey

A lightning fast stinger lurched forward with deadly precision. The barb sank into your calf. A howl of pain escaped your throat as the venom seeps deep into your muscles.

You keep your pace for just a moment before gravity decided it was your enemy. Your legs muscles falter; causing your face to become welcomed by the cold hard dirt.

Darkness. Painful, numbing darkness.

The beast uses its paw to flip on your back. Your vision swirling with magnificent color. Hot breath welcomes your face as you see the hungry lion close in it's meal.

“Shaaat fuaaahhkiin…” you try to say but your mouth is dry, numb. You try to cover your face but none of your muscles are responding to you commands. Your ears distorted the sound around you. This is it.

Times up.

This is how you are going to die tonight.

With nothing much you can do you submit to the finality of your situation. You prayed that the beast just kills you quickly.

Suddenly, a voice from the distance.

“Over here, I heard it over here!” A feminine voice cries out, followed by the sounds of horses galloping. Cries and whinnies filled the air with urgency. What was odd is that you can tell it was different horses with different pitches, different accents and different tones. Was this your imagination? Or was it the beast's poison in your body messing with your fleeting consciousness?

You don't know.

What you do know is the beast stopped in its tracks. It's eyes looked up with wide eyed terror. Terror that makes you wonder, if you were afraid if this beast, and this beast is terrified of what ever its looking at now, than...

What is more terrifying than this beast?

A glittering bolt of lavender light strikes the chest of the creature from beyond your sight. It screamed in painful agony; you can smell scorched fur from that bullet wound? The force of this blast pushed the beast off of you. The beast disappears from sight as it whimpers like a dog.

You roll onto your side as best you can to see where that beam of light came from. You can't quite make out the shapes. But they are indeed Shapes. Shapes with intense pastel colors. One color that strikes out the most is a yellow cream color that is making its way towards you faster than the other colors.

Wait…is that…no horses are not…yellow, and they don't fly…

You hear more horse cries and calls before that same voice from before enters your mind.

“He's been stung! Applejack please H-help me he's heavy!” said the frantic voice.

The sound of grunts, expatriated breaths, nickers, and squeals that seemed to have a certain cadences to them, you where heaved off the ground. Your stomach disagreeing with this action decided expel all of your contents out onto the forest floor. Catching a little bit on the fur of what you think is a horse. A horse that is short, a horse that is orange and has a very clear branding of three apples in a triangle pattern on its flank?

You feel your head being lifted up to see a closed up face. A yellow face, round, short equine muzzle, with massive aqua colored eyes come into your view. Those eyes, eyes of…what is that...worry? Fear? Some kind of strong emotion you recognize within that yellow face and eyes.

Words start to form in your mouth wanting to thank your saviors of whoever they are, but your consciousness faded from you. All the light and color start to shrink into blankness.

Then nothing. Pure nothing.

Only the feeling of weightlessness and feeling at peace while in this lucid realm of void.

Time seemed irrelevant. Within this void you feel strange feelings. Painful numbing cold. Then a warm sensation wrapping around your whole being. Followed by another cold sensation. Well no, not cold…this felt more damp? A pleasant damp rather than the damp in the forest. You minds starts to wonder.

Where is here exactly?

You try to look around but there is nothing. Is this it? You must be dead. But if you're dead, how can you be here thinking now? Your thoughts wondered if this is hell of some kind. But it can't be hell that you have heard of, right?

A voice coming from nowhere but everywhere at once. A gentle caring voice. Just little quips here and there is all you heard

"He's pretty bad…"

….

"No…"

….

"Yes I know he looks dangerous…"

….

"He was hungry and I-I would have talked him down but he…he's something different. I have never heard such a cry before."

….

I n-never seen one of them before…

…

No, he doesn't look like he's from round the Everfree, or-or anywhere I have seen or heard before.

...

Pinkie don't touch him!"

Pinkie? That sounds like a dog's name.

Then silence. Absolute silence for some time again. You focus on trying to listen again if you can hear that sweet calming voice again.

Nothing.

Wait…not nothing; you hear something.

Some kind of crunching of veggies? Then faint bird chips and song bird calls. Followed by more munching. Huh. There is a pattern to the noises, what this means you have no idea but it is consistence. Some kind of way to keep track of time while you are here.

Another consistent feature of this place is a warmth washes over you once more followed by that damp feeling again. That has been consistent as well. You haven't the faintest clue where this feeling are coming from but it felt…well good. Pleasant actually. Maybe death isn't so bad after all! If only you can see just a little bit rather than being here, wherever here is.

The idea that you are dead was quickly abolished as you felt weight and aching bones again. Then…there is light at the end of the tunnel. Without asking any questions you beeline for the tunnel.

Darkness greets your eyes, but a faint amber glow accompanies this darkness. The sound of a fire crackling nearby and the heat was a welcoming feeling compared the nothingness you felt before.

You lazily open your eyes blinking them to regain focus.

Your eyes pick up some strange oddities.

First of it was night time with a full moon luminated the room from a nearby window. Next you where in a house of some kind, well more of a cottage or a cabin than a house. You were on the floor of this cottage with your back being supported by many different small mattresses clump together side be side. They were adored with many different quilts and blankets that covered your body, adding more comfortable warmth to your body.

You see a pattern in some of these quilts, more horses. But they have wings, some of them have...what is that horns on them? And there is only but a couple that have both wings and horns. You find that rather strange. Stranger is that you knew what they were you just couldn't put your finger on it.

Who ever made these really like horses and have made some creative liberties in the designs.

You can feel the springs press against your back from the mattress you lay upon now. It was soft, but frim enough to support you weight.

Where am I...I'm I....dead?

You try to move but your body protests in terrible agony. You groan and lay back down only getting up by maybe an inch. Your eyes look down to see your chest had been has been bandaged up quite well. You grin, no you are not dead, the opposite of dead.

You were very much alive.

Hurting profusely alive. Which sucks very much right now.

Then you realized something even more odd. A pair of yellow legs straddling your shoulders in your peripheral vision. Coated leg that ends in equine hooves.

You blink at the appendages.

Your eyes got curious and begin to trace the two appendages to see who or what they belong to.

You see it now with your own two eye, that your head seemed to be resting on the belly of this equine creature making a perfect and comfortable headrest for you. Its breathed gently. A peaceful creature slumbering away in your presence. But even stranger is you see a pair of same yellow crème tinted wings that are sprawled out covering you up even more than the quilts.

Finally you notice the head of this creature. You gathered it to be a horse, but that's not right, horses are way bigger than this. This is more of a pony than a horse. A little pony now if you say so yourself.

It looks just enough to be human…noid? But just different enough to fit right snug in the uncanny valley. It doesn't help that it's closed eyelids had eye lashes that lean towards a human femininity.

Its mane is also striking as well. It's pink and long. And instead of just spreading out evenly across its form it has a natural wavy bend to it. You can tell that it has been kept that way on purpose. It looked like someone styled it that way, or maybe it was natural?

You are in utter shock to see this creature here resting its head nonchalantly on you. What do you do? Who's house is this? Maybe the owner is asleep somewhere? Why did they save you from that beast in that god forsaken woods? And what on earth is this small horse with wings?

You tried to get up once more and again your body screamed for you to rest. You sharply inhale loudly as you fall against yourself.

Then you hear it; a small coo of some kind? You look back at your pony pillow and you see it stir a bit in it's sleep

"Rest…"

It murmurs.

You freeze.

Im-impossible…. I just saw it…it's…jaw…moved….and it…it spoke words actual words that I understand!

You felt your emotion take the best of you as you where about to shriek in terror, but instead you felt a tsunami of lethargy hit your very being and drift back to a deep sleep once more.

Author's Note

Alrighty dighty flexing my muscles again with a brand new idea with actual structure and planning rather than DnD esk impromptu writing from my last attempt.

I proof read these myself but I know I stumble and fumble. Critues greatly appreciated and enjoy my musings

Recovering Sucks!

Recovering from grievous injuries suck so much.

For the first couple of days you only had the strength to get up to use the bathroom and get back to your bed. It’s been hard to sit still with the pain, but you had the freedom to move around and explore. However there was always a pesky flying pony as your chaperone at all times of the day it seemed.

What with your ‘fragile’ body as she put it, she thinks you can't be trusted to take care of your own damn self. Well that's is ridiculous but it doesn't matter what you think or say, it just falls on partial deaf ears.

Though you have to admit there are some perks of being under this ponies care. It can be annoying, but when you have a back scratch she gets that for you.

When you rested for the whole day and you have a nasty backaches? Your caretaker mare seems to have the cure by walking on your back and kneading out the pain. When you feel thirsty and you try to get yourself some water, she gets a glass of water for you from a sink with functional plumbing. Hungry? Well that is taken care of as well. She must have a vast knowledge of animals, because for only a couple days she has figured out rather quickly just by looking at your human teeth what you can what and what you can't eat.

Fruits, vegetables, and other treats she whips up for you with ease. If only she can cook some kind of meat. A steak or maybe some chicken would be nice, however that becomes a problem now you know that from the brief observations you have with this pony, she really likes the chickens she takes care of.

Damnit.

But not all hope is lost! There are some otters that live under that natural bridge of hers, you have seen here take some kind of cod, or maybe salmon to feed them. Maybe you can convince her that you like fish. I mean you hate fish, fish is god awful! however, meat. Meat is good. Meat is needed right now. That would be difficult to convey what with language barrier makes that request almost null and void. Plus she shoos you away from other critters meals doesn't help either.

That sucked, damnit!

What reallysucks right now is all of your clothes have been ripped to shreds and beyond repair. You got nothing, no way to cover yourself up. The sentient ponies here seem to not give a damn about your nakedness. But you certainly do. You don’t like prying eyes peering at your junk and judge!

The closest thing that you caught some ponies staring at your bits was the lavender pony with both wings and a horn that seems to come by from time to time. Maybe she likes you, or maybe she thinks you are a freak and is keeping records to blackmail you later.

You hope that nothing bad could come of it. Or maybe it’s a normal thing for them to stare at each other's genitals? All you know is she drew your outward anatomy on a scroll while using her horn of hers a couple of days ago. To what ends on why she did this, you don't know.

Though from the few days you have been resting, you had the opportunity to learn a lot about this pony trope that was with the grayish gold pony. First, you know just by context clues when they converse in their alien horse language you got their names. Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle and finally your caretaker Fluttershy.

Secondly those horns on them are not for show but are used to make what only you can describe as magic or miracles. Magic ranging from levitation, phasing out of existence or even bringing a weird image to life. Now that you think about, maybe it was Twilight that shot a bolt of light at the manticore to save your life.

Next is Fluttershy. She can talk to animals. But for some odd and obscure reason she understands you as much as you understand her trope of her pony friends language. You can talk to her and maybe a few times she picks up on you, other times it's like speaking to a brick wall, only hearing what she wants to hear, or maybe she thought of what she heard from you.

There is a very clear disconnect between you and Fluttershy.

That really sucked.

That had to be the biggest suck about your situation. You are so close yet so far away to get answers about where you are and why you are here. But no, you are taunted by only pony that seems to somewhat understand you.

If you could get the answers you want, will it change anything? Maybe. Will it be good answers or bad answers?

You will cross that bridge when you get to it.

Today was another simple day, though for some reason Fluttershy was insistent to wash you more than normal. This was fine, it felt nice to get cleaned. What was a little odd is that she was going all out with her cleaning duties. Usually she would just just wash you down with a sponge of water and a mixture of some kind of herbal mixture, which smells god awful but maybe it makes you smell better to other creatures and Fluttershy’s noses? This time she actually is giving you a nice wash with actual shampoo. Huh. You wonder why she was going the extra mile today?

You raised your arm up upon request from your caretaker to clean your pits with a nice warm sponge bath, "Hey, Fluttershy, where are we? Where is this place?" You give her a side ways look.

"I know you don't like baths, but it's good for you, and you need to be proper for Twilight.” The content goldish pony hummed and gently flies over to your other side to get under your bandaged arm pit.

"What is two plus two?" You narrowed your eyes, asking this you knowing she's not going to respond to you properly.

"Are you thirsty again? I can get you some water for you again after we clean you up." She tilted her head at you with her ears swiveling.

"You suck so much right now, I can clean myself you know Fluttershy" you grumbled. This is getting quite annoying.

"That's okay you don't have to eat your broccoli this time, but it's good for you!" She smiled as she wringed out the sponge into the wood bucket. "Oh I need to get more clean water, stay right there Windle."

She grabbed the bucket with her teeth and gently breezed by you, "where the hell am I gonna go?" You raised your working arm in the air in protest.

She stopped at the door to place down her bucket, "Oh yes certainly!" She hovered over to a nearby drawer to fish out with her teeth…

A tennis ball…

She thought you wanted a tennis ball.

A used, faded, barely functional…

…Tennis ball…

…

She thinks I'm some kind of dog.

She gently tosses the ball to you. it makes an arch, splashes in the wash tub. You watched as the mall floated around the wash basin.

You begin to etch into your memory filling this moment under ‘most disrespected you have felt in your life.’

“Windle be good, I’ll be right back,” She turns around to go just only a couple of feet to a nearby faucet to fill her bucket with warm water.

“Yeah because I'm going to be bad when you're right there.” You said sarcastically as you shifted causing a sloshing of your bath water in the pony sized bath basin.

Fluttershy responds; taking the bucket off hot water to return to your cleansing duties, “Come on, Twilight isn’t that bad, but I can see why you don’t like her looking at you. You are quite a shy, yes yes you are. ” She cooed at you.

She scrubs your chest. “Shy? I'm not shy, I just don’t like to be gawked at.” Why are you even responding? She can’t understand you. You sigh, it must be social reflex that you can't help.

“Oh you want more soap?” hummed as he fluttered over to a bottle of shampoo and with her teeth squeezed the contents onto a large brush.

This bristled utensil you recognized as the same one she uses to clean that bear that seems to be around here from time to time. That bear freaks you out, so luckily it just meanders and minds its own business giving you no such a mind if they get their honey from Fluttershy.

“Fuck. Fuckity fuck fuck fuck!” you growled out as you were brushed to perfection. Fluttershy seems to giggle at our outburst. Maybe she thinks that you're laughing or giggling as well? Well you figure ‘fuck’ means funny or you were laughing.

Good to know.

Something about this pony when it smiles like that. She's cute, the kind of cute you want to pet all day everyday. However when she stares at you, that feeling quickly becomes oppressive dread. How can two very different traits coexist inside that one pony?

As Fluttershy washes you down, you begin to wonder. Why do you need to be ‘proper?’ What is the proper standard for these ponies? If you wanted to be proper you would have clothes back. But that's impossible after your fateful night in that damn forest. And even if you did have your clothes you won't be on you.

You are an animal to the eyes of Fluttershy, and by extension to the rest of the ponies. That sucks knowing that pets don't where clothes unless the owner wants them to be dressed up. Well at least the lavender pervert will just come back, draw or write something down on a scroll or in a book of hers; then bugger off. Leaving you alone for some time before she makes another round to bug you some more.

Your internal monologue was interrupted when you got a cold splash over your head, “Wha-Fuck! Ooh that's cold. What the hell? Oh shit-”

“Okay big guy all done. Look how clean you look. Twilight is gonna love this.” She interrupted your ramble. She looked up and tapped her for hoof to ponder, “But, why would Twilight want Windle to be proper? Is she taking him to school? Well I didn’t approve of this.” She scrunched her muzzle as she beckoned to get out of the wash basin.

School?

She grabbed a towel with her teeth and vigorously patted you dry. “Yer ‘ou go Wingle, ‘ice ‘nd’ ‘ry” She muffled through the towel.

“Fluttershy, I can dry myself please for the love of-” You groaned and grabbed the towel from her and started to dry yourself off.

“Okay big guy, I'll let you dry yourself.” She smiled and fluttered out of the bathroom.

Drying with one arm is a pain in the ass, but at least getting out of this bandage might come sooner than you expected. So maybe once your dominant arms become fully functional, you can write a letter telling that damn pony that you are a person and should be treated like a wild animal! Just maybe a day or so. You just got to hold out just a little longer of this treatment.

You haphazardly wrap the towel around your waist. It becomes quickly apparent that this is too small to fit around your form. Well shit no makeshift clothing from this towel for you. You figured at least you can use some blankets to cover yourself up.

In place of having something to cover yourself, You somehow convinced Fluttershy that you were just cold all the time, a creature like yourself must be from a desert of some kind.

That is somewhat true.

But mostly it’s because you don't want to be naked all the time. You have standards god damnit!

You make your way downstairs. You jump out of the way when a couple of ferrets seem to be fighting with one another
“Damn ferrets, go fight somewhere else. Jeez.” You shake your head. You gingerly step over the ruckus.

You place your towel on the arch of the couch and cover yourself up. You sit down It creeks in protest from your weight.

Thump Thump Thump.

You look down to see a small white bunny, its expression frowning and tapping its big foot impatiently its feet at you.

“...Yeah?” You say to this bunny. You know it can’t understand you, but it's a very animated creature, it conveys so much emotions quite well from its tiny little body

The bunny squeaks angry at you, now stomping with both feet angrily.

“What? What do you want?” You say leaning forward you look down at this fluff of terror.

It points at a spot on the couch.

“Did I take your spot?” You condescended the impatient bunny.

It stops its fussing and nods its head in agreement. Its face is happy that you are being nice to its request.

“Well that sucks dude.” You lean back and spread out to take up the whole couch. Well that was a mistake. As soon as you close your eyes to take a nap, the little bastard jumps on your leg and bit you quite hard!

“Agh! You Fucker!” you bat the rabid rabbit away from your leg. You check your injuries. The little terror didn’t break skin, but now you got a wet bite mark on you. Fucker.

“Jeez fine you little asshole take a spot. Damn.” You get to your feet and walk off the pain. “Fucking little bastard.”

You hear hooves hitting dirt just outside the entrance to the cottage. Followed by a rapping against the door. I bet that is that lavender pervert.

“Be right there.” You hear Fluttershy call out from the other room.

A nerdy equine voice come from behind the door in response. You go to the window and see that, yup, you called it. It was indeed the winged and horned lavender pervert from a couple of days ago. She had a saddle bag on her back that looked like it was filled with books. Double yup. She is definitely going to write things about you and ask you things in a language you don't understand.

Twilight notices you and she waves enthusiastically towards you.

You scowled at her.

She raised an eyebrow at you leaning her head back confused.

You retorted by sticking your tongue out at the pervert pony.

She shakes her head and gasped at you like you just insulted her mother at a family dinner. She frowns and sticks her tongue out at you, blowing a raspberry right back.

You chuckled. Serves her right for sketching your naughty bits. Your eyes drift away from the pervert to see there is someone new you haven't seen before.

This creature was behind Twilight. And it mostly looked like you from the waist up. However it had more of a gray tone of fur across is mid and upper section of his body. He was skinny just like yourself.

Though from the waist down it was like a bull legs with jet black coat with well trimmed hooves. His head was bull-like as well, though he wore corrective lenses and his horns angled out from each side of its head, before winding away from you like a ram. He was just standing behind Twilight on her right flank, crossing his arms with a serious look on his face.

Who or what are you?

Fluttershy walks by you and opens the door catching her friend mid raspberry. Fluttershy eye an raised an eyebrow at her friend. “Twilight?”

Twilight smiled nervously and rubbed the back of her head. She sounded embarrassed.

Flutterhy looks back at you. “Making faces at you? Windle that's not nice.” She frowned and than sighed.

You shrugged at your caretaker. If you try to argue she can make you do what she commands you to do or worse that stare that she can do. So might as well hold your tongue to not trip yourself up and avoid such a fate once more.

Fluttershy returned to Twilight, “Well anyways please come in. Don’t mind Windle, he is still a cranky little boy. Oh! You brought a minotaur friend?”

Twilight and this ‘minotaur’ walks into the cottage. Twilight raised her forehoof and introduced her friend.

“Steve?” Fluttershy said in a confused voice. She looked up at Steve with unease.

Steve? What kind of name is Steve?

Steve stayed dead silent, only staring you down. That made you feel a little odd. This was the first creature you met that didn’t want to eat you and is the same height as you. But the way he was looking at you made you feel off.

The two ponies walked away to another room as the conversation started to flow between the two. This just left you by yourself with this ‘Steve.’ A moment passes between the two of you. You get the idea that maybe he is part human, maybe he can talk to you.

You clear your throat.

“Uhhh…hey.” You say trying to start up a conversation.

The minotaur, still crossing his arms, said nothing to you.

“You…you come around here often?”

No response.

“You gonna say anything?”

Nothing.

“Hey, do you even understand me?”

Steve continues to stare down at you. He flared his nostril to give a loud sigh.

“Where am I? Do you know what I am? Why are you hanging out with a purple pervert?” You questioned the half bull man.

Steve remained stoic and did not respond.

You walked up closer to him and snapped your fingers in front of his face. He didn't like that one bit. Steve huffed and batted her hand away from his face.

“Come on, give me something. Anything!”

“No.” Steve said with a brassy voice that rumbled your eardrums.

You freeze. Was that a direct response to you?

“You understand me?” you point a finger to your chest.

Steve unfazed, stood his ground and remained stoic.

“Hey…” you eyes pleading for a response.

Steve remained as he was.

“HEY!” You shouted, now getting desperate. He talked to you, you just know it! And if he can talk and he's around that pervert pony, he must know something!

You approach and grabbed his forearm “I know you responded to me, tell me what I want to know!” Steve huffs angrily and jerks his arm away from you.

Before you can press any further, you hear a set of hoof steps coming back to you.

“Well, I don’t know, he is a new critter that I haven’t seen before in my life. But if you think it's safe once he recovers?” Fluttershy questioned Twilight.

Twilight nodded her head and gestured to Steve. She rolled her forehoof; bobbing her head as she looked like she was explaining something to Fluttershy.

“If you put it like that, then I guess it is a good idea and we might be able to teach the students how k-kindness doesn’t have to stop with other creatures but with other critters too.

Twilight made a strange noise that the best way you can describe it was a squee of delight. She used her horn to levitate some kind of calendar out. She used her magic to levitate a quill and seemed to be pointing at dates. You caught a glimpse to see writing that you don’t understand. The quill lands on a date that looks like it's the end of the month.

Shit. Those words are just squiggles! How the hell is she suppose to read english?

The conversation continued. “Of course Twilight, I should be back after Windle here makes a full recovery.” Fluttershy nodded and affirmed whatever Twilight was conveying to her friend.

For the next few hours you did basic tasks as for Twilight. Pick up this item. Jump here. Sit there. Throw this ball and Twilight seemed to record the distance with your non-dominant arm. Growl. Say nonsense words. You get the feeling that maybe she is recording you for a catalog of some kind.

Or.

Maybe she is getting data on you so she can write a story about how you and her are a couple and do unholy things to each other when night falls.

You shutter at the thought that a pony can be coming onto like that.

After what felt like hours of random tasks, Twilight and Steve bid their farewells. The sun was getting low in the sky, and you felt like it was time for a nap. Fluttershy looks at the time and begins her evening feedings and chores around her home.

As you eat your meal of apples and broccoli, you couldn't help but think of just how strange Steve was. Something about him was just off about that guy.

You took a bite out of an apple, the sweet nectar was a nice little treat for you. You continue your pondering. It was on the tip of your tongue. But what? Sure he was quiet. That was weird about that guy.

He also just stood there and just stared at you. Did he know you? No that can’t be it, he looked more like he didn't want to be there at the cottage. But he responded to you directly! That was the first time in days someone actually looked you in the eyes and responded to you directly and without any misinterpretations.

Then it dawned on you. You look down at your free hand. You grabbed his arm to try to get some answers out of him. Sure he jerked away, who wouldn’t? But you swear that he had a gray fur coat that covered from waist up. But you didn’t feel that. No it felt like…skin. Human skin.

With your bandaged up arm you flex your index finger to rub your forearm. Yup no doubt about it, his arm and your arm felt exactly the same.

But how?

He had to be a furry bullman, or is this place just messin' with your head? Did Twilight use her horn and play a prank on your sense of touch? You have seen magic happen, and you don’t know the limits of it. Hell, is there a limit of magical potential to any creature here that has a horn like the pervert?

You finish your apple and toss it to a composting trough in Fluttershy’s kitchen. Well this is starting to make your head hurt. But maybe you can make heads or tales in the morning.

You lay down in your makeshift bed that Fluttershy made for you. The heat of the fire relaxed you as sleep started to drift into your mind.

Being Alone Really Sucks...

The days are getting…better.

Better as in things are going on an upward trend.

Over the past couple of days your once useless arm is now, as Fluttershy deems it, ‘fully healed.’ Though saying that your right arm is fully healed is a little too optimistic. It healed sure, however it's still, maybe permanently stiff and doesn't rotate as it used to. It’s interesting that somehow with a stroke of luck you were able to survive being maimed by a Manticore. But that’s okay.

It’s okay because you are safe. You are taken care of by Fluttershy. This place is nice and pleasant. What more can you ask for? Well besides answers to why and how you are here. But you have a feeling that will come eventually.

For the past couple of weeks you have become well adjusted from being scared shitless about this world, to now just living and accepting that this is now the way things are, thanks to the assistance of Fluttershy. Those were the good bits in your new life.

Your life has been getting better, now that you have restored autonomy with the restoration of your arm. Fluttershy leaves you to your own devices. However even now with your recovery, she still checks up on you from time to time. Maybe it's her instinct to be overbearing with her animals. But you get the little victories when you can.

Though this life still has its bad bits.

The partial language barrier with Fluttershy and the complete barrier with her friends is still a hassle to get around. On top of that, even though you can make your own decisions, Fluttershy always keeps you on a medium size leash so to speak. You can venture outside of the cottage, and to the very edge of the Everfree Forest, but that is as far as you can go without being wrangled up by the peaky flying animal loving pony. But It's fine you can just be entertained by the animals that Fluttershy takes care of for the time being.

You greatly underestimated the amount of animals this one pony manages. And oh boy, you thought the smell of animals on the inside was something to get used to. No no, Fluttershy keeps so many animals it might as well be considered a sanctuary. Which is strange, as far as you know eagles, bats, otters, flamingos are not endangered in any shape or way. Or maybe it's an odd relationship where she gets recharged from taking care of animals, and the animals are well taken care of. It's admirable to say the least.

You are watching her now, basking in the sun with a blanket around yourself. Fluttershy is humming to herself in a tune you don’t recognize; attending to some chickens giving them grains to peck on.

You find it interesting that somehow throughout the day she has a strict schedule of what animals need to be taken care of and at what time, all in a timely manner. It was truly something special to see it unfold in front of your eyes.

Fluttershy has become accustomed to you just kind of watching her routines. At first she thought it was was predatory behavior coming from you, what with your canine teeth and watchful gaze. However you made no such move to maim anything. Soon after she just accepted that you are a very observant and curious critter.

Your eyes wander to a pair of bats in a nearby tree. They were hanging upside down and seemed to be chittering to each other. Maybe their conversation was on the lines of ‘Hey Bob, did you see the size of that bug Tommy caught?’ And the other one responded, ‘Oh I saw that man, he got himself a good one. Maybe we should check out that spot,’ or whatever bats talk about.

You chuckle at the absurdity of talking bats casually talking about their day. Your grin, but then there was a sinking feeling that weighed down that grin. A punishment of some sorts. Slowly turning into a disappointed frown. Sadness crept into your heart.

It must be nice to just shoot the shit with someone. You kind of do with Fluttershy from time to time, but let's face it, it's just a one way conversation that leads to more frustrations than genuine conversation.

You get the feeling that maybe you talked to other people before you came here. Maybe. You don’t remember. Though Fluttershy humming did remind you about that massive headache a couple of days ago. This memory seemed so familiar to you. You are convinced it's a clue to your past. Were you a musician before you came here? It seems like it. But how would you know?

You listen to her hum and you get an idea.

Fuck it.

You look up to Fluttershy. You listen closely as she continues to hum and feed the local birds in the apple trees.

You begin to listen.

Listen.

Find the melody...

Listen…

Focus on her voice.

Bring it into your very being.

Focus…

…Focus…

…

There it is.

You can start to visualize her humming as written notes. And with this visual something deep down just gets it.

Taking a deep breath, you let loose a low and warm baritone tone carry Fluttershy's voice. You start out softly, to test your tone. Yup, that sounds just about right time to step up your humming game.

Taking Another deeper breath, one that fills your lungs and belly. You start out slow, trying to be the foundation for Fluttershy higher soprano range. You tune in on the tempo and rhythm. When she is on the down beat, you give her some spice and you sneak in some simple scat on the up beat. On some long phrases you end it off with a vibrato that you didn’t know you had in you. You close your eyes to really focus.

So far so good. You get the feeling you did this before, or at least know how to make music?

Now you start to put more emphasis on your scatting, gently rising, but still the foundation to Fluttershy, but now you are going to sweep in and take the lead.

You don’t know the tune but you can feel it in your soul. You improvise by adding your own flavor to it. You feel yourself get to your feet, increase your dynamic tone to be even louder and louder.

Then in your mind's eye, a slurry of colors begins to take shape. First it's hard to see what is being from but more time passes and now you know where you are. You have been here before. You know you have. But where? Where is this place?

You stand before a crowd of people, your hands holding…something blurry and abstract, but you know it has some kind of mouthpiece. Your hands are sweaty and your knees begin to shake. But thankfully you have clothes. Clothes that are considered fancy. Black slacks, white collared button up shirt with a navy blue handkerchief folded neatly in your breast pocket that obscured your shaking body. Taking the abstracted object into your mouth, you blow into it. Somehow you just know how this object works.

Then you hear it. No make it, you begin to make it.

Music.

Music starts to flow out into the crowd that gathered for you. They are all enamored by your beautiful tone. You played slowly and your piece meandered from one phrase to another. The dynamics of it were soft and quiet. With each phrase that you passed you begin to loosen up, as if you just took a shot of fine whisky to your belly, but of your soul, your entire being.

Now that you got their attention, it's time to bring up the tempo.

The change was subtle, long phrases with vibrato shifted to short and sharp phrases that demanded heat and energy to it. The crowd saw you bobbed your heads as the music shifted. It's not enough. You need more energy from them. You tap, no, stomp your feet to the beat as you raise your dynamics filling the entire chamber with your rich sound. Now the music jumped and danced with the ears of the audiences as if it was on fire and filled with passion and desire to be seen. To be heard.

To be admired.

People began to get to their feet, clapping in sync to your stomping. Their faces, their attention, all of it was in the palm of your hand.

You will not disappoint them.

You can not disappoint them.

You took this opportunity to let loose even more. With your lower half you start to dance stepping left, then right, then left again using your hips to convey your rhythm and energy of your piece. You get the courage to use the whole stage as your play space, a canvas of your audible creation.

You are halfway there now. Your movement becomes more exaggerated taking more and more of your performance space.

Let the show really begin.

As if on you the curtains behind you raise, there one of your friends was on the drums. Putting down a basic beat for you. And just on cue you turn into a different phase.

The drummer rolls off the snare and strikes the high hat. Perfect, now it's time to soar into the stratosphere!

You you fully enthralled by your music now, not giving a damn what people think of your dumb dance moves. You are taking these folks on a journey and you a re the helmsmen. You look stupid with your dancing but...

Fuck it.

This.

This was worth the judgment from your peers.

This, this is why you spent so many hours on this damn thing. Many long days and nights practicing, perfecting your craft.

This, right here, right now is an open middle finger to everyone in your life who thinks that the thing you are holding right in this moment is a waste of time, resources and money.

Well fuck 'em.

Fuck all of them.

You're doing this for you, and for them that came to see you.

The melodies you play are erratic, reaching higher and higher. Your lungs are burning as you focus on pushing yourself and the instrument to its limits. The crowd knows you must be coming to the finish line; they roar and cheer, stomping and clapping to the heightened beat.

This is it.

As you reach the finale you're gonna completely go all in on your instrument making sounds that only you dream of making, maybe even professionals that practice their entire lives to make it on a night like this. You arpeggio higher and higher and higher….

Until...

You end your pieces with an incredible high note with such intense vibrato that you could swear you can break a wine glass with it. You hear your drummer friend knowing this was the finale and hype your experiences by filling the space with a drum solo. You look at each other and with a silent agreement, you end your performance.

The crowd roars and cheers that threaten to make you deaf. They are cheering for you, chanting your name but you can't quite make it out. You are breathing incredibly hard and shaking from the adrenaline that is flowing through your veins. Wow, they like it, the really like it.

A goofy smile could not be erased from your face. You look back at your friend, he is standing and clapping for you. You smile back and you take a bow at the adoring audiences. You mouth out thank you to them before you exit stage right. The curtains fall and as soon as you are out of eye sight, you collapse gasping for air that your burning longs demanded for the past hour.

“Windle? W-windle are you…that was…”

You open your blurry eyes. You blink and regain focus. You see Fluttershy completely in awe and slack jawed at you. You feel wetness running down your cheek. You reach to whip your eye. Am I crying? You don’t know if Fluttershy is mad or happy that you took over her humming.

She finally responded, “Windle that was amazing! I didn’t know you could sing!” She rapped her forehooves together making a clopping sound. This is the closest thing to an applause in this world.

Well she was happy, no, ecstatic at your performance. She really likes it. You can see it in her big widened eyes and her gentle smile. That cute, huggable smile.

You felt heat flush your face, “Oh thanks, I um, not lot of people dig my singing…” you stop yourself from continuing, knowing full well that she doesn’t and still won’t, understand what you are saying. Your heart sank a little, the sadness started to rear its ugly head once more.

“I didn't know you where such an expressive guy, oh that's wonderful maybe we ca-"

You stopped her in her tracks. As you walked over to her and in one fell swoop, grasped her from her hovering position to bring her into a full hug. Fluttershy gasps and tenses in your arms, but relaxes as you realize what you are doing.

Emotions stir within you. You feel yourself on the verge of a damn of tears ready to collapse from the weight of your inner turmoil. Your chest was shaking as you tried to suppress your feelings deep down into your self.

Fluttershy comforts you. "Ahhh it's okay Windle, you don't have to be embarrassed. I think you did wonderful. Many of the critters like to sing. Maybe you should sing with them in the morning?" She uses her forehooves to gently pat your back.

Of course she doesn't understand.

Of course.

No one does.

No one gets it. No one around this land knows how it feels to be so alone, no matter how many times you try to talk to Fluttershys.

Or the birds.

Or the chicken.

Or that perverted lavender pony.

Or that fuckin' bear that gives you the stink eye.

No one.

Not a single soul here knows how it feels to be absolutely alone and unable to say to somebody else, 'Hey I am feeling like shit and I want to talk to someone. Anyone. Please.'

None.

You put down Fluttershy and turn your back towards her.

"Windle?" She asks you, but you just start walking away.

You need to take a walk.

You walk down the path and over the bridge. You clenching your blanket taught against yourself. You don't know where you are going, you just keep walking.

This place is awful. Terrible. Completely degrading to you.

You are a fool to think that just because your physical needs are taken care of that you can just pretend that that's all you need to survive. No you need real connection, you need somebody to be around and just shoot the shit.

You need someone to be your friend.

You stop yourself at the edge of the thick foliage of the Everfree. It somehow just sucks the light out of the surrounding area. You sink down and sulk into your thoughts just gazing into the hellhole you survived weeks ago.

You feel yourself slip into a deep trance.

"HELP, SOMEBODY HELP!"

You blink. Then blink again.

"SOMEBODY HELP ME PLEASE. HEEEEEEEEEEELLLLP!!"

You jump to your feet. Somebody is screaming for help. Somebody that you understand. That can only mean one thing in your mind.

Someone, not a pony, but a person, an actual person, is screaming bloody murder. Screaming for you to help them. You bite your lip in thought.

You are not a hero, not even the closest thing to being a hero, and the last time you were in there, you almost died.

…

God fucking damnit!

You threw all caution into the wind and you sprint into the hellscape following the screams of terror

If there is someone here, then you will be damned to let them go through what you had to go through all because of one simple idea.

And that idea is…

Being alone really sucks.

Getting What You Wishes For Kinda Sucks

This is got to be the dumbest thing you've ever done, you are not a hero.

Why are you doing this? This is stupid. Being the hero sucks!

But it's a person! This person needs us! I need them, and they need me.

Will I make it in time?

A torrent of ambivalent thoughts consumed your mind. But you didn’t care. No, you are on a mission. Someone out here in this terrible forest is calling for help. So you are going to help God damnit!

A familiar voice approaches you from behind. “Windle! Windle it's too dangerous!” You look back to see Fluttershy flying faster than you have ever seen before.. She wrapped both of her forearms around one of your own, giving you a solemn look. “You are still hurt!” She tightened her grasp on you.

You frown at her, “there is someone out there Fluttershy." You do a wide gesture to the forest. "And they are in more danger than I am!” You yanked your arm free from your pony caretaker.

Fluttershy knitted her brow at you in response and her ears splayed. “Windle I never said you were a horrible or bad, but there is no-”

You turn your back to Fluttershy waving a dismissive hand at the pony. You don’t have time for this song and dance! There are more important matters at hand!

You hear a distraught pony behind you slowly fade away as you dashed into this scary forest. Now focus, see where the calls are coming from.

Another scream echoed through the forest. Though this time it sounded more of a mournful sobbing, "I'm coming I'm coming just hold on!" You shout back into the foreboding backdrop. The call sounded like it was quite far away, so you push forward with great determination against the roughened terrain.

You don't know how long you have been running, but you know it has been awhile. It was evident with the lactic acid building up in your legs. Closer you heard the cries for help getting louder. It can't be that far now. You just know you are getting close.

Climbing over a rock that was quite annoying, you think you are extremely lost in this shaded scary forest.

You hear some sobbing to your right. Catching your breath you find a bush to duck down and peer into the clearing opening up to you. In the clearing you saw a small pond only a couple of passes away having a gentle flowing creek that fills the otherwise dreadful atmosphere with more of a somber tranquil feeling to it all. Take a moment to catch your breath; then peer around the area. Your eyes grow wide at your discovery.

Your suspicions were right! Over past the creak you spot a humanoid person.

An actual person!

They had brown messy hair, tattered clothes similar to what you had on when you first came here, and a smaller frame than your own. The person has wrapped their lithe arms around their knees and face buried deep in their knees with their hair obscuring their features. Finally it sounded like they were sobbing quietly to themselves.

You felt the world seemed to be lifted off of your shoulders at this blessed sight. You are not alone, but they are.

You check your surroundings again double checking to make sure nothing terrible is hiding out here, you almost died once from a Manticore, what else is out here that the colored trope of ponies dare not to venture within. From your hiding spot you don't see anything threatening, the only thing is a bat that was slightly larger from Fluttershy's sanctuary just hung upside down sleeping.

You exit your spot to approach the person, "Hey…you okay?" You put your hands up in a defensive manner when you approach.

The person in question didn't respond, only just sob into themselves.

You get in closer, focusing on the other human. "This place, it's not a good place." You get down on one knee getting a better look at this person.

They continued to sob.

"Hey did you hear me?" You reach your hand out gently to the distraught person's shoulders. “I can help you there is a-”

Your hand phased through the person's shoulders! You stop your speech and gasp in surprise. Your hand find cold hard earth. Your eyes bulge out at this 'person'. You reel back with a kick of adrenaline course through your body. Jumping to your feet with your arms up ready to tango if need be. Just before this apparition gazes into your own it starts to shimmer and dissipate from your view. Leaving only the echo of its sobbing before it too drifted away into the ether.

Then there was only silence in the air.

You blink at the spot where the person was just there. You shake your head and look again. They are still gone. Your hand start to shake. Your breaths become shaky. Your mind runs in hyper gear.

Has some sort of God or the universe itself just wanted to fuck with you today?

Why?

What did you do to deserve such a cruel joke? This person was real! You heard them call you. You knew it in your heart that they were real, another human being wanting to be saved by this awful place.

But something or maybe someone just says 'no' to you.

No.

No, there's no other person here.

Yes, you are alone in this place

You are the only human here.

And the Universe deemed it funny to pull the rug from under you.

You felt your jaw go slack. Your breath is heavy and uneven. Your gut start to squeeze on itself, your hand shaking as you look down at your palms.

You try to stifle the force of emotion you've been denying for so many days now, but your body is forcing it out of you.

You crumble to the ground; your throat clenched. Your breath becomes ragged. You start to softly sob, trying desperately not to break down. But you can’t. Quietly, you started to sob. First it was a quite sob that slowly got louder and more ugly by each passing moment.

“God….God damnit…God….god fucking….” You hiccup between shaky breaths. This can’t be happening. This is magic or some kind of trickery to break you down. Something is making you feel like this.

But deep down you know, you know the truth.

You came here alone, you will live here alone and finally, you will die here alone.

No amount of talking about multi-pastel ponies is going to make you feel better about this fact. You are the last of your kind. The loneliness of it all was too harsh to bear. You cover your head and shut your eyes tight. Sobbing away your pent up sorrow.

After a moment you hear in the distance rolling thunder. Shortly followed by a strange whooshfrom ahead. You cleared your eyes and gaze upwards to a pony in the sky. This one you can barely see the details but it moves fast. Faster than you have ever seen before.

Before you know it it passes you by with amazing speed, leaving a gust of wind that picks up loose dirt to spray it over yourself. Reflexively you put your arm up to shield yourself as the wind dies down. The pony stopped over a canopy of trees nearby. It looked over, searching the ground and yelling out a phrase you don't recognize with a scratchy tone of voice. It was a cyan colored, though it's nearly impossible to not notice the prismatic colors of its main and tail. Wait a minute, you recognize this pony.

Rainbow Dash calls out once more. She turns around and she spots you. In a flash she dives down, making another whoosh in your direction. You thought you where going to be dives bomb by the pony, luck for you she flared her wings out and stopped all of her momentum before crashing into you.

Rainbow Dash flew up to your face. Her eyes narrowed at you. She had a nasty frown on her muzzle. She seemed to be lecturing you as she poked at your bare scarred chest. Maybe Fluttershy sent Rainbow to find you? Maybe. It felt kinda nice to know that Fluttershy cares about your well being just as back on earth other people care about a lost dog wanting to be found again. It's nice, but it feels so hollow. A surface level of affection.

Nothing more.

Her scowling is going in one ear and out the other. You sit down and just sulk. Rainbow Dash's attitude shifted at your demeanor. From an angry pony that was scolding you, to confused, then finally concerned. You hear her land in front of you. You don’t look up, you just look down at the earth letting the numbness take hold of you.

The cyan pony gets down on her knees and lower her head until she is in your view. Her cerise eyes peer into you concerningly. Her muzzle frowning sadly at you. She places a forehoof on your foot and shakes it to get your attention. You lazily look at Rainbow Dash with glazed over eyes. She pats your leg, saying something you don't get. She gets upright and with a mightly flap of her wings you rockets away leaving a trail of rainbow in her wake.

Moments later she places a tree branch filled with leaves. Zipping away she found another branch that places it against you again. Then she does this again, and again until you are completely covered in a makeshift bush disguise. She hovered in front of you. With her forehooves she made a ‘stay here’ motion before she zapped away again, leaving a low rumble of thunder.

The branches Rainbow Dash placed on you are dry and they itch. But at least your disguise kept wind away. You sighed and shifted your weight. The makeshift disguise rustled. You put your hand against your scarred chest. Last time you were here, you almost died a very horrible and painful death.

Now you are here again chasing ghosts.

Why are you trying to be a hero in your own story when there is no need for a hero, or even a story to begin with? Are you a dick of a person for leaving Fluttershy back there?

What is wrong with you?

Deep down you're grasping at straws for a life that you know will never come back. No matter how hard you try to willpower it into existence. It's just not going to happen. Maybe one of the ponies with magic can just zip you away. However you get the feeling that if they knew how to put you back on earth they would have done it by now. Or maybe this is a kind of game or sick joke that is beyond your understanding. If only you can just ask those damn ponies and get the record straight!

The sun has passed its zenith and is now arching back down to the horizon. You gather that maybe an hour has passed since Rainbow Dash 'expertly' hid you. Your body, especially your right arm, is aching from the chill of the air. You shiver, where is that flying pony? Maybe she forgot about you or got lost? Well the latter seems hard to believe with her ability to fly like a fighter jet.

You were about to throw in the towel when there were the sounds of footfalls beyond the clearing ahead of you. Shit. Did something else want to kill you besides a Manticore? You sit completely still waiting for whatever is coming your way.

Ponies. It was just ponies. Ponies that you knew.

The first you see was Twilight who has her friends in tow. However right next to that lavender ponies side there is a new pony you haven't seen before. Female as the rest of Twilight's friends. She had a horn on her head, grayish heliotrope coat, a light purple mane with aquamarine streaks styled parted to the side that naturally curls over her fore loft with a wavy extent down her neck. She seemed to be talking to Twilight as if she was in a serious debate.

"Wiiiiiiiiindle" you hear Fluttershy call out to you. They trope enter the clearing as you see a streak of prismatic colors whoosh past you knocking down all the branches off of you. Rainbow dash hover down next to your side, wiping her forehooves clean from the dirt.

Fluttershy gasps. "Windle! Windle you’re safe and sound!" She flies to you giving you a massive hug. The rest of the trope of friends followed after Fluttershy. Rarity let out a sigh of relief and raised a hoof to Rainbow, congratulating the flying cyan pony. Twilight seemed to walk, placing a forehoof on Fluttershy shoulder, consoling the crying pony.

“What…what do you mean Twilight?” Fluttershy turns her head to peer back to her friends. Twilight seems to gesture to the new pony and back at yourself. She goes on a long explanation you don't understand. She paws at the grounds at her conclusion. Rarity gasps with wide eyes as she points her forehoof at you. Rainbow Dash crossed her forearms against her chest giving Twilight a dubious look. Twilight shot back at Rainbow Dash. Applejack seems to get in between the Rainbow And Twilight trying to de-escalate whatever confrontation was happening between them.

“What the fuck are they arguing about…” You whispered to yourself. Fluttershy looks back at you. She gave you a once over before stepping away from you. Her attitude seemed to shift from a caring animal care giver for you, to something else. You couldn’t quite put your finger on it but she was giving a side eye.

Fluttershy look back at the new pony. “You don’t think Twilight is right about that, don't know? Windle can’t be like…w-well us?” You look over to Fluttershy. What did she mean like us? Surely she can’t mean what you think she means right?

Pinkie Pie interjected in the arguing of ponies, though her chipper tone doesn't seem to cut through them well enough. Flutter shy tries to join in the argument making a case about you being just a scared animal. The new horned pony tries to get the others' attention but fails.

“Hey…guys maybe you can stop arguing and maybe go somewhere else?” You look around trying to figure out how to get out of here safely. The heliotrope pony smacked her forehead with her forehooves and groaned annoyingly. Her horn gains a light turquoise aura around it. She creates a mist of the same color that swirled around her horn culminating a rock size cloud

The cloud of mist shot at you at a great speed! You should your face giving a startled shout. But that did little as the mist phased through your protected arms. The mist enters your mouth, your nostrils. You coughed profusely as it tickled and tasted a mixture of sprinkles, oils and other tastes you can’t figure out, but it was awful!

You cover your mouth and closed your eyes. You feel your mind seem to stretch and fold on itself, though not as painful as you expect, the nausea was not doing you any favors. Your ears ring loudly as if you got hit with a massive shockwave. You hear muffled voices at first, before they start to become clear.

“Starlight! What did you do to Windle?”

“I casted a Translatious spell! You wanted to test to see if Windle was sentient Twilight!”

“Well yes I wanted to test that, but what did I tell you of casting spells first and asking questions later?”

“Twilight’s right sugarcube, if yall cast them spells willy nilly just like you cast spells on us without thinkin’ a whole waggin' trouble comin’ trotting your way.”

“S-starlight I think you made Windle sick, Windle are you okay?”

You open your watery eyes. Still coughing up trying to respond.

“That spell doesn't make you sick if you were just a normal animal Fluttersh-" Starlight explained.

“-Fuck, God damn cough cough Fucking warned me next time before you do some shit on me. Damn!” You cut through chatter of the other ponies.

Wait a minute.

The trope of ponies gasped in unison.

“H-he can talk!” Rarity shouted.

Pinkie Pie jumped in your place, bursting with excitement. “Yeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaahhhh! I knew I just knew that Windle could talk! I just knew it!”

“I…I was right…My hypothesis was right…” Twilight whispered to herself in disbelief.

“Windle…you…you can talk just like us…” Fluttershy ears folded against herself, a hint of guilt in her voice.

“That’s what he sounds like? I thought you would sound more, well cooler with that scar of his.” Rainbow Dash unenthusiastically scratchy voice gestures to your battle scars with her forehoof.

“Of course I can…talk…” You trailed off as it slowly started to sink in. Whatever this Starlight did to you, you can hear what the ponies are saying.

And they hear you.

They actually hear you.

For days you have been wanting to have this moment to finally get answers of why you are here, who are they and so forth. But right now, your brain is having a shock of a lifetime.

Twilight looked over at Starlight. “Starlight, how long does that spell last?” Her ears perked up.

Starlight tapped her forehoof against her chin scrunching up her muzzle. “I believe it should last,” She seemed to count something in the air with her forehoof, “until next sunrise?”

“Sunrise?” Rarity jumped in. “Well that is not a whole lot of time to get to know this young stallion friend her-”

“Human” You interrupt the posh pony. You get to your feet. Your mind finally started to get into gear. “I am not a stallion, im…human.”

Pinkie Pie titled her “Hue-man? You don’t look like you have any hues?”

“No human, it's what we are cal-”

“I. Have so, SO many questions!” Twilight bounced to your side. She was completely enamored by you. “Where did you come from? Why are you here? Could you understand Fluttershy the entire time you are here? Was the artifact that I found belong to you? Oh I need my pen and ink for all of this research!” She berated you with questions.

"I ahh" You raised your hands defensively as you try to tackle which questions to answer.

“Ah come on Twilight, can’t ya see that poor hue-man is shook up from all of this.” Applejack pointing at your face. Well it is true this is really something out of fiction. You are actually talking to ponies. And it seems too eager to ask you about who and what you are. But sitting here and just talking is not the best place to do so.

You clear your throat, “I will answer all of your questions once we get out of here.” You gesture to the forest.

The rest of the troupe all agreed that it's time to get out of here and go to Ponyville, wherever that is.

You walk with your pony trope. Fluttershy seemed to float just beyond you all. You have answered many questions that the ponies have been asking you. Such as what is Earth? Is there magic where you are from? Are all humans are naked like yourself? Is Vanilla or Chocolate a better icing cupcake? Do you even like cupcakes? Who doesn’t like cupcakes?

You step over a rock as you hear Rainbow Dash just can’t accept that a machine can be faster than her.

“So let me get this straight. Humans with their hands made a metal bird that travels faster than me? The best flier is Equestria? The most Awesomest Pegasus that ever will be?”

So that is what they are called, “Well it's the truth.” You duck under a tree branch. “But, again Dash, we….we don’t have talking ponies, or magic, or-”

“Tell you you have cakes right? There has to be cake!” Pinkie Pie interrupts, somehow she stretched her neck longer than it should be possible to get into your face. That was extremely unnerving that she can do that. You look over to Twilight and she just shakes her head. That was extra concerning.

“Well yeah there’s cake where I'm from.” You raised an eyebrow at the Pinkie Pie hoping that answers was enough to satisfy her.

“Okay!” her neck stretching back to normal proportions. Creepy. “An extra dimensional alien critter from beyond the stars that also likes cake can be a super duper good friend!”

“Extra wha-” You begin to say.

“Say darling, I have to ask, now that Twilight was right about you being, um you.” Rarity paused her talking to daintily tip over a muddy puddle. "Do you like being this?" She gestures to your naked form, making you feel self conscious.

You gently step over the same puddle, “Well yeah, being naked kind of sucks.”

“And it, ‘sucks’ right now for you?” Rarity looks up to you with a concern frown on her muzzle.

“I mean yeah it kind of does. I wish I had clothes, but I assumed that ponies don’t wear them because well, fur.” You scratch the back of your head. At first you started to get used to the idea of being naked, but now that these ponies know you can talk and have feelings, having clothes would be a good idea.

“That must be absolutely dreadful, I can't imagine walking around naked!” Rarity shivers at the thought. “No I can’t stand it, you have suffered enough being naked for so long.” She proclaimed. From the corner of your eye, you saw Fluttershy winced.

Rarity continued. “How about this, girls, we could return to the School, buuuut Windle here is in dire need of a friend. Perhaps we can use the remainder of the day to excuse ourselves and go on a ‘Friendship Emergency.’

Twilight looked back hummed in agreement. “That sounds like a great idea, Rarity. I need a good distraction for a bit, and being the Princess of Friendship, I can’t let somepony just suffer undue hardship.”

Friendship Emergency? Princess of Friendship?

This is getting ridiculous.

“So what does this ‘friendship emergency’ mean?” You air quote.

“Well first I want to make sure you have proper clothes darling!” Rarity stops in her tracks. “AND, I can finally get some ideas on how to make clothes for minotaur's!” she stomped gleefully at the idea.

“When was tha’ last time a minotaur wore a dress?” Applejack quipped to Rarity.

“Applejack my dear, you must have some imagination!” Rarity fired back at Applejack. The crew seemed to get a good laugh. The banter between these friends seemed interesting. It felt nice just to hear them converse with each other. To make things better they are including you in their conversations.

After what felt like an eternity you finally get out of the forest. The evening sun basking the lands with a warm glow. Down the path you see far down the road you spot a town in the distance. The town stretched for a couple of miles. Many buildings, many people, well ponies. You spot a flying creature above you, though it wasn't a pony. It was more feline, or was it a bird? Both? It was hard to tell.

The troupe of ponies continued down the path towards the town. Talking amongst themselves and making a few giggles about memories they shared before you found your way here. Well you only have until sunrise on the next day before you're alone. So maybe just loosen up and see what happens?

What is the worst thing that can happen?

After all of the days here in this new land, I think it's high time you earn yourself a drink.

Ponies drink, don’t they?

Having Friends Definitely Doesn't Suck!

*TWO DRINKS LATER*

For some odd reason, you thought that your past would be mysterious, intriguing, exciting to regale onto aliens from a different world. Or is it a dimension? Hard to tell. What isn’t hard to tell is the fact that the more you talk about yourself, what Earth is like, what you did, some history you remember, It sounded…

Boring.

Average at best. Stupid at worst. It hurts to know this fact just by the facial reactions of your companions.

The first one was your lifesaver and caregiver Fluttershy. You had a feeling that when it comes to the name that has shy in it, it would be expected that the pegasus you were getting to know would be the quite type. But she has become very reserved. Strangely reserved. You can’t help but notice she has flushed cheeks. Maybe she's a lightweight? You don’t know but she is clearly trying to duck out of anything that involves her and yourself. Weird.

Next was Pinkie Pie. You looked at her, her blue orbs watching you intently. Or was she? Her bubbly and high octane energy made it difficult to figure out if she is actually being sincere and listening or just being polite. If she is listening then she is easily entertained. If she was faking it, then holy shit she is good at hiding her intentions. Note to self. Do NOT play any social deduction games with her.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack were focused on you. However, occasionally you spotted that cyan pegasus eyes wonder over to the ‘Las Pegasus’ games. One cabinet had two other ponies playing it, and from what you can hear, it was a quite competitive game. The clicking of buttons and the smashing of a joystick was alluring to you as well. From a glimpse it looks like a classic 2D fighting game. The arcade made you curious if certain archetypes still had certain button and joystick combinations that transferred over this dimension. Applejack, noticing her friends not paying attention, bucked at Rainbow Dash. The cowpony give an angry nod in my direction, only for Rainbow Dash to mumble under her breath.

Both Starlight and Rarity had a look of just passive listening, though Starlight’s ears perked up here and there. Looking into Starlight eyes, you can clearly see gears slowly turning in her mind.

Then there was the Princess, she compared to the rest of the trove of equines, was soaking it up like a starving child greeted with a delightful bouquet of knowledge. Her eyes dilated and dialed in your tales of your past and what you have been through the last couple of days. Weeks? No, it must have been days. Time seemed to blend together and getting tipsy on two White Yaks made it even more difficult to wrangle a reference of time from your new environment.

Well, maybe one alien found you interesting. So that's good right?

After the account on the second time you were in the Everfree Forest, Starlight started to ask questions about this other 'hue man.'

You describe what they looked like but she cuts you off. "No, no, not how that hue man looked, I want to know what it looked like when they vanished." She tapped a forehoof on the table for emphasis.

You take a sip of your half drunk cocktail. How did they vanish? Well, he vanished…How the hell else are supposed to describe that? "Well he was there and reached out, went through him and he just disappeared, I…I don't know how else to describe it."

The horned heliotrope pony tapped her chin for a moment, "And what about you Fluttershy, did you hear someone screaming from the Forest?" Starlight pointed her gaze at the butterscotch pony.

"...No I don't think so."

Weird she took longer to respond than normal. It has to be the cocktail. “I assume it's something to do with horn pony-"

"Unicorns," Twilight said flatly.

"-Unicorn magic nonsense at pl-"

Twilight interrupted again, groaning at your errors. This was your biggest mistake of your life on this land.

You wave over for more drinks. You had a gut feeling you're gonna need them.

*FOUR DRINKS LATER.*

You signed your eardrums up to a lecture to the entire history of Equestria from your impromptu tipsy teacher, Twilight Sparkle.

And this equine history is ri-dicules!

Ancient goat person that was the emperor that made all the monsters.

The Pillars of Equestria.

Ghost windagos that caused an eternal winter that was overcome with harmony of unicorns, pegasus and earth ponies. And now they celebrate it like a holiday.

Two alicorns, which is just a earth pony with a wings and a horn, that control the fucking sun AND the moon.

Tree of Harmony.

Seed of Harmony.

The Moon princess turned Evil and became Nightmare Moon but now is back with her ruling sister.

A dude named Starswirl the bearded man that sounds a little too close for comfort to a myth from Earth's ancient past.

A creature named Discord, Lord of Fuckery and being the biggest dick, reigned terror over Equestria, turned to stone, unstone, restone and be reformed into a somewhat of a good guy but more of a jackass trickster.

A unicorn that tried to enslave a place that has Crystal ponies that didn't use stairs for some reason then got dunked on...Twice!

Changeling Queen that sucks love to get nutrients? Sounds sensual but maybe it's literal.

A storm king that screwed over sea ponies that were also hippogriffs? Griffons? Tartarus?!

The Everyfree Forest is just a weird spot for Equestria. Very superstitious beliefs and that a lot, coming from literal mythical creatures.

You had to put your hands up "Wait wait wait, so let me get this straight, there is a metric ASSTON, of threats on the pony kind on the regular, and somehow all three of the tribes that are cool with each other are just, perfectly okay about the high threats to life? Just sing and dance and be in harmony and things just turn out all right? For thousands of years?" The crew of multicolor ponies all nodded in agreement. "....Bullshit."

Twilight scrunched her face, "Bullshit?"

Shite, how I'm I going to explain this? "Pulling my leg, or hoof, twisting my um tail?" Your fingers snap three times in quick succession, "You’re…pranking me, ya know, bullshitting me!"

Rainbow Dash bellowed out in laughter. "Twilight you should see the look on your face, it's priceless!"

Twilight in a shocking twist of fate gave a good retort. “You should look at your face Rainbow, you look like a Hearth Warming ornament!”

The speedster pegasus whinnied in surprise, her eyes shot open, clearly not expecting such a line from her friend. Her fore hoof checked her face. The entire table started to erupted in laughter.

You couldn't help but smile. This felt nice. Your eyes scanned the seven ponies here with you now. They are laughing, and enjoying each other company. Enjoying your company. It was incredible, your friends went out of their way to help you. Made an effort to get to know you. To humor you by going to this bar, and the Princess is putting herself in political danger just to make sure that you were welcomed in a land that is not your own.

Sure, you can talk now, they know now that you are a free agent of your own life rather than a beast that depended on others. How long did you have until this ‘spell’ ended? Sunrise the next day? Your eyes glide over to a nearby window. It was already starting to get dark. You guessed maybe you have a handful of hours. After that, is it back to your old life? No it can’t be.

But there is a chance.

You chuckle. No, that has got to be the dumbest thought you ever had. If they surely wanted to fuck you over they would of by now. And that's not what friends do to each other.

Wait.

Friends?

Is this what friendship was about? Would you call them your friends? They were certainly putting into the effort to be your friend. Maybe you should do some work to be their friend as well.

Once the laughter has died down you stood up from your spot. The crew peer at you curiously. “I don’t know what ‘Las Pegus’ is, but I know a good arcade game when I see one.” You look over at Rainbow Dash. There was a cocky smile already plastered on her face. “What say you Rainbow Dash? Care to see if you can beat me at my own game?”

“Finally!! Somepony actually wants to have a little fun!” She practically shouted at the top of her lungs.

You chuckle, “Well how about another round?”

*ANOTHER TWO DRINKS LATER*

“What? How?! You must be cheating w-*hic Windle!” The screen of the 2D game told you that you were the victor of this fight for the third time in a row. Turns out even though this is not the same game you grew up playing at the local arcades back home, here in this universe some creature had the same idea that translated almost perfectly one to one. Plus It doesn’t help that Rainbow Dash had to pick a character that basically all they did was spam projectiles. A quick spin kick here for pressure and a Rising Bucking there to counter any jumping in made victory all the more easy for you.

“Rainbow I…” You paused, damn that Snowy Yaks are really sneaking up on me. “You gotta block sometimes and you can just spam away projectiles. It’s predictable”

“You're predictable!” The angry mare said. “No one more round I *hic I can win.”

“Oh oh oh I want to try!” Pinkie Pie jumped in, practically pushing the pegasus out of the way. There was a small crowd now that it's getting that time of night that ponies and other creatures were making their way to wet their muzzles and beaks.

You smirk, “Alright Pinkie, but be careful, I'm on a ROOOLLLL tonight!” Your own cockiness shining through. Well that was a mistake. Pinkie Pie selected her character. You don’t recognize this character, but it looked like an Earth pony with really long green hair and a crazed look in her eye. You had to roll your eyes as the announcer called the selected character 'Mane-iac.'

For fucks sakes what is with ponies and puns!

Pinkie Pie, the fun loving pony that was all about laughter and making parties. Has one hundred percent, utterly, completely…

DESTROYED you in this game.

The crowd was cheering for the pink champion.

You were in great despair. She had you locked down. Your normal tactics were useless against Pinkie. For everything you do she has counter ranged attacks or just reading you like a book.

She is a very scary pony.

“Well dammit Pinkie, you are really good at this.” You shocked your head. But you conceded giving Pinkie Pie a fist to hoof bump. "How are you so good at this?"

“Silly, If there is a game, then Pinkie will know how to play it, because games are fun!” She said in a matter of factly tone.

It's logical, but still doesn't answer my question. Fuck it I'm guessing that's never gonna be answered.

You took a step away as Pinkie was the new rival to beat. You take a seat near by finishing off your drink.

Damn.

You don’t know if Equestrian booze is boozer than Earth's booze, or if Earth’s booze is boozer...-er.

You watched for many hours as Pinkie did work just being a fighting game janitor. Just absolutely cleaning house! You felt a twinge of pride in your chest.

Twilight sat next to you, her face warm with the liquor flowing through her body. You smirked, lightweights, but then again maybe they don’t drink as much as humans do.

“Still think this was still a bad idea?" You ask coyly at the lavender pony without looking at her directly.

Twilight looked at the scene in front of her.

She gave a smile. "This was, not a bad *hic idea. The girls are having so much fun…I'm having so much fun a-and I don't have to bring a book with me!" She giggled to herself and continued.

"I wish I b-brought the artifact here, it is really a nice moment."

Artifact? Wait, she mentioned an artifact before.

"Oh? What artifact?" You turned your gaze to the lavender alicorn leaning in to listen.

"Ohhh it's just a silly glass box that if I press the sides of it, it sounds like it takes pictures!" She coed.

Wait…it can't be…

"Does it by chance light up with colors and a picture just 'magically' appears on its surface?"

Twilight looked back at you with a goofy smile. "Why YES! Yes it does sometimes! How did you know Windle?"

"Because that 'artifact' is my phone…" You whispered. You paused as the realization hit you.

You remember that you like to take videos on that damn thing. And you vaguely remember using it before your recent memories were wiped from you. If she had your phone and it still works then maybe this is the lead you need!

"A phone? Is that a human device? Shoot! I don't have my…oh wow…my quill and parchment." Twilight wings unfurled as she almost fell off her seat.

…Yeah she's pretty toasted and so are her friends. My friends.

"Well I can show you how it works tomorrow it's getting kinda late, plus I'm not carrying your drunken asses home."

"Well come by after classes are over, around four o'clock?" You nodded at the Princess. "Ohhh I can't wait! This is one of the greatest things ever!" Twilight was swooning over the fact she will have first hand knowledge on alien tech. It was very adorable.

"Awwwww I was having so much fun!" Pinkie cranes her head, defeating the last contender. Score? Thirty wins, zero losses.

Rarity looked over to the clock and sighed. "As much as fun this little excursion is, it is time to bid adieu."

"Well, I reckon it time to wonder on home now." Applejack tip her staton hat.

"Come on! I have to beat Windle!" Rainbow Dash protested. She pouted and hiccupped.

"Well better luck next time Dash, raincheck?" You have a sympathetic thumbs up.

"Ahhh what check?"

"...We will do this another time."

Starlight perked up. "Well if you want to continue the spell come by tomorrow at the school and look for my office, it's hard to miss." She waved a fore hoof at you over and pointed at a window. It was hard to see but there were some oil lamps to illuminated what she was referring to.

In the distance you saw a building like you had never seen before. It was one thousand percent different. It was a tree, but crystallin and massive! But it was a house. Or was it a castle? No, it had to be a castle, look how out of place that is compared to the rest of the architecture.

Next to the massive crystal tree was another building lavender colored and expertly constructed.

"That is the school, there just follo-"

"I can't read…what was it called, Ponyish letters?"

"Oh easy, I can fix that really quick!"

"Wait wait wait!" You put your hands up as the unicorn started to concentrate on a spell. She stopped thankfully.

"Oh sorry, hehehe should of asked."

"I…I can bring Windle over after, he's alright now, and I have a responsibility to my students haha…" Fluttershy wobbled over her cheeks flushed with. You cock an eyebrow. She looks plastered and the probability of you caring her back to her cottage is quite high.

"Oh well, we can do that too!" Starlight gave a sheepish grin. She really likes magic doesn't she?

After Twilight paid the tab with a promise to deliver what she owed under the Friendship Emergency, you all parted ways. That left you with just yourself, your thoughts, a plastered yellow pegasus that was not having the best of luck walking.

The air was cool and a light breeze tickled across your bare arms. "Well that was fun, what about you Fluttershy? Did you had fun?"

"Oh um…y-yes I had a blast!" She said enthusiastically but she stumbled over her own hooved feet. Reaching out to touch her fluffed chest to balance her. "Oh oh my sorry, I didn't know ice teas do that." She giggled at your touch. Oh boy, the caretaker is going to be taken care of.

"Fluttershy if I make a suggestion, maybe it's better if you don't walk, or fly back home?" You straighten yourself up.

"But how would I get home?" She asked before you see her clicked in her eyes. "No…no no Windle you don't have to do that!"

"So you rather eat dirt?"

"...No…"

"Then it settled." You kneel down and open your arms. Fluttershy was hesitant. You wiggle your fingers to coax her. That for some weird reason made her giggle and made a wavy walk over to you.

Wrapping your arms around you trying your best to find the best purchase for her form. Just carrying her on her back in both arms will do just nicely. Shockingly she was light. Maybe less than a big bag of potatoes? Makes sense if the laws of physics have to say about flying creatures needing hollow bones to fly.

But there is magic that impacts everything here.

You scoop her up and she making a little 'eep.'

Squeeing noises, now this?

You have a lot to learn. Maybe you can ask the Princess for guidance if you truly want to mingle with the populace.

You walk in silence only occasionally broken by Fluttershy giving you directions. The walk was long but eventually you see the cottage in the distance. You sigh in relief.

When you got close to Fluttershy's home, she spoke, her silly drunken attitude was replaced by timidness. "W-windle?"

"Hmm?" You hum in response.

"...I'm sorry…I'm…I'm so sorry."

What the hell? Where is this coming from?

You look down. Her eyes in the moonlight were puffy and red. Tears started to stream down her cheeks matting her fur. She tried to hide her face in shame "I…I thought I was taking care of you, but after….after hearing what you said…about…coming here…being attacked….that other hue man disappearing. You must have been miserable!" She started to bawl like a baby.

Shite, crying pony. What do I do?

"Hey It's okay," You sooth the best you could but it felt a little awkward. "You didn't know, maybe I'm a weird alien, your gift doesn't really follow the same ahh rules?"

"But I could have done something more….I could of not been so stupid!" She was severely chastising herself. This was hard to watch. Yes she did not treat you as an equal sapient creature.

But!

She went out of way to make sure you didn't die. That means a lot. And you need to show her much it means god damnit!

"Fluttershy…" you kneeled down to put the sad Pegasus on the ground. She sniffled, her eyes locked on the hooves. "You are not stupid. You just didn't know, and frankly I don't blame you. I'm pretty sure I'm the only human to exist. And judging from what Twilight said about…Grogar? That bastard made a shit ton of monsters that were not sentient." You got to her feet and stretched your lathe arms out. "I mean for fucks sake! Look at me compared to the rest of your peers. I'm weird as hell! I'm like a naked bear or…something." You were losing focus. Fluttershy didn't break her gaze on her hooves. "Look the point is, you didn't know, you followed your heart, and now you know. Ya know?" You kneeled back down at eye level.

"I just wanted to say two things." You put up one finger. "One, I wanted to say thank you." That made Fluttershy slowly raise her head up to meet yours. Her eyes watery with streaks of tears stained her yellow furred cheeks. "Thank you for saving my life, and well putting back on my two feet. You didn't have too but you did. That…that means a lot to me."

A second finger joins the first raised finger. "Second, I just wanted to say that I forgive you, you didn't know, but now you know. I was pissed about my living conditions before today, hanging out with you and your friends, and getting to know you a little bit. I'm not mad anymore. I forgive you. But maybe moving forward you treat me as a normal pony...I guess?" She nodded at you without her word.

You got to your feet.

"No stop your caterwauling, dear." You tried your best imitation of the posh pony. That gave a little chuckle out of the pegasus at your feet.

"...Thank you Windle…" Fluttershy finally spoke. You give her a good head pat before walking up the path to your friend's cottage. Fluttershy quickly followed suit and let you in place.

After saying your good night's you crawl into the makeshift bed she made for you still in the main living room. Things have changed, maybe for the better but you can't complain now that there's hope in your soul. You got friends, allies, maybe that will help you out about why you are here and what caused you to be here.

Many questions lied ahead with answers left to be discovered. You close your eyes letting the warmth of the fire take you drifted into sleep.

You know, having friends definitely doesn't suck.

Magic AND Humans? That Sucks!

Darkness.

Inky blackness covered your eyes as your minded drifted into deep sleep. A dreamless sleep takes hold of you. Peace, Tranquility. The chance to unwind and let your body rejuvenate itself. After yesterday's events you really need to processes the quantity of alcohol. And so far your body was doing what it needed to do.

That is until the sound of foot falls enters your subconscious. Your primal part of your brain tells you this is a threat.

Adrenaline shoots your eyes wide open. Your eyes quickly scan the cottage room for any threats. Thankfully, you slept on your side and your eyes easily spotted the window. Your heart grows cold as your eyes spot it in the window.

Oh…oh fuck me…

You saw a humanoid shape in the window. Its face obscured by darkness and a dark cloak that looks like it belongs in a Renaissance Faire hiding any discernible features. Where the head should be was lightly bobbing left and right, maybe it was looking for something.

Or maybe someone.

The figure does a half turn and sprints into the dark without warming. “What the hell?” A confused whisper escapes your chilled lips. There is no way you didn't saw what you just saw. A peeping tom way the hell out here?

Fuck that!

You throw the sheets and quilts haphazardly. You stormed out the cottage and circled around where the figure was. The moon was setting, and you thought you might have a couple of hours before sunrise.

You take a gander at the area. Squinting hard in the low light. What you found was bone chilling, and made you question everything you knew about the past couple of weeks.

You spot tracks. More specifically boot tracks. A shoe size very similar to yourself. Maybe a couple sizes smaller than your own.

But…

They were one hundred percent Human boot tracks.

And to top it all of it leads into the Everyfree Forest. You want to investigate further, however you remember what Twilight said about the Everyfree, it's a dangerous and just weird spot in Equestria. Monsters like manticores would try to kill and devour you without hesitation.

Your hands begin to shake. You can feel a mild panic attack set in. The memories of fake humans disappearing haunting you. Also flesh eating monsters doesn't help either with the attack. And now this? Another human stalking you know? What was the reason for this? This has to be the most bizarre punishment the universe has set on you.

Another thought entered your mind.

Someone must be fucking with me. Right? Rainbow Dash maybe? But that can’t be right. She can’t be that vain about loosing to a stupid video game right?

…

Right?

Maybe they are not my friends, maybe it's a massive ploy, a joke or something sick! You turn back around and come back inside, forgetting the door frame was lower than you, smacking your head hard.

Fuck, damnit. Well maybe Fluttershy is still my friend she will see through this bullshit, or be on guard at the least right? She's my friend….right?

You curse and hold your hand over the wounded area. It felt bruised maybe but you don’t care right now, you need to get Fluttershy. If it was a prank from Rainbow Dash maybe she had some insight. You walked up the stairs and quickly found the only room with the door closed. Normally you would just knock, but this is freaking the fuck out of you right you. Weirdly enough the door was unlocked.

You enter her room and find the pegasus sleeping under a yellow orange cross pattern sheet with a fireplace of her own lit. The bed frame with wooden heart posts which you thought was kind of cute. And surprise surprise, there were plenty of little places for mice or birds to roost in the support beams of the upstairs bedroom.

You walk over to and place a hand on the covered pegasus. “Fluttershy, Hey Futtershy, wake up…” You whispered with urgency. The pegasus stirs.

“Windle?” She groans, holding her disheveled head with her fetlock on her forehoof. Yep, that's a hangover. “What…what times is-”

“Would Rainbow Dash do a prank that involves stalking?!” You interrupted her in a frantic voice.

“What…she…she can prank but she wouldn't sta—

“Am I the only human in existence here?”

“As…as far as I know of…you okay Windle you're scaring me.”

“Come with me,” You turn around and down the hallway. A very sleepy pegasus eventually followed behind you with a lit candle in her cloven fore hoof. “They are tracks there fucking tracks, TRACKS!” Your voice slowly reached more and more panic as you processed the very recent events. "And something was watching me in the night, and, and…” You stop dead in your tracks. You look at where you were but a moment ago..

No…

No this can’t be right. This is impossible.

A warm candle light bathed behind you and gave you a clearer image. In front of you, right now. Is nothing.

No tracks.

No footprints.

No human remnants of your stalker.

Just cold undisturbed earth.

“It..it was right here, no there was a person, a stalker they had a cloak and-” you sputtered, trying to rationalize the situation at hand.

Fluttershy looked where you were frantically pointing. “Windle…if this is a prank it's not funny.” Her voice was stern and unamused.

“No, it was a guy! A person and actually fucking person!” You place your hands on your temples. You feel your heartbeat increase, your breath becomes frantic.

There were tracks right here and you knew it. You just saw with your own two eyes. It can't be a dream you were wide awake. How are they gone?

Is someone fucking with me?

Was Twilight lying to me?

Maybe there were other people, other humans around Equestria and my ‘friends’ were keeping it from me?

I can deal with critters and nasties at night. That scar is proof I can... okay not really.

But monsters would run or be skittish from ponies. People? That's a different story.

If magic is a thing, can that other guy do magic?

Oh my god, someone is out there, another guy fucking with me, and he has magic! Humans, and Magic. No no no nononononono!

And worst they are covering their tracks, no one gonna believe me, no one!

And hes fucking with me, hes in my head!

If he's in my head, then that means he knows what I'm thinking and what I'm doing!

Im fucked! Im soooooo Fucked!

Oh god, what do I do?

What should I do?

What can I do?

Is it getting harder to breathe right now?

More and more thoughts raced through your head faster and faster. Your your throat clenching from panic.

You don’t know if you can take this any longer.

Just before a full fledged mental breakdown took hold of you you felt a strange cloven hoof take your hand. You whip your head with dilated eyes to see a disheveled but still kind yellow pegasus squeeze your hand.

"Windle. Hey Windle…breathe just…breathe." She flared her nostrils and she made an exaggerated but intentionally slow inhale, followed by an equal slow exhale through her muzzle.

You tried to follow suit but it wasn't working fast enough. It started to really set you in a panic. Tunnel vision slowly inched its way into you and the urge to just crumple was strong. However Fluttershy was there for you. Her strange ability to press her will onto you was helpful.

"That's it, Just breathe in, breathe out…there you go."

Slowly the adrenaline took its course. Your vision became your own once again. Your heart rate is no longer climbing into your throat.

After a moment to recompose you spoke "Fluttershy I swear, I swear to you on my life there was some other human stalking me or at least keeping tabs on this place!"

A wind breeze gently kissed your sweaty panicked brow, sending a chill down your body.

Fluttershy went in for a hug, her warm cheeks pressed against your own, "It's okay Windle, I don't know what was out here, but no creature would fake such a mean and horrible prank. I believe you, but right now it's not around," she yawned. "And we both need to get some sleep."

She released the hug and picked up the candle from the ground, blowing it out. She gestured to you to come back inside. The look on her face looked tired, but also genuine fear. She must have believed you to an extent.

When you did you went back to your makeshift bed. But Fluttershy stopped you.

"Oh wait, let me get settled in here.”

She fluffed up your pillows and she laid on your pillows? She looked up at you, the fire from the living room slowly but burning away catching her gentle eyes, patted her stomach beckoning you to rest.

That is weird, "Oh…okay…isn't that uncomfortable for you?" You asked scratching the back of your head unsure what to make of this.

"A little, but I want to make sure you get a good night's rest." That is the kindness you have ever heard from someone. You climbed into your bed and gingerly laid your head on the pegasus pillow.

"Comfortable?" She asked as she wrapped her wings around you.

"I guess…" What came next was a warm sensation on your scalp and hair. You turned your head and from the corner of your eyes you watched the pegasus pillow giving you oral administration to your hair and scalp. You were about to protest how odd this is, but a wave of pure relaxation washes over you.

It dawned on you this was what she must have been doing when you were out for so many days after your near death experience. You let out a low sigh as your eyes slowly covered her eyes once more. The last thing you heard was a giggle from Fluttershy.

"Goodnight Windle."

This time sleep was not so gracious to leave you be. You had terrible nightmares. You were in the Forest once again running for your life from not only a manticore, but a dire manticore. A beast straight from the depths of hell!

You think you made your escape into a cave to watch your breath, only to have an arm wrapped around your throat.

Choking, you see a hooded figure. A human jaw with a smirk on his face looks down with villainous intent. He whispered something to you as you struggled for your life, but you didn't hear it. With a quick movement he placed both hands on your head, twisting your head violently breaking your neck in one sickening movement. A flash of pain before gravity takes you as its victim. Your vision fades to black.

You shot up from your sleep. Cold sweat drips down your body, moistening the sheets you slept in. You checked your neck to make sure that part was just a terrible dream.

Yup you're still alive, no broken neck, still breathing and still in Equestria. Well alive for now that is. Maybe your stalker can be in your dreams as well?

Oh joy…

Your eyes catch a cuckoo clock mounted on the wall. Seven a.m. it has been awhile since you were awake this time.

Yup sunrise, no magical language today. That's fucking sucks.

Yes indeed it sucked, but you knew that your new pony friends had a glimpse of who you are as a free person of thought. Surely that they will treat you like an equal, an alien equal but an equal all the time right?

Regardless of this irrational fear, you wondered where your comfort pegasus went off too. She was gone when you awoke from your nightmare. From her being the Element of Kindness it's hard to believe she wouldn't have stayed with you the entire night.

She did mention a sanctuary the night before. But are there even more animals she takes care of?

Well time to go on a hunt. She did promise you a way back to Starlight to re-up your magical transaction. Walking into Ponyville with no way of asking for directions wouldn't help.

Your stomach growled in protest for its daily nourishment. That's a problem too, not knowing how trade works here. You vaguely remember Twilight saying about paying the tab in bits later, whatever bits mean.

With hunger driving your steps you walk out the door hoping to find this sanctuary and finding Fluttershy as well.

Well know that was relatively simple. Who knew that just following a dirt path even further away from Fluttershy's home you would find what you were seeking.

This place was massive, filled with way more creatures that hung around the cottage. Looking down from a hill you see jungle gyms, swinging tires, every little nick nack or burrow was here even palm trees were growing out here! Any animal big or small would find refuge here.

A thought passed your mind while treading carefully down the hilltop to find your quarry. A new and terrifiying thought entered your mind.

If Starlight never put that magic on me, and I never went into the forest, would Fluttershy put me here with wolves, giraffes and God knows what else takes rest here?

Fate is a fickle bitch for some reason. But at least she gave you a bone this time.

Interestingly when you made it to the bottom you many hosts of creatures created you. This was pleasant. What surprised you was there was a group of jackalopes, jackalopes! Rabbits with little antlers on them. That is the coolest, cutest critter you have seen so far!

One of those critters hopped up to you, a little baby jackalope. Your inner child couldn't help himself as you knelt down to pet the little guy.

"Ahhh look at you, you so fucking cute yes, yes, yes, you are!" Your voice is way higher than it should be. The baby jackalope deeply enjoyed the ear scratches. A clear sign of it was its leg thumbing madly at the ground.

Oh be still my aching heart. This is too cute!!

"Oh Windle I didn't see you come by," you heard Fluttershy voice gently approaching you.

“GAH! Oh Fluttershy,” You let out a cough trying to play off your embarrassing moment. “Ahem, So this is your Sanctuary? It’s…” You paused and took a look again. It was actually exquisite. Judging from the critters here as well, they think the same.

“This is beautiful, Fluttershy.”

"Oh thank you, it took a lot of work, and a lot of ponies almost destroyed my vision, but I put my hoof down and it turned out exactly the way I envisioned it."

Wait a minute.

"Isn't it early to take care of them all this early?" Surely she didn't directly respond to you did she?

"Oh I would've normally slept in a little more but Larry the cockatoo wasn't feeling well so I had to look after him." Fluttershy cranes her head back to wave at a very bright bird that was singing a mighty song. "But he seems to be doing better now!"

No fucking way.

"Pickle popper peanut brittle?" You cocked an eyebrow continuing with your experiment.

Fluttershy returns her gaze into you. Confused, she asked, "Pickle popper what? I…what?"

"AWWW! Oh thank fucking god you understand me! I thought I have to do a whole song and dance just to get to talking to everyone again!" You hastily picked up the butterscotch pegasus and into your arms hugging her tight.

"Windle. To. Tight. Please." The pegasus struggled to speak.

You snap out of your joyous haze, "Oh shit right. Sorry." You put her down. She looked up to you even more confused. It hasn't dawn on her yet.

"The spell, it's still going. Or something. Maybe. I don’t know." You wave your hand dismissively.

Fluttershy blinked. Then she made an 'O' with her muzzle as she figured out your behavior, "I didn't even notice! Oh that is so wonderful! Maybe Starlight made a mistake and made it permanent?"

"Don't know don't fucking care!" You raised a middle finger to the sky, "FUUUUUUCK you universe! I still win! Ahahaha!"

Fluttershy eyes squinted at you with a tilted head. If she was confused before, she surely is doubly confused now.

"It's ahhhh I'm… HEY you said you wanted to go back to teaching right? When does that start?"

“Oh it doesn't start until—” She looked up at the sky. “Oh goodness we better get going, I lost track of time! We might make it in time before my class starts!” She darts back to get a saddlebag with her Cutie Mark embossed onto it. “Come on Windle we need to get going!”

“But, I didn’t ea—”

“We will eat when we get there, hurry!”

Well alright then off to the school. Maybe they have food?

You and your pegasus companion walked at a brisk pace. You two were making good time, which was good! The faster you get there the faster you can gorge yourself on some food. Maybe get some meat!

Well that's highly unlikely with the herbivore that make up most of the population. But! You did see a griffon come and go from time to time. They are part cat, they eat meat don’t they? We shall see.

“I wanted to ask, you were not sleeping well, did you have some kind of bad dream?” Fluttershy spoke bringing out your hungry haze.

“Wha? Oh yeah. I didn’t have the best dream last night. Usually I don’t dream, just close my eyes and then a new day starts you know?” You place a trepid hand over your chest, feeling the rough scar tissue underneath your toga.

You didn't have to say anything but Fluttershy didn’t press further beyond that. You were thankful, you don’t want to burden her even more knowing that you were having dreams of death on top of having something stalking her home.
Speaking of which.

“Hey um, Fluttershy?”

She hummed in response.

“You seemed alright knowing that something or someone… creature… whatever, was outside your place.”

The Element of Kindness stopped in her tracks.

“Fluttershy?”

There was a pause before she spoke with a shaky voice. “W-well I..I know sometimes c-creatures from the Everfree come out at night, but they don’t hang around for long.”

That doesn't answer my question. “Ya but, you believe me right? That someone like me—” you gesture at yourself, “—was outside your home looking in like a Peeping Tom?”

“I believe y-you, it's just i'm trying really…really hard not to think about it.”

The timid mare was trying so hard not to break down. Good job Windle, you made this sweet pony act just like how you were last night.

“I…um..I didn’t mean too, I just thought maybe—”

“–I-it’s fine. Really Windle it’s fine. I'll just…ask some of my animal friends to keep watch…things will be fine…” Fluttershy cut you off and started to brisk walk down the path.

Fuck me, that not good. Things are definitely not fine!

You sighed and followed.

Some friend you are.

Getting Answers Absolutely Sucks!

The crew of two entered Ponyville. Looking at a nearby clock, somehow with you and Fluttershy stopping and talking about last night's events, you two are ahead of schedule. Fantastic.

Fulttershy said hello to a flying pegasus and they responded back…

In a language you don't understand.

That sucks.

"Well, shit Fluttershy it looks like I can just understand you."

"Oh no, so the spell didn't last?" You could hear the concern in your friend's voice. She waved at a gray pegasus with crossed eyes.

You sigh, "Welp I guess the universe has the upper hand now."

"What…what do you mean by that?"

You looked down as you walked, "Well it's a human thing, an expression ya know?" you started to explain. "A lot of people look up to something that's bigger themselves to get answers or to blame when things go wrong. A leader, a higher being. That kinda stuff." You point to the sky. "The universe, an indifferent creature that makes everything and everyone, and shit happens. Tha—" Your stomach interrupts your monologue and Fluttershy gives a giggle.

"I think the universe is telling you that it's time to get your tummy."

You chuckle, "Yeah I guess that's what they are trying to tell me."

After an interesting lunch of just a BLT, but without the 'B', Fluttershy took you to 'Twilight Sparkle's School of Friendship.'

You gazed in awe of the school now that you were in broad daylight. Well it was indeed an extraordinary architecture, very biased toward Twilight. It looked like an old castle. But it didn't say 'I'm better than you' castle more come together and celebrate. You gave a little chuckle that somehow this over the top school bleeds 'Twilight Sparkle,' all over the place. Over the top yet function. Regal but practical.

Fluttershy arrived at the threshold of her classroom. "Starlight is down the hall, take a left, then a right and her office should have her Cutie Mark on it." She said and opened the door to her classroom.

"Fluttershy, I—" you paused, reaching a hand to your pegasus friend. "—Twilight had something of mine, I think you should have a look with me, I promise you will like it."

"Oh the artifact! Twilight mentioned when you were…injured." She paused herself. "I'm sorry Windle, I got to teach my class. I'll see you after class?" You nodded. She entered the class, "Hello class it's so wonde—" The door closed behind her and all that was left was her muffled voice.

'She said she believed me but she's being skittish and being off around me. That's not good. But Starlight is a counselor, maybe she can lend a hand…hoof? Fuck metaphorical appendage!'

A heavy sigh left your lips. Well right now there is not much you can do about it. You walked down the hallway to find your spell crafting pony.

Here it comes, just try not to— “Blegh!”

“Oh don’t be a little filly, it's not that bad now is it?” Starlight smirked as she finished with her spell on you.

You tried to respond with something witty but dammit whatever magic is made out of it like ethereal dust mixed with something else bland all up in your sinuses. Hay fever has got nothing on this!

“W-well cough It is! It's terrible, do we have to do this every time from now on?” God my eyes are so watery!

Starlight levitated a box of tissues to you, “Well Twilight did say she was working on something for you. She didn't tell me much, which is odd since she usually tells me what she's been working on when it comes to magic. But she did say she will need my help once the plans are finished.” She gasps as she just remembered something.

You cleared your eyes, “What…what now?” You asked. She didn't respond. The student counselor hopped off of her seat and trotted over to a different part of the room. There she opened a closet that filled to the brim of cabinets and other office materials.

She walked in using her magic to move things around, “I was exploring the Everfree with the help of Steve the minotaur, and I found this.” She walked out with a curious look in her eye. In her magical grasp she was holding something important to her, and to you.

It was a case of some kind, long and black that had three latches that held it together and a handle designed for human hands.

Holy shit, they found it, I thought it was lost forever!

“Twilight and I looked inside thinking it was related to the artifact she found a while ago. But I don’t think a ‘phone’ and a large musical instrument are the same thing?” She magically handed the case to you.

Your heart started to fill with joy. Your instrument, the thing that brought so much joy, passion, a drive in your life that stuck with you ever since you were a kid, from the dark times to the food times of your life you had your instrument to prop you up.

And it's here, right in front of you! It's unbelievable! You thought it would surely have been destroyed or magiced away by this land. But Lady Fate gave a bone this time again…

"I…yeah this is mine, I…hold on I gotta check," you quivered out. You place the case down and flip open the case to check its contents.

Of course that is what this is, why did I forget about this?

Your instrument of choice: A saxophone.

A perfectly kept, perfectly preserved, cold nickel blue and silver body alto saxophone that had a sheen to it in the window. You pick up the body, it feels cold to the touch, a cold that was welcoming to you after so long. You check the rest of your case. The crook and the mouthpiece were not damaged. You can't believe it.

This is perfect. Nothing could be better right now. You had found your very own artifact. This beautiful instrument has kept you safe and sane for so long and now you have it back! Oh joy of it all!

Starlight interrupts your euphoric state, "Also, I don't know much about musical instruments, so I asked Octavia if that was normal, she said no but I wanted to ask you," her voice a bit apprehensive as she gestured to your mouth piece.

"Huh?" You blink at her.

Gazing upon your mouthpiece, you grabbed and inspected it for any abnormalities. Everything looked normal. The leather ligature was undamaged. The screw was still taught holding on your reed in place. You cursed yourself, you didn't cover your reed, huge chance now it's unplayable now. But then you noticed it. You usually play with synthetic reeds. Not your first choice but you just needed to save cash. But when you look at your reed, you defiantly see it now.

Instead of being clear, it was cloudy and glistening. The texture wasn't of plastic, but of a light sky blue crystal. Just like what you observed with Twilight's castle.

You paused for a moment. That is strange. Your gaze darts back as you spot Starlight getting close to you, a little too close for comfort. Her eyes locked in this crystal reed.

Seriously, do ponies not understand personal space? "I, Uhhh no…no this isn't normal," you say awkwardly.

"So it's magical! Oh Windle I need to take a look at that I have a great feeling about this—"

"—Fuck that," you defensively pull back your instrument.

You just got back a piece of your soul and now she's gonna take it away? No way in hell that's gonna happen!

The mare paused, "Is that a human thing? Because if it is, I don't know what that means." Starlight said in a slightly annoyed tone.

God dammit you are doing it again. She doesn't know what that means and now you are being a dick again.

Let's try that again Windle. "It means a hard no, Starlight," you apologized.

She opened her muzzle to say more but hoof rapping against the large archway door interrupted her.

"Oh shoot it's still counselor hours, I'm sorry Windle but maybe we can talk more after school," you nod. "Great, maybe we can chat after you show Twilight more about that phone?"

"I'll be there… Thank you, thank you!!"

Placing your sax down you gave Starlight the warmest hug you can give. So many emotions flooding through your body. Without thinking you planted a kiss on the mare's cheek. You grab your gear and you wave a hastily goodbye. You almost completely bulldozer an earth pony mare that was waiting.

"Sorry!" You shout over your shoulder as you run out of the school like a bat out of hell. You need to test your saxophone right now! So the best place to do that is the local park that you remember when you first came to Ponyville.

That's a good spot to jam out!

With no time wasted, you found the park you remembered. Nice to know that ponies and humans have the same idea of what a park should be.

A couple benches here and there, nice trees, a playground for children and places to walk your dog. Perfect.

You get a couple oddball looks from the ponies that were enjoying their day in the park. It didn't bother you as you found a spot to set up. Well it kind of did, but not.

Regardless, you set yourself up!

What comes out of your horn is not what you expect. Yes you hear a slightly weak dark tone that you developed. But now there is a new color in your sound, it is more shimmery, almost ethereal quality to it.

You make minor adjustments and you continue to play. Well that sucks, somehow from Earth to Equestria your chops got weaker but that can get that back, but this new tone, well you have to get used to it.

Also the horn that start to glow a hue of blue that compliment the nickel, well tha was a new thing too so that's—

Glowing?

You stop and look at your prized instrument. Yep it's glowing, it receding now but it's glowing!

Great, now my saxophone is magically altered. One step forward, two steps back…

You play some more. And you kept playing. It was difficult to get your arm to work with you since your encounter with a deadly manticore.

Suddenly, you really start to play. Putting all of your passions, your emotions into your craft. It was bright but dark, energetic at certain phrases but pulling back and being sorrowful.

A small crowd has gathered around to listen. Not too many, just a handful of mares. It was weird seeing the fact Twilight spoke about was right, there is about a five to one ratio between mares to stallions. But one mare stood out from the rest.

An earth pony with a collared bow, a gray coat and silky dark gray mane that looked professional done. On her back she was carrying a case in the shape of a stringed instrument that you don't remember. She looked different compared to the rest of the other mares here.

Yes she had the same shape as any other mare. Maybe it's those mulberry eyes that were looking your way. You could feel those eyes telling you something different. Was it curiosity?

No, the other mares have that look but not hers. Definitely not worry and danger.

Then it clicks in your head. It's a look when you find something incredibly interesting and want to know more about it.

And those eyes are on you.

You look away as it reminds you of someone special to you, loneliness fills your heart to the brim as you will probably never gonna get the chance again to be with her.

You stop playing after what felt like hours. Your chops are not in shape to do any concerts anytime soon. Well maybe you can do that on the side for some bits. Maybe that will help out with your problem with Fluttershy.

Wait a minute.

You mentally kick yourself for not asking about Fluttershy to Starlight! Well maybe after you showed Twilight your phone you did promise to talk to Starlight. You put away your equipment away after using a cloth that was also preserved in the case to clean your instrument.

A voice comes from behind you. A voice that was dipped with properness and sophistication that was in a higher class than yourself.

"Excuse me," you turned around to spot the grey mare looking up to you, "You must be Windle, The Giant of Myth?"

"Giant?" You were taken aback. First monster, now this? You shake your head. You are in a different culture now to get used to it. "Yeah that's me."

"I'm Octavia Melody, and I just wanted to tell you, your playing was magnificent! Far better than any other saxophone player in the Royal Canterlot Concert Band." She gave a small bow to you.

Wow, that a first, a pony that isn't the Elements of Harmony is talking to you. Hell complicating you.

"Oh well thank you miss Melody I… I haven't played in some time and now I have this," you gesture to the soft glow of your instrument.

Octavia gave a puzzled look before humming. "Ah. I take it that magically glowing Woodwinds are not common practice to have from Earth?"

"No, no glowing instruments, unless you paint it that just ruins the finish," you give the mare a smirk then you return to disassembling your pride and joy.

Then it clicked with you. "Wait, Royal Canterlot Concert Band? Do you have a seat in that band?"

Octavia titters, "No no, I can't stand the majority of Canterlot nobility, though if I am needed, I will play." You get to her feet and turn back.

"So you are a cellist for hire?"

"Observant aren't we? Sometimes for a spoiled foal's birthday, or in the quartet of my professional friends at big events like the Grand Galloping Gala."

Huh, it sounds like she has her musical career all out together unlike yourself. Sure you went to school to be a tradesman but music was your main drive, you got a gig or two which isn't bad, but compared to Octavia? She's a professional. That you can tell. Usually professionals are dicks, and she has that kind of air about her, but there something more beneath that gray coat of hers. She clearly thinks you're interesting, and now you are finding her interesting.

"I have heard of this Gala briefly, is that a big deal I assume?" You grabbed your case and subconsciously gestured for Octavia to follow.

To your surprise she takes the invitation to walk with you, what with the social dynamics between human and pony were as you can tell with short time here that there were very different norms.

The two of you walked back to Ponyville, talking about music, music theory and other musical topics. You don't know when but somehow the conversation naturally progressed into other topics that you didn't expect. Things like favorite foods, funny stories about housemates, how Pinkie Pie is probably the strangest pony in all of Equestria.

Much to your surprise, you enjoyed the company of the cellists. You didn't have a lot of friends to talk about your passions. On top of that just with getting to know her l, she seems very down to earth, no pun intended, the whole air of higher status just comes with the territory of being a professional in her craft in Canterlot higher society.

You made your way into town looking at the time. Three fifty-five.

How the hell did you play for that long?!

You turn to Octavia, "Sorry I promised I show Twilight about how my…uhh this artifact from my home worked, but thank you for walking back with me I'm not from around here and I recently got shoehorned in with Twilight and her friends," You scratch the back of your head. This is getting awkward. "I mean, umm, would you like to hang out again? You seemed like a cool person, aww pony." You were fumbling over your words, what are you doing? This isn't you.

"I suppose many creatures would find me 'cool' as Vinyl Scratch would say." she mused, "Well I think I would like that. I would love to hear more stories about Earth's musical tastes over some tea, say tomorrow evening?" You smiled and nodded at her. "Excellent Windle, see you soon."

She bid you farewell and walked away. Well that just happened. You didn't expect that but at least you made a new friend. A very interesting friend that agrees with you about one certain pink beast of a pony. You smiled to yourself already looking forward to tomorrow. Today wasn't too bad at all.

You walked towards Twilight's castle only to stop for a moment, you saw a critter you haven't seen before in quite some time.

A lone honey bee gathering pollen for its hive. It was big and plump. Its entire body is fuzzy and covered in the necessary nutrients to make honey. That sadness creeped in again. But you give a small chuckle.

Melody would say this would be the cutest thing in the entire world if she was here.

You grab your chest feeling the deep scar tissue. shaking your head, you press forward to Twilight's abode.

Well who would've thought that a tree castle made out of crystal would also have crystal on the inside?

You were taking in the marvel of Twilight's home in-between hungerly wolfing down some spaghetti that Twilight's assistant whipped up for you. Well that happens when you are swpt in the moment that you forget that you need basic food in your belly from time to time.

You would think seeing an actual dragon would be terrifying, but a baby dragon? What was his name? Spike? Yeah you got nothing to worry about.

You were in the throne room, or you think it's a throne room. Just a massive dome room with a round crystalline table. You were seated in a small throne that had your friend Fluttershy’s Cutie Mark marking that it was her seat. It really put in perspective how important Twilight and her friends were to this land, as well as how important friendship was to this society. However this thought sprung another oddball thought as you finished your plate.

Was this a cult of some kind? This feels like a cult.

The purple princess wandered back to the throne, carrying with her stacks of books, quills and parchment in her magic along with a saddlebag filled with other writing and reading materials. Oh boy, you're going to be here for a while. You can feel it in your bipedal bones.

“Alright Windle, I am ready to—” She paused to look at you as you finished your meal. “—Oh, no that's not good.” Her eyes knitted together at you. Her ears folded down.

“What? What is not good?” You looked around yourself, trying to find what was concerning your princess friend.

Twilight chuckled, her ears pointing up to their natural position, “You are lucky Rarity isn’t here.”

Rarity? You look down and see what Twilight was saying. You made a mess of your one and only pieces of clothing covered in tomato sauces. You heard a low ethereal whistling as the stains were outlined with a purple haze. Like a snicker off of a hard surface, Twilight peeled off the blemish off of your toga. With a pop that airborne stains folded on itself and now its gone. The more you see magic like this used, the more you feel extremely inadequate and inferior.

The main chamber door opens with a loud creek. Your eyes were created with all of your friends you made during a friendship emergency. That was a relief that Fluttershy and Starlight came by today. Though there was one figure that you were not so keen on seeing. Following behind the colorful trope of ponies was a lanky minotaur with a pair of small spectacles on his bull muzzle. You frowned at his approach. He on the other hand remained stoic and unphased by your existence.

“There! Now we can begin!” She chirped as she laid down many books and parchment. With her magic she retrieved your phone from her saddlebag. The rest of your friends gathered around the round table. She hovered over to you and placed it into her hand.

“Come on Windle Bindle! Show us how this toy is used!” Pinkie shouted with excitement!

“I don’t know what this artifact is, but I am curious what I would like about this.” Fluttershy parked herself next to you.

“Yeah yeah, a glassy brick that makes noise is sooooo impressive,” Rainbow Dash cut in with her sarcasm.

“Rainbow, it is impressive, it's from another world! Think of the possibilities.” Starlight stood next to Twilight raising a hoof at the cyan pegasus.

“Well I for one am interested in this artifact, or what Windle called it a ‘fone.’” Rarity took her seat and watched you expectantly.

‘Steve’ took a position behind Twilight, only snorting in annoyances and crossed his arms just watched the gathering take places

“Huh, well lookie here, Windle yer still standing after ah nigh’ of drinkin’, respectable sugarcube.” Applejack gave a small honorable bow in your way when she took a seat.

You clear your throat as you look down at your phone. It wasn't the best model you got, but it was pretty advanced. GPS, high resolution cameras that would make you blush at your own blemishes. Heart Rate tracker on the back where your palm rests on the glossy back. A mini projector built in to produce 3D images on flat surfaces. The standard low end phone.

You click the button on the right side and the large screen beams to life. Your chest clenches as you are greeted with a sweet picture of you and Melody in a self picture with a beautiful river flowing behind you in the middle of winter. But the strangest thing about this is your eyes see the symbol next to the battery gauge saying that not only is it fully changed, but it is still changing with no cord putting electricity into it.

“W-well this ahh, so this is a thing called a phone. It…it’s uhh..” You feel concerned eyes fall upon you. You take a moment to recompose yourself.

“A phone is an interesting device. It huh, hold on…” You stand up and you press the screen as it asks for a passcode. Shockingly you remember what it was as you were created with a screen with another picture of a slightly younger you in a nice portrait with you holding your prized instrument.

“There we go, so anyways this is a phone. If I was back…home I could press the glass and I could make this connected to another person and I can talk to them, no matter how far they are as long as it is connected to a tower.”

“A tower?” Twilight asks as she furiously takes notes.

“It's a structure…imagine it's a giant unicorn horn that sends magical waves to connect any phones in range, and you know, you can talk to people. Or look up almost any knowledge.” You try to give an example not knowing it was a good one. But a nod confirmed. However Twilight stopped when you said the magic word.

“Look up knowledge?” She asks with a beam in her eye.

“Well, yeah it's connected to the internet, it's like all the libraries with every book made with professionals or just your average guy at your fingertips all the time whenever you want.” You looked at your phone screen, disappointed that you have no service in this land. Makes sense.

“Whay would anypony want to have all tha’ information just bombarded ya all the dang time?” Applejack asked, tilting her head at the concept.

“Well I don’t know, humanity thought it was a good idea, it's a double edge sword I guess.” You shrugged as you went to turn on your camera. “But the thing I wanted to show you is that this device is like a camera, smile!” You turn around and you give a group shot of everyone and yourself.

Click

The ponies look at each other confused. But you swipe and the picture manifests on the table. All the ponies gasp as they see a perfect recreation still imagined on the table.

“That…is awesome!” Rainbow Dash grins wickedly.

“I have never imagined anything like this could exist!” Twilight beamed. Starlight nodded with her, her eyes transfixed on the perfect image.

“What a strange and wonderful world you must have come from Windle, if this is what is normal, I can’t imagine the wonders!” Rarity swooned.

“Does your world have cute little critters?” Fluttershy asks softly.

“Yeah, let me see, I think I have some,” You stop the projection as you look into the phone's photo gallery. Your phone told you that you had a couple new photos. You take a look at it was just really up close shots of Twilight muzzle. Another one a dark inside of a saddlebag, and lastly a very up close and a partial side view of spikes face. That gave you a chuckle, of course Twilight would experiment with this device without knowing the nuances of this human device. You scroll through and find an up close and beautiful shot of one of your favorite critters.

You show the picture though the three dimensional projection on the table. Fluttershy immediately knew what this critter was.

“Awww look at the cute little ferret, he looks so happy and content. Very fuzzy little guy,” Fluttershy uses her hoof to reach out to touch the image expecting to feel it. Sadly the yellow pegasus quickly realized she could not touch the three dimensional critter.

“Huh, they look very similar to Equestrain ferrets.” Starlight pondered as she tapped her chin.

“You're right Starlight, they do look very similar.” Twilight took more notes about this.

The rest of the ponies looked at each other with this new information. You feel kind of special. Sure you don’t have magic but you have tech and human ingenuity. So you got that going for you. Then a memory hits you.

“Wait, Twilight, I just remembered something. I...this can take video…it’s huh, taking a massive tone on still imagines and make a visual–”

“Like this?”

Twilight sparked her horn up and she made a visual, almost low tech computer graphical image of Windle. The low poly version of yourself waves at you in a robotic fashion before vanishing.

“Y-yeah like that, but it doesn't need magic to do it. Here let me show you.” You navigate until you find where your videos were stored, there is one that you knew was saved on your phone. You were a bit apprehensive, but you get the feeling maybe just maybe Twilight or someone could help you. But you came this far, and you have some answers.

You find the video and you press play. You projected the video on the flat surface.

The video abruptly starts with a cut off of a voice you knew. Melody’s voice. It sounded like a name, maybe your name warning you to be careful. But it was cut off at the end. The camera focuses and you and your friends see that you were pointing down an alleyway with low hanging fluorescent lights late in the night. You recognize this alleyway close to the bar close to where you do your gigs.

What was strange, was that your past self was focused on a small circular bead of amber fire smoldering on itself fixed in space. Like a mini black hole swirling stardust within itself.

“What the hell is that, some kind of swamp gas?” Video you say to Melody.

“Why would that be here in the middle of the city?” Melody asks behind the point of view of the video.

The camera quickly turns to Melody. Her eyes had a mixture of confusion and fear. Then there was a sound of cracking, tearing. The camera swings back to see this small bead start to expand and swell up. The inside looked like a tunnel of infinite tunnel of void, the outer edge starting to catch fire burning hotter.

“–am th– bad idea, w– sh–ld go!” The voice of Melody is heavily distorted.

Then you see it, in the infinite tunnel the camera picks up a humanoid form, slowly waving its arms with the same amber fire trickling from its fingertips. What chills you to the bone is its attire you recognize. It's hard to tell but it looked like some kind of cloak obscuring its figure, but it's the same as the humanoid that had visited you last night!

“Y–h It’s ti– to g–” You hear your own voice call out in a panic. The camera turns around and makes a hasty exit, only to be bumped into someone you recognize as well. The human that was an ‘illusion’ in the forest before you got the gift of speaking!

He drunkenly pushes you, not noticing the hole in reality. You argue with the drunkard and before you know it there all of the sound from the video becomes heavily distorted. The only thing that could be clearly heard was cut out screams of terror. The video becomes corrupted making it hard to see what was happening, but the images of the portal cut in and out getting larger and larger until you see clearly just for a moment, you Melody, and this stranger get pulled into this tear in reality. The video cuts off than and there.

The room fell silent.

After what felt like an eternity Twilight spoke. “That…That is supposed to be a portal spell, but that is the most unstable portal I have ever seen. The only pony I knew that can make such portal is—”

“—Starswirl the Bearded,” Both Twilight and Starlight say in unison.

Other ponies that chime in about what this could mean, how the video means, who made this unstable portal. But it all falls on your deaf ears.

You where slump over in your seat, just looking at the still grainy image of that video you took with Melody.

This, this is how you got here. Some asshole, the same prick that was stalking you somehow used magic to bring you and…

Oh no.

A terrible realization hits you harder than you have ever felt before. Not only this human brought you here somehow, but from the evidence you just have, he brought in an innocent man.

And, He also brought the love of your life here as well. Somewhere, she has to be here! Somewhere she was by herself in this strange equine world.

You sigh.

Why does getting the answers you want fucking sucks!

Saying Goodbye Really Hurts...

Time passed. How much time has passed? Well according to Fluttershy it has been a couple of months. So much time has passed that the Summer air has slowly started to turn into Fall chills. It's hard to wrap your brain around the fact that pegasi have the power to change the weather. But it is still an adjustment to make now that you are slowly and surely figuring out how this crazy pony world works. Everyday you learn something new.

Something you learned is that ponies and other creatures that visit Ponyville really enjoy your saxophone playing. Plus a lot of the younger ones really do like the mystical glowing of your horn. So getting some bits by tips gives you motivation to keep yourself occupied. After saving some bits you got yourself some new clothes.

Simple clothes are something that Rarity finds annoying. She tells you quite frequently about your ‘lack of taste in fine fashion’ True. But that's what you like. Blue jeans and just plain t-shirts is all that you needed. Can’t change that about you.

Blending in as much as you can puts you at ease. Though getting attention when you want it also puts at ease. A very seesaw type of temperament you had that you really didn't notice until just recently. That’s alright, according to Twilight is an ‘introverted’ trait. Quite rare for ponies to have according to a book she was reading about Pony Sociology.

You have also started to really learn about yourself that you haven't really put into perspective. When it comes to food, yes meat is a big taboo for ponies. Thankfully griffons come by Ponyville from time to time. They are omnivorous like you and they pay good bits to get meat. Though going to the secluded part of time with a bunch of griffons that can absolutely overpower you when they are starved of protein is not the best idea to staying alive.

Thankfully your friends don’t judge you for it. And to be respectful, you don’t eat meat in front of them when you do have social outings. Fluttershy of course gets that you are an omnivorous type of creature, but seeing some of her friends die and be consumed by predators does shake her up a bit. It is part of the nature of predator and prey, but it still doesn't bring her mood down when a critter passes away.

So a strange compromise came from this impasse.

Fish.

On Earth you hated fish! Bleh! How could anyone like to eat tuna, or bass, or pike or any aquatic animal. But when protein that you can actually digest is scarce and you need it to survive, well there is one option. Thankfully the taste can be greatly enhanced with spices that are not found on Earth.

Fluttershy is another thing you had to learn. After showing off your alien tech you two had a long talk about both of you. Who knew that you were actually overthinking things. She was just scared about some scary human, and not mad at you. She thanked you for telling her but deeply apologize for making you think that you did something wrong to her. Thankfully Twilight and Starlight were able to help with pony social dynamics to make sure such a weird little misunderstanding wouldn't happen again. Though you doubt that you can be the social master with Twilight telling how to be social around ponies….from a book about telling ponies how they socialize.

One thing that grips your soul that you have learned just by being around different ponies for as long as you have, is that you are starting to see them as, well, normal everyday people. And when you do that you just kind of go with the flow of it. Ponies have a range of needs. From a helping hand to just want to talk, to the more graining topic.

You have no idea, not a single clue why this is, but according to Rarity you are, as she puts it, ‘A striking and handsome stallion that deserves a good mare by his side!’ And as soon as she told you this information all the dots start to line up why certain mares act the way they do. It’s weird that you were actively hit on my other mares from time to time. It was flattering that ponies find you attractive, but it still felt weird.

Sure you can take the invitation to date some of the mares dropping hints on you, but there is a deep feeling in your gut that if you do pursue a romantic relationship with them, it would just feel, well wrong. A part of you knows that there is a high, HIGH chance that you will be stuck here for quite some time, or all the time. You also know that Melody is out there, the woman that you fell in love with, but never got the balls to actually seal the deal with her. What would she think if you finally find her that you mentioned, ‘Oh sorry to tell you Melody, but I fucked a mare and I really like that!’ You felt your skin crawl at the thought.

But another part about your mind picked up social cues from other pones of what is attractive and what is not. This and your own standards mixing beautifully to guide your eye to what you like. You know there is some mares that fit your standards. But there is one that truly matches and surpasses your standards.

Octavia Melody.

She is an interesting mare. Every time you meet up with her, whether that is at the saloon with the hard ass Sour Mash runs. Or spending tea with her and her housemate Vinyl Scratch, who turned out to be a DJ with the stage name, ‘DJ PON3.’ You slowly get to know her. And the more you get to know her the more you grow more fond of her. You think that you have a crush on the cellist, or maybe your friendship was just that deep. Whatever it is, you are happy just to be around a mare like her. When you feel like shit, she's there to tell you about something oddly specific about her career or something silly that happened to her when she was on the job. Easily distracting from your silly little woes. Though it made you wonder if she had the same feelings for you? It was clear that she must have liked you to some extent with all the time you spent with her. But does she like you?

Some parts of mind tell you that will never work, that Melody is the one woman for you, but there are times when you have certain fantasies about the gray earth mare. Wishing you could wake up next to her and tell her how much you fucking mean to her.

Another thing you learned is that Twilight Sparkle and Starlight Glimmer have solved a problem for you ever since you came here, and wow you are thankful that they did!

They made a bracelet that was heavily enchanted with the spell that Starlight put on you all those months ago, that can turn on with a flick of a switch presto chango, you can talk and read Ponish! Oh thank Celestia…god…that you don’t have to deal with magical sparkle dust up your nose anymore! And when you want to tune out somepony just one click of the gears inside the bracelet, and back to an alien language that you cant understand and they cant understand you.

Very convenient.

Right now you, Fluttershy and Applejack were having tomato sandwiches. The topic at hand was interesting. Both the shy pegasus and the cowpony were talking about how you should have your own place to live rather than taking the space in the living room of Fluttershy cottage. Well you would agree that it would be nice to have a place that is solely your own. However, the two ponies were in heavy discussion on how you were going to get a place.

Technically, yes you were not a citizen of Equestria, let alone a residence of Ponyville officially. That would make it illegal for you to own property or at the very least rent property that didn't fall in line with an inn. Twilight assured you that she was talking with the Ruler of Equestria, her friend and mentor, Princess Celestia about how that can be arranged for me. It will take some time for that to happen, but for now you are being taken care of by your friends.

Applejack's suggestion was that her family could raise bits so that they can raise a mini barn for you. You sigh internally regretting sharing the one story that you grew up on a farm that raised sheep for wool. Now she is all over that idea thinking you were as country as her, when in reality you are quite the opposite of that.

Fluttershy suggestion was not a great solution either. She and with the help of her animal friends want to make human size burrows just like a badger or other critters that dig, but with the same furnishings as a normal pony have. She very much described it as something very similar to an ancient trilogy book you read about people trying to destroy a ring of some kind and the fantasy people lived in the ground? It’s hard to remember but living in a place like that well, that won’t do. She most of got the idea that you want that after describing some of the books you read back on earth.

The discussion was reaching its peak, and judging by the two of them are now arguing, you have to step in.

“Okay, I have to put a stop to this,” You raise your hand to stop them both in their tracks, two pairs of eyes on you. “And It means so much that you two care so deeply for my well being. But I'm getting the feeling that this was a helpful discussion moving forward, that we are now moving backwards.” You take a bite of your sandwich with a deadpan look on your face.

“But Windle, Mah idea is great. Have you ever had a barn for yourself?” Applejack peered into you.

“No, well yes I had to once to make sure nothing bad happened to the sheep during lambing season.”

“See Ah betcha it was a ol—”

“—I hated every single second of it during the winter.”

Applejack ears flattened at your response.

Fluttershy quickly jumped in, “Well then the hole in the ground idea would be a wonderful idea wouldn't it?”

“What would happen if there was a flood, or if I burn something and smoke myself out?”

“Oh my, I didn’t think about that.” Fluttershy eyes widened.

“If it makes you feel better, why don’t we just save some bits, and make a temporary cabin close by here?” You gesture to the plethora of land that Fluttershy has at her disposal.

Applejack opened her muzzle to speak but she was interrupted when the local mailmare came flying in. You still don’t know how that gray mare did her job with her eyes being crossed. But she did it, with very little errors to boot. Good for her.

She made a full stop about putting some mail into Fluttershy's box, but instead flew over and directly handed it to its destined recipient.

The mailmare fished out a letter that had the seal of Twilight’s Cutie Mark.

“A letter from Twilight?” Fluttershy looked down at her flank, “Well the map isn’t calling us, I wonder what it is. Thank you Muffins.” Fluttershy waved goodbye.

“Ah letter from Twi? I wonder if it's some kind of special get together?” Applejack mused. Fluttershy opens the letter and reads the contents.

“Oh oh my, It says that everypony needs to be Twilight immediately,” She looks over to you, “And Twilight asks for you to come too.”

“Huh is that normal Applejack?” You peer over to her.

“Nnnnnope.”

“Welp, Let me get my stuff and I'll meet you all there.” You finish off your sandwich and wander inside to get a jacket and to grab your phone. Whatever Twilight wants, it got to be important.

You were the last one to enter Twilight’s castle. With a loud knock Spike opened the door and escorted you to the map room. All of the Elements of Harmony were all seated around the map.

“Windle! You're late,” Twilight jested to you as you walked in with your hands in your jacket.

“Time is relative, I am late and early at the same time.” You fire right back.

“Twilight! You turned the awesome human into an egghead human!” Rainbow Dash groans.

“No I did not!” Twilight was taken aback by the comment.

You and your friends laugh with each other. Before Twilight brings everyone back into the meeting at hand.

“I have gathered you all here because I got a very interesting letter from Starswirled the Bearded.” She used her magic to grab the parchment letter and unfurled it. She began to read.

“Dear Twilight Sparkle, as you know I have been traveling all over Equestria finding the power of friendship. The world I knew that was once my home has changed. A change for the better! —”

Rainbow Dash sputtered out, interrupting the dynamic reading, “Just skip to the part that Windle cares about!”

Twilight glared at her friend before she reached the bottom of the very long letter.

“As for your request if I know anything about humans, regrettably I have nothing to report on ancient history about humans. However, I have come across another human that you described as Melody. She has been living peacefully with the Kirins, at Peaks of Peril. Please write more as we have much to discuss.

Your friend, Starswirl the Bearded.

You freeze as you hear Melody's name. She was alive! And she was in a place that your friends have been before! Oh this is the best news you have heard for such a long time!

“Wait so she’s alive? Alive and well?” You say with a shaky voice.

“Did you mention that Melody was the one true love dear?” Rarity asked.

“Yes, yes of course!” You shouted excitedly. “Where is this Kirin Grove? Can we go? Like now?”

“I told you Windle Bindle wants to see his special somepony!” Pinkie Pie punches her fore hooves together.

“Of course we should go!” Starlight commented.

With that all of your friends all agreed. It was time to go and see not only the Kirins, but to see Melody. The journey would be long warned Twilight but you will be damned if anything would get in the way of your joyous reunion!

You have spent many days with the seven ponies you grew to have a bond of friendship. Through long train rides and a long trek through thick jungle. But through many days on a cramped train and many hours hiking going through the ‘Peaks of Peril.’ To say that this was perilous is an understatement, this place is just jungle and, well cliffs and peaks. Thankfully Fluttershy and Applejack had made this journey before.

Eventually you find yourself in what you would assume was the Kirin village. It was very beautiful. But by looking at the architecture this was an old race of people, huts and holes in the ground just like in the book you read long ago. The Kirin themselves, they were a very interesting equine creature. They remind you of the ponies you knew in Ponyville, but there were some very clear differences.

First their manes were more styled or more of a lion's mate than the many staples you have seen with ponies. They all had horns that remind you of branches that are actually bone or ivory. Very well developed clove hooves and their flanks and hindquarters were covered in dragon-like scales. Very interesting ponies…Kirin folks.

A very tall Kirin, actually taller than your height, approached your group with a small crown on her head. She introduced herself as Rain Shine, leader of the Kirin community here.

“Hello! I am Twilight Sparkle, you met Applejack and Fluttershy, and this,” Twilight gestured to you, “And this is Windle, and we hope that you knew another human name Melody? We would like to speak with her.”

Rain Shine looked down at you with a sadden frown on her muzzle. “Melody, Ah yes Melody, such a sweet creature she is. It is unfair what has happened to her.” She bowed her head sorrowfully. “You will find her at Summer Fire’s place. Just follow the path.”

You and friends look at each other. That didn't sound good. The way Rain Shine described her sounded like she was not doing well. You bid her gratitude and followed the path.

Fluttershy walk up to your side. “Are you okay Windle? You don’t look so good.”

You thought for a response as you watched the Kirin do their daily activities, “I…I am just worried, the way she described Melody, it sounded like…” You couldn’t continue that sentence. Fluttershy put a reassuring wing against your back as you walked.

“Whatever happens things will always work out in the end.” You smiled at her. You had a feeling this was not going to end well. But you just had to have hope. You came this far, and waited this long to finally reunite with her. You just got to believe.

You and your troupe made it to a tree house with a spiraling staircase. This tree house was built around the top branches and it looks ancient, but beautiful. It was difficult to describe the beauty.

“I…I think I should be alone with you guys.” You turn around to address your friends.

Rainbow Dash smirked, “Heh, go get 'em tiger! Let's give the egghead some space girls.” The troupe turned and left.

Fluttershy looked back to you. “If you need us we will be catching up with Autumn Breeze.” You give a thumbs up to your friends. You made your way up, each step getting heavier as you climbed. Terrible thoughts ran ramped. Will she remember you? Can you be forgiven for making her live here in Equestria rather than on Earth? You shook your head. No this is Melody we are talking about! She has one of your best friends, and your one true love.

You made it to the top of the house with a small door. You took a deep breath and knocked on the door. There was a pause before hoof steps got louder until the door opened.

You were greeted with a Kirin mare that was on the older side. She had dark golden fur and a silver mane with a cracked dark auburn horn with old eyes that had seen a lifetime. Her eyes go wide as she sees you.

“Umm…hi, Y-you must be Summer Fire?” She nodded trying to say something but was just stammering.

You continue, “I was looking for another Human, um M-m-melody?”

Then you heard another feminine voice from the room. It was a tired voice and raspy but you knew that voice.

“Summer Fire…let him in, I know that voice…”

Summer opened the door and you were allowed entry. Inside was a quaint filled with many woven baskets and paintings. In the round room you notice a bed and you see her.

Your heart sank as you saw your love. It was her yes, but time has not been kind to her. She has aged, maybe fifty years? Seventy years? You can’t tell but she had silver hair, skinny to the bone and her face sagged. She wore a intricately woven leaf gown. But she still kept a smile, one that you knew all to well.

“Hi…hi…Melody…” You say as you approached, trying and failing to keep tears behind your eyes.

“Hi…Liam.” She says in a heavy breath.

Liam...that's my name...

“You…you look great.”

“And you look just the same as I remembered.”

You let out a shaky chuckle and kneeled down next to Melody’s bed, “So…um…how…how you have been?” You awkwardly try to engage in small talk.

“I have been well, I..I don’t know if you can tell, but I have gotten a little older,” She let out a sarcastic chuckle.

“I…I can see that…Melody…Listen I..I’m…I'm so sorry I should of just left that…thi—”

“—Don’t be sorry Liam…What happened to me, what happened to you? It wasn’t your fault. Summer Fire told me all about magic and how it can be used to do wonderful things. Right my Little Campfire.~” Her gaze looked over to the Kirin with a look of sadness on his muzzle. You blink away some tears. Little Campfire? That sounds like a pet name…

“But look at you…I…What happened?” You were barely keeping it together, this massive guilt hanging over your head soon her, the love of your life, in a state like this because of your dumb actions.

“Take a seat Liam, I'll tell you.” She smiled as she got more comfortable in her bed.

And she began to tell her story.

After the three fell into the portal she found herself falling for some time. Then just like that she found herself in the Kirin village. At first the Kirin were worried about Melody being a creature that would bring harm onto them, but with much convincing she was allowed to stay in the village. It was quite a shock for her! Being in a place filled with Kirin that can understand her and her to them. But Melody never turned down a good challenge. It was hard for her to get back on her feet.

But eventually she got to her feet, worked with the community. Turns out that having fingers was quite useful to begin to patch up and mend the sick and hurt. One Kirin by the name of Summer Fire took Melody under her hoof and trained her to be a medicine woman. She was happy. She found a purpose. Life was hard, but it was worth it. It was worth seeing the happy faces of those who cared about her

Soon the peaceful village turned upside down when heated words were exchanged and quite literally turned themselves on fire, Nirik. Creatures of fiery anger and passion came into being and burned down much of the village. Rain Shrine told everyone to go into the river of silences, making all of the Kirin find themselves dead silent. Unable to speak or to sing or to argue. She wasn’t a Kirin so she didn’t have to be a part of this ritual. One Kirin by the name of Autumn Breeze decided she would self banish before sacrificing her voice.

It was hard for Melody to get used to the silences. Life continued on for many years. Melody did her best as the main medicine woman with the help of her mentor Summer Fire. Even after losing her voice, Melody knew that Summer Fire cared deeply for Melody. It didn't take long before they were in love with each other. They didn't have to say anything to each other they just knew.

They got married a couple years later in the quietest reception ever seen!

Years and years went by and age started to get a hold of Melody. A rabid aging from an unknown force, slowly breaking down her body. But she still kept with her duties to treat and cure the sick and the wounded. Until one day she got too old to do her job. Melody was unable to help herself. That's when two ponies came into the groove, solving what they called a friendship problem.

Though Melody was too weak to see all the Kirin get their voices back they hailed them as heroes. The first words the Summer Fire told to Melody was 'I love you, Melody.' Melody responded back with 'I love you too.' However throughout the entire time she loved her in the groove the one thing that helped her to keep her in high spirits was to see Liam again. That one day, he would show up with a false cocky grin waiting to save her from this place. But that day never came. That is—

"—until you walk in my life, just the way you are." She concluded her long tale.

You held Melody's cold elderly hands in your own younger hands. "You, you found love?" You look over to the other Kirin.

She nodded, "It has been the most blessed years of my life knowing you Melody."

The older human chuckled that quickly turned into a coughing fit. Summer Fire used her magic to grab a bowl of water for Melody. She thanked the Kirin and took the water only gingerly sipping it.

"Don't be such a little sap now, I don't have time for that kinda of thing."

Panic set in from hearing those words. "Melody, don't say that, I… I have friends in powerful places—"

"—Liam…"

"—Magic caused this so magic can fix this! I can go get Twilight, s-she can help with—"

"—Liam, it's okay." Her shallow voice cuts you through you deep. "You don't have to worry. It's gonna be alright." She reaches out to place her other hand on top of yours. "I always wanted to ask you something Liam."

"Anything."

"Do you remember the song you showed me when we were in school, an old, old song from our parents' youth?"

Ahh that song. She always had a taste for older music, never really listened to the current stuff.

"Yeah, I know it, why?" You asked, dreading her response.

"Can you sing it for me? I always liked your playing, but I figured you were a singer."

Melody please, I don't know if— "I'm not the best, but I can certainly try." You blinked the tears away.

You try to relax as you begin to sing.

The melody was sweet but hard since it was in an uncommon key. Also very haunting. A happy song in the style of a trio barbershop acapella. The singer telling their sweetheart that they didn't have to do certain things, but they did anyway. Ranging from looking their way, calling their name, holding their hand and so on.

The song continued saying that the singer was waiting there their entire lives and not wanting to live their life alone. And waiting for their sweetheart all their lives.

What really drove a stake into your heart was the main chorus came in, the singer asking their lover to set them free, and saying that they were their 'Honeybee.'

Of course Melody would love this song. It's sappy, weird and sad, on top of it all it was talking about her favorite animal.

You continued to sing to your lover of a different time. You were dreading the ending. But it was inevitable. Everything has a beginning, and everything has an ending. And you really, really didn't want this to end.

But you pushed through with a shaky voice. The very last part of the song was a series of 'hellos' and 'goodbyes' that was just too much.

You looked down at Melody, her eyes were closed and she looked like she was sleeping peacefully. You touch her face. She was cold to the touch and she did not raise her chest.

"Hello….goodbye….it…it was nice to know you Melody…" You crumple to the floor as you feel sorrow on a level you have never felt in your life.

Melody, the friend you knew for almost your entire life. A fiery redhead kind soul that you fell in love with, but never got the courage to tell her how you feel, was gone.

Melody...

Your wonderful Melody...

She was gone.

Author's Note

In case you were wondering what the song was. 'Honeybee' by Steam Powered Giraffe.

The Five Stages Suck!

The Equestrian sun set over the lustrous Perilous Peaks. Its rays bask against its high peaks. Many that would set their gaze upon this divine scenery, many would proclaim beautiful, a sight to behold, an awe inspiring scene that would make anyone feel warm and fuzzy on the inside.

But the scenery all around you, it was none of those things.

There was no beauty, no magical, (figuratively speaking,) awe about this place. It all once did months ago or even just a couple of hours ago, but today is nothing but monochrome grays and sorrowful woes. Nothing special, nothing grand. To you it was just blah, a bunch of nonsense just rolling around to make up this land's texture.

You left the Kirin village shortly after the passing of Melody. You and your friends would have stayed, but Rain Shine told you all in a stern voice that she should leave. You argued, but to no avail. They needed to prepare the body for a ritual, a sacred ritual that no outsiders can spectate. Things almost got violent as you wanted to punch the tall Kirin straight in her stupid face, however it was good that Twilight was behind you, using her magic to restrain your fists of grief stricken rage.

That was maybe an hour or so ago, as you can hear up ahead, your friends were leading the way back home. They were talking amongst themselves about what transpired at the village. That just leaves you just out of earshot of your friends head hung low and just absentmindedly following their voices back to Ponyville.

"It's not fair!" Rainbow Dash shouted in frustration at the sky from her hovered position above the troupe. "That was Windle's special somepony! He should have seen her before they did that…ahh…" Rainbow stumbled over her own words.

Rarity looked up to the disgruntled pegasus, "Well Rainbow Dash as much as I would like to be around for such a ritual, it would be wrong of us to disregard the wishes of Rain Shine and her Kirin kind.”

"BUT BUT if you loved somepony and they just–" she stopped herself; you barely saw Rainbow Dash turn her head in your direction. She hovered down closer to the Elements in a hushed tone. "–died. I would have wanted to see them one last time."

"I know where you're coming from, Rainbow Dash–" from the corner of your eye you spot Twilight peering over to you, then back to her friends. "–We are all upset at this outcome, but the Kirin's are their own norms, just like how we ponies are their own."

"Maybe we should try to cheer him up?" You heard Pinkie Pie ask with high optimism.

"As much as I would want to try," Fluttershy whispered to the pink pony, "I don't think Windle wants to be cheered up right now."

“But we have to try! We have to see him smile!” You heard your friends desperately calling for their party friend to abandon her quest. But that fell on deaf ears.

Hoof steps trotted against your long gait. You knew who was next to you, but you didn't look at her.

“Hey Windle Bindle!” Pinkie Pie chipped. You don’t, or maybe couldn't break this lugubrious hold. Though this did not stop Pinkie from trying. To you, that meant so much that she was trying, but you were at the bottom of a swamp of despair, just opaque enough to see just the bare minimum of the world. You wish you could swim up to the surface and thank her, but that task was impossible right now.

Well that’s what you thought, but to Pinkie, that impossibility is impossible!

“Soooooooo Windle, you hungry?” Pinkie Pie asked. The way she asked it was strange. It was a simple question, yet there was this power behind it. You could help but to look from your locked look on the ground to shift your gaze to two bright blue eyes searching you. As soon as you made eye contact, she let out a gasp of glee.

“A HA! You are hungry! Here try this.” She reached into her mane with her forehoof to get a cupcake. An unspoiled, still fresh cupcake that had the same colored frosting as her coat color. In the center it had a very silly smiling yellow face you imagine you would see in a cartoon comic for children. That was actually kind of cute and innocent.

A trickle of happiness returns to your hollowed mind, you don’t know if you showed it, but you knew that Pinkie knew that you felt just a little bit better.

You gave out a ginger smile as you reached out for the tasty treat.

This was a mistake.

What you didn’t notice was that there was a small string at the base of this ‘treat.’ A grin longer than a mile plastered across the party ponies face as you reached. With a flash the mare reached down with her mouth and pulled that string.

POP!

An explosion of confetti and frosting blinded your vision. You sputter, whipping the offending prank of your face.

“Peh plah pfffft Pinkie! What th–”

“HAAAHAHAHA–snort–haha!” Pinkie Pie eyes filled with joyous tears and laughter radiating from her small from. Your other friends gasp at the prank. With the exception of Rainbow Dash she let out a small chortle before catching herself.

"Pinkie! This is not the time for pranks!" Rarity galloped over and used her magic to try to clean your face up.

You definitely didn't enjoy that aura around magic, it tickled and got past your skin causing the worst itching of all time!

"Oh come on, Rarity! Now is the best time!" Pinkie Pie countered.

The rest of your friends double back to you as they argue with themselves. It started out simple with whether or not pranking was a good idea. However rather quickly it spires out of control about your feelings, your wishes. What they thought was the right thing to do for you. Funny enough they didn't voice these opinions to you.

A deep roiling anger started to rise to the surface. You try to hold back but a stray piece of confetti stung your eye. Finally the prank of your face, you saw your friends bickering and you just couldn't hold it in any longer.

"EVERYONE SHUT THE–" you scream, balling up your fists, hearing the creasing of the skin against itself.

Wait, you can't tell them that, take a breather, Liam

You hold your tongue, a frustrated growl escapes your throat, suppressing your anger. You gazed up to the face of your friends, a mix of hurt or surprise.

You cleared your throat, restraining the anger back down to the depths of your soul, and try to relax your body and hands. "–I appreciate it that you all want to try to help, I really do. But right now I just lo–" you stopped yourself as your throat clenches. You don't know if you can say that word about Melody.

You resumed "–It just, I, fuuuuuuck me,” You pressed your index fingers hard against your temples, “Can we please just get home? Just put this shit all behind me and completely forgot that we came here?" You did a dynamic gesture to this god forsaken place.

Your friends with dower looked all nodded and without any more words exchanged, the troupe and yourself made it out of the peaks and headed straight for the train station ready to return home.

Well good job Liam, bring the whole mood down and be a dick.

It was the beginning of nightfall when the train finally made it stop in Ponyville. The ride there was uneventful but filled with tension and awkwardness. You knew it was partially your fault, what with yelling at them and bringing them along this incredible journey only to be left empty handed. That shit sucks!

When you all step onto the loading dock many of your friends casually remark on the long ride, or other small talk. But you knew they just wanted to get home and process today just as much as you did. However you had a dagger in your stomach and you needed to get it out.

"Hey, um…" you sratched the back of your head. Many pony eyes looked back at you. "Im…I'm sorry, I just…things are…I" it was hard to form sentences. It was tougher trying to explain how you felt.

How could you?

Being a lone species and getting news that finally, FINALLY, have the love of your life be found safe from how you got here, only to be taken away? The torrent of emotions was difficult to process, so difficult that your brain just defaulted to small, awkward chuckles when you spoke and sputtered your apology.

Suddenly you were cut off as your vision was filled with yellow fur. Fluttershy without warming flapped to your level and gave you a deep hug.

"It's okay Windle, I forgive you, it's hard….I know it's really hard." She quivered. You freeze up. You were not expecting the Element of Kindness to do something kind for you.

You had to mentally kick yourself for that line of thought. Of course she would do that, she's Kindness Incarnate and your friend!

Though what was odd is that she knew how much you hurt. For how long? Why didn't she say anything until now?

Before you could question your concerns, more bodies started to hug you. You could help but shed a single tear of just how comforting this was. After a tender moment, they released the hug from you.

"Listen ya egghead, if you want to play me again in, I'll let you win this time." Rainbow Dash punches your shoulder

"Or maybe we can go to the spa, let the sisters just melt all of your troubles away." Rarity added.

"Shucks maybe doing sum hard workin' will do the trick fer ya, I know it helps me out from time ta time."

Twilight yawned, "Maybe getting some sleep would do everypony some good. What do you say girls?"

The rest of them all agreed that would be the best option. They bid their farewells as they went their own separate ways. When the last pony left, you turned off the station platform and started to walk away.

"Windle, are you not coming back home?" Fluttershy asked from behind you.

You stopped and turned your head to her with a weak smile.

"I'm just, I'm gonna…I am just gonna take a walk." You gesture with a thumb to the open Ponyville at night.

"Oh, well, um don't be out too long okay?"

"Okay…goodnight, Fluttershy."

"Goodnight, Windle."

With that your feet carried you to an unknown destination. You couldn't ask for anything better.

It never really occurred to you, but walking at night was very therapeutic for you. Ever since you can remember you were always that guy that took nightly walks to mull over things. It was magical back on Earth. Thankfully this 'magic' worked here in Equestria.

Well it usually works.

Tonight, on this chilled fall night, the magic of walking did not work .

More often than not your mind would wander over Melody. Asking questions why? Why didn't you spring into action as soon as you saw that video? If you went searching for her sooner she would have not died.

Magical aging be damned!

You happen to pass Sugar Cube Corner, closed and its residents rested for the night. You imagine how nice it would have been if you and Melody were hand in hand, going on a date to get some sugary treat, like a scone or maybe a cinnamon roll.

You smiled at the imagery. Melody would differently get a kick out of Pinkie Pie. Maybe they would have been sisterly friends. You knew Melody would like her in Ponyville. Hell maybe you could have asked her to marry you after a year or two living on this equine line. You and her, versus the world.

You shake that impossible thought of your head. Thinking about what could have been was too painful. Too heartbreaking to bear. Tears started to form around your eyes. You blink them away and continue walking aimlessly into the night.

After some more time, you find yourself in the park that you play from time to time. It was serene with just you walking its path. Your mind wonders once more back to her. Thinking that she would find it humorous that your prized instrument glowed like a children's toy at night. But the sound it makes? Oh you wished you could see the look on her face when you played.

You hold your head as you are hit with reality again. This walk is not helping. If you stay out here any longer you're going to have a mental break down and sob uncontrollably in public at night when everyone is asleep. You wouldn't be surprised if you got fined or arrested for that kind of disturbance.

Plink plink plink.

You felt raindrops starting to hit your face and the dirt ground. Of course it's gonna rain. Why would it not? You quicken your pace as you decide that your walk has been cut short.

Finding the path you followed it hoping you were going the right way.

You were not.

Your eyes keep passing more and more darkened houses. But not a cottage on the edge of the Everfree.

Wait, your eyes spot a house up a path. Its architecture was split into two down the middle. One side had organ pipes that could be a chimney, while another was a darker blue with different Clefts that made the window frame. More importantly the house still had its lights on.

Should I say hello to Octavia? It is pretty late.

Your mind starts to wonder what that mare would be doing up this late. Maybe she is writing a new song. Or perhaps she is relaxing by an open fire? It is cold and a fire would be nice. It would definitely be nice to be next to her by the fire. Her soft coat against yours as you snuggle up to her. The fire along with her soft, warm body keeps you warm. Watching her cute face relax with your grasp. Her lips are just begging to be kissed by you.

No. No stop.

Stop thinking about Octavia like that. She is a pony, and you just think this because you can’t get Melody off of your mind.

Then a memory stirred to the front of your mind.

'I fell in love with Summer Fire, and we had the quietest reception ever seen!'

You pull out your phone and turn it on to be greeted with the younger Melody and yourself. You stare at her smiling face for quite some time clicking your teeth in deep thought.

You remembered that she told you about her life before you came. She missed you, but she moved on and found someone…somepony that she loved.

Throughout her life she had friends and showed fondness to other creatures. She fell in love with a Kirin.

Actually loved a Kirin, but not only loved but married to a Kirin!

She didn't find it weird or awful or creepy or immoral. She just…

She just lived.

She went through life and lived.

You smiled sadly.

That is why you fell in love with Melody in the first place. She just lived. Didn’t really think about the future or what would happen, or anything. She just woke up, and decided that she was going to be content and just live her life.

You only dreamed you could just live like her. Throughout your own life you were only thinking about the future, or how you can be better. A better musician, a better human being, a better everything. But seeing her just live and take moments as they come regardless if it was good or bad was just magical to watch.

And now she's gone, but not forgotten.

Leaving you, in the rain, feeling strong emotions to two creatures that you know that you love dearly. One of which is up late right now during a rainy night.

"Ahh fuck it, if she can do it, so can I," you whispered to yourself.

You put your wet phone back in your pocket and made your way to Octavia's front door.

From your dreamless sleep, you were awoken by the sound of someone humming.

Your eyes drift open slowly as they readjust to the new early light and new environment.

You were in Octavia’s room.

She had some interesting taste in floor and room design. Red silk sheets covered a king size bed by human standards. Musical paraphernalia organized perfectly throughout her room. Many different orchestral instruments in every corner.

And finally Octavia herself in front of a Victorian style vanity drawer. In the reflection, you saw the mare fixing up her coat and mane into what you're used to when she was in public. Her eyes looked over to the right of her trying to find something else to add to her beauty routine. Her mulberry eyes spotted you in the mirrored reflection, a sultry smile formed on her lips.

She spoke, but in that alien language. You put up a finger as you find your bracelet on a nightstand close to you.

Click Click

“What did you say?

“I said I was wondering if you would ever return to Equestria.”

You gave a warm grin sitting up to your elbows. “Well I was hoping I could just sleep with you all day.”

“Windle, as much as I would like to do such debauchery, a mare like me has responsibilities.”

Well you can't argue with that. You let out a sigh.

“Well if that’s the case, then when would be a good time to see you?”

Octavia paused from her mane brushing and tapped her chin. “Well, if you insist, I have some private lessons I have to teach later in the evening. Maybe some tea afterwards?”

Ah yes, this was perfect, not only did Octavia reciprocate your feelings you shared last night, but she is still in the same swing of things from the past couple of months.

“Yeah, that sounds great,” You say, climbing out of bed and retrieving your clothes.

Octavia sniffed the air, her muzzle scrunched up from a foul odor. “Also could you please bathe, you smell worse than a wet griffon.”

You squint at her. You don’t smell, do you?

Sniff Sniff

On second thought, she was right about that.

After you got yourself cleaned up, saying hello to Vinyl as she was knee deep in her own project, Octavia walked you out.

You took a step outside the threshold before you turned around.

“Octavia?”

“Hmm?”

“I think I forgot something important.”

She raised a suspicious eyebrow, suspecting something from you.

“No, really!” You leaned down reaching for something, but you leaned in to kiss her.

Octavia groaned as she pushed your lips away with her forehoof. She knew exactly what you were planning.

“Windle, you are terrible at this.” She giggled before she spin the tables on you, she wrapped a leg around your neck as she placed a light kiss in your lips “But I will keep you around. Show you how it's properly done.”

You straightened up blushing profusely. “I…um yeah, S-see you around.” You turned around and started to walk away, only for Octavia to stop you once more.

“Oh, Windle?”

You turn around to meet her gaze.

“You may have lost your Melody, but that doesn’t mean you lost all harmony of the musical piece of your life. Remember that will you now?”

That…is surprisingly deep by a musical professional, “Yeah…of course…Thank you Octavia…”

With that you give her your farewells as you start to walk back to Fluttershy’s place.

Oh shit.

Fluttershy is probably worried sick about you! You quicken your pace as you find your way back. What will you say to your friend? Shit. Maybe just tell her the truth. Yeah, taking a hint from the Element of Honesty is always a good way to explain yourself.

You rehearsed what you were going to say, however that was cut short.

When you reached the path that led outside of town, something came out of the bushes lighting fast!

This thing tackled you to the ground knocking the air out of you. You struggle as adrenaline kicks in as your brain finally tells you that you were under attack.

You catch a glimpse of your assailant.

It was that cloaked human! Bigger than what you saw all those nights ago. Stronger too as you kick and thrash only in vain.

You grunted as his arms wrapped around your neck, putting you into a hold, squeezing taut.

“You were supposed to be that pegasus place last night, now this ruins everything I have been working towards you pathetic cow!” He growled at you. His dialect is very different from your own. Maybe some time when kings and queens were in power, castles, claymores and warhorses.

You struggle more, your vision blackening from the lack of oxygen.

This is bad, this is really bad!

“Fuck…you…HELP!” You gurgle as loud as you can. But no pony heard you.

Soon the blackness closes in, your body falling limp.

Your last thought before you fade to blackness.

I am so happy that I told Octavia that I loved her.

This 'Fluttershy' Sucks!

Sleep is a funny thing.

Sometimes you remember what you dreamed of, other times you just close your eyes and then you open them again, ready to start the day anew.

Well it turns out last night, you did have a dream.

You dreamt that you woke up in a dark and foreboding forest. A forest that you knew like no other. Surrounded by the sounds of foreign night life all around you. You felt fear deep within your gut.

Then if it couldn’t get any worse you were attacked!

You fought valiantly, with mighty jabs and vicious uppercuts against this tiny little lion like creature. This ‘lion’ tried very hard to eat you, however your brawn and brilliant tactical skills were no match for this lion.

But it seems you got stung by this lion with its mini scorpion stinger.

“What the hell? Sense whe- whoa…I'm gonna be sick…”

You fall to the floor of the forest flo-

Wait…no you fell through the floor of the forest. You let out a scream but no words came forth. You reach out at the rapidly diminishing entry hole, hoping you can just reach it.

Wait, do you see a head of some kind peeking through that hole. It's strangely equine but bigg-

Gasp!

You shoot awake from your odd nightmare. The aching muscles of your chest protested against the sudden jerk. Cold sweat drips from down your body. You look around thinking you were still in the forest. A sigh of relief escapes you remember that you were safe in this cottage. The wooden boards moaned as you shifted your weight, followed by even more when you struggled to get to your feet. Your whole body is terribly sore but the urge to pee has taken precedence. You flinch as you notice that your right arm is bandaged up and in a sling. I didn't know I broke my arm. But then again I do remember getting hit hard against that tree.

Why is it so cold? You paused when looking down at your naked body. Oh.

You take a look around; this place is crawling with little critters. Birds. Ferrets. Mice. A whole menagerie of little critters both big and small are taking no heed of your presence. Just minding their own business, though some curious rabbits where looking at you with big cute black eyes.

This cottage, now that you really look at it, is uniquely outfitted to house all the critters. Tiny stairs that lead to holes. Many bird cages are placed on the walls. The owner must really like animals. Though maybe a little too much.

Taking a gander around this humble abode, you were hopping to find your clothes somewhere this this place but to no avail. You don't see anything that would constitute indoor plumbing. So no bathrooms or washing machines.

Well that sucks.

Your bladder calls to you. Well there is always nature I guess. You see a small door that is maybe made for a kid or a gnome of some kind. You groan as you unlatch it; what you gaze upon is quite surreal.

It was a sunny clear day out. The temperature was quite warm, almost as if you were at the beach. There was a trail that led over a natural made bridge over a small stream. Look up at the architecture of the cottage to see that the roof is made out of grass with many windows and bird houses nestled in the grassy topped house. Yup, this is some kind of gnome. I got saved by a gnome, resting inside of a gnome house.

Great.

You make your way over the bridge and find a spot to relieve yourself far enough away from the trail to this cottage. Don't want to be disrespectful, though in gnome culture you don't know if it is bad or not to take a piss outside one's house.

While relieving yourself your ears hear the sound of horses again. It sounded like it was getting closer to you. Turning your head, you spot the source.

A trope of pastel horses, well ponies, trotting along the path that leads to the cottage. Two of which were flying with feathered wings. Leading the way was one that you recognized, but the others you don’t. It was that flying pony with the cream yellow coat! Well now it's broad daylight it seems it has a more grayish gold to it then yellow. And it's mane is more of a light grayish rose.

From here you can just make the outline on its flank. It seems it was branded with three butterflies in a triangle formation with pink wings that are the same color as its mane.

Recent memory was retrieved to the surface. Yes, you defiantly heard that horse that is flying spoke to you.

You shake your head as you finish up. Impossible, but gnomes are a thing here. This very logical thought was challenged and conceded.

From the distance you heard the grayish gold pony speak with its trope, “He's been asleep for a week now? I-I was worried that the manticore poison would be t-to much for his fragile body. Thank goodness I had just enough antivenom at home!"

Manticore? That must have been the th- wait fragile?!

You hear a pony that seemed to respond to the grayish gold pony, a light gray coat pony with a horn on its forehead, it's mane an indigo color that seems to go over its face then naturally curls in on itself at the tip. A pattern starts to emerge as there was intent behind the style of mane. When it responded, you heard it speaks in a foreign language. But it had a unique accent, something from an old movie of sorts, something from the lines of black and white; of where exactly you don't remember.

"Oh I learned it from my mom when I got hurt trying to practi- oh Windle!"

The grayish gold one stared at you with wide eyes. The trope stops to peer at you.

SIX! Six of these ponies with different hues, different appendages, all of whom were following the grayish golden one. You counted two of them that have wings, one of them has a horn, two of them are just ponies and the last one that caught your attention was one that had both wings and a horn.

The grayish gold pony flew up to you, "Windle you are supposed to be resting!" It eyes where wide with anxiety as it spoke to you.

You give the pony a dumbfounded look, "Uhhh…" Did it call me 'Windle?'

"Hey, don't you complain to me about the mattress size, get back to your bed mister, you might hurt yourself!" It gently flew close to you grabbing you by the shoulder to turn you around in the direction of what you assumed to be its home.

Layers of confusion started to stack on upon you. "I'm complaining? I didn't say anything." What the hell is going on here?

One of the other ponies that had no wings or horn walked up to your right side to lean on you. This one was interesting, it was an orange, no a gamboge coat along with having a light grayish olive mane in a French braid in the back and just a simple tuff that covers her forelock; finally her tail was long and was a scrunchie at the end of its tail which was interesting because how on Earth did it do that with no fingers? You noticed that it had a brilliant sap green color to its eyes and freckles on the corner of its eyes.

Freckles. Thas is actually kind of weirdly cute.

Adorned on its head was a simple Stenton cowboy hat. This one spoke as well in that same foreign language but you pick up an accent of some kind of cowboy drawl to it. Wait, is this the pony that you were placed upon when you fell unconscious?

The cowboy pony pointed with its fore hoof to the house as it leaned on you looking up at you to take its cue to start walking.

The grayish golden one nods, "Thank you Applejack I don't want him to fall and open his stitches up."

I have stitches? "No it's fine…I….I can walk…" You trip over your own words. They are talking, talking to you, sentient ponies are talking to you! You have to be dead and this is the worst afterlife of them all! What's worst, is that the others don't understand you, you can't understand them, But the flying one speaks perfect, albeit meek english.

The grayish gold one patted your head with its frog "Windle, Applejack is trying to help you, be a nice little umm….guy and let her take you back to rest." It gave a silly grin and closed her eyes, you can swear that the way she shut her eyes also gave off a smiling. You debate if this is endearing or disturbing of this avian pony's mannerisms. You felt Applejack gently nudged her flank against the back of your knee. Your knees buckle at the bump

"Gah" you say surprised by the strength of this pony only half your height. "N-no wait hold on a second what the actual hell is going on right now!" Your throat tightens. "I need answers!"

"Windle, I know you are upset and ornery for being sick from a nasty manticore stinger, but can you please go back home and rest? You will feel so much better I promise you." The grayish golden pony eyed you with concern.

"Did you not hear me?" Your frustration grew. "Tell me where the hell am I? Who are you?"

The flying pony responds with a raised brow, "I..I don't know what a 'Laca'bone' is...?" Her voice timid and submissive

Laca what?

You were taken aback, blinking a couple of times trying to get a grasp of this situation "I...what..." You paused to collect yourself. You need answers, so you pressed on "Please I just want to know where the hell I am. And ill gladly just go back home and take a rest." You point your thumb at the cottage.

The flying pony put both of her forehooves in front of her mouth completely flabbergasted at you said to her. Then her face contorts, her nostrils flair wide. Her small innocents looking eyes quickly shift to a harden look.

"WINDLE!" The pony shouted at you with the voice only a mother can scold a child. "You are being very disrespectful right now! You are in my house and I am taking care of you! You have the nerve to tell me that I am an evil pony? A that wishes only bad will on you? That I am going to eat you alive!"

What you hear was the trope of colorful ponies gasps at what you said. One particular one with a dark flowing and sheen lavender mane and white coat seemed to get on her hind legs, her foreleg pressed against her forehead and proceeded to make the most dramatic faint you have seen. It could of awarded for best performance.

You meet your brows together. Confusion swept across your face. What? Did I say something weird? Is asking question a bad thing?. The grayish golden pony got up into your face, glaring deeply into you.

You jerk your head back. You just wanted answers and you ask politely. You put your working arm up defensively. "Whoa whoa whoa, hey I didn't say anyth-"

You stop yourself as your vision seems to hone in on this ponies constricted hard eyes. Those moderate cyan eyes looking at you. No. Through you, into you. You can feel such domination seep into you very being, it seemed oppressive, on so many levels. It strikes fear into your heart of hearts. But this is a new kind of fear.

You thought running away from what they call a Manticore was fear, but this?

No no no, this was something more primal, something deep within you that was not liking what she was doing to you. This sweet soft spoken pony is now glaring you down with the weight of the world crushing your willpower into fine powder.

Oh God. I fucked up, I fucked up something fierce!

This feeling, it is as if dread was personified in front of you right now. This is hell! You are in hell! This pony sucks so goddamn much right now! She is the devil incarnate! All your sins laid witness to bare before her. The golden devil is now your judge, jury, and executioner!

Gulp.

She continues her reign of terror over you, “All of my friends were so scared that you were going to get hurt or worse! I wrapped you up; sleep near to to make sure you are stable; groom you to make sure you hair is well kept; and this is how you act? You should be ashamed of yourself Windle! Ashamed!” She angrily points to a shaky forehoof at her home. “Now go and take a rest or so help me I will spank your little bottom until you are sore!”

You were frozen in time. A strange urge swept over you, it wasn’t a fight or flight, more of a shame and embarrassment. Kind of urge that has a strong will over your being. Were you being a dick to the person, to this pony that saved your life? But the circumstances would justify your behavior. You opened your mouth to try to make amends for your crimes.

However, your human legs seem to start moving and taking unconscious authority over you with one foot moving in front of the other. Well that didn’t get far. There was a weight to each step. As if someone was forcing each foot with thick bricks roped around at the ball of each foot. Behind you you look back as you see 'Applejack' look at you with an apologetic look, than a nod as she returns to it's trope of ponies.

The grayish golden pony gently hovered above her trope, they started back up whatever conversation they had before, "S-sorry...I didn't know he was that cranky..."

You reach the frame of the door of the house with a head hung low when you heard it.

You turned around to spot the source of the sound. There was a pony that was pink. That's it. All she has was different shades of pink for her equine features, reminding you of a treat you used to have when you were back on earth a long time ago. And this pink pony with the mane that puffed out widely. You see that somehow she was on her hind legs and playing a bugle horn. The music was bombastic and energetic. An insanely high tempo to boot.

You blinked. Was it impromptu or did she have this piece memorized? It was nice, you could dance to it or maybe hear at a concert of some kind. It has some familiarity to yet you can't place your finger. Though, why would this pink pony just start playing music out of the blue. You turn around and walk back into the cottage sighing heavily.

“Hey, after this performance you're up next buddy.” an ethereal voice calls out to you.

You look around, “Hello? Who ar-ARRRGHHH!"

You shut your eyes taught, gritting your teeth as you fell to your knees.

Searing pain starts at the base of your skull then rooted out across the innards of your mind. Your eyes start to slowly get foggy as you feel yourself faint into blackness took a hold of before fainting into your bed.

Music.

Music was flowing into the auditorium filling your ears with such joy. Beautiful music reaching out to entertain the masses that have no idea what they are hearing. Some people pay good money just to hear a bunch of overly dressed people blowing into an overpriced price of coiled metal.

This music making is ridiculous.

It bothers you so much that you are roped into terrible mess. However, it also brings you joy. Joy that you put in much time and effort into one specific overpriced coil.

It sounded stupid and you knew it was, why would anyone think it was fun? Well you do, for some reason you just like to play on this over priced piece of metal.

You like it so much that even against your own wishes to not be here, but at home, or the local bar, or anywhere but here. You chose to be here tonight dealing with this tremendous amount of anxiety that plagues you. But you are here because it makes you feel good that all your hard earned time went into one skill you can repay with giving a reason for people to forget about their own troubles for tonight.

It's a fair exchange in your mind.

From the corner of your vision sitting backstage of an old performance stage, your friend entered the backstage; he parted the ragged purple cloth that was supposed to be a curtain. He mouths out words but you don't process them.

It breaks you out of a trance, "Huh what do you say?" You looked up blinking your eyes into focus.

“Hey, I said after this performance you're up next buddy, Are you sure you are alright man?" your friend arching a brow at you.

Your vision creeps back into full view. Your sight focuses on the hard wooden floor of the grayish gold pony's cottage. You groan as you can almost feel your eyes burning from inside your skull sockets. Lifting your head you let out a sigh that at the very least you fell on top of your makeshift vet bed. Fucking migraine, jeez fuck...what...what the hell was that?

You get to your knees and roll into your new bed. Yup this was real. You are still stuck here, wherever 'here' is. Well the dreadful pony told me to rest, so its time to rest.

You shifted around your bed trying to get comfortable. Your mind wonders about the ponies and the way the spoke. Was it possible that they understood you about your plight being in this place of existences? Does the golden one really understand you?

Maybe, they were smart creatures, they conveyed so much emotion with just their eyes and faces and that grayish gold one was talking to you but not directly to you. Maybe it's a weird language barrier? Well if it is then asking for help directly might not work.

But she spoke English. Maybe she can read English. If she can read English then I can ask for help! You smiled at this plan, only to be reminded there was a big problem with that plan.

You look at your bandaged arm. Well shit writing is not gonna work either. You turn your body to face the closest window. The day was still bright and cloudless. You sighed. What the hell was that I heard too. You place your hand over your throbbing head, gritting your teeth are the pain. I swear I heard that before but where? These thoughts were weighing you down. Unfortunately it was apparent that there was nothing you could do about it now. Right now you are very much banged up, in pain and in no room to do anything to improve your situation. For now maybe grayish gold pony is right.

Resting might be good for you.

You close your eyes and try to drift to sleep.

This place sucks.

Gifts And Drinks From Strangers Doesn't Suck.

Author's Note

Edit: Small corrections here and their

Gifts And Drinks From Strangers Doesn't Suck.

If there is a god, or if the universe is listening. I would like to apologize for my slander earlier today.

Today was terrible. So terrible that it would tip you over the edge. But thankfully with the help of some ponies you know, that tipping point is no longer a point on the map!

Why?

Because these ponies that just started talking to you actually give a damn about your well being. All it took was one pony's magic against your will to speak their language to do the trick.

What can you say, no one is perfect. But it looks like the ball is rolling in the right direction.

That direction was Ponyville.

The place was crawling with so many ponies, and other creatures that you don’t recognize. Well expect a yak or two that seemed to be around these parts. Very big yaks.

Somehow horses are smaller than you remember and yaks are bigger than you, like way bigger here compared to back on Earth.

But for the most part the major demographic of this town was ponies. Many of which look at you with at first shock, but more out of curiosity. You get the feeling that humans don’t usually show up in town like this. Being naked too doesn't help matters either.

Your companions lead you to a building that Rarity introduced to you as ‘Carousel Boutique.’

This place…is kind of out there.

For one this architecture is very different compared to the other buildings in Ponyville. Many pinks and baby blues accents adorned the building. Its design was more circular than square. When you look, you can see the ‘carousel’ part as part of the major design with nice decorative pillars. But it also has a 'little girl princess castle' vibe to it all. Does not help that the main sign looks like a pony mannequin with hearts around it with a nice iron ‘S’ to keep its shape.

Rarity leads you inside; a bell announcing all of your arrival. The colors inside scream frilly fashion and upper status. Many mirrors lined the walls with many different shades of pink drapes that colored the walls. The carousel motif carries heavily inside of the building.

“Come on girls, Windle, let’s see if I can make you look like a stud!” Rarity said with much enthusiasm.

You stretch and lazily pace your hands behind your head, "I don’t want to look like a stud, I just want to not be naked."

"Ha!" Rainbow Dash smirked, "good luck Windle when Rarity gets like this, you gonna be the dorkiest looking dude in all of Ponyville," Rainbow Dash bellowed in laughter. The pink party pony seemed to giggle as well, though there was a feeling deep down you got that she's just laughing because someone else is laughing.

Oh gee it's like I'm not the biggest 'dork' already.

Rarity leads you to landing. With her magical horn she started to measure your figure. The fashionista mumbled and talked to herself as she worked out the details of your new set of clothes.

"Sooooo," you break the awkward silences. "This is what you call a 'Friendship Emergency?' What else does this emergency do?

Fluttershy answered from her long silence ever since you could begin to talk, "Well it usually comes down to making sure that every pony knows the value of friendship." She looked up and winced, "I mean every creature of course."

A tape measure came in front of your view for a moment, "And getting clothes for someone like me counts as a friendship emergency?"

The fashionista jumped in, "Yes, a little generosity can help any creature get out a nasty trenches of absolute," Rarity paused briefly, inhaling deeply, "despair!" She finishes with a dramatic flourish.

"Despair?" You cock an eyebrow. "I don't think I was in such despair." Rarity was about to respond but a certain pink pony could help herself.

"OH I KNOW!" Pinkie seemed to bounce into your view. "We should have a party! Yeah a really big party, a 'Welcome to Ponyville Windle from Another Dimension' party!' I can ask Discord to open some whacky portals and to make you feel right home!"

"That sounds-" you begin to say. But you were cut off.

"No no no don't have to thank me, it's what I do best" Pinkie smiled and she made a weird 'squee' noise. Do all ponies do that when they are happy?

"I don't think that sounds like a good idea with portals and magic." You protest tilting your you head away with a concerned look on your face.

Pinkie taps her chin and scrunches up her muzzle. She gasps; an epiphany struck her, "Oh I know, I just remembered something! Sooo when Fluttershy was taking care of you and Applejack sent over a barrel of cider, I was there checking up on you, Windle." She jumped into the air higher than a sea lion breaking the water, though her fall back down was slower than a feather, right into your open arms.

"BUT! When Fluttershy was taking a drink from the cider your eyes went all Whoosh Whoosh Whoosh!" Her eyes went crazy, looking around at a speed you could have sworn to make her eyes roll out of her skull. She slaps the side of her cheek with her hoof with a loud smack, her eyes locked onto you

"And the only time I saw some creature do that in their deep sleep is if they really really wanted something bad. So I put two and two together…" She leaped from your arms, paused to defy gravity and somewhere she fished for something in her mane, maybe it's a pocket dimension? A shower of confetti exploded all around you annoying the fashionista pony.

Pinkie slowly drifted back down to earth choosing to obey gravity, "You are the type of creature that absolutely doobly loooooves cider!!" She gets to her hind legs and claps her forehooves together. "And the best place to get cider, or any nice booze is that new place that opened up."

What the fucked did I just watch?

How…how…what how?!

Rainbow Dash ears perked up. "Wait wait wait, are you talking about that new pony that opened that saloon close by?" She gently hovered down above Pinke. "The one with all the Las Pegasus games in it?"

Las Pegasus? That sounds like Las Ve-

"Yup! That's the one alright!" Pinkie beamed.

"Pinkie, are you suggesting we go out and get drunk?" Twilight said with an annoyed look.

“Yup!” Pinke bounced to face Twilight directly.

“But I have seen ponies go there to either forget their troubles, or waste themselves away.” Twilight raised a hoof at her energetic friend.

“Oh Twilley, that's because they didn’t have me! We can make it fun and not boring and sad!” Pinkie completely sweeping aside the Princess's concerns.

“Well I suppos’ Pinkie has a point there.” The cow pony spoke up. “I've always been interested in that there saloon. I heard from the town folks that the mare herself makes a mean drink if ya just ask.”

“Applejack, I don’t know if I can go there!” A hint of panic set in the lavender pony. “I-I’m a Princess! That would set a terrible example to everypony.”

You tilt your head at the Princess.

Interesting.

It made sense. Gathering from the clues that a 'Princess' is a title that has some weight to it. And also gathering from Twilight went out of her way to make a school about teaching friendship, that too had much weight behind it. Going into a bar to get piss drunk in front of your subjects would be a bad call. However, looking at Pinkie's face, it's hard to say no to that sad puppy dog look. Seriously, how do ponies make not only their pupils big, but their iris as well?

Just another little thing that makes you stand out like a sore thumb in this world.

You were about to interject, but Starlight trotted next to the Princess of Friendship, “Twilight, It's fiiiine. If it really concerns you, you can just not go?” She placed a forearm around Twilight in a half hug.

The fashionista chimed in, “Twilight dearie, it will be fine. Everypony and every creature needs ways to unwind. Sometimes a good bottle of wine does wonders. How do you think Princess Celestia deals with the nobles during the Galla?” She nodded and walked off the stage to another corner of her boutique.

“OR a tall mug of a Mudslide!” The party pony squealed out.

“Heh, You know I never seen Twilight get really tipsy, the last time was when she first got here.” Rainbow Dash smirked.

“I..I didn’t get THAT tipsy, did I?” Twilight cheeks flushed peering up into the floating race pegasus.

A shriek stops all the conversation as all eyes where on Rarity. The white pony was shrieking at empty racks. “Nonononononono ugh this is the worst!” Rarity pouted and signed in defeat.

She turned to you. “Im sooo sorry Windle, but” She gestures to a lack of supplies. “It must have slipped my mind that all of my stock got used in the classes just a couple of weeks before.” Her eyes seemed to water up before shaking her head. Her friends seemed to gather around and give some positivity.

“Oh,” you blinked surprised. She was making such a fuss over you not having ‘proper’ attire. Well that kind of sucks that you are not going to get any clothes. Might be for the best if Rainbow Dash was correct. Thou judging by some of the dresses around this place, you would be in extreme regalia. That's too much for your tastes.

You look down at the distressed pony and begin to speak. However you stop yourself. She looks really distraught. So much it breaks your will to protest.

Well fuck.

She was really looking forward to helping you, and now she can’t. To you that's no big deal, however judging from the stories and banter between the ponies before coming to Ponyville that friendship must be extremely important. Maybe a pillar of how this society works?

Fuck they even have an authoritive figure about friendship for god sakes.

You can’t brush it off. That might insult her.

Shit.

Rock in a hard place. What can you do? What is the answer?

Turns out the answer was right in front of you. Your eyes spot a vase which looks like ancient depictions of pegasus of old. Taking a step of the stage you wander to the vase to get a closer look. Something about their attire. It's simple. It looks like it covers your nether bits. It was perfect.

“Uhhh Rarity, what about…” You gestured to the ancient ponies. Rarity ears twitched and looked in your direction. Some of her eye shadow started to get runny under her eyes. “This…whatever this is.” Rarity whipped her eyes and wondered over to you. Her horn glowed and she plucked the vase from your grasp.

“You…want to have this? An ancient pegasi ensemble?” She pointed at the the vase.

“I mean if that isn't too much of a hassle.” You scratch the back of your head feeling all eyes are on you.

Rarity to look at the vase and then at your figure, pondering deeply. A moment passed before her eyes lit up. “A-ha! I just know that this needs to be magnifique!” The posh pony went to another corner of her shop to gather some materials. “Windle if you hop on here, this will be the fastest design yet!”

Well alright then. You solve that problem way easier than you expected. You take your stand back on stage. With no warning your vision becomes white cloth. Your instinct to pull away but Rarity told you to hold still as she did her work. With her magic, a simple stitch here and there, than finally she was finished.

“And there we have it Windle take a look at your dashing self.” She used her magic to levitate a small hand mirror to you. You looked at her work.

A simple white toga with a deep red sash that wrapped around your right shoulder and to top it off a cord of rope accented with golden threads for accents to hold your waist.

This was simple, but somehow something so simple as this Rarity made it just a bit extra. You could help but smile at her work.

Wait.

Was this the first real smile?

Huh. You had a feeling that you couldn’t smile ever since losing some vital memories and just suffering internally while you are here.

But right now, looking at yourself. You look good. Not normal but you look pretty decent.

“Oh I almost forgot you need something to protect your bare…what are those?” She said looking down at your exposed toes. You give them a wiggle and she jumps a bit.

“They are called feet.” You say simply.

“That is got to be the weeeeirrrdddest thing I have seen, and I have been around.” The racer pegasus spoke with a hint of disgust in her voice.

“Hehehe I can do that too, see?” The pink pony sat down and blew into her forehoof, with odd pops she somehow blew up small five tiny little nubs. Somehow this pink eldritch creature keeps surprising you with her strange…antics? You look around to see if it's just you. Well turns out it is just you that finds this weird, the rest of the other ponies either ignored her or find some humor to Pinkie Pie. You on the other hand, you don’t. Not one bit.

Rarity whipped up some nice sandals that were also simple with just one strap to keep them down across your foot. With just one measurement she made the perfect footwear as well. The feeling was odd, it should be leather, it was the same color as tanned leather, but something told you that these ponies don’t condone leatherworking.

You took one final look at the new set of clothes. You were flabbergasted. “Rarity, this is…I don’t know…how can I repay you? Wait...how do you pay for things?” You grabbed your chin with your finger.

Rarity chuckled, “No charge for you Windle. Consider this as a gift!” She cheered at your new attire. The rest of the ponies clapped their hooves in delight.

“Now I have two parties to plan. ‘Windle got a new dress!’ and 'Welcome to Ponyville Windle from another dimension.’ Oh I got so much to do I'll be right back!” Pinkie turned around and you swear you heard an engine starting to rev up.

“No no NONONONO!” You shake your hand at the pink race car pony. “No parties. Please, You said there was a saloon. A bar, or whatever you guys call it. Maybe we can just do that and call it good?" Pinkie just stopped her car revving. The rest of the crew looked at each other curiously.

Rainbow Dash spoke up. “See Twilight, even Windle wants to paint the town in red!”

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Well as the Princess of Friendship, if that is what Windle, and I guess the rest of you want to do, than we will,” she sighs heavily, "'paint this town red.’” The crew of colorful ponies cheered triumphally. Well I guess you're gonna actually gonna get a drink. They say getting a little tipsy with strangers can get you a bit more friendly.

Well when in Rome they say.

Walking around town in the new duds, you feel that you are a part of the community. Thou feeling like something and actually seeing something are two different things.

While you and your crew were walking through Ponyville you got many stares from around town. Sometimes smaller ponies you thought must be children either walking up to you to ask questions only for their parents to wrangle them up or just run away from a towering six foot ‘monster.’

You really hope this is not a thing you have to get used to.

Buuuuuut something tells you that's not gonna happen.

The evening sun slowly reaches its ending horizon. Rainbow Dash leads the pack to their main event. You and your fellow mystical equine creatures stop in front of a building that could fit well in a spaghetti western movie. A strong musky odor wafted from within the saloon. A musk that was a wood rot and stale beer.

You all enter the double swinging doors, only to be greeted by a pony that you assumed must be a male, or stallion.

Is it a stallion?

Regardless, you saw a stallion forcefully tossed out by a magical force you saw Twilight and Rarity use to grab things. The poor bastard must have flown a dozen feet before face planting into the cold hard dirt.

"And stay out ya cheap ol work horse!"

You saw a mare that was a good head taller compared to your equine troupe with the horn on her head. She had muscular mass to her form but still had a feminine quality to it. The coat of this grizzled mare was a shade that was close to a nice blue ice. Her left right eye had a nasty scar just like yours that was whited out. The left had a dark auburn like a cold whisky. Her mane was tapered to her right side but buzzed on the other
Finally she ironically had a dark barrel with a open tap as her branding on her flank.

"Oh way hello der ladies and….feller?" Her accent was hard to pinpoint. It had a drawl just like Applejack, but it also sounded like she had a perpetual dry throat to make it even more husky than it should be.

"Sorry about tha' dumb ol Lucky Strike. Come on in 'er got plenty of room fer actual payin' customers." The tough mare gestures to your troupe.

You looked back to see a mixture of reactions. Twilight looked like she was having reservations about the place. Rarity had wide eyes at the skid mark that Lucky Strike left when he was tossed out. Applejack and Rainbow Dash had a mutual respect for the tough mare while Fluttershy jumped back and covered her mouth in shock. Lastly Starlight had a raised eyebrow at you.

Well this was going to be interesting to say the very least.

You all wonder in the very bland building with minimal décor. What made it weird is that in the far corner there was the arcade games Rainbow Dash mentioned earlier.

Somehow ponies live in a world where magic is reality, but also live in a reality there are arcade games. Games in an old timey saloon themed bar.

Strange.

"So what ye drinking tah day?" The grizzled mare walked around using her magic to grab some glasses.

Your group paused looking at each other. Looking to see who would order first. After a quick moment Pinkie Pie took the initiative.

"Surprise us Sour Mash!"

Sour Mash? Now that's a name.

"Well Pinkie knowin you, yee want something sweet, a Mudslide." Sour Mash started to use her magic to get the cocktails ready to be made. The eldritch pink pony seemed to be delighted and pranced In placed.

"A Manehattan for the city mare, a Long Island Iced Tea for ya shy friend, Dark and Stormy for the Wonderbolt, Sweet Apple Brandy for the Sweet Apple Acre lass, Galaxy Magic Mule for the Princess." The magical pony was whipping up a storm. Many glasses and ingredients danced to life as the drinks were being crafted by a veteran. It was, well, magical to see it happen all at once.

"And let meh see for you," Sour paused as her blinded eyes peered at Starlight. "Somethin tells me yeah like some Earl Gray tea, I think I can whip up somethan," one by one each of the beverages were served to their respective pony hooves. That just left you.

Sour look directly into your eyes. She is trying to get a read on you. It felt uncomfortable to be silently probed like this.

"Hmmm…never seen a feller like ya self…A Snow Yak would do ya good.

The hell is a Snow Yak?

The saloon pony walked over to the other side of the counter to fetch the ingredients. You watched as you were curious what she was going to make. It took you only but a moment to figure out what she was crafting.

First you smell a strong smell of Vodka, then followed by a strong coffee smell. Finally from a glass milk jug she mixed it together.

She uses her magic to bring the drink to your hand. Huh. So that's their version of….

…

What is this?

You know what this drink is called. But what? Well it will eventually come to you; your pastel amigos trotted and chattered amongst themselves to a nice place to sit and enjoy their beverage.

Well a nice place to sit down for ponies that is.

For you the chair and table are way too low. It really puts in perspective how much bigger you are.

"Oh my Windle I didn't think about how small this ugh uncomfortable décor." Rarity shifted in her creaky old stool.

"Ya know, I kinda like it, it has a charm to it." Applejack sat down and swirled her drink; a satisfying clinking to your ears.

Pinkie giggled as she rocked back and forth making the stool squeak at different pitches, making a makeshift tune. You look around. Some of Pinkie's friends seemed to chuckle at the strange pink ponies' antics. She is an odd one but she makes her friends laugh, that's got to count for something.

You sit down with your legs crossed with the table just barely passing your waist "Welp." You begin. "This is not a bad spot to be, kinda reminds me of home a little."

Starlight raised her glass. "Well I am for one glad that I casted that spell on you, now I get to relax and get a drink. On the behalf of the Princess of Friendship" Twilight glared at the comment. "You said you wanted to know if Windle had a mind of his own and here we are!"

"Yeah sure Starlight used her magic against Fluttershy's pet without asking but look where we are! Drinks, Las Pegasus games, this is so awesome!" The cyan pony grinned cheek to cheek. She took a sip of her drink and sighed in satisfaction.

"I never knew you would like somethin' more than mah cider Dashie." Applejack smirked.

"Pfft, of course I like that cider, it's kinda the best cider in all of Equestria,” Rainbow Dash took a sip of her drink. She gasped at the taste then groaned “Gah, now I can’t choose!”

The crew chortled at the indecisive pegasus. You could help but smile. A hint of contentment sent shallow waves throughout your being. Raising your glass to your lips, this Snow Yak, tasted so familiar. You blink, something long forgotten to the helm of your mind’s eye.

“A White Russian as usual sir?” A human bartender, Mikey, asked you. Nodding and putting a fiver on the table. This was a popular place. Especially after someone such as yourself pulls a performance like that. You turn around only to be tackled into a hug.

“Good to see you man, fucking hell! That was such a good show!” It was your over supported brother. Of course he was here. You tell him to come, he’ll come, if you don’t he does it anyway. It would be fine if he didn't do this every time making a damn scene!

“I-I can’t…” You choked out trying to tap out the massive lovable bear.

“Don’t know that musicians get all the bitches?” Your other friend who's sauntering up next to you. His libido level is concerningly high and never wavering.

Great. Both of the chuckleheads are here tonight. Well fuck me sideways.

Your brother finally lifts his death affection off of you, slapping your shoulder hard enough to falter slightly. “Mom and Dad would be proud of you.” He smiled a large goofy smile.

“Mom would be proud. Dad constantly told me to ‘waste my time with a jazz instrument. Or any instrument.’” You peer down at the long black case with three latches to hold the case shut.

“Well fuck em, not your Dad, and I would like to fu-”

“Dude, shut the fuck up.” You cut off your horny friend, turning to the bar to nurture on your favorite drink.
“Come on, he's just joking, Right?” The golly giant of a brother turned to the lustful friend.

“Well before that, well you know, she was hot, and I think she hit on me.”

“Remember when I said shut the fuck up?” You turned your head glaring at your crew. You sign as you take a sip. You hear a familiar voice. No it can’t be. You turn to the voice.

No.

It’s her, Melody.

You spit up your cocktail. The chuckleheads gazed at caused your disturbances.

“Oh ho ho ho, isn't that Melody, that girl you want to get your one eyed wi-”

“Does everything have to involve you wanting to fuck?” You pinch at the bridge of your nose. “Fuck, of course she saw the show.”

“And you think that sweet girl didn’t want to see you?” Your brother leaned in a low tone. “You know she likes you right?”

“I fucking know, Jesus.” You hissed back.

“Then why don’t you go over and talk to that fiery headed vixen. Hmm?” Your lustful friend waves at Melody. She waved back at you and your friend. “Fuuuuck she's a nice piece of ass. You know what? I'm gonna talk to her.”

“What no, no no no!” You straighten up as hint of panic set in your voice. You reach out to spot your friend but he is quickly out of arm's reach.

You curse under your breath. Well today’s the day, the biggest of days, even though it was forced onto you. You take a quicker pace than your friend. Melody eyes light up and change her demeanor. Before you get to her, a gaggle of her own friend surrounds Melody’s table, making you approach unrealistic.

Well shit.

With your head hung low, you return to your seat making sure no one has taken your prized instrument. Secured, you order another White Russian.

“Well he never misses an opportunity to swoon, does he?” Your brother leans back on the bar.

You look back to see your friend, and sure enough he is schmoozing the ladies. “No he doesn’t.” you spoke plainly. The bartender places another drink in front of you. “Fucking prick.”

You and your brother spoke for the rest of the evening just about your plans and when would be a good time to catch up outside just him watching your performances. Maybe next week since it is a dry season for performances. You look back at Melody. She was bored out of mind. No way she can hide it with that face smile and nodding along to your friend trying to get in the pants of one of Melody’s friends. If only you get alone time with her maybe you two can be an item.

I just need an in.

Just one opportunity.

Well well well, looks like that opportunity is now!

Melody has seen through the bullshit of your friend and went to the door to step outside. “Excuse me, I have to take a piss.” Quickly you made your exit not forgetting your instrument behind. Your heart was pounding. A chance like this? Now? The stars, or fate or a god is smiling down on you today. It was raining outside, but it was temperate. You scan the streets as the rowdy commotion of the bar was silent when the door shut behind you. Under the streetlamp in a moonlight night you see your affection, leaning and looking down at her phone texting away.

You take a deep breath and you make your move. “Uhh hey Melody, what are you doing here, like out here, I thought you wanted to be around your friends after the show.”

Melody stopped her texting and looked up to you with an amused look on her. “How did you know I was here for the show? Your show”

Shit. “W-well that’s because the bar here is usually a hot spot after shows, A-and you are here, so you know. So ahhh logic?”

Melody laughs as she puts her phone into her back pocket. “Logic huh? It’s not that you saw me in the crowd right?” Well it is true you did see her in the the sea of people. It’s hard to miss such a person like her.

You chuckle, “Well there’s that too, but you know my answer is better.”

She pushes off the post and gets a little closer to you. “Your answer is just too stiff, and that is…” Melody paused her eyes narrowed, focusing on something else.“ What the hell is that…?” She said breathlessly.

You follow her gaze, you see it now. What the hell is that?

“Windle? You alright dearie?” Rarity tilted her head at you.

You blink back into the land of Equestria. “Y-yeah, just…” you paused. “Just remembering something from my…recent past?” You ask yourself more than the ponies around the table.

“Oh oh is it story time! I love a good story!” Pinkie leaned in wanting to hear your tale.

“I am going to need a few drinks for that. Things are kinda fuzzy.” You finish your Snow Yak.

Hopefully Sour Mash can make more where that comes from.