Magic communication? Yeah, that's what I'm calling it. From what I can gather, it's like Celestia and I are on a Discord call but are muted at all times, and when we want to talk to each other, we unmute ourselves and yap. Man, learning how to work this is hard lemme tell you.

"This time, Eric, I want you to try and turn your end of the communication off. I want you to be able to hear me and not reply. Can you do that?" Celestia inquires as I try to comprehend the task of simply turning off the thought communication. We've been at this for bloody ages! Sweet god above how hard is it to click mute in my head? I mean come on man!

Ok, deep breaths, just like Celestia said. Let the mind trip slightly. Wait, no. What did she say? Bugger if I know. Wait, she is basing her advice on equestrian experience. Well, how about I flip it? Base it on something from Earth. By that path of thinking, I could base it on what I said earlier, just like in a discord call. I picture us on a private 1-1 call and imagine myself pressing mute.

"Did that work?" I ask. Celestia lights up her horn and answers

"Let's find out." She replies. Hoh, kay. Let's see

Can you hear me, Eric? Nod your head if yes I nod my head.

Now, try to reply. I try to reply with check check check but she doesn't respond. Good enough, so far.

Again. I imagine the call again and click the unmute button.

Check check check. Celestia's smile gets bigger as she nods approvingly.

"Perfect. Just remember that not everypony picks up anything right away. Keep practicing and you'll get it in the end. Now, you mentioned a contraption called a 'car'. You said they move on their own? Please, tell me all about them." Right, yes, cars. Um... hm... How to word this... You can't just say they go vroom vroom or else that would be dumb. Ok, let's see...

"Cars, yes! Cars are vehicles that move seemingly on their own. But they all come in all sorts of shapes and sizes with one common thing between them. That being they all have a metal frame with four wheels. They allow us to go from one place to another quickly and efficiently." If Celestia wasn't fascinated just now, she sure as hell is now. She stops before asking another question.

"Fascinating. What magic makes them move? From what I'm told, magic doesn't exist in your world."

"I don't know much of how it works but from what I do know, cars have engines that burn petrol. I'm not sure about the science but the fuel burning powers the engine. Recently though, more car-making companies are using electric motors to try to make them more friendly for the earth's environment. The point is, cars make travel way more convenient." Nice job Eric. You just explained the bare basics of cars to two pony princesses without knowing jack-diddly about cars. Stellar job, mate. Oh, hold on a second, I snapped a photo of me posing with my new car last month. Just a family car. Big enough to where there were no arguments of who sits where. I pull out my phone and scroll until I land on the photo I was looking for.

"Here, take a look at this. Here's what a car can look like. It's mine." I say. Celestia takes my phone in telekinetic magic and hovers it close to her face. She gives it a quick look before showing Twilight and passing my phone back to me.

"The more I learn about your world, the more I would like to travel there. One day I would like to open peace negotiations with-" That's it. I cut her off

"As much as getting you in a room with my country's government would be ideal, I don't see it happening for a long while. Hell, when I get back, I'm probably going to be placed in HEAVY quarantine for 2 weeks. What I'm saying is that my country, hell, my whole world at that, is not as nice as Equestria. No one on earth TRULY trusts each other. Hell, I would bet money that equestrian magic may make some people scared. But that's a whole can of worms I would rather not get into. Speaking of magic that would scare people, that reminds me." I say as I take my backpack off, fish about in it before taking out an SD card holder with an SD card inside.

"When Daybreaker had her way with me, my headcam caught the whole thing and it was recorded onto this SD card. Celestia, If anyone from my world were to get their hands on it, all chances of peace negotiations would be done. I'm more than likely going to be searched when I come home and I can only hide so much in the heel of my boots. This footage is too dangerous to be kept around. So I'm destroying it and I want you guys to be witnesses. Including you two." I say as I peek my head around and acknowledge the two guards near us. They nod to me and I nod back.

I take the SD card, hold it in my fingers, and break it in two. The video of my branding is gone.

Aw, boo. You destroyed the video of our playtime. What a shame. Yeah I did, Daybreaker. How do you like them apples!?

"What are you going to tell your government when they inquire about your arm?" Twilight asks. Easy!

"A very simple answer: It's a tattoo I got a while back." Celestia tilts her head as she asks

"What's a tattoo?"

I simply groan.

The walk back to the throne room was a long one, to say the least. After explaining what a tattoo is and the process for a second time (While having questions hounded at me) we reach the throne room. The massive doors slowly open to reveal everyone gathered around. As soon as we enter the room, it becomes tense. Like as if a celebrity entered a public shopping centre. As Celestia addresses everyone, I triple-check my pockets. Everything is in order. I tap Twilight to get her attention. She turns to me as I pull out my phone.

"I have another question after many I have asked," I say. I just want to confirm something I was sleeping on.

"What's up?" Twilight asks.

"Well," I whisper "Somethings been on my mind for a while. I can't recall any time where you have asked about human anatomy. If I were a brainbox such as yourself, I would be asking everything I could. Be honest with me: have you seen humans before? I won't be angry, don't worry." Twilight's Poker face kicked the bucket real quick as she sighed.

"Y-yes. A while ago. Do you remember the mirror I told you about on the train ride to Ponyville? Where we sung Earth songs? That mirror is actually a portal to another world. A world of creatures like yourself but vastly different. I have traveled there twice. That's where I learned of Humans. Seeing you, for as different as you were to them, was surprising. I had never seen one like yourself. What brought this on?"

"Well, is the tech similar to my world?" I ask. She nods. I grin and pull out my phone. "You remember how to take a selfie? My daughter would love to see what you look like." All I hear is Twilight's laughing as I snap the selfie.

"Eric Scott, we are ready" Luna proclaims as Twilight and I finish up. Twilight joins the princesses while I scarper off to the side next to my new pony friends. I stand next to Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie as Twilight finishes speaking with Celestia and Luna.

"Are you ready to return home, Mr Scott?" Celestia asks. I slowly nod. "Good, we will begin."

The three alicorn princesses all gather before each other before lighting up their horns. They exchange glances as they concentrate on their magic. A guard places my PRESS vest on the ground in front of them before the magic hits it. It floats in the air while a purple glow surrounds it. And then a navy blue one and then an orange one. The colours spin and spin before a red circle appears in the middle of the throne room.

"It is ready, Eric. You may enter it when ready." I hear Celestia say. I slowly walk towards the portal, my camcorder rolling all the while. I point it at the portal and while I walk toward it. As I stopped around 20 meters from it, I shut it off.

"Look, I have some parting words," I say as I turn and walk back to my friends.

"Twilight, thank you for teaching me Equestrian stuff like history and culture." Twilight nods with a tear.

"Pinkie, those cupcakes were smashing. I need to get your recipe for my wife-"

"Already covered!" She shouts "Check your pocket!" she laughs and snorts. Huh? I check my front pocket. A folded piece of paper is in there...

"HOW THE?" I ask as I unfold it to see the recipe... HOW DID SHE KNOW? WHEN DID SHE KNOW? "You know what, I won't ask. I already lost my mind once today. See you round, Pinkie!" I shout.

"Rainbow, my son would be fast friends with you. See you later Skittles!" I see her face contort from a happy, to angry to a happy face again as I turn to Rarity.

"Rarity, I promise I will show you better quality earth fashion one day. Count on it!" Rarity nods (with grace).

"Fluttershy, Keep your chin up, stay awesome. You are something special." Fluttershy looks like she's on the verge of tears.

"Applejack, we may not have talked often, but you seem like you would be awesome to talk with. Keep being you!" I say. Applejack tips her hat as I walk away to face Princess Celestia and Luna.

"Celestia, Luna. While our chances to have a proper talk were short, I enjoyed our time together. Goodbye. I am glad to call you friends."

"Yes, Goodbye Eric Scott," Luna says. Celestia chuckles slightly.

"I feel I should inform you about something now. Since we are linked, if you ever wanted, you could contact me and we would open the portal whenever. Just say the word." I stumble back in shock.

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?! I can come and go?"

"Yes, after everything you have done, you have more than earned that right." WOWZERS!!!! OTHER WORLDY TRAVEL WHENEVER? HELL YEAH! I pump my fist before realizing what I'm doing. I straighten myself up quickly.

"Then this isn't goodbye forever! Just a see ya later!" I shout. Revelation over, I slowly begin my portal walk. I hear many goodbyes, many see you laters, and something else.

Another world? Earth? Today keeps getting better and better! Not now Daybreaker. Please. The voice quietens down as I feel the magic on my skin. It feels warm. I stand before the portal and then do what comes naturally. I get to have my Atem moment.

Author's Note

He goes back home! That concludes Eric's time in Equestria! Tell me what you all think. The next chapter will be the epilogue.

ALSO MASSIVE THANKS TO GENESIS FOR THE ART OF ERIC'S GOODBYE. FOLLOW HER NOW. https://x.com/GenesisDraws/status/1843805593112584246

Also if anyone can tell me how to keep the image up without getting the upstream issue thing, drop me a message. Thanks!