Sol's not from here

“So… Luna said that I needed to cross this bridge and head west along this path” Sol mumbled to himself as he began to trot along the path ahead of him. Getting the hang of running on 4 legs was something to get used to and that was kind of an understatement. As a kid Sol had run up the stairs with all four limbs but that was seldom and not a consistent thing he did. Though the more he moved the better acquainted he got with his new equine body. Continuing along the path he grew bored and then slowly levitated the book he grabbed castle ruins and cracked it open. The contents of the book were a diary or captain's log of sorts. It contained personal notes to the owner who seemed to be a guard captain from an order called, The Knights of the Eclipse. It talked about the requirements to join, and how the unnamed captain was disappointed in the new recruits that had just come through the selection process. These Knights were supposed to be the best forces of the Lunar and Solar guard besides the captains of the other respective forces. Sol was enraptured by the details and drawing designs of the armor the guard wore. He would have to ask Luna about the order when he got to see her. Sol continued to flip through the Captains diary, losing track of time. Only looking up to stay on the path he carried on as the Sun rose higher and higher in the sky signifying it was around noon. Eventually he heard voices that made him look up from the book.

“Princess Luna and Celestia said that somepony was around the Castle of the Two Sisters and we needed to help them” The feminine voice said and was met by Sol waiting by a tree until the source of the voices came into view. He saw a purple unicorn, an orange pony and a yellow Pegasus, at least that's what Sol thought a winged horse, err pony should be called.

Sol cleared his throat and said, “ Uh… Hey I think I’m the one your Princess Luna sent to find me” rubbing the back of his head realizing he was being really awkward. Sol began again, “I was told to meet you guys halfway. Did I do ok getting here?”

The 3 mares looked at him startled and then looked him over before the purple Unicorn spoke up. “You made it a lot further than halfway, we have only been walking for about an hour” she looked at the book in his magic still floating just under Sol’s chin. Her eyes lit up and she rushed over to him, “ What are you reading about? Do you like it? Do you have any, hey!” Her bombardment of questions had been halted by the orange pony when she tugged on her tail.

“Twi, you’re scaring the poor stallion and we haven’t even introduced ourselves yet” The orange pony gave a tip of her hat and began her introduction, “Hey there sugar cube, I’m Applejack I run an apple orchard in ponyville with mah’ family and you can call me AJ for short, this here next to me is Fluttershy”

The yellow Pegasus shied away from him and tried to hide behind Applejack. She was intimidated by Sol but not because he seemed aggressive. His eyes, the star pupils and the soft lavender color made her want to stare which wasn’t like her. Then noticing she was the center of attention, spoke softly while continuing to hide behind Applejack.

“um…uh… Hi” her introduction came barely above a whisper that Sol had to lean towards her over his book to hear her. Which made Fluttershy blush and look away from him after her brief introduction.

“Sorry about that Mr. Sol I get excited when I see books I don’t recognize, but Hi! I'm Twilight Sparkle but just Twilight is fine. We can talk while we get you to ponyville.”

Sol nodded and agreed, “That works for me and hi to you guys and just Sol is fine, no need for the formalities please. I'll have to thank Luna when I see her; oh and thanks for helping me it’s been an interesting few days for me so it’s nice to have someone to talk to” he awkwardly chuckled and closed the book in his magic, “Well lead the way I don’t know where i’m going or where I am so it's up to you”

As they started back towards ponyville in an awkward silence, Applejack, Fluttershy, and Twilight had a lot of questions for Sol but they didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. Considering Twilight had bombarded him with questions when they met within seconds of them meeting Sol. Finally Applejack spoke up about something Sol said when they met that was bothering her.

“Sol, I had a question about something ya said earlier regarding Princess Luna” Applejack turned her head around to look him in the eyes. “What did you mean by Your Princess Luna? She would be your Princess too, seeing as you are a pony, and how do you not know where ya are sugarcube?”

“Ah that uh, those Aj are good questions” Sol looked at the ground under Applejack's intense stare. “What I meant by your princess is an interesting story that I myself am not too sure how to explain to you right now and the same would be said for not knowing where I am” He sighed and chuckled with more pain in his voice than he thought would be there.

The three mares leading the way all exchanged glances and stopped to face him. They looked at him with slightly worried expressions on their faces. This caught Sol by surprise so much so that he lost focus on his magic and he dropped the captain's log he had been hovering behind him; much to his disappointment. He had worked so hard to get his magic to work after all.

Then Twilight spoke up after a few seconds and ignited her horns magic, “Sol …you wouldn’t happen to be a changeling would you?” The three mares stared at Sol. “ It’s a little odd that your eyes are so different from everyone else's. I don't know anyone with a 4 point star for pupils that's a pony or any of the other species in a matter of fact”, the three mares staring at Sol looked on guard while they waited for his response only to be surprised by his reaction.

“Youaskedifi’mawhatnow?” Sol spit out those words as he could not have been more confused about what the mares in front of him just asked him. “You mean there are other races in this world other than talking ponies?” He was as stupefied at the revelation as he was in awe that there were other races besides ponies. As the last sentence came out of his mouth the mare's jaws simply dropped and Twilight's magic faltered as she watched Sol sit down and bring a hoof to his chin as he ignored the baffled look on their faces. He began to take guesses at what else could be out in the world.

“ I wonder what kinda races I'll run into!?” Sol exclaimed, “A Dragons, or Mermaids, maybe Werewolves, ooh are there any Griffons?” He rambled. Now truly intrigued in the world he had found himself in.

Twilight shook her head and “What do you mean talking ponies? You are a pony; and besides we can ALL talk and that doesn’t answer the question, are you a changeling?” Twilight was beyond confused at what was going on. She was speaking to a grown stallion that was fascinated by the bare basics taught back when she was learning as a filly from Celestia.

Sol stopped his guesswork at what he could run into and focused on the 3 in front of him. “Ah well, I’m not entirely sure what a changeling is but I know I'm not whatever that is”. He said with not the slightest hint of hesitation, which made Twilight, Applejack, and Fluttershy all relax a bit. This prompted Fluttershy to speak up for the first time since.

“So um Sol, you look like a pony but you talk like you aren’t one, so um what were you” She all but whispered. Sol then paused and sighed again, thinking of the best way to explain accidental interdimensional travel and emphasize the accidental part.

“Lets walk and talk at least, I am not a fan of the woods right now I spent the night out here, but I'm ready for a shower and food.” Sol tried to deflect the question for as long as he could while he collected his thoughts and got his story together. Remembering the captain’s log, he struggled to ignite his horn to pick up the book he had taken with him. After succeeding he followed behind the 3 mares with his gaze locked on the now extremely interesting dirt path.

Begrudgingly walking ahead of Sol, the 3 mares who had more questions than answers. Though for some reason, they felt they could trust his words. His retrieval from the Everfree was a request from Princess Luna so they figured he would not be an immediate threat to them. They were not unfamiliar with odd speech as when Luna came back from her banishment she spoke in old Equish. So a disoriented pony perhaps from the past wouldn’t be too out of the ordinary for them. Besides, it's not like they couldn’t defend themselves anyway.

After about 10 minutes of Sol gathering his thoughts he still couldn’t find a good way to bring up that he wasn’t from this world originally. Other than just saying it out loud it would be awkward, or worse they wouldn’t believe him. The increasingly annoyed glances back at him weren’t helping either and he was over it. He, Sol Hamel formerly of earth, would just say he wasn’t from around anywhere here.

“The best way I can say this is that I genuinely don’t know how I got here, I just woke up yesterday in the grass outside some castle ruins. I looked, felt, and spoke differently. I was another being all together.” Sol said pausing for a few seconds before continuing. “I am err…I was a Human, a bipedal mammal. With what I can gather from our conversation, is that intellectually we are no different than the sentient creatures on my world”

The 3 mares didn’t turn around when he finished, they just stopped and froze. It was as if time had slowed as he waited for a response from them. Then finally Twilight spoke up as all 3 of them turned to face him.

“You’re saying that you traveled between worlds and you don’t know how? And on top of this you weren’t always a pony?” Twilight looked at Sol as if she had just seen a ghost, but quickly composed herself and spoke again. “Well… if what you say is true then we need to go see my teacher Princess Celestia. If anyone would know how you got here or perhaps a way to send you home, then she would.” All 3 mares nodded in agreement and Sol's eyes lit up as the prospect of going home sounded all too good to him. Looking at the 3 mares in front of him practically pranced beside them. He bowed and motioned his hoof for them to lead the way.

“Milady’s then please let's not lollygag here” Sol happily exclaimed which brought all 3 mares to giggle and continue on through the forest. As ponyville came into view in the distance Sol’s heart was racing a mile a minute. He could smell food for the first time in a day and his stomach growled fiercely at the prospect of food.

Sol arrived in ponyville alongside Twilight, Fluttershy, and Applejack and was all too eager for the amenities of civilization. Namely a meal, a shower, and a bed to sleep in.

“Uh, thanks again for helping me out of the forest. I really appreciate the help and consideration.” Sol's stomach then growled louder than earlier and he blushed in embarrassment. “I haven’t eaten since I got here. Can we maybe get something to eat please?”

The three mares next to him giggled and started walking until they came across a house next to the forest. Fluttershy then began to leave the path into the city and spoke up.
“Ummm Sol I hope everything goes well, and I'll see you around, umm maybe” It was Fluttershy’s turn to blush as she flew off towards the house as fast as she could.

Sol waved, and continued to follow behind Applejack and Twilight, as they made their way through the town looking for a steakhouse of some kind or a sandwich shop. He didn’t care but a well seasoned steak medium-rare, was a prospect that made his mouth water in anticipation. Before he could ask what they were going to get the trio had arrived at a small shop with outdoor patio dining. It was a corner restaurant but set up from like a café and enclosed around the side walks by a white picket fence. Looking around it seems to be relatively empty, then again looking at the clock when they walked into the lobby it was around 3:40pm so lunch rush had probably just ended. Twilight went and sat at a table towards the corner facing the street. Applejack and Twilight sat next to each other and Sol across from them and they opened the menu.

“Sol, do you have a preference on appetizers? We are probably going to get a daisy salad to get us started” Twilight said, not looking up from her menu. In not looking at him she happened to miss his scrunched nose and furrowed brow.

“You said a what salad? Could I just get a Caesar if we are doing Salads?” he asked while using his hooves to open his menu. He could have tried to use magic but he was still very much unsure how to be more precise with his and could do without the further embarrassment. “Let's see what’s in here I could so go for a steak, or a BLT and fries” Sol began to daydream a bit about his regular orders from earth. Though his reverie was broken when he looked up from his menu to see horrified looks on Applejack and Twilights faces.

“What did I say something wrong? Do they not serve that here, or is it called something else here? Cultural differences I tell ya” He chuckled nervously as their looks of disgust did not waver in the slightest. “What's wrong with you two, is there something on my face?”

The two mares exchanged looks and then turned back to Sol, “Uh maybe you wouldn't know sugarcube but ponies don’t eat meat…” Applejack said quietly as to not alert any of the other ponies in the restaurant. She motioned for Twilight to chime in so she could look at her menu.

“Ponies are herbivores Sol, so the mention of eating meat in a public setting is well…” Twilight trailed off as their server came over and gave them each a water.

“Good evening, I am your server Silverplater. What can I get you three to start with?” He said in an accent Sol recognized well, French which made him chuckle under his breathe. Silverplater used his magic to bring out his notepad and a pen and started with Applejack who ordered a daisy sandwich and a lemonade. Twilight got her daisy salad and water, then Silverplater then turned to Sol, “Sir what can I get you?”

“I’ll just take a caesar salad, with extra tomatoes”, he said dejectedly. Silverplater then put his pen away and walked back to the kitchen to put their orders in.

“As I was saying” Twilight began again, “asking to eat meat is a taboo. Other races such as hippogriffs and griffons eat meat. Dragons do as well occasionally;but not ponies” She glaring at him as said in the last part of her makeshift lesson on dietary habits of the creatures of this world. Sol taking that nasty look as an invite to explain himself was quick to do so.

“Well from where I’m from, humans of my former race.” Sol says motioning to himself, “Are omnivores. We eat plants, meat, and fish; to be honest there is little we didn’t eat as a species” What he said which made the two mares flinch at the implication. Sol noticed this and scrambled to put them at ease. “Ahh err well horses…I mean ponies were not on the list of consumable animals we would eat, if that’s what you’re worried about” As he finished his last sentence Silverplater came out of the back with their food and Sol was all to too eager to stop talking and eat.

“Please let me know if there's anything else I can do for you” he said and bowed to the three of them and left to take care of the other guest that had came in. Sol took this as an opportunity to try his magic on the fork. He ignited his horn to move his fork, this time imagining a his hands or rather his former hands to pick up the fork. This to his surprise succeeded and Sol was so happy he didn’t have to struggle with hooves and a fork. He had no clue how Applejack was doing it but he was not apt to find out. After he figured out his magic hand, Sol tore into his food, politely but efficiently.

Twilight and Applejack looked at his magic and just stared at the Azure figure feeding Sol across from them. The five digit extremity looked like a dragon's claw but with dull claws and instead had 5 fingers not 4. Twilight noticed this and decided to ask him about it later and Applejack just brushed it off as she sipped her lemonade.

After finishing their meal Sol glanced at the clock before leaving and saw it was 5:00 pm, just in time for dinner, which was an odd thought for him considering he just ate. He would have to speak with Twilight about what alternatives were available so he could get some bigger and more filling meals together.

“Ok sugar cube I’m gon head on back to tha’ farm” Applejack said stretching before giving Twilight a hug and then turning to face Sol, “Try not to cause any trouble will ya and I'll see ya later Twi” She then turned and set off.

“Ok… so what do I do now? Where is Luna or Celestia, do they not stay here too?” Sol asked Twilight, who had just finished paying for their meal, looked at him annoyed.

“It’s Princess Luna and Princess Celestia, please have some respect for the rulers of Equestria” she sighed and motioned him to follow her, “and no they don’t stay in ponyville, they stay in the castle in Canterlot. The ruins you were at were the castle Princess Luna and Celestia used about a thousand years ago” Sol was taken aback by the casual statement Twilight just made

“Wait hol’, up did you just fuckin say they, as in plural, used A THOUSAND years ago. Your rulers are over a millennium old? Jesus Christ” He said that louder than he meant to but that was beside the point. The mural he saw were the rulers of ponies and they had been doing so for a century.

“Well, yeah they are older than a century each but don’t really look a day over 30.” Twilight said, “and it’s a gift and a curse but with age came wisdom for them so hopefully when we hear from them we can figure out what’s going on” She then stopped and turned and smiled at him “So in the meantime you will be staying with me, and we can exchange information about each others worlds! It's not everyday a being from another world just ends up on your doorstep”

Sol sighed and smiled back “That doesn’t sound too bad I have a lot of questions regarding magic, and how everything works here, so as long as you help me with that I see no issue” The two of them then made it Twilight's treebrary, as the sign hanging next to the door welcomed him Sol to.

“Uh Twilight, why are we going to a tree library? I thought we were going back to your house? Sol said, confused and Twilight giggled.

“This actually is my house, I live above the library and there is plenty of extra room, I'll have Spike set it up for you” She said as she opened the door and called out, “Spike we have a guest, can you get the guest room ready please!”

What Sol saw next was nothing short of a dream come true for him. As he walked in behind Twilight admiring the hundreds of thousands of books she had, he saw at the top of the stairs a scaly green and purple dragon.

Sol then proceeded to let out again the least manly ear splitting squee as he jumped up and down and screamed, “HOLY FUCK ITS A REAL DRAGON! TWILIGHT YOU DIDN’T SAY YOU HAD A DRAGON.”