Time: 11:47
Date: January 4, 2024
Location: Turning right onto Bear Hill Road from Bryant Road
POV: Mark Goode

Me and Twilight finished the animal conversation around East Corinth, and a minute after that she asked me to change the station, so I changed it to 105.5. I don't know if we ended the conversation on a good or bad note, because she was vehemently against animals not being sapient in the beginning, but changed her mind near the end. But right now, she's jamming out to Johnny B. Goode. I can't blame her, it's a great song. Anyways, Carl was leaning on the window, enamored by the winter landscape. I don't know why he is so fascinated by it, we both live in the same area. Maybe it's because he lives on an island, and the wonders of a winter atmosphere are shattered by the smell of the sea. I can relate, I went to Boston for a family reunion around Christmas and the smell of the sea just ruined the feel of winter I have felt my whole life, growing up inland.

"So, Carl. How did you find her?"

"Hm? Oh, you remember the unexplained storm 2 days ago?"

"Yeah, why?"

"During that storm, in the middle of the night right after I got the car in the garage I think, she crashed into my shed. Thankfully, everything was not that damaged except the lawnmower. And that's it."

"Huh, ok. Sounds reasonable. Anyways, we're here now." I pull into my driveway and turn off the car. Twilight looked disappointed that the song ended, but looked back up with renewed vigor when she saw that we were at my house.

"Go on Twi, the animals are in the barn to the left. I gotta get some things cleared up with Carl first."

"Ok! I'll come to you as soon as I'm done!"

"Alright, come on Carl. I need some clarification."

"Can't we do this inside? You know how much I hate the cold."

"Yeah, sure. let's go inside."

Time: 11:49
Date: January 4, 2024
Location: 921 Bear Hill Road, Barn
POV: Twilight Sparkle

Having that conversation with Mark was something. At first I was very against the idea that animals are treated as mindless beasts here. But near the end, I remembered a book on animals I read some years ago, that said that the only reason animals are on an intelligence level on par with ponies is all because of magic, and since 'Earth' as Carl puts it has no magic, that crucial part of our animals evolution was missing, so Humans became the only sapient species on the planet. How only Humans and nothing else became sapient is still a mystery to me, but I can find that out in due time. I have Earth animals to visit. As I open the barn doors, I am greeted by a smell I only know from Applejack's Sweet Apple Acres.

"Hello! How are you all today?"

"..."

"Hello?" A sheep turned its head to me, regarding me with interest. Its eyes were not filled with intelligence, I saw... nothing. Nothing behind those eyes. After it apparently lost interest, it went back to eating the hay on the ground. Mark and Carl were right, these animal were just beasts of burden, used only for plowing fields, making clothes, and *gag* food. After standing in front of the open doors, I started getting a bit cold. I decided to leave the barn, and go into the house. After I closed the doors and walked to the front door of the house, while I was walking, I looked around at the landscape. It was the classic winter wonderland, with snow covering everything and all the trees bare except for the grove of Evergreens to the back and slightly left. I think he cuts those down for profit in the winter months, as I can see multiple stumps around it. Other than that it's just a small field and a forest as far as I can see. When I walk in Carl and Mark seem to be in a very heated conversation.

"I can't just let the government take her! You've read those stories about them!"

"But we can't keep her secret forever! Someone is bound to see her in a car or outside driving by!"

"Well then what are we supposed to do then!?"

"Um," I said, "What are you guys talking about?"

"Uhhhhh, nothing. Nothing at all." Carl said.

"We were debating on what to do with you because we all know Carl or me can't keep you forever."

"goddamn it Mark."

"Well, I could just introduce myself to the public slowly, gaining their trust by doing appearances and rallies."

"Twilight, this isn't like Equestria. Even more, this is the U.S. The first thing people are gonna think when they see an alien on a podium is that you're there to kill them. Trust me, I've watched the movies. Also, It's election year."

"What do you mean 'there to kill them'? And what is an 'election'?"

"Oh god. Well, Mark got the popcorn. We are going to delve into the realm of politics and feature films."

Time: 11:01 PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)
Date: January 4, 2024
Location: 3365 Descanso Drive, APT 2, Los Angeles, California
POV: Calvin McKinley

Being the roommate of a US Park Ranger has its perks. You can go hiking anywhere you want, you can go to the rim of Crater Lake in winter, but never have I ever seen him walk in with 6 young girls, except for one that looks like their mom, in this tiny LA apartment. And I mean tiny, there's only one bathroom. At least the views are good.

"Josh? Who are these people? And why are they in our house?"

"Found em' at the sign. Bring them here until they get a ride home. Though they do seem very... Amish." He says while watching them regard the TV with curiosity, and when I turn it on as a test, they all jump in fright, but go back to looking at it in amazement.

"Yeah, they do seem very Amish. But where will they sleep?"

"Oh don't worry about that!," The one that has an apparent very energetic personality says, "We can just sleep on the floor, I'm sure it isn't too hard!"

"Yeah right, a hardwood floor being not hard. Well, we'll roll out some rugs for you, and one can take the couch. And Josh. Let's talk about stuff in my room please?"

*sigh* "Alright Calvin, alright. Let's go."

Author's Note

Well, there you go. A new chapter. It has been, what, 4-5 months? Sorry it took so long. I got some writers block, and summer. A time of relaxation. Anyways, I fixed some spelling errors in the first few chapters. Hope you enjoy this one!

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