Striving for Adaptation

The last few hours or perhaps the whole day has been spent in a fog, or even it would be more correct to say in hell. A couple of times some girls knocked on my door, whose voice I knew as well as the pink pony. But I didn't open it. Moreover, I closed the windows, moved the cabinets and strengthened the door by blocking it with several chairs. I'm not sure how reliable this is.

"Can this coma be over already? I asked, holding my head in my hands and looking at the ceiling with an empty stare. Surprisingly, my question was answered in the form of a rumbling stomach.

I'm hungry. It seems to me that this is another confirmation that I am in another world. Although it was clear a few hours ago. Oh.

"I don't want to think about it that way. But I probably should." I sighed in frustration before slowly pulling off the covers and sliding off my bed. It was painful, because of my back, but after a few hours of trying to sleep, I had already managed to get used to it. It's not like I want to live with it for the rest of my life.

"Although I would still like to solve this problem as soon as possible. " I sighed before walking next to the sofa and picking up my phone. As I put it in my pocket, a brief and unpleasant thought flashed through my mind.

Sooner or later, it will discharge.

"I have so many problems. Don't make it worse, brain." I sighed before leaving the living room and heading to the kitchen. Along the way, one disturbing thought couldn't help but occur to me. If my house is in another world, then it shouldn't have any electricity, right? Right. Then how long will the food last in my fridge?

"It looks like I urgently need to either learn how to make electricity or start eating three times more than usual. I said to myself as I stepped into the kitchen and slowly headed for the refrigerator. When I opened it, I saw. . . nothing.

Exactly. I eat mostly from the delivery. I have zero supplies in the fridge. Uh, but the plus is that nothing can rot, I suppose?

"Well, no, this is some kind of nonsense. I must have at least some supplies!" I said irritably before starting to methodically open all the drawers of the refrigerator in an attempt to find food. A vegetable drawer? Empty. A meat shelf? Empty. The other shelves are also empty. Oh, I only have the freezer left.

With a snort, I bent down and opened the freezer, which was at the bottom of the refrigerator. And, surprisingly, I found the food! Well, this is a popsicle, the packaging of which is wet, most likely due to melt ice. But this is the most similar food that I have.

"Getting into another world, lack of electricity and food supplies. What else is going to happen? I grumbled in disappointment before grabbing the popsicle and quickly removing the packaging from it. I saw a very melted ice cream, the filling of which slowly flowed down a wooden stick.

Well, it's better than nothing. I won't be hungry for at least a few minutes.

"Or even a few hours!" I exclaimed, trying to cheer myself up. Not very effective. With a quiet snort, I sat down on a chair and took a small bite out of the spreading popsicle. And immediately I felt my mouth filled with sweetness. The feeling would have been even more pleasant if small pieces of ice cream hadn't caught on the corners of my mouth. Well, I can tolerate that. Quite.

"But where should I look for food afterwards? This looks like the main problem." I thought out loud before taking a second bite. Sugar gave my brain a small energy boost that allowed me to at least start thinking. Where can I get food? Uh, I can go to the forest and try to find a berry. No, no, I'll get lost there. Then, uh, ask the pony for help? Like, how bad can cartoon characters be?

Suddenly, three powerful and loud knocks hit my door. Each of them seemed to make the walls tremble. Naturally, it made me freeze in place, right in the middle of the third bite.

Who is it?

As if in answer to my mental question, after a few seconds a hard male voice said from outside: "So, Rising, there is a problem. I can't complete the first point of the training manual."

"Uh, please remind me, Daniel, what is the first point?" The second, much softer male voice asked cautiously.

"Start a conversation on a voluntary basis. Considering that I knocked on the door and the owner of the house does not give signs of his existence, he obviously will not speak voluntarily." The hard voice said again.

"How do you know? Maybe he sleeps now? It's five in the morning after all." The soft voice noted in soothing tone.

Five in the morning? It looks like I was sitting in bed and was as nervous as possible for a really long time.

There was silence for a while on the other side before a hard voice said, much calmer than before: "Okay, I was wrong here, he can really sleep. But now my head is occupied with a slightly different question. We will fix it now. "

There was only a moment's pause on the other side before the same voice asked: " Twilight, why didn't you just teleport inside? "

" We don't want to scare him! Personally, I don't want the first meeting with him to look the same as with you. I don't want to shout and fighting. Especially now. " A familiar female voice answered sleepily.

Twilight. This is familiar to me. A unicorn, like? Heh, my sister never liked this nerd.

Unable to resist, I briefly chuckled and almost immediately followed by an excited response from a hard voice: "AHA! I heard you laughing, macaque!"

My eyes widened a lot, and my grip on the popsicle loosened a lot. How could he hear it behind the wall, the door and the barricades? It's just, it's just absurd!

"In short, I don't have time for this. I'm going to go in there and make him go outside. It's simple." A hard voice stated decisively when soft footsteps were heard outside. I don't know why, but with every sound, my back started to hurt a little more.

Uh, he's not coming in, right? I've set up barricades everywhere. I have to be safe.

Scared, I turned from side to side as if he, whoever it was, could appear at any second and at any point. No, no, he definitely won't be able to enter! He's just good at scaring. I don't remember such a character in the animated series, but he's just some kind of scare expert. Yes. . .

Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by an extremely unpleasant feeling. It's like someone's looking at me. Very intently. Almost studiously. Swallowing, I slowly turned in the direction from which I felt the gaze. My head turned and my eyes focused on a small part of the window that wasn't covered by barricades. Just for a moment, I saw one black eye looking at me from the other side of the window. But the next moment, it fortunately disappeared.

Phew, I was just nervous. Everything is fine. I. . .

"Good morning." A voice suddenly said from behind me, causing me to quickly jump up from my seat. Turning around and stepping back a few steps, I saw another human. He was about a head taller than me and was wearing a beige raincoat with very long sleeves. For some reason, the sleeve on the left arm was rolled up enough to make the palm visible, but the right arm was completely hidden by the sleeve. But the most important thing is one thing. He's as human as I am.

Before I could form any words, I noticed that I had left my popsicle on the table. I must have dropped it by accident. Damn, the table is going to be dirty.

Suddenly, the human took a few quick steps and with a quick movement threw it somewhere far away, towards my barricades. Before I could express my indignation, he clicked his tongue and said, "Sweets are bad for your health."

But I don't have any other food!

I swallowed slightly, trying to contain my irritation. In the end, I sighed and said, tentatively holding out my hand, "Um, okay, let's forget it. Hello?"

The human in front of me chuckled briefly and took a few steps towards me. Barely restraining the instinct to retreat, I tried to look into the eyes of a much taller interlocutor. Finally, when we were only a couple of steps apart, he grabbed my hand and said, "My name is Daniel. What's your name?"

"Me? Uh, my name is Arthur. Uh, nice to meet you?" I answered hesitantly, obviously not ready for such an ordinary development of the dialogue.

Although maybe he's trying to calm me down?

Daniel almost immediately released my hand and said, resting his left hand on his side: "So, I guess we should start asking questions. Let's try something simple. Why did you barricade yourself in?"

I swallowed and said awkwardly rubbing my neck, "Well, you know, I got into the world of the animated series! And I just wanted to, well, get some time to process it all. I'm sure you had the same thing when you got here. "

Daniel studied me for a while before tilting his head to the side and slowly asking, " What animated series are you talking about?"

I was a little taken aback by this question. There was silence in the air for a few seconds before I finally started saying, "Well, you know. An animated series about ponies. My little pony, like? It's strange that you don't know about it, I remember that a few years ago it was really popular."

I've explained it all right. Kind of.

There was silence in the room for a few seconds after my words, before Daniel briefly shook his head and asked: "So, let's summarize. Are you saying that this world was in an animated series that you once watched?"

"Well, yes," I replied with a slight nod.

"I won't tell anyone about this. I recommend the same thing to you. Daniel said with a click of his tongue.

I shook my head in embarrassment and asked quickly: "Why?"

"Because it's not in my best interest to go to a mental hospital and have a cheap way to scare ponies. And you?"

"Probably not," I replied, slightly averting my gaze.

I feel like he thinks I'm crazy. If the ponies outside heard my words, they probably share this opinion.

I shook my head, trying to concentrate and asked: "Uh, okay. Anyway, how did you end up here?"

"Teleported away." Daniel replied instantly, lightly rubbing his head. It was only now that my eyes decided to focus on his face. Daniel's haircut was very short, but his gaze almost immediately focused on another detail. There was a small scar on his right cheek that looked almost like an extension of a smile. I'm not sure I should ask where he got it from.

Finally coming back to reality, I rolled my eyes and said: "Teleported? Do you really think I'm going to believe that you just teleported here?"

"You don't have to believe it. It's kind of just your problem. Daniel chuckled with a shrug.

Uh, okay. What now?

I put my hand on my hips and looked around awkwardly before asking, "So, why did you come here at all?"

For just a moment, Daniel was silent with a completely blank expression on his face. Suddenly, he reached into his pocket with his left hand and pulled out a black notebook. Raising an embarrassed eyebrow, I asked a little irritably, "What are you doing? And how does this relate to my original question?"

Opening the notebook, Daniel began to read it and finally answered my question: "I'm trying to figure out if I can already say what I need and not have any complaints about myself, or if it's too early."

A fantastic ability. He answered the question in a way that I didn't understand.

With a snort, I put my hands on my hips and frowned at Daniel while he read with complete equanimity. After a few seconds, I started tapping my foot lightly on the floor. No, no, I'm in no way rushing a stranger who 'teleported' into my house.

Suddenly, Daniel threw the notebook on the table and said confidently: "So, Arthur, how old are you? I'm twenty. "

For a moment, I was taken aback by such an inappropriate question. But in the end he answered: " I'm older than you, I'm twenty-one. But what does this have to do with, well, everything? "

It seemed that he completely ignored my question and just asked the following question: " What are you interested in? For example, I am interested in history. Do you like history?"

Uh, no. It's too cruel for me.

Shaking my head slightly, I replied, feeling growing irritated: "No, I don't like the history. I'm much more attracted to fantasy books and drawing."

Daniel seemed to stop for a moment. Either because of my answer, or he finally decided to clarify the situation properly. I really hope that the second one.

Suddenly, Daniel grabbed the notebook and started reading it again. Unable to restrain myself, I let out a loud enough, disappointed groan. Fortunately, Daniel soon put the notebook in his pocket and said calmly: "Arthur, what do you hope for when, as you put it, you process the new information?"

This . . . good question.

Putting my hand on my chin, I started looking at nothing and trying to come up with an answer. Let's say a month passes. I'll find food and get more or less used to everything that's going on here. Then what?

"I'd like to go home!" I said out loud as soon as the answer appeared in my head. Yes, it was actually the most obvious solution.

"It won't work. You're stuck here. " Daniel replied instantly, clicking his tongue. Wh-what?

No, this is some kind of nonsense. If I somehow got here, I have to leave somehow! Is that right?

While my stress was growing exponentially, Daniel calmly turned towards the exit and said with a wave of his left hand: "Well, okay, I gave you an incentive. You'd better go outside now. After all, there is no escape from the new world."

Suddenly, I felt an incredible wave of pain shoot through my back, many times exceeding everything that had happened before. Groaning in pain, I barely took a step after Daniel and shouted: "You can't just drop that kind of information and get out!"

By the time I said that, he was already in front of my front door and with one hand, with frightening speed, he was pushing aside the furniture that made up the barricades. After a few silent seconds, Daniel cast a cold glance in my direction and asked: "Would you seriously prefer if I hid this knowledge from you for several months and then suddenly told you?"

Well, no . . .

"Or better yet, would you prefer that I always hide it? For the rest of your life. Have you been convinced that work is underway on a non-existent spell somewhere out there?" Daniel asked, pushing back the last chair and already having direct access to the front door. But he doesn't have the keys.

"Well, no, but. . . " I said with difficulty, but Daniel quickly cut me off.

"So what the hell do you want from me, Arthur? What do you want from me?" He asked irritably, causing the pain to intensify again. I think I'm going to pass out from the pain.

Do I want to be comforted? No, no, it sounds too weird. Like, super weird.

Before I could think of an answer, there was a click. He was trying to turn the handle. Then there was another click. But judging by the fact that Daniel is not leaving, the result was the same. I took a deep breath, trying to collect my thoughts. Before he starts demanding the keys, I need to come up with something decent to say.

"I am. . . "I tried to start, but suddenly I heard a powerful blow that felt like it shook my whole house. This was followed by a light that suddenly flooded the hallway where Daniel had been standing until recently. Did he just kick down my door?

"Are you completely fucked up!?" I shouted angrily as I staggered down the corridor, trying to at least look after Daniel. And try to throw a shoe at the back of his head.

Did he deserve it?

"Yes, he deserve it. Sort of." I mumbled with difficulty through clenched teeth as I hobbled towards the exit of the house. As he moved, the pain in my back refused to recede in any way. But fortunately, at least it didn't progress any further.

In the end, I was able to get to the exit of the apartment and the broken door, which was lying on the ground. There were six vaguely familiar ponies in front of my eyes and one stranger with blue eyes that looked very much like a cat's. Shaking my head, I tried to find Daniel and soon saw his retreating figure. Breath. . .

"STOP IT! We haven't finished talking yet!" I shouted, leaning with one foot on the fallen door. Technically, I'm still inside the house.

Uh, I don't think that's a very important thing at the moment.

Before I could nod to myself, Daniel turned to me and asked, holding his left hand aside, "What? Have you already figured out what you want from me?"

I swallowed when I heard such a question and slightly looked away. There is only one answer in my head, but it is absolutely crazy. Although. . . This whole situation is crazy!

With difficulty gathering a little determination, I took a deep breath and said, pointing my finger at Daniel: "I want you to show some human sympathy! And did not leave me alone immediately after the revelation that I would not return to Earth."

After that answer, everything seemed to freeze. All the ponies stared at me in silence and even Daniel did it. The only sound was the rustling of the foliage of the lush trees surrounding me.

Suddenly, Daniel turned around and said with a wave of his left hand, "This is not a very worthy reason. Besides, if I handled the whole situation on my own, then so can you. Let's say goodbye, I'll see you sometime."

Just like that? I just can't believe that a person can be so rotten.

A heavy sigh escaped from my mouth as I rested my head against the wall and tried to keep myself in control at least a little. But my thoughts began to treacherously move in a different direction. A new world. A new world where the only representative of my kind is so rotten. A new world where my parents won't help me. A new world. . .

Where my sister is not. After this thought, I felt my heartbeat quicken and it became even more difficult to control my breathing. How can she cope without me? How am I going to cope without her?

Somehow, I was able to hear a man's voice say softly: "Daniel, I don't think it was a very good decision."

"Why?" Daniel asked instantly, but without aggression. It feels like he didn't like me in particular.

"Well, you have so many things that you regret and plan to atone for. And, really, do you need such a thing?" The voice asked very cautiously.

Whoever he is, he obviously knows Daniel even less than I do. I don't believe that such rot regrets anything!

Suddenly, there was a very long exhalation from Daniel, followed by the words, "Okay. What do you want me to do, Rising?"

"Um." The so-called Rising closed for a moment. Whatever he does, I'm not sure I can muster the strength to shift my gaze.

"How about, well, do as he asks? Show some sympathy, sit down, talk." Rising said gently. I swear, for a moment, an association with his voice appeared in my head.

Smile. Very small, but really sincere.

Not that it has completely stabilized my condition. My breathing is still rapid, the pain in my back is unbearable and it seems to me that right now I will lose consciousness. Maybe all I'm hearing is a hallucination at all.

Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by the feeling of my shoulder being tightly gripped. This was followed by Daniel's hurried words: "Listen, I'm sorry for the door. I'll give you money for repairs later. But for now, how about we go to the kitchen and make a plan for what you're going to do next? I can tell you which characters are worth getting to know and all that."

That's not exactly what I wanted. But I have no right to complain now, right?

Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by a very soft and gentle voice: "How are you feeling?"

The voice was so soothing that even my back seemed to calm down a bit and stopped hurting. I looked up to see Fluttershy standing in front of me with a worried look on her face. Huh, my sister thought she was boring.

Mentally shaking my head, I slowly replied, "Physically? Not really. Mentally? Absolutely terrible."

Fluttershy carefully stretched out her hoof and offered with a gentle smile, "Would you like to go to my house and have some tea to calm down? If you like, my other friends can join us. "After a quick glance at the pony behind her, I couldn't help but smile a little. That sounds very nice.

"It is out of the question. Arthur is under my jurisdiction. " Daniel replied sternly, his eyes narrowing over Fluttershy.

It looks like he really wants to ruin my mood.

With a slight sniff, I nodded and carefully moved away from the wall. Then my legs started to carry me back to the kitchen and on the way, it came out of my mouth: "I still think you're a very bad person."

"I have the arch of redemption. Wait a month or two when I apologize to everyone and then you just won't recognize me. " Daniel replied with a wave of his hand so fast that I felt a slight breeze. Or it's because of the broken door.

Definitely because of the broken door.

Eventually, I made it to the kitchen and sat down on a chair with a groan. The back pain had eased significantly, but it was still too significant to do anything normally.

Anyway, Daniel stood next to the table and threw the notebook on the table before saying with his eyes closed, "Arthur, be kind and tear out a blank sheet from here."

"Can't you do it yourself?" I asked awkwardly, tilting my head to the side.

"It is very difficult to tear a sheet out of a notebook with one hand. And I don't have the second one," Daniel replied with a click of his tongue. Uh, what?

" Did you just say that you have a disability? If so, why do you need clothes with such long sleeves in the summer, if not to hide it? " I asked, putting both hands on the table.

Uh, can I call this a mockery of him?

I shook my head slightly, and almost immediately after that, Daniel replied: "I'm just looking for a new style. I'm not allowed to wear the Captain of the Guard's coat anymore."

"The Captain of the Guard's coat?" I asked, confused.

Daniel waved his hand and said with a chuckle, "All in good time, Arthur. It will take too much of my time if I explain to you everything that happened to me in almost a year in Equestria. So now, tear a sheet out of the notebook."

With a startled sigh, I abruptly tore a sheet out of the notebook and put it on the table. Then Daniel took a pencil out of his pocket and asked, turning it slightly in his hands: "So, Arthur, unfortunately, in any world you need acquaintances to survive at a comfortable, for most, level of gravity. So what kind of acquaintances do you need first?"

Unconsciously, I rubbed my aching back and immediately hissed in pain. Closing my eyes, I quickly muttered, "I would like to find a doctor who will look at my back. As soon as I got here, it hurts terribly."

Daniel chuckled briefly and while writing on a piece of paper, said: "I know a girl. I think since she was able to assemble a new body for herself two whole times, then there will be no problems examining your vertebrae. Although if you want, I can just break it for you. No bone, no problem."

I hate you already.

Shaking my head, I said with a sigh, "I prefer a doctor. But what will happen next?"

Daniel tapped his pencil lightly on the table before quickly saying, "Get your paperwork done, get you a job, connect your house to local utilities, and at the end, a party at Pinkie Pie's. "

"Sounds like the plan for the most boring week of my life." I commented with a disappointed sigh.

"Oh, don't whine. You have me." He replied with a dismissive wave of his hand.

And that's why it's even worse.