When I finally made it through the gates and into the big city, I was struck by the absurdity of the day. Not only had I survived the craziness of Ponyville, but now I was stuck on a quest for Turner, with half the information, no map, and... apparently, no butt mark, which is apparently a big deal here. But that's not the worst of it.

Once inside, the chaos and chaos that was generated behind the gate was not exclusive to that part. In front of me was an absurd crowd of ponies. As seen from the outside, the city has a majestic style with white colors and gold and purple edges. Large buildings with fantasy castle styles and elegance rose above me. A floor made of stones instead of the dirt in Ponyville.

But what surprised me was that there were several camping tents on the streets everywhere, with several ponies going from one side to the other with an expression of defeat and discouragement. Several metal barrels that were set on fire next to some branches with vegetables embedded in the edge to cook.

It was there that I realized a revelation that I should have realized before. Most of the ponies are refugees like me. It would make sense why they wanted a greater order to enter.

Then the event that altered Ponyville took place in other places. This is bad, I had planned to wait in a nice place until they solved the problem of the crazy kingdom while they looked for how to return me to my home. But now, I am just another refugee in search of a place to rest like the others.

Now I will have to fight against others to get food and a bed. Well I already survived Pinkie, so fighting for a loaf of bread will not be a problem. Prepare to fight ponies because I will give it my all without mercy-

Ho! There is a soup cart with a rather short line over there, now that I realize I have not had breakfast. So I went to line up.

As I sit at an available table, alone, I take the opportunity to observe the scene I am witnessing and eat soup that I could hardly pick up with my hooves and put it on the table without spilling.

It is curious to see the ponies, all brightly colored with few exceptions. Even though they have fled from the crazy party, they do not seem to have had the same experience, I mean, I would expect to see some of them with glitter or confetti still in their mane or tail like I did for a few days after escaping.

Is it possible that they have not gone through the same thing as me?

They seem different from my situation. There are some that seem more tired than possible, as if they do not know the word rest with huge black bags under their eyes.

There are other ponies that look like they got lost in a jungle and fought with their local fauna. They are full of roots, leaves and flowers and are also bandaged and with scratches everywhere.

Another group of ponies are all beaten up and slightly burned, and they can barely stand before they fall to the ground.

And the last group, they seem normal. Except that they are glowing a little, not like party glitter, but literally glowing.

After finishing my soup, I get up from the table and decide to take a walk.

I take a loaf of bread that was being given to the refugees, from a table with a gray pony wearing a chef's hat. While taking small bites, I continue my way to what seems to be the main castle of the place next to some huge doors with several steps and in front of the castle there is quite a space in front where I see a crowd of confused ponies beginning to accumulate.

I pushed my way through the crowd, which was growing in confusion and tension, until I managed to get closer to the front. Nonchalantly nibbling on the bread (though it wasn't too bad for crisis supplies), I watched as the situation heated up. Ponies began to raise their voices, throwing out questions and complaints that blended into a cacophony that was hard to follow.

"We want answers!" one shouted.

"What's going on with Equestria?" another shrieked.

A guard, standing on a raised platform, raised his firm voice in an attempt to calm the mob:

"Calm down! As soon as the princess arrives, all your questions will be answered!"

Arthur:
"Princess, huh..." I thought. "Well, at least some good news."

The chaos increased when, finally, the huge doors of the castle began to open with an imposing creak. A mystical aura enveloped the doors as they slowly opened. It was an effect that seemed a bit excessive, if you ask me, but I guess being a princess has its advantages of gratuitous drama.

With the doors fully open, a figure stepped forward with determined steps. The princess, unmistakable for the air of authority she exuded, like Pinkie, she also has wings and a horn (are all alicorns important and powerful beings?) is purple with a mane with dark purple bangs with two stripes, one a brighter purple and the other pink, her flank or 'Cutie Mark' (what a name) was formed by a six-pointed star next to some smaller stars. She walked towards the wooden podium that was prepared for her. The purple cloth with her emblem was carefully placed on it, as if this whole show had been planned down to the last detail.

The princess, her voice clear and confident, began to speak, finally managing to silence the crowd:

"Canterlot ponies and refugees from all over Equestria, I greet you, I am the princess of friendship Twilight Sparkle" she said, with a serenity that seemed to calm even the most restless. "I know that many of you are scared and confused, and rightly so. This is an unprecedented time in the history of our land, but I am here to assure you that we will do everything in our power to protect each and every one of you."

"Wait, Twilight? She's not one of Pinkie's friends and an item, according to what Turner told me. Well, at least she's not a crazy party tyrant," I thought as I chewed another piece of bread. This already seemed like a nice change.

Twilight continued, her tone becoming more solemn. “As some of you may already know, Equestria has been fragmented into six parts. Five of those fragments have been transformed in ways we could never have anticipated. The terrain has changed, and many of the creatures and ponies that lived there have as well.”

The crowd murmured, whispering amongst themselves as they took in what they had just heard.

“The sixth part, the one we are in now, is still the same Equestria we remember. Canterlot is our refuge, and we have done our best to ensure that it is a safe place for all those who managed to escape the affected places.”

“Six parts, huh?” I thought, remembering the fragment we had encountered. “Great, because life wasn’t complicated enough already.”

The princess continued, her gaze sweeping over the ponies present. “We are working day and night to understand what has happened and how we can fix it. But we can’t do it alone. We need volunteers, ponies who have been at the center of these changes, who can give us information about what they saw and experienced. I know it’s not easy, I know you’ve been through a lot, but any information you can share will be vital.”

The crowd was silent now, some heads lowered, and it was clear that trauma weighed on them. Twilight continued in a compassionate tone. “I’m not asking you to relive your worst nightmares for no reason. I promise you that every word you give us will bring us one step closer to restoring peace to Equestria. Together, we can do it.”

The mob seemed appeased, though not entirely convinced. It was evident that most were still mired in their confusion and fear, but Twilight, with her firmness and leadership, had planted the seed of hope.

“Okay, then,” I mused, “A fragmented, chaotic, and divided world where we are outnumbered… I guess this is my cue to stay out of it.”

I finished my bread, brushing the crumbs from my snout as I watched Twilight retreat from the podium. The guard resumed his place, reminding everyone that registration would soon begin for those who wished to speak about the fragments. With the new information, I decided to keep a low profile. I had enough to do surviving Ponyville.

I decided to take a tent that seemed empty to rest. I don't really know if I have to register to have it or if I can just stand on it to claim it. If they say something to me, I'll just get out and do the proper process. Simple as that.

So I decide to take a short break while I rethink my ideas.

I've had only rough days since I arrived so I deserve at least a little break. Of all the worlds I could fall into, why did it have to be one that was beginning its apocalyptic event? I would have even settled for a halfway apocalyptic world, but not a complete one like this one.

They told me I had to talk to the princesses, but the incident apparently happened everywhere and they already know about it, I guess my presence here became useless. I just have to wait for another refugee from Ponyville to give the information and that's it, there are several ponies around here, there must be at least one that was able to escape besides me.

There must be someone else right? I better make sure.

Without moving from my position on the ground, I lift my head to look from side to side. I notice that one of the nearby ponies, a young-looking mare, collapsed on the ground, exhausted. Another pony helped her up, but the atmosphere of desolation became more and more evident. Canterlot, the city of princesses, seemed to be a refuge for those fleeing the unknown now.

I try to observe each pony to know where they came from. I see jungle ponies, shiny, burnt and others that are sweaty… but I can't see anyone with confetti.

I get up from the ground and manage to say a murmur “Don't tell me I'm the only one. Don't say it!”

There has to be at least one, right?
…
“Unless I'm that ‘at least one’, this can't be happening…” I manage to say after swallowing.

Damn, I didn't want to stand out too much in this whole situation, I've had enough already. Calm down Arthur, breathe. It's not that big of a deal, it's just giving information and that's it, if there's no one else, then just go and tell them. But how can I not worry about being interviewed? What if they find out I'm not from this world and they start to get suspicious and throw me in a dungeon and, and, and... wait, that was what I wanted, to tell them my situation so they send me home. I guess an interview is actually a good thing for me.

I think all this does affect me a little more than I imagined. Well, once the registrations are open I'll just sign up, tell them everything I know about Ponyville, about my personal situation and ask the princess to send me home. I don't have to get more involved in their problems than I should.

Or... is it a bad idea? That's how someone starts getting involved in problems. Also, there's the possibility that even if I say my world-traveling status, they'll think I'm going crazy with the current situation of THEIR world and send me to the psychiatrist thinking I have a trauma or something.

All of this just gives me a headache, thinking about every possibility that can happen with just a simple 'say or don't say' option so simple. It's better to think about what should be best for the moment before doing something stupid.

Well for the moment, I can use this time to wander around.

“Well, Canterlot, let's see what secrets you're hiding. With a little luck, maybe I'll get a princess willing to fix all this... or at least, someone who knows where the bathroom is.”

I wander around the streets of Canterlot aimlessly, on the streets I see more refugees, shops, supply stands and some trash. I'll worry about supplies later, it's still early with the sun not yet at its highest point to worry about it.

I look around at different buildings and stop at one that is huge, it has a Roman style, with marble columns and some ornate statues on the edges of the stairs, there is a sign with a picture of a book. The library.

“Well, whatever, I need answers, and this is the most logical place to start… although logical does not seem to be the norm in this world.”

I enter the library and I was right, a place with windows that have a slight ray of light coming through the curtains. Lots of neat shelves with books piled high. A red carpeted floor with gold edges. Several tables with cushions to sit on and lamps to read. A somewhat older receptionist with glasses behind her desk by the door.

I approach the receptionist and out of habit I give her everything I have, that is, the guitar that followed me on my back all the way to Canterlot. Without unnecessary words, we remain silent. I hand her the guitar and she hands me a card with a number on it and I hang it around my neck.

I nod to the receptionist and she nods back with a smile. I wander around, taking in the place.

The library was always a place I liked to go, other people preferred to go and play at recess, but I stayed here and read. My school library didn't have a big enough collection and it wasn't even arranged for anything and the books were mostly stories and cultural tales. When I got to college, I managed to work for a while in the library, it was a big change, more books, more shelves and everything arranged. But that doesn't compare to this place, it's much bigger and more fascinating.

It's not that I'm a nerd or a brainiac, I just like books, after all I like stories.

I keep walking through the aisles until a doubt hits me in the head, making me jump a little "Am I able to read his writing?" I think.

I go to any book that is within my reach and pick up one that was in front of me. With some effort to open it, I use both my hooves to do so, but fail miserably and it falls with a thud to the floor, kicking up dust with it.

Wincing in pain, I remain completely still, not hearing anything from the receptionist (Apparently the library is not very busy at a time of crisis and is almost empty), I approach it and squint to see the book. Luckily it opened in the middle, allowing me to see its contents.

I wipe the sweat from my forehead with my hoof and breathe a sigh of relief. It seems I won't have any problem reading.

After several minutes to be able to pick up the book and put it in its corresponding place, I reconsider having a moment to practice grabbing things with my hooves.

I return to my routine of wandering the halls like a ghost in search of some book that will help me.

I don't understand how this wonderful place, full of books, full of information and stories to tell, can be so empty.

I take several books that seem to be helpful and put them on a cart, taking them near a table. I got several topics that could be useful to me, Equestria History Books, one that talks about towns and cities. Several about magic (a fantasy world where magic exists! Of course I'm going to read about magic) and other books that talk about the elements of harmony, pony anatomy, bestiary and economy.

I pick up a book from the pile I took, the first book on Equestria's history and I put it in front of my face to pay as much attention as possible. A break in the adventure to get information, it's a classic that at some point I stop and investigate in a library. After all, there are several things I have doubts about and others that I have to reflect on.

Arthur sits at one of the library's large tables, surrounded by a mountain of books he's collected from different sections. The place is still silent, with the slight rustling of pages being the only thing that breaks the silence. He takes out the history of Equestria book, places it in front of him, and carefully opens it. What interests him most, at the moment, is understanding how this world worked before it was fragmented. As he reads, his mind begins to wander.

Arthur mutters to himself "How does a world come to break into six parts? It's like it's one of those fantasy stories where everything ends badly... but here it's real life."

Right at the next table, Twilight Sparkle, immersed in her own research on the fragmentation of Equestria, is focused on a book on advanced magic. Hearing Arthur's low voice, she can't help but answer without looking up from her own book.

"Sometimes, it's not so much how a world comes to fragment, but why no one saw it coming." Twilight said without taking her eyes off her book for a second.

Arthur pauses for a moment, not looking back to see who spoke, and lets out a light chuckle before saying, "That sounds like something someone who's always looking for the reason behind things would say. But what's the point of knowing if you can't fix it afterwards?"

Twilight, still not taking her eyes off her book, raises an eyebrow at the comment, "Knowing the why of things doesn't always fix what's broken, that's true. But if we don't understand the origin of the problem, how can we prevent it from happening again?"

Arthur nods, even though no one sees him. He takes a second to think before answering, "Hmm, interesting point. Although sometimes I wonder if what's broken is meant to stay broken... Or if it's just a matter of moving on and not complicating our lives trying to fix it."

Twilight closes her book for a moment, thoughtful, but doesn't turn her gaze to him. She is deep in thought, trying to reconcile the reality of what has happened to Equestria. “That sounds like the perspective of someone who would rather let chaos take its course than face it head on… But chaos, if left to its own devices, spreads. We can’t always just walk forward without looking back.”

Arthur smiles, finding in this stranger’s words something that resonates with his own life. “Maybe you’re right… Or maybe I’m just someone who doesn’t want to play the hero. In every story, it’s always the hero who cares about stopping the chaos and saving the day. And honestly, I never understood why they would do that, right? What do they care?”

Twilight purses her lips, feeling intrigued by the conversation. Though she doesn’t know who is speaking, the words provoke her somehow. “It’s not just about wanting to be the hero… It’s about responsibility. If you have the power to change something, don’t you think you should try?”

Arthur rests his head on one of his hooves, thoughtful, as he turns another page in his book. “Responsibility, power… Do you really think that defines everything? Sometimes, I feel like power just burdens you with more problems, doesn’t it? At the end of the day, everyone is looking to have less problems in their lives, not more.”

Twilight lets out a sigh, pondering his answer. She had never considered power that way, but there was something about what this other person was saying that had a point. “Maybe… But avoiding problems doesn’t always mean living better. Sometimes, facing the complicated is what makes the world go forward. Maybe it’s not about being the hero by choice, but by necessity.”

Arthur chuckles, amused by the idea. It sounds familiar, like it's part of the classic narrative of the movies and series she used to watch. "You're absolutely right. Although, to be honest... it sounds pretty exhausting. Like, no matter how much you want to just stay in peace, something always drags you into the middle of the chaos. And the worst thing is, if you don't do anything, you feel even worse, like you're letting everything fall apart."

They both remain silent for a moment, lost in their own thoughts, with the slight sound of pages being the only thing that fills the air between them. The conversation had led them to reflect on their own lives, although neither really knew who the other was.

"Maybe that's how it is... Sometimes we just get dragged into the situations we most want to avoid." Twilight murmured.

Arthur leans back in his chair, feeling the weight of the conversation. For the first time since he came to this strange world, he felt understood in some way. "Well, I guess you can always try to fix things, but I don't promise to be good at it either..."

Twilight smiles slightly, finding some comfort in the conversation, though still not knowing who her interlocutor was. "No one is born knowing how to save a world. Sometimes, it's just a matter of learning along the way..."

They both continue reading, in silence, not realizing that the person they just shared an existential conversation with was much more important than they thought.

After a while concentrating on the books I brought and an exchange of words with whoever it was, I decided to turn to the window. The sun was setting. I took all the messy books and put them in the cart I brought. With a quick wave goodbye without turning to the other pony in the room who made a soft noise in response, I headed to the receptionist.

I gave the card to the receptionist, she gave me back the guitar and I hurried out.

She directs me to where the princess gave the speech to calm the crowd looking to share information. I find a table with a sign on one side and a guard with papers and pen in place. Luckily there doesn't seem to be a line.

I slowly approach the booth.

“This is the best right?” I think “I mean, when I first came to a place, I accidentally got into a lot of trouble, having to face basically god and nothing went well. This won't be the same, right? It's just sharing information... I hope it's just that" I gulp as I look at the guard staring at me.

I stand right in front of the information sharing registration booth. On the table there are two papers with colored dividers, a paper placed in the center facing my direction, a pen next to it and an inkwell on the other side.

"Good afternoon. Just fill out this form with your information and the next day at nine in the morning, you will be allowed to enter the palace. Mentioning your name, you will be guided to a waiting room where you will have a private appointment with a person in charge to write down the information you wish to provide us" said the guard sitting behind the table. Why do all the guards look alike?

Unsure of which would be the best option, I stop, close my eyes and put a hoof on my chin, with a thoughtful face for several minutes.

...

I decide to take the pen on the second try and fill out the form. With a thank you from the guard, he takes the paper and puts it on top of the others.

I have doubts about whether it was the best decision, but I hope I made a good decision.

After a while of browsing the supply stalls, getting dinner and some blankets, I take over an empty tent (I asked and they said it was fine) and go to bed.

Since I came into this world it was problem after problem without stopping, I've been through so many things in such a short time. Despite all the odds against me, I've been able to keep up and somehow or another I've moved forward, whether by luck, chance or something else. I'm not quite sure what I'll face next, but one thing I do know is that I'm going to face it my way.

It doesn't matter if it's absurd, crazy, senseless, dangerous, sweet or a general nuisance. I'll be ten times crazier and more annoying to get over it.

I take a quick look at the starry sky that continues to light up the darkness and fall asleep.

Author's Note

Arthur finally arrived and entered Canterlot but it is not the wonderful place without worries as he could have imagined. Being full of refugees from all over Equestria.

We arrive at Twilight's presentation.

Doubts for Arthur about what he should do.

The first interaction of our protagonist with the brainiac.

Arthur decides to get a little involved in this whole problem of a divided Equestria with something simple. It is just to give a little information, it is clear that they will not provoke any chain of actions that end up involving him in any way.

Thanks for reading.