The Equestrian Tales of Nathaniel Lloyd (Humanized Version)

From the words of Apostle Paul of Tarsus: "Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let you conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." Colossians 4:5-6

  Traveling under the dark, glowing orange horizon of the setting sun, I get a nice, good look at the little town known as Ponyville. Its architecture is a bit different from what I've seen in Charlottesville. Though some of the small bluidings that me and Twilight pass by appear normal, being made out of material such as bricks and wood, some houses around us for some reason have hay-covered rooftops, which makes me wonder in my mind how they are able to withstand being blown away if a fierce, windy storm decides to show its ugly face. The street below our very feet is made out of cobblestone like in 19th century London, and there don't seem to be many automobiles around, but from time to time I do catch a car or a van.

  And as for the local residents that I see, that's a whole other story to tell. The people here have human appearance by what my eyes see, but while most of them seem normal there are some who have unicorn-like horns on their foreheads like Twilight, and as well there are those with large wings on their backs like Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.

  A couple of the denizens of this small village begin to take great notice of me, and for different reasons. On the sidewalk opposite of us, a little boy walking with his mother regards the sword in my scabbard and tells her about it as he points his finger at me, asking her questions such as why am I carrying it and if I am a soldier. I hear a few people that me and Twilight pass by make comments not only about my sword but as how I don't seem to be from these parts of town, which bothers me a bit.

  But of all the reactions that I receive, there is one that really works up my mind. As me and Twilight approach a group of girls sitting at a table outside of a restaurant, one of them stares right at me when I come into her view and gives me a rather saucy grin with a flutter of her eyelashes. She leans over the table to say something to her other three friends, and when their eyes fall upon me, a giddy fit of jovial giggles erupts from all of them. Although I can't clearly understand all of their sentences because they're talking in low whispers, my ears do catch some words such as "cute" and "hot" and "dreamboat" and "handsome" and so on.

  And even as we walk away from the restaurant I can still hear the girls' voices from far behind, and I feel the heat in my cheeks rise up in embrassment as I think about how they are describing me by my looks.

  An hour has gone by since we left Fluttershy's cottage, and we have not arrived yet at this library that Twilight said she's taking me to.

  I look at her, still walking. "Um, Twilight?"

  She turns her head towards me. "Yes?"

  "How far is the library that you told me we were going to? It just that we've been walking for a while and we haven't encountered it yet."

  "Well, we're almost there. Infact, it's right infront of us, right over there."

  She stretches out her arm and points to a tree many feet away in out direction.

  "But isn't that a tree?" I squint my eyes. "And a very big one by the looks of it."

  "Yes, but in a way it's also a bluiding with a complex interior."

  Amazed, I make a small chuckle. "Wow. A library made to look like a tree. Never seen that before. So, after we finish reading that letter and then check out the book, are we going to wherever you live? I'm sorry if that sounded strange, but you said that I could live with you until whatever is going on is settled."

  "Actually, I live in the library, so you're basically going to be here the whole time."

  "Your house is a library?" I ask, giving her a quizzical face.

  "Yes. I know it sounds kind of bizzare for me not to live in a normal house. There's a reason for why I live here, but it's a very long story and it'll take me sometime to explain it to you."

  "Oh. Ok."

  As we get closer to the library, I get a very better appearance of the what it is like. The tree must be at least two stories high, with multiple glass windows coming out of the brown bark, and two balconies --- the one at the very top has a normal size telescope. Infront of the tree is a sign with a book on it that says "GOLDEN OAKS PUBLIC LIBRARY."

  Finally approaching the library at long last, Twilight opens the door, which has a "Closed, Sorry" sign, and motions for me to enter with a tilt of her head. As the two of us get inside, I see that the place does indeed look like a normal library, despite the fact that the floors, walls, and ceiling are made out of wood. Throughout the floor level I see various rows of books placed in many shelves that are spread around, and it reminds me very much of the library in Charolettesville.

  "You can go ahead and get out that book," Twilight tells me. "And as for your backpack, you can just leave it right under this coat rack, if you want."

  "Alright," I say, taking off my backpack and pulling out the book, before dropping the backpack on the floor.

  Just as I begin to follow her out of the hallway, a young, male voice speaks out from somewhere in the library.

  "Twilight? Is that you?"

  Coming out of a room on the left side is a teenage boy, prehaps maybe eleven or twelve years old. He has spikey, bright green hair on his head with dark green eyes that have diamond shaped pupils. Besides the lizard-like eyes, I notice two strange things about the boy: One, for some reason that I cannot understand, the boy is wearing a white kitchen apron with pink fluffy stuff on the top and bottom and a magenta colored heart in the middle. And two, he has a long, scaly purple reptile tail with green spikes.

  When the boy sees me standing in the hallway with Twilight, his cheeks burn crimson red and he rapidly darts his eyes at me and his apron. He takes off the girly garment and tosses it to the side, and when it falls to the floor he kicks it further out of my view.

  "Hey, Spike," Twilight says to the boy casually, like she knows him. "I hope that I wasn't gone for a long amount of time. Are you already cooking dinner? I think I can smell it."

  "Um... Twilight? Who's that next to you?" the boy, Spike, asks her, pointing his finger directly at me.

  "Oh, this man here is named Nathaniel. Nathaniel Lloyd. He's not exactly from Ponyville."

  "Ok. But why did you bring him over here? The library's closed for the day."

  "I can't really explain it to you right now, Spike, but I'll tell you everything during dinner, whenever you're done. Right now me and Nathaniel have something important to do." She looks at me. "We can check out the book in the reading area. I'll show you where it is."

  With a nod I contuine to follow behind Twilight, passing by the boy known as Spike, who picks up the apron and returns to the place where he was before.

  "Twilight?" I ask her.

  "Yes, Nathaniel?" she replies without turning her head at me.

  "Do you mind if I ask you what exactly your friend, Spike, is? Not that i mean to be rude by asking. It's just that he has a lizard tail, and not a horn or wings like the rest of the people I saw did."

  "Well, he is a human like you and I, but he's also part dragon as well."

  My eyes widen. "Half human and half dragon? How is that even possible? A dragon is like too large to even reproduce with a human being, and their totally different species."

  She shrugs. "I don't understand how it's possible either, but it did happen, believe it or not."

  "Are there any other dragons that live here, at all?"

  "Nope. At least not a lot. They basically inhabit places outside of Equestria like wastelands and mountain valleys."

  "So, is he like a friend of your's, or is he just here to help you around the library?"

  "Both. He's a very good, close friend and a very helpful assistant."

  We end up in a large room with several book shelves and a round wooden table in the middle that seems to be connected to the floor. After Twilight sits down in one of the chairs, I do the same and place the book on the surface of the table.

   Twilight squints at the title. "Conscientia. It's kind of small. I wonder what kind of book this is. I've never heard of it before."

  "Let's see if we can find that note that the centurion told me about."

  I take the book in both of my hands to open it, and behind the front cover I see a square, folded piece of paper taped on it and it says 'READ". Ripping off the tape and putting it aside, I unfold the piece of paper to its true form and place it flat on the table for Twilight to see, and she begins to read what is written:

  "Nathaniel Lloyd, if you are now reading this letter then that must mean that you are in the care of Twilight Sparkle of Ponyville, which also means that she is reading this as well. I will like to let you know that the world I have sent you to is a kingdom called Equestria, and if you have already experinced the place, you must know that it is very different from your home, Earth.

  "The reason that I have sent you to Equestria in the first place is because your life is in serious danger. There is a group of wicked men who plan on killing you. I don't have much space on this paper to explain, but I will tell you the reason for why they want you dead later on when I arrive to Ponyville after taking care of some business, but for right now you must remain in town for your own safety.

  "I must inform you that the men after your life are not only in your world, but also this world as well, and I have a feeling that there may even be a possibility that there are some spies here in Ponyville. Therefore, be careful with who you are around. Do not use your original name or talk about anything from Earth. Instead, make up a new alias for yourself and study about the world of Equestria. You will be here for a long time.

  "And as for the book itself, the Conscientia, it contains very useful information that is important later on, but do not worry about it until I arrive. May you remain protected and well nourished in these troublesome times.

---Arion

  "A reminder: Keep the sword with you at *ALL** times and hide the book.* "

  "Is that all?" I ask her.

  She turns the paper over. "I think so. There's nothing else on the back."

  "Oh," I sigh. I am very disappointed that the centurion couldn't write down the exact reason for why I am being hunted down, and because of that it feels like I'm at a complete dead end, although I have gotten so far to come here and find Twilight.

  After a moment of quietness, I ask Twilight, "So what do you think I should do now?"

  She smoothly smacks her lips in thought. "Well, the letter did said that you should learn everything you can about Equestria, and that you might have to make up a new name for yourself as well." She leaves her seat to grab a very huge teal colored book from one of the shelves and returns to the table. She gently drops it infront of me so I can see the title of it, written in fine, curvise, golden letters.

  "The Complete History of the Kingdom of Equestria by Atlas Globus," Twilight infroms me with a friendly grin. "It has everthing you need to know about Equestria, from past to present. It should be a very helpful guide for you."

  "Thank you," I say. "I'll go ahead and start reading, though I don't think I'll be able to finish all of it today."

  Opening the book, I flip through only a few pages until I reach the one that says Introductory. Just as I begin to read it, Twilight takes the Conscientia and walks her way out of the room.

  "Where are you going?" I ask.

  She turns just as she leaves through the doorless enterance. "I'm going to see what I can find out about this book in another part of the library."

  "But in his note, the centurion told us that we shouldn't worry about it unitl he gets here. To Ponyville, that is."

  "I know. But I'm just going to do some research to see what's so important about this book. When I'm done I'll come back to check on you."

  "Why would you need to check---"

  And just like that Twilight leaves me alone in here, so I start to read the book.

  In the introductory chapter, the author starts off with several sentences about himself, like almost all guide writers do. He tell of how ever since he was a boy that he absolutely loved to study and read about historical events as well as the subject of geography, and that passion led him to become a world history professor at the University of Fillydelphia. I find it quite funny how "Fillydelphia" reminds me a lot of "Philidelphia" and chuckle softly. As I read on, I encounter a few paragraphs of the author talking about the citizens of Equestria. Accordingly, the kingdom is made up of four races of humans: Unicorn humans, who have horns on their heads and magical abilities. Pegasus humans, who have large bird-like wings and can somehow control the weather. And Earth humans, who are completely normal and have no special powers what so ever, so I'm guessing that I would be considered an earth human here. The fourth race, the alicorn humans, are mixture of both unicorns and pegasi, with wings and horns and magical abilites. They are said to be taller than most humans, rare and few in numbers, royal, very powerful, and live immortal lives --- never being able to die of old age. Infact, the current monarch of Equestria is an alicorn princess named Celestria, who has ruled for over a thousand years. Besides humans, other creatures from many parts of the world live here as well, such as griffens, minotaurs, donkeys, mules, zebras, and reindeers.

  At page 14, I reach the first chapter, which has the title The Birth of Equestria. Many centuries ago, before the kingdom was ever formed, three tribes existed: the unicorn tribe, the pegasus tribe, and the earth human tribe. Although the three tribes depended on each other, they also utterly despised one another for a long time, because of how they were different. But one day, something happened. Ice spirits known as windigos began to devastate the land with fierce snowy blizzards and frostbiting cold wind for many months, and it was because of their hatred that all of this was occuring, which fueled the windigos. This horrible storm destroyed the crops and vegetational plants in the land, leaving the tribes on the brink of starvation. Knowing that they couldn't bare it anymore, the three groups decided that they would have to find a new place for them to live.

  Two people, each from every tribe, went down south to discover their new home. From the unicorn tribe, Princess Platinum and a man named Clover the Clever, who is the student of a famous wizard known as Starswirl the Bearded. From the earth human tribe, Chancellor Puddinghead and his secertary, Smart Cookie. And from the pegasus tribe, Commander Hurricane and a private known as Pansy.

  For sixteen days, these six people traveled south to search for a new home, and on the last day they found what they were exactly looking for. The land that they had encountered was warm and mild, with fertile and arable ground that seemed good for farming. They were at the perfect place for a new start, a new beginning. However, each of the tribe members did not know that the other two tribes were looking for a new place as well, until they met here, which was a problem. The leaders, Princess Platinum, Chancellor Puddinghead, and Commander Hurricane, were arguing with one another about who had found the land first, while the followers, Clover, Smart Cookie, and Pansy, tried to maintain the peace.

  Sadly though, because of the leaders' hateful fighting, the windigos came into the land that they had found and started another blizzard, just like before. Therefore, the six of them had to take refuge in a nearby cave, but even while facing a terrible storm caused by malevolent spirits, there were still problems going on between the three tribes.

  Apparently, Princess Platinum started a debate with Commander Hurricane about needing some personal space, so he orders Pansy to draw some lines in the ground to seperate them from the other tribes, and Smart Cookie and Clover do the same. While drawing a line in the dirt, Pansy goes over a rock, leaving it in unicorn territory. Hurricane becomes mad that the private went over the rock instead of through it and wants it, but Platinum said that since the rock is in her area that means that it belongs to her. Hurricane moves the rock to his territory in the name of his tribe and Platinum demands that he gives it back, but then Puddinghead takes the rock and puts it in his area, then Platinum and Hurricane begin to chase him around the cave to get the rock from him.

  As the chase moved on, the windigos had entered the cave through the top, and they began to freeze the place, but slowly. When the chase had died, Hurricane, Puddinghead, and Platinum start to throw insults at each other about one's tribe, and soon they became frozen in ice due to the windigos. Seeing what the spirits had did to their leaders, Clover, Smart Cookie, and Pansy huddled against each other as they awaited their icy fate. All three of them realized that all of this was happening because of the relentless hatred between the tribes, but they also found out that they didn't loathe each other like the leaders did, and therefore they considered each other not only equal humans, but also somewhat friends.

  But before the ice could overtake them, a magical wildfire erupted from the tip of Clover's horn and it drives the windigos out of the cave, and leaves a flaming heart floating in midair which is called the Fire of Friendship. Because of that, they were saved. Since the enterance was frozen, the three of them spent a long time in the cave, but while they were in there they had a fun and exciting time as they shared stories and played games, with the fire above their heads to keep them warm. Later on, the sun outside melted the ice in the cave and Platinum, Hurricane, and Puddinghead were unfrozen at last, but instead of arguing again they came at peace with one another because of how they witnessed the brotherly love and kindness going on between the three followers.

  When all six of them left the cave, the leaders made a truce: that there would be no more fighting amongst the tribes, and that all three of them would form one, huge human kingdom. And to this very day, the land that was discovered was called Equestria --- which means "at tranquilty" ---, and the day on when they had found it is called Hearth Warming Day. And that ends chapter one.

  Just as I am near reading chapter two, The Early Ages, I hear footsteps coming towards me. I leave my eyes from the pages and see Twilight standing at the enterance of the room.

  "How are you liking the book?" she asks with a smile, and I do the same.

  "It's been very helpful," I reply. "I already learned about the four human species that are in Equestria, as well as how the kingdom was first founded by the three tribes. Thanks for giving it to me to read."

  "You're very much welcomed. I just came in here to tell you that---"

  "Twilight? Twilight? Where are you?"

  Suddenly, a young teenage girl --- an earth human --- enters the reading area where me and Twilight are. As she comes in, I get a good look at her appearance. Her hairdo seems strangely puffy, inflatable-looking, and very pink, and she is wearing a light, unzipped magenta jacket with a candy cane striped shirt underneath, and she also has on bright yellow pants. And I don't exactly know what it is really, but on her left cheek I see three tiny dots; the one in the middle is yellow while the two to the left and right are blue. Prehaps it's a tattoo or something.

  "There you are!" the girl says to Twilight with a radiant smile. "I know that it's getting dark and that you've already closed the library for tonight, but I just wanted to ask if I could---"

  When the girl finally notices me, her eyes widen and she lets out a loud, deep gasp in astonishment, like somebody being surprised on their birthday because they got the coolest present ever.

  Suddenly, in the mere blink of an eye, she zooms past Twilight in a pink blur and stops near the table with her hands on the wooden surface and beams at me a wide, big, cheerful, toothful smile, as if she is so exicted to see me. She's so close to me --- like litteraly there's a eight inch space between my face and her's --- that I can smell what I believe to be a cherry-scent perfume coming off of her body.

  "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh! I've never seen you before, and I know everybody who lives here! That must mean that you're new to Ponyville. This is great! I LOVE meeting new people! It's been like forever since anybody new came around. My name is Pinkie Pie, but my friends and everybody else in town kinda calls me Pinkie. I work at the Sugarcube Corner bakery downtown. I make lots of sweet, yummy, delicious sweets and desserts there like cakes, cupcakes, muffins, cookies, brownies, candy --- anything that'll satisfy your taste buds! Not only am I a terrific baker, but I'm also an amaaaaazing party thrower and --- Oh! What happened to your hand? Why is it all covered up in bandages? Did you like break it or something? I accidentally broke my right leg once a long time ago while I was on a ladder and I fell, and it was in a cast for seven months. It wasn't any fun though because I had to use crutches, so I couldn't walk or run at all, but I was so, so, so happy when my leg finally healed, and I really do hope that your hand gets well soon.

  "Also, how are you still in this library if it closed at five o' clock? Are you so interested in that big book you're reading that you begged Twilight to let you stay here longer? You must be a very, very hardcore reader." She lets out another gasp. "Oh my gosh, you and Twilight have something in common! You both love to read! Twilight over here is like a major booknerd. She has her eyes on them like twenty-four/seven. Maybe if you two talked about some of your favorite books, then you guys might become best friends. But then again, maybe you guys already had a nerdy conversation about some nerdy books, and you've jsut now became friends with Twilight not so long ago. Infact, as I think about it... Whoa! If you're already with Twilight, then maybe you can be friends with me. And after you're friends with me, then you can be friends with my friends, and then I'll have even more friends then before!"

  She giggles out loud in a bubbly manner and begins to bounce up and down like an excited child. "This is absolutely fantastic! I love making new friends! The more the merrier is what I always say. Well, I already told you what my name is. Incase you forgot, it's Pinkie Pie, but you can just calle me Pinkie. I still don't know you name yet, so can you pretty, pretty, pretty please tell me who you are? Huh? Huh? HUUUHHH?"

  I would just like to point out that my mind right now is litteraly boggled up. The way how the girl, Pinkie Pie, spoke so rapidly like a complete chatterbox was unbelievable. Never in my entire life have I ever heard someone talk in a way and tempo like her's. I mean, the girls that sit beside me at college gossip and have conversations like nonstop, but this girl was saying so many words so quickly that I barely even remember half of the sentences she said to me.

  And even while she stares at me with her crazy, electricfying light blue eyes and that pearly white smile of her's, I'm still a bit dazed by her interesting introduction.

\

  "Helloooo?" Pinkie says. "Is anybody home? I just asked you what your name is." A sudden frown appears on her face. "Maybe you don't have a name. Is that it? Oh, I feel so sorry for you. Everybody should be given a name. A name is what reflects a person's personality."

  Snapping out of my dazed state, I say, "I'm Nathaniel. Nathaniel Lloyd. That's my name, and I'm sorry that I didn't answer your question quickly. Something... had my mind really worked up."

  That jovial smile reappears on Pinkie's lips when she heard me speak. "Nathaniel? That's kind of a weird name don't you think? Are you sure you don't go by something else like Blitzfire or Rainstorm or Sliverheart?"

  "Well, my parents gave me the name Nathaniel, but some people that I know usually call me by my nickname, Nate." I really don't get what's wrong with my name. I like it alot, not because that's what I'm called, but because of it's meaning.

  "Ooo, Nate! That sounds much better than Nathaniel! Do you mind if I calle you Nate?"

  I shrug. "Not really."

  She closes her eyes and places her hands over her mouth to stifle out her many giggles.

  I raise an eyebrow at her. "What's so funny?" I've only met this girl five minutes ago, and she has already made a bizzare and interesting impression of herself towards me.

  She opens her eyes and looks at me. "Oh, I'm just thinking about how superduper fun the party is going to be tommorow."

  "What party?'

  "The one for you, Nate! It's a welcome party to celebrate your arrival to Ponyville. I would have done it today if I found you earlier, but it's too late now to throw it. Still, it's going to be a great party! There's going to be cake and desserts and music and drinks and streamers and presents and party hats and a whole bunch of other stuff that I can't think of right now. Oh! And confetti! You can't have a true party without confetti. I'll invite as many people as I can and --- Ooo! Your cutiemark looks awesome!"

  "My what ?"

  "Your cutiemark!"

  "What's a cutiemark?"

  "What?" Pinkie gives me a very confused face, just like Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy when I asked them what Equestria is. "You don't know what a cutiemark is? Were you like born yesterday? A cutiemark is that little symbol somewhere on your body that represents your special talent. See?"

  Using her two index fingers and her thumbs, Pinkie makes a square with her hands and places them over her cheeks where the three dots are. As I look closer I see that the dots are actually balloons; the yellow balloon in the middle has a thin blue string at the bottom while the two blue balloons have yellow strings.

  When I realize that this so called cutiemark is somewhere on my body, I remember the cross symbol on my hand and glance at it. So, in order to make it seem like I'm really from this world, I play dumb.

  "Oh, wait a minute. I do know what a cutiemark is," I chuckle nervously. "I'm sorry if you were confused, it's just that I've been so busy today that my mind is really worked up, and I have a painful headache."

  "That's ok," she beams. "I know what it's like to be bothered by a headache. I was serious though when I said that your cutiemark looks awesome, and downright cool."

  "Thanks."

  "But what's your special talent?"

  "My special talent? Um... It's, err... Writing! Yep! My special talent is writing. I like to write lots of books and poems in my spare time."

  I'm not exactly lying when I say that my talent is writing. To tell the truth, I'm really good at making short stories and poems about any kind of genre because of how I'm such a master with the pencil. I even call my passion for writing a God-given gift since I've loved doing it ever since I was little.

  "Oh. Well, I don't really understand how a cross cutiemark is related to writing," Pinkie says, "but at least I know what your special talent is. Do you have some of your stories and poems with you? And if you do, do you mind if I read some of them here? Can I? I just love rea---"

  Finally, Twilight decides to get into the conversation as she walks besides Pinkie and interrupts her.

"Um, Pinkie?" she asks. "It's getting really late for you to be staying, so do you mind telling me why you came here?"

  "Oh, yeah, I forgot about that. I wanted to ask you if I could borrow that book about exotic food from different countries. I think was called The International Cookbook of Cultural Cusine of the World or something."

  "Oh, geez. Sorry, Pinkie, but Fluttershy borrowed it from me yesterday."

   "That's ok! I'll just go over to her place and ask if I can have it. Thanks for telling me. Bye, Twilight!" She looks at me. "Bye, Nate! I'll get you tomorrow for your welcome party. It's gonna be a blast! It was really nice meeting you! You look like a great guy."

  And with that being said, the hyper, energic girl skips out of the room, humming to herself genially. The weirdest part is that whenever Pinkie's feet touched the ground as she skipped, a bouncing, squeaky sound would be produced.

  "I'm guessing that she's also one of your friends," I say to Twilight.

  "Yeah," she replies.

  "She seemed..."

  "Too excited? Kind of crazy? A chatterbox?"

  "Well, yes, but I was going to say that she seemed to act a bit like a child. You know --- super cheerful, overhappy, naive, speaking loud, very giddy, full of energy. Things like that."

  "Well, that's just Pinkie Pie being Pinkie Pie. You'll get used to her personality when you're around her more often. I know I did. Also, good job on making an excuse for the cutiemark thing. I was a bit worried that she would smell something going on and start asking me and you some questions."

  I grin. "Thanks. I just didn't want to explain my story to her like I explained it to Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. So what were you going to say to me before you friend, Pinkie, came in?"

  "Oh, I just wanted to let you know that Spike is done cooking dinner. If you want, you can eat with us at the table. I already told Spike."

  "Sure. I haven't even eaten anything since breakfest, so I am a bit hungry."

  "Well, that's good to know. Spike should be putting the food on the table already, so if you wouldn't mind you can follow me."

  Closing the history book, I get myself off the chair and walk with Twilight out of the reading room. As we go through the hallway, I remember how Pinkie Pie sort of said that everybody has a cutiemark.

  "Um, Twilight?"

  "Yes, Nathaniel?"

  "Where exactly is your cutiemark? And what does it look like? I hope you don't mind if I ask."

  "Not at all, it doesn't bother me if you ask. "My cutiemark is on my back, just below my neck. It's a large magenta star with six points, and there are five other smaller, white stars surrounding it."

  "Ok. So what's you special talent?"

  "Magical skills and abilites."

  "Does everybody in Equestria have a cutiemark, or just some?"

  "Well, nobody actually has one when they're born. Your cutiemark only comes to you when you finally discover your special talent. People who don't have their cutiemark yet are called blank flanks, but they're usually around a young age. Hey, do you have any type of food in your world called mashed potatoes and steak?"

  My brows raise in surprise. "Yes, actually I do. Why?"

  "It's just that that's what we're having for dinner. It's a good thing that you said that. I wasn't sure how you would feel eating something you've never had before."

  "I find it kind of funny how this world and mine look and have so much in common. We even speak that same language."

  Twilight chuckles. "Yeah. That is kind of funny when I think of it."

  By the time our little conversation has come to an end, the two of us arrive to what I believe is the kitchen. In the corner of the room there is a square, wooden table with a flower vase and is next to a small oval window, and on the surface are three, hot, steaming plates of food. After taking her seat, Twilight directs me to sit on the right side of the table, and I do.

  Like she had told me, my plate contains chopped up, juicy pieces of well cooked steak and some white mashed potatoes topped with gravy. Also, I have two small bread rolls with butter on the top.

  Because of my straving hunger, I don't waste time to grab the fork next to the plate and start to eat my steak bits. A delicous and tender taste explodes on my tounge as I take a bite of the small piece of meat.

  As me and Twilight eat, the dragon-boy, Spike, takes his seat right infront of where I'm sitting. He has the same food as us, but I notice something strange on his plate.

  At first, I thought it was just bright colorful candy, but I realize now that those are gemstones because of how vast and luxurious they seem. Some of them are large while others are somewhat small, and each of them are formed in many, various shapes such as ovals, diamonds, hexagons, and rectangles.

  Spike grabs a large, orange gem in the shape of a square and place it in his mouth, exposing his sharp, pointy teeth for a moment before closing it. Though he's chewing with his mouth shut, I can hear him munching on the gem with a slight noise, and I wonder how in the world he is able to eat something with such hardness and like the way it tastes.

  Sensing my glare on him, the boy looks up at me with an annoyed, dull, bored expression across his face as he feasts on more of his gems, and both our eyes meet each other. Because I don't want this to become a long and awkward staredown, I tilt my down at my plate and continue with my steak. Every now and then, I would catch Spike glaring at me with that same irritated face as if I am bothering him with my prescence, and after some seconds he would return his gaze back to his meal.

  I continue to mind my own business, but it really bugs me how he looks at me. It reminds me too much of the cold stare Rainbow Dash gave me while Fluttershy went to get Twilight. Is it because that I am total random stranger in his home eating his food at his table that he may feel uncomfortable? Does he think that I'm here to hurt Twilight, who he has a close relationship with, while she leasts expects it? I do have a bladed weapon by my side, after all.

  Minutes later, I finally finish with my steak bits, and i move on with my mashed potatoes. It tastes heavenly with its rich, brown gravy.

  "Ok, seriously," Spike suddenly says impatiently, looking at Twilight. "Do you really believe this guy's story? That he's from another world and he's being hunted down by some bad guys?"

  "You told him?" I ask her.

  She gives me a guilty grin. "Sorry, It's just that he wanted to know why you were here, but he won't tell anybody else, so there's no need to worry." Twilight looks at Spike. "And yes, I do believe in what he told me. I told you before, I read his mind. There's no way he's lying."

  "But, Twilight, you just met him like litterally this afternoon, and it bothers me that you invited him here like he's a poor, needy man out in the streets. Dash could have been right when she said that he might have tricked you with his own magic."

  "He is in need, Spike. There is a group of heinous criminals out there who want to take his life for whatever reason. I know you said that you don't feel comfortable with him living with us because of what happening in Equestria and what happened earlier this month, but he has no where eles to go. Besides, it'll only be for a few days until the centurion I told you about arrives. Everything is going to be alright, Spike. Trust me."

  The boy crosses his arms and lets out a frusterated huff. "I still think that Rainbow Dash was right when you said that she thinks that guy's up to no good. For all we know, he could just be lying about his story so he can take advantage of what we have. And when we're finally asleep he might just stab us in our beds with that sword of his and carrying off with whatever he wants to keep without any care for what he did."

Ouch. That kind of hurt.

  "He is not lying, Spike," Twilight says in a stern tone. "And I don't ever want to hear you say anything negative or ill about Nathaniel again, especially since he's nine feet away from you."

  As time passes on, Spike's mention of Rainbow Dash floats about in my mind as I eat, and I can't get it out. I keep remembering how she said that the reason I was supposively trying to hurt Fluttershy was because I was one of 'them'. But who exactly are 'them'?

  "Twilight? Do you remember how Rainbow Dash kept accusing me that I was one of 'them', whatever that means?"

  "Yes, I do."

  "Who is this group that she thinks I'm a part of? She said they tried to kill you sometime this month, I believe."

  "Well, a few days ago, me, Spike, and my friends were having a picnic outside of Ponyville, when suddenly these twelve men came out of the Everfree Forest and asked us our names. When we replied, they started shooting blasts of magical energy at us from their hands, and we all ran for cover behind some nearby trees. While most of them were still shooting, some of them took out their swords and they charged at us. Me ane one of my friends, Rarity, who's an unicorn, fought them off with our own magic as well. We managed to hit some of them with our stun spells, and but the rest kept coming. Rainbow Dash and an earth human friend of mine, named Applejack, finally joined the fight with us and we managed to hold them off. Then, just as quick as they arrived, they retreated into the woods, all of them.

  "A few days later, Princess Celestia sent word throughout the kingdom, saying that there were numerous attacks and murders happening to important people such as noble citizens, government officials, and military officers in the same manner as our's , so I assumed that me and my friends must have been one of their targets. That's why I put up a force field around town, incase the same incident would occur again."

  "And why do you think you're a target?" I ask, moving on to the bread rolls after finishing my potatoes.

  "My five friends and I each hold six magical artifacts known as the Elements of Harmony. They're the most powerful objects in all of Equestria. But the story of how we came into possession of them is a long one, and I don't feel like telling you right. now."

  "The men who attacked you, what did they look like. What were they wearing?"

  "They had on dark, black cloaks with hoods that covered their faces."

  My eyes bulge. "Woah."

  "What is it? What's wrong?"

  "It's just that the men who attacked me this morning exactly match your description of the ones who tried to kill you."

  "Are you sure?"

  "Yes. Positive."

  "Hmm." She places her hand under her chin in deep concentration. "They could be the same people."

  "I know. That's what I'm thinking, too."

  Twilight studies her empty plate and rises out of her seat. "Well, I'm done eating. If you're doen too, Nathaniel, then you I can show you where you'll be staying. Spike will take care of the plates."

  "Sure," I say, getting up. "I'm tired anyway, so I can use some rest. And thanks for the dinner, Spike. It was really good."

  "Yeah, whatever," he replies without even looking at me. Now I know that Rainbow Dash isn't the only one who has a distaste against me.

  "Come on," says Twilight. "You can get your backpack and then you can follow me."

  After a quick walk to the hallway where my backpack is and I retrive it, I go back to Twilight and the two of us go up some stairs.

  "I'm sorry about Spike's attitude," she apologizes. "He thinks that you might try to harm us."

  "That's ok. Hopefully, he'll understand that I'm not a threat soon. Also, where did you put the book?"

  "Oh, it's in my room. Safe and sound. No need to worry."

  When we reach the next floor, she leads me to a door at the right side of the hallway. Twilight opens it, and releaved inside is a medium sized room with a cabinet, a closet, a desk, a circle shaped window, and a neatly made bed.

  Twilight gives me a gentle smile. "Well, you might as well make yourself at home, you'll be here for a while."

  "Thank you, Twilight. I'm very grateful that you invited me into your house, and that you believe what I said. It means a lot."

  "You're very much welcome, Nathaniel. If you need anything, I'll be in my room, upstair. You should find it. Good night."

  Closing the door behind her, the unicorn leaves me alone in my new bedroom. I place my backpack beside the desk and I sit my butt down on the bed, which feels soft and comfortable. For a while, prehaps half an hour or so, I just do nothing but think about basically everything that has happen to me today and my current state. I'm stuck in another world that is very different from mine, my hand is covered in bandages and medicine due to being bitten by a wolf held together by wood, and my life is in danger by those who want me dead. The worst thing is that I don't even know how long I will be here, that is if there's possibilty for me to get back home. For all I know, I could be trapped in here forever, and I might never see my family or friends ever again.

  With a heavy and troubled heart, my gaze turn towards the round window and through the glass i see the lights of the small town that is Ponyville, and amongst the streets I see many people walking around and about at night under the new moon, Earth humans, unicorns, and pegasi alike.

  Taking off my shoes and putting them aside, I get off the matress and kneel on the floor in a prayer position, with my arms on the bed, my hands wrapped together, and my eyelids closed.

  "Heavenly Father, I thank You for allowing me to live in this universe that You have made, and if it is Your will, O Lord, may You protect me through the many years ahead. Father, although bizzare and threatening events have occured in my life today, and I am deeply troubled, I still thank You that I am still alive and well. I thank You for allowing me to get away from those cloaked men, I thank You for being with me when I fought off against those wooden wolves in the forest, and I thank You that Twilight Sparkle has aided me. Speaking of Twilight, I pray that You will bless her for what she has done for me, for I am so thankful. She believed me when I told her I had no evil intentions in my mind, she took me into her home although she barely knew me, and she invited me to eat her food at her table. O Lord, may you keep You eye over Twilight, Spike, and her friends, and everyone else in Ponyville.

  "Sovereign Master, though I am in a world that is not my own and I am being hunted down, I will not be totally afraid, for You are with me wherever I am. And Lord, when You think it is time, may You return me to my home. O how I love You, God Almighty. You are just and true and good and awesome. There is truly none like You. In Your Holy Name I pray to You. Amen."

  With that being done, I take off my glasses, the sword, and my necklace and put them on the cabinet, get underneath the lukewarm covers of my bed, and close my eyes, inviting sleep.

***

  Peeking through the crack of the door, Twilight watches the boy, Nathaniel, leaning against the bed on his knees with his head down. She can't clearly understand the words, but he is saying something in a low voice to himself, whatever it is. After a moment, he gets up, places his glasses, sword, and necklace on the cabinet, and goes to bed without making a sound.

  "Ok," Twilight says softly so not to alert him. "That was weird. Have no idea what that was all about. Maybe it's a common practice in his world to do before going to sleep."

  The unicorn walks up to her room and gets into her own bed. Staring up at the ceiling above, her mind goes on an express train to think of Nathaniel. There's something about him that Twilight can't seem to shake off, and every time she tried to think about someting else, he would always return.

  It bothers her so much. Why was he sent here? Why is he a target for a group of criminals? And mostly... why does Twilight feel like she can put all of her trust in him? Him, a total stranger who she only met just this afternoon, not so long ago! Rainbow and Spike had told her that they each had bad thoughts about him, but the unicorn didn't sense any shred of wickedness or falsehood inside of him. And as for Fluttershy, she never said anything negative about Nathaniel, but she would usually look away with a flushed face when she looked at him. But why? Why did she have so much confidence in him to not doing any evil?

  Frusterated, Twilight gets out and walks towards Spike who is already asleep in his bed. That boy sure does know how to snore in his sleep.

  "Spike," she says, touching his shoulder. "Wake up. Now."

  "Uh? What is it, Twi?" Spike asks with tiresome, droppy eyelids.

  "Listen. I need you to get a piece of paper, some ink, and a quill so I can send a letter to Princess Celestia. It's important."