Crossing Over the Arcane Hiatus

Chapter 7: Meet the Herd

What day is today?

It was… I don’t even know. I grabbed my crutch and shifted my way out of bed, taking the sheets with me and almost tripping over the car battery left on the floor. Pissed at the trap I set myself up for, I unplugged what was charging and pushed them all under the bed. Great way to start my second day in Ponyville.

“I’m hungry.” I mumbled to myself, opening the nightstand drawer to take out a breakfast bar. I only have a few of them left so I’d need to save them incase anything happens. I fumbled over to the stairs and was greeted by the sun through an open window, but the clock on the wall says its 2pm. But I went to bed at 2pm...

Great, I just slept for a good twenty four hours straight. I was able to east my way down the steps into the main room, towering bookshelves everywhere. Spike ran into the room but for an instant, and grabbed a book off a shelf. He flipped through it for a few seconds, then wrapped it tightly under his arm. The thud of feet landing on the last step alerted him to my presence.

“I was beginning to fear you wouldn’t wake up.” He smugly looked up to me.

“Sorry,” I apologized. “My time is off of yours by twelve hours. I just need to get used to it. Dumb lag... Hey, what day is it?"

“Tuesday. Also you look like a mess.” Spike criticized, flipping through the book once more. “There’s a bathroom down the hall that way. I’d take a bath if I was you.”

“Thanks, but I think I’ll eat first. I'm a bit hungry."

“In that case, Twilight usually keeps some food in the kitchen. I’m sure she won’t mind if you help yourself. Wait, do you eat gemstones?”

“Err… no. Where is Twilight anyway?” I asked.

“Oh, uh... I dunno. She said she was... heading out and not to disturb you.” Spike smiled and bolted out of the room with the book. Following his example I set off to the kitchen to grab an apple. After eating, I made my way to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror at myself, I saw my hair was atrocious.

Rarity would probably be horrified. God, did I look like this all day yesterday?

Slowly and carefully I took off the bandage around my head to reveal a large scar maybe six or so inches across my forehead. The gauze was crusted with dried blood, and so was the wound as it had already begun to scab over. Thankfully my hair should cover this up, and I pressed it down to cover it. Hunching over, I lifted up my shirt revealing the humorously large band-aid that was wrapped around my abdomen. Carefully I peeled that off to, revealing a hoof-sized bruise right below the breastplate. I felt no pain in that area so I decided to leave both bandages off and throw them away. Looking around the restroom, nothing really stuck out of the ordinary. There was even a toilet and everything.

“Hey Spike, I’m going to take a bath. Are there any spare towels I can use?” I called sticking my head out of the door.

“Yeah, Twilight covered that already. There should be some on her bed.” Spike yelled back. I started the trek once more upstairs and found on Twilight's bed a towel, some shampoo, and a bar of soap. I don't know how I missed that when I first woke up. I sat down on my mattress and pulled out the duffel bag searching for a pair of clothes, finding that they were all neatly folded.

I don't remember them being organized like this, I chuckled to myself. Twilight probably went through it. She is kind of obsessive when it comes to organization. I looked around and saw the small private bookcase kept with dust-free tomes, a desk sat in the corner with the dictionary resting on top of it, and even the floor looked like it had been polished recently. Her bed was also made, and deciding not to be rude I remade mine before going back downstairs.

I was sitting around the center of the library reading Magic and The World. I’m not sure why though. I can’t even use magic, but maybe I could learn more about how things work around here. The book says earth ponies have a strong bond with, well the Earth, and this makes them unnaturally strong and resilient. Pegasi can manipulate the weather and walk easily and clouds, and magic itself is what gives them the ability to fly. Makes sense seeing that those wings shouldn't be the least bit capable of hauling a pony's weight. Unicorns have the most obvious use of magic, can theoretically use it for almost everything imaginable, but only about a thousand spells have been created, the most common of which is Telekinesis. The book doesn’t go into much more detail unfortunately.

“Hey Chris, you here?” Someone called out from the front door. I recognized the voice almost instantly.

“Rainbow Dash? I’m in here reading.” Rainbow Dash turned the corner and the door slammed shut behind her.

“Reading? Tried it once, never really got into it. Stuff's lame. Yeah...” She coughed, nervously looking around at the bookshelves as if searching for something. “Anyway, AJ told me about you. You’re not from here, huh? And you threatened Fluttershy with a knife?”

“I did not threaten her with a knife! It was just bad luck she stumbled upon me covered in my own blood and with that out.” I said, closing the book. An odd mixture of fear and skepticism crossed her face.

“Why did you have a knife anyway? And why were you bleeding?”

Please don’t ask questions. I wanted to say that but held it back. I took a deep breath tried to explain,

“I woke up and a tree was on fire, so I ran off into the woods the take cover.”

“Then how’d you break your leg? And where did the knife come from?”

“I always kept the knife on me in case I was ever… attacked.” That wasn’t a complete lie. “As for my leg, I tripped on something and smacked my head into the ground.” That was a lie though. Okay, it kind of was.

Her worried expression began to gently fade away. “Attacked? By Fluttershy?” she laughed, staggering to catch herself from falling onto the floor. “Alright, do you remember anything else before that?”

“Why do you ask?” My turn for questions. Rainbow Dash really looked nervous about something when she first came in, but other than the strange creature in front of her I don’t have a single clue what would make her nervous. “Why are you here anyway?”

“Me? No reason,” she said turning away, head held high. “I just thought it’d be a good idea to check up on a hurt friend is all. Maybe check out a book.”

Friend? I hardly know you. Well I know you, but you hardly know me. Then again, everyone here hardly knows me.

“Well that’s nice of you, but why are you really here? I know you’re lying.” Those words shook the pegasus like she’d seen a ghost. Her ears flopped down and her wings visible shuttered against her sides. “…and your reaction just made it obvious. And didn't you say you hated reading?"

"I didn't say I hated reading, in fact I... oh fine. I like to read! Happy?"

"That shouldn't be anything be ashamed of..."

“Oh, well Twilight said she got a new Daring Do book in yesterday, and I can't wait to read it!" She let out an iconic fangirl squeal, and I dropped my tome to cover my ears.

"Daring Do? Never heard of it." By the daggers she glared at me, I knew I'd end up regretting those words.

"WHAT!?" She flew from her position to where she was within inches of me, pressing her forehead right up against mine. Damn wall wouldn't let me lean any further back. "How do you NOT know the Daring Do series!?"

I shoved her back. "Well sorry if I just arrived here yesterday and currently know nothing about this place's literature."

Rainbow Dash scoffed, and flew up to a bookshelf. "Here," she tossed me a book, Daring Do and the Quest for the Sapphire Stone. "It's the first in the series," she added and swept back down beside me.

"Alright, I'll be sure to read it sometime. Now why are you here?"

"I told you, to check out the new book."

"Nice derail attempt, but I can tell that isn't the truth. Why are you really here?"

Rainbow Dash nervously looked around the room, tugging on her mane. "Oh. Like I said, I'm here to check out the new book. And it doesn't hurt to check in on a friend does it? Besides, Twilight's out and asked me to watch over you."

Something is up.

“Well, that’s nice of you. But I don’t think I can get into much trouble around here.”

“You’d be surprised,” she rolled her eyes. “A lot of weird things happen around here on a regular basis.”

“I probably wouldn’t, actually.” She cocked her head at that and I quickly changed the subject. “What’s Twilight doing right now that has her so preoccupied anyway? She has my phone.”

Rainbow Dash paused for a second before responding. “You mean that rectangle thingy?” She drew out a rough shape in the air with her hoof. “She… she said she was playing with it. Yeah, I don’t know what it is anyway but it had her really preoccupied. Yeah, that’s what she said.” Rainbow Dash awkwardly smiled. “What’s it do anyway?”

“Well, if you have one and someone else does too, the two of you can talk to each other without being anywhere near each other.”

“Really? That's kind of pointless. I’d bet there’s a spell for that. And Twilight said it played games.”

“Well, it can do that too. It can actually do a lot of things, sort of like a little computer.”

“Computer? Never heard of it.”

“Upstairs under one of the beds there’s a large rectangular thing made of plastic. It’s also a computer, and if you want to get it I can show it to you. I really don’t feel like getting up right now.”

“Nah, too much work.” Rainbow Dash slouched over and lied down on the floor yawning. “So what are you, exactly? Everypony is saying you’re a ‘human’ but I’ve never seen one before.”

“Well, I am a human, and this is kind of what a human looks like.” I threw my hands out over my body in exaggeration, but this only annoyed her.

“Well, DUH. I can see that now.” She groaned, stretching out on the floor.

“Then why’d you ask?”

“Just trying to keep things interesting. I’m so bored right now.”

“Well, like I said before, you don’t have to be here.”

“And like I said before, I do have to be here! I have to keep an eye on you so you don’t wander off.”

An awkward silence filled the room. Spike ran in momentarily to grab a bucket of paint out of a closet before sprinting away and out of sight.

“You know, I can’t imagine humans being so strong. I could probably just stand on you and crush you.” Rainbow Dash said with an intimidating tone, locking eyes with me. “After all, you tripped and broke your leg so easily.”

“You know Rainbow Dash, one would imagine the wings of a pegasus to be similar to that of a bird. I can’t imagine them being hard to snap like a twig. It’d probably be easier for me since I have opposable thumbs.” I retorted with a devilish grin, rubbing my hands together. I snapped my fingers catching her by surprise, and then clapped my hands in delight. We both stared at each other for a second before Rainbow Dash lost it and started laughing.

“You’re not too bad Chris.” Rainbow Dash calmed down short of breath. I sighed and lay down on the floor beside her, looking up towards the ceiling.

“I can’t help but shake the feeling this is some crazy dream. Like I’m in a coma or something.” I don’t know where that came from, or that I even said it aloud. Rainbow Dash got back up and looked down at me.

“If this was a dream, you wouldn't feel pain.” She playfully kicked me in the shoulder. “I’m not sure about a coma though. Can you feel pain in a coma?” She lifted up a hoof and dangled it above my chest.

“That won’t solve anything.” I pushed her leg aside and she sat back down. “It’d likely just make things worse.” I pulled up my shirt, revealing the large bruise left by Applejack.

“Owww…” Rainbow Dash stepped back. “Applejack can kick hard. I learned that myself more than once.” Rainbow Dash lifted herself up and was now flying in small circles around the room.

“I’m so bored.” She moaned again, practically spitting out the word.

“Well if you’re going to babysit me, what do you want to do?”

“I don’t know.” Rainbow Dash crashed to the floor with a loud thud. “I just hate being cooped up. I never thought watching you would be so boring.”

“Forgive me if I bore you. We could go outside.” I sat back up grabbing my crutch. “I promise not to run away; as if I could.”

“No can do. Pinkie thought it would be best if you don’t leave the library.”

“Pinkie Pie?” Rainbow Dash went pale and shifted away.

“Uhh… uhh…” She hastily got up and started flying in circles again. “Twilight asked Pinkie Pie and me who wanted to watch after you, and I volunteered, so, yeah.”

“Rainbow Dash,” I tried confronting her, “What exactly is going on? I know you don’t want to be here.”

“I can’t say. It’s a secret.”

“Is something happening?”

“It’s a secret.”

She was now flying erratically and kept looking away from me, so maybe it'd be best I jump to the obvious.

“I think I know where this is going. Is Pinkie Pie setting up a party for me and you’re here to make sure I don’t find out?” That must be it. Right after I guessed she flew straight into a bookcase before falling to the ground with a mountain of books following her.

“What? No! She would never do that!” Rainbow Dash stuck her head out from underneath the pile.

“Pinkie Pie? Never throwing a party?”

“For the love of Celestia, alright fine! Pinkie Pie is throwing you a surprise welcoming party and I’m here to make sure you don’t find out!”

“So much for it being a surprise!” Twilight silently appeared out of nowhere, and was obviously upset. Rainbow Dash sunk back into the pile of books and out of sight.

“Rainbow Dash, I thought I could trust you.” Twilight hung her head down and trotted into the room with Rainbow Dash still hidden under the pile of books. “Pinkie Pie is not going to be happy.”

“Well it’s not my fault! He kept pestering me!” Rainbow Dash shot up, sending books everywhere.

“Watch it!” Twilight used her magic to catch all the tomes, both in the air and on the ground, and returned them to their respective spots on the shelves. “These are delicate! You could easily tear a page if you’re not careful.”

“Well SORRY. I guess I’m not needed here anymore then. The party is supposed to start soon anyways.” Rainbow Dash disappeared leaving a rainbow contrail that went out the door, slowly fading into the air.

“Sheesh. That pony can be so…” Twilight turned back to me. “I’m sorry about that. She just had to ruin the surprise.”

“Don’t worry, Twilight. I’ll be sure to act surprised when we get there. And why is Pinkie Pie throwing me a party? I thought that was going to be some other day.”

“Well, by Pinkie’s logic, today is some other day. And why'd you take off your bandages?"

“My wounds aren't too serious for them. They were making it more awkward to move around then it should be. Also, do you still have my phone?”

“Oh right. About that…” Twilight produced the black object and sent it over to me. “Please don’t be mad, but I think I broke it.” Twilight retreated, sheepishly drawing circles in the floor. “I was just playing with it, and I was showing it to Rarity when it suddenly stopped working! I just don’t know what went wrong.”

“The battery’s probably dead.” I reassured her. “As long as you didn’t submerge this in water or drop it, it should be fine. I just need to recharge it for a few hours and it’ll be as good as new.”

“That’s a relief. Anyways, the party is supposed to start soon. I was just coming to get you.”

“Alright, let’s go. Where is it, anyway?”

“Sweet Apple Acres. Come on, we don’t want to be late.”

The sun was setting when we made our way through Ponyville to the farm. The entire town was eerily quiet, and all the lights were out in almost every building.

“Did Pinkie Pie invite every pony in town? It’s dead quiet around here.”

“She probably did. That pony usually invites the whole town to every one of her parties, but not everypony shows up. I guess it’s quiet because there was a larger turnout than normal. Maybe it has something to do with the “special guest” that the party is for.”

“I guess that’s me then.”

Twilight nodded in agreement and we continued down the street. The silence was abruptly broken when a small party rushed us from the side. The three mares stopped short of us, one of them shrieking. There was that mint-green unicorn from before; I believe her name was Lyra. She was accompanied by two others that I easily identified as Bon Bon and Carrot Top.

The five of us were standing in a small circle, and Carrot Top shrieked, but more out of joy than fear. Bon Bon was staring at me in disbelief, and Lyra had the creepiest and largest smile I had ever seen.

“You’re a human, aren’t you?” Lyra asked, not altering the expression on her face for a moment.

“Yes…”

I wasn’t sure how to respond to what was going on right now. I glanced at Twilight, who looked to me and then back to the group and sighed.

“I KNEW IT! THEY’RE REAL!” Lyra yelled at the top of her lungs before running off. Bon Bon blinked several times before Carrot Top grabbed her and they chased after her friend.

“What the hell was that about?” I asked.

Twilight took a deep breath and continued walking with me following her. “That was Heartstrings, Bon Bon, and Golden Harvest. Heartstrings has always believed in humans being real but nopony else did before. She's really enthusiastic right now. Earlier in the day she was-”

“Wait, humans exist here?”

“Well, yes and no. They didn’t exist on this world until you came along. Before that they only existed as mythical creatures in fairytales. I thought it’d be best not to tell you because I didn’t want to scare you.”

“Well that’s kind of you, but you don’t need to hide anything from me. I think I can handle it.”

“I don’t know. There are some things I’m too afraid to tell you because of how you might react.”

Boy, do I know that feeling.

“This orchard is huge!” Apple trees went on for acres before my vision was blocked by a hill, and my guess is that there are more trees beyond that. Twilight shyly smiled at my response.

“I know. It looks like it goes on forever at times. And Applejack and her family have managed this farm since Ponyville was first founded.”

We continued down the path and came up to the large arch. A wooden sign with an apple carved out of it hung from the decorative entrance, and it connected to a white fence marked the property line between the orchard and the rest of the farm. From the main entrance several paths diverted off to cornfields, grape vineyards, and a chicken coop. More paths led off from there to other areas that were now hidden by the night. An enormous red barn proudly rested atop a hill.

“Are you sure the party’s here? The farm looks dead.”

“Trust me. Just remember to act surprised and Rainbow Dash and I might not get in so much trouble with Pinkie. You do not want to make her angry.”

“I intend not to,” I smiled holding back the thought about Cupcakes. I still get the occasional nightmare.

We made it up to the barn door and Twilight knocked three times before opening it. There was the obvious noise of ponies giggling and rummaging around, but I couldn’t see anything do to the room being pitch black.

Then somepony turned on the lights.