Peace begins with a smile
March 1st, 2680
I don’t know where to start. There is so much that I feel I need to write, but it’s so hard to even believe that this is real. I guess the best thing to do would be to start off with who I am. My name is James Douglass. I was born on April 2nd, 2667 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. My family left the city when I was 6 due to a war inside of the city. We moved to a village called Weathertop. My mom became a librarian and my dad one day went hunting and never returned.
My mom was more than just my mom, and I think she's probably the only person I actually trust. I helped her through hard times and she helped me through hard times. The world that we live in is essentially destroyed and ravaged thanks to the fall of the government. I was able to read about peace time and how great life used to be by the books that my mom was able to provide, but that was all either fiction or history. My mom herself is essentially what makes life in the hellhole essentially heaven, but due to some of my big social issues I don’t have any other friends. I am not proud of this.
Due to a shortage of game, food prices skyrocketed and we needed the money to keep ourselves alive so despite my social issues I got myself a job as a mailman. Even though walking around through the world was dangerous, I seldom actually got into trouble. Still, I would always keep a baseball bat at my side. Eventually I had a client named Christabel who had a strange task: she wanted me to deliver a letter to a laboratory a few miles away without me notifying anyone where I was going. It was a strange request, as first of all I don’t think anyone knew of this laboratory or else it would have been scavenged by now and second of all I usually tell someone where I’m heading in case I don’t come back. However she offered a lot of money, so I agreed.
When I finally found this strange underground laboratory that she spoke about, I couldn’t find anyone inside the place. All I could find was a giant room with several computers and pods surrounding them. There was a room that caught my attention as it said “do not enter.” I didn’t see anyone around, and it looked like this place was shut down a long time ago so I went in and found what looked like just an ordinary rocking chair. Since I just walked a few miles, I was pretty tired and that chair certainly looked appealing so I sat down on it and fell asleep. I woke up in an entirely different land.
When I woke up, I was surrounded by these strange looking animals. They were on four legs, had hoofs, had a tail, had snouts, and had a mane. The most shocking characteristic regarding them is that they all spoke perfect English. They really remind me of the horses that I would hear about in my books, but those animals went extinct after 2158. The doctor, who happened to have a mark that resembled a plus on his leg, told me that I was found washed up on the beach and that I would soon be meeting with the ruler of the land, Princess Celestia. I really wanted to ask the doctor where I was, but the words were stuck in my throat and wouldn’t come out. I’m not sure if it is because they are another species entirely or if it’s just me and my shyness showing.
Once the doctor said it was time for me to meet the Princess, he showed me to the door and then I was led by some guards to the “grand hall.” The Princess, who was both a Unicorn and a Pegasus, was beautiful. She first asked me if I could understand what she was saying, and I just nodded my head. Her next question was “are you a maker of war or peace?” I had to say something here, but I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t here to try and make peace or war, in fact I still don’t know why I even am here.
“M-m-mailman!” I replied, my voice being obnoxiously loud and raspy. Even though she wasn’t human, I could see that she was confused. I explained to her my entire situation in hopes that she would understand. She smiled at me, and I felt like I did something right for once. “I can’t say I’ve ever heard of this ‘laboratory,’ but I can say that the nation of Equestria had stranger things happen than another species come in from another world. Over here in the capital we are busy with something else that needs to get done sooner than later, but I can send you off to one of my students who will be able to help you.”
She told me that there was a pony in a town called Ponyville who studies every day and every night and that she would probably be the best one to talk to. She showed me to the train and told me that in the morning when the train arrives I would be meeting up with her. Before the train started she asked me if there was anything else I needed and I asked for a blank diary, and she gave me the book that I am writing in right now.
The train’s going right now, and I don’t know what to think about the whole situation. Forgetting that this place has talking animals, the fact that prewar tools and facilities including the train that I am on right now exist fascinates me. Even then, I need to find out how I got here and if there’s any chance I can go home. This seems like a much better place than the United States, but I need to get back to my mom, where I belong. I guess I will see how things turn out in the morning when I finally get to meet the star student of the Princess. In the meantime, I should get some sleep.
Peace begins with a smile
March 2nd, 2680
Today started with a bizarre dream. Most of my dreams deal with my current scenario or deal with the books I have recently read, but this dream dealt with a young looking guy in a room full of mist. He was wearing a black hoodie that had white colored arms. His clothes were actually clean, which I've never actually seen before except in pictures. In fact, his clothes remind me a lot of the pictures I used to see of people in history books, before the government fell through. His hair was also really nicely cut and reminded me of some old rock n' roll star from ages ago... I think his first name was Elvis.
He held out his hand and asked me, “Are you a maker of war, or peace?” Much like with Celestia, I didn’t know what to say. I stood there for a minute just trying to figure out what those words even meant. In the end I didn’t say anything, yet the guy smiled as if I did. “I guess I’ll find out. Don’t worry too much, things will come together soon,” he said right before walking off in the distance. Before I could ask him what he meant, the next moment I awoke and rather than being surrounded by the white mist I was surrounded by the candy colored walls of the train. According to the operator, I was set to arrive at Ponyville soon and the local time was 12 PM.
Once I got off the train, and I saw Celestia’s star student and the star student’s assistant. She was a purple unicorn and had a tattoo on her leg that resembled a magic spark. Her assistant was a small purple dragon with green spikes on his back. The unicorn trotted towards me and introduced herself. “You must be the one Celestia sent! My name’s Twilight Sparkle and this is my assistant, Spike. We were assigned to help you find a way back home. What’s your name?”
I wanted to respond like a civilized human, but I couldn't. This is the same exact issue with everyone else back home; I just can’t socialize well at all no matter how hard I try. There was a psychologist back at Weathertop who offered to help me overcome this but it’s too late now that I’m here in this situation. I couldn't even look at her straight in the eyes, so I cocked my head the other direction and simply said, “James.”
I wasn’t proud of that, but it looks like they accepted me as a friend regardless. They told me about themselves while we were walking over to Twilight’s house. Twilight is apparently one of the best magicians in Equestria, yet she's surprisingly humble about it. She also tells me that she's a big bookworm, which is probably the first time I’ve met somebody other than my mom who enjoys reading. Spike comes off as a mischievous kid, but also a very tender one. If he ever actually hurt someone I would imagine that he would feel awful and would apologize immediately. They asked about me, but all I could come up with were short responses. Questions such as where I was from were answered with “not from here” and questions such as what I like to do were simply answered with “read.”
Twilight did mention what her plan was with me. Her plan is to use a teleportation spell on me and send me back to where I came from, but first she has to know where to teleport me and then she has to find out if it's safe to use such a spell on my own species. I should have given her a much more detailed response as to where I was from, but figured I'd tell her that once I got to her place.
When we got to Twilight’s house, which happened to be a giant tree with a door leading inside, Twilight asked me something, “Hey, James, your clothes look kind of old. I have a friend who can sew you some new ones. How would you feel about that?” I was not going to let myself screw up like last time, so I responded with a nice and firm, “yeah, that’d be great!” I felt great for saying this and besides, I haven’t changed my clothes in years. This orange jacket of mine used to be owned by my dad, the pants I'm wearing that are too small were looted off of a kid who unfortunately lost his life during the war in Fort Smith, and I found my shirt washed up on the shore of a river.
“Okay, great! Spike will escort you to a friend of mine who will suit you up! Her name is Rarity. Before you go, I’m going to need the name of your species so I can get to work.” I told her I was human and forced a smile because in reality I was distraught on the inside. I don't see much hope here if one of the biggest bookworms in the land didn't know what a human even was. If she hadn't heard of humans now I'm not sure if they were ever discovered in Equestria which would jeopardize the whole teleportation plan.
I eventually sucked up my woes and went along with Spike to Rarity's shop. On the way over there, I got to see more of Ponyville. The town is colorfulc, clean, and peaceful. Most of the houses have hay for a roof with the walls looking like they are made out of some form of wood or concrete. This is a huge contrast to the world I was used to, which was burnt, fowl, and chaotic. Most of the houses back there were made out of garbage and many houses didn't even have a roof. I asked specifically if we could take a detour just so I can get a better image of the place and he agreed. The whole place around here is beautiful.
When we got to the shop, Spike slowly opened the door and pranced inside. “Rarity, my darling, I come with a request from Twilight!” the purple dragon sang. The white unicorn on the inside with a purple mane rolled her eyes and responded “A request from Twilight? I suppose I could do that. Who happens to be your peculiar friend?”
Before I tried to answer Rarity, I glanced around for a second. There were all sorts of fancy fabrics everywhere, sewing machines that actually worked, buttons, ribbons, ties, capes, and so on. I was fascinated because for the first time in my life I was seeing raw materials that weren't torn or filthy.
Anyway, I was about to say something but Spike cut me off. “His name’s James. Twilight was assigned to find him a way home. He’s not from here and likes to read, but he’s kind of on the shy side, ya know? Heck, he might be worse than Fluttershy.”
I didn't know who Fluttershy was, but I was embarrassed that Spike told her that I was shy. I understand that it’s true, but everyone around here seems so outgoing. I really should have listened to my mom when she told me to see the psychologist and would have gave my weak skills a much needed reform.
Spike told Rarity about Twilight's request. Rarity agreed, which I expected, but I didn't expect her to scrutinize me for several minutes. She eventually gasped, which I'm assuming means she has the idea down. Rarity told me to give her my orange jacket so she could wash it and that it will be part of the outfit. “Come back tomorrow deary and you will have a fabulous new outfit! It is getting kind of dark, so you should go back to wherever you're staying. I should have your clothes ready during the afternoon!”
Rarity was right, the sun was beginning to set, so me and Spike headed back to Twilight’s house. Spike would not be quiet about his crush on Rarity the way over. He asked me if I had ever had a crush on someone, and I told him the honest truth, "No." He looked shocked for a brief moment, but then went back to rambling about Rarity. I was probably the only kid at the school in Weathertop who didn't care about this boyfriend/girlfriend nonsense. I just don't see what the point of it is, most of the time relationships don't work out so I don't see why I would need to be in one.
We finally got back, and I was tired. I went in with the intent of sleeping but I was marveled at the amount of reading material available. This was more than my mom's library! The first thing I wanted to do was take a whole stack of them and read, but I figured that I could do that tomorrow. I did happen to see Twilight scourging through books. It looked as if she had gone through half of her whole collection, which I'm guessing was in the thousands. I didn't say a word to her and Spike showed me to my room.
Even though this is only day 2, I can’t help but feel that Twilight will never be able to help me find a way back home. I simply need to go back home, to my mom. The only thing I can do right now is pray to god that I’ll get out of here. I don’t even think god cares anymore, to be honest. If he cared about humanity he would not have allowed the world to crumble. I guess I should look on the bright side, though. I’m with a friendly group of creatures, the area looks nice, and I'm not dead...
Who am I kidding? I really don’t know what to think anymore.