Day One: Give it up, cuz now I'm back
The once unfamiliar orange pegasus gave the blue mare his signature all-knowing grin. The 'S' on the shirt?" Rainbow Dash's head perked up almost by reflex. "It stands for 'super'." The sky blue mare’s heart started beating faster and faster as everything, from the voice to the wily twinkle in his eyes, started to finally register. Exactly one tear trailed down the ace flyers right cheek. "I told you not to say goodbye."
"Miles?" Tears now streamed from both eyes as she looked up to my face, hardly believing what she was before her.
"Hey, Rain," I said with little fanfare. I could barely believe it myself. "Did you miss me?"
It was a stupid question to ask, I know. But it got results. She jumped over the table to embrace me, knocking over any food that was on it and leaving me straight up stunned. I knew she'd be happy, but I didn't think that she'd show this kind of emotion. She was Rainbow Dash, after all. "I thought you-"
I cut her off midsentence. "I know a pony," I looked back to Rarity, who was barely keeping herself together. "She was able to pull some strings." Even unfamiliar with my new Equestrian body, I still knew where the heart was. And it was almost literally exploding out of my chest. "I missed y-"
Cut off mid sentence by a swift cross to my face, which was then quickly followed up by a kiss that seemed eerily familiar to the one I received when we said goodbye to each other in my world. "DON'T EVER DO THAT TO ME AGAIN!" She wiped her tears from her streaming red-violet eyes, glowing brilliantly in this new world's sun. "EVER!"
I only smiled warmly as I took in all of it. Not just her and her rainbow mane and sky-blue coat, but the glow of the sun. The new smells and sounds and sights. Even the Ponyvillagers staring at us, a few getting the idea and moving on, while a few others wanted to watch as a form of cheap entertainment.
“Never, Rain…” I responded as I met her kiss in kind. I still couldn’t believe it. I was in Equestria! Even if I died right here and right now, I could honestly say that I was content. I have lived as few men have dreamed. But then, I did not plan on dying today. As our lips parted for what would no doubt be the second of many times, I put my arm over her shoulder. “So would you care to introduce me to your friends? For real, I mean. Not them just showing up telling me you have to leave.”
She gave me a wily grin. “Sounds like a plan." So we walked over to her friends and, both wearing an ear-to-ear grin, she introduced me. “Everypony? This is Miles! He’s new here.”
“Heya. I’m Miles,” Twilight shot a glare at Rarity, who was still drinking her punch like it was nothing, although it was something. It was everything. If not for her, I wouldn't even be here. "It's nice to meet you all in your, ah, natural surroundings."
"Well, we're all pleased as peaches ta see ya here, Partner!" Applejack said in a jovial drawl. "although we weren't really expectin' any company from another world!"
"Heh, yeah," I smiled as I put my hand, or hoof as it were now, on the back of my head, still embarrassed about my new body. Orange pegasus with stormy blue eyes? Oh hells yeah! "Well, I can't take all the credit for it, ya know. Rarity had to pull some strings with Princess Celestia and everything. And I still need to get a job and learn how to fly."
"You don't know how to fly?" Twilight seemingly forgot that I really shouldn't be here but was anyway. The violet mare had a questioning expression on her face. "But wouldn't the princess had helped you to learn?"
"Well..." I mused as I remembered back to a couple of days ago.
Two days ago...
"Alright, Mr. Miles..." The great white goddess horse said above me as we walked side by said. I'd only really been there for a couple of days, yet she'd made sure that I received the proper lessons in writing with my mouth and holding things without any actual hands. How did I learn to do that? Very carefully. It took some getting used to, but I pulled it off. "One of the last things I need to teach you is how to fly like a true pegasus." Princess Celestia warmly smiled down at me, like I'd been a romance novel come to life or something like that. "Are you ready?"
"Actually, your Highness," I slowly began to wonder if saying this would be disrespectful to her, then sided the thought. As princess of the land where love and happiness reigned supreme, I was sure she would understand. "I was hoping to save that for when I see Rain-" I suddenly stopped after I realized what I just said. She looked at me with a sly grin and my new orange coat became a little bit more vibrant. I'd only ever called the blue mare known as Rainbow Dash 'Rain' ever since I'd met her. To call her that in front of somebo-SOMEPONY else must have made it sound like I was calling her by a pet name. Screw it, I thought to myself. I'll go for it anyway. "I wanted to save flight lessons for when I finally met up with Rain, if it's all the same to you."
"Very well," she gave me an impressed smile, like I was some kind of sly fox. Well, I guess with my vibant orange coat, I guessed I was close enough.
Back to present...
I shook my head no. "I guess it just didn't come up." That, my dear friends, is what you would call a 'blatant lie'.
"Heh," Rainbow Dash said next to me, her arm still around my shoulder, looking me in the eye with her brilliant red-violet pupils. "I'll bet." She knew what I was going for, and I think she liked it, too. "So you wanna get started now, Hot Shot? Or you want me to show you around town, first?"
I smugly grinned. "I wouldn't mind getting a bite at the infamous sugarcube corner," then I thought of something. "I also wouldn't mind getting a new black jacket to replace the one that doesn't... fit anymore." I shot a wily glance at pink earth pony, Pinkie Pie, and the white unicorn, Rarity. "Too bad I don't know anypony that can help me out with either of those..." A twinkle showed up in both of their eyes. I actually meant both of those, too. It looked like we were in the beginning of the colder months of Equestria, so I actually would need a new coat.
"I think I can help ya with that, Miles." Rain just wouldn't stop smiling. Neither would I, come to think of it. She looked at her two friends that seemed to specialize in those respective fields. "I think I know just the mares that can help with that."
"Hold on..." Twilight spoke up, like there was something she actually wanted to get off of her chest first. "Before you go, there was something I wanted to ask, first."
I lifted a receptive eye-brow. "Alright. Shoot."
"Well," she began, unsure f how to ask without offending me. "You said this was a 'Television' show in your world meant for children. I didn't want to bring it up a few days ago because it didn't seem like the right time, but now that you're here... Why watch it when you're an adult?"
I only shrugged. "It's better than 'Jersey Shore'." Simple enough answer, although I forgot they wouldn't get the reference.
"What in tarnation's a 'Jersey Shore'?" AJ, the golden rod earth pony, asked in her classic twangy voice.
"I don't know," Fluttershy, the shy yellow pegusus with a pink mane, finally spoke up. "But it sounds just awful."
Ha. "All jokes aside. Wouldn't you all want to watch yourselves as entertainment? Redeeming Princess Luna, defeating King Sombra, Spike going berserk and breaking stuff. And Rain here executing the sonic rainboom, not once, not twice, but THREE time." She blushed with pride as I finished that. I could've gone on with examples but I didn't. "Point is, you guys- er, ponies- are some of the best characters on TV. Nothing makes me happier than, well," had to say this last part without sounding to awkward or to creepy. "You guys are just good ponies to even feel like you get to know. Even if you are fictional in my world." Twilight Sparkle seemed to satisfied with that answer as she smiled and drank her punch. The others did the same, all feeling the warmth of a compliment like that. I guess it's not everyday somepony takes you aside and says 'you're a good person'.
"Alright, ya big softy!" The rainbow maned mare called me out, smiling as she grabbing me by my magnificent new brown mane. "Let's get you a new jacket and somethin' ta eat. THEN we'll get you airborne. Got it?"
And I smiled back. "Sure thing, Ace."
Black and Orange Look Cool Together
There we were, in the Carosel Boutique, the one pony owned and operated upscale clothing store, obscure but very high quality. "Really, Miles!" Rarity shouted as she tried to get me into more coats and materials that, well... actually I can't think of anything clever to end that thought with. But rest assured that she was making me try on way more coats than either me or Rain cared for. Although she seemed to be getting a big enough kick out of it. Maybe dealing with Rarity and her fashion stuff was just a right of passage to be one of her friends. I dunno. "Don't you think you might look better in a royal blue? AH! Or perhaps an deep shade of brown to complement your stormy blue eyes and brilliant orange coat?"
"Actually, Rarity," I wanted to let her down gently so I could get my coat and leave and learn to fly with my girlfriend. My girlfriend. Heh. I actually kind of liked the sound of that. "I prefer black and orange because they represent the unique dichotomy of my personality. Dynamic meets philosophical."
She nodded in understanding. I think she finally got it. "I see..." She actually seemed kind of impressed by that answer.
Then I smiled. "I also think they look really cool together."
"Ha." The blue mare let out a laugh as we both looked at the expression on Rarity's face after I said that. It was priceless, just so you know.
She laughed it off easily enough, though. "You and Rainbow Dash were tailor made for one another." She walked over and covered me with what I would assume was a fake leather. I'd actually be concerned if it was real. Which reminds me. Maybe in retrospect it was a bad idea to feed Rainbow Dash a Mcdonalds McMuffin with sausage the first time we actually met while she was still human. It'll probably better if I don't think about it... or mention it... ever. “Very well then. If it is black you want, then it is black you shall get! How would you feel about a lovely shade of onyx with golden linings? Oh! Or perhaps bronze colored zippers?!” Heh. She was enjoying this way too much.
I looked back to Rainbow Dash, who nodded, signalling me that it was cool to trust her with this. “Yeah, alright. That sounds like a good enough place to start. Any idea when it’ll be ready? A few days maybe?”
"Hahaha!" I didn't really remember saying anything that funny... "Oh, you act as thought you have given me a challenge, Dear Miles! Surely you've heard of my, the great Rarity's, work?" Right. There was that, wasn't there? "It should be done no later than within the next day or so. Just come by tomorrow, dear, and it will be ready for you."
I gave an approving smile. "Sounds good to me." I know it might be wierd, but having black jacket like that was kind of a part of my identity when I lived on Earth. Without one, I just felt... weird. "Rain? You rocked and ready to roll?"
She got up and stretched her legs, then her wings.Now I'm not 120 percent positive, but I'm pretty sure she put on that show for my benifet. Judjing by the expression on her face when she did it, I mean. "Should you even hafta ask, Miles?" She threw me a Rainbow Dash trade marked competative smirk. "C'mon, Chief. We still gotta pick something up before we get started with gettin' you up in the air." she then punched me in the arm. "You got any idea how embarrasing it would be having a boyfriend-pegasus that can't even lift his flank of the ground?"
I smiled wryly at her, thinking I was clever. "Well, gee, Rain. I thought that's what I had you for." She punched me in the arm again. but I guess that's what I get for trying to be funny, right?
"Ohhh," Rairty moaned just a little bit. I could see why, though. She was exactly the way the show made her out to be and that included thinking that real life was a fairy tale, complete with rescuing the damsel in distress and trying to protect the woman (mare) from getting hurt. Which was more or less why I forced Rain out of my world, but then Rairty being Rarity she had to...
I'm rambling, aren't I?
The rainbow maned mare blushed only slightly as she turned her face from her white coated friend in embarrasment. "Hurry it up, Miles. There's somepony you need to meet."
So the thing was another pony?
I thought for a moment, not really sure what she meant. "Who do I gotta pick up?" I didn't think we really needed any equipment to learn how to fly.
She put her arm around me and led me out of Rarity's home based enterprise, holding on to an ear to ear grin the entire time. "My little sister."
"Rainbow Dash!" A small orange filly with no cutie mark and a violet mane ran to hug the older blue mare. Right. I almost totally forgot about that episode.
"Wassup, Scoots!" The hug was returned in kind. It was sweet. "How've you and the crusaders been goin'?"
"Great!" She rung out in her tomboyish voice, still excited as hay that what had been her honorary, or maybe full-blown adopted, older sister came to visit her. "Me, Sweetiebell and Applebloom are gonna try are hooves at getting a hang-gliding cutie mark and..." And then she finally saw the dashing rogue standing a few meters apart from the heart felt reunion of mare and filly. "Who're you?"
I thumbed (hooved?) my nose at her, confident that we would hit it off in ten seconds flat... I am hilarious. "Name's Miles, Short Stack!" I walked over to her to get a better look at her. "And I'm Rainbow Dash's pan-dimensional boyfriend!"
A confused look struck the violet maned filly's face. "Pan-demin-wha?"
"Time for a science lesson!" I hate science, but this was different. I picked up a near by stick. I laughed. "I don't even know how I'm holding this. Alright, Squirt, here's the deal. You and everypony in Equestria live here," I drew a circle with the stick in my mouth. "But I live here..." I drew another circle, then a few more lines connecting the two circles. "Rain here decided it was a good to break physics," I smirked at her, which she returned back to me, "and we got to know eachother pretty well, but..." Pause for dramatic effect.
"But...?" She waved her hoof, signaling me to go on.
"But, Rainbow Dash has a pretty cool friend called Rarity that doesn't afraid of anything," I had to say it. I couldn't help myself. "Who asked Princess Celestia for some help regarding that... And here I am!"
The small pegasus waited for a moment, then responded. "What?"
Rain sighed. "I found another world and got a souvenir boyfriend out of it."
"Oh." I liked my explanation better, but whatever. "That's cool..."
She jumped on my back. "So are you a wicked cool flier like Rainbow Dash?! Or are you some kind of other-worldly hero that saves ponies from rock-slides and collapsing tunnels and stuff?"
"Well now..." I looked up to the small foal on my back. "That's just what we're here to find out, isn't it?"
"Whadga mean?" She left my back and stood in front of me, eye to eye.
"This wasn't even my first form, lil' filly." I thought for a second, thinking of another way to explain it. "I was originally a lot taller and with less... wings. So flying wasn't really something I knew how to do."
"So you're a full-grown stallion who can't fly?"
Now I could've retorted with something about her blankflank or the fact that she couldn't fly either, but I didn't. That would be mean and hypocritical at the same time. Instead, I just agreed. "Yes. I am."
"Which is what I'm here to fix!" Rainbow Dash's voice went into coach mode, even sporting a hat that had appeared out of nowhere. "Ain't know way anypony's livin' with me in my big house up there," she pointed to her sizable ariel estate in the clouds. I thought it would be smaller. "Which goes for the two of you! Vinyl?"
"Wassup?" The familiar fan-favorite pony appeared from nowhere, just like that one hat from earlier, with a turntable and stereo system.
"Hit it!"
A familiar melody of years gone by rang threw my ears.
It wasn't...
It couldn't be...
Could it?
It was.
The music to the original pokemon theme song.
Laws of probability be damned... hard.
I'll train you to be the very best
Like noponies ever seen
I am the speed queen afterall
And you will be the king
You both will soar through the skies
With the thunder and the clouds
Don't you two see or comprehend
The potential that resides?
You two!
Orange ponies
My two best friends!
Together until the end
Orange ponies!
Oh whoa, you're both so great
Not even Twi could debate!
Orange Ponies!
Gotta train hard, yes you do!
My greatness will pull you through!
Come with me and I'll show you
Orange ponies!
Gotta train hard, Gotta train hard!
Yeah...
Then, as per the rules of Equestria, I had to get into the act. It was easy. I love this song
Every hurdle she challenges us with
With an iron will we must surpass
C'mon, Scoots, we'll meet her there
At her cloudy palace...
Follow her. She knows what's up
And what it at steak
We'll prove her right and live up there
In the skies and celebrate!
Us two!
Orange ponies
Her two best friends!
Together till the end
Orange ponies!
Oh whoa, we're both so great
Not even Twi could debate!
Orange Ponies!
Gotta train hard, yes we do!
Her greatness will pull us through!
Go with her and she'll show you
Orange ponies!
Gotta train hard, Gotta train hard!
Gotta train hard, Gotta train hard Gotta Train hard!
Yeah!
Us two!
Orange ponies
Her two best friends!
Together till the end
Orange ponies!
Oh whoa, we're both so great
Not even Twi could debate!
Orange Ponies!
Gotta train hard, yes we do!
Her greatness will pull us through!
Go with her and she'll show you
Orange ponies!
Gotta train hard, Gotta train hard!
Up in the skies, I began to fly. No I began to straight up SOAR. The sun burned my eyes, but I knew I could fly higher.
Scootaloo was left behind, bowing out after only gliding for a little bit, but I had to push myself. Even with the sun beginning to burn my new orange coat.
"Rainbow Dash, Look!" Scootaloo demanded of her honorary big sister.
"Oh my gosh..." Rain muttered to herself. She could barely believe it either. I was flying, but I still had to push myself even futher, the golden sun totally obscuring almost any view she had of me, the clouds offering only a token of protection from the heat.
I still flew higher. "Just a little bit more, just a little bit more," I began to mutter to myself. Honestly? I wasn't even sure if I was going to survive at that height, because, to be once against totally honest, I was afraid of highest back home.
But I left my home to come here. I had to impress her.
Finally, I was satisfied with how high I flew into the air. I flared my wings as far apart as I could and bellowed: "I AM MILES HIGHER OF EARTH! AND I WILL SOAR HIGHER ANYPONY ELSE RIGHT UP THERE WITH RAINBOW DASH!"
It was beautiful. The orange pegasus that may have looked like a little sister to me and the mare I left my home for both as the littlest specks on earth, or Equestria or whatever the planet I was currently was called.
Then I took a first long look at the world below. The village, the blazing sun in the distance and the mountains on the horizon. Even with the glaring, orange star in my face, if the sun was a star in this world, I could see everything. Every bronies dream, and I was living it. "Buck yeah, Equestria..." I whispered to myself.
But it couldn't last. I felt my wings tighten and the sun flared I all I could remember was falling.
I began to plummet to the dirt faster and faster.
...
"Rainbow Dash..." Scootaloo muttered. She looked back to the rainbow maned mare. "He'd not slowing down or stopping."
"No," she flared her wings up. "He isn't." And with stoic determination, she took flight faster than I'd ever seen. Anytime I'd seen her fly fast in the show paled in comparison to what I was watching then. And then it happened.
I can't honestly describe what it's like seeing a sonic rainboom in real life. Words like amazing and awesome, phrases like unheard of or impossible, they just don't do it justice. The only feeling I could even compare it to was seeing your first movie as a kid, but with the color all around you and wind at speeds so fast the threatened to break you. In retrospect, it was kind of like a combination of a roller-coaster and the forth of July.
I felt a thud and all around me I saw a huge ring of every color I could think of. I looked into her red-violet eyes as she brought me back to the dirt. "That was awesome..." I muttered.
"Yeah," she smiled. Then she punched me in the arm. Really hard. "Don't do that again." I tried to give her a thumbs up, but alas, I had no thumbs.
"Rainbow Dash!" Scootaloo ran up to us, her face showing an expression of pure excitement. "Look!"
And then we all looked at my... flank. It wasn't as awkward as you would think. It felt like a burning tickle as it appeared: a flaming, one-winged star. "That's cool." I said simply, fully grasping the importance of what was happening.
"Yeah it is," Rain agreed, smiling at my flank... bow chicka bow wow, by the way.
And then, exhausted from the sheer level of win this day provided, I fell asleep.
This day? It was freaking epic.
