Us and Them

Chapter 1

The First Step

It was just another day, go to school, hang with my friends, come home, go to sleep.  Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. There weren’t any demons lurking outside my window looking to kidnap me, or whatever you’d expect to occur before what happened did. I honestly wonder why we always think that surreal occurrences are so- well, surreal. I felt nothing as I went to sleep, but when I woke up- man, was I in for a surprise.

Probably the first thing that caught my attention when I woke up was that it was far brighter than it probably should have been when I woke up. Naturally, the first thought that ran through my head was “CRAP, I’m late for school!!!” Instinctively, I went to jump out of bed. Halfway through, I felt like something was very wrong, and I ended up falling flat on my face.

The first reason for the tumble was easy to explain, but rather hard to comprehend. I wasn’t actually in a bed at the time. I was out on someone’s grassy yard, where I suppose I had sleepwalked to (which confused me more, seeing as how I don’t sleepwalk). The second reason was impossible to both explain and comprehend. I didn’t have my normal set of legs. Where I used to have two feet, I had a pair of hooves. Similarly, my hands had also taken on a rather blunt shape.

I found myself surrounded by a number of wooden houses topped with thatch roofs. Very uncharacteristic. I though to myself. The nearby road wasn't asphalt, or even gravel, but rather a flat dirt road. Nothing around me looked... human.

It took a few minutes to process, but finally I realized just what had happened. Somehow, I had turned into a pony, and was transported into Ponyville. Then came the inevitable reasonings behind it. Now, I’m not as crazy as you may think, but in stressful situations, like- oh I don’t know- waking up to find yourself to be a pony, my brain doesn’t stick to logic very well.

“I must be dreaming.” Well heck, this is one awfully vivid dream. I slapped myself across the cheek. My very real, apparently not dreamt up, cheek. Ow.

“Magic?” Okay, now we’re stepping into the forbidden zone here. A man of science does not say that word. Next?

“Some destiny has brought me here to defeat a dragon, and save the princesses?” Okay, I’m through talking with you, inner voice of reason, come back when you grow a brain.

“Aw...”

After that... weird talk with my inner self, I decided that rather than sit on somepony’s lawn all day, staring off into the distance, I should really start going around to see what was what. And so I stood up, and began walking. It felt kinda strange when I started walking, but it was natural, and I was going on instinct here, because I am not a professional at the pony-step.

I began to take note of my surroundings, not that I needed a lot of help with it. Most of the buildings I recognized enough from watching the show. I decided that I should keep calm, and the best way for me to do that was to keep my mind off of what was going on. When that failed, I changed my game plan, and decided to learn everything I could. I looked in a store window, looking to see my reflection. What I saw more or less floored me.

I stared back, not at a colt, as I likely would have expected, but at a lavender unicorn mare with a royal blue mane held back by a yellow headband. On my flank was an hourglass. I recognized this pony. I should, seeing as how I created her. I was staring at Historia.

I should explain. Because I have many talents and passions which lend themselves to cutie marks rather nicely, I created a whole family of ponies, each one representing a different part of me. Historia represents my love of History, and she was a teacher at the Royal Institute in Canterlot..

I felt many emotions after seeing my visage in the mirror. I was happy that I was somepony who I could recognize, and not just some random mash-up of colors. I was somewhat disappointed and confused to see that I had somehow changed genders between Earth and Equestria. Above all else, I was still in shock that I had somehow managed to do what every brony in the world wants. I somehow ended up in Equestria.

As I continued trotting through town, looking for the library, the town hall, anywhere I could find somepony sensible, I began to wonder where everypony was. My answer came in the form of a mob of just about everypony in Ponyville gathered in the town square. Tasks one and two, check.

I walked up to the mob, recognizing almost everypony in the crowd, despite all of their backs (flanks? tails?) being turned to me. The ones who I didn’t recognize were the ones up on the steps to the town hall though. And I would soon find out why.

The mayor was at the podium, announcing the arrival of three new ponies to Ponyville. She said that the ponies didn’t remember much about themselves, and that the town should welcome them as they would any other pony.

While she was giving her speech, I wormed my way into the crowd, fighting to reach the front. It wasn’t as hard as it seemed. Apparently being a skinny mare instead of a big colt helped in this case. When I finally reached the front, I gently interrupted the mayor’s speech. “E-excuse me, but there’s actually a fourth new pony here.”

“What?” Everyone gasped. I can’t say I blame them. It’s not everyday four people ponies show up out of thin air.

I got up on stage and stood beside the mayor. I told the crowd all I thought they should know. “My name’s Historia, and I just came in overnight.” I really didn’t want to deal with any explanations of how I was a human from another world, or how I just woke up in this world. That would drive me insane, and it would make me look the part to the rest of the town. I took a place beside the other three ponies, and the mayor finished off her speech.

The crowd slowly dissipated, leaving me alone with these three ponies. Closest to me was a red pegasus pony with a very short blond mane. His tail was short and frayed, I imagine he didn’t take great care of it. His cutie mark looked like a black piece of ribbon. That confused the heck out of me. What was his talent? Ribbon-cutting?

Next was a really, and I mean really big earth pony. He was a bit taller than Big Mac would be, by my estimates. He had a brown coat and a nondescript mane that was a slightly more orange tint to his brown color. His cutie mark consisted of a dust cloud being blown by wind. Again, confusing cutie mark. What, could he breathe out clouds of dust or something?

The last was another earth pony. She was the smallest of the four of us, but she had this silly grin. God, if I only knew how she could be so happy while all of us were so confused. She had a coat that I can only describe as cherry wine- somewhere between pink, red, and purple. She had a fairly long, sky blue mane. When I looked over the big pony to see her cutie mark, I found a pair of eighth notes, just like Vinyl Scratch had on her flank.

I tried introductions. It didn’t turn out well. None of them could remember anything, not even their names. We all shared one thing in common though. Each one of us remembered waking up around town without a clue as to what was going on. As the only one who knew anything about our collective situations- namely I knew where we were and I could actually remember my name- I decided that we should group up and figure out what had happened together. They didn’t argue, likely because they decided that four ponies would probably find things out better than one.

And so we set off to find out what our destinies held for us in the land of Equestria.

We didn’t get far. Our first mountain to climb was mere steps before us. It came like a fighter jet, hit like a train, and was on us like caramel on a candy apple. The Original Pink Menace™ had heard the news (she probably slept late, she wouldn’t have missed this opportunity for the world) about new ponies in town, and made it from Sugarcube Corner to the Town Hall in a time that would make Rainbow Dash jealous. I don’t know if it was the built up momentum, or if it was intentional, but she tackled all four of us so hard that we all flew into the wall behind us.

“OHMYGOSH! AREYOUTHENEWPONIESINTOWN!?!?! I’MSOOOOGLADTOMEETYOU!!! MYNAME’SPINKIEPIEANDI’MGONNATHROWYOUTHEBESTPARTYEVERTOWELCOMEYOUALLTOPONYVILLE!!!” She excitedly spouted out.

“Pinkie, slow down, nobody understood what you said.” I stated. Afterwards, I realised that I had just called a pony I had never met by name. I guess that’s what I get for watching the show.

“Oh. Sorry everypony.” Thank Celestia, she didn’t notice. Too caught up in the moment I guess. “I just wanted to say how happy I am to meet you, and that I’m gonna throw you a super-duper- spectacular-iffic party to welcome you all to Ponyville!”

“I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say that we can’t wait to be there.” Okay, I wasn’t sure. These ponies looked about 20 times more scared than I felt, and relatively speaking, I’d say I was taking this pretty well. But the last thing I needed was Pinkie feeling like her parties weren’t appreciated, and... yeah, we all know what road that leads down.

“Okay! Here’s your invitations! See you there!” She quickly pulled out a set of four invitations, and gave them to me.

Rather dumbfounded, I simply stared as she began bouncing her way back to Sugarcube Corner. All I could think was “How did she already have invitations ready” to which I could only reply “Ah, it’s Pinkie. What can’t she do?”

“You know her?” The pegasus inquired. Seems like somepony listens well.

“Well... yeah. I may be new here, but... I know most of the ponies here... They won’t know me back though...” My voice trailed off as I finished that sentence, knowing what was going through their minds.

As if to slap me in the face with the metaphorical fish I had just given them, the pegasus asked “So you stalk these ponies?”

“It’s... I... Ugh... let me explain. Over lunch. I’m getting hungry.”

I led them to Horte Cuisine’s restaurant, where I ordered the daffodil and daisy sandwich. Honestly, I expected it to taste like, well, plants on bread. I certainly wasn’t disappointed. As we ate, we talked.

“Okay. This might sound weird, but we all have a pretty open definition of weird now, so I’ll just out and say it. I’m not from here” I started.

“Well, duh. You said you just came into town today.” The little red mare said.

“No. I mean, I’m not from this world. I’m not a pony. Or at least, I wasn’t until today.”

“And you expect us to believe that?” The big pony asked.

“Honestly, no. But I don’t see how making up some story would help us any. See, where I come from, this world is watched by my kind for entertainment. We watch what the ponies in this world do and learn from them, or laugh at the antics they get involved in.”

“Sounds like stalking to me” The pegasus butted in.

“Call it what you will, it’s the reason why I know so much about this town and its inhabitants. Now, we seem to be in eerily similar situations, so I wouldn’t be surprised if you guys were humans too. The only problem is-” I got cut off. Not surprising, seeing as how the only thing any of those ponies knew about humans is that they get dangerously close to stalking.

“SERIOUSLY!?!?! You think we come from a different world too!?!?!? AWESOME!!!!” The little one shouted. Okay, I’ll admit, I was beginning to like one pony better than the others.

“Hey. Why do you think any of us would be human, huh?” That pegasus again. Geez, I wonder if ponies created duct tape.

“What do you remember from before today, living as a pony?”

“Nothing, but I don’t see how that proves anything.”

“Look. At least I’m trying to come up with ideas. You’re just yelling at me.”

“Fine. Whatever. Keep spouting your nonsense.” “Stalker.” He added, under his breath.

I sighed heavily, and kept talking. “Right, so I think that we’ve been put here somehow. The only way back, in my experience, is either- 1: we find some mission we were destined to solve, and when it’s complete, we’ll wake up home. Or 2: we find the most powerful magic in the land, and use it to bring ourselves back home.”

“Oh come on. That has gotta be the most contrived-” The pegasus began, before he got cut off.

“DUDE! A mission? AWESOME! I hope we fight dragons!” That mare was too excitable for her own good. I hoped we didn’t have to fight any dragons. Celestia only knows what would happen to that one.

“Now, now. I didn’t say it was for sure. Either way, the welcoming party is tonight, and we need to go. I suggest you meet as many ponies as you can tonight. I’m going to try and figure out how we can meet with ‘the most powerful magic in the land.’ Hopefully I’ll get a lead, or maybe even a trip to the castle.”

“Alright, whatever you say.” The big pony said. He sure kept to himself. But at least he listened when he did.

I walked them to Sugarcube Corner, where the party was to be held. I told them to meet back here at seven o’clock, when the party was to begin. It was about two in the afternoon. We had all afternoon to venture the town and see the sights. I knew I had work to do to get me home, but I decided that it could wait until tomorrow. You only get one first day as a pony, and I might as well enjoy mine.

And so we parted ways for the afternoon, each thinking about the party, but almost none with happiness. The apprehension was unbearable as we said our goodbyes. You’d think we were never going to see each other again, but I was their lifeline. Without me, they didn’t know anypony. But that’s what I wanted for them. You don’t learn to swim without first realizing you can’t. You can’t meet friends until you’ve walked without them. A lesson I learned the hard way in my human days.