Six mares and the guards. I see a gathering behind them. Sunny and Pinkie are known to me. The rest are new.

First one. Orange earth pony. Blond hair. Three apples on her sides. One of the nicest cowboy hats I've ever seen on her head. And get this, her mane and tail were both in ponytails. Ha! Heheh, give me a moment. Can't resist laughing.

The next closest is a blue pegasus. Get this, her loose, unkempt was a rainbow. Seriously. No dye. The full spectrum. In stripes. She is only hovering, which is odd, because reasonably that would be way too exhausting with that body weight, right? Right? Laws of physics and all?

I'll be straight out, she is pretty. What does it matter that she isn't human?

And farther out I see a white unicorn. Long eyelashes, this crazy purple mane/tail. Seriously, it was curled so much it just went on and on in spirals. How long does she style it every day? Hell, how does she sleep?

And the final unknown was a yellow pegasus. Flowing pink hair. Three butterflies on her. What's with those marks?

I turn to the princess.

"So who are these? I've met Pinkie and Sunny..."

"They're my friends. They've gone through thick and thin with me."

"Oh. Um, hello."

I lack names, so I'll just refer to them as Cowgirl, Rainbow, Fashionista, and... Shy? She does seem the most reserved. Whatever.

Cowgirl is talking to Pinkie. With a southern accent, inexplicably yet oddly appropriately.

"So Pinkie, you're tellin' me that some tall two-legged creature came into town-"

She stops, and sees me.

"Woah."

"Hi. I'm who she's talking about."

The next few seconds consist entire of silent staring. Purple-and-white breaks it.

"Twilight! Pinkie rushes over to every single one of us, talking about an alien encounter, making us rush over with this mare, and..."

Sunny butts in.

"Yeah, yeah, this guy comes on the Eastern road, and I was first to meet him.."

"And your friend sees me and has this crazy welcome, and she advises that I come here. Jeez, that's some cake she bakes." I finish. "I'm a human, my name is Martin, this is my dog and my best friend, and I was just visiting. There, that's introductions dealt with. So..." I turn to Princess Twilight, "your friends?"

"I'm Applejack. Mah family runs the local apple farm, not to mention orchards all over Equestria."

"I'm Rainbow Dash. I run the weather in this town. Oh, and I'm training for the Wonderbolts," she says with a smile.

"Who're they?"

"Ah, just the greatest stunt flying team in the world."

"Mmm- wait, what were you saying about the weather?"

"I lead the town's weather team. It's not much most days, we just need to go according to schedule, let off a few downpours for hydration, bring the snow for winter, get rid of it, just like every other town. We did have a shining moment, we were able to empty the reservoir and send it all the way to the cloud factory."

"What? Wait... what you're saying is that you control, manage, and manufacture the weather and climate?"

"Uh, yeah," she deadpans.

At this moment I am silent, my facial expression best described as "What the shit? Are you kidding me?"

I gather myself without freaking out.

"Okay. It's just... That's a completely alien concept to me. Nothing like anything... Let's just get introduced. So who're you?" I ask the last stranger.

"I'm... [indistinguishable]"

"Huh?"

"Her name's Fluttershy. She's the town's animal caretaker. And former renowned fashion model," Pinkie tells me.

"Oh. Hi."

"Hi," she says, rather meekly.

I look for a way to get across to her.

"Um. Do you... like dogs?"

"I do."

She does look more active. I stand up and carry over ol' Rexie.

"He's kinda vicious, but he's got a heart of gold. Wha-"

He escapes my arms and starts licking her silly. Adorable. Everyone else seems to think the same.

"Okay. Mr Martin?" Twilight asks.

"Mmm?"

"I have decided that we should convene at the town hall. You should meet the Mayor, and we will be able to continue our conversations."

"Sure. Let's go."

Author's Note

Coincidentally, Sunny just happens to look like Button's mom. Complete coincidence.