Two days later, Luke was helping out with Fluttershy's animal friends again as usual. he was just finishing up brushing a goat's line of fur, like a landrace or angora goat of some kind. The bovine bleated happily showing it's funny teeth as a sign of thanks to the human, really loving how he is stroking the brush up and down his long fur.
"Goodness, Luke. You are doing rather well."
"Thanks, Flutters." Luke replied. "Samson really likes this, isn't that right, boy?" The goat bleated a yes to him and nudge his face to the human's knee with affection like a cat or a dog would do. "Yeah, yeah, you're welcome." Luke said with a chuckle, then he petted his head and stroke his mighty, long horns three times
For Fluttershy, she w as feeding a couple of treats to Jango the Walrus. It was small fish bits she was feeding him, and after she was done, the hulking creature clapped his flippers and grunted in happiness. "Oh you are very welcome." She replied to the magnificent beast.
She put the treat bucket away near the outside shed, and went to grooming Angel as she would usually do. The little white rabbit was enjoying himself way more than he would usually do, even more than eating a pyramid of carrots, which would be every rabbits dream
Luke rolled his eyes away from them in slight irritation. "That bunny just doesn't understand that even a special rabbit like him has his limits." he said in his brain. He ignored how the spoiled bunny was getting his brushing and decided not to let that get to him, because he knew one day Angel will learn the hard way that he can't have everything his way.
Meantime, he was petting one of her Gloucester old spot pig friends, Gumball, oinking happily as the human was patting and stroking down his back. He even let the cute piggy sniff the palm of his hand with his large, wet snout.
"Luke, I want to ask you something." Fluttershy said, walking up to him with her adorable face looking up at his own,
"Sure, what is it?"
"I was thinking of showing you my former home, Cloudsdale. But if not, I understand."
"That would be awesome!" Luke said. Then he remembered something "but wait, I thought only Pegasus ponies could walk on clouds and no other types? I remember Rainbow Cash saying that,"
"Well, Twilight also said that there was a spell that can make any creature walk on clouds for a limited amount of time, like up to a few hours, or maybe a day."
"Oh yeah, I forgot. So sure, I would love to come. When?"
"Tomorrow."
"Ah, alright. I can take the wait."
"Good." Fluttersh smiled. "Oh it will be so much fun, I can show you some of the restaurants and arena and the Wonderbolt academy. You will love meeting the Wonderbolts."
"Do you know what they are like?"
"Oh yes, they are very nice like everypony else in Equestria. They are the most talented flyers in Equestria, after all."
"I heard that, Rainbow told me that she is in the academy. I wonde if they can handle her big ego within her confidence."
Fluttershy giggled "oh you are funny."
Luke flustered "well, I wouldn't say I am a comedian, my dad's more of a comedian, and one thing's for sure, I am not like Kevin Hart, or Billy Connolly."
"Who are they?"
"One of the most famous comedians in my world. But I really don't follow comedians and their humor, even though some of their stuff is funny. Oh, Pinkie Pie would love those kind of people if she gets a chance to meet them.... and so would Discord.
"Oh yes, Discord and Pinkie can be funny." Fluttershy agreed.
"So is there anything else we need to do for the animals?"
She looked around outside, and turned her attention back at him "nope, everyone is happy. All fed with food and groomed, and i thank you for getting it all done faster."
Luke flustered again. "So listen, Twilight told me that someone wanted to meet me. Some pony named... Starlight Glimmer. Or something like that." He rubbed the back of his head "ic ain't really remember clearly
Fluttershy' is eyes went wide hearing that name "oh wonderful, Starlight is a good friend of ours."
"What's she like?"
"Well, she used to be a..... villain, but she's changed, like Discord. Starlight is a very nice mare, and she can be really sweet once you get to know her. God luck."
"Okay, I'll be back in a little while." Luke remarked, then he was off with his long, shoulder-length hair bouncing up and down from every step he took. It made him look like a handsome lion with all that gorgeous, straight hair.
As he was walking, he was listening to a bit of Skinflint, an African metal band from Botswana. The band was like an African version of Iron Maiden, really heavy, awesome-sounding guitars and the mix of some African traditional mood to go with it.
Oh yes, he could never get enough of this band. Two things he loved at once combined into one, Africa and Rock music blended together.
After a few songs, he listened to a few Judas Priest songs next. He arrived at Ponyville, and everything was still as peaceful as the last time he was there. Looking around at the happy go lucky citizens, he saw Pip playing with his dog, Buzz down the street near the marketplace, and then Roseluck watering her flowers, which mostly consisted of roses in and around her stall to be ready for sale, hence the name Roseluck
There it was, right in front of his view, Twilight's castle was shining under the glistening sun. He promptly continued down the path that lead to the town's newest landmark.
Before he went inside, he turned off his iPod touch and his headphones away in his pocket. Luke promptly cleared his throat and opened the large double doors. He looked inside ththe interior, and saw Twilight and Spike speaking with a unicorn mare that had a very pale purple color and had a darker purple, like a heliotrope color in her mane and tail with aquamarine streaks in them.
"Ah, Luke, hello." Said Twilight, noticing him, and the same for Spike and the other mare. "So glad you came."
"Wouldn't have missed it." The human remarked.
"Ooh, so he does talk." Said the other mare in amusement. Then she got a closer look at him to the point where it was invading his personal space, for instance, she would touch her hooves against his cheeks to get a better look of his face.
"Ow! Personal space." Luke said
"Oops, sorry. I'm just so curious." Said the mare."
"Ah, it's fine, wouldn't be the first time this happened to me." The human shrugged, wiping his face from the hoof stains.
"Luke, this is Starlight Glimmer, my pupil on friendship lessons. Starlight, this is Luke, the one I told you about."
"Ah hello."
"Hey."
"Starlight heard about you and thought she wanted to meet you."
"Yeah, I can get curious very easily." Starlight admitted. "So again nice to meet you. So what kind of world are you from?"
"It's a rather long and intriguing story, it if you want to know, I'll tell you anyway."
"Yes please."
Luke smiled, always happy to see a new face in this world as he would always be. "Well okay, but first tell me a little about yourself first."
Then they all had a little walk down the hallway. "Well, I love magic and and friends of course. Ever since I was a little girl, magic was my life."
"Cool, and I hope you don't mind me saying, but Fluttershy told me you used to be evil, correct?"
"She wasn't evil."
"No, it's okay Spike." Starlight said, then she turned her eyes back to Luke. "Yeah, I used to be... not so good. You see, I used to go around villages, and make everypony.... equalized."
"Uhhh.... how?"
"By taking away their cutie marks with the Staff of Sameness, and replacing them with equal signs on their flanks." By the sound of her voice, Starlight felt guilt-stricken over it, even if that past was long behind her.
"Deju vu." Luke said with a thought.
"What do you mean?" asked Starlight curiously.
"It sounds kinda like Communism."
"Communism?" asked Twilight. "What's That?"
Luke felt a little unsure and uncomfortable about talking about it. "I don't know if you should know, it involves politics and it's one of the things many people in my world do NOT like to talk about."
"No, do tell me. I want to know anyway."
"So do I." Twilight added.
Looking more than curious by their faces, Luke decided to give in. "Okay." he cleared his throat and explained "Communism a type of system where all the rights go to the workers, meaning that there is no rich, no poor, and everyone gets their fair share equally. Sadly, it doesn't ever work in real life, only in fantasies."
"Well that sounds like a good idea at least." said Twilight
"But why can't it ever work in real life?" Starlight asked.
"Because of the people who take power in the name of it, what I've learned is that power corrupts people to do many unforgivable acts, and they can turn out to be tyrants once the power goes to them. The fame, the wealth, the awards, and all that. You get what I'm saying?"
"Oh yes." Twilight said. "I know exactly what you mean."
"So do I." Starlight added
"millions and millions of humans died while living under communist rule, hell, I don't know if i would call it communism, but more like dictatorship."
All three were surprised and shocked to hear that. "Millions?" Spike said
"That's horrible." Twilight remarked.
"Right, but enough of that. How did you change, Starlight?"
"Well, it was some time ago." she began. "I thought that cutie marks are a threat to friendship and nothing more, because of my old friend, Sunburst." She explained to him about her past with his former friend, how this Sunburst got his cutie mark, and how he had to leave Starlight for Canterlot, causing her to become alone and embittered.
Luke was rather surprised and sympathetic to hear this rather sad and tragic tale. "Well, I'm sorry to hear that, Starlight."
"It's okay." The unicorn said. "I reunited with him later on in the Crystal Empire where Flurry Hearts was born."
"Ah, that's good to hear." He took a sip of iced lemonade that Spike gave him.
"So, Twilight convinced me that I was wrong and I made a grievous mistake by traveling through different times and years, and then the future if not for the Sonic Rainboom caused by Rainbow Dash."
"And what was that future like exactly?"
"Nothing but a desolate wasteland if not for the Rainboom." Spike said
Now Luke was really surprised. Maybe a dystopian society like George Orwell's 1984 or Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 would be one thing, but a desolate wasteland? That was another thing. "That's dramatic."
"Heh, I know, right?" Spike agreed.
So it was Luke's turn to give his side of the introduction between him and Starlight Glimmer. He told her about sown details about his world, and then some about himself and what he liked to do. This knowledge was truly fascinating Starlight Glimmer, she even took down a few notes on a line of scratchpad while using the magic of her horn to write with a pencil.
"And I hope you don't mind, but... I have autism."
"Oh no, I don't mind. That's amazing, I hear if that some ponies with autism have extraordinary talents."
They all talked with each other on and on, and they had really good conversations to each other, Luke would give her more details on his home world, such as Africa of course, his musical taste. And his love for all animals.
"You can sing and play guitar?" Said Starlight, even more impressed. "That's amazing! I'll have to hear you some time."
"Well, I'll let you know when I will make a performance." Luke chuckled.
"Luke can sing really amazingly, Starlight." Twilight said. "You should really hear him when you get the chance."
"Yeah, he knows how to rock!" Spike added. "We heard him once, and he was awesome."
"Guilty as charged." Luke boasted. Luke even went on to tell Stsrlight about some of the bands he liked and what type of bands from his world. This conversation getting better and better since Luke and Starlight were telling each other's differences. "Oh Twilight, I almost forgot something!" He remembered something
"What's that?"
"I'm going up to see Cloudsdale with Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash tomorrow. Do you think you can create a spell for me so I can walk on clouds without falling?"
"Of course." Said the purple alicorn boldly. "I do know a spell that can help with that." She readied her horn. "Now it won't hurt, I promise, just hold still."
"Sure."
She concentrated and she conjured a spell from her horn and an aura swirled around the human. It caused Luke to slightly levitate above the floor, and then the aura flew around him faster than ever, and then a blinding flash of light erupted.
After the light was gone, Luke was back on the floor, but he looked the same. "Huh, nothing happened."
"No it work. I made you able to walk on clouds without requiring any wings to fly."
"Are you sure?"
"I'm positive."
The next day, Luke, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash were in town on this fine morning, and they all saw a hot air balloon for all of them to ride in to go to Cloudsdale, the Pegasus pony capital of all Equestria.
If one of the ponies could carry Luke up to the city in the sky, they would, but hence, he was too big for them to carry, and he might break their backs.
Rainbow Dash was more than happy to gov some bits to the mare who owned the adorable hot air balloon sonthy can ride it. As they both got it, Fluttershy noticed Luke being a little nervous about going up like this. "Are you alright, Luke?"
"Oh yeah, I- I'm just a little nervous to ride a hot-air balloon. I mean, I have been in the sky before, it only in an airplane."
"Ah don't worry, buddy," Rainbow shrugged. "It will be fun. Oh you will love Cloudsdale, it's so awesome and be shining under the sun. Oh! Just wait till ya see the Wonderbolts."
"Right." Then the hot-air balloon was off. As they were taking off, Luke looked down as the ponies down below him were looking more and more like puny insects in a garden. He was becoming a little dizzy and his eyes were slightly rolling.
The yellow Pegasus noticed this and giggled "it's oaky, Luke. I was exactly like you when I was in a hot air balloon for when I first moved to Ponyville"
"I.... just need to get used to it."
"Maybe not looking down will help. You know that old sayin, don't look down?"
"Of course." Then the human turned away and looked at the balloon interior.
"So, I heard you met Starlight Glimmer. How was it?"
"Starlight was really nice, we talked about some things like how she went with enslaving villages and such and how she became a good guy in the end."
The cyan Pegasus chuckled "right, I figured. I remember the time me and my friends took on Starlight Glimemr like it was just yesterday. I'll never forget that awesome time! Except the part where our cutie marks were taken away of course."
"Oh, I hope I never have to lose my cutie mark ever again." Fluttershy remarked. "How shameful it will be without my cutie mark."
"There there, Fluttershy. Let go of the past."
"You're right."
It was a little silent and still, hearing the wind rushing by them in the basket. "So, I wonder, what will all the inhabitants think of me?" Luke asked the two Pegasi curiously
"Don't worry, they will all like you, so will the Wonderbolts. Ponies in Cloudsdale are just as the same as Ponies in Ponyville, except they are all Pegasus ponies." Rainbow clarified. "Trust me, you'll be just fine."
"I know."
"Just wait until we get there."
"I should have more confidence, but what if they think I am a genetic experiment or an evil creature from hell going on a rampage?"
"Don't be ridiculous. Where would you get such a silly idea like that?"
"I don't know. I kinda have a weird imagination on many things. Don't judge me."
"No no, it's okay, I never really like to judge." Said Fluttershy. "Oh! And did Twilight cast the spell on you to stay on clouds?"
"Yep, she gave it to me when I visited her yesterday. Speaking of which, why isn't she coming along?"
"Well, you know her being the princess of a Friendship." Said Rainbow Dash. "She just loves to study, study, study."
"Perfectly understandable." Luke agreed. "She has more books in her library than anyone could bargain for. It might even be a world record for the largest library in the world."
"I don't know about that." Said Fluttershy. "You should see the library in Celestia's castle in Canterlot, or the Crystal library in the Crystal Empire."
"Hmmm."
"Ooh! We're here." Said Rainbow. The human stood upright on his legs and looked at the clouded city. He was absolutely stunned by the appearance and how beautiful it looked. Almost everything in Cloudsdale was entirely made of clouds themselves.
Many different Pegasus ponies were passing by down the streets and doing many things like window shopping, eating at a cafe, flying around the place instead of just walking, and other things. The human was so glad to come along with them on the trip.
Both of Pegasus friends promptly set food on the clouded area, and for Luke, well, he was feeling a little nervous. "Come on, Luke. It's okay. Twilight did cast the spell on you." Fluttershy gently urged him.
The human gulped and slowly motioned his foot on the clouds and it turns out, his foot didn't fall. Feeling more confident he slowly rested his feet on the cloud and smiled in triumph. "Success!" He exclaimed on victory.
"Awesome!"
"So, what would you like to do first?"
"Well, I would like some breakfast." The human's stomach growled.
"Sure, and then we can go see the Wonderbolts?"
"I think we should let him chose, Rainbow." Fluttershy suggested
"Sure, that would be nice." Luke agreed.
They all saw a cafe where Luke can get a decent breakfast and keep the beast in his stomach contained. Some of the other ponies noticed Luke, but they weren't really afraid of him, just curious. Obviously, they would only be afraid of him if he was on a rampage, which he would never do of course.
The waiter came out and went up to the table the trio were sitting in. "What can I get you for today..... sir?" He asked the human.
"Do you have any croissants I can eat?" He cleared his throat. "S'il vois plaît?"
"Of course, sir. A small batch of croissants a la mode,"
"Merci, Monsieur." Luke remarked,
"De rien." Then the waiter got went to fetch the croissants.
"You're really good at this... French stuff, Luke." Said Rainbow
Fluttershy agreed by saying "yes, and you say it so perfectly."
"Thank you."
Then the croissants were served at the table with a touch of butter to put it on each of them. The human promptly began eating the French pastries and was really enjoying himself. ,Albert he will love Cloudsdale after all.