Unexpected Arrival
“To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.”
- Freya Stark
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If someone told me earlier that day that I would be travelling to another dimension, I would have scoffed at the idea.
Although I admit that if it ever happened, it would be a nice change from work…
“Clothes Intact, no real injuries, thinking clearly…” checking myself as of exiting the portal.
So there I was. Covered in dust, and dirt, beneath an oak tree, overlooking Ponyville. Still trying to get over the fact that I was actually in Equestria!
It made me feel like jumping for joy, which I did, for about ten seconds. I stopped, in fear that somebody would hear or see me.
It’s no longer ‘somebody’. It’s ‘somepony’ now.
I got up, filled with a newfound energy, but still cautious. I took stock of what I had with me.
There was a pulling weight in my right hand, with a bit of effort, I lifted it up to face me. It was the disc-shaped stone with the Harmony symbol on it that I had picked up earlier. The same rock that caused all of this. This…this Harmony Stone… was probably my only way between these worlds.
Now if I only knew how to make it work…
It seemed unresponsive, so I kept it in my jacket pocket. Until the time was right, I would keep it safe. It was certainly heavier than it looked…
I took out my phone, which I had assumed never existed in my pocket until now, and attempted to turn it on. But from it came no response. I had my earbuds, but without my phone, it was pretty much useless. It was literally dead in this world.
Maybe it’s because such technology hasn’t even been invented here yet.
It seemed like it would be of no help here. I kept it anyway, thinking that it may help in the future.
I pulled my wallet out of my back pocket, checking to make sure all contents inside were still…well…contents.
As I flipped it open and checked my ID card, the bar code of it began to slowly fade away, until it was no longer there. It seemed that anything beyond a certain technological age was not created yet, and therefore not needed. The same had happened to the rest of my details. My driver’s license had transformed into a clear, transparent plastic card. With no cars, it was useless anyway.
Slipping it back into my back pocket, I looked over the horizon. Excited, yet fearful of what lay ahead in this place.
My eyes turned towards Ponyville. I figured my first objective would be to find help, or at least some form of explanation.
Easier said than done. I can’t just walk right up into Ponyville…
Doubtful thoughts filled my mind. What would the ponies think of me? Would they drive me away? Would they give me a warm welcome? The fact that I was even here might scare them!
Shading my eyes, I looked up at the sky, and the Sun…
Celestia’s Sun…
From estimation, it looked like it was just noon here. At least I didn’t have to find shelter anytime soon.
But I was still stuck.
How could I go about this without drawing too much attention?
My thoughts were soon interrupted, as I felt the ground tremor beneath me. It was too strong to be running. Something was…galloping…
Someone…somepony was approaching…
“Gottahidegottahidegottahide…” I looked around for a place for cover. The only thing that was big enough was behind the big tree. I rushed up behind it, flattening myself as much as possible against the trunk. Whatever was coming, it was getting closer.
“This way girls!”
That voice… could it be…?
“I felt the pulse from around this area…”
The sound of galloping slowed down as they stopped where I was merely seconds ago.
Did I dare take a look?
“Ah don’t understand Twilight. Why are we here, on the edge of Ponyville?”
Curiosity was eating away at me. I tilted my head ever so slightly, so that I could glimpse at the animals that were speaking. What I saw made my heart jump and my stomach flip.
What I was looking at was the Mane Six.
“I already told you why we’re out here AppleJack” from what I recognized was Twilight’s voice.
“Some things from the weather spell this morning went a little… out of hand.”
“I think we already knew that from the tornado that almost destroyed Ponyville, Darling.”
Rarity? She sounded a little agitated.
“I know Rarity, and I’m sorry. That was when the spell was really getting out of control. All of Princess Celestia’s top magical scholars had to use all their magic to stop it.”
I heard the fluttering of wings, and with it brought a strong gush of wind that almost blew my position.
“Alright, so what exactly are we looking for Twilight?”
Rainbow Dash?
“Well, just as about the spell was about to be stopped, one lone lightning bolt struck somewhere in this area.”
Where have I heard that before?
“So a strange lightning bolt struck this area, so what? We see lightning whenever a storm brews! But this time it wasn’t the Pegasi’s fault!” Rainbow Dash sounded annoyed, or confused. It always sounded the same to me.
“It wasn’t just any lightning bolt, Rainbow! It gave off a magical pulse as it struck. Something strange must have happened here, because I can still feel it!”
“Me too! Something activated my Pinkie sense after the spell! It was like nothing I had really felt before, it was so strange. But it was fun! And now that we’re closer, its starting to act up again, its such a tingly feeling, it…
I smirked. It was Pinkie Pie.
“Now calm down Sugarcube. Alright Twi, we’ll help you. But ah still doubt that anything weird might have happened. “
“Maybe nothing can be seen for now, but maybe if I used a magic beacon spell…”
From behind the tree, I saw a bright lavender light start to glow, it radiated, and then it burst, it rippled across the area. It went through me, giving me the strangest feeling, as if someone was watching me…
I looked down, and to my surprise, the Harmony Stone was glowing in my jacket pocket. It slowly became brighter and brighter. It was going to give away my position!
The beacon spell had revealed it.
By now, the Harmony Stone radiated a bright, rainbow glow. If you looked at it at the right angle, it looked like my heart was shooting rainbows.
Well I knew there was no point in hiding from these ponies any longer. They were bound to find me through magic anyway. And I was really looking forward to actually meeting them!
I took my first step out from behind the tree, my foot crunching on a branch and drawing the ponies’ attention.
I turned fully to face them, and I examined the looks on their faces. All showed the same expression of shock; mouths open, eyes the size of giant lollipops.
They were as much as I had expected from the show! They were all so brightly coloured, with different manes and Cutie Marks! So colourful, so different…
So cute!
They were about the height of my shoulders, provided that they didn’t stand on hind legs. They could easily overpower me if they wanted to, remember the strength of horses back on Earth. They could capture me and throw me in the dungeon.
Or send me to the moon…
But we did nothing but stand and stare at each other for what seemed like hours. They looked at me, amazed, as I looked at them amazed.
I finally broke the silence as I slowly lifted my hand and withdrew the glowing stone from my jacket pocket. I didn’t notice that the symbol’s outline had become a gold hue as well.
I presented the stone’s topside to them, arm slightly trembling from anxiety. I found the voice to finally speak up to them.
“Was this what you were looking for?”