"Don't worry; I took care of it before I can do it again. You will be careful right? No unnecessary risks or anything, right? Just 'cuz you are soft-spoken doesn't mean you shouldn't voice your opinion a little louder than normal. Don't let Rainbow Dash persuade you in to anything you don't want to do." I was starting to sound more like a concerned mother instead of a potential lover. Time to ease up on the overprotective parent act or I'd start to really lose any chance I had. "Just come back safe and sound, I'll have some pictures from the Butterfly Migration developed and ready for you, promise."
From what I heard through Twilight, she and five of her friends were needed in a place called 'The Crystal Empire'. What made this all the more nerve-wracking was I couldn't be allowed to go since it was official royal business and the like. All that was fine, I figured since I heard tales of them saving Equestria through Spike on other occasions they'd be fine, sure, I don't mind Twilight or anyone else going. So why did I try to run to the ticket booth so I could go alongside Fluttershy earlier only to be tackled by mares reminding me it was official Canterlot business? Sigh, love makes one crazy, me it makes insane.
"I'll be fine Ziggy, I promise. And I'm not worried about you taking care of the animals again, though I'm not sure I can pay you this time." She gave me a really shy cute smile while her face hid slightly behind her mane. My heart danced like a Mexican hat-dancer around his sombrero. "Will you be alright though? I know you have that new job and you also agreed to help Twilight with her library, can you handle it all? I don't want you to be overburdened."
"I've got it all planned out. There is nothing to worry about." I actually had help from Twilight to plan a schedule, when I saw what she came up with I omitted to a more small-scale version of what could work for me. Her disappointment was pretty evident when I showed it to her, but there was no argument so at least we had a silent agreement on it. Still, I had to do a lot while they were gone, but was determined to show I was capable. Spike would be going with them this time, so I really was going to be independent this time.
"Oh look at you two, bidding each other farewell at a train station while the other patiently awaits their return. My, it sure is a romantic setting wouldn't you think? Though I am afraid we must be getting ready to board the train Fluttershy." Rarity had trotted up with a twinkle in her eye that just gave me the chills. Something about females and their obsession with romance seemed to just illuminate from her coat. Although now thinking about it she hit the nail right on the head, and now that I was aware of how it looked my face began to grow hot. Looking to Fluttershy I could see the same reaction and an awkward silence settled between us both. Damn it, she was cute but damn it all. Things were just beginning to not feel so awkward between us and I was actually glad that she accepted my invitation to hang out and get to know one another. We had settled on watching the migration together when this business came up and well, let's just say I wasn't the only one disappointed.
"Ah, yea, I think I should say my good-byes here too. Be careful Fluttershy, and see you soon." Waving bye I watched them board the train before deciding to start heading back myself. I noticed Fluttershy smiling at me from the window and waving goodbye again, I also seemed to imagine that her cheeks were as tinted as mine. Thinking back to what Rarity said my blush returned. "Yea, we had a nice evening planned and the Princess had to go and ruin any chance of that. Damn my luck." To be honest, there was a really small part of me that wanted to yell out "Damn you Celestia!!" But I figured I'd be trapped in a dungeon for sure if I were to even act on that whim.
Finally arriving at the good ol' tree house I noticed my co-worker at the door. "Hey Runner, what are you doing here?" A grey colored earth pony jumped startled at being snuck up on. He had a very rugged brown mane that needed some mare to comb it for him, badly. His cold blue eyes stared past me, obviously fatigued from today's work, I'm sure. See, the new job I have is pretty much a delivery-pony. No, they won't change my title even with me being a different species. We just deliver parcels and first-class letters for whoever is willing to pay the extra bit. We're a small company so that's kind of why it was easy for me to get the job; the boss really needed employees and business.
"Dude, don't scare me like that. Seriously, I was just knocking to see if you were home. Got a package for you, unknown sender though. Most ponies don't send anonymously to Pony-ville." He was right, most packages don't get sent without knowing who it was from. Odd, why would someone send me something.
"Did you hear any ticking? I swear I don't need any alarm clocks, the damn thing would keep me up most of the night anyway." To be honest, I was thinking more along the lines of a bomb, though I didn't want to worry him. Good thing I had friends in the right places. A shake from his head told me to ease the tension that had built up in me. Right, good, no bombs going off is a good thing. Twilight would be pissed to come back and fine half her house gone. "Well let me sign for it and take it inside, today is a day off but I still got things to do."
We said our goodbyes and I closed the door behind me, eager to open the package. A letter, whoever delivered this really wanted to keep it secret; it was covered layer in layer of packaging paper and cloth. Seriously, what the hell was just delivered to me? Who would go through all this trouble to be sure no one tried to sneak a peek?
A thick layered leather binding book was my reward. Curious I opened the cover to find a letter buried within, addressed to 'The Human'. So, whoever sent this didn't know me personally. The letter smelled of smoke and the odor grew as I opened the envelope. Inside was a very short but elegant written one page message.
"To the human,
Greetings, I will be straight and to the point. I am a researcher on the history of Equestrian lore and it is exciting to be writing to you. I cannot reveal my identity as it could jeopardize all my research. There are some within Equestria who wish this to remain secret and would stop at nothing to keep it so. Your species have come in contact with our kind before. I have discovered that quite a few in fact have come and made lives for themselves in Equestria in fact. None of your predecessors seemed to have been able to return, as I'm sure you have been now made aware that residence here can be quite... permanent. It isn't that we hold you against your will but more that we have no idea how any of you even come in to our own world.
The knowledge that I have gathered suggests at some points when our kind were in contact we could live in harmony. Something I find to be disturbing is that there is no traces of how any of you have come into our world. I cannot tell if it is by your own will, a magic force on your own world you know nothing about, or even if our own pony kind are performing rituals that accidentally keep brining your kind here.
The book I have sent you is a copy of some of my research. Some are merely folk tales that have long since stopped being told. Others are some artifacts that suggest at one point we lived in harmony. The most interesting thing I can say about your kind is you all have the ability to adapt to almost any climate, condition, or environment you are placed in. I wait to see what you will show me about your kind and their ability to grow under any circumstance.
Signed,
A friend"
So, now I was receiving cryptic mail and research material. Problem that now presents itself, how the hell do I keep this out of the hooves of a knowledge thirsty unicorn like Twilight in a library no less! It's not like I can hide the damn thing in a shelf and pray she never finds it. This was going to be really hard. Deciding to open my own Pandora box I flipped through some pages and settle on one at random. Quick reading through it I noticed it seemed to be a type of report that sounded more like a sort of child-hood fable.
Some kind of love story no less, it resembled a pony and a human falling in love. Fairy tales from the quick read, but was there a silver lining of truth behind them? Had people come before and settled in to lives here on Equestria. If that was even the truth though, who was covering it up? And another thing, why was there no information on the history of one being here? Something just didn’t make sense and I figured I’d have to try and do some of my own research.
A thought crossed my mind. I took a second look at the letter and made sure I read it right. If there were ponies who were desperately trying to cover any history of humans in Equestria, could I possibly be a target? If I were would they try to banish me? Erase my existence by kidnapping me in the midnight hour? Holy shit, things just got really complicated.
Than another thought, they were just coming out the workshop today. My brain was working overtime. If I did manage to stay under their radar for the time being, what would happen if they found me with Fluttershy? Would they consider her a accomplice? Would she share in the same banishment? Shit, what the hell kind of trouble was I in now?!