Chapter 4
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Isaac was once again lost in thought when he felt something slam into his back, sending him flying an extra 10 meters down the road. When he regained his sight after the temporary blackout, he saw Rainbow Dash placed on top of him. With his arms pinned to the ground, and staring into the deep magenta eyes of the mare. He would have felt a huge blush creep up his cheeks if not for the lapse in concentration.
"So Fluttershy's her name then?"
*THWACK
Isaac's attempt at poor comedy only resulted in a hoof slamming into the left side of his face. He couldn't help but writhe in pain as her hoof connected with his muzzle. He quickly looked back at Rainbow, who was already rising her hoof into the air, preparing for another strike. "Don't play dumb with me! Nopony hurts Fluttershy! Nopony!" Rainbows breaths were heavy and her body instantly overpowered Isaac's fragile form. Realizing she was being deadly serious, Isaac's expression changed into one of confusion.
"I don't know what you're talking about! I woke up next to her and she just ran off! I didn't do anything I swear!"
"I hope to Celestia you're telling the truth! Or so help me you'll be in a world of pain!" Rainbow's tone becoming angrier by the second. Without a second thought, she lifted the colt off the ground and hurled him back towards Fluttershy's cottage. His body halted by the use of his magic, which otherwise would have resulted in a painful crash onto the wall of the house.
"Calm down dammit! I didn't do anything!"
Rainbow flew over to Isaac at an astonishing speed before stopping just inches away from his face. Her expression slowly turned from rage-filled to guilty, Rainbow let out a large sigh before lowering herself down next to him. She looked him right in the eyes and opened her mouth to speak, before turning away. "So what DID happen then? Fluttershy is never upset like this unless it's something serious." Isaac turned towards the house, looking up at what he assumed was Fluttershy's window. "Listen, you obviously care a lot about her. So i'll fill you in on what happened..."
As Isaac explained everything that happened the previous night. From the cuts and lashes that appeared on him randomly, to the moment of him meeting Rainbow. After going through the last moments, and taking a gasp of much needed air. Isaac expected Rainbow to hit him again for such a ridiculous story, instead she just sat there, staring at him.
"Hey? Helloooo anyone in there?" Isaac stood for a few seconds waving his hoof in front of Rainbow Dash's face. He kept this up for a few moments before Rainbow shook her head and glanced over the scars still present on Isaac's grey coat. She looked at the ground for a second before opening the door to Fluttershy's house.
".....Alright I know that can't have been made up. Not a story that ridiculous, and the scars only help your case. So i'll trust you for now until we hear Fluttershy's side of the story."
"Seems fair, so how do you wanna go about this? Smash the door down?"
Rainbow rolled her eyes as a cheerful smile appeared on her face. "Not exactly, but I think I know someone who can help." She looked around the house and after wandering into the kitchen, found exactly what she is looking for.
"Hey, Angel! Over here!" Rainbow called out in a soft yell to get the rabbits attention. It quickly hopped over to her whilst hanging up its apron. A bowl of soup on a tray, most likely for the yellow mare isolating herself upstairs. She asked the bunny if she could see Fluttershy. And after glancing at Isaac, the bunny waved to him slightly before shaking his head. Rainbow turned back to the grey colt and whispered to him in a hushed tone.
"Hey this could take a while, why don't you go into town and do....Whatever it is you were planning to do..."
"Sure... Hey i'm actually looking for someone, I think she is one of Celestias' students?"
Rainbows ears perked up at the description, and the smile on her face grew wider as she spoke. "Oh you must mean Twilight! She's over at the library, its the big treehouse near the center of town!" Isaac could only grin at the mare's enthusiasm, and as he said is goodbyes, left the house and restarted his walk to Ponyville.
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Twilight held the necessary amount of bits in her hoof for her weekly shopping as she stepped out the door. The day was perfect, Celestia's sun shone high in the sky and almost no clouds were present in the area.
"Rainbow really outdid herself today" She thought as she cheerfully walked into the market. Getting the casual wave from her neighbors as she passed by. Spike was currently left at home to finish his chores. Her mind still wondering about the new pony who still hadn't arrived yet. But she quickly shrugged it off, promising herself that she would sort it out later, and stay focused on the task at hand. As she continued to walk around the town center, she noticed somepony makes his way towards the town. As she got a closer look, she didn't recognize the unicorn shifting his way through the town. On a hunch that this was who Celestia asked her to meet, she took a dive and strolled up to him.
"Excuse me, I haven't seen you around before. Are you who I think you are?"
The new colt took on a look of surprise as he was approached so casually by Twilight, after looking behind him, he smirked as he replied. "Well, if you're expecting someone from Princess...Celestia? Was it? I take it you're Twilight?" The mare instantly took a hold of Isaac and held him for a second before hastily retreating. A clear blush appearing on her cheeks.
"Sorry about that... It's just we expected you last night, after you didn't show up I got a little worried." Her voice sounded sincere, which seemed odd to Isaac. He never had anyone give a damn about him in the last 8 years. To have 2 people (in this case, ponies) to care about him so much in such a short time felt off, Exhilarating, and inspiring. He thought to himself as he began to raise a hoof to Twilight.
"My name is...."
"Oh shit, gotta think of a new name..... But this mare knows Celestia, so maybe..."
"Well, you already know about me, and why I can't say my name no doubt."
Twilight immediately took on a look of confusion as she read over the letter in her mind. Not recalling anything about a name, she looked over Isaac once more before asking.
"Sorry, but Celestia never said anything about a name. Why can't you say it?"
Isaac took a deep sigh, and closed his eyes for a moment before responding. "Celestia said that my name was...Unsatisfactory for Equestria. She said i'd have to make up a new one, but I have no idea what kind of name would be acceptable in your society."
"Well our names are usually linked to something that describes us...or something we might be good at, or love to do."
"That explains Rainbow Dash...."
"What?"
"N....Nothing.."
Twilight pondered for a moment, before coming to a sudden realization, "Well, now that I've found you, just let me finish here then i'll show you where you'll be staying. And, what is...Was, your name anyway?"
Isaac said nothing, instead staring at his hoof, before looking down the side of his body. His coat took on a lightly darker shade of grey as he began remembering who he once was.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to..."
"It's alright. My name is...." he took a sigh before finishing, "Was, Isaac. Isaac Oakleaf. I understand if it seems ridiculous to you, Twilight."
Twilight placed a hoof on Isaac's shoulder and gave him a reassuring smile. "There's nothing wrong with that, although Isaac might seem a little strange, Oakleaf should be alright with most ponies. I mean if you're comfortable with a different name, it's really up to you."
"Thanks, at least I get to keep some part of myself intact."
Twilight seemed put off by the last comment as they continued to walk down the street. She knew it would be rude to ask, but her curiosity got the best of her in the end. "So where are you from exactly? Why move here?"
Isaac walked a few steps ahead of Twilight before stopping, refusing to look at her. "It's a long, long story. I barely know you, and I've had a bit of a rough day. Everything is wrong about this. Listen, give it a while, then ask me that again."
As they continued walking down the street, Isaac's stomach started to rumble, the result of having no food for almost a day got the better of him. His cranky mood vanished as it was replaced with hunger. "Hey what do you eat around here? I'm starving." His stomach growling more as they walked, Twilight led them two a restaurant just around the corner, but something was amiss.
"Hey Twilight? Why is everypony giving me funny looks?"
"Damn it why do I keep saying pony?"
"Funny looks?" Twilight looked around to see a majority of the ponies that were passing by were staring at both Twilight and Isaac. Some snorting, some giggling, some even rude enough to point. "I think, it might have something to do with you cutie mark. Or rather, lack of one."
Isaac gave a befuddled look as Twilight pointed to his flank.
"What the hell is a cutie mark?" Oblivious to the mark Twilight had on her lower body until just now. The purple, six pointed star surrounded by many other small white stars suddenly became the focus of Isaac's vision. He shook his head wildly before scanning the crowd. And sure enough everypony in the area had some kind of mark on their flank. His concentration was broken as Twilight spoke up.
"A cutie mark is what everypony gets when they discover something that makes them special, be that a talent, a hobby or just something they like."
"So, like a representation of what makes them unique to everypony else?"
"Body! damnit! every BODY!"
"Yes, a cutie mark usually appears at a young age. Which is probably why everypony is staring at you."
Isaac took a minute to absorb the sudden wealth of information, he looked over at his blank flank once more as he sighed and continued towards the restaurant for a much needed meal. They sat down at a table outside, ignoring the funny looks they were getting, and looked at the menu.
"Well.... I have no idea what's good or not."
"You're really not from around here are you?" Twilight said with a smirk on her face.
"You have no idea." Isaac replied, returning the expression.
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After some confusion with the meal, mostly how to eat properly, the two ponies finally arrived at the library. Isaac felt it necessary to apologize for embarrassing Twilight in front of everypony. "Listen, i'm sorry for...Well, not eating properly. This new body is really confusing at times." He said awkwardly as he started to prod his left foreleg. Twilight's ears perked up, and a suspicious look crept up on her face.
"What do you mean, NEW body? I mean, that explains your eating difficulties, and it's fine, really. But I don't understand..."
It took Isaac a few seconds to realize what he had just said. he stammered on the spot, his cheeks becoming a bright pink, "Oh ummm...I...Look, I promise i'll explain everything soon. But for now, please just be patient with me?"
Twilight squinted her eyes at Isaac, who was becoming more uneasy every moment. But his fears came to a halt as a calming smile appeared on her face once more. "Alright, but i'm going to hold you to that, make sure you tell me soon."
"I will, as soon as I've got acquainted with everyone."
Fortunately for Twilight, getting acquainted will be much easier than expected as a pink ball rocketed into Isaac's chest, and held him to the ground. A cheeky smile found itself on her mouth as she walked over to the grey pony, now encased in a mass of bright pink fur.
"Oakleaf, meet Pinkie Pie."