Chapter 7: Roommates
As it turns out, he didn't realize that there was a train in Equestria. He could've walked, sure. But that would've taken a long time, and plus he didn't have a super formula... yet. He sat there on the train, glad that he could take a quick nap. His dream though wouldn't let him, as he kept having unusual dreams about darkness and both worlds in trouble. He suddenly woke up in a sweat and back in Ponyville. He decided to leave that all behind, as he left. Especially the nightmare.
James smiled, glad he was back, as well as glad that Celestia had told him about how they travel long distances. He then headed out the door. As he was getting out of the station, he heard a heated argument. "I'm telling you, that's how they moved long distances. With a combustion engine." Hearing that, he stopped dead in his tracks. 'I presumed nopony knew about combustion engines. Heh, nopony.' he thought. He turned around to see two ponies fighting. One was mint colored, and the other was cream colored. "Well, that experimental combustion engine blew up my apartment. Now we need a place to stay." the cream-colored one said. Just when they were about to split, they tripped, with their tails tangled in a knot.
James ran over to help the two. "You guys alright?" he said, untying the tail knot. "Yea, I'm- *Gasp*!" She stopped in mid-sentence, surprised at James. For it proved her friend right. "Lyra?" "Hm?" "Lyra?" "What Bon-Bon? Wh-." she stopped in mid-sentence, looking at the human. "Lyra, I don't think those were just myths." Bon-Bon said. Lyra's only response was to nod. "You two look like you need a place to stay." James said. They both nodded. He smiled, then said, "Tell you what, I've got just the perfect place. You don't think you could give me a tour of the place do you?"
Both Lyra and Bon-bon looked at eachother, then at the human standing before them. Five minutes later they started onto their tour. They showed him the theater, the bakery, and the local market. They soon led him back to their house to pack, then they left with him as they headed for their new home
As they were walking though the woods, James started to mumble a poem that he was reminded of. "Twas' brilling and the slithy toves, Did gyre and gimble in the wabe, All mimsy were the borogroves, and the mome raths outgrabe..." Meanwhile, Lyra was looking at him, trying to grasp that a actual human was here in Equestria. Bon-Bon was trying to connect things to this human. They soon came across trees that bent in a unnatural effect, which stopped at some brush.
"Welcome to my home.", he said, moving the brush. Both ponies were amazed to see a house that was on it's head. The place was littered with artifacts from Earth. They soon stepped up to a porch. On it, a rocking chair continued to rock, while a apple and a glass of water were floating above a tabletop. The water jumped out of the water, looping around, until it landed back in the glass. James finally unlocked the door, and allowed them to enter first. He then locked the door, out of habit. Looking around, she felt as though she was living the dream. James smiled at Lyra's reaction to him and the place. "Is it naturally... upside-down?", Bon-Bon asked. "No, actually, it's right-side up, like most houses here in Equestria.", Lyra said, in excitement. Bon-Bon gave Lyra a deadpan look, while James just chuckled, and shook his head. "No, it was right-side up, until a twister dropped it on it's head. Had to re-innovate the rooms to make them right-side up. Follow me.", he said, walking up the rickety stairs.
Both ponies went up the stairs to where they stopped at a room. He opened the door, only to find it full of boxes. "Whoops! Forgot that this is being used as a storage place.", he said. He then walked straight to the room next door. He opened it, then said, "This will be your room.", James said. Inside was a nice room with a radio on the floor between two lamp tables. It also had two separate beds. "Oh, and there may be some explosions, don't worry. It's just me doing a experiment."
"So enjoy!" James said, then left, leaving the two alone. They looked at eachother, then started to unpack. "Isn't this exciting Bon-bon?" Lyra said, excited by the new presence of a human. Bon-bon nodded, still in some kind of shock. "I thought humans were just some myth." she said. She then realized that her life wasn't going to be the same again.
The Next Day...
Lyra and Bon-Bon woke up to the smell of coffee. Both girls decided to have a drink of coffee. That's when Bon-Bon noticed Charlie. "Hey there boy, how's it going?". Charlie looked at her, then said, "I have a name. It's Charlie.". This took her by surprise, but Lyra said, "You're only hallucinating because you're tired." Lyra took a large swig of her coffee, then felt better. She then turned to Charlie, and said, "How are you doing, Charlie-boy?" "Very well, Thank you Lyra." Charlie said. Lyra's jaw dropped open, surprised by what she just heard. "Just a hallucination, huh?" Bon-Bon said.
All of a sudden, they heard and felt a explosion happen. Smoke blasted through the cracks between the door. Soon, James came out, smoking, charted, and partially on fire. "What happened? Another experiment explode in your face?" "Ha, ha. Very funny, Charlie. Next you'll be telling me I'm so close, that I'm on fire.", James said. He looked at his sleeve, realizing what he just said. "Ok, I walked right into that one.", James said. Charlie started laughing, and soon Lyra and Bon-Bon joined in. After blowing out the flame on his sleeve, he started to laugh.
After brushing himself off, he started to make breakfast. He fried Hay Bacon Strips, while frying actual bacon. James then scrambled eggs, adding salt and pepper. Pouring out Oj, he poured himself a cup of coffee. He then served everyone their food. Lyra and Bon-Bon ate Hay bacon strips, and James ate actual bacon strips. All four was eating cheese eggs (Charlie being the fourth one). Charlie was also eating his dog food. After breakfast, James rinsed off the cast-iron skillet, and stuck the dishes into the dishwater. He then said, "How about I show you both my lab?". Both Lyra and Bon-Bon nodded.
He then motioned for them to follow him down. They did. He led them down the stairs to a door that had a sign on it. The sign said, 'Rouse Labs', on it. He then stuck his thumb on it. "Fingerprint Scanner.", he said to them, pointing at the odd device attached to the doorframe. It said, "WARNING! PASSWORD REQUIRED.", in a robotic voice. James was surprised, but not unprepared. He opened up the bottom half, revealing a keypad. He soon typed in the keyed-in password, causing the door to be opened. "Welcome to the Lab.", James said. Lyra and Bon-Bon looked around seeing the amazing inventions. James smiled at the amazed daze of both ponies. "Wanna help me do some experiments?". Both ponies nodded mindlessly at James' offer
Five minutes later...
A explosion came from the basement, a blast of gray smoke that followed opening the door. Soon, James, Lyra, and Bon-Bon all came out charred. James, of course, was the blackest. They soon joined in laughing at what happened. "You know, you guys are the greatest roommates I have met." Today was a great day in the upside-down house.