//------------------------------// // Recruiting (Or Day is a Crazy Person) // Story: Her Forest // by AliziaRoElier //------------------------------// The night ended quickly after Day’s story. Twilight excused herself to go to bed and offered Pinkie Pie her guest bed for the night. Day was surprised to learn that she had no guest room, rather she roomed her guests in her own loft. Pinkie Pie dragged him up the stairs to the room and forced him to stay there for the last few hours of darkness. Day felt awkward sitting at Pinkie’s bedside and watching her and Twilight sleep. He felt like he was stalking them or something, he felt like a creeper. It didn’t help that Pinkie Pie had pulled out a little statuette and placed it on her bedside table on her other side - a suspiciously boxy, green statuette. Before Twilight had fallen asleep, he made sure that she was okay with him staying in the room. She had shrugged and replied, “Well, I guess so. If Pinkie trusts you... and you’re married... or whatever it is - joined to your party. Then it’s fine.” He couldn’t even think aloud for fear of awaking either mare up. It was a boring few hours. When the first rays of light finally broke over the horizon, Day stood up. His metal body didn’t seem to be at all stiff or achy despite having sat perfectly motionless for three hours. His eyes didn’t have any difficulty staring into the bright morning sunlight either. If he hadn’t had his new body forced upon him, he would have spent more time admiring how much better it was compared to his old one. He quietly exited the room and made his way to the first floor. A bit of exploration yielded a bathroom on the far side of the tree. He entered and closed the door quietly. He looked around for a moment. It was similar to his apartment’s bathroom. Along a wall, there was a shower tub combo, on the other a sink and toilet faced the door. Both were lower to the ground. The sink didn’t have handles but instead had buttons. He pushed the right button. It clicked into place and cold water came out of the spigot. The left turned on hot water. It seemed there were only three temperatures. The shower controls were arranged the same way with the exception of a slider beneath the two binary choices. Quick experimentation told him it controlled the temperature of the water more finely than the simple arrangement of the sink. Before he started stripping down, he came to a realization. “Oh fuck me! I don’t have my bag.” He’d left his bag at Fluttershy’s cottage. He hadn’t expected Luna to essentially kidnap him. He’d planned on staying with her for a while. He snorted, “Well so much for that idea. I’ll just have to shower now and get a change of clothes later.” He stripped down and got under the shower. In a few moments, the water washed away the dirt and grit that had somehow latched itself to his smooth metal skin. It took a few moments before he realized three crucial things. First, he had no... orifices... other than his ears, eyes, and mouth. Second, he was extremely disturbed by a certain part of his male anatomy not having a hole. Third, he felt a pony hugging him from behind. ~_~ Twilight looked at Day and Pinkie Pie amusedly. Currently, they were at the breakfast table waiting for Spike to come down to eat. “Oh come on, Day, it wasn’t so bad was it. It was just a hug. In the shower. Wet.” Pinkie Pie was standing on the ceiling with her suction cup horseshoes. Her puffy mane defied gravity and remained exactly normal on her head. She was looking down on Day who was attempting to hide under the too-low table. “Bullshit! That was freaking disturbing. Your hooves were moving down! Down!” Day looked up at Pinkie and glared. The second he’d registered that the pony that had joined him in the shower was Pinkie Pie he’d run away screaming (like a little girl). He still hadn’t forgotten the disturbing face she’d displayed in the forest. He shuddered, “Just. Don’t do that again! Keep your hooves to yourself and yourself out of my shower.” He was prevented from continuing by the sound of steps coming down from Twilight’s room. He looked over and quirked an eyebrow. “What the hell is that?” He asked. Twilight looked at him oddly before remembering he hadn’t met Spike yet. “This is Spike. He’s my assistant here in the library and my adopted brother.” “Huh. I didn’t expect that at all. How exactly are you supposed to help me and Luna if you’re taking care of a kid?” He questioned. Twilight’s eyes widened, “I hadn’t thought of that! I can’t just leave Spike here alone...” “What’s everypony talking about? And is that the human?” Spike sat down and stared at Day. Apparently, it was a common occurrence for Pinkie to be on the ceiling because he didn’t even look up at her. Presumably, Day was the far more interesting occurrence. Day got the impression that Spike was very laid-back - chill - and he could probably get along with him. It helped that he was a male dragon. Day was getting tired of everyone being female. “Yup! That’s Day. He’s a super powerful, super smart human-elf-god from another world and he’s here to change reality! Isn’t this great! And he’s married to me!” Pinkie chirped from the ceiling. Spike blinked and opened his mouth then closed it. He blinked again, “You married Pinkie Pie?” Day let his head slam on the table, leaving a dent. “Of all the things you could have asked about, marrying Pinkie Pie is the one you’re curious about?” Twilight spoke up, “Well... we’ve already fought and defeated two gods. My friends and I defeated Nightmare Moon and with Discord, Spike helped a bit. Not to mention some of the stuff we all do like negotiating with buffalo and almost destroying the town with spells and potions.” Spike interrupted, “Annnnnd marrying Pinkie Pie is crazy. No offense Pinkie Pie.” She winked at him, “No problem! It is crazy. And he’s crazy. So am I. It works out.” Day was sure he’d have had a headache if he was still human. As it was, the forest had to send him calming feelings through their link to keep him from ruining the table with repeated head bangs. “I take it back, this is the most screwed up thing I’ve ever had happen to me. Screw everything else that’s happened. I’m talking to a purple unicorn, a pink pony on the ceiling, and a purple and neon green lizard about marrying a crazy person.” Day sat up, “You know what. I’m just going to go with it. It’s either break down - again - or adapt.” Spike nodded, “Yeah, that’s everypony’s reaction when they move to Ponyville.” Day looked at Twilight, “Well, you might as well bring him along. I’m sure I can convince Luna to let you two come, why not one more?” Twilight looked apprehensive, “I don’t know. I don’t want him to get hurt...” Spike snorted, “Twilight, I’m not a baby anymore. I may look small but while you were off in Canterlot because of Discord I was perfectly fine looking after myself. I’m a dragon, I’ll be fine.” Twilight shook her head but Pinkie Pie interrupted her rejoinder, “Let him come, Twilight! He can have so much fun! Just think of all the gems we’ll find on the moon! Oooh, and he can send ice sample from the rings of Effon straight to Celestia! Do it! For science!” She walked across the ceiling and down the wall while Twilight deliberated. She took off her shoes and sat next to Day who started petting her mane. She purred happily. After a few moments, Day realized that Pinkie had once again made an impossible statement. He wasn’t sure if it was a bad thing that he didn’t even react. “Fine... Spike can come.” Twilight said. Spike pumped his fist. Pinkie raised a sign. “Congratulations! Spike has joined your party! All members gain +5% attack power! Spike is invulnerable to fire!” Day didn’t even blink.