Pinkie Pie maybe a motor mouth, but there is knowledge inside that noggin of hers. Through her rambles, I was able to piece together many things as we talked inside Sugarcube Corner. Like how I was now in the magical land of Equestria, which is filled with loads of creatures straight out of a D&D monster Manual, and was ruled by the now four alicorn princesses. Ponies were the dominate race of the land, and came in three types, unicorns, pegasi and earth ponies. Princess Celestia and her sister Princess Luna Ruled up in Canterlot Castle, which could be seen even from Ponyville, on the side of the mountain. Their magic is so powerful that they could raise and lower the sun & moon. No joke! Apparently the laws of physics and reality worked differently then back on earth. Hell, even the pegasi controlled the weather! And the two princesses have been doing so for well over thousand years, which makes me wonder if all alicorns were ageless.
Anyway, there was also Princess Cadance who ruled the Crystal Empire far to the north, which was literary just as it sounded. She had the power of love (ignoring the Back to the Future joke there) and was married to Twilight's brother. And then there was Twilight Sparkle herself, the new alicorn princess and resident of Ponyville. The huge crystal/castle/tree was her new home, after a battle against some evil lord named Tirek. Apparently, ever since Twilight moved from Canterlot to Ponyville, she's done nothing but fight one evil villian to the next. Defeating Nightmare Moon and saving Princess Luna from darkness. Stopping Discord, the draconequus creature of chaos, who was now their friend. Stopping Queen Chrysalis, ruler of the changelings, from invading Canterlot during Princess Cadance's wedding. Helping Princess Cadance save the Crystal Empire from the evil lord Sombra, becoming an alicorn princess, and now saving Equestria from Tirek.
If there is one thing I learned while listening to Pinkie Pie, it was DON'T FUCK WITH TWILIGHT! Or the other Princesses for that matter. Alicorn magic was not to be messed with, and I had no intention of testing their magical powers.
"....And then I said, 'Oatmeal, are you crazy!'" Pinkie finished another one of her rambles before eatting a cupcake in one bite. I myself, was drinking a chocolate milkshake and enjoying a plate of fresh chocolate chip cookies. It was Pinkie's treat. Apparently, she worked in the bakery with the owners of the Sugarcube Corner, Mr. and Mrs. Cake.
As I finished the last of my shake, Mrs. Cake walked out from the back of the kitchen and headed to the table where me and Pinkie was sitting. "Would you like another milkshake, dear?" She asked me as she took the now empty glass. I just shook my head no and finished eating one last cookie. I love sweets just as much as the next guy, but two shakes and a plate and a half of cookies was more then enough to fill my empty belly.
Oh! Speaking of bellies, I found out the different types of things these ponies ate. Fruit and veggies were a must, no getting around that. But they also ate grains, nuts, dairy and some fish. Which meant I could eat bread, peanut butter, cheeses and fried fish sandwitches. But what made me the most happy was the fact I could still eat katsup, mustard, and hot sause! Now, to most people this might not seem like much, but back on earth I used to put katsup on almost everything. So being able to continue eating foods like I did back on earth made me giddy.
"I gotta say, Mark. You sure have been through one heck of a trip. So how are you enjoying yourself in Equestria so far?"
"Not bad, Pinkie." I calmly said. I had lied a little and said I was from another land, but everything else I said was straight forward. And to be honest, I was scared at first by being zapped into another world of talking ponies, but now it wasn't looking to bad. Everybody I saw or talked to seemed to be very nice, and they didn't even care about me not having a cutie mark. Mostly.
It was when a little filly walked into the shop did anyone else noticed my blank rump. She was a cute little unicorn with a white coat, purple mane and tail with a pink streak, and cute green eyes. She saw Pinkie Pie sitting at a table with me, smiled at us, and walked over to where we were.
"Hi Pinkie." she said, stopping beside us.
"Hi Sweetie Belle. You here for your usual?" Pinkie asked almost matter of factly as she took a sip from her shake.
"Yeah..." Sweetie sighed before reaching over and taking one of the last chocolate chip cookies that were on the plate. "Rarity's working on a new line. So she wanted me to pick up some snacks while she worked. You know how she is sometimes...." she trailed off as she began to take a bite of the cookie. But it was when she took a good look at me did she freeze in her tracks.
"Who is that?" She pointed at me with wide eyes, which for some reason was focused on my butt.
"Oh, this is Mark Less Stevens." Pinkie pointed out happily, unaware of how the little filly was staring at me. "He's new to Equestria, and is looking for Twilight for some help."
"Why?" The little filly asked. That seemed to have thrown her off for the moment.
"Seems he was zapped here by some strange crystal, and is trying to find a way home." Pinkie answered for me.
"You don't have a cutie mark." Sweetie said. It wasn't a question, but a statement.
"You got me there." I sheepishly answered. "Guess I never got around to getting it."
Sweetie looked at me as if I was a strange new type of bug, (seemed to be going around lately) before rushing over to the counter to grab a box from Mrs. Cake.
"Well, I gotta run. See you!" She yelled before bolting out of the shop like there was a bomb about to go off or something.
"What was all that about?" I asked, puzzeled by the little filly's actions.
"I don't know." Pinkie said between gulps of her shake. "Maybe she's got gas."
After Letting my stomach settle, we decided to continue our tour across Ponyville. Pinkie showed me lots of different shops, including her friend Rarity's Carousel Boutique. But why there was a shop for only quills & sofas i'll never know. Anyway, as we made our way through the center of town, we came upon some food stalls selling many types of fruits and veggies. But when Pinkie saw an apple stall, she almost hopped right on over to it happily. Working at the stall was a light orange earth pony with a yellow mane, which was tied into a ponytail and yellow tail. I also noticed she had frickles on her cheeks, a cowboy hat on her head and pretty green eyes I couldn't help but look at.
"Hey Applejack! How's it going?" Pinkie asked as she stopped hopping right next to her.
"Hi, Pinkie. not too bad today." Applejack answered with a small smile, her voice sound like it had a country twang to it. "Everypony has been stocking up for the next celebration, so sells have been good." She then took a moment to remove an empty tray off the cart before gazing over at me. "Who's your coltfriend?"
"This is Mark Less Stevens. he's new to Equestria." Pinkie told her as she took an apple from the cart and began eatting it. How can she still be hungry after eatting all those sweets? Applejack paid no mind to Pinkie. Instead, she walked over to were I was standing and held out her hoof for me to shake.
"Howdy partner. My name's Applejack, pleassure ta meet ya!"
"Likewise." I replied as I shook her hoof. Boy, she had a strong grip.
"So... How ya all enjoying your stay so far?" She asked.
"Good. This place sure is quite nice." I answered. It was true, I was enjoying my stay so far. And if it wasn't for being turned into a talking pony trapped in a magical world full of monsters, or the fact that I was worried about my folks back home, I wouldn't mind staying for a bit. Well, that and the fact that I couldn't eat any meat except for fish, may have been a small factor.
"So what'cha all doing, Pinkie?" Applejack asked.
"We're going to the tree castle to speak with Twilight. Care to join us?"
"Nah, afraid ah can't. Ah got ta finish up here first."
"Oh, okey dokey lokey. We still up for next week's party?"
"Of course, Pinkie. Wouldn't miss it for the world." Applejack replied.
"See you later, AJ." Pinkie waved goodbye as she starting walking on.
"Bye Pinkie." AJ called back as returned back to her stall.
I gave AJ one last look before heading off to catch up with Pinkie Pie. From what I understood from her rambling, she and her six friends were the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. Which from all I heard from, was pretty much one of the most powerful type of magic in this world. They used it many several times to defeat their foes, and could now summon it almost at will. Which made them some of the most powerful ponies in Equestria. I just met two of them, and heard about two others. Which meant two down and four to go, with Princess Twilight being the final meeting.
As we started to get near the Castle-tree, we spotted a curious sight. Standing next to a near by tree, was a yellow pegasus with a pink mane and tail. She appeared to be talking to a group of squirrels in a quite, sweet voice as they gathered around her.
"Okay little ones, be sure to gather as many nuts for your families as you can."
While the mare was busy talking to the critters, Pinkie Pie walked up from behind her in an almost quite manner. For a second, I thought she was trying not to spook them, but that bubble popped as soon as she opened her mouth.
"Hey Fluttershy! What cha doing?" She asked loudly, spooking the yellow mare and the critters with a start. While the mare jumped, turning around and relaxing as soon as she spotted Pinkie, the squirrels all scattered and ran in different directions. Some dropped a few acorns as they ran away from the area.
"Oh, hi Pinkie." The mare, Fluttershy, said in a soft voice. "I was just helping the squirrels gather nuts for the year."
While the statement she said flew over my head, I couldn't help but stare at the pretty mare with the gentle voice. Her long, flowing pink mane ran down the side of her face, covering her beautiful blue eyes. Now, I've never been much for the mushy stuff. I was always the type of guy who was more likely to go to the movies to watch action flicks then romance ones. But looking at that cute yellow mare just made my heart flutter( ha! Get it?) and my head all fuzzy, as it took all my willpower not to run over to her and give her a big old hug. She was just so damn cute!
"Umm... so who's you friend, Pinkie?" She asked as she glanced over at me, before looking down at thr floor. It was then I noticed I had been staring right at her the entire time. No wonder she she must have seemed uncomfortable, there was a strange stallion just looking at her with a big dumb look on his face.
"I'm Mark." I practically squicked trying to save face, but only succeeded in digging myself a bigger hole. "It's... nice to meet you." We both shared a glance before we turned our gazes to the ground. We both stayed that way for several moments.
"Mark here is new to Equestria..." Pinkie began, cutting the awkward silence. "He's from another land, and was zapped here when he found a strange crystal, by some type of magic."
"Oh my!" Fluttershy blurtered out as she looked at me with a look of concern on her face. "That must have been awful. Are you alright? You weren't hurt were you?"
"Nahh...." I exhaled. I was only able to look into her eyes for a moment, before turning my gaze back to the ground.
"He appeared in the middle of the Everfree Forest, and was chased over a waterfall by a pack of timberwolfs. Then Zecora found him and brought him here." Pinkie said in almost one breath, taking a hoof and patting me on the back.
I was over a cliff, not a waterfall. I thought to myself. But before I could voice that fact to Pinkie, we was interrupted when three little fillies came running over to where we was. I noticed two things about them; one, they were the same blank flanked fillies I spotted earlier, and two, they were being lead by Sweetie Belle.
"Here he is!" Sweetie Belle proclaimed as she pointed a hoof over at me.
"Ooooooooooooooooo" the other two looked me over like I was the second coming of Jesus or something. I noticed one was a yellow earth pony with a red mane & tail, and a cute pink bow on the back of her head. The other was a orange pegasus with a purple mane & tail, and little wings on her side, that seemed to flutter at a crazy speed.
"Hi girls, what are you doing here?" Fluttershy was the first to respond. I was too busy being dumb strucked and surrounded by the three fillies, as they looked me over from head to foot.
"Hi Fluttershy." The yellow one with the pink bow answered her with a smile. "Sweetie Belle was telling us about an adult stallion without a cutie mark, and we just had ta see if it was true."
"girls, I'd like you to meet Mark Less Stevens." Pinkie said, waving a hoof in my direction.
"So it's true..." the orange pegasus said as she walked around me before stopping right infront of me, looking right at me with a puzzled expression. "You really don't have a cutie mark. Why is that, mister?"
"I guess I never got a chance to earn one." I replied calmly. Hoping I didn't say the wrong thing.
"But, didn't that bother ya growing up?" The one with the bow asked. "Didn't the other kids make make fun of ya alot for it?" The way she was asking me, I could tell these fillies have been through some bullying before. Probably because they still didn't have their cutie marks yet ethier.
"Sometimes." I answered honestly. Remembering how it was for me growing up. "Sure they made fun of me, but I'd never let it get to me. I'd either block it out or confront them about it. I never let them push me around too much, but I'd never tried to stoop to their level." The three fillies looked at me in wonder, taking everything I had said to heart. "Besides, I had some pretty awesome friends growing up, so I never it let it get me down." I finished with a small smile.
The three fillies looked at each other as they pondered on what I had just said. I noticed that both Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy smiled at me wramly, giving me an approving nod.
"Girls, why don't you introduce yourself." Fluttershy stated to the fillies, drawing their attention.
The three fillies gave each other a nod before drawing a breath all at once. "WE'RE THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!" They all yelled in perfect union. The sheer volume of their voices made me cringe.
"I'm Applebloom." The one with the pink bow went first.
"And I'm Scootaloo." The little pegasus decleared proudly.
"Well, it's nice to meet you all." I said with a smile. Well, at least they ain't as bad as some of the kids I know back home. I thought to myself. I had babysitted for a few kids in my day, and let me tell you, it was hell!
"So, are you still going to go see Twilight?" Sweetie Belle asked meekly.
"Yep. We sure are." Pinkie replied happily. "Say, would you girls like to come as well?"
"Uh huh." They all nodded at once. " If it's alright with you, that is." Sweetie shyly stated.
"Of course we don't mind. The more the merrier." Pinkie stated as she patted her on top of her head. "Come on girls, let's go."
But as we all began to continue to walk on, we was interrupted by the sounds of screams and the sight of ponies running in all directions. Most of the ponies seemed to be running away from the center of town, where we just came from not too long ago. It was when a grey pegasus started to fly by us, did the girls begin respond. I however, was taken back by the scene.
"Ditzy Doo!" Pinkie screamed at the pegasus, getting her attention and getting her to stop in place. She hovered there for a few seconds before landing beside us.
"Ditzy, what's happening?" Fluttershy asked worriedly.
"It's horrible! A huge rock monster is attacking Ponyville!"
Oh crap.