I groaned as I woke up, "That's it, I think three beers is in half a year is enough for one lifetime. God, my head hurts so badly."
I reach up to rub my head because of the pain that had formed in my head while I was unconscious. When I touch my head though, I feel something unfamiliar, something hard and with a lack of space in place of my hands. When I look, I am shocked to find in place of my normal hands, I have hooves. I look myself over to find that in place of my normal looks, I now look like an oddly shaped horse, with wings, ruby red hair, a tail that resembles a wolf and is mainly red but with a silver streak, and wings that are similar to my tail. Over my body is my old WW2 bomber jacket but weirdly it is bigger than usual. I look around and spot a pond and try to rush to it, only to stumble over my legs, er… hooves. Getting up, I move slowly to the water, pacing myself in order to get use to my condition. Once I get to the water, I look into it to find myself staring at a horse with a mane that has a mane similar to my tail along with blue eyes that have a bit of green, my eyes. I frown, suppressing my desire to panic. My frown deepens when I see that I have a horn. Using the bits of info I know, I come to the conclusion that I am an alicorn in the world for my little pony. Continuing to stare at my reflection, I sigh before thinking 'I want so bad to flip out now, I want to think that what is going on is a dream, but my headache says otherwise. I better get used to my condition before I go anywhere, I don't want to make a fool of myself.'
From there, I start practicing walking, then galloping. An hour and a half after getting that down, I started on what I was more eager about, flying! As expected though, it is much harder than walking, but somehow I get it done in an hour, faster than I did with the walking. Resting for a bit, I work on the more obvious aspect of me, my power. Using a small rock, I focus on it, trying to use my power from my unicorn half in order to lift the rock. It takes me three hours, but I manage to finally be able to lift the rock and move it around, it is still jerky but I still can move it. Once I have it down, I set out from my position, thankful that my jacket is big enough to hide my wings. I figured that being an alicorn would bring me too much attention, so hiding something would help. I hate that I have to hide my wings, but my horn would be too obvious to anyone but I could easily hid my wing. Once on the move, it is two hours later that I start to get hungry and look around for food; I spot an apple tree and decide that an apple sounds good before using my magic to pick one and bring it to me. Before I can even take a bite of it, a voice with a southern accent shows, "HOLD IT RIGHT THERE AND DROP THAT APPLE!"
Startle, I subconsciously launch the apple using my magic, smashing it on the tree I got it from. As soon as the apple becomes a mess on the tree, I find myself staring at a pony with a cowboy hat and blond mane. "You better start explainin what in tarnation you are doin on private property stealin apples that ain't yers before I start buckin!"
Swallowing hard, "I reply, I am sorry, I am new here and have been traveling for a while, I ran out of food a day ago and was starving. So when I seen the apple tree, I couldn't help myself, as it was I wasn't even aware I was on private property and-."
I am cut off when my stomach starts growling in hunger, prompting me to blush while the pony starts laughing. She then with a friendly smile says, "Sorry bout that then, Ah didn't mean to scare you like that, come on, ah will take you to mah place to get ya somethin to eat, by the way, mah name is Apple Jack."
I nod and smile before saying, "It is nice to meet you Apple Jack, my name is Joshua."
Thanks to my starting to actually get sick from not eating, I simply let her lead me to her place. Once there, she introduces me to her family and I introduce myself to them. When we eat, I try to be as respectful as I can, trying to make a good impression. When we finish, Apple Jack asks me, "So Joshua, what are ya doing wandering?"
"Well, I was traveling for a while, but decided to settle down somewhere, Only thing is, I admit that I have no money to my name or as I said before, any food."
Apple Jack starts thinking before calling her family for a huddle. As they start talking, I can only wonder what they have in mind when they break their huddle. "Ahright Joshua, on a farm, how good are ya at buckin?"
I shake my head before saying, "I am terrible at it, but thanks to my endurance, I could easily pull a wagon or carry a basket or two."
"Hm… not very strong are ya." I blush as she continues, "But still, better than nothing, ahright then, tomorrow we shall start ya off simple, we will have ya carry the apples to the barn. If ya get tired, let us know; don't need ya drivin yerself into the ground."
I nod before she leads me to a guest cabin for me to get some rest, where I sit and start thinking about my situation. I am in a different world, one that had been a cute little TV series, I was one of the rare more adored kind of pony in this world, I was on Apple Jack's farm going to be working in the morning on the farm, and from the looks of things I was going to be involved in some crazy things soon. Creating a plan in my head, I think about staying in the cabin working for Apple jack, all the while doing work in town to earn money for my own place so that I wasn't leeching off the family. I then think to myself, 'If my coming to this world caused any sort of disruption, then I face the possibility of Celestia trying to track down the source, and I am unsure what this world's view on humans. If someone finds out what I truly am and humans are hated here.' I shudder at some of the ideas on what could happen to me if I am to be killed. 'Well, I am not going to get any rest thinking about the dangers, better get some rest before tomorrow.'
Canterlot
"Lady Celestia, Lady Celestia, are you here?"
In the city of Canterlot, a young pony named Twilight Sparkle, was searching for Princess Celestia, her leader and teacher. She was wanting to check something with her and even wish her a good night before she went bed. She was in the library looking and shouted again, "Lady Celestia are you-."
"I am here Twilight you do not need to shout."
She looked to see a larger pony, one that was white with a rainbow colored mane and tail that both seemed to flow as if in a breeze that was not there, sitting and reading a book, this was Twilight's mentor and leader, Princess Celestia.
"I'm sorry lady Celestia, it's just, I am worried."
"Please, just Celestia Twilight, we have known each-other for years, and what is it that is bothering you?"
"Well… it's just… I am worried about the summer sun festival that is coming up. I know that this is the thousandth year that Nightmare moon has been sealed in the moon, and with this being the longest day of the year… I just think that we should cancel this year."
"Twilight, it will be ok, you shouldn't worry."
"But what about that surge earlier today?"
"I sensed no darkness to it twilight, I am sure it might have been a unicorn that might of cause their magic to go a bit wild. Now go on twilight, go ahead and get some sleep, it is late."
Twilight wanted to say something, but she thought better of it and kneeled before saying, "Very well, I wish you a good night my lady," then left.
Once she was alone, Celestia thought to herself, 'I am concerned about the power surge though, that was not from a unicorn. It felt as though something tore its way into this world.'
Ponyville, the next day.
"JOSHUA, TIME TO GET UP FOR SOME WORK!"
I am startled awake by Apple Jack shouting for me, I groan as I get up before pulling my jacket back on. Once I was up and ready, I head out the door toward the orchard to get to work. Once there, I stand at attention in front of Apple Jack, waiting for her to tell me what to do. When she sees me standing the way I am, she says to me, "Shoot, Joshua, why are ya actin so stiff?"
I blush before saying, "Sorry, after yesterday, I just wanted to make a good impression."
She just laughs before saying, "Ya don't have to worry about that, this isn't like yer with the royal guards or something like that. Besides, we aren't that formal here anyways. Now then, today, yer going to be helping me by taking the basket's I fill with apples and carry them with my brother to the barn."
I nod before getting ready, when she starts knocking the apples out of the trees; I am impressed at her speed now that I see it for myself in person. Once she fills the first two baskets, I get them on my back before carrying them to the barn. I jog back after dropping off the apples in order to be Johnny-on-the-spot. It's around noon when we stop after seven hours of work; I am pretty tired with my limps feeling like they are on fire. I am now wandering around the town, exploring after she told me that I should know the area since I may have to help her at some point with getting apples and such into town. As I explore, the people, er, ponies of the town greet me warmly. Because of my anxiety with being around others, I don't really stop to talk though. As I am walking, I suddenly get a bad feeling, I get the feeling that something is about to happen and I tense ready for whatever is going to happen, when it does happen. As I walk, I suddenly hear a high pitched squeal and get tackled by a pink blur. I wind up getting sent rolling with the blur, till we come to a stop with what I knew was pinkie pie on my back. I can't help but to think to myself, 'jinxed, I am completely jinxed.' I say to her, "Miss, could you please get off of me?"
She gasps before saying, "I am so sorry, I did not see where I was going and BOOM, I run into you on accident and -."
I tune her out as she goes on and on, unsure how she can do that without needing to take a breath or anything. After what seems to be half an hour, in which we introduce ourselves, she gasps, says something I don't understand and runs off. I can help but to think to myself, what was that all about before heading off to explore some more before heading back to the farm. Unfortunately for me, as I explore, I get tackled again, prompting me to think, 'why, why must I always be the target of getting tackled or something similar.' Even more to my chagrin, I find that my 'attacker' is a gray Pegasus with a blond mane and tail. What is more unusual yet familiar about her is that she also has golden eyes that are crossed-eye. She says to me in a tomboyish voice, "I am so sorry, I did not mean to run into you."
I just say as I say, "It is OK, please be more careful miss."
"Would you like a copy of the Ponyville daily?"
I am surprised by how she apologized, then immediately asked me that, prompting me to act quickly as I say, "I am sorry, I do not have any money on me at the moment; maybe next time when I do, I will buy one from you."
She looks sad when I say that, "Oh, OK."
When she leaves, I feel sad getting her upset like that, and swear to myself that I will buy a subscription from her when I have the money. My, being sad goes to anger when I barely take three steps and get tackled again! Losing my cool, I get up quickly and shout, "Will people PLEASE stop tackling me!"
The one who tackled me huffs before saying, "What the heck is your problem?!"
I find that the one that tackled me is a blue pony with a rainbow colored mane and tail. I say nothing as I leave, grumbling that I seem to be a target for everyone to tackle. I don't get far when she is suddenly in my face, "I said, what the heck is your problem?!"
I practically growl as I say, "Right now my problem is a little blue idiot who won't get out of my face!"
She seethes from that, "Who you calling an idiot, idiot?!"
I snort from her attempt, "Please, I heard worse insults from my little niece, and she is only two and a half!"
"YOU THINK YOU ARE SO CLEVER?! AT LEAST I CAN FLY!"
I snort at that, "IF FLYING IS WHAT YOU WERE DOING A BIT AGO, THEN I WOULD YOU SHOULD START WALKING, YOUR FLYING WAS SO TERRIBLE THAT I AM SURPRISED THAT NO BODY WAS HURT OR KILLED BY IT!"
By this point, her face is a shade of purple from her anger, "HOW DARE YOU, I THE BEST FLYER IN PONYVILLE YOU JERK!"
"HA, IF YOU ARE THE BEST THEN I WOULD HATE TO SEE THE WORSE, THEN AGAIN MAYBE THEY WOULD BE A BETTER FLYER!"
By this point, she actually lunges at me, determine to fight me yet I dodge around her, not letting her grab me. She goes to lunge again but is interrupted when a familiar voice shouts, "WHAT IN TARNATION IS GOIN ON HERE!"
We look to find an angry Apple Jack looking at us, ready to knock some since into us. Since I am still in a foul mood, I stomp off, not sure of where I am going, after walking a bit, I bump into someone else and I am about to go off on them when a quiet voice asks me, "Um… excuse me, are you OK?"
I look to find a yellow pony with a pink mane and tail looking at me, nervous. I sigh before saying, "I am sorry, I am in a bit of a bad mood, because of that I wasn't watching where I was going, sorry if I hurt you."
"Oh, it's OK, I was scared that something was wrong."
I shake my head before replying, "Just my temper going wrong. It was always my problem."
"Um… would you like some tea? It might help."
I think about it before saying, "Thank you miss…"
"Oh, my name is fluttershy."
I nod, "Thank you Miss fluttershy, my name is Joshua, and some tea sounds wonderful."
I follow her to her place, and can't help but to feel a bit better just being away from the town. As she sits me down, she says to me, "I will go make the tea, please, will you wait here?"
I nod giving her a reassuring smile. As she goes to make the tea, I sit and wait quietly when a rabbit I recognize as angel comes up to me and starts sniffing at me. I smile and go to pet him on the head, but he pulls back, cautious. I can't help but to wince, a little sad that I might have scared him and go back to sitting quietly, two seconds after resuming my patience, the rabbit actually jumps up on the table in front of me and stares at me. Deciding he looks smart, hence why he backed away, I ask him, "May I pet you little one?"
He just sits there, looking like he is thinking when he suddenly nods. I pet him, as gentle as I can with hooves in place of hands. I get taken by surprise when as I pet him, I feel something land on my shoulder and look to find that a bird has landed on my shoulder. The bird rubs against my head, prompting me to pet it as well. Before long, my shoulders and head are swarmed by birds and the table in front of me is covered by animals that are curious about me. When fluttershy comes back with the tea, she is surprised to see me swarmed by her animal friends, all looking calm and happy while I was nervous as heck. I couldn't help but to mouth, 'help me' as she looked at this crazy sight. "Now, everyone, you shouldn't treat a guest this way, go on, shoo."
As she had the animals go about what they were doing, I feel relieved. I tell her, "Thank you, I am not use to being swarmed like that."
She actually giggles as she says to me, "I had seen, it looked cute though, I have never seen my animal friends take to someone like that."
As she pours the tea, I reply, "I seem to have something about me, every time I interact with an animal, they seem to take to me like a cat to cat nip."
She can't help but to giggle at the thought while I smile lightly, the stress from earlier already fading away. It isn't long though when there is a knock at the door that causes the animals to bolt. When fluttershy answers the door, I hear Apple Jack at the door and she asks, "Fluttershy, Have ya seen a unicorn named Joshua? We heard that he-."
"Where he is, where is that stupid spy at?!"
I hear wings flapping like mad before I duck to avoid getting tackled again. While ducked down, I hear a crash and see that Rainbow Dash had crashed into the wall, wrecking some of the little houses for the animals, I practically feel the sweat drop from seeing her like that. When she sees me, she is suddenly in my face demanding, "Alright you spy, who do you work for?!"
As she starts making demands from me, I start getting annoyed from her accusations, and before either Fluttershy or Apple Jack could say anything, I say to her, in a tone that causes even the animals hide from the underlying anger in it, "Miss, it is quite rude to not only barge into someone's house, but to destroy their things and insult accuse their guests of such things is on a whole other level."
Glaring at me, she is about to comment when Apple Jack says to her, Rainbow Dash, you better go, NOW! Pinkie Pie needed your help anyways."
Rainbow Dash is about to argue but knows better of it when she sees Apple Jack's expression, and leaves after giving me the classic 'I am watching you' handsigns. Once she leaves, Apple Jack looks at me and asks, "Now, Ah want to hear what in tarnation happened earlier from yer mouth Joshua."
I sigh before saying, "Earlier, before I ran into, Rainbow Dash was what you said her name was, I had been practically tackled by a hyper, pink pony named Pinkie Pie, who started going on and on, then I was hit by this gray pony who asked me if I wanted a copy of the daily paper after apologizing. Now, at this point I am pretty annoyed, and I had barely taken three steps, when once again, I was tackled. I didn't mean to lose my temper but I shouted out in anger about everypony stop tackling me. Rainbow Dash assumed I was shouting at her and was starting up on me, prompting me to try to walk away to calm down, but she got in my face again continuing to get on me. At this point, I admit I lost my cool and insulted her. I had not meant to insult her, but her behavior reminded me of problems I had in the past, and I couldn't restrain myself. I want to apologize, but now I am not sure I will be able to if her behavior before is how she is going to act to me now."
Apple jack just chuckles before saying, "Don't worry, I am sure you will get a chance later, now come on, Pinkie Pie wanted to see you about something, wouldn't say what though."
I know what it is but say nothing as I follow behind, dreading Pinkie's infamous surprise party. When we get there, I say to Apple Jack, "Um hey, is there a backdoor to this place?"
Apple Jack is confused by my question but confirms that there is. I nod then say to her, "I will meet you inside them, just becareful."
She is confused but says nothing as I go to the back door while she goes through the front. As I enter through the back door, I hear the ponies at the front shout surprise, and chuckle as I sneak in. Confused Pinkie Pie is about to start blabbing again from what I can see before I say loud enough to be heard, "So Apple Jack is not the one we are surprising?"
As everyone turns their attention to me, Pinkie pie says, "No, no, no, we are supposed to be surprising the new pony, Joshua!"
After a few seconds, she realizes I am there, and is suddenly in front of me shouting, "Surprise!"
I can't help but to chuckle at this before the party goes on, with ponies coming up to me and introducing themselves and I introduce myself as well. It isn't long though when my anxiety from being in a crowd builds up and I am forced to run out the front door in order to ease my stress levels. While outside, I am suddenly startled when I feel someone touch my shoulder and whirl around. I find that it the gray pony from before. "I am sorry; I didn't mean to startle you."
I shake my head before replying, "Its OK, I just, was a little stressed."
She tilts her head in a way that, combined with her eyes being crossed the way they are, makes her seem cuter, before asking, "Why are you stressed?"
Running a hoof through my mane, I tell her, "I can't handle crowds so well, a few ponies is fine, but that many of them and I start getting extremely stressed out."
"Oh, will you be OK?"
I nod before replying, "Yeah, I just need to take a breather for a bit before I go back in."
"Would you-."
"There you are, everyone was wondering where the guest of honor disappeared to."
We look to see Pinkie Pie, along with Apple Jack and Rainbow Dash and there, obviously having been looking for me. "What happen to ya Joshua, I thought ya would be enjoyinG the party."
I explain to her the same thing I had told Derpy before realizing that I never got her name, knowing it would be suspicious later on if I said her name without asking about it. After she introduces herself, I turn to Rainbow Dash and say to her, "Miss Rainbow Dash, I want to apologize for my behavior earlier, I was upset and I let it out in the wrong way, I also did not mean to say what I had said to you, it wrong of me to lose my temper like I did."
I had bowed my head by this point, so I couldn't see what her reaction was, but I am surprised when I hear her say, "OK, Apple Jack explained to me why you were angry, so I guess I can forgive you, but if you insult my flying again then I will see how well you can fly without wings!"
I swallow at this but she simply laughs before I saying, "I'm just kidding, now, come on. I don't think you had any of Pinkie Pie's cooking yet, stuff isn't too bad."
I just smile as me and Derpy follow them inside to return to the party.
Later that night.
I am on my way back to the cabin, ready to settle down for the night. After the party earlier, I am pretty and tired and stuffed. I think back on the major ponies that I met, AJ, RD, Pinkie Pie, Derpy, and Fluttershy. I did meet Rarity but I had to trick her and run in order to avoid being dragged off for her to give me a makeover. When the party had ended, it was night time, so everyone had headed on home while I did a bit more walking. It was dark out by the time I started back to the farm, but I was glad to have gotten to see the place in person. I had to chuckle since I was the only Brony to actually get to be in Ponyville. When I got back to the cabin, I was sort of surprised to see a light, but figured that AJ had left a lit lantern so that I would find my way there. When I enter, I am proven wrong when I find things that weren't there with me before. On the bed is my old laptop bag, along with a couple books. Going through my bag, I find my laptop, along with with my iPhone and iPod both in it along with a couple DVDs. Once I go through my bag, I think to myself, 'I don't know who brought these here or how they did it, but I wish I could thank them.' I then put in my earbuds and turn my iPod on to settle down to some music.
A hill nearby.
A cloaked figure stands on a hill, watching the cabin that Joshua currently inhabits, "Looks like you found my gifts, I hope that some gifts from home will help ease you into this life. Once your mission is done, I shall return you home my friend."
The figure then disappeared in a flash of light, their words heard only by the crickets chirping in the grass.