'Okay Snowy, let's think about this logically,' she thought, sitting at the kitchen table with her second carton of chocolate milk.
'You are currently trapped in a different universe, in a world were magic does not exist, and unicorns are just a myth, with absolutely no means of return... actually let's stop thinking about it logically.'
A slurping noise indicated that she had run out of milk, she fetched another one out of the larder, slipping the straw in and starting to sip as she returned to the table.
'Ok, let's think rationally instead. At least I'm somewhere safe and dry, so it won't be too uncomfortable to stay here, and I seem welcome, even if it is in a house alone with two males, one of which is a stallion who has never seen another of his own kind, and by extension, a mare until me... Oh and he seems as nutty as a squirrel... Yeah, rationally isn't working for me either.'
She continued drinking, deep in thought.
'Ok, let's give reasonably a go then... Just because I can't get home by myself, doesn't mean that I will be trapped here forever, I'm sure my colleagues are working on a way to get me back to Equestria even as I think...'
Snowy stopped drinking and thought about her colleagues for a full minute.
Unlike the bed and the couch before it, the solid crack that the table made when her head impacted against it did a wonderful job of conveying her feelings.
"... I'm doomed." she said aloud.
With sullen resignation she continued drinking, stopping only when the carton was once more empty. Plodding back into the pantry she took stock of the dwindling chocolate milk supplies. 'I wonder if I can convince them to get more, after all, I'm probably going to be here for a loooong time, assuming they don't throw me out.'
Slinking back to the table, she sat brooding, Even the euphoric effect of the milk didn't take the edge off her dark mood.
Paradox hesitated outside the kitchen. Walter had told him that Snowy was apparently in a bad mood. She had just discovered that she might lack the means to return home, and according to Walter, she hadn't taken it well. Walter had suggested giving her space for a while, but Paradox thought differently. Snowy might never be able to return home, Paradox couldn't imagine what that would feel like for her.
With that in mind he resolved to go and comfort the mare, so determined was he, that he came right there without even changing out of his exercise clothing.
However, just as he was about to walk in, he encountered an obstacle... he had no idea how to comfort a mare.
'Oh well, I have a little sister, this can't be too much harder... I hope,' he thought, gulping.
With more than a little trepidation, he stepped into the kitchen.
"Umm, hello?"
'Oh please for the love of Celestia, go away,' thought Snowy, not bothering to face the speaker, or even stop drinking her milk.
Unfortunately, Paradox didn't seem to possess mind reading powers, so he continued with "I heard you weren't feeling well."
'Give this pony the understatement of the year award,' thought Snowy, rolling her eyes but still not looking.
After an awkward silence, Paradox said, "Do... Do you want to talk about it?"
'Evidently not, or else I would be doing so right now,' thought Snowy, mentally adding that to her list of really dumb questions. She had yet to move her gaze.
She became aware of Paradox coming up behind her, and resting a hoof on her shoulder, "Hey, are you all right?"
Anger boiled up in her stomach, couldn't this dumb stallion get the hint? She just wanted to be left alone.
With that in mind she whipped around to face Paradox, who took a few steps back in surprise, and prepared to give him her best death glare, however what she saw stopped her in her tracks.
Paradox blinked in surprise as Snowy froze, her pupils shrinking to pinpricks. she sat there unmoving, her eyes locked on him. it was really starting to unnerve him 'What's she starring at?'
He spared a glance behind him. 'Nope, nothing there.'
He patted himself down. 'Nothing except my clothes.'
He looked back to Snowy, whose face had now began to scrunch up, and her eyes were twitching worryingly.
'What's going on?' he thought, worrying for his life.
'Nope, I can't deal with this, it's too soon after venting,' thought Snowy, trying her hardest not to burst.
Standing before her was what happened to be one of the biggest dorks Snowy had ever seen.
Paradox stood there, wearing a baggy, ill fitting, sleeveless top, exercise shorts, green fluffy leg warmers, and a matching sweatband, which made his hair stick out in weird directions.
'Welp, here goes my dignity,' thought Snowy, as she felt her response build up, and she still had a mouth full of chocolate milk...
Paradox watched as Snowy's cheeks ballooned out, before spraying milk all over him, before falling to the floor coughing and spluttering.
"Snowy! are you all-right?!" said Paradox, rushing to her side.
Snowys coughing quickly subsided into laughter. "He-he-he, Oh sweet Luna I can't breathe, hoo-hoo-hoo," she wheezed.
"Err Snowy, you okay?" said Paradox, not sure how to deal with this.
"Oh, I'm fine," she said between giggles. "Better than before even."
"Really?" said Paradox, still confused, and dripping with chocolate milk.
"Yep, your presence alone has cheered me right up," she said, trying and failing to stifle her laughter.
"Okay... well I'm glad to hear that, since you're fine now, no reason for me to hang around then," he said, making for the door, eager to escape the awkwardness.
"Yeah, you do that," she said, getting a bit of control.
"After all I need to get this milk out of my coat," he added, standing in the door.
Snowy had finally gathered enough composure to look at Paradox again, and Immediately lost it again upon seeing the soaked pony.
Paradox left the room, the sounds of Snowy's laughter receding. 'Mares are weird,' he thought, wondering what that was all about.
'You know, maybe this won't be too bad,' thought Showy, picking herself up off the floor, and going to get a fresh carton. "At the very least this might be entertaining"
Walter, who was in the process of tidying up the books in the living room, saw Paradox walk in. Walter had tried to discourage him from talking to Snowy, and with good reason, that girl's temper seemed to be balanced on a razor's edge, a surprisingly stable razor's edge, but a razor none-the-less, and if Walter was any judge, she had a hidden mean streak, he could see it in her eyes. But unfortunately Paradox was determined and went off regardless of Walters warnings, however rather than the emotionally destroyed Paradox he was expecting, what he got instead was a completely befuddled and rather soggy Paradox.
"How did it go sir, did you manage to lift her spirits?" said Walter slowly, eyeing the dripping liquid.
"I... I don't know," said Paradox, still confused. "She took one look at me and then did a spit take into my face, fell on the floor and started laughing."
Walter raised his eyebrow. "I... see," he said slowly, "and after that?"
"She said she felt better, then started laughing at me again, then I left," said Paradox, "and I still have no idea what I did."
Walter had an idea. "Sir, permission to speak freely."
"Eer- granted?" said Paradox, wondering where Walter was going with this.
"I promised your mother not to tell you this as it might dampen your enthusiasm, but that outfit really does look ridiculous," said Walter flatly.
"Really?" said Paradox.
"Yes, really."
"But mom always said I looked cute in it."
"With all due respect to your mother, you could dress up as Freddy Krueger and she would still find it adorable," Walter deadpanned. "Miss Bitterfrost probably just found your garb amusing is all."
"Oh," said Paradox.
"Regardless, despite it going well this time, I ask you be more careful when dealing with Miss Bitterfrost, she might not be so easy to placate in the future," said Walter.
"Why?" said Paradox confused.
Walter kneeled down to and put a hand on his charge's head. "I'm not sure if you've gathered this or not, but Miss Bitterfrost is not the nicest individual, from what I've seen, she is short tempered, mean spirited, anti-social, paranoid, and calculative. She is trying to be helpful and polite in answering your questions, but I get the feeling that she is only doing so because she feels she has no other options, if she felt she had the choice, she probably wouldn't be here."
"But..."
"I know she is the first of her kind you have ever met, and I am sorry that I have to tell you this, but she is not a friendly pony, nor does she want to be your friend. She is trying to be civil, but her temper is on a hair trigger, and I'm afraid that if you're not careful, she might end up hurting you, maybe not physically, but here instead," said Walter, holding a hand over his heart. "Please understand, I'm not saying you can't talk to her, I'm sure you have a lot of questions, and it seems she doesn't mind too much when you ask about Equestria, but it would be best for you if you don't expect too much from her other than that, she may be from that show you like, but it seems she has little interest in the magic of friendship."
Paradox sat there in silence as Walter's words sunk in. Walter knew it wouldn't be easy for Paradox, but some things needed to be said...
"Just because she doesn't want me as a friend, doesn't mean I should stop trying."
Walter raised his eyebrow.
"I don't doubt what you say, you probably have more experience in these things than I do, but If there's one thing I've learned, it is that those who don't want friends often need them the most," said Paradox, "And who knows, maybe underneath all that is a nice pony, who has just had one to many hard knocks in her life too want friends, I won't know unless I try."
Walter looked down into Paradox's eyes, who looked back with quiet determination.
Walter sighed. "You truly are one of a kind, Paradox." He gave Paradox a pat before standing upright. "You do whatever you think is right, just tread carefully, I don't want to have to explain to your parents why their son was transformed into a statue by a vengeful unicorn."
"Huh?" said Paradox.
"That reminds me, have you given any thought as to how you might explain this to your mother and father? They are coming back tomorrow, after all."
"Errr...."
"Excuse me, hate to interrupt, but you are out of chocolate milk, would anyone mind getting more at some point?"
They both turned to Snowy, standing in the door, who at least had the decency to look a little sheepish. "Okay, I went a little overboard, alright, I don't have a problem, I swear."
Walter rested his head in his hand. 'I wonder if I should consider retiring.'