//------------------------------//
// Chapter 9 - The Campus 
// Story: Miracles 
// by awesomesauce4 
//------------------------------//

	Josh and Ben spent a few hours just playing videogames – or rather, Josh watched while Ben played games. 

“God dammit!” Ben cursed as his character died again. 

“Wow. You… suck,” Josh quipped, laughing as he reclined on the couch next to Ben. 

“I’d like to see you get past this one!” Ben retorted in frustration. 

“You gotta dodge left, he never shoots to the left,” Josh advised. 

“I heard shouting in here, is everything alright?” Luna asked, poking her head in. 

“It’s fine, Ben’s just frustrated with this game,” Josh explained. 

Luna walked in and stared at the screen, where Ben’s character was hurriedly dodging and weaving as he tried to squeeze in an attack. 

“Would you mind if I tried?” Luna asked, taking a seat beside Josh and placing a wing over his back. 

Ben handed off the controller in a huff. “Yeah, I’m done. Move the joystick to move around, and this button to shoot, and this button to tuck and roll,” Ben instructed, Luna watching intently as he pointed out each part of the controller. Nodding, Luna picked up the controller with her magic and began playing.

“FOUL, WRETCHED CREATURE! WE SHALT SEND THEE BACK TO THE PITS OF TARTARUS FROM WHENCE THOU CAME!” Luna shouted in frustration a few minutes later, her eyes glowing white with power as she died for the seventh time in a row. 

Ben was rolling on the floor, clutching his sides as he laughed as hard as he could, while Josh was simply grinning at Luna’s antics. 

“Want to try again?” Josh asked, as Luna continued to fume with rage. 

She growled fiercely at the TV screen. “I had better not,” she muttered, giving up with a sigh as she passed the controller off to Ben. 

“Sister? Have you calmed down yet?” Celestia asked from the other side of the door. 

“Yes… mostly,” Luna grumbled back. 

“Good. Claire was worried her house was going to explode,” Celestia chastised. 

“I would never do such a thing!” Luna declared indignantly. 

“Are you sure about that?” Josh teased. 

“Well, I would put it back when I was done,” Luna muttered, still miffed. 

Ben snorted with amusement, and opened the door to reveal Celestia rolling her eyes. 

“I believe we have one last stop to make,” she reminded everyone. 

“Oh, yeah. Well, I guess we’d better say our goodbyes,” Josh remarked. 

“Bye, mom!” Ben said, engulfing Claire in a hug. 

“Bye, son,” Claire managed to choke out, immediately tearing up again. 

Celestia and Luna wiped tears from their own eyes at the display of affection, while Josh simply waited patiently. 

“Goodbye, Claire. I will keep you informed every month, I promise,” Celestia added once the two humans had finally broken apart. 

“Thank you, Celestia. May we see each other again soon?” Claire asked. 

Celestia nodded, smiling. “Of course. Take care of yourself!” 

And with that, the group departed, Claire waving tearfully from the front door as they took off into the skies. 

“Where to next?” Luna asked Josh, as she and Celestia flew at a leisurely pace, high above the clouds. 

“East. Far east. We’re looking for a place called Cleveland,” Josh explained. 

Luna hummed in thought. “I believe we are going to need directions. Sister, this place seems as modern as Equestria to me – where might we acquire a map?” she asked. 

“I got it,” Ben answered, pulling out his phone. He tapped out an address, and a moment later a robotic voice spoke up, startling Celestia. 

“Follow I-90 for three hundred miles,” it instructed monotonously. 

“Who was that?” Celestia asked, craning her neck around. 

“Robotic navigating system,” Josh answered. “It’s not a real person, just the phone reading instructions out loud.” 

Celestia hesitatingly accepted this, though Josh saw her glance back suspiciously at the phone every now and then.

A few hours in, there was a rumbling drone in the distance, and a plane appeared off to their left. “Should we be worried about photography?” Ben worried. 

“Nah,” Josh answered. “What’re they gonna do, arrest us? We’re way too powerful to worry about that.” 

Luna looked up at Josh. “Why would they arrest us?” she wondered. 

“Humans, as a group, tend to attack or imprison what they don’t like,” Josh answered. 

Luna raised an eyebrow at him. “How curious. Humans would not even attempt to make amends with their enemies?” 

Josh shrugged. “Sometimes? Not often.” 

Ben looked over at the plane, a thought occurring to him. “Hey, aren’t we getting exposed to a ton of solar radiation right now? And also, shouldn’t we be asphyxiating from lack of oxygen? Not to mention, we should be freezing with how high up we are and how fast we’re moving,” he began to worry, hyperventilating slightly. 

“Do not fear, Ben. I took care of all that before we even took off. I must say, your sun is quite… harsh,” Celestia noted, looking up in dismay at Sol. 

To the humans’ surprise, they arrived in Cleveland just before dusk, Luna and Celestia panting slightly. 

“Maybe we’d better rest up, huh?” Josh wondered. Luna tiredly nodded, and Josh led them through the streets. “Come on, everyone. I’ll get us into my room.”

As they walked towards his apartment building, they passed by yet another random human stranger, who stopped and stared at them just like all the other ones had. Thankfully, there weren’t any crowds because it was so late, but Josh had begun to echo Ben’s worries from earlier in his mind. They were alicorns, true, but what if someone decided to use a sniper rifle from a rooftop? Josh wasn’t sure Celestia and Luna even knew about guns. Though, he didn't think news could reach any group with a bone to pick with them that quickly. Still, it was probably better to hurry... but he just couldn't bring himself to tell Celestia and Luna to move any faster.

Finally, they made it to his apartment building. “My room’s right up there, on the fifth floor,” Josh said, pointing. Luna flew up, already exhausted again, and Celestia elected to teleport directly into the room, where she collapsed onto the floor, out cold. Ben opened the sliding glass door from the inside, and Josh stepped into his college apartment.

It was spacious for an apartment, with its own kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. One bed had been moved out to the living room, though it was stripped bare of any sheets. Ben gently picked Celestia up, evidently surprised that he even could, and carefully deposited her on the mattress. 

“Do you have any extra sheets?” he asked Josh. 

“Yeah, they’re in the closet over there,” Josh yawned, looking around in satisfaction. Until just a day ago, this had been where he had lived… Strangely, he was sorry to see it go. 

Luna somehow managed to make it to the same mattress Celestia was on, cuddling into her older sister and falling asleep almost instantly. 

“Guess we really tired them out, huh?” Ben noted in dismay as he meticulously tucked them in, placing a pillow under their heads. 

“Good night’s rest, and they’ll be right back up again. Alicorns are tough, last I remembered,” Josh answered apathetically. 

Ben rolled his eyes, but made no further comment. “Where should I sleep?” he wondered, looking into Josh’s bedroom. 

“Go ahead and sleep in my bed, I’ll just take the couch,” Josh answered. 

“You sure? I wouldn’t mind,” Ben offered. 

Josh rolled his eyes. “I’m fine. Look at me, the bed’s overkill at this point,” he answered, gesturing to his newly diminished stature. 

“If you say so…” Ben muttered.

Hours later, the moon had risen in the Ohio night sky, and all was dark in Josh’s apartment, except for a single, rectangular screen. It had taken him far too long, but Josh had finally managed to type out a farewell letter to his old parents. In Josh’s view, it was short, sweet, and to the point. Tiredly, he pressed Send on his email screen, and closed the laptop. That done, he checked the time on the microwave clock in the kitchen. It was 4:12 in the morning, and everyone else was fast asleep. Josh sighed, and moved back towards the couch, shivering as he buried himself deeper into the cushions in an attempt to warm himself. This had been a terrible idea.

He awoke to a gentle nudge to his side. 

“Hey, get up, it’s breakfast time,” Ben whispered in his ear. 

“I’m up…” Josh groaned, pushing himself to a sitting position and wondering when he had even fallen asleep. 

“Josh, why do you have so few foodstuffs?” Luna questioned curiously from next to Ben. “We found naught but a single jug of milk, some bread, and a can of peanut butter in your whole apartment.” 

Josh yawned. “I couldn’t afford to buy more, I spent all my money on science,” he answered, too tired to be anything but honest. 

Luna frowned in dismay. “Josh… you shouldn’t be sacrificing your health for your hobbies…” she tried. 

“I wasn’t,” Josh insisted. “Once a day, I’d go down to the dining hall, and get a proper meal there. I’ve been eating fine.” 

Luna appeared unconvinced, though she didn’t say anything more on the subject. 

“Anyway, I’ve prepared a proper meal,” Celestia called from in the kitchen, and the delicious scent of blueberry pancakes wafted in. Josh rolled his eyes, and joined his family for breakfast.

“So, where’d you get the pancakes?” he asked, after he’d already finished his stack. 

“I went out and got them,” Ben answered. “Also, we’re in the news.” 

He slid across a newspaper to reveal a candid shot of the four of them walking across Cleveland, with the headline “Unicorns in Cleveland? Now I’ve Really Seen Everything!” Josh laughed as he skimmed the article, though Luna appeared less amused with its contents.

“I can’t believe they missed the wings. ‘Unicorns,’ honestly,” Luna muttered. 

“Looks like the jury’s out on whether this was first contact or an elaborate hoax,” Josh paraphrased. 

“Should we lay low?” Ben worried. 

Josh shrugged. “I don’t think it matters. Not like we’re going to be sticking around long, anyway… We have what, two more days?” 

Celestia nodded. “In fact, I propose we leave at once. From what I know of news tabloids, this story is sure to die shortly if nothing else noteworthy happens.” 

Josh nodded. “Sounds good to me. Anyway… I guess we should pack my stuff, huh?” he remarked, gazing back at the bedroom. 

Luna smirked. “I already cleaned out your bedroom and bathroom… and your secret chemical stash,” she deviously revealed. 

Josh chuckled. “I guess hiding it in the closet was a bit cliché, huh?” he joked. “Anyway, all that’s left is my laptop and some stuff in the kitchen drawers… ah, wait. I gotta pick up some stuff from think[box]…” he realized, slapping a hoof to his face in embarrassment. 

“What is ‘Think Box?’” Luna asked curiously. 

“It’s an inventing center for students to build stuff. I have a bunch of stuff over there I was working on,” Josh explained. 

“Oh, I get it! ‘Thinking inside the box,’ hence ‘think box,’” Celestia realized. 

Josh nodded, chuckling. “…Yeah. Anyway, how am I going to check out my stuff? I can’t go there looking like this.” 

Luna thought for a moment. “Perhaps a disguise may be in order?” she suggested. 

“A glamour spell ought to suffice,” Celestia mused. “As long as you don’t bump into anyone…” She lit her horn, and Josh’s body glowed yellow for a brief moment. 

“Whoa!” Ben exclaimed, jumping back and covering his eyes. 

“Huh? I don’t… look any different,” Josh remarked. 

“It only affects those around you. This is your human form, correct?” Celestia asked, looking at Ben. 

“PUT SOME CLOTHES ON HIM!” Ben thundered. 

“Oh! Right,” Celestia realized embarrassedly as she lit her horn again. 

Ben snuck a peek at Josh, and relaxed. 

“Wait… the glamour was naked?” Josh queried, blushing crimson. 

“I didn’t account for clothes!” Celestia explained. “Most ponies don’t wear clothes!” Both humans’ faces were scrunched up in embarrassment, and Luna laughed at their expressions. 

“What is the matter?” she inquired teasingly, as Celestia smiled. “Afraid to show off your own bodies?” 

Josh opened an eye to glare at her. “Yeah, actually. It’s really important for humans to stay clothed,” he answered angrily. 

Luna and Celestia immediately stopped smiling. “Oh… I-I’m so sorry, I didn’t know!” Luna hurriedly apologized. 

“This is my fault, I should have realized that. Every other human wore clothes, why didn’t I see that?!” Celestia muttered to herself. 

Josh took a deep breath. “It’s okay. It wasn’t in public, so it’s okay,” he answered, talking more to himself than them. "Second time this has happened, really," he added as an afterthought. “Alright… well, Ben? Anything missing?” he asked, looking at his still-blushing brother. 

“No… no, you’re fine. Thank goodness the table was in the way of your lower half…” Ben grumbled. 

Josh chuckled halfheartedly. “Alright, well… since I’m the only one of us who hasn’t been on the news yet, I’ll head out alone. See you in a bit!” he finished, grabbing a backpack in his teeth.

Josh headed out into the bright Cleveland morning, shielding his eyes from the sun. He’d managed to sling his backpack over his legs in a similar manner to how he’d normally put it on, so he hoped it looked ‘right’ through the glamour spell. He felt especially self-conscious now that he was disguised, almost as if any second someone would point at him and yell “ALIEN!” So, he hurried his step, avoiding pedestrians and ignoring traffic lights whenever possible to reach think[box] faster.

A few detours and an elevator flight later, he walked into the reception area. 

“Morning, Alex,” he greeted. 

“Josh? Aren’t you supposed to be in class?” Alex wondered, doing a double take. 

Josh shrugged. “Canceled, the instructor had a migraine,” he lied. “Anyway, I’m here to pick up all my stuff.” 

Alex accepted this with a shrug of his own. “Works for me. Sign in, and I’ll get your badge.” 

Josh looked at the sign-in pad. It was an IPad which had been attached to a robotic arm, and he realized with a sinking feeling that the touch screen would only work if he had fingers. He had to act, fast. 

“Uhh… Sign-in’s not working for me,” he improvised, tapping the power button on the side to turn the IPad off. 

“Huh? Oh, not again,” Alex groaned, and Josh internally breathed a sigh of relief. “This thing’s been restarting all day. I have no idea what’s up with it,” Alex muttered. “Ah well, you sign in every other hour anyway. Just sign in later today, and it’ll be registered in the system.” 

Josh nodded, thanking every god he could name and a few that he couldn’t. “Sure, yeah.”

He put on his goggles and gloves, somehow managing to slip them onto his hooves and larger head without anyone noticing anything odd. Alex handed him his badge, and then looked at him strangely. 

“Um. Are you… not putting your fingers in your gloves?” he wondered. Josh realized that to Alex, it must look like he had his fists closed inside the gloves. Stupid glamour spell, being designed for ponies!

“Um… yeah. It’s an inside joke. From a show I was watching,” Josh fibbed. 

Alex raised an eyebrow. “I don’t get it,” he answered. “Alright, whatever. Off you go, then!” he dismissed, returning to his station, and Josh hurriedly made his way towards the lockers.

A few minutes later, he had all of his apparatus and chemicals stored safely in his backpack, and was walking out of think[box]. Nobody had questioned him, and Josh thanked his lucky stars that it wasn’t a tour day – if he had had to answer questions about what he was inventing today, he would probably have had a nervous breakdown. “I can’t believe that went so well,” he muttered under his breath, trotting towards his apartment as fast as he could.

Meanwhile, back at think[box], Alex looked around for a moment before signaling to a fellow employee. 

“Assad? I’m going on break,” he announced. Assad looked over at him indignantly. 

“You just went on break!” he accused. 

Alex looked at him seriously. “I… I need to go on break, Assad. It’s important. Don’t worry, I’ll be back in a few!” he remarked, heading for the bathroom just outside the reception area. 

Quickly, Alex dialed a phone number, locking the door. “Yeah… I’m pretty sure it’s legit,” he answered an unseen voice. “It was definitely him.” The voice spoke a few more words, and then promptly hung up. Alex put the phone back in his pocket. “I knew there was something off about that weirdo,” he muttered. Just then, he caught sight of something behind him in the mirror. “What the-“ he exclaimed, whirling around.

And Alex knew no more.

The thing that had attacked him picked up his phone, studying the small device intently. It had seen the pattern the human had traced to unlock it, and copied it. Upon seeing the call screen, still blinking orange with the digits of the mysterious recipient, the thing nodded to itself. It had orders to follow. It paused a moment, glancing at the unconscious figure of Alex on the floor below it. If its quick, crude research on this strange world’s customs had been correct, the other humans upon finding this ‘Alex’ would most likely assume Alex had been doing ‘drugs,’ and he would be ‘fired.’ The thing contemplated this. It did not much care whether ‘Alex’ was ‘fired’ or not, but it knew that any loose ends could quickly complicate things. So, it did the natural thing, and bit him again, this time directly on the neck. A simple amnesiac was all that was needed – in about one and a half minutes, Alex would awake, with no memory of the past few days. Satisfied, the thing became transparent once more, and awaited further instructions.