//------------------------------// // Chapter 2: Fitting in, together. // Story: A team effort // by remsaman //------------------------------// A bell rang loudly as Justin and I entered sugarcube corner. The smell of sugar and sweets wafted through the air. I sighed as Justin took his time browsing through the selection of varying cakes and baked goods. I looked over to him and he was almost drooling over the pastries. He rung a bell and a cheery “CoooMMMiiiinG” came from the rafters. Within moments, a pink horse with poofy pink hair hopped down the staircase. “Now how can i help you two fine gentlecolts?” The pink pony asked. “Yeah, ill have a dozen-” I jabbed him in the thigh “HALF a dozen cupcakes, with extra sprinkles” “Coming right up!” The pink horse disappeared into the kitchen for a few minutes, and came out later with 6 steaming hot cupcakes. “That’ll be 7 bits!” The horse tried to talk through gritted teeth, before turning the tray on its side to pour the cupcakes into a paper bag. Justin handed over the bits before grabbing the bag in his teeth, trying to thank the pink horse through a closed mouth. As we turned to leave, the pink horse chimed “HEY you’re new in town arn’t you! I KNOW! We should throw a PARTY!” Groaning, i replied “Of course, but maybe some other time, we have.... plans.” I tried to crack a smile, but all that came out was a small grin. The horse narrowed her eyes and stared at me. “okie. dokie. loki.” It seemed like she was staring at my very soul. After exiting the store(and enduring the creepiest thing in my life, except for being turned into a horse), we headed back to the inn. Upon entering, we found our belongings outside the door, with each door locked. It turns out that the Innkeeper had given our rooms away. Without even bothering to question why(we had enough on our minds), we walked towards the library. “She did say if we ever needed to know something, ask her” Jason pointed out. “Sure but i don't think she has 2 spare beds” I said, rolling my eyes. Once we reached the library, we found Twilight waiting by the door with a huge smile on her face. “Hello boys, i see the Innkeeper has already taken care of your things!” I was silent in shock, while i could see the rage being pent up inside Justin. “You didn't!?” Jay almost shouted “Yep! Oh, wait right here!” Twilight disappeared into the library “Hey rem, i seriously doubt that this “twilight” is one of the good guys, if you get what im saying” he whispered into my ear. “Calm down dude, im sure she had a reason.” Trying to remove his suggestion from my head. Moments later, she happily trotted outside, horn glowing. She gave us a wink and levitated a set of keys towards us. I shot Justin a “Told you so” look and thanked her very much. “It was a gift from princess Celestia!” she happily announced. Leading us to our newly owned house, Justin was sulking, he doesn't like being proven wrong. When we go to our house, Twilight stopped walking and let us open the door. As soon as we inched the door open just a little bit, streamers fell from the ceiling, and many horses were inside, shouting “surprise!” Needless to say, we were surprised. Until a certain pink horse bounced out of the crowd “Hey you two! I was thinking ‘hey, who doesn't like parties!’ so i threw you a party! look! even your friend lyra is here!” “Who?” we both asked at the same time “Duh, the bluey green pony that smiled at you today!” she pointed towards a horse that was sitting on a chair. like a human. I looked slightly to the left and see Justin pigging out on the snacks table, just like him. I mingled with the guests at the party, apparently they prefer being called “ponies” over “horses” Hours passed, and almost all the guests had gone home, except for twilight, the pink pony, and four others. Twilight whispered something to them and each came up to us, introducing themselves, starting with the pink one. “Heya! My names Pinkie pie, of course you should know that since i threw this party! but you’re new in town, so you probably don't! Did you enjoy the party? didya didya?” “yes. thank you” Pinkie pie bounded away, while an orange one trotted over with a basket of apples. After setting the apples onto the ground, she introduced herself “Howdy, Ah’m applejack. I run sweet apple acres alongside my big brother and granny smith. Ah don't know why, but ah like you two. Here’s a little housewarmin’ present” she pushed the basket over with her hoof. Not wanting to be rude(as Justin was still pigging out at the snack table, i don't even know how he managed it) I picked up the basket in my teeth and gave her a nod and a muffled “thanks”, before placing the basket on the kitchen table. I turn around and saw a light blue mare with wings looking me right in the face. Surprised, i gave a small yell and fell backwards “Hey, Im rainbow dash, im the fastest flier in all of Equestria!” She proved her point by flying around the house twice, not hitting a single thing, but messing up some of the party favors. while she was flying around, A purple-haired unicorn that I had met earlier in the day came up to me. “Oh, its you again, Im Rarity, and please, if you really need any... changes.. in your attire please call me as soon as you can! oh, and here.” She opened a box she had brought with her, producing a hoodie more fit for ponies. “Its not my BEST work, but I thought its better then nothing” “thank you very much miss Rarity, i appreciate it” “Oh it was nothing” Looking over at Justin again, i saw that he had moved from the snacks table to the couch, rubbing his stomach in pain. I chuckled. I look back and rainbow dash was arguing with twilight. something about ‘ruining peoples houses when showing off’. I almost didn't notice a small butter-yellow pegasus shying away from me. “Excuse me” i say, kneeling down on my front two legs “And what’s your name, beautiful” The pegasus blushes, before squeaking and darting out the door. “Thats fluttershy, shes well.... shy” Twilight interrupted. “I can tell.” i replied with a laugh “Well, you two seem fine for now, I guess we’ll be leaving. oh, and i left a small gift on each of your beds.” She winked, and left with the others. I jabbed Justin with my hoof, signalling him to go to sleep. He picked himself up at dragged his body up the staircase towards his bedroom. I went into mine, I heard a “HELL YES!” from the other room, and when i look on my bed, i found a “Ponies for dummies. written by Twilight Sparkle for Remy” “awesome” _____________________________________________________________________________ I wasn't tired at all, despite the party. I sat up all night reading Twilight’s explanation of Equestria and its inhabitants. It sure was nice of her to write this book for me. Turns out there’s three types of ponies. Unicorns, who can use magic, earth ponies, who are stronger, and pegasi, which can fly. Everything fascinated me. i couldn't contain my thirst for knowledge. I found the sun rising before i even felt the slightest bit tired. I was still transfixed on the book when i heard the “ting” of a rock hitting the window. I looked outside to find the butter-yellow pegasus “fluttershy” staring at the ground, scratching at the dirt with her hoof. I snuck past Justin’s door(which isn't easy when you have hooves) and exited the house. When i reached fluttershy, she was still shying away, but didn't run away this time. She looked at me, blushed and said “I.. think your cute too...” and with that, she sped away as fast as her wings could take her. I also found i was blushing myself. I turn around and heard snickering. Looking up, i saw that Justin was looking out the window with the widest grin you could imagine. “oooohhh i think your cute too remy mwah mwah mwah. oohhh lets be partners mwah mwah” he mocked. I picked up a rock and threw it at his face. He was still mocking me and didn't see it, so it landed square between the eyes. He yelled, and fell out of the window. landing on a bush below his window. I walked over and kicked him in the gut before walking back inside, laughing all the way, Not seeing a small butter-yellow figure, smiling from a tree. A while later Justin had recovered and had come inside, with a bandage on his face. “So Jay, what do you want for breakfast.” “i want bacon and eggs.” “All we have is apples and those cupcakes, and besides, they don't have bacon in Equestria” “WHAT” “Ponies are herbivores jay, they don't eat meat.” “Then lets go get our own bacon. I saw some pigs the other day” I pause, make sure i have his attention, and present that we infact were ponies. “ugh fine, just throw me one of those apples” He was still reading his comic book, the present left by twilight the night before, when i threw the apple at him, he caught it, but with his face, hitting in the exact location as the rock. “AH WHAT THE FUCK? what was that for?” “You said throw it at you” i smirked “I didn't mean- ugh!” He placed his hoof to the bandage on his face “Whatever, just eat your apple and be quiet” He quieted down, but continued to mumble to himself. I asked how many bits Justin had left, but he just gave me a stare, before telling me to go fuck myself. I had 95 bits, and needed to go grocery shopping, and thank twilight for the book. I strapped on my backpack(which still wasn't easy with hooves, and opening it was even harder) and headed out. The town wasn't as busy as it was the day before, but still had ponies here and there. As i headed towards the market area, i saw a familiar pony, Lyra, her name was, waving at me. I waved back. When i reached the market area, i was greeted by Applejack, running the stall for sweet apple acres. I thanked her properly for the apples, and agreed to buy some apple fritters, 4 bits for a dozen. After saying goodbye to applejack, i bought carrots, one bag for 6 bits, 2 bags of hay, 1 bit per bag, 2 loafs of bread, 3 bits for both, and some baking supplies for 10 bits. all adding up to 28 bits. Applejack offered to help carry the bags back to my house, leaving her sister Applebloom to run the stall(probably not the best idea, from what i saw). When we got back, i thanked her and went inside, Justin was pretending to be passed out from hunger on the couch. I plated up two apple fritters and a hay and carrot sandwich each, and he got up and began eating. “You know, this isn't too bad.” Justin said, gulping another mouthful of the sandwich. I was still thinking about what happened earlier, with fluttershy. It was the first time that I’d been called cute(by a girl anyway *shudder*). Normally I’d be ecstatic, but she was a pony, and i was just a human trapped in a ponies body. I nibbled on the food, Justin was right, it tasted good. But i couldn't get my mind off that one singular thing. After we both finished, i washed the plates and went back upstairs to read. When i opened the door however, it was a small shock to me. On top of the book twilight gave to me, was a picture of fluttershy, with a butter-yellow feather ontop. I smiled, placed them both in my backpack, and resumed reading. However, it was difficult with the thoughts that plagued my mind. One chapter, however, spoke out to me in my current mental state. It was titled “Feelings”.