//------------------------------// // Ch.10 Hide and Seek // Story: A Stress Free Environment // by SimpleDude //------------------------------// ‘It looks like I've got a few useful books that I can use, and it only took me however long I've been here. Wait, how long have I been here?’ Josh stopped reading and stood for a moment to think. ‘I should be able to tell what time it is based off of the sun’s position in the sky.’ Josh walked around in a circle before realizing there were windows in the room. He walked up to one of the stain glass windows and pushed it open to get a good view of the sky. ‘It looks like evening might not be too far away, considering how close the sun is to the horizon.’ Josh stood for a few more moments. He felt as if he was forgetting something. Something important. ‘What was it I was supposed to do this morning? Oh yeah, wait for Andromeda at her house and- oh no. I forgot all about her in my state of bliss. Forgetting is something I need to work on, especially when my mind is zoned in. I hope she isn't too mad at me. I better go to her house and apologize, because if I want to find out who brought me to Equestria and how to get back home, I'm going to need some help. Also because it would be rude of me to not to apologize. Oh man, it's going to take me a while to find the exit. This maze of a castle hasn't gotten any less complicated from the last time I was wondering around in it.’ Reading had helped Josh clear his state of mind and strengthen his thought process. ‘Why is this castle so darn complicated? It's going to take me ages to find Josh in here, and the fact that the Princess and her friends are here just means it's going to take even longer. It's a good thing they make a lot of noise when they're together, or else hiding would be impossible. My coat doesn't exactly blend in with the decor of this place. I just hope I can find Josh before they do, because if they did, then he might get banished or something for trespassing. I can't let that happen to my first friend, even though I'm not very happy about him getting us into this situation in the first place. It's funny though, all this sneaking around is really reminding me of when I was younger…’ Before Andromeda had any time to reflect on her past, the noise of a shattering vase echoed through the castle halls. Andromeda cringed heavily at the sharp noise. She could tell the crash wasn't far from where she was currently sneaking around. ‘I bet that was Josh.’ Andromeda emitted a heavy sigh. She knew the element bearers would likely be on the position of the broken vase in no time. Andromeda hadn't had much time to react before her worries became true. She could hear hoof steps getting closer, soon to stumble upon her any second. She decided to try and evade the oncoming pony and wait for them to pass before continuing her search for the lost human. She threw herself into a door beside her just before the investigating pony passed. ‘And so, the real game of hide and seek begins.’ ‘Oh man, I did not mean to do that. That vase just came out of nowhere. One second I’m walking, minding my own business and thinking to myself, and the next second, a vase! Who puts a vase in a hallway anyway? It's not my fault, I was just a victim of the inevitable. Yep, just a victim. Oh, who am I kidding. I'm an idiot. How am I going to fix this?’ Josh’s thinking was cut short by the sound of hoof steps and a Pony talking. “I think the sound came from this way!” The sound of hoof steps became louder every second. ‘Ok, that's not good. There is only one logical and completely civilized conclusion to this situation. Run. Oh, and also hide. Without being caught of course.’ Josh started to run and decided to hide in the first room he came across. It didn't take long for him to spot a doorway and throw himself into the room. As soon as he was in the room he turned around and locked the door. “Phew, that was close. Now I've got to get out of here before those ponies find me.” Josh turned around to get a good look in the room he was in and was surprised to see that he was in the room he first found books in. “What are the odds.” Josh was about to get another good look around, but before he could, a shadowy figure lunged at him from behind the door he had previously locked. Josh was taken aback and couldn't react before the figure stuffed their hoof in his mouth to keep him quiet. Josh was attempting to get the figure off of him, but before he could free himself, the figure spoke. “Josh, it's me, Andromeda. I'm here to get you out of here before the both of us get caught.” Andromeda was speaking in a hushed tone and still had her hoof in Josh’s mouth. Before speaking, Josh got Andromeda’s hoof out of his mouth and spat a few times to clean his mouth out. “Oh jeez, why did you have to put your dirty hoof in my mouth? It's not like I was going to yell or anything.” Andromeda became slightly annoyed at Josh and rolled her eyes. “I wouldn't have had to do that if you didn't get yourself trapped here in the first place! Why are you even here?” Andromeda whispered sharply. Josh’s demeanor became serious and his face reflected that. “I came here because the fact that this,” Josh gestured to Andromeda and the room they were in. “is all real. The fact that all this pony stuff is real scared the crap out of me when I was back at your place.” Andromeda listened carefully as she continued to stand over Josh. “I was reading one of your history books you have, and it hit me that this place was way too complicated, too real, to be a dream or an illusion. So, I freaked out and wanted to find a way to get back home. I left your house seeking answers. I just-” Josh sighed and leaned his head down. “I just have to find a way to get back home, to where my family is. I'm not sure you can understand that, but that’s the situation I'm in.” Andromeda stood with an unreadable expression on her face over the lost human she met in the Everfree. “My dad died when I was younger and he was all the family I had, and I know what it's like to be out of place and to be an outsider to those around you, so there’s that.” Andromeda maintained a subtle tone. Josh’s expression went to one of determination to one of soft sadness. “I guess we’re not too different then. I'm sorry about your dad Andromeda, I didn't know.” “And I'm sorry you have been taken from your family. I'll help you get get back to them and your home, but only on one condition.” Andromeda narrowed her eyes. Josh wasn't about to disagree. “Sounds fair enough. What’s the condition I have to meet?” “The condition, is that neither of us can have any more pity parties about what's happened to us in our lives. Only mature and meaningful discussions with some slight humor on the side. Can you comply?” Andromeda had one eyebrow raised, waiting patiently for Josh’s response. Josh took a second to think it all over, and he had made his decision. A slight smile formed on his face. “As I said before, sounds fair enough. Could you do me a small favor and move to the side enough for me to get up. My back is still healing up, and the extra weight is making it sore.” Andromeda quickly side stepped over Josh to get out of his way. “Whoops, sorry about that, I got caught up in the moment.” Josh lifted himself up off the ground and stretched. “Alright, time to get out of here. You think the coast is clear of those ponies?” Andromeda looked at the door and then back at Josh. “There’s only one way to find out.” Josh and Andromeda didn't have the chance to open the door before they heard someone coming. They looked at each other for a split second and shared expressions of fear and shock. Neither of them said anything. They ducked for cover right as the door opened and a mare walked through. Josh went for under the bed and Andromeda went for the open closet and shut the door without a peep. “How did my door get locked? Oh well, I must've been practicing my lock and unlock spell earlier. I'm really getting the hang of it.” The unknown mare said as she walked through the doorway. “I can't wait to take out my new Stratos Five kite! I've been dying to fly it since I left for that Friendship trip. Now, where did I put it...oh yeah! It’s under the bed, right where I left it.” The mare started to move to her bed where Josh was hiding, which caused Josh to start sweating bullets. He looked around, and to his relief, he found a kite and moved it as close as he could in the mare’s direction. After she walked over to her bed she spotted it right away since Josh moved it to the edge, which surely saved his cover. “There you are!” The mare said when she picked up the Kite. She threw it onto her back and pranced out of the room closing the door behind her. Josh and Andromeda waited a few seconds and then let out heavy breaths they had been holding back since ducking for cover. Josh was bold enough to speak out loud as he started to get out of hiding spot. “That was close.” Andromeda also spoke up as she got out of hers. “I couldn't agree more.” Josh and Andromeda stood there looking at each other and started to laugh. They laughed for a few minutes before calming down a little bit. Josh spoke up first. “I really thought I was done for when she headed for the bed.” “I thought you were done for too.” Andromeda responded and let out a couple of laughs in the process. “Alright, we've had ourselves a good laugh. I think it's high time we head out.” Josh nodded in response to Andromeda. The smiles they had shared ware still present when they were about to leave the room they were previously using as a hiding spot. Josh was just about to open the door, but before his hand could even reach it, the door swung open and the same mare from earlier walked into her room. She casually walked passed Andromeda and Josh. “I forgot to put on a scarf. It's winter and the sun is going down. Silly me.” She laughed to herself. The mare grabbed a scarf from her closet and put it on with her magic, and walked back out of her room while Josh and Andromeda stood frozen. The mare walked into the hallway in front of her room and then stopped dead in her tracks. Josh could see her rear legs instantly halt and slowly reverse back. The mare had an expression of pure shock as she once again faced her room. Everything was frozen, and Josh, being Josh, decided it needed to be unfrozen. He decided to break the ice. “Hi, how are ya?” Andromeda looked at Josh with a face that said, “What in Equestria was that Josh?” Josh just shrugged at Andromeda. It was the best he had. The unicorn mare was about to yell for help, but Josh did something nopony would have ever expected. He grabbed the mares kite and held his finger to it. “If you yell, I'll put a hole in it.” The mare put her hoof over her mouth and looked like she was shock ridden. Andromeda was flabbergasted. “What in Equestria Josh!?” Josh ignored Andromeda for the moment. He had a plan. “Alright, I will give this kite back to you safe and sound, but only if you teleport me and my friend here out of this castle.” The mare didn't say anything, but complied with Josh’s demands. One second, Josh and Andromeda were standing inside the walls of Twilight’s castle, and the next in Ponyville’s park. The mare’s eyes were narrow and she was holding out a hoof for Josh to put her beloved kite in. Josh did what the mare wanted and gently gave the kite back. The next second that passed, the magical mare was gone. Andromeda was the first to speak. “Josh you idiot! Now we're probably considered criminals.” Josh let out a sigh. “I really feel bad for doing that, but I got us out of there, and I got some books that might help me find out how to get back home.” Andromeda was wearing a scowl and was also a little confused. “What books?” “These books.” Josh untucked his shirt and loosened his pants which allowed a handful of books to get loose and fall from his clothing. He wore a proud smile while the books fell. “I'm not stealing, because I'm going to give these back when I'm through with them.” Andromeda could only shake her head and facehoof. “Well, at least the trouble of the trip wasn't completely pointless, so long as we don't get in some serious trouble for those stunts we pulled in Twilight's castle.” Josh smiled at Andromeda’s doubt. “Have a little faith baby. Have a little faith. You were the one that was telling me to be a little more optimistic, and now it's my turn.” Josh had a few good laughs while turning the tide on Andromeda. “What did you Just call me? You know what? Fine, I'll “have a little faith” as you put it, but don't come crying to me when a bunch of royal guards are dragging you off into the sunset. I would also like to get some good sleep tonight, all this excitement is making me exhausted.” “Fair enough, and I sincerely plan on apologizing to that mare for that whole heat of the moment hostage situation as soon as I get her name. I hope she can forgive me.” “Well that's really sweet and all, but as I said, I'm going to bed. And you're coming with me. There is no way I'm letting you take a foot in this town without supervision ever again. So come on, I've got some serious sleep to be had. My wing isn't going to get better without it either.” Andromeda stood up and started to walk home at a quick pace. Quick enough to almost leave Josh behind. Almost. Josh was right behind Andromeda as she unlocked her door and headed inside. The mare was on a mission to go to sleep. She didn't, however leave Josh to fend for himself without giving him a little guidance. Andromeda’s pace didn't slow down even when she spoke to Josh. “You can sleep on the couch near the fireplace. It's warmest there. There are blankets and a pillow or two in the closet on the left. I have a few snacks in the top left cabinet in the kitchen, but don't eat all of them. Goodnight and sweet dreams.” Andromeda had managed to say all she needed in the time it took her to walk to her room and close her door. After Andromeda closed her door, Josh heard her throw herself onto her bed, and let out a content sigh. Josh was impressed. He had never heard someone say all they needed to that quickly or execute it that well. Josh took a look at the couch he would be sleeping on that night and let out a tired sigh. He too was ready for the warm and fuzzy feeling of sleep to overcome him, but not before getting some food. He was dreadfully hungry after all.