//------------------------------// // That's A Lotta Damage // Story: Familiar // by Cookies //------------------------------// It took me a couple hours to explain everything to Eva, from the moment I was summoned, up to the moment she saw me pop into existence in front of her earlier. Most of that time was spent to shush and calm her down, especially when I got to the point when I agreed to go back there every Saturday. She eventually relented her verbal assault when I managed to spell my reasons without being interupted. She ended up crying again. This time for me. I let her cry on my shoulder while I rubbed hers to comfort her gently. I mean, my situation wasn't the worst, I managed to luck out of a lot of things, even if the few that hit me did it hard. This girl has a heart of gold for those she cares about. A heart of gold surrounded by erupting volcanos, but still. She eventually dozed off there, so I gently moved away and put some pillows where I was so she could rest. I was getting something to drink when I heard a gasp coming from the entrance door. I glanced over and saw the landlady staring at the destroyed door handle. I nearly spat out my drink in my haste to say something, but she spoke first. "Vous vous êtes fait cambriolé?" Have you been robbed? I took a second to gulp the water in my mouth. "Non, c'est ma soeur qui a fait ça. Je vais payer pour les réparations." No, my sister did that. I'll pay for the repairs. She raised a brow at me. "Là, il faut remplacer la porte." At this point, we need to replace the door. I sighed and rubbed the back of my neck. "Ok, vous pouvez faire les appels nécessaires? Je ne m'y connaît pas trop dans ces trucs là." Okay, can you make the necessary calls? I don't really know these stuff well. She stared at me in a way that it was obvious she was thinking 'Is this kid for real?' "Préparez votre chèque, je vais essayer de faire venir une société cet après-midi." Prepare your check, I'll try to have a company come this afternoon. I nodded at her and made a mediocre imitation of an army-salute. "Oui Madame!" Yes ma'am! She rolled her eyes and went in her own apartment, her grocery bag in tow. I waited for her door to slam shut to relax. At least now I knew she didn't heard anything Eva and I said for the last 2 hours. The sudden calm in these apartments was unwelcome though. I sat on the armrest of the couch and grabbed the TV remote, like I would do every time I came back from work ever since I lived alone. I really needed some white noises here. I looked at where the TV was supposed to be. Ah. Right. I stared at the broken monitor leaning against the table. This happened. I stared at the ceiling briefly and huffed. Money wasn't a problem anymore right? I really should get something for Rarity, to thank her seriously. I stared blankly at the wall, thinking of the possibilities. Earrings? Would they even work on ponies? Their ears tend to move a lot, so that would probably be annoying quick. Rings are out of the question for obvious reasons. A bracelet? That could work, but it's not fancy enough. Necklace? I thought, trying to find downsides, but couldn't find any major flaws. Necklace huh. I guess an amethyst or sapphire would be fine too, what with her mane and eyes colors. I whipped my phone and unlocked it. The picture I took of the three tiny ponies appeared on the screen. No need for that anymore... Two little taps on the screen later, the pic was deleted. Better not keep traces of Equestria here. I spent the next half hour to browse various jewelry websites, trying to find a proper necklace for the generous mare. Soon after, the landlady came back to announce that she made the call, some guys should come in the next hour to replace the door. Well at least I wouldn't need to worry about someone breaking in while I was sleeping tonight. Feeling my stomach rumble, I looked at the clock. We were approaching noon. I should probably make something. I glanced toward Eva, she was still asleep. She was probably really exhausted after everything, but I'll still have a plate ready for her. And thus I went to the kitchen to prepare by masterpiece and most common meal here. Spaghetti and meatballs. ~ ~ ~ Eva woke up when I set our plates down, surely thanks to the divine smell of industrial bolognese sauce, meatballs and pasta laying in her plate with no effort for presentation. What a top chef I was. While it was cooking, I took the time to grab my headphones to have some music in my ears. Nothing beat some good Funk when things are calm. Eva stared at me with half-opened eyes while I gently danced my way to my seat. Well, it was more of a move-with-the-rythm more than a proper dance but still. I sat down next to her feet and pushed the TV leaning on my part of the table away, earning a loud crash sound and an annoyed sigh from my sister. "Was that necessary?" She asked groggily. I removed my headphones to answer her. "It's already dead, Jim." She rolled her eyes and pushed herself up to sit against the armrest. "What time is it?" She mumbled to herself. I tilted my head toward the clock on the wall while I was attacking these poor noodles with my fork. I heard her groan shortly after she checked the time. "I need to go." "At least have a bite or two." I said while pointing my fully-loaded fork toward her and her plate. "I made it with love!" I continued with a high-pitched voice, blinking 'cutely' at her. She extended her leg to shush me with her foot but I just had to lean back to avoid it. "Fine. Can't say I'm not hungry. Bon appétit." She replied, grabbing her plate and proceded to devour the stuff. By no means I am a slow eater, but Eva is clearly out of my league. It took less than two minutes for her to decimate the population of Plateville. It was this, and her personality that made me name her 'Dragonbreath' in my phone. She got up and put the plate in the sink while I was just half-done. "Thanks for the meal!" She said, walking fast toward the entrance door, practically running. "You owe me a TV and a new door!" I yelled after her and heard her pace quicken. "Only the TV!" She yelled back before slamming close the building's door. I got up and opened the window. "Both!" I yelled, earning a faint "You wish!" in response. I shaked my head and closed the window, sitting back down to finish what was left. I spent the rest of the day searching for a nice necklace (that I eventually found, but it wasn't available at this time) and wait for the new door to arrive. ~ ~ A few days later ~ ~ Loud ringing noises harshly pulled me from my slumber. I grumbled quite loudly as I stopped the hellish alarm clock. Waking up at 9 on a Saturday? Pure heresy. It did not help that today was supposed to be my first workout day with Rainbow Dash, and apparently she was not going to go easy on me. I groaned as I sat up on the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the wall. I didn't go back to Equestria since I explained everything to Eva, but I barely felt that uncomfortable feeling from last month anymore. Or maybe I feel it being so weak because I know how strong it can become? I scratched my head and eventually got up, heading toward the bathroom to start my morning routine. Half an hour later, I was cleaned up, had breakfast and was geared with a towel and a bottle of water to head over the Rainbow Boot Camp. My body wasn't ready, but from what I've heard, the first few sessions are always the hardest. I just gotta turn that into another routine, right? I thought to myself. One tiny part of me was also wary of going back again, and it was not without reason. Twice I went to Equestria, and twice there was some overly powered being trying to conquer the country. I knew that it was all a coincidence, but I sure hoped that there wouldn't be another attack any time soon. I pronounced the usual words for me to 'jump' to Equestria and let me go through the short blackout moment once more. I appeared in the middle of Ponyville, spooking a couple of ponies that were just walking by. I was quick to apologize for it and earned kind smiles and small giggles in return. They said that they were kind of used to it because of Pinkie. A small smile threatened to form on my face. I could totally imagine the overactive mare just appearing from every place possible to greet every pony in town. I'll just have to be on the lookout for anything overly pink then. At the same time, I started to feel a small warmth inside my chest. It's been some days since I didn't feel that. Whether it was complete coincidence, or Pinkie somehow knew when someone talked about her, I suddenly got a face full of bubblegum colored belly, seemingly coming from above. "I think I found her." I said with my voice muffled by the squishy tum pressing against my face and forcing some giggles out of her. Strangely, the warmth in my chest got stronger. "Docking point found! Captain Gummy, engage mooring protocol!" She said. I raised a hand to lift her off but something slimy suddenly clamped on my fingers. WHAT THE?! I frantically shook my hand and fell on my butt, making the mare bounce off me and land on her hoove next to me, giggling some more. "Landing successful!" With my vision not being obstructed by cute softness, I looked at my hand to see what the heck was squeezing my fingers. It was a small green lizard with purple eyes. It even had a small old-styled aviator hat on its head. My fingers were in its mouth. Ew. I pulled him off easily and held him with two fingers by its midsection. It stared blankly to nowhere in particular. "I'm not for eating." I stated at it. It's only response was a slow lick on one of its eyes with its tongue. EW. I glanced at Pinkie, she wore some aviator goggles and had a small cluster of balloons tied to her, reaching for the sky. They were probably filled with helium. Ah yes, that would explain why she came from above. I nodded to myself. ... Wait, no. I was about to voice my concern when Pinkie approached the lizard. It bit the tip of her mane and just hung there. "Hello Nonny!" she exclaimed, visibly excited by my presence here and being entirely unfazed by the lizard hanging on in front of her face. I slowly wiped my wet fingers against my pants. "Hey Pinkie. What's up with the... everything?" I asked. "Oh! Gummy here wanted to fly above Ponyville so that's what we did!" She said with a grin and pointing a hoof at the lizard. I blinked at her. "You have a pet lizard named Gummy." I stated, earning an affirmative 'Mhm!' from her. She removed her goggles then quickly put them in her tail floof. "Except he's a baby alligator, not a lizard!" Far from me to judge her ability to raise an animal but... "What? Wouldn't that be dangerous for you in a few years?" I asked with a raise of my brows. She rolled her eyes with a smile. "Pfft, relax Nonny! He doesn't have teeth! Plus he wouldn't hurt a fly, right Gummy?" Gummy just continued to hang in there, staring into space. "See? He agrees!" Pinkie said brightly before flipping her head backward, throwing Gummy into the air and letting him fall down softly on her head, cushioned by the bubbly mane. I blinked at her again, then rubbed my forehead. "If... If you say so, Pinkie." I said while repeating 'Do not question her.' in my mind. "Twilight told us you were not supposed to come back for a while." She stated, before she visibly reached some conclusion, her face lighting up and her mane becoming even more voluminous..? She glanced left and right and whispered toward me. "Did you plan to surprise us with a visit?" She said, bouncing lightly on her hooves, trying to hide her excitement. I did exaggerate a little when I told Twilight that I would disappear for a while. I shaked my head sideways, pulling a sad 'Aww.' from her. "Nope, sorry Pinkie. It was a planned thing, remember? I said I'd train with Rainbow on Saturdays." She seemed to think for a bit, tilting her head sideways and scratching her chin with a hoof. Gummy didn't seem to mind as he just flopped on the ground below, landing on his back. "Oh you sneaky gator, asking for the belly wubs!" She said before blowing raspberries on Gummy and laughing doind so, making him wiggle his tail left and right. ... Cute. During all of this I felt the warmth in my chest grow stronger yet again. I thought it'd get annoying by now but I only felt... pumped. Full of energy. She looked back at me after a few seconds, some remnant of her giggles still making her chest spasm. "Didn't Dashie tell you she only trained in the mornings?" She asked. "Uhhh... I think we only mentioned Saturdays? But it doesn't matter since it's still morning right now." I replied, shrugging. She furrowed her brows for a second, suddenly making me doubt my statement. I looked at the sky, finding the sun near the end of its daily course. Oh gosh darn it. I forgot about the whole time difference stuff. I groaned, mostly because that meant I could've stayed in bed today, but now that I was here, might as well enjoy it. I turned back to Pinkie which was still frowning in thought and now also looking at the ground. "How is it still morning..?" she mumbled to herself. I let out an amused huff and pat her head. "Don't think too hard about it. Also thanks for the insight." She giggled from the pat. "Always happy to help a friend!" She replied. I don't exactly know why exactly the warmth in my chest ignited into a fire at that moment, but it did. Thankfully, it seemed more like a soothing fire rather than the burning kind. "Ooh! I didn't know you could light up like a lamp!" Pinkie said while having Gummy bite on her tail for 'safe' transport. "Huh?" Came my calm and obviously not-confused response. Pinkie just bounced toward me and poked my chest. "Right there!" I looked down and OH MY GAWD WHAT WAS THAT?! Call me Tony Stark and give me a flying armor. Some pink light was shining brightly from my chest through my T-shirt. I pulled the collar of my shirt to look under it. Yep, it's really coming from my chest. "AH!" Pinkie somehow got a doctor's coat on in that timeframe. "Let me check!" she said, trying to lift my shirt. "You will not undress me in the middle of the street Pink--" Aaaand there flew my shirt. "PINKIE!" "Wait, I think I can fix this!" She said, standing on her hind hooves and poking the shiny area of my chest. Of course that made me feel itchy, because I could still absorb magic. "Hey, that feels just like when I use my Element!" She said while poking my chest repeatedly. "What?" I said, grabbing her hooves and getting her back down gently. "Yeah! Is it because we accidentally shot you with the Elements?" She asked. Now I was the one furrowing my brows. Was that warmth related to the Elements? And since they're the bearers... That would explain why the warmth kept coming and going last time. Pinkie's a genius! "You may very well be right, Pinkie." I said, pointing a finger at her. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'll test that theory right away. See you later." And so, I turned around and walked away from her. If I was right about this, I just needed to put some distance between her and me to stop being a literal beacon. "See you Nonny!" I heard her yell. She was probably waving one of her hoof too. Silly pony. I waved one hand without looking, just in case y'know. It didn't take long to feel that the 'warmth' started to lose its intensity. So it really is linked to them huh. So... What about it then? Can I do anything with it? ... If it really is about Harmony, I'd probably need to have all six mares 'igniting' that warmth... Highly convenient for me to use my supposed new powers. I wandered aimlessly while I was deep in thought, not even looking where I was going. It was a matter of seconds until I bumped into a pony. Or should I say, tripped on a pony, making me land on my hands and knees. "Hey, it's the human!" I heard a child say excitedly while another let out a single "Ow." "Ah, sorry about that." I said while getting up again and turning to look on who I tripped. Imagine my surprise when I realized that I stumbled on the trio of childs from a few days ago. "Hey hey Mister Human!" chirped the little orange one with purple hair. "Can you grab all of us back to your world?" "What? Of course not. That's dangerous." I replied quickly. "Pretty pleaaaaaaase?" She asked. The one named Sweetie following instantly with "We could earn our Cutie Mark like this." "And we'd be safe with ya." Finished Applebloom. All of them were giving me the puppy eyes. The cuteness was reaching critical levels! But above anything, I really couldn't take that risk. "Sorry girls. No pony can come to my world. It's really off-limits." I replied with a shake of my head. Suprisingly they didn't let out a disappointed 'Awww...' but rather all said a simple 'Oh.' The orange one laughed awkwardly. "Well we still have our list! Let's get going girls!" She said right before they ran away. Strange. And I still didn't get the name of the third one. Maybe next time. I continued on my walk through Ponyville, this time a bit more focused of where I was going. Ponies were still a friendly bunch, some of them waving some 'hello's at me with a hoof, which I returned. No reason not to anyway, though a couple of them were looking at me weird, like they were thinking about something. One of them approached me. "Prince Anon?" said the yellow mare with a light blue mane. "Just... Just Anon is fine. I'm not really a prince." I replied with slight embarassment. "Is it true that you can bring ponies to your world?" She asked. I was taken aback. "Wha- Who told you that?" "Little Scootaloo did nothing but brag that she went to your world, even if it lasted only for a minute." She replied with a compassionate look. Scootaloo? Mystery solved then. "Ah... Well yes, but it was just an accident. I'm not in trouble, am I?" I asked with worry. She just laughed softly. "No! At least I don't think so." She said. "Can you bring me there? I'd like to see what a whole new world looks like." Eh? A close-by stallion listening to our conversation intervened. "Can I come with you?" Eh?? A pegasus approached from above. "It sounds fun! Can I tag along?" EH??? "No--" I started saying, but more and more ponies got close and started showing interest, shutting down any response from my part. With how the situation looked, I couldn't just teleport back. There was a risk that one of them would be touching me while I did, and they might bring all kinds of unwanted attention if they're really excited. Now I had a small crowd slowly closing in on me. There was only one solution to this problem. I turned tail and ran as fast as I could, yelling that I couldn't do what they asked. That didn't deter them though, because they were now running behind me, trying to negociate their way to Earth. They were all real close and would grab me at the first sign of fatigue. Is it some weird herd mentality playing against me or something?! I ran through the streets as fast as I could, not knowing how I could get myself out of this situation. Honestly I was hoping for them to understand that I didn't want to take them to Earth after we ran for a minute or two but it seemed like that wouldn't happen. I suddenly came across a familiar looking street and decided to follow it. If I wasn't wrong that would lead me to... ah-HA! Twilight's Library! And Spike was currently opening the door too! "Spike! Hold the door!" I yelled toward him. "Uh wha..?" I crossed the threshold and slammed the door shut behind me, blocking it with my body. "Can you get Twilight to lock the door?" I asked quickly while the ponies banged on the door. "What did you get yourself into?" He asked with a sigh. I blocked some more tries to kick the door open. "We really have no time here!" "Okay okay!" He said, going into the basement. Just a few seconds later, Twilight teleported in front of me. "You." She said dangerously. "Did you really manage to bring a pony with you, back to your world?" She asked while levitating a scroll and a quill. Somehow at that moment, I hesitated to just open the door and get taken away by the group of ponies.