I slowly followed Twilight down the stairs and into the kitchen, nervously clutching my arm.
“A-Are you alright?” Twilight asked, turning around to face me.
“T-Tell me again why you’re doing this for me,” I responded.
Twilight tilted her head in confusion. “Like I said, it’s what friends do,” she said with a warm smile.
“So we’re friends now, is that it?” I asked sarcastically.
Twilight sighed and walked up to me. “Why not?”
“Well, let’s see. I called you fake and ran away from you, and I’m still not entirely convinced this is all real,” I answered.
For some reason, Twilight just kept smiling at me. It drove me crazy.
“Come and eat, and you can decide for yourself afterward. If you still don’t think this is all real...I don’t know what to tell you. If you do think it’s real, I’ll do whatever I can to help you out,” Twilight replied.
As she walked into what I assumed was the dining room, all I could do was groan.
’Why? Why is she so nice? She doesn’t even know me, and I keep accusing her of being fake. There’s no way this is real’
I put my hand on the door she had went through, but didn’t open it, instead pressing my ear against it to hear what she was saying.
“...a little different than we’re used to, but that doesn’t matter. The fact is, he’s not from around here, and he’s different, but don’t treat him different,” I could hear Twilight whispering.
“Alright, I get it. He’s different, and I should just not say anything,” I heard another, much younger voice say.
I hesitantly opened to door to see Twilight and...what I guess was her dragon assistant. It sure didn’t look like a dragon, though. Sure, it had spikes and frills, but it was very small. Overall, it looked more like some sort of lizard than anything.
“H-Hello,” it said in the same voice I had heard before.
I blinked a few times, trying to think of something to say, the word ‘hi’ having slipped my mind.
“Jake, this is Spike, my number one assistant,” Twilight greeted, seemingly trying to evoke some sort of speech out of me.
“H-H-Hello,” I stuttered.
Twilight stood up and lit her horn. Out of nowhere, a chair moved on its own, silently inviting me to sit down. “Take a seat. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
I slowly sat down and pulled up to the table.
“So where do you come from, Jake?” Spike asked out of nowhere.
“I-I...I-I’m not really sure how to describe it,” I stuttered. I didn’t feel shy, just a little confused, still unconvinced any of this was actually happening.
“Well, if you’d like, I’m sure I could find a way to send you back,” Twilight offered.
“W-What?” I asked.
“Well, think about it. If this is real, you’ll be going back to the world you came from. If this isn’t real, like you said, then this will all just seem like a dream,” Twilight explained.
Her reasoning made sense. If she found a way for me to ‘go back’, I could just go back to my life and pretend none of this had ever happened, and maybe avoid going to a mental institution. For now, however, I supposed I would just have to go with it and pretend it all was real.
“You know what, Twilight,” I said in a much more outgoing tone. “That would be great.”
“Alright,” she said with the same smile as before. “For now, go ahead and have something to eat. Spike here made some fried cauliflower tots.”
A plate of golden brown biscuits floated toward me. They were a little steamy, probably having just come out of the oven. I picked one up and bit into it.
“Not bad,” I subconsciously said aloud. “Never been much of a vegetarian.”
Twilight and Spike were suddenly staring at me with a mix of what felt like suspicion and fear.
“W-What do you mean?” Spike stammered.
Having realized I had said that out loud, I froze. Really thinking about it, it made sense that these two would be a little nervous around an avid meat eater.
“I-I, umm...” I began.
“It’s fine! It’s fine,” Twilight said, having snapped out of her suspicions. “You eat meat, what’s the big deal. There are plenty of creatures that eat meat.”
“Uhh, yeah,” Spike joined in. “You’re not from around here, you’re used to different circumstances. Who are we to judge?”
I didn’t say anything, simply going back to eating instead. Twilight and Spike did the same, acting as if nothing that was just said was actually said.
The rest of the meal was eaten in silence. I made sure to keep from making eye contact with either or the hosts, not wanting to cause any more bits of awkwardness.
“I have a spare bed upstairs that you can sleep in, Jake,” Twilight offered.
I looked at her like the crazy horse she was. “No thanks, I’ll find something.”
Twilight shook her head. “I insist. The Everfree Forest, the place I found you, is extremely dangerous at night. And besides, it’s not like-“
“Twilight, I am an unknown creature who you barely know. Do you really want me to stay here tonight?” I cut off.
Spike asked, “So are you saying that we’d be at risk if we let you stay here?”
“W-Well, n-no-“ I stuttered.
“Then what’s the big deal? I know, I know, ‘it’s weird to just be nice to somepony where you came from’, but it’s completely normal here,” Twilight cut off this time.
All I could do was roll my eyes and groan. “Fine, but only until you find a way to get me back to where I came from.”
Later that night, I was laying in the bed Twilight had offered me, which just so happened to be right next to hers. I made a point to myself to stay quiet and possibly try to sneak back out once Twilight was asleep.
This whole thing was just so weird and unnatural. People don’t just offer things. You’d be lucky if they didn’t steal things. Twilight...she was just so nice, and it drove me crazy! She didn’t know me or if I was dangerous. In fact, she knew I was a carnivore, yet she was still unfazed.
All I could do about it now was accept it and close my eyes.
“Aren’t you gonna use the blanket?” Twilight asked, getting into her own bed.
“Nah,” I answered without opening my eyes. “The cold never bothers me.”
“If you say so,” Twilight replied, turning off the lamp that stood next to her bed. “Good night, Jake. I promise I’ll find a way to get you home.”
I didn’t say anything back as I just rolled over and held my jacket a little closer. Despite all the doors and windows being closed, it was still very cold in the library. This was okay, however, as the cold night air kept me awake.
I guess I must have been shivering because I was soon enveloped in a magenta glow that lifted me above the bed. It felt warm, like a fire in a furnace. I opened my eyes as the blanket was moved out from underneath me. I looked at Twilight to see her horn was glowing again, and she seemed to be concentrating on something. I was slowly set back down on the bed and covered with the soft blanket. It did feel much better than the night air did. My eyelids became heavy and started to close, but my instincts caused me to do something I might come to regret.
“Twilight?” I said, not much above a whisper.
“Yes, Jake?” Twilight responded.
“Thanks for letting me stay here. And I’m sorry for acting so...” I said.
“It’s fine, Jake. Have sweet dreams,” Twilight giggled softly as I finally fell to sleep.
It had been two days since Twilight had opened her home to me. I had hesitantly come to accept the fact that this was real and not a hallucination. After all, I’d probably want to remember this experience when I got back. I hadn’t been out of the library much, due to my very different appearance to the locals, so Spike and Twilight were the only ones that I’d socialize with.
However, today was about to change that. Twilight told me that she’d gone through just about every single book in her library, but couldn’t find anything on humans or the world I came from. That being said, she had called on someone she’d really looked up to, someone who took rule of this land, someone who’s magic may just be able to send me back.
According to Twilight, her name was Princess Celestia, and she was responsible for the sunrise every day and the sunset every night, and, like I said, ruled this land alongside her younger sister, Princess Luna. I’d attempted to tell Twilight about heliocentrism, and she took the knowledge in like an eager school girl.
My attitude hadn’t done much to change since I got here, but I will admit that I was at least loosening up and accepting Twilight’s and Spike’s hospitality. Besides, how could I possibly say no to Spike’s cooking; it was the absolute best. I just wish I had a way to repay them somehow.
I was currently lying in bed, reading a book. Twilight’s been a lot more...caring of me lately, and I know exactly why. I had accidentally let slip my huge mistake in my childhood, which had resulted in the death of my parents. Since then, she’s been doing literally everything she can to make sure I’m happy. I don’t dislike it, but it was starting to get on my nerves. I will admit that her smile was nice and able to cheer me up, not to mention cute as hell.
I was drawn out of my thoughts by an extremely high pitched, female voice. “So what did you wanna show us Twilight?”
I put the book down and looked down at the ground floor to see five more unknown ponies standing in the library. One of them had a horn, like Twilight, but her coat was completely white with a dark purple mane and very obviously plucked eyebrows. Another had wings and a bright yellow coat. Her mane was long and pink, ending in a bit of a curl. A third had neither a horn nor wings. She had a blond ponytail and an orange coat. To compliment her look, she wore a brown hat you’d expect to see a cowboy wearing in a western. There was another one without a horn or wings with a pink coat and a poofy, deeper pink mane. She was hopping in place, seemingly filled to the brim with excitement. Finally, there was another one with wings and a cyan coat. I couldn’t help but silently admire her rough looking, rainbow colored mane.
“Well,” began Twilight. “Two days ago, I saw a bit of a tornado in the Everfree Forest and went to explore. When I got there, I found a...creature there. It wasn’t a Timberwolf or Manticore or anything like that. It woke up and seemed to be intelligent like us. He took a fall down a ravine, so I brought him back here to nurse him back to health. Spike and I got to know him a little, and I think you girls should get a chance to meet him.”
“Well that sure sounds interestin’,” said the orange coated pony with a southern accent to complete her look.
“So, where is it?” asked the yellow winged pony in a soft voice.
“He’s upstairs, but there’s a few things you should know about him first,” Twilight answered. I paid close attention, wanting to hear every word Twilight had to say about me.
“First,” she began. “He’s not shy per say, but he is very tense around ponies. That being said, just go a little easy on him and don’t even think about throwing him a party, Pinkie Pie. Second, his name is Jake. Finally, his appearance is a bit...different, and he is a carnivore, but he’s just like us, so don’t try to make it seem like he’s different.”
I saw a few of them exchange worried looks when Twilight told them about me being a carnivore as she came up the stairs. I quickly lay down back in the bed to make it look like I wasn’t listening.
“Hey, Jake, there’re some ponies down here that I think you should meet,” Twilight said once she got upstairs. I said nothing as I got up and followed her downstairs.
When we got there, I instantly saw the looks of fear and apprehension on the ponies’ faces.
“Jake, this is Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rarity,” Twilight introduced.
The one she called Fluttershy gave a tiny wave with her hoof, which I returned. The rest of the ponies’ stayed still and silent.
“Girls, this is Jake. He’s called a ‘human’,” Twilight said.
“H-Hi,” I greeted.
“U-Ummm...s-so where exactly do ya come from, Jake?” asked the pony Twilight had called Applejack.
“Well...not from around here, that’s for sure,” I chuckled. I felt the tension in the room and wanted more than anything to escape from it.
“I see your, uh, fashion sense seems to be a little...dark colored,” said the unicorn Twilight called Rarity with a fancy accent.
“Y-Yeah,” I replied, rubbing the back of my head. “I’ve never been too into fashion.”
Rarity simply nodded and looked away from me. I looked at Twilight with a bit of worry, who just smiled at me and nodded her head. It helped a little, but not as much as I wanted.
“So do you really eat meat?” the cyan pegasus, Rainbow Dash, asked with a bit of a raspy voice.
“Rainbow Dash!” Twilight quickly chastised.
“What? I’m just...making sure,” Rainbow Dash defended.
I rubbed my neck a little more and found my balance quickly shifting between my two feet. I had to get out of there and fast. It...it was too much.
“I, uh, I’m feeling...I’m a little, uh, tired,” I stuttered, faking a bit of a yawn.
I wasted no time in bolting up the stairs, diving in the bed Twilight loaned me, and covering myself with the blanket.
Why did that feel so terrible? I’ve never cared about what others thought. Was Twilight doing something to me, changing me?
“He just seemed so intimidating,” I heard Pinkie Pie say downstairs.
“That’s not his fault!” Twilight defended. “Just because he looks differently than us doesn’t mean he feels and thinks differently than us.”
“But Twilight, didn’t you see him? He was so...glum and dreary,” Rarity added.
“Okay, so he wasn’t in the best mood. Cut him some slack! He’s only been here for two days, of course he’s still getting used to things here,” Twilight replied. “I promise you girls that Jake is a great po- er, person once you get to know him.”
“Ah don’t know, Twilight,” Applejack said. “He’s just gotta be hidin’ somethin’.”
“Yeah, and he eats meat too,” Rainbow Dash added. “Meat, Twilight!”
“So what? All species have different diets,” Twilight countered.
“Don’t you remember the last creature we met who ate meat?” Rainbow Dash asked.
That was it. I just couldn’t take anymore. I grabbed a piece of parchment and a quill and wrote something down. After that was done, I slowly opened the window and slipped out.
“If you’re referring to Gilda, she was an entirely different creature than Jake,” Twilight replied to Rainbow’s comment.
“Oh come on, Twilight,” Pinkie Pie said. “He had the exact same attitude as her!”
“He’s like that because his parents died!” Twilight shouted, having enough of her friends’ insults toward Jake. Once she said it, she quickly covered her mouth. But it was too late, the damage was done. Her friends all had shocked looks on their faces.
“T-Twilight,” Rarity stuttered. “W-What do you mean...his parents d-died?”
“When he was a child,” Twilight answered. “H-He told me that a fire had started in his home, a-and by the time someone came to help...i-it was too late for them.”
“S-So he’s been livin’...his entire life...on his own?” Applejack asked.
All Twilight could do was look away and nod.
“W-We are so sorry, Twilight. We have to go apologize to Jake,” Fluttershy said.
“She’s right. We really shouldn’t have judged him before we got to know him,” Rarity agreed.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
“That’s probably Princess Celestia,” Twilight commented, walking toward the door.
“Wait, what?! You didn’t tell us she was coming here today!” Rainbow nearly shouted.
“That’s because it was supposed to be discreet,” Twilight explained. “I called her here because I thought she might be able to send Jake back to his home.”
Twilight opened to the door to reveal the royal, white coated alicorn, Princess Celestia. “Hello, Twilight, everypony, glad to see you all again.”
All ponies present gave a bow to the princess as she closed the door behind her.
“Thank you for coming on such short notice, Princess Celestia. Jake’s probably gonna be happy to hear he’ll be able to go back to his world,” Twilight said with gratitude.
“It’s no problem. Now, where is this Jake? I’ll need a piece of his DNA to perform the spell to send him back,” the princess asked.
“Oh, he just went upstairs. I’ll go get him,” Twilight replied, looking everywhere but at her friends.
Twilight went upstairs and remained there for a few minutes before rushing back down with a worried look and a few things held in her magic. “Umm, bit of a problem. He’s not here.”
“What?” Celestia asked.
“What do ya mean, ‘he’s not here’?” asked Applejack.
“The window was open when I went up there, and this note was next to the bed I leant him,” Twilight answered, showcasing said note.
“What does it say?” asked Rarity.
Twilight held the note in front of her and cleared her throat. “Twilight, I am sorry to leave, and meeting you and Spike was great, but I just don’t feel welcome here. Please do not try to follow me or worry about me any further. Thank you for your care, signed Jake Taylor.”
Twilight sighed as she crumbled the note against her horn in grief.
“How could we be so stupid?” Rainbow Dash asked herself.
“What do you mean? What happened?” Celestia asked.
The five ponies in question turned to face then princess, each with shame written on their faces.
“We...we were too quick to judge based on appearance,” said Pinkie Pie.
“We said some things that we really shouldn’t have,” Rarity added.
“We...who am Ah kiddin’, there’s no excuse for what we said,” Applejack admitted.
“I don’t know about you girls, but I’m going out to find him and apologize,” Rainbow said, making her way toward the door.
“I’m going with you,” Fluttershy said, following Dash.
“Wait, if you go now, he may just think you’re apologizing out of pity. If you really wish to make amends, you should do something that shows you really do feel bad,” Celestia advised.
“And I think I may have an idea. It’s big, but if we work fast, we might just be able to pull it off,” Twilight said, holding up two pictures with her magic.