//------------------------------// // Introductions and Splinters // Story: One Life, Two People // by Fort Impression //------------------------------// Introductions and Splinters Soto didn’t understand why he was being flown to the town when he has wings of his own. He thought about it for a second before ridding of the idea since he never actually used his wings at all. He could barely walk straight as it is, and if he tried flying, he thinks he will just crash and die trying. Then he thought if he had wing, then he was like a bird, and if he was like a bird, then flying will come instinctively. Yet, he decided to try flying when he was closer to the ground than the distance he was at right now. The flight to Ponyville was relatively quiet between Twilight and Soto. None of them spoke a word ever since they left, and the dark aura flowing in the air didn’t help with breaking the silence. Doing her best to break the silence, and the dark aura, Twilight turned to Soto. “So, what is the, uh, Human world like?” She asked doing her best to keep a smile on her through the gloom in the air. “It is very much like your world,” Soto responded. Not being the type to really express his feelings for anything, he gave as many short, unclear answers as he could so that she wouldn’t ask anymore. It didn’t work. “Oh, so it is really peaceful, lovely, and beautiful?” “Actually, I was going to say fake, but now that you mention it, I can also say this place is downright disgusting.” He turned away, giving Twilight the hint that he didn’t want to talk, but she kept asking questions. “What are the people like there? Are they like us as well? Do you guys fly or use magic or are you just like earth ponies? What do you guys look like?” “Too much to explain in small words, but if I had to, it would be stupid. Nothing like you guys. I don’t even know what you are talking about. We are like you, but with less fur and have pose able thumbs.” “So you guys are like monkeys? So you guys are incapable of swimming because monkeys don’t have much fat to help them float, and if you are like them, then you must not have that much fat to keep you afloat. Do you guys get cutie marks as well?” “We are better than monkeys. We can swim if we learned. Also, what the buck is a cutie mark?” “Well, first, there is no need to use that kind of language. Second, a cutie mark is your special talent that you are better at than any other pony. It will appear on your flank when you realize what is special about yourself.” “Okay, then yes, we got ‘cutie marks’. But unlike you ponies, we have more than the one. People will get their cutie marks until it covers their whole body.” “Wow, then humans sure do have a lot of talents. Do you have a cutie mark?” “Do you always ask this many questions?” “Well, I have never met one of your kind before, so I was hoping to get as much information as possible about your life.” “Now that you mention it, this ride has been a bit annoying and getting to my nerves.” Twilight cocked her head in confusion. “Why is that?” Soto looked straight into her eyes with his burning red eyes of grimace. “You started talking.” He turned is back toward her again just look over the land. Twilight shrunk back to her original position thinking about asking the questions later on a better day. For the rest of the ride, it remained silent for once he makes it to Ponyville, such a word will never exist anymore. ________________________________________________________________________________ Finally, after what seemed like an hour, the two ponies arrived in Ponyville. Everypony was walking around, doing their daily routine and jobs, except for one hot pink pony with cotton candy hair. Immediately spotting them from the 300 yard distance between them, the pony happily hopped her way toward them. She stopped in mid air noticing that she didn’t know one of them. She made a gasp that they could hear from where they stood only to notice seconds later the pony disappeared in a pink flash. Both of them looked around seeing if they could spot the pony off the bat. Soto looked at Twilight for an explanation. “Don’t worry, she is always like that,” she simply said. Turning around she came face-to-face with the pink pony, and she jumped back with a big yelp. “Twilight!” the pony whined. “You didn’t tell me you had a coltfriend.” She poked Soto in the back, which freaked out. He turned his head back around to find that she wasn’t standing next to Twilight. “Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie. You must be new here because I have never seen you here before, and I know you haven’t been here before because I know everypony in Ponyville, and I mean everypony. And since you’re new here, that means you don’t have any friends, and the thought of you not having any friends made me sad, so I wanted to be your first friend and now I am right here meeting you.” “Pinkie,” Twilight exhaled “he is not my coltfriend. This is Soto Konoha, and the princess requested our help, so I want you to gather everypony—“ “Pft!” Soto almost started laughing when he realized she said everypony instead of everybody. Ignoring the rude sound, Twilight continued, “I want you to gather everypony and meet me at the library as soon as possible.” “I’m sorry Twilight, but I have this big cake that I have to finish and deliver in an hour.” “Oh, okay. That’s fine, you do that, and I will round up everypony. By the way, if you are working on a cake right now, why are you out here?” “Oh horse apples!” Pinkie ran away in a flash leaving Twilight and Soto alone. “Let me know now that there is something better in this stupid town, or I am just going to walk out of here,” Soto threatened already walking his way out of Ponyville, but Twilight jumped in his path to stop him. “Don’t worry, Pinkie Pie is Pinkie Pie,” she encouraged him, lightly patting his shoulder. He gave her a flat look, and Twilight saw that she wasn’t making him feel better and pulled her hoof away from him. She gave him a sheepish small and ushered him toward a different direction. “Trust me, all the ponies here are different, and I am sure there is one you can relate to. Maybe you might share some similar interests as Applejack.” “Applejack?” Soto inquired. He also wondered who would name their child after a drink, not to mention an alcohol drink. Now that he thought about it, no one he met so far has had any real names when he compared the names to his world. “Yes, she is a very honest, strong-willed pony. She is very hard working and independent, and she can also be a bit competitive if you challenge her to anything. You two might actually get along really well.” “That’s a laugh,” Soto fell silent as he was taken back through the memories of his past. Tears started to swell up in his eyes, but he fought them back and continued walking ahead of Twilight. “Let’s get this over with, bookworm.” ________________________________________________________________________________ Walking through the valley of apple orchards, the sound of someone knocking on wood could only be heard in the distance. As the purple and black ponies made their way further into the farm, an orange Earth pony became more visible, kicking the apple trees and watching as the apple fell neatly in a crowd of baskets around the tree. Then, she would continue to the next tree that had a bunch of baskets under it. She moved in a fluent motion that made each step and kick she made create a beat that repeated in perfect harmony. No flaws in the sound, no overly flat or sharp sounds from anything she was doing as if she has been playing to this beat all of her life. As their approach became more apparent to the farm pony, she stopped herself in mid kick. “Oh, howdy there, Twi. What brings ya here at this time of day?” She then looked at Soto with a moderately observant eye. She looked back at Twilight knowing that she knew what the Earth pony was about to ask. Twilight nodded and explained, “Applejack, this is Soto Konoha, and Princess Celestia has requested our assistance in helping him get his way back home. I need you to meet me and the others at my house in about an hour. Do you think you can do that?” “Course ah can. Ah just got t’ finish buckin’ these here tree, and ah can head over t’ yer place lickity split.” Soto bursted into tears of laughter as he roll around on the ground trying to keep control of his thoughts. It was unsuccessful as he continued to chuckle while the two mares looked at him in confusion. “What’s so gosh darn funny?” Applejack finally said when his laughter started to die down. “You said you were bucking trees,” Soto choked out over his laughter. “I didn’t know that ponies swinged that way.” “Soto!” Twilight exclaimed. “There is no reason for you to use such imprecate language around here.” Soto immediately fell silent to the word ‘imprecate’. He stared straight at her, along with the orange mare, looking for an explanation. “Execration,” Twilight corrected herself in hopes they know what she is trying to imply. They continued to looking dumb founded. “Malediction?” Twilight asked slowly taking a few steps back. Her face started to turn red with embarrassment for not even her friend knew what she was talking about. Finally, she sighed and half said, half asked, “Dirty language?” “Oh!” The colt and mare said simultaneously as they finally understood the thoroughly embarrassed unicorn in front of them. “It’s not my fault,” Soto replied to Twilights comment. “She is the one that said she was bucking trees.” “Perhaps ya misunderstood me, sugarcube. Ah said I was bucking trees. Ah never said ah was bucking trees.” The young colt’s expression took a drastic change from being happy to a more serious and questioning face. If he was in the human world, he would look like a New Yorker. “What?” “Well,” Applejack gave it some thought before speaking up again. “Ah’m just buckin’ apple trees, but yer sayin’ that ah’m buckin’ apple trees. Ya see, us Ponyvillians don’t do such things. If we were t’ buck our crops and not buck ‘em ‘stead, we’d lose it all and no pony will have any food. Then again, if we did harvest certain food that we bucked, and tried buckin’ the bucked food, we would be left with so little food t’ buck, and that means we won’t be able t’ buck bucked, bucked harvest. ‘Stead, we’d just be left with bucked objects that don’t have any nutritional value anymore from all the buckin’ they had t’ go through. That’s why these trees here are the best objects t’ buck because no matter how many times ya buck ‘em, they ain’t gonna fall on ya or anything. You will be doin’ what ah’m doin’ right now, buckin’ bucked apple trees. Y’all understand where ah’m getting’ at?” “You know what? This is now starting to piss me off. I’m leaving before I buck stuff up, and the both of you can buck off. Continue bucking your trees.” Soto started walking in the direction he came from, and when he was too far to hear or see anything, Applejack and Twilight started giggling. “You may have gone a little too far with the teasing Applejack,” Twilight concluded slapping hooves with the other mare. “Sorry, Twi, ah just had t’ do it. Besides that colt needs t’ lighten up a bit. He seems like the one t’ be angry all the time. Shoot, ah could’ve mistaken him fer bein’ Glida.” “Yeah, you’re right.” Twilight looked back to find Soto waiting for her further down in the valley of apples. “He just needs a friend that will help him with all of his troubles. I will see you later at the library, Applejack.” “See y’all later, and be sure t’ come back now, ya hear!?” the orange farm pony called out before getting back to her routine. “Okay, Soto, we can go visit m next friend. She lives really close to here, so we can tell her real quick and get going over to Carousel Boutique.” ________________________________________________________________________________ It was a five minute walker before the two arrived at a clear open field. Looking around, Soto didn’t see any houses in near site from where they stood. Clearing Twilight’s throat, to get the wandering colt’s attention, she pointed her hoof toward the sky. What lied about was a cloud house. Its structure was built to appear as a three story house, and the kind only owned by the best of all pegasi. A rainbow waterfall flowed its way off the cloud, only to be caught by another and magically teleported back where it began, so it could continue to shine in all its glory. “Holy… Celestia?” Soto looked back at Twilight to ensure that is a proper way of using her name. Twilight nodded and gave him a smile, but was quickly rejected when he turned his back on her. “This is probably the coolest thing yet that I have seen. This girl is filthy rich if she has a house as cool as this.” “Actually, I always wondered how she was able to afford such a remarkable house,” Twilight joined him as they both observe the cloud house until a flash of Rainbow passed over head and digressed their attention toward it. The flash came to a quick stop in front of the two intrigued ponies to reveal itself to be a rainbow-maned, cyan pegasus. And the mood has been killed, Soto thought to himself. “What’s up, Twilight?” the cyan pony asked. “Kinda weird finding you around here cause I am usually the one going to your place looking for some more Daring Do books you might have.” “Hey Rainbow Dash. I actually wanted you to meet me and the others at the library because I have some imperative news to tell everypony. This is Soto Konoha, by the way. Soto, this is Rainbow Dash.” “You know what,” he said tapping his chin as a gesture of pondering in his thoughts. “What is wrong with all you ponies’ parents? Where do they come up with these names, and why would they name their foals this? Rainbow Dash, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack. It sounds like Applejack was named after a alcohol drink, you were named that way because your parents were just looking in the sky and saw a star, and she was given the name that is the epitome of all bad jokes.” “Hey,” Rainbow Dash interjected. “What’s that supposed to mean?” “Oh, you didn’t know?” he rhetorically asked with a mischievous smile painted across his muzzle. “Where I come from, when we see anypony with anything that is rainbow, they are considered gay or lesbian.” The unicorn and pegasus looked at him waiting for an explanation. “In your case, lesbian, this is when one mare is in love with another mare.” Rainbow Dash face immediately started to flush to a color similar to her eyes. “Wait… Hold on… What… No no no… I mean… I’m not… I can’t… Twilight!” She kneeled in a begging position. Twilight simply sigh and started, “First of all, that is a really crazy accusation you ponies make. Second, Rainbow Dash is not a fillyfooler…” She kind of paused at the thought. “Well, at least I don’t think she is,” she muttered to herself ensuring not to be heard by either pony. “Denial only supports my case. Also, being a tomboy and how she has such a raspy voice shows how much more of a ‘fillyfooler’ she is.” “Don’t mind really any of his insults Rainbow. He’s a bit… unused to everything that is happening in his life right now. When do you think you can come over?” “Well, I can start getting over there right now if you want. Also my name resembles who I am.” She quickly moved her attention to Soto, for she has yet to let go of his previous commentary. “At the speeds I go at, I will leave you in my rainbow trail in a flash. I am the reason why all rainbows are twenty percent cooler, and don’t you forget it.” “Pretty cocky, I like that, but you still have yet to sway me into believing you are not a fillyfooler.” “I am not a fillyfooler. You are probably just spouting out an old mare’s tale that everyone forgot because of how ridiculous it sounds.” The two glared into each other’s eyes, throwing comeback after comeback at one another. They would have been at it forever if Twilight didn’t intervene pushing the two apart with her magic. “Enough!” she yelled out. “You,” pointing at Soto “stay quiet for the rest of the walk if all you are going to say bad things about people. And you,” pointing at the rainbow pegasus “stop making the situation worse than it already is.” “But-“ Rainbow started only to be stopped by the purple unicorn again. “No ‘buts’. You can head over to my house if you want, but no one will be there. So if you want someone to be there when you get there, than you should head over to AJ’s and help her with her chores. I’ll meet you and everypony else at the library shortly. Come on Soto we can’t waste anymore time.” She started trotting her way back toward Ponyville. Soto rolled his eyes and, somewhat, ran after her since he was still not used to the transformation. ________________________________________________________________________________ “Okay, we are on a bit of a time crunch, so we will just have to go to the last two and tell them to go there and leave.” The purple pony continued to explain while making at a steady, but hasty, pace. “There will be no conversations because we will waste too much time, and I will be late.” “And whose fault is that,” Soto mocked with a smug look. “Yeah, I know I shouldn’t have stopped and talked to everypony since we are on a time crunch.” Arriving at Carousel Boutique, a marshmallow pony with a well groomed mane exited the doors letting her feline friend wander around the fields. Looking up from her pet, she caught a pony approaching at the corner of her eye. Turning her head toward the anonymous figure, her eyes widened with passion. “Twilight!” she called out to her friend. “You came just in time; I need your opinion on this dress that I have to get to Hoity Toity by the end of tomorrow.” “Actually Rarity,” Twilight said bring Rarity’s spirits down “I need you to meet me and the other girls at the library in like twenty minutes. I still have to get over to Fluttershy’s and back otherwise I will be late.” “Yes, you do have a tendency to get… nutty when you are not on time.” “Oh yeah, this is Soto Konoha, and we don’t have time for long introductions. So I will see you at my house, and I will do introductions later.” Before the fashionista could refuse, Twilight ran off toward the Everfree Forest with the black and red colt right behind her. “So her name is Rarity?” Soto asked in between each breathe. “Yes, it is. Why do you ask?” “Just wonder, but you will know one thing for sure. If you are ever looking for me, it will be a rarity for you to find me with her.” Twilight giggled at the cheesy pun that was made by Soto. ________________________________________________________________________________ Sitting at the edge of the Everfree Forest laid a hut surrounded your average forest creatures ranging from crickets to grizzly bears. All were crowded around one area, in which they all made lots of moans, groans, and whimpers. Others, that were further into the crowd, made their way outside before disbursing. Over the crowd of small critters, a pink mane flows elegantly with the wind before coming to a resting stop on its owner. The yellow mare was lying down with her back turned towards the arriving ponies. “Now Mr. Squirrel,” she said in a soft voice. “Try not to move your tail too much or you will loosen the cast. You don’t want me to have to put another one on because I know how much it hurts when somepony is trying to put one of those on.” A squirrel emerged from in front of the pegasus, and it ran off into a tree. “Oh.. Um.. Come back in a week, and I will see if it’s ready to come off,” she called out to the tree. “Wow I never knew you were this good with animals, Fluttershy,” Twilight commented revealing their position. Turning around saying, “Twilight, you should have seen it. That was…” She came to a sudden stop. “Oh, I’m sorry. You probably don’t want to hear it.” “Of course we do, but you will have to tell us along the way to my place. I actually came to pick you up so we can meet the girls and discuss about an issue at hand. This is Soto Konoha, and Soto this is Fluttershy.” “Hi, it’s nice to meet you Soto,” she stated at a near whisper. “Yeah whatever,” Soto replied. “So you are a veterinarian?” “Oh no, I am not that good. I just take care of the forest animals as much as possible.” She turned her head toward Twilight and spoke to both of them. “Well, what happened was all so sudden. The poor guy lost his grip on the tree and fell, and he landed on his tail. It was so horrible to hear. I was in my cottage when it happened, but I heard his shrieks of pain.” She continued telling them about what happened earlier for the rest of their trip back to the library. ________________________________________________________________________________ “And that was the first time I ever casted a tail before,” Fluttershy cooed as her story came to an end. They came to a stop in front of a tree house, waiting for Twilight to open the door. Doing so, a wave of arguments came from inside. “It is of great importance for you to take care of your mane as much as I,” the marshmallow unicorn complained. “You two don’t even comb out your hair. It is just one sloppy, disgusting mess. Take the comb and make yourselves look proper for our guest!” “Forget you Hairity! There is no way I am going to do that,” Shot back with a raspberry. “Combing is for proper freaks like you. I say just make sure it’s clean and you’re cool.” “ChimmyCherryChunga!” the party pony exclaimed out of nowhere. “What’s going on in here!?” Twilight shouted to get everyone to shut their muzzles. “Oh Twilight!” Rarity exaggerated. “These two won’t be dears and make themselves suitable of the guest.” “That’s exactly why you won’t see me with her,” Soto chucked out there before any other them had the chance to say something. “I actually agree with the fillyfooler. Just as long as my hair is clean, it doesn’t matter if it is messy or not.” “Hey, I am not a fillyfooler!” “Girls!” Twilight shouted again bring everyone to a quiet stand still. “Sit over there.” She pointed at the circular table in the living room. “Soto, you sit there.” She moved her hoof over toward the couch, which is a couple feet away from the table. “And everypony be quiet! This is still a library, and it will always be a library from this point forward!” All the ponies gathered around the table, but Soto just stood behind them listening. “What are we here fer, Twi?” the orange earth pony asked. “First, this is Soto Konoha, and he is from another universe.” “Oh, so he’s like Doctor Whooves?” Pinkie Pie questioned. Twilight just stared at her unable to find a way to answer that question. I didn’t know Doctor Whooves was from an alternate dimension she thought to herself. “I guess,” she finally concluded before continuing. “Apparently, Discord, even in current state of stone, used his powers to bring him here for some reason that was not explained to us. He only left him with a riddle to solve before the end of the seventh day, or Discord will send him to a place that even the most evil of all ponies would cry for a foalsitter.” The girls all gasped in unison, and Soto rolled his eyes at how much of a big deal they were making this. “So we need to find out what Discord’s riddle means, and help complete the task, before it’s too late.” “I’m sorry to ask, but I don’t think I was here when you probably said it,” Fluttershy threw out there. “But what is the riddle?” “'You are allowed to make one wish',” Soto started making everypony give him their undivided attention. “'Whether it's fine and noble, or just really childish. Upon this wish it will come true, Leaving you with seven nights to choose a path that splits into two. You must find out what I want you to choose before the seventh night, Or I will send you to a world you will hate with all of your might. Once you have found what I have wanted, you are able to choose, To stay in this dream land of yours, or return home to the land you so happen to accuse. Just remember, depending on your wish my rules may change, Leaving you with other goals that may seem strange. My ideas will not hurt you in any sort of way, Unless you can't make the decision by the dawn of the eighth day. I will happily await your response, take all the time you need, To make wish that you want, for I can only help you proceed.' He didn’t really tell me what I was supposed to do, but he did say he will give me hints and stuff during my dreams. Otherwise, I don’t have a clue on what he wants from me.” “Maybe it has something to do with your past. Discord usually plays tricks on people based off who you are and their experiences. So if we know more about you, we can pinpoint what he wants from you.” “Yeah, that isn’t going to happen. Looks like you will have to wait until I figure out what he wants from me.” His tone took a sudden change getting deeper than before. “But, if you tell us, we can figure this out together, and—“ She was cut off by a hoof landing on top of the table with might force. The table cracked under Soto’s hoof as he slowly watched the six mares step away in intimidation. “Look here, I never asked for your help, and frankly, I don’t care if he sends me to a world I will hate forever because my world is as bad as it gets. Your world is running along the lines of getting there. I don’t need your guys’ help at all, but if you want to help me any way possible, sit there and keep your muzzles shut. I will figure this out on my own, and if I can’t, then whatever. Let him send me to this bad place because it won’t matter to me.” Slowly getting back to all fours, Soto bellowed out a sigh of relief. “I am going. I am tired, and I need to find a place to sleep. Do you guys happen to know a cave or something nearby for me to crash at? Anywhere that provides something to protect me from the rain.” “Yeah,” Rainbow replied bitterly. “There is—“ “Ya can stay in the barn at mah farm, sugarcube,” Applejack told Soto while shoving a hoof in the cyan pegasus’s mouth. “Ah reckon ya don’t want t’ sleep inside the house, so ah can offer the barn t’ ya. It’s the best ah can do though.” “Whatever, I will be waiting outside because I don’t know where it’s at. You girls continue doing… this.” Ending on that, the mildly tempered pony left the house. The six ponies sat there in complete silence as they tried to understand the previous outburst. None of them could figure out why he suddenly got angry. While it was still quiet, Twilight took it upon herself to fix the table with the same spell she used to repair the dam. “Why would you let him stay at your place, AJ!?” Rainbow broke the silence nearly making everypony go deaf. “I mean did you hear what he said to us, and he even insulted us. Why should we care about what happens to him?” “Ah understand what ya gettin’ at Rainbow, but the Princess still wants us t’ help him. Y’all gotta remember, he’s from a different world, which ah still don’t understand how that works, but ah reckon all that he’s showin’ is just stress and confusion. He might still be tryin’ t’ get used t’ how our place works. We just have t’ give him a day is all.” The orange mare didn’t sound completely confident in her own thoughts, but Twilight stepped in reassuring her confidence. “Come on girls. He needs our help, and even if he doesn’t ask for it, we are still going to give it to him. We have dealt with Discord before, and we know that he gains power from disharmony. He might be using Soto as a catalyst to break out of his stone prison, so we must make Soto happy, and welcome, for meeting us. We will make these seven day—“ “Six,” Rarity corrected. “Because today is day one, and we all know how swimmingly that went.” “Yes, six days. We are going to make these six days the best days of his life as we find out what is it that Discord wants from him.” “Well, ah best be goin’ girls. Ah don’t want t’ keep the new comer waitin’. Ah will see y’all later t’ discuss about things we can do fer him that will make him more comfortable here in Ponyville.” As she started to make her way towards the door, the rainbow pegasus began to take flight. Applejack just stared at her with a doleful expression. “Dash, ah’ll be fine, ah promise. He sure don’t look like the kind t’ hurt a fly. Ah could say he’s just like you,” she concluded with a wink. The speed devil blushed a bit and slowly lowered herself back down to the ground. Closing the door to the tree, the earth pony took a gander at her surroundings in search for her acquaintance. She had trouble spotting him in the dark because of his deep brown coat and partially black mane. The only thing that would stand out his the red in his mane, but she couldn’t see it anywhere within her line of vision. “Who are you looking for?” a familiar voice asked behind her. Applejack jumped away yelping before she realized it was the pony she was looking for. “Ah was lookin’ fer ya, sugarcube. Ah know yer plum tuckered out, so ah left early so ya can get yer sleep. Let’s go and get ya t’ bed. We’ve got a lot of work t’ do tomorrow.” Before he could interject, she started making her way back to the apple farm, and he slowly followed behind sluggishly. Applejack stopped to look back and ask, “What’s wrong?” “Nothing,” he answered softly. “I just want to get some rest.” And forget about this place. he thought to himself. I just want to wake up. Author’s Note: Hey everyone that is watching me for this chapter. Sorry it took so long. My daily life is busy as it is, but it’s starting to settle down. I am working on the next chapter as we speak, but I am also working on a new fan fiction. Thank you for your patience, have fun commenting about your thoughts on what’s happening, and be ready for the many events to come.