//------------------------------// // Chapter 8: There You Go // Story: Magical Mission: Portal to a New Home // by Player 4 //------------------------------// After Golden Harvest and I finish lunch and say our farewells for now, I, without any negative thought about doing it solo, eagerly jog over in the direction of the Castle of Friendship for an impending update on how much longer it will be before I can show proof my Equestrian presence to my family. Oh yeah, and there's the research in the library too! Double, my mates! Even with the between-destination traveling being played solo, I feel good. Not scared at all. I can only chalk it up to the nature of Ponyville. I sure wouldn't be doing this in Baltimare or Manehattan, given the stories I've heard about those places from the Apples. I never thought I'd do fine walking around in public by myself at this young age, but... here I am. Indeed! After a journey of exiting the crowded area and taking in sights of the houses near the city border, I arrive at the magnificence that is the Castle of Friendship and give the door a probably louder-than-usual knock. Twilight is the one to answer this time from the entry room as I walk in, and also the one to do the greeting this time around. "Hi! You ready?", Twilight says, correctly guessing what I must be here for. "Yes.", I say, 100% ready. "Follow me.", Twilight says. The fire of the anticipation of a massive result like this sets off in me. I hope Twilight can't hear, but I am breathing rather heavily as I walk down these halls, getting ever closer by the second to the residing place of my destiny. And yes, "destiny" is an accurate word here. Will I finally be able to make it clear to my parents that I'm here? How soon until I can get home? The answers to these questions are about to reveal themselves with our walking into the dark-blue room that is the portal room. "So, I called you here for a big reason.", Twilight says. "What I must inform you first is that the portal will probably take a long time. It's supposed to involve reverse-engineering what you did to get here, but I can't do that since we don't have the same technology. Either I have to somehow gain the technology you do, or find another way." "Well, do you think you could give some kind of estimate? It's okay if you don't.", I say. Twilight touches her hoof to her chin in thinking. "As of now, I'd say September or October at the earliest." It's June right now. So that means three months before I can go home even just once, for a minimum estimate. "Well. Looks like I have a long way to go, then.", I sigh. "Yes.", Twilight says. "However, and this is the exciting news, I got the picture delivery spell completely done. It's a lot of science to explain, but that part was rather easy to do. I mean, that first meeting we had took place only yesterday, the fact that it took me this short of a time says something! "I sent out letters to Applejack, Lyra, and Bon Bon asking them to come here so we can show that proof!" "Awesome!", I say. So there is that! I may not be able to know when I go home, but I can finally get rid of that piece of plague about wondering how badly my family might be doing! "Yeah!", Twilight responds. "It will probably be later in the day, when they get off work, I'm thinking maybe two hours from now, but I'm sure they'll come. And I hope you have plans in the meantime." "I do.", I say. "I also came here to do some research in the library." "And about the progress; I'm okay with it. I will get homesick a bit, but that's natural, and I know Equestria is a great place to be." "Happy to hear positivity from you, Player 4. You're understanding of my time and are making the most of what you have.", Twilight says. "That's what I try to do!", I respond. "Always love to see that!", Twilight says. "Now, are you ready to go into the library now?" "Yes.", I say. "Good." Twilight steps out of the portal room and leads me to the book paradise I was about to indulge in. It really is a book paradise; rows upon rows and shelves upon shelves full of multi-colored, multi-topic, multi-everything books can be found. "I'm going to go back to work on the portal now.", Twilight says. "Have fun, P4!" "I will!", I say. Twilight steps out and closes the door, leaving me to investigate into the things Lyra and I were talking about at yesterday's lunch; the things about the separation and similarity of these two worlds. It turns out, finding info on these things is hard. I kind of expected that, since the human world was not known about by Equestrians until, well, three days ago. So, not much luck there, but I still found some cool info. I learned about how the multiverse may have always existed with no beginning, what other planets lie in this solar system, and how physics are different here. For example, there's oxygen in space in this universe. Who knew? At around 16:45, my reading of science books gets paused by a knock on the door. I can only guess who was there, so I ended my library session and walked to the entry room, where Twilight was to greet the guests. There they are. Lyra, Bon Bon, and my closest contact Applejack arrive for the photo shoot. "I heard what was going on. I'm so happy for you right now, Player 4!", Lyra says, going up to me for a hug. "I know!", Bon Bon adds. "I had no idea you were without any sort of way to show your family back on your world that you're here." "Yep.", I say, flashing back to that brutal first night where I was pent up with worry about it. "I knew I was taking risk by coming here, in that my family would probably freak out, seeing as how this place is not believed to exist on my world." "But you still chose to come here anyway... because?", Bon Bon says. "Because it was what I wanted to do. Not coming to this friendly and safe place, when I knew I could, would have done bad for me. I would have felt sad and deprived." "Right.", Bon Bon says. Lyra tightens her hug on me as I continue to kneel down for her height. I'm not really a hugger, but it was clear that gaining the knowledge of my family situation was making her sad, so I let her have her relief and sympathy hug. Lyra seems to like me a lot. I wonder if she wants to be friends. Well, if she does, I do too! Twilight gets down to business. "Alright, are we going to do the photo now?", she asks. "Sure.", I say. Let's go ahead and do it. The five of us take a trip through the castle halls over to the room currently set up as a photoshoot area. Spike is designated to be the camera holder, and there he is, getting set up, and in fact, both he and I realize we haven't met yet! "Hey, Player 4.", Spike says, giving me a handshake as I kneel down for his height. Sorry I couldn't get to you yesterday; I was out shopping with Rarity. But Twilight told me about you, so that's how I recognize you." "That's alright.", I say. "Nice to meet you, Spike." I like how this is turning out! I'm in a group with my closest contact, the expert who got me to this point, two new potential friends, and in my first encounter with Spike! Right now, things are good. With nothing else left to be done beforehand, Twilight hands me a piece of paper and a pen. "I suggest you attach a letter to this.", she says. "Oh yes.", I say. "I should definitely attach a letter to my family onto this picture." "Get it all out to them, P4. You've been waiting with worry; you deserve this moment.", Twilight says. I eagerly begin writing, finally getting to do this. Dear Family, You got my first letter, right? Well, if you didn't believe at all what was said and went looking for me, that's what I fully expected. I'm here now to ease your worries once and for all, because the legend known as Twilight Sparkle has come up with a spell where I can send a photo back to you. At the bottom of this paper, you will see photographic evidence of me in Equestria. And visible magic will appear when the letter comes to you. Twilight is also working on a spell that will get me back home. So don't worry, I will be back. However, it must be noted that I will probably not return for a couple of months. Twilight is saying September or October at the earliest. While I am here, please let me know that I love you, miss you, and am perfectly safe. The city I am residing in, Ponyville, is full of the most wonderful ponies around who have been doing nothing but helping me. I also am safe with food, water, and shelter, courtesy of Applejack and her family. You know who Applejack is, right? Well, she's the one I've been staying with. I have taken up temporary residence in the farm known as Sweet Apple Acres. I also have applied for a job, and if I am still here when the school year rolls around, I'm sure something will be figured out. Again, I love you and miss you. Without further ado, here I am with my pony friends: (picture area) - Your Son and Brother I hand the letter to Twilight for safe storage. Then comes time for the second part of the letter; the photo. "Ready for the shoot, everyone?", Spike says. "Yeah.", I say. "Let's do that." The five of us line up in front of the dark-purple wall, with Lyra on the far left of the frame, Bon Bon on the far right, Applejack in the middle left, Twilight in the middle right, and me in the center. Spike counts down, 3, 2, 1. The camera's flash goes off, and there it is. The evidence. The once-and-for-all that I am not missing or in danger. Spike hands the picture to Twilight, who performs the moment of truth. She completes the process by attaching the letter to the photo by stamping it at the bottom of the page, then, using her unicorn magic, sends it off through the portal. I breathe out a giant sigh, which the ponies can tell right away is a sigh of relief. "How good does it feel to finally have that cleared out, Player 4?", Bon Bon says. "Really good. I definitely needed that in order to get to Phase 2 properly.", I say. "And what would Phase 2 be?", Lyra asks. "Or Phase 1? Or any phase?" "What's Phase 1 is all the predictable things that were bound to come during the first days; excitement, disbelief, worrying about my family, being thrown in a place so different from where I come from, etc., I feel like that's all done now. Even only on day 3, I do feel comfortable here with you all, and I'm ready to start really making this place feel like home." "Awesome!", Bon Bon says. "And did anypony help you realize that?" "Well, I think I had the initial realization myself," I say, "but just a little bit ago, when we were having lunch at a restaurant, I remember Golden Harvest telling me things like how I was open to fixing the drawbacks of being here in order to experience the benefits, how I have not had any strong desire to go back home already, and how I know what I want out of my time here." "She's right!", Bon Bon says. "That ties into what I talked to you about earlier; you came here despite the drawbacks for a reason. If you believed the downsides would be too large, you wouldn't have come." Totally! "And you must remember this, Player 4.", Twilight says, "you are surrounded by a world of opportunities to achieve happiness while you are stuck here. We live in Ponyville; you already applied for a job, and, based on the vision of none other than me, you and Applejack seem to be developing a friendship." Hmm, so the Princess of Friendship herself thinks we are? Well, that definitely tips the scales in favor of a friendship between Applejack and I, and I can see this for myself as AJ looks up at me with a smile. But it doesn't tip the scales in favor of not being homesick. "I know all that, and I love it. I love you all, I love being here, and I think AJ and I could become friends too. I just wish I didn't have to sacrifice seeing my family for it." "I know; it is very hard to be separated from them.", Twilight says. "But here is what you need to know: You're with us, you like us, and I also have this: You being stuck here in Equestria hands you the opportunity to integrate with the place. If you were able to keep going back to your old home, then, how would you ever adjust to your new one?" "The answer: You wouldn't. You need time to spend exclusively here for a while, so that, when you can go back, you'll be equipped with the opportunity to switch between worlds without a problem." You know what, that definitely is true. Adjusting doesn't work if you keep letting the progress bar drop some of its filling. It must be allowed to fill at all times, until it is full. "Thanks, Twilight. I know talking to a pony is something I can always count on." "That's what we do here, Player 4.", Twilight says. "I also have a question to ask." "Shoot it.", I say, with my hands in my pockets for listening mode. "When you decided to come here, how long did you intend on staying? Did you come intending to move here permanently, to just visit, or something else?" "You know, I don't think I really had an intention.", I say. "I came here because I wanted to know what it was like, and I basically left open the possibility that I'd want to move here. So you could say I came to visit, but acknowledged I might want to take it further." "Okay. So, as of now, how much 'at home' do you feel here in Ponyville?" "I'd say I definitely feel more at home than before, very quickly at that! Even though it's only the third day, I woke up this morning fully ready for a breakfast with the Apples, in their family barn. That was a contrast to Day 2, when my brain was still trying to cling on to my old breakfast setting." "I'm nowhere near fully used to it yet, but I am in the process of it." Twilight, being Twilight, begins writing the things I say down on paper. I hope she'll get a good use out of it, whether for herself, or for talking to me, or something else. "So, that sounds to me like you're in the process of becoming a resident. If you were here just to visit, would you be getting used to things?", Twilight asks. And here's a big eye-opener from these intelligent ponies. "No. I guess not.", I respond, finding myself wanting to conspiracy-theory that Twilight has access to my mind. "Right! Something's happening here.", she says. She's right! There totally is! I was in the process of making Equestria my new home without realizing it! Wow! "Now, I will ask this.", Twilight says. "Do you like the idea of living here? Would you take the opportunity if granted?" "Oh yes!", I say. "A life in Equestria does sound really good to me." "And do you know what your goals would be for a life here?", Twilight asks. "What I hope to get is a high-paying and big-name career that I love while having at least one best friend to live with." "I considered Equestria, and Ponyville in particular, as a potential place to live primarily because I felt that finding a BFF would be easier here. I haven't had any luck with it at home. Plus, I could tell from the show how awesome you ponies are. There's a reason I wanted to meet you in the first place. And I do already know that I could live here, for sure." "Aww, you're sweet.". Bon Bon says. After I say that, the lightbulb in Twilight's mind has a large, bright flash. After finishing writing my last statement down, she walks up close to me for eye-opening mode. "Four, you said that your thinking went that finding a BFF would be easier here, and another thing that you want is a good career." "Well, I also think it would be easier for you to do that here, because you're the only human! You'll organically stand out!" "When a new species comes to Equestria, of course we're interested in the things they do! And when you make yourself heard that you're going to do something, whatever it may be, you'll have a built-in advantage!" And Twilight has managed to flick on my lightbulb to high-brightness mode! "Wow, you're right! I... do have an advantage! That gives me bigger incentive to go for my career when Phase 3 comes around!" "That's the spirit, P4!", Twilight says, giving me a hoofbump. Bon Bon then comes in with the next piece of her part in this meeting. "So, Four, do you know exactly what it was that was preventing you from having the full, happiest-possible experience in Equestria?" "Yes. It was not knowing if I could tell my family, which has now been cleared out." "Yes, it has been cleared! Now, what else?", she asks. I'm confused here. Rewinding through this mind movie, I completely fail to find anything else related to being here that was bothering me; I thought it was just the family thing. "What else?", I say. And here's another instance where a pony knows something happening to me that I don't know. Bon Bon knows, and she is about to reveal it to me. "For one, the cultural things that you're losing.", she says. "The food and such. Didn't I partially solve that with the candy selection?" "You did.", I say. "With the similarity-searching feature in your store." "Yes.", Bon Bon says. "And here's what else I'm thinking of: the scheduling. Did you know exactly how you would navigate your first days here?" "No, I totally didn't.", I say. "And I didn't feel like I could, because I wasn't presented with any sort of path. I didn't even know where I would spawn at." "Okay. So then... look where you are now!" Bon Bon leaves her sentence at that, tasking me to put the pieces together here. She's right. These ponies have paved me a perfect path for my Equestrian life after I came completely without one. Starting from my very first interaction, with Applejack giving me that peaceful farm walk led by meeting her family members... I don't think I would have met them the same way if not for that walk! Then she let me apply for a job... and everything else that's happened since... yeah! I see what Bon Bon means! And yeah, outside of that, the cultural food thing that she talked about earlier. The pony named after candy herself has lended me a hoof in filling a hole there. Then there's also the family thing solved with the picture today, and... hold on... ...everything! This applies to my entire experience so far! The worry about being treated as an alien... that got washed away by these ponies. The unknown-to-me-at-the-time potential problem of no career... that's been burnt out by multiple ponies! All the way through my adventure, at every corner of these three days, was Ponyville friendship magic clearing my way to a happy life in my new country, new world. I set my hand on top of my yellow baseball cap while holding a frozen smile and heavier breathing, having put together the full comprehension of what these ponies were all thinking of the whole time in this meeting. "Yes, I get it now!", I say. "I know what you guys were getting at! Every possible large barrier to me being here... you've bulldozed them all away!" "Yep.", Bon Bon says. "There you go, P4." And there's another one. Another quote that deserves to be framed on a wall. Twilight invites us all to go to a restaurant in celebration of this meeting's wonderful outcome, which we do so, with all of us, including Spike, together. The entire way through the delicious event, I hold Bon Bon's quote in the front of my head. And it only continues to gain more and more relevancy, as I realize towards the end of the restaurant time that I'm still not thinking about my old food, and I also ate the new candy I got from Bon Bon's shop today while on the carriage back to the farm, to good results. More reasons to repeat the quote "There you go." These ponies did what they have been doing best since I arrived. They opened my mind up to things I wasn't noticing, paving way for a path to bigger and better things. Except, this time, they gave an upgrade, by causing me to fully realize that this paved pathway even existed! As I put day 3 to bed by shuffling into bed, I fully know that my goal as of right now, and on the agenda for tomorrow, is to spend quality time with my new home and make it feel... like my home. And guess who has allowed me to ever have gotten to this point? That's right; the ponies. Project Phase 2: onward!