The next two hours were filled with laughter and happiness and music. There was the occasional lamp shade hat and the sound of something breaking followed by "Oooooohhhhh!!"
The ironic thing is that I decided to go along with the party so I could take my mind off of that horrible nightmare. And yet all I could find myself doing was sitting down and thinking about nothing but the nightmare. What were those odd pillars? What were those screams and death cries?
After the party had ended, everyone went home. Applejack, Pinkie, Rainbow Dash and I helped Twilight clean up.
Twilight approached me and said, "It's late. You should get some sleep."
I looked at the clock, and it showed eleven-thirty.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. But where am I gonna stay, though?"
"Well, uh, I've got some extra blankets and pillows; you could sleep on the couch if you like," she suggested.
Then Applejack spoke up, "Or you could stay at Sweet Apple Acres in the guest room."
I thought I'd take Applejack up on her offer and go to her place for the night.
I helped clean up some more before I left, but as I was working on the hallway, I saw a bit of white fabric poking out from under a closet door. I opened the door to find Rarity and Spike both unconscious (fully-clothed, mind you), probably drunk from whatever drinks they were serving at the party (If these people had alcohol, there seemed to be no age restriction for the consumption of it. I saw both adults and minors drinking the same beverages).
Spike had a dopey grin and smeared lipstick on his face, so I assumed that he enjoyed whatever occurred in the closet. I gave him a silent thumbs-up and quietly closed the door again.
"Oh, no," I heard Twilight say from the living room.
"What is it, Twi?" I asked.
"Because of Pinkie's party I forgot all about the spell."
"Don't worry, it's been a long day. You and I can try it tomorrow."
"Alright," She sounded a little disappointed. It seemed like she really wanted to perform that spell.
When Applejack and I got back to Sweet Apple Acres, I moved my robe from the bathroom (where it had been left since this morning) into the guest room. It was a good-sized room with a comfortable bed and a desk and chair and a bedside bookshelf/nightstand.
"Ah hope you find everything to your likin'. If ya need anything, just gimme a holler."
"Thanks, Applejack. I, uh, I really appreciate everything you people have done for me."
Everyone's hospitality and willingness to help out has far exceeded that of the people on my own world. These people have barely known me for a day, and yet they've done so much. They've clothed me, saved me from falling desserts, tried to cure my slight amnesia, thrown me a party, and even housed me temporarily. Back home, I wouldn't have gotten anything more than pity for the crazy guy with the body paint and voices in his head.
"Aw, shoot. It's nothin'."
"No, really. Back home, I wouldn't have gotten anything like this. I just wish I could do something to pay you all back for it."
I did feel kind of bad having to mooch off of these people and waste their time.
"Well, maybe you could help with the apple buckin' tomorrow. You could help by catchin' 'em as they fall."
Apple bucking? The subject made me curious.
"Sounds... fun," I said tiredly. It was around midnight when we got back, and I was already exhausted from the weird day I'd had.
"Well g'night, Nobody."
"Good night, Applejack."
I turned off the bedside lamp and Applejack closed the door. Good night... if only it were.
Author commentary:
Heh heh heh... Since I don't think Spike gets the props he deserves in the show (or most fanfics, for that matter), I decided to give him a little wink, wink, nudge, nudge victory scene.