Henry sat at a table in Ponyville's library with Twilight across from him, a notepad and quill held un her magic. In the short amount of time he'd been working with her, the mare had picked up sign language frighteningly quickly, whereas Henry's own attempts to study Ponish had been slow, the different letters and symbols making his head spin.
But he was determined. The progress he'd made was a trickle in comparison to Twilight's endless capacity to learn.
"So, would you be comfortable answering a few questions?" Twilight asked. "Nothing too personal, just so I have a few things in my report to Princess Celestia."
Henry slowly signed Report? in confusion.
Twilight nodded, perfectly comfortable with the notion. "Well, we've seen anything like you in Equestria before, at first I assumed you were something from the Everfree Forest, but after we met, I wrote to the princess explaining the situation."
Henry nodded warily.
"She asked me to record anything I learned while working with you!" the unicorn replied brightly. "Shall we begin?"
The thief sighed and nodded, making himself more comfortable in his seat, or at least trying to. Pony chairs were a bit on the small side, and he had to awkwardly hug his knees to even sit up at the low table.
"Great!" Twilight said with a grin and gleam in her eyes. "Let's start with something simple, can you tell me your name?"
Henry signed his name one letter at a time, Twilight wrote them down as he did.
"Henry Stickmin?"
He nodded, and showed her the unique sign for his name
"Age?"
He blinked. Twenty-eight.
"And you identify as a male of your species, correct?"
Henry felt he was taking some sort of government test as opposed to an friendly interview. He crossed his arms and waited for the next question. Twilight, for her part, looked perfectly at ease with his response.
"Too invasive? What about how you got to Equestria?"
And so, the questions turned into a recount of his prior escapades, and at several hours later, Twilight set down her notes, looking at him sternly.
Henry thought it was cute she was thought she could intimidate him.
"You know you won't be able to get away with that sort of behavior in Equestria. We don't tolerate thievery."
He shrugged, it wasn't like he had much of a choice given he was living in a tent in the woods.
"I'm serious! You could be blacklisted from stores, denied jobs, ponies who have a criminal record are even denied housing in many major cities because of the threat they pose to the community." Twilight explained. "If you get caught breaking the law it impacts you for life."
It took a moment for him to understand she wasn't exaggerating. He frowned, as far as he knew, no one had figured out he'd been the one to steal from the castle, that everyone in the small agricultural town had assumed he'd just wandered in from the woods. A wandering vagabond.
I don't have much of choice. He finally replied.
"Why?" Twilight asked in earnest confusion.
With a sigh Henry got up and motioned her to follow him.
"You live here?" the unicorn said in alarm as he showed her his modest campsite.
The flat look he gave her spoke volumes.
"Okay, okay, I'm sure one of my friends wouldn't mind letting you stay with them until you can get yourself on your hooves- er feet. I have a monthly stipend from the princess, if you don't mind doing a bit of shelving for a few hours every day, I can give some bits to cover basic necessities..." Twilight rambled as she started pacing.
Henry was taken aback, this wasn't the response he was expecting, so used to people writing him off, giving rather insensitive or pointless advice, that a genuine attempt to help had been the last thing he expected from the mare.
A twinge of loneliness made itself known as he remembered similar situations during his various lives across the different timelines. Pushing the memories back, Henry schooled his face into one of impassive calm, and waved a hand in Twilight's face to get her attention.
"-Of course we'll have to consider dietary differences, one of the hurdles most non-ponies face is the availability of food within Equestria's borders- huh?" she looked up at him, frozen mid-step, and blinking owlishly. "What is it?"
You want to help. he signed hastily, his emotions getting away from him.
"Sorry I didn't catch that, could you repeat it?"
He nodded and signed it again at a slower pace. Twilight just looked at him as if the statement was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Of course I want to help, we're friends aren't we?"
Friends?
Henry had only had four friends in the entirety of his life. Four amazing people... that would never see eye to eye, that he would never see again. Twilight's easy declaration of friendship awoke something in him, emotions he'd long since cast aside and buried deep within himself came rushing to the surface. The truth he'd been avoiding in the scant few weeks he'd been here.
He would never see his friends again. There would be no more Retry's, no longer would he wake up in a prison cell, or see the announcement for the Tunisian Diamond Exhibit, or be tasked to infiltrate the airship...
He had hoped, once, that there was timeline out there where the four people he valued most in the world could put aside their differences, their allegiances, and just live, exist alongside him in peace.
"Henry?" Twilight asked, snapping him out of his train of thought.
He gave her an apologetic smile. Sorry, it just hit me, I'm stuck here...
She nodded sympathetically. "I guess you've been too focused on surviving to have it really process huh? We have a spare room in the library if you want to use it. And Spike's been asking about you too, I'm sure you two will get along."
I don't mind living out here...
"Henry, we have rain scheduled for next week, you can't stay out here in that sort of weather. It's no trouble at all to give you a place to sleep and three meals a day." She replied warmly.
He smiled, gratitude rolling off him in waves. Thanks.
That night he was situated in a small guest room, his room, on the top floor of the library. A pile of letters sat waiting for him on his nightstand as sat on his bed, looking around at the cozy space. A lone, round window offered a view of the purple night sky and glittering stars. He had a small shelving unit up against the wall opposite his too-small bed, and the door leading to the rest of the tree library was to his right.
Comfortable, well fed, and content, Henry tackled the most recent round of mail he'd retrieved from his post office box earlier that afternoon.
Henry,
Timberwolves are wolves made of sticks that have the ability to reform when scattered, some strange magic causes this- Red mage Alain
So, kill it with fire? he suggested. Thanks for the information.
Dear Henry,
Do you have any plans on returning to Canterlot Castle? If so, do you think you will get in trouble if you get back there?
He shook his head. I don't plan on going back there unless I absolutely have to. The guards got a good look at me and I don't want to get arrested.
Hello again its the Space Marine in space, yeah uh kind of floated too close to a white hole and now I'm about four or five lightyears away from Equestria so, yay? Anyway this question is for the narrator, how many other narrators do you know, like the narrator from "There Is No Game"
Lowly Space Marine Floating in Space
Oh, hello again. I don't know any other narrators, in truth I'm more akin to a Greek god, a flawed being responsible for a certain aspect of the world, but I'm not quite a part of this world in the way the true deities are.
This world knows of me and what I govern to some extent, a few myths or legends, but I lack a physical presence in this world, I am a narrator purely due to the fact that I am the means through which you see and interpret this world.
Behold our goddess. Henry signed, expression a perfect deadpan.
Funny...
Henry just smirked.
Dear Henry and Narrator
Which Hogwarts house would you two be in?
Whichever one lets me get away with casting hexes. Henry answered with a smirk.
I haven't read the books in years... probably Hufflepuff or Ravenclaw.
Dear Henry,
Who does twilight remind you of back in your world?
He paused, thinking as he held his chin in one hand, the letter held in the other.
Reginald, he signed after a moment. A less paranoid, less mischievous Reginald. He was always working on something for the good of the clan. Even when I was leader, I'd defer to him for a lot of stuff, Right Hand Man had to force him to take breaks-
He stopped mid-sentence, face falling.
Oh yeah, they're here too aren't they... I hope they're okay.
He was still conflicted when it came to the two leaders of the Toppat Clan he'd gotten to know over the different timelines, but regardless of the complicated nature of where he stood with them, Henry was tired of seeing them die, whether he caused their deaths or not.
He was tired of a lot of things, truth be told. He opened up the next letter and used the opportunity to calm down.
Dear Henry;
I am a friend, so - because of that and the fact I care for you - I must tell you that the one who you stole the valuable(s) is Princess Celestia herself! Twilight's teacher and Equestria's Princess, God of the Sun, and MANY MORE THINGS! Though, she's not famous for fighting well at all; this might mean you get a chance against her next time you bump into her.
Good luck, mate.
Sincerely, a friend.
P.S: Anything you need (as information about Equestria), I'm here to provide it.
Thanks, I plan on staying as far away from her as possible though, Henry replied. Thank you for the offer, but I'd prefer to learn what I can without help from you guys, no offense but, it's usually better for me to have sources other than mysterious letters from beyond the void for information.
Oh how delightful! A new intelligence steps into the wonderful land of Equestria! I can already see potential and many shenanigans to be had... Particularly with The Pink One. Enjoyable as a friend, invaluable as an ally, and positively terrifying when angered. Truly the perfect mix.
If it is ever approved for us to send you items, I'll be sure to send you a couple of my own.- Samsara Lotus, Void Thaumaturge
I'll take your word for it. Henry signed, still wary about the pink terror. I appreciate your help though.
This wasn’t asked by the first letter but how did you escape the prison?
Well, this time around I called my lawyer, it was faster, Henry signed and shrugged. By that point it was been there, done that, died more times than I care to admit.
To Narrator: Hello, hope all is well. I wanted to ask if he will encounter more characters in the future from his old world.
Also, how many worlds has Henry been to? Did he travel to any of the worlds that the teleporter took him to?
Lastly, will he gain items from other routes? Also, have you determined what we can give henry, if anything at all, or do you need more time?
Okay, to answer the teleporter question, Henry hasn't been to any of the worlds the teleporter sent him to, what you see in the games in what you get.
I have considered sending items, however they will be heavily restricted in order to not break the plot.
As for meeting other people...
Far out of sight, high above the Everfree Forest, a red airship chugged along...
They'll cross paths eventually.
To Henry: Hey henry, hope you're doing great. I wanted to ask how your research was going, and if you have found any useful magic or trinkets, and if you were going to start exploring ruins.
There is one person which you can meet which would be awesome, which would be grogar. Though he may be evil, I think that you, with the help of others, can help him be a better person, and with all that knowledge, he can benefit pony kind over all.
Not to mention other people who are also very ancient and powerful would be cool to meet as well. You should ask the narrator for some names, that way you can plan for the future. Thanks for reading, and have a great day.
I would advise against going to Grogar if you value the friendship and opportunities present in Equestrian society...
So, what should I do? Henry asked.
There are several powerful entitles in this world. The Solar Queen, The Moon Witch, The Dark DJinn, The Huntsmare.
You have a good thing goin here in Ponyville, there's no need to go chasing after power.
Henry smiled, agreeing. I've had enough adventuring for several lifetimes.
To: Mr. Stickmin,
I have a package containing 50 Equestrian Bits but it seems that there is an issue and I cannot send packages to Ponyville, so would you like them HALO inserted instead?From, A very bored being.
A coin pouch fell from the ceiling to land in Henry's lap.
Bits are allowed, don't spend it all in one place.
Henry grinned as he shook the pouch and listened to the coins jingle within.
Dear Henry,
Hi so you meet Applejack yet? i hope you meet her one day she is kind and funny pony I know
- rainbow light
She's the pony that sells apples right? I've seen her at the market. Haven't spoken to her yet... Maybe I could buy Twilight some apples as a thank-you present? Henry mused. Huh?
The final letter was in a bright pink envelope and addressed to Henry. His name was written, not in English, but in Ponish. When he opened it, a small explosion of confetti erupted from the envelope and drifted down to cover his legs and bedspread.
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎊🎊🎊🎊🎊
Welcome to Ponyville Mister Stickmin,
You’ve been avoiding me for a while so I thought I’d send a letter instead!
After all, those other ponies were doing it. Please please please come to Sugarcube Corner, (the building that looks Delicious) I promise it will be fun! (cross my heart, hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye)
<what happened to my letter? ¿Unknown>
Also with the letter, Henry pulled out a piece of pink carboard with the date and time written on it, and a small map of the town that showed him exactly where to go. He was admittedly, rather nervous about a large gathering (he never liked them, even the parties that were thrown aboard the space station or the airship never got his attention unless he was too lazy to go to the cafeteria for food), but if he was getting an invite, he wasn't sure he was ready to deal with the consequences if he failed to show.
Uh...Looks like I'm going to a party tomorrow.
With a sigh he got up, cleaned up the confetti, put the letters away in a drawer of his nightstand and turned off the lamp that sat atop it.
Tomorrow was going to be a long day.