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// Bonus 58.5: Holiday 
// Story: Fine Print 
// by Starscribe 
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Roseluck should not have been excited about traveling to another world. It was dangerous—a kind of danger that couldn't be easily explained or predicted. She did not understand the place Tracy came from, and she couldn't possibly comprehend all the strange things that happened there. It was the kind of place she should continue to avoid no matter what.

Yet from the very instant Tracy told her about the "holiday party" happening at his work, she found the excitement almost impossible to resist. 

It wasn't just the chance to drive his "car" again, though of course she'd elicited a promise that she would have an opportunity to drive.

It was also something as simple as getting a chance to meet the others like him—gangly bipeds brimming with strangeness and danger. What would it be like to meet them at one of their "holiday parties?"

Naturally the first thing she did was her research. This was no different than the preparations she might make when visiting one of the lesser bat festivals, insignificant enough not to be held in a proper cave. Tracy could tell her some things, but his machines contained even more. They didn't balk when she pressed them for information, or become exasperated after repeated questions.

"Alexa," she could say, addressing the flat piece of glass in Tracy's old bedroom. It had its own spot on the table, like a shrine. "Show me holiday dresses."

Just like casting a spell, the magic of Tracy's machines took hold, changing the images of his other world into pictures of... humans, wearing dresses.

She recognized the styles now, having worn a few on that side. But planning for a precise style when she was making clothes to bring across a Worldgate was ultimately a futile endeavor. Instead, Rose focused on the colors—lots of red and green, though there was a subset that relied primarily on blue and white instead.

They had a great deal in common with other things that ponies often used to celebrate the holiday as well—ribbons, bells, and the like.

Another pony might've been consumed with the coincidence between their worlds, twisting and turning as she tried and failed to figure out why they could be both so similar and so different at the same time.

Instead of being bothered by any of that, Roseluck brought her request to Rarity, and let the pony fit her for the occasion.

Then the big day came. Even Spark Gap dressed up, though his outfit wasn't half as interesting as hers. Black and white and gray, a little less formal than a suit. "You look like a unicorn," she said. Only a few minutes after breakfast, thanks to the time-difference between their worlds. 

Spark blushed, looking hastily away from her. "And you look... great."

"You can't compliment your way out," she said, nudging him with one shoulder. Not too hard—she always had to be careful when dealing with a non-earth pony. He didn't need more broken bones on her account.

They waited near the Worldgate, just long enough for him to glance out the side-window. Then he threw it open, and they hurried out in a rush. Maybe a little paranoid... or maybe not, considering they'd already been broken into once.

He might be a little clumsy in Equestria, but Spark suddenly seemed like a dancer when they stepped through to the other side. He came through behind her, then swiveled on one leg to shut the door behind her without wobbling even a little.

Then he stopped, watching her. "And you're starting again. Why do you always do this when we cross from Equestria to this place? I wear far more in your world than makes sense."

"It's an adjustment," he said. "I couldn't explain it."

They got into his car, which he didn't let her drive yet. Apparently there were only certain locations he was allowed to do that, and the streets of San Jose weren't one of them. "Tell me about this party," she said, as soon as they were moving. "What's the occasion, exactly?"

"Politically correct vaguely winter-corresponding holiday celebration," he said, his tone as flat as cement. "It's, uh... not as simple as Equestria." Yet he could somehow explain it while doing all the complex tasks of driving. He had to make a dozen little adjustments to the pedals and other controls, all while watching the road. "In this country, it's usually just two winter holidays—both of them are religious. But most people celebrate something, even if they're not religious themselves."

She tilted her head to one side. "You're right, that is confusing. Can you say it so it makes sense?"

He considered for a moment, pulling off the large road into a strangely sectioned-off area. Then he went into a building, and Rose jerked upright in her seat. She gripped both sides as hard as she could, so hard the plastic handle crunched under her grip.

"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice utterly unconcerned.

They didn't hit anything. A few seconds later, and her eyes adjusted to the sudden blinding light. "We're in a... house. For cars." It was much like the “lots” they usually put the car in, whenever he took her anywhere. Except they could go up, wrapping around and around until they found an empty place.

"Oh. Yeah, I guess so. Mostly it's to save space." He switched off the car, pocketing the keys. "I think I know how to explain this. We'll remember the fun things we did, have a few drinks, talk about our plans for next year. Most of the other people working at Apex are already married, or else in long-term relationships. So you might get a few uncomfortable questions about how many kids we have or whatever. Shouldn't be too bad, hopefully. Since the party is on work campus, no one can get too drunk. Hopefully that keeps us in the realm of reality."

She wasn't sure what most of that meant, except for the thing about kids. That was the word that humans used to describe their little fillies and colts, despite not being goats.

"I'll be good," she promised. "I just want to see what you do here, you know? You've been to the flower stand, you've helped work the retail side. I'd love to see what you do."

They walked together from the car, and soon they were joined by plenty of other people. They were all dressed more or less the same way as Tracy, though the mares had much more interesting variety in their clothing. An interesting parallel between their worlds.

But these didn't seem to be Tracy's work friends, because they exchanged only a few awkward words of greeting. 

They wandered through an underground path, then into a towering structure of steel and glass. For as impressive as these buildings would've looked in Equestria, here in Tracy's homeland they seemed almost painfully mundane. She'd driven past so many now that this blended in much like the others.

Then they stepped inside, and Rose was bombarded with more of those painfully white lights, shining from all directions as bright as daylight.

"Welcome to the party!" said a mare in a suit like Tracy's, just inside the doorway. Tracy presented a piece of plastic under a wand in her hand, until it beeped and turned green. Then she turned to Rose. "Your plus one, Mr. Maxwell?"

Without even waiting for his answer, she gestured at a row of identical rectangles. "Your name?"

"Rose," she said, trying to be as friendly as possible. "Is this the holiday party?"

The speaker didn't answer, but scribbled something in thick black marker. Rose's own name, written in the strange human script. Lots of long, graceful letters, many as tall as the bipeds themselves. 

As usual, Rose found she could read the markings, regardless of what world they were in. Good thing too, or else she would've had a hard time accepting Tracy's help with the flower stand. 

"Just put this on, so people know who you are." She settled the little slip of paper into Rose's fingers, then turned away. Just like that, she'd forgotten Rose was there, moving on to the next group. 

Tracy showed her how to peel away the back from one side, and how she could stick it to her dress. Rose did so, though she didn't keep herself from pouting as they walked away. "I have to wear it all night?"

He nodded sadly, taking the slip of plastic with his photo and settling it around his neck. "Company policy, unfortunately. You know how it is."

She didn't, but Rose didn't point that out. Instead she followed him, through a strange maze of glass walls and corridors. Most of the building was dark at this hour, though a few doors were open with small groups of humans visible chatting inside. But they didn't linger near them long enough for Rose to get to know what they might be saying.

The halls were packed, but in a way that was a good thing. There were so many creatures inside that she almost felt comfortable speaking freely. "How many humans work here?"

"A few hundred," he said absently. "I know that... probably sounds like a lot. But I don't run into that many of them. Here, my department is just through these doors. You can meet everyone."

He took them through a nearby doorway, into one of the nearly identical smaller sections.

No wonder Tracy likes spending time in Equestria so much. Living here is like being a single wheel under a railway. 

The room was decorated, though any pony worth their apples would've blanched in embarrassment at such a loathsome job. The walls had been covered in green paper, with the occasional paper snowflake clumsily attached. There were a few green cloths on some of the tables, which were piled high with holiday snacks.

Rose recognized some of these from Equestria, and others from Tracy's machine.

"Rose, you made it! I did not expect to see you again." Janet made her way over, crossing out of a small group of chatting humans. Like so many of the mares in this building, she'd chosen an outfit apparently meant to hide how graceful and pretty she looked. Or maybe it was just easier to dress like the stallions did, with bland black slacks and a jacket.

Her smile looked genuine, anyway. "Welcome! You two should have some punch." She lowered her voice to a mischievous whisper. "One glass, then wait. I didn't see anything, but I taste it, if you feel me." She raised a glass in one spindly hand, which ended in brightly painted nails. So maybe in some ways she did want to act like a mare? The inconsistency only made her harder to understand!

"Thanks!" Rose said, grinning stupidly back. "I wasn't sure Tracy would let me come. I don't know why, but he seems afraid of letting me learn what he does here."

Tracy made an embarrassed sound, shuffling to one side to fill a pair of glasses. Apparently “punch” meant the same thing on this side, a bowl of nondescript, vaguely reddish liquid that ponies drank too much of. 

"Hey, Lori, look!" called a voice from nearby, pointing in their direction. "Tracy, is she with you? You can't be serious." A stallion, taller than Tracy, though much more thickly built. Like a stack of squishy bricks.

"Yes, Eric," Tracy said, returning with the glass. "This is Rose. I don't know why I would lie. Or why Janet would."

Rose took the glass, then took one sip and nearly dropped it in surprise. So that was what Janet meant! It wasn't nearly as good as some of the things she'd shared with Tracy in his world. She took another long sip anyway. 

"I want to hear it from her," said Eric, staring at her. "Do you even know who this guy is?"

Rose glanced sidelong at Tracy, giggling. "Oh, him? Yeah. We've slept together for a few months now. Is that what you wanted to know?"

As expected, Tracy turned redder than her dress. But what weapons worked on him also worked on the little crowd, which scattered as quickly as it had formed. All except for Janet. Her eyes narrowed at the remark, and she leaned up to Rose, dropping her voice to a whisper. "I expect you two to behave. Don't do anything weird while you're at work, Tracy. You know the rules."

"I won't," he said. "Nothing weird. We're just here for the party."