*TWO DRINKS LATER*
For some odd reason, you thought that your past would be mysterious, intriguing, exciting to regale onto aliens from a different world. Or is it a dimension? Hard to tell. What isn’t hard to tell is the fact that the more you talk about yourself, what Earth is like, what you did, some history you remember, It sounded…
Boring.
Average at best. Stupid at worst. It hurts to know this fact just by the facial reactions of your companions.
The first one was your lifesaver and caregiver Fluttershy. You had a feeling that when it comes to the name that has shy in it, it would be expected that the pegasus you were getting to know would be the quite type. But she has become very reserved. Strangely reserved. You can’t help but notice she has flushed cheeks. Maybe she's a lightweight? You don’t know but she is clearly trying to duck out of anything that involves her and yourself. Weird.
Next was Pinkie Pie. You looked at her, her blue orbs watching you intently. Or was she? Her bubbly and high octane energy made it difficult to figure out if she is actually being sincere and listening or just being polite. If she is listening then she is easily entertained. If she was faking it, then holy shit she is good at hiding her intentions. Note to self. Do NOT play any social deduction games with her.
Rainbow Dash and Applejack were focused on you. However, occasionally you spotted that cyan pegasus eyes wonder over to the ‘Las Pegasus’ games. One cabinet had two other ponies playing it, and from what you can hear, it was a quite competitive game. The clicking of buttons and the smashing of a joystick was alluring to you as well. From a glimpse it looks like a classic 2D fighting game. The arcade made you curious if certain archetypes still had certain button and joystick combinations that transferred over this dimension. Applejack, noticing her friends not paying attention, bucked at Rainbow Dash. The cowpony give an angry nod in my direction, only for Rainbow Dash to mumble under her breath.
Both Starlight and Rarity had a look of just passive listening, though Starlight’s ears perked up here and there. Looking into Starlight eyes, you can clearly see gears slowly turning in her mind.
Then there was the Princess, she compared to the rest of the trove of equines, was soaking it up like a starving child greeted with a delightful bouquet of knowledge. Her eyes dilated and dialed in your tales of your past and what you have been through the last couple of days. Weeks? No, it must have been days. Time seemed to blend together and getting tipsy on two White Yaks made it even more difficult to wrangle a reference of time from your new environment.
Well, maybe one alien found you interesting. So that's good right?
After the account on the second time you were in the Everfree Forest, Starlight started to ask questions about this other 'hue man.'
You describe what they looked like but she cuts you off. "No, no, not how that hue man looked, I want to know what it looked like when they vanished." She tapped a forehoof on the table for emphasis.
You take a sip of your half drunk cocktail. How did they vanish? Well, he vanished…How the hell else are supposed to describe that? "Well he was there and reached out, went through him and he just disappeared, I…I don't know how else to describe it."
The horned heliotrope pony tapped her chin for a moment, "And what about you Fluttershy, did you hear someone screaming from the Forest?" Starlight pointed her gaze at the butterscotch pony.
"...No I don't think so."
Weird she took longer to respond than normal. It has to be the cocktail. “I assume it's something to do with horn pony-"
"Unicorns," Twilight said flatly.
"-Unicorn magic nonsense at pl-"
Twilight interrupted again, groaning at your errors. This was your biggest mistake of your life on this land.
You wave over for more drinks. You had a gut feeling you're gonna need them.
*FOUR DRINKS LATER.*
You signed your eardrums up to a lecture to the entire history of Equestria from your impromptu tipsy teacher, Twilight Sparkle.
And this equine history is ri-dicules!
Ancient goat person that was the emperor that made all the monsters.
The Pillars of Equestria.
Ghost windagos that caused an eternal winter that was overcome with harmony of unicorns, pegasus and earth ponies. And now they celebrate it like a holiday.
Two alicorns, which is just a earth pony with a wings and a horn, that control the fucking sun AND the moon.
Tree of Harmony.
Seed of Harmony.
The Moon princess turned Evil and became Nightmare Moon but now is back with her ruling sister.
A dude named Starswirl the bearded man that sounds a little too close for comfort to a myth from Earth's ancient past.
A creature named Discord, Lord of Fuckery and being the biggest dick, reigned terror over Equestria, turned to stone, unstone, restone and be reformed into a somewhat of a good guy but more of a jackass trickster.
A unicorn that tried to enslave a place that has Crystal ponies that didn't use stairs for some reason then got dunked on...Twice!
Changeling Queen that sucks love to get nutrients? Sounds sensual but maybe it's literal.
A storm king that screwed over sea ponies that were also hippogriffs? Griffons? Tartarus?!
The Everyfree Forest is just a weird spot for Equestria. Very superstitious beliefs and that a lot, coming from literal mythical creatures.
You had to put your hands up "Wait wait wait, so let me get this straight, there is a metric ASSTON, of threats on the pony kind on the regular, and somehow all three of the tribes that are cool with each other are just, perfectly okay about the high threats to life? Just sing and dance and be in harmony and things just turn out all right? For thousands of years?" The crew of multicolor ponies all nodded in agreement. "....Bullshit."
Twilight scrunched her face, "Bullshit?"
Shite, how I'm I going to explain this? "Pulling my leg, or hoof, twisting my um tail?" Your fingers snap three times in quick succession, "You’re…pranking me, ya know, bullshitting me!"
Rainbow Dash bellowed out in laughter. "Twilight you should see the look on your face, it's priceless!"
Twilight in a shocking twist of fate gave a good retort. “You should look at your face Rainbow, you look like a Hearth Warming ornament!”
The speedster pegasus whinnied in surprise, her eyes shot open, clearly not expecting such a line from her friend. Her fore hoof checked her face. The entire table started to erupted in laughter.
You couldn't help but smile. This felt nice. Your eyes scanned the seven ponies here with you now. They are laughing, and enjoying each other company. Enjoying your company. It was incredible, your friends went out of their way to help you. Made an effort to get to know you. To humor you by going to this bar, and the Princess is putting herself in political danger just to make sure that you were welcomed in a land that is not your own.
Sure, you can talk now, they know now that you are a free agent of your own life rather than a beast that depended on others. How long did you have until this ‘spell’ ended? Sunrise the next day? Your eyes glide over to a nearby window. It was already starting to get dark. You guessed maybe you have a handful of hours. After that, is it back to your old life? No it can’t be.
But there is a chance.
You chuckle. No, that has got to be the dumbest thought you ever had. If they surely wanted to fuck you over they would of by now. And that's not what friends do to each other.
Wait.
Friends?
Is this what friendship was about? Would you call them your friends? They were certainly putting into the effort to be your friend. Maybe you should do some work to be their friend as well.
Once the laughter has died down you stood up from your spot. The crew peer at you curiously. “I don’t know what ‘Las Pegus’ is, but I know a good arcade game when I see one.” You look over at Rainbow Dash. There was a cocky smile already plastered on her face. “What say you Rainbow Dash? Care to see if you can beat me at my own game?”
“Finally!! Somepony actually wants to have a little fun!” She practically shouted at the top of her lungs.
You chuckle, “Well how about another round?”
*ANOTHER TWO DRINKS LATER*
“What? How?! You must be cheating w-*hic Windle!” The screen of the 2D game told you that you were the victor of this fight for the third time in a row. Turns out even though this is not the same game you grew up playing at the local arcades back home, here in this universe some creature had the same idea that translated almost perfectly one to one. Plus It doesn’t help that Rainbow Dash had to pick a character that basically all they did was spam projectiles. A quick spin kick here for pressure and a Rising Bucking there to counter any jumping in made victory all the more easy for you.
“Rainbow I…” You paused, damn that Snowy Yaks are really sneaking up on me. “You gotta block sometimes and you can just spam away projectiles. It’s predictable”
“You're predictable!” The angry mare said. “No one more round I *hic I can win.”
“Oh oh oh I want to try!” Pinkie Pie jumped in, practically pushing the pegasus out of the way. There was a small crowd now that it's getting that time of night that ponies and other creatures were making their way to wet their muzzles and beaks.
You smirk, “Alright Pinkie, but be careful, I'm on a ROOOLLLL tonight!” Your own cockiness shining through. Well that was a mistake. Pinkie Pie selected her character. You don’t recognize this character, but it looked like an Earth pony with really long green hair and a crazed look in her eye. You had to roll your eyes as the announcer called the selected character 'Mane-iac.'
For fucks sakes what is with ponies and puns!
Pinkie Pie, the fun loving pony that was all about laughter and making parties. Has one hundred percent, utterly, completely…
DESTROYED you in this game.
The crowd was cheering for the pink champion.
You were in great despair. She had you locked down. Your normal tactics were useless against Pinkie. For everything you do she has counter ranged attacks or just reading you like a book.
She is a very scary pony.
“Well dammit Pinkie, you are really good at this.” You shocked your head. But you conceded giving Pinkie Pie a fist to hoof bump. "How are you so good at this?"
“Silly, If there is a game, then Pinkie will know how to play it, because games are fun!” She said in a matter of factly tone.
It's logical, but still doesn't answer my question. Fuck it I'm guessing that's never gonna be answered.
You took a step away as Pinkie was the new rival to beat. You take a seat near by finishing off your drink.
Damn.
You don’t know if Equestrian booze is boozer than Earth's booze, or if Earth’s booze is boozer...-er.
You watched for many hours as Pinkie did work just being a fighting game janitor. Just absolutely cleaning house! You felt a twinge of pride in your chest.
Twilight sat next to you, her face warm with the liquor flowing through her body. You smirked, lightweights, but then again maybe they don’t drink as much as humans do.
“Still think this was still a bad idea?" You ask coyly at the lavender pony without looking at her directly.
Twilight looked at the scene in front of her.
She gave a smile. "This was, not a bad *hic idea. The girls are having so much fun…I'm having so much fun a-and I don't have to bring a book with me!" She giggled to herself and continued.
"I wish I b-brought the artifact here, it is really a nice moment."
Artifact? Wait, she mentioned an artifact before.
"Oh? What artifact?" You turned your gaze to the lavender alicorn leaning in to listen.
"Ohhh it's just a silly glass box that if I press the sides of it, it sounds like it takes pictures!" She coed.
Wait…it can't be…
"Does it by chance light up with colors and a picture just 'magically' appears on its surface?"
Twilight looked back at you with a goofy smile. "Why YES! Yes it does sometimes! How did you know Windle?"
"Because that 'artifact' is my phone…" You whispered. You paused as the realization hit you.
You remember that you like to take videos on that damn thing. And you vaguely remember using it before your recent memories were wiped from you. If she had your phone and it still works then maybe this is the lead you need!
"A phone? Is that a human device? Shoot! I don't have my…oh wow…my quill and parchment." Twilight wings unfurled as she almost fell off her seat.
…Yeah she's pretty toasted and so are her friends. My friends.
"Well I can show you how it works tomorrow it's getting kinda late, plus I'm not carrying your drunken asses home."
"Well come by after classes are over, around four o'clock?" You nodded at the Princess. "Ohhh I can't wait! This is one of the greatest things ever!" Twilight was swooning over the fact she will have first hand knowledge on alien tech. It was very adorable.
"Awwwww I was having so much fun!" Pinkie cranes her head, defeating the last contender. Score? Thirty wins, zero losses.
Rarity looked over to the clock and sighed. "As much as fun this little excursion is, it is time to bid adieu."
"Well, I reckon it time to wonder on home now." Applejack tip her staton hat.
"Come on! I have to beat Windle!" Rainbow Dash protested. She pouted and hiccupped.
"Well better luck next time Dash, raincheck?" You have a sympathetic thumbs up.
"Ahhh what check?"
"...We will do this another time."
Starlight perked up. "Well if you want to continue the spell come by tomorrow at the school and look for my office, it's hard to miss." She waved a fore hoof at you over and pointed at a window. It was hard to see but there were some oil lamps to illuminated what she was referring to.
In the distance you saw a building like you had never seen before. It was one thousand percent different. It was a tree, but crystallin and massive! But it was a house. Or was it a castle? No, it had to be a castle, look how out of place that is compared to the rest of the architecture.
Next to the massive crystal tree was another building lavender colored and expertly constructed.
"That is the school, there just follo-"
"I can't read…what was it called, Ponyish letters?"
"Oh easy, I can fix that really quick!"
"Wait wait wait!" You put your hands up as the unicorn started to concentrate on a spell. She stopped thankfully.
"Oh sorry, hehehe should of asked."
"I…I can bring Windle over after, he's alright now, and I have a responsibility to my students haha…" Fluttershy wobbled over her cheeks flushed with. You cock an eyebrow. She looks plastered and the probability of you caring her back to her cottage is quite high.
"Oh well, we can do that too!" Starlight gave a sheepish grin. She really likes magic doesn't she?
After Twilight paid the tab with a promise to deliver what she owed under the Friendship Emergency, you all parted ways. That left you with just yourself, your thoughts, a plastered yellow pegasus that was not having the best of luck walking.
The air was cool and a light breeze tickled across your bare arms. "Well that was fun, what about you Fluttershy? Did you had fun?"
"Oh um…y-yes I had a blast!" She said enthusiastically but she stumbled over her own hooved feet. Reaching out to touch her fluffed chest to balance her. "Oh oh my sorry, I didn't know ice teas do that." She giggled at your touch. Oh boy, the caretaker is going to be taken care of.
"Fluttershy if I make a suggestion, maybe it's better if you don't walk, or fly back home?" You straighten yourself up.
"But how would I get home?" She asked before you see her clicked in her eyes. "No…no no Windle you don't have to do that!"
"So you rather eat dirt?"
"...No…"
"Then it settled." You kneel down and open your arms. Fluttershy was hesitant. You wiggle your fingers to coax her. That for some weird reason made her giggle and made a wavy walk over to you.
Wrapping your arms around you trying your best to find the best purchase for her form. Just carrying her on her back in both arms will do just nicely. Shockingly she was light. Maybe less than a big bag of potatoes? Makes sense if the laws of physics have to say about flying creatures needing hollow bones to fly.
But there is magic that impacts everything here.
You scoop her up and she making a little 'eep.'
Squeeing noises, now this?
You have a lot to learn. Maybe you can ask the Princess for guidance if you truly want to mingle with the populace.
You walk in silence only occasionally broken by Fluttershy giving you directions. The walk was long but eventually you see the cottage in the distance. You sigh in relief.
When you got close to Fluttershy's home, she spoke, her silly drunken attitude was replaced by timidness. "W-windle?"
"Hmm?" You hum in response.
"...I'm sorry…I'm…I'm so sorry."
What the hell? Where is this coming from?
You look down. Her eyes in the moonlight were puffy and red. Tears started to stream down her cheeks matting her fur. She tried to hide her face in shame "I…I thought I was taking care of you, but after….after hearing what you said…about…coming here…being attacked….that other hue man disappearing. You must have been miserable!" She started to bawl like a baby.
Shite, crying pony. What do I do?
"Hey It's okay," You sooth the best you could but it felt a little awkward. "You didn't know, maybe I'm a weird alien, your gift doesn't really follow the same ahh rules?"
"But I could have done something more….I could of not been so stupid!" She was severely chastising herself. This was hard to watch. Yes she did not treat you as an equal sapient creature.
But!
She went out of way to make sure you didn't die. That means a lot. And you need to show her much it means god damnit!
"Fluttershy…" you kneeled down to put the sad Pegasus on the ground. She sniffled, her eyes locked on the hooves. "You are not stupid. You just didn't know, and frankly I don't blame you. I'm pretty sure I'm the only human to exist. And judging from what Twilight said about…Grogar? That bastard made a shit ton of monsters that were not sentient." You got to her feet and stretched your lathe arms out. "I mean for fucks sake! Look at me compared to the rest of your peers. I'm weird as hell! I'm like a naked bear or…something." You were losing focus. Fluttershy didn't break her gaze on her hooves. "Look the point is, you didn't know, you followed your heart, and now you know. Ya know?" You kneeled back down at eye level.
"I just wanted to say two things." You put up one finger. "One, I wanted to say thank you." That made Fluttershy slowly raise her head up to meet yours. Her eyes watery with streaks of tears stained her yellow furred cheeks. "Thank you for saving my life, and well putting back on my two feet. You didn't have too but you did. That…that means a lot to me."
A second finger joins the first raised finger. "Second, I just wanted to say that I forgive you, you didn't know, but now you know. I was pissed about my living conditions before today, hanging out with you and your friends, and getting to know you a little bit. I'm not mad anymore. I forgive you. But maybe moving forward you treat me as a normal pony...I guess?" She nodded at you without her word.
You got to your feet.
"No stop your caterwauling, dear." You tried your best imitation of the posh pony. That gave a little chuckle out of the pegasus at your feet.
"...Thank you Windle…" Fluttershy finally spoke. You give her a good head pat before walking up the path to your friend's cottage. Fluttershy quickly followed suit and let you in place.
After saying your good night's you crawl into the makeshift bed she made for you still in the main living room. Things have changed, maybe for the better but you can't complain now that there's hope in your soul. You got friends, allies, maybe that will help you out about why you are here and what caused you to be here.
Many questions lied ahead with answers left to be discovered. You close your eyes letting the warmth of the fire take you drifted into sleep.
You know, having friends definitely doesn't suck.