//------------------------------// // Ch. 4: News // Story: Only Human // by Burritoburger //------------------------------// Only Human Chapter 4: News Isaac groaned as his eyes slowly opened, revealing the immediate world around him. After having a dream about monkeys and clock towers, Isaac was ready to start the day. Instead, he leaped from the bed, having met with a beaming pink pony directly inches from his face. Giggling from his utter shock, Pinkie sat up with vigor. "Good morning, Isaac! I was planning what we were going to do today and I was so excited that I couldn't sleep! I decided to sit here and wait until morning to get started!" Pinkie bounced up and down at the thought of what she planned to come. Isaac took a few seconds before speaking. "Did you sleep last night? At all?" He asked, cautiously staring at the mare. "I would be lying if I said yes!" She smiled, pushing aside his concern. Isaac decided to let the thought go and sighed heavily. If every waking second would be like it has so far, it would be a very long week. "C'mon! We're almost late for our first activity!" Pinkie hastily ushered, dragging Isaac out the door. The quick jolt of Isaac's awakening made him feel as if he consumed an entire mug of coffee, and he feared that Pinkie's overly hyped nature was leaking from her and infecting him. When they arrived downstairs, the Cakes greeted Pinkie and Isaac, and Isaac was very much surprised that they had accepted him already. When they asked him about it, they said that those who aren't a threat are welcome. Isaac could only wonder what would happen if he was a threat, and what they might do if he was. Isaac pondered this and when he snapped back into reality, he found himself standing in front of a bowling alley. "Here we are! Kingpin's Bowling Alley! Mondays through Fridays." Isaac observed the sign atop the building which pictured a bowling ball hitting down multiple pins, signifying its identity as a bowling alley. He followed Pinkie inside, where he visited the ticket stand and Pinkie shoved out a bag full of bits, where an arm pulled it back beneath the counter and replied with a grunt. Isaac got a mysterious look from the pony in the ticket booth after he received his ticket. He walked over with Pinkie to the shoe... place. "What size hoof are you?" Pinkie turned and asked Isaac, waiting for an answer to be received. Isaac stared down at his blue and white patterned shoes before replying. "I think I'll be fine with my own shoes, thanks." He responded, and Pinkie nor the employee questioned him, as they knew little to nothing about Isaac. After Pinkie got her shoes on (Isaac observed that most of the ponies in the alley didn't have shoes on, but he decided not to waste his breath on Pinkie. She'll probably just ignore him, or end up raving about how sand sounds weird when you put it in a jar and shake it. But the day went on, and Isaac and Pinkie went bowling, where Pinkie won by over double the amount Isaac had. His hand wouldn't fit into the one large hole stuck in the ball, but he couldn't complain. How could you, if you were in a completely different universe? After bowling, Isaac was dragged out of the alley and bought to various places. They went to the large Amusement Park conveniently placed right outside Ponyville. The roller coasters and rides were magically controlled, and Isaac found that to be interesting. That, and a pigeon. He found the pigeon to be the most interesting thing in the immediate area. Eventually, Isaac questioned where Pinkie got all her money, as she wasted bag after bag of money to get candy or balloons, or to play games to win prizes. Carrying four pounds of cotton candy, a dozen lollipops, twenty-seven balloons and a giant stuffed rooster, the duo moved on to the movie theater, where they sneaked all the candy inside and left the rooster and balloons at the Sugarcube Corner, which they passed on the way there. They watched Mission Implausible, finished off all the candy, and then stretched after being stuck in a seat in the same position for two hours. "How did you shove half of those lollipops in your mouth without choking to death?" Isaac asked afterwards, carrying the large (and surprisingly fluffy) rooster. "I don't know... Maybe I was lucky?" Pinkie scratched the back of her head with a sheepish look plastered on her face. They then went to more places, such as the town hall and train station. Pinkie admitted that there wasn't very much to do in Ponyville, and finally, she asked Isaac a question. "Do you want to go back to Sugarcube Corner?" She asked, and Isaac instantly perked up. "YES! I mean, yes. I want to go back to Sugarcube Corner. I feel like I've done enough unnecessary things today." Isaac responded, and Pinkie smiled in response. "Okay! Let's go!" She then bounded towards Sugarcube Corner. On the way, Pinkie and Isaac were intercepted by Twilight, who requested to Isaac's presence at the library. Pinkie agreed and walked the rest of the way to Sugarcube Corner while they went to the library. As soon as they arrived, Twilight slammed the door shut and locked it. She proceeded to run around the house and close all the window blinds, too. "Uh, what are you doing?" Isaac asked, staring at Twilight as she hurried around the house, doing various things at once. Once finished, Twilight finally replied. "Pinkie received a letter not too long ago. I'm afraid she might snap if she reads it, and ends up threatening you." Twilight explained in a calm manner. "Wait -- Why would she threaten me?" Isaac asked, a confusing tone clearly visible in his voice. -- Pinkie hummed a tune to herself as she trotted to Sugarcube Corner. Upon opening the door, a pink object resting on the floor caught her attention. "What's this?" Pinkie asked herself, reaching down to the pink envelope and ripping off the tab with her mouth. She slid the paper out and unfolded it. She read the fancy cursive writing. Dear Miss Pinkamena, We regret to inform you that your mother and father have recently passed away under the same circumstances as your siblings. A package will be mailed to you in the near future, containing the contents and/or permissions stated in their wills. We are highly sorry for the loss of your relatives, and apologize for the inconvenience. As said before, the gifts given to you from the wills shall be delivered within a week's time. Again, we are sorry for your loss. Sincerely, The Equestrian Death Notification Association