Chapter 4
A dreamless night. Maybe it was for the best. I do find those the most refreshing. I was so tired yesterday I didn’t take off my clothes or glasses. In all the excitement I barely ate anything. I woke up with a growling stomach. Surprisingly, my glasses were still on my head. I turned my head towards Twilights bed to see how she was. But to my surprise, in her bed was Ms. McMillan. In the confusion I got up into a sitting position, on my bed, and just wondered where Twilight was. After thinking for a minute, I started looking around for a note or something. I’m sure Twilight wouldn’t leave without leaving a message. And turns out I was right. On the floor, next to my bed, there was a small letter. I picked it up and unfolded it. It read:
Dear Erik,
I’m sorry I couldn’t stay for a proper goodbye, but, after sending your letter and my report to Princess Celestia, she requested that Fluttershy, Angel, and I be immediately teleported to Canterlot. I think that you know just as well as I do, that you shouldn’t keep the Princess waiting. I’ll be back in about two or three days, a week at most, to continue my duty to find the last human remaining, and try to convince him to get ponified. Also, make sure Tricia makes a smooth transition to ponydom. When I get back she’ll be administered the serum. And I’ll also be bringing two additional vials for you and him. I’ll see you soon.
Your friend, Twilight Sparkle
Her friend...heh...I have a letter from Twilight Sparkle where she clearly states that I am her friend. This goes into the safe deposit box. Provided I find the bank in Equestria where I had opened up an account. I’ll just put it into my pocket for safe keeping until I do. I don’t know, but it seems as if everyone sleeps more than I do. Probably a habit. Well, I’ll try not to wake her up.
I then walked out of the room. It looked like Caffeine didn’t have a training session today, as I couldn’t hear the same yelling and shouting from the room above. I headed for the mess hall, being hungry and all. On the way there I checked my watch for the time and to my surprise, it was just seven o’clock.
When I arrived at the mess hall, there was no pony there, except for some of the kitchen staff. I leaned in over the counter and asked “Hello? Is there anypony there? I’d like to get some breakfast if possible.”
A red unicorn with dark red mane and green eyes appeared from behind some shelves. “Oh, ehm. I’m sorry sir. The kitchen doesn’t open till eight o’clock. And I have yet to fetch the supplies from Peary.”
“You grow your own food here? Where did you find a patch of land? It’s nothing but asphalt and concrete for miles.”
“Oh, uhm, as much as I know, a few larger chunks broke off and some of the earth ponies were able to pull them out.”
“I guess that makes sense. Ehm, do you mind if I follow you there? I’m quite hungry and I guess I could go for some fresh fruit or vegetables.”
“Not at all, Mr. Eriksson. I’ll come out in just a moment. Just wait for me over there by the door.” he gestured at the kitchen door on the right.
“Over there?” I pointed at the same door.
“Yes, over there.” and he was back behind the kitchen shelves.
I walked to the door and leaned against the wall. In a minute or two the red unicorn walked out the door.
“Okay, follow me Mr. Eriksson. Peary grows the best crops outside Equestria, no exaggerations. And, in case you didn’t figure it out by now, her pears are divine.”
“I’m sure they are...ehm. Say, what’s your name?”
Even though she was red, you could clearly see she blushed from the embarrassment. “Ehm, Chilli Pepper, Miste-”
I chuckled “Just call me Erik, Ms. Pepper. There’s no need to be formal around me.”
“Okay. As I said before, follow me. It’s on the other side of the airport. But I know a few shortcuts, so we’ll be there in no time.”
I once again walked across the vast halls of the airport. Some ponies were preparing to open up their shops, some ponies just started waking up, and others were still sound asleep. It’s quite marvelous how ponies adapt just like humans do. All these modifications, conversions and such, like the beds they slept on, made out of old chairs and furniture they found at the airport. The old duty free shops converted into new businesses like carpentries, day care centers, schools...Only the mess hall seemed to have stayed a mess hall. Luckily they changed ownership from McDonalds, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken and all that to ponies with actual talent in cooking.
Soon, I was standing in front of a beautiful green orchard full with apples, pears, oranges, peaches, etc.. I saw a pear just within grabbing distance. I stood up on my toes and and just barely managed to grab it. It was colored somewhere between yellow and green. Just right, to my taste. I took a bite. The taste. The taste was amazing. Magnificent. Even when I was a kid and fresh fruits and vegetables were abundant, they never tasted even nearly as good as this pear. The only crops humanity grew was a modified version of wheat for those artificial food bars. Quantity over quality. And even then, someone managed to screw it up and creates a sort of wheat that was not edible, non-refinable, not even bacteria could eat it away. And every time they burned the fields filled with it, it just regrew. By then, only people with a lot, and I mean a lot, of money could afford a steak, and fresh vegetables. Luckily several months after, Equestria emerged in the Pacific Ocean and happily gave us the food we needed to survive.
Yes, this pear was amazing. “This is marvelous, Pepper. How can something be so delicious?” I wondered.
“Why, thank you! I grew them just yesterday.” said an unfamiliar voice from behind.
“Oh, there you are Peary, are the supplies ready to go?” said Pepper.
“Not yet, I’m afraid. Piper and Peer haven’t been able to load up all the supplies. I just barely got them out of their beds.” said Peary.
“Yeah, well, it was a hell of a party yesterday.”
“Party? Oh, yeah. I totally forgot about that. I was busy tending my pears.”
“Even at night? Wow, Peary, you never cease to amaze me.”
“Well, I do love my pears. And I need to keep up with the orders. I think I’ll need to expand a little more. I’ll probably have the brothers dig up another chunk of the concrete.”
“Ehm, excuse me?” I interrupted the conversation. “But, did you just say that you grew these pears yesterday?”
Peary turned to me and said “Why, yes. I usually have them mature for a few days more on their own, but they aren’t bad if they were just grown either.”
“So, you’re saying that you grow crops daily? I mean, I know you ponies are quite magical, but this I’d have to see to believe.”
“Well, I have to regrow some of the tomatoes. You’re free to accompany me if you’d like.” she said.
“I’d love to, but I already told Ms. Pepper here, that I’ll be helping her carry the supplies to the kitchen.”
“Oh, that’s okay. You go ahead and help Peary. I’ll manage with the two.” said Chilli Pepper.
“Well, if you insist. “ I said.
Peary and I parted with Chilli Pepper and went to the part of the farm where she was growing her crops. We went through the orchard and we found ourselves in a small field filled with sticks entangled with vines, but no fruit. Peary stopped and said “We’re here. Let’s get to work!”
“I’m still skeptical about this whole grow a tomato from scratch in one day thing.” I said.
“Then let’s get to work, shall we?” she said with a cheer. In a moment, she started singing. Tomatoes started appearing on the vines. A process usually taking several months, done in a couple of seconds. Magnificent.
“I can’t say I believe my eyes. This is extraordinary!” I put my hand on my mouth in the cheerful shock.
“Do you want to try?” she asked.
“Erm, what? Me?”
“Well, I don’t see anyone else here.”
“Well, to hell with it, why not!” But I didn’t have the slightest of idea what to sing, so I asked Peary “Ehm, could you perhaps start with something? I don’t really know what to sing.”
She giggled “Okay.”
She started singing a familiar tune, Smile, smile, smile. I guess Pinkie’s songs became a worldwide hit at some point. The tomatoes on the left portion of the field started growing. I joined in a few second later. At first quietly, but soon after with full lungs. By the end of the song the entire field was filled with red tomatoes.
“I have to say, you have quite the voice there Mr. eh...” she paused for a moment “Say, you never did tell me your name.”
I blushed “I do apologize, Ms. Peary, I guess that I forgot to introduce myself after such a long time alone. I hope you do forgive me, my name is John Eriksson. But I prefer that everyone calls me Erik.”
“Okay, Erik, could you please get one of those bags and put some tomatoes in it? I just remembered I forgot to give Pepper a bag o’ tomatoes.”
“Not a problem. I guess I could use that breakfast she promised me.” I said as my stomach growled.
I went to get a bag while Peary started picking some tomatoes. We filled it up in a moment’s notice. A good seven to eight kilos it was. Before I left for the cafeteria I felt the need to commend Peary for her excellent work. “Peary, I really like what you’re doing here, and I hope you keep doing it.” I said.
“Thank you Erik, but it’s really nothing. Any earth pony can do what I did. “ she said.
“Nevertheless, you’re doing an excellent job, and I’d hate to see you do something you were not destined to.”
“I wasn’t thinking of it. You know, you’re quite a nice, ehm, human.”
“That’s who and what I am. Can’t help it.” I smiled.
I carried the bag of tomatoes to the cafeteria. A lot of the ponies were headed the same way, most likely to get breakfast, like me. As I approached the cafeteria, I heard Chef shouting at somebody and I saw a large line in front of the counter.
“I can’t believe you forgot the tomatoes! How can I make grilled tomatoes without the tomatoes!” he shouted.
“I told you it’s not my fault! Peary must have forgot to fill up one of the bags with tomatoes...”
“I don’t care! I need tomatoes, and I need them now! I can’t have all these ponies starve because we don’t have tomatoes!”
“Then why don’t you cook what we have?!”
“It’s a matter of principle!”
I slid through the crowd and put the bag of tomatoes on the counter. A tomato rolled out the bag which caused the two to stop shouting.
“You know, you two look like the best of couples.” I said.
They both blushed. “Anyway here are the tomatoes you need to grill Chef. And I guess I did help you carry the supplies after all, Pepper. Now, how about you make me and these hungry ponies some breakfast?”
“Right away, Erik.” they both said at the same time and blushed again as they did.
“I’ll have the special.” I said and sat down at one of the tables and rested my eyes for a little bit. After a while of daydreaming Tricia asked “Do you mind if I sit here, with you?”
“Oh, no no, go right ahead.” I straightened myself.
She sat down and said “It’s quite the party they had yesterday. Pretty awesome if you ask me. They even had alcohol.”
“Sounds like you had quite the fun. I’m glad.” I said. Just as Tricia was going to say something, Pepper brought me my breakfast.
“Here you go Erik. Grilled tomatoes with peppers, pear and apple salad.”
“I say, this looks mighty delicious Pepper. My compliments to the chefs.”
“Thank you, and you, miss? Would you like to order something?”
“Yes, ehm, do you have some hot dogs or something? Or a ham sandwich?”
“Eh...I, uh, we don’t, eh-” I interrupted Pepper. “What Pepper here is trying to say is that ponies don’t eat meat. They’re herbivores or vegetarians, you see.”
“Oh, right, I’m sorry I forgot. Well, then, the fruit salad looks pretty nice.” apologized Tricia.
“Coming right up.” said Pepper.
After Pepper left Tricia said “Well, if I’m going to go pony, I’ll have to change a lot except just my body.”
“Heh, it isn’t as hard as it seems. Or so I heard, from some of the Conversion Bureaus. The thing is mainly that the food has some taste unlike the cardboard we have been given for the most of our lifetimes, or at least yours.” I said.
She still seemed uncertain. “Look, you’ll be alright. It all comes in the package. People wouldn’t bother if it was a tough process to go through.” I said to comfort her.
“Yeah, you have a point. Did you see that lavender unicorn from yesterday, with whom you introduced me yesterday. I kinda forgot her name, but she really seemed like a pony who knows things.”
“Oh, Twilight? Yeah, she left me a letter. She had to go to Canterlot to discuss something with the Princess. She’ll be back with your vial of serum in a week at maximum.”
Tricia was shocked “A-a week? Just a week?”
“Calm down, calm down. Don’t worry, some people at the Conversion Bureaus became ponies the first morning of the next day they arrived. Of course they might have been more mentally prepared for it, but that’s why I’m here to help you out.”
“Thanks...Erik.”
“Not a problem at all. Now, let me eat my breakfast, I’ve been tempted ever since it arrived.”
She laughed “Okay, don’t let me bother you.”
“Thank you.” And so I chowed down into the grub. It was excellent just as the pears in the orchard. Some long dead taste buds reawakened as well. As I finished up my breakfast, the smell of the food started to faint, Tricia started to sniff something in the air.
“What, what is it?”
“Somethings smells awful. Can’t quite figure out what.” she said. I started to sniff the air as well, and immediately recognized it. It was me. The seventy-two hour deodorant had worn off.
“Ehm, would you please excuse me. I just remembered I have to ask Caffeine something. Enjoy your breakfast.”
“I will, thank you.” she said as I left the table.
I went to the counter to ask Chef if he knew where I could find Jake, erm, Caffeine Dash. He said that he should be arriving for breakfast any moment now, so I went looking for him in the crowd that was still steadily arriving for breakfast. I guess they had multiple supply runs, as there were just too much ponies to be fed of a couple of bags of fruit and vegetables. I found him in one of the corridors talking with a couple of pegasi.
“-we don’t want to see him near my little Cloudy.” said the female pegasus.
“Yes, you can take these filthy things-” the male pegasus gave the pilot uniform I gave to High Cloud to Caffeine. “-and tell him to stay away from our boy.”
“I don’t see what this hostility towards him is all about. He’s been my close friend for as long as I remember, and I can assure you he-” said Caffeine before he got interrupted by the male pegasus “We don’t want a human teaching him their ways! Period!” and with that the couple stormed off, leaving Caffeine with the uniform.
I approached Caffeine and asked “What was that all about?”
He sighed “Raincloud and Hurricane. They’re very xenophobic.”
“Do you know why?” I asked.
“They’ve read some human history and, well...you know how that goes.”
“Damn shame they read the wrong part of it. Maybe I should-” I got interrupted by Caffeine. “No, don’t try anything with those two. You’ll just make it worse, trust me. I tried. Anyway, how’s it going? Anything you needed of me?”
“Oh yes, I wanted to ask you where the showers were, and I guess if there’s a washing machine somewhere?”
“Eh, the showers are, well, it’s complicated, I’ll take you there. And the washing machine, ehm, I don’t think we have one. Ponies don’t wear clothes regularly remember?”
“Yeah I know that, but doesn’t hurt to ask. I guess I’ll just have to wear this smelly suit until the end of the world.” I laughed.
“What’s funny?”
“The end of the world? Get it? Meh, nevermind, you’re a pony, you can’t get the joke.”
After a few second of thinking it over Caffeine said “Oh, right. Yes, very funny.”
“You’re just saying that so you don’t turn out dumb.”
“Maybeeeeeee...Din surströmmingsluktande apa.”
“Okay Caffeine, I know you always called me that, but I don’t bloody know what it means!”
“Why don’t you ask James?”
“Why don’t I-” I looked at my wrist phone. “Oh right...I could do that.” I the lifted my left arm toward my mouth and asked “James, could you please translate, ehm-” I lowered the wrist phone to Caffeine’s level so he could repeat the phrase into it. “-could you please repeat that, Caffeine?”
“Din surströmmingsluktande apa.” he chuckled.
“Yes, could you please translate that, James?”
“He said you, a monkey, smell like a traditional swedish dish, composed of rotten herring. According to the archives, it had the second or first place in most disgusting smell in the world.”
After hearing this, I sniffed my armpits “Well, I don’t think I smell that bad. But it does make sense that you wouldn’t call me your sunshine when I came into your lab and started complaining.” We both laughed.
After a while of walking around Caffeine and I reached the showers. It was pretty crowded. You’d think ponies don’t bathe so much, but the truth was quite the opposite I learned.
They even had soap. Some were scrubbing their backs with brushes, while others were just sitting under the showers, relaxing.
“The towels are over there-” Caffeine pointed to some stalls. “-and the soap and brushes you get under the showers.”
“Okay, and where are the changing rooms?”
He coughed several times. “Oh, right. No clothes.” I remembered. “Do you think you can perhaps find some clothes, so I don’t need to wear these dirty ones?” I persisted.
“Well, maybe there’s something in the old souvenir shops. I’ll have someone check. In the meantime-” He handed me the pilot uniform “-you can wear this.”
I nodded and he was off having breakfast.
I took off my clothes and glasses and put them on the floor in a small pile next to the towel racks. I went into the shower and adjusted the temperature to a mild thirty degrees Celsius. The interface was set a bit low, probably to a pony’s height. It was touch screen, so I guess unicorns adjusted it with their horns, while others adjusted it with a boop of their nose, or hoof. The soap had a nice peach scent to it. I started rubbing the soap against my chest and it really started to smell, well, peachy. It was really relaxing. After a few minutes of enjoying the shower I heard a mumbling voice.
“Can shomepony pleashe shcrub my back? Anypony? Pleashe?” said somepony with something in his mouth, as it sounded.
I thought why not and peeked out through the stall and asked
“Can somebody be eligible, as well?”
It was a white earth pony stallion with a light green mane, with a long brush in his mouth. As he heard me he turned around and was a bit shocked when he saw me. But that shock soon turned into a smile, as much as I could distinguish with the brush in his mouth, and entered my stall. I took the brush and asked “So, how do you do this? Soap the brush and then brush your back, or soap up your back and then brush, or brush without soap?”
“Whatever you think is best, monsieur Eriksson.” he said.
I put some soap on his back and started brushing “Well, looks like a lot of you ponies around here know my name.”
“Well, who wouldn’t know the name of the man who brought the serum which changed our lives.”
I looked at him with a Oh really? How many know my name for that? face.
“Okay, maybe I exaggerated a little...or a lot.”
“Yes, I think they remember me better by the fact that my company practically had fired a few hundred million people.”
“Yes, well, it’s still a honor to meet you, monsieur. I don’t know what would’ve become of me if I didn’t convert.”
“Oh? A convert? From France I’m guessing?”
“No, Canada.”
“Canada? Hmm, a solid country it was, I have to say. And it does explain the French”
“Yes, well, when the acid rain destroyed the forests and we couldn’t provide the world with maple syrup it all goes to rot, you know?”
We laughed at the joke.
“What is your name?”
“Nouvelle.”
“Well you’ll have to pardon me, I was never good at pronouncing French, Nouvelle.”
“Well, you pronounced it just right, right now.”
“Did I? Well, one nil for me then.”
“How come you didn’t get converted yet? I thought you’d be the first one to go pony, since you had the serum made.” said Nouvelle.
“Well, it’s complicated. I guess I just want to be the last one to leave ship. Always did, sometimes literally.”
“Hmm. Well too bad you won’t be able to undergo the entire Conversion Bureau experience. It’s really a unique thing in life.”
“Yes, well, that was my choice wasn’t it.” I paused for a moment, engulfed in thought. “What made you go to the Bureaus?”
“Well, I was a news reporter for a Canadian news channel, a really successful one at that, but after a few years I got an inoperable cancer diagnosed, so the serum is the only thing why I am alive. Eh, could you scratch me behind my left ear, s'il vous plaît?”
I scratched him behind his ear and let out a laugh. “Merci.” he said with a relieved tone. “A one way road. Well, I consider life a good thing. No matter what form. I’m guessing by your name that your news reporter career continued in Equestria?”
“Mais certainement! But not in the way I hoped. I work in a small news agency in Canterlot and it’s good, however, I think the mayor newspapers are hogging the spotlight and getting all the fancy bigshot interviews, that the small news agencies can’t hope to arrange.”
“Well, that’s capitalism. It existed there long before we came to the scene.”
“Yeah, well, I’m hoping my next set of articles are going to change that. That’s why I’m here actually.”
“Oh? What’s it about?”
“A Pony’s Guide to the World. I’ve covered Equestria so far, and I’m about done with this place. I’ll try to get to San Francisco from here tomorrow.”
“Well, I wish you good luck Novelle. Maybe once I’m a pony you’ll want to interview the last newfoal?”
“That’s an excellent idea! I’ll have to remember to invite you to the agency then.”
“Thank you for the invitation, I’ll be sure to give you one heck of an interview.”
“Merci, monsieur.”
After that we got out of the shower. He shook off most of the water of himself, while I dried myself with the towel. I put my glasses and watch back on while I thought “What am I going to wear now?”. All of a sudden a familiar voice rang through the halls.
“Erik, are you here?” Tricia shouted.
“Yes, ehm, I’m here. What is it, Ms. McMillan?” I peeked into the corridor with the towel wrapped around my waist.
“Coffee found some clothes and some hygiene products in one of the stores.”
“Eh, Caffeine. And thank you, Tricia. Could you please leave them on the floor over there. I don’t think I can carry all that with just one hand.”
“Yeah, sure. Also, what do you have in store for me today besides making me a vegetarian?”
“In store? Oh, ehm, I didn’t quite think about that, I’m afraid. If there’s a library somewhere around here-” I got interrupted by Tricia “There is.”
“Oh, okay then. Could you wait for me outside while I put some clothes on?”
“Okay. I thought ponies didn’t wear clothes though.”
“Well, in general they don’t, but I’m not a pony yet, am I?”
She smiled and then I picked up the things she brought me. It was mostly composed of sportswear and sport related merchandise, like the pair of Lakers boxer shorts and a Dodgers shirt. Some white socks and a stick of Old Spice Galaxy series ninety-six hour deodorant. I didn’t particularly like the smell of it, but it lasts as prescribed. I put on the shirt, boxers and socks on and then put my regular jacket and trousers on. True, it looked silly, but I liked the casual suit look.
I picked up the rest of my stuff and said “I’ll see you later, Nouvelle. Good luck in writing that article.”
The pony was drying himself with a towel now and said “Merci, monsieur Eriksson. And I’ll make sure I arrange an interview with you.”
I smiled and waved goodbye. Tricia was waiting for me outside as I told her.
“Who’s your friend?” she asked.
“Oh, just someone I met under the shower.” I thought about that sentence one more time after I spoke it out. “Eh, it’s not how it sounds.”
She laughed. “Okay, you don’t look like the type. To the library then?”
“Well, let’s first go to my plane to leave this stuff there.” I raised the rest of my clothes and the pilot uniform to clarify the word ‘stuff’.
“Okay.”
After getting lost a few times in the jungle that is, or was, LAX, and after asking for some directions, we finally made it to the airplane. I put the uniform on the coat hanger where I found it and the other things I put underneath it. I checked if everything was okay with James on the onboard computer and left. Tricia was admiring the plane from the outside.
“Do you like my plane, Tricia?”
“Does it still fly?”
“Yes, it’s how I got here with Twilight.”
“The lavender unicorn?”
“Yes, the lavender unicorn. And to tell you the truth, I think we’ll be using it a few more times until I get converted.”
“Why do you think that?”
“I don’t know, but I don’t think that humanity is going to go down this easy. Sure it was a rough twenty years, but I’ll never think it won’t go down without a last stand.”
“Well, there’s just a few of us now-”
“Three, to be exact.” I interrupted Tricia.
“-three of us now, and as you probably know that neither of us will do anything. I guess if you’re right, it’s up to the third, isn't it?”
“Yes. Well, enough chit chat, ready to go to the library?”
“Well, can’t say I am, but let’s go.”
We went to the library, which from what Tricia told me, was in the main ‘shopping street’ one would say. It was of course the airports old duty free zone. The library was possibly the old bookstore, where people bought books before their flight to pass the time. After several minutes of walking we were at the library. We both entered and I told Tricia to sit down at one of the tables, while I asked the librarian for some of the necessary books. The librarian was a light blue female unicorn with green hair.
“Hello there, may I help you?” asked the librarian.
“Yes, ehm, I’m looking for a particular set of books. You see, we’ll be getting converted and I need to teach the young lady over there a thing or two about Equestria so that the transition goes as smoothly as possible. Would you be able to recommend me and lend me the books?”
“Certainly, sir. Let me go gather them up.” She left the counter and went between the bookshelves. After a few minutes she was back with a stack of books
“That’s a lot of books.”
“Well, most of these are just different publishers of the pretty much same thing, I’ll make sure I give you the ones I recommend most. I just brought them all here to tidy up.”
I picked up a bright yellow soft-cover book. “Ponies for Dummies?”
“Oh, that’s a nice one, but there are better and simpler books.” I put the book back on the pile. After a while of sorting, the librarian had a small stack of about seven books. “There. After you two read these you’ll know everything you need to know about Equestria.”
“Thank you. Do you mind if we read them here? We’ll probably be returning here for the next couple of days as well.” I said and picked up the books.
“Of course. And if you have any questions, feel free to ask. Just remember you’re in a library so please stay quiet. “ she pointed out.
“Will do. Thank you for your help.”
“No problem, enjoy the books!” she smiled.
I took the books and started going through them to see what I’ve got. There was ‘Basic Pony Biology’, ‘Basic Equestrian Geography’, ‘Simplified Equestrian History’, ‘The Princesses of Sun and Night’, ‘Equestrian Culture and its Differences’, ‘A Convert’s Guide to the Conversion Process - Mental Preparation’ and a copy of ‘Your New Life - A Visual Guide’. Quite a nice selection of books. Ponies really cared that the humans who underwent conversion be prepared and relaxed for the procedure. I sat down next to Tricia and put the stack of books on the table.
She was a bit worried.
“We’re going to read through all that?” she asked.
“Yes. Don’t worry we have several days, and nobody said you need to read all of these while you’re still human. If we don’t read them all until you get converted, you’ll finish up afterwards. But, I think you’ll want these two first.” I handed her the convert’s guide and the visual guide.
“So, is there going to be a test or something when I get there, or?”
“Of course not, but it’s in your best interest to know these things, so you can adapt. That’s what we humans always excelled at, isn’t it?” I smiled and started reading the book about culture. It was quite interesting, but nothing much that I didn’t already know. Nevertheless, it is always good to fortify your knowledge and make sure you have your facts straight.
After reading for about three hours, it was lunch time. We left the books on the table, marking where we left off, and went to the cafeteria. I had myself a pepper sandwich, made by Red Pepper, of course, and Tricia had some cheese filled zucchini. It was quite tasty, as I’ve said many times before. After that we went back to the library and continued on reading where we had left off. Tricia had an occasional question or two,that I was able to answer, and the occasional complaint how books are boring which always ended with me saying “If you don’t read them you’ll end up being socially awkward and just plain strange over there. Is that what you want?”. After that she usually just kept on reading. After a while I was done with my first book and then started reading ‘The Princesses of Sun and Night’.
It was a really interesting book, it explained everything regarding the Princesses and their role in pony society. It featured several interviews with both Luna and Celestia as well. It really let you know what kind of ponies they were. Nothing new to me, as was with the previous book. When I was halfway through the book, Caffeine entered the library.
“Hello, Erik. Did you enjoy your shower this morning?” he asked.
“Yes, I did Caffeine. Thank you for asking. To what do we owe the pleasure?”
“Well,-” Caffeine got interrupted by the librarian. “Quiet down, please.”
He continued a bit more quiet “Well, I just had dinner and noticed you weren’t there so I wanted to let you know dinner is ready, or, well, almost over.”
“Thanks Coffee.” said Tricia and closed her book.
“It’s Caffeine.”
“I know, Coffee.” she said.
Caffeine sighed “Are you coming, Erik?”
“No, I don’t feel hungry right now. You go right ahead, I want to finish this book.”
“Okay, we’ll see you later then.” said Caffeine.
“Yeah, see ya’ later.” said tricia.
“Yes, yes, enjoy the meal Tricia.” I said. They left and I continued on reading.
The book soon got to the part where it does not only talk about Celestia and Luna, but where it talks about alicorns in general. It said that alicorns were always there and always cared for the three other races. Since the beginning of time the three other races worshipped alicorns, but during the middle ages they realized that they, because of their traits of all three races, are best suited to lead them all, and that’s how Equestria was made. It is said that every pony has a chance to be an alicorn at birth, but the chances are so small that to this day, not one such case was recorded. It explains that human researchers were able to identify the alleles for Pegasi, Unicorns, Earth Ponies and Alicorns, but that the Alicorn allele is so recessive that the only real chance of a pony to be born an Alicorn is if one of the two mates was an Alicorn. It also talked about their power, giving the example of Celestia and Luna who are capable of moving celestial bodies on the sky. That’s how it works in Equestria, but they haven’t tried it on Earth for the old saying goes ‘Don’t fix something that isn’t broken’. Ever since they have been on Earth, they could fully focus on their subjects and their needs, for they didn’t need to spend their energy on moving the heavens. The book also said that the very power that is used to move the celestial bodies and cast spells of unthinkable magnitude, is also the power that made them immortal, which also explained why unicorns live the longest of the three races. As I read through the lines tears began flowing down my cheeks as I read a fact I have so many time realized on my own during my life. I kept re-reading the lines that made my weary eyes weep even as I fell asleep in the armchair.