As the four friends arrived in Ponyville, Spike greeted them. “Welcome back. How was the trip?” he asked.
“It was great! We made a new friend,” Pinkie Pie replied, gesturing to Numeral.
Spike looked at him. “What’s his name?”
“I am Numeral. Nice to meet you.” Numeral smiled.
“I’m Spike and it’s nice to meet you too.”
“Numeral is going to be staying with us for a little bit, okay?” Twilight said.
“Where is he going to sleep?” Spike asked, hoping the answer wasn’t his bed.
“I’ll make him a bed somewhere,” Twilight said.
If only we could make him into a pegasus, Rainbow thought because she wanted Numeral to stay with her.
“I hope I’m not too much trouble,” Numeral put in worriedly.
“Don’t worry, we’ll find a place for you at the library,” Twilight said.
“Yeah, plus it’ll be nice to have another guy around here!” Spike added.
“Now that I think of it all my best friends are girls. Spike, you’re right,” Twilight said.
“As always,” Spike said, smiling cockily. Twilight gave him a look. “I mean, yeah...”
“Can you show me around?” Numeral asked.
“Of course!” Pinkie Pie bounced. “This way!”
Numeral walked around town with Pinkie Pie. Pinkie showed him Sugarcube Corner and the library where Twilight lived. She also showed him Fluttershy’s house, Rarity’s boutique, and Applejack’s farm. While Pinkie was giving the tour, Twilight and Rainbow went out to get a bed just for Numeral.
“Thanks for the tour, Pinkie,” Numeral said.
“No problem Numeral,” Pinkie responded.
The two walked back to the library where Twilight and Rainbow Dash were waiting.
“Welcome to the library. Numeral, this is where I do my studies,” Twilight said.
“And we both set up a bed just for you over there so you don’t have to sleep on the floor,” Rainbow said.
“Thank you so much everypony! I’m excited to get to actually experience land pony life!” Numeral exclaimed.
“Don’t you think that all of your seapony friends will miss you?” Twilight asked.
“Well, of course they will. Sadly, I’ll have to return to Atlantores every so often,” Numeral said. “Like Lyra does.”
“What? Lyra is a seapony?” Spike asked.
“Oops, I probably shouldn’t have mentioned that...” Numeral said regretfully.
“Spike, do not mention that to anypony, or else,” Twilight said seriously.
“I won’t, I promise,” Spike said.
“Do you Pinkie Promise?” Pinkie Pie asked. Spike went through the motions and Pinkie smiled, satisfied.
“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” Spike said.
“Don’t think that those swears work on me, because I can fly,” Rainbow smartly said.
“Be quiet, you,” Twilight said.
“Fine,” Rainbow responded.
Numeral walked to the bookshelf and levitated a book right in front of him.
“How Equestria Was Established,” he read off of the cover.
“Do you think you’re going to read that?” Twilight asked.
“Back in Atlantores, there was a book about how Atlantores was established. The book also talked about the land ponies,” Numeral said
“What does it say, Numeral?” Twilight asked curiously.
“It doesn’t have much information about you. All it says is that you have these limbs called ‘legs’, four of them, which you use for transportation. It also says there are three kinds, unicorns, pegasi, and earth ponies,” Numeral shared.
“Well maybe you should tell a writer that there’s more to it,” Twilight said
“At the lab I work in, the project involves a writer and he’s writing what we research,” Numeral said.
“Well, that’s good,” Pinkie Pie said. “I mean, there’s way more to this Pinkie than you thinkie!”
“Is thinkie even a word?” Numeral asked.
“That’s just Pinkie Pie,” Rainbow said.
“Ah, I see,” Numeral said. “I must make a note of this.”
“Tell the writer that we act just like seaponies but we live on land,” Twilight said
“Will do,” Numeral promised.
“Well I think it’s getting late. It’s time to hit the hay. I will see you tomorrow, Twilight,” Rainbow said.
“Wait, I never threw a party for Numeral yet!” Pinkie yelled.
“We’ll hold off the party and do it tomorrow,” Twilight said.
“Fine...” Pinkie pouted. She quickly smiled again. “See you all tomorrow then!” She walked out the door, leaving Twilight, Spike, and Numeral. Spike headed up the stairs to his bed.
“I’m going to read the history of Equestria for my bedtime story if you don’t mind,” Numeral said.
“I read before I go to bed anyway. You can do that,” Twilight said.
“Thanks...” Numeral smiled at Twilight as he went to his bed.
Twilight made sure he was comfortable before pulling out a random book from one of the shelves and heading up to her bedroom. Spike was already asleep by the time Twilight went up there.
“Goodnight, Spike,” she whispered. Twilight then climbed into her bed covers, started to get comfortable, and then began reading.
______________________________________________________________________________
Numeral was asleep and dreaming. He saw himself back in Atlantores, but not as a seapony; he was a land pony. He was drowning—he could not breathe. He found himself with sharks surrounding him, like he was about to be eaten.
“Yum, a fresh land pony to eat,” a deep-voiced shark bellowed.
“Yes, fresh meat! Fresh meat!” another shark added.
“And once we’re done with this one, we can eat his friends...” the deep-voiced shark grinned maliciously.
Numeral worried and thought about his friends and family as his life flashed before his eyes.
“Land ponies rarely come into the water. I just ate a seapony, maybe we can target them too. They taste just like a land pony,” one of the sharks said.
“Eat them all! Let’s eat them all, boss!” a smaller shark yelled.
“It’s settled, then. Go, take over Atlantores, and quickly,” the deep-voiced shark ordered.
“Yes, sir!” The sharks swam off to carry out their master’s demands.
Numeral woke up with a headache and looked around the library. It was daytime. “It was all just a dream.”
“Some dream that must have been,” Twilight said. Numeral jerked up to find Twilight smirking at him. “Sorry, I couldn’t miss the opportunity to watch a land-seapony sleeping.” Numeral looked down at his new hooves and blushed a little. Twilight just laughed.
“Breakfast is ready!” Spike called.
I wonder what the food tastes like here? Numeral thought.
“Come on, you’ll like it!” Twilight said, pulling Numeral out of bed and dragging him to the kitchen.
Spike cooked up a feast just for Numeral. “We just wanted to try everything that we have up here in Equestria. So I asked Spike to cook a feast,” Twilight said.
“So, can you explain what this all is?” Numeral asked, looking quizzically at all the food before him.
“Of course. These are flapjacks, they are made from this plant we have called wheat and other ingredients. Same with these, waffles. These are scrambled eggs, and I’m sure you know what those are. Except, we get our eggs from chickens rather than aquatic creatures,” Twilight explained.
“I want to try some. It sounds appetizing,” Numeral said, licking his lips.
“Dig in!” Spike said. “Or, I guess dive in, in your case.”
“I need to get used to that phrase don’t I?” Numeral said when he took a bite of his eggs.
“I suppose you’re right,” Spike said. “So, what do you think?”
“It tastes great. I wish that I could cook this back underwater.”
“Yeah, all that water would make it rather tricky,” Twilight said.
“Isn’t there a spell for everything, Twilight?” Numeral asked with a mouth filled with food.
“I’m sure there is, but not all of them have been discovered yet,” Twilight said.
“One day they will make a spell to make it so I can make this food,” Numeral said.
“That’s a lot of making,” Twilight giggled.
“I know...” Numeral said.
“So, Pinkie Pie’s party is soon. Will you be ready to go then?” Twilight asked.
“I think so,” Numeral replied.
Twilight walked outside the library with a sudden loud burst of ponies saying “SURPRISE!” Pinkie and a whole crowd of ponies had gathered.
“Pinkie, I thought the party was later,” Twilight said.
“It was, but I decided to make it a surprise party,” Pinkie responded. Numeral walked outside.
“Wow, is this for me?” Numeral asked.
“Of course silly willy,” Pinkie said in excitement.
“Geez, I don’t know what to say. Thank you everypony!” Numeral said, beaming ear to ear. They all stood there for a second.
“Then what are we waiting for? Let’s party!” Pinkie proclaimed, allowing everyone to disperse in the various activities offered.
Numeral walked around the party meeting new ponies. Some of them gathered around him. Numeral was so happy inside. Then one pony asked him “Where are you from, Numeral?”
“Um...” Numeral said, unsure how to respond without spilling the truth.
“He’s from around Waterhorse,” Twilight lied.
“Thanks,” Numeral whispered.
“Of course,” Twilight whispered back.
“That’s so cool!” one pony said. The others agreed.
That was close, Numeral thought.
The group left to try out different games, leaving six mares around Numeral.
“Numeral, you’ve met Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash, but these are a few of our other friends,” Twilight explained.
“Pinkie showed me their houses yesterday, but I haven’t met them yet,” Numeral said.
“Well, it’s time you did. Girls?” Twilight said, letting her friends introduce themselves.
“I am Rarity, pleasure to make your acquaintance,” the white mare said.
“Name’s Applejack. Nice to meet ya,” the orange county pony shared.
“I’m...Fluttershy,” a pale yellow pony squeaked, hiding behind her pink mane.
“You don’t need to be shy,” Numeral said
“Oh, she’s always like that around new ponies. Don’t worry, she’ll get used to you soon!” Pinkie Pie said. Fluttershy just blushed and looked down.
“You look really cute when you do that,” Numeral said. Twilight frowned at him.
“You’re all cute,” Numeral quickly said. Twilight didn’t seem satisfied, but she lightened up a bit.
“I forgot to ask you this morning. What did you dream about last night?” Twilight asked.
“Well, it was more like a nightmare if anything,” Numeral said.
“Do tell,” Twilight said.
“Not in public, Twilight,” Numeral said.
“Okay fine. Later then,” Twilight said.
“Hay, anypony wanna bob fer apples with me?” Applejack asked, trying to lighten up the atmosphere.
“What’s that, Twilight?” Numeral asked.
“It’s quite simple, really. All you do is dunk your head under water, try to bite an apple, and bring it up before your opponents. It’s really fun,” Twilight explained.
“I can’t do that. I might turn back into a seapony and unveil my true identity,” Numeral whispered.
“Oh, you’re scared of water? I’m sorry about that. Pinkie, do you have a game not involving water?” Twilight asked, covering for Numeral.
“Um... how about Pin The Tail On The Pony?” Pinkie suggested.
“Sounds fun, how do you play?” Numeral asked.
“We blindfold you and then you have to pin the tail on the pony in the right place,” Twilight expanded.
“Do ya really not have these things back in Waterhorse?” Applejack asked.
“Yes, I mean it’s not too terribly far from here,” Rarity added.
“Do you mind if I tell them your secret, Numeral?” Twilight asked.
“Do you trust these ponies?” Numeral asked.
“With all my heart,” Twilight said. Numeral sighed.
“Then you may,” he responded.
“You have to Pinkie Promise to keep his secret before you know,” Pinkie demanded.
“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye,” everypony said.
“Okay, you see, Numeral isn’t really from Waterhorse. He’s from Atlantores,” Twilight whispered.
“Atlantores?” Fluttershy said, barely audible.
“It’s an underwater land that houses the seaponies,” Twilight explained quietly.
“Are ya’ll tryin’ ta tell me that Numeral’s really a seapony?” Applejack asked.
“She’s not lying!” Pinkie Pie stood up.
“Yeah, Pinkie and I went there with Twilight,” Rainbow said.
“Wow, if it is Rainbow Dash approved, it must be true,” Rarity said. The mares turned to look at Numeral, who anxiously awaited their reaction.
“Please don’t tell anypony this or you will regret it. I’m not the only seapony in Equestria. Lyra is also a seapony. Don’t tell anypony what I just told you,” Numeral said.
“We Pinkie Promise,” the girls said, doing the actions.