//------------------------------// // (17) Life: Calling // Story: The nature of the beast. // by Kintra //------------------------------// Ponyville was not a small town, but neither was it big. Everypony knew everypony. So what happened when a human decides he wants to pay a visit? Everyone knows, in ten, seconds, flat. I woke up with a start and a dragon staring at me from the opposite couch. "Hey?" I tried to act collected but to be honest I remembered his fire breath. It was not pretty. "Hi." Ahahaha, okay. He hates me. "So, where did the girls go...?” He pointed at the door. "Right. Why do you hate me?" this was annoying. "You’re that thing that Twi captured a few months back. I remember you trying to attack me... “Oh here it goes... "Okay. Listen, Spike, I did not try and attack you. When I saw the ice pack on your head I thought I had caused it. I am sorry I scared you But I really just wanted to make sure you were alright." I sat back on the couch waiting for a response. "You expect me to believe you were well intentioned?" I laughed. "Fuck it. I withdraw my friendship line, talk to you later spike." I stood and walked out the door. Spike was yelling things like "No wait, come back" Blah blah, I hit play. Suddenly the only sound I heard was vinyl’s sweet bass drops. "Love it. Love the wub wub...” I had been just, walking for almost an hour now. Ponies were avoiding me. And I was okay with that. I mean, shit. I got banging music. Plus I need to find a house, don’t even know how to go about that one. So what is there to do till Luna casts her track spell... Hmm. Let’s explore! No...No wait... Shit... "What to doooo." I stopped walking in the middle of the street to rub my face and stretch; it was still a bit chilly. "Oh Ideaaa!" I walked to the nearest pony "Excuse me. Which way is carousel boutique?" He raises a hoof and pointed me in the general direction. "Thanks a lot." My mind immediately made him sigh in relief. Not like I could really hear him, I was listening to music A good ten minute walk later and I was in front of rarity's front door. "Uh..." Shit... okay, I decide it may be best to knock instead of just walking in. "Come in!" Almost sounded sing song. I stepped into the boutique and was welcomed with fantastic dresses, I say fantastic but there were so many gems I hated them. I’m a bland guy I guess. "Over here dear, don't be a stranger!" I could hear a sewing machine going. I walked into the room to find rarity was working away from me. She hadn’t realized I was human yet. Nice. "Some nice dresses in here." I started the conversation with some Ego-rubbing. "Oh well thank you dear! I am trying to become the greatest fashion designer in the, history of Equestria after all!" Ah yes, stroke the ego! Fan the flame! "Yea I think I’ve seen a few of these dresses in Canterlot actually." Shit... the machine stopped. "Canterlot! OH the...” Rarity stood and turned seeing me and her conversation was cut short she just stared. "Hey there." I give her credit she didn't faint. But she did turn away and start sewing again. "Right... Okay." I started walking away. "Don't leave!" I heard her shout, kinda scary. "Uh I mean, please don't go. I...You’re a very nice... Whatever you are, but I just can’t handle looking at you right now." Oh. "Well thanks I knew I was ugly." She laughed. "No dear, you’re not ugly, just...Strange. There’s a couch in the corner there. Just take a seat, keep talking. I’ll be able to look eventually." Right. Okay. I had been sitting here for almost twenty minutes I had one ear bud in, listening to music while rarity asked me question about Canterlot, and the people there. "What about favorite restaurant? Or coffee shop?" I laughed. "That`s an easy one, Star-bits. Hands down, I’ve got a special coffee there named after me." She laughed "Do you really? That’s fantastic! How about living arrangements? Did you find a nice house there? One that fit your...Uhm...” She sighed "I don't know the word." "You’re thinking of my race? Right? My humanity?" She shrugged "That may be the word." I thought for a moment but couldn't think of a better word. "Anyway, I was staying in Canterlot castle. So yea, it fit me well." I could see her trying to turn without me noticing. "You...Stayed with the princesses?" I laughed at this. "Yea, Luna is pretty much my best friend!" The doorbell rang and a pink blur ran up to rarity. I immediately recognized it. "Rarity! Oh my gosh! Guess what! Princess Luna is in town and she brought a friend! I'm gonna throw them a sooper huge welcome party and stuff! I'm passing out invites all over town so I wanted you to come so here's your invite okay! See you there bye rarity bye creepy couch thing!" And just like that pinkie pie was gone, I couldn't help but smile. "Did she call me creepy couch thing?" Rarity laughed. "Yes dear that was pinkie pie, and I believe she just invited me to your surprise party... Don't move. Please." Oh no, it’s happening. I couldn't help but put a big goofy smile on my face as she turned to look at me for a few moments. All the while I was bobbing my head to the music playing in my right ear. Rarity sat there for a few minutes before walking over to me and poking my hand with a hoof I turned it so she could see my palm and offered it to her. "You are...Human yes?" I laughed, she flinched, and I apologized. "Yes, I'm a human; I am a bit surprised you didn't hear of my arrival from twilight. But then again, she didn't take me too well either, so maybe you did." Rarity ended up rubbing my hand with her hoof and poking at me in various places. I didn't mind it, to be honest it felt pretty good, these ponies had very nice hooves. Almost fleshy, almost. After a while she got done poking ad put her head on my hand. "Would you...?" I laughed and started rubbing her head. Then it was her turn to wear a dorky smile. "Oh wow... I never would have guessed fingers could feel so good...” I smiled and stopped placing my hand back on the couch. "So, I’m good then?" She thought about it. "Yes, I think so. You are welcome in my boutique anytime you like. In fact, if you wouldn't mind have course. I would love to try and make you some clothing. This suit you’re wearing is...Nice. I guess." Oh how I agreed. "Yea, I asked for something simple, dude gave me frills. Not to mention, it’s very restricting movement wise." She just smiled. "Oh I am definitely making you something. I won’t take no for an answer! Now stand up so I can measure you!" Okay.... After I was measured rarity handed me her invitation. I looked at it, it had pinkie pie holding a cake that said "Welcome" Next to her was a bunch of information, The party would take place in Applejack's barn, at 8:50 pm. "hey rarity, You have a clock?" She smiled "Well of course I do dear, Look behind you." I did, "Oh. So it’s 7:30 now, which means I have an hour to kill." Rarity gasped. "Nononono. Not kill literally; it’s a figure of speech, Means I have some time to waste." She accepted that and went back to sewing. "Well alright, I guess I can go meet another pony. Any suggestions?" Rarity thought for a moment. "How about fluttershy? She loves animals, there's a chance she could love you too!" rarity laughed. Fluttershy was best pony..."Sure, which way is her home?" Twelve minutes and a walk along the everfree's edge I was staring at Fluttershy's cottage. "Huh. Scared of the everfree? Try living on its edge." I walked up to her door and listened. I could hear her, that's a good sign. I knocked. "Oh...Um, one moment please." I could handle that. "Take your time, I have give or take an hour." I heard her cringe when I talked. I HEARD her cringe. That’s intense. Eventually she answered the door to see me standing there. "Hello." She fainted! OF COURSE! "Oh you dumb ass of course she fainted too you stupid FFF! ARGH!" I Picked her up and placed her on the couch, she weighed less then Twi.. Maybe because shes a Pegasus? Didn't matter, I found a piece of paper and a pen leaving a note I decided I should just go. "Sorry fluttershy." I moved her hair from her eye. Then I left the cottage. By the time I had done everything in there I had wasted another five or ten minutes, so I figured I would go to Applejack's farms, I could see it in the distance so thankfully no direction was needed. It was freaking cold! I was actually rubbing my shoulders pretty much the entire way to the farm, when I saw the barn door open and party decorations being set up. I walked into the barn only to be followed by a really loud gasp. "No no no no! This is no good! It’s a surprise party nopony is supposed to see it!" A small pink pony was trying to push me out the door. "Uh, right. Want me to leave then?" She stopped pushing and thought about it. "No. You can stay but you have to help me put up decorations!" I nodded and followed her into the barn the setup was very similar to that of "Party of one" Minus the more tables and instead of happy birthday the banner read "Welcome Luna and friend!" I couldn't help it. "Hey, pinkie you know who Luna's friend is?" I was taking some streamers up when she giggled. "Not yet! I haven't met them. But I hope they are super-duper nice! Do you know them! Oh actually what are you!? I’ve never seen a, you before!" I laughed. "I'm a human. Pretty cool right?" She was nodding "Yea I really like your fingers! They look really useful! “And after that I just let pinkie talk while setting up the decorations. It was nice, simple. I liked it. And I hate parties! We finished with roughly fifteen minutes till people started showing up. "Well, I guess I should go get ready right pinkie?" Her mouth was full of party supplies so when she talked I couldn't understand. "Should I take that as a yes?" She nodded "alright see you when I see you, be good pinkie." She laughed as I left the barn, only to climb up the side and onto the roof It was chilly, but the view made up for it. I could see Ponyville twinkling in the distance as lights all around went out, people heading to the party. At this point I was kinda worried about everything, I mean, Luna had a spell while we were in the castle that could show her where I was. So why hadn’t I been found? I had been up there a good ten minutes, when I head the softest of *Thud*s behind me. I knew who it was without even looking. "Rainbow dash. How are you?" I could hear her say something and laugh. "Oh man... I coulda sworn I had you! How did you know?" I laughed. "Your landing needs work if you want to sneak up on people." She came over and sat next to me. Ponies from all of Ponyville were flooding into the building below. "So you knew huh?" I nodded "I expected it, yes." she coughed. "I guess we weren't so sneaky?" I shook my head. "Nah, you were all plenty sneaky. Rarity blew it. I was too much man for her." Rainbow blushed. It was awesome. "T...Too much man?" She asked. "Yea, I mean that literally of course, she couldn't stand against my Human charms." She laughed "Oh I see, did she say you looked hideous until you were able to steal it?" "Nah. I just asked her, she’s a very nice pony though it took her a while to get used to me. We sat and talked for almost twenty minutes before she was able to even look at me." I didn't realize how depressing that would sound. "Ouch. Well she did right? That’s all that matters, anyway. See you inside?" I nodded and she took off. Just a few more minutes. "Two minutes till party, last guests inside two ponies I didn't know, Twilight Sparkle, and Fluttershy." I pretended to sign off my invisible radio. Then I saw the flash from behind me. "Bout time. I could have been like, dead or something." Luna sighed as she walked next to me. “How long did you know?" I laughed. "I told rainbow it was when rarity showed me the invite, but you've seen what I know. We all know pinkie she has not changed." Luna nodded. "You need help getting down?" I looked down... Oh... "Yes please." Luna and I were standing at the ground floor again. "Telekinesis is so handy." We walked into the now dark barn when the lights suddenly came on and everypony yelled surprise, except one. One pony in specific. All louder than the rest yelled "You!?" At me, pinkie walked up to me. "You are the mystery guest! That’s not fair! You helped me set up your own surprise party!" I laughed. "Then I guess I surprised you!" after that we all went about our business, I ended up talking to rarity pinkie and dash through most of the night while twilight received "Instruction" on my care taking from Luna. Sometimes I almost wish I didn't have Luna taking care of me. But then all those awesome times would be gone, and what would I be left with? The best surprise came near the end of the party when fluttershy, who had been staring at me from under a bale of hay, finally came out and talked to me. "Uh...Um...Excuse me." I turned to face the yellow Pegasus. "Yes?" she tried making herself smaller. "I uh...Wanted to thank you... Um. I mean, if that's okay...” I laughed and sat down in the dirt so I could see her eye level. "Thank me for what?" I sitting down seemed to embolden her a bit now that I wasn’t a huge target. "Uhm... for taking me in, I mean... Angel told me... He also said you called yourself some very un-nice names. But uh...Yea. Thank you...” I held out my arms "Hug?" She seemed to brighten. Hugs! Amazing things! Being able to hug Fluttershy though, that's a whole other experience. Luna was down two notches on my *Awesome-hug-o-meter* being replaced with this Pegasus hands down. It was like hugging...Something very soft. A pillow maybe? No, softer... I like to imagine clouds, at least kinda feel like she did. I gave one final squeeze and she *Squee*'d I laughed and said I was sorry she just smiled, and then I realized that the entire party was staring at me. "What? I can’t hug a pony?" Everyone laughed. I think the town was going to get used to me at this rate... Good. The party was just getting out when it hit me. Right in the butt. I saw Aj walk in front of me. "Did you just?" She nodded "Eyup! I dint think there be many other ways ta get yer attention. So, three months away from ponyville and everypony thinks yer a model citizen. Whatcha think ah that?" I wasn’t sure to be honest. I never thought about it. "You did hear my side of the story right?" she nodded "Well okay. Yea, I never meant to hurt anyone, I expected you spike and Twi would never forgive me. But Twi already has. I KNOW Spike has not, and most likely won’t for a while even though I didn't do anything too him." I watched AJ a moment. "Ya can speak pretty good equestrian cant ya. That’s good. I don't blame ya, I just wanted ta see if ya would be alright out here. And ya seem ta be doin fine." I nodded. The element of honesty. She’s the only one who had started a conversation on purpose. Very nice of her... "Hey Aj, you’re really not mad about what happened?" she laughed "Nah Sugarcube, I aint mad. Ya thought something was wrong, ya were right too. Sorry by the way, bout the kick to yer head ah mean." She tapped her head with a hoof. Oh, Right. "No hard feelings. It was a pretty intense time. Friends?" I offered my hand to her. She laughed "Yea, alright. I’ll give ya ah shot." I smiled. Maybe I could live here. It was a welcome thought.