//------------------------------// // Chapter 12: Neighbors // Story: Time to go // by MasterHunter55 //------------------------------// Time to go Chapter 12 Neighbors The train slowed to a stop. Twilight stepped off the train with Trixie, Luna, and Luna's helper in tow, and looked over Ponyville. The sun had just risen into full view, and the town shimmered. Trixie, and the Unicorn, lifted the cart out of the boxcar, while Luna told the ponies to keep the train moving. As the train left the station, Hunter peered over the side of the crate. “A little help out please?” Hunter asked Twilight who happily obliged. When Hunter landed on the soft grass of ponyville he couldn't believe it, he was finally in the glorious town he had dreamed about. Twilight was just wondering what a filly was doing hanging onto his back. “Ginger Snap is that you?” Twilight asked the filly, confused as to how she had gotten a hold of Hunter in the first place. “Hey Twilight,” Ginger Snap said, once again sliding off of Hunter's back “Yes it's me.” “How did you get on the train?” Twilight asked, had she jumped in sometime before it got into the boxcar? No way the crate was too large. “I was trying to get away from that mob by holding onto the crate, but then I got stuck in the boxcar, and then Hunter saved me, and then we sent a letter to my den mother, and then I met princess Luna, and now I'm back home.” Ginger Snap said, without stopping to take a breath. She then took a slow breath and sat down. “Alright so what did the letter say?” Twilight asked, asking Hunter more than Ginger Snap. “Just something simple about how she was being taken care of, and that she was going to be returned home.” Hunter said, not turning from his view of Ponyville. It was just so wonderful. He was there, it was within reach. His feet moved without his thinking, as if his dreams were fueling his motions. “Where are you going?” Twilight asked, trying to remember where Ginger Snap lived, as she lifted Michael from the crate. “I don't know.” Hunter said quietly, and slowly walked towards the town. Hunter felt the grass underneath his hooves and it was soft, full of life, as if walking with shoes all his life had made grass seem like an inanimate object. He stopped to look at the flowers, he felt the wind as it dove into the trees, rustling the branches. The wind smelled of flowers and clean air, nature at it's best. The clouds above threatened rain, and it filled the air with a fresh rain smell. Hunter loved overcast, it was his favorite weather. He eventually made it to the middle of town, where he found a bench next to a statue of Celestia, and sat down. Nopony stopped to talk to him, and they didn't seem to notice him at all. Hunter enjoyed this, seeing as how last time ponies had noticed him he was chased down by a mob. Then he saw Pinkie Pie walking out of a restaurant next to Rainbow Dash. His heart skipped a beat at the sight of them. He wanted to run after them and say hello, but without proper escort or introduction, he would probably just seem like some crazy stalker, who knew who they were. He sat looking at the ponies go about their business, and he saw what looked to be Applejack's apple stand in the distance, he saw the top of Sugar cube corner, and if he looked behind him, he could see the top of Rarity's boutique and as he looked around the sky, he finally spotted Rainbow's house amongst the clouds. He sat there breathing the clean air, and taking in the sights around him. He was finally home. Then he saw Lyra sitting on a bench on the other side of the courtyard. He got up and walked towards her. She seemed to be reading something, but she put the book down, and put her face on her hoof. She looked really bored. “Hi there,” Hunter said happily, as he sat down on the other side of the bench. “Well Hi,” Lyra said, perking up at the chance to pass the time talking to someone. When she got a good look at him, her eyes widened a little and her eyebrows shot up. “We don't get many alicorns around here. Who might you be?” “My name is Hunter,” Hunter started, putting out his uninjured hoof, “And you must be Lyra.” “That's my name, don't wear it out!” Lyra said shaking Hunter's hoof. “How did you know my name anyways?” Lyra had her suspicions. “Well I guess you could say I've seen you somewhere before.” Hunter said grinning. “Oh yeah?” Lyra questioned, glaring above her grin. “Seen me where. Who are you and where did you come from?” She suddenly asked, crossing her arms. Hunter reached into his pockets to see if there was anything he could use to help him prove his answer. He felt something rubber-y and pulled it out. “Let's just say I'm not from here.” Hunter said, holding up a pair of rubber, sterilized surgical gloves. Lyra took a long gasp. “No way, another human!” Lyra squealed, taking the gloves, and blowing one up like a balloon. “These are my favorite. How did you know that?” Lyra was getting really suspicious now. “I didn't actually.” Hunter said honestly, “I just searched my pocket and there they were.” “Well that's interesting.” Lyra said, “So tell me about yourself, did Luna get you here just like the others?” “I was wondering if you were in on the whole operation.” Hunter said chuckling. “Well, yeah Luna saw I was leading a sad life on Earth before Twilight came and took me here.” “Per the norm.” Lyra said blowing up the second glove. “Most of the human's Luna rescues have tragic stories. So what made yours so bad?” “Now that I think about it, my life really wasn't that bad, I don't know why she chose to bring me here.” Hunter said, sitting with his hooves at his sides and resting them on the bench. “Well the point is, you're here. As lover of all things human I would love to welcome you to ponyville.” Lyra said, with two balloon hands in her hooves. “Thanks,” Hunter turned and smiled at Lyra “Just saving a bored pony in distress.” “Oh yes,” Lyra groaned “Thanks for that, Bon Bon gave me this book to read on all these different kinds of candy, and I honestly have no interest whatsoever. I took it though because she's my friend and I want to be nice.” “That's good of you,” Hunter said. Twilight walked through the center of town, Trixie and Michael in tow. She spotted Hunter, and started trotting quickly towards him. “There you are,” Twilight said anxiously “Hi Lyra.” “Heya Twi,” Lyra said holding up her hand balloons “Got any string on you?” Hunter searched his pockets. What if... “I seem to have some,” Hunter said, handing Lyra the colorful string. “Wow, you have everything!” Lyra said, tying the balloons to the string. They didn't float, but now she could drag them along in the air like flightless kites. “My pockets do seem to have just what I need.” Hunter said, “That's curious.” “We don't have time for curiosities!” Twilight said, “Luna said that she would meet us near Rainbow Dash's house. We dropped off Ginger Snap at her house, and Luna must have reached the clouds by now. She's really tired, and she wanted to talk to you one more time before she went back to Canterlot.” “Hey can I come with?” Lyra asked, standing up. “It would be better than anything I have planned.” “Fine, but we need to get going!” Twilight said, as she started walking off. Hunter stood up on his hind legs, and walked beside Lyra as they followed Twilight through tow,n and then through some trees. “Still haven't gotten the hang of the four legged walk huh?” Lyra asked, walking on her hind legs as well so she could keep easy hold of the 'balloons'. “Well that,” Hunter said raising his scraped hoof, “and I hurt myself.” “What happened?” Lyra asked, the compassion in her voice instantly noticeable. “I was trying to run from an alicorn crazed mob and I tripped. Scraped up the one hoof, so I can't really walk on it.” Hunter explained. “Ah,” Lyra said nodding her head “I see.” They reached where Rainbow Dash's house was only a short fly up, and Luna was sitting on the ground, yawning. “Hello once again Hunter, we are pleased to see that you did not wander too far.” Luna said smiling. “Sorry about that.” Hunter said, scratching his head, slightly embarrassed. “Now we must tell you of our plans so that we may leave.” Luna started. “We have had a house constructed for you here in Ponyville, seeing as how you can fly, we thought it best that you get a cloud house, like that of Rainbow Dash. It was constructed after we left the castle and has just been completed, your furniture has been placed in the middle of your house to be distributed as you please.” “How is it that my furniture doesn't just fall through the clouds?” Hunter asked, remembering that only pegasi could stand on clouds. “The pegasi have invented a new 'Hard cloud' which supports furniture, earth ponies, unicorns, and dragons we suppose. They have started making their houses out of this, and this makes visits and owning things that aren't made of clouds, much easier.” Luna said, before yawning again. “We must take our leave now, we are tired and must go.” Luna didn't move a muscle as she charged her magic and disappeared. “Looks like you get to hang with me after all Michael.” Hunter said, looking at the dragon. “Looks like we get to keep our video games in our own house.” Michael said, putting his fist into the air. Hunter laughed and thought for a moment. “Ummm. I'm supposed to fly up to my house, and yet my wings don't want to work.” “What do you mean your wings don't want to work.” Trixie asked “Do your wings make their own decisions?” Trixie chuckled at her own cleverness. “Apparently they do.” Hunter said flatly. Trixie stopped chuckling. “Well what do you want us to do about it?” “Could I get a boost?” Hunter asked. Grinning innocently as if he had done something wrong. “Sorry I can't help out, I have plans that I have to attend to.” Lyra said walking off on four hoofs. “Nice meeting you Hunter!” Hunter returned the greeting, and Trixie just glared at him slightly as she lifted Michael up to the cloud house, and followed after him using her magic to teleport up there. At that moment Rainbow Dash flew by, presumably to get to her house, when she noticed a whole new house that hadn't been there that morning, and that Trixie was standing on it with a baby dragon. “Trixie!” Rainbow stopped flying, and hovered near the house. “What are 'you' doing here!” “Rainbow! Calm down and come down here!” Twilight yelled, hoping to avoid conflict. Rainbow Dash looked over, saw Twilight and flew down to where she was sitting with Hunter. The unicorn who had helped Luna had presumably teleported himself back to Canterlot when Luna left. “What's 'she' doing in that house next to mine. Speaking of which, where did that house come from!?” Rainbow asked, obviously more than a little confused at how a whole house could appear in one morning. “Well that's a long story, the short of it is, Luna had it built.” Twilight said, “Don't worry Trixie isn't going to live in it.” “Then who is going to live in it?” Rainbow asked. “I believe that would be me.” Hunter said, raising a hoof to wave at the rainbow clad pegasus. Rainbow hadn't even noticed that there was another pony there until now, then when she got a look at him she wondered how she could have missed him. He was an alicorn, and he had bright yellow hair with even brighter white streaks in it. “And who are you?” Rainbow asked, seemingly suspicious as to his intentions if he had Trixie over. “My name is Hunter, and it's nice to meet you.” Hunter said, smiling a welcoming smile as he yet again extended his hoof. Rainbow Dash shook it "The name's Rainbow Dash, guess you get to be my first real neighbor in the clouds huh?” “It would appear as much. Unfortunately I can't fly at the moment so I can't exactly get up there without some help. I hate to ask, but you think I could get a boost?” Hunter asked rubbing his head in the innocent way he did whenever he was slightly embarrassed. “What, do you mean you can't fly?” Rainbow asked, “You got faulty wings or something?” “Well I guess I overexerted them last night and they don't want to fly right now.” Hunter said flatly. “They don't want to?” Rainbow Dash asked. Her wings were always under her control. That's how it was for everypony. “That's just how I say they're too sore to move.” Hunter said “I went really crazy my first night having them.” “First night?” Rainbow was really confused now. “I'll explain everything in a moment Rainbow, could you lift me up to the house so I can get Hunter up there?” Twilight asked. She could have teleported, but while Rainbow was here she might as well. “Fine!” Rainbow said as she took off, Twilight in tow, Twilight started levitating Hunter as she flew, and brought him up to her level when she landed. “Well that's always fun.” Hunter said, this being the second time he had been moved around by Twilight's magic. “Now what in the heck is going on here?” Rainbow Dash asked, sitting down on the front porch of clouds. “Where did this alicorn come from, why is Trixie here, with a dragon, sitting on a house that wasn't here this morning?!” “I think that we should go inside, get a glass of water, and talk as Hunter moves his furniture around.” Twilight said, walking towards the cloud house's door. They walked inside and found the whole place furnished. It had couches and tables and things, but the things that Hunter had brought with him had spaces empty for them, and were all sitting in a big pile in the middle of the room. Hunter found the kitchen, and brought Twilight and Rainbow some water. As Hunter started moving his things, Trixie got the things off the top of the pile with her magic, and they started putting things where they should be. The T.V. And the Xbox in the front room. The pillows and blanket he brought were put in the bedroom he found on the top floor, while Michael's things were placed on the “ground floor” of the house. Hunter found a dresser and put all his clothes into it. Then he found the bathroom, and put all the bathroom essentials that Michael and he had brought, onto the counter and found that his toilet was made of clouds. After pointing this out to Michael and sharing a laugh, they went back down and found that most of their things had been put away, Hunter decided that his Record player should go in the main room, and his Ipod stuff and computer should go into his bedroom. He planned to move his computer to the library for Twilight to use, but he thought he should keep it until he found a way to get electricity to it. He moved the record player next to the T.V. and reached the speakers to some cloud pedestals near the glass table of an entertainment center in the middle of the living room across from the couch. Twilight told Rainbow Dash the whole story of how she had been called to the castle the night of the party, and how she had been transported to the human world. “You mean humans exist?” Rainbow asked. “Apparently so.” Twilight said, before continuing. She told Dash of how she had met Hunter and how he had told her how to type, how he made delicious food, and his sad story with his mother. Then how Hunter had learned to fly almost immediately, and had achieved a sonic green boom on the first night having wings, which is why his wings were so tired. When she finished, Rainbow had asked her about the T.V. And then the Xbox, and then the computer. Trixie had told her what an Xbox was, and Twilight told her how the T.V. And the computer showed digital images like their phones. After the whole explanation Rainbow just sat on the couch, thinking for a moment. She finished her water before saying, “So I have an alicorn, who can achieve a sonic green boom, who used to be a human, with his friend the dragon, who was also human, living as my neighbors?” “Right” Twilight said, unsure how Rainbow would react. “This is awesome!” Rainbow yelled jumping into the air, “Finally a flying buddy whose just as fast as I am!” She flew over to where Hunter had been looking at his T.V. Trying to figure out where to start in getting electricity to his appliances. “I'm glad to have a neighbor,” Rainbow said, landing next to him, “I expect a race to be in order as soon as your wings are back to normal?” Hunter stopped looking at the T.V. And turned his whole body towards Rainbow Dash, raising one hoof up near his face like a fist. “You're on.” He said sternly, his eyebrows furrowed and a competitive grin across his face. “That's what I like to hear,” Rainbow said, the same expression on her face. She lifted her hoof up like Hunter's and stuck it out. Hunter sent his hoof out to complete the greeting. Hunter's first hoof bump. To commemorate a momentous occasion. “I expect you to live up to your legend.” Rainbow said, setting her hoof back down. “Don't you worry about that Dash” Hunter said, keeping the expression. “I've been waiting for this my whole life.”