//------------------------------// // Chapter Eight // Story: Salvation // by Sandstorm Inkwell //------------------------------// “WEEEEEEEEEEEE!” I looked at the noise to, unbelievably, see a pink pony falling from the sky. The pony was too close to the ground for me to react in time to save her. I watched in dismay as she hit the ground and... bounce? The pink pony actually bounced back into the sky a little ways before coming down and landing, all kinetic energy disappearing instantly. B-but... physics... and... what? My mind began to hurt as I tried to grasp onto what I had just witnessed. It went against everything that I had learned about gravity and physics. Hell, it went against simple anatomy. Before I could even begin to piece together my shattered thought processes, the pink pony's face suddenly appeared to be centimeters away from my own. While she was looking straight at me, I somehow found myself thinking that she wasn't looking at me. “I know what you're up to,” she said in a very serious tone, her cotton candy hair deflating a bit. “What?” that was all I could say as she stared into my soul. Finally, she smiled widely, her hair re-inflating. “Oh, not you, silly-willy! I don't think we've met yet! I'm Pinkie Pie! Who are you?” she asked excitedly as she backed about two feet away from me. “I'm Tyler. My squad and I-” I was interrupted as the pink pony let out a huge gasp and actually floated in the air while doing so. PHYSICS, GODDAMN IT! When the pink pony hit the ground again, she tore off at high speed down the road in a seemingly random direction. That was when the gears in my brain returned to normal capacity and the pony's name set off nuclear war inside my head. I looked around in dismay to see that she was, in fact, gone. This meant that she was most likely putting together a party for the squad and me. One that I, and my fellows, would be unknowingly lured to. “Damn it,” I cursed under my breath. I was hoping to avoid the 'Welcome to Ponyville!' party but that seemed impossible. Though, I guess I should count myself lucky that I had avoided it for so long. Shaking my head, I looked around the town square. I had left the schoolhouse ten minutes ago when the lunch bell had rang. Cheerilee had informed the students that I had more pressing matters to attend to, even though some still had questions. While I did have things to do, I found myself sluggish in leaving the place. “Hey Tyler, what's up?” Looking to the voice, I saw Jones standing to my right with Dash to his left. I smiled, “Just got done with the presentation. You find a house yet?” I asked, looking between him and Dash. I was honestly surprised that Dash hadn't left him to go do something “cooler”. “Yeah I did! We can afford it to,” he replied, his tone honest enough. I thought about making him take me to actually see the house but I decided against it. Instead, I nodded my head, “Okay, go find the Sergeant and tell him of your find. Also, tell him that I went to the Library, okay?” Jones smiled at me as his right eye winked, “Sure thing man.” I groaned. I knew what he meant by that wink. It was payback for me poking at him about Dash. Surprisingly, I felt some heat start rushing to my face as I thought about it. I fought it down but I could tell that Jones had at least gotten a glimpse of it as his smile grew wider. Luckily, Dash had been looking away. We said our goodbyes though and part ways. While Jones and Dash turned to head to the orchard, I continued through town until I arrived at the house-tree that was both the town Library and the home of Twilight Sparkle. Without knocking, knowing how much it bothered the purple unicorn, I pushed open the door and walked inside. A little green dragon was there to meet me. “Hey Tyler, Twi's in the other room.” “Thanks Spike,” I replied as I turned and head for the opening to one of the many rooms that branched, pun intended, from the central room. Spike and I had met a day after the Raider Incident and almost instantly became buds as we both discussed our dislikes of being in a world where mares outnumbered stallions almost four to one. “No problem,” Spike then went back to cleaning the room, humming a tune to himself. I smirked as I reached the doorway and stepped through. When I finally looked fully at the interior of the room, I stopped and seemingly froze in place. Standing in the room, talking was Twilight Sparkle and the two Princesses. It took all my mental prowess to not drop to a knee and bow my head. I wasn't from this world, nor was I an Equestrian citizen. So I wouldn't act like I was. Instead, I simply cleared my throat to get their attention. The three turned to face me, slightly startled by my sudden entrance. “Tyler,” Twilight started, “I thought you were busy this afternoon?” I shrugged, “I found time to waste and thought I'd come to see if you wanted to continue our Q and A, though I see that you have guests.” Twilight turned to the two princesses, her eyes opening wider in sudden realization. “Right! Tyler this,” she pointed a hoof at the white alicorn with a flowing, rainbow-like mane that seemed real and fake at the same time, “is Princess Celestia, ruler of the day and the sun. And this,” she pointed at the pitch black alicorn whose man looked like the night sky with stars sparkling in it, “is Princess Luna, ru-” “Ruler of the night and commander of the moon,” I interrupted, smiling. Looking at Luna, I spoke, “You know, it's invigorating being in your presence, Princess.” I watched as she raised an eyebrow in confusion and threw the look at Twilight and Celestia, both of whom shrugged. “Why is this?” she finally asked, looking back at me. “See, in my world, the moon never set, per say. It was merely blocked by the shadow of the planet at times. When it wasn't blocked, it hung in the sky above us. Day or night, didn't matter, you could always see it there. Because of this, I found myself liking it to a guardian, sitting night and day at his post. When I got into near-death situations, which I did more than you may think, and lived, I found myself looking up at the moon afterward, wondering if anything may actually be watching from the chunk of rock. So,” I concluded, “being in your presence is like confronting a mysterious savior.” They all looked at me with different expressions. Twilight looked confused and slightly dismayed, probably at how casually I spoke to the Princess. Celestia had a look of amusement on her face, though the reasons behind reach were unfathomable to me. Luna, though, had conflicting emotions. I saw a soft blush come to her cheeks as she looked happy but she also looked confused and worried. “Tyler is it?” asked Celestia. I nodded my head, causing her to continue, “Twilight here has told me some of the things that she has learned about your world and, I must say, some of it is quite surprising. She has also told me of the... Raider Incident.” My happy feeling washed away, filled with dread. Was she going to reprimand me? Ask that we turn over our weapons? “I would like to personally thank you for stopping the threat to the town,” she said with a smile. My happy feeling returned with a large smile on my face. “Just helping out the innocent, Princess, like I was trained to do.” She chuckled, “Of course. I have heard that you and your... squad have been looking for a house to buy. With that, I offer a proposal. I wish to offer you and your squad Equestrian citizenship.” I thought about it, “What's the catch?” Celestia blinked in surprise before composing herself, “There is no catch.” I now blinked in surprise before having my palm meet my face, “Sorry, Princess. Back in my world, this offer would likely require me to do something very dangerous in return. Old habits are hard to get rid of.” She smiled sweetly at me, “Of course. I understand.” She chuckled, “Your response was much like a Gryphon's might be.” I chuckled, “Really?” a nod, “Interesting.” She looked to the outside and sighed, “Well, we better be getting back to Canterlot.” She turned to me, “It's been a pleasure to meet you Tyler.” I smiled, “The pleasure is all mine.” With a smile, Celestia disappeared in a flash of yellow and with a popping noise. Luna just smiled at me before disappearing in a black flash and with an identical pop. Turning to Twilight, I saw her smiling at me as well. “Surprising,” she said simply. “What is?” “How you behaved in front of the Princesses.” “Indeed,” I replied with a smirk, to which she rolled her eyes. I was about to speak when the Library door burst open. Looking back, I saw an orange filly come running into the room. She smiled when she saw me. Coming up to me, she hugged my leg before looking up at me with puppy dog eyes, “Tyler, can you come with me to Sugarcube Corner? I want to get some cupcakes.” Looking into the eyes, I felt powerless as I smiled and nodded my head, “Of course, Scoots, let's go.” I looked back, “You wanna come too Twilight?” She shook her head, smiling, “No, you go have fun.” I nodded and followed the hyperactive orange filly out of the Library and started down the street. It wasn't long before we found ourselves in front of the cake looking store. In front of the door, I saw the rest of my squad waiting there with Applejack and Dash. I rose an eyebrow. “Hey guys! What are y'all doing here?” I asked. Kilborn shrugged and motioned to Dash and Applejack, “They dragged us here.” It took only a second for the connection to be made. Pinkie! “Guys, I don't know. Shouldn't we be back at the clearing worrying about getting ourselves settled before we start fattening ourselves?” I asked, hoping it made sense. Without Scoots' wide eyes, I could feel that I could avoid the surprise party for at least another day. Kilborn nodded, “That we should. I'm sorry ladies but we must be going back.” Before the two mares, or little filly, could argue, the five of us started back toward the clearing. Of course, this didn't stop them in trying. Dash flew in front of Jones and smiled, “Come on J! It'll be awesome!” While Dash tried to manipulate Jones, AJ tried to manipulate Kilborn, “I really need your help with something in there,” she said. Kilborn raised an eyebrow, “What is it?” “Err... something important?” she smiled a cheesy smile as her eyes darted to the side as an obvious tell. Of course, I wasn't left out of the manipulation as Scoots basically jumped into my arms and looked at me with those big eyes. I looked away from them and kept walking, as did the others. After awhile the three gave up and decided to walk with us, their heads hung slightly low. Finally, we got back to the clearing but something felt... off. It felt as if I was being watched from everywhere. The synapses in my brain made the connection a second too late as Pinkie Pie jumped several feet out of a bush shouting, “SURPRISE!” Shit...