//------------------------------//
// Chapter 3: Honeymoon Stage (Edited) 
// Story: Ink 
// by Cyanjames2819 
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  I stirred on the bed with a groan, stretched out my limbs and yawned. “That was a good nap.” I mumbled to myself and sat up on the bed. I rubbed my face and then looked around Fluttershys’ quaint little room. ‘She’s probably down stairs.’ I thought to myself and slowly got off the bed to get dressed up for the day ahead.

I went across the short hall and got into my supposed room. I grabbed my cloths from the floor, but sense they had a bit of a blood stain on them with a few tears here and there I decided to grab the other clothing I had in my backpack. Now in my fresh new clothing and stuffing the dirty ones back in my backpack with a plastic bag, I grabbed my hat and sunglasses from the nightstand and started going down the stairs.

As I stepped down to the living room, I looked at my pocket watch, ‘Damn it, I slept the whole morning?’ I thought to myself with a frown and mentally punched my gut for doing so and prepared myself to help out my caretaker for the day.

When I looked back up I froze mid step, the living room as a slur of activity; birds chirped and flew around the ceiling, mice crawled around on the floor, and lizards basked in the sun near the windows.

I then slowly got over to the kitchen, trying to watch where I stepped. I got in and saw Fluttershy cooking at the stove while humming a little tune to herself and shaking her rump with the rhythm. I raised an eyebrow at that, ‘That’s… actually a very sweet voice… and cute.’ I thought as I listen for a moment more but then lightly knocked on the wall beside, “Good morning, Shy.” I greeted and walked up behind her.

“Oh! Um, g-good morning, Winter. Um… I'm making some blue berry pancakes, i-if you want some.” she said shyly, a blush going across her short muzzle.

“Yeah, sure. Need any help?” I asked. 

“Uh…” she looked at her little table and pointed, “Y-you can take out the plates and syrup. If that’s okay with you.” she answered.

I nodded and started opening cupboards to find the plates. I found them, grabbed two for the both of us and set them up neatly on the table.

Just as I was about to go for the silverware, I felt a light tug on my pants. I looked down to see a couple of furry critters looking up at me expectantly, “Uh… yeah?” I said awkwardly, not completely use to talking to sapient animals quite just yet. They then pointed to a large bag of animal food at the corner of the kitchen, near the threshold to the living room. “Uh, okay… you guys hungry?” I asked and they all nodded.

I went over to the bag, lifted it with both arms and followed the little animals to their bowls, making sure to watch my step. I opened up the bag on the floor and saw a measuring cup inside. I grabbed the handle, scooped up a good amount of animal munchy and poured each bowl full. “There.” I said, tossed the cup back in the bag and closed it up.

Then I felt a light peck on my neck, surprising me a little and looked to my shoulder to see two birds and a few more landed on the other and on top of my head, “Uh, you too?” I said and they nodded. I stood up and looked around the somewhat crowded room. I found the bird feeders hanging on the ceiling, empty.

I gently unhooked them and looked around for the bird seeds. I found the bag propped up against a wall near the kitchen and went over to it. I poured some seeds in them and hung them right back up, then the birds started pecking away the seeds with a few tweets.

Then I felt another tug on my pants and looked down to see the same animals looking up at me. I crouched down, “What do, yah need?” I asked. They then pointed to their mouths. I looked at the bowls and they were still somewhat full, “Well, there's still food in the bowls.” I pointed out and looked back at them and they shook their little heads and pointed again to their mouths. “Um… so are you thirsty?” I asked and they all nodded once again.

I picked up their empty water bowls and went over to the sink. I filled up each one and set it down to get the animals drink their fill.

I smirked and rested my hands on my hips, “I still got it.” I whispered to myself and polished an imaginary metal on my chest with pride, feeling like Dr. Dolittle.

“Um, still got what?” I heard behind me. I turned and saw Fluttershy at the table, putting two pancakes on each plate.

“Oh, ah, I use to have a friend that I took care of.” I answered and walked on over to the table.

I sat down, “Really? What happened?” she asked.

“Well, he's… five feet under now.” I answered, feeling a little depressed now that I had to put down my dog because he had rabies. He didn’t even bite or went hostile at me when he got sick with it but it had to be done. I went into a few months of depression when I took him, he was a good and loyal friend. He was always there when mom, dad or I was sick to give us company and he was only a year old for goodness sack!

“Oh… I'm sorry to hear, Winter.” she apologized as she looked down at the floor sadly.

I took in a deep breath and smiled, “Well, it was fun while it lasted. Not everything can last forever.” I said and started pouring the syrup on my lunch.

“Well, the Princesses lived for a very long time.” she said to me.

I put down the syrup, "Princesses?" I said, "You have those here too?" I asked and started cutting up the pancakes.

“Yes. Don't you?” she asked.

“Nope, not anymore anyways. We have Presidents, Prime Ministers, and other important people. In my case, it's a Prime Minister.” I answered and took a bite the rather good meal.

“Oh.” she said and started eating as well.

After lunch I started washing my plate, “Um, thank you for feeding the animals, Winter.” she thanked me, putting the plate beside me.

“No problem, Shy.” I answered.

I put the now clean plate down to the side and grabbed Fluttershys’, “Um, Winter, I-I can do it myself.” she said to me.

“It's okay, Shy, I insist. I'm not going to be a lazy bum living in this cottage.” I said and smiled down at her.

She blushed a little and cracked a small smile, “Oh, o-okay.” she said and trotted out the kitchen.

I dried the plates with a towel, put them back into their cupboards and went to the living room. The animals were all around and Angel was sitting on the couch, munching on a carrot.

I looked at the entrance and saw Fluttershy with her saddlebag. “Where're you goin'?” I asked.

“Oh, um, just getting some food in town.” she answered.

“Can follow along?” I asked.

“O-okay.” she agreed.

I quickly went upstairs, grabbed my backpack and went back down, “Okay, let's go.” I said. She nodded and opened the door for us.

We decided to walk to town and leave my bike, it wasn't really far anyways. “So, Shy, what do you use for currency around here?” I asked.

“What?” she looked confused.

“Um, what do you use to buy things?” I replied.

“Oh, we use bits.” she reached into her bag with her wing and took out a yellow piece of metal, almost like large button.

I grabbed it from her hoof and my eyes went wide, “Gold? You use gold to buy things?” I looked at her in disbelief.

She simply nodded, “Mhm.” she answered. “What's wrong?” she asked.

“Well, in my world, gold is very precious. Not much around.” I answered and put it back in her bag for her.

When we got into town, I was looked at strangely most of the time we got the groceries. It was weird to be looked at and some even hid themselves away, but I stood strong and smiled at every pony I saw. As we finished getting the food we needed, I held onto the bags while we started going back to her cottage. As we passed by an Art Supply store, I just stopped and looked at the building for a moment, losing myself into my own little world of lart.

“Winter?” I got back to reality and found myself standing in front of the building.

I turned and saw Fluttershy staring at me, “Sorry, Shy. Just got a little distracted.” I went up to her.

“Do you like to draw?” she asked.

“Well, kinda.” I answered. I looked at her and she looked thoughtful. Before she could say anything else, I cut her off, “Never mind that, let’s get to your cottage.” I said to her and started walking ahead.

“Um! Ah, Winter! Wait!” she trotted up to me.

During the walk back, she tried to bring up the art store and I kept on trying to change the subject. I didn't want her to go and get the things in the store. I didn’t know how much bits she had in her savings but I didn’t want to put another dent in it, she already needed to buy more food for another mouth to feed. When we reached the cottage I stopped at the entrance and looked at Fluttershy beside me and crouching down, “Hey, Shy, can you do something for me?” I asked.

“Uh, o-okay.” she nodded, blushing a little.

“Please don't go to the store and buy things for me, okay.” I said with a straight face.

"Uh…" she looked thoughtful for a moment. 

“Reason for it is because I don’t want to burden you more then you already have, you need the bits, not me. I’ll get the things I want with the money I earned.” I petted her head.

“Okay.” she nodded and leaned her head a little on my hand.

I sighed a relief, “Good.” I said and stood back up.

She opened the door, sense I was holding onto the bags. I got to the kitchen and started putting the contents in the cupboards and in the fridge.

It was kind of weird being in a grocery store without any real meat; well, there were eggs but nothing more than that. I asked why they needed eggs; she said they needed them for making cakes, muffins, cupcakes and other treats like that. I completely forgot about that and face palmed myself for forgetting and gained a somewhat concerned looked from my caretaker.

After that, I decided to go check on how Twilight was doing on taking me back home. I got to the entrance and looked back, “Hey, Shy?! I'm going to be at the Library!” I yelled.

She trotted down stairs, “Okay, Winter. See you later.” she said with a little wave of her hoof. Can these ponies get any cuter? Probably, I haven’t seen their kinds’ babies yet, kids are pretty adorable with their little hooves and big eyes but I wonder if a baby could actually blow my heart out of my chest like an Alien embryo.

I went out, got on my bike and started going towards Ponyville casually.

It was still a little weird being in town full of ponies, especially being the only human being on this whole planet, maybe even the universe. I felt a little bit lonely when I thought about it, but I just shook my head, trying to get myself thinking about the good things.

‘Okay, I'm not dead, so that’s one. Not being tested on like a lab rat or looked upon like a monster, so that’s’ two and three. Sure they look at me a little weird but better than being a monster. And I have a place to stay with a kind and adorable mare so that makes it four.’ I thought to myself and smiled. ‘At least I'm still alive.’.

I reached the library not long after and propped my bike near the entrance. I knocked on the door and was opened by Spike. “Hey, Spike.” I greeted the baby dragon with a little wave.

“Oh, hey, Winter. Come in.” he gestured me in.

I got in and Twilight was nowhere to be seen. “So… where's Twilight?” I asked the little dragon beside me.

“Down stairs in her basement lab. She's been up all night trying to figure out how to get you back home. I can't get her out of there. So can you try to convince her to take a break?” he pointed to a slightly open door.

“I'll try my best.” I thanked him, cracked my knocks outward and went towards the door.

I started walking down the short flight of stairs and saw a small laboratory. “Whoa.” I said in awe. There were test tubes with strange colored liquid inside with different colors, strange graphs and machines all around and a large worktable with piles of books resting on it.

Twilight was quietly mumbling to herself on the work table. Her mane and tail were a little frazzled and uneven and one of her ears twitched like it was trying to send a Morse Code to anyone who can see and read but sadly, I didn’t know how the read it.

“Uh, Twilight?” I said, getting a little closer. She jumped in surprise and looked around to see who interrupted her.

She sighed in relief that it was me, “Oh, Winter. When did you come in?” she asked as she tried to straighten out her mane and tail. Tried.

“Just now.” I answered and went up beside her. I crouched down to eye level with her, “You look a little tired, Twilight.” I said. I looked at her and her eyelids were sagging a little, and her eyes were somewhat blood shot from lack of sleep.

“Oh don't mind that, Winter, I'm perfectly okay.” she waved a dismissive hoof at me. But then she lost her balance and started tipping backwards.

“Whoa!” I quickly grabbed her hooves and set her back down.

“W-wha!? What happened!?” she then quickly looked around her surroundings.

“You almost fell back.” I said to her.

“Oh, really?” her eyes started to droop again.

“You should really go take a rest, Twilight. You're barely awake to do anything right now. And besides, your mind needs to be awake if you want to get me back home.” I said to her and petted her head.

Her head started to hang down but then shot right back up, “B-but what about home?” her body started to sway side to side.

“Home can wait. You really need some sleep.” I said to her and picked her up her light, marshmallow body.

Her head rested on my shoulder lazily and mumbled out quietly, “But… but…” then nothing came after.

I started to go up the stairs and all I heard was light snoring from her, resting on my shoulder with her hooves tucked in and leaving her tail limp.

I got up and saw Spike reading a book on the couch. He looked up at me in surprise, “How did you get her to sleep?” he asked and took down the book on the couch and hopped off.

“I just picked her up and bam, she's out like a Fireflys’ light.” I said to him. “So, where's her room?” I asked.

“Upstairs.” he pointed at the stairway, picked up the book he was reading and waddled on over to a shelf.

I started going up stairs and heard Twilight mumbling in her sleep, "Pr-princess… human… back… home…”.

“Hm.” I started thinking. “Princess.” I said silently and started gently stroking her mane to get her to get more comfortable and relax.

I got to her room and there I saw a large bed, “Wow.” I walked around it, “Does every pony in this town get a large bed?” I said to myself and gently lay Twilight down on her bed and pulled up the covers for her and gently tucked her in. She got herself comfortable and sighed with a small smile.

I went back down, “So, Spike, who's the Princess anyways?” I asked and sat beside him.

“Princesses.” he corrected and closed the book.

“Princesses?” I said in confusion.

“Yeah, there's Princess Celestia, the oldest of the bunch, her sister Princess Luna, and Princess Cadence, the youngest.” he said.

“Okay, so what do they do?” I asked again.

“Okay, Celestia controls the sun, Luna controls the Moon and the stars and Cadence is the Princess of Love.” he answered.

“So what, is she like a Cupid or something?” I asked, trying to get used to the concept of ponies controlling the sun and the moon.

“A what?” he looked at me in confusion.

“Ah, nothing.” I stood and stared looking through the books.

After spending the last few hours in the library tree house reading about the world around me, I finally got out. I bid goodnight to Spike and started going back to the cottage.

The sunset was rather beautiful; I had a hard time believing a Princess can control the celestial giant. I have my doubts.

I propped my bike near the entrance and got in, “Shy! I'm back!” I closed the door behind me and took off my shoes. No response from anywhere. I started looking around for her. I got in the kitchen and saw a note on the table. I grabbed the piece of paper and read it. 



I'll be back in an hour, feel free to cook up something to eat. 
Fluttershy.



“Hm, I wonder where she went?” I put down the letter back on the table.

I went over to a counter, towards the bowl of fruits. I grabbed an apple and started snacking on it.

Then I felt a light tug on my pants. I looked down and saw Angel bunny looking up at me. I crouched down, “Yeah?”. He then pointed to his mouth, “Thirsty?” I said. The bunny shook his head and pointed again, “Uh, hungry then?” I asked and he nodded.

I got over to the fridge, “Carrots?” I looked back and shook his head. “Um… how about… a cabbage.” I looked again he shook his head.

I closed the fridge and looked around, scratching my head. I then spotted a cook book and went over to it. I turned to the first page and there was a picture of a salad. “How about a salad?” I asked, hoping he nod, and thank God he did.

I took out the ingredients and a bowl. After a moment of mixing and stirring, I gave it to him on the table and he started greedily munching away.

I grabbed another apple for myself and started going up stairs. I got to my room and sat on the bed. I took off my backpack and propped it against the bedside. I looked over at my journal on the nightstand and grabbed it.

I had to write on it now, but how, all I see is a piece of feather in a small jar of… ink. “Hm…” I pondered and grabbed the feather. ‘Okay, so it works like a real pen.’ I thought to myself. “Well, won't hurt to find out.” I said and dipped it in the jar. I opened my journal and started writing; “I’m surrounded by talking ponies.” I started.

During the past two hours, I kept on writing and writing on what happened in the past three crazy days and a few sketches of what they looked like.

I put the quill back in the jar, “Well, this would be one hell-of-a story to tell.” I said and sighed; “If I ever get back.” I said to myself and closed my eyes. I then heard a knock at the door; I looked over my shoulder to see Fluttershy standing there. “Oh, hey, Shy. I didn't hear you come in.” I set down the book on the bed.

She trotted around the bed to meet me, “Hello, Winter. Um, am I interrupting?” she asked shyly.

“Nope.” I answered and slumped down on the bed, my head hanging over the edge.

“Um, is that your book?” she asked. I lifted my head and saw Fluttershy pointing to my journal.

“Journal.” I answered and sat up strait again, “A simple little journal full of stories and secrets of part of my life.” I grabbed it and looked at it for a moment.

“Oh, o-okay.” she said.

I looked out the window and saw the moon started to rise. I then showed my journal to her, “Want to read it?” I said to her.

She looked surprised and looked between me and the book, “Um, a-are you sure? I mean, a, i-it’s your journal.” she said, stammering her words adorably.

I smiled sweetly, “Go ahead, Shy. Take a peek on how my world is like. I don't mind.” I said to her and gently pressed the book on her pony equivalent of her chest. She held it with one hoof and I let go. I sighed and stood, “If you don't mind, I'll be out for a while. Take a breather.” I got over to the door and looked back; “I'll be back in an hour or two.” I said with a smile and went out with a short wave.

I was now out, walking around and looking up at the moon a couple of times; or as I call the celestial rock, Selene. I found myself out of Ponyville and into a clearing on top of a hill, a single tree standing there, waiting patiently for a visitor.

I got to the top and went up to the tree. I sat down and rested my back against the tree. I looked up at the moon in the dark blue sky, surrounded by twinkling stars.

The constellations were weirdly similar to my world. There was the Big Dipper, the Little Dipper, Leo, Scorpio, Pisces, Cassiopeia, Draco, more and even the North Star. I looked back down, crestfallen, “Maybe I'm stuck here after all.” I said to myself a little sadly. “I never had a chance to say goodbye.”

I grabbed my watch from my pocket and shined into in the light of the moon to see what time it was. I took it back in and stood up. I looked up at the moon and spoke out my poem.

"The arctic is a land of twilight.
Half the year of midnight.
The animals are light,
And most are snow white.
During the endless night,
The moon shines divinely bright,
With all its rightful might."

I said my words and started going back down the hill, “Good luck everyone, sweet dreams and goodnight.” I said with my hands in my pocket as I felt the worst homesickness I ever felt.

Then all of a sudden, I heard a loud thud behind me and wings flapping, causing a light breeze to go past me. I froze in my tracks and hoped for dear god it wasn't that Manticore again or any other monstrous creature coming to get a midnight snack for that matter.

Then I heard it speak in a delightful feminine voice, "Are thou lost, human?" it said to me in a sweet tone.