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Celestia's sun had begun to bring its warming rays across the world of Equestria as Luna's night was being tucked carefully away. Tendrils of light crept at a steady rate through the surrounding mountains, trees and hills until everything was bathed in new daylight. As Princess Celestia brought the sun to the morning's set course, the light fell across the windows of the Ponyville hospital.
The slightly pink-hued windows reflected a little of the light but even then some passed by and illuminated a path on the floor in a particular room. A couch along a wall harbored two fillies on it still passed out from the prior day's excursion. Scootaloo was halfway hanging off the edge by a wing and leg, her mouth wide open but not snoring. Apple Bloom was content to just curl up on the opposite side with the thin blanket still over her sleeping form. Scoots had kicked off much of the blanket and her hind leg twitched in small jolts.
Across the room from the couch was a pony-sized hospital bed where a particular white unicorn filly lay propped up on pillows. Sweetie Belle lay on her back with the sheets of the bed tucked carefully around her in a cocoon of warmth that occupied not quite half the mattress. She stifled a small yawn and turned drearily toward an offending source of light.
It had been quite dark in the room until that point since she had been asleep but even as she wiggled a forehoof out from under the sheets to rub her eyes she could tell morning was breaking. Sweetie cracked one eye open to spy the sliver of light filtering in through the curtains and noticed her friends still snoozing on the couch. A quaint little smile found its way to her muzzle and she yawned again.
Even with her dreams fading, she was glad for the wakeful reality around her. Thoughts of the prior day's ordeal had been transformed during her rest to the stuff of nightmares and fantasy. She willed both her eyes to open and focus, and she looked down at the bed she was laying in. The outline of her body assured her she still had four legs even if one of them still didn't feel right.
Sweetie regretted it immediately when she tried to move her hurt leg and even though it wasn't as painful as she remembered, it still smarted and sent throbbing discomfort up to her flank.
She ran her tongue around in her mouth and noted that she was parched. Looking to the sides briefly, Sweetie spotted a rolly table with a clear glass cup and pitcher just within reach.
She set her jaw against the discomfort to come and slowly pushed herself toward the edge of the bed and closer to liquid relief. Sweetie was surprised to find such a small act had winded her and she took several deep breathes before attempting to move the pitcher. Oh how she hoped there was water in there!
With a careful movement, she grasped the container with two hooves and found it to indeed be full. Slowly, not wanting to spill anything, she tried to line up the spout with the glass only to miss it the first couple tries. She eyed the glass with contempt and was resolute on getting this done, pain or not.
Sweetie gritted her teeth as she leaned out a bit and put pressure on her leg in doing so, but the result was getting a fair amount of water into the glass. After the pink floaters in front of her eyes cleared, she hefted the glass toward her and greedily drank all the cup offered. It was a start- but she was still so thirsty. She leaned back onto the pillows and took a deep breath just in time for the door of the room to click open.
A pure white earth pony with a pink mane and tail stepped in from the hallway and looked in on the scene. Her pink mane was pulled back in a bun and a white nurse's hat with a red cross on it sat perched on her head between her ears. Nurse Redheart's blue eyes surveyed the area until they came to rest on her charge, who appeared to be awake, Sweetie Belle.
The nurse gave Sweetie a warm smile and spoke quietly as she approached, "I'm glad to see you're awake Sweetie, and willing to drink something too."
Sweetie looked down at the cup and Nurse Redheart brought over the pitcher to refill it for her.
After setting down the pitcher and glancing at the two still out on the couch, the nurse noticed the white unicorn had drained the glass again.
"Do you feel like you could eat something dear? You have to get your strength back after all."
Sweetie gave a small nod and the nurse smiled, "good, I'll be right back with some breakfast."
As Nurse Redheart went to the door to leave, her hoof hovered at the light switch a moment in thought. She looked over at the fillies on the couch still asleep and noted they probably could use a few more minutes. The lights stayed off and the nurse left Sweetie alone with her thoughts.
Sweetie Belle waited until she was sure the nurse had gone and only then did she pull the covers back to reveal her leg. She expected to see the worst but sighed with relief when her leg wasn't even bandaged anymore. What still made her eyes go wide, even in the dimness of the morning, was the deep purple -nearly black- bruise that extended from her knee almost to her rear hoof. Her memory played over an image of her hanging nearly upside down and her leg kinked to the side from the broken bone.
She reached down a forehoof and touched her leg in mild interest. The leg was straight and didn't hurt anywhere near what it did the day prior, she could even move that hoof a little without too much discomfort. 'That' bit of knowledge made her feel a lot better. Sweetie still managed a frown as she could remember only bits and pieces of yesterday. The crusading, the terrible timber wolves, Daniel carrying her to Zecora's...Daniel, where was he?
She looked around the room quickly and found it empty of anypony save Scoots and Apple Bloom. How did she get to the hospital? Did Daniel bring her here? Was he somewhere close by waiting for her to wake up? Sweetie's reflections were interrupted by the door swinging open again and two ponies standing in the hallway. Nurse Redheart's outline was easy to spot and the other...
A hoof snaked in the door and clicked on the light.
"Rarity!" Sweetie nearly squeaked as her big sister made a dash for the bed and gathered her gently into a warm embrace.
"Oh Sweetie Belle! You had us all so worried! I just... I wouldn't know what to do if something were to happen to you!" The older unicorn mare's eyes teared up as Sweetie hugged her neck tight.
Nurse Redheart had joined the bedside with a tray balanced expertly on her back which she maneuvered onto the rolly table and smiled at the two.
"Miss Rarity, I've got to continue my rounds this morning with breakfast for everypony, stay as long as you like but make sure Sweetie eats something." She inclined her head toward the tray and Rarity nodded.
The nurse had left them and they separated from the hug that nearly made them both cry. Rarity gave Sweetie a tight smile and tried to regain her composure after such a bought of emotion. She moved around the bed and pushed the cart and tray over Sweetie's lap so it would be in easy reach. Rarity then seated herself on the edge of the bed as Sweetie looked over the food items and chose some toast with jam on it for starters.
"Ahem- Sweetie Belle..." Rarity gave her deliciously styled mane a toss with her hoof, "while I'm quite elated that you are safe and somewhat sound and since mother and father are still away, I'll have you know that I intend to settle on an appropriate amount of discipline for you- after you've made a full recovery of course."
Sweetie should have seen 'that' one coming and cringed at what might lay ahead. Behind Rarity the rest of the crusaders had woke to the talking and lights on only to catch the rest of the conversation.
"I am disappointed dear that you would just take my things without so much asking." She paused for dramatic effect, "if you had, I could have given you some old fabric bushes that would have worked much better than my expensive, imported, 'haute couture' make-up ones..."
Rarity was fighting to keep a straight face at the memory of finding the ruined make-up items in Sweetie's pack.
Sweetie gave a little sigh around her last bites of toast, "I am sorry I took your brushes without asking sis, and I know it was wrong but..."
Rarity raised her hoof and pointed for her to keep eating so she didn't dig herself into a deeper hole, "since you 'knew' it was wrong Sweetie- that makes the trespass all the worse! I happen to know that mother and father didn't raise you this way and I surely don't condone it!"
Scootaloo and Apple Bloom had gotten up and agreed something silently between them, Apple Bloom was the first to speak up, "Rarity, please don't be too hard on Sweetie, ah mean, we were jus' as much ta blame."
"Yeah, our crusading got her hurt and that was never what we wanted to happen!"
Rarity pursed her mouth and waved them over to sit at the bed too, "it is neither a matter of 'blame', Apple Bloom, nor an issue of what you 'wanted' to happen Scootaloo. All three of you have been at this long enough to know there is at least SOME danger in your adventures."
Scoots and Apple Bloom had migrated to the bed and climbed up on the opposite edge. They were mindful of Sweetie's exposed leg lying outside the covers and Rarity now saw it too and grimaced.
"Regardless of what you hoped to accomplish on such an outing, 'this' was the result-" and she pointed a hoof at Sweetie's leg. "How Zecora ever got her here in one piece after that dreadful ordeal is simply beyond me! In fact, I should probably make her something nice to wear in appreciation but she's so partial to that ghastly hooded cloak..."
"But wut 'bout Daniel? He's the one who...oops." Apple Bloom's instant defense drew the eyes of Scoots and Sweetie immediately in a 'don't-say-another-word' look. But it was too late, the proverbial cat was out of the bag and Rarity gave little Apple Bloom a raised brow.
"Who is this...Danielle you're speaking of? I don't know anypony by 'that' name."
Rarity's mispronunciation of Daniel's name was on purpose in hopes to get one of them to talk about the ordeal again. The previous night had been frustrating to say the least. Sweetie Belle was taken into the hospital and stabilized by the doctor before anypony could say two words to her. The other two had crashed out so hard from the stress that the mares decided to leave them sleep until morning.
"His name is Daniel, not Danielle!" Scootaloo huffed in a guarded way that would have made Rainbow Dash proud.
"Scootaloo! Watch your tone young filly; I have half a mind to suspend your crusading for a month if I cannot get some straight answers here!"
All three crusaders gave a groan, "Uuuhhnnnn..."
About that time, a smiling pink mass bounced into the room followed closely by Apple Jack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. Apple Bloom and AJ gave each other heartfelt hugs and Rainbow Dash tussled Scoots mane with a hoof. Fluttershy came close to the bed also and observed Sweetie's leg with a grave expression.
"Tarnation youngin'! If ya ever go out an' scare everypony like that ag'in... ah'll...ah'll," Apple Jacks' voice caught in her throat as she scooped Apple Bloom into another vice-like hug.
Rainbow Dash was controlling her emotion a bit better than the tan cowpony but the disappointment in her voice alone was enough to make a certain filly tear up.
"Not cool Scoots! Not. Cool." RD looked right in Scootaloo's eyes as her displeasure spilled over into her tone, "what were you thinking?! No. You weren't thinking were you?" Rainbow crossed her hooves on her chest, "I expect more outta ya Scoots, especially if you want to hang with Equestria's best flyer ever!"
Pinkie had stopped bouncing besides Fluttershy as she regarded Sweetie's leg too with a critical eye, "Ooooow, 'that' looks like it hurt a lot Sweetie! Was it an 'ouch' kinda hurt that you might feel better about in a day or two or was it an 'omagosh' I'm hurt where you need cake to forget about it later OR was it the 'AHHH' kind that nopony would ever want to relive in a hundred-million-billion-trillion-ZILLION years?!"
Everypony jumped at Pinkie's short scream mixed into her question and Apple Jack commented before she could ask anything else.
"Tha filly's in tha hospital Pinkie! Of course it was tha worst possible kind!"
Pinkie looked around the hospital room as if seeing it for the first time, "oh yeah, good point!"
Rarity rolled her eyes, "now then, I think it's quite time we heard the WHOLE story girls. And since Sweetie here is tasked by the nurse to finish her breakfast," and Rarity gave her a look that could freeze nitrogen until Sweetie remembered to keep eating, "how about you start us all off on the right hoof Scootaloo?"
"Um, I don't mean to interrupt Scootaloo, not that she's talking yet but...shouldn't we wait for Twilight to show? That is, if you want to...I'm sure she'd like to hear this too." Fluttershy's words gave pause to the mares until Pinkie remembered something and reminded everypony.
"I thought Twilight said she was supposed to go meet up with Zecora this morning for breakfast and talking about how the fillies got back to Ponyville in the first place and then there was something about a traveler and some mumbling about having to go out into the Everfree Forest in the beginning and I saw a small rock move before we all teleported back but then I started to think 'rocks can't move on their own silly billy' and come to find out it was a large beetle that 'looked' like a rock and muffer-umfer-muph-mphf!"
"Thank you Pinkie dear and thank you Rainbow Dash..." Rarity gave the scene a slight expression of disdain; Rainbow had pushed a forehoof into Pinkie's mouth to cease her jabbering.
"No prob Rare." Rainbow withdrew her hoof in a loud 'POP' from Pinkie's muzzle and wiped it rudely on the side of the bed.
Rarity cleared her throat before anymore disruptions could happen, "so Twilight has an appointment to keep, you were saying Scootaloo?"
The little orange filly gave a sigh and knew that stalling wouldn't help their cause any, "so we started from the club house yesterday morning once we had everything we needed to go crusading..."
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At the library, Twilight Sparkle was busy making last minute changes to her plans she had only changed minutes ago. Her saddle packs were stuffed with pads of paper, quills and ink bottles; she had gotten Spike up to help her with preparations but he didn't make it very far. The little dragon was currently back asleep and leaning on the desk where Twilight had asked him to retrieve a checklist for opening the library while she was out. Not that Spike 'needed' a checklist, he had opened it before.
"Spike, and I need you to...Spike!" Twilight moved the desk chair and bumped it into his side with her magic causing him to lose balance and shoot awake.
"Huh! What happened? Dragons? Where?!"
"Spike there are no dragons here except one that just sleeps all the time- you!"
Spike gave a jaw breaking yawn and snagged the list from the desk, "aw come off it Twilight, how can you go to bed so late all the time and expect me to not sleep in!"
Twilight shrugged into her pack, "I expect my 'number one assistant' to bring his ‘A’ game when I put him in charge of the library while I'm out." Her smile took on a more mischievous nature, "or should I leave Owlowiscious in charge?"
THAT made Spike bolt completely awake and run to her side, "Twilight! Are you sure you packed everything you need? We can go over the checklist for 'traveling to Zecora's' again if you want! And while I'm at it I can amend the last lists to reflect the new ones! Just please, oh please don't put Owlowiscious in charge!"
Twilight gave him a grin and rubbed a hoof on top of his head, "oh Spike, your reactions are so cute sometimes. Fine, I won't leave him in charge, this time..."
Spike gave a fist pump, "yes!"
Twilight raised a brow at that and Spike took on a more humble approach, "I mean, uh, yeah that's cool with me. We'll just get everything in order to open the library while you're away, no sweat!"
Twilight gave him a nod and headed for the door, "and Spike? I'm not sure how long I'll be so I'm counting on you to keep this place ship-shape."
"You can count on me Captain!" And Spike stood at attention and gave a crisp salute.
Once she was on her way and the door was closed, Spike tapped his claws together in the stillness that overcame the interior of their home. Spike knew Owlowiscious was still asleep and that by the clock on the wall, he still had another hour and a half before the library was due to open anyway.
Spike gave a stretch that would have made a nimble house cat wince in pain and scratched his side as he made his way back upstairs to his bed.
"Another hour won't hurt... and then "-a yawn-" I'll still have another 30 minutes to open... the..."
He fell face first into his bed and was back asleep before he even settled all the way in.
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Daniel's first sensation as he pulled away from his dreams was that of peace. That in itself for a retired military man should have set off alarms in his head but his thoughts were elsewhere this morning. An odd dream he had during the night was just beginning to fade and he quickly went over it again to try and capture some of the images.
He was on the side of great hill covered in the softest, greenest grass he had ever seen. In the distance Daniel could make out mountains that rose so majestically high that their peaks were hidden by puffy white clouds. On the side of one such mountain was a shining light that gave both life and light to his whole dreamscape. Daniel had leaned back on the grass to take in the sight only to bump into a body sitting beside him in the grass as well. He smiled as Sweetie Belle also looked off into the distance at the light source and then up at him with a grin that warmed his heart.
Daniel couldn't see anything else around them because it all hazed out of existence, but the feeling of peace was there on that hill beside that little white unicorn. The normal nightmares didn't take Daniel from that surreal place this time, those visions from the past that lent their horrors over and over. He had dealt with 'those' demons and now when they did visit him, he no longer awoke reaching for his knife or rifle or machete or...
Those sour thoughts ruined the images of his dream and Daniel mentally sighed. He cracked an eye open to the side to spy his watch and was glad it wasn't 'O-dark-thirty' at the moment but knew it couldn't be late either- he didn't have to pee yet.
He gave a blind stretch and his feet poked out from under the blanket to touch something cool and round. But it wasn't solid enough to stay in one place when Daniel's leg extended and it skidded on the wood floor. At first he thought it was a piece of furniture but what happened after he made contact the second time was so outlandish...
Zecora, moments earlier, had decided that sleep wasn't going to retake her this morning. Normally she would drift through the thoughts of what she had to do today but her 'visitor' had made things jumbled in her otherwise simple life. Zecora had gotten up and surmised that Daniel was still resting on the floor so she took out her trusty bamboo rod to do some upside down meditations prior to breakfast.
What she thought was a safe distance from her sleeping guest was still within foot range and when Daniel's foot brushed the rod the first time; Zecora cracked an eye to see what was happening. She could just see him stirring and noticed the appendage extend again and her eyes went wide as the rod was pushed back a few inches by the movement. This in turn threw off her balance and the floor was the logical place she would end up.
"Whoa, ah no!"
Daniel, however, proved to be unlucky in his assumption that the floor was a safe place to sleep. His eyes shot open at Zecora voicing a warning before bodily crashing down on top of him and his make shift bed.
Now, there are few instances in life where having a warm body snuggle up to you doesn't get some kind of reaction. Having one fall on you from the height of six feet is something you're sure to never forget. Zecora and Daniel both had the wind knocked out of each other and could barely move let alone untangle themselves from the fall. Once Daniel's vision had cleared from getting knocked in the forehead by another forehead, he quickly registered the awkward predicament.
Zecora had clocked Daniel pretty good but she was out cold on his chest with her head on his shoulder. There was enough light coming through the windows now that he could see her face so close to his that her breath tickled his neck. He was still under the blanket and Zecora's legs effectively trapped him unless he wanted to curtly throw her off. Arbitrarily having your host lay on top of you from an accident first thing in the morning is never a good thing.
Daniel carefully wiggled his arms out from the blanket and scooted sideways from under the zebra. Zecora stirred and raised a forehoof to her head while muttering something in her native language. Daniel was also rubbing a spot that would no doubt turn red if not worse later on. Zecora opened her eyes and paused with her hoof still to her head; she looked down at the blanket and realized her situation with embarrassment.
Redness crept into her cheeks as her eyes focused on Daniel scant inches away. She opened her mouth to say something but thought better of it and started again with a modest grin, "of my morning routine I can see it was not wise so for the rude awakening I must now apologize."
Daniel gave her a polite chuckle and propped his head up on an elbow, "I'm surprised that my stretching would cause you to fall on me so I'm sure I need to apologize too."
He was surprised she hadn't moved away from him yet because they were still close enough that Daniel could feel Zecora's heartbeat near his side. He hoped she wasn't injured from her fall.
"What uh, what were you doing anyway?"
She blinked a few times to clear her vision and Daniel knew in that moment that she had indeed taken a harder hit than him. But strangely, that did not deter her rhyming speech.
"There are times when sleep is simply not the best so instead I meditate and in turn get my rest. Up on a bamboo rod I balance when I think but this time truly proved to be the weaker link."
Daniel spied the said rod a few feet away from his left foot and nodded, "well, since the floor isn't the best place for either of us right now, what do you say we make sure that neither of us is hurt? I think we knocked our heads pretty hard..."
Zecora agreed and got to her hooves to light a few candles to augment the sunlight. 'Surprised' was putting it lightly when she noticed Daniel getting up without his shirt on and made a comment about him not having much fur. He gave a friendly laugh and explained that his kind didn't have a built-in 'coat' like she and the ponies did. Instead, had to wear clothing nearly all the time to reduce exposure.
Daniel had retrieved his shirt but noticed the condition of it and knew it needed a wash. Zecora waved a hoof and simply mentioned he could worry with it later and she didn't mind him without a shirt for the time being. Perhaps it was the way she said it in rhyme or maybe it was the fact they were both looking over each other’s faces but Daniel could have swore the temperature in the room went up a few degrees.
By Zecora's observation, Daniel found that he had a rather red blotch right above his right eye the size of a chicken egg. Zecora's coat made it more difficult to see her bruise but Daniel surmised it to be right between her eyes.
"Well, now that we know we won't be bleeding all over the place, is there some running water nearby that I wash out my clothes?" He was suddenly in need of some fresh air.
She nodded and winced but her smiled stayed, "if you go outside and behind my home you will find a stream that is not far to roam. There you will find a place to clean your shirt until it has a better sheen."
Daniel grabbed a Ziploc bag with a bar of soap in it and slipped on his boots. He failed to grab his sunglasses but only shrugged as he followed Zecora's directions out the door and to the creek.
Sure enough, less than five minutes of walking took him straight to the stream's edge and he surveyed the area with a grin. The path leading him to the water was well used and the creek wasn't a small one per se. It was nearly 15 feet wide and looked fairly deep toward the opposite bank. There were several gallon sized pots near the edge closest to his boots and a tin dipper hung at pony height from a close by tree.
The water wasn't very fast and was crystal clear; so much in fact that he could see the reflections of several fish hanging out lazily by a large flat rock toward the center. 'Food and water' flashed through Daniel's mind but his hand registered his dirty shirt and soap instead of a fishing pole. With a sigh he knelt down on the smooth creek stones and carefully scrubbed the soap bar into some rather daunting looking mud stains. Good thing this particular shirt was earth-toned anyway...
A short distance away from Zecora's hut, Twilight was making good time along a forest path. She had been thinking as she trotted along about this 'traveler' that Zecora had spoken of and had to wonder just what kind of creature it could be.
It had to be something nopony had ever seen before, she was sure of that. Zecora hadn't said exactly 'what' the creature was and that in itself was a testament to the exotic nature of the meeting. Twilight knew Zecora had traveled a long way to end up in Ponyville and no doubt had seen many wonderful and terrifying things along the way. If Zecora could only say the 'monster' was a 'traveler' what implications could that have?
Twilight could only speculate on most items but was only a matter of moments before her destination would be in view anyway. Answers were just ahead.
Daniel had finished washing out his shirt and was wringing it out as best he could. It would take a couple hours in some good sunlight to dry it the rest of the way but he didn't mind. The day was proving to be nice so far and those pesky storms from yesterday had all blow by. He dropped the soap bar back into the plastic bag and washed the remaining suds off his hands. The water had been cold but clean and he couldn't help trying just a sample in his cupped hands.
He swished around a mouthful before spitting it out and the next taste he thought about. 'Clean' was the first thought, it reminded him of a training trip to Canada and tasting the spring water from the Saskatchewan range. There were no odors, fishy taste or plant matter grittiness and he was half tempted to drink down a couple handfuls but decided to wait on that. If half a mouthful didn't hurt him by tomorrow at least this creek was clean enough to drink from.
Daniel followed the worn path back to the hut without pause; a smile crept onto his face after a deep breath from the forest air.
"Almost like home..." He half chuckled as he rounded the tree and was about to open the door when movement in his peripherals caused him to stop in his tracks. Whatever had been there stopped too and he heard a sudden startled gasp. Out of reflex, Daniel's shirt and bag transferred to his left hand so he could draw his weapon if the need arose. On turning however, he was shocked to see a purple pony with a dark mane and tail with a two-tone stripe running through both.
Daniel gave a huff at this last thought 'almost' when he noted it was a unicorn with eyes as purple as its coat. What looked out of place to him was the unicorn's horn that peeked out from its mane was glowing with an eerie luminescence.
Twilight had chose that exact moment to pop out of the woods right when Daniel was about to go into Zecora's home. All the 'what if's' were suddenly derailed by a real monster about to break into Zecora's! She had never seen anything like it and by the animal 'skin' hanging loosely from his claws, Twilight knew she had just moments before it either continued to Zecora and her guest or came after her!
The stun spell wasn't particularly powerful but she had been working on it should a Manticore or two happen by. Without another thought she let the spell fly knowing it would only take a second to bring it to the ground.
Daniel had never seen a unicorn use its magic before so he didn't even know what hit him, but he knew what the sensation looked like- purple lightning.
On contact, the spell did something that Twilight had never seen before, let alone ever heard of. The monster threw up an arm in defense when the spell hit but instead of stunning it, the spell ruptured into small light purple lightning bolts that showered off its body and coursed the edges all the way to the ground. But it was much more spectacular.
The little bolts leapfrogged each other as they trailed down the arms, head, torso, legs- it was like the bipedal being was a tall lightning rod and was directing and changing the magic as it sped toward the ground. The lightning flashes were not without sound either and they thundered out angrily at being redirected elsewhere. The crescendo peaked when the bolts hit the ground in several loud 'CRACKS!' Only the width of a claw-tip away from where the creature stood were scorch marks on the soft earth to testify of the event once the sound died away.
To say that Daniel was stunned regardless was an understatement. The after affects of the light show left his body tingling as if he had just finished a marathon. The purple unicorn pony looked to be shocked as well with its mouth hanging open and eyes big as dinner plates. Thankfully on both parties accounts, Zecora had heard the commotion and poked her head out the door to see Daniel and Twilight staring at each other.
"What in Equestria was that sound? Oh Twilight, I see my guest you've found! Do come inside for the food is almost done and we can all share our thoughts once the visit has begun."
Zecora had gone back inside and left the door open expecting them to follow suit but Daniel looked from the hut to the new unicorn 'Twilight' with a certain amount of apprehension. He flexed the fingers of his right hand and noticed no ill after effects of whatever had just happened. The purple pony was still slack jawed from the exchange and visibly flinched when Daniel spoke.
He gave a tight grin with narrowed eyes, "you going to come inside or stand out here all morning?"
Twilight's ears perked up at the sound of 'his' voice, it sounded so masculine that she was certain of that trait. She watched Zecora's guest turn from her and duck his head slightly to go inside.
Twilight's hooves started to move on their own toward the open door; she couldn't believe what she just witnessed! What creature in all of Equestria could shrug off a spell like that? Not even full grown dragons were completely immune from magic- it just took a LOT more to affect them.
Once she was inside and had shut the door, realization hit her like Pinkie Pie from the blue. She had just attacked Zecora's guest without so much as a hello! Twilight groaned inwardly at how this visit was starting and her heart sank even further to see the tall bipedal being helping to set Zecora's modest table with breakfast items. She took a breath to calm her nerves and lifted her saddle bags off with her magic.
"Good morning Zecora, thank you for inviting me over for breakfast. I brought over a few apples with me if you want to use them."
Twilight was attempting a restart to her horrible encounter outside.
"Why thank you Twilight that is very sweet and now we'll have some good fruit to eat!" Zecora was in the middle of scrambling some eggs with green peppers and onions so she employed Daniel for some help, "Daniel if you would be ever so kind please slice those apple for this bowl of mine."
"Sure thing Zecora, I'll handle that."
Daniel cleared a small area next to Zecora's cooking and drew out a conveniently placed chef's knife from the counter top. Again, the well worn wooden handle spoke volumes as to how these ponies got things done. He looked over at the zebra who was currently stirring the eggs by a long wooden spoon clutched in her teeth and Daniel smirked. He looked down at the cutting board in front of him and noticed a lack of apples to cut. On turning toward their visitor, Daniel saw Twilight was rooted to her spot next to the table with four large red apple suspended by that same light purple aurora he had seen earlier. She was eying him with ill concealed fear as he looked her over while holding the two hoof long knife loosely from his left hand.
Daniel exhaled at the stalemate, "perhaps we should introduce ourselves before anything else happens."
Twilight gave a shallow cough into a hoof, "yes, well, I should apologize for that outside. I just... you startled me. A lot."
"So I take it that's not how unicorns normally say hello then."
Twilight could feel the redness building in her cheeks and Daniel raised a brow at how that was even physically possible. To him it appeared as if the fur on her face was actually changing color.
"N-no, no it's not." Twilight deflated, "I'm sorry about attacking you like that. I didn't even consider the fact that you were the 'traveler' that Zecora had told me about last night. Can you forgive me?"
Zecora had heard all of that and was disappointed to say the least, "Twilight it seems you are stuck in the same old tune, have you forgot that lesson on friendship so soon? What did I say about taking a second look and not judging the cover of the book?"
While Daniel didn't really get the implications behind what was said, it had a profound effect on Twilight who seemed to wilt even further with her ears drooping.
"I- I know Zecora and the fact that we had that lesson right here makes it even worse," Twilight looked up nearly on the verge of tears, "Daniel...I-"
He set the knife down on the counter and waved a hand for her to stop, "I meant what I said about introducing ourselves before something else happened and crying before breakfast is 'something else'."
His words were curt and to the point but there was no harshness behind them, Twilight could see in his face that there were no bad feelings harbored.
Daniel looked at his right hand again and wiggled his fingers, "there's no harm done regardless of what was intended, so unless there is some other protocol that I'm missing here-" Daniel extended his hand to her, "-my name is Daniel Hopkins, retired and on vacation, my friends call me Dan."
Twilight couldn't believe absolution could come so simply from him but she also noted the slight ultimatum in the beginning about 'what was intended'.
She gave a sniff and tried to compose herself, "I-I'm Twilight, *sob* Twilight Sparkle, the librarian of Ponyville and s-student of Princess Celestia."
She finished that last part as if she was embarrassed to say it but Daniel could only guess at the meaning there- perhaps her mistake would cause humiliation to that association? He decided not to push the issue and rather accepted her hoof in a friendly shake.
The contact of Daniel's hand to Twilight's hoof was friendly in nature but the equivalent static shock they both received made them jump. The apples Twilight held next to her lost their floating ability and sank to the floor at the same time her horn lost its glowing effect. To her, Twilight didn't feel any different besides the slight shock but they both saw the four apples loose power and sink to lie on the floor.
Twilight looked from the produce to Daniel and his hand still touching her hoof and tried to move the falling items. Nothing, not even a flicker of magic. When they broke contact however, she was able to lift them right back up without any effort at all.
"How did you do that?" Twilight's face was the pinnacle of surprise and wonder as she looked from the apples to Daniel and back again.
Daniel shrugged, again not really understanding what she meant, "I guess static electricity has more effect here than back home."
She was about to argue that it couldn't have been static anything! If that was the case, Rainbow Dash wouldn't be able to move clouds around; Rarity of all ponies wouldn't be able to work with fabric like she did...
Daniel smiled warmly and glanced from her to the still floating produce, "well now that we've cleaned the air, what do you say I get these apples cut up so we can get breakfast going?"
Twilight accompanied him over to the counter where Zecora was finishing up dividing out the meal. Daniel took back up the knife and made quick work of slicing the apples into fourths and plucking out the seeded cores. Twilight was soon mesmerized by his hands and how fast his claws could work. And all it took was a coupe questions granted answers and she recovered to her normal nerdy self. Of course, Daniel took the opportunity to correct her thinking- he had 'hands', not 'claws'.
Breakfast itself was pleasant and cordial with Daniel complimenting Zecora several times on how delicious she made the eggs and just how Twilight had come by such succulent apples! He was partial to golden delicious apples back home but here, oh wow, each of the giant reds were the size of a softball and each bite was crisp, sweet and absolutely euphoric!
Twilight explained that a certain earth pony named Apple Jack owned a farm where all the apples came from and her family was well known for all the treats, dishes, jams and juices that could be made out of that fruit.
Daniel's chuckle lightened the atmosphere further by commenting on the irony of a pony named 'Apple Jack' owning an apple orchard and her entire family actually had the title of "The Apple family". While the females merely passed glances at that, he also had put two and two together and made the connection to Apple Bloom as well. Twilight took the opportunity to ask about that meeting as Daniel shoveled the last bit of eggs from his plate to his mouth.
So while sitting cross legged around Zecora's table with the two looking on, Daniel gave an abbreviated version of the CMC adventure and what brought him to Equestria. Twilight had taken out some paper and a quill to write notes on and it didn't take long for her to fill up nearly ten pages of Q and A.
Only after the dishes were done and breakfast was hours behind them did Zecora make a motion for Twilight to continue her academic studies back at the library. It wasn't overt by any stretch of the imagination but Daniel could tell Zecora did indeed have other things she needed to do and Twilight's constant barrage wasn't giving her a moment to sneak away.
Twilight apologized profusely but unnecessarily at getting distracted by the discussion. Daniel had already packed away his bed and returned Zecora's blanket when the two locals decided to end the visit. Daniel had voiced some concern for actually visiting the town but Twilight wouldn't have it and merely waved it off saying he was more than welcome to crash at her place at the end of the day.
Daniel was putting on his boots when Twilight noticed his shirt hanging from his pack. She was still inwardly embarrassed about the way they met but maybe she could help their progress a bit. Daniel took a look at his still damp shirt and Twilight asked if she could help with it. He shrugged and held it out for her but they came to yet another revelation quickly. Twilight couldn't affect his shirt while he was touching it! The instant her levitation spell tried to grab the cloth, it would ground out in a shower of sparks- although these sparks were harmless and reminded Daniel of a firework sparkler.
Daniel set the mud-tone shirt on the table and only then was she able to pick it up by her magic. Twilight mumbled the impossibilities of it all while trotting outside and glaring at the material in her telekinetic grip. Daniel thanked Zecora for her hospitality and promised to visit again only next time without the headaches. They both shared a coy laugh and he shouldered his pack to follow Twilight out of the hut.
Once in the clearing, Daniel could see her magic holding up the fabric at eye level while wave after wave of ethereal wind took the remaining water with it. She gave it a gentle flip and brought it up for him to see.
Daniel set his backpack on the ground and gingerly reached out to touch his glowing shirt. On contact with his finger the spell shorted out and Daniel's quick hand grabbed the shirt before it could fall to the ground. Twilight was miffed by his ability to cancel out magic like that and Daniel could only shrug. He didn't know how or why it happened either but he was secretly glad for it. He would have to consider the ramifications of it later.
Twilight smiled as Daniel approved of his now dry shirt and slipped it on over his chest. It fit him like a second skin and he took up his pack again and placed his boonie hat and sunglasses. Twilight looked over his appearance with some anxiety as they started walking away from Zecora's hut.
"You know, that whole outfit does make you look rather intimidating."
Daniel shifted his gaze toward her but left his expression neutral, his sunglasses hiding his eyes and the camo boonie hat concealing his brow.
Twilight nervously chuckled, "ya know, I bet Rarity would just love to see you, she makes clothes and would find your attire quite a challenge."
Daniel sighed under his breath, "I don't wear suits or ties, I like clothes that I can get dirty and beat on without getting ruined, and it has to make me invisible in the woods."
Twilight didn't follow but then again Daniel hadn't told her his background. He was sure it would come up eventually; this unicorn was too inquisitive for her own good.
"Why would you 'want' to be invisible so nopony could see you? Is that normal back on your world? I mean, we used something like that once but it was during the dragon migration so we wouldn't be seen." She pointed a hoof to his hat and seemed confused that he would want to wear it all the time.
Daniel wasn't sure he was ready to get into anything too deep with Twilight, so far her naive thinking was a liability and liabilities hurt preparedness. And did she say...'dragon migration'?
,,,^..^,,,
Sweetie Belle had long since finished eating and the fillies had finished their retelling of yesterday. Only a couple questions really got answered and the silence was unsettling. Rarity and Apple Jack had withdrawn from the fillies to talk out in the hall while Pinkie played shadow puppets near the half drawn curtains. How she got so many animal shadows out of her forehooves Fluttershy would never know, but she watched none the less.
Rainbow Dash had taken a more brash approach and had all but demanded they go to Zecora's and meet this human face to face. Her antics were only half received by the other mares and less so by the fillies.
Rarity and AJ made room for the doctor to pass by them and in to check on Sweetie. The tan unicorn with a brown mane and tail wasn't as colorful as most ponies went, but his expertise was evident by his cutie mark. While most in Ponyville wouldn't know it unless they had to visit the hospital, but the monitor screen with a heart rate blip on it was a dead give away to not only his talent but also his profession.
"Good morning Miss Sweetie Belle, how are you feeling after breakfast?" The doc adjusted his glasses with a hoof while levitating her chart in front of him.
"I do feel a lot better now thank you, I didn't realize I was so hungry."
The doctor pony moved a pen from his white smock to write something on her chart before stepping to her bedside. "You were quite lucky that Zecora brought you in when she did Sweetie."
He took out an x-ray and held it up to the light for a quick look.
"What'da ya mean doc? What would've happen'd ta Sweetie?" Apple Jack and Rarity had moved inside to hear what he was saying.
The doctor's blue eyes seemed to be unfocused at something and he slipped the x-ray film back under some papers on his clipboard.
"Well, Miss Apple Jack if you really want to know," he gaze went from Sweetie's bruised leg to the two closest mares, "if she had been a few more hours later, she might have lost her leg."
Several things happened at once and the doctor wasn't sure who needed help first. Rarity threw her hoof up to her forehead and promptly fainted, Fluttershy chose that moment to dive under a table only to find it too small and send it careening into Apple Jack who tripped over Rarity on the floor and fell into Pinkie who was frozen in place with the shadow of a bunny on the wall with a frowny face on it.
Rainbow was hovering in mid air and crossed her hooves on her chest in irritation. "Oh come on! It didn't happen so why are all you pansies acting like that?! She still has her leg for crying out loud!"
The doctor peered over the mares on the floor and gently cleared his throat, "while your astute observation is correct Miss Dash it does not diminish just how close this filly came to becoming a permanent Nightmare Night pirate."
He got blank stares from the adults and mortified expressions from the fillies, "you know, peg leg, eye patch...ah, never mind."
The unicorn doctor levitated up his stethoscope from around his neck and leaned in to listen to Sweetie's breathing and heart beat. Once satisfied, he flipped open his chart once more and make some final notes, "now then, Miss Rarity-"
She was recovering from her drama scene and had come back over to the bed at the mention of her name.
"-Sweetie will be released from our care at the end of the day and should be trotting normally in no time. In fact, she should be able to get out of bed now and get around well enough but we're going to keep an eye on her just in case. We were able to magically heal everything last night but today her body needs to catch up to the healing process itself so watch for swelling, use ice, and no horseplay!" And he looked at Scootaloo and Apple Bloom for the last part.
The doctor made his way out of the room as the rest of the mares were dusting themselves off from being on the floor, not that there was any dirt on the floor anyway.
Sweetie exchanged looks with the other crusaders and at her deep purple foreboding leg. She gave a stuttered sigh and slowly sat up and swung her hind legs off the side of the bed. She lightly touched the bed rail for support as her good leg stretched easily to the ground; the healed leg came next and with it...
"Uuhnn,” Sweetie screwed her eyes closed at the painful pressure but again wasn't near what she remembered.
The others had moved closer to the bed to assist if needed but she showed courage to do it on her own. She quickly went down on all fours to even out the over loaded feeling and found she could indeed get around with only a slight limp. Hugs were exchanged all around while Sweetie got forehead kisses and mane tussles from most. Comments and plans were tossed around between the group while she continued her ginger walk around the room; Pinkie was nearly yelling about a 'You got Well Real Quick' party but was at odds to the title.
Sweetie's face was set in determination and Rarity had to smile at her little sister for coming through such a horrible experience relatively unscathed.
"...and just wait 'til Dan sees that you are all healed up Sweetie!" Scoots was saying and almost bouncing on the edge of the bed. Sweetie gave her a genuine smile and noticed her big sister from the corner of her eye. Rarity had heard the remark and her own smile faltered slightly.
,,,^..^,,,
The two unlikely trekkers talked nearly non-stop the entire time they were moving out of the Everfree Forest, well, one of them did. Twilight was so bubbly with questions and a thirst for knowledge that she bounced in a way that would have made Pinkie Pie proud. Daniel grumbled under his breath about her maturity level being on par with a 5th grader despite the fact that she said she ran the town's library. That item alone was enough for Daniel to draw some rather biased conclusions on the intelligence echelon for Ponyville.
Daniel could see the trees starting to thin and was soon standing in the shadowed edge of the forest. In the rich sunlight beyond a simple stone bridge lay across a stream as wide as the one by Zecora's. Gently rolling hills ebbed away to the North while quaint houses dotted the distance that lead into Ponyville proper.
Twilight was remarking how beautiful of a day the weather team had put together when she noticed Daniel was no longer walking beside her. He had stopped at the small bridge and was looking from the forest to the town in the short distance.
"Dan, is something the matter? We're more than halfway to the library and Ponyville is right there." She pointed the way with a hoof but Daniel thumbed the straps on his backpack in vacillation.
He bit at the inside of his cheek in thought, "Twilight, its very kind to invite me to stay with you and see your town but this isn't what I had in mind." Daniel cast a hand in the direction of Ponyville but didn't voice the dark thought that having so much contact with the 'locals' might strain his sanity.
Twilight couldn't read his body language or see much of his face to draw conclusions from his expressions and his tone of voice was calm and cool, "what do you mean? Ponyville is one of the nicest places in all of Equestria next to Canterlot. I will admit some of the towns-ponies have their quirks but they are all friendly to strangers. And plus you'll be with me so I'll just act as your tour guide until we reach our destination!"
Daniel let his hand drop and used the other to rub his chin, "Twilight I..." he took a breath and let out a long sigh, ”I know I just met you this morning but I've got to ask a promise of you- that is, if you want me to come with you. You've got to promise me that if I say I need some time alone you'll honor that request without question. You're the only person...well, pony in your case, that I know outside of Zecora so... there it is, take it or leave it."
Twilight was having difficulty following the logic of such a request and normally she would have made a standard rebuttal to extrapolate more information but that was part of the appeal itself! Could she hold herself to that level and NOT seek an answer to inquiry?
Her mental gears grated in agony against such a situation and she looked from Ponyville to Dan, "I suppose that wouldn't be too terribly difficult but you must know that there are some ponies there who will want to meet you. Especially after what you did for Sweetie Belle."
He shifted his weight slightly at the little filly's name, "do you know if she's alright?"
Now it was her turn to use some logic to get them moving again, "I was only at the hospital briefly last night and only long enough to hear that she was stable. The girls supposedly went back this morning to check up on her while I came to see you and Zecora." Twilight dangled the carrot...
"We could always go check in on her as part of the tour or once we get you settled at the library, your choice of course."
Daniel kicked a small rock off the path and looked back her with that same neutral expression, "fine, although I'd be much happier just camping out in that forest back there."
Twilight rolled her eyes and took a step off, "why in all of Equestria would you do that when you'll have a roof over your head in Ponyville? Come now, oh! We're so close I can almost smell the bakery at Sugar Cube Corner!"
He fell in step beside the purple unicorn, "close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades..."
She looked up at the odd saying, "what's THAT supposed to mean?"
Daniel gave her a lopsided smile, "hopefully it means nothing here Twilight, but we'll see."
Twilight gave him a confused look and would have asked further if his words about wanting to be alone didn't ring back to her. There was something 'off' about this human, if she could even think 'that' after the scant few hours she had known him. He seemed to be well rounded in most subjects and didn't shy away from topics she brought up, however woefully inadequate they were. Daniel had a certain air of reservation about him that she couldn't quite put her hoof on but in a way reminded her of Fluttershy's personality.
That in itself would need researching and checklists would have to be made to divide the data properly. Twilight was so engrossed in those thoughts that the outskirts of Ponyville was upon them sooner than she realized. Daniel flexed his fists on his pack straps as the dirt road turned to a smooth cobble stone byway and within seconds was truly in another world.
If Daniel had to choose between guerrilla warfare engagements in Central America over walking openly down the busy streets of Ponyville, he would have accepted a UH-47 or HH-60 MEDRET in a hot second.
Everywhere seemed to move with pastel bodies of ponies; from pegasus meandering down the corridors of streets several feet off the ground to earth ponies and unicorns walking and trotting along below. Daniel could see himself going blind from the riot of brightly colored miniature horses had he not been wearing the m-frame wrap around shades. But that was a small comfort considering the sunglasses were having a difficult time reflecting the stares he was now receiving.
Twilight was oblivious to the human's discomfort as she began rambling off places along the way from the costume shop and bowling alley to the hardware store and Quills and Sofas shop. Daniel had been stoic in her musings thus far and on turning a corning walked by the Cafe' as his guide continued her rants.
"...and this is the Ponyville Cafe', they have some of the best snacks and sandwiches this side of Doughnut Joe's shop in Canterlot."
As the two walked past and away from the Cafe' and toward Twilight's home, the wake of stunned ponies behind them began to grow. Looks of surprise, wonder, fear, even disgust loomed along the street and while Daniel didn't rightly think they had an evil bone in their bodies, so many large probing eyes made his skin crawl.
Daniel didn't think he had ever been that nervous even when briefing a military General on a mission. Thankfully nopony had approached them throughout their walk and the next sight that Twilight pointed out was Sugar Cube Corner. The place looked like a hack from Hansel and Gretel's story about a witch living in a ginger bread house and as Twilight went on about the types of treats 'The Cakes' could turn out, he took a moment to really look at the place.
Whoever had designed such a building had either been a certified genius or an authentic wacko. From the ground up, the house was a hodgepodge of architecture and culinary dreaming. The dark pink front door was graced on either side by candy cane-like columns and the walls looked like the texture of cream cheese icing. The roof was a masterpiece of shingles that looked like chocolate cookies over lapping and white vanilla frosting all along the edges where the gutters normally would be. Above the roof and to the left was a purple brick chimney with more 'icing' drizzled around for good measure and a weather vane off to the edge of a pony holding what looked like a real giant peppermint candy cane.
Daniel found himself gazing up at the pink frosted cupcake tower in the center of the roof with three purple candles placed on top. Were those candles actually burning? Daniel was roused from his thoughts by Twilight directing a question at him and he looked down at her.
"...and we could get something to take back to the library with us, I'm sure Spike would like something sweet for his troubles this morning."
Daniel shrugged and agreed that whatever she got would be fine. Although as Twilight stepped inside he should have thought to ask if they make the confectioneries with hay.
A few moments later and several suspicious eyes watching Daniel, Twilight came back outside with a shoe-box sized collection of goodies which she levitated to him to carry. He was grateful to be moving again and even more thankful that the bulk of the inhabitants appeared to be in the market area which they had seen but not gone directly through.
"So what do you think of the town so far Dan?"
Daniel's face was straight ahead but his eyes were ever watching the sides as ponies peaked from windows, closed doors and kept their foals close when they went by.
"I don't know what I was expecting to see Twilight, but it sure wasn't THAT. You grew up here and I'm sure it’s all quite normal for you. But this," Daniel waved a hand at a couple of the thatched roof homes, "this is like stepping through time."
She blinked at his words but didn't really catch the meaning, "Actually I grew up in Canterlot in the capitol and I've only been living here for three and a half years."
They turned another corner that would take them further from the crowds, "and what does 'stepping through time' have to do with Ponyville?"
Daniel pointed out the more modern designs of some of the places like the bowling alley but had a hard time believing that most of the citizens still had straw roofs to keep the elements out. It was some kind of weird cornucopia of ideals that never really meshed. He could have swore he saw a shop called 'Mr. Breezy's Fan Shop' which would elude to the fact that electricity was available but technology wasn't balanced enough to merit the use of or invention of pens? Twilight had been using a feather quill and ink pot for crying out loud!
Twilight had considered some of those things before but only chalked it up to the idiosyncrasies of the small town life. She never thought of the technology that 'was' available as unbalanced and it was accessible to everypony that wanted or could afford it. Most seemed fine without such contrivances.
"Definitely an interesting topic that we'll have to expound further on later but for now, we're home!" Twilight made a mental note to chase that proverbial rabbit later on but the library was in view and Daniel looked relieved.
"Welcome to Golden Oaks Library... and it looks like I've got a couple of customers out front. Let me go see what's going on real quick."
She trotted ahead and gave a greeting to the light purple pegasus with a pink bow in her mane and the pink earth pony with a mint green mane and tail. Both greeted Twilight but didn't look too happy.
"Hi Daisy, Flitter, what seems to be the trouble?"
They both took out their books from their saddle packs and Daisy answered for both of them, "Twilight I came by earlier to return my book I borrowed on Horticulture but the library was closed. I thought maybe I made a mistake with the time so I left and saw Flitter heading this way too who had just seen the time on the clock tower. It was time for the library to be open but it was still locked up tight when we came back!"
Daisy gave a huff at being inconvenienced so and Flitter picked up the rest, "we went to the Cafe' to get a drink thinking you might had stepped out for some business and forgot to leave a note or something. So when we were done, we agreed to try this final time to return our books today. But since you're here now, and I hope there was no trouble, let us give you our books so we can be on our way."
Daniel had slowed a little to take in the enormity of what Twilight dubbed a library and had a small flash back of the Swiss Family Robinson movie from 1960. The Golden Oak Library had indeed been aptly named seeing how it was literally inside a giant oak. From the peculiar framed windows to the many balconies, the place brought a smile to his face in spite of the conversation at the door where he was heading.
Twilight apologized profusely but the two mares wanted nothing more than to return their items and be about their day. That was until Daniel caught up to the group and nearly saw Daisy keel over in shock. Flitter was a little better at the reception when Twilight explained he was just traveling and vacationing in the area. Both the mares had looks of unbelief when she mentioned that he would be staying at the library for the time being.
Daniel gave them a cordial 'have a nice day' as they left and he noticed Twilight quite literally steaming from the encounter. He moved his sunglasses lower on his nose to look at her without the polarized lens thinking it was a trick of light, but no, he could see real steam coming out of her ears.
"Guess there 'was' some trouble here with having the library open while you were gone?"
Twilight gave a toss of her mane and knocked a hoof on the front door only to find it still locked. Daniel saw a twitch in her left eye as she doubled her magic to hold the books up and unlock the door.
"I left the library in Spike's very capable claws and he's either in trouble... or he's going to be!" The calmness of her voice betrayed her expression as they entered the library proper without any lights on. The windows let more than enough light in to see by but Twilight's glowing horn made up the difference.
A soft snoring emanated from somewhere inside and she smiled back toward Daniel as he ducked to enter behind her, "would you excuse me for just a moment?"
"SPIKE!!"
Daniel almost dropped the box of sweets at the volume that Twilight screamed out into the room. He was sure that this pony 'Spike' was in for a rude awakening in the face of Twilight's wrath. Something hard hit the ground somewhere upstairs and a moment later the lights came on. 'Did Twilight have electricity?'
Frantic feet scrapping on the wood floor announced that Spike had gotten up and was moving quick enough to peel the finish. The sight that greeted them both running down the stairs was a hysterical purple scaled creature with green spines that could have only been- not a pony but a dragon, or what passed for a small one. Despite being small in stature, Daniel could see the dragon could move pretty fast when motivated and Twilight blowing her stack was fairly motivating.
"You slept this ENTIRE time Spike?! You were up with me hours ago and I gave you a simple task, one you have handled very well before!"
She probably slammed the two books down on the center circular table harder then she meant to but regardless the dragon got the idea, she was plenty pissed.
"Aw, I'm sorry Twilight honest! I only wanted to get a little more sleep and just lost track of the time." He shifted his gaze nervously to the books and back to the purple unicorn, "a-are those returns? Cause I-I can put them away f-for you."
Daniel couldn't see Twilight's expression but it must have been stark because the little guy could no longer look her in the eyes, "Spike, Daisy and Flitter had been waiting all morning to return their books and who knows how many more ponies came by while you were snoozing. And I was going to reward all your 'hard work' and 'diligence' with some cupcakes from Sugar Cube Corner but I think those will have to wait for now..."
Spike frowned and found something interesting with his feet while Twilight's ire passed like a dark cloud.
Twilight relented, "Spike did you even eat breakfast?"
He looked up at her and shook his head.
She sighed and gave him a frown, "go make yourself some brunch while I get our guest settled upstairs."
Spike had failed to notice the human in light of Twilight's anger and abruptly lost his ability to speak. Twilight walked past him and called for Daniel to follow her. Spike's eyes had grown impossibly wide and his pupil’s shrunk small as peas, he was trying to make some sort of strangled noise but could only stare as Daniel towered by and after Twilight. Daniel's head turned to watch the little dragon as he walked on and he nearly smirked at the level of fright Spike was showing.
Twilight told Daniel he could leave his pack at the top of the stairs while she lead him downstairs to the basement where it was his turn to be shocked. Mounds of advanced machinery lined the area and huge containers lined the wall that glowed with...plasma? How could 'that' sort of technology exist here of all places?! Ducts and tin pipes extended up and through walls that went to who-knows-where.
Daniel took off his shades to view the scene as light-bulbs, or what looked like them, burned brightly with a slight lime hue overhead. Twilight was quickly gathering all the necessary parts of her spare bed and levitated out a thick foam mattress, extra bed sheets, and a couple of pillows. The frame lay against the wall out of the way and she was about to move it upstairs when Daniel stopped her.
When he asked about it she didn't seem fazed at having his bed upstairs by hers. Daniel politely asked that she let him stay in the basement where he could at least have some modicum of privacy but she insisted that her basement was no place to have a guest sleep overnight.
Twilight levitated the bedding up the stairs while he grudgingly totted the frame behind her with relative ease. Somehow the fact that he had slept in the same room with Zecora hadn't felt 'wrong' at the time since she didn't really have a bedroom as it were. Twilight, on the other hoof, did have such a designated room on the second floor and the nonchalant manner she mentioned the bed being in such close proximity to hers was enough to concern even the most battle hardened veteran.
She made quick work of setting up the bed to include all the fresh sheets, pillow and blanket to boot. Daniel brought up his backpack and set it on the foot of the bed and sat down beside it. Again Daniel voiced his displeasure to impose but Twilight just laughed and asked if he was uncomfortable with the accommodations.
"When you've been alive as long as me you get used to certain things Twilight, independence and privacy being the main ones."
She thought this was as good a time as any to get a few more questions out of the way so she snaked a piece of paper and an inked quill to her side and sat on her own bed across the way from him.
"Well I hope this question doesn't sound too forward of me but, how old are you? You are the first male human anypony has seen in Equestria after all. Although I'd have to consult a few history books to be certain..." Twilight tapped her chin in thought and Daniel took a swig of water from his pack.
"I'll be 42 this year come Halloween and hopefully that will make me another year younger." His quip was lost on the purple unicorn across from him.
Twilight scribbled some notes, "forty two years old, wow, you are more than twice my age! Is that considered old or young by human standards?"
Daniel mentally cringed at their age difference and that made the situation feel even more gauche, "well uh, I'm considered middle-aged as far as humans go. I'd say most of us that exercise regular and stay fit are in their prime between 25 and 50 or so. I fall into the 'exercise' group I suppose so I try to keep in good shape."
She was writing nearly everything he said and making notes along the way. Daniel had a mental notion that Twilight could be a court room stenographer with skills like that and when she plucked out another piece of paper to write some more, Daniel asked if he could see what she wrote.
Twilight moved the still wet page to him and warned him not to touch the ink. What Daniel saw blew his ideas on language right out of the water.
"Twilight what kind of script is this?" Daniel narrowed his eyes and tried to make heads or tails of the chicken-scratch rune style writing.
"What? Oh! Sorry, my shorthoof skills are sloppy sometimes but it's still Equestrian proper. Anypony can read it," her demeanor changed at an idea, "this isn't like your written script?"
Daniel shook his head, "this is something I've never been able to read, if I had to guess- maybe Phoenician style, not unlike early Greek but, huh. This is spoken too I imagine..."
Twilight looked on at him like he sprouted a second head, "of course its spoken Daniel, we're speaking it right now. Equestrian is the same whether spoken or written but technically there 'are' some variances in upper and lower class teachings but like I said, anypony can read it!"
He wasn't sure what to make of that, "I'm pretty sure I'm speaking English and it's the most popular spoken and written language on my world. Here, hand me that page and quill, I'll show you."
She obliged but continued on the defense, "I'm speaking Equestrian, YOU are speaking Equestrian! How does your language translate to my language without some sort of spell? That doesn't make sense!"
Twilight leaned over as far as she could to see what he was trying to write and still maintain her lecture, "Language is acquiring and using complex systems of communication in the form of body gesture, verbal speech, tone, hoofwriting- even using slang counts!"
Daniel could agree with most of that but he turned the page around to face her, "here is my language 'English' in writing, it's a simple phrase that the GI's adopted during World War II and oh, almost forgot-" he turned the page around and made a doodle of a man's head with a cartoon nose peeking over a wall and added little hands on the ledge, "-there, finished."
Twilight accepted the paper back and peered at the text as if seeing a new specimen for the first time. In a way that was true.
"Ok, I'll admit I've never seen anything written like this, what does it say?"
Daniel gave a small grin, "Kilroy was here."
She looked from him to the page and back again, "seriously? What does that even mean? And this character, how is it significant to the saying?"
Daniel scratched his chin and explained that it was a joke back in the day and used as graffiti in most cases. The mischievous face and doodle had become somewhat of a national sensation at one point and even before that, other countries had their variations of Kilroy. Early notations of 'Kilroy' was that he inspected ships prior to being sea-worthy, he would put the phrase on parts of a ship that no one could have possibly had access to when it was finished. Thus adding to the mystery of how 'Kilroy' got in between walls, bulkheads, and other impassable areas.
Twilight used the same paper to make notes on while Daniel talked and eventually Spike, after putting away the books on weather patterns and horticulture, ventured upstairs to see just what the two of them were talking about. Spike's head poked up into view from the top of the stairs as he watched Daniel with fascination. Once Twilight was done with yet another page of notes, she noticed the purple dragon spying on them.
"Spike don't be so bashful, Daniel's not going to bite. At least I haven't seen him do that this morning." She tilted her head at Daniel and thought on it.
He could have sworn Twilight knew how to pull off the 'puppy head tilt' look and chuckled at that. "No Twilight I don't bite,” and he was facing Spike when he stated that but turned his eyes to Twilight, "...much anyway."
Twilight's eyes got a bit wide and Spike stopped mid-step, "Ooooo-K, eh hehehe, he's joking Spike," and Twilight narrowed her eyes at Daniel.
He relented, "I 'am' joking Spike. Come on over so I can meet 'cha."
Spike gradually came over to where the human was sitting upright on the edge of the bed and looked up at him. Sitting down, Daniel was still a good head taller but he found some courage with Twilight so close by. Nothing was going to happen that he would regret... he hoped.
Daniel stuck out his right hand for a shake and introduced himself like he had to Twilight. Spike looked at the outstretched hand and down at his own claws.
"Wow Twilight! He has claws almost like mine, how cool is that!"
Daniel rolled his eyes and accepted Spike's scaly digits into his own but Twilight's eyes were fixed on the exchange. Just like before, on contact, a little 'spark' made both Daniel and Spike jump at the feeling and Twilight almost had a fit.
"Wait-wait-wait! Don't let go yet!"
Spike and Dan looked at her curiously while she explained and asked Spike to try to breathe a little fire while touching his hand. He shrugged and turned to the open air away from the two while his right claw was still firmly grasped in Daniel's fingers. Spike took in a lungful of air and exhaled in his normal way to send a letter to the princess. Only this time, grey and black smoke issued out in the place of flames.
Spike's mouth hung open a moment as the dark mist lingered near the ceiling, "eh-heh heh, well that was embarrassing. Let me try that again."
Same thing as before and more black smoke this time that made Spike cough, "w-what happened?! Why can't I breathe f-fire?"
Twilight scribbled madly on a sheet and nodded for Daniel to let him go, "sorry Spike, it's not you, it's Daniel. I believe he has a very strong, if not impossible, anti-magic ability. You couldn't produce flames while he was touching you, try it now."
Spike looked at his claw and back up at Daniel who shrugged at the suggestion. The little dragon turned away again only to find his green flames back to normal.
"Whoa! THAT was awesome Spike!"
Daniel had never seen dragon flames before, probably because they didn't exist back on earth, and was awed by the light green emerald colored fire he could produce.
For Spike, it was nice to finally just be able to talk to another 'guy', hanging out with the girls had its advantages like being closer to Rarity but something clicked between he and Daniel. Even though he wasn't a dragon or even a pony, Spike could sense a level of maturity there that he was drawn to and maybe, just maybe- they might get to hang out.
,,,^..^,,,
Outside the Ponyville Hospital, five figures bantered back and forth about lunch and visiting their missing comrade.
"Ah say Twilight should be back bah now, yall know that mare can't leave Spike alone in that library too long, she starts a 'twitchin' without them books!"
Rainbow Dash was about to agree just so they could all start moving one way or another until Rarity saw what was coming and gave her a look to clam up.
"Hey! Books aren't 'that' bad AJ, I mean, Twi did get me of all ponies to start reading so, yeah... that really doesn't help the argument does it."
Rainbow's attempt to derail Rarity's notions backfired on her and she ended up rubbing the back of her mane awkwardly with a hoof.
"Anyway, since we know that Sweetie is recovering nicely and at least one of us will have to come back to fetch her later on this evening, I say we get some delicious hors d'oeuvre trays from Whitehooves Galley that just moved to Ponyville!" Rarity gave a 'sqwee' of delight that such an up-scale restaurant would consider opening in their humble town.
Apple Jack rolled her eyes and waved everypony to get moving, "Rarity that waterin' hole is too pricey fer jus' tha few vittles that they give ya and we'll be needin' something quick anyhow."
Pinkie Pie waved a hoof as she bounced from side to side in the group trying to get their attention, "Oo- Oo, I have an idea!"
Rainbow exhaled noisily, "yes Pinkie- what IS it?!"
Pinkie took a deep breath and most of them groaned inwardly at the assault on their ears to follow.
"The Ponyville Cafe' is quick and has something for everypony, so why not just get a few doggie-bags to go and I have some edible glitter I can put on Rarity's order so she can still feel up-scale too!"
Fluttershy was the only one that didn't have a shocked expression on her muzzle at Pinkie actually making sense, and her soft voice sounded loud in the wake of silence.
"I think that's a great idea Pinkie and very thoughtful of you to consider Rarity like that, b-but, oh my. I think somepony else might be joining us."
At that moment, none other than Discord himself turned a corner from down the street -looked both ways- and seeing the group, waved and started toward them. Since his reformation and friendship through Fluttershy, he had taken to hanging out with the group whenever the chance came up, much to the chagrin of Rainbow, Rarity and Apple Jack who still wished to keep their association limited. They weren't outright rude to him however, just reserved.
Discord greeted them all cordially and actually appeared to be short on breath. He apologized and went on to say he had been looking for Fluttershy most of the morning. That drew some looks from the other ponies as they walked and Discord rolled his eyes in such a way that his eyes rolled out of their sockets and bounced onto the ground where he caught one and a laughing Pinkie Pie caught the other.
Pinkie was always ready to laugh and despite what they had all gone through had forgiven Discord completely and thought his antics were more riotous now than ever.
He began to gush about how the ponies all over Ponyville were talking about Twilight walking through town earlier with a monster in tow. He was nearly ecstatic that Twilight Sparkle the quote "most serious of the frowny faces" would almost create chaos doing such a thing. Discord almost shed a tear...
"It's almost like she's after my own heart!" And Discord 'drew' a heart shape in front them which turned into a red-velvety real 'Valentine' style heart that started to drift away like a balloon.
Pinkie giggled and tried to catch the heart-shaped balloon but it moved on its own power and just barely evaded her hooves. A couple of the mares behind exchanged pained expressions when Fluttershy invited Discord to join them for lunch and to also accompany them to the library.
"I'm sure that Twilight has everything well in hoof but, you know, just in case she needs help- that is, if you don't mind..."
Fluttershy glanced up at her tall friend walking beside her.
"My dear if you need me to be your knight in shining armor, " Discord snapped a finger and he was covered from head to tail in chain mail and plate armor, "I will rush the tallest castle walls, defeat a mighty foe and with it uphold your honor for ever more!"
Sounds of applause filled the air from out of nowhere as Discord took several bows and earned him even more exasperated looks from those walking with him. Discord produced two brightly colored foam 'swimming noodles' from thin air and tossed one to the ever hyper Pinkie who caught it in her mouth and made a piratey 'AAAaarrrgh'. She suddenly took out a pirate's eye patch and kerchief to place on her head to match the part.
"Ah ha! A mighty pirate that needs vanquishing! Fear not my fair mares, I will protect yoooooouuuu!" And Discord gave chase, well- more or less danced around the street while he and Pinkie mock fought with their foam batons.
"Mah hero..."
Apple Jack's sarcasm was not lost on the others who snickered as they continued down the thoroughfare.