//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 // Story: Torn Between Two Worlds // by Alex Barkhorn //------------------------------// "C'mon, Twi! Ya gotta try harder!" I pried my half closed eyes open when I heard more hushed voices. "I'm trying!" I sighed, and closed my eyes again. Seems like last night wasn't a dream after all. I was still debating whether or not it was a good thing. "Well try harder!" I furrowed my brow in slight annoyance, before sitting up in bed and throwing on a plain black shirt. "Don't pressure her, Rainbow Dash! Twilight, dear, we all know you can do this," I exited my room and made my way to the guest room, and opened the door, seeing all the girls huddled around Twilight. They all turned to stare at me with wide eyes. I quirked a brow and spoke. "Um...What is it that you're doing that needs to wake me up at," I paused to check my cellphone. "...Eight in the morning?" I finished, rubbing my eyes. "Oh, I'm so sorry Alex," Fluttershy said apologetically. I surprisingly gave a small smile when I saw she was still wearing my red jacket. "Sorry, Alex. We're just trying to see if I can get some kind of magic spell to at least contact Equestria." Twilight explained, closing her eyes and concentrating on something. "Any luck?" I asked, though I already knew the answer. The girls shook their head no in response, and I sighed, shaking my head. "Sorry...At any rate, c'mon. I'll make us some breakfast," I said. Pinkie, obviously, was the first one up and out the door with a spring in her step. I looked back at the others, who followed with...less enthusiastic attitudes. "So...What should we do today?" Dashie asked, rolling an apple back and forth on the table, resting her head on said table. I glanced at her and shrugged, flipping a pancake. "I'd say we just stay here, learn as much as we can, until Princess Celestia sends a search party...If that's even possible..." Twilight guessed skeptically. "Learn? About what?" Applejack inquired, fixing the brim of her hat. Why she insisted on wearing that inside, I honestly don't know. I didn't bother questioning. "I'd guess the customs and different ways of this world. And the fashion...These dresses we're wearing are quite beautiful," Rarity replied. "I agree with Twilight," I chimed in, causing them all to look at me. "I...I dunno how long you'll be here. But, you'll need to get used to things here. An easy way to do that, is the Internet," I said while serving them two pancakes each. They stared at the food, and back at me. I facepalmed, and quickly demonstrated the proper way to eat this. Seems like even I would have to get used to this. "Anyway," I said, after they mastered the art of the pancake. "Like I said, you can use the Internet to find things you need," I said again. "What's the...In-ter-net?" Fluttershy asked sweetly. I couldn't help but chuckle at how she drew out the word. "The Internet," I started, grabbing my black laptop from the couch, "Is a giant database shared by multiple networks around the world," I explained with a smile. They all looked at me as if I were crazy, and I rolled my eyes. "Think of it as a giant library that can find anything at anytime." I elaborated, earning drawn out 'Oh's from the girls. I chuckled and ran the Internet application, and they stared in wonder. "Now, I'm pretty sure your language is similar to ours, considering you're speaking it. So, you use this keyboard," I explained, pointing at the various lettered keys, "To type in what you want. And this mouse pad," I added, running my finger along the pad, "Controls this little guy, your cursor, that is like a link to different pages and sites." I said happily. Again with the crazy looks. "Oh, boy..." I sighed. About an hour later, I got them used to the basics of the Internet. I left Twilight in charge of it, as she was the scholar of the group, while I jumped in the shower. While inside, I couldn't help thinking about how insane this all was. It blew my mind that I got dizzy, and nearly doubled over. It was either that, or past health problems - "Alex?" A voice that was oddly clear rang out. I looked over at the glass door of the shower, and saw a figure on the other side. I shrieked and slipped, falling right on my rear end. "Alex! Are you okay!" Twilight asked. Thankfully, the steam not only covered a majority of the shower, but also latched onto the glass sliding door, making it so she was only a dark and blurry silhouette. "Twilight? What the hell are you doing in here, I'm in the shower!" I shrieked. "Oh, well, I was just wondering what -" "It can wait! Now get out! Things are different here, we wear clothes for a reason, and I have none!" I yelped, and she must have gotten the hint, and quickly exited the bathroom. Unfortunately, she didn't bother closing the door. I huffed and facepalmed. Those poor, naive girls... I exited the bathroom, feeling a bit better, despite the interruption. Twilight and I avoided eye contact for a few minutes as I answered their questions. "Alright girls," I began, buckling my belt and lacing up my boots. "I'm going over to a friend's house for a little bit. I'll try and speed it up, so I should only be gone for a couple of hours," I told them, and they nodded in understanding. The TV seemed to occupy most of them, save for Twilight, who was still surfing the web. The sight made me smile, and also gave me a sense of relief. Now I wouldn't have to be depended on for much. A knock at the door caught me by surprise, and I went to check out who it could possibly be. I buttoned up my light flannel, which had been giving me issues, and looked through the peephole. "Alex!" Grayson called out with a chuckle. "You even awake yet?" He asked with another chuckle. I turned and leaned against the wall, beginning to hyperventilate. "Oh, seven hells..." I gasped, earning Fluttershy's attention. "What's wrong, Alex?" Rainbow Dash asked. I shook my head vigorously in response. "Nothing, nothing!" I replied hastily. I gulped and turned towards the door, quickly opening it and slinking out before Gray could look inside. "H-hey, man! What're you doing here?" I asked, finishing my sentence quickly. "I thought you'd have forgotten, so I came here so we can work on my paper," He replied. "Did I hear someone in there?" He asked, pointing at my door. "What? Oh, no, no! I was just watching tv and forgot to turn it off! Yep, but, it's on a timer, so, let's get goin' to your house, and - " "Alex, jeez, calm down! Did you drink an energy drink this morning?" He asked with a chuckle, going to open my door. "Gray, don't-!" He swung the door open, revealing the six girls sitting a couple yards away, all of them looking at Gray with wide eyes. He raised a brow and turned to me. "Six girls? Heh, damn, Alex! No wonder you didn't return my call this morning!" He said with a wink, nudging me in the side. Fluttershy was the first to react, crawling into her proverbial shell by letting her hair cover the right side of her face, looking at the ground, and bringing her knees to her chest and hugging her legs against her. "Um...Alex, who's this?" Applejack asked, lifting her hat up to get a better view of Gray. "He's...A friend." I replied slowly. Gray raised a skeptical brow at them all, and I could tell he was beginning to go deep into thought, what with his gunmetal-grey eyes racing around in short intervals. "Alex..." He began, pointing at them. "Who are they?" He asked. "I'll answer that!" Pinkie began, standing up with a wide grin. "No!" Six voices rang out, mine included. "I'm Pinkie Pie! And this is Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, and Applejack!" She exclaimed in a sing-song voice, and pointing at each girl as she went on. Gray only scoffed and waved her off. "Nice try, Alex. I may be a fan, but I'm not a die-hard." He said with a smirk. Pinkie raised a brow at him. "Whattaya mean?" She asked, leaning against his shoulder and crossing her legs. "I mean, I'm confused as to why Alex got a bunch of girls to act like the ponies from My Little Pony." He said, as if it were obvious. "Wait, what?" Applejack asked flatly. "Heh, Alex, c'mon. Tell them to drop the act." Gray said, giving me another nudge. I just looked at him, with my mouth agape, trying to figure out how to word things. "Alex, seriously, I..." He trailed off, looking at all of them. His eyes started darting around again, and took in all of their features, the way they spoke, and finally, right before he passed out, I could swear I followed his gaze to Fluttershy's chest. Some people never change.