//------------------------------// // A Way With Ladies // Story: Across the Otherverse // by Thiocyanate //------------------------------// "Alright, I think I'm understanding this a bit, outside of the multidimensional travel part, I doubt I can help you with that." Kyria's expression had been that of understanding but with a grim overtone to it. "But I suppose if you're gonna need a way to get back home, you're gonna want to try to find some information on it. I'm not sure if Jonas has shared the whereabouts of the library with you six, he has right?" Kyria's gaze shifted to Jonas in a particularly cool, yet piercing manner. Before Jonas had a chance to answer, Twilight stepped up and said, "Don't worry about it, Jonas has been very kind to us since our arrival and has made sure we got a proper tour." "Hehe, ooh Jonas, you're such a sweetheart~" teased Richter in a sing song voice, who flinched somewhat expecting a slap from his female companion. To his surprise, Kyria simply looked over at Jonas and chuckled at the thought of Jonas trying to romance some ponies. Jonas, never one to be too proud, simply went along with the laughter. "Soooo, I hate to break up the love fest but, this isn't really helping us get out of here..." Rainbow Dash said impatiently, her nerves were still too racked to fly properly so she just sat down lazily to cover up any shaking. Twilight and Applejack both shot her harsh looks of disapproval. "I am sorry to break this up but we do need to get to the library and hopefully learn more about this. We have a home to get to." A look of humiliation spread over Jonas' face, "Right... Well, Richter, Kyria, if you two aren't planning on anything why don't you tag along with us and try to find some information to help these poor things home." Jonas' sincerity was pronounced, as was usual to his two companions. "Alright alright, fine but first, let's learn each other's names." Richter's face showed some honest seriousness for the first time since meeting the ponies. "So, I'm sure you've already got that Jonas is him, Kyria is her, and I'm Richter. Hell, I'd be surprised if you didn't." His tone slowly reverting back to his carefree attitude. "So as far as ah take it, you're the slacker." hissed Applejack, never being one to tolerate people with his sort of attitude. "Whoa whoa there sweet thing, I'm just as hard working as anybody. You must not be aware of my fighting skills." "Er, fightin' skills?" Applejack's voice had risen in a slight confusion, 'What good would fightin' skills do anypony...' She thought for a quick second before Kyria broke her thought "Yeah, honestly the only reason we keep this loud mouth around is because of his ability to hold his own in a fight." "Ouch Kyria, I'm hurt..." Richter said in a fake sympathetic voice, only to receive a full throttle slap to the face which sent him flying off his feet. "Hehe... How about now..." Kyria's smile of self satisfaction appeared along with a chuckle from Rainbow and Applejack. The library was just within reach, each pony each eagerly waiting to see what was inside, although none more than Twilight, Rarity, and Fluttershy. The first thing that the ponies had noticed were the walls, which were made from the base of the tree and adorned with majestic patterned windows that depicted on one side, a man in a white cloak who shined light over every shadow, and on the right, a man in a black cloak that showered the land in darkness. Rarity looked up to admire the artwork on the tree, for being such a simple village, they sure knew how to make it look presentable. Twilight also noted the resemblance to Princesses Celestia and Luna and figured this was this world's equivalent. The group passed by two statues of men wielding spears in a suit of sharply pointed armor as they entered the arching doorway that lead into the tree. It was the sight inside that nearly made all of the ponies' jaw's drop, the exception being Pinkie Pie who was preoccupied in her own thoughts of finding brand new places to party. The floor and walls were so elegant! It rivaled that of Princess Celestia's chamber! The floors were a delicate light blue marble tiling that spread out in designs of sharply angled purple walkways. The walls were partially hidden by the columns that dropped from the ceiling in a manner far from ordinary, yet kept its regal appearance. The only thing amiss was that there were only a couple of bookshelves that had been purposefully shoved to the side to let in the light of more elaborately designed windows. "This Seria certainly knows how to live in style! Oh I can't wait to see just what kind of clothes she designs!" Rarity couldn't help but think out loud in an excited voice. "But, that's it on the books?" The disappointment in Twilight's voice was evident, "This just won't do at all!" Her voice trailed off as she began to sort through whatever was available, Jonas and Kyria right behind her. Rarity and Fluttershy broke off from the group to try and find Seria. Rainbow Dash and Applejack stayed back, only to be involuntarily forced to chat some more with Richter. Needless to say, Richter liked these two ponies with attitude. "So anyways, you two never told me your names." Richter said with a smooth touch to his voice. "Well since you're so gosh dang persistent." Mumbled Applejack. "Ah'm Applejack, ah'd say pleasure t' meet ya but ah'm sure you're enjoyin' this way more than ah am." "Oh please, Applejack I know you find me annoying but we can be friends right? I'm sure we come from the same tree, you know... Rough and tough past amongst the other kids you grew up with, you were the only one to want to get dirty, am I right?" "Yeah, ah'd say you're as close as ya'll can get." "You are an honest hard worker, I respect that in anybody, much more from a pony. I would imagine being a pony has a lot of hardships compared to being a human. In fact, I think you probably work three times as hard as any human could possibly, and that's only going off of your lack of hands!" It became hard for Applejack to stay angry after hearing Richter get it so perfectly. "Haha. Maybe ah was a bit too quick t' judge" Applejack couldn't really hold her grudge against Richter for having a quick wit, especially not when they had quite a bit in common. "And now for you." Richter's eyes turned to Rainbow Dash, she had started to lighten up but wasn't fully recovered from her brush with Richter. "Care to tell me your name?" Rainbow couldn't figure out the proper words to come to her mouth, she was still shocked that anybody, let alone this guy standing right before her, could be fast enough to simply slam her out of the air. Her! The only pony able to break the sound barrier, had been just grabbed like some baseball casually tossed aside! "I'm Dash..." Was all that Rainbow could formulate as her ego got the best of her. The next feeling caught her completely off guard... Richter had placed his gloved hand on her rainbow mane and said, "Look, I'm sorry if I upset you by how rash I acted." It was almost as if he could read her mind, "I'm loyal to my friends almost to a fault. Naturally I'd be a little skeptical about you. Just as I'm sure you were about me." Rainbow's eyes brightened as she turned up to look right at Richter, "You think you can forgive me?" Rainbow, who was moved by the words but wouldn't dare let it show simply said, "Yeah yeah, I forgive you, but next time you try me in a speed contest." Her words paused as a fire burned in her eyes "You're toast!"