The 5 colorful ponies around me all wore confused expressions. Well except Twilight. The purple unicorn was pulling out a quill, inkwell, and a small leather-bound journal. She looked slightly worried.
“W-war?” squeaked Fluttershy, who Rarity had managed to coax out from under the couch.
“War? What’s that?” Rainbow Dash asked, looking excited. “I bet it’s some sort of challenge. Is it fun?”
I gave her a grave look and shook my head. “Yea, I guess it’s kind of a challenge. But it’s not fun.” The cyan Pegasus seemed to deflate a little at the tone of my voice. I glanced around the room again, trying to think of where to start. At a loss of what to say, my eye fell on the strange mark on Rainbow Dash’s flank. Looking around, I saw all the mares in the room had tattoos of deferent designs on the flanks. What’s with these ponies and tattoos?
My thinking was interrupted by Twilight, who now had readied the book and opened the inkwell, and the quill levitated above the page, surrounded in a sparkling purple aura. A similar aura surrounded her horn. Levitation. Why not? It’s not like this is a land of talking ponies or anything. “I think I’ve heard of war before. In a really old book back in Canterlot.” Come again? One more bad pun and I think I might jump out a window. “It was something that happened long before Celestia and Luna’s time. Long before Equestria was formed.” she shuddered. “I didn’t like that book. It was hard to read, and full of stories of ponies hurting each other, and being generally mean.”
I gave a sad laugh. It was more of a cough, but it got everyone’s attention. “If only.” I said, and 5 horrified looks told me I needed to explain. “If only that was all it was. But it’s more. Much more.” Twilight recovered from her stupor and began to write. “War is people standing against each other, fighting each other, lying, stealing, betraying, hating each other, turning tale and running.” Some point in my speech had hit each of them. I continued. “War is blood, war is plague, war is death. War is killing one another, and continuing even when your friends and loved ones die in front of, next to, and even in your arms. War, war is Hell.”
“I-I think I’m, uhh, going to go check on Pinkie…” Fluttershy stammered.
“Yes, I think I shall go as well. She could probably use my critical eye for the decorations.” Rarity added. I nodded, understanding completely. Why would they want to know about war.
I looked over the other 3 ponies, who seemed intent on riding out the storm. “But war will also bring out a persons true colors. You can never see how strong a man is, until you see them at there weakest.”
Twilight looked up from her notes. “What about friendship? Harmony?”
“Yea, humanity has had it’s fair share of that, too. It will be easier if I just start at the beginning, and do my best to lead you through the rise of humanity.” Three nods told me to continue. I cleared my thought and began to speak. More of lecture, really. I talked at the mesmerized ponies, answering the few questions they had, all while Twilight scribbled ferociously on the paper. I spoke about a few theories on how humanity came to be, then told about the solid facts. For simplicity I started in the 1500’s, shortly after America was found.
I talked for hours. We took a short break around noon (I assumed, provided physics still work in this world.) “Ummm…. What exactly do humans eat?” Twilight asked awkwardly. Well meat is definitely off the menu.
“Apples will be fine.” I said curtly. We ate a quick, silent lunch. After we had finished, The 3 ponies gave me an expecting nod. “In the year 2020, there was a widespread peace across Earth. It was nice, lasting 200 years. Major medical discoveries were made, and it was all over a good time to be alive. But soon human greed and distrust fueled tensions to rise between 2 world super-powers, China and America.”
“And the straw that broke the camels back, was a so simple, it’s almost sad. A pilot was testing an experimental jet. It was going perfectly, but a glitch in the system caused 2 anti-tank missiles to fly off course. By a stroke of bad luck, they struck a Chinese embassy in a nearby town. It killed 1 person. 1 PERSON.” I found myself yelling. The ponies around me were giving me scared looks. I quickly checked my temper and continued. “But the damage was done. America tried to apologize, tried to explain it was an accident. But soon enough there was a full scale invasion on the west coast of America.”
“They still tried diplomacy. But after the massacre at Santa Cruz, the American people screamed for revenge, screamed to avenge the blood of those who had been murdered. In the course of a year, the world was engaged in yet another world war.” I felt my temper rising again as I thought of Santa Cruz. I was only just born when that happened.
The ponies around me could see I was getting angry. “Uhh, maybe we should talk about something else for a while.” Rainbow Dash said, once again casting a worried glance my direction.
“Yea, ah don’t think ah can take much more ‘ave these stories.” Applejack added.
Twilight looked at her notes. We had managed to fill half of her book, with stories ranging from the Trojan War to the beginning of World War III. “Is there anything you want to know?” she asked.
I thought you’d never ask. Anything that keeps me from having to talk about the horrors of war “Yea, a lot actually. First of all, why on Earth, er, well Equestria, does everyone have tattoos on there flanks?” I said, reminded of the earlier question by the sight of the six-pointed star on Twilight’s flank.
“Tattoos? Oh, you mean cutie marks!” Cutie Marks? So a tattoo on there flanks is what those three girls were wandering around a dangerous forest a night for? “Don’t humans have cutie marks?”
“Does it look like I do?” I said quizzically.
“Well I wouldn’t know, your wearing cloths over most of your body.”
Well sorry for not being a nudist. “Whatever, what are they?”
“Well, there a symbol, for when I colt or filly finds out what their special talent is. It shows what they are good at. Most just let it come naturally, but there are some who try to make it happen. Hence the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and Apple Bloom.” So it was like puberty with a lot less annoyance.
“Ok, and what about your government?”
“Well It’s Princess Celestia and Princess Luna of course.” Twilight answered.
“Who?” I asked, still confused.
“What! You don’t know who The princesses are? How could you not know them. Every day Celestia raises and lowers the sun, and every night Luna does the same with the moon.” She said, with all the passion of a zealot who just had his religion called fake.
“Nope.” I said flatly.
“Ugh.. Well I starts with….”
“Hold up, if your going to tell the whole history of Equestria, I’m going to go help Pinkie.” Rainbow Dash said, obviously not interested in the history she had probably heard over and over again.
“Right behind ya.” Applejack said as they trotted out the door.
“Well anyway, it’s starts with…” Twilight began to talk about what she called the tale of the ‘Mare in the Moon.’ She told about 2 alicorn sisters who controlled the sun and the moon. She then told about the fall of the younger sister, forcing the older to wield a powerful magic called the Elements of Harmony, using it to banish the rebelling sister to the moon for 1000 years. Talk about harsh.
She then told of how on the 1000th day the younger broke free of her prison, causing Twilight and her 5 friends, one of which being the mysterious Pinkie Pie, who I had yet to meet, to become bearers of the 6 Elements. Rainbow Dash embodied the Element of Loyalty, Rarity the Element of Generosity, Applejack Honesty, Fluttershy Kindness, Pinkie Pie Laughter, and Twilight Sparkle being the 6th, Magic. Sure it sounds cheesy, but this is also a world of talking ponies.
“Well also there was the time where we had to…. Do you hear that?” She said, completely forgetting her lecture. I tilted my head, straining my ears to hear anything out of the ordinary. All I heard was a slight buzzing. “That must be Scootaloo on her scooter.”
Not sure what to say, I just followed her as we walked out of the house. It was getting to be late in the day, and I could see the sun was almost to the horizon. We probably have about another hour of daylight. Looking around, I saw the small cottage was set on top of a small hill, with bird houses in a tree out front, it looked like the ultimate animal lovers paradise.
I looked down the path that headed away from the house, and could see a small figure zooming my way. As it got closer, I saw that the it was Scootaloo on a scooter, using her wings to make her go faster. When she saw Twilight and me standing outside the door, she started going faster.
She came to a skidding stop at my feet and started unleashing question after question. “Sol! Your awake! Are you ok? You just collapsed. Were you sick? Are you better now? Do you want me to-” the stream of questions were cut by Twilight shoving her hoof in the small pegasus’s mouth.
“Yes, sort of, more or less, and no, I don’t need anything.” That seemed to get the orange pony to calm down. “Was there something you needed?”
“Mff.” Spitting out Twilight’s hoof, she continued. “Yea, I came to check on you since it was me and the girls’ fault you got hurt. Also Pinkie Pie says the cupcakes are done.” She said the last part to Twilight, who looked relieved.
“Ok, go tell her we’re on our way.” She said.
Scootaloo nodded and raced off, calling back to me, “Bye Sol, see you later.”
I turned to look at the unicorn besides me. “Where exactly are ‘we’ going?” I asked.
“Sugarcube Corner. We’re going to go pick up some cupcakes.” she said as she levitated a pair of saddlebags out of the cottage and rested them on her back.
“Okay….” I said, unsure. Then again, it’s not like much harm can come from cupcakes. “Where exactly is Sugarcube Corner?”
“Oh it’s in Ponyville.” My purple companion answered as she began to trot down the path.
“Um, I don’t really want to, um, draw a crowd.” I said. I didn’t really like being in front of crowds. I preferred to be far out of sight. Much easier to do things when your unnoticed.
“Don’t worry, you won’t.” Twilight said with a hint of humor in her voice. Great. I have a feeling we are not just picking up some cupcakes. He walk along the trail in silence. Twilight was deep in thought, and I was simply trying to memorize my surroundings.
We arrived at Ponyville soon enough, and I was utterly speechless at the sight. The houses where old style, but at the same time very new. Everything was colorful and full of life. But what really shocked me was how peaceful it was. I had never seen peace like this. My entire life, there was the shadow of the war hanging over my head. There was no war here, no violence. Just peace. Harmony.
Sugarcube Corner looked more like gingerbread house then a real house. It looked like a sugar addicts dream house. As I looked around the empty town, something began to bother me. “You sure we’re in the right place? I asked. “Where is everyone?”
Twilight looked at me expectantly. “Yea we are. Don’t worry about it, just go inside.” Not sure what else to do, I opened the door. It was dark inside, and seemed to quiet. But when I started to back away, Twilight probed me in the back to go forward. I crouched down to get through the low door, and took a step inside and…
“SURPRISE!!!”
The lights flew on and I was tackled to the ground. Looking around, I saw ponies everywhere. All colorful and bright, with cutie marks and party hats galore. I turned my head and found myself face-to-face with a pink pony, with a darker pink main and a tri-balloon cutie mark.
“Hi! My name’s Pinkie Pie! Are you surprised? I threw this party for you. It’s you welcome to Ponyville party. I through one for everypony who is new here. But your not a pony. Your like the people on the other side of the Wall! Have you ever-” Her talking was cut off by a white hoof over her mouth.
“Darling, don’t you think we should let our guest up off the floor?” Rarity said, pulling Pinkie Pie off my chest. I stood up and gave her a thankful nod.
“What wall?” I asked, confused that there might be other humans here.
“Oh, darling, don’t mind her, she’s…” She paused looking for the right word. “strange, at times.” This whole world is strange most of the time. I watched as Pinkie Pie hopped around the room, mingling with guests and asking ponies if they are enjoying the party. My eyes fell on Twilight, who was having a hushed conversation with Rainbow Dash in the corner, who then flew out a nearby window in a hurry.
I was about to go see what that had been about when a group of ponies came up to me, looking slightly shy, a little afraid, but mostly awestruck. So much for laying low. I thought as I readied myself for the torrent of questions and introductions that was sure to come.
I spent the better part of an hour answering questions, having ponies introduced to me, and overall just feeling extremely awkward. A little while after she departed, Rainbow Dash returned carrying something in her mouth. I didn’t get a good look as she hurried into the kitchen, followed by Twilight.
Finally I got done talking to the last of the ponies, taking note of her name and profession. Not like I was going to remember it, but I might as well try. Looking around, I found the focus of the party was finally off me. Everypony in the room had their eyes on Pinkie Pie, as she stood on a table rattling off joke. I didn’t get most of them, but that didn’t really matter.
Twilight came trotting up to me, levitating two cups of punch. “I thought you might need a drink after having to answer the same questions over and over.” I took the cup she levitated to me and nodded thankfully. I took a sip of the fruity smelling punch, and found it to be an amazing mix of berry flavors, with something else that I couldn’t put my finger on. “Umm, can we talk someplace a little more quiet?” Twilight asked. As long as there won’t be 10 ponies drilling me with questions all at once. I nodded again and followed her to the kitchen.
As soon as we entered the kitchen, the door slid shut behind us, muffling the noise from the party. Twilights expression changed from the happy smile she had been wearing to a worried frown. That’s a little odd. Then again, in this world, what isn’t? I took in my surroundings. The kitchen was surprisingly modern. Rainbow Dash was standing in the corner mixing batter in a bowl. I didn’t really take her for a cook.
Twilight turned to me. “I’m sorry for this, but it’s just, well, your dangerous, aren’t you?” She asked.
I was utterly confused, and was about to say no, but I thought about the scars lacing up and down my body, and the combat knife at my belt. It’s so obvious, no point in lying. “Yea, I guess I am.”
Twilight gave a sad smile, and I was about to ask what she was sorry about when a wave of nausea hit me like a train. I stumbled against the nearby wall. What’s going on. I thought, desperately trying to think of what happened, my eyes caught on the shattered glass of the cup I dropped.
Poison! I thought frantically, fighting off the urge to lie down and sleep. Looking at the 2 ponies in the room, their sad expressions on their innocent faces, I realized it was probably nothing deadly. Probably just something to incapacitate. I fell to a knee, bracing myself with my hand. Incapacitate then probably lock up. Clever girls… I thought as I fell to the floor, unconscious.