//------------------------------// // Let's Meet the Ponies! // Story: Kindred // by Ajulex //------------------------------// “An’ you ain’t got any idea how t’get him back?" “...not...at the moment, no, but I’m sure with some research and studying-” “Shoot, Twi, imagine how he must feel!” the pony with the southern drawl, Applejack, was getting heated up. “Ah doubt he wants to be some guinea pig while you ‘might’ be able to ‘somehow’ find him a way home!” She added. I sighed, pulling my beanie back down over my messy hair. “Applejack, chill out.” I said finally. The orange mare had been ripping the princess a new one ever since she got here. “I trust she’s going to do whatever she can, but the fact of the matter is she has no clue what is going on or how to fix it.” I defended her. Twilight seemed to be slightly upset that I pointed out how blind even SHE was to this, but I didn’t care at the moment. I had been in shock for a few hours, the other four-Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Rarity-having arrived soon after my whole dream rationalizing episode. Twilight had guided me to the couch where I had just laid down, staring at the ceiling as my brain throbbed trying to understand what the actual fuck was happening. Twilight had taken the chance to explain to them who and what I was, and they had been discussing various things ever since. If I were to be trusted, where I would stay, general things you’d discuss if you mean a strange sentient creature with no information about it. Applejack just pursed her lips. “Ah...Ah know that, but still-” she began, only to be interrupted by Rainbow Dash. The pegasus had been reclining atop the bookshelves after getting over the initial shock of seeing me. “Put a cork in it, AJ. He just told you himself that he’s fine.” She retorted. “You’re kinda the only one still on edge about the whole thing.” She rolled over, letting one of her hooves dangle over the edge of the bookshelf. “Right, Justice? You’re gonna be just fine here.” She said with a grin. I just shrugged. “Like I really have a choice.” I grumbled. “But, yeah, Applejack, I appreciate the concern, but they’re right. I just gotta grab a straw and suck it up. I’m here, can’t change that.” I said, surprising myself with my rationality. Maybe I’m still in shock. Or my brain is doing some weird acceptance psychology….stuff. Twilight cleared her throat. “And that takes us to the next order of business. I sent a letter to Celestia and she replied promptly, saying to keep an eye on him, but otherwise treat him with respect and friendship.” She said, nodding to a letter laying on the table. I had personally watched the little dragon belch it up. Freakin’ magic. Where had the dragon gotten to, anyway? “Well, I for one think this is a wonderful opportunity!” I turned to see the white mare speak up. Oh, there he was, sitting beside her with such a lovestruck look that it made me want to snort. So THAT’S how it was. Rarity turned to me with a smile. “It isn’t often one gets to interact with a, no offense to you, Justice, alien species.” She said. She had been eyeing my clothes for quite some time, and I kept telling myself she was a clothing designer or something and not something more sinister and perverted. “None taken. It’s the truth, right?” I shrugged. Finally having taken all that I could, my hands darted up and I snatched the pink pony out of midair as she jumped over my head for the bajillionth time. “Hey. You should sit down.” I said, setting her on the ground. They were surprisingly light. Not like feathers, but I could lift them with ease, which I wasn’t expecting. “Sorry! I’m just so excited I think I’m gonna explode! What’s your favorite color? What kind of food do you eat?” She began rapid-firing questions. “What kind of…” I gently pushed her face to the side as she continued, but I ignored her. She didn’t seem to mind...or notice, actually. I turned back to the others. “Like, er, Celestia?” Twilight nodded. “Like Celestia said, we should just...go about the days. I’ll do whatever you need me to to try and find a return...spell, or whatever. But we’re not doing anyone any favors sitting around and freaking out about it. This is coming from the horse's mou-bad choice of expression, I apologize.” I said quickly. Twilight smiled. “Alright. Well, I suppose you could stay here...I don’t know where you would sleep though, there’s only the one bedroom. I’m sure I could get some blankets and make the couch a little more cozy…” she said thoughtfully, turning to look back at her living room area, separated from the library part. “Nonsense, Twi.” Applejack spoke up. “The Apple house has plenty a’ extra bedrooms. But yer gonna have to carry yer weight, y’hear? Hard work on th' fields.” She said, faux-sternly, to me. I nodded readily. “Of course. I don’t like being a burden.” I said. “What kind of work is it?” Judging by the name Sweet Apple Acres, I had a pretty good guess. But asking would probably be a good idea, for appearances sake. “Harvestin’, plantin’, waterin’, general farm work. Er, do you have farms on your world? Ah reckon Ah could explain it if’n you need me to, but-” I cut her off with a curt shake of my head. “No, we have farms. I used to live on one as a kid.” I said. I probably shouldn’t mention I specialized in horseback riding and tending the barn. That might be weird. “I got this.” I said with a chuckle to ease the tension. I was obvious they were still at least a little nervous about me. And that was completely understandable. I would just have to do my best to prove to them I was no threat. Well, I didn’t THINK I was a threat. I have no idea if me coming to this world was some omen of dark times to come, or if it was just some trans-dimensional hiccup, or some other form of mindfuckery. All I knew is that I genuinely didn’t want to hurt any of them. They seemed nice. Rainbow Dash might come off as a little...brash, and Rarity a little posh, but hey, everyone had their flaws. Twilight smiled. “Well then, it’s settled. I’ll send him over tomorrow, Applejack. I’d like to take today to get some basic information and readings on him so I can begin my studies-oh, if you’re okay with it, that is, Justice.” She blushed and looked over to me, catching herself in steamrolling away without asking me. I waved a hand dismissively. “It’s fine. Sure, I don’t mind.” I said to her. “But like I said before, no needles. Needles are still evil. I bet they plot to take over the world….” I said darkly, drawing a chuckle from the seven around me. Unable to keep a straight face, I crack a grin. “You’re pretty funny, aren’t ya?” Rainbow asked from her perch. I just shrugged, adjusting my glasses. “Yeah, but looks aren’t everything, y’know?” More laughs. My plan was going perfectly. Tension level rapidly decreasing. “So, speaking of which,” I said, despite my question having nothing to do with the previous topic, “Would I be able to get something to eat around here? I haven’t eaten since...well, my break from work yesterday.” I said, my stomach oh-so-conveniently growling at the perfect moment. “Oh, of course! I didn’t even think of how hungry you must be!” Twilight said, sounding flustered. She sure doesn’t like not having everything planned, huh? “I normally don’t eat at home, so we’ll have to go out somewhere to eat. It’ll give you a chance to meet some other ponies, get them used to seeing you around.” she reasoned, to which I nodded. “And this’ll be a good chance to see what you eat, and how your body can handle our food.” Aaaaand there’s the study part I knew was coming. A real charmer, this one. “Yeah, that’s cool.” I replied. “We can have a big lunch party, it’ll be great.” I chuckled. I guess I said a trigger word, because Pinkie Pie gasped in my ear. Ow. “Oh my gosh, your kind has parties!? This changes everything! I have to go plan one for you RIGHT NOW!” She said, somehow hovering in midair before darting out the door. I just blinked in stunned silence. “Well, maybe that’s actually a good idea.” Twilight said after we had recovered. “It’ll be a much faster way to introduce you to everypony. And Pinkie is one of, if not the best baker I know.” She said with a warm smile. Oh boy, a party. I caaaaan’t wait. If you can’t tell, that was sarcasm. “Dandy.” I said, rubbing my face and reaching into my pocket to instinctively check my phone. Of course, the first thing that greeted me was a ‘No Service’ icon in the lop left. I had no missed calls or texts to speak of, which made sense as I would have woken up to check them last night. It was times like this where I wish I had downloaded any games to the damn thing. Luckily, I had my 3DS case in my jacket pocket, though I had no clue if they had wall outlets or anything of the sort to charge it. I guess my nerdiness would have to take a dip in activity here, with nothing to fuel it. Which might be a good thing. I should be spending more time exercising anyway. Not that I was out of shape, but I was aiming to join the Air Force soon...well, I HAD been. A sense of melancholy swept over me as me emotions finally caught up abruptly. Will I ever see my dad and stepmom again? I didn’t have many friends, but what about them? Was time passing there at this very moment? Would everyone be missing me? Would they think I ran away, or got kidnapped? I took a shuddering breath as I tried to calm myself. I needed to relax, and follow my own advice. Worrying about it would not change a thing. “You alright, sugar cube?” Applejack asked as I opened my eyes. That’s a hilarious pet name though, given the relationship between Earth horses and actual sugar cubes. Made me wonder if that was some sort of...bleed effect between the world, or really just some sort of coincidence. “Just...wondering about home, y’know?” I said with a poorly disguised chuckle. “I don’t want to be taken as dead on my planet. I don’t even know if time is passing at the same rate. For all I know, a million years could have passed in my universe by now, and everyone I’ve ever known could be…” I swayed slightly. Who was spinning this room so fast? Why would they do that to me? The next thing I knew, I was laying on the ground, the five ponies and one dragon gathered around me, their voices distorted. “They’re dead...they’re all dead...oh God….” I found myself murmuring to my breath. I had no control over it. My brain was just gushing out my suppressed misery and despondency and hopelessness of the situation, my emotional dams I spent years patting down having burst in one fell swoop. I couldn’t stop myself. Twilight murmured something to the others that my brain refused to process. I heard the door open and close, and felt a warm pressure all around me. I was lifted from the ground, but my body couldn’t even register shock or surprise. I was laid on the couch to my own devices, Twilight and Spike vanishing upstairs. My breath still coming in hiccups, my emotional and physical weariness overwhelmed me and I quickly fell asleep. --- I...I was falling. I could see myself, right there. I was watching myself fall from the heavens like some sort of demented comet. I looked down to see I was floating in midair, suspended by some unseen force. I looked back up to watch myself fall again, and noticed how slow I was moving. If I were really falling, I should have been going exponentially faster. Rather, I was being gently placed down in the snow. Was this what happened in the dead of night? Was this how I arrived? Look up... I started, placing a hand on my chest as I heard a voice in my head. I obeyed, turning my face to the slightly cloudy night sky. Other than the ripe moon that consumed the sky, beset by a strange image in the craters, I saw a single shooting star. My heart lept into my throat as a memory suddenly came back to me. Hearing footsteps, I turned around to see I was now on the ground and the memory was playing before me. I watched myself walk down the street, earbuds in as they usually were, isolating myself from the world. Other me shoved his hands his pockets and squinted as he looked up. Following his gaze, I saw a shooting star above us, tearing through the sky. "Pfft, fat chance." I heard Other Me say. "If those things actually worked, the world would be so much different than it is." He grumbled, grumpy from dealing with midnight launch customers. He slowed to a stop, looking up again. "And yet...what have I truly got to lose?" He mumbled. He took a deep breath, then closed his eyes. I...I remember this now. What was the stupid thing I had wished for? I couldn't recall....it doesn't matter. "Then that's our wish?" I turned again to see the scene had changed once more. I was in a treehouse, suddenly forced to bend over to avoid hitting my head. I was watching the backs of three smaller ponies, I'm guessing kids, leaning over a windowsill to stare at the shooting star. Stars have more power than you think... That damn voice again! I turned around quickly. Yelling and scrambling back as I was met with the burning inferno that was the up-close and personal shooting star. Falling on my butt, I raised a hand to shield myself, as much good that would do, but instead gasped and turned my hand over. Six fingers. -- My eyes shot open with a gasp. I was drenched in a cold sweat, making me shiver violently. I heard the other couch creak as Twilight looked up from her book. The fireplace was roaring, casting an eerie light in the room. "You're awake. You slept through the whole day after your..." She trailed off, clearing her throat. "Complete and utter mental breakdown? Yeah, I do that sometimes. That's a thing." I said, yawning. "Sorry. I guess I wasn't as fine as I thought." I said, swinging my legs over the edge and entering a sitting position. She had put a blanket on me at some point during the day, and I was thankful for that, as it was cold as hell in here, despite the roaring fire. "No need to apologize! I completely understand." She chuckled. "I've had my fair share of breakdowns. Nopony's perfect." She said. Funny, our worlds' etiquette and saying were more similar than I would have suspected. We really weren't that different. "Good to know I'm not the only one that's cray-cray." I chuckled, rubbing my eyes under the frames of my glasses. "So, you had some questions for me or what-" The reaction was immediate. Almost as if she had been waiting on the edge of her seat this whole time for me to give the green light. Which she probably had been. She jumped onto the same couch as me, her horn glowing as a notepad and quill floated nearby from God-knows-where. The anticipation in the air was nearly palpable. "I want to know everything! Your history, your social structure, your science and magic!” She said, excited beyond belief. I held up my hands in a (failed) attempt to slow her down. “Is your world run by princesses as well? Describe the most prominent magical figure in your culture’s history. Ours is Starswirl the Bearded, although Clover the Clever has also had a great impact on various theories of-” I reach out and grabbed her lips, holding them shut. When she finally stopped looking at notes and back up to me, I gave her a ‘take it down like fifteen notches’ look. She blushed as I let go, smiling sheepishly. “Sorry, it’s just so exciting to me…” She said with a nervous chuckle. “I couldn’t tell.” I yawned again. “Alright, if you slow down, I’ll tell you everything I can. Our most prominent magical figure is Harry Houdini…” I began. Oh, this was going to be fun! -- I walked down the trail Twilight had pointed out to me, ignoring the stares I received when I had to pass through Ponyville. Sweet Apple Acres was apparently the foundation of the small city, Applejack’s grandmother having been one of the founders of this place. Impressive. Even now, I could see the massive, massive orchard ahead of me, over the bend. It was about an hour walk, which wasn’t bad. It was a lot warmer today than it was yesterday, which I was thankful for. I was stranded here with nothing but a flimsy hoodie, a pair of black jeans with a hole in one knee, and a white button-up short sleeved shirt. I wasn’t exactly prepared for the worst. And I couldn't exactly go buy new clothes. And even washing these would be awkward, seeing as I would have nothing else to wear while I cleaned them. I shook my head. Folly I could cross that bridge when I come to it, I guess. I heard a grunt and a heavy thud up ahead and squinted my eyes to see through the filtered sunlight. I saw Applejack, bucking her hind legs against a tree as the apples in it fell perfectly into preset baskets. "Hey." I waved, catching her attention as she turned around to look at me. "Give me instructions. I'm a doer. I...I can't kick trees like that though. So any instructions but that." I said. "Ah didn't expect you t'want to work so soon." She replied, taking off her hat and wiping the sweat from her brow. I faintly wondered if their manes felt like the manes of horses from my world, or more like human hair. Hers didn't look particularly soft, but Rarity's had. Focusing again, I shrugged. "Work will keep me sane. Give me something to do other than...think." I said. I was afraid of my mind at this point. She just chuckled. "You sound like Big Mac." She said, nodding to the baskets. "Help me carry these back to the barn an' Ah'll introduce you to Macintosh and Granny Smith. Apple Bloom is off doin' Celestia-knows what to try and get her-oh!" She exclaimed suddenly, placing a bar between two of the baskets and hooking them to the handles. She slid under it and stood with a grunt, the pole balancing the two baskets on her back. Or shoulders, I guess. Pony anatomy was weird and stunted. "What's yer cutie mark? That is, if humans get cutie marks at all." She asked as I hoisted the last basket. It wasn't TOO heavy, but I didn't think I'd be able to carry two like she was doing. "I assume the answer is no, but I should probably ask what a cutie mark is first." I said, following her as she began walking to a building a few dozen yards away. She blinked as if I had just spoke French. "Oh! Ah guess Ah shoulda figgered..." She said. "A cutie mark is the symbols on our flanks. Like my apples. It represents our special talents, the thing we are personally best at." She explained. "They appear when you discover what your special talent is. Usually when you're very young." Ooooh. I thought everyone just got a butt tattoo together. This made more sense. Slightly. "Oh. Then no, humans don't have this. In fact, most of us can go our entire lives without ever figuring out what our special talent is." I said, following her and setting the basket down once we were in the shade if the barn. I scoffed. “I don’t think I have a special talent. I doubt I’d have a cutie mark if I was a pony.” I said with a shrug. I had a habit of being negative about myself. I look over at the piles of hay to see a stallion, bigger in stature than the mares I had met up until now, moving some of the bales onto a cart. He was red like...well, an apple. Funny how that works, isn’t it? “Hey there.” I nodded at him, waving. He nodded back. Cool guy. Stallion. Whatever. “Justice, this here is Mcintosh. He goes by Big Mac fer short.” Applejack introduced us. “Big Mac, this is Justice, the human I was talking about last night. Like I already told ya, he’ll be stayin’ here until we can figure out how to get him home. An’ by we, I mean Twilight.” She chuckled. I held out my hand to Big Mac and surprisingly he put his hoof in my grasp and shook. Didin’t expect them to know that gesture. “You know where Apple Bloom is?” She asked her brother. “Nnope.” He said, stoically. Just continued baling his hay. Like a boss. I liked this guy. “If she comes back, tell her t’come find me in the fields to meet him.” She said, nodding to me as she turned away from the barn to follow her. “C’mon, let’s go meet Granny Smith. If she’s even awake, that is.” She said, rolling her eyes. I shrugged and followed the orange mare. Spoiler alert: She wasn’t awake. So we found ourselves back in the orchards, doing work. Applejack was kicking trees, probably because they made fun of her hat. She seemed like the type who would do that, all jokes aside. She also saw the usefulness in my dexteric hands and had me untable a bunch of ropes that her hooves just couldn’t quite handle. I hoisted them up into a tree and followed promptly, reclining against the trunk and dangling one leg from the branch I sat on as I got to work. “So is it just you and Big Mac who do the work here? That must be tough; it’s a ton of work for so many trees OI’m sure.” I said, tugging at the fabrics in my hands. The tree to my right shook from the force of her kick, sending the apples raining down. “Oof! Usually, yeah. Apple Bloom tries to help, but she’s a bit young for this hard work.” She said with a huff. “Sometimes ponies passin’ through will pick up some work here for a day or two. But other than that, yeah, it’s just us two.” She said, sliding the three filled baskets to the side and setting more up under another tree. I nodded, pulling another segment of rope apart and coiling it up, hanging it off the branch. “You guys must be pretty efficient if that’s the case. So many trees and fields and crops with only two workers? Color me impressed.” I said, finishing another coil. I had always been good with my hands, which is probably why I took up card tricks so easily. “But you have me now. I’m a pretty good work hor-” I blinked. “Christ, I never realized how many of our sayings have to do with horses.” Applejack just gave me a look, but before she could say anything, a voice came out from behind her. I tilted my head to see past her form and spotted a young filly with a red bow in her red mane. They had some interesting hair colors in this world, that was for sure. “Woah! Is this the human to were talkin’ about last night, Applejack?” She asked excitedly. God damn it she was adorable. “And you were right, he does have a funny mane.” She said, walking over to the tree I was in and putting her forehooves on the trunk to get a better look at me. “Wh-uh, now, Ah don’t think Ah said that...EXACTLY…” Applejack blushed and mumbled. “Er, Justice this here is Apple Bloom. Apple Bloom, this is Justice. He’s gonna be stayin’ here until we can figure out how to send him back to his world.” She said to who I assumed was her younger sister. “You’re from a different WORLD?” the filly asked, all fired up. I swung my leg over the branch and dropped down with a grunt, stumbling as I hit the ground. Brushing myself off, I nodded. “Sure am. In my world, most animals don’t talk. And I doubt the ones that DO talk know what they’re repeating.” I explained. “So this is all a little new to me. Bear with me and let me know if I offend you.” I said, to both of them. Apple Bloom was just grinning up at me with this ‘look how freakin’ adorable I am, you shall now comply to my orders’ kind of smile. “Woah...Oh! Pinkie Pie told me to tell you guys that the party’s all ready! You should head over t’Sugar Cube Corner.” She said, poking at my legs, then at my shoes. I let her. I understand curiosity. “Aw shoot, is it that time already? You c’n go to the house and shower if you’d like, Justice. Don’t want to be all sweaty fer yer welcomin’ party.” Applejack chuckled. “Big Mac should be at the house, ask him to get you a towel and show you the shower. If he’s going to the party, he’ll lead you there. But if he isn’t, and he probably isn’t, just….head into town. You really can’t miss it.” Applejack said, tipping her hat. “See you there. And don’t be nervous, Ah’s sure everypony’ll love you.” She chuckled, dragging a still-starstruck Apple Bloom behind her towards town. I waved back, stretched, then went towards the house to shower up. No matter how much I hated them….it was just about time to party as a guest of honor.