Steve surveyed this latest bizarre dreamscape, and concluded that this pace was getting to him. He wandered through a mental construct of that town, Ponyville, only it seemed that a blanket of snow covered it. Almost all the inhabitants hid indoors from the cold.
The scenery suddenly shifted toward that forest he resided by, with a few trees obviously felled, and a large stack of logs piled up neatly. As Steve examined the stump of one of the trees, he found something scrawled in it. The text was completely illegible, but a drawing showed some logs, some apples, and an arrow pointing from the former to the latter. What in the world? He looked up to see another cross between pegasus and unicorn staring straight at him, a pale disk floating overhead. This one's coat was a significantly darker hue, like a midnight sky, and the mane seemed to be composed of a flowing pattern of stars.
They stared for a long moment...
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Steve woke up to a familiar pain in his stomach; that dull ache of hunger. He climbed off the bed and stretched as he stood. Good bed, no back pain. Who was that? His mind was about to race with questions, but his stomach reminded him of much more pressing issues with a harsh rumble. Right, hunger, pack, library. Steve gathered up his axe and the recently acquired pearl jewel and gold coins. Worst case scenario, maybe these can get me something. He began the trek to Ponyville, once again ensuring that the door was firmly shut. The morning sun was barely visible through the overcast of clouds.
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The multi-hued townsfolk seemed to carry on their own business as Steve approached the library door. He couldn't help but feel the lingering eyes of a few, as well as catch small bits of hushed conversation. Better than bewildered terror, he thought as he knocked on the door. After a few moments, it creaked open to reveal the vaguely familiar dragon. "Spike," he said with a smile, "how are you?"
"Great," the dragon replied as he pulled open the door wider. "Twilight's out for now, but she said you might stop by." He made a gesture to follow as he waddled inside again. Steve followed suit, taking the care to duck under the doorway.
Spike led Steve to the central table, where that familiar pack lay. Here's hoping, he thought. "Yeah," Steve scratched the back of his head as he spoke. "I left my bag here yesterday during that crazyness." Spike nodded and grabbed the pack before tossing it to Steve. Once he caught the bag, Steve's heart sank a little. It's way too light.
"Something wrong," the dragon asked.
"Seems my apples vanished," the human answered while dumping in the pearl, coins, and then the axe. He slung the pack over his shoulder. He looked to Spike, then sighed. "Well, either that or they just decided to roll away."
Spike shrugged, then pointed up while approaching the door again. "Well, you do have a few bits," he stated. "You probably could find some more at the market, especially if Applejack is there." Steve nodded and proceeded to leave the library, and gave Spike a nod and wave. Applejack, Market, right then. Obvious steps are obvious; I should be there in no time.
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As if to ask the question 'are we there yet,' Steve's stomach gave an audible rumble of protest. He looked up at the overcast and darkening sky with a frown; pegasi were racing to and from the clouds, seeming to be shoving them around and packing them in place. And I thought I had control over the world.
After about a fruitless hour of search, he finally found the main square, indicated by the fountain and gathering ponies to various stalls and carts. While some were hawking their wares, others strolled casually on by, either shopping or chatting among themselves. Steve started a mental checklist as he examined the gathering, which consisted primarily of finding Applejack and seeing how many bits he had. Bits. Fitting name for coins.
It wasn't much longer until Steve heard something above the din of bartering and chatter. "Buy some apples," repeatedly called out a voice. After a scan, he located the owner of the shouting: a yellowish filly with a red mane and bow. He approached while reaching into his pack, and counted out the coins he had. Six bits. I hope that's enough for something. When Steve was close enough, the little one locked onto him and started to shout her sales pitch, but ended up calling out something along the lines of "Buy su-wha?"
After a moment of awkward staring, Steve looked to the cart of apples nearby, then back to the filly. He offered as harmless of a smile as he could as he knelt down some and held out the coins. "What can I get with this," he asked, trying to come off as friendly. After shaking her head some, the young one investigated the coins.
"Six o' your choice, Mister," the filly responded after a moment. She looked up at the cart and then back to Steve. He nodded with a smile and handed over all six coins at the behest of his rumbling stomach. He picked five at random and put them in the pack, then held onto the sixth as a question came to mind.
"Are you Applejack?"
The filly shook her head and pointed a hoof off in some direction. "Naw," she replied with a smile, "That's mah sister! She's lettin' me run the cart today, an' I'm gonna do just that." She beamed with pride at this statement.
Steve nodded and stood upright as he started heading off toward the direction the filly pointed. "Thanks. Take care, Applejack's Sister," he called out with a wave. A kid running a store. Don't know whether to be worried or what...
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Two and a half apples later, Steve wandered in what seemed to be a complete circle back to the market. Well, at least I'm getting a feel for this place. He finished his apple slowly and took note that the market seemed to have shifted some; it felt a bit roomier, quieter, as if the business had died down some. Why do I have the feeling I'm being watched?
Steve looked around some as he grew a bit paranoid, then up towards the sky, in case that something above was conspiring against him. Satisfied that no eyes were on him, he looked back ahead to see a familiar pink pony standing some ways away, staring right at him. He blinked in surprise; but when he opened his eyes, she seemed to be armed with a cannon. Where did that- his thoughts were cut as she grinned like crazy and pulled the string. He flinched...
Nothing hit him. Steve looked to see balloons and confetti flying everywhere. The market seemed to suddenly erupt in all sorts of party favors, and the denizens took to them like it were a regular, albeit happy, occurrence. What caught his eye, however, was the large, simply made banner that read 'Welcome Steve' that had appeared behind Pinkie and her cannon. How did all this get here? Was it always here? Did I miss it? No, too obvious. So, that settles it; I've gone mad.
"You're not mad, silly," Pinkie chirped as she hopped over with a spring in each leap. "At least, you shouldn't be, because that would be crazy! Who'd be mad at a party? Oh, this is your 'welcome to Ponyville' party! Everypony gets one, and so do you, even if you're not a pony..." he stared at Pinkie go on and on in a rapidly increasing rate of speech. Her words seemed to blend together as the concept of a party for just showing up worked its way through Steve's head.
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"...and that's how Equestria was made," Pinkie declared, confusing Steve even further than he already was. He couldn't help but laugh at the antics of the party pony; she had went onto a full-on history lesson that seemed rather disjointed when he had merely asked if the party was really so common. A new thought occurred to him as he gestured to Pinkie.
"Can you read my thoughts, or something," he asked calmly.
"Sort of. It's in the script! You'll be speaking with Applejack soon, and here's a hint; just go with it," she responded. Her answer only flung up several hundred more questions in Steve's mind though. He opened his mouth to speak, but she held up a hoof and gave a big smile. "Enjoythepartybye!" She then bounded away in a fit of laughter.
Hunger demanded another apple, so Steve obliged as he watched the ponies generally have a good time with all the various activities available. How am I supposed to make sense of her? He bit into the fruit and began to relax a bit. "There y' are," an unfamiliar voice called out. He looked up to see an orange not-unicorn-or-pegasus approaching. This one had a hat. "Doesn't look like yer havin' too much fun right there."
"Just taking it in," Steve responded with a smile. I'm never getting used to talking pastel ponies.
"Just as well," she nodded as she trotted over and nudged his shoulder. "Wanted to thank ya for helpin' Apple Bloom earlier; bought the most apples and just made her day." Steve blinked in a bit of surprise. Guess I'm not feared; well, at least I've got that going for me.
"I'm going to guess that you're Applejack?"
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"So what you're saying," Steve gathered his thoughts from the long conversation with the orange mare, "is that you all manually start and stop weather." She nodded, looking a bit proud of it. "And that winter is coming." Another, less proud nod. "And that, for some reason or another, firewood's in short supply this year?"
"Just a mite understocked," she corrected. "It'd be a stretch, but we could get through." This gives me an idea. Steve nodded at that point and pulled out the axe from his pack.
"I'll tell you what," he said as he showed Applejack the tool. "This thing's meant for harvesting wood, but it seems it's gotten a bit of use. I'm set up out by some woods. If I supply some extra firewood, could I get some help making ends meet?"
"Shoot," Applejack replied with a grin, "Ah'd be crazy to turn down help. Which ends need meetin'?" Steve then proceeded to rattle off a list of basic necessities that he lacked. The mare nodded and tipped her hat some. "Ah think we can figure somethin' out."
"Right," Steve nodded, a massive weight seeming to ease itself some. "For now though... party on!" There was a raucous cheer from the party goers.