Jack could think of nothing else to do but stare back. He had encountered mythological beasts before, but this one was different. She (he could tell by her voice she was a she) looked almost animated, sort of surreal. For all his wisdom and experience, this time he was well and truly baffled.
"Hello? Equestria to freak, can you hear me? What in Celestia's name are you?"
Equestria. Celestia. An animated blue pegasus. That's when it hit him. He was in another reality, this one based off of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. The show had just taken off about a year ago, and when it developed such an unusually large fanbase, Jack took interest. He followed the show, but not fanatically: being known as a brony didn't exactly command respect. He had developed some knowledge of his surroundings, enough to restore his faculties and confidence. By now the cloud-riding pegasus had dropped to the ground, standing in front of him.
"My name is Jack West, and I am a human. You are?"
"Name's Rainbow Dash. A human, huh? I think I've heard Twilight mention that from some Equestrian mythology textbook. I didn't even think they, I mean you, were real."
"Well, as you can see, I'm as real as you are. But as you can also see, I'm not from around here."
"Where are you from, then? And why are you in Ponyville? Are you a spy?"
"Easy, easy! I'm not a spy for anyone. As for where I'm from, it's a long story. And I don't particularly know why I'm here. You might say I showed up by mistake."
"Oh, well. Alright then."
Rainbow fluttered back up to her cloud, which he just noticed looked very overcast. The anger in her voice was replaced by depression, as if his lack of concrete answers had disappointed her.
"I'm sorry for going off on you like that, Jack. I've had a lot on my mind lately."
Jack's memory of the show was coming back. He remembered this one best of all. Rainbow Dash was a speed-demon and tomboy, and the Element of Loyalty. Given this, one would expect her to be surrounded by friends. The fact that she wasn't, coupled with the sadness that emmanated from her voice, told him plenty about her situation. Here, he saw an opportunity to make an ally. In this unfamiliar world, that would probably be the best asset he could ask for.
"Don't worry. You wanna talk about it?"
"Not really... Alright, look. I know I just met you, but for some strange reason I feel like I trust you more than anypony else. Does that seem weird to you?"
"Not at all. You have no reason to distrust me, so your natural inclination is to trust me."
Rainbow descended from her cloud, curious but somber.
"Well, I've got a lot on my chest right now, and letting it all out would probably be good for me. Do you mind?"
"Not in the least. Besides, you're about the only person, or pony, I suppose, I know around here. I'd rather have a single friend than a single enemy any day. Go ahead."
Rainbow, relieved at having found an unlikely ally, opened up to the stranger.
"Thanks. Well, I live in Ponyville, just at the bottom of that hill. I don't really have a lot to do once the daily weather is arranged, so..."
Weather manipulation? This piqued Jack's interest immediately. But he didn't dare interrupt. If he wanted to get her on his side, he just needed to listen.
"...and a few random rescues turned me into the resident hero. Ponies were cheering my name, watching in awe as I put my life on the line to save somepony else. I really was their hero, and I got the glory that came with it. I even had my own fan club! It was awesome! Until she showed up."
The problem! This story was getting interesting. And it probably held the root to gaining Rainbow Dash's loyalty, he decided.
"She who?"
"Mare-Do-Well! She's this masked vigilante who's been stealing all my rescues lately. It started during a balloon crash. You know, the balloon popped, innocent pony falling to her doom, yadda yadda. I'm all set to make the save, when she jumps out of nowhere and grabs the pilot. I was about to grab hold of the balloon, but she distracted me and made me crash. When I landed everypony was worshipping her! They treated her like a celebrity, and ignored me entirely! It was all downhill from there. I try time after time to make a rescue, be a hero again, but she always shows up first and snatches it! And the glory that comes with it. Now they're about to give her a parade in a few days, while everypony's forgotten about me! As Rarity would say, I'm so pathettttic!"
The fake whine made Jack laugh. Rainbow, unable to keep up the imitation, joined in. Jack knew he was making progress in cementing the alliance.
"I get how you feel. Fortune is fickle, as are the hearts of most people, err, ponies. By the way, who's Rarity?"
He was feigning ignorance this entire time. If he let on that he knew too much, she would never trust him.
"Oh, yeah. That's the worst part. Rarity is, or was my friend. I have about five best friends, and she's one of them. Anyway, I'm hanging around Sugarcube Corner after Mare-Do-Well's latest appearance, and what do I hear? All five of them, lavishing praises for their precious Mare-Do-Well. And I'm supposed to be the loyal one! I thought it worked both ways, but no! Even my best friends abandoned me for her."
Forget a turn-and-burn alliance, Jack thought, I feel for this one. I'm not going to use her, leave her behind like everyone else. I'm going to help her, even if I don't benefit from it. At this line of thought, an idea occurred to him. She didn't know who he was, what he'd done. This world was like a blank slate for him. If he wanted to be a hero, he could be one here. No one needed to know his past. Jack West realized he had stumbled onto one of the greatest opportunities of his life: the opportunity to be the good guy, for once. But regardless of this idyllic daydream, there was still the conversation at hand, which he needed to keep going.
"I know how that feels, to be betrayed. It hurts deeply, makes you doubt everything you thought you knew about someone. But I've found that a betrayal often shows you who your real friends are."
"If I had any friends left, that might work for me, Jack."
"Well, call me crazy, but I feel like I empathize with you. In fact, you remind me of myself. I had to go through a time where I couldn't trust anyone. Let me help you get through yours."
"Wait a second, we just met, you're from a species I didn't even think existed, and you want to help me?"
"I know. Crazy, right? Well, more than a few people have called me that, so it may fit me. But yes, I'd like to help you. Will you accept my offer?"
"At this point, Jack, I don't feel like I have any other choice. So I accept. And thank you."
To quote Casablanca, Jack thought, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.