//------------------------------// // Now What? // Story: OC, Oh Crap! // by SmokeShadow95 //------------------------------// The four Princess's of Equestria were talking. Apparently, this talking could not be done in front of the others. Not even the five friends that accompanied Twilight Sparkle were allowed in. They too were left out. Now it was just them and the three other creatures. They were separated, but it was by choice. The creatures stood off to the side and talked amongst themselves. “So, how the hell did we all get here?” Tessla asked the first question. They were all thinking it, but he was the first to ask it. At the asking of that question, however, both him and Austin turned to Ben. “We know how you got here, Ben. Grand entrance much?” Austin gave his friend a sarcastic look and Ben just laughed at his own trouble making. “Says the guy who landed in Luna's bedroom,” Tessla threw it out there. Ben nearly fell to the floor. If he had a cup of something to drink he would have spit it out. “You crash landed in Luna's bedroom?!” “No. No. No, it was more like I went. . . through her bedroom, and then I landed on top of her.” Austin knew that it was not going to end there, but he was admitting no more. Tessla shook his head and Ben just laughed. Austin wished he had kept his mouth shut. The three of them calmed down enough to get back to normal conversation. “So, what do we do now?” Again, Tessla threw out the question that they were all thinking. None of them knew the answer. They were in a world they all wanted to visit, but they had no idea how they got here. Yes, it was a world they somewhat knew. They were somewhat familiar with the inhabitants. They were not afraid, but at the same time they were not exactly at peace either. They had no idea as to why they were there, or how they got there. “Only one thing we can do,” Austin said. A sigh escaped him before he continued. “We livehere in Equestria, we live until we find something, anything that leads us to answers. Answers to how we got here, why we're here, and why us?” “I don't understand,” Ben stated. “Why did say 'Why us?'” “Three humans end up in Equestria. These three fall at the hooves of each of the Princess's of Equestria, all at the same time of day on the same day. These three humans happen to be friends who know each other. Come on, you can't tell me that's a coincidence.” Neither Ben nor Tessla could disagree. It was most definitely weird. And Austin was right. They were here now and until who knows when. They had to do something. They all decided to just do what Austin suggested. They would live. Just live their lives and hopefully find some answers along the way. “What are we going to do, though? That's what I'm stuck on.” Austin pondered the thought. He was not helpless here in Equestria but he could foresee the struggles he would go through. “I have no idea, but I'm sure we'll figure it out.” Ben offered his reassurances, and they helped. Not much to be honest, but it helped. “Whatever happens, we have to stay together.” Tessla affirmed. The two groups stayed apart and kept talking amongst themselves. All the while there were some things that were seen. One such thing was noticed by Tessla. A pair of eyes that seemed to be locked onto Austin, There was a clear line of sight between them and Tessla ventured far enough to put his hand in that line. As soon as he did he felt a sudden and unexpected shock go through his hand. He recoiled and held his hand close, trying to get some feeling back into it. “Hey, Austin. What the hell did you do to Rainbow Dash?” Austin looked over Tessla's shoulder at the pony in question. Sure enough Rainbow Dash was glaring daggers at him from across the room. Tessla wasn't the only one to notice either. Applejack and Fluttershy were both trying to pull her back. “Oh, Dash. I booped her.” This time it was both Ben and Tessla that were surprised. Austin was lucky they were given nothing to drink. He just kinda stood there with both friends looking at him with a look that said they were shocked and that he was an idiot. “Why? Why would you do that?” Tessla finally asked. “Because, she wasn't expecting it,” Austin replied with a smirk. Again, Tessla shook his head. It was pretty much all he could do. Meanwhile, the other group of five ponies were busy with their own conversations. Most of them anyway. “So, whatya all think of those three?” Applejack asked the others. “I'm not really sure what to think,” Rarity stated. “I mean, there are just so many questions. Where did they come from? Why are they here? How long are they going to stay in Equestria?” “I don't know about all of you, but I like Austin. He's funny,” Fluttershy said with a smile. Her statement did get a growl from Rainbow Dash, though, but Fluttershy wasn't worried. “Oh, Dash. You're just angry he booped you.” “Damn right I am!” She growled and turned back to the rest of the ponies. She really wasn't ready to forgive him just yet. “Just get over it, Dash.” Applejack said. Dash growled again. A huge argument was about to erupt between her and the others. It would have started with her yelling and shouting. Thankfully, it never reached that point. As soon as Dash opened her mouth to shout and yell the doors opened. One by one the Princess's of Equestria filed out. They only stopped when they stood side by side before the ponies and the three strangers from far off. It was hard to tell what any of them were thinking at that moment. Celestia looked between all her subjects that were before her. “We have talked about the situation at hand, and we have come to a decision.” Celestia spoke with the same regal tone that she used for all her speeches or any other formal declaration. This was far from formal, though. Why was speaking that way now? Austin had a theory, but not one he was likely to share. Maybe she's talking like that to hide what she really thinks of us, and the predicament we put her in. Who knows? “But before we share what we have come to agree on there is something we wish to know.” Celestia took a step back as Twilight stepped forward. “What we want to know is: What do you want to do?” The question was directed at Austin, Tessla, and Ben. They hadn't really been expecting it. It was definitely Equestria, but they didn't think they would be involved in the decision making process. Ben grew red in the face and Tessla fidgeted with his air as they fumbled around in their heads for an answer. They finally just turned to Austin for what they couldn't come up with. Austin stepped up as the speaker for the three of them. “We came here with nothing. With no answers to how we got here or why we're here, we have come to an agreement of our own.” Austin showed off his skill with words once again as he addressed the Princess's. “And what might that be,” Twilight asked. “We have talked and come to agree on one thing: Until we find the answers that we all want we should just live out our lives here in Equestria. That is, with your permission of course. We all understand how we could disrupt the normal flow of things.” Twilight let a small smile slip through her royal image and back up. Her and Celestia traded a look as Celestia stepped up once again. Now that the three of them had their say it was time for their decision to be made. “You three have talked amongst yourselves and have come to a conclusion very similar to our own.” Tessla and Ben couldn't hold back their excitement at Celestia's words. Austin smiled, but that was all he showed. He was just as excited as his friends, but he had more self control apparently. “I wasn't finished.” Ben and Tessla immediately calmed down and looked back at Celestia. “You three will be staying in Ponyville until further notice. You will be considered subjects of Twilight's kingdom, and will be treated as such. Do you have any objections?” “No, Your Highness,” Austin said for all of them. “Thank you for this opportunity.” “Don't thank me. Thank Twilight. She's the one who suggested you all stay at her castle.” With that said an audible thud was heard across the room. Everyone looked over to see Rainbow Dash's face in the floor. Her wings twitched a bit every few seconds. Applejack snicked a bit before pulling her face off of the floor. Fluttershy fervently waved a rag in front of her face to wake her up. Pinkie Pie was taking pictures for her scrapbook. “It would seem that Rainbow Dash doesn't like the idea of having them in Ponyville.” It was Rarity who spoke. She had moved closer to Twilight during the whole debacle. The other ponies laughed. Even Ben and Tessla joined in. The only one who didn't was Luna. She sighed heavily and turned away. She trudged out the nearest door and walked down the long corridor. Celestia noticed her absence as the laughter died down. She knew how her sister was feeling. Luna was adamant about keeping at least one of the strange things in Canterlot, but she was outnumbered and overruled. It was going to be a while before they would leaving, so everypony had a chance to talk. Cadance and Twilight took a moment to catch up before spending a few moments talking to Ben and Tessla. As for Austin, he was off doing his own thing. She had noticed her sisters departure just moments earlier. She felt she had to talk to her. They were sisters after all. But, as soon as she reached the door she was stopped by an unexpected voice. “Princess Celestia,” Austin called out. She turned to face him as he approached. “You are going to talk with Luna aren't you. You were not the only one to see her leaving.” “Yes, I am. You are smart, Austin, so I'm sure you already know how Luna is feeling right now. She hasn't had many friends in her life, even before she became Nightmare Moon. Then she wishes for one and you appear.” “Next thing she knows she has to give me up, so to speak. I'll be staying in Ponyville, and she will be in Canterlot.” “Yes. I have to talk with her. She has to know that this is the best course of action. She has to know that I am there for her, as a sister.” “With all do respect, Celestia, what Luna needs now is not a sister.” Austin took a chance here by calling Celestia by name alone. She definitely heard it, but let it slide. Austin was taking an even bigger chance by telling her she was wrong. “What Luna needs right now is a friend.” Celestia looked at Austin for a moment. He looked back at her. She smiled. His concern for Luna and how she was feeling was as genuine as she ever saw. She told him where Luna's would most likely be found and let him pass. This exchange did not go unnoticed. “Where is that one going?” Cadance asked with mild worry. “Yeah, we're going to be leaving soon,” Twilight stated. “Do not worry,” Celestia warmly said to them. “Austin is just saying his goodbyes to Luna.” ~~~ Austin walked the halls of the Crystal Palace after Luna. Celestia had told him where she might be found, and sure enough she was right. Luna was on an empty balcony overlooking the city. She was slumped on the floor with her head laid on the railing. She sat and watched all the ponies scurrying about below. “You look sad.” Luna's head whipped around to see who spoke to her. At first she was happy to see Austin standing there, but then it faded. She turned back and rested her head on the railing again. She let out another heavy sigh, but didn't respond to him. “I know why you're sad, Luna.” “Of course you do.” Finally, she responded. That was all he was going to get from her though. “Okay. I will talk.” Austin walked up and stood beside her. “You wished for a friend, and I came into your life. You couldn't be happier, even if Celestia wasn't as excited about me as you were. Not a day goes by and you learn that I am going to live in Ponyville.” “You are saying what I already know,” Luna blankly stated. “Then here is something you may not know,” Austin replied quickly. She looked at him as he spoke and he looked back into her eyes. “I am not leaving, Luna. No matter how far away I am, or what is going on I will always be your friend. Nothing will ever change that.” Luna lifted her head up and smiled. A small tear formed in her eye, but she didn't let Austin see. She reached her wing out and brought it around Austin one last time before he left. Austin smiled as well and the two shared a moment together. Meanwhile, back with all the others. . . “Hey, one of them is missing,” Twilight stated as if nopony knew already. “Tessla's there. Ben is with him. Where did Austin go?” Celestia walked up to Twilight's side and looked down at her. Twilight was calmed down by that look Celestia always gave her. That warm, motherly look in her eyes and that smile. It always made Twilight feel calm and safe. “There is no need to worry, Twilight.” Celestia said. She said it to Twilight, but in a way that everypony could hear it. “Austin is just saying his goodbyes to Luna.”