//------------------------------// // [Insert chapter name here] // Story: New World, New Beginning // by Speven Dillberg //------------------------------// Turns out these ponies are very adaptable as well. This time only a few of them stared at me for any amount of time. The rest just glanced and that was it. It’s kinda nice to be just one of the herd. Oh god that was a horrible pun, I can’t believe I just did that. Anyway, so many little animals! I swear I have not seen that many in one place before in my entire life. And the fact that this Fluttershy pony looks after all of them is kinda intimidating. The sheer amount of responsibility that would entail hurts my mind. “So that forest is the only place where ponies don’t control the weather?” “We can’t. It’s too dangerous for anypony to live in there. What with the manticores and hydras and cockatrices.” Justin just stared at the mare for a moment. “I can’t tell if you’re joking or not.” “Why would I be joking?” Twilight asked. They were walking along the path to Fluttershy’s house, which bordered the Everfree. “Because each creature you just listed is a myth where I’m from.” “Ask Applejack if you don’t believe me. She can’t lie.” “Twilight, everyone can lie.” Justin was wearing an unamused look. “No, really. She’s the Element of Honesty, she just can’t.” “Oh yeah, you mentioned them before.” He began to count them off on his fingers. “Yours is Magic, Rainbow’s is Loyalty, Rarity’s is Generosity, though I just can’t see how that works out, and... what were the other two again?” “Kindness and Laughter,” Twilight reminded him. “Fluttershy is the bearer of Kindness.” “So who’s Laughter, then?” “Pinkie Pie. She’s... different.” Justin noted how she hesitated. “Different good or different bad?” “I guess that depends on perspective,” Twilight said thoughtfully. “She’s fun, but she can be a bit... overwhelming.” “Who you two talkin’ about?” They looked up to see Rainbow Dash hovering above them lazily. “A pony called Pinkie Pie,” Justin replied. “What’s she like?” “Pink. Very pink,” Rainbow began to fly on her back, using her forelegs as a headrest. Justin simply stared at this blatant disregard for the laws of physics. “Also, she loves to throw parties. And play pranks.” “Okay then,” Justin said slowly, trying to ignore the impossibility he was witnessing. “So I should be careful?” “Oh yeah,” Rainbow replied. “She’ll get ya when ya least expect it. Speaking of which, Twilight?” She turned to the mare beneath her. “Have you seen Pinkie Pie the last few days?” Twilight’s eyes went wide. “Oh no. Rainbow, I need you to find her.” Rainbow Dash righted herself and saluted. “On it,” she said before speeding off, leaving a rainbow contrail that added to Justin’s confusion. “I thought Pinkie Pie was a friend of yours?” a confused Justin asked, turning to Twilight. “She is, but...” Twilight bit her lip. “Pinkie can be... problematic, though. Very problematic.” “O... kay?”Justin scratched at his head before deciding to worry about this later. “How far are we from Fluttershy’s house?” “Not that far now,” Twilight replied as she led the way. Justin’s first thoughts when he saw Fluttershy’s house went in two directions. The first one was “Holy crap there are so many animals,” while the second one went along the lines of “Is that a hobbit hole?” He followed Twilight to the hole’s door, noting that it was less like a hobbit hole and more like a small cottage the closer he got. Twilight raised a hoof to knock but turned to Justin. “Just a warning, Fluttershy is kind of... shy.” “No, really? I thought she was a complete showpony!” Justin said as sarcastically as he could. “Her name is Fluttershy,” he said seriously. “If she wasn’t shy, I’d be a little worried.” The unicorn mare rolled her eyes and banged her hoof against the door three times. The door opened slowly and Justin saw a pale yellow pegasus with a bright pink mane that hung over her eyes. “Oh. Hello Twilight.” Then she caught sight of Justin. Her eyes went wide as her pupils shrunk. “Oh,” she squeaked. “Fluttershy, calm down. He’s perfectly safe. He won’t hurt you.” “Can you please stop talking about me like I’m some wild animal?” Justin asked, annoyed. “It’s degrading.” “Sorry,” Twilight answered, ears against her head. She couldn’t believe she had been blind about his feelings. “I-it’s good to see you awake,” Fluttershy said timidly. “Wait, you already know about Justin?” Twilight asked, surprised. “W-well,” Fluttershy stammered, “Nurse Redheart asked me to help because of my experience with animals. They weren’t sure what you would eat, you see.” “Huh.” Justin thought about that for a moment. It made sense that they would go to a vet. All the doctors were likely only experienced with how to patch up other ponies, and a bipedal ape-thing was definitely confusing. The fact that they turned to a vet still upset him a little. “Well, thanks.” “I didn’t really have to do much, though,” Fluttershy said. “The doctors had already cleaned you up. I was just there to help.” They stood for a moment at the threshold awkwardly before the pegasus stepped back. “You can come in. Um, if you’d like...” “I’d like that, “Justin said as he ducked under the doorway. The rest of the day was spent talking with Fluttershy and helping her where they could. Justin’s height and opposable thumbs, along with Twilight’s magic, helped make things go along very quickly. During their time there, Justin had gotten acquainted with the gruff, unpleasant ball of white fluff that Fluttershy called Angel. Having had several fingers bandaged convinced him that that the rabbit was, without a shadow of a doubt, completely and undoubtedly satanic. They left when the sky began to darken, Celestia’s sun departing to make way for Luna’s moon. “Angel did not have to bite me,” Justin complained as they followed the path back into Ponyville. “He’s just being protective,” Twilight replied. “I guess he saw you as a threat.” “Well, I guess that makes sense,” Justin grumbled in response. “He could have just kicked me or something. He drew blood!” “Can you just drop it, please?” Twilight asked, rolling her eyes. “You’ve been whining about this since it happened.” “Fine,” Justin pouted as he crossed his arms. “Hey!” They both looked up and saw Rainbow Dash flying above them. “I found Pinkie!” “Great!” Twilight replied, glad for a change of topic. “Where was she?” “Uhh...” The pegasus scratched the back of her neck. “She’s in the library. When I found her, she was hanging up a bunch of decorations.” “Oh no,” Twilight muttered as she face-hoofed. “She’s throwing a party.” “She’s throwing a party,” Rainbow confirmed. “There’s plenty of food and drink as well.” “A party?” Justin asked. “How is a party not a good thing?” “”It’s not that its a bad thing,” Twilight replied. “It’s just... It’s a Pinkie Pie Party. They tend to get a little crazy.” “And you’re worried about all those books you have getting damaged?” Justin asked, unamused at the unicorn. “Kinda,” she replied abashedly. “Some of those books are rare,” she said in an attempt at justification. “Twilight, you need to loosen up,” Rainbow said in the tones of someone who had said those words hundreds of times. “Besides, it’s a Pinkie Party! I think she convinced Applejack to bring out her ‘special cider’ too.” Twilgiht’s eyes went wide. “Oh no. Not Applejack’s ‘special cider’.” She stopped walking and craddled her head in her forehooves. “I still remember what happened the last time I went near that stuff.” “Twilight, you were hilarious!” “Maybe, but the next morning I felt like my horn was being forced into my brain!” “Would I be right in guessing this ‘special cider’ is alcoholic?” Justin asked, his curiosity piqued. “Very alcoholic,” Rainbow replied. “A whole barrel could probably knock out an Ursa.” “Sounds like my kind of party,” Justin answered, grinning from ear to ear. “Why can’t you be more like Justin?” Rainbow asked her friend. Twilight’s response was to shoot an angry glare back at the pegasus. “Oh yeah,” she said slamming a hoof into the side of her head. “I ran into Redheart earlier. She said the cast can come off.” “Already? It’s only been on... how long has this thing been on?” “Four days,” Twilight replied. “Enough time for the healing spell to do its work.” She turned back to the pegasus. “Should he go back to the clinic?” “Nah, Redheart said she trusts you enough to remove some plaster.” “All right then.” The unicorn turned to the human. “Hold still.” Twilight’s horn began to glow and Justin’s left arm was soon encased in a similar lightshow. The cast unravelled until it fell apart, leaving his arm free as it disintegrated into a fine dust. As soon as the glow was gone Justin scratched at his arm like crazy. “Ooh, that feels so good,” he muttered happily. “Oh yeah.” “Yeah, having a cast on sucks,” Rainbow said in response to his behaviour. “You’ve had a cast on before?” Twilight asked her friend. “Hey, you don’t do as many dangerous stunts as I do without breaking a few bones,” the pegasus replied, letting out a nervous chuckle. “I thought pegasus bones were really hard to break.” “Which makes the fact that I broke some even more embarrassing.” Rainbow looked at where the sun was. “We’d better hurry if we want to get to this party,” she said, changing the topic. “Okay, but I’m not touching any cider.” “Rainbow, will you help me hold down Twilight while I force some of that stuff down her throat? I want to see her drunk.” Justin let out a yelp when the unicorn jabbed him with her horn. Rainbow Dash laughed at the sight of an angry Twilight trying to charge down Justin. Note to self: do not piss of Twilight Sparkle. She has magic, and that damn horn hurts more than it should. I wonder if she put an electric charge through it or something. That would explain something. At least she thinks I was joking. Honestly, if I can convince some of the others to help I’ll do it. I want to see her drunk. And this Pinkie Pie. They’ve been really vague about her. All they’ve really told me is that she’s pink. And a little crazy. I’m guessing she’s of the ‘has to be seen to be believed’ variety of people. Or pony.