The Herd Evolved
Chapter 3 - Sighting
I sat in awe as the greeting faded away to reveal the usual image of my desktop, a colorful rendition of the characters from My Little Pony dressed like characters from another show I enjoyed. Amazement still lingered, as my computer’s data had changed with me!
Test Flight either knew, or had made a very close guess as to what was going on. “So I assume that didn’t always say ‘Wires’?” he inquired.
I shook my head. “No! But how is this even possible!” I stammered.
It seemed that none of us could come up with a plausible theory, and even my lucid dreaming explanation wouldn’t work in this situation.
I eventually mustered the courage to open my web browser and do some of the normal things I did when I used the computer, such as check my email. I was able to use the keyboard to navigate the interface up to this point, but when I was required to move the cursor using the trackpad, I realized I had a problem. My hooves probably wouldn’t work with the device, and I had forgotten where I had stashed my external mouse.
I decided to use the most skin-like surface I could think of, which was the tip of my muzzle. Thankfully, it functioned just like a finger on the trackpad. I promptly brought up my email inbox.
When the page finished loading, I noticed that the typical name indicator on the top-right corner of my screen now bore the name ‘Wires’, and composing a new message displayed my address as wires@themailplace.net, drastically varying from the original.
“Wow,” I muttered, scanning through the list of unread messages in my inbox.
There was a few from various websites, telling me people had replied to my comments or forum posts and stuff like that, but what really grasped my attention was a message from my cousin in Park City. When I opened the letter, I was almost not surprised when I read the message greeting.
Wires! How’ve you been?
I sighed, wondering if my cousin had actually typed that, or if whatever force that had changed my computer and email account had messed with this as well. Regardless, I continued reading.
Hey, there was a news story I thought you might be interested in that I saw a few minutes ago. I don’t know if you’ll be checking your inbox in the middle of the night, but I’ll put the link in below. It was about the pony show you watch.
Stay awesome!
-Cousin Jeffrey
The message was heartwarming, as Jeffrey was one of those people who didn’t really judge my enjoyment of My Little Pony like most people did. It was good to hear from him.
Test Flight’s voice snapped me out of whatever small trance that had shifted me into deep thought. “What are you waiting for? Open up the news story already!”
I used my muzzle to open the link, which redirected to one of my favorite news services: GNN, or Go News Network. The story headline immediately caught my attention.
Unknown 'Pegasus Sighting' Closely Resembling Characters from Children's Show!
What did I just see? I pondered in shock.
There was not only an article, but a video on the subject as well. As quickly as I could, I pressed the play button and settled in next to Test Flight.
The video opened up with the typical news website opening, showing their logo followed by some generic music, eventually fading to either information or a shot of the anchorman or anchorwoman. This time, it was the latter on both accounts.
I payed no attention to the appearance or ethnicity of GNN’s particular anchorwoman, as I was determined to learn about the possible sighting I had been sent.
“This just in, a Salt Lake City resident swore he saw a pegasus pony near his home, stretching out on a neighbor’s balcony. Here’s Jean Anderson with the details.”
I silently thanked the newswoman for being short and to-the-point, although I noted that she was doing her best not to laugh.
The screen switched to a view of a quite bundled-up reporter dressed in a purple coat, standing next to a middle-aged man with a dark colored beard, who was also wrapped in warm winter clothing.
The woman’s breath could be seen condensating as she spoke, due to the cold weather of Salt Lake this time of year. “This is Jean,” she began, “reporting live from Salt Lake with eyewitness Thompson Hughes. How are you tonight, sir?”
The man smiled, and Jean held the microphone up to him. “I’m doing quite great, Jean, how about yourself?” he asked politely.
“I’m doing quite well, although it’s a little chilly right now,” Jean said, shaking a little bit to exaggerate the temperature. “So tell us what you saw tonight,” she continued.
Thompson smiled as he fumbled around in his pocket for his phone, which already had the camera app pulled up to a photo he had taken at the time of the sighting. He pointed to a dark figure in the shape of a pegasus, contrasting only the slightest bit from the black night background. “This here’s the pegasus,” he informed as the camera zoomed into his phone, “Saw it stretching it’s wings a little bit and just standing there. I came out for a bit of fresh air because I couldn’t sleep, and there it was! I thought I was dreaming!”
I looked at Test Flight. I wasn’t doubting the man, as he probably had actually seen a pegasus with his own eyes.
Jean laughed a little bit, “And you’re sure it was a pegasus that you saw?”
“I swear it,” he said seriously, staring at the camera. “I’m no fan of My Little Pony, but I know a pegasus when I see one.”
Jean wrapped up the report. “Well there you have it! Thank you, Mr. Hughes.”
“My Pleasure,” Thompson said before waving goodnight to the device.
“No contact has been established to the house in question, but local investigators are going to try in the morning. Back to you.”
The screen faded back to the reporter in the newsroom. “Well we’ll have that story for you when it becomes available,” she stated, “Pegasus sightings: you heard it here first on GNN.”
The video ended, leaving me and Test Flight astonished at the information we had just come across. In no way did I doubt the words of Thompson, how could I? I was a pony, I was sitting next to a pegasus myself!
“Well, it’s getting late,” Test Flight finally admitted, standing up and stretching his wings. I followed shortly after, extending all four of my legs and orienting myself vertically. He trotted out onto the balcony, and I followed closely behind.
I smiled at him for the last time that night. “So I’ll see you tomorrow?” I asked.
“Oh yeah, there’s that Brony meetup. Want to meet here on your balcony?”
I thought about it for a minute, and hoped that a pegasus flying in broad daylight high above the city streets wouldn’t be the next sighting reported on GNN. “Yeah. Text me when you get up, I’ll give you my number, if you can even figure out how to use a phone-“
“I’ll figure it out,” Test Flight laughed. “Good night.”
“Good night,” I yawned. I gave Test Flight my number and wrapped him in a magical net of energy. He gently glided down to his apartment, where the window was still open from his previous adventure up to my home.
Tucked into bed once again, I pondered what the next day would be like, and what events it might bring.