Fluttershy was patching up my leg while I had a little nervous breakdown.
“I'm not dreaming. Why am I not dreaming? I should be dreaming.” I repeated that over and over as I rocked back and forth in the fetal position. Ok, so maybe 'little' is a bit of an understatement. I was actually in Equestria, it's kind of hard to not lose your sanity for a bit.
Twilight finally got the nerve to ask, “So, you actually thought you were dreaming?”
Now, before I continue, let me explain something. My mental state at the time was already shaky at best, but when she asked that I thought of all the HiE fics I've read and came to a conclusion. “You!” I snarled at the lavender unicorn. “You did something, didn't you? You screwed up a spell or something. What was it?! Why did you bring me here?!”
“Hey!” Applejack said as she and Rainbow Dash jumped in front of me. “Now you wait just a cotton pickin' second here. Don't you go accusing Twilight of nothin' without proof.” She turned to Twilight. “Now, sugarcube, did you cast anything big recently?”
“No, not since that storm spell that caused Rainbow Dash to go missing,” she answered sheepishly.
Wait, storm spell? That actually happened?! I thought.
“And that was like a month ago!” Dash said to me. “So it couldn't have been her. Now apologize!”
She was right. I sighed and said, “I'm sorry, Twilight, I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions.” Man, I felt shitty. “It’s just, this is all so… I don’t even know how to describe it. I mean, one moment I’m getting ready to go to bed, then I yawn really weird, and now I’m in a world that I thought was just made up by the maker of a kid’s show.”
“Wait, what happened now?” Twilight said.
I told them what had happened - what little there was - up until I met Twilight on the road. Needless to say, they all think I’m nuts. Then again, so do I.
“So, you’re from another world?” Twilight said. “That’s not physically possible.”
“You said that about the future you, too,” I said, hoping that little detail would prove it.
“How do you know what I told myself?” she asked.
“I know more than that.” Get ready, ponies. “I know that when you first came here you thought that everyone was crazy and wanted nothing to do with them. I know that you used magic at your first Winter Wrap Up. I know that Rainbow Dash was terrified to pull off a sonic rainboom at the Best Young Flyers Competition...”
“Everypony knows those little details,” Rarity chimed in.
“Ok, I know you had a ‘pet rock’ named Tom.” I gave her a smirk. Her face dropped.
“How did you… Who told you?!” Her face was red with anger and embarrassment. She asked for it.
“Do you really expect us to believe you watch us on a magic box?” Applejack asked.
“No, actually, I don’t. Because if someone were to say that to me, I’d laugh at them and call the men in white,” I said. “I’m just looking for answers.”
“Honestly, I think you’ve suffered some sort of trauma and created a fantasy to replace some terrible memories that you’ve repressed.” Twilight, ever-logical and analyzing… even though she uses magic, which defies all logic. How does that work?
Wait a sec... Magic! Why didn’t I think of that before? “I think I know why I’m a pony at least.” They looked at me with amusement, confusion, doubt, and interest. I’ll let you guess who had which. “Magic. When I was looking down at the town, I was a tiger. Then, just before I met you” -I pointed at Twilight- “I was suddenly a pony. The only explanation is magic.”
“Or you’re just crazy,” Rainbow Dash said. She’s quickly losing cool points with me.
“I hate to say it, but that is another possibility,” Twilight said. “I’ve never heard of these humans, or bipedal tigers.”
“And outside of fiction, I’ve never heard of talking ponies, yet here you are,” I shot back. “Just because you’ve never heard of it doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.”
“That is true.” She thought for a bit. “I’ll tell you what; I’ll look for a spell that will reverse transformations. I remember seeing one a few days ago. That way, if you are what you say you are, you will turn back. If you are a pony, though, it will do nothing. In the meantime, I think I should write a letter to the princess.” She turned to face behind her and called out, “Spike! Take a letter.”
“Will do,” said the little purple dragon. I didn’t even see him there.
The purple unicorn begins dictating for the dragon. I’d tell you what she put in the letter, but I was distracted by Rarity eyeing me up and down whispering to Fluttershy. The letter was finished and sent in a matter of minutes, the green flash getting my attention again.
“Now, with that done we need to decide what to do with you,” Twilight said. “Since you’re new in town I’m guessing you don’t have a place to stay.”
“Does a park bench count?” I asked sarcastically.
She thought for a moment, ignoring my humor. “You seem harmless enough. I suppose you can stay in my basement. I’ve got to tell you, though, I’m locking you down there when I go to bed. I’m sorry. You seem nice, but I don’t know if you could be dangerous.”
“I bet the jail would let him stay there,” Rainbow scoffed.
“Thank you. I really don’t want to sleep in the snow.” That’s when I realized it was winter. “What is the date?”
“December 10th, why?” Twilight asked.
“When’s Hearths Warming?”
“December 25th.”
Just like Christmas.
“Awesome, I’m just in time!” I jumped and was immediately reminded why one should not stab themselves. “OW!”
“Oh my, don’t do that, Mr. Shirotora. You’ll hurt yourself worse,” said Fluttershy.
“I forgot, sorry. And just call me Shiro,” I said, still holding my wound.
“Ok, Shiro, let me help you down stairs so you can get some rest,” said the kind mare.
“Thanks, Fluttershy,” I said with a smile. She’s just as nice in person (or would that be ‘in pony’?) as she is in the show. Look out, Dashie, she’s catching up as my number one pony.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
Twilight placed a barrier spell over the basement door after Fluttershy came back from helping the stallion downstairs.
The six friends sat quietly in the main room contemplating the events that had just taken place.
Applejack eventually broke the silence. “Do you really think that he might be telling the truth, Twi?”
“No, but I think it’s a possibility that should not be ignored. In all likelihood, he’s suffering from delusions, but if there’s even the smallest possibility of him being a being from another world, I want to find out.”
“That makes sense. Best not leave things to chance,” Rarity agreed.
“I don’t trust him,” Rainbow Dash said.
“You didn’t trust me either,” Twilight said with a smirk.
“Or me,” said Pinkie.
“Or me,” said Applejack.
“Or m-”
“I get it!” Dash interrupted, crossing her forehooves with a huff. “I have trouble trusting new ponies.”
The ponies all sat in silence, thinking things over until Rainbow spoke up again. “So what do we do with him?”
“I guess we get him acquainted with Ponyville. I don’t think he’s going anywhere for a while,” Twilight said.
“Twilight,” Applejack said, “why did ya bring him here? It’s not like you to just bring home strays like that.”
“Honestly, I don’t know. I knew the smart thing to do would be to just run home and write the princess, but it’s like a voice in my head told me that I should bring him to meet all of you,” replied the unicorn.
“Oh my stars, Twilight actin’ on a gut feelin’.” AJ snickered. “Now Ah’ve seen everything.”
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
I was woken up by the smell of pancakes. As I laid in my bed, I ran through what happened the night before. It was crazy, but the hoof I was staring at confirmed it really wasn’t a dream. My stomach gave a loud growl, telling me to get some food.
I tried getting up as gently as I could, applying as little pressure to my leg as possible. Even then it hurt, but not so much I couldn’t stand. Next, I tried walking. It, too, was painful but possible. I wondered briefly why I was able to walk so easily on four hooves when I spent the past twenty-seven years on two feet, but just shrugged it off. I wouldn’t find answers down here. I slowly climbed the stairs and tried opening the door. To my surprise it swung open.
“Hey, what are you doing out of bed?” Twilight jumped up from her book when she saw me and rushed over to help. “You need to rest.”
“I know, but I’m not doing it down in a dank, dark basement,” I said.
“I guess not,” she said as she helped me over to the couch. “I’m guessing you’re hungry.” I just nodded and yawned. Twilight turned around and addressed the lizard-boy. “Spike, another serving of blueberry pancakes.”
“Aye, aye, Twilight.” The dragon gave a little salute.
“I hope that’s okay with you,” she said.
“Where I come from, serving pancakes is part of a courtship ritual,” I said in a surprised tone. I had to tease her a little.
Her eyes went wide and her face reddened. “Oh, I-I’m s-s-sorry I di-didn’t know!” she said in a panic. “I could fix something else if you’d like!”
That was too good. I couldn’t help but burst out laughing. “I’m just teasin’ you, Twilight. The pancakes are fine.” Having gotten my joke, she laughed, too.
“At least you have a sense of humor,” she said when she stopped. “Am I going to have to watch you for pranks?”
“Probably,” I said plainly.
“You should definitely get along with Pinkie and Rainbow Dash,” she said.
“I would definitely think so. After all, they were my favorites from the show.” Sometimes I really don’t know when to shut up. Twilight’s happy smile became a nervous one instantly. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have mentioned that. I forgot how crazy it sounds.”
She sighed. “It’s okay. I forgot that I’m supposed to be helping you.”
“Helping with my insanity?” I said, my voice betraying the irritation I felt at being considered a loon.
“Either that, or to prove you’re telling the truth and help you get back home,” she said. “I still think you’re delusional, but I won’t discount the possibility that you really are an extra-planar being.”
“At least you acknowledge the possibility,” I said. “I hate when people choose whether or not to believe something without even examining all possibilities. It’s detrimental to progress.”
Twilight smiled at that. “I found the book on transformation spells. It has what I’m looking for so if you want we can try casting it later. I want the girls here as witnesses and in case something goes wrong.”
Spike walked in carrying two plates stacked high with pancakes and placed them in front of us. He then went back and grabbed another plate of pancakes with chunks of ruby in them.
We ate in silence. I was too into the food to try to talk, anyway. Man, Spike can cook.
Spike finally broke the silence. “So, I hear you’re crazy.” Twilight choked on her last bite.
After catching her breath she glared at the little guy. “Spike, what is wrong with you? That’s not something you just say.”
“It’s okay, Twilight,” I said before turning to Spike. “To answer your question, yes, I am the crazy guy, but not for what they think.” I nodded towards Twilight. “I’m crazy for completely different reasons.”
The two of them laughed.
“So, when are we going to do this?” I asked.
“Let me get the girls,” she said and headed out the door.
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
After some time, Twilight came back with the other five. Rainbow glared at me, while Fluttershy spoke to her too quietly for me to hear. The other three took their places at a safe distance, Pinkie bouncing excitedly while Applejack and Rarity just sat down as if they were at a show, which I guess they kind of were.
“Ok, Shiro,” the purple pony began, “you stand right here. Everypony else stand behind me.”
She glanced through the book one more time and started channeling energy into her horn, causing it to glow with a purple light.
After a few more seconds I was being enveloped by a purple orb. It was a strange sensation, like being hot and cold at the same time, and it actually kind of stung. After a few seconds the orb suddenly expanded outwards and the energy dissipated.
“What happened?” I asked. “Am I a human again... or a tiger?”
“Ha, I told you you’re just a crazy pony. If you weren’t you would have changed back, right, Twilight?” Rainbow Dash gloated.
“No,” Twilight said, shaking her head to clear it from the strain of the spell. “The spell failed. The energy wasn’t supposed to expand, it was supposed to contract and be absorbed into him. Something forced my magic away.”
Dash flew in my face again. “Just what do you think you’re playing at here, bub? You say you’re not a pony but then you stop Twilight’s spell to turn you back.” This mare is really starting to get on my nerves.
“Rainbow, he’s not a unicorn, so if he dispelled it then that would mean he’s not a pony,” Twilight said.
“All the more reason to have him locked up.”
“Okay, that’s it! You are no longer my favorite pony!” I yelled.
Everyone stared at me in confusion. Well, Pinkie just looked like I had backhanded her friend, but... Pinkie, ‘nuff said. Twilight noticed and explained. It was directed mostly toward the cyan pegasus, but I was pretty sure it was meant for everyone. “He told me you were his favorite in the show he spoke of.”
Rainbow Dash was flabbergasted. “Really?”
“Not anymore.” I let her have it. “Apparently the real you is a total asshole. I mean, what have I done to deserve this kind of treatment from you? Have I hurt you or your friends in some way? Have I stolen anything or conned someone? Have I done anything wrong? No.
“All you know about me is one of two things. Either I’m suffering from some mental trauma like Twilight said, or I actually am an extra-planar being who needs help. Any way you look at it you are being a total douchebag.”
She was completely crushed by my verbal assault. She looked at her friends who were trying their hardest to not make eye contact.
She let out a sigh. “You’re right, you haven’t done anything to anypony, and I’m… sorry.”
“Well alright then. I guess you’re number one again,” I said putting a hoof around her shoulder in a friendly hug.
“Really, just like that?” She looked at me, confused.
“Eeyup, forgive and forget; water under the bridge. I’ll always forgive so long as the apology is sincere,” I said.
“And I’m number one again? But having to apologize is so lame,” she said.
“Yeah right. It takes guts to apologize, and you got guts, kid.”
“But I still got my eye on you,” the speedy mare said. “Just don’t give me a reason to kick your flank and we’re cool.”
“Deal,” I replied.
Just then, Spike belched a small jet of green flame which, as I’m sure you could guess, materialized into a scroll. Twilight took it in her magic and read it out loud.
Dear Twilight Sparkle,
The fact that you have a pony that could be mentally unstable gives me cause to worry, but the fact that he could be from another world honestly frightens me. I trust your judgment fully, and believe that you will not put yourself or others in harm’s way. If this stranger gives you any reason to believe he could be a danger to himself or others, notify me immediately.
Your proud teacher
Princess Celestia
“Well, you heard what she said. If you’re dangerous, you’re going to get locked up, so you’d better behave yourself,” Twilight said.
“Yes ma’am,” I said, giving a salute.