“Eat up!”
“Don’t you mean eat down?”
Sienna rolls her emerald green eyes as she munches on the grass. “Just eat, you silly pony.”
The sun is already setting, and even though the sky is still bright, the forest has already gotten quite dark, probably because the leaves up above block the sun’s rays. Anyway, Miss Deer and I are on the edge of another stream. This is probably the second stop of the pony harvesters who deliver their crops to the unicorns up north.
Sienna gulps down the grass she was eating and flashes me a concerned frown. “Hey, Jay. You really, really need to eat.”
“Mrrrf,” I mrrrf as I stare at the grass. I have been feeling dizzy during the last hour because I’m really hungry, but I’m just too stubborn to eat...grass. The cold water that I drank as soon as we got here didn’t help, and my stomach growls in agreement.
“You won’t have the energy to move if you—”
“I know!” I hiss as I throw her a tired glare. I sigh as I sit down on the ground. “S-sorry,” I mumble quietly. What can I say? Anyone can lose their temper if they’re hungry, and I’m no exception, but damn it, I don’t want to eat grass! “I...just don’t like grass.”
“Pffft—!” Sienna chokes and coughs, and she hurries to the stream to drink some water.
I roll my eyes and lightly shake my head. I look down and stare at the grass stalks before me. I lean closer to it and take a sniff. Well, it smells...nothing, I guess? So I suppose it’s safe to assume that this grass hasn’t been pissed on.
“It’s not gonna kill you, you know,” Sienna says as she walks back towards me from the stream. “Come on. At least eat a little bit?”
“I’m not a kid,” I say as I throw her a soft glare, “so stop treating me like one.”
She rolls her eyes as she stops a few paces away from me. “Well, you sure are acting like one.” She blinks. “...Then again, I’ve never met any goats before, not to mention kids.”
I close my eyes, take a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh. My stomach growls loudly as I reopen my eyes, my gaze on the green grass. I swallow a lump of uncertainty as I chant ‘eat it! eat it! eat it!’ in my head. I open my mouth wide, clench my eyes shut, lean down, feel the tallest stalk touch the roof of my mouth, and chomp the grass. I shiver as I pull my head back, fighting the urge to spit the grass out of my mouth. I slowly start to chew the weird and tasteless food as I ignore Sienna’s amused face.
“See? That wasn’t so bad, was it?”
I throw her a glare as I continue chewing. It needs ketchup...or soy sauce. Anyway, after a few more chewing, I swallow and let out a shivering belch. “Ugh...”
“Now eat up before the sun sleeps!”
“Aren’t there any fruits around here?”
She arches an eyebrow. “Uh, no.” She shakes her head. “Even if there are, wild fruits are usually not something we should eat.”
I arch an eyebrow of my own. “...Why not?”
She shrugs. “Well, for one thing, we can’t reach them.”
... ... ...
“Because they’re really out of reach. Second, birds and fruit bats eat them, so its best not to ruin the animals’ source of food unless you want them to start infesting on pasture-grown fruits.”
“Ah...” Okay, I guess that makes sense, if that’s how things work here in this world. Also, she said ‘animals.’ “Aren’t we animals, too?”
She arches an eyebrow again. “...Why do you not know these things, anyway? Shouldn’t you ponies know this?”
“Just humor me.”
She blinks. “...What?”
I sigh and plant a hoof to my face. “Never mind. I’m going back to eating grass now.” I decide to just fuck it and continue to eat grass. As she said, it won’t kill me...I hope. There’s nothing else to eat around here anyway...
“Well, if you really don’t know,” she says as she starts eating. “Mrrf—is yes, we are animals, too, but—mfff—we’re different because we’re sapient.” She thankfully gulps down what she was eating. “Ponies, deer, giraffes—”
What?
“—zebras, wolves, dragons—”
Oh my god... There are dragons here?! Wait, wolves talk here?
“—dogs, foxes, eh...and so on.”
Foxes too? “Um... Tigers? Lions?”
She blinks and shrugs. “I’ve heard of them, but never seen any of them before. But I’ve seen a lynx and a leopard before.” She shakes her head. “Trust me when I say that you shouldn’t get close to them.”
“I wonder why,” I say lamely. I blink. “...About that.” I look around, trying to spot another ‘sapient’ creature. Spotting no one, I return my gaze on Sienna, who is looking curiously at me. “What were you doing all alone in the—”
“I don’t want to talk about it,” she quickly cuts me off, her two ears drooping. She shakes her head, but it didn’t hide the grimace on her face that she tried to cover.
Well, I suppose I can put two and two together. She was alone, doesn’t want to talk about it, and kept on mentioning that she should start making her own choices. Eh, she probably ran away from her herd, or from some deer-only pasture. Aw well. I shouldn’t trouble myself with her own troubles.
“It’s getting dark,” she suddenly says, snapping me away from my train of thought. She looks around, her two ears pointed up and turning in different directions. It’s kinda cute to look at though. I wonder if I can do that with my own pony ears. After a few seconds, she turns to me, lies down on the ground and lets out a big and long yawn. “Well, I’m getting some shuteye.”
I blink. “Wait... You’re sleeping here?”
She arches an eyebrow. “...Yes?”
...So I guess tents haven’t been invented here yet. Sigh... I look around. “Well, shouldn’t we first start a fire?”
“What?” she gasp in surprise. “W-why would you want a fire?”
“To...keep us warm at night?” Aaand I just realize how stupid that sounds in this world.
She glares at me. “That’s a stupid way to keep ourselves warm during the night, Jay!” She slowly shakes her head.
“Um... S-sorry?”
“Don’t you know that fire can spread and burn everything?” she asks me. “It could burn entire forests—pastures even!—and your winged ponies could barely stop it!”
I sigh as I slowly sit down. “I said I’m sorry... It was...just a random idea...”
“A stupid one.”
“Fine,” I roll my eyes. “A random and stupid idea.”
She shakes her head, her angry features slowly fading. “You’re a really weird pony... Anyway,” she looks at me, “if you can’t handle the cold night air, then you can sleep beside me.”
Er...
“Don’t tell me you don’t know that either? We could share our body heat and—”
“Er... Yeah, uh, n-no thanks!” I smile, albeit an awkward one. “I-I think I’ll be okay.” Okay fur, don’t fail me! Please don’t fail me...
She shrugs. “Eh, if you say so.” She puts her head on the ground and sighs as she closes her eyes. “Sleep well.”
“Um...”
I see one of her ears turn to me.
“...What about predators?”
“If we hear one,” she mumbles quietly without raising her head or even opening her eyes, “then we run as fast and as far away as we can.”
I blink. But...how? “How can we hear them if we’re asleep?” Oh, poop... Timberwolves! They’re active at night! “W-what about timberwolves?”
“They usually prey on smaller animals...” she mumbles. “Now go to sleep.”
“But...but...”
She sighs and opens one eye to give me a tired glance. “Jay... Is this your first time being alone?”
I pause. I...no. Actually, no, this isn’t the first time that I was alone. I’ve...always been alone ever since I moved out of my parents’ house. Well, technically, that’s not true. My brother and I live in the same apartment because he wanted to be closer to the university where he studies. Now that I think about it, the moments when I thought I was alone, someone was there close by, yet I chose to feel alone... I had a few friends at work and in the apartment building. I had my brother. I had my parents. I...suppose, me being a quiet type, I find it hard to share my thoughts with others. It probably made me feel alone, even though I really wasn’t.
But now? I guess I really am alone...
I feel my ears droop as I look down on my two front hooves. “I was never alone from the start...”
“Hm...?”
I take a breath and sigh as I close my eyes. “I chose to feel as if I was alone. Now? I guess the universe wanted to let me feel what being alone actually feels like... And I don’t like it.”
“Well,” she says softly, “I don’t know who this ‘universe’ is, but you’re not really alone.”
I sigh. “Yeah, I know.” I look at her. “Because you’re in front of me.”
She smiles as she closes her eye. “That, and you have your undying feelings for this Twilight pony you’re looking for.”
I roll my eyes. “Look, I don’t love her, okay? I just need her help.”
“Sure...” she whispers. “You’ll find her, Jay. Don’t worry.”
I sigh as I look down on the ground. “...I sure hope so...”
I’m still feeling quite hungry, so I continue to eat some grass... Sigh... Crickets start to chirp as the sun continues to dip down in the horizon that I can’t see. I then hear rustling noises form behind me. I immediately turn around, fearing for my life. It’s about time a predator jumps out and try to kill me, but nope, it’s just a bunch of rabbits going inside their dens under the bushes. I let out a sigh of relief before I put my muzzle back on the grass. I love rabbits, because they’re cute and fuzzy and I find it cute to stare at their little movey-movey noses.
But I’m feeling so...depressed at the moment that cute bunnies aren’t enough to lift my spirits. I’m not sure it ‘depress’ is the right term to use but, well, tomorrow’s Tuesday, and I’m running out of time... I stare at Sienna’s sleeping form as I munch on some grass. Maybe I can continue walking after I’m done eating? But, I wonder if the forest will be too dark for me to see where I’m going later on. Then again, my hooves are aching now, so I guess I’ll just sleep, wake up early tomorrow and hope that Twilight could get me back home before sunset.
...About that...
No, no, Twilight is Twilight. No matter what universe, Twilight will always pursue magical discoveries. She may be different in this world, but I...hope that she could help me. Applejack and Pinkie Pie were different, but they still have their familiar qualities and traits. Pinkie’s friendly and Applejack...well...uh...she...um...friendly, too? Never mind.
Right, I think I’ve eaten enough grass for one night. I quietly walk towards the stream to drink.
...What are the odds of Twilight being able to help me in this world? Ponies here all behave like...ordinary animals. I mean, it’s like the only thing they’re thinking of are the basics of life, with a small knowledge of trade. I dunno... All these thoughts make my head ache.
I pull my head up and sigh as I turn around and join my deer companion. I lie down on the ground with a respectable distance between the two of us. I stare at her two little stubs on her head before I let out a yawn. I suddenly feel how tired and sleepy my everything is, so I lazily lay my head on the ground. Sleeping like this doesn’t feel that bad, probably because of my fur, but it’s kinda sad though.
Oh well... This is just for one night anyway. Tomorrow, I’ll find Twilight and ask for her help.
Hmmm. Seeing as how animals, sentient or not, apparently only think of the basics of life (No houses or anything outside of nature), I guess it's safe to assume that Jay is the most innovative being on the planet?
New chapter and story even got featured!
They are soooo technologically behind. Plus, he's putting all his hopes on Twilight which is a stupid idea because while Pinkie and Applejack were somewhat like themselves, they weren't fully there. Maybe that means that Twilight will be a scientific (insert curse word of choice here), right? Also, what you have so far is good.
Actually making a fire would be a great way to keep predators away, and is a big psychological comfort more than actuary keeping warm for lost travelers at night, all do thats still a big help. as for fire hazard, you jest need to dig a hole before making it and put stones around it to keep the flames from spreading. As for the unicorns, I think at Jay may have more difficulty to get to twilight he mite think, and maybe not in the same way than with the other earth ponies. I think that maybe one or more of the ponies that had made the delivery did something to pis-off the unicorns and they reconsecrated the gesture to the rest of the caravan. For what I have seen in this story so far, the animal have a very pore sense of foresight and always live in the moment of theirs feelings and it is easily create a mobs/herd mentality. I think Jay may be able to enter the Unicorn pasture, provided that he doesn't do anything indecent, simply because they have forgotten about the last quarrel. I think, Jay's biggest problem will be shining armor. In the show, as well as being Tight bbfff, he is also a leader and enforcer of Equestria and I believe it is the same for that world. I think, that he tries to protect his inquisitive little sister the best way he can, and will probably see Jay a a threat in some way, and will do his beast to keep him away from her. As for twilight I thing she may have lived a very shelters life up until now and is probably as socially awkward as in the beginning of the show and will be more receptive to help Jay if it is just to learn every thing she can from him.
And Great chapter by the way
6152203 To be honest i think Twilight don´t know anything either, and he maybe has to discover something that helps this world, or anything that is supposed to happen.
Romantic....
I have a feeling that the protagonist of a great disappointment to be taken to locate an twi
but we will have to wait for the next chapter
... This guy is a fool, he is assuming so much even though so much of his assumptions have been disproved. Even if Twilight is smart and scientific minded, the most this world would cause her to come up with would be spells FiM!Equestria has known for centuries.
But lets pretend she IS a magical researcher with libraries of knowledge behind her, why does he think she would help a filthy dirt pony, as she has been taught by her family to consider Earth Ponies.
Twilight is famously inflexible in her preconceived ideas and so would perpetuate inter-species racism as a fact, as certain as FiM!Equestria knows Celestia controls the sun, and that is assuming she wouldn't be an arrogant unicorn self-confident in her superiority.
... But as a previous commenter said, since it's him, they will not start throwing rocks at him the instant he appears over a hill and he'll be able to reason with racist unicorns, and they will lead him to twilight, and she will actually want to help him and not think he is a crazy mud-pony, and she will have knowledge thousands of years beyond what they have in this Equestria, Because he knows he is the main character (or at least that they will be EXACTLY like their FiM!Equestria Selves, even though everything he sees contradicts this view) and so is special and everything will be perfect for him.
6158614 Unfortunately, as stupid as he's acting, he's kind of clinging to hope here. He doesn't want to be there, and the ponies don't seem to know the alicorns, so he needs to target the next highest mage.
6158614
They're going to throw rocks at him the instant he appears over a hill, giving him no opportunity to reason with the racist unicorns. He just thinks he's protected by being the main character.
6165434 I know that, I was being sarcastic(etc) to an excessive degree.
That will be the most likely/almost certain thing that will end up happening to him, due to him ignoring the majority of things this Equestria has told him so far and doing almost the exact opposite.
>sentient
Sentient means to have senses. all animals are sentient, most plants are not sentient. The word you should be using here is sapient, which means to have self awareness.
"I'm not alone in the dark."
"OK then, what are you all doing alone in the dark?"
"We're hidin' from her!"
i1.ytimg.com/vi/N8I5KDvxDZs/maxresdefault.jpg
[All gasp]
We estimate the likelihood that Twilight Sparkle of this universe is capable of helping our protagonist to be approximately 45,376,114 to one against. Probability she even listens is even smaller...
This can only end in tears....
I kind of hope he stays in Equestria, 'cause I slowly start shipping those two.
OH MY GOSH! You know what? I ship them now offically!
GASP! A love rival!
Next time on Four Hooves:
Sienna and Jay finally reach the Unicorns. Once arrived they meet Twilight the ruler of Unicornia! She is showing a very big interest in our extraterrestrial friend Jay and his story and tries to claim him all for herself for her studies! Her plan: Seducing him with her adorkableness! It comes to a showdown. Will Sienna win Jay's heart? Or has her love rival Twilight still a trump up her sleeves? This and more in the next chapter of Four Hooves!
He should make fire anyways. Campfires are pretty safe.
I imagine the uni-*Bleeps* as the elves from the lord of the rings
Yes please! Very much so I long for some heat... of all kinds...
IFIN YA KNO WHAT AH MEAN!
"Twilight will persue magic no matter what"
Yea, but if her knowledge is limeted to concepts written in books which are few here and there in thise timeline, then it doesn help but severely decreases his chances to find a way home.
I am amused that he has such fals hopes, based on assumptions that contradict reality.
Sienna is best pony...and she isn't even a pony!
Bro, do you NOT remember Twilight in the first two episodes? THAT Twilight is probably what you're gonna get, if you ever even find her.
Go native with Sienna is my best recommendation based off her few lines in this chapter alone
Bears, oh my?
If Twilight doesn't end up being able to help him, then Jay's definitely on a Road to Nowhere.
Yes. I can finally plug a song embed into one of my comments.
(Talking Heads-Title is what I bolded above.)