The ride back was the noisiest silence you could imagine. The sound of the car engine and Fluttershy’s dry sobs melded themselves together into a stillness that was clear on the group’s faces. Row upon row of corn flew by until they reached the house. Roger hadn’t smiled since he told Twilight about the other animals, but he tried his best not to let the ponies see his morbid expression.
The ponies followed Roger inside, but standing in the foyer of the grand farmhouse they made no move to head back toward the living room. Roger looked down at Twilight and the rest of the ponies. “I was thinking about what you said earlier, about you staying here for a few days. If you want to I can show you around the house a little bit.”
“That would be great Roger.” Twilight said quietly. Twilight explained to her friends they were going on the tour, nopony complained. Roger led the group to the double door at the right of the entrance that had previously been closed. When Roger opened it he revealed a gigantic flat screen hanging from the wall with a dinning table below it and several chairs spaced around the table. The ponies, temporarily shocked out of their sorrowful state, stared in awe.
“Ooooohhh,” Pinkie said, wide eyed. She walked into the room and looked up at the Television. “What is this?”
Twilight didn’t know how to describe it. Her knowledge was restricted as to what each word she had learned translated to; she knew what it was but not what it was. “That’s a television Pinkie, it shows you pictures of things to pass the time.” As Pinkie gawked at the shiny screen, Roger walked toward the only other door in the room as he spoke.
“This is my dining/T.V. room. I like to watch my favorite shows while I eat.” Twilight translated as they reached the door. The new opening led further back into the house, as Twilight and the group (including the now mesmerized Pinkie) walked through it they discovered the kitchen. A counter circled the room only breaking for the door the party had come through and a door at the east wall, In the corner was a Refrigerator and stove.
“Here’s the kitchen, feel free to use it at will.” Through the next door was a rather large pantry stuffed full of boxed and canned goods. In a corner was another one of the trays like the one Roger had carried the food on. A few sacks of vegetables lay scattered on the ground.
“Sorry about the mess, you guys looked really hungry so I kind of hap-hazardly put everything back. But this is the pantry, again help yourselves.” Twilight gazed at the walls of food before her. There was enough there to feed all of Ponyville! Roger made his way through a door on the north wall that led back to the room full of books. Quickly passing this one as the ponies had already seen it Roger headed to the second floor.
He explained that the door farthest to the right was a storage space and bypassed it for the next room. It contained a large bed that was slightly taller then the ponies. A large lavish comforter was draped over a double mattress embroiled with a golden design on a black background. Despite its massive size however it was dwarfed by the total emptiness of the room, the stale yellow walls empty of any markings or items.
“This is the guest room, I don’t usually have visitors so I never bothered to spruce up the room. I’m sure we can fit three of you into this bed.” Twilight was amazed, how could she even get in that bed without being able to fly? But Roger had already started to move on so the group was forced to follow. The last two rooms Twilight had already seen earlier that day, but Roger surprised her with his description of them.
“This is Lily’s room, all that’s in here is what she left behind when she moved out. One of you can take her bed.” When Twilight translated this the ponies perked up slightly.
“Lilly, who’s Lilly?” asked Fluttershy. When Twilight asked Roger he drew in a light sigh.
“She’s my daughter, currently she lives somewhere in the city but every once in a while she comes to visit. I don’t think she’s to well off but she refuses to tell me anything.” Twilight wanted to ask more about the subject, but Roger seemed unwilling to discuss it further. The last room they came to was heavily furnished (Compared to the last two.) containing a double bed, dresser, nightstand, and a large lamp in the corner of the room. The window Twilight had used to dispose of the comforter still hung open.
“This is my room, two of you can sleep in here for the time being unless I find something better.” Roger said.
“But Roger, that’s a bed for all of us but you.” Twilight said with concern for her host. Roger turned to Twilight with a slight smile.
“Don’t worry, I’ll take the couch downstairs. I’ve spent more then one day on that thing when nobody was here, I’ll be fine while you ponies find a way home.” Twilight told this to her friends whom responded gratefully.
“Twilight could you ask Roger something for me?” Rarity said shyly.
“What is it Rarity?” Twilight asked noticing something odd about Rarity’s stance.
“Well I just noticed that theirs no little mare’s room here and I desperately need the service of one. Could you ask him where it is?” Twilight translated the request and Roger motioned the ponies to follow him downstairs. When they reached the first floor, to Twilight’s amazement (and Rarity’s dismay) Roger headed outside.
The confused group of ponies followed Roger to the right side of the house that had been previously hidden from view. A lone wooden building of about two square feet that stood five or so feet tall was the only feature before the cornfields started. On the door was a hole in the shape of a moon.
“You can’t be serious,” Rarity said “there is no way under Celestia’s sun I will use that beastly outhouse.” Applejack stifled back a laugh with her hoof.
“What’s the matter, your fancy derriere to high and mighty for a little country plumbing.” She said.
Rarity turned a disapproving glare on Applejack. “A hole in the dirt is in no way plumbing.”
“Well it’s that or hold it till we get home.” Rainbow Dash said smugly. Twilight watched Rarity weigh her options, Roger tried to motion the other ponies inside but nopony moved. Rarity eventually started to slowly approach the outhouse and tapped her hoof on the door. Creaking hinges gave way from the pressure and the door swung slightly open.
“Oh it smells horrid!” Rarity whined. Applejack burst out laughing and started rolling on the ground Rarity turned to her with a hateful glare blushing crimson red. Twilight got Rainbow and Pinkie to help her drag the hysteric Applejack back inside the house. Roger and Fluttershy followed to give Rarity some peace.
Twilight couldn’t help but smile herself at Rarity’s predicament and Applejack’s laughter. The day had weighed her down so much this small incident was a breather she desperately needed. By the time they made it back through the door Pinkie and Twilight were giggling right beside Applejack.
Roger looked from pony to pony, a confused look on his face. But the laughter was infectious. Soon he couldn’t hold back his own giggles, and when Rarity returned from the outhouse blushing even redder then before even Fluttershy roared with laughter.
“Not funny.” Said Rarity, but the ponies could barely hear her. After everypony calmed down enough to speak through their broadening smiles Roger turned to Twilight.
“I have no idea why that was so funny, but you guys can stay here as long as you need to if everyday ends up like that!” Twilight nodded, unable to tell if the tear running down her face was from laughing, or Rogers statement.
* * *
The rest of the day consisted of ponies running around the farmhouse exploring there temporary home, Twilight spending most of her time reading through the books she found in the house’s living room. She was astounded at the sophistication of these creatures; things like robots and electricity, things Equestria had never seen flowed from these pages.
Twilight studied the planet’s history from dinosaurs and Dragons to space travel and colonies on mars. Great biographies like Oliver Twist and I’m hosting as fast as I can. How were all the things they did possible without magic? Twilight was engrossed in a book titled Foundation, about humanities colonization of the universe (a feat mind boggling to ponykind.) when Roger approached her.
“You getting along there Twilight.” He said sitting down beside her. Twilight jumped at the voice, but when she realized whom it was she relaxed. “Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.”
“Its fine Roger, these books you have are incredible! Everything is so exciting, I wish I could share it with the other ponies.”
“What’s stopping you?” Roger asked sympathetically.
“I can’t risk them putting the pieces together. What if one of them figures out we’re not on Equestria?” Roger smiled down at Twilight.
“With any luck you will be soon, I’ve been talking to the other ponies and…well I think I’ve thought of something.” Twilight matched Rogers smile, what could he be planning? “What causes magic Twilight?” Twilight’s smile turned into a look of confusion.
“Well a number of things, many who study it’s properties believe it has something to do with the natural energy that collects in objects, the denser an object the more energy. A unicorns horn is very dense, and is able to tap into this energy to cast spells. In a kind of odd way however, the denser an object is the harder it is to use magic on. This makes combat magic and manipulation of ones own body the hardest types of magic. Why do you ask?”
“Well I was talking to Rarity and she explained to me something similar. But she also told me the stronger your connection to an object the easier it is to use magic on, is that right?” Twilight nodded. “Well here’s what I’m thinking, what happens when you’re not casting magic on an object, but you still feel connected to it? Can this object help you cast the spell?”
Twilight thought this over, she honestly didn’t know. “I guess it could work, every object has a trace amount of magic it channels all the time. But I still don’t see where you’re going with this.” Roger’s eyes lit up.
“What if we put you and Rarity in a circle, but not just any circle. A circle of all your friends and…possibly myself, so you could draw magic from us. You have a strong connection to your friends and a small one to me, maybe you could open the portal if we were all there to help!” Twilight ran this idea through her brain.
“Roger that’s brilliant! Let’s go!” Twilight jumped off the couch forgetting her book.
“Hold up Twilight!” Roger shouted. Twilight turned around a huge smile on her face. “I’m glad you’re eager, but you’ve already used your magic a lot today. You nearly passed out when you did the translation spell, if we try this it’s going to need to happen tomorrow. Twilight’s ears fell back, for a moment she had almost thought she’d be going home right then. But Roger was right, what if it didn’t work?
“Roger, you’re right, I just got excited.” Roger waved his hand in dismissal.
“It’s fine Twilight, I understand. If you really want to improve your chances you can get some sleep, the better rested you are the more energy you’ll have for the spell. Twilight agreed and galloped upstairs, allowing herself just enough hope to keep her smile.
The beds had already been decided upon. The tall bed would be shared by Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, And Applejack. The only three who could actually get on it. Rarity had requested Lily’s room for its privacy, leaving Pinkie and Twilight Roger’s room. Twilight was fortunate to find Pinkie already asleep; the pink mare was not known for keeping quiet before bed.
Time had apparently gone by faster then she expected, outside the window stars shown brightly. Twilight gently got onto the bed and didn’t bother covering herself for fear of disturbing Pinkie. Twilight closed her eyes tight hoping to fall asleep quicker, but after a few minutes of lying awake, she ran through what Roger had said when suddenly...
“Rarity told him what!?!” Twilight opened her eyes wide when she remembered that. Roger said he had been talking to Rarity. How? In which language? HOW? But as Twilight felt this sudden burst of realization she discounted herself. That couldn’t be right. He must have meant figuratively. Maybe he was watching the “show”, that must be it. But Rarity NEVER talks about magic. Where did he get this notion? Before Twilight could come up with a reasonable answer however the surge of adrenaline subsided and she felt the long day way her eyelids down putting her in a fitful sleep.
* * *
Twilight awoke with a start sitting up in bed. Pinkie had apparently already gotten up for the day and left the blanket askew on the lower portion of the bed. Thoughts of last night’s conversation filtered through her brain. Was it real? Twilight got up and replaced the sheets before looking out at the sky of a richly colored dawn.
All around her the cornfields bent and waved in a gentle breeze that brushed lightly against Twilight’s face when she opened the window. Taking in a deep breath of air she almost forgot for a moment where she was. The simple touch of nature almost made it feel like home. She could see why Roger liked it here. A knock on the door broke Twilight’s concentration however as Applejack’s voice could be heard on the other side.
“Morni’n Twi, your food’s gonna get cold if y’all don’t hurry it up downstairs. Rogers been hold’n off Pinkie thus far but I wouldn’t count on that last’n.” Twilight suddenly became awair of the smells wafting through the room. Toast, pancakes, grilled celery, Twilight’s stomach growled with delight. “From the sound a’things I’ll tell everypony you’ll be down soon.”
Twilight opened her door just in time to see Applejack disappear downstairs. Following close behind she arrived to see the dinning room abuzz with activity. The giant T. V. captivated the attention of Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash whom sat beneath it wide eyed. A program featuring a tuxedoed man on a speedboat hypnotized the pair.
Roger sat at the end of the table next to Pinkie pie and Rarity with a plate of food towering before him. The group of three seemed to be communicating exceptionally well using a mixture of nonverbal signals and gestures. Pinkie seemed to be the main speaker, effortlessly moving her fore hooves to form various signs. When Roger noticed Twilight he motioned for her to join the conversation.
“Morning Twilight, I’m glad to see you want your breakfast.” As Roger spoke he made gestures so Pinkie and Rarity could understand.
“You created a new language in less then a day?” Twilight said, impressed, confused, and skeptical at the same time, but relieved to see she had heard Roger correctly the day before.
“Not exactly, Pinkie Pie already knew it, she just taught it to me and Rarity. Didn’t you get suspicious when I said I’d been talking to Rarity?” The irony of that sentence was almost laughable. “Help yourself to the food Twilight, Applejack will have more out soon.”
Twilight approached the table and sat next to Pinkie Pie. Pinkie greeted Twilight with a hug and a cheerful “Good Morning!” Rarity smiled at Twilight but returned to her conversation with Roger before a greeting could be offered. The spread of food had a distinctly Equestrian look, Applejack must have been busy harvesting dandelions and daises that morning. Twilight started levitating various foods onto her plate just as Applejack came in from the kitchen.
“Next round a vittles coming up!” Applejack hollered as she placed a plate of steaming potato slices in front of Twilight. “I knew your stomach would wake you up sooner or later, but if were going to get home in time for our morn’n doings, I decided sooner would be the best idea.”
“Who told you we were going home?” Twilight asked slightly surprised.
“Well Roger an Pinkie in that crazy hoof speech, we all know!” Twilight hadn’t thought Roger would share the plan with the others. She was hoping to find a way to tell them what was going on without getting their hopes up. However from what Applejack said this would now be near impossible. Twilight’s stomach growled again and Applejack gave a quick nod toward the food before heading back into the kitchen.
Twilight dug in, and was soon joined by Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash who grabbed a plateful of potatoes before returning to their spots in front of the television. After serving another plateful of food Applejack sat down across from Twilight next to Rarity and had her own breakfast. Roger told stories about great people and far away places (Careful never to mention where the stories took place.) that kept the ponies mesmerized.
After awhile the ponies had eaten their fill and Twilight helped Pinkie and Roger clear the table. Roger had to do most of the washing being the only one who could work the sink, but Twilight and Pinkie dried and put the clean dishes away. Pinkie and Roger never stopped talking in their wild gestures, Roger often flinging water everywhere as he ‘spoke’. From what Twilight could understand, they were talking about Ponyviile.
Roger would ask a question about the town or a particular pony and then Pinkie pie would talk about them for ten minutes. Roger watched every second of it, enthralled with the jumping, flailing pony. Twilight almost wondered if Roger was even really listening or just humoring Pinkie, but his occasional comments proved he was.
By the time they had finished Twilight had almost completely forgotten about the attempt to open the portal. Watching her friends overcome something as complicated as Trans species, even possibly Trans dimensional language barriers bolstered her spirits. When Twilight returned to the hopeful eyes of the ponies that had gathered around the television, she felt like there was no way she could fail. Twilight approached the group with a confident smile that leapt to each face she turned to.
“Has everypony been told about Roger’s idea?” Twilight asked the group. Applejack nodded in response as the rest of the ponies turned to Twilight. “Then if everyponys ready lets see if this works.” Twilight led the way outside and picked out a flat spot on the grass near the front of the house. The ponies made a semi-circle around her and Rarity, Roger sitting in the center of the arch.
“Do you think we’re actually going home this time?” Rarity whispered to Twilight.
“I hope so” Twilight whispered back. As total silence descended over the group broken only by the gentle kiss of the wind. Twilight lit up her horn, bathing the early dawn in a new bright light. Rarity followed suet and soon the field was washed in a purple glow. Twilight could see the gray line creep its way toward the sky; slowly it snaked its way up fighting her every step. Twilight could feel the energy of her friends, faint, but present, even the slightest of tugs from Roger. The hope she had and the presence of her friends giving her the strength to fight through its stubborn resistance.
Twilight allowed that energy to build and build until the line passed her eye level when suddenly the work became sharply harder. Rarity evidently felt this change to as she snorted out a puff of air before squeezing her eyes shut to concentrate. Twilight pushed (or it’s equivalent in magical terms) her magic, creating a glow from her horn that rivaled the ambient light around them. Twilight didn’t want to close her eyes, she wanted to be able to see the line as it drew itself, know when she had finished. She started to think about home again, Ponyville and all its inhabitance, she had only been away two days or less. Yet it felt like forever.
The group behind Twilight silently cheered her on. She could almost feel how much they wanted this to work. As Twilight redoubled her efforts she saw the line grow slower and slower despite its nearing the peek of its height. “Just another few inches.” She said to herself. “Almost there.”
But just as the line neared the zenith, Rarity collapsed. The pony that had stood strong before when Twilight fell in the clearing left her completely unaided. Twilight held fast attempting to hold the spell, but without help it was impossible. Letting the glow drop from her horn, she watched the line recede into the ground. Just before it disappeared Twilight tried to start the spell again and held out for another few seconds before releasing the portal again. A new silence gripped the ponies, this time made impure by the heavy breathing of the unicorns.
“So close.” Twilight said aloud this time, all the hope she had put into this plan splintering before her.
“Don’t worry Twilight, We’ll get it next time.” Rainbow said as she helped Rarity to stand.
“That’s better then any try we’ve seen so far.” Applejack quietly added.
“What do we do now?” Pinkie asked. Twilight didn’t have an answer for that one. What could they do now? Roger’s plan was a long shot but it was the best shot they had. They had so nearly made it, everypony had been so hopeful.
“Twilight,” Rarity said between gasps for air. “I’m sorry, I just couldn’t…”
“It’s ok Rarity,” came Twilight’s response “it’s my fault.”
“Now Twilight, don’t be upset.” Fluttershy said attempting to comfort Twilight.
“What if our magic is still weakening?” Twilight said slightly louder then she meant to. “What am I going to tell you next time? Don’t get your hopes up but lets see if we can finally do the thing we’ve been trying to do for three days now. Except it hasn’t been we, it’s been me. I’m the one that got us here.”
“Sugar cube don’t talk like that.” Applejack said.
“This is what, the fourth time we’ve tried this?” Twilight said turning on Applejack. “Every time we get closer but we never get there. What’s going to happen when we wake up one morning to find the opposite? That each attempt is worse then the last. What’s going to happen when I can’t even start the spell?”
“If the world where full of what ifs I can guaranty this would be the least of our problems.” But Twilight was having none of it.
“Applejack I don’t know if you noticed but right now this is the biggest problem. Everypony wants to go home and ever time I fail I make it worse on them.”
“Then tell me Twi how exactly throw’n fits like a fillies gonna help?”
Twilight let tears flow down her face. “Because if I can’t get this to work we can’t go home! EVER!”
>a tuxedoed man riding a speedboat
Welcome back, 007. We've missed you.
1023171
Liked that little refrence i threw in there? In these kinds of fics there's so much room for jokes i gotta do a few of them.
1023264
I don't like your references. I fucking LOVE them. Just like this story.
If it's short I'll stab you
I'm expecting them to find out about Equestria through flicking through TV channels.
Well, the obvious solution is to go public and get a few hundred thousand bronies too feed Twilight enough power to go home.
The existence of an MIB that might want to snatch the ponies is remote and they probably only exist in conspiracy theories but the possibility is there. To avoid any chance of that I'd sneak them to a big public event with lots of news coverage and expose them to thousands of witnesses and dozens of news channels. Basically reveal them in a way far too spectacular and public to ever be covered up. The ensuing public and media frenzy may be a bit unpleasant for the ponies to experience but the constant surveillance by absolutely everyone is about the best protection you can get, and they shouldn't have to put up with it for too long.
This is going to be a quicky, i've got company over and need to get ready to go out, but fans come first. (even if i am super tired.)
1024123
It's times like this were I wish there was a universal definition for short, we still have a few more chapters to get through together so i'm not woried yet, but if I get that coment on chapter ten I might be in trouble.
1024421
That was something i considered, but Roger's smart enough not to put on the Hub network and the ponies probably cant work the remote, with there nubbly hooves and all.
1025924
Your plan is nicebut there areseveral things you overlooked. To begin with, the goverment dose not need to cover it up. They say the words aleins have landed and your going to have diplomats, world leaders, scientisets, consperiests, alian hunters, gaurds for some of the welthier individuals here, possibly the secret survice, definetly the president, rich people hopeing to bye a look at them or artifact, thrill seakers, news vans, and probably most importantly, tons and tons and tons of awed spectators flooding the location the ponies are at. With that much coverage the ponies become a "threat to national security" or possibly worse, "Honnered guests of the wight house". They wouldn't need to cover it up, they could just take them under the false guise of "moving them to a more secure location."
secondly, i'd like to remind you of a quote. "The only thing i am certain about man is his unpredictability." You have no idea what a mob would do, ever. The mostdocile and kind individuals can be convinced through mob mentality to trample storm and fight with vengence no leader can match without huge streangth. The french revelotion, which started the Napolionic wars began with a handful of individuals visiting a prisone. If you revealed them publicly theres no telling what could happen to them.
Third, once the secret is out individuals will start to pose a problem. Obsesive bronies, Religiouse zelotes, anti-bronies, ect. could possibly try to hurt the ponies with any manner of humanities many ways we kill one another. Before that media gets there, or perhapse because of it, the ponies would be in great danger of assasination.
Lastly, although you did mention this, they would have an incredibully difficult time adjusting to the media frenzy. If you've never heard the concept of future shock, i think it would be something like that. Pluse we know how Fluttershy reacted to the media frenzy during her modeling carrer. What will Rainbow do when a helicopter shows up? What will Pinkie do when all these screeming happy fans show up? its not out of the question this method of helping them could not only be unplesent as you said, but hurtful to there minds.
For the sake of dramatic effect i'm not telling you guys if they make it back or not, but i love the ideas you come up with, keep em coming. I'm going to let this chapter simmer awile before I get around to posting the next one. I'm thinking the 7th as the release date but it all depends on my editor so don't get your hearts set. Keep cheaking back and don't forget to comment.
I liked, but that whole part of Pinkie teaching Roger her 'hoof-language' in a day (give or take) is a little hard to swallow. Tis a bit of a stretch...
Lots of little spelling errors. Than and then and others, indents would've been nice. It's a solid story, not a dynamic one, but it's sufficient. I would say it's dull really, there isn't much emotion in anything, just the story itself.
1329679
Especially considering when adding magical theory with intangible terminology like 'density' and 'magical bonds.' I'll suspend disbelief once more with a 'Fry Glare' an continue to read.
2397687
There are quite a few misplaced hononyms like the ones mentioned and MerlosTheMad is correct with the solid story(besides the sign language in less-than-a-day) so I will continue to read and comment.
The others should really be pressing Twilight for information regarding their whereabouts if the portal isn't working. I would have figured Rainbow Dash would really be itching to walk back even just to go back to and through the supposedly close-by 'Equestria' at this point.
Huge issue: how can the rest of the ponies suddenly speak to our Human? It is never explained, it just happens.