[Prologue]When One Door Closes
This is it. The moment of truth.
Seven creatures stood in front of the large, guarded doors that led to Princess Celestia's throne room. The only human, standing in front of the bunch, scratched his chin as he looked up to the top of the doors, examining the ornate construction around it. He had seen these doors a few times before; when he first arrived in Equestria, when he was summoned a few times to share information about himself and his homeworld, and whenever his friends decided to take a trip to Canterlot just to visit.
Speaking of his friends...
He looked down to the six ponies standing just behind him, nervousness and dread painfully readable across their faces. He shook his head, slightly amused. They cared a lot about him, which the human had a hard time understanding. Sure, they were the best friends he had in this new world, but they hardly knew him. He hardly knew them. He didn't think making deep connections in this world was something he should do. If he went back home, that'd make everything just has hard as when he first arrived in Equestria. Leaving behind friends and the life he held dear was already hard the first time, doing it a second isn't an experience he thought he could survive.
Yet still, despite his best efforts to only have superficial relationships, trying not to become emotionally attached, these damn ponies still cared for him. They always had. Though their emotions were as clear as Celestia's light, their thought remained a mystery.
"What is it exactly they're nervous about?" The human thought to himself, "Are they upset that I'll be leaving?... Are they upset I won't be leaving?" The thoughts raced in his mind as he tried to figure out what exactly was racing through theirs, "Maybe... They're nervous for me?" He mentally hit himself for not thinking of that first. Empathy, duh.
The creatures here in Equestria lived and breathed empathy. It was almost hard to believe how deeply people, er, ponies cared for each other. The human learned when he was younger, in school back on Earth, that humans were empathetic creatures. When he grew up and began to see the world, he found that scientific analysis hard to believe. Everywhere he looked back on Earth, empathy was seldom seen.
He tried to be the positive force his old world so badly needed, but the old world quickly broke him down. His ideals of helping others, of being selfless, of seeing the best in everyone were scoffed at, if not down right laughed at. At first, he didn't let that stop him. He volunteered at any charitable organization he could, he joined demonstrations, not only was he invited to be on the board of a few charities, he even founded his own. He started early and manage to do it all before he even graduate college... However, by the age of 24, he came to accept that the world simply didn't have room for empathy and understanding. No one wanted it either. He felt alone in wanting to accept others for their differences and for wanting others to accept him for his differences...
There it was. The flaw in his logic the old world took great pleasure in pointing out: If he wanted something for himself then he wasn't selfless. His goal wasn't to help humanity, it was to help himself. He was just as selfish as everyone else. He wanted others to change so he didn't have to.
The world had beaten him down and didn't stop until he finally agreed that there was no changing anything besides himself... And change he did. He stopped volunteering, he stopped attending demonstrations, he resigned from every charitable organization he held position in, and he stopped hoping for a brighter future. Not that any of that mattered, of course. He could never help enough people when he volunteered, the demonstrations he organized and attended continually grew smaller and smaller in crowd size, the organizations he helped grow could easily replace him with someone who actually knew how to run an organization. Nothing he did changed anything, nothing he did mattered, the only thing he gained were the countless snears, hate mail, and occasional death threats from those against his message.
Then one day, he ended up here. In Equestria.
It took him a bit to get acclimated, he was very suspicious of everyone and everything. Everyone was just so nice! Always willing to help, to be friends... If there is anything the old world taught him is that those who are kind and generous to strangers are only looking for something. Once they get it, they'll throw you out into the dirt. It's happened many times to him before. However, he quickly came to learn that it wasn't only the sciences that didn't apply to this new world. Every painful lesson about reality in the old world seemed to not apply in this land...
This land was exactly what he always dreamed of. It was perfect!... Almost too perfect. He had dedicated his college and work life to learning how to help and better people, including himself. Here in Equestria, there wasn't anything for him to learn or do. There was no big change needed. Somehow, despite being in the land he wished his old world was, he felt even emptier than he did on Earth. All of his life, all of his work, there was no reason for it here. All he's ever said and done has already been said and done by hundreds, if not thousands long before him.
He should be happy right? There's no struggle for him anymore. He's no longer in the seemingly infinite minority. That's good! Right?
Well, while the rules of the old world did not apply here in the new one, the rules still applied to the human. There was nothing for him. There was nothing for him to gain, nothing for him to do besides watch. There was no pride for him to feel about a world so empathetic when he had no part in helping make it.
The old world was right. He was just like everyone else. He only wanted things for himself. He was selfish. Even when out of the grasps of the old world, it still managed to break him down when he thought there was nothing left to break.
So what was better? Going home to place that only wants to break you? Or staying in a land where you have nothing to offer?
Finally shaking himself out of his thoughts, he cleared his throat, causing the six ponies to look up at him, "Well... I don't think this door wants to talk. Looks like we might have to go in."
"Are... Are you okay?" The purple pony asked as she looked at him in concern
"Are you?" The human questioned back
"I'm just... Nervous for you is all, Phoenix," The purple pony said, "W-whatever she says... It's going to affect the rest of your life. Are you sure you want to do this now? W-We can come back later."
"The answer isn't gonna change if we come back later," Phoenix told, "Better to treat it like ripping a band-aid off, right? If we leave we're just going to worry the whole time... It'd probably make it worse,"
"I know..." The purple pony sighed she looked down in shame
"Twilight," Phoenix said, trying to call her to look back at him, "It's okay,"
"H-Hey, I should be the one telling you that!" Twilight forced a laugh
"Yeah!" the light blue Pegasus said, "It's like we're more nervous than you over here!"
"...Are ya even nervous?" The orange pony donning a cowboy hat asked
The human laughed a bit as he rubbed his eyes, "How could I not be, Applejack?... I didn't get any sleep last night."
"You're sure good at hidin' it," she hummed
"Really good..." A yellow pony with a pink mane said in almost a whisper
"Hmm, I think this warrants some experimenting doesn't it?" Twilight asked no one, "We should do some tests now and see why that is!"
"Twi, you're trying to stall," Phoenix said as he put his hands on his hips
"I'm stalling?" Twilight questioned
"Yes." Phoenix responded
"Me? I'm stalling?" Twilight frowned as she tilted her head like a confused puppy
"I know how this game works, Twi," Phoenix snorted as he turned away, "We're going in."
"I don't know, darling," A pure white pony with a deep purple mane called, "We are going to see Princess Celestia of all ponies and I can't help but notice that... You're not dressed properly."
"You're not even dressed. No one here is dressed," Phoenix pointed out, unamused
"Y-yes, but there are different standards for humans, right? Here, let's go shopping for materials and I can make you something perfec-"
"Rarity... I appreciate the gesture, but you can't delay this." Phoenix sighed
"Yeah, what if inside they have a big party prepared just for the announcement!" The pink pony with equally pink hair jumped excitedly, "We don't wanna keep them waiting!"
"That is a possibility," Twilight nodded forcefully, "Perhaps we should create a list of every possible outcome opening these doors could cause,"
Phoenix groaned as he stepped forward, opening the door wordlessly, causing Twilight to jump in surprise as she was half-turned away, getting her parchment and quill ready. She quickly hid her supplies as she rushed to follow the human, the others following behind at a slow pace.
"Phoenix," The Princess greeted with a small smile, "I'm glad to see you,"
Phoenix nodded, scanning the princess's face quickly. There wasn't much to read, but the small smile she had on her face was enough for him. It was forced. Something Phoenix was all too familiar with. He could see clearly from that smile, she'd rather be anywhere else than right here, right now.
"...I don't think you are," Phoenix told bluntly
The princess blinked, surprised that her demeanor was quickly seen through, "I am happy to see you... I suppose I just wish it was under better circumstances"
The six ponies behind Phoenix tensed up at the statement; the room became silent as nopony dared to move a muscle. Phoenix however, seemed to relax at the statement, his hands finding their home in his pockets, "So, I'm guessing that's a no go on the home thing?"
The Princess nodded solemnly, unable to look the human in the eye, "We tried everything, but... Nothing worked. We had to come to the conclusion opening a way back to your home is impossible."
Phoenix only nodded, soaking in the information. He was here forever. He could and would never see his home again. Not his friends, not his family, not anything.
"Please, believe me, we really did try everything. We spent countless days and nights researching and exper-"
"I believe you," Phoenix interrupted, "I know you tried everything. You tried your best... That's all I could ask for and that's all I expected. Thank you, Celestia."
"I... Of course, Phoenix. It's the least I could do," Princess Celestia smiled, this time a genuine one, "Will you be alright? Can I get you anything?"
"I think I'm okay, thank you though," Phoenix told, "Thank you for your time,"
"You're always welcome here, Phoenix," Princess Celestia informed, "Don't be a stranger,"
"I'll try my hardest," Phoenix hummed as he spun on his heels and walk towards the door, the group of ponies once behind him, now in front splitting apart to let him pass.
The group all looked at each other, then to Princess Celestia, then back to each other. Without speaking a word, they quickly walked to follow behind the human, whom had already left the throne room and was standing in the hallway. When they reached the hallway, they looked to Phoenix, who gave them a blank look back. This caused them all to deflate, their heads slouching down to look at the floor in defeat. They almost looked ready to cry. Phoenix, their dear friend, had officially lost his home forever and there was nothing any of them could do about it. The pain and anguish he must be feeling, the anger and depression must be tearing him apar-
"I know I'm pretty obnoxious, but y'all could at least pretend that you're happy to be stuck with me,"
Everyone shot their heads up in surprise, expecting somepony other than Phoenix had just spoken, but when they saw it was in fact him, they became even more surprised. Not only did he just crack a joke after he learned he could never go home, he was smiling. He barely ever smiles when there's something to be happy about!
"W-w-what?" The cyan Pegasus stammered out
"You're... You're not sad?" Twilight asked in complete confusion
"No!" Phoenix smiled wider, "I'm great! Whew, that's so relieving to hear!"
"Relieving?" The white pony asked
"Yeah!" Phoenix smiled, "I don't have to worry anymore if I'm leaving everything behind again or not! I-I can actually start doing things here that can be left behind!"
"You're not sad? Y-you can never go back home!" The orange pony pointed out
"Screw that place," Phoenix laughed as he waved his hand dismissively, "They're probably busy blowing each other up anyways. It's best I didn't go back or I'd get blown up!... Or drafted into the army and then blown up!"
The ponies all stared at the human with shock written across their face. Unsure on how to proceed from this not only out of character outburst, but completely unexpected one.
"So..." The pink pony said as she bounced on her forelegs, "Does this mean I can throw a 'Welcome to Equestria Forever' party?"
Phoenix laughed as he looked to the pony, "Pinkie my Pie, you can 100% throw a 'Welcome to Equestria Forever' party!"
"Yay!!!" Pinkie Pie cheered as she lunged forward and hooked herself around the human's waist in a tight hug. Phoenix leaned over a bit and put a hand on Pinkie Pie's back, returning the hug as best he could while standing.
"Um, Phoenix?" A soft voice called from the remaining group of five ponies
"Fluttershy?" Phoenix smiled to her
"I, uh, I just want to say that I'm happy that you're gonna be with us... sorry if that sounds like I'm happy you can't go home. I'm not, I just mean-"
"I know what you mean," Phoenix laughed as he knelt down, making sure Pinkie Pie didn't get squished into the floor, "C'mere"
Fluttershy smiled as she quickly parted from the group and hugged Phoenix from the side with her forelegs, closing her eyes with a smile as she rested her head on his chest.
The Cyan Pegasus chuckled a bit as she flew over, ruffling his hair with one hoof while her other foreleg wrapped around the back of his neck, "This guy," she laughed, "You're just full of surprises, huh?" Phoenix laughed as well as he leaned in, touching the side of his head to hers.
The remaining three all glanced to each other in shock and confusion, had everyone lost their mind and they were the only sane ones left? Or were they the crazy ones? He's stuck here! Forever! He can never go back home, he can never see his friends or family. The 24 years he spent there is gone!... They're not the crazy ones, right?
Twilight looked at her two remaining sane friends, then to the hug pile happening in front of them. She slowly approached as if the group before her would suddenly attack if startled. "Phoenix?" Twilight called, clear concern in her voice
"Twily?" Phoenix cooed with a smile
"You're not just putting on a show for us, right? You're actually happy?" Twilight asked as she stood in front of the kneeling human, trying her best to look over Pinkie Pie's mane
"Mhm," Phoenix nodded, "Get in here~"
Twilight couldn't help but smile. He's happy. He's actually happy. In the two years she's known him, he rarely ever shown his emotion. Yet when presented with what should be one of the worst news of his life, he finally smiled. His emotional dam had broken and only joy was pouring out. It was hard to believe that the stoic human that entered the throne room had left a bundle of giddiness. Yet here he was, almost like he was a new human. How could she not join in on the hug party?
"Ah reckon that's that then," Applejack laughed a bit as she shook her head, striding to the human's side and putting of hoof on his leg.
"Yes, I suppose it is," Rarity hummed as she soon followed suit, walking close to his side with a smile.
Phoenix smiled wider and closed his eyes. Surrounded by his friends who were all here to help him navigate this new life of his. He couldn't help but smile. He couldn't help but feel as if there was finally something to look forward to.
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Classic first worlder savior syndrome.
Fantastically privileged.
Ooo thank goodness because if they did manage to bring pony’s to the human world it’s not going to be nice but I am curious if he will put his human knowledge in history books about his work about the good and bad.
I actually want to defend Pheonix helping the world.
Of course he wants to help the world so he can see a better world he created. Human nature wants some kind of benefit to the person, he can’t just be selfless and that’s that. There’s always some underlying selfishness, and that’s not his fault. A person very close to me, once I was running for a mod on a certain wiki, told me that I wasn’t selfish for wanting to become a mod, because I wanted to use becoming a mod to genuinely help others.
Perhaps the thinking is a little backwards, but that’s just how humans work.
Reckon he got the whole thing flipped outa wack in his head. Humans are empathetic, doesn't mean they have to be like ponies. Most people want to keep to themselves, that isn't evil. Yet when shit goes down it's rare to see people just look on, if they don't outright sacrifice their own wellbeing, they will call in someone capable of succeeding. Being friends with everyone is silly, keep to you and your own. Looking for the best in people and expecting saints everywhere is selfish. Small works or you'll catch burn out
Comedy gold.
What is there to do for a leftie activist lost in Equestria?
If everyone is actually righteous, more than you are, it means you can not flaunt your superior righteousness over others.
If there are no straw dragons to combat, then there is no praise to expect, no power to gain.
What else is there for the little simp to do but to walk out into the desert?
...I mean he could alway terrorize pastel colored little horses with statistics.