> Spotlight of Stars
>  by DE_K
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Burning Through Chances
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Awake through a cosmic proof of concept in the impossible, his first steps were not his own, but assisted. Pulled from the earth and delicately bathed in light, consciousness was an elusive curse for the moment, one that would be cherished in this state of blissful not-death. Thoughts knit together, sensations of wind fired off goosebumps, coherence returned, and a bright moon shone down into the eyes of a lone man, unaware of how he came to standing in a rolling, presumably green field in the dead of night. 

The clouds above, songs of nature around, and whispers of wind were all his company for the night, friends he was well acquainted with. This night though brought confusion, and his ‘friends’ followed by fear. Quickly after his peaceful awakening the unfamiliar land lost its scenic beauty when ideas of home and safety came to mind, now only seen as strange and unwanted. 

Where he was there was no telling, but he sooner chose to be lost on the move than let the admittedly pleasant chill seep any further. Cresting a hill, his shoes slick from the dew and jacket much more welcome, he took a breath as the sea of grass spread as far as he could see, the blades swaying and shining in the wind and silver light, only compounding his growing sense of dread.

Continuing his push to the unknown he wandered over hills and fields barren of any life save for the constant hum of insects. The stars were out though, shining brighter than he’d ever seen, and the moon slowly but steadily surrended its zenith since he’d come to. After a burn had worked its way to the man’s legs he knew that this could not persist for much longer, it just couldn’t. When no sign of civilization came forth he was left to drift, not even an idea of what to do, and from how things were so far again he considered it was only a matter of time before worse came to worst…

So why did the fear pass? How could he be so content in his wanderings? True, it was what he’d always wanted, to see a vast field of life beneath the stars, but on his own terms, with a way home and safety just a call away. But here he was, the jolt of a new scene having regressed to a simmer of quiet awe and respect. He didn’t know what this was or why he was here, but he felt at ease, a full sense of satisfaction at his predicament. 

The burning was gone, and he felt no more or less hungry than he did upon awakening, he simply was, as surely as the grass beneath him. The moon had come and gone, dawn had risen and still he maintained his direction with little deviation, the sun rising to his right a soft, embracing yellow, one that didn’t burn, and seemed almost cautious in its light as if not to disturb him or his hills.

It was with the light that came change, a break to his monotonous steps, steady breaths, and crisp crunch underfoot. One mote of shadow far in the distance behind him, the others having disbanded before he could turn around. After another cursory glance at his surroundings the speck was spotted. At first the human thought he may have finally been seeing stars in his head, for he had to have been walking for several hours and had only needed to breathe just a little heavier, but his pace was lax, and his demeanor at peace. 

Stopping for the first time in hours he watched the anomaly, his arms out and waving, if being the only person in these stretches of green wasn’t a large enough point of interest. Whatever it was it did the trick as he watched his savior grew while the distance was quickly put away, though the man had been standing still all the while.

Something he noticed first was the distinct lack of propellers beating through the air, next was its size, hardly excusable by yardage anymore, lastly it was the flight itself, up and down. It had to have been a very large, very determined bird, and the wings stood out as clear as the new day while this strange bird flew circles overhead, but it was so strange to consider a vulture over him, he felt fine. Better than ever actually. 

So high up was this bird that it took our human an inordinate amount of time to spot the legs, outstretched and clawless. Then the tail, as it slowly circled lower, and finally a look of clear intelligence in its eyes as it seemed to appraise the ground bound wanderer. 

After another unsettling sense of unfamiliarity, the biped offered an unsure wave, slowly stepping backwards to run further along his previous trail should it come to that, though he was unsure what a flying horse would want with him. This was all just far too surreal. 

With a final look of consideration, the winged beast came to an acceptable answer within itself and landed a ways away from the only other being in sight before slowly approaching, relaxed and head high.

It stopped just a few feet away now, staring the human again with those now clearly auburn eyes, waiting patiently without a sound but for a huff after landing. Curious and certainly interested, two legs carefully approached the set of four, it now being the human’s turn for a better look. 

Its silver spotted white coat was nearly gleaming in the early morning light, its mane a light tan, like sand on a picturesque beach. The thing came no higher than the man’s waist, at the very most, and was a disarming discovery from simply walking for what had to have been miles. Further using this friendly moment, he took his turn circling, finding a set of strangley ornate brands adorning this creature’s flanks, three rain drops in the form of a triangle with its point aimed down and raindrops similarly upside down, their baby blue melting into the rest of the nearly transparent equine its coat was so light. Strange, so why was it here? It was just standing there, peacefully. 

After standing back in front of it, the tallest of the two took another look around, each horizon, every hill, looking for a clue, a hint for why this was. Finding nothing but the truest greens of the land, he met the eyes of the strange mini horse, and how their eyes met, it was certainly intelligent, and the human felt at odds, whatever this was was handling this much better than it had any right to. 

A soft but low “hello” was offered by the man, and the horse only held the faintest hint of a smile, was this amusing? Was it simply happy in this empty, peaceful land? So many possibilites, and it was strange to see it smile, but not wrong. Stepping closer the human did the only next step he could see when dealing with this docile a creature, he slowly reached his hand out, an apprehensive look surely on his face as the pony watched with interest. 

His hand raised to snout level, he hoped he wouldn’t lose a finger or five trusting his unlikely acquaintance in these lands. Instead of sniffing his hand as was halfway expected, the pony nuzzled it, its smile growing marginally as their eyes were once again on the human, its breath steady, its very blinks the image of serenity. It was honestly an endearing sight, one the human’s previously muted mind questioned ceaselessly with numbing speed.

Another “hello” from the man, but this time much more certain now that some level of trust had been established, though he couldn’t help but feel this horse was being deliberately obstinate in its communication, although maybe it just couldn’t talk. Either way, with another look around his hand raised once more, but this time to the thing’s head, stroking its mane as his nerves earlier recovered, and the equine itself leaned in to his maneuver. 

With an alliance of sorts formed beneath the ever rising sun, a smile grew on the wanderer’s face, the softness he felt was indescribable and wholly welcome. Gaining some courage, he kneeled and briefly hugged his new friend around the neck. Standing to move before the horse he sat cross legged, now his turn to look up in wonder, though the horse’s look was less wonder and more interested.

Once on the ground, the pony too fell, though onto now folded legs, and again the shorter between them. An eyebrow raised in what was certainly amusement now, the pony cocked a surprisingly expressive head sideways ever so slightly, causing the human to laugh through his own smile.

“What is it? What’s so funny little horse?” He couldn’t help but internally lament the fact this pegasus was far too small to ride, though maybe he would be led to society, he was starting to feel hungry, though he should be starving by now, after the walking and just the time itself. 

“You hugged me.” Was all the pony said, smile clear and mirth doubly, her tone soft, conversational, and pleasant, wings ruffling to what was assumed a more comfortable position.

For the human’s part he could only laugh and put his face in a hand as he leaned that arm on a leg, “Yes, I did, didn’t I?” Peeking through the cracks of his fingers in embarrassment, he cast his own amusement over to the only other one there, “I hope it wasn’t too bad, I just um,” taking a breath to laugh again in wonder he shook his head and sat straight before hunching more comfily, “I still wasn’t a hundred percent about you… talking y’know?” Laughing in disbelief he made his request, “Could you say something again? What’s your name? Mine’s James.”

On the pegasus’ part, once more her wonder and disbelief was far more muted, though still somewhat there, “My name is ferocious.”

This time James’ laugh wasn’t so reserved, and though he apologized he had to ask, “Really? Your name’s Ferocious?” Looks could be deceiving, but it was very hard to imagine this mare as anything other than gentle. 

With a nod and that smile ever present, Ferocious replied, “Oh yes, are you sure you want to hear it?” A brief laugh, nod, and ‘go on’ gesture later, “I am called Spate, and James is not a name I’ve heard before.” The newly named Spate closed her eyes and laid her head down in thought, humming absent mindedly. 

With the focus somewhat taken off of James, he had a moment to reflect and consider his situation, first lost through hills and then found by a pegasus straight out of a coloring book of legends? His mind was easy though, and his body now laid out perpendicular to the mare while he leaned back on his arms, his own closed eyes faced to the sun, “Spate? Do you know where I can find other people? I’ve been out here walking for so long l think l might be stuck without your help.”

For once, her reserved tranquility took a hit, and her smile dipped to a mirror’s reversal of a once content grin, bringing about a slow, deliberate response, “Yes, I think I know just the place for a human.”

If his ears could stand up, they would be, “‘For a human?’ Are there more? Are there more of you? I was starting to think this was all there was. Why am I all the way out here then, little horse? I couldn’t see even a glimpse of where to go, I’ve never been so far from any help…” James ran his hands through the lush earth, pulling a single blade of grass for him to see closer, its coarse texture grating between two digits, “It’s been nice though, whatever this is.”

Leaning back to lay on the grass, he looked up to the sun to find again that it didn’t hurt, but knew better and thus turned away, an arm over his eyes while thoughts went through his head, “Spate?” A soft hum in response, “What are you doing here? I don’t know why I am, I don’t know where ‘here’ is, but I have the strangest idea that it’s not an accident you found me, why is that? You seem familiar with me, at least with humans, but this doesn’t make any bit of sense in my head.”

Nodding along as he spoke, Spate was prepared for and understanding of his questions. Now laying on her side, again lower than James, she flapped a wing lazily into the air, as well as taking notice how he followed its movements with interest. Having taken a moment to compose her answers, “Yes, for a human, and there is much more to this world than these fields. I know the name doesn’t mean anything to you, but we’re just east of the Whitetail Woods, thankfully one of the tamer locales to suddenly wake up in, we’re safe out here, if alone.” 

James looked aside to watch her roll onto her stomach again, head in the grass and expressive eyes first on the sun climbing its way up still, then back down to him as he had some questions answered, “While ‘little horse’ could fit, and I suppose it’s not an issue, it’d be a better fit to call me a pony, or pegasus, or Spa even, and it’s my job to watch these fields, for trouble or someone like you needing directions. Do you remember how you got here?”

Eyes closed and sighing what vaguely sounded like ‘This is crazy’ he looked to the blue, cloudless expanse above, “I woke up standing under moonlight, and picked a direction to hopefully find somewhere to figure this out, but, and no offence, but seeing you I don’t think a city would really have helped me all that much more, are there cities of pegasi? And since you came from behind me, I’m guessing I chose the worst direction to go?” He finished with a tired sigh, unhappy rise to sit up, but ready to move while his walk and hunger finally coming to collect. “And could you point me the right way to go?”

Standing and copied by James, Spate gave her wings a stretch and testing flaps, each taking her off the ground before responding again, “I can do better, I can give you a ride to where you need to go.” She looked over each shoulder, at the hill crests behind and sky above before flapping another wing and meeting the man’s eyes once more, “How do you feel about heights, James? Have you flown before?”

To his credit, he managed to not look as disbelieving as he felt, this mare seemed to believe in her capabilities, and it really wouldn’t do for him to say what was and wasn’t possible right now. “Yeah, I’ve flown before, not on my own obviously, but I don’t suppose an airplane would mean anything to you?” Finishing with a stretch and trying to follow her view, to see if she saw anything. 

A smirk back in place and she shook her head, “Actually, I think I’ve heard of them, flying metal transportation, am I close?”

With another shake of his head and rolling eyes, he huffed a laugh, “Yeah, too close for a guess anyway, so you have a plane waiting for me back at whatever outpost you’re at? Is the food any good?”

Lifting up into the air, she barely rose above his head and told him not quite, “There’s no plane, I’m not sure we even have one, not one I’ve ever seen at least, but there’s something else I hope will do in the meantime, and yes, the food should be to your tastes.” Lifting a foreleg to block the sun and looking to a specific though not at all outstanding hill, she outstretched her wings and gave two very intentional flaps before touching down to earth again, facing James once more. “On behalf of Equestria, I am honored to welcome you, James, to our nation. I wish you the very best, and of my own volition,” She gave James a very sincere and... openhearted look, something akin to remorse entering her voice, “I must tell you, you will have friends, options, and a place to belong.” Now a set of shadows came from the direction Spate had waved, this time two of three sparkling faintly, both glinting on either side of the middle.

Putting a surprisingly warm and soft hoof against James’ thigh as they both stood, her eyes were filled with emotion the human felt were out of place for two who had just met, “Not everyone will be a friend, and not all ponies can see past appearances, but just worry about yourself and those near you, you’ll find most of us will always have an open ear to hear what you have to say, alright?”

As the chariot and it’s two guards landed with no fanfare, James eyed it hesitantly and took Spate’s words as much as he could, though he hadn’t expected an emotional goodbye after only a brief meeting. Instinctually, he raised a hand back up to stroke her mane to soothe whatever distress she felt as they walked to the new duo, “I promise I won’t forget Spate, you’re very kind you know that?” Looking to the two horse men, he sized them up and noticed they had a bit more height, though still not passing halfway up his chest at the tallest. Their pristine golden armor was impressive, though it couldn’t be too practical James thought. 

Disengaging from his petting, he bridged the gap between the silently patient pair and sighed in humorous exasperation, “More silent ponies then?” No answer, but a few smiles and nods, “And I suppose you expect me to get in this flying cart thing too, don’t you?”

At that, its left pilot cleared his throat, “You don’t have to, sir, but it’s the quickest, most convenient way to move fast from here. If you’d like, we have a group of earth ponies who would carry you in a more earthbound way.”

After the initial snort and head shake at there now being more than one talking horse, James opted for speed, “I’ve spent more than enough time out here, it’s nice, but I want to go home. Or well, somewhere with people-ponies I guess.”

Unbeknownst to James, Spate winced at the word ‘home’ besides him before leading James around the guards, to the gate on the back of the cart, and opening it for him, then following him aboard. The chariot was human-sized, so while their guest sat down handily, reflexively reaching for a seatbelt he actually found, Spate was left to hop up and lay down, foregoing the belt, “We have food in the compartments at the front there,” she pointed out with a wing, “feel free to help yourself, James.” 

Having tightened his belt the inlaid cabinet immediately had his attention once it was pointed out, until the chariot seamlessly lifted up after a brief running start in the direction he was actually heading. His gaze roaming over the edge of his cabin to watch the sprawling green in every direction, an ocean he could have drowned in. There were no jolts or turbulence, his ride was a smooth glide. Finally with the time to eat, he twisted the button and unlatched the little door, flipping it up to see what was on the menu. There were sandwiches, and what looked like MRE’s, and underneath them were what he assumed to be beef sticks and canteens of… whatever they held. 

Hoping for water he grabbed one dull grey metal container, unscrewed and smelled it, and he looked inquiringly to Spate, which is when she nodded her head and voiced his concern, “Yes, it’s water, they all are, enjoy.” Her head was again down, on her side as she simply looked at him or the sky, not a stare, something benign.

In the comfortable silence all there was to be heard was gentle wind, and one canteen down James nearly grabbed one of the mysteriously packaged meals before going for something much easier, a slice of cheese poking from the bread’s edges. Unwrapping the paper around it he split it like a deck of cards, seeing what was within. What looked like sliced meats, cheese, and lettuce waited to be eaten and not blown away by the wind, and James was only too happy to oblige its wishes. It was light eating, but there were more, and he ate them without regret before considering his silent-again partner, “Did you want any of this, water maybe?”

She didn’t consider it for a moment before shaking her head, “No I’m alright, thank you though. Is there anything missing?” 

Shaking his own negative he counted his blessings, “Considering I was just lost in the middle of nowhere, this is plenty.” Setting a fourth wrapper down, he balled them all together and put them in the cabinet to not blow away as he grabbed another, “Why do you have all this just waiting though? Were you expecting to find someone out here?” 

Looking up at him in silence, she took another momentary pause, “Yes, just in case we came across any lost travelers.”

His hunger pains had since faded, and so he took a step back from devouring like a starved man to look around, and note the environment had changed, flatter, browner, the hills now out of sight. “Where are we now, Spa?”

Without looking over the chariot she answered, “A corner of the drylands, it shouldn’t be long before you see Canterlot, or Cloudsdale. Keep an eye out for a mountain and rainbows, they’ll be off the bow and portside… or to the front, and left.” Sitting up for the first time since the onset of their voyage Spate asked, “Have you sailed?”

Nodding as he pat the crumbs off himself, James looked between the mare and the aft, no signs behind or ahead, thankfully his guides seemed to know the way. “I have actually, lived on a sailboat most of my formative years to tell the truth. Loved the ocean anyway so it wasn’t too shabby all things told. Have you been at sea?”

A coughed laugh and waving hoof told him no, and once Spate found her voice she told him just as much herself, “No, thankfully. I’m not much of a sea-bird, as they’d call it. I’m much happier knowing there’s solid ground beneath me.” At this she looked over the edge and nodded to herself, giving the impression she was reaffirming that yes, the ground was where it should be. Looking back and making a small but sudden “Oh!” She quickly covered her trail, “But if you ever have the time, there are plenty of oceans to sail here, if you want.” She barely lifted her wings, catching wind but careful not to get swept away.

Biting the inside of his cheek in nervous thought, he considered trying his hand on an ocean in a world of flying, talking little horses, and James had to say he didn’t like the sound of his odds, “Well… it’s something to think about at least. Before any of that I really just want to relax you know? Sit down and sort through my thoughts.” She nodded in understanding, content on her bench. 

Honestly, this whole thing had him feeling very out of body, yes he’s talked with two ponies so far, yes they seem kind, kind enough to guve him a ride over miles, through the air no less, but despite their disarming friendliness, it was far beyond him to just take at face value. But here he was, wind through his hair, who knew how high above the ground, and surprised he wasn’t more terrified, because there was no way his seatbelt would help if the pilots got struck by lighting, bugs in their eyes, crashed into a bird,  just had a bad day and decided they’d had enough, or any other unlikely event. Still, plummeting was not the way he wanted to die. He’d be sure to tuck his head between his legs, to make it quick at least, or maybe unbuckle and pretend he himself was flying, maybe they’d actually be able to grab him before he did a flip?

Shuddering away the imagery, he refocused and immediately saw rainbows literally pouring off a what looked to be a cloud city, his eyes on it, he asked aloud, “That Cloudsdale?”

“Yes it is, home of most of the pegasi. It’s something to see, isn’t it?”

If it were a sight to a native, it was that and more to James, “How’s it doing that with the rainbows? Mist? They look far too substantial.”

She hummed a knowing sound, “It’s the city, and have you noticed a certain, vibrancy to things here? A clarity?” 

It came his turn for silence and reflection, had he noticed? Was there anything to notice? Looking over the edge and downwards again, it wasn’t just the hills that were lush, even the desert they’d passed had a certain sheen to it, making it brighter. “Now that you mention it, yes, why though? And why do you mention it?”

She shrugged a pony shrug and shook her head, “I don’t know, but we have ponies who might, and I was explaining why the rainbows here may be more opaque, more like a liquid laser show really from what I’ve heard of humans.”

“So there are more humans, right?” He asked with a slight smile, laughing with his hope and in the face of his fear, “The way you mention us it almost sounds dire.” 

She looked to the front, nonresponsive to his question as she pointed out the hanging castle, “There’s Canterlot now, can’t miss it if you tried.” She looked for their flanking guards and saw them already leading far ahead and adding distance while James and Spate’s chauffeurs kept at their steady pace, focused on flight, their path a straight line for the impossible castle.

Dubiously James took in the precariousness and looked askance at his guide, “Are you sure that’s a good idea, to sit that just on the side like that? How long’s it been there?”

Laughing at something only she knew under her breath, Spate replied with a, “Yes, I assure you this castle will outlast all of us, and it’s been there long enough to have plenty of time to ‘settle’. It’ll be ok, James, I promise.”

Sighing at another monument to how out of place he was, he leaned back and closed his eyes, his tone empty and surrendered, “Okay Spa, the giant hanging castle is perfectly safe while practically floating over the edge, I believe you. A cloud city can do it, why not stonework too?” He did believe her, but this wasn’t home, he couldn’t be further if he tried.

The resignation in his voice concerned Spa, she knew her world was unheard of to his kind, but it was a disheartening surprise to see in person how much it defeated them. Standing in the aisle between their benches Spate reached the same hoof out once more, this time resting it on his knee as he kept his closed eyes facing the sky, “James? I know there’s nothing to really compare this to, and I’m certainly not the pony to talk, but I promise it will be ok, I know it’s new and impossible and crazy, but it’s not bad, please give it a chance.” 

‘Give it a chance,’ he mouthed to himself, as if he had a choice, unless he woke up sometime soon this was it, his one chance, the same as home. One he couldn’t remember ever leaving. Leaning forward and petting her for a few seconds James looked Spa in her oppressively empathic eyes, his dour mood not standing a chance against such care, so instead he looked to her hoof, amused and touched by her care, “Fine, I won’t jump off the cart, you’d actually try to catch me too I bet, though you’re way too small.”

He was expecting a relieved sigh, dissaproving shake of the head, or even a righteous nod, what he did not expect was the shocked look as she raised her touching hoof off him to barely crouch, ready to pounce at a moments notice. Nor was he expecting the half raised wings and held breath as she stood stock still, her impossible eyes growing disturbingly wider. It stunned him into his own silence as he too met her eyes before looking away and at the almost visible corona of what could be nothing else but barely contained alarm surrounding her. She was a spring, ready to launch. 

A moment’s thought later and he slowly told her it was just a joke, he wasn’t really going to jump, “We’re almost there anyway, I should at least see the castle first right?” Nope, bad joke, she sprung back up from almost sitting and assumed the position, “I’m sorry Spate, I’ve just got a lot on my mind right now and wasn’t really thinking,” James went back to stroking her mane and she remembered how to breathe again and slowly sank to the floor of the aisle, instead of hopping back up to her side, sitting beside and leaning into his leg as a dog would. 

That’s how the last of their flight went, over the opulent city filled with other little horses simply living their lives. However their landing was not nearly as graceful as takeoff, which was ironic to James considering this was an actual airstrip, sky dock, landing pad, whatever. Thankfully, James’ seatbelt actually did something more than give peace of mind and spared him the fate that befell the recuperated and calmed Spate who was unprepared to be launched roughly into the air, though her wings shot out and glided her back to her hooves as she kept a brisk pace to keep in step with the slowing chariot, to open the back gate on the chariot for James as if he were an invalid. 

With no instructions beyond ‘give it a chance’ James was strong armed into following the sensitive mare’s lead. So after unbuckling and dismounting the chariot with surprisingly shaky first steps he followed Spate to the large door at the end of the dock, or hangar, and gave his stretching pilots thanks which they both acknowledged between cracks and sighs. 

Somehow Spa opened the door to inside with a hoof, grabbing its ring handle and pulling the door open to gesture her guest inside, “Thank you, Spa, where to next?” Wordlessly she guided him further into the ornate structure, only looking back once to make sure he stayed near before slowing to be only barely ahead, keeping James in her peripheral. Not unnoticed by him, but unsurprising at the same time, he wasn’t in any position to rock the boat anyways.

His guide focused and with purpose, James was left to take in the impressive layout of this absolutely massive beast of a seat of power. Though not very practical, it was clearly shooting for a more refined look. Open halls, open windows, little apparent in the ways of defendability or sensibility, it was more of an immense home than a dark imposing castle of mid-evil design. It would have been a comfort, if there had been anyone else along their path, but it was strangely devoid of life. Something this large had to have some sort of presence, didn’t it? “Spa, doesn’t this feel a little, I don’t know, empty? It’s a big place and I haven’t seen anyone else here, where are the servants and guards?”

Another right and the clacking of her hooves and his softly padding shoes were the only sounds, “Our two guards we had, the ones in gold were sent ahead to notify the princesses. The path we’re taking as well as adjacent halls were cleared to ensure our arrival was smooth, we have a certain way of introductions when it comes to humans, nothing bad I promise you.”

Looking away from a stained window his wide eyes locked onto the back of her head, “Princesses? Do they really need to see me? I’m nobody, and honestly, I should have been asleep a looong time ago, I can’t believe I didn’t sleep on the ride over.”

“You did, actually, little naps here and there, but I understand. I am sorry though, but they cleared their whole day for this, Princess Luna has been up since the day before you woke up here judging from your story, she has a sense for these things you see.” With a short glance back and up to James she saw his worry and exhaustion, “I wish there was more I could do, but I’m sure they’ll be sympathetic and help you one way or another, they’re very kind like that.”

Not entirely convinced but with little maneuvering room he kept pace and fell back into his thoughts until they met another large set of double doors and Spate stopped, looking between him and the doors, “Are you ready, James? Knock when you are, but we do have to knock eventually.”

“I’m not ready,” but he knocked immediately, the large ring he used to do so echoing a disproportionately loud knock he could here through the clearly solid door, down the hall he came from, and the one that kept going ahead. An ominous sound to his ears. Then a glow encompassed each door, one of gold and one of pale blue.
> Post Card
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Glowing was new, and automatic doors seemed a bit ahead of the rest James had seen so far in Equestria, but there it was. It looked to be that Spate wasn’t ready herself, that she maybe had hopes he’d wait a moment or several before moving on. Regardless, it was his turn to lead as Spa lagged to compose herself and he was faced with a large, sparsely decorated throne room but for two smiling winged unicorns, or horned pegasi, waiting for him halfway across, at a table set up and off to the side of the red carpet. It looked like an unofficial addition to the room, out of place and temporary.  

Catching up to James, the only hornless mare there bowed low and announced their unique guest, wings partially splayed back, “Princess Luna, Princess Celestia, our trip was uneventful and James was found in good health, albeit hungry and tired. With all respect, rest would do him well, Princesses.” Standing upright once more she looked between both sides as they sized the other up, though the human was more focused on their horns, and the royalty more contained in their interest. 

“Thank you, Spate, and hello, James, we promise this won’t be long.” Luna said with a nod, “Please, have a seat you two.”

This time it was Spate to lead, leaving the man to stand in consternation. Noticing the lack of presence, she looked back to find James just then start to follow, passing her by to pull out a fine wooden seat, its cushions plush and wood a mirror shine. At the table was nothing but a silver tray holding a kettle and four teacups, their table draped in the lightest grey he’d ever seen, the fabric’s stitching would be identical to an overcast sky. The same look of disbelief fell on his face, and he laid his cheek on a hand propped up on the armrest. A moment of silence passed before the pegasus cleared her throat, right when James started to speak, “That’s magic then?” He asked, gesturing to his own head, where a horn would be if he were a unicorn.

With a smile and subdued nod, the largest gave a demonstration, floating her cup up to be sipped from before bringing it back down, her horn shining with a gold he’d seen not too long ago, “Yes, as fate would have it, it’s magic, you know?” Another one of those damnable smiles Spa seemed to love so much, saying she found something amusing that James may or may not be aware of, “I am Princess Celestia, and this is my sister, Princess Luna.” 

He had been staring at the cup in poorly withheld wariness as she spoke, something all present but himself noted. But once she properly introduced herself it smoothed without a trace, returning a tired smile, “Hello, Princesses, and I am apparently a pretty big deal for some reason.” James’ eyes widened for a split second before he turned his head to hide himself in his hand as he laughed silently, “Sorry, tired, meant to say I’m James, but you already knew that.” Looking back over to the pair he asked, “So why do you want to meet me? Just because I somehow woke up on a planet I almost certainly could never have thought up myself?” A hollow laugh and halfhearted shrug later, “I’m sure stranger things have happened.”

Sharing a discrete look of prepared resolve at his behavior as Spate did her best to uphold a vigilant disposition, the darker of the two sisters voiced her peace, “While there is much more inexplainable than awaking somewhere unexpected, I’d say some credence would be permitted if we were to say this was particularly harrowing for someone in your place, which it is.” Clearing her throat before taking a breath, Luna nodded to James, finding her words, “That is to say, though stranger has happened, your plight is certainly no less worth our attention.”

With a thought Luna slid an until-then unseen key from behind the tray to lay it on the table in front of James who stared impassively down at it, simply waiting for the next unpredictable punchline to the fever dream joke that was now his life. “This is to your room, James,” Celestia began, “this is for your hands only, and the room is yours for as long as you wish.” 

She paused, watching him for any response, any sign of life, and of course he’d get right to the point. “Can your magic not fix this? Send me back?” From his hunched, cheek-on-palm position, dispassionate tone, and 1000 yard stare towards the key he wasn’t taking this as well as they’d hoped, but, she noted, it was far better than it could have been, he was talking at the very least. 

“I… am afraid not, James.” The alabaster pegacorn regretfully answered, her face the very definition of apologetic, a visage mirrored by a tea sipping Luna and bore through valiantly by Spa, though her ears betrayed her heart, “Truly we can do very little in the ways of whatever force brings you here. To put it bluntly, it’s an ambitious goal in well trodden lands.”

It was with an unnoticeable sigh she took her turn to drink the table’s tea as Luna wound up again for their tense back and forth, “That’s not to say we won’t try, but what little we do have is what your kind has called ‘a staticy mess’, among other things. However, we have an entire section of our most prestigious school devoted to this and, if you would like, we could even visit it. I know they would like to speak with you.” Pouring herself another cup she even magic’d James’ cup back above room temperature again, silently sliding the sugar, milk, honey, and even salt towards him as the maiden of the night busied herself stirring what would surely be syrup should it cool on account of the sugar added, so distracted was she.

With some life returning to him, he looked away from the various stained windows around the room to watch her magic in action, “So there are other humans then? Here, of course… none of you are surprised to see me.” There was no immediate answer, just the soft tinking of Luna’s spoon’s constant stirring, so James continued and let his tired mouth ramble his thoughts. “Flying over here I didn’t see much, there were some clouds with rainbows that Spate told me is a city, and it looked pretty, but it doesn’t really help me. I feel like I’m missing something important here, something you all know about, so could you please just tell me so we all can get this over with.” His voice rose near the end, but he couldn’t find himself feeling more than irritation at the circles he could feel they’d run him in. 

With nearly enough hesitation to void any reply, Luna answered, and James had to have only imagined her stirring sped up, “In… the past, there have been others.” She focused eye contact on her now lightly splashing stirs and mentioned the past with venom, “Always one at a time.” Finally and suddenly satisfied with its solubility, the sugary tea was tossed back and downed in one go. Luna looked up to James and held a straight face, “No two are ever the same. And James, we understand it was out of your hands, but what are your intentions, what changes come with you.”

A moment was taken to look to Celestia before turning back to the stunned man for a breath to reel back her accusatory voice and suppress any more infuriatingly unanswerable questions, “You cannot answer that though, only time can. You also have done nothing wrong, but that is why you are before us, that is one of many reasons we permit you a room. We have no idea who you are, we know what you are, you are human, a male of your species, but who you are can be so very much. No, we will not hurt you, no, we will not interrogate you, we will not dissect or maim you in any number of obscene and abominable ways we’ve even heard hinted at from your world through past visits.” Her nose flared with a disgusted snort at having to rehash such frustratingly persistent notions, but again she collected herself, “We will bring you absolutely no manner of displeasure, we desperately want you to be happy and strive for the very stars here, to live the best life you may despite current circumstances.”

Tipping out what was left of the tea drank solely between the solar sisters, Luna drank the dregs and all with no extras. In her hasty and rather rough, unnecessary rundown she did her best to hopefully snub most common issues before they became worse. It was never so simple, but addressing such things seemed to help longterm, in their experience. Transparency and awareness, despite the painful truth they’d learned, went far in these meetings, though it hurt them both when it was their turn to tear that ray of hope away. It was a bandaid Luna tore off as soon as she could, but too fast for James. 

Looking as if she wished to interject at several different occasions during her sister’s unplanned, entirely emotional little rant, it still got their point across, saying what she was supposed to, just not how she was supposed to. But a bigger scene would not be productive, so instead Celestia instead put it aside for now and dealt with her half, attempting to be the balm to the scalding words, “We are here to help, and if you ever need anything, anything at all, you can come to us. Though her energy goes against that sentiment,” she shot a glare to an apologetic looking Luna that promised words afterwards before affixing a genial smile for James, “I assure you no danger will find you here in our home, James. Much less from Luna. It doesn’t excuse her outburst, one I’m deeply sorry for, but Luna has just been through much, so it’s not you she’s upset with.”

Speechless through this all, James idly toyed with his again cold cup of tea and looked wide eyed at the two, mouth slightly agape while his exhausted mind tried to process the barrage he’d been subjected to, bringing so many more questions with every word. Still stunned, James was only semi aware of how badly he wished to sleep, or even to have been left in the fields he was found. It was nice there, quiet, peaceful, familiar. He wanted to go home, not be caught between magical, royal horses over things he had no idea about. 

Picking the lesser of current evils he silently reached for the key that waited for him under the trio’s watchful eyes and noticed a dull ache of finality in the act, as if he’d signed some unspoken dotted line. He’d have time to reflect and hurt later though, steeling himself for now James stood and looked down to the remorseful Celestia, “I don’t know where my room is and I need some time alone to come to terms with all this.” He looked to a shamed, downtrodden Luna and then to Spate, her eyes on him and looking as if she desperately wished she could say something, “Thank you for helping me, I think. We’ll have to see how this turns out, you were nice though.” 

James pushed his seat in smoothly over marble floor to stand behind it and Celestia rose to her fullest height, her long horn leveling off just above James' own head while she came to the side of the table, “I understand needing time, and again I, we,” she spared a second’s heated glance to Luna, “are both sorry, this was not at all how it was supposed to go and I sincerely regret misplacing my trust in her for this crucial moment between us when you are at your most vulnerable.” She bowed low to the ground, her horn’s tip actually meeting the floor for the longest, most uncomfortable seconds of James’ life. Raising up once more, her vibrant fuchsia eyes looked into the man’s own, compelling him to feel the rawness of her heart, as had happened with Spate, “You are welcome here, James, I hope someday for you to call us friends. I assure you an apology from my sister, she is not typically so rude nor undisciplined.” Exhaling slow and measured, she turned to Spate, “Spa, would you please show our guest to his room? Thank you.”

Her name called, Spate fell back into action after being a bystander for such intense exchanges and felt relief to fill a role she had an actual part in, with steps she knew and prepared for. James had already left the table for the large, imposing doors to wait in front of them for Spate’s direction, though a hand was outstretched to brush his fingers against its surface, “They’ll open, James, they just look heavy. It’s magic again, look.” She rested a hoof against one of the two doors and gave it a firm but not at all exhaustive push, causing it to glide open a foot on silent hinges for him to quietly shove it the rest of the way they needed. James hadn’t paused to marvel, it was impressive but he just wanted to go to bed and try his hardest to wake up in a world he belonged in. But he needed Spa to find his way, so he shut the massive door with a resounding clack, leaving the princesses behind and allowing his guide to lead them down the hall adjacent the one they’d come down. 

It would be a long, silent, miserable walk for James if Spate couldn’t salvage it and any goodwill between them that she feared may have been lost, “Princess Luna isn’t usually like that, James, usually she’s very kind, it’s just some things have been causing her trouble she’d thought were left behind.” Spa didn’t look to him as she spoke, as with before she was more focused on the path ahead, only tilting her head occasionally.

Another turn and she gave him a few seconds to respond, he didn’t, she didn’t expect him to, but he was still following so she kept talking for her own sake if not his, “You’ll be given free reign to pursue any career or hobby you may desire, our school’s are open to you though they may require a placement exam, and for the most part I’d like to say ponies are a very accepting people.” More silence in lieu of a response but Spa couldn’t afford to seem perturbed, “There of course will be some who are impossible to please, but if anyone ever gives you trouble please come back and leave it to us, ok?”

She turned her head back to find him practically shambling behind her, “Awesome. Work, school, and racists, fantastic. Can we please just get to my room?”

Her brain effectively shut down as her proud efforts went up in smoke, her booting up taking the rest of the walk with her ears low and steps heavy. An unremarkable door waited for them, and James took a guess this was his room when Spate stopped and hung her head. The key worked, allowing his door to swing inwards and grace his eyes with the expected high class setup he was already hating, but at least he had a high class bed, so no springs. Stumbling into the room with relief he walked straight for the massive mattress and fell onto his back, letting out a long, low sigh of utter suffering, ignoring the deep, silken navy covers and other earthy tones of the room, “Thank you, Spate, I think I’ll just lay here forever, sorry to hijack your day.” He unzipped his light jacket and spread his arms out, “See ya, or not. No offence but hopefully not.”

Though his words were more of an indistinguishable groan, she got the basics and hopped up to a fine, soothingly sandy-colored couch against a wall, to his bed’s left, next to the balcony. Spa laid on it, forelegs crossed and hinds hanging off the edge while she rested her cheek down, “I’ll be here until duty calls, and I don’t really want to interrupt the princesses right now, but you can sleep, James, you’ll be ok, I’ll make sure of it.” 

James huffed a derisive laugh at the implications of waking up to this world again, but let it go to instead focus on unfocusing, asleep less then a minute later. On Spate’s end she watched his breaths fall into a rhythmic pattern to gauge his quality of sleep before her thoughts changed to her future now that contact had been made. It was her duty to remain accessible as James’ liaison officer due to first appearances and apparent compatibility. She was the most familiar face he knew anymore, and humans were expectably consistent in needing a familiar friendly face.

Her position was a commitment they were interviewed rigorously for, and had to keep themselves openminded and compassionate to hopefully fill that roll of confidant, the kind of pony who would be a best friend. This time around the competition was fierce, and while it was heartwarming to see so many avid supporters come from all walks to help a complete unknown, many of them obviously hadn’t considered the entirety of what a liaison was to do. Their past engagements would come second if they were the one to successfully establish a dialogue. Thankfully the odds of a language barrier were not likely, but even then they hadn’t come across one in any recent history they couldn’t translate through a medium, either translator or spell. 

Spa huffed and fully invested herself in laying on her side, eyes on James but out of focus. She wanted this position, like many who had applied alongside this cycle and many before her through history, humans had been an elusive, inexplainable but entirely tangible mystery. A living myth in the flesh, only one floating around the planet. Humanity’s history in Spate’s world was debatably more profound than what they’d heard in bits and pieces of the human’s own world through word of mouth. That was saying something if even half of what was said was true of human’s own expansive history, seemingly more turbulent than even Spa’s own world of magic and wonder.

It made sense they’d have a rich past on their own planet, humans brought change to Spa’s with every cycle, where they went the world seemed to shape to their vision around them. It was almost magical, and that was a thought not impossible, the sky’s the limit when it came to humans. If they wanted it badly enough they could rally the world behind a hope. 

That wasn’t all of it though, certainly a manner of respect came with being James’ mediator, and at this point she was already guaranteed at least a footnote in the books for simply meeting him first, being in the right place at the right time really, but again it was more than fame or respect that drew Spate to this life choice. Where others of all descent saw notoriety, grandeur, and privilege, she was here simply to help because she could trust herself to do the right thing. 

While a majority of those who’d gone through the same classes and lessons on human behavior had been well meaning and certainly motivated, it was almost obsessive, suffocating, or sycophantic with the ideas of all they’d do. It wasn’t their place to make these calls, they were to take life at the human’s pace, it just happened to be that most were driven for a reason beyond the masses understanding. 

Satisfaction was a word to be used rarely in reference to what they’ve seen of humanity. It wasn’t quite a dragon’s bloody streak of greed, though sadly it wasn’t unheard of, but something deeper, an inherent sense of lines to push. Softly snorting a laugh Spa recalled Princess Celestia’s choice of words, ‘ambitious. That was humanity summed up, although there were rare, recorded cases of quiet lives. 

No, she had no envisionings of fame nor desire for it, she was here to help guide a lost soul in desperate need of understanding and reliability. A constant James could trust to not be pulled out from beneath his feet. Humans did not respond well to things of that nature. Spate would be here though, to show him their way, for all the similarities there were many stark differences and they floundered badly when those issues arose. He probably wouldn’t be happy to learn Spate’s position, but he seemed reasonable, so she had to believe he’d listen to reason. They wouldn’t force James to accept her help, but it would go a long way towards helping him.

A mix of excitement and anxiety filled the contemplative mare, excitement with her luck, and anxious for the same reason. Humans could hide their thoughts so well, if James had an issue Spa worried she might never know until it was too late. It was her job to be approachable and find those things out. While she didn’t do this for the attention, the world had its eyes on her too now, a concept that was hard to grasp until it was no longer a question it’d be her. His success and quality of life was heavily reliant on her ability to lead him right. He’d find his stride eventually, hopefully, but the foundations of his roots here depended on her making his full repertoire of options abundantly clear.

It was up to her, as many of the choices of integration would be, though there were guides and aids open to her for reference. A single, practiced script didn’t work for all however, and yes while it was selfish, this would reflect terribly on their nation should James be misdirected or hurt in any number of preventable ways. The respect and admiration humanity had earned through its time with various other races was severe, borderline worship. War was not entirely out of the question should a nation fail a human spectacularly enough. Ponies were on thin ice as it was. 

With a sigh and hooves to her temple, Spate stood to get some air on the balcony, she’d thought of some of this before, but it never held any real weight until now, and all that weight fell to her. Silently unlatching the door, Spa walked out to look over the late evening they found themselves in. Looking down at the dots of color she could see all the ponies finishing up their days, or just starting their nights. She stood on her hind legs to get a better view and let the gentle breeze wash over her, the cracked open door letting in air as well, but James was bundled snug and exhausted. Looking first to the moon and then the sun, she thought back to the impromptu dining table. 

Something less official was hoped to be less intimidating, it had worked offen before, for various races once the discomfort was stacked onto at the imagery and thoughts of a dark room, swinging lamp and rickety chairs, or something approaching a hospital room. Even well to do sitting rooms came off as far too clean and those that were clearly unused were found to be disquieting. Humans were strange, but further explanation made it… understandable, if not relatable. The rooms were too controlled, too sanitized. They felt even more the part of a stranger walking into a situation that had obviously been prepared beforehand.

As for the throne room… well there were many things she’d have done differently. She’d been given a general outline of how they, or Celestia, hoped it would proceed, but she wouldn’t have chosen the throne room of all places. She didn’t even want to think of Princess Luna’s harsh words, nothing of the past was James’ fault, neither was his coming here. Those thoughts had been routinely disproved, though some still said their very inexplainable nature meant anything was possible, which technically was true. Seeing James though, she knew he’d rather be home than here.

Even given the fiasco, Spate’s heart went to Princess Luna, the princess really had gone through much and was often a human’s best friend. Spate knew she regret her words, almost certainly as she said them, but old wounds had clearly been torn open and her emotions were unexpectedly high, and with Princess Celestia’s show of apology coupled with her painfully clear choice of words, Princess Luna was hurting on top of that, in Celestia’s effort to hopefully counterbalance whatever damage had been done. Spate did not want to go back to the throne room for a good few days. 

Ruffling her feathers she took a number of deep breaths, centering on the now and later, things she could change, make better. Looking back through the glass doors, she saw James still sound asleep, unmoved since he’d collapsed into bed. Humans did not like being surveilled, not that ponies, griffins, yaks, dragons, or anything else was fond of it either, but absolutely not humans. Regardless, in most cases they had a strong feeling of pride in independency. Though the concept itself wasn’t unusual to ponies, a human’s scope of independency often edged on a self sustaining isolationist. For example, offers seen as charity were often met with a negative response, though strangely not their education and employment programs. The ponies who took it upon themselves to consider these things for and from a human’s view supposed it must have felt fair, maybe brought a feeling of normalcy, or reinforced their sense of independence, but they couldn’t be sure.

Certainties were rare with humans and this world of magic. One thing they were sure of was to never tell a human something is for their own good however. Even if it is. They’ll learn or they won’t, but that didn’t stop blame from being thrown around. Whose fault was it if these things went wrong? There was a lot to take into account, there were no single easy answers. A human was many things, and they were each their own person, quirks, worries and hopes were all cursably unique.

Spate wasn’t particularly outstanding, at least that’s what her tests and herself would say, but that made her a good voice for James to have on his side. On paper these facts were stated about humans in such dry ways, but she considered that maybe a human’s reasons weren’t as beyond explanation as the books may make it seem. Their sources may be foreign, but there’s logic, a root somewhere innate within humans where it all made sense. She would just need time to maybe glean some understanding. 

Even just on the balcony though, it was too soon for her to disappear like this, according to her own standards. This was about James now, at least the beginning, and she didn’t want to make him any more uncomfortable than he already was if he found himself alone in the dark in a room he may or may not remember. She took one last look over Canterlot before turning around to head inside. 

Even with his layers of clothing, the sun was still dipping and fall was coming fast so the chill might discomfort his more sensitive skin, pushing Spate to go back inside and shut the door before she gave a soft shake from head to tail. The mare found her place back on the couch, eyes on the expectedly unconscious man. Taking a moment for herself Spa closed her eyes to think more and consider her friends and family. Her time was on a schedule now, whatever James would decide the schedule to be, and so she had another list of letters to write in addition to the many notices and summary reports she’d be called away to fulfill. She hung her head a bit over the couch’s edge, for a weightlessness to distract her mind a bit from the changes coming to her life. She knew what she signed up for, she didn’t regret it, but it was still going to be tough. A point she found herself circling back to was James himself of course, but in this case it was for perspective. Her schedule was busy, his life was upside down, backwards, and turned around in ways Spa knew she still didn’t understand. 

With sympathy she hoped James would make friends, and that it wasn’t too late for Luna to make things right between them, she needed friends too. Thankfully Celestia would help her sister apologize, she’d know what to say, and Luna would know where to pick it up from there.

Spate told herself that James just needed time to adjust, that there was nothing more she could do at the moment but pray and hope, it helped calm her nerves. The world was most likely being made aware of his being found and to call off their searches. The world would no doubt be cursing its luck at the ponies finding the newest human and be sending requests, complaints, and diplomats to offer their own country’s sanctuary for him and whatever knowledge he may have. But that’s just how it went, everyone wanted a human for their own reasons. Hate, worship, fear. Spate shivered and thanked their good fortune she found him. The world could be a very unpleasant thing to his kind, she’d been made all too aware of that during her apprenticeship. 

But now wasn’t the time for a scared filly, she needed to be present and not lost in her head, she also needed to be rested. Moving to lay on her other side, she turned her back to James and outstretched her wings as the day’s events caught up with her as well. Spa formed herself a little wing tent on the couch as they went limp with one over the top of the backrest and the other brushing against the floor, her head tucked between the couch and herself beneath her wing. These human sized rooms were something that would take getting used to, but the royal treatment wasn’t so bad in her opinion. 

The two in varying degrees of peace, they slept nonetheless through the night without pause. Peacefully unaware of the bright, full day that couldn’t wait to get its hands on them, biting at the heels of night sooner than either would like as it hounded in search after the pair of overnight celebrities.
> Still Breathing
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Sun” was the word of the day, and James found it uniquely soothing on his waking eyes, the morning cool brisk and not unwanted. Waking up wasn’t typically a nice thing in his experience, but he felt rested and his eyes opened with ease as James sat up to stretch, idly picking at the clothes he’d slept in. Blearily he looked over the room, the haze of the day before painfully coming back together with every piece of finery in the room. And then there was her, the mare.

Spate was still fast asleep with her head tucked beneath a wing, hidden from both sight and sun. The man tiredly watched her persistent existence, wishing he had the capacity to deny it, but discovered himself resigned to facing whatever amounted to his new life. Finding no answers on Spa’s back, he looked instead to an unexplored door for salvation, hoping his suspicions were right. 

After shedding his coat to leave on the bed, he started to unbutton the shortsleeved work shirt beneath until he came to the door and peered inside, the morning light following James into the pristine bathroom. His shirt loosely worn, he would have found it easier to ignore the mare in the room behind than the small pool embedded within the floor, against the back of the room, on full display in the midmorning light. 

Stepping in further caused an untraceable, warm light to flick silently to life and more was brought to attention, such as the mirror running halfway down the wall, stopping short of the bath and over an expansive sink counter, holding a stack of fluffy towels, in pastel colors this time. They felt warm, fresh from the dryer, it didn’t make sense but James let his hand fall off them and stepped to the mirror to put his hands against the glass, arms outstretched as he stared himself in the eyes. 

He saw what he always did so long as he focused on himself, and not the large, empty, premium-grade trappings of a success not his own. He was still him, even if all this wasn’t. These were his clothes, this was his body, he still had a voice if those… princesses weren’t lying, so he still had a chance for his own life. He was glaring at himself, James realized. His breath was tense, held, and teeth grit. He also had had plans, he had people who needed him, responsibilities, promises. 

This world had already taken too much from him, and he’d been forced into a strange trade that he still wasn’t quite ready to think more about yet. James’ forehead met the mirror with a thud and an immediate fogging from his rough exhale. Could it happen again, just being whisked away? Unless it was to back home, it was hopefully just seasoned paranoia. James wanted to break this now-smudged mural of reflection, but just as quickly as the urge came over him, he pushed it down, it wouldn’t do well for his reputation, whatever that was going to be here.

Instead he stripped down, throwing his work shirt, long sleeved under, pants and modesty around himself and grabbed a towel to walk to the almost sickening grandiose display. Thankfully the room was fairly small, for a royal definition of ‘small’, which was a little under half the size the room he slept in. Still, this could be an entire living space back home. 

Stepping down the bench seats on his half of the tub, he took a moment to appreciate that some things were universal in that the controls were hot and cold dials, except he couldn’t see any spout for water. Taking the little engraved fire symbol as hot water James had his quick deduction rewarded with a torrent of hot water bursting from the floor of all places and quickly rising past his feet. The water level was almost concerning as the invisible founts were drowned out to warm jets against his standing, stunned body.

Turning and watching the wide porcelain basin flood to life, James noticed there were some engraved, inlaid buttons and pumps with uncertain purposes around the two hot and cold dials. Once the water was to his stomach while standing he dialed it off to find a seat near the only mechanisms he was certain of, perusing the options laid out for his use. The etchings were simple, clean, and intuitive, further testing of each only solidifying the growing faith James had in his detective work. 

There were jets against his back, like in an actual pool, portrayed by a blowing water pipe that could pass as a leaf blower without his current context. Next he’d found the drain, a button displaying the mark of a tornado over a hole, causing the water to empty as quickly as it came before he’d stopped it, once more without any readily apparent source the water came or left, but with magic James wouldn’t hold his breath on an explanation he was familiar with. Third had to be the aliens favorite, which caused a shower that was more a rain, dancing over and around his bathing pond and playing a wonderful, natural sound as the drops danced across the stone tiles and water. This smooth, fantastic golden button was a raining cloud, easy to remember. 

There were others he’d need to play with, but a knock on the still-open door pulled James from the welcome to the happily forgotten. But as it was, once he remembered he’d left the door open it honestly wasn’t all that surprising to find the steam and sounds of rain had woken the bird horse sleeping just outside. He also remembered he’d stripped down nearer the entrance, and learned it wasn’t a good idea to bring one of the towels along after messing with the rain-shower, thankfully the spilled water dutifully flowed through little flood channels in the floor that kept his clothes dry. 

Looking between his scattered clothes and the mare, whose head was hidden behind a wing to, he guessed, protect his dignity, it was hard to care about his bare chest since there wasn’t much Spa could see while he was mostly submerged and she wasn’t even looking, “Hello, James? There’s food waiting in your room. There’s no rush though, today is an easy one, the princesses encourage you to explore the castle and with all respect, humbly remind you of their offer for schooling and employment, should you be up for it.” She gave a small bow and despite her wing blocking James’ sight, he was sure her eyes would be pleading, “We understand this was out of your power and wish for you to live as comfortable a life despite circumstance.” 

The soaked man looked to Spate curiously and nodded, then remembered she wouldn’t see and offered a simple thanks before she took her leave, turning around and supposedly leaving him to his own, the door closed now. Settling back down onto his seat, this human pondered the strangely emphasized sincerity, it was obviously real, but she spoke as if he was on the verge of a breakdown. Sure this was all insane and impossible, but James had thought he was handling himself rather well. Turning the rain back on he relaxed against a jet and closed his eyes.

It had to be one of those ‘better safe than sorry’ things, if they’d had other humans then that would build an excellent case in the ponys’ defense, there was no telling what kind of people had come before James. And who knew anyway, maybe if they hadn’t been so repetitive in their concern he wouln’t be taking this nearly so well, reclined under indoor rain and relaxed. Beneath the confusion it felt nice to know they cared, it felt strange to be coddled though. 

Rubbing his hands against the basin walls James mutely focused on his senses, letting thoughts escape him for a time to allow his ears and touch become the world. His meditative state left him lost in the rain, his mind taking him back to the fields he woke up in under the moon. This time he didn’t feel a push to move, to roam the hills searching. Here on his back, only himself and the elements, he felt a peace he hadn’t found before.

Dark skies wept and thunder groaned in the furthest corners of a world James imagined as synonymous with calm. There was order to this storm, a tune to the patters, and a feeling of purpose behind every flash and rumble. In this world he was truly alone save for the moon and clouds. The stars were missing, but they were still there just out of sight, a constant he could rely on just as surely as the moon he saw.

But there was something different tonight, something artificial about his world. The moon’s glow was a lamp, shining blindingly down on him past the veil of a microscope in his little habitat, where he was trapped. Suddenly things came back together when the steady storm turned to plastic hail, piling and threatening to drown him as astroturf cut at his back before jerking awake with a cough after gasping down water. 

In a mind of panic he looked around the dimmed room as it snapped back to full power, beaming down not unlike the lamp he’d been under. The shower was off and his body was covered with pins and needles, but he didn’t want to spend another moment in this deathly quiet room. Forcing himself to think of something other than a cutting earth and watchful powers that be he climbed quick enough to stumble and slip his way to the still dry towels, haphazardly drying his person off before tying the towel around his waist, gathering his clothes in a ball and speed walking back into the bed portion of his residence. 

Regardless of his past assumption, Spate was still around, laying studiously across the same couch with a book laid out before her, clearly immersed until James had nearly broke through his own door like he’d seen a ghost. Ignoring Spate’s concern however, James instead selected an uninspiring corner to drop off his clothes while completely sidestepping the laden cart at the foot of his bed to collapse on the bed, in an almost identical fashion as he did last night. Palms brought up to his face, James was clearly distressed, and Spa mentally cursed herself for shutting the bathroom door. If he’d been hurt how would she have known? 

She had to put a pin in cursing herself any longer though and help James through whatever was troubling him. Lifting herself onto the human-sized mattress Spa looked down to the motionless human, seeing him from an upside down angle due to coming from the opposite side of his bed. Her hooves sunk sIightly into the softness beneath her before repeating a now well practiced motion and dropped down to her stomach, spreading her wings gently across the bIankets, eyes fixed on the man’s head, “James? Are you okay?”

The questioned, recovering individual gave a noncommittal grunt then dropped his hands, “I’m alright, Spa, thanks though.” His eyes were closed and he took a deep breath that he held before letting out what would be a convincing, “How are you?” if she hadn’t just seen him so shaken. It bothered her to see someone hide their feelings so well, with such little prompt or need. 

So, skeptical but empathetic, she opted to simply be present than push the issue, “I’m doing well, thank you, James. Was the bed good enough last night, or would you prefer another?” 

The conversation and proximity were already quickly pushing the feeling of dread that’d had a hold of James earlier. He opened his eyes to look up to the mare and give an apologetic laugh, “I was a little too tired to notice, but nothing’s sore so I think I’ll stick with this one for now. How about you?” He sat up and turned a bit around to face Spa, “Why’d you stay over? Is the couch really that nice?”

Spa smiled and brought her head up, turning it to the side in pretend-thought, “Hm, it does make a nice bed, but that’s not really why I stayed.” Looking up to James, she felt he wouldn’t take the news too terribly but made sure to hold her smile, “I’m here as your mediator, a cultural buffer, your guide, and general assistant.” Spate couldn’t help a feeling of pride within herself and her head rose a little higher as she went on, “If there’s anything you want, I’m the mare for the job.”

James quirked an eyebrow in amusement at the surprising flash of pride she showed and had to admit it took a lot of pressure off himself to have her around to help, “Sounds perfect, since I’ve got a guide I’ll just need to remember to charge my phone and be sure to take pictures of the tour.”

Spate’s eyes widened a bit, “You have a human phone with you? Does it work?” Her head turned in hopes to spot the phone tossed aside somewhere.

Pausing to think, James looked back to his pile of clothes, “I don’t know actually, I was just joking before, let’s see.” Stretching after he stood James kneeled to pat his pockets down, only to find a disparaging lack of anything that was useful, all that was left was his belt, worn, black, and leather. It stung a surprising amount. God only knew how long it’d be before he’d remember them without Spate’s lead, but it still hurt to have something so familiar be taken from him. James knew logically that given the situation, the things he’d had wouldn’t help with much, but they were his, and were pieces of his past life with stories their own. 

A wan smile greeted Spate when James turned back around to offer a shrug, “All I’ve got now are the clothes, so sorry, but no phone.” He fell short of the bed, down to his knees and folded his arms on the mattress as he looked up at Spa, still trying to smile, “It’s nothing big, just would’ve been nice to have them you know?” He sighed and rested his cheek on an arm, eyes looking passed Spa to the untouched food cart then over to beyond the glass balcony door, “The food’s probably been cold for a long time now, hasn’t it?”

Spate was too busy trying to comprehend how quickly she’d ruined the mood as she’d watched James go from happy to hopeless in the span of seconds. The search through his clothing had grown more frantic the longer he went on, tugging at Spa’s poor little pony heart, and the smile he tried to hold was just the most heartbreaking thing she’d ever seen, which she blamed herself for. She felt a screaming facehoof was what she really needed right now as she barely caught what James had said, “N-no, the food’s still warm, it’s… well it’s magic.” She had to keep herself from wincing, there had been more than a fair share of humans who didn’t appreciate that explanation, and James was in a bad enough mood where she didn’t want to push, “The maid told me it was bacon, eggs, toast, and even rice.”

Noticing the little negative feedback loop they had, James took a few steadying breaths to level himself out as he stood up to grab his coat from the floor, wearing it unzipped to just have something on. Not entirely hungry, he still sat at the foot of the bed and lifted the dish covers to find a cloud of steam pulling him under its spell, reminding him that yes, it had been far too long since he’d eaten. Looking over the cart that had to have held enough to feed three of him, he looked back to Spa, gesturing to the cart with open hands, “Are you hungry? I don’t think I could eat all this at my worst.” 

She wanted to shout a yes, the smell was as always perfection and that was only one of the five senses his midday breakfast would take perfect care of. More important to her eyes was that it seemed wrong, it was his, so with a shake of her head she declined, “No, but thank you. I already ate while you were busy.” If you counted a standard guard meal hours ago. He’d been soaking long enough to worry her, and with these scents of high class society breezing around it was taking all she had to commit to this ‘no’.

Doubtful but hungry, James figured she wouldn’t starve and with a shrug he began to devour the plates of eggs and bacon, all tied together with fluffy bowls of rice and followed by water between unsightly mouthfuls. It was learned that for talking horses, they knew their way around bacon better than any human he’s ever met before, and it made him reflect for a moment on how maybe this was all worth it. As with most things, a full stomach brought a positive light he’d sorely been missing. It could’ve been much worse, if all this was an option. 

During the silence punctuated by good eating, Spa had left only once, and that was to grab the book she was reading on the couch. Laid out once more to his left, her eyes flowed back and forth over the page at a sedate pace, absorbing everything she saw at a speed she managed as flawlessly as a machine. She was the next best thing of note to James once he’d had his fill, a little over half of the offering, and stretched while he sat reaching high for the ceiling before bringing a hand back down to pet Spate’s unexpecting neck, causing her to jump out of focus and his hand to pull back to his lap, “Sorry, wasn’t really thinking, you’re just soft I guess.”

He didn’t see her smile when she turned her head to face him, in fact he was doing his best to look away from Spa, but she was happy that he was already starting to feel comfortable enough to initiate physical contact, “It’s alright James, I don’t mind. Does it help to pet me?”

Unable to hide from the absurdity of it all, James laughed and looked down to his folded hands, “I wouldn’t like to be pet, and it’s not really the same now, now that I’ve slept and had a chance to understand things. It doesn’t feel right.” 

Cocking her head it was curious to think that now that he seemed to “understand things”, she did not, “What’s wrong with petting me James?”

Scoffing at the question James couldn’t think of an easy way to explain something he saw as so basic in a way she’d understand, “Petting is for, well pets. Not people. Not you kind of horses.”

‘Ponies’ she absently corrected, still focused on his reluctance to pet, “But why? It feels nice.”

Seeing where this was leading he already knew he lost, “It’s demeaning, isn’t it? Being pet like a dog or cat.”

Spa found her smile again and shook her head, “No, I’m being pet like a pony, and it feels nice. Ponies are very touchy, I’ve read that is not often the case with humans. I think that’s the problem, isn’t it?”

Throwing his hands up he knew it was no use and conceded to her argument, “Yes, I think that’s probably exactly what it is.” Sighing he looked at her bright grin as he hung his head, “You like it that much?” She nodded, he sighed again and reached out to rest a palm on her neck to begin the procedure, smiling in spite of himself, “You really are soft Spa, I thought horses were rough.”

Spa had stretched her neck out for him and begun to read before correcting him again, “Ponies, and I don’t know about others but I take pride in my appearance.”

Laying back onto the bed, food cart gently kicked away and forgotten, James looked at the ceiling, “Are ponies going to think you’re weird for letting me pet you? I think you’re weird for letting me pet you.”

“Hmm, maybe, but not for the reason you might think.” Another paged turn and she looked back to the hand for a moment, “And even then I think they’d understand why I let you if you pet them too.”

His other hand rose above his face, under its owner’s inspection for whatever had to be so special about it, “And what, little horse, would be strange, if not letting me pet you?”

Signing the book off as a lost cause as for now she laid completely on her side, giving James free reign over her outstretched neck, “How long you do it for, not like a nuzzle or a hug.” She rubbed her head into the bed and made herself a more refined headrest from blankets, “There’s not many ways a pony can replicate this, I don’t know if we’d ever get anything done again if we could.”

He blinked his way from the information, learning something he knew he wouldn’t have considered, “I guess you’re right, but that’s why you’re here isn’t it?”

“I’m just here to help you, even if it helps me.” But thinking of the strange, rippling sensations down her neck, it was more of an ‘especially if it helps me’. It soothed something Spa hadn’t known needed soothing. 

“Well, whichever. You think like a pony and that’s something I’ll need help with.” The filling meal paired with the warmth beside him had worked into a perfect match for sleep, and James couldn’t find a reason to fight it. He pat her neck before climbing up to a proper sleeping position with all appendages onboard, quickly stashing himself, towel and all, away under the light yet warming covers. “You don’t have to sleep here do you? Not that it isn’t nice having you around, but there’s got to be something nice than a couch for you, did you want to switch beds tonight?”

A short laugh and she told him no, “I don’t think I’d have a job for much longer if I took your bed, and there is the barracks, which actually does mean the nice bunk is up here. I’m to leave should you need me to, but it is strongly recommended to stay near, so I could sleep in the hall I suppose, or on the balcony maybe. Would that be better?”

Relieved he didn’t have to tell her no to switching off beds, James took his turn to smile and shake as he sunk further into bed, arms behind his head, “No, since it means so much to you, you can have the couch. We really do need to fix that though.” He finished with a sharp point at the couch. 

Hopping from the bed to couch Spa shrugged, “Honestly this is a very nice piece of furniture, if I had a mind to waste bits this would be at the very top of my list of things to have, right above a home and food.”

Somehow tucking herself in without a blanket, James felt self conscious about the bed he was in. It wasn’t cold or anything, but still. To have this all to himself, snug as could be while she had only the couch? Well… her coat had to do something more than be soft, and he didn’t tell her to sleep there. James shook his head and turned on his side, facing away from Spa, ’Whatever, it’s nice not to share for once and it’d be weird to ask her anyways.’

His feelings justified to himself, James laid in bed trying to sleep which was increasingly counterproductive the more he tried. Squirming and tossing for a frw minutes failed to tire him out and eventually he turned over in hopes for better luck. Barely in the half-light of late evening it was impossible to not think he’d made a mistake calling it a day, all he’d done was take a bath and eat! 

But panning over to Spate, seeing such a strange being rest so peacefully across from him, a slow day was something James needed. It wasn’t at all the red tape and bureaucracy he’d expected, nor any stringent exams. He was simply here, in this room not so impossible to pretend was made by humans, for humans. It was a homely place, maybe a very fine hotel and not a room in a castle of horses. But seeing her gentle breaths he couldn’t afford to play pretend, James wished he didn’t care so much though. 

Spate was nice company all things told but with that rude awakening in the bath his sense of personal time was wounded and he needed an outlet to be alone with. He would have to find something to do, something to keep his mind busy and off of all these issues his brain kept picking at with every passing moment. Clothes should be washed, there was a want for money, and he needed to be alone. 

Watching Spate for a minute longer James focused on her breaths and movements as he creeped out of bed, he wasn’t a prisoner they’d said, and he was tired of his room. It had only been a day or so but he decided it was time to push the envelope and see just how far his freedoms went. 

Potentially kissing free will goodbye James stood in a jacket and towel, feet touching down to a rug before walking over to his balled up clothing. Throwing his socks on for the stone hallways he hoped he’d be able to get directions from a guard instead of being thrown back into this room, there was no way he’d accidentally find a washroom out of all the castle. One last look back to Spate and there was guilt to be felt if she woke up while he was gone, but he really did need to stretch his legs, and it was all the more reason to be quick, which he tried to do after making it out the bedroom door. 

Since he’d been down the right hall already he knew that lead to the throne room, eventually, so it was with confident uncertainty James went down the left. It was a lot of the same, a spotless display of art that was home to potentially many, but this art failed to clean the last of his worldy belongings so its beauty fell on unimpressed, regretfully awake eyes. 

In the back of his mind James thought on the history and success he walked by, clearly they were doing well, or worked the lessers well at least. Just about all of his Earth-centric knowledge was for naught and it came down to basics and people skills until James learned something relevant to partially bridge the gap between the ponies and himself.

James sighed and shuffled the payload in his arms and turned his attention outwards, needing a distraction from himself. It was only early night if the filtered light through stained windows and mosaics was anything to go by and he would’ve thought there’d be someone else out besides him, other residents, patrolling guards, or busy servants, but no. It would be unnerving if he felt threatened by these fuzzy little things in the heart of their surely fuzzy kingdom. 

It could’ve been ten minutes or ten hours though it was the same in the end: it was boring, but he was moving, which was better than being bored in the room they gave him. Turning down another hall at random he finally saw the very thing he’d been in search of, another hall-bound soul. James kept his same pace, the muffled footsteps he brought to the stationary guard went unnoticed until the human was nearly on the interestingly gold clad and spear wielding pony. 

Once James had finally been noticed, it was with a turn of ears, eventually wide eyes, and slack jaw. Seems he wasn’t expected. “S-sir! Is something wrong?” Scambling back to his manners, the white guard stallion stood at attention, which was an improvement over Spate’s height although this one still only rose to James’ lower chest.

Between the princesses, the pegasi that flew him here, Spate and the guard there was no telling how many more sizes or colors they came in, something James imagined he’d probably learn sooner or later, “I wouldn’t say wrong, I just wanted to wash my clothes. Is there anything for grass stains here?”

The guard looked strangely at James, to the human it looked to be something along the lines of… apprehensive wonder? Like he wasn’t sure he should be feeling what he was, but he felt it so strongly all the same, “Yes sir,” the guard’s mouth moved independently of his still shocked expression, “please, follow me.” The nameless stallion went frustratingly back down the way James had just come from, making the man just shake his head and sigh, his plan had been just to find a guard, James was grateful that he wasn’t under arrest for escaping quarantine or anything else unneighborly like that. 

Sucking in air James had to mentally slap himself, he really shouldn’t expect so little of these little ponies, they’d been nothing except accommodating, he doubted the likelihood of such a warm reception for the unusual on Earth. With humbled thoughts they wound up backtracking most of James’ choices, even passing by previously absent ponies he wished had been there earlier to save the two of them time. There were more expressive reactions to his being there, and there were those who either didn’t notice or didn’t care, the sum total told James he needed to prepare himself for a lot of stares and plenty of attention, he just needed to hope they kept the tradition of letting him have his space. Guards for direction and Spate as company was plenty enough for now, front and center wasn’t really his thing, even if he did this to himself from boredom. 

Stares only do so much, and when you’re not caring they don’t do much of anything. James looked back at them, their sizes mostly consistent around his lead, who speaking of seemed to have a lot in common with the other guards, with their own gold armor and matching coats. The uniformity was disquietly ubiquitous among them all until James remembered they had magic, and magic was nearly guaranteed to have part in this. After the cult-vibe scare, things got back to boring even after they made a turn that didn’t directly countermand James’ poor castle navigation, “I knew I should’ve gone this way, how much further is it?”

“Not much longer now,” the stallion answered without missing a step, “Your room is quite close to this wing’s hamper room.” He looked back and up to James during a straightaway, “it’s crazy how one wrong turn can get you so lost isn’t it? You almost had it.”

“Yeah, insane.” James dryly responded with a smile the little horse returned unsurely, “I didn’t expect to find it on my own anyway though, went straight for help.” Shrugging to himself he went on, “Have to say a map would have really helped, it all looks the same when you’re lost.”

Looking ahead again and ears going a little haywire for whatever reason the wingless guard nodded, “We can get you a map sir, I think there may have been one on your nightstand though, was there not?”

James blanked for a second or two, trying to remember anything map-esque in the room, granted he didn’t look around much so he probably overlooked it, “I don’t know,” was slowly given, “I wasn’t paying attention, sorry.” 

A mid-stride wave of his hoof dismissed the apology, “It’s okay, I understand. No harm done and I get to stretch my legs some, let me tell you guard duty is not glamorous as the posters.”

Successfully holding back a snort at the idea of these guys guarding anything in any sort of real capacity James instead offered an olive branch, “I’m sure your boss will understand, I’m high up there on priorities if my room is anything to go off of.”

One weird pony shrug later and they came to a stop, “Hope so, they probably won’t notice though. Anyway, here’s the laundry room, typically it’s one of the servant’s quarters for extended duty but they’ve been relocated for the time being.” He lifted a hoof to push in the door to find empty cots along the walls with rather large cabinets beside each of them, the room was well maintained and abandoned with care.

Stepping inside, James turned back to the stallion who watched avidly, “We’re here, but I just see a lot of beds. I need my clothes cleaned, remember?”

Breaking free of whatever held him, the still unnamed guard sheepishly took the lead again, “Sorry, they’re right this way towards the back.” They both went down the wide center aisle, the room illuminated by the same sourceless light that was in James’ bathroom which had turned on upon their entrance. The beds were uniquely patterned, each wardrobe and bed had an insignia not impossible to imagine as those James had seen stamped on each pony's flank, so many questions still…

But there was order he had to ask those questions in, James felt, and since he was a little offput by the stallion’s behavior, James decided to disengage whatever awkwardness he’d started to feel, “So do you have wings too? Everyone I’ve met so far has had a set.”

Pushing past another set of doors a head was shaken, “No I do not, I’m an earth pony, no wings or horn, but we’re sure as tartarus strong and I’ve found that’s more than enough to meet my needs.” He rose to his hind legs to open a cutout square in the wall, pulling a door on its hinge to reveal an empty tube, just a solid, slate grey tube. “You can just throw your things in their, we’ll have a maid bring your clothes back before you wake up.”

A strange string of thoughts had occured in the back of James’ mind while the stallion spoke though, and made the stranded human suddenly aware of the fact that he was now an alien, one that was getting help with his laundry from a soldier-pony as if it were the most normal thing ever. This brought back an acute sense of sickening surrealism, “This all feels really… really fucking weird. I think I’m going to be sick.” James threw his clothes into the strange machine and turned around, barely not running back out to the hall so he could lean against a wall to catch his breath.

James had sunk down to the ground, face on his knees with his ears ringing and head pounding, ignorant of the very alarmed guard he’d left behind to gallop after him, “Do you need something... sir?” The quadruped was surprised they hadn’t exchanged names yet, but kept to the task at hoof, “I have water if you need it.” He reached behind to his armor and pulled a metal flask from between his armor plates to hold out for James to take.

James did the opposite though, instead focusing on deep breaths and almost recoiled away as constrained laughs coughed from him, “No, I-I’m fine, relax it’s all okay.” Trying to stand but only tipping over James held his towel in place and pushed back up to stand with his other hand, “I just got a little excited, nothing to worry about.” His back against the wall, James dusted off his faithful towel and coat before looking to the incredibly worried guard, “See? All better, just need some sleep.”

In the dead silence of the hall, the equine truly and audibly gulped before turning away, eyes set steadfastly ahead “Yeah… back to bed.” Heading from where they came to take a different turn the pony clearly wanted to say something but either stopped himself or couldn’t find the words, it was a coin toss for what it was but what the two of them had was a quiet, uncomfortable walk back to his room.

James had to remind himself not to care, so what if they thought he was crazy? What’s the worse they’d do? Kill him? Well, maybe, but also maybe not, and if they did so what? He’d seen the impossible several times in the past two days, who’s to say they wouldn’t send him somewhere else even more cutesy at this point? Who was to say anything about anything anymore? He needed sleep and to be alone. He shouldn’t have left Spate behind.
> Easy Street
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

After a swift splitting of ways, James reentered his assigned room to little fanfare. Getting lost and all of its subsequent consequences turned a ten minute task into at least an hour, but there was a silver lining, he finally felt tired. Crawling back into bed he was once more barraged by thoughts, so much was happening and he may have just ruined what traction there'd been. If this was as real as it felt he could not afford another freak out, there wasn't room for panic in his brand new reputation. All of James' current hopes were put into that guard not making a scene out of the little slip up in the hallway, and while he could see the logic of it, it was still difficult for James to allow himself the comfort of saying it's reasonable for things to be getting to him, he wasn't ready to understand this.

Laying in an uneasy state the bedding they'd so readily call his the human could barely form the thoughts to mutely lament its marvelous comfort, something he'd wished he hadn't needed to be in another world to have experienced. His sleep was troubled and restless with freezing hints of nightmares James failed to remember though he woke feeling the same panic he had the other day, trapped, observed, insignificant. He hoped this wasn’t going to become a trend. The sun seemed to rise quickly right before his eyes, going from night to early morning like a dimmer switch for the world. He’d squinted in anticipation but again the sun was gentle, comforting, and he dared to open his eyes a little wider which was when he noticed that the pegasus was up and brushing her teeth while making faces in the lengthy bathroom mirror.

This was a more manageable wonder James felt he could better handle, so he took a step towards normalcy as he sat up to rest against the headboard to watch for a few seconds before a familiar sight caught his eye. With one last noiseless glance to the humming pegasus he touched his sock adorned feet back to ground so he could inspect the neatly folded stack of clothing atop the unused reading chair they rested on. He hadn’t seen them so clean since he’d bought them, they were probably cleaner now all things told.

Quickly he undid the mystery servant’s work and looked back to his roomate before nearly jumping into his underwear and work pants, the set of pants missing their familiar coarse touch which was a surprise James wasn’t sure how to feel about. Finally decent in the most bare sense with respectable clothing his undershirt was next and took the place of his jacket, tucked into his pants followed by the cinching of his belt. Comfortable and not seeing any need for more at the moment James fell back to sit on the bed and leaned over in thought, hands clasped and arms on his knees.

Things were alarmingly normal, James felt things should be more hectic, explosive, everyone should be as lost and confused as he was. It felt like the calm before a storm, but it had to just be himself, he thought. 'They all seemed much more prepared for me than I am for them, Spate, the princesses Luna and Celestia, even the guards. I don't see any of them freaking out about me. I need to be like that. Looking up from the floor he had been too lost in thought to pay real attention to, he turned once more to his unlikely roommate. At the moment she was going through her mane with a brush and had the look of someone not unfamiliar with the early hours of day. "Spate," her ears perked, "what are we doing today?"

Hooves were not the most utilitarian of concepts when it came to using an item beyond a horseshoe and that itself wasn't any measure of dexterity, but the hooved races of their world got by much like Spate was this morning. After waking up to a gentle unlatching of the shared bedroom she found a maid who bore a disturbingly familiar batch of laundry, 'When did this happen! The answer was obvious, it was when she'd fallen asleep. 'Of course he'd want clean clothes, sweet Celestia why hadn't I thought of that.' The helpful servant took the deftest of steps through the room and Spate watched her with reluctance. Spate's own failure gave this one the opportunity to succeed as she snuck by with a starstruck expression, payload of apparel handled with the utmost care and placed upon seating as if each thread were to suddenly come unwoven. Stepping away from her mission, it was now their guest she saw, bringing a thoughtful look of amazement to her features, hidden as she was in the darkness the night brought. A ray of moonlight cut a line diagonally through the room from the balcony, across James' middle and ending just at the edge of Spate's impromptu bedding, though both mares had adjusted to the dark well enough to see more than their silhouettes.

The servant mare's expression hardened upon finding Spate lounged across the couch and that was all the exchange they had before she left, as silent as she'd arrived. The newly appointed pony representative laid herself down and looked to James, the weight of that glare a sturdy reminder of her responsibilities and the expectations she was already failing to meet. Dare she address this with her charge? He wasn't supposed to feel as if he needed to ask permission for everything he did and there was no desire to instill some sort of prisoner mentality but it was her job to be around and ensure everything went well, doubly so this early into his stay. 'Not even a week yet. She wouldn't be getting back to sleep that night so she instead decided to get an early start on the day.

Thinking back to all the preparations she'd studied she took stock of his room, minimal but functional, clean and with room to grow into its resident. Spare everything if you knew where to look, curtains, blankets, towels, sheets, clothing, bathroom supplies, and a mini fridge that would not have looked out of place in any of Canterlot's residencies. After going through the motions of something she was certain of it was easy for Spate to refocus her energy towards the uncertain, she had all the resources she could want or need to help her help James, he made it back just fine and did what he set out to do, by those standards it didn't seem like such a bad thing. She did have to pay closer attention though.

Looking at a wall clock sunrise was near and there was more for her to do in the meantime before the work resumed. She entered the bathroom and took a moment to marvel at its size, even with how bare it looked. A pale glow emanated from the ceiling, tiny points of light allowing her enough visibility to maneuver without risking James' rest. Pulling a stool from beneath the counter Spa began sifting through the drawers along the long basin that was a sink and found what she'd needed right around the time her ears cocked back towards the room, there was low groaning and she could see him twisting a bit in his sleep and she gave a small prayer for Luna to help him. Back to her task at hoof, she fished out the toothbrush and paste in a grip that digit wielding species would say impossible, and one she was quite happy was in fact not impossible.

Looking herself in the mirror as she washed the morning breath away she couldn't stop herself to not think back to the elation she felt upon seeing the lone figure treading across the green earth, how clinical she'd started off the day, condemning the unlikelihood it'd be herself to find him. But she gave it her best, every hill a small possibility at a chance to help. Of course, it was a naïve, biased perspective of hers to think so resolutely that she'd be the right mare for this, but the same could be said for the hundreds of others who could be in the spot she stood now, an inordinately high number of volunteers. Whether it was chance, fate, or whatever force brought these rare, pungent tastes of humanity to their world she couldn't have any way of knowing, but she was here nonetheless. It was a light, bubbling feeling of giddy apprehension she felt that caused her to nervously smile into the mirror with a few furtive check ups thrown to the still tossing human. 

There was a priority on dialogue throughout her education to be titled liaison, her teachers emphasized what it meant to be a pony, what made an Equestrian, and how to best convey their principles and earnest purpose. A ceaseless drill on understanding, compassion, and communication. A human was not a pony, that wasn't to say they didn't have the three mentioned values, but it was safe to say that the responsibility lied with the quadrupeds to bridge that gap and initiate goodwill. There were plenty of things to talk about, but what would he want to talk about? Well, she could only try her best to find something he could resonate with, hopefully today would bring good tidings their way now that can have a real day together. She hadn't heard any word from the princesses and there wasn't a step by step procession in place, as was mentioned before, they would take this at James' pace. 

She'd noticed him sit up, and as she switched to a manebrush she knew that he thinking again, something that needed to be done she was sure, no good would come from rushing things before he had enough space to breathe. On a darker note, she had to consider that too much time to think held its own trappings. But he brought himself back to life on a subject Spate considered optimistic, he asked about what was in store today, he was willing to try. Leaving the bathroom she brought the brush along with her, cradled against her body with the help of a wing, just a step above having only hooves, no disrespect towards her earth-pony neighbors. "Today is all yours James," hopping up on the bed she continued her fastidious efforts towards grooming, "If you don't have any ideas though, I could always take you on a tour, or we could spend the day inside again and maybe call some books up to your room if you'd like." Spate's focus on him was absolute, however she kept it to a conversationally appropriate level. 

Shaking his head the man stretched as he stood, "I don't think I could go another day sitting around, maybe starting with some breakfast would be good." He started putting the rest of his outfit on and she took that to mean he wanted to eat somewhere outside, which was perfectly fine. "I don't know for certain, but a castle this big with a live in staff should have some sort of food court or mess hall right? A dining room?"

Ah, somewhere outside, but not too outside, maybe important or not, but something the mare noted regardless, she had a scant amount of personal notes which she was hoping to improve on. "As it so happens to be, we do have something exactly like you're asking about, would you be ready to leave soon or did you need to get ready?" Spate herself was nearly done with her routine hundred brushes, and something to eat had been on her mind.

A quick 'almost done' was given as answer before he moved to the recently vacated bathroom where James could look himself in the mirror and turn the sink on cold before leaning down to rinse out his mouth and hydrate. Grabbing one of the many variety colored washcloths which lined up beneath the mirror he dried his mouth and hands off, thinking about its texture against himself, in his hands, between his fingers, the focus on his senses dulling the concern he'd forced to the back of his mind. Pulling his lips back to inspect his teeth there was nothing to be considered out of place that might have made him look foolish to this world. "We can go now, if you're ready too." 

Not sure what to make of his quick preparations, Spate mentally shrugged and physically nodded, leaving her manebrush on the end table beside her little couch, "I had an early start today so I was able to get ahead of my chores, plus breakfast makes for a very convincing argument." She finished with a smile as she looked up to the still taller being, even from her spot sitting on the bed she only came up to his neck. His hair had a critical case of bedhead, a fact which she voiced but that was waved away offhand, he didn't mind and she had no reason to push him. Acquiescing to his wishes Spate removed herself from the bed and headed to the door, holding open the comparatively larger doorframe for James to follow through. Disregarding the notion to lock his door with the sound logic that 'if this place needs to keep its doors locked there's more to worry about than locking them' and the blasé reminder that all he had was all he was.

Choosing the path taken in the late hours of the past night James was able to better take in the things he'd missed in his tired misdirected then redirected shambling. Even though it was more of the same dignified and pristine artisanship he'd witnessed beforehand that did not detract from its obvious beauty, the open windows on their way to whatever passed for a mess hall in this fairytale land gave sight to the lands far beneath his position upon the mountainside, looking down on the earth was easy from where he stood which made him wonder what connotations the locals had attached to Canterlot. The openness was a pleasant design though, this palace wasn't nearly as oppressive as one would think when considering medieval architecture, this defied all of his preconceptions as the Equestrian royals seemed to prefer a minimalists approach to regality, he could imagine that Spate would have no trouble gliding through the sparsely populated halls should she be so inclined.

Thinking of which, he noticed that she had been making efforts to speak with him for he didn't know how long, her tone wasn't so much hushed as it was conversational, and she was facing away, much lower than himself, and the breeze blowing through the windows all added up to a little horse that was very easy to accidentally ignore. Now that he'd noticed her however he picked up that she was listing the kinds of foods they could expect, and in an attempt to try to play off the fact he wasn't even consciously aware of her until that moment he asked if whoever was cooking would be able to make anything to order, which she animatedly responded to with a positive.

"Oh yes! If you don't find anything to your tastes and have an idea in mind for what you want all you have to do is say the word, we have only the best staff at Canterlot Castle and I promise you no one here would mind helping you out." She radiated with happiness at being able to talk with him like this. "What were thinking about having to eat, James?"

Seeing her get like this brought a smile to his face, which made her smile even stronger when she looked back and saw, "I don't really know yet, I was just curious about the service here, I never imagined I'd ever have the best anything at my beck and call." He gave an easy going laugh with his hands moving to his jacket pockets. 

This was exactly what she'd been hoping for, that sweet, sweet dialogue. Now she just had to play her cards right and she'd be his best friend ever! Unless he already had a best friend. It was a sobering thought along the same vein many repetitious lessons went down, stay respectful of the life left behind. That new storybook beginning only went so far, there were old stories before James began his here. She was going to do her best to make sure that the story he had here would be a great one. Pushing aside her inner reproaches she refused to let herself be held back from the present. It didn't seem her voice was capable of a tone outside of sweet and soothing as she delicately offered a bit of what she hoped was comforting, "There's a lot here for you, you know. The best of what we've got."

Seeing her stop along a doorway which appeared to be a miniature replica of the throne room doors and the subsequent smell after she opened it told him they'd made it to the food. Considering her words, he could feel the truth to them. From the treatment he'd received so far James imagined this would be a lot of extra effort to go through if they ultimately meant him any ill will, considering if the roles were reversed he had to admit it might not have been so easy for a pony to end up in the wilderness on Earth. It reminded him of parts the blue princess Luna had said, she seemed stressed. Taken apart and between the lines he felt that her words had good intentions however, he really fell into the thick of it didn't he? Everyone knew the things he did not. Forcing a smile up he looked at the now, Spa was looking a little more uncertain the longer he went without responding and inwardly he sighed, he really wasn't so introspective most of the time, "That sounds great, Spate. I can't wait to see it. But for now what is this amazing smell in the air? I can nearly taste it, like fresh fruits in steaming syrup." Looking around he realized that maybe wasn't a wholly inaccurate assessment, laid out similarly to a typical cafeteria there was a mixture of sleepy and primed ponies preparing for their day ahead, with no big fuss being raised at the duo's entrance. He was fairly stumped at the uniformity among a majority of the stallions present carried over from the few he'd seen his, but a brief explanation that boiled down to 'magic' was the sum of the answer he was given.

Relieved at James' words the pegasus maintained her lead with a calm gait and brought them to the back of the line, where trays and silverware awaited. "I'm really glad to hear you feel that way, James, we would love nothing more than for you to be happy here." She took her spot to sidle along the procession line, tray sliding beside her guided by a wing while feathers barely brushed across the smooth marble surface. It was clear the counter was short to the human as he looked over the sneeze shield down to the food they walked by, the first section being the fresh produce which was followed by more flowery selections. They both grabbed a small assortment of bowled fruits and Spa deigned for a few purple petaled plants James couldn't place before coming across the much fuller breakfast dishes, though with no carnivorous options both noted in varying degrees. For the human this was a casual sensible outcome for what he'd rightly guessed was a herbivorous people, something he found marginally curious after he'd eaten what was brought to the room yesterday. Spate was a little cross with herself for another case of her oversight. Reality was so much more involved than she could readily have been prepared for, still, he didn't seem to be having a negative reaction to this, they could always order something more suited for his palette.

Had they been watching elsewhere rather than doing their bests at focusing on the smallest sliver of their newly enlarged worlds they would have seen the faces of the other meal-goers as their own trays were forgotten in place of the giant among them, who would either reach over the cough guard, lean down to grab his choice that was protected beneath it, or make a passive comment about some little dish in a low voice. The usual din of any dining floor made an unusually specific turn towards a common topic bringing the dull roar into a simmering hivemind discussion, the human was really here.

Spate credited her experience here as to why she picked up on the buzz and held back a groan of exasperation, it was bound to happen but there wasn't even an attempt at subtlety here. She raised her voice a bit to try her own hoof at subtlety, "Do you think you'll be able to eat all that?" James had grabbed a second tray, insisting on doing all his picking in one trip.

With a tray for each hand and a good feeling about breakfasts here he gave a nod while following his guide to their seating, "Absolutely, your serving sizes here would make a kid's meal look like a good deal. Plus, this all smells kinda fantastic, I couldn't help myself." After seeing the flowers being served there in a whole variety of ways he was almost tempted to try some, but he preferred to go with some tried and true options, later would be a better time to try new things he probably couldn't process. "How about yourself huh?" James questioned her light choices, "You're not feeling that hungry?"

As they'd entered the seating areas Spate was happy to say tact still existed as the ponies around her had the good sense to change topics and not stare, although some did greet and wave, with varying degrees of confidence. James took that much in stride at least and offered his own greetings in turn, skipping any animations to save the food he held. With tray in mouth she first found a suitable bench for them that'd give them some space without completely cutting off her associates she laid her tray down atop it, "I suppose not, and I'm just more used to the routine here I think. No offense to the chefs, the food is always spectacular, but it'll be great come lunch time as well if we eat here again so I'm just not in a rush to cram like I'll be quizzed on breakfast." She ended that with a small laugh as James took his seat across from her, eyeing his trays that he now realized must have been carried in the mouths of others before, he chose to ignore that.

Fitting himself onto the pony bench wasn't too difficult, it wasn't his favorite arrangement but it served its purpose, "That makes sense, I can't imagine getting used to something like this but I guess people can get used to anything." His even tone had trailed off a bit towards the end, but he didn't want to get bogged down every time he thought of anything. Before she even had time to give him one of those sad pony looks he knew she would but probably not know she was, he found his voice, "So they serve three five star courses a day here, all you can eat?" 

After a relieved laugh Spa took a sample of her flowery plate to consider her words before swallowing, "Almost, but not quite. The ponies here are either getting ready for or just ending their shifts, considering the time. Instead of three large meal blocks we have two, when morning shift begins or when night's turn is here. Midday meals are usually during a lunch break, in which case it would be a small to-order thing for us or the more aristocratic ponies would have lunch sent to their rooms, much like how yours was delivered the other day." 

Digging into his own choices he crunched on some toast while raptly listening in on how horses schedule their lives, "Again, that makes sense. So is this all you have to operate the castle?" Looking around he commented on the surprisingly empty seating arrangements, if this really was all they had.

Once more she took a moment to find just the right words, briefly she wondered if this man had to think about what he said as much as she was having to lately, "No..." A slow, direct start to lead her explanation, "it's just the time of year when we keep a skeleton crew onboard." She poured herself a glass of water from the pitcher on the table to chase down her hayfries and ward off the dry throat of a mare on the edge of spilling a secret she wasn't sure was ready to be shared.

However to Spate's alarmed surprise there was a bright look of recognition on her table partner's face, "That's what the security guy said last night when I wanted to get my clothes washed, why is that? Is it the holidays? I thought it was weird how a place this big didn't have you little guys all over it."

Cringing at the reminder of her lax performance she persevered nonetheless, "Yeah, so how was that anyway? I uh, noticed you'd gotten your things cleaned when a maid brought them back." She thought she was doing well, James thought if nothing else poker was a very promising prospect here, though he was confused why this would cause her such consternation, and then immediately understood after half a second's thought. 

Suddenly looking appropriately abashed James awkwardly scratched at the stubble he'd grown during his few days away from home, "It was alright, I don't know if it counts as being lost if I was actually looking for directions instead of the laundry room, but the guard I found helped out exactly how I was hoping." An until-then unseen side of James surfaced when he shrugged and raised his hands apologetically, "Sorry if you woke up while I was gone, hope I didn't worry you too much."

Not exactly what bothered her, but the little grey mare decided it wasn't worth getting into detail about. Waving his apology away she assured him everything was alright, "It's nothing to worry yourself about James, I'm just glad you made it back safe and sound, not that there's anything that would hurt you but still." Her portions had been finished a few minutes ago so now she found herself nursing a crispy glass of their table's rosewater, "How'd we do then?" She asked while gesturing towards his person, sweeping over him with a hoof.

James pinched a bit of his pants and pulled at it, rubbing it in an exaggerated show of consideration, "I'd say it's about par for the course at this point, full marks across the board. I think my clothes might actually better off than when I first bought them." Brushing off a few crumbs his efforts rewarded him with the smile he got from the easily spooked Spate was what he was hoping for. It was then as he washed down his last bite of something that tasted like a cross between a mango and a pomegranate he realized he wasn't going to finish his tray, but the rosewater was a surprise he sipped at, not exactly to his tastes but the novelty made it worthwhile.

Nodding along with a growing grin she was happy to know he thought so highly of their services thus far, and he had been talking much more today, "All of us do our very bests, we take pride in the little things as well as the big." An approaching stallion caught her eye however, hesitant in his steps as he approached from behind James. "Hi there," she addressed him with some purpose behind her words, causing the human to turn in his seat to see who she spoke to, "Something I can help you with, Terrace?" 

His ears couldn't decide if they were going to lay flat or stand sharp as both of their attentions shifted to himself, having his name called directly settled the matter as they chose an angled compromise, "Hey Spa, and... human," Terrace stood at the end of their table between the two of them, struggling to not paw at the ground as his burst of confidence slowly wisped away. Suddenly he pointed the same hoof that wanted to dig at the ground up to the human, Terrace's gaze shaky but refusing to back down, "My name's Terrace, um, what's up?" His embarrassed smile added to the flushed look his guard signature white coat was suddenly colored with.

James, caught by surprise, first looked to Spate for some sort of clarity and she silently touched her two forehooves together out of the new pony's sight while mouthing an apology. What he had at first glance assumed was her just asking for forgiveness, for some reason, the alien realized she was in fact pantomiming a fist bump. Bewildered, he obliged, softly punching the outstretched hoof and apparently making the stallion's day as Terrace stared where the two had briefly connected, "Hey Terrace, I'm James, the human. And nothin' much man, just trying my best. How about you?" In what he hoped was a discrete act, James rubbed his knuckles against his legs, it was a weird feeling to bump a pony, and not at all how he'd expected a hoof to feel.

All traces of anxiety were washed away at fist-to-hoof contact and James thought that ears perked high and a much easier smile better suited Terrace's visage. Slowly, gently, the proffered hoof was brought back down to earth and there was no attempt to reign in his happiness as he beamed up at the human, "Awesome. Thanks James!" And that was it, a quick set of introductions and the unlikely group was back down to two.

The two left behind looked to each other before watching Terrace return to his own table, welcomed by controlled but not terribly subtle whisper yells neither James or Spate could make out through the distance and other conversations around them as he proudly displayed a certain hoof to be admired by his friends. "Well, that was something." Perhaps surprised at his casual tone, Spate's eyes jumped from the guard table to James as she repositioned herself on the suddenly uncomfortable bench seat, "Do you know him?" James looked back over to his guide, and she squirmed.

"Uhh, yeah." She took a noncommittal sip of her water, "You get familiar with ponies you work with for a couple years," a sip at an empty glass before pushing it away, "I'm really sorry about all that, James." Spa rubbed her neck while taking up the same apprehensive, unsure smile Terrace first had and the man did not appreciate how fragilely these horses stepped around him. 

Sighing, James brought his arms down across the table to gesture at Spate in a way to hopefully drive his point home, "It wasn't that big a deal, don't worry about me. He was quick about it at least, and pony hooves are weird, like in a lot of ways." Surveying the room he saw more of the same peeks as before and rolled his eyes, considering the looks a foregone conclusion at this point James decided a change of scenery would be best, "Hey Spate, what else do you got here at casa del pony?"

Not missing his agitated tone or his notice of the occasional spectators those things were filed away to not further provoke James and instead she addressed a curious thing he said, "You know Sponish? That's really neat, but Casa Del Puñ isn't anywhere near Canterlot." This time she did miss his now-typically calm smile briefly morph into a nearly affronted expression as she thought on somewhere he might like to see.

'Is she for real right now?' "Sponi-"

"Oh, I know!" Spate clapped a hoof down against the table, "The library has everything, we could get you started on familiarizing yourself with things here, if you wouldn't mind." Smiling at her quick thinking the bench was left behind so she could stretch her legs.

Not one to be so easily thrown off, he followed suit in standing and accepted her offer, "Sure, sounds like a plan, lead the way Spate." Taking their trays to the return station the last thing those still within the cafeteria heard before the pair left was James, "So, Sponish?"