A human who refuses to leave his house has created a portal across space, and accidentally brings the Main Six through.
Poor Abe, a brilliant mind with crippling Agoraphobia. Keeping himself at home he works studiously hoping to figure out portal technology for moving across space. And succeeds, sort of.... Instead of a plant or some rock, the Main six force their way through thinking the portal is a threat to Equestria, and end up getting stuck on the other side. So now they have to live hidden on earth until Abe can fix the portal.
It was a peaceful day, ponies going about their daily business and enjoying life. Twilight was in her Castle reading. Fluttershy was caring for her animals, Pinkie was hosting a party. Rarity was working on some important order and Applejack was at her family's farm. Rainbow Dash was lazying about on a cloud above town, looking at the ponies walking to and from places. So she had a perfect view when the portal ripped itself open and started to move around the town. Terrified ponies screaming and running away from it. She immediately took off toward Twilight's castle.
Abe was in disbelief, his portal had actually worked! As he sat in his basement filled with papers and books from his work, surrounded by clutter, and in-front of him was the large portal gateway sparking with electricity. He was practically dancing with how giddy he felt. This would change everything, not only could shipping things to his home become easier. He would be able to get samples from far off worlds, move things to planets. The things this would change for human kind! He was getting ahead of himself, he had to see if the thing worked first. "Time to find a sample!" he said cracking his knuckles as he used his computer keyboard to move the portal, looking for something he could bring through.
"What the hay is that?" Applejack said as the swirling blue and purple vortex swayed its way around houses. The towns folk long gone or hiding inside their homes. The Six of them were quick on the scene. "I don't Know AJ, but its structure looks unstable, almost like a miniature storm of sorts." Twilight responded, whatever this thing was, somepony had to be controlling it. "HEY, GET OUTTA HERE" Rainbow yelled at the portal. Twilight ignored her friend and put her mind at trying to figure out something that could disrupt this thing.
"Did I hit some random empty part of space? its like there is nothing here, I cant even seem to hit a rock." Abe said to himself, trying to steer the portal across space was proving to be as hard as taping together a cracked egg.
It was at that moment blasts of something started to shoot through above hit head. Leaving burnt marks on the cement of his basement ceiling. "Well It seems I pissed someone off. Or some weird weather, goodness I hope its weather."
The portal seemed to wiggle a bit as it was struck by magic but it didn't close. Again and again Twilight struck it with magic as Applejack and Rainbow dash tried to move it. Needless to say the rope wasn't helping any. "I tried to disrupt it with magic, and nothings working." Twilight said a little out of breath. "If only I knew what it was, maybe then I could beat it." "Goodness this thing is quite the bother." Rarity said as she walked up to stand next to Fluttershy. Fluttershy simple responded with a nod. Not quite sure what she needed to be here for, but if her friends needed her she would be there. But she couldn't help but giggle as Applejack's rope got sucked in. "WAIT, maybe that's it. If its trying to pull something into it it must be miniature worm hole! If I feed enough magic into it, it should falter." She said, as she did just that.
'Oh! we got something!' Abe looked up to see a rope fall through the portal onto the ground. 'What?' was all he had the chance to think before the portal began to make a sound. Like a high pitched wail the metal around it began to look like it was melting. His monitors flashing overheating warnings. 'Oh no! if the thing overheats the portal will expand indefinitely, I got to shut it down.' He tried to cut the process but as things were going into emergency shut down the sides cracked and the portal started to leak. In a mad dash to keep the the hole from expanding he went and manually cut the cords from the machines. However, the portal was still somehow being powered. 'Something on the other side is feeding it energy. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?'
'That looks like it hurts" Fluttershy says quietly to Twilight as she pours more and more magic into the portal. Her horn sparking and crackling. 'The portal its not falling apart. In fact it looks as if it is growing.' "Th-this doesn't make sense! It should have been to much for whoever is conjuring this up to handle? Just how strong is this things caster!" Twilight yelled to her friends, as the portal suddenly sprung wider and engulfed the six mares nearest to it.
Coming to terms with the fact that he very much may be responsible for the destruction of earth and some other poor planet Abe simply sat cross legged. Watching as the molten metal clung to the cement wall and trickled down. "Well, at least no one knows they are about to die. Well except me I guess." His hands fiddled with the rope, debating if he had enough time to put it to use before the portal engulfed the planet. Then the crack of white light as bright as lightning and louder then thunder struck him as the portal collapsed. Sending him backward through his mess of a computer desk. Once he could see again he began to stand up only to be met with 6 colorful miniature horses sprawled out on his floor. Wait the purple one was moving make that 5. This is when Abe's mouth started moving before his mind. "Oh No NO noNonononono! I was only supposed to grab a plant or a rock or something. With this much damage..." His eyes moved to Twilight who was staring daggers at him. If that didn't scare Abe the fact she started to scold him certainly did. "You could have KILLED somepony, do you have any Idea what you were doing? My friends could be hurt because... wait what are you?" She asked as she noticed the thing in-front of her was like nothing else she had seen before. It resembled a ape or something like the storm king, just without any body hair. "You speak English?" Abe said astonished, "The odds of that are innumerable, I wonder if-" "HEY!, I speak Equestrian! and YOU have some explaining to do."
So they began to talk about what had happened, Twilight faced hoofed hearing that her plan to disrupt the portal had actually only resulted in feeding it. She was however, relived to hear that Abe meant no harm, just an inquisitive mind that had managed to make a pretty big mistake, she would be more mad but she remembered she had been guilty of that herself a few times. "I really only meant to grab a plant or something as a test you know." Abe said rubbing the back of his neck, the fact he had only his plaid Pjs was not helping his confidence. "It would be revolutionary if I could move things remotely, not to mention being able to go from planet to planet. But I guess I'll have to settle for being the first human to meet an alien." Rolling her eyes Twilight responded with a scoff "More like first to abduct ponies." "Hey I TRIED to shut down my portal, you kept powering it." Then he pointed to the wretch of metal melted to his wall and all the destroyed electronics. "Not to mention melting just about everything else I own. Also what about those?" He said pointing to the mass of ponies on his floor. "THOSE, are my friends." Twilight said annoyed "You said this place is your house? Do you have some beds? Id like to talk to them about what happened before they meet you, otherwise it wont be very pretty." "Uh, I have a couch. They should fit on that." Abe responded trying not to laugh at the thought of 6 small ponies murdering a human. "Its upstairs, Um are you okay?" Twilight was straining trying to use her magic to levitate her friends but it wasn't working. "What What happened to my magic!" She put her hoofs to her face freaking out a bit. "Magic isn't a thing here, well that I know of at least." Abe responded. Poor Twilight turned to him hyperventilating "What! What do you mean? magic is-" Leaning down Abe puts his palms up and say "Shhs Its okay, we can figure that out later, lets take care of your friends here first. That's most important right?" With a gulp and her eyes on the verge of tears she nods and meekly asks "Can, can you carry them please."
A large red carpet was the first thing Rarity saw as her eyes began to flutter open. She lifted her head and looked around the room, there was a strange box placed on a dresser and shelf's of books and odd... thinner books? Under her hoofs she felt the soft plush of the couch, and the warmth of a still very knocked out Pinkie Pie. Across from her was Twilight siting on a very large arm chair fiddling with a odd black rectangle. "Umm Darling" Rarity asked quietly looking over to Twilight, who perked to attention at Rarity's voice. "Where are we?" "Thank goodness your awake, Umm once everyone is up Ill explain. Its a long story" Twilight Said as she walked over the couch. It wasn't much longer until all of them woke up, and so Twilight explained the situation. Less the fact that her solution was the reason the got sucked through. She didn't want her friends to think less of her. "So ya saying we are stuck on some planet full of hairless apes cause one of them made some sciencey mistake?" "Yes, Applejack. I know it sounds crazy, but once you see Abe you'll know its all true. Ill go get him." Twilight answered walking over to the stairs that led up the house, and called up to him. "Ya go get this guy so I can pummel him for being so dumb." Rainbow Muttered to herself. "Please, Twilight said it was a accident. Do be civil." Rarity pleaded to Rainbow. Abe walked into the room now in a change of cloths. He was wearing a baggy grey sweater with his Pajamas, and had a tray with some mugs and tea kettle. "Uh, hi. Twilight told me you all like tea so, I grabbed what I had." He said as he placed the tray down and moved to sit down on the arm chair, Taking one mug for himself. The looks he got from the five other mares on the couch ranged from shock to awe, due to being around two heads taller then the average pony and how different he looked from anything in their world. Pinkie was the first to break the silence. "He Looks kinda like the storm king" She said pointing at him and taking a cup of tea for herself. "Huh, is that a good thing?" Abe asked looking from Twilight to the others. "Not really" Twilight answered.
"So you're the one who made the portal? And without magic to boot. I'd be impressed if I wasn't freaking out so much right now." Rainbow Dash said as she drank from her mug. None of the cups Abe brought down matched. Much to the chagrin of Rarity.
"Really I do not understand how you don't have a proper matching tea set." Rarity said drinking from her tea cup."I told you I don't get visitors. Well, unless you count the pizza guy or the delivery person." Abe said chuckling to himself. "Seeing that all of you are gonna be stuck in the house here for awhile, maybe I should order one?"
"What do you mean stuck in the house? Is it dangerous outside or something?" Twilight asked. There was a short pause before Abe started to talk again, his face twisting for a moment before he continued. "Well lets just say if my government found out you guys exist you'd probably never go home. So for now you gotta stay a secret. Humans have a...... bad track record with aliens." Abe explained as he watched Pinkie Pie blow bubbles in her cup, through its attached straw. "Its a good thing my grants allowed me to be so far away from town, plus there is a good amount of woods around the property. So if you want you could go outside if you wanna see what it looks like."
At hearing the word woods Fluttershy perked up a bit, but the poor mare still looked like she was on the verge of tears still. Her and Applejack had remained almost silent drinking from their glasses, no doubt coming to terms with exactly all the people they had left behind, who know doubt thought they were dead.
"What does that mean exactly?" Twilight pressed setting down her now empty clear glass. "I don't wanna freak you all out too much but, as far as most people know humans have never actually met other sentient life, not even on earth." After a small pause Abe continued rubbing the back of his neck as he explained. "There are rumors however, and if we ever DID meet anything else our government has it locked up in some bunker in the dessert."
The gravity of their situation began to dawn on then as Fluttershy began to quietly weep, quickly getting comforted by Applejack. "Ah can't Believe y'all would be so cruel." Applejack said, giving quite the dirty look to Abe.
"It's not like humans want to hurt things, its just, we just... Most of us react out of fear from getting hurt. However, I can't always defend the action our government has made in the past either." Abe was left as a loss of what to say next, so he just let the room grow silent, his gaze drifting into his nearly empty yellow ceramic mug. That's when Twilight decided to ask another question.
"So how long would it take to fix the portal? I am sure everypony here wants to go home." "Well now that I know that it works reconstruction could take up to year, maybe two? That is assuming that the coordina- OH MY GOD." Abe shot up and ran out of the living room, throwing open the door to the basement, leaving the girls perplexed in his living room. They heard him shout No over and over again, as his heavy footfalls grew quieter as he descended down the stairs.
Meanwhile the girls were wondering what just happened to their host. The five on the couch all seemed to elect Twilight as the one to go find out as they all turned to look at her. With a huff she says "Okay, Ill go figure out what happened." She slowly left to go down the stairs, the door left wide open from Abe's frantic departure a few moments ago. As the quite clop of her hoofs sounded as she descended she could here Abe tossing things on the floor, followed by a sharp clang of metal. As she finally made it into the room she could see him hunched over a metal box sliding a cover off of it, as he began to try and pop something out of it.
"So what was that all about?" She asked as Abe managed to get the silver square out of the machine. "When I opened the way to your planet I used a guess on where a place might have life forms out side of our solar system, which means if I lose the coordinates I entered it'd be a guessing game to find your home again" Abe said frantically as he slid the item into his pocket and moving back over the desk taking out a laptop from under it throwing the papers on top of it to the side as he flipped open its silver top. leaning over it on his desk.
It took a moment for Twilight to understand what he said, but once she did her eyes opened wide rushing over to the side of the desk asking "Is there anything I can do to help?" Her hoofs propping her up next to Abe, looking over his shoulder to see the computer screen. Had things not been so dire she would have been inquiring about the odd typewriter he was using. She made a mental note to ask about it later.
"The only thing we can do for the next few hours is to wait as the drive boots, and see if the feedback didn't burn something." A loading screen started on the laptop, Abe moved to plug in the charger into the wall outlet turning to the purple mare and getting down on a knee to look her straight in the eye as he said. "The fact that its trying to load at all is a good sign." He lied hoping to put her at ease, "I needed to get this started as soon as possible, sorry if that freaked you out."
Looking at the Laptop and trying to distracted herself the way she always does when stressed, by asking questions. "So how does that work?"
"What do you think they are doing down there?" Pinkie asked as she read the titles of the books and DVD's that were on the shelves. The other four electing to not move from couch. "Maybe something bad happened.." Fluttershy managed to say, having recovered from earlier. The other four looked among each other silently agreeing, they had been gone for an half hour, the tea had long since been finished. However, they then hear the sound of Abe talking as the two ascended the stairs. His voice became clearer as they walked back into the room. "- More then books, full images and reference guides often how to's videos as well."Abe said. "Okay then what about more abstract things like feelings and things that fall under psychology?" Twilight asked. She would have to wait for the answer however, because a certain pink mare scooted up close to her and asked. "What were you to down there for so long for? We were getting super BOOOOORED."
Abe answered quickly before Twilight had the chance. "I had to make sure something downstairs was taken care of, and then Twilight started asking so many questions. I kind of lost track of time." Looking out the window Twilight had seen it started to get dark, "Umm Abe, where will we be sleeping?" Twilight asked turning back to Abe.
"Oh geez uhh." Abe thought for a moment putting his finger to his chin. "Well there is the couch, which can fit two. The arm chair.... I have a inflatable Mattress. And maybe using extra blankets... the tub?" He said putting his hands up a bit. "A BATH TUBB!" Rarity shouted, "Now I may be able to put up with a non-matching tea set. Sleeping in a tub is a WHOLE other matter." She said with a huff.
"Now don't fret Rarity, ah'll take the tub." Applejack said hoping that would help calm down the others, by taking the worst option herself she hoped the others might be more understanding. "Dibs on the chair!" Rainbow Dash said as she trotted over to the chair. "I am staying on the couch!" Rarity simply stated, followed by Pinkie playfully shouting "Mee tooo!" before hopping onto the couch. "I guess, the air mattress will be okay." Fluttershy said tapping the tips of her hoofs together. "Well, Twilight I guess that leaves you with my bed." Abe said having watched the others claim their places. "W-what? But where will you sleep?" "Oh I wont be, I plan on making good on my word. I will be working all night assessing the damage downstairs, and seeing what can be salvaged." Abe said rather dryly his voice already showing cracks from lack of sleep. he had forgotten to mention to the ponies that to get the portal working he hadn't slept for awhile already. "I will go and get the extra blankets and such." Abe said turning to walk down the hallway. Twilight looked back and forth trying to think of somewhere else she could sleep. She knew Abe had made a honest mistake and putting himself out like this wasn't necessary. Nothing came to mind however, and as Abe returned with bedding and the Mattress. As the air pump filled it he walked Applejack to the bathroom and set her up in the tub. Apologizing and promising a better option soon. Returning and making sure everyone was reasonably comfy, he turned to Twilight "Alright, just you left." Motioning for her to follow him farther down the hallway. "Night girls" Twilight said as she left her friends. Each saying goodnight in return.
As they walked they passed the bathroom, then they passed the kitchen turning left there was another room with two doors, one metal with a large glass window that showed the night. Twilight could make out some of the trees and a large metal looking thing. I'll have to ask about that in the morning, she thought to herself. She then snapped her head forward toward the light creak that was made as the other wooden door was opened. After flicking on the light she saw Inside was a bed, more bookshelves and a fair amount of clutter all piled along the right side of the room. The clutter only parted to make a path to the bed, which was nicely made, in fact it looked like it was never slept in. Now this clutter wasn't garbage, mostly boxes of papers, and what looked like more and more books. Twilight would have been excited if she wasn't so tired and freaked out. "Sorry about the mess, normally I just fall asleep downstairs or in the arm chair watching TV."
Keeping herself from asking more questions she climbs into the bed and lays above the covers, Abe says goodnight before turning out the light and leaving. Minutes pass as they turn into hours, but eventually Twilight falls asleep.
Picking up yet another mangled mess of metal and wires and tossing it into the large green bin. Abe takes a deep sigh as he moves the corner of the room, and opens the wood grained decorated mini-fridge to grab himself a large glass bottle. As he drinks from it he moves back to his desk to watch the laptops idle loading screen. God I hope it didn't fry, if it did... there is no way for them to get back home. You really messed up this time Abe. This was a really big risk and even then....".
Downing the rest of the bottle as he leans back in the small black office chair, his eyes wander to the scorched cement and the wreckage of what once was his life's work. In the past ten years technology had continued to only grow more efficient and better, but here he was not satisfied with the solar gird or the ozone reconstruction his contemporaries worked on. No, he had decided to keep working on his portal technology, a choice now he began for the first time in his life, to regret.
"Now I would like to welcome Abraham Nightly O'Neall, to speak on behalf of the graduating class." The female professor said as she stepped aside from the podium. Abe took the spot dressed in graduation robes. He stood about 5 '10 with messy brown hair topped with the tasseled hat. A smile on his face as he readied himself to make his speech. Clearing his throat he began, "It's funny how much can change in a single day." The odd tone and start making the auditorium full of parents and students feel a bit uneasy. "One day four years ago, I like many of you in this room, started to work toward the route that would make or break the rest of our lives. Getting up, going to classes and learning with each other, and growing."
The audience now a lot more at ease, even though most wanted to be out of the overly hot room. "Out of the ten thousand students who came here that day, only 100 of us managed to stay and graduate. Proving our worth and our ability to lead and create. One day two years and month and two days ago I solved a mathematical formula that removed the reduction of electrical power over transfer, which in turn reduced electricity usage globally, and practically cementing my place in the graduating class." Taking a step from behind the podium to walk across the stage and pointing from classmate to classmate as he spoke to each one.
"Jack, four months and ten days ago you produced a new automotive battery that can be 100% safely recycled, and as a result will remove the toxic byproducts of years past. Anthony, three years four months and seven days ago you developed the A.R.C method of Ozone reconstruction. Which should help reduce the global climate increase by over half of what was believed to be the rate of increase." After a breath and releasing his tightly clenched fist he began again, "I can go on but you all see the point. One day, we will get the benefits from our hard work. After years of study and countless hours devoting ourselves just for that one day. That is what will make it all worth it... and after that every other day after will be different. Then once we have that 'day' we will work for the next one. So lets get this one over with, so we can get closer to the next breakthrough, the next day that will change all of mankind for the better."
The applause was fair, which is more then Abe could have hoped for. He was smart, but really didn't know how to work a crowd. Now that the closing ceremony was finished the students and families moved to the greater hallway where they would all reconvene for food before packing to go home. Everyone has assigned seats for families all of them came from different walks of life all proud to be sitting next to their little prodigies. Next to the Seat with Abe's name there was a single extra seat, taken by a tall man in a black suit. At nearly 6 foot 2 he would have looked quite imposing had it not been for the fact he was a thin as matchstick. Since he hadn't been at the ceremony, he elected to wait in the dining hall until after the event.
As Abe took the seat next to him he said, "Well, hello Uncle Remmy, thought you'd at least wait until I was home." With what could only be described as a growl his uncle responded, "It's Remington, and the deal was until you graduated. And from what I understand that's today." He ended his sentence with a smile, almost as if it was punctuation.
The waiters started to deliver what was ordered prior and before Abe's Uncle was placed a full plate of steak, cooked rare. Before Abe Was placed a large serving of what could only be described as breakfast foods, hash-browns, pancakes, multiple eggs hash the works all piled onto two plates. Along side a medium jug of Maple syrup, to witch Abe began to drench his food in as he responded to his Uncle. "Your right, starting today Grandma's house is on the market for sale, and you and the rest of my greedy Aunts and Uncles rip apart her furniture, keepsakes and land and add to the money she ALREADY had left you."
"Now you know the will clearly stated-" "The will you and your vile sister had changed while she was on so much medication she couldn't even see straight? While I was here, and not around to make sure her wishes were carried out." Abe's words had visible hate, but died down as he spoke, he never did like his Uncle but really didn't want to cause a scene. This was supposed to be a happy day after all.
"That is no longer for debate. We already have a VERY generous offer from a independent tech company who wishes to use the land for a new division of their company. I am here to make sure you have your stuff out of the house before they move in today." He said as he cut into his steak, the bloody red cut meeting his mouth with a satisfied smack. "As well for the free meal." "Well sorry to burst your bubble Remmy but I wont be taking a single thing of mine out of the house." He said as he slid a card from his pocket and onto the table leaving it there as he dug into his mountain of food.
With a frown from being taken away from his delicious meal his uncle simply lifted the card and read NewAve Technologies New Associate of Development P.O.W.E.R Division. Abraham Nightly O'Neall "Now" Abe said wiping some yolk from his chin, as he said something he had waited months to say "You have your money, now never step foot in MY house again."
The two finished their meals in silence. Or at least that is how Abe chooses to remembers that day.
A light snore was the only sound dimly lit basement, as Abe's resting breaths escaped him. He had managed to get most the broken items into garbage bins, and it was around half of his equipment. He had fallen asleep halfway through writing his list of needed replacements. Now, it was morning and his six guests upstairs had started to move, the first of which was Applejack.
Having worked on a farm for as long as she did, AppleJack was accustomed to getting up at the crack of dawn. That way she could finish her chores and get an early start on the day with her family. However, there was nothing of the sort for her to do here so she simply picked up her bedding and left them in the living room. Then moved on to explore around the house, finding the kitchen she decided she would make everyone something for breakfast. Checking the cabinets an finding what she needed to make pancakes she started right into it. on the fridge she noticed an odd picture of Abe and other humans in odd hats wearing the same kind of cloaks, they all looked rather unhappy to AJ.
The light sizzle of the flapjacks was the only sound moving around the house. The light smell was working its way down the halls, and snaked its way into the room where Twilight rested. The smell invading her sleep, and waking her up. As she lifted her head from the pillow her mess of a mane obstructed her view. So she pushed it back and squinted her eyes as she tried to re-adjust to the light.
Stumbling out of bed she stepped on a pile of papers, and nearly slipped. Luckily she caught herself with her wing on the bed post. Looking down she remembered where she was, her first thought was Spike might be making her breakfast. However, now she knew that was not the case. Wiping her face with her hooves and shaking out her main till it rested somewhat proper. She was filled with a determination, last night she had felt useless to help her and her friends go home. Well that would end today, she would learn what ever she had to be able to help her friends return home.
Leaving to enter the kitchen she expected to see Abe cooking, but was surprisingly met with Applejack who had been stacking the pancakes higher and higher on plates on the table. Since no one else was awake yet, they simply sat awaiting hungry mouths. Almost as to respond Twilight's stomach gave a low growl, and that's all it took to get AJ to break out of her zone. "Ah, Oh! Mornin' Twilight. How did ya sleep last night?" She asked as she filled Twilight's plate with more pancakes then she could reasonably eat.
"It was okay, really odd to not have any dreams though. I guess it's because Luna isn't here.." Twilight said, another reminder of how far away from home they were. "Ya, I had the same problem'. So look at that picture there." She said pointing a hoof toward the fridge as she very carefully flipped another pancake. As Twilight studied the picture she to noticed that one of the figures resembled Abe. As she stared she heard Applejack ask her to grab some toppings from the fridge. Doing so and bringing them over to the table, which was set up for seven.
Twilight and Applejack started in in breakfast, having syrup and jams on their pancakes. After about ten minutes of conversation, the other mares started to join one after the other. Grabbing some food and joining. Soon all six were sitting having breakfast like it was any other day. Then abe came back upstairs, having clearly not slept. His hair was flat with grease and dust, and a small amount of stubble started to grow around his face. His eyes seemed vacant as he slowly walked over to the coffee machine on the counter. Simply waving to the ponies, not wanting to interrupt their conversation.
That would prove impossible, for even just walking through the room silenced their conversation. Rainbow Dash broke the silence as she asked, "So uhh. How bad is it down there?" At first a grumble was the only response she got, but after the machine started to brew Abe answered as he went to get his mug. "Good news is I still have the coordinates. The drive booted, bad news is just about everything else down stairs was destroyed." Pouring the drink from the pot and into his cup he continued. "However, the drive also managed to store some other stuff about your world. Most of it seemed like really odd stuff, I cant make much sense of the raw data." Pulling the chair at the end of the table he sat down, looking across to Twilight on the other end he asked, "Also, I was wondering why you have both wings and a horn? I mean I get the others, Pony, Pegasus and Unicorn. But I don't think we have a word for one that's both." At this point Abe noticed the mountain of pancakes and decided since this was still his house that he would begin to devour them, with a good helping of syrup.
With a small blush Twilight answered, "Well we call it being a Alicorn," She explained. "You see I used to be a Unicorn, but when I became princess of friendship I became a Alicorn." Abe started to choke a bit on his food, after Applejack cleared his throat with a good wack to his back he croaked out. "You mean to tell me your a princess? Are the rest of you royalty as well?" the response from the girls was all varying amounts of giggles, "No, that would just be Twilight." Rarity managed to answer.
"God, I feel like a villain. That's probably how Ill be remembered, 'The guy who kidnapped a pony princess.'." Abe mutters out, putting more pancakes onto his plate. Which only brought more giggles to the girls. After small moment of silence Abe continued to explain what he would need to do for them to go back home. The list was long and he kept mentioning how certain things could go wrong. The only one who seemed to follow him was Twilight, the rest being more focused on breakfast. Except for Fluttershy, who had finished and started looking out the window observing the birds.
As it seemed Abe lived somewhere very much like a Forrest, but the plants and trees were not growing wild. To Fluttershy they looked like they had been carefully planted and place with purpose. She was also enthralled with watching the cardinals as they flew and ate from the bird feeder. It was then she quietly asked, "Would it be alright for me to go out and talk to the birds?".
Managing to speak at a lull in the conversation, the others hear her quite request, which results in the six turning to look at Abe. "Well, I am pretty secluded here, so sure. Just don't wander off beyond the yard, or go near the roads, someone might see you." All six apparently took it as they were all going to go outside and see this new world for the first time. As the walked through the front door they all noticed a certain person standing in the doorway.
'Oh this is fantastic,' Twilight thought, 'This will give us a chance to see if Fluttershys magic still works here. She's the only one of us whose talk to animals so maybe if her magic still works...'
"Hey Abe arn't you coming?" Asked Twilight, as the six of them waited on the porch. "Well you see.." Taking a breath Abe continues. "No, Ill be here in the house when you come back much work to do." "Wouldn't it be unsafe to walk around without ah guide?" Applejack interjects. "Well just don't wander far then." Abe responded flatly. "How is FLuttershy going to find some creature to talk to if we only have your yard to look around in?" Rainbow Dash asked, trying to fly a bit but remembering how Twilight explained their magic wouldn't work here. "I am not going outside." Abe said as he closed the door leaving six confused ponies outside by themselves.
"Well, that was certainly strange." Rarity said, with a hoof to her chin. The others nodded in agreement, then started walking as it turned out Abe's house was surrounded by a lot of woods. The large colonial house was placed in what seemed to be a miniature woods, but the long winding dirt road lead to a road about a mile out. It was about halfway down this road that the girls managed to find a few little squirrels running around, up and down some trees.
They were friendly enough to at least watch the six ponies but try as they might to see if they could communicated with Fluttershy at all the closest they got was, a few moments of them almost coming close to Fluttershy. After hours of trying the six returned to the house with their heads low.
As they return however they are greeted with the sent of cheese and pasta, as it hangs in the air the six make there way to the kitchen and see Abe with a mouthful. A large pot and six more bowls lie waiting for them. "So how did it go?" Abe asks, their sad faces answer for them. "That bad huh? Well have something to eat, I have some news."
As the six seat themselves and fix bowls for themselves, Abe continues to talk. "So it would seem your worlds 'Magic' as you call is it intrinsic to its make up, but because you all seem to be unable to use it it must be tied to your planet somehow. So I was cleaning the wall and I remembered how Twilight basically over powered the thing with magic. Which got me to thinking," Abe placed a odd looking metal bracelet that looked like it was make out of the twisted metal from the portals remains. "Twilight, Slip this on and try to do some form of magic."
Placing it over her hoof and sliding it up, she tightens it so it wont slip off. Then she looks at her fork and decides to try and levitate it. To her and the other girls surprise it does start to move, although Twilight seems to be struggling with it. It moves slowly and looks unfocused but its able scoop up some of her food before it drops back onto the plate. Twilight looks like she just ran a mile, but she's smiling. "Oh my goodness, How?" Is all shes able to ask.
"Well since magic basically powered the portal i figured it might be similar to how electricity works here, guess it's kind of the same but... Magic seems to be far more efficient." With a chuckle Abe rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess Ill have to have some more stuff shipped to me to figure out an efficient way to get those working. Ill call the store in town and have them get some stuff ready to send up."
"If the store is just in town why wouldn't you go and just pick it up?" Rainbow Dash asked with a little bit of cheese dripping from the corner of her mouth. "Well I don't want to go into town so that's why." Abe's tone only becoming the slightest bit cold. The six girls looked at each other before one of them gained the courage to ask.
"How long has it been since you left your house Abe?" Twilight asked Thinking for a moment Abe responds with, "Around five-ish years I think." With clear shock in her voice she asks "And you don't see a single thing wrong with that? Don't you get lonely? Don't you have any friends?" "Why would I? I have always had everything I needed right here."
The sound of Abe's home phone resonates throughout the otherwise silent house. Cutting into the air, until the answering machine picks up. The sound of Abe's voice fills the empty house. Hello, you have reached Abraham at NewAve Technologies, Leave a message and if its important I’ll call you back. Then after a long dial tone sound a rather gruff male voice comes on the machine.
ABE! You need to pick up your phone man. PICK UUUUUP come on.... Fine be like that. I am calling because class reunion time is coming up. I know you didn't get along with to many people back then but we kinda NEED all the valedictorian's to show up. Its become a whole thing for the media, and if you don't show up it will start all sorts of rumors. So call me back. The dial tone beeps again, leaving the house silent until hours later the soul resident returns.
The house is pitch black, the door opens letting in the sound of rain and the silhouette of the utterly soaked Abe. He is silent as he drops his bag and closes the door behind him, and decides that tonight hes going to sleep right there on the floor.
The seven had finished there meal and had moved to the living room. Abe had asked if they had TV back in Equestria, and was met with confused faces. So he decided to just show them, as he called it; the apex of human invention.
"So this is the remote, this controls the whole set up." He said as he waved his hand over pointing to the TV and the speakers. "Now prepare... To be amazed!" He dramatically pushed a button on the remote, a satisfying Ting could be heard along with the crackle of the speakers as the life blood of electricity powered them, and on the screen a well dressed man started to talk about the weather forecast.
Twilight‘s eyes had bolted open as she started with more questions. All of them coming so fast that Abe's response was to simply shut her muzzle for her. "I will answer all of your questions in due time, but for now nature documentary's while I clean and make a few more calls about the supplies I need to make you all some of those bracelets." Letting go of the purple pony's muzzle and changing the channel. He then turns around to head down the basement. Taking out his cell phone and sending texts as he descended the stairs.
Sitting in the basement head in his hands as he tried his best to keep the heat growing in his face down. Just how could this end in any way but disaster. He thought to himself, so lost in himself he didn't hear the hoofsteps.
As Twilight slowly approached him, she figured that since he wasn't moving of speaking that he must be finished with whatever it was he needed to do. "So what is your plan? I really wanna help." Her talking made Abe jump a bit.
"I don't think you can really." He said with a huff. "Its a lot of work both physically and mentally. Not to mention so much math it might break your poor head in half." Now it was Twilight's turn to huff, "I never met a math problem I couldn't solve! I wasn't Celesta's top student for nothing!" "You do realize I don't know who that is right?" Abe's eyebrows rising. "Oh, right well. I'll just prove it then, show me some of your work." She said climbing up next to the desk looking at the computer screen again. "Heh alright." Abe started to bring up a few files that were running computer code for the portal. "This is the basic code that the computer runs just keep the teleportation part of the portal working. This was the second to last build, can you see the error in the formula? " he slid over a bit to let her look at it directly, a smug grin on his face. "I wasn't top of [bold]MY[/bold] class at F.U.T.U.R.E for nothing." He said copying her exuberance.
Her eyes squinted as she read over it. "What are the brackets and squiggly bit for?" "Oh that's for the computer, basically it makes it so it can understand and structure the information." "Well I don't know how to read that but I think the issue is there." She said pointing with her hoof to a portion of the code. "Its just a guess but it seems like the line from before is the right one and you have it making another one here. If this was a spell's structure it would only teleport the pony one cubic inch at a time. which would be really painful."
"Uhh, your right." Abe's just simply looked at the purple mare as she beamed with a smile that could put the sun to shame. "So that means your code is like SPS for magic! ohmygosh, that makes sense your world does have magic. its just unique to-" she continued like this for a bit as Abe's mouth caught up with his mind and he put a finger up to the mares mouth. Shushing her tangent, and leaving her confused. "So your telling me your species developed long for complex math capable of teleportation, but nothing like a TV?" To which she simply nodded.
"Now I have a few questions." Twilight's Smile returned.
[br]
"Darling, how can you watch this?" Rarity asked as she shielded her eyes as a cheetah was chasing down its prey. Flutteryshy didn't respond as she was locked on the TV. Pinkie, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and Rarity all in the middle of a game of cards, that they started after Pinkie got bored with the nature programming. "Gotta admit thou that thing is pretty neat." Applejack added as she hid her cards from Rainbow Dash trying to peek. "Yeah" Rainbow Dash quickly added, "Imagine watching the Wonderbolts or a Buckball game on that thing. That would be WAAAAY better then the radio. You could actually see the plays rather then just have them explained." The others nodded in agreement, before falling back into the game of cards.
"So am I the only one to find it odd that Twilight keeps going into the basement with Abe?" Rarity speaks again, " I mean I know she can handle herself but, we barley know the colt." "OOOh Maybe he's brainwashing her, and when we get back to Equestria he is going to try and take over!" Pinkie chimes in, "Then all the houses will be fitted with human cameras and watch over everyone. Then Big Brother will overtake Equestria!" She said with a giggle. "Come on now Pinkie we all know you don't have a big brother." Applejack answered, "Ah doubt that, Abe's a bit odd but he ain't liyin about this being a accident. I reckon Twilight's been chewing his ear off."
Then as if on cue the two could be heard coming up the stairs. "So then this map was able to time travel? How did it manage that? Are you sure it didn't just create an alternate pocket dimension or something?" "Nope 100% real time travel, but she used it to try and ruin me and my friends lives so I wasn't all that thrilled." "And now you let her live in your tree house?" "CASTLE" "From the way you described it its a tree house, and I will NOT BE CONVINCED OTHERWISE." He said with a good laugh that they both shared.
"Well I'll be, he's the one asking the questions." The farm pony said with a giggle, that was joined in by the other mares. The two walked in to see them. "What are all of you giggling about?" "Oh nothing darling. Nothing at all." Rarity Added, starting another round of giggles.
"Well either way good news! Ill be able to have bracelets for you all by tomorrow afternoon!" Abe places his hand on Twilight's back as he kneels down. "Twilight helped me fine tune them to be more efficient. check it out" In response Twilight starts to move around a of the poker chips around in circles before placing them back down. "Its much easier and I can almost do everything I could back in Equestria!" She says hopping back and forth on her hoofs.
"The same should hold true for all of you, what ever you could do with your magic back in Equestria. You should be able to do with your bracelets." "AAW YEAH! I can't wait to be able to fly again!" Rainbow Dash said very loudly. All the girls started to talk with each other, saying what they wanna do first once they get their bracelets on. That's when the phone starts to ring.
"Oh?" Abe says as he walks over to the old landline phone. The static from the other side is harsh, the bad connection making it a bit difficult to hear the other person."
"Abe, Ya there?" "Yeah, who else would it be? Nevermind what is this about?" "Straight to the point, good we are both busy I'm sure. I am calling because its Reunion time again. Well in a few months, actually. But they make you RSVP way sooner now." "Oh, yeah? And what makes you think this year is going to be any different? I haven't shown up for the past 6 years. why would I suddenly care now?" "I figured you wouldn't, still gotta call though." "Well thanks Jack, have a good night." "Yeah you to, call if you change you-."
The mares were just staring at him as he hung up the phone. "Don't you know its rude to eavesdrop?" They all shared a sort of sad look with each other as they tried to find the right thing to say. Luckily Pinkie found something else first. 'Whats this?" she asked as she pushed a pile of discolored 80's plastic and computer stuff at his feet. "I found it while looking for some playing cards and it looked really fun.". She lifts up some old diskettes wiggling them "Look how floppy these are!" She says as she vigorously shook them.
"That's a really old computer, its pretty much trash to be honest. You know what though? It's got some games on it, me show you."
[br]
They ended up messing around with the Commodore until it was time for them all to go to sleep. Happy to sleep downstairs Abe dragged his cot and the computer downstairs. Pilling the computer in the corner of the basement. He would have left it upstairs if he wasn't certain the Pink one wouldn't keep herself up playing those text adventures. She got a little too intense with them.
He was happy to have the distraction for a bit, even if Dash, Applejack and Rarity went back to playing cards pretty quickly. Getting to teach Twilight how to use a computer was a good first step, even if it was really basic stuff was sure to help her. After all if she wanted to help get with getting her friends all back home, she'd have to learn how to use a computer pretty quick.
As Abe laid out the cot in the basement so he could sleep. He looked to the old Commodore System he had piled in the corner. As he started to flip through the old floppy's he found some of his old journals he had written as a teen. A smile covered his face as he remembered how writing things helped him relax when he was young. The simple sound of the keys, and the dull color of the screen as it hummed letting himself reflect. "Maybe a little nostalgia is just what I need right now."
I HAVE A HARD TIME BELIEVING SHE WOULD DO ANYTHING BUT STRAIN, AND EVENTUALLY DRAIN, THAT WORLDS MAGIC THE INSTANT SHE WAS BORN.
BESIDES BURNING OUT THREE OF THE BRACELETS BEFORE UNDERSTANDING THAT SHE HAS TO CALM DOWN HER ENERGY AND POSITIVE ATTITUDE, SHE DOES EVERYTHING SHE CAN TO MAKE THE OTHERS STAY HERE PLEASANT. THAT POSITIVE ATTITUDE SEEMS TO BE THE DRIVING FORCE FOR HER FRIENDSHIP WITH THE OTHER FIVE. THAT OR THEY FIND HER REALITY BENDING ABILITY'S TO BE USEFUL OR, AS I FIND THEM TO BE, ENTERTAINING.
SHE SEEMS TO HAVE A UNHEALTHY ATTACHMENTS TO PARTIES, SO MUCH SO I CAUGHT HER GOING THROUGH SOME OF MY DRAWERS LOOKING FOR A HINT TO WHEN MY BIRTHDAY WOULD BE. I THINK IT WOULD BE IN MY BEST INTEREST AND SAFETY TO GUARD THAT INFORMATION WITH MY LIFE.
THIS HOWEVER, HAS NOT STOPPED HER IN HER QUEST, AND I DOUBT ANYTHING WILL.
ADD TO THIS HER INSISTENCE TO GET ME TO SMILE OR LAUGH AND I FEAR SHE WILL BURN THROUGH ANOTHER TEN BRACELETS BEFORE THE WEEK IS OVER.
SHE DID HOWEVER MANAGE TO SOMEHOW SURPRISE ME WITH "EVERYPONY GOT NEW BRACELETS PARTY" AS SHE CALLED IT. EVEN MANAGED TO MAKE A CAKE OUT OF THE SPARSE CONTENTS OF MY PANTRY.
THE RESULTS WERE ABOUT AS GOOD AS YOU WOULD EXPECT GIVEN THE MATERIALS.
SHE MADE ME, 'PINKIE' PROMISE AS SHE CALLED IT, TO GET PROPER STUFF FOR SWEETS. THEN SHE DID THIS ODD MOTION BEFORE STICKING SOME OF THE BEFORE MENTIONED CAKE IN HER EYES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS ENTAILS PERHAPS ITS A CUSTOM FROM THEIR NATIVE WORLD. ALL I COULD GET FROM THE OTHERS WAS 'NO PONY EVER BREAKS A PINKIE PROMISE', AND I FEAR I HAVE ENTERED A DEMON PACT WITH THIS ONE....
ODDITY ASIDE SHE SEEMS TO BE TAKING MOST OF THIS SITUATION IN STRIDE, FOCUSING ON WHAT SHE CAN DO TO BETTER THE LIVES OF HER FRIENDS. GOING OVERBOARD TO GET EVEN A GIGGLE OUT OF THEM SEEMS TO BE HER MISSION.
I SUPPOSE WE ALL NEED SOMETHING TO DISTRACT US FROM THIS CRAZY EVENT. I HOWEVER AM GLAD SHE IS DOING FAR BETTER THEN FLUTTERSHY [SEE FLUTTYELLOWDOC], SHE HAS BEEN HAVING HER OWN ISSUES.
THE MORE I OBSERVE FROM HER THE STRANGER THINGS SEEM TO BE. SHE HAS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT A GREAT MANY THINGS FROM THIS WORLD AND GIVES THE ANSWER OF 'IT'S MY PINKIE SENSE' AS IF THAT EXPLAINS ANYTHING. SHE FRUSTRATES ME AT EVERY TURN AND SEEMS TO TAKE JOY IN IT.
ALTHOUGH I HAVE STATED SHE SEEMS UPBEAT ALL THE TIME, I DID SEE HER CRYING TONIGHT. UNSURE IF I SHOULD INTRUDE OR NOT I TOOK A CHANCE AND TRIED TO TALK WITH HER. SHE ADMITTED THAT SHE WAS DISTRAUGHT DUE TO MISSING SO MANY BIRTHDAYS AND EVENTS BACK IN PONYVILLE. [I SWEAR ALL THESE CARTOON NAMES FOR EVERYTHING] THAT 'EVERYPONY' BACK HOME DIDN'T HAVE ANOTHER 'PARTY PLANNER' TO TAKE OVER SO THEY MUST HAVE GONE WITHOUT. THE THOUGHT OF ALL HER FRIENDS BEING LET DOWN LIKE THAT AND HER BEING UNABLE TO MAKE THEM FEEL BETTER SEEMED TO MAKE HER FEEL ASHAMED. Ill ALSO NOTE HER HAIR SEEMS O REFLECT HER EMOTIONAL STATE, AS IT WAS COMPLETELY FLAT. WHEN NORMALLY IT WOULD BE QUITE THE MESS OF CURLS.
IT WAS AT THAT MOMENT I GAINED A MUCH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF PINKIE PIE'S DESIRE TO MAKE ME AND ALL HER FRIENDS SMILE. SHE LIVES TO MAKE OTHERS HAPPY AND WHEN SHE CAN'T IT HURTS HER.
I AM GLAD TO SAY TALKING HER THROUGH IT SEEMED TO HELP. HAVING HER TALK FOR HOURS ABOUT ALL HER FRIENDS AND WHAT THEIR FAVORITE CAKES AND SUCH WAS SURPRISINGLY FUN. I ALSO LET MYSELF LAUGH AT SOME OF HER JOKES, WHICH SEEMED TO HELP HER EVEN MORE. NOT TO MENTION REMINDING HER THAT IT WAS ONLY TEMPORARY AND SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO THROW A 'EVERYPONYS BACK PARTY' SEEMED TO BRIGHTEN HER UP. ........................... SHE ASKED IF I WOULD COME TO THEIR WELCOME BACK PARTY. I TOLD HER MAYBE, WHICH I FEEL UNBEARABLY GUILTY ABOUT.
I AM SURE SHE KNOWS BETTER THEN THAT. I HAVEN'T LEFT THIS HOUSE IN NEARLY SIX YEARS, SHE KNOWS THAT. I TOLD THEM ALL THAT.
FLUTTERSHY SEEMS TO BE, MUCH LIKE HER NAME, SHY. SHE IS BY FAR, ENJOYING THE TELEVISION THE MOST. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE SHE JUST REALLY LIKE ANIMALS. WHICH AS IT TURNS OUT IS TRUE. HER MAGIC LETS HER COMMUNICATE WITH ANIMALS WHICH IS ASTOUNDING. THE MORE I ASK HER ABOUT IT THE MORE I REALIZE ITS SOMETHING THAT MAY BE IMPOSSIBLE TO REPLICATE.
BACK TO THE POINT, HER ATTACHMENT TO THE TV DIDN’T REALLY BOTHER ME BUT, HER FRIENDS SEEMED TO THINK SHE HAS BEEN USING IT AS AN ESCAPE FROM HER SITUATION.
I DIDN’T THINK SO UNTIL SHE STARTED TO GET AGGRESSIVE WHEN CONFRONTED BY IT.
TWILIGHT SUGGESTED SHE CHANGE HER ROUTINE. WHICH HAS BEEN, GET UP HAVE BREAKFAST WITH HER FIENDS OR THE SQUIRRELS OUTSIDE. THEN WATCH THE TV FOR NEARLY 8 HOURS STRAIGHT.
WHEN PRESSURED TO MAKE A CHANGE OR TRY AND DO ANYTHING ELSE SHE STARTED OUT AS DISMISSIVE. THEN SURPRISED ME WITH HOW ANGRY THE NORMALLY CALM PEGASUS CAN BE.
I HAD ASKED HER WHY SHE DIDN’T WANT TO FLY OR PRACTICE WITH RAINBOW DASH. HER RESPONSE SURPRISED ME. EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS WINGS SHE CLAIMS TO BE A VERY WEAK FLYER.
THAT ONLY PUTS WHAT RAINBOW DASH HAS SHOWN ME IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT. AT FIRST I THOUGHT ALL PEGASUS WOULD BE THAT TALENTED.
SO THE 'MARES' AND I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO THINK OF A WAY TO GET HER AWAY FROM THE TV. I HAVE TO AGREE WITH TWILIGHT, THAT HER NEW ATTACHMENT IS VERY UNHEALTHY.
MAYBE NOT A TRIP TO THE LOCAL PARK, BUT LETTING THEM WANDER A BIT FARTHER DOWN THE PROPERTY SHOULDN’T BE A PROBLEM? I SUGGESTED THAT BUT IT SEEMS MY TALK OF EXPERIMENTS SCARED THEM. WHICH IS GOOD, I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF SOMEONE LIKE JEFFERSON GOT HIS HANDS ON THEM. WOULD PROBABLY BE ONLY HALF AS BAD AS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO ME IF HE FOUND OUT I WAS HIDING THEM.
ON TOP OF THAT THEY WERE INSISTENT ON ME GOING WITH THEN. WHICH I REFUSED. THEN THEY STARTED TO ASK WHY I WOULDN’T LEAVE MY HOUSE AGAIN. I KINDA MISSED WHEN THEY WERE IMMOBILIZED ON MY BASEMENT FLOOR.
THAT SOUNDS KINDA PSYCHO WITHOUT THE CONTEXT.
I STILL WAS ABLE TO CONVINCE THEM THAT MY PROPERTY WAS LARGE ENOUGH, AND PRIVATE. I REMEMBER WHEN I WAS YOUNG AND ID HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF HUNTERS COMING ON THE FAMILY LAND ILLEGALLY. THE LAST FEW WHO DID THAT AFTER I BOUGHT THE PROPERTY WENT HOME WITH THEIR INSIDES REARRANGED. IT’S A GOOD THING WORD TRAVELS FAST. STILL KINDA BUMMED I NEVER GOT TO TRY OUT THE MORE ‘HUMANE’ TRAPS.
SO THATS WHAT THEY’RE DOING TODAY, KINDA HOPING THAT IT WILL SHOW FLUTTERSHY THAT IT ISN’T SO BAD BEING HERE. AT LEAST TEMPORARILY.
I DO HOWEVER, UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO BLOCK OUT AND TRY TO IGNORE A BAD SITUATION. MAYBE OPENING UP WITH HER LIKE I DID PINKIE WOULD HELP?
