Chapter four: Showtime

Will Chuck get his cutiemark? If so what will it be? Where do fillies come from? Does this rash look serious to you? These questions might be answered this chapter.

Sugarcube Corner: My room

"Alright, let's see. did you hear the one about the stallion who threw his alarm clock out the window? He wanted to see time fly! Nope. Okay.. Um.. Boy are today's prices bad, yesterday I bought a bag of carrots and I had to get a cosigner!.. Nuh uh... geez this is tough." I lamented, showtime for the Sweet Apple Acres Open Mic Night was just a few hours away, and in classic Murphy fashion I've barely rehearsed. Oi... What was I gonna do? Suddenly I heard a knock.

"Knock knock." I heard Pinkie Pie say as she entered.

"Oh, hey Pinkie." I said, a bit down that I wasn't quite ready.

"What's the matter? You look a bit down." She said, noticing I wasn't entirely myself.

"I'll have you know I don't look down, that's how you bump into walls. I always look straight ahead." I said in a joking manner.

"That's funny, but honestly, what's eating you?" She asked.

"Well, the shows in a few hours and I'm nowhere near ready." I said.

"That's what you're worried about?" She said, almost laughing.

"Umm… Yes?" I said, confused about her laughter.

"Nobody is ever ready for it!" She said laughing. "I don't know what these things are like where you come from, but this is really an excuse for a bunch of friends to get together and drink cider!" She said.

"Really? Damn. Can't say I'm surprised, I do have a tendency to make something out of nothing." I said with a bit of a chuckle.

"Just relax, They're gonna love you no matter how prepared you are, especially if you're up after everypony has a few mugs of cider in them." She winked. I couldn't help but chuckle at that.

"Thanks Pinkie, Anyway, what do you have planned for today?" I asked.

"I actually have to head to Sweet Apple Acres to help with some baking for tonight. Stay outta trouble while I'm gone." She laughed as she left.

"Will do!" I called after her. Yeah right, a Murphy getting into trouble. I only got in trouble once, and it was for swiping someone's pizza in 5th grade, what can I say? I was hungry. Speaking of hungry, it was nearing lunch time, I'd better grab a bite to eat.

Ponyville streets

Twillight, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity were sitting together outside one of the street's restaurants sipping drinks and talking, what about? The Economy? Weather? Recent film leaks? Nope. They we're talking about your's truly.

"Oh lighten up you two, if was that bad he would've done something already." Rarity said sipping her drink.

"She does have a point Twilight, nothing happened, nothings been stolen, it isn't raining chocolate, it's safe to say we're okay with this guy around." Rainbow Dash commented.

"I know.. I know. Something still seems off about him, and you two know that Pinkie has a crush on him, do you two want him to hurt her?" Twilight asked concerned.

"Of course not darling! Oh be quiet! there he is!" Rarity said noticing me coming around the corner.

The best time to wear a striped sweater

Is all the tiiiiiime

One with a collar, turtleneck

That't the kiiiiiind

'Cause when you're weearriiing that-

I stopped singing once I saw Twilight, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash staring at me. I was a tad embarrassed.

"You heard all that didn't you?" I flushed red when they nodded.

"It was a fine song darling, a lovely sentiment about sweaters." Rarity commented.

"Well... Okay mind if I sit with you guys?" I asked.

"Sure." Rainbow Dash said, warranting a slight glare from Twilight.

"So... We still don't know you much, tell us about yourself." Rarity said.

"I'm an entertainer, songs, comedy, acting. Also used to do bar tending before I moved." I said.

"Yes.. and where did you move from?" Twilight asked.

"Canada- Err Canterda." I said.

"You sure that's where you're from?" Rainbow Dash said. "You seemed to second guess yourself." She squinted her eyes.

"Subtle." Twilight said bitterly.

"What? I.. I don't know what you mean?" I started to become pretty see-through. Not literally of course, that would be a neat talent though.

Twilight sighed. "Listen, I don't understand much about you, where you come from, you're personality. But something isn't right. You're a grown stallion with no cutie mark, you show up in a field in the middle of the night, and last night Sweetie Bell wouldn't stop asking who 'Rich Little' is." She sighed again. "And also, you didn't hear this from me, but.. Pinkie Pie has... feelings for you, and I don't want you to hurt her." She said firmly. "So come clean, about everything." She said.

I sighed, it was great to hear that Pinkie Pie was into me don't get me wrong, but explaining my past? Oh boy..

"I guess I haven't been a hundred percent honest." I started. "I don't come from here, not Ponyville, not even Equestria..." I began to explain my life as a human, Rarity and Rainbow Dash were in slight disbelief, but Twilight looked like she understood on some level. "So I guess to sum it all up, I'm a nice guy who just wanted something better for himself, the last thing I want to do is hurt anyone, I hope you understand." I finished.

Twilight nodded. "I believe you, I've been to a place quite similar to what you've described." It's not like I didn't know that, at least she got it.

"I guess it's not the weirdest story I've heard." Rainbow Dash commented.

"Thank you for understanding." I said.

"You're welcome Chuck, just promise me one thing." Twilight said. "Tell Pinkie Pie the truth." She said. I nodded.

"I will, you have my word." I said with a hoof to my chest.

"Good." Twilight said.

I had had enough of the recent found awkwardness, so in Murphy fashion I changed the subject.

"You all going to the open mic thing at Sweet Apple Acres?" I asked.

"Ha! What kind of question is that? Of course I am!" Rainbow Dash replied. "Cider there, I'm there."

I chuckled. "My sentiments exactly. Well, I'd better get going, I have an act to rehears, see ya around." I said leaving.

After I'm gone Rainbow Dash and Rarity looked at Twilight.

"Happy now? He's not evil, just a loser from another dimension." Rainbow Dash said.

"Now Rainbow Dash, he was down on his luck, not a loser." Rarity added.

"To answer your question, yes I am happy, he may not be evil but I knew something was odd." Twilight said.

"Congratulations." Rainbow Dash said sarcastically. "I'm pretty sure everyone knew that, even Derpy!"

Derpy looked at them from another table and nodded.

Meanwhile, Sweet Apple Acres.

Pinkie was placing a batch of apple fritters in the oven to bake, and Applejack was pressing apples for cider. Pinkie was humming along, happy as a horse (Is that the expression? no, I think it's healthy as a horse... whatever). Applejack was a bit concerned though.

"So Pinkie Pie, Twilight tells me you've got a bit of a crush." Applejack said. Pinkie nearly dropped the pan on the floor.

"Oh yeah? Twilight tells me you've got a bit of a crush." Pinkie Pie said defensively.

"Does she?" Applejack replied.

"Well, no. But what you said isn't true either!" Pinkie Pie said.

"Uh huh, listen Pinkie Pie, I don't care if you do, in fact, I'd be happy for you. I just don't know about your choice."

"Like I said, there is no crush! I'm telling you, would the element of honesty lie to you?" Pinkie replied with a hoof to her chest.

"You're the element of honesty? Huh, I must have missed the memo." Applejack said dryly.

"I meant magic." Pinkie said.

"Nope."

"Kindness?"

"Nope."

"Generosity?"

"Try again."

"Loyalty?"

"Wrong."

"Ice cream?"

"That's not even an element."

"Laughter?"

"There you go." Applejack said.

There was a bit of a pause, Pinkie Pie was getting redder by the second, Applejack noticed but said nothing, she knew when she'd burst.

"3... 2... 1..." She said to herself.

"Okay fine! I do have a crush!" Pinkie Pie blurted.

"There we go." Applejack said. "It's okay Pinkie Pie, Like I said, it's fine to have a crush, but you don't know much of anything about him!"

"Sure I do, he's a stallion, he's red, his inspirations include Seth MacFarlane, Rich Little, and Weird Al Yankovic... whoever they are." Pinkie Pie said.

"That's not enough Pinkie Pie, if you're gonna keep liking this colt, you have to really get to know him. What makes him angry, his favorite things, what he looks for in a mare. Do you understand?" Applejack said.

"Yeah." Pinkie Pie said. "But Applejack, I felt something when I saw him, kinda love at first sight, You know?" Pinkie continued.

"Well, I don't believe in love at first sight really, but I do know you are a good judge of character." Applejack said with a smile. "Just.. Take my advice, okay? You're my friend, and I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I will, Applejack." Pinkie said.

"Good." Applejack said. "well, looks like we're just about done here. Whaddya say we start cleaning up then help Big Mac set things up in the barn?"

"Okie Dokie Loki!" Pinkie said.

That evening: Sweet Apple Acres Barn

It was toward the end of the show, everyone was full of cider and having a good time, and it was time to close the show. Applejack went up on the stage to introduce me.

"And now, to close off the show, we have a newcomer to around these parts, fillies and gentlecolts put your hooves together for Gareth "Chuck" Murphy!" and with that, I made my way on.

"Good evening everyone." I started. "You know I didn't find out about this till yesterday, of course when I was asked if I'd like to perform I just had to say..." I paused, then continued in my impression of Big Mac. "Eeyup!" They seemed to enjoy that, got a good chuckle out of them.

"Oh you like that? How about this one then?" and then, as Discord I did a monologue. "All I'm saying is, why did it take SO long for Twilight and her friends to trust me? Starlight did far worse than me and everything was cleared up in a song?" That one really cracked them up.

"Thank you very much." I started with. "And now, to close the show, here's an old classic where I come from. Hit it!" And with the music, I started singing.

Just a small town mare!

Livin' in a lonely world!

She took the midnight train going anywhere..

Just a city colt

born and raised a manehatten foal

he took the midnight train going anywhere...

A singer in a smokey room,

The smell of wine and cheap perfume

For a smile the can share the night

It goes on and on and on and on!

Strangers waiting

Up and down the boulevard!

Shadows searching in the night!

Streetlight ponies!

Living just to find emotion

Hiding somewhere in the night!

Don't stop believin'!

Hold on to the feeling!

Streetlight Ponies!

And with that, I whipped my head down in a bow, and the crowd erupted, they loved it! I mean, I'm not surprised, I've never met a crowd who didn't love Journey. Suddenly, as I was about to get off the stage, I felt the weirdest sensation on my backside, and that's saying something as I've owned a vibrating recliner chair. A weird glow shone and I felt a bit like I was having an out of body experience, until I hit the floor. But then, I turned my head and saw my own cutie mark! It resembled a microphone.

"Freakin' sweet!" I said getting up. Getting off the stage I received plenty of compliments on the song and voices, even Discord thought it was funny.

"It's actually nice to be the one being imitated for a change." Were his words.

Afterwards everyone was leaving, and we were helping Applejack clean up.

"Great time as usual, Applejack!" Pinkie said.

"Thank you kindly Pinkie Pie." Applejack replied.

"We had a great time Applejack." Twilight added. "Pinkie, you head back home, we've got everything here covered, and I believe somepony has to tell you something." She concluded.

"Ummm Okay!" She said leaving, and I followed.

Ponyville streets

"That was a totally awesome song Chuck!" Pinkie said to me.

"Thanks Pinkie." I said back. There was a bit of a silence afterwards, Pinkie broke it before long.

"So... Twilight said you have something to tell me."

"Yeah..." I sighed. "You might want to sit down for this." I said going towards a nearby bench. We both sat down as I began.

"Let me start off by saying, I honestly really do appreciate everything you've done for me, taking me in, giving me kindness and hospitality... But I have to come clean, I'm not from here." I said.

"Well I know that, you told me that already." She said.

"No.. I'm not from Equestria, Hell, I'm pretty sure I'm not from any planet near here. I'm from another universe, a universe where you walk on two legs and have arms, and no tail, and there's politics. It's not great. I was leading a bad life, I had no friends, I was working a dead end job, and I wanted away from all that, and I don't know how exactly, be it magic, work of some high power, or some mishap of science, but I ended up here. And that's where you came along, you showed me kindness and hospitality I never gotten before. And I can't thank you enough. I'm sorry that I lied to you, but I didn't know how well you'd take finding out I'm from a different universe. So that's the end of my story, and I understand if you don't want to be friends anymore or anything like that." I concluded putting my head down.

There was a long pause, it was really awkward and nerve wracking at the same time. but after about a minute, Pinkie spoke up.

"Thank you for telling me." She said. "I can imagine something like that is hard to explain. And I still want to be your friend!" She smiled.

"You do? That's great!" I said.

"Whaddya say we go home now?" She said.

"I'd like nothing more, I'm exhausted." And with that, we went home, said goodnight, and went to bed.

And that's the latest chapter! Hope you liked it! Songs used are listed below.

Striped sweater: watch?v=Qyxex3s9HoY

Don't stop believin': watch?v=KCy7lLQwToI