Throughout my travels I’ve noticed that most physical laws remained fairly consistent. Minor variations aside, dropped objects fell to the ground under the force of gravity. The atoms of my body remained intact, not flying apart or being crushed by some change in the nuclear forces.

However, some universes had new and strange laws that governed things. Bizarre physics that allowed someone to run at extreme speeds without the issues of escape velocity, friction or other matters that should have prevented their abilities. Worlds where gravity could be overridden with a word. Places where light behaved in ways that made no sense at all.

In Equestria, one of these laws was evidently that there is no avoiding Pinkie’s parties. To this day I am convinced that had I died fighting that beast, I would have found Hell covered in streamers and balloons with Pinkie waiting to give me some cake and punch and welcome me to Equestria (and then to Hell too I suppose).

I have to say I woke to the strangest party I’d ever seen. Everypony was trying to be very quiet. Dr. Emerald had an exasperated look. I had a feeling that the room had more ponies than what he would normally allow. There were a few ponies I didn't recognize, but most of the ones crowding the room were familiar. Trace and Alex were holding my tablet and discussing something in the far corner. Pinkie, of course, was front and center, reaching toward me with a party hat in her hooves.

“Good morning sleepy head! We’ve been waiting for you to wake up!” Pinkie said with her infectious grin making me smile in response.

Once the hat was in place, I scanned the room for Blitzen. I was somewhat disappointed that I didn't see her. And once again I wondered why she was so important to me.

Alrighty, time to prioritize... First: I need to figure out why I'm acting so nuts. I know getting tossed to a new world is disorienting but this is a bit much. Second: I have to figure out what the heck is going on with me and Blitzen and why I'm feeling like this. Third: … okay I have no idea what to do next. Enjoy the party?

Right now I had to deal with the party that had taken over the room. A quick mental check showed I was feeling well and, other than a missing left forearm, I had mostly recovered from fighting the monster earlier. I was in my mechanical form and wearing a hospital gown, so I figured it’d be more of a party if I got out of bed.

I’d expected I would be shaky when I stood up, but was pleasantly surprised to find out that this wasn't the case. I actually felt pretty good. I looked at the ponies in the room.

I saw Nurse Redheart talking to a green unicorn filly. I hadn't seen the filly before, but there was something familiar about her. I realized her pink mane and green coat reminded me of ‘Spect and then I saw the mark on her flank; a glyph of Old Realm script that I could tell meant something like ‘moonlight’. Her right foreleg was in a cast and she seemed to be arguing with Redheart about it.

“‘Spect? Is that you? What happened?” I asked, concerned.

“She got a scrape on her knee. I just put a bandage on it a few minutes before you woke. I have no idea how she got a cast on it,” Redheart told me.

“It hurts!!! Nopony told me being mortal would be like this. I didn't know pain would hurt like this! How do you mortals not fall apart?!” ‘Spect bawled.

“You’re mortal?” I asked, shocked. “How? Why?”

“Luna said I had to be if I wanted to stay. I didn't want to go back. So here I am, mortal for a day and already mortally wounded.” ‘Spect said sniffling.

She stayed to be with me, even going as far as to give up her immortal being? Maybe I had been too harsh with her before. Perhaps I could give her a second chance and let the past stay in the past.

“Hate to say it, but you’re going to get used to it. It just seems bad because it’s your first time feeling pain. It’s just a scrape, leave it alone and it’ll be fine.” Redheart said.

I couldn’t put off apologizing any longer, “Ms. Redheart. I’m sorry about what happened to Gary. I should have moved faster.” I said.

“He was just saying how embarrassed he was getting caught off guard like that,” Redheart said.

“He’s alright?” I was surprised; petrification was never curable in any of the worlds I’d been to.

“Annoyed with himself, but just fine. What about you? You took some pretty bad hits from that Catoblepas.” Redheart asked.

“I’m feeling great, and Catoblewhat?” I asked.

“Catoblepas, Twilight looked it up. It’s evidently from the Zebra lands. She’s looking into how it got here.” Redheart explained.

“Miss Eleanor Asher?” A mare’s voice impatiently interrupted.

The speaker was a beige coated earth pony with light blue mane done into a bun held with hairsticks. It was a style I’d always liked but managed to consistently screw up when I tried to get my hair to do it. The look her emerald eyes gave me was telling me she’d rather be somewhere else. Anywhere else. It took a moment but I recognized her as the unconscious mare that was at the fight with the Catoblewhatsit.

“Yes, that's me. Not that I suppose there would be much chance I could be mistaken for anyone else.” I said, trying to get the mare to lighten up.

“My name is Butterscotch. I work for Golden Coins. He will not be attending but he wanted me to give you these,” she said coldly as she brought out a pair of envelopes from her saddlebag.

“One letter is his, the other is from his associate Filthy Rich.” She said once I took the letters.

As she turned to leave I heard a barely audible "Thank you for saving Silver and me." I looked to her to see if I misheard, but she was already leaving and somepony more pleasant was coming my way. I set the letters on the bedside table to be read after the party.

“Hi Eleanor. I’m glad you're ok. I was worried after I heard about that fight. I know humans aren't as tough as most ponies...” Roseluck said as she stepped over to us. “Though given how different your body is I guess it isn’t as big of a problem.”

Redheart stepped away, taking ‘Spect with her. There was an odd expression on her face when she looked at me. I figured she was concerned I might be acting like I was in better shape than someone in my situation would be.

I turned back to Roseluck, “I am a lot tougher than most humans. Thankfully.” I remembered that I needed to talk to Roseluck about my rogue charm, “Roseluck, about the time we met… there’s something.”

“I heard about the... charm. I was told you shut it off and you have control of it now so I’m not upset or anything. Truth be told, I’m sure I felt an attraction to you before it affected me. Maybe I might not have been as forward without it, but I do want to get to know you better.” Roseluck said, smiling.

I took a moment to think about that. I was attractive to her? It seemed bizarre, but given the others I’ve seen I guess xenophilia is not uncommon in this world, though I probably had the strangest body in this world. What was getting me was the fact that I felt an attraction to her. In my travels I’d seen couples (and more exotic arrangements) that were unusual to say the least. My own lovers had not been human since I was thrown into this life, but they were all close enough to pass for human. These ponies were different. The differences weren’t as simple to overlook as the shape of the ears or teeth. They weren’t humanoid. And yet, I could not deny a feeling of attraction to Roseluck. (And to Blitzen for that matter.) I wasn’t sure why, and self analysis was never one of my strong points. I decided I could let it go for a while and just enjoy the party.

Somepony came to the door while I was talking to Rose. I was focused on Rose so I didn't see who it was. I was also slightly distracted by Rose’s tail swishing back and forth.

“I’d like that.” I told Roseluck. “I’m kinda waiting to find out where I’ll be staying once I’m out the hospital but maybe once that’s sorted out we could maybe have lunch or something.”

Blitzen suddenly appeared next to me. “Hello, Rose.” Her voice was icy and she was almost growling at Roseluck.

Roseluck glared at Blitzen, “What in Discord’s name are you doing here?”

Blitzen turned to face me, making a point of ignoring Roseluck. “I found us a cottage with plenty of room for us.”

Roseluck’s ears flipped back, her head lowered slightly, and one of her forehooves pawed at the floor. Her glare at Blitzen intensified and she bared her teeth in a snarl. She lowered her head further and snorted.

Blitzen started copying Roseluck and I was pretty sure I was about to get stuck in the middle of a pony catfight… ponyfight… whatever.

Suddenly Pinkie appeared between the two mares in a blast of confetti that knocked both mares to the ground.

“Silly fillies, this is a party, not a hockey game. Besides, it’s time for Ellie to open her presents.” Pinkie dragged them to chairs at opposite ends of the room in a way that seemed vaguely angry.

“Fine.” Rose snorted to herself as she got up and ran out of the room. I only saw her face briefly as she passed but it looked like she was about to cry.

I walked over to Blitzen. “What the hell was that? I’m gonna guess you two have some history.” I said with a somewhat irritated tone.

Blitzen looked down at the floor. “She and I… she was my marefriend. Before I lost my wings. It didn't… it didn't end well between us. Sorry you had to get caught in the middle like that,” she said.

I relented, “I get it. I’ve had bad breakups and awkward confrontations too. Just try to keep me out of the middle of it next time. I literally just got here and extra drama is not something I need.”

“I will,” she said quietly, ears pressed against her head.

She sat on the floor and kept looking down. I could almost feel how miserable she was at that moment. I crouched down beside her and put my arms around her, pulling her into a hug. As always, it amazed me how soft her coat was.

“I’m not mad at you. Like I said, I get it. Now there's a party here, so let’s try and enjoy it,” I told her when I let go.

Pinkie brought me the strange box that had been placed in my bag before I came to this world.

“The way my tail is twitching and my hooves are wiggly, there’s a real doozy in this box. You’ll need the grade seven Hyperion key from your omnitool charm to open that.” Pinkie said with a strange look in her eyes.

I set the box on the floor and held my hand over it. It was a bit weird trying to this with my ‘human’ hand, but until I found the other one it was all I had. I watched my index finger reshape itself to fit the odd screws on the box. However, instead of unscrewing them, a pulse of light ran down my finger, the screw vanished, and a segment of the gear logo on the box lit up with blue light.

After I undid the sixth and final screw, the light from the gear emblem rose off the box and formed a large hologram of Autochthon’s face.

“Eleanor, by now you are My Auspicious Harmonic Engineer and, knowing you, you are likely wasting time emoting about your transformation instead of accepting it and the power it gives you. Regardless, I have arranged some gifts to help make spreading My influence easier in whatever world you find yourself.” He stated.

“Oh crap, this can’t be good.” I muttered.

“First among My gifts to you is your plasma chakram. Anticipating your idiosyncrasy I have already established its name as Unbroken Circuit.” He continued.

“Second is this box; within which are supplies of the magical materials of our world that you may use to craft new wonders. Also within are small amounts of Ambrosia and Quintessence enchanted to exist outside of Yu-Shan. Use these supplies well, in My name.” I was really getting annoyed with him now... the damn brass-plated asshole. The gift may have been very useful, but every word dripped condescension. As though he thought I could have no greater purpose for the materials he mentioned other than making some tribute to his glory.

“Last among these gifts is that your heroism will not be forgotten. A day shall be set for all of creation to remember your audacious first strike against the Infernal plague that had stricken our world. You turned the tools of a nation to your purpose and made the hard choice to do what was necessary even at the cost of millions of lives. The ruins of Gem shall hold the glory of your memory for all Creation to see.” He finished as the hologram faded from view.

If I hadn't already been on the floor I think my knees would have given way as stunned as I was by his final statement.

Now you begin to see.

Millions of lives...

“What. The. Fuck?” Was all I could say as my mind shut down.

Thanks to the usual suspects for their help with suggestions and editing.

Regarding the items given to El,
The magical materials are:
Orichalcum - Gold refined and enhanced with solar essence
Moonsilver - Silver enhanced with lunar essence
Jade - Elementally enhanced version
Starmetal - A kind of steel made from the bodies of dead gods
Soulsteel - Steel made from the souls of the dead.

These are used in the creation of magical artifacts and weapons.

Quintessence and Ambrosia are divine materials that can be formed into superior normal materials, items, and food. Normally only found in the godcity of Yu-Shan, it dissolves in sunlight if it hasn't been turned into something else.

Apologies for how long it's been. Got hit bad with writers block and then a hand injury has made typing rather painful.