She was slowly coming into consciousness. As she awoke, she let out a small groan, signaling her brain to begin processing the pain in the back of her head. Do I have a hangover? I don't remember drinking last night. Wait, what did happen last night?, she thought to herself. Her eyes opened slowly, but shut them immediately as a harsh light threatened to blind her. She turned her head so she could awake without going blind. As she began to take in her surroundings she began thinking to herself. Okay? So where am I now? Last thing I remember..., she frowned as the memory couldn't seem to play right in her mind. A sound came from the other side of the room. She looked and saw that it was a door being opened and someone walked in.

She was confused at what she saw. Based on her surroundings, she was expecting a doctor to come through the door. What did, however, was a young man maybe several years older than her. He was wearing a deep blue jacket, with a familiar symbol on the chest pocket, a black shirt underneath, and dark blue jeans. He also had on black sunglasses and grey tennis shoes. Honestly, he looked kinda cool, especially with that familiar hair style that reminded her of a video game character, but a dark brown color. Before he could say anything, she spoke first. "You're not what I expected."

He was surprised at first, but quickly switched to humored grin. "Yeah. I get that a lot. Heh." He chuckled a little. "Nice to meecha, the name's DJ. I'd like to ask you a few questions, if you're up for it?"

She was perplexed at what was going on, almost as weird as that dream last night. I almost could swear I was actually surrounded by ponies last night, weird. I know it's my favorite show, but that dream makes me seem desperate or something, she thought. He was looking at her expectantly and she decided to humor him. "Hello DJ, my name is Leandra, but my friends call me Chibi."

He pulled his sunglasses down just enough so she could see his unamused look. "Chibi? Seriously? A little on the nose, ain't it?"

"It is just a nickname I picked up a few years ago. Just fits, I guess. And yes. I think I can answer a few questions, as long as you answer some of mine."

He shrugged. "Fair enough. First, question. What's the last thing you remember?"

"That's a weird question. But, I guess it would fill in some gaps. Hmm. The last thing I remember would be...falling. Yeah, I was definitely falling, I can't seem to remember why." An obvious lie. After that, I had this strange dream, that I was somehow on that pony show. You know what I am talking about right? You're a brony aren't you?" She had finally recognized the symbol on his pocket.

"What makes you say that?" he replied, his left eyebrow raised.

"Well, isn't that Rarity's cutie mark on your jacket? I'd recognize those three diamonds anywhere." I'm pretty sure Rarity is glowing in the other room right now.

"Heh, so you know about that show, huh? Well, that'll make things easier later, but for now...let's just try to stay on topic. Next question. Why were you attacked? Don't try to hide it. We saw your clothes stained with blood, as well as the multitude of scars and scratches all over your body."

*Sigh* "I can't remember, but even if I did, why would I tell you? You're probably just stalling until the cops return with my file. I am just going to tell you, that you can't send me back. Others with more connections than you have tried and failed each time. I am just filled with too many smarticles." She laughs with a strong smile.

Heh, she kinda reminds me of Pinkie. If she were human, that is. Wait, cops? File? Going back? Something's up. "What do you mean, you won't go back? Did you run away from your parents or something?"

"That would be impossible." Her smile practically vanished. "You can't run away from someone who no longer exists."

HOLY FRIHOLÉS! She's an orphan! She must have run away from the orphanage she was at, sounds like it was a long time ago, though. "You're definitely the rebellious type. Sorry if I brought up bad memories. But, I don't think you need to worry about that stuff for now. Let's just talk. If it makes you feel better, why don't I tell you a little about me?"

Leandra gave him a confused look, but figured she humor him...for now. "Fine."

"Well, as I said, my name is DJ. It's actually Josh, but it such a common name, I figured I needed to stand out a little. Also I am 19, if you were wondering." She was taken aback by how young he was, especially with how he talked. She knew he was older than her, but the way he talked, it seemed like he was older by several years. "I am what I consider an optimistic realist. Which basically means, 'expect the worst, hope for the best', and I despise planet Earth." His tone darkened a little at that statement. "I don't despise humanity, but I do hate what it has done to our home, I don't see there being any hope to save it. It is destined to be destroyed, that much I am certain of."

She was really shaken after that little tirade. "Why are you telling me this, don't you think I am little too young for something like that?" He began to snicker and then he laughed outright.

"Hahaha. I figured this might come into play, you think that I think that because of your small size, you're really young. Ha. Nice try, but I can tell that you are older than that, I'd guess maybe 15 or 16, honestly."

Her eyes widened, how had he gotten so close? "H-how could you tell?"

"Your size makes you seem like you are very young, but your eyes betray you. Your eyes tell me the truth. That you see no future for yourself, but you will try to make a future for others. Certainly a fact that needs years to come across, roughly 15, if I remember right." DJ removed his glasses as he spoke. "How do I know this? Because I used to see those exact same eyes every time I looked into a mirror. Sometimes, I still do, but that's very rare now a days."

She was beyond surprised how much he could tell, just from her eyes! And all of it was right! W-wait a minute, he looks familiar now. But where did I...that's it! "H-hey, you wouldn't happen to be Josh Williams, would you?"

DJ's eyebrows went right up, but went back down in anger. No one supposed to know my full name. NO ONE. So how does she know it? "How do you know that name?"

"You are aren't you? You disappeared from some where in the Midwest three months ago. Something about a kidnapping and burglary. There was a national manhunt and everything." She had looked away as she tried to remember everything she had seen on then news, when she heard a loud bang. Leandra had turned to see that DJ had punched the wall in anger.

"Dammit! I left a note, they weren't suppose to worry about me. This was supposed to be my dream come true, not my past coming back to haunt me." He said it in a low whisper, but she was able to just hear him. What did he mean dream come true?

"Ugh, sorry about that, but that was not what I was expecting. Yes, I am him, but not fully. This is my home now and don't plan ever returning. I couldn't even if I wanted to, but back to the matter at hand. Is what we are supposed to do with a beat up, run away orphan, who enjoys being around ponies?"

"Hey! You don't have to make fun of me. It just happens to be my favorite show, so what?"

He put his hands up in mock defense. "I'm not making fun of you. Far from it. You see, Leandra, you're not on Earth anymore. And that wasn't a dream." His smile had returned in full, while her face was full of shock and confusion.

"Hubba wha? Come again?"

"In other words, Welcome to Equestria!" She fainted right there! Oh boy! This is gonna be a long day.

**********

"I think that went well." said DJ as he reentered the observation room. The others regarded him as he entered. Twilight trotted up to him with a sad look in her eyes. "Something up, Twi?"

"DJ, are you alright? After what that girl said?"

"O-oh." He rubbed the back of his head, feeling a little defeated. "Y-yeah, I'll be good. It was just not something I was expecting to hear. But, we can talk about it later. We need to stay focused." Twilight wanted to talk now, but figured that DJ was right, but they would talk, that was for sure. "So, Celestia. Whaddya think?"

"She certainly seems innocent enough, but you seem to think differently DJ. What is your opinion of her?"

"It's not that I don't think she's innocent. It is that she isn't telling us something. She's hiding information, she knows more about how she got here. I'm certain of that."

"Hmm. You may be on to something. But I do have a question for you, DJ. How could you really tell that she was older than she appeared?" Celestia had on a look of curiosity, she truly wanted to know.

"I told you, I could see it in her eyes. I didn't say anything false in there Celestia, the eyes are powerful little orbs, you see. They are windows to one's soul, or at least that's how I've always seen it. Facial expressions and body language are quick tells, but to truly see who someone is, you must peer into their eyes to find the truth." They all had dumbfounded faces as they stared at the human. "What? I've told you all before, I can be deep and serious when I want to be. I just prefer being wacky and fun most of the time. Being serious is depressing. As a deranged man once said: 'Why so serious?'." Strange looks all around. Man, tough crowd.

"Aside from that...OH! It seems she is waking once again. Perhaps I should accompany you this time?" asked Celestia.

"Yeah, that might make things a little easier this time around. But let me go in first and you come in when I say, just so Miss Leandra is a little prepared. Seeing how much of fan she is, she might freak if you just waltz right in." Celestia nodded at DJ's reasoning and followed him out. Here we go again.

He walked right in to the room and she turned to face him once again. "Have a nice nap?" he said, resorting to being the smart ass he was by nature. She just gave him a deadpan stare. Leandra was unamused.

"So, what did I miss? ...WAIT A SECOND!!! WHAT DO YOU MEAN WELCOME TO EQUESTRIA!?!? THAT WASN'T A DREAM????"

DJ chuckled a little at her reaction. "Nnope. You're really in the land of ponies, kid. A land of peace and prosperity where we can be our own people...or ponies, I suppose. Now, before you freak out again, somepony wants to meet you. Please come in!" he shouted at the door. When the door opened once again, Leandra's jaw dropped. She strode right in, covered in gold regalia. Leandra squealed. "OMG! IT'S PRINCESS CELESTIA!!" She bounded off the table with renewed vigor.

DJ slammed the door before the guards could react. Sorry, guys. This is the only way... and it could be quite enjoyable to watch! He pulled out a box of popcorn from no where, leaned his back against the door, and just watched the show. Leandra, in the meantime, was bounding all around Celestia, her smile rivaling Pinkie Pie's. "She's real! She's real! She's real! This is so cool!" DJ just sat there, chuckling to himself as Celestia began to feel a little uncomfortable with a tiny human bouncing around her. Leandra then stopped right in front Celestia and bowed down as low as she could, she spoke as she bowed. "Princess Celestia. It is an honor to finally meet you, I am such a huge fan. You're my favorite pony, after all."

Celestia was surprised for a moment and then blushed as Leandra's compliment finally processed. "W-why thank you, Leandra. It is a pleasure to meet you as well. I do hope that my guards didn't hurt you too bad when they struck you." DJ facepalmed. To his surprise, Leandra just shook it off.

"That's okay, I was probably freaking out, and it scared them. I'd have done the same thing." she said with a big grin. Wait, a second. Happy go lucky attitude, shy around new people, bouncing around, and a dark past? Ah ponyfeathers, she's RANDOM, TOO! Whelp, Equestria's doomed! He smiled at that thought. I bet she's also a fan of Pinkie Pie.

"Now that greetings have been exchanged, I believe that it is time for you to be honest with us Leandra. We know that you are not telling the whole truth about how you got here, and if you wish for us to trust you, then please be honest with us." said Celestia with her trademarked motherly smile. Leandra's smile, however, dropped once again.

"Okay, since it's you who's asking, Princess. How I got to Equestria is a mystery to me, but I do know why I was falling." The alicorn and DJ waited for her to continue. "It's because I was shot out a window. The third story window of an abandoned factory. I don't even know why I am alive, I felt the bullet connect."

DJ interrupted her there. "It did connect, the scar on your chest proves it. And before you ask, I personally haven't seen it. I don't do those kind of things." Leandra thought she had that smart ass this time. She snapped her fingers in mock frustration.

"Thought I had you there. Well, I suppose now you're wondering why someone would shoot me, right? I guess it's in my best interest to explain, but to do that you have to know about who I am." Both listeners' left eyebrow rose. "As you probably assumed I am an orphan. I never knew my parents, but I know for a fact that they are dead. I tried to find them years ago, only to discover that. I grew up in an awful orphanage in lower Manhattan. The lady in charge was a sadistic bitch who loved to torture us. If you didn't do everything you were told to do, she wouldn't just take away dinner or put you in a corner. No, she would shove you out in the rain or snow and tie you to a dog post and leave you there for the entire night. It's a godsend no one ever died of pneumonia or hypothermia. She struck us, beat us, whatever she wanted to. We were just luck she hated every last one of us and tried her hardest to get us adopted, no matter where it was or with who we would end up with."

Celestia was holding back a massive amount of tears as Leandra continued her story. DJ was just standing there, sunglasses still covering his eyes, which were watering a little themselves. "I was the last one in that awful place, but no one ever wanted me. So when I turned seven, I took off, never looking back. I traveled all over the East Coast, hitchhiking and stowing away whenever needed. For sleep, I would often sneak into whatever store was open and hide until everything was closed and the employees all went home. It usually was an electronics store. That's where I found out about your show, it was often playing on the TVs in the stores. It was everything I wanted. Friends, family, peace. That's where I wanted to be, not this hellhole of a life. But, I digress. One day, I thought I had found my calling. You were right DJ, I didn't see a future for me, but I found that I could give a future to others."

She stopped to gather her breath and to stop the tears that were beginning to gather. "That day, I found several children, only a few years younger than me, living out of a cardboard box in a back alley. They had all been abandoned by their families years ago, but were never found by the authorities. So, I decided to help them find a home, we traveled together, it took several months, but I found each of them families that truly cared for them. They begged me to come with them, but as we traveled we picked up more and more orphans. I vowed that I would find each and every one of them a home. So I couldn't stop, no matter what. As we journeyed we also helped out children that were in abusive homes. We would report them or just take them with us. That got me in trouble a lot as I would be the one who would get caught so the others could escape."

"That's why I mentioned the cops. They got quite the file on me," she said with a small laugh. "They tried to send me back, but my friends would get me out before we ever arrived. It took several years, but eventually I ran out of friends. I found each one a home, but that didn't stop me. I went back to rescuing others from abuse or I tried to fix those families. I became a legend of sorts. I had become a savior to those who had no hope, a protector to those who desperately needed it. It may not have been happiness, but by that point, it didn't matter if I was happy, what mattered was doing what was right! And that's where I got into trouble. Very few rescues went off without a hitch. A few were awful." She went silent for a few moments. DJ thought on that, a few ideas popping into his head; none of them good.

"The last one was no exception. I had just got this five-year old boy away from his father who had been beating him for years. I had to sneak back into the house to find more proof for the cops. I had left the boy outside the police station so he could tell them everything. It had taken hours to convince him it was the right thing to do. The father caught me, however, and tried to kill me." Celestia took in a sharp breath. "It wasn't the first time, I was used to it. I told him that the cops were on their way and he freaked! He threw me against a door and charged me. I got out the way and ran out of that house. He followed me as police sirens wailed nearby. I was in Pittsburgh at the time, outside an abandoned industrial area. He chased me into one of the factories. I tried to lose him the best I could, but he cornered me on the top floor. I was pressed up against a window, a pistol pointed right at me. Suddenly, the cops burst through the door, I thought  I was saved, but it screwed me over. The sudden shock made him pull the trigger with a loud bang. And...well, you know the rest. Maybe this is my prize, huh? For doing good for others?"

Celestia did not know what to say, she knew DJ had spoke of great evils in his world, but she never truly believed him. Until now, at least. She found not a single false truth in Leandra's story, and that made the pain greater. Even with all those terrible things, she still has this much happiness? She is a strong one, that much is certain, but why does my heart cringe at the thought of her being in so much pain. Why does her pain, pain me so?, Celestia thought. DJ hadn't said a single thing since his interruption. He didn't know what he could say, but something came to mind. "That certainly is a tale. But, you may be right. This is a paradise and you certainly deserve it. Wouldn't you say so, Princess?"

Celestia shook herself out of her daze. "Uh, yes I-I believe you are right DJ, but I need to convene with my sister before we do anything else. It was a pleasure meeting you Leandra, a guard will escort you to a better room when you are ready." Celestia walked from the room, leaving the two humans alone. They just stared at one another for a short time, Leandra was the one to break the silence.

"So, what now?" she asked.

"Now, you get a small tour as the guard takes you to your room. You're still recovering and you need rest. After that? I don't know, but I'm pretty sure on what Celestia is thinking and I'm sure Twi will agree."

"Twi? Do you mean Twilight Sparkle!?"

"That's Princess Twilight Sparkle. Guess you never saw season four, huh? She's the princess of magic and I am proud to say that she is my marefriend."

Leandra's mind took a small vacation with that. "You are dating Twilight Sparkle?" DJ nodded his head, a goofy smile on his face. "That is so...cool! A little weird, but cool. Hey! Do you think I can meet Pinkie Pie? She's my favorite of the mane six! Celestia may be my favorite pony, but Pinkie Pie is just so much fun." Leandra was once again smiling big and brightly.

DJ just smirked at her. "Heh, I'm sure Pinkie would love to meet another human. She'll probably teach you Pinkie Physics if you ask, too. She did for me."

Leandra gasped and squealed in excitement. "You know Pinkie physics?! That explains the popcorn. SO COOOL! I can't wait! This is gonna be so much fun!!!"

DJ chuckled lightly as headed towards the door. "Heh heh heh, that's right kid. This place is fun and not like home in any way. Still doesn't explain the references that pop up every now and then, though, and that gives me a headache. But, like I said early Leandra, Welcome to Equestria. Hope you like it as much as I do." He left with that, leaving Leandra alone to her thoughts. I'm really in Equestria?! THIS IS GONNA BE GOOOOOOOODDDDD! As long as they don't find out what I did, I may finally have a home. She takes in a deep breath and heads for the door. Welcome to my new life!

**********

"So what does everypony think?," asked Celestia as DJ entered the observation room.

"I think she's just as random as DJ and Pinkie Pie. She's crazy." remarked Rainbow.

"I think her story was just heartbreaking! How could anypony go through life like that?," replied Rarity.

"That's simple Rares," said DJ. They all turned to him. "She's still hiding something, that much I can tell, but she told us the truth, the Princess confirmed that. But, she's still hiding behind that mask."

"Mask? I didn't see any mask, DJ," said Twilight.

"Not a literal mask, Twi. An emotional one. It's a preservation function. She's hiding all her fears and worries behind that mask, trying to be as peppy and cheerful so she doesn't go into a terrible depression. It's how all random humans are created. They hide behind this mask and try to make others happy, even if doesn't do anything for them. I say this for humans, only because I know for a fact that Pinkie has no hidden depression, I tried to find one. She doesn't, she's just unusually happy. The only way to get her to tell us everything is for us to break that mask. She'll still be her, but she won't be afraid to tell us her emotions anymore."

This caused everypony in the room to look at their human companion. All of them thinking the same thing, but it was Rainbow Dash who spoke out loud. "So where's your mask, DJ? You're a random human, why don't you have one?" Twilight glared at her friend for a second, before she heard DJ chuckling.

"Heh, heh, heh. Who ever said I didn't have one?" Their eyes widened at his startling revelation. "Of course I have a mask, you all have been slowly breaking it ever since we first met. I'm just not afraid of you breaking it completely. In fact, I hoping for it. You see, some of us know about our mask, but have no way to break it ourselves. Our fears are just too great and we fear the consequences of unleashing everything at once. That kind of mask needs time to break, or bad things can happen. And you don't want to know what that means. You have already seen the signs of it weakening, well everypony, save for Celestia." That caused all of them to think back to a certain event that resulted in seeing a side of DJ none of them knew existed. It was heartbreaking and they would rather not see him like that again, if they could help it. Twilight now truly feared all the darkness that lay beneath the surface of her coltfriend, but she promised that she would understand him and break that mask! Someday..., she thought.

"Well, I don't know about you girls, but I am famished! Let's eat! Tally ho to the kitchen!" They all stared as DJ just walked off everything he said, again. They sat there for a few moments before DJ popped his head through the door. "If you guys don't come now, then I am going to raid that kitchen till there's nothin' left." He smiled and took off. They all shook out of their daze and raced after him. If there was one thing they feared about DJ, it was his insatiable appetite!