A somewhat chilly breeze rushes past you as you make your way through town on your way home from work. Fall is in full swing now, and the leaves have all turned from a verdant green to a mix of vibrant autumn hues. You toss a single bit in the air and catch it over and over again as you walk, the sight of which draws some curious stares and whispers from the various townsponies who’re out and about. You continue on your way, paying them no mind, because honestly, you’re feeling good today, and why wouldn’t you be?

After all, things have been peaceful.

In the end, maybe that’s all you wanted… just a little peace and quiet. That isn’t to say that you don’t still have your fair share of problems, but with Twilight gone they really don’t seem all that daunting anymore. You pass by the town’s vacant library, its books now available to the public under the honor code instead of her strict, needlessly complicated variable checkout and return system, and the sight of it only serves to relax you even further. In the past, you’d have to almost sneak around this building in order to get from the market to your house without attracting the attention of a persistent purple pony…

But now? Now, that’s no longer necessary, and you can continue tossing your bit and whistling a familiar tune from your old days on Earth as you make your way down the path to your home.

Yep. You may be low on money, and you may have to somehow stretch this single bit to pay for your lunch for the next three days, but looking at the big picture, and looking back on where you were only several months ago, you really can’t find any room to complain.

With a smile, you take out your keys, unlock the front door, and step inside the house…

…And all at once, the serenity that lingered within your heart drains away, irrevocably lost to the past much like everything else in your life.

A certain white alicorn sits in the middle of the living room, half her body soaked to the bone with water. Various pipes, joints, sealants and tools are arrayed around her on the floor along with a very soggy copy of ‘Home Plumbing Repair for Dummies’. There’s a very noticeable sound of running water from further inside the house, accompanied by a small stream which travels from the open bathroom door all the way to where you’re standing at the front entrance, where it begins to pool around your shoes before running outside.

Two magenta eyes capture your own, and your good old roommate sheepishly speaks.

“Th-there’s no need to worry. I can fix this.”

“You’re damn right you’re gonna fix this, Roomie!” you scream. “What the hell have you been doing while I was gone?!”

“The downstairs toilet was leaking, Anonymous!” she yells back. “I… I thought that instead of you having to hire a plumber to fix it, I could—”

You rush past her toward the bathroom before she can finish. “Yeah, yeah, fine, but why didn’t you shut off the water supply f— OH SWEET MERCIFUL FUCK, WHAT DID YOU DO?!”

The toilet… the toilet’s been shattered into a million pieces. The water line is ruptured, spraying water high enough that it hits the ceiling before falling back toward the mini lake that’s forming on the floor. It looks like a bomb went off in here or something!

Celestia trots over to your side. “The supply line valve was too tight, so I used a spell to loosen it.” She turns away and huffs, blowing a few strands of wet multicolored mane away from her eyes. “But honestly, it seems that they don’t craft these modern fixtures to the same level of quality as they used to. I barely exerted any power at all and the fitting just popped right off!”

“Yeah, but if it was just the supply valve, why’s the toilet busted?!”

She turns away. “Well… the sudden leak startled me, so I… erm… I fell on it.”

You smack your forehead, suppressing the urge to scream. As you drag your hand across your face in an attempt to regain your composure, your eyes wander to her sun-covered rump, which should probably carry a warning label due to the accidental property damage it’s caused over the past month and a half.

She catches your stare and frowns. “…You look as if you’d like to make a snarky comment about my flanks.”

“I haven’t said anything yet.”

“But you were thinking it.”

“And am I wrong to?” You gesture to the ruined bathroom. “I mean, look at this shit!”

Celestia huffs and rolls her eyes. “Oh, quit being so overly dramatic, Anonymous. There’s nothing to be concerned about,” she explains, her horn shining with a golden aura. “I’ll simply cast a localized time reversal spell and it’ll be as if this never happened, so— ouch!”

You quickly grab one of her ears, dragging the alicorn back into the living room and causing the aura to fade.

“Oh no, not this time! No more fucking magic, Roomie! I’m going to go shut off the main water supply to the house, and you’re going to get some towels and start cleaning this mess up as soon as the water’s off so I can head to the hardware store to buy the shit we need to actually fix this!”

It never fails with this crazy horse. You’re still recovering from the whole guacamole incident last week, and now it looks like your downstairs toilet’s not-so-spontaneously combusted because she decided to play amateur plumber while you were gone!

You turn away from the sight to head toward the utility room where the main shutoff valve is, when you suddenly find your way barred by the damp, surprisingly sullen-looking alicorn. Her eyes capture your own, pleading with you before she even says a word.

“Please, Anonymous… please give me a chance to correct this. If I fail, or if it’s not to your liking, I’ll…” She turns away. “I’ll find someplace else to stay and won’t trouble you any longer. Please…”

It’s that look again. That goddamn look. It doesn’t matter what she’s done, it gets you every single time. You heave out a sigh, your shoulders slumping for a minute before you regain your composure, and your eyes retreat from her own so that her gaze has less of an effect.

“Fine. Fine, do whatever you want. No matter what happens, I’m not gonna kick you out, Roomie. I guess… if you really think about it, this is nothing compared to what happened last week, anyway.”

Her ears immediately fold back in shame. “Yes… yes, there’s certainly no question about that.”

You chuckle. “You can say that again. Go ahead and do whatever it is you were going to do.”

“Place your hand on my withers, please,” she says as she lets out a breath and focuses her attention back to the cascading water and shattered toilet.

“Come again?”

“I’ll need you to place your hand on my withers. I’m about to cast a localized time reversal spell, and you need to have physical contact with me unless you want to be caught up within the altered flow of time. Though it won’t ultimately harm you if you are, I wouldn’t recommend it as it’s a very nauseating experience.”

Your hand immediately moves to the alicorn’s back.

“Are you sure this is safe?” you nervously ask.

She smiles. “Do you trust me?”

“Do I really have to answer that?”

She doesn’t reply and instead turns her head back toward the bathroom, her horn once again glowing with golden light. You squint your eyes as they’re forced to adjust from standing so close to her as she casts the spell, and when you open them again you behold an amazing sight.

The water’s flowing backwards. It runs from outside the house, through the living room, across the threshold to the bathroom, into the air, and grazes the ceiling before returning inside the ruptured supply line. This continues at an accelerated pace until the shattered porcelain pieces of the toilet itself begin to rattle on the ground and then lift and reassemble themselves into a single, seamless piece. The lost valve flies past your legs as it moves along the floor and joins with the water line as it mends itself and the shimmering magic surrounding Celestia’s horn fades away.

You’re left speechless. There’s not a drop of water left anywhere, save the water on your shoes and soaked into her mane and coat. The only sound is the steady drip of the toilet; an indication that the original leak she was trying to fix is still there.

“See?” She turns to you, her smile brighter than the sun. “I may not be as familiar with modern methods of plumbing repair as I’d like to be, but at least I’m good for something, right?”

“Yeah…” you mutter. “Yeah, every once in a while, you do something to remind me why I keep you around.”

She pouts. “Oh. You mean it’s not because of my wonderful, irresistible personality or pretty wings?”

There’s something about the way she said it that causes you to let out a hearty laugh, and she joins you with a few giggles of her own.

“C’mon,” you say as you walk over and pick up the now-dry copy of ‘Home Plumbing Repair for Dummies’. “Let’s go ahead and get this thing fixed. I’ve done this type of repair a couple of times before, so just lend me a hand when I ask, and I’ll show you how it’s done.”

The alicorn curls up on the floor near the bathroom entrance, a slight smile on her face.

“Yes, yes, understood, instructor. However, I’m afraid I don’t have hands to assist you. I hope that won’t be an issue.”

“You know what I mean,” you reply as you get into position near the valve and hold out your hand. “I need that adjustable wrench, Roomie.”

She silently levitates the item into your palm and you get to work.

Yeah, this kind of stuff has been par for the course since Celestia moved in, and she can really drive you up the wall sometimes. But more often than not, she’s fun to be around because, either intentionally or unintentionally (sometimes you’re not sure which), she can almost always make you smile with her antics.

The two of you periodically laugh and joke with one another as you fix the toilet. She listens intently as you explain each step of the process, her ears forward and her eyes focused as if what she’s watching is the most interesting thing in the world. It’s little things like this… like her enthusiasm for something so mundane as a routine home repair, that sometimes makes her seem so silly, so ridiculous, and yet so endearing.

A test flush and a careful ear placed upon the toilet’s reservoir as it refills confirms that the leak is gone, and you stand and nod your head in approval of a job well done.

“Well, we got through this and the house is still standing. I guess I can’t ask for much more than that. You ready for dinner, Roomie?”

“Yes, I believe so, though don’t trouble yourself over it. I know it’s not my night to cook, but I feel I should in return for the valuable lesson.” She trots into the kitchen, swishing her tail with happiness. You simply shrug and fall back into your recliner and grab a copy of the paper, not intending to argue over it.

“Oh, by the way, Anonymous,” Celestia chirps as she peeks her head out from the kitchen again. “Though I know tomorrow’s your day off, there’s something I’d like you to do for me, if it isn’t too much trouble.”

Ah, there it is. You thought she was being a little too generous today. After all, neither one of you would voluntarily take up cooking duty unless something really important was on the line…

You decide to remain cautious and reply in an uninterested tone, “Oh? Like what?”

“Tomorrow is the annual Running of the Leaves, and I’ve decided to take part. I was hoping you’d join me.”

Running of the Leaves, huh? Funnily enough, you were just skimming an article about that in the paper.

“Sorry Roomie, but I don’t feel like running in a race, against little horses no less, on my day off. And isn’t it sort of not fair for you to be in it, anyway? Your stride’s probably like two and a half times the size of a normal pony.”

You see a flicker of distress in her expression for a brief moment before it vanishes and she replies, “Oh, I wasn’t intending to participate in the competition. By tradition, the morning before the race begins, ponies are given the opportunity to walk the course and admire the leaves one last time before they’re pulled away for the winter. You’ve told me before that you were a… a… oh, what was it?” She taps a hoof in thought before suddenly perking up again. “Oh, that’s right, an ‘outdoors-man’ before you came to Equestria, so I thought you might like to walk with me tomorrow.”

You fold the paper and set it aside. Her offer really is tempting, and you haven’t taken much time to admire the outdoors since you were brought here. Sun Horse is usually pleasant to be around as long as she’s behaving herself, so it couldn’t hurt, right?

The alicorn’s ears slowly fold back with worry as you consider your answer, and before you can open your mouth to reply to her, she sighs and turns away.

“But it’s fine if you say no. I know you’re very busy with your new hobby of sneaking into ponies’ homes to stealthily hug them. I just thought it might be something you’d enjoy.”

“My new hobby of WHAT?!” you blurt out.

Celestia gives you a confused glance. “…Of sneaking into ponies’ homes to stealthily hug them. Everypony in town is talking about it. I have to say, the various reactions I’ve seen so far are quite funny. Some are fearful of the prospect, while some seem to welcome it.”

“And just where did you hear this?” you ask, your hands digging into the arms of your recliner in anger.

“Oh, I overheard it from Rarity as I was coming home from the library. Even though it seemed as if she was having a private conversation with one of her friends, she was speaking loudly enough that everypony nearby could hear it clearly.”

You sigh and rub your temples. Well, that explains the odd stares you were getting on the way home today.

“Roomie… you should know by now that you should never, ever listen to any kind of gossip that comes out of her mouth.”

“So, it’s not true?” she asks with an oddly disappointed look. You answer her with a sharp glare, causing her to cower a bit. “Ah… I see. I’ll admit, it did seem a bit far-fetched considering your… usual disposition, but it begs the question as to why she’d be spreading this type of rumor in the first place.”

“I don’t know, but I don’t like it. Weird stuff’s been happening lately. First there was that law that stopped you from finding work, then that crazy rainbow pegasus started following me around town with storm clouds, and now this weird rumor’s being spread by Squiggletail… I think Twilight’s up to something. She must be.”

Celestia giggles. “You’re being a bit paranoid, don’t you think? Regarding the decree, I’m sure there was a valid reason for it, and I’m also sure that these other things are mere coincidences. Trust me, Twilight likely has her hooves full running the country right now, and as I told you before, I’m certain that her infatuation with you will fade with time and distance. And don’t forget the Geas itself and the protection it offers. You have nothing to fear, my little human, so stop letting fear consume your thoughts.”

You rub the arcane bands that circle your wrists. She kinda has a point… maybe you are just looking for things to be worried about. You let out a deep breath and push the lingering concerns out of your mind.

“Yeah… yeah, you’re right. And yes, I’ll go with you to this Running of the Leaves thing. It does sound like something I’d enjoy, and some time out of the house’ll do me good.”

She grins. “I think so too. Now just relax, I’ll have the spaghetti ready shortly.”

“Again?” you groan.

She doesn’t reply as she disappears back into the kitchen. Yeah, while you may be getting sick of having pasta so often, at least she’s good at making it, and with practice can now do so without inadvertently destroying anything you own. That’s gotta count for something, right?

With a shake of your head, you retrieve your paper once more and open it back up to finish the article you were reading.

The next morning, after a few much-needed cups of coffee apiece, you don your jacket and eventually find yourselves strolling together through the Whitetail Woods on the edge of Ponyville, following the course for the Running of the Leaves that’ll take place later today.

Not much is said between the two of you. You’re too caught up in admiring the colors of the leaves and enjoying the serene surroundings to pay attention to the horse who trots by your side, and she seems too preoccupied by her own thoughts to make much conversation, not that you’re complaining or anything.

In the end, it turns out she was right; you are enjoying this, and far more than you thought you would. Maybe it’s because, as you walk down this forest trail, isolated from most signs of pony civilization, you’re able to imagine yourself back on Earth, and back in the comforting routine of the life you left behind. It’s an especially easy daydream to maintain since it seems like you and Sun Horse are the only ones out here right now, and were it not for the gentle clip clop of her hooves nearby, you could almost forget she was even there.

The forest birds periodically sing to one another as memories dance in and out of your thoughts. In one moment, the colorful leaves and cool breeze surround you; in the next, you’re swept elsewhere…

“Anon? Anon…?”

Your eyes snap open. “Huh? What?”

A teacup and saucer, gently encased in a ruby magical aura, carefully land and rest on the table beside you. The magic fades, and you turn your attention to the little purple unicorn standing nearby.

“I, uh… I thought you might like some tea. I always enjoy a cup or two when I’m reading a good book,” she says, nodding her head toward the teacup with a sheepish smile.

“Oh… thanks, Twilight, but I’m more of a coffee guy.”

She visibly deflates. “Oh. Right. I should’ve known. I could brew some in a few minutes for you if you’d like!”

You wave your hand. “No, don’t worry about it. What time is it, anyway?”

She glances over at an old cuckoo clock hanging on the wall. “It’s 3:37pm! Time sure flies when you’re immersed in a good book, right?”

“I’m not doing this for fun, Twilight,” you mutter, rubbing your eyes and suppressing a yawn. “I’m trying to find a way home. But none of this magic stuff makes any sense to me, and I guess I dozed off or something…”

Her ears fold back. “G-Going home? Anon… Princess Celestia’s already told you that it isn’t possible to send you back. If she can’t find a way, if she can’t find a spell, then… then it can’t be done.”

“I know what she said. But I have to try, Twilight. If you were in my position, I’m sure you’d feel the same way.”

She trots over to you, a look of genuine concern on her face. “Yes, I think that’s true, Anon, but I just don’t want to see you disappointed in the end. I know you miss your home, and I know you miss your friends, but…” She steps back and looks you in the eyes, a cautious smile starting to form. “But… that doesn’t mean you can’t make new ones here, right?”

You abruptly close the book full of old spells and other things you can’t begin to understand and rise from the table.

“I… I need to head back. Thanks for your help today.”

Sensing your distress, the little unicorn quickly runs in front of you and rears up, stopping you as you make your way toward the library’s entrance.

“Anon, I… for what it’s worth, I’m happy you’re here. And I know there are other ponies who’re happy too. We’re here for you, so please… if you ever need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

You smile at her, patting her on the head as she returns to her hooves wearing a smile of her own.

“I won’t hesitate, I promise. Thank you, Twilight.”

With a wave goodbye, you step into the street to return to your ‘home’… a modest house in a town full of talking marshmallow horses…

“You’re awfully quiet, Anonymous,” a voice whispers in your ear.

Startled out of your daydream, you quickly turn to see Celestia smiling back at you.

“…Damn, don’t scare me like that, Roomie.”

“My apologies,” she says, the playful glimmer in her eyes betraying the fact that she’s not really sorry. You open your mouth to call her out, but think better of it once you realize that her playfulness has become almost comfortingly routine by this point, and she never learns her lesson anyway.

“Yeah, well, I could say the same for you,” you finally reply. “You haven’t said a word since we got here. And speaking of which, it looks like we’re the only ones out here right now. I haven’t seen another pony all morning. I thought you said this walk was some sort of tradition?”

Celestia takes a deep breath, fluttering her wings slightly as she trots along.

“Well, it was a tradition several hundred years ago, but perhaps it’s fallen out of favor with the local population. Ponyville was founded by earth ponies, and the purpose of the walk prior to the Running of the Leaves was for the settlers to not only reflect, but to consecrate the ground as a way of giving thanks to the land that provided for them throughout the year, the bounty of which would need to last them over the coming winter.”

You raise an eyebrow. “‘Consecrate the ground’? What do you mean?”

Her smile growing wider, Celestia adjusts her pace so that she’s directly beside you, shoulder to shoulder as you walk.

“With each step I take here, I channel a bit of magic into the ground through my hooves. Most earth ponies do this unconsciously, and it’s through this act of transference that plants are encouraged to grow and stand strong.”

You glance around again and notice something odd. The branches of the trees surrounding you seem to sway as the two of you pass, even though the occasional breeze should be too light to move them. It’s almost like the forest itself is bowing to her as a sign of respect or something…

“Huh,” you mutter, genuinely impressed.

She giggles again. “Now then, my little human, I’ve shared why I’ve been so quiet with you, so why don’t you share why you’ve been so quiet with me?”

“…I was just thinking about the first few weeks after I was brought here. And, you know, about Twilight.”

Celestia nods. “She’s still occupying your thoughts. Is there anything I can say to help ease your mind?”

“No,” you sigh. “No, it’s not that. I was just thinking about how nice she was to me back then. Y’know, before all of the craziness and everything. Even though I can clearly see the warning signs when looking back, I still believe I never would’ve made it… never would’ve come to terms with my situation, without her and Pinkie.”

The alicorn smiles again as you continue on your way together.

“Yes, despite her overeagerness in certain areas, and despite her tendency to be overwhelmed in the face of new things, or things which she can’t easily categorize or understand, Twilight is a good pony with the qualities that will make her a fine leader with age and experience. I promise you, Anon, that once she comes to realize that you, well… that you can’t, or perhaps choose not to see ponies as a romantic prospect, she’ll learn to accept it and the two of you will be able to resume your friendship.”

You stretch as you walk, fighting back a yawn as the effects of your earlier cups of coffee begin to fade.

“…If you say so. But I’m not just worried about me… do you really think Equestria’ll be able to last through the reign of Princess Spergle? You basically just said that her leadership qualities aren’t really all that developed yet.”

“Lulu is there to guide her, and to prevent her from making any large or dire mistakes. The rest of being a Princess is merely learning through experience, and learning is where Twilight shines. She was more than ready for the role.”

You cross your arms. “That’s funny, because at the coronation you looked like you couldn’t wait to give up the crown and book it out of there as fast as those overgrown wings could carry you.”

She turns away, a hint of rosiness in her cheeks. “Twilight was more than ready for the role, and I suppose I was more than ready for a change in scenery. It’s been a long time… a long, long time since I’ve been able to do something as relaxing as this, or even speak so closely with a friend other than my Sister.”

You turn your attention back to the colorful forest for a few moments, not quite sure what to say next, or if you want to say anything at all. Eventually, you find yourself reaching over to pat her back a few times, a habit you’re not sure when you picked up, while fighting off another yawn.

“Well, despite you showing up out of the blue one night, and all the trouble you’ve caused, and how annoying you can be sometimes, I’m honestly glad you’re enjoying your stay, Roomie.”

“That I am. And maybe one day, if the stars align, you’ll eventually come to enjoy my stay, too, ‘Roomie’,” Celestia says with a sly grin, her body playfully nudging against your own as you walk.

With a roll of your eyes, you nudge her back, which draws forth yet another giggle and a happy swish of her tail.

You’d think that being brought to this strange world in the first place would be enough to cause you to become accustomed to the crazy random happenings that seem to pop up in your life every once in a while, but that really hasn’t been the case. Ever since Sun Horse showed up to live under your roof the surprises have been numerous, mostly unwelcome, but thankfully not impossible to overcome. The trick, you suppose, is to take things one day at a time.

And to think… for those few weeks between Twilight’s coronation and Celestia’s sudden arrival, you were afraid your life was almost about to become somewhat normal!

As you walk down the trail together, you can’t help but wonder about what the next big, crazy surprise will be. It’s not a question of if it’ll happen, but when, and whatever it is, odds are you’re probably not going to like it.

But as far as things are right now, on this quiet, peaceful walk through the woods with your roommate?

Yeah, you’re enjoying it. You may not ever express it to her in words or else risk having to suffer her constant teasing on yet another subject, but you really are enjoying it, and you’re glad she convinced you to come.

Maybe that’s why you feel compelled to reach over and pat her back once more, sharing a knowing, thankful glance with your silly roommate as the two of you continue on through the lonely path warmed by the light of early morning.