I woke up feeling incredibly refreshed, despite the fact that I had run an endless marathon for my life and almost gotten killed the previous day. I yawned loudly and tried getting up, when I realized something: I was tied down to the bed. I looked around wildly and saw my ankles and hands had been bound to the bedposts with rope, and I also saw a certain lavender alicorn standing over me with an angry look in her eyes.
Ah, yes, I thought, remembering how Twilight Sparkle felt about my being here, this again. I noticed her purple, pink-streaked mane looked a little crazy, like she hadn’t gotten any sleep the previous night.

“Okay, human, I’m only going to ask you this once. What are you doing here?” she demanded.
I sighed heavily. “Celestia already told you! I came here by accident. I should be at home right now!” I glanced down suddenly. I should be dead right now, I thought sadly, remembering what had led me to finding this place. My thoughts were interrupted, however, when I felt a sharp pain in my chest. “URK!” I groaned, the wind knocked out of me. Twilight’s horn was glowing with a magical energy, and I saw a stack of books floating a few feet in the air above me. “WHAT THE ACTUAL HELL WAS THAT FOR?!” I shouted.

Twilight smiled confidently. “Celestia may have told you that no ponies knew about humans, but she forgot about Starswirl the Bearded’s personal journal, kept in the royal archives; only princesses are allowed inside, and as you can see,” she said, stretching her wings, “I am an alicorn. So, when I found out about a secret stash of books filled with forbidden knowledge, I just had to check it out, because-”
I was getting annoyed. “Yes, yes, I know; you love reading and learning. Can you get on with it?”
She narrowed her eyes, obviously annoyed by my interruption. “Anyways, I read Starswirl’s journal, and found notes on an interesting species of bipedal ape-like creatures called humans. He had written about a war between us ponies and the strange creatures, and how they were violent, savage, and mischievous. So, I’ll give you one more chance: Tell me why you are here!”

I looked her dead in the eyes and gritted my teeth, unsure of what to say. Suddenly, I got an idea: Twilight values Celestia’s word over anyone else's, I thought craftily, so let’s use this to our advantage, shall we? “Twilight, tell me, what would Celestia say if she knew you were abusing me in this manner?” I said, smiling.
Twilight smiled back, her expression reminding me of the time when she couldn’t find a friendship problem to write to Celestia on. “That’s the beauty of this! She's not going to find out.”
She started laughing maniacally, and I frowned. Damn, there goes my ace-in-the-hole.

Just then, I heard the sound of approaching footsteps. I craned my neck over Twilight’s shoulder to see a purple baby dragon standing in the doorway. Ah, there’s Spike, just in time to save the day! I thought happily.
“Uh, Twilight? What do you have tied to the bed? And why are you laughing like a lunatic?” he asked suspiciously. Twilight turned to him, making sure to block Spike’s view of me.
“Nothing, Spike, nothing; don’t you worry your little head about what I do not have tied down to the bed! Why don’t you go get me some more quills and paper, hmm?” she said in an obviously forced sweet tone.
I laughed. “It’s alright, Spike,” I said, “Twilight here is just playing a prank on me. Aren’t you, Twilight?”

Spike suddenly pushed Twilight aside and ran up to me. “WOW! What is this?” he said, awestruck. “Is it some kind of hairless monkey?”
Twilight chuckled nervously and tried to push him away. “No, no; one of my spells went wrong, and I’ve accidentally created a dangerous, disease-ridden creature. I need you to leave while I dispose of it,” she growled, glaring at me. I grinned teasingly.
“Spike, you wanna tell this crazy mare to let me go? There’s been a bit of a misunderstanding,” I said, giving the purple dragon a friendly smile. That smile was suddenly replaced by a twisted look of pain, as Twilight had once again dropped the stack of books on me. “GUH!” I groaned loudly as Twilight pushed Spike downstairs.
“PAPER AND QUILLS!” I heard her shout, followed by the slamming of the front door. Then, she ran back into the room, smiling crazilly. “Now, it’s just you and me once again! NOW TELL ME WHAT’S GOING ON!” she shouted.
I glared at her. “Come ON, Twilight, I told you! I’m here in Equestria by a complete mistake, and I am simply waiting while the princess prepares a spell to send me back. Why can’t you understand that?”

She shrugged, and I assume was just about to crush my chest cavity once again, when there was a knock at the door. “Uggghhhh, why can’t I have just a little uninterrupted time to save all of Equestria from certain destruction?!” she shouted as she stomped downstairs. She opened the door, and I heard Rarity’s regal voice ring throughout the library.
“Twilight, where is Allen? I’ve washed his dreadful outfit for him, and would like to ask if he would want me to make him something a little more presentable,” she said, probably looking around for me.
Twilight’s panicked voice suddenly picked up. “Oh, Allen? He’s really busy right now, and can’t be bothered! You know, human stuff?”
I heard Rarity scoff. “Now, now, there is no reason I can’t ask him a few quick questions,” she said as her hooves clip-clopped up the stairs, “I simply need to ask what his favorite color - oh, my.”

She was staring at me with wide eyes from the doorway. I nodded to her acknowledgingly and smiled. “Lovely morning, huh?” I said. She gawked at me a few seconds longer, and suddenly turned to Twilight.
“Twilight, darling, do you care to explain?” Rarity asked suspiciously. Twilight chuckled.
“Well, you see…” she trailed off, but Rarity shushed her.
“Twilight, I can understand if you want to… experiment with new and fascinating creatures, but please have the decency to try something a little more gentle on the first date!” she said, looking back to me, “why, the poor thing looks absolutely uncomfortable! Please tell me you went to dinner first at least?”

Twilight blushed angrily. “WHAT?! This is nothing like that. What is going on here is none of your business, but I assure you it is for the good of all Equestria! Now, you need to leave!” she said, ushering Rarity back to the front door.
I heard Rarity continue: “Fine, fine, whatever your reasons, just make sure you aren’t the only one enjoying yourself,” she said teasingly. Twilight slammed the door and screamed all the way back upstairs. I grinned at her as she re-entered, panting heavily.
“I think Rarity had a good point; I’m not having a lot of fun he-OOF!” I started to tease, but had several books land on me once again in response to my attempt at humor.

“I was kidding,” I wheezed.

“Alright, human, my patience is wearing thin; tell me what's going on!” she shouted. She had moved me into the basement and hooked me up to some sort of contraption. I was bound to a metal table, with leather straps holding down my ankles, arms, chest and head. She had also placed some kind of bowl-shaped helmet on top of my head.
“Uh, what exactly is this?” I asked, struggling against the restraints. Twilight was flipping all kinds of switches and writing down some readings.

“This machine is going to read your thoughts and tell me exactly what you’re planning, so I can find where the rest of you are. It might wipe your mind in the process, but that’s no big deal,” she said, cackling manically.
This mare is crazy! I thought, panicking as I heard the machine power up and felt the helmet start buzzing. “Twilight, please don’t do this!” I shouted desperately.
She looked back and glared at me. “I’ll give you one last chance to tell me what’s really going on, and if you do, I just might let you go!”

I gotta think of something, and fast! Wait, what’s a friendship lesson that could save me now? I thought quickly, sifting through my head of all the different letters I had seen Twilight send Princess Celestia throughout the series. A bit of a spin on the lesson she learned from meeting Zecora might help, I realized, maybe with a few others mixed in.

“Twilight,” I began, “Please, listen: you can’t always judge someone by what others say about them. Sometimes, you’ve gotta take time to get to know what they’re really like before you pass judgment and jump to conclusions, otherwise, you’ll make yourself look bad.”

She turned to me as I went on: “The last time humans were seen in Equestria, they were trying to take over and destroy everything. So, that gave humans a bad rap. That doesn’t mean,” I broke off, looking her gently in the eyes, “that doesn’t mean we’re all bad, and it doesn’t mean we’re still bad. In the thousand years it’s been, we may have changed, but the way you’re attacking me now? That shows me that maybe ponies haven’t.” Saying this, I felt like I was manipulating her, but I was desperate. Besides, I hadn’t done anything to get into this mess; she was the one who was confused.

Twilight stared at me, my words hitting home. She turned back to the control panel and started to slowly turn off the machine as the restraints holding me down glowed purple and untied themselves. I sat up, rubbing my arms, and saw her trotting upstairs sadly.
“I’m sorry, Allen,” she said quietly as she ascended. I stared after her. Oh, man, what have I done now? I thought as the door creaked shut. I always felt bad when girls were upset, and could never help but try to cheer them up. I quickly ran up after her.

When I got back up to Twilight’s room, I saw her crying quietly on her bed, her face pressed into a pillow. I sat down next to her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Twilight, it’s okay,” I said reassuringly.
“How can it be okay?” she asked between sobs, “I’ve made a complete idiot of myself today, and lost a chance to develop what could have been an amazing friendship with a creature that nopony has seen in over a thousand years! When does an opportunity like that come along more than once?”

I couldn’t help but smile. “Twilight, you haven’t made an idiot of yourself. I’ve had plenty of times when I’ve gotten a little carried away with my suspicions. All you’ve gotta do is move on and learn from your mistakes, and hope the other person - or, pony - can do the same. I can forget what has happened so far today,” I said as she looked up at me with wide eyes, “can you do the same?”
She smiled and held out her hoof, which I shook gently. “I’m sorry I dropped so many books on you and almost turned you into a vegetable,” she said, sniffling.
I nodded. “And I’m sorry I kept egging you on and making you look bad in front of Spike and Rarity. But you’ve gotta admit, it was funny!” Twilight showed her appreciation for my joke by dropping a book on my head, causing me to fall off the bed. “Okay, I guess I deserved that one,” I said, and we both burst out laughing.

We spent the rest of the day getting to know one another a little better. Well, it was more her getting to know me, since I already knew so much about her, but I had to play along. I couldn't help but glance around nervously for one of those crystal things, but fortunately, today must have been their day off, and I was free to enjoy Twilight's company. She's really a great mare to be around when she doesn't think you're a threat to the fabric of society.

"So, did you have fun?" I asked as we settled down at the library that evening. Twilight nodded enthusiastically.
"I never expected humans to be so... well, like us." she said, surprised. "I may have to write to the princess on this one."
I smiled. "I don't think that will be necessary; I'm sure she already realizes how similar we are."
Twilight yawned. "Well, we had better get off to bed. I've gotta bring you over to Fluttershy's house tomorrow morning."
I nodded as I stood up. "Yeah, that'd be a good idea. Goodnight, Twilight," I said as we went to our separate beds to sleep. I saw she had placed the crystal that Celestia had given me on the table; since it was no longer a sword, I figured it could transform back and forth at will. I held it tightly in my hand as I lied down to sleep.

I found myself in a very strange place when I opened my eyes; I could tell it was Twilight's library, but everything was made of glittering white crystal, much like the one the princesses had given me. I stood up and quietly went downstairs, and saw the effect was everywhere. I went outside, and the grass, flowers, and trees were all crystallized. I looked around in confusion when I heard a voice behind me.
"Hello, Allen," Celestia said as I turned, "how are you?"

I shrugged. "I've had stranger dreams. What's going on?" I asked, gesturing to the changed landscape.
Celestia started walking down the pathway, and explained: "This is a dream world created by your crystal. It will allow me to communicate with you while you are asleep. Tell me, how was your day?"
I laughed. "Aside from Twilight almost killing me? It went pretty great," I said, leaning over and tapping a crystal flower, and glanced around nervously after it broke.

Celestia suddenly looked worried. "What did you say Twilight tried to do?"
I explained what her student had done, and her expression softened when I revealed that we had made up. "I am glad that Twilight keeps the lessons she has learned true to heart. I am also glad that you have done the same as you observed our world from yours."

I bowed dramatically. "Glad to be a positive image, your highness," I said proudly.
Celestia smiled and started to fade away. "Sleep well, Allen," she said just as she disappeared. I smiled too, and sat down on the pathway and waited for my dreams to take me away for the night.