My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

Friends from Unexpected Places

Chapter 4

Living Arrangements

Young Derpy sighed as the makeshift bandages set on the unknown creatures wounds. “Whew. That was… some tough work.” she panted.

The creature stirred and slowly opened it’s eyes. “whoa whoa. Don’t move. You had a tough time.” Derpy said. “barely had enough time to bandage you. Hopefully, vines will work for now.” she sighed.

The creature rested it’s head on the ground and breathed deeply. Derpy smiled but it quickly faded as she looked around. Doesn’t matter, she was still trapped in the Everfree Forest and without any food or water, she was gonna bite the dust soon. But it was late and she was tired from helping the creature.

She laid down on the forest floor and went to sleep. eTu`nes did the same.

Time passed. eTu`nes woke up to the sound of Derpy shivering. It struggled as it tried to get up.

Eventually, it did. It limped over to Derpy and laid down beside her, helping keep her warm in the cold night.

Derpy noticed this but didn’t move and smiled. Least he’s okay.

The 2 fell asleep, side-by-side as the creatures of the forest went about their business, trying their best to avoid the creature.

20 Years Later…

The Morning Sun rose. Requiem and Co. slept soundly as the sun rose and illuminated the countryside. Some had used their capes--if they had them--for blankets to cover themselves in the cold night.

The sun hit Sora’s face and woke her up. She opened her eyes, sat up, and stretched. “Man… what a night.” she grunted as she stretched. “man, my back hurts like hell.” she groaned again.

She looked over the campsite. Everyone was fast asleep but Jax wasn’t there. “Guess she woke up early… or didn’t bother coming.” Sora concluded.

She rubbed her eyes, got up, and walked off to a nearby stream.

Jax slept in the corpse of Orion, sleeping soundly in a makeshift hammock. Eventually, the suns rays hit her, waking her up.

“I don’t remember putting in for a wake-up call.” she groaned tiredly, eyes still closed. Something buzzed by her. She swung her arms, hoping to squash that bug. She hit something.

“Ow. Watch where you’re swinging.” someone yelled out.

Jax’s eyes shot open. Since when do bugs talk? She got up only to see Derpy staring at her curiously. Jax yelled, fell out of her hammock, and fell 10 feet down, landing flat on her butt.

“Ow. That looked like it hurt.” Derpy winced.

“what are you doing here?” Jax angrily asked.

“why are you so angry? I just came by to say hello. That, and your friends asked me to help find you when I flew by.” Derpy calmly said.

“I don’t exactly have the fondest memories of horses.” Jax angrily replied.

“Oh. So you must be the one who had the near-death experience. Jax, right?” Derpy asked, trying to figure it out.

“you tell Requiem one secret and she blabs it out to strangers. And Horses, at that.” Jax muttered.

“hey hey hey. We’re called Ponies, not Horses.” Derpy replied. “how would you like it if we called you Apes, huh?”

Jax lips pouted. She crossed her arms angrily and looked away. “wouldn’t exactly like it.” Derpy gave her a stern look. “*angry sigh* fine. As long as I’m here, I’ll try not to call you things ‘horses’. that good enough?”

“better then nothing.” Derpy said. She flew on out. Jax responded with a raspberry.

Satoshi looked over the beaten up Orion with a couple of construction ponies and Rainbow Dash.

“So… you’re able to travel the stars in this contraption?” R.D. asked.

“You might say that.” Satoshi replied.

“Huh?”

“mmm…. How do I explain this to a country girl?” Satoshi muttered. Rainbow’s lips pouted angrily. “Umm… see, we don’t really travel the stars, we travel in the corridors between them.”

“Corridors? Like a hallway?” Rainbow asked.

“You could say that. Anyways, the Corridors exit out to all sorts of worlds, each with a different species and/or civilization. In fact, this last world was high in sorcerers and mages and monsters. And this one girl-- Lina, I think her name was --you did not want to piss off. Otherwise, you won’t see a tomorrow.”

“Yikes.”

“Yeah. Scary chick. There was also… a world with one heck of a history of split worlds; think they were called Sylvarant and Tethe‘alla, 2 worlds filled with Dragons; think they were called Berk and Warfang, a entire solar system with anthropomorphic animals flying spaceships. a whole bunch of worlds in one very large nebula beset by monsters called Heartless and Nobodies, and… and… I think that’s all I can remember.”

Rainbow’s mouth hung open. She was dumbstruck. That many worlds? That’s something. She shook her head. “2 worlds… filled with Dragons? Wow. And I thought we had it rough.”

“Ahem.” one of the construction ponies cleared his throat, getting both of their attention. “Aren’t we gonna get started on this?” he asked.

“well, we have to wait for word from Requiem. If we have to sleep in the ship, it’ll make things difficult for us on the reconstruction.” Satoshi said.

“Pbbt. No way we’ll let you sleep out here. Odds are, you’ll all find places to stay in Ponyville.” Rainbow said.

“but just in case, let’s wait till tomorrow to start on the reconstruction.”

“but what about taking notes and blueprints?” one of the construction ponies asked.

“Already took notes and I still have the original blueprints. Trust me. I planned for every contingency.”

Rainbow looked at him, not really convinced by that statement. “YEAH. That’s why your ship was beaten by a unknown beast in only 2 minutes flat.”

Satoshi stiffened and gave R.D. a stern look. Dash just smiled like a idiot.

Requiem browsed though Twilight’s library, looking though the various books. Twilight came down from above and notice Req.

“Oh. When did you get here?” she asked.

“Just a few minutes ago.” Requiem said. “I must say, you got quite a collection.” she said as she flipped though a Daring Do novel.

“Thanks. We got most of everything; Action, Adventure, Romance, Non-Fiction…” Twi went on explaining. She wouldn’t stop. Requiem paid her no mind but Spike covered his ears with corks as he went back to work, taking inventory of the books still in stock. “…and Equestrian History.”

“wow. Lot of different genres.” Requiem muttered, just agreeing. She didn’t really hear Twilight but she could tell from the situation to say what she said.

“Right?”

“you know she can’t hear you, Twi. She’s too involved in that book she got.” Spike explained.

“oh. Then, why’d she agree?”

“been in this situation before.” Requiem said, again still looking in the book. “learned what to say though Trial and Error.”

“Oh.”

“wow. This is really intense.” Requiem gasped, halfway though the book. “is she gonna survive that trap?” she asked Twi.

“wow. You really like books, did you?” Spike asked.

“yep. I also have my own collection. Loads smaller then what you got but it’s something.” Requiem stopped ready and thought for a moment. “I should probably check to see if they’re still in the ship.” she said to herself.

Someone knocked on the door of the library. “it’s open.” Twilight said. The mayor walked in.

“Greetings, Twilight. Spike. And un…” she tried to remember the human’s name.

“Requiem.” Req. replied.

“Requiem. Everypony’s gathering down at Town Hall so we can discuss what to do with our new acquaintances.” the Mayor said.

“This early?” Requiem asked. “I expected it to take a day or more, not 3 hours.”

“We work fast.” the Mayor said as she headed for the door.

“No argument here.” Req. muttered as she walked after her.

Twi and Spike headed to the door.

“is the letter ready?” Twilight asked Spike.

“put the finishing touches on when you were talking to her.” Spike said.

“Good. Send it to Celestia, pronto. She’s gonna want to know about this.”

Spike nodded and did just that.

True to the mayor’s word, everyone was gathered at the Town Hall, including Requiem’s group. Ash, Sora, Aura, Satoshi, and Bahamut were sort of in the center but spread out over the area. Jax hung up in the rafters, not very keen on joining the crowd.

Requiem walked in with the Mayor, Twilight, and Spike. Req, Twi, and Spike sat in the front row as the Mayor walked onto the podium.

“Ahem. We’re all gathered here today to take about our new… acquaintances from beyond the stars. If they will kindly get up and show themselves to the crowd.” the Mayor announced.

The Humans got up and nervously waved to the crowd. Some of the ponies waved back. Jax rolled her eyes and started peeling a apple with a knife.

“now then, I’m sure we are all aware of the situation that has stranded them on our world by now; that giant deadly monster we can only speculate it is.” the crowd muttered in agreement. “So, that leaves us with this predicament; room and board. As Requiem kindly asked last night, she asked that we help them find places to stay during their stay here.”

“and I hope we’re not imposing or anything. Don’t want to make anyone feel… what’s the word, weird.” Sora said.

“you’re not imposing. If anything, you and your pals are interesting. We never saw the likes of you before.” Rarity said. “if anything, I’d say the stay will be interesting, darling.”

“Un… thanks. And the Darling line? Not a big fan.” Sora said as she sat down. Rarity shrugged at the remark.

“Also…” Requiem called out. “… we will help out with wherever we stay. You ask us to help, we will help. Just clarifying a few things.” Req sat back down.

“That being said, we had a number of volunteers; All of whom will take you in, least till your ship is repaired.”

“if they can manage us, we’ll stay wherever.” Aura said.

“Says you.” Jax said to herself as she took a bite of her cut-up apple.

“so… who’s willing to put up with us foreigners?” Satoshi asked.

Fluttershy pushed a chalkboard next to the Mayor. “well, that’s up for the Volunteers to decide.” the mayor said. “let’s see… who’s first… Applejack?” the Mayor called out.

“well, Aura doesn’t look like a bad apple. He looks strong enough to help with the apple harvest.” Applejack said.

“you’d be surprised how strong I really am.” Aura smirked.

“Okay. So that’s Aura to Applejack.” the Mayor said. Fluttershy used some chalk to put a check next to both Applejack’s and Aura’s name. “up next is Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight and Requiem looked at each other and smirked.

“I’m staying with her.”

“She’s staying with me.”

“okay. So Requiem goes with Twilight.” Fluttershy put a check by both their names. “Mr. and Mrs. Cake?”

“well, is anyone in your group a good baker?” Mrs. Cake asked.

“I am. Kinda.” Sora said. “not exactly A-list but I’ll help out anyway I can.”

The Mayor nodded to Fluttershy and she put on another check. “Rarity.” she called out.

“well, I always said that it pays to be friendly. As my mother always said, ‘always be nice to those in need so you can…” Rarity rambled on.

“JUST CHOOSE!” everyone, even the Orion crew, yelled.

“Okay okay. I’ll take Ash.” she exclaimed in frustration.

Ash chuckled nervously. “Great. Sharing a place with a fashion-mogul. Lucky me.” he said sarcastically. Spike pouted angrily. Twi and Req chuckled at the site.

Fluttershy put on another check. “next is Fluttershy herself.” the Mayor said. She looked back to a nervous Twilight.

“Un… um… well, I can take care of any animals you have.” she meekly said.

“Thanks.” Satoshi said. “we have 3 in our group. Bahamut, Fenrir, and Cobalt; a Dragon, a Wolf, and a Eagle, respectively.”

“A Dragon?” Fluttershy yelped. She hid behind the chalkboard. Rainbow rolled her eyes, flew up, and flipped the chalkboard over, Fluttershy with it.

“I think he means that Bahamut character.”

“I know who he meant.” Fluttershy squeaked. She flipped the board again. Rainbow groaned.

“relax, love. I wouldn’t hurt a fly.” Bahamut said. “unless it’s trying to kill me, in that case… *shakes head* regardless, I promise I’ll be on my best behavior. I’ll keep Fenrir and Cobalt in check. Those 2 are unpredictable.”

Fluttershy peeked over the chalkboard. “I-if you say so.” she meekly said. She flew over and put a check next to her name and Bahamut’s.

“Okay. Next… is Rainbow Dash.”

“guess I’ll take Satoshi. He’s the last one left.” she said.

“un… I heard you live in a cloud. Exactly how am I supposed to get up there and back down? And how am I supposed to even walk on clouds?” Satoshi asked, a bit peeved.

“I’ll help you with that.” Twilight said.

Fluttershy put a check on the board. “and that leaves us with… no more volunteers and one more Alien; that one being the Equestrian hater.” the Mayor droned.

Everypony muttered amongst themselves. Jax scoffed and ate another apple bite. She was glad for that but she still would’ve like to be considered.

“seriously?” Requiem exclaimed. “I know Jax hates hor… Ponies, but she still needs a place to stay.”

“Face it, Req.” Jax called from above. “I’m unloved here.” she cried sarcastically. “gonna have to spend my days out in Orion all alone and cold. Oh, poor me.”

Sora rolled her eyes and Aura shook his head ‘no’.

The doors opened wide and Derpy ran in. “Sorry I’m late. I was busy.” she panted.

Everypony groaned. The humans looked at each other with confusion. “Why do they hate her?” Req silently asked Twilight. Twi shrugged. She’s lived in Ponyville for 2 years and she still didn’t know.

“Well, Derpy, we were discussing who the strangers will be staying with until their ship is finished. Everyone has been taken.” Rainbow said. “well, everyone except her.” she gestured up the rafters. Derpy looked up and saw Jax, lazily sitting on a rafter and eating a apple.

Derpy thought for a moment and nodded. “I’ll take her.” she said. That caught the entire crowd by surprise. Jax spit up her apple and nearly choked.

“you’ll take her?” Sora exclaimed, surprised as hell.

“Sure. Might be fun.”

Jax’s Chakram flew from above, hovered near the podium, and let loose a small wind that caught her as she fell. “What? No no no no no no no no no no no no. the day I stay in the same house with a horse is the day I die.” Jax exclaimed. She looked ot her right and saw the mayor. She snapped her fingers and brought her arm up a few inches. A small barrier separated the two. “and I don’t plan on that happening here.”

“Oh, lighten up, Jax.” Ash exclaimed. “all you’ve been doing while we’ve been here is complain, complain, complain. Just give it a chance, will ya?”

Jax groaned. “fine. I’ll try it. But I won’t like it.” she exclaimed.

“well, that settles everything, I guess.” the Mayor said. “if we’re done, I suggest our volunteers show our guests to their homes away from home.”

The crowd got up and headed for their homes. Some of the ponies wished Derpy good luck with Jax.

“wow. First time I saw Everypony wish Derpy good luck.” Applejack said as she, the rest of the Mane 6, and the otherworlders, minus Jax, walked though Ponyville..

“you mean people haven’t done it before?” Aura asked.

“well, Derpy has gotten a reputation of being a bit of a klutz.” Pinkie said. “a very destructive klutz.”

“And with Jax, her troubles have doubled 3-fold.” Rarity said.

“how so?” Bahamut asked.

“well, it’s hard being a single mother, raising 2 kids by yourself.” Fluttershy said.

“she’s a mom?” Requiem asked. “and she’s raising 2 kids by herself?”

“well, she’s got her roommate Carrot Top and her brother Doctor Whooves helping her, but it’s been tough.” Twilight said.

“And with Jax, it probably got tougher.” Ash said. “wonder why she even volunteered if she’s going though this much trouble?” he wondered.

“It’s her nature. She’s more willing to help then all 7 of us combined.” Spike said.

“oh. Well, I still feel sorry for her.” Ash said. Everyone else nodded in agreement.

“Well, enough of the depressing talk, let’s show you guys to your new homes.” Rarity changed the subject.

“Yes. Quite. Let’s see where we have to sleep.” Satoshi yawned. “that way, I can get up early and get started on Orion.”

“you need the spell to get to Rainbow’s house first.”

“Right. Forgot about that.”

“Come by the library in a few moments. The spell will be ready by then.”

“ ‘kay.” Satoshi shrugged.

Applejack and Aura approached Sweet Apple Acres. The fallout from that wind storm has been taken care of. Almost half of the apples have been accounted for.

“you live on a barn?” Aura asked, a bit surprised.

“Born and Raised. Been apple pickin’ all my life.”

“huh. Well, this doesn’t seem so hard.” Aura said to himself as he looked the farm over.

Fluttershy lead Bahamut, Fenrir, and Cobalt up the path to her house.

“now remember, none of the animals here are to eat. Understand?” she asked Bahamut.

“I know. I know. Can’t say the same for those 2, however.” he said, looking back on the Wolf and Eagle. “but I will do my best to keep an eye on them.”

“I hope so. If it’s not too much trouble.” F.S. meekly said. Bahamut gave her a confused look.

“Come on, Human-boy. They’re fine.” Rainbow Dash said as she walked to the entrance of her house.

Satoshi, now with butterfly-like wings, followed behind her. “just didn’t expect I’d get Butterfly wings. I was expecting wings like Aura’s or Requiem’s, not bloomy Mothra.”

“Aura and Requiem have wings?” R.D. asked.

“Yeah. Requiem’s sort of a Demi-Goddess while Aura is a…. well, not sure how you would call him, but yeah he has wings.”

“oh. Well, this way to your room. Got plenty of room.”

Satoshi looked around. “I noticed.”

Mr. and Mrs. Cake showed Sora around Sugar Cube Corner. “wow. Nice digs. First time I ever stayed in a sweet shop.”

“well, it’s nice and cozy, if you don’t mind the twins.” Mrs. Cake said.

“And your roommate.” Mr. Cake said.

“Roommate? I have a roommate?” Sora asked.

“Yep. Me, Roomy.” Pinkie Pie said, hanging upside down from the ceiling. Sora jumped back a bit. “hehehehehe. Did I surprise you? I’m pretty sure I did cause I always surprise Everypony wherever I go. Someofmyfriendstoldmei’mrandombutinevernoticeditandassuch,I….” Pinkie babbled on for a long while.

Sora turned her attention to the Cakes. “I have to bunk with the eternal sugar high?” she shakingly asked. Mr. and Mrs. Cake nodded.

Pinkie grabbed Sora’s hands and started dragging her up. “andihavetheseprettydressesican’twaitforyoutotryon,they’resocutethatiwonderwhattheywouldlooklikeonahumanandwithyoubeingone,ithinkthey’regonnalookfineand…”

“God, I hope Ash is willing to trade.” Sora whined.

Ash couldn’t believe his eyes. He was living in a dress shop with a fashion mogul. This is pull hell to him.

“Wipe your feet before you enter, please, dear sir. Trying to keep this place as clean as I can for when Photo Finish comes by tomorrow.” Rarity said. “If you’ll please follow me, I’ll show you to your room.” she said as she headed upstairs.

Ash, mouth wide open, turned to the audience. “if you mention this to anyone, I’ll kill you.” he said to the audience, flashing one of his Mana Pistols.

“Oh, this is so exciting. Never had a human sleep over before.” Twilight squealed.

“you never saw a human period till we showed up.” Requiem said.

“True. But this is so exciting. We can stay up late, tell stories, roast marshmallows… oh, if only Rarity and Applejack were hear, it would be a girls night.” Twilight said.

“Well, if you do happen to make noise, mind trying to keep it down?” a sleepy Spike said. “I want to try and get some sleep.”

“Will do, Spike.” Twi said. Spike walked up to his and Twi’s room and slammed the door. Requiem and Twilight giggled.

Jax entered Derpy’s humble abode; a apartment no bigger then the one from Three’s Company.

“Gee. Swell place.” Jax sarcastically said.

“we make do.” Derpy said.

Jax shook her head upon hearing those words. “we? Who’s we?” she asked, worried as hell.

Doctor Whooves came out of the kitchen, carrying a tray of drinks on his back, when he noticed Derpy and Jax. “ah. Derpy. Wondering when you were coming home.” he said as he slid the tray off his back and onto a table. “and this must be the infamous Jax we heard much about.”

“you already heard about me?” Jax asked.

“News of your hatred for us, as you say, horses, has already spread across Ponyville like wildfire. And I’ll say this; we’re not the same beast that nearly killed you when you were young. We’re different.”

Jax scoffed. “yeah, right. We’ll see how long that lasts.” Jax sternly said. “And who are you, anyway?”

“Ah, yes. My name is Doctor Whooves. I am Derpy’s brother from Canterlot who moved hear not long ago to help raise my sister’s young children.”

Jax snapped. “c-children?” she shakingly asked.

“Mommy.” Dinky ran in from behind and up to Derpy.

“hey, Dinky. How was school?” Derpy asked like any mother would.

“fine. Except we missed the Strangers.”

“well, we have one with us, in case you didn’t notice.” Sparkler said, standing right beside Jax. Jax moved to the side, far away from Sparkler.

Jax started stuttering. “y-y-you have kids.”

“well, Dinky’s the Biological one.” Carrot Top said as she walked in. “Sparklers adopted. And before you ask, I’m a fiend of the family.”

“There’s another one?” Jax exclaimed. “Oh, good grief, I’m surrounded by horses.”

“Hey. Language.” Sparkler said. Jax laughed sarcastically and gave Sparkler a stern look. Sparkler gave one back.

“Where’s my room?” Jax asked with a gruff voice. Derpy, C.T., and D.W. pointed towards a room to Jax’s left, just 10 human feet away. “Thanks.” Jax calmly walked in, slammed the door shut, and locked it.

“Well, she’s gonna be a nuisance.” Carrot Top said. “why’d you say yes?” Derpy was going to reply but C.T. cut her short. “wait. Don’t answer. I know why. Dumb question.”

Jax fell forward on her bed and groaned upon landing.

“I had to get stuck with the reject’s to the horse version ‘Three’s Company’ plus 2.” Jax raised her head. “I’m cursed. That’s all that needs to be said.” she said.

She flipped over onto her back and looked up at the ceiling. She could hear laugher from the other side of the door. She narrowed what about to 2 things; they were either laughing at Jax or playing a game. Either way, she wanted no part of it. She just fell asleep.