Anthon grunted in annoyance when he hit his head on yet another door frame as Pinkie guided him through the treebrary. Yeah, a library/loft, in a flippin' living tree. Awesome. Didn't change the fact that he was now apparently, according to Pinkie, at least twice as tall as he was before, making him dwarf the four-foot something mare at around twelve feet, making this building far too small for him to comfortable navigate.

She told him that when she pulled him into the library, she turned back to normal, while he instantly shot up in size, his clothes thankfully joining him. He then promptly passed out, probably from shock. She also admitted to undressing him because she thought he'd be uncomfortable in all those clothes and his weapons, which he was actually thankful for since yes; that would've been more than enough to make him quite sore.

He deigned to just put on his pants, an interesting experience with digitigrade legs, and found his shaggy fur to be pleasantly compliant with making the process smoother, but he felt unseasonably warm. He'd have to get used to that; he was NOT going anywhere without bottoms. He was told his stuff would be safe upstairs, as nopony lived in the library anyway.

“Why do you say nopony and not nobody? Is it rare to see non-ponies here?” Anthon asked as he carefully began going down the stairs. The closet door that now led to his house was on the end of the upstairs hall, which was right next to the bedroom he'd woke up in. “And if nopony lives here; then how did you end up in my house?”

“Yes! It's such a treat to meet a non-pony! I've only ever met other ponies, one donkey, and cows my whole life, and when my Pinkie Sense was telling me some-ONE new was in town; I just HAD to find you! Also, it was a doozy of one too! It was going off like a whole WORLD of new pon-urm...?” Pinkie looked to Anthon for a word describing humans.

“People. In fact, I think such a term would apply to all sentient beings.” Anthon mused as he smiled at the pink mare's fast words. He missed being like that.

“Okay! PEOPLE, suddenly came to town. So I hopped, skipped, and jumped out of bed and right on over where I looked everywhere in here, until I decided to check the closet and these little rascals all came out!” They had reached the ground floor, and suddenly Pinkie span around holding all three of Anthon's dogs in her forelegs. Thankfully Cuddles was in the middle of the sandwich, and Violet and Klingon get violent when forced together.

The little shits didn't change much, but they all looked even happier than usual, their tails all smacking against Pinkie's chest as they panted and yipped at their master. “Oh~ you three little shits are always causing me worry.” He reached down and gently rubbed their heads with his even meatier digits. “So that's when you decided to go into my house.”

“And became all bulgy and furless! I mean, why? Why was I so bulgy? Being furless I can live with, but if I didn't have that huge jiggly plot I wouldn't have been able to stand at all!” Pinkie finally noticed Anthon's uncomfortable blush staining his russet face, and she finally blushed in understanding. “Those were my teats weren't they?”

“Y-yeah...humans have them up here instead of...down there....” Anthon gestured with his hands on his still relatively humanoid body, getting Pinkie to set the dogs down and hide her face in her hooves.

“Oh~...I played with my teats in front of a total stranger like a whore...I'm sorry.” Pinkie looked back up at getting a comforting pet on the head, and Anthon chuckled at her adorableness.

“Hey, I've seen worse. Heard of the internet?” Anthon asked, getting a blank blink in response. “Thought not. You don't want to know.” Anthon kept petting her, oddly transfixed on how her poofy mane just felt so nice to run his fingers through, getting a pleased mewl from the mare who nuzzled into his hand.

“Wow...you're a good petter! But then again these little doggies all have such smooth fur, you really love them huh?” Pinkie pet Violet, who began yapping like a bullhorn, and rolled over to get her belly rubbed. “Oh~ a belly whore huh? Ready for some rubs?” Pinkie nuzzled the dog in her belly, getting a content reaction as Violet stretched out. “She's adorable.”

“And LOUD, I lose a lot of sleep over her blaring yapping. Alright, HO!” All three scamps snapped to attention, and he pointed up the stairs. “Bed!” Violet dashed upstairs, Cuddles began a slow waddling climb, but Klingon started pawing at his pant leg with whimpers. He was such a needy puppy. “Oh, fine.” He picked the chihuahua up and cradled him in his beefy left arm. “So...where are we?”

“We're in Golden Oaks library.” Pinkie gestured around and indeed, the walls themselves seemed to have been grown into shelving, filled to the brim with books. Thankfully, he could read their spines, meaning somehow this reality had the same written AND spoken languages as his own.

“Magic 101, Pegasus Physiology...Pony Sutra?” Anthon asked with a blush at the last one, and Pinkie grinned slyly, and winked conspiratorially.

“It's a good read.” She whispered, before giggling her bubbly laugh, and headed for the front door. “C'mon! I'm going to show you the town! This is a really special occasion, and calls for a very BIG party!”

Uh-oh...the P word.... “Um...sorry but...I don't like parties.” Anthon felt like he suddenly stepped on a landmine, Klingon whimpered as he burrowed as much as he could into his elbow, and the pink mare had halted, her mane and tail instantly going straight somehow.

“What...did you just...say?” Her formerly squeaky and bubbly voice was low, husky, and threatening, but he puffed up his chest. She turned slowly to look up at him with angry, dull eyes. Eyes that didn't belong on this mare.

“I don't. Like. Parties.” He leered down at her. “I'd be fine with a small gathering, but no large groups, no loud music, and certainly no alcohol.” He stood firm, unaffected by her sudden personality change. He was near bipolar, so she had nothing on him when it came to fits of blinding rage.

Suddenly, her hair re-inflated back into the bouncy vibrant curls, and her expression turned joyful. “So a small party then! Say about...ten ponies? Need to invite the mayor and talk about your house inside the library and stuff. I know JUST who to invite. Now c'mon!” Pinkie opened the door, and Anthon cringed at realizing it was broad daylight out. He was supposed to be sleeping! But...he wasn't tired.

“Thank gog it's a weekend....” Anthon grumbled as he practically had to crawl through the door to get out, and shielded his eyes against the blinding sunlight. 'Damn...SUN! Even in an alternate universe I can't escape it!' When he let his hand down, he gaped at the sheer number of vibrantly colored ponies going about their daily lives, many had stopped to look at the massive minotaur easily three times their height just come out of the library, but were placated by the fact that he was one; with Pinkie, and two; was cradling an adorable small dog in his arm which offset his intimidation.

“Welcome to Ponyville~!” Pinkie cheered as confetti launched out from behind her with party favor noises. “I'll show you around and introduce you to my friends! We're mostly getting ready for the Summer Sun Celebration, but since that's a couple days from now we're only just getting started, so there's plenty of time to party beforehoof!”

“Sure, okay...right....” 'Oh gog, they're all looking at me, and not in the usual “what a goofball” look I love getting. It's more like a “who is that” look. This is why I HATE crowds!' “C-can we...I don't know...go someplace less...open?”

“Sure! Carrousel Boutique is pretty close, so I'll take you there first to introduce you to Rarity.” Pinkie literally bounced in tiny bounds as she began leading him away from the library, and thus away from the safety of his lonesome home.

'Okay Anthon, okay...you can do this. Remember; you are a strong man. You can do anything you set out to do.' He began walking after her, completely dependent on Pinkie for guidance and as a sort of life preserver in this ocean of unfamiliarity. Ironic, considering he'd known her for less than the better part of an hour and he trusted her more than he did most people.

[@]

The boutique was...interesting. It was one of the taller buildings in town actually, having three stories, but it was the design choice that baffled him. “What compels ponies to design something based around a traditional corral post originally used to help teach humans how to ride horses?”

Pinkie gasped in scandal. “Really?! I thought it was an old custom used by noble ponies or something. It explains all the tack involved.” Pinkie grinned lecherously, letting Anthon know that ponies were easily as depraved as humans were, if more open about it. “I'll be bugging Rarity about this for AGES!” Pinkie then quickly approached the door, and entered. “Rarity! You named your store after a bondage game!”

Anthon burst out in explosive laughter, startling Klingon into wanting down, but he pet the pup to keep him calm as he gathered himself. “That mare...she is so funny.” He ducked down to enter the refined building, glad that for some reason the buildings here had high ceilings.

“Pinkie that is NOT true! A carrousel is...um...um....” Rarity blushed, and her ears flickered, the white coated mare with elegantly curled deep purple hair looked mortified. “DEAR CELESTIA! No wonder so many of my clientele are so reclusive, and order so much underwear and faux-leather harnesses! They thought I was running a fetish shop! This is the WORST! POSSIBLE! THING!” Her horn...a HORN?! Yes, a horn on her head shined light blue, and a fainting couch suddenly dragged into the room like a rocket, and the mare then proceeded to faint onto the suitably named piece of furniture.

Anthon was stunned at the sight, and gaped in a dumbstruck fashion at the supine fashionista. “D-did she just? I saw that magic book back at the library, but...magic?” 'That...is...so...!' “AWESOME!” His bellow of sheer joy at the revelation made Klingon yip, and the racket woke the formerly passed out mare in a startle. He quickly set Klingon on the floor, and upon seeing an unfamiliar cat, promptly chased it with zeal. Said cat made the mistake of thinking to scratch him, instead getting pounced into playing. They ran out the room as Anthon continued to have his own private celebration. “Magic is real! Suck it you eggheads! Ha!”

“What is the meaning of this display? Of course magic exists, it's in everypony's everyday life.” Rarity commented in confusion, but then looked Anthon over, and blushed. “Oh...my...such musculature. Are you here for some clothes? Displaying such raw masculinity might be a bit much for more reserved ponies.”

“Hm? No, I have a shirt and vest back at the library, I just came to meet you since Pinkie insisted I meet her friends.” Anthon knelt and held out his hand for a shake. “I am Anthon Robinson, a pleasure to meet you milady.” He bowed his head, getting Rarity to titter as she gladly accepted his handshake.

“Well! A gentlecolt! How refreshing. I am Rarity Belle, owner of Carrousel Boutique...but I might have to change the name now. Oh~, redoing the exterior design will cost at least a hundred or so bits....” Anthon released her hoof and stood back up.

“I don't know, it looks quite refined from the outside. Besides, if you get the more daring clients, then simply reinforce you sell normal clothing too.” Anthon tried to console the worried mare, and watched as a fluffy white cat that made his youngest cat Sophie back at the house look small run through, being chased quietly by an excited Klingon. “Clingy, *whistle* here boy! Leave the kitty alone. She doesn't want to play.”

Klingon again ran up and pawed at Anthon's leg with whines, only for Anthon to sigh and pick up the puppy again. “Oh, you have a way with animals. I'm certain you'll make good friends with Fluttershy then.” Rarity commented as Anthon scratched Klingon's ears.

“I don't know about that; I manhandle my pets with excessive affection.” Anthon suddenly held Klingon to his face and began nuzzling him like he usually did, only the effect was more pronounced with his elongated face. “Who's my puppy? Who is my little clingy? Do you love me? I love you. That's all that matters.”

“He has two more dogs and three cats, so I know Fluttershy will like him. Well we've got to go. I want to introduce him to Dashie, AJ and Shy before his small party this evening. Oh! Here.” Pinkie pulled a party invitation out of her mane, and hoofed it to Rarity, who took it in her magic and skimmed the note on it curiously.

“Welcome to our universe Anthon Robinson party? Universe? Whatever do you mean Pinkie?” Rarity asked, beings Pinkie's titles for things were not pure nonsense, she knew this by now at least.

“We'll tell you at the party...wait...where did you get that? Did you really prepare these invitations while I was passed out?” Anthon asked incredulously, only for Pinkie to giggle.

“No silly! I just keep stashes of emergency invitations in my mane. Now then, the library tonight. See you later Rarity!” Pinkie then bounced out the door, and Anthon chuckled as he followed, leaving Rarity blinking at the odd yet pleasant encounter while her cat Opal was just glad the little devil dog was gone.

[@]

“Next we need to find Dashie. She's likely around, but she's hard to pin down.” Pinkie explained as she stood atop his head, using him as a perch as she looked around. Anthon was baffled at how light she was, or just how strong this body was for him to barely notice her weight on his neck.

“Why would she be hard to pin down? Is she flighty and unpredictable?” Anthon asked curiously, getting an amused bubbly giggle out of his guide.

“Oh~ you could say that! Oh! There she is! Rainbow Dash~!” Pinkie called up into the air, confusing Anthon so he looked up, Pinkie remained on his head as if gravity meant nothing, but he didn't notice. “See! Up there, on that cloud!” Anthon could certainly see the lone cloud that Pinkie was pointing out, along with the rainbow hair dangling from it. “Lazy Dashie! Sleeping after getting her work done early again.”

“On a cloud?” Anthon asked. He wasn't really surprised anymore, Pinkie sort of took that element out of everything by now. He was interested, but not shocked in any way.

“Yep! Hey, how good is your aim?” Pinkie asked as she jumped down and landed effortlessly. Impressive considering the height she just came down from.

“Depends. I'm okay, but what're we talking about here?” Klingon was napping now, and to save him the trouble of holding him, Anthon put him in his empty left thigh pocket.

“Throwing something at Dashie to get her to wake up.” Pinkie bluntly stated, looking around before extending her left foreleg an impossible distance into the nearest shrub, and yanking back a filled blue water balloon. “Good thing I leave water balloons around Ponyville in case of a water balloon emergency like this!”

“Pinkie, you are so random. I love it.” Anthon grinned as he picked up the balloon, and debated throwing with his left or right. “Right more accurate...left more power...meh, I'll go left.” Anthon reached back with his left arm, balloon cradled in his palm, and then slung it underhand up at the low cloud, getting a satisfying splash and a shout of alarm. “Bull's eye!”

“He, he, he-nice one!” After Pinkie's congrats, a wet and irate rainbow haired cyan pegasus with cerise eyes flew down from the cloud and hovered over them.

“Okay! Who threw that!” Dash demanded, getting a challenging grin from Anthon, and Dash leered at him. “It. Is. On! I am going to get you back. Hey Pinkie. So, who's the musclehead?” Dash asked as she pointed at the russet and blond minotaur, who was content to yawn and lament his sleep schedule being screwed over at the moment.

“He's Anthon Robinson; my new friend! I'm throwing him a party tonight, and you're invited!” Pinkie again produced another invitation from her mane. Dash was about to toss it, considering skipping since she now had a prank vendetta against the new guy, only to notice the title.

“Okay, gotta check it out now.” Dash idly tossed the invite away, before rounding on the surprised Anthon at having her in his face. “I'm watching you. Remember that.” She rocketed off into the air, and Anthon snorted in irritation.

“Well, she's a charmer.” He commented sarcastically, and Pinkie shrugged.

“That's just Dashie. She's overprotective of anypony she cares about, especially involving new pon-people. Let's go see AJ now.” Pinkie resumed bouncing onward, and Anthon grunted as he willed himself to follow.

He could use a double-shot of espresso right about now.

[@]

It was a surprisingly long walk, and to distract himself from all the ponies looking at him, he idly reached into his right hip pocket and took out his smartphone. He was surprised that his furry thumb could use the screen just as well, and even more surprised it was scaled to his size so he could still use it. AND it had signal! Internet too. “This whole situation just gets stranger and stranger.”

“Really? I thought it was getting more familiar.” Pinkie replied to his idle comment, getting him to chuckle.

“I wish I met somebody like you a long time ago Pinkie. My life probably wouldn't have turned out so dull and depressing if I had.” Anthon complimented, getting a sad smile from the mare.

“I wish there were more of me too, so I could make everypony happy all the time. Well, we're here!” Pinkie brought his attention to the front of them, and gestured towards the impressive apple orchards and the homestead of what was obviously a farm. “Welcome to Sweet Apple Acres! Guess what their cash crop is.”

“Leeks?” Anthon joked, getting them both to laugh as they passed the entrance gate. “So who is AJ?”

“She's really Applejack, but I just call her AJ for short. She and her brother Big Macintosh run this farm with their Granny Smith and support her little sister Applebloom.” At Pinkie's mention of AJ's name, Anthon burst out laughing. “What?”

“Okay! You've got to be pulling my leg Pinkie. Applejack? Seriously? That's the name of a shitty cereal back in my world. It's also the name of one of the most powerful and tasty alcoholic drinks in my world too. So now, if she isn't sickeningly sweet, or tasty with a kick powerful enough to unhinge your jaw; I'm going to be disappointed.” Anthon didn't notice Pinkie gesturing for him to shut-up until just now, and he sighed. “She's right behind me, isn't she?”

“Eeyup.” Anthon suddenly felt a powerful pair of hooves plant themselves firmly on his butt cheeks, launching him over a dozen feet over Pinkie, planting his face in the dirt, and getting his horns stuck. “That's what happens when ya let yer mouth run before ya brain.” Anthon growled as he quickly ripped his horns free and spun around, only to pause.

She was clearly bigger than all the other mares he'd met so far, taller by just a bit, but it was also how she had so much tight, lithe, corded muscle that he could see from here how every movement made her fur ripple. She was a soft orange, only ruined by the white freckles on her cheeks just under her eyes, which also made her look a bit charming. Her long blond hair for both her mane and tail were tied off in long ironic pony tails, and her shit-eating grin and glimmering emerald eyes were testament to her amusement. “What? Never seen a cow-mare before?”

“Not until now.” 'What? She's a fudging pony and I'm feeling attracted? Is it this minotaur body?' “Well, you live up to expectation, now.” Anthon took Klingon out of his pocket, the little guy shivering in fear. “APOLOGIZE TO MY LITTLE FELLA!”

AJ instantly turned her expression around and rushed to the cowering little pup. “Oh Ah'm sorry! Ah didn't know ya was in there!” She turned her head to her side, and oddly, a dog treat seemed to appear out of the air in her mouth. “Here, have dis.” She put it in front of Klingon, who shivered in fear as Anthon pet him to try and calm him down until he reached out and took the treat from AJ, who then kissed his brow. “Darn it, Big Mac keeps tellin' me to hold my horses, yet look, this still happens.”

“I didn't land on him, but he's still a puppy, so I'd like to get him some professional attention if I could.” 'I need to learn to say no to him, I can't keep dragging him around like this.'

“Well let's go see Shy then. Ah'll take us there.” AJ then began galloping out of the farm, Pinkie followed with a fast bound, and Anthon sighed.

“Looks like I get to see if my lack of stamina and asthma carries over....”

[@]

It was amazing! He wasn't tired at all! Well, he was a bit winded, but so were AJ and Pinkie. What was so great, was that he didn't break an ankle after three steps, he didn't lose all his energy right away, and he wasn't hacking up a lung with an activity-induced asthma attack. 'This place...it's so much better for my health to be here....'

“That's Shy's place up ahead!” AJ called back to him, as although he was fast now, he still wasn't used to running, and so the quadrupeds had a very clear advantage and had to slow down for him.

'Wait...isn't that?' Anthon flashbacked to nearly getting killed by a lion through his parent's former bedroom door. “Wait...wait I think-.”

“Hiya Fluttershy!” Pinkie called as she saw the butter yellow pegasus with long flowing light pink hair standing curiously in front of a disturbingly familiar plain white door frame that was literally standing freely atop a hill facing her cottage. “Whatcha doin'? Don't you need to build the house before you put in the door?”

“Oh, hello Pinkie, Appleja-.” The pegasus froze instantly upon seeing the towering and scary minotaur behind them, who was ignoring them to gawk at the door. That was stopped though, by the sight of the utterly adorable puppy in his arms. “Oh~! He's so cute!” Fluttershy gushed as she hovered over to him and began immediately petting the happy puppy. “What's his name?”

“The little fella is Klingon. Named him that because he just clung onto us. Also he tears up toilet paper and leaves little tidbits everywhere, so it worked out.” Anthon held out Klingon to the mare. “Hold him please.” She gladly obliged, and Anthon sighed. “Do you have lions out here miss?”

“Oh goodness no. Lions are native to Zebrica. We do have manticores though, but they rarely come this far out of the Everfree.” Anthon groaned before he heard whimpering and scratching at the door. “I've been trying to figure out how there are little animals inside, but...it's....”

“Just a door. How in tarnation?” AJ stated as she circled the enigma. It was closed and was completely solid, as she bucked it and didn't get any damage, or even budge. “Ouch...gonna feel that tomorrow.”

“I'd appreciate if you didn't kick my parent's bedroom door.” Anthon stated to the orange and yellow mare's complete confusion and Pinkie giggled. “I need to see about this....” Anthon went around, and indeed; the side that SHOULD be inside his home had the flipped lock exposed. 'A lot of good all my precautions did then....' He unlocked it, and then opened it. To his shock, it now opened into his parent's bedroom.

“Did ya open it?” Pinkie asked before poking her head around the frame. “Hey! You did! But it's still closed on this side.” She then went back, and he heard the door open on THAT side, and heard excited yapping as Cuddles and Violet ran out and pounced a squeaking Fluttershy who was all too happy to tumble with the little dogs, as his three cats Baby, Jasmine, and Sophie all cautiously looked out of the door.

“What in the name of Celestia is goin' on here?!” AJ asked in sheer confusion.

“I honestly have no idea. I'll summarize over what I DO know at the party. Look...I'm tired, VERY tired. I'm nocturnal and being up so late; I'm surprised I'm even cognizant. So if it's okay; I want to get some sleep before the party.” Anthon closed the door, and then circled around before walking through the open side, the others all watching in awe as he changed seamlessly from a minotaur into an overweight man. “Bleh...I really prefer being a badass minotaur. Okay Pinkie, you know how to find me, so catch ya later. Fluttershy, I trust my dogs-.” He noticed his cats also were with the ponies now. “And cats will be safe with you?”

“Oh, yes. I'll take good care of them for a while.” Fluttershy nuzzled Baby, the shaggy old black cat glad to rub her scabbing head against the friendly mare. “Oh~ you poor old dear. I'll get those persistent scabs treated. You take good care of her, but you should really use more ointment.” Shy turned to Anthon, who yawned and nodded.

“I know, but nothing we have here is safe for her to get in her system, and I'd rather she have the scabs than a digestive issue. See you all later.” Anthon waved goodbye, getting cheerful waves in return before he closed the door, and promptly collapsed onto his back on the catwalk floor, dead asleep.

Author's Notes:

Praise the Moon! *drops ded on bed*