*Praline 1st person*

“Thank you for your purchase, please come again.” I say as the last customer for the day leaves my shop. It’s around 6:30 and it’s getting pretty dark so it’s time to clean up and leave.

I look out the window only to see Sugar Cube Corner, the only competition to Praline and Creams Confectionary. But I guess a bakery/malt shop would have more business than a candy shop when it comes to the adults.

After cleaning up and walking out of the store, I see Scooter coming up to the shop.

“Did the store close yet?”

“Yes.” He looks downtrodden, his purple main covering his orange face. “But since I’m still here I’ll let you in and buy something.”

That seemed to raise his spirits.

“Thanks Praline, you’re the best.” He gives me a large smile. “By the way, how’s Harpo?”

“He’s been acting a bit strange recently, by that I mean very defensive. Working with the Equestrian anthropology society or whatever it’s called. I think he knows more about humans than any other pony. How about you? Or Appleseed or Silver Bell?”

“The other crusaders are doing fine. Elusive grounded Silver though and AS has chores. That means I spent the whole day alone.” He looks sad again.

“Well how about I not only give you a discount on the candy you’ll buy, but also a special treat?”

This gets him excited. He starts to jump in the air his small wings buzzing.

“That would be awesome!” I open the shop door and usher him inside.

“What can I get for you?” I say as I step behind the counter.

He puts his hoof to his chin in thought. He looks over all the candies I have to offer him. Some sour, some sweet, some tart, spicy, and bitter. He takes an especially long look at the ~~Jawbreakers~~ and moves on to an empty spot.

“Do you have any caramel apples? The green ones?” Oof tough luck kid.

“Sorry. One of the first things we put away when closing shop are the caramel and candied fruits and vegetables.” This doesn’t seem to faze him as he quickly looks for some other source of tooth rotting goodness.

“I would like … a pound of saltwater taffy. Blueberry flavored. And one of those chocolate bars with the raspberry’s inside.”

“You got it.” I scoop some taffy into a paper bag and get the chocolate bar for him. I then put them in a paper bag. “So that would be 5 bits but because of your discount you only pay 3.”

“Okay.” He gets the bits from a bit bag he hid in his mane and hoofs them over. How did he learn to do that? That must be Berry’s doing.

“Thank you. So, you want to see what the special treat is?” He eagerly nods. “It’s a candy I’ve been working on. I got the recipe from one of those anthropologists Harpo works with. He said he found it at a dig and it was an ancient human recipe.”

Now Scooter looks even more excited. Yes human candies are always considered high quality and sell for a high price because of how complex they are to make.

“What’s it called?”

“It’s called a ~~Sour Belt.~~ It’s a thin but somewhat stretchy candy strip that’s both sour and sweet. The flavor I’ve been making translates to blue raspberry. Doesn’t that sound delicious? Think you can handle it?”

“Heck yeah I am. I’m not scared of a little sour candy. I’m brave and can handle it.”

“Good. Most ponies can’t handle sour.” I on the other hoof, love sour.

I take him to the back of the store inside of the freezer. I look around and find a tray filled with the long rectangular candy strips. I pick 4 up and place one in the paper bag. I then hoof the other one to Scooter.

We walk out of the freezer and back outside of the store. I lock up and see that Scooter has popped the candy into his mouth. He didn’t even try to savor it. His reaction is instant. His face puckers up and his eyes start to water.

It’s so cute that I can’t help but let out a little chuckle.

“How’s the candy?” He gives me a hooves up but his eyes say that he’s in some pain.

I hoof him his bag and watch as he gallops back home. I start to gallop home as well, it’s getting pretty late.

*10 minutes later*

Upon getting home, I go into the kitchen and pick out some left over roses from last night and quickly eat them before brushing my teeth and getting into bed. I see that Harpo’s already there facing away from me. I’ll try not to wake him.

“You’re home later than usual.”

“Yeah I am.”

“Where you with anypony?” He sounds somewhat sad as his voice is quivering yet he also sounds extremely hostile.

“Where is this coming from?” I ask indignantly.

“ANSWER THE QUESTION!”

“Yes. Scooter came to the shop after it closed but I decided to let him in and sell him some candy and give him a taste of what I’ve been working on.”

“Good. I forgive you.”

“Excuse me? Forgive me for what? You don’t control my life. Where is all of this coming from?” What is wrong with him tonight? Oh, I think I know. “Harpo, did you get rejected by another mare?”

He shuffles around in bed and sniffles. “I know she loves me but she just did something that really hurt me today. I made some sketches and took notes of these things that could revolutionize the way we see humans. But I guess I did something wrong and she went crazy and ripped them up.”

“Oh, sweetheart. I’m sure if you talk with her tomorrow you can sort it out.”

He turns over towards me and smiles. “Thanks. I can always count on you to make me feel better.”

“Now that that is over, let’s get some shut eye.” I give him a quick kiss on the lips and turn out the light.

“I love you Praline.”

“I love you too Harpo.”

*The next morning*

I wake up to see that Harpo has already gotten up and left. Judging from the note he has some urgent business to attend to involving something in the attic and bringing some notes stored there to his colleagues.

Thank Solaris It’s Sunday. I can just get back to sleep. Or I would if I wasn’t hearing some noise coming from above.

It sounds like some kind of yelling. I’ll get to the bottom of this after breakfast. Then I can go back to sleep.

So back to the kitchen I make myself some oatmeal; really how did humans think up these things? And after eating it and washing it down with a cup of orange juice I get a stool and go to where the trapdoor to the attic is. Stepping on the stool I grab the little rope dangling down with my teeth and pull.

The door opens and the ladder falls down. The yelling seems to have stopped, but I’m now hearing somepony talking in some foreign language.

I step up the ladder and see a cage that seems to be holding a creature wrapped completely in blanket. I can’t see what it is but it sounds like a mare. Harpo foalnapped a mare and is keeping her locked in a cage. Is this the mare who upset him? I have to get her out. Then I need to tell the guard.

*Janet 1st person*

“Why did I think destroying some creatures property was a good idea?! Not only did he take care of me, but he saved me as well. Yes what he did was bad, but I kind of owed him.” After what he did this morning though, he owes me.

He took blood, skin, hair, and various other samples. Why? Is he a scientist? He’s a small unicorn. Unicorns are magic, that’s the opposite of science.

“I should try to get out of here. But how? And what about the outside? If there is a magic unicorn and wolves made of wood, then who knows what else is out there.”

Yelling has not helped at all, so I’ll do the only thing I can think of to keep me occupied. Talk to myself about how I done goofed.

I’m feeling conflicted. I love that unicorn bastard even though he did some bad things to me. I probably did deserve it though. But I don’t want to be put in a cage or have samples taken whenever I act up.

My thoughts are interrupted by a loud creaking noise.

I cover my whole body with my blanket except an eye. Looking in the direction of the sound I see the trap door is open and something is walking up the ladder.

“It’s … another pony?” There are more of them? Wait, this one doesn’t have a horn. Does that mean it’s not intelligent?

Why should I care? I need to find a HUMAN that speaks my language. Maybe they would be able to let me out of this cage. Then I can get out of this place.

Maybe this one can understand me.

“Pony, I command you to release me from my prison.” He gives me a very confused look and quickly shakes his head. His facial expression changed into what I think is either determination or anger. Maybe I should have stayed silent.

“~~Don’t worry, I’ll get you out of there.~~”

I have no idea what it’s saying. But it’s walking up to me. Probably telling me how it’s going to hurt or kill me in some way.

When it reaches my cage and turns around. Upon rearing back, I can’t help but notice that this pony is not an ‘it’ but a ‘him’.

I move as far back into my cage as possible and close my eyes.

I hear a loud noise and open my eyes.

The top of the cage has been ripped right off. I take this opportunity to stand up to my full height, the blanket falling off of my head, the pony has a look of shock on his face.

“FREEDOM!” I shout and jump out of the cage and grab my backpack.

I quickly climb down the ladder and dash down a hallway. I have to crouch because of how low it is. I’d say the ceiling is about 5’4’’ high. I see a staircase and quickly run down it. I accidentally destroy some paintings and vases while running.

That pony has started chasing me and yelling angrily. I see a bookcase and get an idea. While running by I grabbed it, and threw it on the ground. That seems to have stopped him.

I see a door with an eye hole in it. That has to be the front door. I run full sprint towards it and rip it open. This in itself was an amazing feat because it had one of those chain locks on it.

I run outside without looking where I’m going. The only place I’m looking at is the house from where I just came.

I do look up into the sky and see that it’s noon. Plenty of stores should be open and it should be easy finding a police station.

I think my wallet’s still in my backpack. There should be enough money in there to buy some clothing afterwards.

I keep running, breath ragged, until I’m in what looks like the town square. I stop to catch my breath and hear a lot of gasping and object being dropped. I guess running around wrapped in a blanket with a backpack on is enough to garner some attention.

I look up and what I see leaves me speechless.

Ponies. Ponies everywhere.

Some flying. Some using magic with their horns. Some doing nothing because they suck and don’t have crazy mutant horse powers. Then I see a lavender one with both wings and a horn.

They’re all staring at me. Eyes wide mouths agape.

This is somewhat nerve wracking. Just where am I? Why is this place full of ponies? I need a quiet place to take this in. Where would be a good place to do this?

My thoughts are interrupted by sudden movement.

They’re walking closer to me.

I clutch the blanket closer to me and start to walk backwards. It looks like they’re about to jump me until that lavender one shouts something and they all back off.

He starts to walk towards me but with his wings extended and his horn lit. Is he trying to be intimidating?

He looks like he’s about to say something to me but I turn around and bolt.

I definitely should have stayed in my cage. I think I’ll go back to that forest.

*Dusk Shine 1st person*

I can’t believe it. Was that a human?

“Dusk. Was that what ah thought that was?”

“I don’t know AJ. But in case it is, go get Blitz, Berry, and Elusive. I’ll get Butterscotch. It looks like it ran into the Everfree so we’ll have to hurry. I’ll tell everypony about it when we get to the edge of the forest.”

“I need to make a stop off at my castle and tell Barb. I hope we can get to it before anything bad happens.”

With that said, both stallions galloped away. Both in a hurry to gather their friends for what they fear might be trouble.

Author's Notes:

Had actually written the rough draft for this chapter a day or two after the rough draft for the second chapter. I owe it all to that outline I made. Remember, planning is the way to go folks.