[As we are about to begin our interview, the brown coated mare seated in front of me fidgets around nervously, constantly wringing her hooves despite my assurances that she is in no way under any any pressure to answer my questions. Heedless of my attempts to calm her, I take a moment to make sure everything is ready as I begin to write down our conversation.]

So, where would you like to start miss. . . ?

H-honey. . . Honey Tart's my full name, but most ponies just call me Honey.

Of course. So again, where would you like to begin miss Honey Tart?

. . . Well, I'll admit that my memory of back then isn't exactly all that good anymore. I can't remember everything that happened exactly, but I'll try my best to answer your questions.

That's all I ask for ma'am.

[Honey sighs gently through her nose.]

It, um. . . it was about five years ago I think, back when this whole thing started, back when ponies knew nothing about the. . . what were they called again? Displaced I think? I never really bothered to take note of the date at the time. I was still around fourteen or so years old, and still living with my parents, and. . . um, is this necessary for you to hear? I mean, I can skip past this stuff if you want me to.

No no this is alright. Please, continue.

Alright then. Um, like I was saying, I was still living at my parents place when I first saw her. I had just gotten a new job at the local hayburger joint up in the northern part of Canterlot, and I worked part time as a waitress. It was nothing particularly big or special about it, just another way to earn a few extra bits to blow. Anyway I had worked there for about two months or so, just going about my routine, doing the same things. I was working the night shift like I usually do, and it was my turn to take out the rubbish for the night. I remember that because it was actually Pepper's turn that night, but for whatever reason the lazy mare decided not to show up for work, probably to hang out with her coltfriend.

[Honey Tart stops, looking hesitant to continue. She interrupts me before I can say anything.]

It was cold that night, being so close to Hearths Warming and all that. You could see discarded decorations just lying around everywhere, nopony bothering to pick them up. I didn't care about that though, all I could think about was getting the trash in the dumpster and my flank back inside as quickly as possible. I'm not exactly sure when I started to hear something, but when I did it was like. . . well it was kind of. . .

[Honey proceeds to demonstrate by making an ominous sounding with her mouth, mimicking wind.]

Something like that. I didn't know what it was, but I just knew it wasn't normal, you know? I tried to ignore it at first, but eventually it just grew to the point where I just couldn't ignore it. I remember looking all around, trying to figure what it was, and I was scared because I had heard stories of wendigos and the sounds they make right before they freeze you. Then just like that, the wind stopped, and I was left standing there wondering what the buck had just happened. Eventually I just decided to chalk it to some pegasus getting a little too rough with the wind currents and went back inside. I told the others about it, but they just laughed and said I was getting spooked over nothing.

[Honey looks up towards the ceiling of her house, and shakes her head.]

You have no how much I wish that they were right about that.

[Honey looks back to me as my quill scratches at the parchment.]

Can you describe what happened next?

Yeah. . . yeah I can do that. . . . a little later, half an hour I think, we all heard somepony pounding on the front door. And I mean pounding, like they were trying to break it down. Myself included, there were only three ponies there, and it was a slow night. Lance decided to be the one to check and see what it was about. Everypony else hid, either behind the counter or under tables. He opened the door, and there it was. Or rather, there she was. You probably already know who I'm talking about, do I need to describe her?

If it's not too much of a bother.

Okay. Well to be honest, we had absolutely no idea who the she was, or what she was even supposed to be. She was tall, with bare skin, and black hair on the top of her head with a little red streak going through it. I think it was natural actually. She was dressed in something that looked like a black sailor outfit too. But the one thing that really got all of our attention was the giant red sword she carried over her shoulder. It was huge, easily as long as she was tall. I remember it looked like half of some giant pair of scissors. I'm telling you the truth when I say that when we saw her, we all thought we were gonna die that night. Lance fainted right there in front of her, and all I could do was hope she didn't see me hiding under the table.

[Honey Tart chuckles lightly.]

I swear, looking back I was pretty scared filly then.

Can you describe the events that followed?

[Honey Tart nods.]

When Lance passed out right in front of her, she just kind of stood there for a few moments, looking all kinds of confused, and nudged him with her hoof, or foot rather. She said something that none of us understood. I think it was in Neighponese, or something like it anyway. After that she walked inside and sat down at one of the booths. She saw us right away of course, hiding under the tables like mice or something. She said something and waved us over, and I felt myself being shoved out from under the table by the other pony there. I forget her name. So anyway I just walked over there, shaking like a leaf in my horseshoe, and I asked her what she wanted. I couldn't understand a word she said, so she just pointed at a picture in the menu.

And what happened then?

Just as you'd expect to happen. We made her order, she ate it, paid us and left. I'm not even sure what she paid us with, because it certainly wasn't bits.

[Honey Tart pauses.]

You know, if I had known anything about what was going to happen, what with all of the turmoil and controversy and fighting, I don't know if would've ever had it in me to eventually become friends with that girl, knowing what she really was. To this day I still don't understand a word that she ever said to me, but I still consider her to be one of my best friends, especially after what she did to help us through those times. It was just one of those weird moments, when you know nothing about somepony or someone, yet you know everything about them at the same time, and you can't help but love them.

[My interview with the pony to make first contact with the first known displaced comes to an end soon after. As I walked out of her house and Honey Tart tells me goodbye, I felt my eyes drawn to the crimson sword hanging above her doorway, decorated with fresh flowers. I don't have the heart to ask why it was there, and I feel I already know the answer.]

Author's Notes:

Hello everybody, and welcome back. Now I know what you are probably thinking. "Why is he/she uploading this peace of garbage instead of updating Hollow Shades or any of his/her other stories like he/she should be?"
The answer is simple. I was inspired by recently re-reading World War Z for what must have been the tenth time, and I couldn't help but wonder if such a story could be written about the Displaced in such a fashion. This is the end result. Now, before you comment, I wanted to tell you that this story is open to suggestions for additional entries to be written written by our interviewer, just so long as it fits the theme of the story. I will sure to post a link to your home page for each suggestion that gets written down.
Anyways, that is all for now.
This has been Dilos1, and I thank you for your time.