At the moment, I could not be more grateful for a few extra pillows under me as I sat on the floor. I looked around at the gathered ponies, then back to the biggest of them. The alabaster mare gave a nod to me and spoke.

“Shane, my first question will be the hardest for you to explain, I suspect. You—”

Her golden aura lit up around a scroll and unrolled it. I couldn’t see exactly what was on it, though my guess was it is one of the many notes Twilight had been taking.

“—said you were part of a group known as the Texas Highway Patrol,” pausing, “then later said you joined a group called the Texas Rangers. Could you explain what a... Texas is, and a Highway for that matter, and…”

I smiled and held up a hand. “I think I understand, Princess Celestia. I will do my best, so perhaps we should begin with Texas.”

A small squeal came from my left, it caused me to chuckle a bit. Princess Adorkable, I didn’t even need to turn and glance at the purple alicorn to know she had out a quill and some paper.

“First, you must understand Texas is a state, part of a country called the United States of America, made up of fifty states. Each state has its own laws, but also defer to federal law and the protections enshrined in the constitution that formed the union.”

I had expected Twilight or perhaps even Cadence to speak up, rather to my surprise when it was Applejack who asked. “Shane, what is a state?”

I pondered how to explain it, then an idea struck me. “Princess Celestia, does Equestria exist as one country whole, or is it broken up among counties? I am not sure what word I am searching for here.”

She tilted her head, then understanding crossed her face. “Yes, we call them protectorates. There is Canterlot of course, Ponyville, the Crystal Empire, and so on. With the return of the crystal ponies into our nation, there is currently twelve. Each one has smaller boundary lines drawn that separate lands the Nobles are sworn to protect. “

I gave a nod. “All right, so to answer your question Applejack, a state is much like a protectorate. A bit different I suspect in legal structure, but, close enough. Each state has counties in them, much like the way it is here. However, we don’t have nobles, we have elected officials that represent the people in implementing laws and maintaining transportation infrastructure, like roads.”

Twilight spoke up. “So, you are talking about a republic, the um,” looking at her notes, “United States of America you came from, is a republic?”

I turned and looked at her. “Well, it is more of a presidential constitutional republic, yes,” I corrected. Before any of them could ask, I spotted Rainbow starting to lift her hoof.

“That means we have a set of laws in place, a constitution, that guarantees rights to all, such as freedom of the press, freedom of speech, and etcetera. We do not have a king or queen, no princesses, either. Rather, we have elected officials that hold office for two to four years before another election is held. In the case of the top office, the president, it can only be held by the same person for a maximum of eight years.”

Shining Armor spoke up, watching me as he did. “So, in effect, the country you came from has a sort of controlled and people-driven peaceful revolution that turns over your whole government every four to eight years?”

I nodded. “Very oversimplified, but, yes. I am no legal scholar or politician, so most of what goes on is a bit above me. Although, that is the ten-cent tour of where I came from.”
Rarity spoke up “Ten-cent tour?”

I exhaled softly. It was going to be a long afternoon. “A cent is a coin that is one percent of a dollar, a dollar is…” I had to think for a moment. “A bit, that is what you call your currency here, correct? A bit?”

She gave a nod. “Yes, gold bits being the most used, silver bits, there are four silver bits to a gold bit, and copper bits. There are ten copper bits to a silver bit.”

That I had to smile to, information that would help me if I had to stay here. So, their system was not so much different from our own, other than the exchange rates.

After a moment to take a sip of water, and to let Twilight get a new scroll ready to write on, I glanced up and around. “Okay, part two. What is a highway?”

“You have carts here, so you have roads. A highway is a road, usually two lanes or more, divided by a wall or line of paint that stretches from one city to the next or one county to the next. Now, this is going to get pretty detailed so how about we keep it in overview for now. Twilight and I can document details later?”

Looking around, I noted many nods, and one purple sourpuss of a look.

“Basically, my kind has come up with a way of transportation, like a wagon, but needs no pulling. It uses a internal combustion engine, similar to how your train locomotives work in a very general way, to move it from point to point. This means we need Highways, freeways, and roads to drive them on and move ourselves, and products from one point to the other.”

A timid yellow leg lifted up, I looked over at its owner and gave her a nod. “Fluttershy?”

She tucked her ears down. “Is that what you were in when…”

I gulped hard, forcing the lump forming in my throat back down. I softly nodded my head. “Yes, a form of such called a truck.”

I had not realized that Applejack and Rainbow had moved over near me, one on each side. I felt the light touch of a hoof on each arm and looked to see two concerned faces. I forced a bit of a smile up, if only to move the conversation past this.

“I will be okay, thank you,” I said to both of them.

They remained at my side, laying in that odd ‘pony loaf’ that seems to be the norm for most here.

Luna spoke up next. “Shane, we are curious. So many roads, such a large sounding country. How many of your kind is there?”

I turned and looked at her. “In the world, or in my country alone?”

This made her pause. I saw a look on a few faces as they glanced back and forth. Luna blinked and spoke in a far softer tone. “In the world you came from.”

I knew this would be a bombshell so I looked around a bit. “At the last count, just over seven-point-five billion people.”

A dead, uneasy silence followed before Cadence chimed in. “I... I am sorry, did you say... billion? Surely, you mean million, right?”

I looked over at the pink alicorn and shook my head very softly. “No, ma’am, billion. The largest city in my world, Tokyo, by itself, has thirty-two million people living in it.”

I expected the gasps, I expected the surprise. However, to see even Celestia’s regal mask break, and hear her whisper what she did, shook me to my core. It really hit me hard just how different this world was at that moment.

She had looked right at me, and said in that low whisper. “Thirty-two million, in one city. That is a larger population than all of Equestria combined.”

---

We had taken a break, mostly to give everypony time to take all of that in. I found myself standing on the small balcony off the room we were meeting in. The view was much alike the one from my room, looking out over the city, and out into the forest and rolling plains beyond it.

A noise to my side caught my attention, glancing at a wall of white. I was forced to lift my head a bit and tip my hat back to look at Celestia’s face. She too was looking out at the view.

“It is not all peaceful there, is it,” she said in more of a statement less of a question.

I sighed out and shook my head. “No, ma’am, in fact far from that. We fight, we have wars, millions die every year from fighting, starvation, disease, accidents, you name it.”
Again, she never quite looked over at me. “This is why you are afraid, then? Why you keep your thoughts so close to the breast, so to speak? You fear our view on what your species has done.”

I tucked my hat back down to shade my eyes, turning to look out at the view from under the black beaver-felt brim.

“The majority of it, yes,” I decided I could level with her. Hell, she had over a thousand years of life on me.

“Your world, your ponies are so kind, so friendly, so open. My kind is mistrustful, suspicious by nature. I... well, I fear you may decide you can’t risk any possible negative influence I might bring with me, to be quite upfront with you, Princess.”

She gave a nod of her head, then responded, still in that soft tone that told me were were having a private conversation.

“Have trust in me, and my ponies, Shane. Despite the short time I have known you, I have seen your heart true and it is not bad or evil. Hurt, yes, filled with pride I have rarely seen, stubborn beyond even an Apple’s resolve, but good.”

She turned and looked at me now, and I turned to face her. “I cannot tell you to set your fear aside, all I can do is tell you, trust me to make the best decision for all, and that I have your interests in mind, too.”

I'm still not exactly sure what made her words carry such weight. Perhaps it was the tone, or the conviction in her eyes. Perhaps it was just how real they were, no sugarcoating, just direct and upfront. What ever it was, I found myself believing her. I had no reason to doubt her, and despite being a suspicious person by nature, I felt no ill-will or hidden intent from her.

I lifted my hand up and removed my hat, pulling it to my chest before dipping my head to her in respect. “Yes, ma’am.”

---

Gathered back inside again, after grabbing a nibble to eat and a bottle of apple cider that I had to say, was one of the best I had ever tasted. I guess I should not be surprised considering the label said the brand was ‘Sweet Apple Acres’. I had noted the smirk on the golden earth pony and blue Pegasus as they observed me enjoy the drink.

Once everyone was seated and settled in, I looked around some and back to the two rulers of this country.

“Now, I think we have a good idea of what Texas is, and what a highway is,” I noted Celestia’s eyes look right into mine.

“Texas Highway Patrol, Texas Ranger. I think going by your actions earlier today, and overall the way you address others, combined with how I have watched you react and respond to things... I think it safe to guess you, were an officer of the law, yes?”

I lifted a eyebrow, then nodded my head “Yes, ma’am.”

“Told ya so,” Applejack remarked from next to me looking over at Twilight who stuck her tongue out at the apple mare.

Various reactions appeared around me, but one I saw in the corner of my eye made me turn and look at the two, watching Cadence with a little frown pursing her lips, hoof over a small bag of what I guessed was bits to Shining Armor. I let out a bit of a chuckle, shaking my head.

“So, when ya took off after that varmint that stole the purse, that was just about pure instinct, wasn’t it? Also kind of explains how you fought with him without hurtin' him too bad.”

I gave a nod at that, leave it to a country girl to put two and two together before most did. However, I suspect Celestia, perhaps Luna, and for sure Shining Armor had guessed far before anypony else had.

“I am curious,” looking over at the white unicorn stallion next to his wife. “What tipped you off?”

Shining smiled a bit. “The way you scan a room when you walk in, how you watch others, the way you keep your head on a swivel. That is all stuff you pick up by serving in the military or law enforcement. It was also how you carry yourself, a kind of confidence-of-control one expects from such training.”

Luna then added to what he said. “Combine what Prince Armor has said, with how you have at every turn, made sure we were in control and not you, that you have given up being defensive and taken a more wait-and-see approach. It speaks to us of someone taught in the ways of negotiation, and deescalation tactics.”

I let off a small huff and shook my head. “Leave it to a bunch of technicolor ponies to be five steps ahead of me. Here I thought I was doing pretty good keeping things close to the vest.”

Celestia tittered, bringing her hoof up to cover her muzzle. “My dear little human, I believe we may have a few years on you in that regard.”

I looked around at all the smiles and happy looks and gave a nod of my head. “Perhaps you are right on that count, Princess,” glancing back over at the two rulers once more. “So, where do we go from here?”

Celestia smiled warmly. “I think I would ask you stay here in the castle for the next week or two, give us time to integrate you into our society as best we can. It would also let my ponies ask questions and try to figure out how to get you home, if it can be done.”

She gestured around. “Many of the Elements must return to Ponyville and their jobs, along with Cadence and Shining Armor who must return to the Crystal Empire. However, Twilight will be staying here. You will be given your own guards for now, at least until everypony has adjusted to your presence. Then, we can figure out where you want to live, and what you want to do.”

I looked around then gave a nod of my head. “That sounds fair to all, and quite generous of you, thank you, Princess. However…”

This made a few ears lift including Luna’s.

“I want to earn my keep, to do something, so I don’t feel like I am just living off y’all.”

At that, Princess Celestia nodded once more. “You will be, Shane. I will expect you to sit with Twilight and explain that item in the vault, explain your world, and I would like to further learn about this organization of law enforcement you originated from. After today's events, it has brought up certain... questions... I wish to compare to our own system.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “That sounds more than fair, I accept your offer.”