In The Night Garden

Hours passed, and I'd yet to move from where I was lying, with what Celestia had told me still running through my mind. If you were to be sent back to Earth, the magic in you would die. And you along with it. I still couldn't wrap my head around this. The life that I'd known there, the life that I'd enjoyed, hated, feared, loved. Gone. It was all gone, and it wasn't coming back anytime soon.

These thoughts had gone through my head again, and again. I should feel angry at how unfair this is, to be ripped from my home and given no chance of returning. I should feel sad at the fact that those I cared about, however few there were, would never know what happened to me. I should feel something. Anything. But I don't. I, literally, feel nothing. And if I'm being honest, this unnerves me.

'So I find out I'm now stuck here permanently, in a world where I'm the only human on the entire fucking PLANET, and I'm not at all angry? Not even a little bit? Okay, let's try being sad... No? Nope, nothing. Cool. I'm dead inside. Only took me, what, 22 years? Good job, Alex. Or do I have to call myself Greyson now? Why don't I just tell them my first name, anyway? I'm here for life, now, so I may as well start trusting them... Fuck it, where are those drinks? I've yet to try pony alcohol, and now seems like as good a time as any.'

Making my way to a nearby cupboard, I throw every drawer open, wood and clothes be damned. Finding nothing, I grunt in frustration, before making my way to another cupboard. Once more, I find nothing. 'Oh you're just taking the piss.' Now, before I'd fallen into that two day coma, I'd taxed a few bottles of some pony beer from Flash's room, which he still doesn't know about. 'Sue me, Flash.' Now, I was trying to remember where exactly I'd stashed them. Under the bed? No. Dresser? Nada. In the bathroom, somewhere? Nyet.

Out of options, I'm about to take my frustrations out on a few inanimate objects, when I see something out of the corner of my eye. 'My bag! Please tell me they're in there!' Running over to it, I open it up, throwing its contents all over the room. Reaching the bottom, the feeling of glass almost brings a tear to my eye. Almost. Picking the bag up, I bring it to the bed, before emptying its remaining contents onto the bed. Dropping the bag, I smile at the glorious sight in front of me. 'Maybe it won't be so bad after all.'

Taking them all into my arms, I make my way over to the balcony door, heading outside. Setting up a chair, I take a seat, admiring the sunset. 'Not bad, not bad at all. Now, onto more important things.' Inspecting the bottle, I can't help but shake my head in annoyance. 'Bacolti? Seriously? This some play on words of Bacardi, or something? Fuck it. Whatever. As long as it's strong, I don't care.' Shrugging, I unscrew the lid and down nearly half the bottle in one go, the taste of it surprisingly pleasant. Finishing the bottle, I lean back, before picking up another bottle. Unscrewing it, I chuckle, before raising it into the air.

"Here's to being an alien, Alex. You are well and truly fucked."

"Flash, if this is the best you've got, you're a fucking lightweight." I mumble, throwing another bottle of 'Bacolti' into the corner, along with the other 4 bottles that had I'd already downed. As it turns out, pony alcohol was very weak compared to human alcohol. So weak, in fact, that it actually tasted like one of those kiddy Fruit shoots you can get at the Co-op for 70p. Sighing, I lean back into the chair, looking upwards. "Damn. Those star watcher people would kill to get a view light this. Hell, I don't blame them. Actually kinda beautiful, to be fair." I say out loud, gazing upon the hundreds of stars that lit up the night sky. 'Throw me a paintbrush and I'll Van Gogh this shit.'

"Thou...like our night?" Replies a shocked voice. Not even bothering to turn to Luna, or question how she'd even managed to join me on the balcony without me realising, I nod.

"Well, it is a rather pretty sight, Princess. Back on Earth, I'd never see a sight like that." I gesture to the sky. 'Cheers for that, pollution.'

"Why?" Asks the curious diarch.

"Well it's hard to tell you without being here all night, but basically, because of our industries and other complicated things, light pollution blocks out hundreds of stars, so all I'd be able to see would be the moon and a couple dozen stars here and there. Thankfully, you ponies haven't reached our level of technology, and so you still get to enjoy this lovely view." I explain, still looking to the stars. Turning my head towards the princess, I see that she's staring right at me, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "You alright, Luna?" I ask, sitting up.

"Nopony has ever complimented us on our night before." She says, surprising me.

"Seriously? Not even once?" I ask, genuinely shocked. Shaking her head, she looks at me, drying her eyes.

"Nay, our subjects adore our sister's day, and sleep during our night. 'Tis been like this for as long as we've held dominion over the night." She explains, sadness flashing across her muzzle. Twisting my body around, I now face the princess, who stares at the ground, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. 'Oh hell. Crying. I don't do tears, kids.'

Making my way over to the princess, I squat down to her level, putting my hand under her muzzle to look at me. "Right then. You're the princess of the night, yea?"

"Yes. But, thou know this already." She replies, tilting her head at my question.

"Let me finish, sweetheart." Closing her mouth, she lets me continue. "As princess of the night, you must know the best spots for viewing it, yes?" She nods, before her eyes widen at what I'm suggesting. Smiling, I nod. "Then let's go find ourselves somewhere to sit. The night is beautiful, and you know where the best seats are." I say, standing up. Rising to her hooves, she looks at me in astonishment. Then, the biggest smile you'd ever seen formed on her muzzle, and she jumped to her hooves, wrapping her forelegs around my neck. Now, the last time she'd hugged me, she'd ended up sending me to the floor. Thankfully, I was a little bit more prepared, and so I manage to keep my balance. 'For once.'

Embracing the princess, I smirk. "So, is this a date then?" Feeling her freeze up in my arms, I laugh, before letting the mare go, who gave me a half serious, half playful stare.

"Must thou always insinuate such things?" She asks, trying to get her blush under control. Opening the balcony door for us, I shrug.

"Only when the mares are as beautiful as you, sweetheart." Her blush only intensified. 'You still got it, Alex.'

Minutes into our walk, I notice that we were making our way through a familiar corridor. How I knew this corridor, when they all looked literally the same, I had no idea. Still, I recognised it as the one leading to the castle gardens. Sure enough, one corner later and the doors to the gardens were at the end of the corridor. Reaching them, Luna's horn lights up, the doors opening before us.

"Show off." I grumble, much to her amusement. Walking through the gardens, we come across a weird looking statue. 'Yo God? What drugs did you take when you thought it was a good idea to make this clusterfuck of a thing? I mean seriously, mate. The guy's got two different horns, what looks like a lions arm, a talon? Yea, a talon... a...goats leg? What in the fuck?' "The hell is this thing?" I ask out loud, drawing Luna's attention to the statue in question. Trotting up beside me, she scowls at the statue.

"Discord." She growls, staring menacingly at the statue, as if it were about to attack us at any second. '

"Okay....? Just a bit confused here, Luna. Do you... wanna explain, maybe?" I ask, curious as to why she seemed to hate this thing so much.

"'Tis a story for another time. For now, however, let us press forwards. Our spot is not far." She replies, turning on the spot and carrying onwards down the path with me in tow. Following the mare, I can't help but feel as if something, or someone, was looking at me. Turning around, I realise that it was only myself, Luna, and... the statue. Narrowing my eyes at this 'Discord', I look it up and down. Moments later, I shake my head, and turn back to follow the princess. 'Stop being so paranoid, Alex. It's just a statue.'

I still couldn't shake of the feeling that I was being watched. 'Maybe that alcohol's just slow to take effect? Oh mate, if it is, and I've drunk a good 5 bottles of it, the hangover will be legendary.'

A minute later, and we'd arrived at her spot. It was a small hill, hidden from view by the trees and shrubbery. Sitting down and leaning against the tree, I notice how secluded this little part of the garden was. I could see why Luna favoured this spot of hers, as she could lie here undisturbed for hours, just relaxing without the stresses of being a monarch. Yet, I was confused. 'The balcony had the same exact view. What's so special about this place?' As if reading my thoughts, Luna sits down next to me, looking to the stars.

"Thou art wondering why we chose this spot, correct?" She asks, a knowing look on her muzzle. I nod.

"Don't get me wrong, Princess. This spot is lovely and all, but the balcony was a better spot to view the stars. What's got you hooked here?" Smiling, she looks to the sky.

"Here, we are free to enjoy the peace and tranquillity, to enjoy our night in all its brilliance." She answers. "We have always wanted to share such an experience with a friend, one who felt the same joy at our night as we do." She says, smiling at me. Chuckling, I look to the stars as well.

"Well, it's better to enjoy something that you love with someone who loves it as well, than to enjoy it by yourself." I say. Feeling a sudden weight on my side, I look at Luna, who was leaning against me. 'I swear she's the touchiest of the three royals.'

"We thank thee." She says suddenly. 'Thank you? For what?'

"For what?" I ask, confused as to this sudden show of emotion.

"For what thou have told us this evening. Not once has anypony taken such joy in our night until now, and it brings us much happiness to know our gift is appreciated by somepony-

"Someone I correct, smirking playfully at her.

"Someone, who enjoys our night." She finishes, continuing to lean against me.

"Well, unlike your ponies, this alien here finds your night rather beautiful, and it's a bloody shame that that sentiment isn't shared by everypony else." I say, bringing another smile to her face.

"Thou really know how to flatter a mare, Greyson." She laughs. We sit in a silence for a few moments, content with just looking to the stars and enjoying the tranquility of the garden, before I sigh. 'Fuck it, I may as well drop the act.'

"Alexander." I breath, staring at the ground.

"Hmm?" She asks, lifting her head off of my shoulder, looking at me.

"My name. It isn't Greyson." Noticing her confused expression, I continue. "Well, it is, just not first name. My real name, Princess, is Alexander Ian Greyson." I say, seeing her eyes widen in surprise.

"Why hast thou hidden such a thing from us?" She asks, rising to her hooves, the confusion and hurt evident in her voice. Turning to face her, I begin to explain.

"When I first got here, Luna, I didn't know what was going on. I didn't know where I was, or how I'd gotten here. Hell, I still don't know how I got here. When I reached Ponyville, one of the first things that happened to me was that I was knocked unconscious by Rainbow Dash, one of the mares who helped defeat Nightmare Moon." At the mention of me being decked by Rainbow, Luna seemed to get angry, before she quickly composed herself. Ignoring it for now, I continued. "Waking up in that library, surrounded by those mares who I didn't know nor trust, I didn't know what to do. What were they going to do to me? Was I dreaming? Was this all just some weird ass nightmare. made up my own messed up imagination? I didn't have a clue. When I gave them my name, I was still trying to come to grips with the fact that I was, in fact, on a whole different world. Hell, maybe an entirely different universe for all I knew. All I told them was that my name was Greyson. I didn't lie to them, I just... gave them a half truth." I finish, looking at the dark Alicorn. Looking away for a few moments, she nods in understanding, before turning back to face me.

"But if thou held nay trust in us, why hast thou granted us knowledge of such a secret?" At this, I chuckle.

"I'm stuck here for the rest of my life, now. So far, I've got a job, a temporary home in the form of Twilight's library, and a multitude of friends who care for me. Three of which are princesses, two of whom have power over the sun and moon. Oh, one of them also has an absolutely adorable yet confusing way of speaking like she's from the 12th century. Maybe you've heard of her?" I joke, getting a laugh out of the mare. "As it stands," I continue, "there's no reason for me not to trust you all, anymore. If any of you were going to banish me or execute me or whatever, you'd have done so already." Nodding in understanding, she sits back down next to me, once more leaning against me. 'Again with the touchiness. Mares, man. Weird.'

"We understand thy need for hiding such a thing. Trust is not so easily gained, and we are gladdened to hear that we have earnt such a gift." Nodding, I put my arm back around the mare, staring at the stars, just enjoying the view. Minutes later, I notice that the princess felt a lot heavier than she had a minute ago. Looking at her, I realise that she'd actually fallen asleep on my shoulder. 'Daww, that's adorable.' Not wanting to wake the sleeping royal, I carefully move her head off of my shoulder, hoping to lie her down on the ground. Leaning back slightly, I ease her body to the floor, taking care not to drop her. Suddenly, her hooves unconsciously begin searching for a source of warmth, now that my shoulder had been lost to her.

Try as I might, I'm unable to prevent the still sleeping mare from finding such a source of heat in the form of me. Not having the heart to even try and stop her, due to the fact that it was quite simply the most adorable thing I'd ever seen, and the fact that she could probably evaporate me if I woke her up, she ends up lying across my lap. 'Jesus, she's like a bloody cat. A 1000 year old, immortal, godlike cat.' Resigned to the fact that I had now been press ganged into being a royal body pillow, I relax, and lean back against the tree, staring once more at the night sky.

"What have you gotten yourself into, Alex?" I chuckle, unconsciously playing with the princess's ethereal-like mane. "You're surrounded by talking, magical ponies. You're the only human in existence. Absolutely nothing makes fuck all sense anymore, and to top it all off? Their alcohol is weak as all hell." I sigh. Looking down at the princess, I can't help but smile at the sight. "What a world."

Author's Notes:

Well this was a cute chapter. I gotta say, it was a slight challenge writing Luna's dialogue, what with her speaking in that archaic form of hers. Still, I think I'm managing well enough, though I'm positive at least one Thee or Thou's are in the wrong order, but hell, I'm not perfect.

And only 2.7k words? A short chapter, I know, and I do apologise. As it stands, the next one or two chapters will be just like this, with Alex coming to terms with the whole "permanently stuck" situation alongside getting to know the royals and friends better, as we've seen in this chapter with Luna. Don't worry though, the story will be getting back on track soon enough.

And 5K views on this story? Wow! This is the first fanfic I've ever written, and it's already reached such a milestone? You guys are goddamn amazing, well and truly.

Until next time, folks! Peace.