Day 1:

Fifteenth hour

--

Bread tasted kind of different here. Sweeter. Was there something in my toast that was providing some form of sugar? We were in the middle of wrapping up lunch. In an attempt to break the silence, I tried to ask a question in a happier tone,

"So, where's spike?"

Twilight responded, "He's out shopping."

More silence. Even the ecstatic Pinkie Pie was at a loss of words, her attention focused on gobbling her sandwich.

"So, what are humans like?" asked the purple mare.

This was an extremely awkward question. Should I relay her everything I've learned in biology? Being Twilight, I was guessing she already had plenty of books on how the organs and mechanisms of an average life from works. Deep down, I knew the answer. Humans, by default, are lustful and foolish creatures. I'm only a fraction of the, as I used to and always will say, the "bucket".

"..They're nothing like you guys." I responded, setting down my half eaten toast. Now the ponies were looking at me curiously rather than awkwardly. It was true then- they knew nothing. But to be honest, I'm glad. These innocent creatures don't have to be exposed to the knowledge of my earthly politics, war, poverty, and everything else.

"Hey.." I looked up. Rainbow Dash stopped eating and looked at me. "I'm, uh, sorry about what happened last night."

For a moment, I was taken back. She actually apoligized.

"I am too." said Applejack.

I smiled. It was literally the first sincere one in a long time. It kind of hurt. People have always told me that the only time I don't look gloomy or boring is when I grin - so I found it ironic how I didn't smile much these days. "Let's just put that behind us, okay?"

--

Finally lunch was put away. Nobody was really doing anything that afternoon, so we sort of just reassembled in Twilight's library. The owner herself started,

"Okay Alan, we can trust you, but there are a few things I think a few of us would like to know."

I sat down on the stool I was using earlier. "I have nothing to hide."

"Let's start with why you're here."

I scratched my head. That was one of my biggest questions. "I don't know," I replied truthfully, "as far as I know, I'm from a completely different universe from Equestria - a place called Earth. All I can remember was falling through thick fog.. and landing here."

Twilight studied me for a moment. I wonder if she believed me. She then took out a notebook and pencil, along with a pair of glasses. "I have a few more questions for you."

Joy.

"Firstly, are you a young human, or older?"

I thought about it for a moment. "I'm 17, which is normally young for most humans, but I'm on the taller end."

Twilight was furiously creating notes about humans, and the whole time I was watching her levitate the quill.

"How does that work?" I motioned to the floating quill.

Twilight looked bewildered. "You mean you humans don't know how to write?"

I rolled my eyes. "That's not what I meant. I was wondering how you got the quill to float. It's magic right?"

Twilight motioned to her horn. "All unicorns and alicorns can use magic due to their horn in combination with another internal organ. It requires a great deal of focus and concentration."

"The reason I ask is that we actually don't have magic where I come from."

Twilight was even more amazed. "What? How do you move the stars around then?"

"That's just it, we don't have magic, so we can't use it to move the stars. The stars do move though, that's not a problem."

Twilight looked as if her head was going to explode from questions. "No magic but you can still move the stars? How in the world do-" I cut in before she could get started. "Look, it's not really important at the moment, and when I get the time I'll try to explain it to you. Just for now, can we focus on the problem at hand?"

She sighed and put the notebook and pencil away. "Okay.."

I stood. "If that's all.."

Rainbow Dash raised a hoof. "There's something I need to ask too."

I sat down again and sighed. "Shoot."

"You told us that you knew about us from stories you guys have. What do these stories exactly say about us? I mean, is it good, bad, or something completely different? Like, am I as AWESOME as I am here?"

Twilight and Rarity both rolled their eyes in unison.

I gazed blankly at Rainbow Dash. "The original stories explain how you all became the best of friends, and all of the lessons that you learn about friendship."

I figured I would skip most of the fanfiction stories/ideas, as those weren't exactly canon material.

"Although…" I smiled at Rainbow Dash. "In some of the fan-made stories, people pair you and Scootaloo up as sisters."

"WHAT?" Rainbow Dash almost jumped right out of her chair, and everyone else had a good laugh.

Twilight stood. "We're all schedule at the salon this afternoon. You can come with us if you'd like, Alan."

I shrugged. What choice did I have? I didn't really want to stay in the library all day, so I followed them outside the door. The minute I stepped outside, I knew, truly, that I was in Equestria. The whole thing was too colorful to be my own dark and gloomy world, a manufactured, flat, uninteresting mess of grey and black. Every pace I took in Ponyville made me feel more and more like I was walking through a four dimensional painting. I tried to make myself seem as small as possible, but it just didn't work. All of the citizens were way too scared of me - either that or disgusted or confused. I sympathized with them, but I didn't dare approach in case someone called the cops or whatever the police force was here in Equestria. The show didn't really reveal a lot of evil doers, and when they did, there was no great big rebellion against it, so I assumed there wasn't any.

Our friendly exchange continued at the salon. Rarity asked some questions about human fashion. To save myself the long-winded explanation, I simply showed her a picture of my mom and dad on their wedding day, and a few other pictures of me as a child.

"Aww, you look adorable!" Fluttershy squeaked. I think it was one of the first words I actually heard her adress to me.

By the time they were done, it was about five in the afternoon. We walked in the door of the library, and I gave Spike quite the scare.

"Hey Twili-WHOAH WHAT IS THAT?"

I shoved my hands into my pockets and observed the small dragon. "I'm Alan Walker. You must be Spike."

Spike had the usual questions I had been asked all day, so after answering things like "What are you?", "How did you know my name?", and "What are you doing here?" we got down to figuring out where I was going to spend the night.

"Look, I can sleep almost anywhere. I've slept on wood floors, concrete pads…it really won't matter all that much to me. As long as I have a pillow I'll be fine, but even then I don't really need one," I said, ironing my hair, uncomfortable with the big deal about my lodgings.

Rarity was the first to offer. "I can get you a pillow and a blanket for wherever it is that you'll be staying. I have dresses strewn all over the floor for this evening, but you can stay at the Boutique tomorrow night if you would like."

"Um, well, I guess you can stay at my house for tonight…" Fluttershy offered.

I felt bad imposing on them, but staying outside when the temperature dropped to near freezing levels wasn't an option.

After we had chocolate cupcakes and apple juice (supplied by Pinkie Pie and Applejack respectively), we all split up for the evening.

As Fluttershy and I walked back to her house, I asked her about some of the locations that the TV show mentioned. (I never actually told any of them about the TV shows, I just said that they were stories we had.)

"So Fluttershy…where exactly am I? I understand that I'm in Ponyville, but where are some local landmarks around here?"

"Um, well, from Ponyville, you can go west if you want to go to the Everfree Forest, you head southwest if you want to see the hills of Sweet Apple Acres, and my house is in between the forest and Sweet Apple Acres.

"Where is Canterlot from here?"

"Oh, it's a ways that way." She pointed up and to the northeast, but I didn't see anything except for clouds, mountains, and fog. She went on to explain that Canterlot is above the clouds on one of the highest mountains; high enough to overlook all of Equestria but close enough so that the journey wasn't too long to make.

When we were inside, she explained that some of the animals had already left to head south for the winter. While she was busy feeding some of the animals upstairs, I was busy taking mental notes. Fluttershy's house was well furnished, with a fireplace in the middle of the room. There was a winding staircase that went around the chimney, and the all of the colors were an earthen tone; greens and browns were the dominant colors.

I started a fire and sat down in front of it, pondering what had happened that day. I had fallen onto Equestria, met the mane six, but still had no idea how to get back home. I tried to recall anything in my memory that could help give me any leads as to why I was here.. then I remembered. The spam. "Something unexpected will happen to you tommorow".. Dammnit, did that email decide this fate for me? I heard Fluttershy walk back downstairs after a while and she watched me for the longest time. I could tell something was on her mind, but she wasn't quite ready to say it.

Eventually she stepped forward and curled up near the fire. "Josh, what is it like where you come from?"

"It is much different than Equestria, I'll tell you that. Where I come from, about 70% of the planet is covered with water and oceans, and there are about seven billion humans on the planet's surface."

The number stunned her. "Se…Seven billion? Are there any ponies in your land?" she said inquisitively.

"Yes, but not like the ones here. They don't speak our language, and what they do speak, we humans can't understand. It's not the same, and although earth ponies exist, pegasi, unicorns, and alicorns don't exist." I went on to explain the deep green and densely clouded regions of the northwest United States, the vast expanses of plains on the deserts of Africa, and the spectacular mountains of Europe.

"That sounds amazing…"

She stared into the fire. The burning embers reflected off of her almost cyan eyes. My hand rested on one cheek as I studied her. Fluttershy really did look different up close, and yet, so similar to the television show. It hurt me as a human being in my teens to admit it, but she looked really nice.

"Hey," I spoke up, Fluttershy perking up and turning her head towards me.

"Do you think I'm strange or.. unnatural?" I spoke, phrasing my words carefully. I didn't want to seem too affrontive or anything. Fluttershy studied me with gentle eyes, then smiled.

"I don't. I think you're pretty cool for, well what you are." Her cheeks started to redden too. "I-I also think your very handsome as well.."

This was a surprise. A pony had taken a fancy to me? I didn't have anything negative to say about it.

"Th-thanks, I guess," I stammered. Why was I getting nervous? It was just a cartoon.. some work of fiction.

But even as I thought those thoughts, I knew I was lying to myself. Me being here, in Ponyville, in Equestria, in this bizarre land, nothing about these ponies could be rocket science.

--

Some bedsheets and pillows were propped up against a couch next to the fireplace. They were incredibly soft - Rarity did a very fine job on these. I felt sort of guilty for making her work harder just to ensure my well being. Fluttershy bid me farewell as she went upstairs to her room. I stripped down to my undershirt and slipped into bed. I almost immediately fell asleep. My confused thoughts swirled around in my brain as my vision faded to black. Then, I felt nothing.

= =

Fluttershy peeked around the corner, staring at Alan from the door frame. She wondered if he'd mind at all.. then she realized he was asleep. As quiet as possible, she tip-toed over to the couch.

"..Alan..?"

Thunder roared once more outside. Fluttershy jumped and squeaked slightly at the loud noise. Equestria got some occasional rain.. but this thunderstorm was especially scary. Gulping, she lifted the bedsheets and settled down next to Alan. His scent was comforting, and the steady rise and fall of his chest was relaxing. Fluttershy fell asleep, propped next to the grey-haired human.

= =

End of the First Day

--

--Sidenotes

HAHAH! I had so much fun writing this. Fluttershy is my absolute favorite pony /)^3^(\

Yes, the part with the sleeping at the end was sorta suspicious, but I've got no mature stuff up my sleeve.

Unless..

Anyways, Merry Christmas, everypony!