Meeting the Girls

As Twilight walked to the entryway she glanced over to me and requested "Could you stay here for a minute? I think my friends are here and I want a moment to explain things, I'm not sure how they'll react to you." I nodded my assent and she stepped out of the kitchen as another bout of knocking sounded at the door.

"Twilight! Darling its simply wonderful to see you again! Pinkie Pie told me she was holding a party for a recent arrival to Ponyville, and I simply had to see if they would need some new clothes for starting their new life in our quaint town." I heard the voices from the kitchen, not knowing for certain which friend in particular was speaking.

"Darn tootin', I was right happy to hear there was a party today, I finished apple bucking early with Applebloom's help. I always do like ta meet new ponies." I listened to the thick southern accent.

"Yeah, right, about that new pony." I heard Twilight say nervously.

"Yeah, I'm itching to meet this guy, who is he, why is he here with you? Pinkie mentioned something about them being from  Canterlot?" An upbeat voice sounded, I could only describe it as full of, spunk.

"Ummm..." Twilight expressed. I was at this point concerned she would falter and leave her friends worried.

"I'm sure they must be tired from the long journey from Canterlot." A demure whisper sounded from the lobby, barely registering to my ears.

"So where is he? I want to meet him again! I want him to try out my chimmi-cherry-changas! I made them just for him! Do you think he likes cherries? Oh, what if he eats through his feet?" Chimed the voice of Pinkie Pie, her voice wandering where it would, regardless of where her mind was.

"Well ..." Twilight began. "Remember when I told you girls about the summoning ritual I performed with Princess Celestia?"

"Uhuh!" Was the unanimous response and Twilight continued.

"Well, my guest is the, uh, thing that I summoned. Girls ..." A purple aura enveloped the kitchen door and opened, taking this to be my invitation to reveal myself I stepped into the lobby as Twilight continued. "I'd like you to meet Edmund Ross."

"Thank you Twilight, and in the future, you may refer to me as a human, not a thing." I said slightly irked at having been referred to in such a manner.

"Ok." Twilight blushed as a gasp sounded from a butter pegasus. Looking to her, I saw she had a pink mane and tail, and was performing the greatest imitation of a statue I had yet to witness.

"Well, the new guest broke Fluttershy, can't say I'm surprised." Sighed a cyan pegasus, her mane possessing all the colours of the rainbow.

Fluttershy breathed in and resumed her status among the undoubtedly living and quickly said. "Oh!, I'm sorry for panicking there, its just that you're so um..."

"Giant," Finished an orange coated mare, staring me up an down. "He must be as tall as Princess Celestia, sans horn o' course." Her perception of size was spot on, Celestia and I had been but slightly taller than Luna, our eyes able to stare straight into eachother's were we to stand tall.

"Yeah but he's standing on his hind legs, Celestia would totally tower over him if she did that." Admonished the rainbow maned mare. She glanced back at me. "The name's Rainbow Dash, fastest flier in all of Equestria. You must be able to run pretty fast with those long legs of yours."

"Hardly as fast as most of my people." I replied, modest of my non-existent athletic abilities.

"Hold on. There are other people like you?" Questioned the white Unicorn, looking not at me, but at my clothing, this must have been the Miss Rarity that Doctor Whooves had spoken so highly of.

"Not in Equestria, so far as I know." I replied.

"Oh, but please forgive me, I am Rarity, clothier of Carousel Boutique, dispenser of quality vestments chic, unique and magnifique!" Rarity extended a hoof towards me, but before I could grasp it a blast of confetti collided with the whole group.

"And I'm Pinkie Pie! Let's party!" Pinkie yelled as my lungs, attempting to evict the paper strips attempting to squat in my throat gave a mighty heave. I was becoming mildly irritated at the party mare's tendency to expel small objects at high velocity. This thought however was immediately rectified as I took in the room, now splattered with decorations, and interestingly, a perfectly hung up banner reading 'Welcome to Ponyville, Edmund, the not-a-pony-but-still-really-nice-like-a-pony-thing'. Quaint.

Walking to Rarity I continued our line of conversation. "So you are a tailor?"

"Indeed." Rarity cooed as I took a seat on the couch after swiping a few pieces of confetti off of it.

"Well ... I am dreadfully lacking in clothing, what is on my person at this moment is all I have."

"So?" Rainbow Dash asked. "Why would you need more clothing than that, just wash it after special occasions like this."

Rarity huffed at this and I responded before she could go further. "Humans wear cloths all the time, except when we bathe. Its mostly for protection from the weather, but also because of modesty, or to show off on rarer occasions."

At this Rarity exclaimed. "Your people wear clothes all the time? Oh my, I love fashion more than the next mare but all the time, that seems to extract the, sentiment out it. This means I'll have to make you, how many sets of clothing?"

"I would say seven sets would be sufficient, but unfortunately I don't have any money."

"Pssh!" Rarity exclaimed. "Think nothing of the sort, consider it a gift."

"Seven sets of clothing? No I will find a way to pay for it. It would be unseemly to impose upon not just Twilight but her friends as well."

"Actually, you could pay for it out of the additional stipend Celstia gave me for taking care of you." The last bit hurt, I was being taken care of when I had been tasked by the Princess to teach Twilight, but a small subset of caring.

"That's mighty kind o' her Highness Twilight, but ah gotta say I don't think that addresses the issue of Edmund not wantin' a handout." Applejack entered the conversation. "Ah can offer a solution thought, ah could always use a lil' help around the farm, he could earn bits that way."

"This sounds quite agreeable, provided I can be of use on your farm Applejack." I responded, farm work would be good for me, I had, apart from my mind, no workable skills by with to seek the best for my new world. The best way to rectify this would be to strengthen my body.

"Then it's settled." Rarity stated. "After the party you'll come with me to Carousel boutique where I'll get your measurements, then you can go to Applejack's and get accustomed to working. By the time I finish the clothes you'll have enough bits to pay me, and if not, I'm certain the difference can be made up from your stipend." I liked this Rarity, she was resolved, and having seen the solution to the problem. She took it up even though it differed from her own ideal stratagem, charitably giving to me, who was at this time still a stranger to her.

The party proceeded amicably and Spike soon joined the festivities as I had my fill of treats that Pinkie had thoughtfully brought to the party. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy walked up to me and the Cyan pegasus asked. "So, humans, do they play sports?"

"Yes we do, quite a few, racing, soccer, football, baseball, basketball, badminton."

"Cool." Rainbow Dash said, cutting me off before I could divulge myself of an encyclopaedic recitation of all the sports I knew of. "So, how many sports do you play?"

"In truth, none at all."

"Really? that doesn't make any sense, I mean sports are really fun, and well, you seem like the type to exercise a lot."

"What do you mean I look the type?" I asked, wondering what about me, besides mere height, would lend to her opinion of my being the sporting type.

"Well, you look kinda, what's the word Twilight would use? Gaunt, that and you smell like you've run a marathon four times."

"Oh, Rainbow Dash, that's not a very nice thing to say." Fluttershy whispered.

"Well, I have been unconscious for ten days, so I haven't really had a chance to bathe." I responded, sniffing myself, at close range, I was quite rank, and I could only imagine the strength of smell that ponies had, and the restraint they had been exercising to remain silent on the matter this long.

"So you got this smelly from laying in bed for just over a week?" Rainbow asked incredulously.

"Yes, why, how often to ponies bathe?"

"Like every two weeks, and that's with everyday life and grime." Rainbow responded nonchalantly. This was intriguing, ponies did not develop a strong odour as quickly as humans? I had been in horse stables on earth and quite honestly it had been the second most horrendous smell I had ever encountered. Yes, I had lived a privileged life, no I did not actually own a horse on Earth.

"Well then, I suppose I should get ready for my day." I stated, loudly enough that it would be clear I was addressing everyone and no one at all in particular. "Twilight, where exactly is the bathroom?"

The lavender mare turned to me to me, having not heard the line of conversation that led to this abrupt question. She answered me in a tone of confusion. "Upstairs, down the hallway, second door on your left." I nodded my thanks and proceeded up the stairs as the mares excused themselves.

"Well I had been planning on bringing Edmund over to the boutique after the party, but I suppose it would be just as well that I go there now and prepare." Rarity said to Twilight.

"That's a great idea Rarity, I'll send Edmund over with Spike when he's ready. Is that okay with you Spike?"

"Is it ever!" Spike replied jubilantly as I stepped into the bathroom, the voices becoming dull and muted as I shut the door.