Space Ponies

by Boss_Hoss1

First published 11th of November, 2012

Something is watching Ponyvile and Pinkie calls them Space Ponies. One day she goes to find one...

Pinkie Pie's friends don't believe her when she tells them they are being watched, and calls the watchers "Space Ponies".
One day, she feels a Doozy and goes in search of one for proof...
Things don't turn out as expected for the hapless Brony/Furry fan she brings back. Oh well, at least Twilight has somepony new to study.
Can the intrepid former human hide behind the scenes as a BG pony through season 2 and 3, or will he bring disaster to Equestria?
Only time will tell...

Chapter 1. First Contact (edit 10/30/13)

Space Ponies

By Boss Hoss

Chapter 1, First Contact

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"...It goes a little something like this;

*CLICK*

With am irritated sigh, Scott turned off the MP3 track from Sublime, as it started sounding a little too personal now in these bleak times.

The heavyset, brown haired human set the laptop aside and tried to relax on a day off from a grueling dead end burgershack job.

It wouldn’t be so bad if he had not had a far better job that had paid three times as much.
Unfortunately, his beginner-level tech support job had gone to distant shores before he could sign up for the in-house programming classes.
At least that company was losing sales disastrously from the now-horrible level of support. "Insert cruel chuckle of irony...”

This world might still be bearable for someone of his kind, a Furry Fan, more specifically an Equine Fur and Brony, if he could afford to go to a convention. ANY convention! -To be with distant friends and people generally as weird as he was who understood him.

No, not this year, not this economy, and especially this burgershack with new managers worse than any customer he ever dealt with driving sales down.

Frowning, Scott twirled his finger in the air, speaking in a sarcastic monotone "If it weren’t for bad luck, I would have no luck at all. Wheee..."

At least he still had his new Brony friends online... and the ponies.
You could name mainly equine themed shows on one hand, and all were worthy of viewing in his eyes, but this one... this was special! Not only did he instantly fall in love with it, the overwhelming public response has been strange but heartwarming to a lonely equine-in-spirit.

Happily, it also brought him so many new friends online, doubling the number of online friends.

Feeling a little better now, he smiled and turned the TV on with the remote, cuing up one of the MLP-FiM episodes recorded on DVR at random. He didn’t mind which one came up, he liked them all.

As he watched, he pulled over a sketch book and worked some more on a MLP version of his Equine fursona to use as an avatar on the pony sites.
Well, since he occasionally magically changed his fursona to a unicorn or pegasus in-game in furry Role Play chats... Maybe a dedicated unicorn MLP pony? Yeah! That should help jazz up his RPs this week as everyone awaited the premiere of Season 2 this weekend!

Online debate on the nature and role of the mysterious dragon creature in Canterlot stained glass windows, part of a handful recently revealed in preview screencaps, was growing to a fever pitch. The latest word was it was to be voiced by John DeLancy

As he watched the random episode, he sketched out a pony stallion until he felt the details from his furry horse avatar were correctly modified to pony form.
He then went over the lines with a brush pen.
For a moment, he considered adding glasses to make it more like his human self, but shook his head. 'I hate wearing glasses, and my online avatar shouldn’t have to have them.'
Satisfied at last, he added color with colored pencil and markers, blending the colors together with a marker filled with acetone.

Scott lifted the sketchbook to the light and smiled, examining the handsome, bay colored unicorn stallion on the page.
His mental self-image now had a new option to show off to his Furends and Broneys. "Perfect! Ready for scanning!"

As he worked to hook up the scanner, he gradually became aware of a strange charge in the air.
Something really weird feeling, something that was like static electricity, but... not at the same time.
His hair stood up on end and papers around the room rustled as the charge increased.

Just then, Scott noticed the 32” TV screen had frozen. Pinkie's head edged in from one side, and peered at him, her head warping like the screen was a fish-eye lens. The toony pink mare put her hooves around her eyes to shade them, as if she were looking through a window from outside.

Pinkie's face suddenly lit up wth a smile "AHA! I finally found one of you sneaky sneakertons! Wait RIGHT there!"
She reached down below the edge of the screen for something, tugged, then the surface of the screen instantly snapped up out of sight like a spring loaded roll-up window blind, and sounded just like one too with a rapid slap-slap-slap sound. The pull string and ring finally swung around wildly into view from the top of the... "window" as Pinkie climbed through, humming pleasantly.

Too stunned and shaky to stand up, Scott stared in awe as she took on a glossy solidity, like the 3-D renderings of her on deviantArt and Equestria Daily.

Grinning impossibly, she looked at herself and ooohed. "Wooo! Shiny!"
Pinkie then clopped over and looked out the window "Totally awesome! You Space Ponies aren't in space after all, just another world…"

Finally, she giggled and turned around to face the dazed human, standing up on her hind legs. "And you aren't ponies either. Are you a dragon like Spike? You got hands like he does... Well, silly-willy? Aren’t you going to introduce yourself? I know you know who I am since you are one of the sillies watching me and my friends."

*ahem* Scott cleared his throat sheepishly and blushed as he ran a hand through his thick, dark hair, naturally shaggy like a pony mane.
It did not help his composure that Pinkie was in fact anatomically correct when not seen through the diligently scrubbed family-friendly filter of HUB television, and had unknowingly flashed him stepping over the edge of the screen.

"Ah, yeah.... I…I'm a human, and since I'm one of those that watch you, I'm called a Brony."
He shook his head "Sorry I haven’t introduced myself yet, Pinkie. Honestly, I'm just trying to decide if I'm dreaming or..." He suddenly thought of a reference she might get without saying the obvious "...Having a Party of One..."

Her eyes went wide in understanding "Ohhhh... No friends and that you might be going...?"

Sheepishly, the stallion-in-spirit nodded "No friends or parents within easy travel. I don’t think I'll get to see them at all this year. My other prospects and worries are bleak and that's a lot of reason to go ...y'know."

Belatedly, he extended a hand, which she put a hoof in and shook. Her hoof felt both warm and almost hard at the same time. He could not help but sniff at the scents wafting over him from so close.
'Oh... wow! She smells like bubblegum... Cotton candy, yeah, and cake frosting! All at once! No wonder Sugarcube Corner is so popular! She's a walking billboard for the nose!'

Before Pinkie could prod him on it after such a long moment of hand/hoof-shaking, he spoke "I'm Scott, and I'm Skybright on the internet."
At her puzzled look, he pointed at his laptop. "Over there, that's a computer. -Instant communication everywhere in the world.
The bad thing is, it means your friends are too far away to meet you easily, if ever."

Pinkie gasped dramatically, hopping up into the air and hovering for a moment before coming back down. "Oh! That's TERRIBLE! You must be frownyface sad a lot! When was your last party?"

Scott sighed "Almost a year ago, when I went to meet many of my friends several hundred miles from here at a convention, The Memphis Furmeet."

Her pupils dilated in shock, Pinkie gasped and squeaked in horror. Her cotton candy hair was frantically bobbing with her head as she shook it. "No! Really? Not even a Birthday party since then?"

Sighing heavily, he quietly replied and looked down to the floor "...No..."

Pinkie suddenly got a determined look on her face and patted him on the head "Don’t you worry, "Auntie Pinkie" will help you! There must be something... OH! I have an idea!"

Background music suddenly started playing out of thin air as she started dancing and began to sing, props appearing out of thin air to match her words and actions;

“You should listen to your friend Pinkie,
In Parties I have a degree.

Come to my parties, and you will see,
Why they are special to me.

(Ooh, here comes the chourus…)
When meanies make you want to scream,
When life makes you want to Shouuut,
Come to my parties and let it all ouuuut!
(Yes you should…)

Come on, and lose that sad, sad, pouuuut!
With Pinkie’s help, you will work it ouuuut!
Come to my parties, and We’ll chill ouuut!
(It’s all good…)

Come on to my parties and you will see
You can be happy, just like Pinkie,

Ponyville is the capitol of all parties,
For it is the home of little ol’ me,

Suddenly Pinkie was dressed as a torch singer, lounging on a piano and lifting his chin with her hoof.

(Here comes the big finish)
Your days are so dark and lonely
You tell me you feel sad
But Pinkie will be there,
to show you it really isn't bad.

Come and smile for me, lose that Pouuut!
My Parties will make you Shouuut!
Beam for me and things will work Ouuut!
(I guarantee)

C’mon and sing with me, shout it Ouuut!
You’ll Smile! Sing, Dance and shouuut!
Come with me for the biggest Blow out!
(Oooh Firework time!)

It’s Party Tiiime!
It’s Party Tiiime!

LETS PARRR-TAY!

Pinkie finished on her knees with a florish before him as stage fireworks went off around her. She looked up at him with a silly grin, her narrow chest heaving, and the music suddenly stopped.

A stunned look around showed all the props had vanished as mysteriously as they appeared, but he now had a smile a crowbar could not remove.

Satisfied with her performance in making him smile, she put on another amazing grin that defied the laws of physics and pulled on his hand with both hooves.
"I’m glad you like the song, it’s a work in progress. When I’m done, it should really bring a smile to everypony!
Sooo... Wanna' visit Ponyville? There’s LOTS of friends there! I Pinkie Promise you'll get the party of your life!"

Her hooves felt like they were gripping him without fingers, like a telekenetic field around them. A supposed "animator shortcut" revealed to be true.

At her pull, Scott stood up and grinned happily, finding she was closer to human female size when she was standing upright. "Oh I Want! I WANT! Please! Let me grab some things first..."

Working quickly, he wrote a quick note that he would be away for a bit in case anyone came to check on him and left it by the TV.
Scott then grabbed his laptop, sketchbooks, and assorted useful small things that would fit in his laptop backpack -all just in case.

After a last look around, he finally put his hand in her hoof and smiled at her eagerly.
"I'm ready."

Pinkie flashed a smile in return and giggled "Allrightie then, let’s go!"

After pulling him through the window, she pulled the screen back down and tied a pink ribbon to the pull string.

Dazzled, he could not quite grasp what he was seeing. His eyes could not really lock on anything out here without hurting both his eyes and his brain. Was this... this... whatever-this-was typical of what's beyond the borders of reality?

But, dazzled and stunned or not, he followed when the pink pony tugged on him. "This way, come on."

Instantly, things snapped into focus around him like he just stepped through a door... -Or from off-screen?

Seemingly unaffected by the chaos they had just walked through, Pinkie bounced around him in a circle with her usual energy. "Welcome to Ponyville!"

Awed, Scott stared around in wonder, his mouth hanging open as he saw the pastel colored old-European style timbered buildings with thatched roofs ahead and to his right. Lush, green pastures and trees whose leaves were starting to change to autumn colors were on his left.
Completing the pastoral scene, a small stream wound through it all, with at least one small white wooden bridge crossing it before it curved out of sight around the village.

Much to his relief, he noted he was apparently at the edge of town. -Which was good since he didn’t want the three flower ponies fainting in terror at his appearance.

As he looked around in sheer wonder, his mind reveled in seeing it looked just as it appeared in the show, but he could touch it, smell it, FEEL it.
Scott laughed in joy as the cool breeze ruffled his hair and clothing. The colors were so brilliant compared to Earth, the grass rustled underfoot like the real thing but looked hand drawn.

Speaking of which, even he looked like a colorful drawing of himself when he looked at his hands and down his front.
As he bent and ran his now flash animated-appearing fingers through the grass, he suddenly felt dizzy and sat down heavily.
"Ulp, I don’t feel so good..."

Pinkie gasped and stopped in mid-bounce, hanging in mid-air with a completely astonished look as Scott's clothing suddenly got tight.

His fingers took on a glossy, nail-like sheen, then fused into a single dark mass as his face pushed outward, knocking his wire-rimmed glasses off.

All this a moment before his clothing burst from the pressure of his transforming body.

The waist and thighs of his jeans tore almost explosively. Fortunately saving him from more than a brief moment of pain as his thighs and rump compacted together into flanks squeezed into a space they were never meant to fit.

Lower down, his shoes had fared better, kicked off in his panicked thrashing. Even so, his socks had shredded, caught on heels turned into MLP-style angular hocks.

The hard part was now his Tee-shirt with a bold horse design on it; The sleeves were now in the wrong place for a vaguely equine body, stretching the material across the back and causing a huge tear from the neck hole to most of the way down his back, and ripping the sleeves away from the badly stretched arm holes.

With the rapid transformation complete, Scott collapsed, sore and very disoriented.

Fortunately, (or unfortunately) he could not have been out of it for very long. Pinkie roused him from his daze with a sudden shake of his head in her hooves like he was a snowglobe, and peered into his face from up close. Scott's dizzy mind oddly wondered why he heard a cowbell when she shook him.

Seeing he was awake, she let his head flop back to the soft grass. Pinkie was by now completely fired up by what she had just seen and sat astride his fuzzy chest, babbling at him a mile a minute in shocked excitement. "Wow! I totally did not see that coming! Did you see that coming? Huh? Huh? Huh? I seriously bet you didn’t! When My Pinkie sense told me today was another Doozy... You know what those are right? I mean you watch us all the time. Oh, of course you do! Anyway, I totally thought the Doozy would be something else! *gasp* I mean really..."

Scott gasped as he came back to full awareness and felt his longer, narrow-muzzled face with his new forehooves...
"Sweet Mother Epona..."

(insert My Little Pony Season 2 opening title sequence here... )

'(_)' '(_)' '(_)' '(_)'

-Author's Note-
Well, season 3 is here and while I still don't have awesome cover art yet. I'd better post this and hope it stays relevant and pray I wont need to add an AU tag...
Special thanks to the valiant example of starshine_dash for giving me the courage to post this here.

When I started writing this before Season 2 began, all for my own amusement from the viewpoint of the fandom Bronykind itself grew around like a pearl, I had not intended it to become a shipfic.
-Not since hiding from the Brony viewers until the show had run it's course and pursuing cast members during the seasons are mutually exclusive activities.
Suddenly, The Royal Wedding came, and when I next started writing, suddenly whole chapters came pouring out that I had to scratch my head over "Wait, where did this come from?" -even reaching back through previous chapters.
I'll just chalk it up to "Luna and Celestia are pleased with my efforts!" and accept the extra challenge of My little pony Ninja-ing his way through the 2nd season onward.

I will try to post once a week once I am satisfied a chapter is tweaked to perfection.
~Semper Pellus!~
-Boss Hoss

Author's Notes:

Edited on Oct. 30, 2013 in compliance with a new rule on copyrighted songs. An Alternate Universe soundalike will be inserted at the beginning as soon as I write it...

Chapter 2. Meet The Brony

Space Ponies

By Boss Hoss

Chapter 2, Meet the Brony

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It was a nice, sunny morning thanks to Rainbow Dash's effort at keeping the skies clear.

Enjoying the warmth of Celestia's sun, Twilight was laying out on a park bench near the fountain, reading.

Eagerly, Pinkie bounced up to her "Twiiiilight! Guess what!?"

Not even turning to look from where she concentrated on the book, the lilac unicorn replied in a bored tone "*sigh* what, Pinkie?"

Pinkie's ears went back in disappointment. Twilight did not even TRY to guess! She glanced over to a nearby bush with two dark blue eyes the color of Rarity's peering back at her, depending on her.
Her resolve given a boost, Pinkie leaned in close, turning her head to get between Twilight and the book. "You know when I say I think we're being watched? I had one of those Doozy feelings and finally went to take a look, and I brought one of them back with me!"

Scott watched as Twilight sat up, wide eyed with one of her eyebrows arched. "Wait, what? One of those "Space Ponies" you tell us about?!"

Pinkie giggled "Welll... he wasn’t a pony, he says he's a Brony...or, well.. I guess he's a pony now since he got here... Sco-ottt Come out come ouuuut!"

Shyly, He stepped out from behind the bush Pinkie had hidden him behind, still a bit wobbly on his new hooves. "Um, H-hello, Miss Twilight Sparkle, I'm Scott."

Suspiciously, Twilight stood up from the park bench and came over, her eyes narrowed.
As she got closer, her eyes suddenly widened in surprise as she noticed the strange unicorn stallion was a blank flank.
Despite what animator goofs show to human viewers, Twilight Sparkle had never seen an adult blank flank before.
Twilight looked into his dark blue eyes with growing unease. "Okayyy... Scott, right? This... this isn’t some elaborate prank by Pinkie and Dash, is it..."

The stallion twitched his black-tipped ears, accompanied with a shy smile and a Fluttershy blush on his cheeks "Well, if anyone would believe me in my first few minutes here in Ponyville, you would.
As Pinkie says she told you and your friends, a number of people on my world watch the adventures of you… umm, Elements of Harmony for entertainment.
Everyone pretty much believes it light, heartwarming, satisfying fiction, by the way.
However, for me, this..." He waved a hoof around, plainly meaning all of Equestria. "...Confirms a lot of current scientific theories about Alternate Worlds.
My favorite theory was that many worlds of fiction are actually the writers tuning in on the right wavelength to someplace else.
To be honest, I never really felt I fit my world and hoped this was so."

Twilight blinked, and then went wide-eyed in surprise.
Though it had started to sound like a bizarre joke... After all, who would watch a silly bunch of ponies like her and her friends, when the Princesses were so much more interesting? His story had just made a quantum jump in believability.
Alternate Worlds was a branch of theory not in any books in Ponyville, but in the Libraries and Laboratories back in Canterlot!

Staring and going “Hmm” thoughtfully, Twilight rubbed a hoof on her velvety chin and peered at him with narrowed purple eyes.

Scott's heart skipped a beat as those slightly glossy purple lips of hers, a shade darker than her hide. -Relatively thin but elegant lips that had not been visible from the other side of the screen, did the most adorkable pout as she examined him from mere inches away.
His nose caught the scent of waffles and maple syrup on her breath.

Twilight murmured "Curiouser and curiouser..." as she floated a scroll and quill out of her saddlebag to take notes in a running commentary.

Walking around him slowly, the purple unicorn examined the stallion more closely.
While uncommon, the stallion's colors were not unheard of. His hide was bright bay, bordering on blood bay. She noted reddish highlights on his hide, shimmering in the sunlight as he moved, appearing as a red outline to his form.
Twilight also noted he had black "sock" marks on all four legs. -Even the front half of his muzzle was also black. It was longer than her own muzzle, slender and squared off in a masculine manner, similar to her brother’s.
His shiny black mane reminded her of Braeburn's in style, but with a long, unkempt lock at the base of his neck that would probably look better in a ponytail.
Around his neck was a leather thong with a bronze pendant. It was quickly enveloped in a purple nimbus as she lifted it to her eyes for examination. Said pendant was about an inch across and was marked with three stylized mares wreathed in swirling "knots", appearing much like the decorative scrollwork here and there around Canterlot, or the Princesses in the book about the Mare in the Moon.

Satisfied for the moment, Twi hmmmed and decided to observe his mental reactions, "Okay, er, Scott. You have my undivided attention. You claim to have been something else, so have you seen yourself yet?"

Scott shuffled a hoof sheepishly at the memory of his arrival, when he had quickly found to both his relief and mortification he was still anatomically correct since it was Pinkie who had helped him out of his clothes.
"Only my immediate front and around my flanks. I was a... er, "maned", furless bipedal creature with many digits on the ends of his limbs, kind of like Spike does... called a human. We are distantly related to chimpanzees if such exist on this world.
You can imagine it was a surprise when my clothes ripped from my... um, transforming body on arrival."

Pinkie Pie giggled and bounced in a circle around them both. "Yeah! I had to help him out of the clothing confetti. He looks sooo much better without explody clothes on. In fact, he looks wayyyy better as a pony, period!"

Stifling a giggle at Scott's sudden blush at the last part of Pinkie's statement, the purple unicorn nodded to the fountain, "All right, go take a look..."

Scott clopped on over and peered at his reflection, his eyes going wide "Oh!~ OhMyGosh!OhMyGosh!OhMyGosh!"
His face grinned broadly, so much it hurt, but he could not stop even if he wanted to. Tears of joy coursed down his fuzzy cheeks.

He turned this way and that to see his face and head, even reaching up to prod the horn on his forehead he had not noticed until now. He even swung his red-outlined flanks around to see them reflected over the edge of the fountain. "I.. I'm... ME!... I'm my... ponysona! I look exactly like I just drew myself! I'm Scott Skybright!"

As if saying the name completed a circuit, there was a tingle and flash at his hips and he leapt forward like he had been poked! -Right into the fountain's pool with a splash.

Sputtering, he stood up in the water and arched around to look at the stylized four point star in an oval on his hips "I... I have a...a Cutie Mark?! How... how did..?"

Grinning in sheer joy, Pinkie Pie put her hoof around Twilight's shoulder, as the unicorn looked on with her mouth hanging wide open in stunned shock.
"Wow Twi! I had never seen a smile like that on anypony but me, the day I saw Dashie's Sonic Rainboom and got my cutie mark! And now HE has a Cutie Mark right after smiling like I did! Can we keep him? Huh? Huh? Huh? Can we? Puleeeeeze?!"

Scott chuckled sheepishly "I don’t know about keeping me but can I stay? In Equestria? I really don't want to go back now that I'm a pony... Words cannot describe how much I don’t want to go back..." he finished with a shudder.
He thought to himself about the reasons, not the least of which the strong likelihood of being studied to gory and painful destruction in the inevitable secret government labs, but he wasn't going to mention that reason if he could help it...

Shaking her head to clear it, Twilight looked at the stallion uncertainly. "Well, after you got that Cutie Mark, I'm not sure you can go back. Or if you do, I seriously doubt you would turn back to what you were before.
That is some serious magic that's tied with the fabric of Equestria there. Not even Princess Celestia herself can make a Cutie mark appear or disappear -that I know of.
You must have accepted who and what you are when you said that name."

His ears perked forward as he digested that information, then he rose up on his hind legs and started dancing around, squeaking out "YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!YES!"
Pinkie got so caught up in the moment she jumped into the fountain and started dancing and chanting “YES” with him.

After a minute of this there was a crowd of ponies surrounding the fountain, looking at them oddly. He finally stopped and looked around sheepishly. "Um, Hello... I... Uh, finally got my Cutie Mark..."
To his surprise, some of the crowd stomped their hooves in applause at his achievement. Others made various remarks of understanding and the crowd started to break up. One older mare came on over to the edge of the fountain and nodded sympathetically "How ever did you stand it so long, as old as you are?"

Scott blandly looked at her "Not very well..."

Passing by, the Cutie Mark Crusaders quickly turned their scooter and wagon toward the fountain, with Scootaloo buzzing to a quick stop with a sound like a 2-stroke chainsaw motor.
Wearing a stunned look on their faces, they gaped at the newcomer and gazed at him with sad, puppy-dog looks. Applebloom voiced their thoughts exactly "Did we hear raiht? We…we might be blank... ‘fer YEARS!?"
With this announcement, they all looked at each other and started bawling in unison.

Twilight gulped and made shushing noises as Scott looked on uneasily "No, no, it's okay! He's a special case..."

Pinkie leaned in between them and put her hooves around them, winking "Yeah, he's actually done better than anyone at getting a Cutie Mark! He's only been a unicorn for a half-hour and he's already got one!"
She quickly hugged them close and set them back down. "You should get yours any time now if he's anything to go by, so turn those frowny faces upside down."

The CMC gave Pinkie a stunned look, then Scootaloo raised an eyebrow skeptically "...For a half-hour?! What was he before, a frog?"

Pinkie giggled and started to reply "You Silly-fillies, why, he was a Space..."

Thinking quickly, Twilight put her hoof in Pinkie's mouth and laughed nervously "Ah-heh-heh.. We will all explain later girls, just trust me and bear with me and Pinkie, okay?"

Knowing they weren’t going to get anywhere with Twilight for now, they replied in a dejected monotone "...okay..." And left with a look that meant they would be spying on the newcomer until they got the whole story.

Mentally cancelling her schedule for the rest of the day and shuffling it off at least to tomorrow, Twilight turned to the newly minted stallion.
She pointed at him with a hoof to get his attention "All right, you might as well come out of the fountain. First things first, you are going to get a physical from Nurse Redheart, and then I need to run a few tests of my own.
Naturally, I will send letters to the Princess about you."

Scott nodded. "Of course."

"Rest assured, I want to find out everything you can tell me about your world at some point in all this. But first, I want to try and figure out just why in the hay an alien, Species; Human, would transform into a Unicorn pony -without somepony there to cast a spell.
It makes absolutely no sense! Even Pinkie appears to be stumped by this. Pinkie! The most impossible pony I know! -Um, it's not an inherent ability, right?"

Sighing, Scott shook his head, "Afraid not."

Twilight's mind raced, wondering if this strange transformation had anything to do with the recent descent of Ponyville into becoming the temporary Chaos capital of the world. -Said event occurring during Discord's escape almost two months ago. Or maybe-

Derailing Twilight's train of thought, Pinkie pie stepped between them, then winked and honked Scott's nose "Oh, you sillies! What's important now is we have a sad, lonely, unicorn pony in desperate need of a party!
If you are really, really, really good for my bestest Smarty-McSmartypants friend, while she keeps you too busy to wonder what I am doing... oh wait! TMI!! Um, aaaanyway if you are good, you'll have an Emergency Welcome Party waiting for you afterward!"

With a wry smile and headshake, Twilight nudged the stallion toward the town Hospital and looked back at Pinkie. "You're going to give him a party anyway..."

Pinkie waved her hooves and giggled "Well DUH! I mean really, that's why I brought him here. But if he's really good for you I'll make it even better."

Giggling, the dayglow Earth mare turned to Scott and scruffled his mane with her flexible hoof "Now do whatever Twilight says, okay?" and bounced off toward Sugarcube Corner.
She spoke out loud to herself to make mental notes "Oooh yeah! A welcome party! Wait! He just got his Cutie Mark! Do boy ponies have Cutieceñearas ?..."

Scott watched Pinkie leave, then smiled as he started walking again "I knew she was going to give me a party, that's one of the highlights of the show. She throws parties for everypony that shows up."

Twilight suddenly stopped shock-still, forcibly reminded by that casual statement that he represented beings that watched them for entertainment! Possibly even watching her as she… The mare shivered as the full implications hit her like a hammer.

Scott stopped a moment later, his ears twitching in sudden thought about his mistake, thinking. 'Way to go big mouth!'
Sheepishly, he turned to the mare with a touch of worry on his face at upsetting her. "I am so sorry, Miss Sparkle. I really should have explained sooner.
Before I go on in detail, do you have... Um, moving pictures of plays or sports broadcast over the countryside to glass-screened receiving devices?"

After a moment where Twilight took a deep breath and let it out. She made a note in her scroll to teach him how to control his ears before Rainbow Dash somehow ropes him into a card game, and finally nodded.
"Please, call me Twilight, Scott. You are going to be in Equestria for the foreseeable future anyway, so we might as well be on a first name basis while I study you.
As for devices like you describe? Hmm, usually that means crystal balls, but real ones are too expensive for the average pony.
On the other hoof, there are experimental technomagere' devices here and there in the labs of eccentric ponies and griffons. -Mostly curiosities at this time.
We have movies in a theater over on Mane Street, and weekly plays in the park or the town pavilion instead."

Scott nods, seeing a look of worry gnawing at Twilight "Okay, well, the shows we see about Equestria are like movies except these are generated by artists entirely inside... um, "computing machines" based on what the writer gives them, and voices and sounds recorded onto the images by teams of actors and technicians.
Since it was aimed at young people up through college age, there are no embarrassing personal details except ones that would get a safe laugh.
It follows you and your friends for over a year now, starting with your warning to Celestia of Nightmare Moon coming back and your quest to rescue Celestia from captivity and the world from a cold death of endless night. ...And all the wild and crazy adventures between then and... Um, now, I guess."

Twilight sighed in relief, looking visibly relaxed already. "So nothing showing details of my... personal life?"

Scott stopped and sat back on his haunches, and then raised a hoof while placing the other over his heart "Nothing more intimate than the comic slapstick and life lessons learned during your first sleepover. No bodily functions, anything racy, following you to the bathroom, or anything like that. Stallion's Honor!"

Sighing in relief, Twilight smiled and hoofstepped a little more casually "That's good to hear, I had sudden thoughts of my rump in everypony's face when I take care of my body or other business. That just really creeps me out to even think of..."

Scott mentally gave a sheepish chuckle and kept his cool, hoping he kept his ears upright as he tried to stop watching her tail for peeks underneath. -Heck! He had to fight to not look at everypony's tail!
He prayed never to have to reveal or explain "Rule 34" fanart and "shipping"...
On the other hoof, if the writers suddenly noticed him in Ponyville as a background pony, he at least hoped the fanbois would draw him with decent equipment. That thought brought a silly grin.

Twilight turned as they reached the town Hospital, then looked at him with narrowed eyes and an impending smirk "…And what's that smile for?"

Scott flustered a moment, then sheepishly came up with a likely explanation.
Unfortunately not a good one when being escorted by a mare, as he mentally facehoofed a moment after it popped out of his muzzle; "S-sorry, I'm a stallion now, and some passing mares distracted me..."

Twilight had a suspicious look for a brief moment as his face scrunched up like AJ telling a lie, she then giggled and shook her mane while she rolled her eyes. "Boys!"

Chapter 3. Enter, Nurse Redheart

Space Ponies

By Boss Hoss

Chapter 3. Enter, Nurse Redheart

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Still smirking at the weird silliness of colts, Twilight stopped in front of a building he had never seen in the show and waved a hoof at it grandly "Welcome to Ponyville Hospital!"

This certainly wasn’t the Ponyville Urgent Care clinic from "Applebuck Season" he had been expecting. He briefly wondered if this building would be seen in Season 2.
Scott looked at the elegant multi-story timber and stucco building before him with a beautiful tile roof, surrounded by a well-kept lawn that gave the whole place a feel of tranquility.

The sign out front had a perfect replica of Nurse Mercy’s Cutie Mark, A red cross with pink hearts at the intersecting angles. He always thought her one of the most beautiful of the Background Ponies.
After a second, he suddenly wondered if she got her Cutie Mark from the Equestrian symbol for a hospital, and not the other way around...

"Wow! It sort of reminds me of the one in my old home town! Just beautiful!"
He mentally added 'If this is not seen in Season 2, it should be!'

Twilight giggled "It's not bad. The one my family uses over in Solstice Heights, back in Canterlot is really impressive. Let’s go on in, shall we?"

As they passed through the doors, Scott involuntarily coughed as his improved nose met the harsh smells of medical-grade disinfectants and alcohol.
He wiped his streaming eyes as he followed Twilight, who looked at him in concern. "Will you be okay?
Scott sneezed in response "Ugh, ack! O-okay.. Jus' needa minute.. My nose wasn’t *achoo* this good before..."

They waited several minutes for his nose to finally adjust while he went through a few sheets of kleenex.
After he stopped sniffling, Twilight walked up to the front desk in the admissions area and politely clopped a hoof on the surface. "Hello Nurse Redheart. If you aren’t busy, I have a special case for you."

A moment later, there were hoofsteps and a white mare with a pink mane perfectly styled and tied in a bun, and wearing a nurse's cap, came from behind a white privacy screen. "Oh, Hello Twilight. How may I help this gentlecolt? Does he have any medical records with him?"

Scott blinked a moment and looked at the familiar nurse in surprise, checking her Cutie Mark twice just to be sure.
'Hm, so Redheart and not Nurse Mercy as I thought, then. I wonder what other BG pony names I have wrong?'

Twilight nudged the suddenly shy stallion forward "That's part of the case; he has none. Mr. Skybright needs a full physical right away."

Instantly, Nurse Redheart went wide eyed in joy! In fact, her eyes sparkled eagerly like Pinkie Pie being given a cupcake! She rarely got to do a "pony’s first exam" on anypony, and one old enough not to object to any of it? Bliss!

Quivering with excitement, she quickly swept him to the exam area faster than he could process the event and hoofed him a clip board. "All right sweetie, first things first, we need to fill out this chart."

Ears drooped, Scott looked with dismay at the odd clipboard shoved into his hooves, complete with a quill and a tube-like inkwell on a swinging-level clip.

...Apparently medical bureaucracy demanded ink no matter what world you were on...

Attempting to use his hooves, Scott grunted with effort as he fumbled with the clipboard. "Agh! How do you ponies do this?!"
Desperately trying his horn hardly helped. A cobalt blue nimbus sputtered to life on the tip of his horn for a moment, and then the board flipped over faster than the inkwell could turn and splattered him.

Twilight gave a startled "Eep!" and caught the clipboard with her own magenta glow, then drew the wayward ink back into the inkwell.
"Oh dear, let me help. I'm afraid developmental testing is in order too. I'll have to write for him, if neither of you mind?"

Nurse Redheart waved a hoof "Please!" while Scott blushed sheepishly "Go right ahead."

Twilight clopped her hooves and smiled enthusiastically "All right, here we go; Name, Scott Skybright. Race, Unicorn..."
She looked at him expectantly "Parents?..."

After the fastest chart fill-out Nurse Redheart could remember, she eagerly began the exam with an excited giggle.
Quickly pulling rubber hoof sheaths over her hooves with practiced ease, she first measured his height, body length, and weight, and then examined his mouth. "Perfect teeth, body on the good side of average…"
Next, after getting his pulse and checking his heart and lungs, she examined his eyes and made him read the eyechart.
After the first try, she switched to the one with picture icons for the illiterate so he could read it.

Twilight looked to Scott sheepishly, even blushing a light plum "I am so, so sorry, I should have thought to ask if your ability to read carried over. I'll look up translation spells tonight for you like we use for Envoys to Talonopolis. I can’t imagine how horrible it would be to be in my Library and not be able to enjoy it."

Scott thought the small shiver of horror she gave at the thought was adorkable, but did not say so.
Instead, he smiled and gave a sheepish shrug "Its okay Twilight. It did not occur to me either. I thank you for having a solution though."

Both ponies eyes went wide at a sudden thought!

Before either Scott or Twilight could suddenly ask why they could still speak to each other comprehensibly, Nurse Redheart finished the scoring and smiled at Scott "Your eyes are good, 20/20 vision."

Next, the cream colored Earth pony tapped the knee on his right hind-leg with a rubber hammer, making him cow-kick before he realized it. She repeated this on his other hind-leg knee with the same automatic result "Good reflexes…”

Suddenly frowning at a thought, she turned to Twilight and set her clip board down. "You may want to leave for the next part, dear. Some colts feel embarrassed about this as it is without an audience."

Confused, Scott raised a brow and looked from one mare to the other, only having a vague idea what they might be talking about. ‘Everypony's running around naked in public here, what could be more embarrassing than that? -Even if everything is tucked away behind legs and tails?’

After a moment, Scott had an anime sweatdrop on his forehead while his ear lopped to the side oddly as he suddenly thought... 'Wait... wasn’t there some eventual part of a full physical involving handling certain body parts and coughing?...'

Hoping she interpreted the confused look on the stallion's face properly, Twilight snorted and waved a hoof casually. This was her first chance ever to attend the physical exam of an alien, even in pony form, and she was determined not to miss a thing!
"Oh I'm sure he'll be fine with it. He's not been brought up as a pony and I've been in sex-ed in 6th grade Biology in Canterlot, so it'll be no mystery to me. You okay, Scott?"

Suddenly blushing, Scott was surprised that one of his heroines was willing to be in the room for... whatever embarrassing things Nurse Redheart were about to do to his back half.
Well, if she was so determined that it wasn’t something to be ashamed of, he was too.
Bravely, he gave a “thumbs up”…err, well, "hoof up" sign. He hoped that translated across well. "Um, no problem... I think."

Nodding, the nurse turned to Scott "Very well, then. Scott? Present!"

He blinked owlishly for a moment, not understanding the command. Then she whispered in his ear... He blushed, but nodded "Ohhh, I'll try. I just never did it on demand before. It’s not something a human does on the spot without some… incentive, and fortunately for Doctors back home, human bits aren’t hidden in a sheath.
I've never had a physical before and thought the Doctor did all the work on getting them out for inspection.
At least I do know stallions are supposed to be able to do that at will, though. Well, here goes... * Errrgggg!*"

Twilight watched him strain himself, trying to find the trick to something he had apparently never done on purpose before. The mare stayed close just in case he had any more difficulties she would be needed for. -All while she was trying to maintain a clinical detachment as she watched intently.

Her eyes suddenly got wide and she blushed a bright plum.
Apparently he found the trick to doing it after all.

"Oh my... Um, a-admittedly the class did not have any live stallions demonstrating for us. Iyyyyyy..... Think I'll wait outside... A-he-he-hehh..."

With that, she zipped outside.

'(_)' "(_)' '(_)'

Author's Note;
Sorry if the chapter feels so short but in the way I edited this earlier, this was a natural pause point before the next chapter...

-Boss Hoss
Semper Pellus!

Chapter 4. Blood Tests and Lunch

Space Ponies

By Boss Hoss

Chapter 4. Blood Tests and Lunch

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rainbow Dash was waiting outside, laying against the base of a tree with her forehooves pillowing her head as she smirked at the still-blushing unicorn.
"Hiya Twi. I heard there was a new unicorn in town. Don’t waste any time do ya! ...Or is he an old coltfriend from Canterlot?"
Dash giggled as her ribbing made the unicorn blush even more.

Twilight raised her hooves "Woah, hot shot. He's just a stranger in town in need of help. Granted "stranger" than most, but still needing my help,.."
The magical mare narrowed her eyes slyly and tapped her forehooves together in anticipation of SCIENCE! "...And testing in my lab. He's a unique opportunity..."

Dash giggled even louder "I'll say! I haven’t seen you with a guy before. Got a comfy bed down there?" She then rolled on the grass in a fit of full blown laughter.

Twilight testily stamped a hoof, her face now quite red in embarrassment "I-it’s not like that! Pinkie Pie brought him here. He's... he's from somewhere ...else. He's a... a..."

Shocked at what Twilight was trying to say, Rainbow Dash suddenly sat upright "W-what? Pinkie brought him?! From where!? You aren’t saying she's right about..."

Just then, Pinkie pie bounced up with a poinging sound. "Oh there you are Dashie! Here's your invitation to a party for Skybright. Oh, and this is for both you and Scott, Twi since you are bringing him..."
With that, she bounced off to the next pony she saw on the street. "Tra-la-la, la-laaa..."

Dash looked up from the invitation to Twilight's face with a stunned look "...Space Ponies…?!"

Twilight groaned and facehoofed with a audible clop sound. She was hoping to keep that part quiet until she could explain to her friends so they would not freak out.

Suddenly, a girlish stallion squeal sounded from the window of the Exam Room, prompting Twi to stuff her invite in her saddlebag, unread.
"Oh dear, I think she just checked his... tail. I'd better get back inside. See you later, Dash."

Dash nodded quickly, her expression still one of shocked surprise. "Y-yeah... I think I'd better tell the others about this alien before Pinkie does! Seeya!" and leapt up into the sky, leaving her trademark rainbow streak.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight found Scott, standing wide-eyed with all four hooves pulled tight together and a stunned look on his face, his tail clapped down tight behind him.

Nurse Redheart was removing her rubber hoof sheaths and tossing them in a biohazard bin while was speaking comfortingly to him "...Very good boy you are, yes you are. I don’t suppose a lollipop would help you when we are done?"

She took a Fluttershy squeak from him as a "yes"...

Hearing hoofsteps, she looked at Twilight as she came in. "Well, he has no hernias, appears in good reproductive health, and as you just heard, his prostate is doing fine and he has no worms or other parasites."

Twilight leaned over and looked around the nurse at Scott, who gamely gave another "hooves up" sign even if he was still wide-eyed in shock. "All right, what's next for him?"

Nurse Redheart put on another set of hoof sheaths "Blood, I'm afraid. He tells me he hasn’t eaten or drank anything in Ponyville yet so likely nothing significant for his other testing media for a day or so. He should however enjoy the next part after this, the cognitive testing."

Tapping a hoof, Twilight hmmed and frowned, sensing trouble.
"Blood? Ummm, Scott? Are you going to be okay?" She turned and could see his face covered in sweat and beginning to tremble on his hooves.

Nervously, he gulped, sending a nervous glance around the room, and then looked down at the floor with a blush "Well...I'm afraid of needles..."

Twilight gave a reassuring adorkable smile and patted him comfortingly with her hoof, making him look up at her "Don’t worry Scott. I'll be right here to help you. You'll need to stay perfectly still as the needle can cut you badly if you jump."

Nurse Redheart waved a hoof as she went to a cabinet "Oh, He will be just fine." She turned from the cabinet holding a syringe the size of her foreleg. "He won’t feel a thing."

Instantly and without warning, Twilight gasped as she suddenly had to support the weight of a stallion with her horn power, easing his limp form to the floor.

For some reason there was the soft "baah" of a fainting goat as he was laid on the floor.
Twilight raised an eyebrow as she thought 'Hm, just like we hear with Fluttershy. It must be a universal sound...'

Giggling softly, Nurse Redheart set the syringe down and brought out a normal sized one. She then clopped up and drew blood from a foreleg of the passed-out unicorn. "…Works every time with the nervous ponies."

Chuckling nervously, Twilight helped hold the unconscious stallion steady while carefully not looking at the syringe being used. "Just be careful flashing that huge one around. You almost had two unicorns on the floor..."

Softly giggling, Nurse Redheart worked quickly.. "Sorry Twilight. Oh, I actually use that one too, on large creatures when they need my help... Ah, there we are."
She pressed a cotton ball to the needle, then slid the needle out as she held the cotton ball in place with a hooftip.

"Okay Twilight, band-aid please."

Nodding, Twilight floated one over and put it over the cotton as the hoof was pulled away. In moments, Nurse Redheart had roused the stallion, and when he looked down he saw a smiley face band-aid was on him.

Shaking his head, He chuckled and thought 'Figures... well, it's cheery at least...'

Sealing the blood and popping it in a small fridge for testing later, Nurse Redheart turned to the strange stallion. "And as promised, we will now have some fun..."
With that, she trotted over to a toy chest and stopped in sudden worry "I'm afraid these are for testing younger foals in their mouth, hoof, or horn abilities. You won’t be offended by this, I trust?"

Sheepishly, Scott spread his hooves "Like I have a choice? I'm practically a foal now until I relearn handling things."

Nurse Redheart raised an eyebrow curiously "Yes, I noticed you having difficulty earlier. An accident? Or...?" She looked to Twilight questioningly.

The unicorn mare shuffled her hoof "Technically an accident. I'm afraid we must rely on Doctor/patient confidentiality.
He's from someplace else, and until Pinkie found him and brought him here, he wasn’t even a pony. Something about bringing him here changed him."

Scott nodded "Admittedly I've never felt so at-home in my life as in Equestria. The loss of my hands is a small price compared to that."

Smiling, Nurse Redheart set down several buckets of toys in front of him. "That's the spirit! Think of this as physical therapy and building anew after an accident. I'm sure we have a place for anypony in Equestra."

The mare dumped the toys out on the desk and arranged them in groups; blocks, sticks, wooden cut-out shapes, small plastic pony dolls with curiously long, pointed legs, a tennis ball and some crystals.

Moments later, Nurse Redheart smiled and pointed to one of the toys "There we are, lets see you pick up that block with your hooves. Just think about it as you do it."

Scott got a determined look on his face and placed his right hoof on top of it. He closed his eyes and thought of holding it, then raised his hoof. "Nothing Scott, try again."

He tried over and over again for a small eternity, until finally Nurse Redheart spoke "Very good, you're doing it!"

Scott opened his eyes, only to see the block fall back to the desk with a clatter.

Smiling brightly, Twilight patted his shoulder "Don’t worry, you're getting the idea now. Just keep practicing and I'll run and get you both lunch. Is there anything you would prefer you two? Scott?"

Scott watched, fascinated as Nurse Redheart's ears perked forward, she smiled at Twilight "I'll have a daffodil and daisy sandwich, and iced tea."

Scott shrugged, not yet daring to ask if it would be considered weird or impolite to simply walk out and eat somepony's lawn.
"I don’t even know what to ask for other than cupcakes or other pastries. That's one thing our worlds have in common. Maybe a sampler platter of things ponies typically eat?"

Twilight smiled "All right, be right back."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After a stop at the Make Hay Café (1), Twilight returned to find Scott stacking blocks by using his mouth, and rolling a ball between his hooves where his old palms would be.

Nurse Redheart was smiling brightly "That's it! You are doing great!... Oh, there you are Twilight! He is improving nicely. I figure he's now at the level of a young foal in manipulating things."
She looked to the crystals as Scott continued to practice, apparently even enjoying himself. "We have not tried his horn power yet. We saw how that went with the clip board so I thought it best to wait for you. Usually in this testing there is a parent around to assist me, but..." She shrugged helplessly.

Nodding, Twilight levitated the paper bag over in a magenta nimbus and set it on a cart, then started floating the food out to the desk "Not a problem, Nurse Redheart. As old as he seems to be, I'm probably the only one in town strong enough to take control if his powers get out-of-hoof. First things first though, let’s eat."

Scott set the toys down and moved them aside, then stretched, making his neck joints pop. "Thanks Twilight, I'm starving! What’s on the menu?"

The purple unicorn smiled "Well, aside from what the nurse asked for. I got a couple salads, a garden sandwich, a HLT -Hay, lettuce, tomato (with mayonnase), extra crispy acorns, hay fries, and donuts. I also got some teas and a clover smoothie. Please, take your pick, Scott."

The stallion nickered excitedly, sniffing at each example of pony food. They smelled more delicious than he would have imagined, making his stomach growl. The sandwiches were cut into halves, so he took a part of both, and also got half portions of the acorns and hay fries and one of the salads. He also found the pink and green swirled smoothie to be very sweet and tasty.

Twilight watched Scott in wonder while she ate.
While he was still using his hooves and mouth as clumsily as a foal, hunger was clearly a good motivator on finding ways in shoving food into his muzzle any way he could manage "Wow! He wasn’t kidding about being hungry! Is that okay for him?"

Nurse Redheart giggled "Oh quite okay, -quite normal for a young, active stallion his age. -In fact. I place it about 18-20 years or so."

Scott gasped and nearly choked on a bite of sandwich.
After washing it down with some tea, he looked at Nurse Redheart with wide eyes. "Ohmy… Gosh! Whatever happened... I'm younger! I really have been given a second chance!"

Twilight peered at him. "Ummm how old ARE you..."

Scott blushed and looked down "Iyyy would rather not say..."

Giggling, the mares shook their heads "Never mind, I guess it's not important Scott."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(1) Special thanks to Pixelkitties for permission to mention the café http://pixelkitties.deviantart.com/

Chapter 5. Magic is Child's Play (or is it?)

Space Ponies

By Boss Hoss

Chapter 5. Magic is Child’s play, (or is it?)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ten minutes later, everypony was finished eating and clearing the table for the rest of his Cognitive Testing.

Twilight smiled as she looked over the crystals that were next on the checklist for his testing. X-rays were already scheduled for tomorrow, along with whatever sample tests could not be performed on him today.
Looking over the list a little more carefully, she flushed for a moment and decided she would definitely pass on observing semen sample collection...

Giggling, the magical mare checked the crystals condition and readiness. "This brings back memories! I still have my old crystals from when I was a little foal! I wonder if these work the same?
Pay attention now, Scott. I want you to see what should happen."

As Scott watched, fascinated, she closed her eyes and pointed her horn at the first crystal in the set, focusing on it for just a moment and letting the very tip of her horn glow with a magenta spark.
When she opened her eyes, the crystal was glowing a soothing pink, fading back to normal when she stopped sending magic to it.

The next crystal played a short tune, the MLP theme, as if played on a glass armonica.(1)
'Do they even have those here or just musical wine glasses?' Scott wondered.

The third shimmered a moment, before the image of a smiling flower appeared, floating above the crystal. It appeared as a glowing outline, like a neon sign.

Amazed, Scott gasped "So that's where Miss Cheerilee's mark was inspired from? Is this a common image?"

Nurse Redheart giggled "Quite possibly. It’s common for learning toys for all foals. That flower is also on some of these wooden blocks you were practicing with."

The cream colored mare scooped a block up in her hoof to show him. Sure enough, there was the flower repeated on two opposite faces of a wooden block.

Chuckling, Scott got a very silly grin. "Even when she isn’t there, somepony is learning something new because of her. I wonder what Miss Cheerilee will think of that?""

Twilight giggled and made a quick note "We'll probably find out when you meet her at the inevitable Pinkie party later."

Curious, Scott's ears went up "Really? I thought Pinkie Parties tended to run late."

The magical mare thought for a moment "If the party starts early enough, she will probably be there for an hour before she has to take care of paperwork.... Um, does she... appear in the, er… show a lot?"

After an uncomfortable pause, he waved a hoof vaguely "Several times so far, enough to have a following. Many wish she had been their teacher…"

Smirking shrewdly, Twilight looked at Scott with a wink. “Including yourself?”

Scott suddenly blushed sheepishly, making both mares giggle “Er, y-yes, actually…”

Patting his shoulder, Twilight smiled reassuringly “Its’ okay Scott. I’m sure she will be quite flattered.
Now pay attention to this stone when I activate it, then we’ll see if you can make any of them work.“

Nodding, he leaned in to watch intently as Twilight’s horn flashed again.
The final crystal glowed a soothing pink, with lines of light flowing up out of it like something out of the old TRON movie, weaving together in pinks, yellows and purples into the neon outline of a foal wearing a diaper. But what a foal!

Blinking in confusion, Scott looked wide eyed at the image as it silently shook a rattle in a loop animation.
“This… can’t be! This looks nothing like the Cutie Mark Crusaders! In fact, other than the hooves, tail, ears and tiny muzzle, this looks just like a human baby! Even then, the face is mostly flat like a human…”

Both mares looked at each other in surprise, then back at the stallion. Twilight finally spoke “R-really?!” Her quill scribbled furiously as she let the crystal go out. “That is quite surprising! I wonder what a genetic study of cells and hair caught in your clothing would reveal? How different are Humans and Equestrian Pones, really?”

Nurse Redheart shook her head in wonder “Oh Celestia! It is one thing to hear somepony say they were something else, but it just really hit me! This poor stallion’s never seen a baby foal! He’s as foreign as a Griffon…”
She put a hoof on his shoulder “Tell you what, sweetie. Before you leave, how about we stop by the Maternity Ward so you can see the newborns?”

Nodding, he turned his head to smile at her “Thank you, Nurse. I at least need to reassure myself they aren’t super-creepy like the “Baby Pinkie Pie” dolls they sell back on Earth.”

Twilight facehoofed herself with a solid *clop*, her pupils shrunk to pinpoints. “Nononono! I… That… I Just… No, I don’t want to know…”

Sighing, Scott fixed her with a bleak look. “No, you don’t…”

Shaking her head, Twilight sighed “So, what do newborn ponies look like where you are from?”

Ears perking, he smiled warmly and looked up, thinking of the foals he’s helped care for back on Earth “Now that I can answer. I love helping out with the newborn foals on that one hobby farm. And there were a lot of them. Usually, they have the same size and build as that one colt here, Snails, with earth tone colors instead.”

Twilight’s quill scratched rapidly, glad for such a welcome change of subject from… *ahem*, and pleased he seemed so happy about real foals. “This is so fascinating! Eee-hee-hee!”

After a moment of writing, she waved her hoof at the crystals. “Now! -Now, while you are still smiling, hold that thought and try that first crystal!
I must tell you now it only acts when you are happy, so it will teach foals positive emotions when they use their magic. Positive emotions are key to the safe use of magic, and I really want to encourage that in an adult who’s never used magic.”

Trying really hard to maintain the “happy vibe”, Scott nodded and put his forehooves on the table, then his chin. His eyes crossed as he stared at the first crystal…

His horn felt warm, then cold as sparks flew off it for a moment before it sputtered and stopped.

Smiling encouragingly, Twilight clopped her hooves together “Come on, you can do it! Want that glow! Need that glow! That crystal is your friend. Think of a cup of hot chocolate! Think of a nice hug and nuzzle with your dam…”

The crystal started to flicker, then died. It was like trying to juggle for the first time ever. -While blindfolded.
A cobalt blue light sputtered in and out on the tip of his horn with sparks shooting out of it, along with the audible sound of an automobile electric starter motor.
The *whirr, whirr, whirr* sound was growing slower as he wore himself out.

After a half hour, he slumped in his seat. His head was pounding as he felt his eyes watering in frustration.

Ever since he saw wizards in movies as a foal…kid… um, ‘child’ and played them in D&D, he had always wanted to do magic on a scale the unicorns took for granted.
-Something that could be seen, not just felt (at best) in his limited dabblings with New Age stuff…

Now it was in his reach, and he could not quite get it.
Close, so close… Why couldn’t he do something a tiny foal was supposed to do before they could even write?
He turned his head to the side and put his hooves over it to stifle a choked sob.

Warm hooves suddenly circled his shoulders and drew him up into a hug, his tail quivered as he caught the scent of a mare and a sweet lilac perfume Twilight wore.

She seemed not to notice his reactions as she continued her reassuring hug. “Shhh… It’s all right. You’ll be just fine, Scott. If it’s not today, you will do it eventually. Canterlot was not built in a day, you know.”
A tissue floated up to wipe his eyes as she gave him her brightest adorkable smile “Come on, try one more time. I know you can do this.”

Taking the tissue in his fetlock, he nodded and looked at the crystal.
He concentrated on the delightful warm feeling burning in him at the touch of a mare and smiled.
The crystal flickered, then again, stronger. Hope rose in him as he wanted that crystal to glow and started to feel it in his mind. Finally the crystal glowed a soothing pink, steadily shining for three or four seconds.

Twilight let Scott go and clopped her hooves together. “You did it! I’m so proud of you!”
Both mares gave him a hug of approval and released the stallion after a minute. “So how do you feel?”

He smiled weakly “A little dizzy. Is magic always tiring?”

Twilight nodded and gave him an eager smile “Actually, yes. You’ll need a lot of practice to build your magical stamina once you can use it. For now, I guess that’s it as far as we’ll go on the crystal test today.”

Standing up and stretching for a moment in relief, she patted his shoulder.
“It will affect the score of course, but don’t worry! That is just a benchmark to refer to as you learn. I’ll see if I can get you some proper schooling, just as soon as tutoring can be arranged.
You don’t know how much trouble you can cause if you don’t know how to use your horn properly.”

Standing up and giving a cat-like stretch, Scott smirked at her. “After watching the time you all told the CMC how you got your Cutie Marks, I think I can imagine. I’ll also tell you the old story of the Sorcerer’s Apprentice sometime.”

Now it was Twilight's turn to blush sheepishly again. “Ah-heh-henh, you heard that, huh… Well, I don’t know how much potential you have but I doubt it would be strong enough to grow a baby dragon through a roof, r-right?” she said with a nervous smile, pointedly not mentioning her parents.
Nodding agreement, Scott figured that turning her parents into potted plants, even for a few minutes, was still something she felt guilty about after all this time.
Not knowing if she had actually mentioned that detail to the fillies in the time the flashback segment had been showing her entrance exam, he decided never to mention it unless she brought it up. “Y-yeah, I agree.”

Politely coughing to break the awkward moment, Nurse Redheart stepped forward “All right then. Since that’s all the testing he can handle today, he’s free to go. What time would you like to resume them tomorrow? X-rays are at 10 A.M.”

Twilight hmmed and tapped her chin in thought as she pulled an abacus from her saddlebags, the beads clicking rapidly. “…Typical Pinkie party lasts until sunrise… Check. Guest of honor passes out... Oh, say 4 A.M., given his size and weight -and never having been at a Pinkie Party… Check. Get extra coffee today to finish waking him up during breakfast once I levitate him home tomorrow morning to clean up… Check.”
Finally she turned back to Nurse Redheart while her abacus went back in her bag. “We will be here precisely at 9 A.M.”

Stunned, Scott blinked owlishly at Twilight. “I know you are organized, but… That... Is surprisingly… Um, detailed.”

Both mares broke down in laughter, with Twilight squeaking out between laughs. ”Oh! O-oh, S-scott… I.. *Eee-hee-hee!* T-thought you saw Pinkie P-Parties! *giggle* All the time! *Ah-ha-haa!*”

Scuffing the floor with a hoof, he sighed “…Rarely the aftermath since the show lasts a half-hour.”

Dabbing at her eyes with a levitated tissue, she rolled back to her hooves and caught her breath. “Oh, oh my… W-well, once you’ve been to enough of her parties, the morning after is quite easy to map out. You’ll see, Scott. “

Meanwhile, Nurse Redheart also got back on her hooves. “It’s so refreshing to meet somepony not used to Pinkie Pie. Oh, did you need to borrow the crystals overnight, Twilight?”

Twilight waved a hoof confidently “No need, I have my old set back in the library, in my box of old toys from Canterlot. I’ve got him covered.”

Smiling, Nurse Redheart started for the door. “Very well, then. Follow me to the Maternity Ward, Scott.”

(1) Link added here because some pre-readers thought I meant a hand held Harmonica and not Benjamin Franklin’s Armonica…

Chapter 6. Meet the Cakes

Space Ponies

By Boss Hoss

Chapter 6. Meet the Cakes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When they reached the ward, Scott did a double-take seeing who was there.

Carrot Cake and Cup Cake were among the few new and waiting parents standing at the window, looking in on the foals.

What really got his attention was his view from behind, seeing the mare’s sides were bulging out in a way that had nothing to do with her normal chubby build.

When he’d been a human helping care for pregnant mares, he privately called it the Saddlebag Look, though if he dared say it out loud anywhere in Equestria, there would probably be fountains of tears and flying hooves of rage over the unflattering comment on a pregnant mare’s figure…

He suddenly realized she must have been starting to show in her pregnancy between seasons! Oh, he really had to quiz Twilight on what Season 1 events happened when. Particularly how many weeks ago the Grand Galloping Gala was. -All to make sure the episode timeline was right.

Immediately, Mr. Cake turned at hearing hoofsteps and waved a lanky hoof “Oh! Hello Twilight! Hello Redheart! My little Gingersnap here just had her checkup and we thought we’d take a look at the newborns to get a preview of our little dumplings.”

Mrs. Cake giggled radiantly “Oh my, yes! My twins are developing safely. Pinkie Pie is so very happy for us!”

Twilight clopped her hooves happily “Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Cake! What’s the expected Due Date?”

The proud father-to-be hugged his wife as she gushed out “Sometime around Winter Wrap-up! That means last Hearts and Hooves Day was our little miracle we’ve been praying to Celestia for.”

Nuzzling his wife, Mr.Cake grinned “Exactly, Honeybun! We’ve been trying for so long, and now we’ll have two to make up for the wait. Isn’t that exciting?”

Twilight squealed happily “Oh my, yes! Another reason to look forward to my second Winter Wrap-up! Don’t you think so Scott?”

Suddenly realizing he was just spoken to, he nodded quickly “Oh! Ah, yes! Very exciting!”
The Cakes suddenly seemed to notice him for the first time, with Cup Cake’s eyes lighting up in joy. “Oh, hello dearie! Twilight, you really must introduce us!” She giggled “Is he your Coltfriend?”

Both unicorns shared a wide-eyed look, then took a step apart and blushed brightly. Twilight stammered while Nurse Redheart giggled into her hooves.
“Um! Errr… ahh.. N-no! I mean ..He’s..he’s a guest! F-from Canter… From Prin… Agh! Skip it! Pinkie is already telling everypony and Zecora by now!
This is Scott Skybright! Pinkie brought him…!

Given the unicorn’s reactions and quick denials, the married couple shared a look and a smile. The news at the end both made them gasp though.

Nervously, Mr.Cake opened his mouth, “Errrmmmm, H-helping an accident victim, I suppose?”

Twilight shook her head and sighed “It’s way too late for a Pinkie Promise for her not to tell anypony anyway. She already printed up party invitations and sent them out.
Sooo… here goes. Scott is a… pony from another world. She had a Doozy and brought him back with her. No harm done, he likes Equestria. Just treat him like anypony else.”

There was an awkward silence from the Cakes, then Mrs. Cake gasped at a sudden thought “O-oh my… I-I hope she won’t be doing this to bring home…ohdear.. coltfriends! “

Both suddenly looked at Scott and gulped, Mr. Cake spoke “*Ahem* Um, you aren’t a coltfriend of Pinkie’s, right?”

Still blushing, Scott coughed “…N-no. Just her newest friend… I need to get my hooves under me before I dare ask anypony out.”
Trying not to glance at Twilight, he quickly changed the subject “Aaaanyway, Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Cake! I’m honored to be the first of my… community to find out. “

Nodding, the Cakes flashed each other a knowing smile and wink, seeing the unicorns were too oblivious to notice. Perhaps a friendly little betting pool on the sly?

With a sudden gasp, Ms. Cake rubbed her side as a foal kicked, then started fishing for information. “*Ooof*, strong one there! I wonder if that’s a boy? Anyway, what brings you and Twilight down here to this ward, dearie?”

Smiling, Nurse Redheart stepped forward to stand by the two unicorns “Oh, I’ve got this. We just gave this stallion a full physical and some tests, and can you believe it? He’s never seen a pony foal quite like we have here. I thought he should get a look at them.”

Shocked, the Cakes looked at each other, then back at the strange stallion. Oh, they just had to see his face when he looks at a foal!

Softly giggling, Mrs. Cake stepped aside and nodded to the window. “Go on dearie…”

A pair of older pegasi near him gave the stallion a curious glance as he peered into the huge window. Scott’s eyes went wide and his jaw dropped in wonder at what he saw.
There were several foals currently there today, including an apricot pegasus foal being shown to the happy grandparents by the nurse on duty.
“Oh… Wow…”

He had never seen babies look so… CUTE!
Scott had never considered human babies even in the running when compared to kittens or puppies, but these foals wearing the same shape as their human counterparts? With their pony attributes quite prominent in the mix?

Hnnnggggg…!

He now FULLY understood that internet meme word. Those huge eyes were captivating, and would probably be considered deadly weapons back on Earth!

Mrs. Cake put a gentle hoof on his shoulder “I know dearie, just takes your breath away, right?”

Nodding weakly, he managed to tear his eyes away from the multiple pairs of cuteness overload looking back at him and took a deep breath, then shook his head to clear it. “Y-yes... Oh Sweet Epona, it does! “

After a moment, he looked to Nurse Redheart. “So… what’s with the eyes? I can’t see any whites in any of them in there.”

Giggling, the nurse waved a hoof “Oh, that’s normal for the first year. They just need to grow a bit along with the head before they start looking normal.”

Inevitably, Twilight spoke up in her Adorkable Lecture Mode™
“Those adorable eyes are also a handy defense mechanism since newborns are pretty much helpless. There are accounts of predators looking a baby foal in the eyes and breaking down in tears before slinking off without harming the foal. Pretty amazing, huh?”

Scott blinked a moment, then laughed “Oh I can believe it! If I wasn’t currently armed with an equine pancreas, I’d probably be getting rushed to the ER with instant diabetes! They are sweeter than a whole candy store, and I was having four foals look at me.”

Both mares giggled at that.

Off to the side, The Cakes looked on, with Mrs. Cake sighing dreamily like a proud mother seeing a daughter go to the prom. “Oh that stallion is going to make a fine father someday…”
Mr. Cake smirked and nudged his wife “You said it, Honeybun, and “How Soon” is going to be another popular betting pool too…”

'(_)' '(_)' '(_)'

Author's Note

Another shortie but its the best pause before...
Pinkie Party!
For some reason the more I edit the party, the bigger it grows so the next posting may take a little longer...
She cannot be contained!

-BH

Chapter 7 . The Inevitable Pinkie Pie Party

Space Ponies

By Boss Hoss

Chapter 7. The Inevitable Pinkie Pie Party
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Twilight gave a soft giggle as she led him inside the Library tree just before sunset. "Just a quick check of your magic potential and we can get you ready for the party.”

Eagerly trotting in behind her, Scott ran a hoof over the carving on the door as he walked in. “I can hardly wait!”

She turned to him and took a deep breath before continuing “I know it seems like a lot to happen to you all at once, and that we're all a bunch of crazy ponies wanting to be your friends everywhere you look, but... When you get a chance to catch your breath, you'll realize it's the best thing in the world. That's how it was for me."

Twilight's eyes comically shone in the dark ahead of him as she looked around and fumbled for the invitation in her saddlebag. "Hmm, petty dark in here. I wonder what Spike and Owlowiscious are up to? Let me turn on the lights and I can finally read where Pinkie wants me to bring you..."

Suddenly Pinkie turned on the lights, revealing a large portion of the Ponyville citizenry, and a thunderous shout of "SURPRISE!"
A spray of confetti and balloons rained down on Twilight and a stunned Scott amid the honking and tooting of noise makers. He was expecting a party at some point this evening, but such a huge party and so fast!

After a few stunned moments of blinking her dazzled eyes, Twilight finally looked at the invitation, reading the decorative script "Oh! The party is here! I should have guessed..."

Shaking himself from his "deer in the headlights" freeze-up, he looked around at the ponies and above them, a banner stretched across the balcony to the head of the stairs, reading "Welcome to Ponyville, Skybright! -and a Happy Cuteceañeara !" -In English!
Underneath was a line of the same kind of angular, blocky script he had seen on the eyechart earlier. Obviously the same sign in local script.

Both unicorns looked at each other, stunned.
Twilight whispered “I-is that your language on top?”

Scott nodded “I am not going to ask how she did that…”

Twilight nodded back “…Good plan, and I wont’ either…”

Giggling, Pinkie bounced up and put a conical party hat over his horn "Are you surprised? Huh? Huh? Ooooh you are! Colts aren’t known for parties to celebrate their cutie mark, but you are so old for finally getting one you deserve it!"
She giggled at the huge grin spreading over his face "Yay! You DO like it! Um, by the way, is this your birthday by any chance?"

Twilight giggled and levitated over a glass of punch for Scott. "It might as well be. Nurse Redheart says he's perfect for his biological age. -The same as ours or a little under! Yet he says he's older."

Scott shakes his head from the revere he was in "Y-yes, let’s make today my Equestrian Birthday!"
Pinkie squealed in joy and bounced in a circle around Scott "YAY! It’s a Party Trifecta! A Welcome-Cuteceañeara-Birthday for Skybright Party!!!"

Pinkie pointed at Vinyl Scratch to start the music, and burst into song when the electric blue-maned uni bobbed her head to the sudden beat...

"We Welcome you to Ponyville,
We hope you enjoy your stay!
We have a Party Trifecta!
The bestest surprise I must say!

Today was your luckiest,
for after you met Pinkie,
You Got your Cutie Mark-
Cuteceañeara Ahoy! (Even though you're a boy.)
Thrown by little ol' me!

And Oh what a surprise!
It's a brand new Birthday!
We have a Party Trifecta!
The bestest surprise I must say!

We hope you really like us,
We hope you think we're swell,
Oh please don’t roam,
make Ponyville your home,
And you'll never feel like... Wellll...

We Welcome our new friend,
Skybright, Hip, Hip, Hooray!
We have a Party Trifecta!
The bestest surprise I must say!"

After the song ended, there was a dizzying round of introductions to an equally dazed Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and a blushing Fluttershy.
Before he could recover, he was swept off through the crowd for more introductions at a speed comparable to Braeburn’s Appleoosa Tour…

Right after being dragged over to the DJ turntable set up by the stairs, and meeting Vinyl Scratch in full DJ-P0n3 mode, Pinkie giggled as she remembered something.
Pinkie turned to him and scruffled his mane “Oh silly me, I forgot to ask! Do you dance? As the Birthday Colt you get the first one!”

Shyly, he scuffed a hoof “Normally as good as Twilight, but now? Even walking is a bit new to me like this, but I can try…”

The moment he said that, she gigged and instantly pulled him into a dance “Goodie! I’ll be glad to teach you!”

The next few minutes were a dizzy blur…

About fifteen minutes into the party, Rarity finally managed to work her way through the herd crowding the floor, catching up to the G.O.H., who waved at her “Hello Miss Rarity! Are you having a good time this evening?”

Giggling pleasantly, the famous Fashionista dipped forward slightly on her foreleg in response. “Thank you kind sir, I am.”

Critically, she looked him over from horn to tail. “Oh my, my. Pinkie really needs to work on her guest preparations. Scott, is it? Twilight tells me you have not had a proper chance to get ready for this at all. You are already looking a bit tired and sweaty, yet have only had one dance with Pinkie… And your coiffure is a disaster! Oh my stars! Did you even bring a comb?”

Blushing sheepishly, Scott nodded. “-Still in Sugarcube Corner, with my pack, and what’s left of my clothes. I can’t even use it right now anyway. I am unable to use my horn yet, and I am not good enough with my hooves either to make it work.”

Rarity put a hoof to her fine, soft grey lips “Oh my! How horrible for you!”

With a sudden, determined look in her eyes, she picked him up in a sky blue nimbus of magic and ignored his protests as she towed him along up the stairs to the living area. “Pardon me everyone! I will bring the Guest of Honor back in a jiffy, after a little freshening up. Ta-ta!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Inside the Master Bath, currently set up to catch the ponies that could not wait for the smaller public restroom on the first floor, Cherry Bomb preened her wings and freshened up in front of the large bathroom mirror.
The red Pegasus straightened her orange and yellow streaked mane, teased and moussed into the shape of fire “Oooh yeah, honey, you are one hawt poneh!”

There was a knock and Rarity’s voice came “Excuse me, is anypony decent? I have a fashion emergency on my hooves!”

Snickering, she turned to the door “Girl, I am never decent! Come right on in!”
Cherry’s eyes widened as Rarity barged on in with the Birthday Boy himself. “For me? You shouldn’t have, Rares.”

Turning her nose up, Rarity snorted as she set the new stallion down and pulled out a grooming kit from the cabinet. “Please! I would think he has some standards! Oh, Scott, this is Cherry Bomb. She was just leaving!”

Smirking, Cherry sidled up to Scott and ran a wing down his back, making him shiver in uncontrolled delight as her feathers hit places he didn’t know he had.
She was so close, he could smell a musky, hot cinnamon perfume on her as well.
“Oh ho, ho! Not so fast! Just because you are a prude doesn’t mean all unicorns are immune. Stallions are so easy to play with! Wiggle a flank and they come running…”

Blushing, Scott rolled his eyes. “Um, excuse me, I can hear you…”

Giggling, she gave him a kiss on the cheek, making him turn a brighter red that almost matched her hide “Exactly!”

Rarity’s face scrunched up as she fumed and turned red before levitating Cherry Bomb away. “At least let me fix him up before you throw yourself all over him like a horse blanket, MISS Cherry Bomb!”

Snorting in disdain, the Pegasus stuck her tongue out at Rarity. “Like a filly cant’ mess with a colt’s head now and then? I was just kidding…”

Combs, washcloths, and brushes suddenly surrounded Scott and went to work. He watched the mirror in awe as the scruffy unicorn stallion he saw there was groomed to Show Ring perfection before his eyes. “Oh Epona! Rarity! This is amazing!”

Rarity smiled haughtily as she took the loose lock at the end that suggested a ponytail and tied it in a masculine manner with a small navy blue ribbon. Even Cherry was impressed and said so.
“Oh pish-posh! I would need time to make you really shine! Now go on my dear! Strut that tail! Be proud to be a unicorn!
By the way, I really must take you to the Spa later this week to help teach you how to groom yourself! Consider that a Welcome to Ponyville gift from me.”

With that, Rarity put herself between Scott and the mirror to break his fascinated stare. She then nudged him out the door and down the stairs.

Cherry shook her head as she left the Master Bathroom with Rarity after they shooed him back downstairs. "You know? I never seen a pony stallion stare at his reflection as much as you do yours... He must really be in love with himself."

Rarity giggled "Not quite, dahling. I've seen that look before, when a pony unsure of their self-image sees themselves in the mirror in one of my creations.
He is coming to grips with the fact he CAN look good -and looks incredibly smashing to boot. The poor dear is probably half afraid he will be back to the way he was if he looks away."

Wide-eyed, the red Pegasus stopped in her tracks, stunned at the implications "Celestia! Just what did he look like before he got here..?"

Rarity shuddered "The way he is acting, I really don’t wish to think about that..."

Halfway down the stairs after resisting the advances of the randy pegasus yet again, Rarity suddenly stood still. Her eyes sparkled as her mind raced. “I-DEAaa! I know just what to do for the poor thing!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile, Scott swished his tail eagerly as he took a moment to build a sandwich at the buffet table. He did not yet notice Rainbow Dash quietly drop down from behind and examine him quite closely, the noise of her wings masked by the loud music and talking around him.

Getting the sense someone was near, Scott turned his head, but Dash zipped up above him before he could see her.

Shrugging, he went back to the sandwich and Dash came back down.

This was repeated several times before AppleJack joined in.
They quickly moved to flank him and started prodding him with their hooves "Yo! You feel real, all right. Is it true?!"

Applejack snorted as he turned toward them in surprise. "Yeah, you smell like a stallion, right enough. So is it more'a Pinkie's bridle gossip? It’s written in black an' white... err, Pink and white on th' invitations, but we want ta’ hear it from the horse's mouth."

Dash gave him a comically suspicious eye, then giggled to show she was not serious "Yeah, Space Pony, you're not a spy from beyond are you?"

A quiet voice sounded from behind them “Oh girls, I’m sure this must all be strange for him. What if he was a cute, fluffy alien with adorable paws?”

Ears perked, Scott craned his neck to look behind the two mares at Fluttershy, then back at AJ and Dash. “Let me grab this sandwich and find a place to sit. -Then I’ll talk.”

After some hasty shuffling, there was now a small circle of cushions in one of the side rooms that had apparently been there in Season 1 but not shown on-screen. - The Romance Fiction room as AJ informed him with a wink, of course.

Scott took a drink and spoke to the mares. “Yes, I’m not of this world, and I’m one of those Space Ponies that Pinkie has been telling you about. -And nope, not a spy.” He added with a wink.
AJ chuckled and elbowed a sheepish Dash.
“Twilight was going to tell you all later but Pinkie had too much of a head start to keep her quiet.
In any case, I’ll tell you what happened and answer some questions, but it might be best to save those for later, when Twilight is examining me.
You three, Rarity, and Pinkie are free to be there anytime Twi is studying me so there wont’ be any secrets or misunderstandings. Okay?”

AJ nodded, satisfied he was telling the truth. “Sure thing Sugarcube.”

Meanwhile, Dash put on a devious smirk “I’m sure I can come up with some wild questions to keep you and Twilight on your hooves.”

Fluttershy nodded, one eye peeking from behind her mane. “…o-okay…”

After a quick recount of who, where, when, and why, Rainbow Dash scratched her head “So if you are an alien, what star are you from?”

Everyone suddenly looked at her in surprise for the intelligent question. “What? I love Sci-Fi, Adventure and Spy Thriller movies!”

Chuckling, the stallion shook his head and winked teasingly “Just surprisingly deep for the most awesome Pegasus ever.”
After the chorus of giggles died down he continued. ”Anyway that’s the weird part of this too. From what we Bronies saw on the other side, our constellations are about the same.
In short, I’m an alien, from another… well, every Joe Average says “dimension”, so let’s go with that…”

Rainbow Dash giggled excitedly “We are talking with an ALIEN from another Dimension! How cool is that?! *Squeee!*”

Slowly raising a hoof, Fluttershy looked at Scott with one eye from behind her sweeping pink bang. “You say you’ve helped out with cute critters and repairs on a farm before? If you don’t mind… If it would not be a bother... Could you possibly… HelpMeWhenIneedIt?”

While he had to lean in to catch the last part, he gave a reassuring smile. “I would be honored to help the Element of Kindness once I get used to being without fingers.”

With that, Fluttershy blushed and gave a quiet thank you. She managed a smile before she used up her store of bravery for the moment.

Tipping her hat back as she looked him over, AJ joined in “So, how’s bein’ on four hooves workin’ out fer’ ya?”

Chuckling, he lifted a black hoof to inspect it. “Easier than I imagined, just takes a little getting used to. My problem now is going to be dancing. I never really got to try before, and now? As you saw earlier with Pinkie, I’ve got four left hooves unless somepony can teach me.”

AJ and Rainbow Dash grinned as they shared a look. Somepony asking them for help on learning how to dance? -And a stallion at that?
In seconds, the unspoken bet was on as to who could successfully teach him first!

Flapping her wings, Dash rose up and did some midair breakdancing. “Oh, have you come to the right ponies! There isn’t a pony in town who can't dance, but me and AJ are really super-awesome! –Oh, everypony in town except Twi, but she’s really set on learning too, right?
Aaaanyway, come on out and lets get your groove on with the experts!”

Grinning, AJ flipped her tail to grab a hoof with it, and pull him to the door. “That’s right partner! Lets teach ya’ll how to do-se-do!”

Surprised at how forward her friends were being with the stallion, Fluttershy followed them out the door and back to the party.
She suddenly realized she had invited him right to her door as well, and blushed. “Oh my…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

While Applejack was taking her turn teaching him how to dance like a pony, he noticed Lyra and Bon-Bon dancing as well.

Lyra was leading her partner closer in the dance.
Once she was close enough, the turquoise unicorn smiled at him and kissed her partner before stopping for the moment and waved a hoof at him "Can we switch for a moment?"

Puzzled, Scott looked to Applejack, who raised an eyebrow but shrugged "Up ta’ you Sugarcube."
The newly made stallion nodded and looked to Lyra. "Sure!"

At the least, the change of pace would let him catch his breath. How can dancing be so tiring to an awesome new body?

AJ smirked and raised his hoof, holding it loose. “Ready Lyra? On three! One… Two… Three!” And with that, the orange cowpony swung him around and let go.
He sidestepped, seeing Bon-Bon pass him face to face, and felt Lyra’s hoof take his to complete the circle.

He was relieved to find the pace with Lyra much slower as she looked at him with those startling golden eyes. Her scent also had a lot of wintery mint to it. Was that perfume?
Why did these ponies all have to be so beautiful?

Smiling sweetly, Lyra leaned in and nuzzled his ear, whispering “I read some interesting things on this invitation about where you came from. Would you please come to our home tomorrow so we can discuss them? Just ask Twilight for directions to “Bon-Bon’s Sweets”. -Say about Noon or so?”

Smiling, Scott nodded “It would be my pleasure…”

As the dance ended, he bowed to Lyra, and turned toward Rainbow Dash, “I’ll be back in a moment. I need a drink Miss Dash.”

"Oh, THERE you are Dahling!"
Suddenly, Rarity came out of the crowd and hooked a foreleg around his, pulling insistently and propelling him in one direction. "I have only one way I can give you a proper Ponyville Birthday gift. I just need you for a moment to measure you."

Snorting, Rainbow Dash stamped her forehoof in air as if she was standing on a solid floor. “HAY! Bring him back here! It’s my turn again next!”

Shaking her mane, Rarity smirked at the cyan pegasus. “Oh, Rainbow Dash! Not to worry, Dear. I’ll only have him for a moment, and then I’ll bring him back, safe and sound.”

Rarity led him to one corner out of the way to get his measurements.
As she pulled out her measuring tape, she looked back behind her and frowned.
The proper Fashionista quickly gave him a pointed look and cleared her throat, seeing where his eyes were pointed. "Excuse me, but my eyes are up here, Romeo..."

Blushing at being caught, he quickly stammered an apology, but Rarity raised a hoof. “Tut-tut. I suppose it’s flattering that you would think my flank worthy of attention, and that being an alien, these feelings must be new and overwhelming to you.
Still, one must exercise self control. …If nothing else than to keep little Spikey-Wikey from making your life… difficult should he see your wandering eyes, yes?”

Still blushing, Scott nodded and moved his limbs for her as she started measuring him. “Yes, Miss Rarity…”

His mind was busy in thought while he was forced to stand in one place. At first, he didn’t think Spike would be a problem, but the more he thought about it, the more he began to worry.
One thing was certain; he was going to be around Twilight the most of all the Mane 6 simply because she would need to study him.
If her “Number 1 Assistant” was out to get him, there’s no end to the pranks and random acts of sabotage he would try. ‘Owl’s well that ends well’ taught him that much.
He gave a little shiver thinking about Spike ever being mad enough to try his little fangs on him. Fangs that slice through diamond like butter…
Just to be safe, he looked around and spotted the baby dragon, asleep under a table with a lampshade on his head.

As she finished her measurements, he whispered “I will try to be more of a Gentlecolt in the future, Miss Rarity.”

Finishing her notes and putting them in her saddlebag, the unicorn giggled and gave a saucy wink. “Thank you, kind Sir. As it is, you are many times the Gentlecolt a certain prince is. Never forget that!”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was during one of his increasingly numerous rest breaks that he found himself next to a strangely familiar Earth pony stallion.
In fact, somepony that seemed to be watching him and glancing back at his invitation as he drank some punch. -A stallion with brown eyes, dark brown slicked-back mane, white shirt collar on his neck held with a bowtie, mocha hide and an hourglass Cutie Mark.
Scott did a double take and blinked “Excuse me, are you… the Doctor?”

Said stallion went bug-eyed and did a spit take of his punch, then spoke in a very familiar voice. “Err, no, no... I am Time Turner. I maintain the clock tower and regulate the clocks that are used in the town offices. Also, I am the official timekeeper for special events. Ahaha… Yes, that’s me, Town Official in charge of timey-wimey… stuff…”

Narrowing his eyes suspiciously, Scott snorted. “Uh Huh, Right… Whatever happened to me got you too, didn’t it?”

Scoffing, “Time Turner” patted Scott’s head dismissively “I am sure I have no idea what you are talking about, so I must be on my way home right now, “Space Pony”…Ha, ha… Good night.”

As he turned away, Scott hissed out “Yes, to the Tardis…”

Screeching to a halt, the stallion looked back at him, then came close so they could whisper. “Oooh! Well played Sir… Right then, what’s your game?”

Chuckling, Scott saluted him with a cup of punch held in both hooves “Just looking for my “Happily ever after!” here, and finding answers to Twilight’s questions.
Don’t worry, I wont say anything to anypony about you. How about lunch sometime so we can compare notes on our… condition.”

“Time Turner” looked at a pocket watch coming out of nowhere, then back at Scott. “Make it teatime. It will be two O’clock P.M. in this timeframe.
-Don’t bother setting a day, it will happen on its own. We’ll meet at chance and we’ll happen to have our notebooks. I’ll make it three place settings as Miss Sparke will be along as well.”

Shaking his head and chuckling, Scott grinned. “Agreed! See you later, “Time Turner”.

The brown stallion was turning to leave when he stopped, and turned back for a moment “Can you find a packet of Jelly Babies? I haven’t had those since I got stuck here…”

Scott laughed “I’ll see what I can do.”

As Doctor Whooves disappeared into the crowd, Rainbow Dash came up and touched his shoulder. “My turn, Big Guy! Hey, what were you and Turner talking about?”

Scott hoped he kept his ears straight as he spoke “Oh, I was curious what he actually did here. I see him all over the show but not what he does.”

Shrugging, Dash put a firm wing around him to drag him back to the dance. “More egghead stuff, yeah…”

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sometime later, Applejack passed him off again to a new partner.
He was expecting Rainbow Dash again, only to bump into Twilight as she held a hoof out for him. “Ooops! Sorry Twilight! I’m already getting rubbery legged even with rest breaks.”
She giggled “Quite all right! It must be quite exhausting for somepony who hasn’t danced before in the best of times. At least I know how to slow dance a little for official functions. Would you like that, Scott?”

Nearby, AJ and Rainbow Dash giggled and slapped each others backs as they saw Scott blush and get a sappy smile on his muzzle.

After a moment, he nodded. “Y-yes, please!” and took the offered hoof.
Smiling, she took the lead “This should feel somewhat familiar to you. Lean into me as we get up on our hind hooves.”

It took several tries, but they were finally able to stand, chest to chest.

Twilight moved his right hoof to the middle of her back since she would lead, she then took his left hoof in her right and started moving. “Easy now Scott, move with me. I only know a few steps but that should make it easy on you, right?”

Tail quivering, he nodded and squeaked out “Y-yes.” as he concentrated on moving his hooves with her guiding push. Left, right, left, right, back, turn, repeat.
Everything seemed to fade out around him with the hypnotic repetition as he smelled lilac and mare together. He could feel her heart beat as their chests pressed together. Her purple eyes shone as a warm sensation filled him, and somewhere he thought he heard an owl for some weird reason.
Twilight’s thin, elegant lips moved as he lost himself to the dance.

Suddenly he realized she was speaking to him “Huh? What?”

Twilight giggled and shook her head “I said, have you ever seen a party like this before?”
Blushing, he replied “S-sorry, I kinda lost myself there. I’ve never slow danced before. The only really big parties I can personally compare have been at Furry Conventions. -That’s conventions for fans of shows and books about animals with human attributes, with a party somewhere every night. I missed those so much…”

Twilight giggles at his expression as they danced “Well, I’m glad Pinkie made you feel so happy with her party then. These conventions, are they large gatherings like I’ve been to for my favorite book heroine, Daring Do?”

He smiled and shrugged, “Probably. The last one I’ve been to had 1,500 attendees.”

Whistling, Twilight smiled and shook her head in wonder “That sounds just like the latest Manehattan DaringCon I went to a few months back. I got to meet the Author and some of the actors for the stage show. …Um, are there conventions about…us?”

His ears went up eagerly as he smiled “Two so far that I heard of and a bunch of Brony meetups to watch the show here and there. –Never any close to me unfortunately.
Oh I’d love to see their faces if they ever found out you girls were real!”

Giggling at a sudden thought she put a hoof to his lips “Don’t give Pinkie any ideas now…”

With that, their dance ended in laughter.