Twilight set down a pillow on the floor for me. I sat, with my cup of tea at the halfway mark and watched each of my odd company cast puzzled looks at me, like I was a museum attraction.

   Twilight ended the awkward silence. "I have soo many questions to ask, where you're from, what your species is like."

   Applejack added, "We all do."

   Twilight agreed and her horn glowed purple. A sheet of parchment with a quill and ink levitated to her enveloped in a purple aura. It stopped then hovered in front of her.

   "Argyle, you said your name was?" The quill dipped in the ink well and started writing on its own.

   I slowly nodded my head, while unable to believe what I was seeing.

   "Ya alright, Argyle?" Applejack tilted her head.

   I pointed at Twilight. "Can all of you do that?"

   Twilight let the paper down and looked at me. "Do what?"

   "The thing where you make things change colour and float in thin air?"

   "Oh, you mean magic?" Twilight tilted her head.

   "Uh, magic?" I could hardly believe that as well.

   "Yes, Darling. Only Unicorns or Alicorns have magic." Rarity half smiled.

   Twilight added to what Rarity said. "Except non pony races, like Dragons for example."

   "Yeah, I don't have a horn."

   Rainbow Dash flew up and turned her back, pointing at her wings. "But who needs one when you've got these babies?!"

   "And Earth ponies are the strongest." Applejack flexed her fore hoof.

   Surprisingly, it tensed up with an impressive array of leg muscles. Her overall figure was very lean and toned.

   "And parties, Applejack, don't forget parties!" Pinkie laughed.

   "Right, parties." She just shook her head.

   "Uh, huh." I nodded my head slowly taking it all in, still rather perturbed by the whole magic thing.

   Twilight wrote on her paper, casting quick glances at me. "So, you don't have magic in your world?"

   "No, not really." I almost pouted.

   Every "magician" on Earth is basically just a skilled conman.

   "We have a few races that thrive without magic here. What's the name of your race and how does it thrive?"

   "It's called Mankind. We use Science, Mathematics, Metaphysics and a lot of trial and error." I tried to give her the short version.

   "Oh, so you're like Griffiny?" Twilight raised her head up from her paper.

   I had no idea what she was talking about. "Griffiny? What's that?"

   "The Griffin's homeland, far across the Eastern sea. It's a land of steam and oil, a real wonder of technology I have read."

   There are Griffins too? What's next, Manticores, or monsters made out of constellations?

   I laughed at the last one, thinking I made it up. "We were like that once. Now, we have far advanced."

   Twilight looked surprised. "You're more advanced than the Griffins? That's amazing!"

   She quickly scribbled more on her paper.

   I sipped my tea.

   "And what are your mating rituals like?"

   I choked on my tea. "Gyah, what?"

   Did Twilight just ask me about how people...get it on?

   I burst out laughing.

   "Twilight! That is simply inappropriate."

   Rarity gaped at her. "I'm sorry, Argyle."

   Applejack groaned, taking her hat off and covering her face with it.

   "Oh, my." Fluttershy turned beat red and dug down into her pillow.

   Rainbow Dash shook her head. "Geez, Twilight."

   Pinkie just leaned closer, eager to hear my answer.

   Twilight eyed around. "What? This is for science. He doesn't have to answer right now if it makes him uncomfortable."

   I waved a hand, still trying to catch my breath.

   "It's alright, just...just give me a minute." That caught me completely off guard.

   I knew a thing or two about the birds and the bees, not from experience however.

   I figured Twilight already had her answer. "How do you go about it, Twilight?"

   She rubbed her head with her fore hoof. "Well, we need a colt and a mare."

   I nodded. "I'm the same."

   "Oh, interesting."

   She went back to writing. "And what is your diet?"

   I thought for moment. "Um, are you asking what do I eat, or Mankind?"

   "Either or both."

   I chose the short answer. "We're omnivores."

   "That's very interesting."

   Spike walked out of the kitchen. "Omnivore, what's that?"

   Twilight looked at Spike. "It means he eats both meat and plants."

   I eyed around, checking if the eats-meat unsettled the ponies.

   Rainbow added while doing backstrokes in the air. "Meat and plants? Kind of like us, huh?"

   Like us? Wait, they eat meat? What?

   Rarity added, "Yes, hardly strange at all. I have eggs in the mornings with Sweetie Belle."

   Applejack nodded. "Don't forget the time we had chicken."

   Pinkie bounced in the air. "And don't forget that turkey once with my cranberrychunga sauce! That was yummy!"

   Huh, a sentient race of horses that can eat meat. That's very interesting.

   "Well, I've had fish before, but he looks more like a plant eater, like us."

   Fluttershy pointed out. "He does not have claws or teeth for grabbing."

   "No, we have something even better."

   I tapped my head with my finger.

   "We only need this for hunting or farming. It's a good thing too, think how scary I would be with claws and gripping teeth with this huge head." I put my hands up like they were claws while jutting my jaw out like I had fangs, making me look absolutely ridiculous.

   Fluttershy giggled. "Oh, I see."

   Laughing, I watched Spike enter the same room he walked out of when I woke up.

   Second time he's gone in there, hmmmm.

   I felt it was safe to try and sip my tea again. "How did you guys find me?"

   "I found you."

   Twilight answered, still writing.

   "I heard a loud thump from downstairs, so I came down to see what had happened, then I saw you unconscious on the floor here in the library."

   Her head popped back up. "How did you get there anyway?"

  How should I tell them?

  I thought for a few seconds. "I'm still piecing it together myself."

   It's not like it was a lie, but it wasn't the whole truth either.

  "I have a question."

   Spike walked out of the same room he previously entered. "Just what are you anyway?"

  I figured it a safe assumption it was his room, with Occam's razor applied, since I observed him enter and exit that room non stop. Why else would he be in there so often?

  Watching Spike reminded me I was in a cryptozoological wonderland. Pegasus, Unicorns, Dragons, Griffins, possible constellation monstrosities, it was very fascinating.

   He looked at my hands then at his.

   "Some kind of land Dragon that lost all his scales?"

   He gasped, then took two steps back with a worried look. "It's not contagious is it?!"

  "Dragon without scales? That's new." I smiled.

   "Spike."

   Twilight addressed with a soft tone, "Don't be rude. Besides, he's not a dragon. He's from Mankind, a...um...what is a Mankind exactly?"

   "I'm a Human."

   "Mankind is Human? Interesting." She scribbled more on the paper.

   Spike sighed relieved, then sat down next to Twilight.

   I couldn't stop smiling at the him. He was awesome.

   I wonder if most Dragons are like him.

   "Wait."

   Twilight popped her head up from her paper.

   "Human?"

   She looked down at Spike. "Spike, could you grab a book for me?"

   Spike got up. "Sure, what do you need?"

   She pointed her fore hoof at one of the book shelves. "Creeps and Oddities, volume eleven, under Legendary Creatures."

   "What's up, Twilight?" Rainbow hovered closer to her.

   Twilight watched as Spike pulled up a latter and started searching. "I just wanted to see something."

   "Okay, which author?"

   Spike held two books, one suede blue, one velvet red. "Marvin the Inquisitive, or Mistpeak the Nosy?"

   Twilight waved her hoof. "Pifff, Marvin of course. Mistpeak is far to vague."

   Spike dropped down and handed the suede blue book to Twilight.

   "Thanks, Spike."

   Twilight opened the book with her magic and flipped through the pages. Her eyes scanned each page.

   "No, no, no, definitely not."

   She planted her hoof on the open book. "Ah ha!"

   "What is it Twilight? A recipe for cherrychurries?"

   Pinkie looked over her shoulder. "I've always wanted one of those!"

   Twilight laughed. "No, Pinkie. It's a book on legendary creatures. I read this when I was a filly."

   "Aww, kid stuff?"

   Rainbow huffed. "Come on, don't you think we're a little old for that?"

   "Maybe it has Argyle in it?" Fluttershy walked to Twilight.

   Twilight nodded her head. "That's exactly it. I think I've read about Humans before in this book."

   I got closer while the others peered over Twilight.

   "Here it is, under bipedal."

   Twilight clapped her two hooves together. "Alright, the Human."

        There is little known about this oddity, even less about its origins. Legends say it stands on two hind legs a full chest height over must ponies and it is either fairly or highly intelligent.  

        Though there are no modern sightings of this creature, there are some legends and tribal lore that give a small picture.

        One legend from Dragon lore — depicting the end of the world — tells about an ancient savor named the Tearfire. The legend says that the Tearfire would stand with the stature of a Dragon, but would have scaleless skin. In the time of gravest need, he would descend upon the land, wielding command over all the forces of nature and trails of liquid fire would weep from his eyes. He would shroud and defend the world, saving it from an age old enemy.

        Some legend enthusiasts think this a description of a Human. Some skeptics would call this the origin of the Human legend. Others call it sightings of a scaleless land Dragon obviously suffering from a skin blight.

         It is unclear wither or not the skeptics or enthusiasts hold the truth, just as it is unclear if a Human ever really walked on ancient Equestrian soil. Until a live or dead Human is ever found, this creature may sadly remain a legendary oddity.

   The irony of being the pony equivalent to sasquatch was quite overbearing and funny. All I could do was laugh and drink my cooling tea.

   Everyone looked at me when Twilight finished reading.

   Rarity gestured to me. "A one-of-a-kind species that happens to wear fine clothes? Positively marvelous!"

   Pinkie giggled. "Yep, that's Sparky alright."

   "Well, I'll be." Applejack shook her head.

   "That's pretty cool." Rainbow floated back to her hovering spot.

   "Wow, Twilight, you know what this means?" Spike looked up to her.

   "Yes, this is the scientific find of the century, a real Human!"

   Twilight clapped her fore hooves together while smiling. "Now, I have even more questions to ask!"

   "That just makes him extra special."

   Fluttershy walked over next to me and put her hoof gently on my arm. "Aren't you?"

   I just smiled, thinking how adorable she was. She reminded me of my little sister in a way.

   Applejack asked, "So, where's it ya come from then, Argyle?"

   I answered while sipping my luke warm tea, "Earth."

   "Tell us more about this, Earth." Twilight dipped her quill.

   "It can be very beautiful sometimes. It's the third planet away from our Sun, a lush garden world bustling with life."

   I watched my new acquaintances with envy. They seemed everything my people were not, happy. Wars, famine, corporate supremacy, the lack of any real love for anyone, I felt like a barbarian.

   "Ooh, ooh, can I ask one?!" Pinkie Pie cried out while bouncing up and down.

   I turned my head to my left, eyes moving up and down while she bounced. "Uh, yes?"

   "Do you have monsters there, like Manticores OR like Dragons?" Pinkie gestured to Spike and looked at me excited, with the others sort of followed her expression.

   I shook my head, seeing as my inward joke was actually true. Obviously they had Manticores as well.

   "Well, Dragons were a common sight a long time ago, but seeing one now is extremely rare. As for Manticores? No, we don't have anything like that on Earth. Those only live in legends."

   "Lush garden world, no monsters, highly advanced...alright, what's your culture like?"

   I knew that question was on its way. I shook my head.

   A white lie and vague platitudes, or a short bitter sweet truth?

   "A dime a dozen." Bitter sweet never tasted so bitter.

   Twilight furrowed her eye brows. "Come again?"

   I sipped my tea, then straightened myself.

   Have face the music sooner than later, I guess.

   There was so much to tell, so much bad. Earth is like an apple, it's perfect, until you bite it. I just hoped they didn't see me as a barbarian afterwards.

   "I mean to say, it may be a garden world, but Mankind's massed culture's nothing special. All we know is war and death. Most would out right disagree saying there're many beautiful things about Mankind, but that's a half truth. The full truth is bad people do what they're supposed to by nature, while the good ones? They'd rather smell the flowers than risk themselves for the future, all justified by stupid excuses too. Earth is nothing special."

   Rarity asked, "Surely somepony cares? Otherwise, you would not survive."

   I nodded my head.

   "Oh, most care, but for all the wrong reasons."

  Maybe I was being a bit bias to the bad parts. "To be fair, there are people who actually care and keep the world from falling apart, but there're so few and what little they can do is like reinforcing clay with iron. It only helps so much."

   Twilight held her for hoof out. "Wait, war? I read about that once. We had wars long ago. They were horrible. How bad are your wars?"

  War, a topic I knew too well. Half of being Human is to know war and its permanent place in Mankind. "World shattering. We already had two World Wars. Both combined hundreds of millions died in combat alone, all for money."

   "Dang." Applejack shook her head.

   "Why, that's ghastly!" Rarity put her hoof to her mouth, covering her shock.

   "That's horrible." Fluttershy gasped.

   Pinkie frowned. Until then, she pretty much was smiling the whole time.

   Rainbow Dash stopped hovering and sat down, distraught and silent.

   "Man...." Spike grimaced.

   "Hundreds of millions?!"

   Twilight gaped. "How did you not go extinct?"

   "Mankind's a stubborn thing. It perseveres."

   I often got scolded for my outlook on the world, even though it's the truth. The young should be seen, not heard, nevermind it's the child that buries the father, but never the skeletons.

   I sipped the last bit of cold tea. "Earth is nothing special."

   Rainbow Dash asked me, really into the discussion, "So, you don't want to go back?"

   I put my cup down and asked, "Is there even a way to go back?"

   "If there is a way, only the Princess would know." Twilight rolled up the paper with her magic and gave it to Spike.

   He grabbed it and breathed green fire. The paper burnt up and the ashes faded away. I raised an eye brow, thinking that an odd way of wasting paper.

   I saw a shape out of the rear port window in the library. As soon as I could train my eyes on it, it disappeared typically. It was getting dark out, so anything that was not in the moonlight, was nearly impossible to see clearly.

   Spike belted out a green flame and to my bewilderment a completely untouched sheet of rolled paper appeared out of it.

   I just shook my head.

   "See? I knew she would respond immediately."

   Twilight took the paper and read it, smiling, but her smile slowly soured to disappointment. "Oh, no."

   "Someth'n wrong, Twi?" Applejack walked towards her.

   "Celestia's personal Butler sent this." Twilight blinked a few times.

   Spike looked confused. "I don't remember her having a personal Butler."

   "Neither do I."

   Twilight shook her head. "It says, she's away on royal business and wont return for two full weeks."

   She let the paper fall and sighed.

   "Two weeks? Is that all?"

   Rainbow waved a fore hoof. "That's no big deal."

   Fluttershy added, "It is when Argyle needs to get back home."

   "Aww, he'll be fine. He can crash with us until then."

   Rainbow turned to Twilight. "Right?"

   Twilight put a hoof to her mouth, then shrugged. "Well, I don't see the harm."

   "Yay, Sparky gets to stay!"

   Pinkie jumped into the air with a cloud of confetti. "This is gonna be soo much fun!"

   "See, you're in good hooves." Rainbow smiled at me.

   I liked that blue Pegasus, a bit brash but her heart was pure gold.

   "It's get'n late."

   Applejack yawned. "Ah'd better get back home."

   "Yes, I think we are all quite tired from today's excitement." Rarity got up and stretched her back a little.

   "Don't forget, G.Y.N.D.P tomorrow!" Pinkie cheered then poofed out the front door.

   I shrugged.

   The hell is a G.Y.N.D.P? A bank statement?

   Rainbow Dash hovered next to me.

   "It means Glad Your Not Dead Party. Yeah, Pinkie's a party animal. Well, see ya!" She flew out of the tree house.

   I scratched my head, then sighed.

   A party? Yaay, fun.

   I never really liked parties. Hard drink and questionable company always killed it for me. I wondered if the ponies were the same. They seemed to be a lively bunch at least.

   "Don't worry, Argyle."

   Fluttershy put a fore hoof on my shoulder.

   "I'm sure there is a way to get you back home." She turned, then walked out the door.

   I still couldn't understand why I felt so at home. I hoped she was right though, since I was missing out on my first week to myself. Well, my first week alone on an ash pile now.

   I shook my head, recalling my special week and how ironic it was that something of that magnitude destroyed it, then an idea came.

   Well, technically, I am by myself, so maybe I'm getting my wish?

   I shrugged, figuring my situation a strange twist to my week, so maybe it wasn't all that bad.

   Twilight waved her fore hoof while closing the door.

    "Goodnight guys!"  

   She looked back to me, then sighed lightly to get her bearings back.

   "Alright, you will be staying here with me for now, so feel free to make yourself at home, but first, let me show you where you will be sleeping."

   She motioned for me to follow her. "The room's this way."

   I got up, then walked with her towards the door I saw Spike go in and out of.

   Am I going to sleep with Spike is his room? Let's see if that razor held true.

   Entering through the door just near the stairs, I walked into a plain sized room. Someone turned a thick table into a impromptu bed. It seemed a little big for a baby Dragon.

   A smaller desk with an assortment of writing stuffs was near the bed. I eyed around , doubting my assumption. The room did not seem Spike's size. It was almost tailored to a bigger creature, like me.

   Twilight turned around, waving her foreleg to the whole room. "I had Spike clear this book storeage room. It's a little small I know, but it sure beats sleeping on the floor."

   Eat your heart out Occam.

   I smiled. She already had a room ready for me. I was at a loss.

   "Thank you, twilight."

   I gestured to the pillow on the floor outside the door. "But, I would've been fine with the floor."

   Twilight cracked a smile then pointed her foreleg at the pillow.

   "Well I can't stop you from sleeping there if you want to, but you haven't slept on this floor."

   She knocked on the floor with her hoof.

   "It's harder than a brick and just as cold too."

   Twilight finished, pushing her offer. "No, you're my guest and I wouldn't have it any other way."

   I smiled in defeat. "If you insist, thank you."

   She waved her fore hoof. "Don't mention it."

   I followed Twilight out of the room, as she went for the stairs.

   "Now if you need anything, just call me, I'll be upstairs."

   "Sure thing. Well...." I robbed the back of my head.

   Twilight stopped, turning back to me with a curious look. "Yes?"

   "I saw Spike go in and out of that room, but that was like a few hours ago. Just when did Spike set that room up for me?"

   She waved her hoof. "Oh, I told him to set that room up a few hours after I found you laying here, for when you woke up. I knew the moment I saw you that letting anypony else see you would've been a bad idea, so I figured you would be safe here with me, at least, until Celestia could help us."

   "Wow, what a huge decision to make on such short notice. I don't know what to say...."

  A huge wave of respect for Twilight rushed through me. She had no obligation to help me, yet she insisted on it twice. I will never forget that.

   "Really, it's no problem, Argyle. Well, goodnight." Twilight quickly went up the stairs.

   "Goodnight, Twilight."

   I walked towards my room door entering it.

   I stood in my room and sighed. "Oh, man."

   My stomach would not stop turning. I hated the feeling you get when you are lost with no way out. It felt like I was falling. Deep breaths only helped do much.

   I looked around, trying to distract myself. "My new room, huh?"

   It was pretty closed off from the rest of the library, tree house, thing. Only a small door separated it from the main room. It was far from being empty as well, having several shelves full of books. The hieroglyphs on the end labels were like a literary middle finger.

   Shrugging off that, I had a closer look at my desk table.

   "To bad I don't know how to use a quill."

   I opened the ink bottle and smelled its black contents. "And the ink smells like sour berries."

  "Cozy?"

   My senses jolted. I slowly turned around, then saw piercing crimson eyes.

   "Enjoying yourself?"

   The girl lightly laughed.

   "Like a worm inside a putrefying apple?" Her dirty figure just leaned on a book shelf nonchalantly.

   I sat down on my bed slowly.

   "Who do you work for?" I let my hands fall to my lap, complete concentration on her.

   The girl tilted her head. "Straight to proper questions? Good, a skill you will need. Still, it is too early. Ask something else. I will answer."

   She was toying with me. I did not like that. "Why are you ruining my life?"

   "Ruining?"

   She got off the book shelf.

   "Ruining is such a harsh word. I prefer reconstructing."

   Slowly she walked to the center of my room. "I brought you here by order, not by choice. For some reason unknown you are important."

   I was just a teen, not a protagonist. "You have the wrong guy."

   "Oh?"

   She stared at me puzzled. "Are you sure? No feelings of belonging?"

   Of course she knew that.

   "What importance is that?"

   She smiled. "Unquestionable importance."

  "You still didn't answer my first question."

   "Oh, very well."

   She sighed.

   "A group you need concern yourself with." Her wrist flicked.

   Something grabbed my sides and lifted me up in the air. I panted in surprise as I floated to her, freezing in midair just inches away.

   She whispered, "Now you listen as I ask and answer. You want the why? There is a storm coming, so monstrous it will wipe the slate clean. All I know, is you having a part to play and how I am to ensure its fruition."

   The girl grinned, exposing her malformed teeth. They looked like sharpened human canines covered in a disgusting yellowish black film. Those teeth filled her whole top and bottom jaw. She also smelled of death and decay. If it were not for my strong stomach, I would've vomited immediately.

   She eyed around the room, as I struggled to get loose.

   "Enjoy this while you can. It is ending, slowly." She let me go. I fell unto my backside, painfully.

   I glared back to where she stood. She was gone.

   "Now you see truth."

   I thought I heard something, like a whisper at the edge of hearing, but the girl was gone and I remained alone.

   My room door opened. "Argyle? Is everything alright in here?"

   It was Twilight.

   "Yes, everything's fine." I was very relived to see her. I rubbed the throbbing side I had landed on.

   This sucks.

   "I didn't mean to bother you, but I heard some voices and then a loud bump."

   Twilight entered the room while looking around, but saw nothing strange. "So I just came to see if everything was alright."

   I waved my hand. "Oh yes, everything's fine, considering."

   She frowned a little. "Yeah...don't worry, when we see the Princess it'll turn out alright."

   "We can hope."

   I scratched the back of my head, thinking of a way to change the subject. "I was about to go to bed. Do you need help with anything before I do?"

   Even though I was in the last place I wanted to be, it still was no excuse for not being considerate.

   "Me? No, I was about to go to bed myself."

   Twilight looked around once more, then nodded satisfied. "Well, if you're alright then goodnight, again."

   "Goodnight, Twilight." I slowly waved to her.

   She closed the door behind her.

   I had a very big day, so tired and could barely think.

   "I'm calling it a night."

   Walking to the nook, I rolled into the makeshift bed. "Not bad."

   Just need to sleep and who knows? I might wake up in my bed with all this being just a bad dream.

    Closing my eyes, I drifted away with my hopes.