Repossession #4

The rising sun rouses you from your sleep. In the night you had slumped into some reasonable representation of a sleeping position, and this spared you from any unusual aches. As you become more alert of your surroundings you notice you’re still in the strange bed and room. Apparently going home wasn’t as easy as just waking up, then. At least after a quality night’s sleep you feel you could deal with all this better. You must have been really exhausted to be able to fall asleep like that in the first place, anyway.

 

As you drag yourself to your feet, you look down at the clothes you slept in. Their condition is pretty miserable; your pants are still stained with dirt, and your t-shirt is stained with charcoal from your jacket. You’ll need to find a way to wash your clothes sometime, which would also require you getting a set of new ones. That may prove to be difficult; so far you’ve never seen any pony around here wearing clothes at all. As you slink groggily down the stairs, you remember today you’re supposed to be meeting with Royalty. Your disheveled appearance suddenly takes on a much greater urgency. You groan and hit your forehead against the adjacent wall.

 

Fluttershy pops her head out of the entrance to the kitchen at the sound. “Oh my… are you alright?”

 

You nod mutely as you finish descending the stairs. Fluttershy backs into the kitchen as you approach. You’re not a morning person, and your surly demeanor starts to set the poor pony off. “You… you didn’t eat th-the fish I set o-out last night… I can take a n-new one out for you, I mean, if you really do want it…”

 

You sigh and stop walking. Fish for breakfast honestly didn’t sound too appealing. You didn’t want another salad either. You recall Fluttershy had a chicken coop; maybe she farmed them for sustenance. “Eggs… Got any eggs?”

 

Fluttershy’s face lit up with a smile “Oh yes, I do! So you eat eggs too!”

 

You nodded in response and shuffled over to the stove. You stare blearily at the cooking surfaces until you realize you need a pan. You pantomime one with your hands while thinking for the word, and Fluttershy hands you one before you can ask. By now your brain is starting to kick into gear and Fluttershy leaves you to your work.

 

You finish making and eat breakfast still figuring out how to get some decent threads, or wash your own. Short of building a washboard- because you doubt the ponies have any- and hand-scrubbing everything for a few hours in some secluded stream you’re coming up blank. You wordlessly tromp back up the stairs to grab your boots before you have to head out. By the time you come back down, Fluttershy is already waiting by the door, ready to go.

 

“Gonna have to find some way to clean these clothes” you intone dully, gesturing to your outfit.

 

“Oh don’t worry, I’m sure Twilight or Rarity will be able to help you out with that,” Fluttershy says while looking over your attire with a genuinely approving smile. “You look fine to me!”

 

This is one instance where you cannot simply abide by the gentle mare’s niceties. You shake your head to yourself as you walk through the door she just opened, and now knowing the way to Twilight’s, you don’t wait for her to close it behind you. Fluttershy hovers through the short distance separating you two after she secures her house and lands beside you, picking up a trot. The two of you are soon at Twilight’s without another word.

 

When Twilight answers your knock, she looks as disappointed in your sorry state as you feel. “Ugh, that won’t do at all. We don’t have time for this, Anon… Come inside…” The unicorn flicks her tail in disgust but leads you indoors. While you stop in the middle of the cavernous library just as you did last time, Twilight is already off towards one set of shelves, flipping through a book with the same glow that you figure indicates magical control. Apparently finding what she needs, she turns to you with an exasperated sigh.

 

“Hold still, please.”

 

Suddenly you’re surrounded by the same pink glow. You stiffen but stand still, in accordance with Twilight’s instructions. A sensation like static starts tingling across the entirety of your skin, building in intensity until it feels like it discharges through the floor in one jolt. When you look to your feet to see if the floor was marked at all, you noticed your clothing was completely clean.

 

Twilight looks over you with a more satisfied expression on her face. “Good. We’ll have Rarity tend to your garments after we’re done. We really need to get going, we can’t be late- the train for Canterlot will be leaving without us if we dawdle. I just need to ask you two questions before I send off my preliminary report. You never told me where you’re from, or what exactly you are?”

 

You consider how to answer the question. You didn’t think Twilight would be able to guess how complex the geopolitical situation on your planet was, what with around two hundred different countries, nearly as many languages, power blocs, alliances, international bodies. You didn’t feel like starting an impromptu history lesson either. Best keep it simple. “I’m from a land called Earth. I’m a Human, or a Man, doesn’t really matter either way.”

 

Twilight dutifully jots this down at the bottom of a page, which gets added to a sizable sheaf. You found it hard to believe that she was able to write that much about you based on your brief interaction, but then again she did seem like the kind to have a lot to say. She slips a ribbon over it, seals it, and hands it to Spike. The tiny beast belches forth another green flame, and incinerates the letter. You assume this reversed the process you witnessed the other day- Twilight must have just sent a letter to the one you were about to meet.

 

The unicorn bundles a collection of other research materials - some paper and quills, some books, two corked containers of ink, and similar items - putting them into some sort of bifurcated backpack. She levitates this storage harness over her back, and fastens it in place underneath her stomach. She moves for the open door, and stops where Fluttershy is standing, waiting for you to catch up. “Y’know that you’re of ‘Mankind’ is interesting, see the word ‘man’ for us is only an exclamation, but-“

 

The floor around your feet is bathed in an eerie green light as you hear Spike burp again. Twilight, noticing this, trots over in time for the dragon to hiccup and cough up a strange pink gem.

 

“A reply so soon, Spike? I hope something isn’t wrong…” Twilight unfurls the scroll and reads it over. “All it says is ‘Hold this.’” Twilight levitates the jewel over to you and Fluttershy as she returns to your side. The three of you peer at it, trying to discern why it’s so important, when suddenly a deafening bang rings out.

 

You are no longer in Twilight’s library. The room you find yourself in is so indescribably different than Twilight’s home that it silences the comment you were about to make regarding the method of transport. It looks to you like the inside of a cathedral, made of stone with a very tall ceiling, stained glass windows lining the walls in front of you. You’re currently standing on a bright carpet, you can see, laid out in a strip crossing from your left to your right. Before you could follow it to either end, you hear Twilight speak up.

 

 “Your Royal Highness,” she intones respectively, dropping the front half of her body and bowing her head to the floor. Upon hearing this, Fluttershy looks up in Twilight’s direction, and then silently adopts the same pose. You know where this is going.

 

You follow the direction of their bodies up the colorful carpet to the far wall. Seated there is another pony, but drastically different than your two companions. The Princess, you presume her to be, has both a horn and wings, and is easily as tall as you are. Her coat is white with the faintest of pink tints, and her mane seems more like a prismatic fog than hair. Also contrasted against your companions, the Princess is actually wearing something, albeit just jewelry. A heavy gold collar hangs around her neck, covering the front of her body, and she wears a crown just behind the horn. Even the Princess has a mark on her flank, and appropriately, it’s of the sun.

 

Slowly, not entirely sure it’s correct, you drop to your left knee and bow your body. You follow Fluttershy’s example and say nothing.

 

“I apologize for the sudden urgency.” Celestia says. Her voice, too, sounds very different than the other two ponies you’ve met so far. It’s both very full and very feminine, and carries extremely well, the tone not losing any effect in the cavernous hall. Out of the corner of your eye you see Twilight rise and you do the same. Celestia appears unsurprised by your height. “Twilight, the last part of your report was most interesting; it added a new element to this I’m not sure you’re aware of. Please, the three of you-” Celestia looks warmly at Fluttershy- “Make yourselves comfortable. My sister will be here shortly.”

 

With a much fainter pop, a padded bench appears behind you. Twilight and Fluttershy take either end, leaving you to sit in the middle. After you settle in, Twilight speaks up again.

 

“Why Princess Luna?”

 

Celestia smiles and looks to you. “There are questions she has for your friend here. It is interesting to finally meet a representative of Earth.”

 

“’Finally’, Your Majesty?” You speak up, hazarding a shot at regal address and narrowly missing.

 

Celestia’s smile widens, and amusement flashes across her eyes. “Do not worry, all will be explained. In any respect, it is a pleasure to see you in person, Anonymous. My student here was very excited that you came to her.” Twilight drops her head a bit in embarrassment. “It is also nice to see you can understand us, and speak to us. That surprises me; I would expect one from another world to be unintelligible…”

 

“I’m just as confused on that one, ma’am.” You give up on the whole royal title thing and stick to what you know. Considering your last response this is surprisingly close to correct.

 

“…Though I think we may have an answer for that one, Anon.” the Princess completes after the deliberate pause for your response. With impossible timeliness she tilts her head towards a side door, at the precise moment another pony of regal stature enters. This one however looks very different than these three. Instead of light pastels, the body of this alicorn is navy blue, with adornments of some black metal instead of gold. Judging by the white shape surrounded by a black marking on this one’s behind, you guess her to be the aforementioned Princess Luna. She appears to be a bit smaller than Celestia, but still definitely larger than your companions. At her appearance, Fluttershy visibly recoils. You unconsciously extend a hand behind the pegasus in case she falls backwards off the bench.

 

“’We came in peace for all Mankind’,” Luna says gravely. Her voice seems much harsher than Celestia’s. “Is this true, Anonymous? Hast thou come in peace?”

 

It takes your mind a moment to parse through the archaic language, forgetting royal address entirely in the process. “I have,” you finally reply. “I’m the only one of Mankind here that I know of though, I don’t know if I can speak for the rest of ‘em.” The answer seems to be enough to satisfy the dark alicorn, and you can see her relax a bit.

 

Twilight, at this point, is looking very confused. “I don’t mean to interrupt but… Princess, have you heard of his kind before? I couldn’t find anything in any of my studies even mentioning humans.”

 

Luna glances at Celestia, a silent request for permission.

 

“Yes, you may tell them. But please, tell them everything.”

 

Luna looks to the floor at this, and taps it with the tip of her hoof in shame. The next time she speaks it is in a very quiet voice. “Anonymous, we weren’t always benevolent. As the moon has a dark half, so do we, and at one point we could not contain it. We were forced into exile, banished to the very heavenly body that was our domain. We spent a thousand years there. Sometimes, through the darkness we experienced time of brutal sanity.”

 

She looks at you then, and you see in the shame in her eyes replaced by wonder as she continues. “During those times we visited the dark side of the moon, Anonymous. We sought to understand it, perhaps helping us understand ourselves. And while we did not find fulfillment in that quest, returning here in our rage and only breaking free with the help of those with you now,” Luna looks at the ponies on either side of you, “we did see wonders which still to this day are clear in our minds.”

 

Luna’s voice regains some of its former strength as her explanation continues. “There were times even the dark side became illuminated, by a faded red light. When the crimson terminator swept across the surface we saw phantoms of objects, specters of artifacts unfamiliar, vanishing when the light ceased. The times the light embraced the moon at its strongest these ghosts became real; we could touch them, feel the warm metal, read the words written upon them. They told us a story, Anonymous. A great tale of exploration, conquest, triumph over hardship. We experienced the trials of these ‘men’, who willingly came, even through great sacrifice, to make the trip and claim victory where we had been unwillingly sent in defeat.”

 

“We grew obsessed, and in those precious moments the red light shined every year we sought out every location these great heroes had graced with their presence. Finally we found the first, where they all started. At the foot of a golden structure was a plaque that read, ‘Here men from the planet Earth first set foot upon the Moon, July one thousand nine hundred sixty-nine, A. D. We came in peace for all Mankind.’ With the knowledge that we had discovered their first moments on the prison we later occupied, and that while we came in fury they came in peace, we sought shelter under the golden structure, and we found tranquility.”

 

“Though when the red glow had waned we were bereft of its presence, on the lights return we were glad, for our adopted home came with it. We learned the patterns behind the light’s coming, memorized it, so that we would never miss the times it appeared. When we were restored to our sister’s side, we remembered the patterns, and when it came time for the dark side to burn red, we would do the same to the light side should it be night in Equestria. Even if these ‘men’ would never experience it, we wished to offer them solidarity, to tell them that even if they would never know it, that they touched our lives and we appreciated the efforts they made to do so. We continue to do so to this day.”

 

Celestia steps forward now, cutting in, “The Everfree Forest, for as long as we could remember, was always a place of strange power. Every so often ponies would find strange, clearly foreign objects within it. Eventually we appointed ponies to sweep the forest every so often and return to us with anything odd they find. When Luna returned and told me of these patterns, it did not take long for us to discover some of these patterns matched the times that strange items would start being found again. Just after noontime yesterday, another one of these red glows would have appeared on the dark side of the moon. Instead of giving us random items, we think it gave us you.”

 

“That is why we called you here.” She continues, “As someone from this strange world, you can help us solve these mysteries. As Luna’s duties run throughout the night, she is not subject to as many distractions or secondary duties; ever since her return she has taken it upon herself to do further research into these strange artifacts we’ve been keeping hidden away. You would be a wonderful assistant in her new pursuit.”

 

“We would be honored if thou wouldst join us.” Luna bows her head to you.

 

“But first,” Celestia picks up again, “You have another job. It isn’t as clean as one object coming at a time. We would like you to be our agent for this cycle. I know the Everfree Forest is a foreboding place, and I do not wish for you to get lost within it, but cover what ground you can for any more items from your world. Bring them here, and should you wish you may then help my sister in her studies.”

 

Celestia looks to the other two ponies. “Twilight, I’m sure you are eager to learn all you can about Earth, and you will not be denied your thirst, but it must wait. Anonymous must learn all he can about our world. I can think of no better teacher than you.”

 

“Thank you, Princess.” Twilight steps down off the bench and bows again.

 

“Fluttershy, you have done a great kindness sheltering this strange man. I know you and your animal friends are no strangers to the Everfree. Help Anonymous in his duties; make sure he does not get lost. I have every faith you can guide him both in body and in heart.”

 

“I will do my best…” Fluttershy trails off, mimicking Twilight’s actions.

 

You follow them off the bench and fall to one knee again.

 

“It was a pleasure meeting you, Anonymous. I will take care of travel arrangements for your return trip" Celestia says, amused, which draws your head back up. You see them just long enough to note Luna’s wistful expression before Celestia’s horn glows brighter than you can stand to look at, and with another enormous bang the three of you are back in Twilight’s house. The pink gem lies on the floor between you, noticeably greyer and less lustrous than before.