Title:           The Question Recurring 4 - Stranger In a Strange Land
Author:          anonapath
Pastebin link:   http://pastebin.com/HjWfEtxk
First Edit:      Friday 10th of August 2012 12:21:22 AM CDT
Last Edit:       Friday 10th of August 2012 12:21:22 AM CDT

>You had polished off your banana in the ten minutes you had been walking with Rarity and Fluttershy.
>You had asked them both to tell you about themselves to fill in the silence.
>Letting others talk meant you had to talk less. Much easier.
>Fluttershy didn't say much except that she lived in a little cottage next to a forest and took care of animals.
>Rarity on the other hand had began her life story immediately after Fluttershy had finished, and still hadn't stopped talking.
>All you really heard was that she owned a clothing store. After that you had tuned her out.
>You looked down at her.
>"...and I have everypony's outfits just about finished for the Grand Galloping Gala. They just need a few finishing touches. I am going to be the belle of the ball... er we all will be rather."
"I take it you ponies have been preparing for this Gala for a while then?" You asked reluctantly.
>"Have we ever! Since the day Twilight got us all tickets, it is all I could think about. I am just thrilled to be able to go this year. I - Oh we are here."
>Relieved for the interruption, you looked away from Rarity to see a very large tree with doors, platforms and windows scattered about its trunk. It was by far the most impressive structure you had seen in this little town so far.
>"Well Anonymous, as I said I have much to do and only a week to do it. Au revoir, and do stop into my abode some time Anonymous. We will see if we can get you out of those..." she eyed your naked torso "boxers you called them? Until we meet again Anonymous, enjoy your time in Ponyville."
>She then trotted off towards a large carousel.
 
>You turned to Fluttershy and laughed. Perhaps you had laid on the chivalry a bit thick.
"Was that an inviting suggestion or a suggestive invitation?"
>She blushed.
>"I don't know Anonymous, but I um have to go feed my animals. Bye."
>And with that she took off running back the way you came. It was just you now.
>You knocked on the door.
>Within seconds the door swung open to reveal a small, purple creature with dulled, green spikes running along its back starting at its head.
>It looked a much more masculine then the two ponies who had escorted you or any of the few you saw on the way through town.
>His mouth dropped open as he slowly gaped upwards.
"Hey uh dude, I'm looking for Twilight Sparkle. Is she here?"
>He seemed to gather himself quickly and affected an air of defiance.
>"I'm not your dude bro."
>Short guy surrounded by bigger girls. It made sense that he was a little defensive.
"I didn't say you were...man, but can I speak with Twilight Sparkle please. I was told she was the wisest pony in Ponyville."
>He snorted and smiled a bit.
>"Somepony's been exaggerating. She does know quite a bit, and what she can't tell you can usually be found in one of these books. Twilight! Somepony's looking for you!"
>He stepped aside and motioned his claw for you to enter.
 
>You walked inside and found yourself in a large circular room lined with shelves upon shelves of books.
>"Have a seat bro. My name's Spike by the way."
>He pointed you to a small table with two chairs, on which sat a quill and a few pieces of rolled up paper.
>You sat down and, when you saw that he had left the room, unfurled one.
>Blank.
>Seems like it had been prepared as it was all arranged just so....
>Whatever. You had come for answers, not more questions.
>You heard clopping to your right, slightly above your head. You looked to see stairs leading up deeper into the tree.
>A purple pony with a horn was quickly descending the stairs two at a time.
>When she saw you, she froze for a second, then continued down to the table.
"You must be Miss Sparkle."
>"I am, but my friends call me Twilight."
"I've heard some things about you Twilight. My name is Anonymous. I was told by two friends of yours that you knew everything."
>She seemed somewhat abashed by your comment, but smiled at the compliment anyway.
>"Not even close to everything, but I do have access to a wealth of collected knowledge." She said motioning with a leg at the shelves covered in books.
"I seem to have lost my memories somehow. I'm not asking you to help me remember anything, but I would like to be filled in on this land that I've woken up in."
 
>Spike had re-entered the room and was now looking directly at you, a grimace beginning to work its way across his face.
>"What exactly do you want to know?" Twilight said as her smile grew wider.
>Spike began to wave his arms behind her back, mouthing what looked like "Be careful."
>You ignored him.
"Everything. I want you to tell me everything about this place, its people, and its history. Can you do that?"
>Spike grabbed a roll of paper and a quill from a shelf and began to write furiously.
>Twilight's grin grew wider.
>"I would love to. Would you like to take notes?" She nodded at the paper and quill.
>You tapped your head.
"Nah. My mind's a blank slate, as empty as those rolls of paper. I'd ask that you do the writing."
>Spike now held up his paper.
>You don't know what you've done.
>He sighed and walked out the way he came.
>Twilight laughed and sat down across from you.
>"Well then let's get started. Let's see. How about we start with the founding of Equestria."
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
>Many hours later, you were tired, famished, and finished with your interview.
>She had told you a great many things, and you had asked about specifics when you thought it necessary.
>It was certainly a fascinating land you found yourself in.
 
>She had told you of three groups of ponies fighting over the land.
>Of unicorns, pegasus, and earth ponies
>Animosity run rampant and a never ending winter
>Eventual peace, agreement, and mutual remembrance as celebration
>She told you of fearsome creatures and powerful magic
>Of Discord and his descent into chaos
>The coming of the alicorns and their stable rule
>Of the wise Sun and the lonely Moon
>Of the elements of harmony, the power of friendship and reign of goodness.
>Of the fall of a sister and the rise of the moon
>Of imprisonment, justice, resurrection, and redemption
>Of damnable Tartarus and glowing Elysium
>She spoke not only of the great but also of the mundane
>Of great cities and small towns
>The daily lives of their inhabitants
>Of self-realization, cutie marks, and special talents
>Of her friends and their lives
>Perfection, happiness, and order.
 
>All night you had listened. She really did know a lot.
>You followed all her descriptions and explanations save for one.
>Magic.
>You couldn't quite grasp what it was.
>Finally, when you had asked, the best explanation she could come up with was will.
>"All of the creatures of Equestria are magical in some way. Us unicorns can control it to some extent. We simply will something to happen and it does. The more we want it, the more emotion behind the desire, the more powerful the magic."
"Yes, but what is it? How does it work?"
>She thought for a moment as a deep look of concern flashed to her face.
>"I don't honestly know Anonymous. No one really asks that. Does it matter?"
>'Of course it does' was the first response your mind came up with, but you were tired.
"No I guess not. Go on with the history lesson."
>"That's it Anonymous. We've arrived at the present, one week from the Grand Galloping Gala..."
"That'd be the celebration commemorating the treaty of the three tribes?"
>"Yes! You were listening. No one ever listens." She said as she hopped up and down.
>Excitable this one was. Even over such a small matter.
"Of course I was listening. I asked right? When you know next to nothing, all information is useful, or at least interesting."
>Her smile melted away and a look of concern replaced it.
>"About that Anonymous... What do you know?"
>It was hard to describe.
"First I remembered my name. I can't recall anything about my past. Obviously I can talk, so I remember language. I remember everything that's happened to me since I woke up. I can mentally picture Fluttershy, Rarity, Spike, and yourself. Even most of the history you've described to me. I didn't recognize what you all were until you told me, or even what I am. Speaking of which... Am I a 'Monkey'?"
 
>She giggled.
>"If you are, then you're a smart, if silly looking one. None of the books I have on monkeys describe any species like you. Your shape and appearance is pretty close though."
>So you weren't exactly a monkey, but close.
>Is that an acceptable answer? You asked yourself.
>No, but it would have to do for now.
"Do you have any theories on how I might have gotten here, or why? What has happened to my past?"
>She put a leg on your shoulder.
>"I'm really sorry Anonymous. I have no idea."
>You were disappointed but she had taken the time to help you out.
"Thank you Twilight. I have one last question. The most relevant of all I suppose. What do I do now?"
>She removed her leg and thought for a second.
>"I'd ask you to help me as an assistant, but I've already got two right now. I have all of the help I need."
>You heard a muffled sigh of relief from the room adjacent.
>"I would recommend that you go speak to Rarity. She's the most generous pony I know, and I know she's been busy lately preparing for the Gala. It's late though Anonymous. I have an extra bed if you want it."
>You looked outside. The sun had gone down long ago and had been replaced by thousands of arranged points of light.
>Stars.
>You looked back to Twilight. Her head was on the table and she was snoring softly.
>You smiled, leaned forward on your arms, and followed her lead.
.