Things Are Not What They Seem: CYOA Part 1

ITT: You choose the decisions Anon makes after being landed in Equestria.

 

First, you'll need to choose Anon's disposition. This will affect your ability to succeed with certain actions, or may open up additional options along the way.

 

Romance is possible, and progress toward romance will be indicated by RP (Romance Points). You may attempt to romance ANY pony you meet (meaning, background ponies or the princesses if you so wish).

 

 

Dispositions:

>Analytical(vote A) - Allows Anon to analyze situations more effectively and make observations that less-aware people may miss. Slighty easier to romance Twilight or Rarity

>Determined(vote B) - Makes Anon resistant to interrogation/mind altering techniques or spells. Also allows him to go on where others might give up. Slighty easier to romance Applejack or Rainbow Dash

>Cool & Collected(vote C) - Anon's a smooth talker and has an easier time determining other ponies' motivations. More likely to tell if somepony is lying, and is also more able to pick up on attempts at manipulation. Slightly easier to romance Fluttershy or Pinkie Pie

 

 

Setting will be determined by first dubs or the 5th vote on the disposition.

>0-2: Canterlot Castle Throne Room

>3-5: Ponyville Town Square

>6-8: Whitetail Woods

>9: Refer to next post's roll

 

 

General information:

You may choose to pursue romance and forgo plot development, but romance will become easier as the storyline progresses. Actions you take will affect how ponies see you. First impressions are more important that other interactions. I will offer suggestions at the end of each post. Suggestions are aimed at progressing the primary plotline. You may ignore these whenever you wish and give an open response.

 

Once the story begins, I'll choose the first response with 3 votes. If you like an anon's open response more than the suggestions, quote it and I'll count that as a vote.

 

 

 

>Anon is Analytical

>Story starts in Ponyville Town Square

 

You don't remember the sky being so blue. In fact, you don't remember coming outside. You fell asleep in your bed, comfortable under the covers...right? Was this a dream?

 

Blinking, you take a deep breath and collect yourself, watching the clouds wander by for a few moments. The breeze sure felt real, and you were actually starting to feel a bit chilly. With a groan, you sit up, rubbing your eyes. Even if this is a dream, you're curious at to what—

 

Upon opening your eyes, your thoughts come to a thundering halt. A small crowd of miniature horses is surrounding you, blinking at you with disporportionate large eyes. The array of colors on their coats and manes almost makes you want to puke with the absurdity of it all.

 

Some of the ponies look scared. Some look nervous. A couple seem fairly collected. Looking around, you also find there are several buildings and the ground you're on looks like a primitive cobblestone road.

 

How do you react?

>Suggestions:

>(A) Say "Hi"

>(B) Freak out

>(C) Do nothing

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

>(A)

 

Maybe there's someone around that can help you or at least explain your situation.

 

"Uh, hi?"

 

You might as well have set off a firecracker, because your greeting sends the crowd into an instant panic. The ponies are screaming and hollering, running every which way in their desperate attempts to get away from you.

 

In the interest of self-preservation, you stay absolutely still, hoping none of the ponies consider you a threat and start attacking. You're way outnumbered here, so any fight would likely not go your way.

 

After a couple minutes, the dust settles and you find yourself alone in the street. The ponies had all retreated to their houses and slammed the doors behind themselves. It occurs to you that ponies living in houses is a bit... odd. You need to find out where you are and how to get back home, but first, you think you may want to distance yourself from these easily-fightened animals. You're lucky they all left you alone for now.

 

Well, almost all of them. There's one pony still out on the street, smiling at you. It's very, very pink. And that smile seems almost... human.

 

What do you do?

>Suggestions:

>(A) Attempt to greet the pony without scaring it off

>(B) Scare it off

>(C) Wait

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

>(A)

 

These ponies are civilized enough to live in houses. Maybe greeting one will reveal some much-needed information?

 

You slowly raise your hand and wave at the pink pony. "Hello, there. I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to know where I am. Could you help me?"

 

The pink pony first takes in an incredibly long breath while opening her mouth to proportions you did not think possible, then attacks.

 

Not with hooves, but with noises.

 

An uninterrupt stream of neighs and whinnys erupts from her mouth, barraging your ears from all sides as the pony herself bounces around you. You'd compare her energy to that of a kid who just had way too much sugar. Unfortunately, you're unable to decipher any of her pony-language. And with the speed she's talking, who knows if you'd be able to make anything out if she even was speaking the same language as you.

 

Once her assault stops, she shoves her face into yours, an expectant grin stretching from ear to ear. Your initial reaction is to back off, though she just leans further in. You'd hate to disappoint this cute ball of energy, but...

 

"I didn't understand a word you said. Sorry."

 

The pony backs off and frowns, but she doesn't look any less determined. After a moment, her face lights up and she pokes you in the stomach with a hoof, muttering something, then speeds off in a blur.

 

You're alone again. What do you do?

>Suggestions:

>(A) Walk in the direction you saw the pony run off

>(B) Wander around, get your bearings

>(C) Wait

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

 

>(C)

 

Maybe she was telling you to wait? Besides, you have no idea where you are. Wandering around would be reckless.

 

Clasping your hands together, you start looking around the immediate area, trying to figure out what kind of a place you're in. From the looks of the structures, they aren't as advanced as humans, though they're far from primitve. The roofs look a bit flimsy, but the bases seem stable. It looks like you've landed in a town center of sorts, as the area is fairly open. You turn around and see a rather large building, taller than any of the others. It screams 'important'. Maybe it's a government building? The town you're in doesn't seem too populated, so this could be a city hall or gathering center.

 

You're about to take a closer look when you hear another whinny. You spin around to face the pony responsible, and find the pink one had returned, this time with another pony, coated mostly purple, with a streak of purple and pink going down her navy blue mane.

 

As they approach, you notice something very interesting: the purple one has a horn. In fact, the placement leads you to think it's actually a unicorn, not just a regular pony.

 

What next?

>(A) Get out of there. That unicorn seems intimidating.

>(B) Let them approach

>(C) Open response

 

 

 

>(B)

[spoiler]C had three responses first, but no consensus was reached before B got 3 votes.[/spoiler]

 

You stand up straight, doing your best to look confident and collected as the two ponies approach.

 

The purple one starts to talk to you using what you assumed was the same language as the pink one did before. All you can do is shrug and shake your head as she talks—and she actually seems to pick up on your gestures. She stops speaking, and instead puts a hoof to her chin.

 

>Analytical: You're surprised by how familiar the motion is. Maybe it's humans and ponies share these gestures?

 

After a moment, she puts her hoof back down and turns to the pink pony. They share a short back-and-forth, with the pink one becoming a bit concerned by the end of it. You shift in place, a nervousness rising in you at seeing her reaction. When the purple unicorn turns back to you, she seems apprehensive, but also a touch determined.

 

They're definitely planning something.

 

The purple one takes a deep breath, then lowers her head, pointing her horn at you. It starts to glow.

 

How do you react?

>(A) Trust them. Stand there and let them do whatever it is they've planned.

>(B) Get the hell out of there.

>(C) Smack the purple one and wag your finger at her.

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

>(C)

 

Okay, you're definitely not comfortable with whatever's going on, but you don't want to bail on the only two contacts you have here. You smack the unicorn's horn. The glow vanishes and the unicorn stumbles back, stunned. When she looks up at you, likely wanting an explanation, you wag your finger at her.

 

She frowns, almost pouting at you, and attempts to speak to you again, but cuts herself off. Bringing a hoof to her forehead, she shakes her head then looks back to the pink pony. They whinny and neigh back and forth again while you stand back and watch.

 

This obviously isn't going to work out without some kind of communication. The purple one seems to have been able to pick up on your gestures fairly quickly, maybe you can communicate through those enough for you to find your way back home.

 

>Analytical: It's late afternoon. You have a couple hours before dark, you estimate. Getting something done sooner rather than later would be best.

 

What should you try to say to/ask the purple one?

>(A) Where am I?

>(B) Where can I find water and shelter?

>(C) What were you trying to do?

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

>(C)

 

Whatever she was trying to do, she seemed pretty broken up about not being allow to do it. Perhaps it was more important than you thought. Also, she let you stop her without trying again, respecting your wishes. They don't seem like they have hostile intentions. You should at least find out what it was before dismissing it.

 

It also occurs to you that you may seem a bit intimidating with your stance. You squat to where your eyes are level with the ponies'.

 

You tap her on the shoulder, getting her attention, then point to her horn, then yourself and shrug. An scrunched frown appears on her face as she attempts to understand your gestures. Thinking on it a moment, she points to herself, mouths something, then points to you and pretends to zip her mouth shut. Afterwards, she points to her horn, then to you, then unzips her mouth.

 

You lower your head in thought.

 

What do you do?

>(A) Ask another question (specify)

>(B) See if the purple one has another idea

>(C) Offer your own idea (specify)

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

>(D), tell her to do it then

 

If you're reading her right, she was trying to make it so you could speak with each other. With a sigh, you stand up, take a step back, and open your arms, exposing your chest to the purple one.

 

She raises an eyebrow at you, then slowly points to her horn, as if asking a question. You nod, which immediately gets a smile from her. Her attitude toward doing... whatever it was she had planned with her horn seems to have improved greatly.

 

Again, she takes a deep breath and lowers her horn. It starts to glow purple, much like her coat, though the light gradually gets brighter and brighter. Her face is scrunched in concentration.

 

You wince and look away, hoping you haven't made a horrible mistake. The world is enveloped in light as the glow flashes over you, making your head spin. It only lasts a moment, however, and you're able to steady yourself before losing your balance.

 

The unicorn starts talking, much more excited now, though all you can make out still are neighs and whinnys. You frown and shake your head, sitting down in defeat.

 

The purple one nudges your shoulder with a hoof, pointing to her mouth, then to you. She doesn't seem discouraged at all.

 

>What do you do?

>(A) Try to talk with her.

>(B) Tell her it didn't work and wait for something further.

>(C) Free response

 

 

 

 

>(A) while (B)

 

You have no idea what just happened, but you don't see why she's so excited.

 

"Sorry, purple unicorn, or whatever your name is, but I still can't understand you. Is that what the spell was supposed to do? Make it so we could talk? Or am I missing something?"

 

The unicorn doesn't pick up on your tone at all, or doesn't care. The whole time you're talking, she's nodding and smiling. As soon as you stop and look at her, waiting for her to do something else, she points to her mouth again while talking.

 

"But I don't understand you!"

 

Her reply comes out intelligible... but then you hear a "you". And then "understand". Your eyes widen in surprise at hearing those familiar words from her mouth.

 

"You just said, 'you'! And 'understand'! How do you know those words? Was that the spell?"

 

The response is broken up, but you can make out more of it this time. "... and if... words... the spell work!"

 

Whatever she did wasn't instant but it's really kicking in now. The reply indicated she understood your question.

 

"Okay, I heard more there."

 

She gestures for you to keep speaking

 

"So, the spell works off of what I say? It learns from 'hearing' more of my language? Alright, so... uh... the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog?"

 

"What the — does that mean?" she asks.

 

This is great! What do you do?

>(A) Hug her!

>(B) Shake her hoof and thank her.

>(C) Do a little dance with the pink pony

>(D) Open response

 

 

 

 

>(B)

 

Whoever this unicorn is, she's pretty cool in your book. You clasp one of her forehooves between your hands and shake it. "Thanks a bunch for sorting out the communication thing."

 

Her face goes blank for a second, then registers your comment. She smiles, going along with the hand-hoof shake. "My pleasure! When Pinkie told me a strange creature landed in town square, I couldn't wait to see it! And I was so bummed that we weren't able to communicate there for a bit."

 

A 'creature', huh? And who's 'Pinkie'? You're about to reply when you're suddenly on your back, the pink pony standing over you with a Cheshire grin on her face. "Hi! I'm Pinkie Pie, and yoooou're not a pony! But you're also new to town, which means you're my friend AND I'm gonna throw you a party. What's your name?"

 

You scoot out from underneath Pinkie, a weak smile on your face. Her gaze stays locked onto yours. Her aggressive friendliness may be a little off-putting, but there's no reason to be rude.

 

"I'm Anon." You offer a hand. "Nice to meet you, Pinkie."

 

She shakes it vigorously. "Awesome! What a cool name! Sounds mysterious." Waving her forehooves around in front of her, Pinkie does her best ghost impression, though it's hard for something that cute to look spooky.

 

>Romance Points (100 makes the pony a partner candidate)

>TS: (35) (+5 from Analytical, +30 from good first impression)

>PP: (30) (+30 from good first impression)

 

What do you do now?

>Open response

 

 

 

 

>Ask about location, ponies, living necessities

 

First priority here is finding out where your next meal is, where you are, and why the hell ponies are talking and casting magic.

 

"So, uh, what's your name?"

 

The unicorn spaces out for a bit, then perks up. "Oh! Yes, I never introduced myself! I'm Twilight Sparkle, the librarian here in town."

 

"And where might 'here' be?"

 

"Ponyville. It's a good 4-hour train ride from Canterlot, and well east of Appleoosa. We're more toward the center of the continent."

 

Panic gnaws at the edges of your consciousness. You don't recognize ANY of those location names. "You wouldn't happen to know where North America is from here, would you?"

 

"North Amareica? Nope, can't say I've ever heard of it."

 

Your heart sinks straight into your stomach. If home was somewhere on this planet, it was either really far away or known by another name. Doing your best to hide your diappointment, you move on to the next important question.

 

"Would you happen to know where I might find food, water, and shelter? I'm... a bit further from home than I thought."

 

"Well..." Twilight looks to the sky: the sun is about to set, meaning any sort of real travelling is out of the question. "I'd have no problem putting you up for the night. I've got a basement I hardly use with plenty of space. My extra bed may be a bit small for you, though."

 

"Hey, better than sleeping under the stars. I'd really appreciate it, Twilight. And the food...?" You cringe at the question. It wasn't your style to be mooching off other, but really, there wasn't much choice here.

 

(cont.)

 

 

 

 

>>7826239

"I've got some extra food stocked up, and I'm sure I can get more tomorrow. That is, if you're able to eat fruits and vegetables?"

 

You nod.

 

"Great."

 

You stand up and gesture down the road they had come from. "Lead the way."

 

The three of you walk—well, Twilight and you walk. Pinkie bounces down the street.

 

"So, Pinkie, did you happen to see where I came from?"

 

She shakes her head. "Nope! You just showed up like you'd always been there. Though, if your were always there, how come nopony saw you before? Are you really good at hide-and-seek?"

 

Looking at the ground, you shake your head. "'Bout as good as anyone else. I was hoping I'd get some clue to how I got here and how to get back. Guess not."

 

"Well, if it's any consolation," says Twilight, "I'm pretty good with magic. I might be able to figure something out."

 

"Thanks. It means a lot to me that you're going so far out of your way to help a complete stranger, especially one not of your own species."

 

Pinkie and Twilight both reply simultaneously: "Oh, don't be silly."

 

"Yeah, I'd do it for anypony!" says Pinkie.

 

"I would, too," says Twilight.

 

You soon arrive at your destination: a large, hollowed out tree. An ironic place for a library, but it'll suit you well. You and Twilight both say goodbye to Pinkie and head inside. After a short meal, you thank Twilight once again and lie down in the bed she'd moved to the basement for you.

 

It had been a long day, and tomorrow was probably going to be longer.