>With your furniture accessories dangling behind you, you exit the stage door and make your way down the hall
>You hear the tan unicorn speeding up behind you, imploring you to slow down
>Well, he has been the only pony to treat you with any respect aside from Cheerilee
>You slow down and let the haggard unicorn catch you up
>"Prisoner! I must demand that you follow me back to the stage," he tries valiantly to keep his face stern but his flop sweat betrays him as he catches his breath
>"Look, Sundae? Sundae. I'm not trying to break your balls here. I'll play cops and robbers with you all you want, but I'm bursting for a piss."
>You come to a pair of doors, one marked with the outline of a pink pony with a flowing mane, the other with a shorter haired blue pony
>Opting for the blue, you enter a tiled room lined with stalls on one side
>"You're not allowed to wander around after you've been detained," Sundae Sentry says from the hallway before dropping his voice to a pleading whisper, "I'm gonna get in a lot of trouble!"
>Pointing to the tiny rectangular window set high in the wall, you turn to the nervous unicorn in his rumpled, slightly-too-large blue uniform
>"Do you honestly think I'm going to squeeze through there? Besides, where would I go? A moments privacy is all I ask. I'll tell whoever is in charge that you were the only guard to observe my civil liberties, alright?"
>The unicorn ponders your proposal before giving you a reluctant nod and stepping aside to let the door swing closed
>Not wanting to splash piss on your shoes or kneel down on the floor of a public pony restroom, you forgo the tiny rectangular toilets and relieve yourself in the row of sinks
>That'll teach them to hogtie you
>A hoof raps on the door, "H-how much longer in there?"
>"Just washing up and definitely not escaping."
>Cheerilee trots out into the hall along with the Mayor and Filthy Rich and crowd around the unicorn
>"Well?" the Mayors asks, "Where is it!?"
>"He's just, um," Sundae points his head toward the restroom door, "He'll just be a moment."
>The Mayor opens her mouth to berate the guard but is cut off as you stroll out of the restroom
>She backs herself against the wall quickly, her face set in a grimace of fear
>Filthy Rich retreats a few steps as well and gives you a measured look
>Cheerilee places a hoof on your hip, "Anonymous, are you alright? I had no idea any of this would happen, I swear!"
>Drying your hands on your shirt, you give her a reassuring smile, "I'm fine, Cheerilee. One of the guards was trying to give me a hard time but Sundae here wouldn't let them. Isn't that right, Sundae?"
>The unicorn nodded numbly up at you, seeing your full height up close for the first time as you tower over him
>Cheerilee begins helping you remove the shattered bits of chair strapped to you
>Visibly regaining her composure, the Mayor turns to Sundae Sentry, "Restrain this creature and escort it back to the conference room,"
>"No more of this restraint business. If I wanted to break free and wreak havoc I would have done it already," you snatch one of the straps from off of your wrist and fling the broken wood to the floor
>Mayor Mare hides behind Sundae and Cheerilee shakes her head at you
>"Remember what I said about not being intimidating," she mutters
>Shooting her a wink, you spread your arms open, "But I told Cheerilee that I'd let her introduce me to you ponies before I head back out into the forest. So that's what I intend to do. Also, I thought I saw a cheese platter out on that table."
>Crossing your arms back over your chest. you raise your eyebrows at the Mayor and the dapper brown pony with the charcoal hair and money bag cutie mark
>Filthy looks from you to the Mayor and back, "I think we can forgo the restraints."
>You clap your hands and rub them together causing the Mayor to flinch a bit, "Excellent. Lead the way Sundae."
 
 
>Sundae escorts you into the conference room, the three ponies trailing behind you
>The gathered parents murmur lively as you make your way to the food table
>Sorry, had to take care of something."
>Filthy takes a seat besides his wife as Cheerilee hops behind the podium and addresses the crowd
>"This is the creature that arrived at our camp Saturday night. The one your children have been telling you about. He is called a human and he means us no harm. I'd like you all to meet Anonymous."
>"Howdy. You can call me Anon," you call over your shoulder as you pile your paper plate with cheese and peanuts and anything else that looks like it might have protein in it
>"He has already explained to me how he ended up finding our camp and I'm sure he'll be glad to explain to you all the circumstances that lead to his arrival in Whitetail Woods. Anonymous? Would you come up here, please?"
>The podium barely came to your waist so you sit with your plate on the stairs in front of the stage, Sundae keeping close by
>You recall your ordeal with the strange underground thunder cloud and going over the waterfall
>Careful to avoid mentioning stalking the rabbits, you explain how you were searching for wild edibles when Diamond Tiara tumbled down the embankment
>Which was true
>Kind of
>"And then Cheerilee took me in out of the cold, fed me, and treated my wounds. Even if I was some monster who wanted to harm your children, she would've dealt with me before I had the chance. She quick with a pair of scissors."
>Cheerilee informs the ponies about the appearance of the dragons as you munch on cheese cubes
>"I assure you that Anon had nothing to do with the two dragons. I'm sure you know that for two adult dragons to be in such close proximity outside of mating or migration season and not fighting each other to the death is very strange behavior. Anon even slowed down and assisted one of the students who was lagging behind as we ran from the dragons."
>Some of the ponies whispered and nodded as a yellow mare with a black and green mane beneath her knitted cap stood up
>"If Anon had nuttin' ta do wit' de drag-ons, what were dey doin in de for-est?"
>Cheerilee shook her head, "I'm not sure. They appeared right after the strange noise. I think the thunder may be the key to all these odd occurrences. I've never heard anything like it before. How about you, Cherry Berry?"
>The pink pony shook her head, "I've been piloting airships for six years and I've never heard anything like that. It sounded like somepony took a recording of a thunder clap, amplified it, and slowed it way down. And those dark clouds snuck right up on us. One minute, blue skies. The next, we're heading straight into a storm."
>You frisbee your plate to the trashcan in the corner, the plate bouncing off the walls before landing back at your feet as Filthy Rich turns to you
>"How about you, Anonymous? Are you familiar with these strange clouds or the unusual thunder?"
>Crumpling your plate and walking over to slam it into the bin you shake your head
>"Nope. The night in the ravine was the first time I've ever heard something like that in nature. And the cloud in the cave was unlike any I've ever seen."
>"Well, it seems like these thunderheads bare investigating. I think we would-"
>"Just one minute!" Trophy shouted, "Are we really about to ignore that Cheerilee let this giant ape sleep just meters away from our children?"
>Several ponies turn to look at you before staring back at the powder blue pony
>Not getting the response she'd hoped for, Trophy marches up to Sundae Sentry
>"I want this thing arrested for threatening a minor! And I want her arrested for reckless endangerment!" she jabbed a hoof at Cheerilee
>"No points for guessing who your kid is. Sorry to disappoint but I'm pulling diplomatic immunity."
>All eyes turn to you
>"Yeah, I'm the newly appointed king of the humans of Equestria. You can't arrest me."
>Cheerilee rolled her eyes while the Mayor gave you a strange look, "But... but your the only human in Equestria. Aren't you?"
>"Yeah. We all took a vote just now in the bathroom. It was unanimous."
>Trophy stomped her hoof on the floor, "No more games! My Diamond had the fright of her life and nopony is taking this seriously! Mayor, you yourself had Cheerilee charged because this creature is an ILLEGAL alien! Why is it not behind bars!?"
>The Mayor glanced around nervously as beads of sweat formed on her brow
>"Um, actually," Sundae spoke up from beside you, "I-If Anon's story of how he arrived is true, then the Explorative Magic Act has a subsection which grants immunity from charges of trespassing and border breaching in the event of unintentional magical transportation."
>Trophy sneered incredulously at the unicorn, "Do you know how easily I could put you on the streets?"
>Filthy walked up to his wife, "Trophy, please. This is-"
>"No! This is ridiculous is what it is! Every time we welcome some strange creature into town, it bites us on the flank! Gryphons, minotaurs, even the cows cause problems!"
>"That's enough, Trophy!" Cheerilee cries, "That kind of thinking causes more problems than any foreign species ever has. What about Zecora? Or even our own Princess Luna? In the end, our distrust and fear of the unknown proved to be completely unfounded. Anon is no different."
>"Princess Luna unleashed a swarm of giant spiders on the town," Cherry Berry said with a thousand yard stare
>Cheerilee glared at the pilot pony as you poked a finger in the air
>"I'm pretty sure I can't do that."
>"And I believe you," Filthy Rich said as he pulled his wife towards the door, "I have businesses to run and I'm sure the rest of you have things to attend to as well. I think we can all agree that Anonymous is not the danger that we may have been led to believe. I see nothing to indicate Miss Cheerilee ever put any of our foals in jeopardy. As far as I'm concerned, this matter is settled. Are we all agreed?"
>The parent ponies nodded and began to file towards the door
>Apparently a giant flesh monster isn't too out of the ordinary in a world of magical ponies and dragons
>And gryphons and minotaurs, it would seem
>"I expect to be kept informed of the investigation into these strange thunder clouds as the situation develops," Filthy says to the Mayor who nods vigorously, "I know how good the department's equipment is. I bought it."
>A chubby orange mare with a blue mane approaches you and holds out a foreleg, "I just wanted to say thank you for what you did for my colt. If you hadn't have been there, then Snips could've... Well, I don't even want to think about what might have happened. There's a free trim waiting for you in my shop if you ever need a hair cut. It's the least I can do."
>Rubbing a hand through your stubble you kneel down to the mare
>"I might just take you up on that. Tell Snips I said to stay out of trouble."
>The mare's smile only falters a little as your fingers wrap around her hoof and return the shake
>Trophy brushes past Cheerilee and stares daggers at her, "Don't think this is over."
>Once the last of the parents had left, you turn to the Mayor
>"So can I have my stuff back now?"
 
 
>After the Mayor had instructed Sundae to release your personal belongings she had Cheerilee and Cherry Berry follow her to her office
>The unicorn leads you through the halls to the white room you had arrived in, seemingly much more at ease with your presence
>"What happens to me now?"
>"It's up to the Mayor, really. But I suspect you'll be free to do as you please Your Highness."
>"You know I'm not really a king, right? I just said that to screw with that blue lady. She was grating on my nerves."
>Sundae looked at you with relief, "Oh, good. There are laws in place that would allow the unannounced arrival of foreign royalty to be interpreted as a declaration of total war against the crowns. I was worried I might be conscripted for a moment there."
>Making a mental note to refer to yourself as Anon the Lowborn from here on out, you enter the booking room and find the muscular brown pony reclining in a chair and leering at the centerfold of a magazine held before him
>Seeing your arrival, the magazine flutters behind him as he tosses it and marches over to you
>"What the HAY are you doing back here!? Sundae! Why is this prisoner strolling through town hall without restraints!?"
>"W-well Sir," the unicorn started as he shrank before the fuming brown pony, "The Mayor has decided to release him for now. She, um, she says you're to return his possessions. Sir."
>As the brown brute gawks at you, the Mayor enters the room from behind you
>"I'm terribly sorry about this misunderstanding, Mr. Anon. I do hope you understand that my hooves were tied. I would like to formally welcome you to our town of Ponyville. Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you during your visit here."
>The brown pony shoulders past you, "Mayor Mare, you can't really be turning this thing loose. It was armed when we found him, for Celestia's sake!"
>"That was just my ceremonial bludgeon. The king always travels with the ceremonial bludgeon. It's tradition."
>The Mayor shoots you a sly grin, "Nice try, but Cheerilee already told me that you're no king. Royalty or not, I'm releasing you from all charges. We'll be focusing our investigations on these strange clouds that brought you here."
>The brown pony dashes behind the gated counter and returns with a mesh bag holding your rifle and other items
>"Mayor! It had an unregistered cannon! It nearly killed me as soon as I touched it!"
>"That thing wasn't even loaded when you found it," you take the gun from the bag and break open the action, palming the spent 22 shell before showing it to the Mayor
>As she peers down the barrel, you turn to the unicorn
>"Did you see it go off, Sundae?"
>"Well, I heard a loud sound but I didn't actually witness-"
>"Exactly, probably just more of this mysterious thunder. How exactly are you planning on investigating thunder, Mrs. Mayor?" you ask, eager to get off the subject as you sling your gun over your shoulder
>Mayor Mare furrowed her brow, "We'll need an analysis of any magical residues that might be present in the area surrounding Whitetail Woods. Sundae Sentry, you're the most adept unicorn on the payroll. Would you be willing to offer your talents?"
>The tan unicorn nods his assent, green mane flopping over his eyes
>"We could also do with an aerial survey of the area," the Mayor continued, tapping a hoof to her chin, "We don't actually have any pegasi on staff. And the weather team will be busy preparing for the upcoming snow systems. Happy Hooves, get on the telegraph to Cloudsdale dispatch and request for a non-essential pegasus to meet Sundae on the trail to Whitetail Woods."
>The brown pony snorted in disbelief and dropped the bag of your belongings before tromping back behind the counter, a quick series of beeps emitting from the telegraph as he relayed the request
>The Mayor looked to you, "If you could show us on the map where it is you emerged, it would speed up the process."
>"I'll do you one better, I'll take you there myself. I need to go back anyway to get my backpack. And I haven't actually met a pegasus yet."
>"Excellent, I'll leave you in the capable hooves of Sundae," Mayor Mare said as she exited the room
>"I'm going to go find Cheerilee and let her know what we're doing," you tell the unicorn while you pick up the bag with your things
>"You have to sign out your possessions," he replied and pointed to the gated window at the counter
>You slip on your watch and tuck your multi-tool, match case, and car keys into your pockets before taking the bag to the counter
>The brown pony doesn't even look at you as he slides a clipboard through the slot
>You take the quill from the ink well nearby and scratch your name down before sliding it back
>Sundae Sentry hops up and places his forelegs on the lip of the counter
>"Um, Sir? You're supposed to ask him if he wants to fill out the survey to rate his experience."
>Steam shoots from the brown pony's flared nostrils and he begins to tremble with rage as Sundae quickly hops down
>"I think I'll come help you locate Miss Cheerilee," he says as he quickly ushers you out of the room
 
 
>You find Cheerilee waiting in the lobby of the Town Hall and Sundae continues on into a storage room ahead
>"Hope I didn't get you into too much trouble."
>"No, after learning that she didn't have a real king arrested, the Mayor was eager to discuss how this mystery might be resolved."
>"Yeah, she asked me about that."
>After explaining that you are going to lead Sundae to where you fell to the trees, you notice Cherry Berry glowering at you
>"It's nice to finally meet the pony who's balloon saved me," you offer her a bright smile
>Which isn't returned
>"Right, well... I know it's a long trek to the forest. What say I meet you at Cheerilee's bright and early tomorrow morning, Sundae?"
>The unicorn had just rounded the corner into the lobby with a bedroll and haversack slung over his rear, "Actually I'm heading out there right now."
>"Maybe Cherry Berry can give you a lift," Cheerilee offered
>Cherry Berry shook her head, "No way, my ship is grounded until I know I won't be bumping into any dragons."
>With that she trotted out the doors, "If anypony needs me, I'll be at the spa."
>"Well, I guess we better get going then," Cheerilee said
>Glancing at your watch, you see it's nearly 3:30 in the afternoon
>"Are you sure you want to come with, Cheerilee. We might be out there for a while."
>You kneel down and whisper in her ear
>"As in overnight."
>The purple pony's eyes grew a bit wider
>"On second thought, I have some papers to grade before school tomorrow. If you get back and I'm still in class, just head into my cottage."
>"I'll be sure to repair that bullet hole first thing when I get back."
>"What bullet hole?"
>"Forget it. Thanks, Cheerilee. I don't know where I'd be without you."
>"Wandering the forest," she smirks and heads towards the exit before turning around once more
>"You will be careful out there, won't you? If there are more dragons-"
>"I'll get out of sight. And I have Sundae here to keep me safe."
>The unicorn shot her a sharp salute
>As Cheerilee disappeared outside, you turn to Sundae
>"Are we off then? I'm guessing we'll get there near midnight if we leave now."
>The unicorn gave you a strange look, "I wasn't planning on walking there."
>He stepped outside the building onto the wrap around porch and gives an ear-splitting whistle that you feel all the way into your fillings
>"We're taking a cab."
>Digging a finger in your ringing ear, you join Sundae on the veranda
>Several ponies walking through the streets slow down to stare at you
>The presence of the horned constable at your side seems to allay any fears that you might do something dangerous
>Like snarl
>A yellow carriage with a black and white checker pattern comes barreling down the street pulled by a pony in a matching yellow uniform
>The cab pony gives you a long look while you and Sundae climb into the back
>"Whitetail Trail, please," Sundae instructs the driver as you ponder why being pulled by a pony would be any faster than walking alongside a pony
>The driver rears up and manages to peel out on the dirt road with wooden wheels as the buildings whiz by in a blur
 
 
>Around 4:00, the cab screeches to a halt by the same bit of fence that you'd napped at the day before
>"Send the bill to the Mayor's office," Sundae tells the driver as he passes him a shining golden coin
>The taxi carriage beeps as the driver turns it around and zooms back down the road
>"We just have to wait for this pegasus to arrive and then you can lead us to where you landed in our world."
>You huff a chuckle through your nose and Sundae gives you an inquisitive glance
>"It's just the reality of travel between worlds. It's kind of a lot to take in. I don't think it's really sunk in yet."
>The two of you stand quietly for a while
>"So what's your world like, Anon?"
>You begin to describe to Sundae all the strange and wonderful things about your home
>He seems fascinated by the notion of humans having no magical abilities
>And upsettingly persistent with his questions about gastroenterology
>Weird little unicorn
>"How about you? Tell me about Sundae Sentry."
>"Let's see, my parents own a farm outside of Baltimare. I knew I wouldn't be able to do much there since my parents are both Earth ponies."
>"The ones without horns, like Cheerilee?"
>"Or wings, right. Anyway, I was always the top student in magical class and one day I saw a wanted ad for a skilled unicorn in Ponyville. That's pretty much it."
>Glancing at your watch, you see almost forty minutes have passed
>"So when is this pegasus coming? I want to get my bug out bag back as soon as I can."
>"Bug out bag?"
>"It's like an emergency kit. Although, mine's less 'survive a natural disaster' more 'rebuild society from scratch'. It's very heavy," you say with pride
>"Shouldn't be too much longer. Hey, speak of the Grogar. There they are."
>You look to where Sundae was pointing and see a winged silhouette in the sky
>It performs a few loops overhead before zig-zagging it's way down
>As it approaches, you see it's a grey pony with wings sprouting from it's ribs
>Following it's wobbling trajectory to the ground, it lands with it's rear towards you
>"Huh?" it swivels it's head back and forth searching the treeline, it's shaggy blonde mane flapping from side to side
>Sundae clears his throat and the little grey pony twirls to face you
>A wide smile stretches beneath it's wonky eyes and it waggles a hoof in the air
>"Oh, hello! Somepony order a pegasus?"