Author's Note - The basis for this fic is based on another fic called Everday Life as a Supporting Character, by LuckyChaos. Please check out his work here. I'd highly recommend the aforementioned fic. u/1704962/luckychaos
This story is a self insert original work taking place at the start of the MLP gen 4 series. Before you go 'Ugh another crappy self insert' please give it a chance. My goal is to take the groundwork laid by by the show, and and run with it in a natural progression through the eyes of an observer with the ability to influence the story. It will be a more mature series, dealing with the differences in species and the difficulties of literally being an alien in a foreign land, and the only one of their kind. I also want to point out that this series will be containing NO lemon content. I haven't decided yet whether I feel comfortable even putting romance in down the road, as the character befriends the characters and eventual sees them as people like him instead of ponies. Please feel free to leave constructive criticism if you feel I need to change my writing style or would like to point out mistakes. don't be hater though. No one likes those dudes. Edit: 12/29/2016, I decided to merge several chapters together for you guys. Figured that it might make reading more engaging. Some big changes are coming to the story that I think you guys might like, so stick around. Massive plot changes happen about chapter 4ish.
Everyday Life as a Non-pony OC
Chapter One - The Awakening
As I came to, the first thing I noticed was the cool feeling across my cheek. It was hard, and unyielding, yet cool and refreshing to the touch. My eyes snapped open, as I raised myself on my hands, and looked down at the floor.
The floor was made of a grey flagstone. Odd minerals gave a slight sheen to the stone that changed based on how the light hit it. I looked around, trying to figure out where I was. It appeared to be some sort of room. Like a bed chamber, without a bed. Light streamed in through the windows, as sheer curtains fluttered playfully in the slight breeze coming in through the pane-less windows. Walls were made of the same sort of flagstone that the floor was, and magnificent tapestries adorned several walls. The smell of flowers and summer wafted to me from the vase on a table under the window.
I got up, and walked to the window, brushing myself off. Looking out at the surrounding area, I realized on was in a tall building. A castle by the looks of it. I'm several floors, by the looks of it. Last thing I remembered was going to bed in my bedroom. How did I wake up here?
THUP! A dull thud, and a blinding flash of pain is all I remembered as I dropped to the floor and black out again. As I woke up, I again felt the refreshing feeling of cool stone against my face, but this time, the air was a bit mustier. Smelled a bit like straw, actually. I opened my eyes, and stood up. While not dark, it was less lit than the previous room I was in, Instead of natural sunlight the area seems lit by a few torches, crackling merrily in their sconces. A collection of sturdy iron bars separated my room from the corridor where the light was coming from. I looked around, and spotted a small bed of straw in the corner. Ah. That explains the scent of it. I kneel down and grab a handful of the straw. It's dry, but relatively fresh. It must have been put there this morning.
"Aha. You are awake. Stay put. The Princess wants to speak to you, whatever you are." A gruff voice spoke from behind me. I whipped around, but the speaker had already turned and left. A dull clopping fading down the hallway. Did he ride his horse down here? What kind of weird place was this? Why did this 'princess' want to see me? and why did he say, whatever I was. I'm a human, same as him, right? I checked myself out quickly. Two legs, two arms, head, with 2 eyes, ears, a nose, and a mouth, and a throbbing lump on the back. Ok. I admit, that one is new, but as far as I can tell, still human.
Ah. I get it. I must have been seen in the castle, and mistaken for an intruder. they must of clonked me over the head, and threw me in the dungeon to be question, but I hardly think that the princess would need to take care of that personally. Considering the castle, dungeon, princess, and any lack of electronics or technology, it would seem this is some sort of medieval setting. Did I somehow time travel? The still throbbing lump in the back of my head seems to prove this isn't a dream.
"Ah. So you are awake, young human." a regal voice calls from behind me "I haven't seen one of your species in a very long time."
"What do you mean 'my species'? I'm as hum..." My voice trails off as I turn around, and spotted the speaker for the first time. Wings, and a horn, with a long flowing mane of greens, blues, and pinks that seemed to flutter and billow in a non-existent breeze. A gold tiara adorned her head around her horn, and her white coat glistened in the torchlight and her purple eyes regarded me with almost curious enthusiasm. She most definitely wasn't human. Princess Celestia stood before me.
"I...but...wha...you..here...'' I started to have teensy bit of a panic attack. Surely that bit is slightly acceptable, when a character you know from a TV show happens to appear before you...right?
Deep Breaths, Me. In...Out. In...out. Good. Now lets try to speak a bit. okay?
"You're Princess Celestia. Aren't you?" I manage to speak at last. '' But how can you possibly be standing here?"
"Yes. I am indeed the princess of these lands. Do you find it odd that I be standing in my own castle? I for one, am more curious to the fact you know who I am." Celestia speaks with a regal, but sweet motherly sounding voice.
''Uh...well... I do happen to know who you are, yes. but..." I trail off as I attempt to phrase this in was way that wont sound...well, batshit crazy. "I can't really say right now, but I have my reasons to doubt why I might be seeing you in front of me. Lets just say that. I think a better question right now, is how did I get here." The second part to that statement is more of my own thoughts, but I seemed to have said it aloud, as the princess responded.
''By here, do you mean the dungeon, or Equestria?''
" Yes." I respond quickly, with a smile. The princess looked a bit confused. "Sorry. It's a joke I share with a friend of mine. If offered choice between two things that are both applicable, we just answer yes...bit of an...inside...joke.'' I explained with an embarrassed chuckle. "To be honest, a bit of both, but mostly Equestria. I guess I was found in a castle room, and was subdued and brought to the castle dungeons for questioning, but the bigger question is what was I doing in the castle to begin with, and I'm sorry, Princess, but I am afraid I don't really have the answer to that. You see..."
"You are not a natural resident of this world. I already had a feeling this was the case. I am afraid I cannot speak for your own world, but here in Equestria, magic is a common thing. It is not hard to imagine something from our world may have pulled you here. Either way, I think it is safe to presume that you were not in the castle of your own volition, nor that you seem to have any evil intent. You shall be released shortly, but I am afraid there is due process that you must wait here for a bit longer. Oh..."
As she spoke, a wisp of smoke whisked down the hallway, materializing into a scroll, which began glowing with brilliant blue aura, as her horn did the same. The scroll unfurled, and Celestia read aloud.
" ' My dearest teacher, my continuing studies of pony magic have led me to discover that we are on the... that something really bad is about to happen! For you see, the mythical Mare in the Moon is in fact Nightmare Moon, and she's about to return to Equestria, and bring with her eternal night! Something must be done to make sure this terrible prophecy does not come true. I await your quick response. Your faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.' It is a letter from my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle."
My heart skipped a beat as I hear Twilight's name. Holy crap. I'm actually here in equestia, I could actually meet the mane six!
"Hmm. This gives me a bit of an idea. Human, what may I call you? I fear that simply referring to you as 'human', while efficient may be quite rude.." The princes muses for a moment, before looking up to me.
" Uh, I'd rather keep my real name to myself, for the time being. I usually go by the name Fawkes on the internet though...
"Internet? Well, Fawkes is most certainly an odd name. I feel you more seem to be a...Firefly Solstice. Is it okay if I call you that instead" The princes asks with a mischevious smile. I found it a bit hard to figure out whether she was kidding or not, but knowing her, she probably was.
" I'd rather you just call me Fawkes please." I said. The princess looked slightly downtrodden. Had she actually wanted to call me that? "I don't dislike the name, it's actually kind of cool, but Fawkes is just much more familar to me."
" Well, Fawkes, In return for your release from my dungeon, and as I am sure you have not a place to stay for however long you will be in this world, I shall be tasking you with a mission. I want you to accompany my most faithful student as she travels to Ponyville to ensure preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration are coming along. I request that you help her keep her muzzle out of these fairy tales, and maybe even make some friends? I fear her studies consume a bit much of her time, and while her potential is amazing, I feel she needs to learn the importance of relying on others to truly learn the lessons she will need."
Taking a sheaf of parchment out and a quill out of nowhere, she quickly scrawls a letter back to Twilight, speaking slowly as she writes.
" My dearest, most faithful student Twilight. You know that I value your diligence and that I trust you completely, but you simply must stop reading those dusty old books! My dear Twilight, there is more to a young pony's life than studying, so I'm sending you to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in this year's location: Ponyville. And, I have an even more essential task for you to complete: make some friends. I shall be sending an additional guest with you as well, for I feel he will make a great subject of study for you, and perhaps might keep you focused on the task at hand. Please treat him well, as he will seem very unlike anything you have ever seen before." Once the letter was complete, it sealed itself with a ribbon and wax seal, before dissipating back into a wisp of smoke, and vanishing into the air.
"Come. Let us go back up to the main castle, so that we can prepare you for your journey. I will provide you a room for the night, and I would like to converse more, in a more proper setting. Tomorrow you will meet up with my student, Twilight Sparkle. I'm sure she will be very interested to meet you once she learns of your origins." She says with a small chuckle.
"I'm sure she would. What about those due processes in getting me out?" I ask, following after the Celestia's retreating form.
"I'm the princess. I can allow prisoners to go free as I wish. I was just planning to leave you there until I came up with something to do with you." I heard her say as she led me out.
"Of course you were..." I mumbled to myself. Trollestia strikes again, I guess.
As we exited the dungeons, and entered the main floor halls, I asked the Princess a question.
"So, are we going to meet your student now, Twilight Sparkle was it?" I figured I should feign ignorance a bit, as it's not too unlikely that I'd know the name of the Princess of Equestria, as she has been around for over a thousand years, but if I told her I know the names of Twilight and her soon to be friends, that would definitely raise some unneeded flags.
"Not yet. I figured we would wait until morning for that. It is starting to get late, and I'm sure she has a lot of studying to do..." The princess chuckled to herself about her little joke as I looked up at the large windows lining the passageways, and noticed that it was indeed turning dark out. I had never really noticed that the day Twilight arrives at Ponyville, was not the same day she received the letter from the Princess asking her to go. "I am sure that by now, you must be getting hungry. You've had a busy day, infiltrating castles, and exploring dungeons."
"I wasn't infiltrating!" I retorted, turning quickly to face the princess again. "I still don't know how I arrived in the castle."
"I know you do not. I was merely making a clever joke. Shall we talk about it, while we dine? It is not everyday you have a chance to eat a the same table as a Princess. I would also like to know more about how you got here, and what where you come from is like."
We entered a small room, off the side of the main dining hall, with a cozy low sitting table, with some large cushions around it. A large spread of salads, fruits and veggies sat upon the table.
"This is my personal dining space. It is used when I am having small gatherings with friends, or students, or when I simply want to escape to a quieter place sometimes. As much as I love my position and my land, It can be exhausting from time to time." I shall allow you the chance to get something to eat here, and I shall provide you with a resting chamber for the night. Tomorrow, we shall be sending you to Ponyville with Twilight Sparkle, and her assistant. I ask you to help her carry out her duties preparing for the Summer Sun Celebration, and assist Spike with anything he may need as well." The Princess said, as she sat down at one of the cushions, and floated an orange over to herself. The peel separated itself from the fruit, pith and all, and she started taking dainty bites of the sections.
I sat down, watching mesmerized, at the magic in action. Snapping myself back to the conversation, I look at her and ask "Why are you so trusting of me. I just appeared here, in the castle, as if by magic, was knocked out by one of your patrolling guards, and thrown in the dungeon. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the hospitality you are showing since I got out, but shouldn't you be wary of a strange new creature like me?"
"Well, Whilst humans are indeed lost among time, there are legends dating back thousands of years, even before my time, of humans existing in our world. It is unknown if they came from somewhere else, and returned there, or if they were native to this land, and left, or died out. Your kind is not unheard of, but I still presume you will be getting a lot of odd glances and questions about your species from the people of my kingdom. As to why I can trust you, I have a set of magic spells we can use to detect if one is lying, or has evil intent. We use these when interrogating potential threats to our kingdom. Very few unicorns have the potential to use them however. I believe only myself, and the head of my royal guard, Shining Armor, are the only residents of the castle that are capable of it."
I sat there looking stunned. I'd never heard of magic like this in the show. She might be making it all up, not like I would know any better either way. Putting that aside for a second, I asked "Why send me to ponyville though? To be honest, it sounds like Twilight should have the preparations under control, if she is as astute as you make her out to be. What is the point of my going?"
"Well, there is not much of a point of you staying here either. You claimed to be from another world, and as you are still here, I am supposing you have not a way to return by yourself. If there is anyone who may be able to figure it out, it is Twilight Sparkle. She is very intelligent, and loves to study. You would also make an excellent side project for her. I am sure she would like to document everything about you and your species. She and Spike also have a bit of a habit of getting sidetracked with other less important things, so I would like you to keep her on track for the celebration. I think the two of you should take time to meet many of the residents in Ponyville. Twilight has been neglecting social activities in lieu of studying, when a balance of both is necessary to live a full and proper life."
"Yeah I get that one. I'm a bit of an introvert myself. It may be nice to meet some new people. I'm sure Ponyville has some interesting peop...ponies for us to meet."
"Now, let us move onto other topics. I have a few questions for you. First, can you remember anything of how you arrived here in Equestria?"
I closed my eyes for a second and tried to remember. "No. I can't remember anything that tells me why I am here. I just remember falling asleep in my bed, and waking up here. Everything else in between is...missing. It's odd." My eyes snap open as I come to a sudden realization. "It's like I am missing memory. Usually when I sleep, there is still recollection of the passage of time. Dreams, waking up to use the washroom, something. but, my memories, simply cut off when I recall laying in bed and closing my eyes. I don't fall asleep that fast usually."
"Hmm. Is that so?" Celestia looked at me, bemused. "It seem very convenient that there is simply a bit of missing memories, but you do not seem to be lying. I shall take your word for it for now. If you remember anything, let me know immediately through Spike. I want to assess any possible danger your being here may pose. I do not see you as dangerous, but if someone can sneak you into my castle, who else might be next?"
"I never thought of it that way. I see. I will, Princess. The moment I remember."
"Good. Thank you. My second question. Where are you from? Tell me about yourself. Tell me who Fawkes is.
Ah. Right. I forgot I had given her that name back in the dungeon. I thought for a minute on how to put this.
"Well...as you guessed earlier, I don't think I'm of this world. My world, to my knowledge, doesn't have magic, dragons, or talking equines, to point out a few things.
In my world, I live on a planet called Earth. I live in a democratic country called Canada, which is separated into provinces. All over the world, many people of different races live out their lives. Instead of magic, we use electricity and technology. We use machines and constructs, such as dams and fans to capture the natural energy of the world, and convert it into a form we can use to power everyday items." My thoughts strayed to the various devices like cash registers, phonographs, the arcade booths from 'Hearts and Hooves Day' and Twilight's lab equipment... "You guys actually have similar technology to what we have in my world, but here they seem to be powered by magic, rather than electricity."
"Hmm.. and how would you know of these devices here in this world? You just arrived here, and spent most of your first day unconscious, or in a jail cell did you not?"
Crap. She's sharp... I slipped up. "Uh...well... I can't go into much detail, but I think I mentioned that I had information about this world before I came here. I can't really say much, and I doubt you would believe me anyways."
"Try me, Fawkes. I have lived many years, and seen many things, both wondrous and horrifying. You would be surprised what I will believe these days."
"Well... It's like this. Imagine if you read a story book, but then found your way into the story. Would you tell the hero about what challenges lie ahead? I'm afraid to say."
The Princess looked at me, with a look I couldn't quite get. was it confusion? Wonder? Anger? She didn't say anything for a few minutes, as she quietly collected her thoughts.
"Are you saying that this is a similar situation? That you have future knowledge of things to come? I think knowing this information would be beneficial to my kingdom. I could put a stop to catastrophe before it happens. Please tell me."
"Well, I can't. I'm sorry Princess... That knowledge can be dangerous. In attempting to stop one disaster, you could potentially cause a much worse one in its place. Besides, I'm not sure exactly what use my knowledge may have. I can already see a major difference that may change the very nature of the events to come."
"Oh, what is this major difference?" The Princess asked, her voice full of curiosity.
"Me. I'm not present in the original story, nor am I taking the place of any character. I'm like a sticky note added onto the page of the story I don't belong. I'm extra."
"That is true, I suppose. Your presence here could affect the knowledge you have. Well, then I ask of you. Can you help guide my student on the paths that seem right based on what you know? I at least could feel comfort if I know that someone else is watching out for her."
"Of course I will. I promise." As the help cleared away the last of the food and dishes, i stood up from the table, and the Princess followed suit.
"This guard here will escort you to your sleeping quarters for the night. I must apologize, the beds are not designed for one of your size, so the bed may be a bit small for you. I shall send a wake up call to your room in the morning, who can escort you where you need to go."
"Sure, thanks, but one question, your Highness. What about clothes? All I have is what I was was wearing yesterday." I motioned to my body, where I was wearing a blue cotton T-shirt, and a pair of blue jeans, among other unmentionables... Hmm. Odd. I didn't wear jeans to bed... oh well. "I have nothing else to wear, and clothes of my shape and size aren't exactly common."
The princess thought for a few seconds, and said "Once you get to Ponyville, keep an eye out for a suitable tailor. Once you find one, contact me, and I can send a requisition to them for a collection of outfits you may wear while here."
With that, She left the room. I turned to the guard, and gestured for him to lead on. Upon arriving in the room, I looked around. It was a simple bed chamber. One four poster bed in the room, with a nightstand. A small vase of flowers stood on a table beneath the one window. Looking back at the door, a simple slide lock lay upon the back of the door. After thanking the guard for his help, I lay down on the bed, and process the events of the day, and my thought coming for the future, until I fell asleep.