In another world far from Equestria, known as simply as Earth by its inhabitants, a meager boy of seventeen sits in a dark alleyway in the city known as New York. The boy has chin length black hair, sapphire blue eyes, and his skin color is somewhat pale due to all his time spent indoors or in dark places.
He wears a black T-shirt advertising a band named Avenged Sevenfold and a black overcoat that sweeps down to his feet, which are covered with black steel toe boots that are worn in places. He also wears blue jeans that have large holes in the knees and multiple splotches of random colors from whatever he happened to get on them during the day.
He is merely content to sit there in the alleyway, for he needed to catch his breath because once again he found himself being chased by gang members who would like nothing better than to beat him up for fun. Of course if they would fight fair he would more than likely win, but not when there's six of them and only one of him.
Luckily he has a rather athletic build from walking and running around the city, so the gang wouldn't be able to get ahold of him unless they cornered him. They couldn't do so now though because first they'd have to find him again, and he smiled at the thought that they were at least two blocks behind him, if not more.
He rose slowly to his feet again, knowing full well he had to keep moving or find someplace to hide, and his prospects were somewhat diminished because he wasn't anywhere near one of his friends or a local hangout. On top of that he knew the gang had at least one car and they could and probably would be patrolling the streets for him until they became bored.
Just as he readied himself to head back onto the sidewalk again, a flash of white light appeared behind him, stopping him in his tracks in seconds. Turning, he saw the shadowed outline of an equestrian type animal, and he smiled in spite of himself.
"So, its almost time is it? No more of that mental communication crap anymore?" Smiling broadly, the young man could almost not hold in his exuberant joy at finally seeing the being he had been talking to for so many months. "It's been a while your majesty" he dipped his head a bit in acknowledgement.
"Indeed it has young one, and you have no idea how long I have waited to be able to do this with you… I am overly happy to be able to meet you in person James," A melodious voice cooed from within the bright light as it faded. And what it revealed, took his breath away.
Standing before him was the ruler of the night, in all her stunning glory. Luna, ruler of the moon and Princess of dreams. She is of the Race Alicorn, an ascendant race of all three predominant races of Pony in Equestria, of which she was the co-ruler of. She herself had, for the past few months, been walking into his dreams. At first, for him, they were too dream like and muddy for him to truly believe what he was hearing and seeing… Though after she began to show him vision of her Home world, he began to believe. With his acknowledgement of her presence, he began to actively search her out in his dreams, learning more of the Alicorn that now stood before him.
"To come in person Princess, such an honor…!" James teased, earning himself a blush from the Lunar Princess. "And seeing as you are here, I would say I'm leaving soon… aren't I?" He asked, joy and mirth mixed evenly in his voice as he smiled endearingly at the princess.
"If you do not like it, we can leave," She jibbed back, a smirk on her lips, "And call me Luna Dear James, I have told you many times before to do so anyway…" Luna shook her head in exasperation, she loved his personality, but he was polite and well mannered to a fault sometimes, "And yes, you shall be traveling to Equestria soon enough"
"Sorry Luna, but I just couldn't resist, and it is great seeing you in person at last" He smiled, "Though I'm curious, does time pass the same in Equestria as it does here on Earth?" James inquired, his having wandered towards the topic unbidden.
"Interesting question dear James, and I forgive you," Luna said with a smile, "Hmm, let me see… Ah, if memory serves me right, and it usually does, the there are Twenty four hours in a day… Seven days in a week, and three hundred and sixty-five days in a year, no more, no less," She stated with a smile, feeling proud of her memory. She had known that the more modern humans had taken on a version of the Equestrian calendar, but she wasn't fully sure if it was the same.
"Three hundred sixty-five days… exactly? And this is for every year, correct?" James asked after a moment of silent thought.
"Yes… But why the sound of confusion?" Luna asked, clearly puzzled by his question. She eyed him intently as he tried to formulate an answer.
"it's just… Humans have this thing," James began, scratching his head, "Over a few hundred years ago- that I'm aware of- Humans came up this thing called leap years… Which is where an extra day is added to the year because of the Solar cycle… SO instead of three hundred and sixty-five days in a year, once every four years we have three hundred and sixty-six days…" James explained, having remembered that little bit of information from one of his grade school teachers.
"That is… Interesting Dear James, but it is only a slight difference to our own years… So it won't matter much at all- would it?" Luna asked thoughtfully, her hoof tapping against her chin thoughtfully.
"Either way, I'll be alright, you can still keep visiting me whenever you want until it's time- mind reading and all that jazz," James chuckled, "Besides, if you really wanted to, you could just visit me like this again!" He commented with a blazing smile directed at the Lunar Princess.
"Truer words have not been said Dear James… However-" Luna stopped, though her gaze still stayed on James; her eyes locked onto his.
"What? There somethin' in my teeth?" James asked, using his tongue to try and clean his pearly whites. His sudden self-consciousness reminding him of when he first ever talked to a girl in school… Bad JuJu all around that...
"Hmm?! Oh, no! My apologies James!" Luna cried out, her cheeks flushing slightly, feeling embarrassed for making him sweat. "I had just noticed your eyes… They changed color, they're a blue green color now… Whereas earlier they were a sparkling sapphire blue! It's just strange is all…"
"OH, that? Well, it's kind of tied to my emotions I guess… But a while back I was jumped by some thugs, got in a few good swipes they did, and one hit me in the side here," points to his temple, "And the Doc said they knocked some things loose in there… So my eyes change their color as my brain does its funky thing; kind of crazy if you ask me!" James laughed, rubbing his head in embarrassment. "Honestly though, it's just one of the many things you still have yet to learn about me; and I you Princess," James teased, shooting her a teasing smile.
"Yes… So it seems; but," Luna began before turning into shadow and reappearing right behind her human friend, "as you said- you don't know all my secrets either…" She purred teasingly into his ear.
With a faint shiver, James grinned and looked over his shoulder. He eyed her appreciatively before asking his next question, "So, Luna, what prompted you to pick me, the one- out of BILLION- to be your friend?" James asked, his smile slightly strained and slightly concerned.
"Well," she started, walking out from behind him in a long circle, "To start with; the one to be picked had to be of a kind heart, have a strong mind, and deserve- without a doubt- a second chance at a happier life...One without needless bloodshed and destruction," Luna stated solemnly. Her tone even, her words practiced, and rather dull in James' ears.
"Well, if I didn't know any better… That would be what your sister would say- more than you anyway," James retorted coolly, his smile rather well hidden as he looked at the now blushing and stuttering midnight colored Princess before him.
"Well fine! Why do you think I chose you then? Oh mister big shot!" Her cheeks had a rosy tint to them as she retaliated with a question all her own.
"Well, I would venture that what you told me was just some basic things your sister said…and from what you've been telling me, and how well we've gotten along…I would say you are a very lonely person Luna," James, ever the insightful one, stated. His voice soft and his smile softer as he told the Lunar Diarch just what he knew. "You have many friends, and a sister that loves you unconditionally… but you still lack the one thing that many of them cannot give you- Love," James stated as he walked closer to her, placing his hand upon her cheek with a kind smile. All the while noting the striking blush the Princess had taken on since the beginning of his little rant.
"And it doesn't matter to me, Luna, that you have some ulterior motive for bringing me to your lands… I relish the thought, for I know you chose me for a reason- and those reasons are your own. But I will do what I can for this new life…" James started wistfully.
"I know that James, and thank you, you deserve a chance at happiness, just like any one of my and sisters subjects do," Luna stated, her smile warm and cheeks only slightly blushed after such a well informed rant.
"May I ask something of you Luna?" James asked indecisively.
"James, you can ask me anything" Luna replied immediately, feeling her cheeks heat up at what he might ask.
"Would it be alright to give you a hug?" James asked shyly with a large blush on his face. His hand still resting upon her cheek when he asked, causing her to nuzzle his hand some before answering.
Luna smiled. "Permission permanently granted"
James rushed closer to her and embraced her as she stood up on her two hind legs and wrapped her forehooves around his back, each of them tightly holding the other.
'This is a great feeling, this closeness I already have to him' Luna thought to herself happily. 'And so easily teased too… He will be fun to have around… eternally.'
After a moment, they released each other, both of them grinning happily. Just then however, another flash of white light filled the air just behind them, farther back along the alley.
"Oh dear" Luna muttered unhappily as the light faded to reveal her sister, who was grinning.
"You know sister, you could have just told me that you'd already been sorting through the humans and had found a good candidate" Celestia said, grinning all the while.
"So you're Princess Celestia? I've heard many things about you Your Majesty" James said with a small bow. A cocksure grin plastered on his face as he did so.
"Well now, you have a good set of manners James, but they are unnecessary. If you would please just call me Celestia or Tia" Celestia supplied him before asking; "And what have you heard about me from my little sister?"
"Oh this and that really," James said with a mischievous grin plastered on his face, his eyes gleaming at the prospect of wriling up the Sun Princess. Se, with utter surety, he uttered one, simple, word… And not a one could hear him.
"What was that? We didn't quite hear you" Celestia asked him.
"Cake" James whispered just loud enough for the two Alicorns to hear.
At that Celestia wheeled and faced Luna, her eyes shooting daggers and left James to assume that she was yelling at Luna mentally, but yet she smiled anyway, glancing at James and giggling all the while.
"Ugh… Your sense of humor is such a pain in our backside… It's not even funny anymore Luna," Celestia grumbled as she turned away from her sister, rubbing a hoof against her head in exasperation.
"Oh come now Celly." James consoled with a soft smile, though at the name- two things happened. Luna started shaking, and Celestia looked at him with disbelief. "Its all in good fun, besides; cake is a food of the gods! And you don't look to shabby yourself!" He shot off a wink as he turned back to Luna; who was now trying not to laugh her nightly buns off.
"Hmph, just my luck that my sister would find a human who not only shares her odd sense of humor, but is as sharp with his words as I am" Celestia replied with a look on her muzzle as if she was trying to analyze James.
"Well it wasn't a matter of perspective or knowledge in this case, just a matter that was rather easy to resolve given the right approach" James theoreticized.
"You're absolutely correct" Celestia replied after a moment of pause as she considered his words.
"Well sister, I congratulate you. James appears to be a perfect choice for the first human being in our modern day Equestria. James, is there anything you need to grab before we return with you in our company?" Celestia asked of him.
"Not that I wouldn't end up getting rid of anyway. Everything I care about I always keep on my person" James replied, appearing somewhat downcast/
'Oh my… he has nought to his name but that which he can carry. He's a remarkable young man and was just wasting away out here on the streets. He most definitely deserves a chance at a new life' Celestia thought to herself as she eyed him.
"Alright, we'll be on our way then" Celestia stated as the tip of her horn became lit with blinding white light that encased the three of them, and with an even brighter flash they disappeared.
A/N: Thanks to all my friends and followers for reading this story. I'm placing a lot of myself into this story (I never actually grew up in NYC, but it's close enough). And once again I ask for people to favorite and follow this story, as well as leave reviews, good and bad, for I wish to know what people think of my story thus far.
And as always a special thanks to my bro Harbinger of Script for being my beta and editor for this story, because he added quite a bit of helpful details and gave a few of his personal thoughts on the story which really helped.
Also, I would like to say that I am currently looking for a few OC's and if you would like a character of yours in the story, please leave a brief description as a review (make sure to say its for an OC)
(From the beta!) All you munchkins out there, this is a story about many things! And don't go thinking that just cuz "-'iz just a 'umie in Equeztriaz! Howz 'e differentz frum da rest?!". We got Romance, Angst, Adventure, Drama, Humor, and a boat load of other niceties ready for ya gits to read and enjoy! So dig in and read on! The Equestrian Life is just beginning!
Your Loving beta and bringer of all things cray-cray and good! Harbinger-of-Script!
And that dear readers is why I let my bro Harbinger do my editing. He adds a lot of great humor to my stories. If you would like to see another example of our work, read our Co-Authored story "New Royalty, Two Princes' Journey into Equestria
-Devonbronyboy