Chapter 3

The girls then headed toward the other two ponies and little dragon and I start to think,"I think coming to a world filled with pastel grass chewers tops my list of

strange... And just who are these peop...uh I mean ponies (damn this new form of grammar -_-;)." The tall white pony then approached me and held out her hoof

and said,"Hello there stranger." I swear I felt regal waves coming from her, but it was mixed with kindness and approval. It was weird, but I felt right at home some

how when all these ponies get together... It's like the ice around my heart is slowly being melted away ever since I came here, but one question still rings in my

brain, what's my purpose here. A yell makes me lose my train of thought,"WHAAAA!" I fall on my ass only to find that the pink pony pounced on me,"Howdy howdy

howdy, my names Pinkie Pie, and that there's Princess Celestia, you looked like a zombie for a bit so I thought I'd snap ya out of it!" I swear when she said that I felt

like laughing,"Heh, well my name is Strider, and since I'm un-zombified can you get off Pinkie?" She nods her head and hops off ain't really my style but since I'm not

from here, I faced the Princess and kneeled. She simply giggles and lifts me up using her magic. "There's no need for such formality, I'm simply here to see what the

buzz is about this hedgehog that's been wandering around Ponyville."I just give a big smile as I scratch the back of my head," Well there isn't much about me, if you

came from where I lived, you'd know there isn't anything special about me..."I said in a somber tone. Rarity and Fluttershy stood next to me and nudged my side,"My

dear trust me when I say you are special, other than a dragon I couldn't expect anyone to craft a jewel such as yours."Fluttershy then said,"Yes you are special, I

mean look at your two friends, they seem to adore you so very much, and since I'm an animal caretaker myself that means something too...doesn't it?" I simply

chuckle and say,"Yea Fluttershy, it does, and thanks Rarity." I pick my head up and then party continues for about a good 3-4 hours. I approached the little dragon as

I thought he could answer one of my questions,"Hey little dude, I got a question for ya." The dragon turned and said,"Alright shoot, and my names Spike." I

proceeded to ask him,"Ok Spike, you wouldn't happen to know if theres any nearby volcanos, dragons, and or phoenix's by any chance?" Spike gave me an

awkward look and said,"Ummm yea, you can actually find 'em all in one place." Spike then gave me a map that lead to the volcano and marked the spots where the

phoenixes and dragons would be. I figured I could do this task tomorrow, so I just mingled with everyone. After a very very very long conversation with Pinkie Pie, I

decided I needed a punch break, so I headed for the punch bowl. Right before I took a sip of punch I felt someo-...Somepony(damn grammar) nudge me. I turn to

see Fluttershy and Rarity together. I look at them with a puzzled look and Fluttershy asked," Can we talk outside?" I nod my head as we head out back. As I close the

back door to the patio Rarity says,"So Fluttershy says you have a talent for hiding your true colors." I nod and say," Yea I do, I can willingly change the color of my

fur and eyes. This is just a look I use in my down time, but if you wanna see what I really look like then here you go." I change back to my usual dark-blue green

shade with red eyes. Rarity stared in amazement, and Fluttershy, well her wings perked up as she turned red. I pointed at her and she squeaked in embarrassment

as she fixed her wings, but the red in her face didn't go away. I looked at Rarity to see her turn bright red as well and I think to myself,"They can't have feelings for

me..can they?" I change back to what I call my "off-day" color scheme. I swear both turned even redder. I tried to approach Fluttershy but she went back inside the

party, I went to Rarity and she said,"Would you..please lower yourself?" I dunno whats goin on but I kneel and outta no where, Rarity kisses my cheek, stares into

my eyes and goes back into the party. Red in the face I just stand and start to stare into the sky thinkin to myself,"...This is starting to get interesting." Night had

fallen upon Ponyville and I still didn't have my own place, I was heading to the Pony Inn when all of a sudden, I was approached by the Princess."Strider, do you have

a place to stay?" I tell her,"Well when I first came here, Fluttershy took me in, but I don't wanna burden her, so I was gonna head over to the Pony Inn, they accept

rings right?" She started to laugh and I said,"Well then you would,'t happen to know the current exchange rate of rings to um...what is it you ponies use?""Our form

of currency is Bits."I swear a felt an anime sweatdrop form on the side of my head. "Well I'm guessin Rings and bits can't be exchanged?" She shook her head,"I

thought so." She then pointed to a small boutique,"Well I asked some of the other ponies, Fluttershy said you could always come to her cottage, but Rarity also said

you could head over to the boutique." Wow, either I bunk with Fluttershy or I sleep in a boutique, my masculinity must be decreasing rapidly."Alright, I guess I'll head

to the boutique, I got some questions I need to ask Rarity anyway. Thank you Princess." She simply nodded her head, and teleported away. I knocked on the door to

the boutique, at first no one answered but then I heard the locks and the door opened to reveal Rarity in a mahogany colored robe and her eyes were glowing.

"Ummmm, hi Rarity." She motioned me inside and said,"Welcome to my humble abode." Humble was the last word I could think of, if anything the inside reflected

her personality as a fashionista, from all of the clothes and displays I saw. I wander the house to find a couch and get comfortable. As I was sitting down Rarity sat

next to me and put her head on my neck,"Rarity, you feelin alright?" She looked up at me and said,"Nothing...nothing at all darling."The look she had in her eyes,I

didn't wanna assume so I had to make sure,"Rarity, about the party, why did you kiss my cheek?" She turned red and she retreated slightly." There is

something about you that just... seemed to..connect with me." As a vision sparked in my head her horn had started to glow and touch my forehead. Rarity and I were

in a black room,"Welcome Strider, and friend." That voice.. it could only belong to one person,"Alright Xiaomei, what are we doing here?" A figure in a dark purple

cloak comes from the shadows,"I've come to show you the reason you are here." Just then the world was filled with color then the part in front of me and Rarity

showed a scene, a scene from something horrible,"This is the future of the world you were a part of, you were meant to die."Suddenly I see a fight with me fighting a

metal version of myself, I was in different clothes, I was wearing a Black hoodie with a chain stretching across at the neck, Trip Pants, and Black high tops. But there

was blood coming from my side, I was getting thrashed. Rarity was in tears as she saw what was in front of us. Metal was relentless, he gave me no chance for a

counter attack, and there wasn't even the tiniest scratch on him. He took off my hood and let out a small chuckle,"Did you really think a mere copy could defeat me?"

He stomped the earth which resulted in a spike and he threw me into the air, he met me at the top and slammed his foot into my gut sending me flying towards the

ground and through the spike.I was still barely alive as he said,"Everything you will ever love will BURN..." His hand turned into a knife and he sliced my

throat."Unfortunately no matter what you did while you were still at home, nothing could change this out come... It was in our best interest to let you live a life of

peace, a life you deserve." I stare a the ground and say to her,"How would you know that,I've done the impossible before." I then looked at Rarity, she was a mess, I

honestly didn't know she cared for me, she was broken as if she had lost something important to her. I go to hold her and she latched onto me and didn't want to let

go,"I don't want to lose you Strider..." Tears still flowing,"Ok Xiaomei, that sort of explains everything, but I feel like there is still something you're not telling

me."She disappears and me and Rarity are back the boutique. Rarity still holding me tight she looks at me,"Promise me you'll never leave me.." I look at her and

say,"Rarity...I'm sorry. I'm not a fan of making promises I know I can't keep." She looked down and said,"Then at least stay with me for a while?" I nod my head and

ask her,"Where do you keep the blankets?" She pointed at the hall closet and I grabbed a big blanket to cover us both as we cuddle for the night. After about 3 hours

I woke up still next to Rarity, and I swear, she looked beautiful even when she slept. I tried to get up to get a glass of water but she started to whimper. So I just sat

there and tried to go back to sleep. After about 30min ,I use the pillow trick so I can get a glass of water and take a quick bathroom break. A was heading down the

stairs, I noticed Rarity was awake and I almost jump outta my skin,"I thought you left..." I shake my head and say,"Only to get a glass of water and to use the

bathroom." I sit next to her and she starts to hold me again,"I don't want to lose you." I say to her,"You're not going to lose me, don't forget that was all supposed to

happen on my world, I'm safe here."I pulled her closer to me and she looked up and kissed me. I closed my eyes and returned the kiss and after a minute or two I

ask her,"What was that for?" She looks at me with a smile and says,"Just to make sure you keep your promise Strider." I just chuckle and we get cozy on the couch

once more.