At Sora's suggestion the trio returned to the library. Though all parties agreed they each had their own reasons for doing so.
Sora's reason was a simple yet more than likely proved the most difficult. He needed to put on some clothes. Being a boy of seventeen years of age, it would be no problem. Being a boy PONY of seventeen years of age with hooves instead of fingers and thumbs to work with could prove a challenge. Despite this he figured that if he was going to be in this pony world for a while (And he truly believed that he would be) he would need to learn how to dress himself and, he hoped, learn how to get by without fingers. So, under the guise of needing some rest, the poniefied KeyBlader was allowed to return to the room had woken up in and, after closing the door, set to work equipping and removing his attire.
Twilight (With Sora's permission) had decided to study the strange object that was the Key Blade. She had immediately set to work using both magical and non-magical test to ascertain its make, properties, and essence. She needed to know what it was. Why something like this was never in any of the history books. It was clearly a weapon of great power, and gifting a pegesus the power to teleport it. If she was able to figer it out…Oh the possibilities.
Spike, after picking up all of Twilights books, decided to crash on a nearby couch. He was a baby dragon after all and despite his tiredness he figured that sleep was needed to fully enjoy the Pinkie's Welcome to Ponyvile Party.
It was quite some time before Sora made his way down to the lower level. His upper body was covered in his shirt and jacket, having spent the better part of his time dressing and undressing himself. He was very proud of himself for finding such a creative way in doing so even with the handicap of having no fingers (Though until he fingers out how to use his hooves better he decided not to share his success with the rest of the class).
The clip-clop of his hooves alerted Twilight of the stallion's presence. She couldn't help but smile lightly, giving him a once over. "You look good Sora."
Sora blushed a little as he raised a hoof to rub the back of his head. A light blush of embarrassment forming on his caramel cheeks. "Heh…thanks Twi." His eyes strayed toward his Keyblade laying on a table close by, surrounded by an impressive amount of books notes and test tubes. "You've kept yourself busy I see…"
Twilight gave a frustrated sigh. "A lot good it did. The enigmatic nature of this clearly impossible object has really thrown me for a loop." She used her magic to levitated a pile of her notes towards him. "According to THIS, your Keyblade is both magic so ancient yet so much more advanced then anything I've read about." She shoved a piece of paper in his face. "And this! The material it's made from! There is no such material like it in all of Equestria!"
Sora, not really able to make heads or tails of it popped his head from around the parchment so she could see his face. "Is that so?"
"Of course!" She returned the research back to the table (In alphabetical order) before turning back to Sora. "Are you sure that you don't know anything else about your Keyblade?"
Sora closed his eyes, furrowed his brow, and folded his cannons about his chest, a sigh, Twilight relized, when he was in deep thought. After a moment his relaxed himself but slowly shook his head when he did so. "Sorry Twilight. Except the fact that its connected to some…err pony by the heart, I know next to nothing." Heh. He was getting better at that.
Twilight sighed once again before turning to face a clock. Only six. They still had two hours left until the party. Well and hour and a half. It'll take some time to get their party destination in any case. She wanted to study the keyblade more but without any thing to go by that would just prove more stressful. It was even worse when the owner of said keyblade knew as much about as she did. Well…going by his reaction to everything she said, maybe she knew a little more.
Without anything else to contemplate and with not being able to send any letters about their new guest and his strange weapon to the princess she decided to perform the act that most ponies call 'getting to know one another.
"So…Where do you come from?"
"Destiny Island."
Sora's eyes blanched but quickly corrected themselves with a blink and a blank expression. Did I really just say that?! More than likely they don't have any place like that in this world, or, worse, if they do, then he would have to talk about someplace that he knows nothing about.
"Destiny Island? Where's that?"
Luckly it was the former. At least he could work with that one.
"It's a place far across the ocean. Not many…uh…ponies know about it." That was defiantly not a lie.
Twilight's eyes brighten and she quickly zipped in front of him, her muzzle nearly touching his. "The ocean?! You've seen the ocean?!"
Sora blinked as the smell of lavender assaulted his senses. It was…pleasant. "Uh…yeah. It was kinda surrounded by it."
Before the stallion could protest, a very excited Twilight teleported them both to sit at a table. It was an odd feeling. Being teleported. It reminded him of when he went into the computer world not to long ago. Still it was very disorientating and he was left dazed for a few moments. When he recovered he could see the lavender unicorn staring across the table at him, quill and parchment at the ready. He eyes seemed to sparkle as she smiled brightly at the stallion.
"Tell. Me. Everything."
Twilight led Sora through the darkening streets of Ponyville with Spike riding upon her back. She was happy to see her assistant and the stallion in deep conversation. Spike had woken up not too long ago after Twilight and Sora had started their conversation about the sea and the topic had somehow changed into some of his travels. Twilight was very skeptical about the subject, even with an oversized key currently sitting back at her treehouse.
Really! Her mind screamed. How can a pony as small as him take on and defeat a fifty headed hydra. Me and my friends barely came out of it alive…and we were running from it!
Despite this, Spike, even when he was questioning Sora's truths to his story, seemed to be greatly interested in his tale. Truth be told it also served to pass the time as they trotted down the dusty road of Ponyville.
Before they knew it the trio hand made it to their destination, "With time", Twilight was quick to point out, "to spare!"
The dim light of a bright moon served as the only source of illumination for the three of them. Sora could vaguely make out the appearance of trees and, from what he could tell, there were a lot of them.
Twilight giggled as she nudged him with her flank. "This is Sweet Apple Acers. An apple farm ran by the apple family. Actually my friend run the one here in Ponyville."
"An apple farm?" He squinted his eyes. Sure enough he could make out the appearance of some kind of fruit hanging from the branches of some of the closer trees. "Wow. Never seen an apple farm before."
"Really?" Spike eyebrow rose. "They don't have em' on…what was it called…Destiny Island?"
Sora shook his head. "No. The only fruit on the island were coconuts and star fruit."
Spike shrugged, satisfied with the answer.
Twilight led Sora to a giant red barn. Well he was guessing it was red. Most barns were. The first thing he noticed was the complete lack of light coming from any of the windows. He also noticed that he couldn't even hear a sound, not a word, peep, or whisper. It was very discomforting.
"Twilight…" He tried to keep is voice even, despite the sense of foreboding he was begging to feel. "You sure this is the place? It looks…well…empty."
Twilight gave him a quick glace as she strolled past him, giving the stallion a sly smile. She opened the door wind enough to enter, leaving Sora in the elements of the night. A look of apprehension came across his features as he slowly but surely followed after the lavender unicorn, if only to make sure that she was ok.
"Twilight!" His voice was just barely above a whisper. "Twilight! Where are you!?" A random flash of light beaming down upon the stallion caused him to stop in his tracks. It took time for his eyes to adjust to the sudden disturbance and when they did he found, to his surprise, a familiar pink pony standing on what he assumed was the other end of the barn. Her curly man had been wrapped in a light blue cloth, fruit of many kinds balanced expertly on top of her head. What really surprised Sora was the fact that she was standing on her hind legs, a similar colored cloth wrapped snugly around her hips, only showing off one of her legs in a manner that made Sora want to advert his eyes due to modesty.
He looked toward her face which wasn't smiling in the slightest, which was odd for Sora, due to her doing nothing but smile when he first met her. Instead her muzzle was in the air and her eyes closed, resembling how a fancy person would look when walking down a street.
Her name was about to escape his lips but before it could she suddenly raised both of her forehooves and clopped them together twice. In that same instant, as if on cue, a stream of spotlights appeared behind her, revealing a previously hidden band, each member dressed in some kind of tropical attire. Music suddenly played as Pinkie looked Sora's way, her face once again lit by a nice bright smile.
And then…She started to sing.
My name is Pinkamena Diann-ane 'The Cuteiest' Pie,
But my friends just call me Pinkie! And you should cause so do I.
As she started on the next verse she began to walk, yes she was walking due to her standing on her hind legs, slowly towards Sora. Her forehooves where placed on her hips completely overemphasizing her steps. Once again, it made Sora's face light up like a Christmas Tree.
This party is just for yo~ou! A welcome to Ponyville
I hope you enjoy your party! Cause I-I-I Know I will!
Pinkie had quickly closed the distance between herself in the stallion. He could clearly see a look of completely happiness upon her face. She was in her element, for some reason he just know that she was and she was enjoying herself to the fullest.
When she was just a few feat away from him she raised her hooves high in the air, causing the light to cast the darkness into submission, revealing a whole gaggle of ponies that were previously hidden by the darkness. They all had bright smiles on their features as well, each one welcoming Sora with open hooves. Sora smiled back, completely embarrassed, as Pinkie finished voice once again rung in his ears.
Pinkie Party!
Pinkie Party!
In here its better! Not at all wetter, just look and see!
We through this party just for you, So that we can welcome you
Where it is better, again not wetter,
PINKIE PARTY!
As the last note was played she happily wrapped her hooves around the stallion in a welcoming embrace, cause everypony to cheer happily.
Well…Everypony except one very familiar white unicorn who instead gritted her teeth in an very unlady like manner.
The scent of bubblegum once again assaulted his scenes before she held out the caramel stallion at arms length under his shoulders. "So, Sora! Did ya like the song? Did ya?! Huh!? Huh!? Did ya?" Her smile was bright and welcoming, soothing even.
Sora smiled as well as he looked into her bright blue eyes. Fishing for complements huh? Kinda cute. "Yeah Pinkie. The music was great…and also vaguely familiar for some reason."
"Really? That's weird! I started making up the song the first time I saw you. Maybe you was thinking about it at the same time I was."
Sora highly doubted that was true yet… "Heh…maybe…"
This answer gained Sora a happy "Dawww!" and another tight hug.
"Ahem!"
Sora, Pinkie, Twilight and Spike (The latter two just entering into the conversation) Turned to find a irritated Rarity starring indigently at Pinkie.
"Pinkie…Dear…Could you please release Sora so that you don't ruffle his clothes too much. I would like to see them in their full glory if you do not mind."
Pinkie obliged after giving him one more quick squeeze for good measure. Letting him go, the pink party pony bounced off mentioning something about checking in on the other guest. The ponies that were left in her wake watched her bounced off, disappearing into the crowd.
Rarity shook her head before looking apologetically towards Sora. "So, sorry about that dear. Pinkie is always happy to meet new ponies. Sometimes though she can be a little…ah…how should put it…"
"A little 'Pinkie'?"Sora said with a knowing smile.
Rarity smiled at that. "Exactly. Now then, first things first." The white unicorn began to circle the caramel stallion, her eye for detail taking in every inch of his pegesus frame. "Oh my, I've always believed that a pony can make the outfit and here you are, the living example of that saying." She made her way around to his flank, slowing down just a tad to admire his…Cutiemark.
Yep. His cutiemark and nothing else.
She fought the blush appearing on her cheeks as she came back to his side. "It's such a perfect fit. It's like it was made just for you."
Sora, who had stood still throughout the inspection, blushed brightly at the praise. "I…Uh…T-Thank you miss Rarity."
Three clicks of her tongue and the shake of her head warned him that he may have done something wrong. Thankfully a white hoof fell on his shoulders gently. "Please Sora," The silkiness in her voice returned, a soothing sound that graced all ears that were in the vicinity of it. "Call me Rarity darling."
Sora's really didn't know how to react to this. He settled on blushing brightly and dipping his head once. "Oh…uh…O-Ok Rarity…"
Twilight's quick thinking of grabbing the little dragon by the tail with her magic saved Sora a life time of burns he may have received from said little dragon.
"Now then darling, I do believe I have a present for you." Rarity produced, using the blue hew of her magic, a silver crown attached to a simple chain. "I hope you like it darling. I polished it using a special formula I created to give my jewelry that extra sheen."
Sora furrowed his brow as he looked upon the floating necklace which inadvertently caused Rarity to shrink back a little.
Her voice was slightly shaky as she spoke. "Y-you don't like it do you?" She raised a forehoof toward her brow, and cried…whined? He really couldn't quite place it. "Oh I knew I should have just attached a new chain to it, but I just thought that you might-"
"Rarity."
His voice wasn't loud but it still caused her to cut her off and snapped her attention towards the caramel stallion. She was surprised to see that the frown had instantly turned into a bright smile.
"I love it." He moved closer to the floating object, seeing himself reflected in the silver pool of the crown. "You really didn't have to do that for me," His sky blue eyes turned to stare into her ocean blue ones, the smile on his muzzle, while simple, was devilishly charming. "But I am happy you did. If there was any way to repay you…"
Rarity shook her head. "No. No. No. Darling, I was happy to do it. Besides you've helped me more then you know." Before Sora could even question what she was talking about music started blasting all about them causing the three ponies and the dragon to look around in confusion. Ponies all about them began, or what Sora believed, to dance all around them.
"Wow." Twilight mused loud enough so that she could be heard. "Pinkie really went all out for this welcoming party. So-" She paused finding the spot Sora just occupied only to find it unexpectedly empty. Neither Rarity nor Spike had noticed that they were down one pony. "Hey! Where did Sora go?"
Both the white unicorn and the purple dragon turned in unison to the place they last seen that caramel stallion.
"Huh" B-but…he didn't even grab his necklace. Where could he-PINKIE!" Rarity chased after the pink pony who was busily swinging Sora around in a circle by his forehooves.
The crisp night air cooled the tired body of the caramel pegesus stallion. Between Rarity's undivided attention and Pinkie Pie's…Pinkieness, most of his energy had been spent. Not to step on anyone's toes…hooves, he was having a good time at the welcoming party but he did feel he needed to get at least a little time to himself. He slipped out at the first chance he was given, making his way to an apple tree nearby the barn. With tired limbs, he rested himself under the canopy of leaves letting his mind wonder a little.
He really needed to get some answers to some rather difficult questions. What was that door? Did it really lead him here, to this world full of ponies. For that matter why was he a pony? He knew that it wasn't his clothes that changed him so what did?
A headache made his twinge slightly. He really hated thinking when he was tired.
He sighed deeply and closed his eyes, letting the soft scent of apples lured him into a state of contentment. Mayhap he could fall asleep right here, just for a-
"Howdy!"
Sora's eyes snapped open to find a bright pair of amber eyes staring into his own. He couldn't help but reel back in surprise, effectively hitting his head upon the tree he was under. Adding injury to injury, several apples strategically dropped onto his head causing the stallion to sit in a simi-slurred daze.
"Smooth mister." A slightly tomboyish voice whistled.
"Yeah. Smooth." Another voice, this one rather high and squeaky, agreed.
He shook the daze from his head, forcing his mind into full wakefulness. When he was done he found three little ponies, one orange, one yellow, and the last white, staring up at him.
"Ah…Hey there…" His voice was very unsure about the current predicament. "Can I help you?"
The orange filly with the magenta mane smiled deviously. "Well you can sure help Ap-"
She was unable to finish her sentence due to getting smacked away by the yellow filly's abnormally strong rump. "Heh, heh. Don't mind her. She always says silly things. My name is Applebloom. This here is Sweetie Bell." She pointed a hoof at herself and the white filly respectively. "And over yonder is Scootaloo." Named filly was currently preoccupied with prying herself from a hole in an apple tree. "We'er just here ta welcome ya ta Ponyville."
"Oh? Well My name is Sora." The stallion replied with a kind smile. "And thanks. I'm really am enjoying myself."
Sora looked between the three fillies stopping on Applebloom. Her cheeks seemed to light up extreamly at his actions. Without thinking Applebloom yelped.
"I really like your mane!"
Sweetie Bell's hoof met her face.
The stallion cocked his head to the side before speaking again. "Ah…Thanks?" Silence followed soon after, only being broken by the same stallion. "Well…This was fun. I think I'll just go and-" A piercing scream filled the night air, causing the stallion and the fillies to stare in the direction it originated with wide eyes and pinprick pupils.
(Pinkie sings to Under the sea)