Light. Must go towards the light. Even in bright explosion, he could see his friends, waving at him. His best friend had large a cup of vodka in one hand, also a sausage in other hand. But something wasn't right. When he tried to reach for drink, everything stopped. Friend smirked at him and poured drink on his head. "What the-" he shaken his head. Previous images disappeared, now he saw blurry figure of another pony.
Wake up! What are ya doing here, huh? - Ivan noticed, that unfamiliar voice was sounding angry. Ivan noticed a mare. "Great, another mare", he thought. This one was orange with long, blond mane, staying next to empty bucket. Three apples on flank? She's good on eating them or anything like that?
While he was trying to stand up, was also quite sure why she acted like that. Blank flanked stallion, with strangely trimmed, black mane. Black tail was hanging on his back, luckily looking very normal, for local standards. Ivan decided to be calm and nice for her, at least for now. She had advantage after all.
I'll not cause any harm, miss... - "yet" he thought automatically – I'm Ivan and...nice to meet you...?
He wasn't that sure any more about that pleasant meeting. Expression of her muzzle was telling anything, but the enjoyment. After few seconds of staring at each other, started to look rather curious and careful, instead of being so furious.
You're a spy? Want to know our recipe of cinder? Pies? Tell ya what. Ah will treat you better, if ya will spill the beans.
She woke up in bad mood? But it wasn't important to Ivan. Maybe he wasn't nice guy in whole live, but spying, betraying and other filthy moves were not his business. On the other hand, or hoof, she could provide him place to stay, food even. But insult is an insult. A dishonour to him. In addition, he couldn't told the truth. She will not believe a story about human, who somehow changed into pony.
Back off, lady. Just needed place to stay for a night, that all. Go back to your apples... - Ivan replied, slowly going to the exit from the barn. He narrowed his eyes, trying to get used to bright light. There goes opportunity to stay in farm. And possibility of job. Farm was huge. But full of apple trees only? That was strange. Orange pony suddenly appeared, yelling at someone at a distance. Large stallion, even taller and probably stronger than him. How to fight as a pony? With hooves, head or both? He couldn't wait for their reactions, so he started to run away, like a coward. It wasn't like him.
Reddish stallion quickly appeared before mare, curiously looking at the running, uninvited quest.
What's wrong AJ? He stole something? But not your kiss, huh?
Mare, called AJ blushed heavily, feeling angry on her older brother. "Spy" was getting away, lengthening the distance with every second.
Ah...Ah sure that he was spying on us. And... - mare wasn't that sure any more. Spying in barn? She was too hotheaded sometimes. But still was something strange and unusual about that stallion – Never mind. Will ya keep eye on him? Something isn't right. Ah sense it...
Eeyup... - brother replied. Everypony should be careful with strangers, but not too much. Like it was many days ego with local zebra, Zecora.
Ivan was running like never before. Maybe he got talent in it, but he had to lose furious stallion out of his back. He looked over, nothing. He won, for now. Ivan laughed to himself, that was easy. Like other stallion wasn't running at all. Brilliant. Automatically, he lowered his eyes with curiosity at his own flank. As talented runner, it could be easier to fit in, at least for while. But after few seconds...nothing. Maybe it wasn't too good talent for him? Yes, that was probably right. His cogitation was suddenly interrupted by long and loud rumbling in his stomach. Well, that was just a start of the new day, so he could do much more research in town, than yesterday.
This time, Ponyville was full of citizens. He was more than sure, that he will bring too many attention. But hiding forever wasn't a solution. Maybe ponies weren't staring at flanks all the time, but his unusual haircut would, most likely. From hair to blank flank, from blank flank to fast conclusions, not safe for him. "Here goes nothing" he thought to himself, entering more crowded parts of Ponyville. He went past through first pony. Then second. Third and forth. Nothing. It was that easy? Then he thumped his own forehead with his hoof. Silly Ivan. You can't believe every girl you meet, obviously they're overreacting. He look fine, probably he isn't first pony without cutie marks, with unusual haircut. Stallion chuckled to himself, then quickly changing it to laughter, short, but loud. Not a second has passed and he was observed by dozens of pony eyes.
Oh, who are you? - nearest mare touched his flanks, admiring every part of his body.
Where are yours cutie marks?
Are you from the forest?
You're with Zecora? - that last question made many mares giggle for a while.
Ivan wasn't paying attention any more. Even if he wanted try to answer for those silly questions, he obviously couldn't. But he raised one hoof, needing some attention. In silence.
Ladies. Friends. I' just a visitor from far away, looking for something to put on the roast, if you know what I'm saying... - Ivan was sure, those ponies weren't have any clue. He sighed loudly – just need some food! Jeez!
Ponies gasped, terrified. Stallion was unsure with every minute. If louder voice was a crime, what with other, serious misbehaviours?
How rude. Maybe in where you come from, but here we're treat anypony with respect. Especially a lady like me. Um..us... - this time, was saying a pony with horn and three diamonds on her flank. Great, how many species are here? Maybe with wings and horn together?
Ivan tried to start talking about finding some good place with food, but suddenly sniffed out some bakery, sweet goods. They weren't so far away from a 'palace of sweets' as he could describe it. He shaken his own head. No, his diet is meat and good, strong drinks. But rumbling stomach was just too annoying.
Yeah, yeah. My bad. Ladies rules, stallions drools. Now excuse me, I have some shop to clean...
You're shop cleaner? Figures, from your filthy behaviour... - fancy mare replied, more giggles of other ponies could heard.
Ivan sighed loudly, rolling his eyes. After that, he tried to get to the bakery quite fast, without being observed all the time. But that was obviously not that easy.
I'm still talking to you, mister! - 'diamond' pony was more annoying than himself.
Too bad, I'm ignoring you right now.
What? No pony is ignoring me, Rarity.
Someone must be the first.
Maybe you could be a gentelpony from time to time?
Or maybe you could stop be a bitchpony from time to time? - Ivan sighed heavily again. He heard loud gasps and awkward slicenceafter that. But only for few, short moment. When he raised his eyes, he saw angry...no, not angry...furious mare. Probably more dangerous than a bear, at least in Russia.
No...pony...is...treating...me...like..THAT! - she growled, her horn start to glowing with soft light. Ivan couldn't do anything, he was just staring at her, curious and feared in same time. Silky napkin angrily smacked his muzzle for three times. That's it?
Wow...that hurts. Goodbye cruel world – he yawned, then suddenly grasped flying napkin with his teeth. Ivan lowered his head, so he could help with his hoof, with tearing apart Rarity's piece of cloth.
Ponies weren't even gasping. They were just staying on their hooves, in deep, heavy silence. It was too dangerous to talk near furious Rarity or that strange stallion. They could observe nervous ticks on Rarity's eye, when she was trying to realize, what just happened.
Now excuse me, for last time. I'm going to eat. - but after few steps, he heard another words. Beautiful, he will starve here to death.
You..are...not...going...NOWHERE!
Great. There goes breakfast... - he remembered from last time, that he can't just wait and see what will happen. You angered hotheaded woman, you run, never hide. She will find you. Beating woman wasn't just right. If it was possible.
Ivan was running, again, with all strength in his four legs. He wasn't sure where to run. Except one, far away from that crazy lady. When he last checked, pony named Rarity, was the only one who was chasing him. At least that. After many feet of distance (or miles even?) he tried to hide in nearest bush. He took few deep breaths and tried to look around him. Some garden, many tall hedges, statues made of flora. Ivan noticed a pegasus, who was finishing last details of tall pony's muzzle, with raised hoof.
Lara?
Young gardener tried to find a pony, who mentioned her name. Her eyes widened, noticing Ivan in one of bushes.
What...what are you doing here? I heard you don't need help from me?
Yeah, but yesterday I wasn't being chased by some crazy bi-
THERE YOU ARE!
Rarity was approaching very slowly, like a cat who seen trapped, feared mouse. She was breathing heavily, looking at him with fury in her eyes.
Rarity! What do you want from him? - Lara got surprised by that very unusual event.
Expression of 'diamond' mare changed amazingly fast. She even tried to improve her mane a little, smiling a little nervous.
Lara, my dear friend. I was trying to talk to that stallion. Some...serious..talk... - last words she spoken with cold voice. Colder than deepest parts of Syberia.
Lara looked at Ivan. It was his great chance. He tried to silently ask for help, begging for mercy. Wait, mercy? He was a male, he can manage everything. But before he could spoken for himself, Lara raised her hoof.
I'm sorry for my guest, Rarity, but he is from...far away. I'll teach him manners, don't be afraid.
But... - Rarity couldn't believe her own ears.
But he's exhausted. You can talk to him...later.
It was something in her voice, that even white mare couldn't tried to argue. Shaking his head and mumbling quietly, she left them alone. Ivan finally left his bush.
Thanks for that bluff.
Bluff? I wasn't bluffing. Get into home and rest. You're probably starving.
Oh, come on... - he tried to resist, but he looked at her home. Food! Without thinking, strange russian pony went into house of even stranger gardener. He was safe, for now.