Welcome readers! To a new story! This one was meant to be a lot more goofy than most of the ones I will do mainly due to the characters who are in it. (I Then realized I have no concept of even half-way decent comedy) this won't be easy for me to make work but I want to try anyway! Let us begin shall we?
In the Human World's Sweet Apple Acres…
A loud "THUD" crashes through the roof of the largest barn on the property causing the animals within to vocalize their fear and discomfort. Applejack hears this and goes to investigate it. Finding a strange light purple bed with a sleeping boy in what appears to be a hospital gown with a light purple arrow pointing down, glasses on his face, large screws in his shoulders, thorn-like patterns on his arms and legs, and his wrists strapped to the bed by leather…
"What in tarnation?!" Wonders Applejack staring at the bed and the boy in it confused she carefully approaches it and after poking it several times and no response picks it up and brings the bed to the large shed where she and the rest of her friends practice their music together and away from the animals.
"Granny. We may have a new guest on 'er hands" Says Applejack as she passes her grandmother Granny Smith holding the bed which is surprisingly heavy.
"Wha the? Where did that come from?" Asks a shocked Granny Smith scratching her chin.
"I think he just fell outta the sky and into 'er barn now the animals are scared and we gotta big ol' hole in there!" Responds Applejack.
"Is he awake?" Asks Granny Smith.
"Nope! Out like a light! Imma put him in our shed until we get some proper places for 'em " Responds Applejack opening the door to the shed and carefully placing him out of the way of their equipment. Maybe Twilight will know somethin' about this since it isn't the first time something from Equestria has appeared from there to here…
"I need to get some rest before we practice tomorrow then when everyones over we can talk 'bout what to do with this new fella" Yawns Applejack hopping into her bed and quickly passing out from a day of hard work.
While she sleeps however she has a strange.. Nightmare of sorts. Of her in an empty theater watching bits and pieces of a well dressed man with strangely styled upwards curving brown hair she knew Rarity would fall head over heels for if she ever laid eyes on him fighting who can only presumed to be the boy but she doesn't see him. Then it switches to him awake in some white room talking to someone she can't see then it switches to three people falling to the ground unconscious all three wearing outfits she swears she's seen in a comic from somewhere.
Then it switches to the boy putting on his glasses in the same empty theater she was just in as he watches her memories of her and her friends stopping Sunset, The Dazzlings, Midnight Sparkle, Gloriosa and more at a rapid pace like he's studying her and her friends. Then he turns to her and says at a rapid pace with a wicked smile:
"Why hello you must be Applejack correct? I'd tell you who exactly I am and where exactly I came from but that matters not to you I'm sure. Now that my little experiments are over you shall awaken and do whatever household chores you always do! Exit Stage Left! Would You Kindly?"
He claps his hands as she wakes. That nightmare felt way, way, way too real! However she can't go and question him just yet as she hears Granny calling her for breakfast. She is sure this is going to be an interesting day…
After long hours of hard labor and preparations for band practice and fixing the barn as well as telling the rest of her family what had happened that night which they find strange as they had no such dreams meaning he was only interested in her and her friends. As she's thinking of how exactly to tell them of this "Bedboy" she hears her cell get a call and she quickly answers it hearing Rarity's voice as she hurries to go open the gates for them.
"Sorry for makin' ya'll wait! I was caught up in somethin' we need to talk 'bout" Explains Applejack scratching the back of her head.
"What is it dear?" Asks Rarity with concern on her face.
"It can't be that bad! We've fought worse in the past!" Confidently yells Rainbow Dash a smug grin on her face.
"Well? Are you going to show us?" Asks a worried Sunset.
Applejack then takes them to the shed and lo and behold the boy is still there sleeping in the same spot she dropped him off at.
"Who is he?" Wonders Fluttershy peeking from behind Rainbow.
"That's the problem girls! I ain't gotta clue as to who he is! All I got was some cryptic dream like a trailer from one of Rainbow's movies! (A loud "Hey!" from Rainbow is quickly heard as well) Showed everything else but him! Then he goes through my memories like he's studying us!" Complains Applejack as she swears she sees the boy's face smile for a split second.
"Do you think he's some form of being from Equestria? Because if so, which is the magical artifact, him or the bed?" Wonders Sunset looking closely at him.
"I don't think he is… Something about him just feels off or otherworldly!" Says Sci-Twi as her friends call her.
"Let me go see!" Cheerfully says Pinkie skipping up to him and looking at him very closely but nothing happens… Until she touches the boy himself that is.
The bed frame quickly activates a massive three fingered hand attached to a spindly arm that has no joints coming out from seemingly nowhere underneath the bed clicking and clunking into place grabbing Pinkies arm tightly as another arm appears, small pointed legs appear with spiked wheels on the sides just like the ones on the shoulders and hands, and a massive head without a mouth glowing plus signs for eyes and adorned with a crown that puts Twilight's crown to shame! This must've been what he was hiding from her in those dreams!
"Hey there! I'm Pinkie Pie! What's with the bed? Are you awake? Can you hear me? What's your na—" Asks Pinkie before the machine's second hand sprouts fingers from its spikes which retract and force her mouth closed as only muffles come out.
"Hey let go of our friend! We didn't do anything to you!" Shouts Rainbow not ok with how he handles her friend like an annoying child who needs to shut up which admittedly can be true sometimes.
The boy's response? To simply smile widely even if he is still asleep. He walks over to her still holding Pinkie's mouth shut, the machine's head leaning in to taunt her as his body hangs limply. Rainbow tries to force him to let go of Pinkie but he teleports away going right behind them still bloody smiling!
"Hey! I don't know if you can hear us but we asked you to kindly put our friend down! She's just curious is all she didn't mean to disturb you at all!" Tries to explain Sci-Twi unnerved by the machine's strange appearance and movements.
If he could talk to them he would go on a long winded rant about how touching others without consent is quite rude but he'll just have to get them to come into his dreams to answer.
"Uh-Uhm e-excuse me sir but can y-you please put her down? We're really sorry we didn't mean to disturb you…" Quietly says Fluttershy as she can barely raise her voice enough to be heard.
The bed frame and by extension his head turn to face Fluttershy then back to Pinkie still blabbering on even though her mouth is closed. This shy girl reminds him of a young Delilah and she's much less demanding than her cohorts so he listens and drops Pinkie without any grace. But she's up in less than 1/60'th of a second like nothing happened…
"So are ya gonna explain who ya are or what?" Asks Applejack.
"I have a lot of questions for you, especially about your… Bed-frame?" Says Sci-Twi carefully examining the bed from a safe distance.
"May I ask of all things why a bed frame?" Asks Rarity.
Bedman then brings them all into his dreams, the area warping around them until they arrive in his signature Nightmare Theater! They seem quite stunned and confused and even a little scared at first especially the shy one who cowers behind her rainbow colored companion.
"Where are we? Is this your world?" Questions Rainbow.
"You could say that yes this my dream world the Nightmare Theater normally I only drag enemies into this realm to swiftly kill them before they become a problem however you all have so many questions for me to answer I thought it would be best to get them out of the way: You may all call me Bedman or something similar I do not hale from this 'Equestria' you speak of I am from somewhere else entirely but yes I do indeed possess magical abilities of my own however I doubt your beloved 'Magic of Friendship' would even be able to so much as lay a scratch on my 8th Generation Reinforced High-Density Bed-frame especially now that you are all trapped within my dreams so winning can only happen if I will it so any other questions?..."
Rapidly explains Bedman. One hand of the bed using two fingers to grab the crown of the head to hold it up while it spins and the neck moves in a circular pattern, the other hand holding it up from the back along with the legs as he leans his eyes still closed but with a shitty grin on his face and his bodies posture change to show how confident he is.
"Whoa you talk very fast. We're not in any rush, no need to speak so quickly!" Says Sunset.
"Well since you've introduced yourself I guess we should—" Says Rainbow before being cut off by another one of Bedmans long ass tangents that she's getting a little sick of already.
"Oh there is no need to state your names, Applejack's memories already gave me all the information I'll ever need on every single one of you! Applejack the stubborn farmer, Rainbow Dash the speedy yet arrogant, Pinkamena Diane Pie the irritatingly joyful, Twilight Sparkles the anxious the first and the second, Rarity the glamorously vain, Sunset Shimmer the blazing sin of pride, and of course the most tolerable out of all of you Fluttershy the kind! All of you are a part of some childish band called 'The Rainbooms' who love to sing about friendship and use it to defeat your foes relying on each other instead of your own power or intelligence to solve problems, which is such a ridiculous concept from conception I swear it was in a kids show!" Mocks Bedman still taunting them using his bed.
A loud "Hey!" can be heard from all seven of them taking offense to his words. Which makes him smile even wider.
"Don't underestimate the power of friendship!" Says Sunset who understands how friends can help others as it did with her.
"Hm? You are quite confident in this power you have shall we test that theory of the Power of Friendship?" Responds Bedman warping the area around him to the inside of the theater, his bed frame disappearing as he truly awakens he cleans his glasses and puts them back on.
The screen on stage lights up showing their many arguments, miscommunications and how many times they've almost not communicated afterwards like with The Dazzlings incident…
"Hm! Well, well, well! It seems that we have a misdemeanor due to band issues! Rainbow Dash being arrogant as always! Fluttershy not being loud enough to be heard! Rarity being obsessed with fashion as usual! Even Pinkie was upset! Is this the 'Power of Friendship' you praise so?" Questions Bedman turning to look at the seven of them smiling.
"We've had 'er moments but arguin' is a part of friendship as well! You just gotta get through 'em!" Retorts Applejack.
"By 'our moments' do you mean 2/7 members having tried to kill you for selfish reasons in the past? Do I need to remind you of your final battles with Sunset or 'Sci-Twi' as you all so lovingly call her? How they both almost ruined not only your world but a parallel dimension of it as well? Yes? No? Well I'm going to remind you anyway! Next scene actors!" Mocks Bedman smiling as he snaps his fingers and it switches to just like he said their final battles with Sunset and Sci-Twi.
"I was too confident in my own ability back then and thought I could do whatever I wanted because I was a student of Princess Celestia's even if she disagreed with what I did and I was superior to everyone else!" Explains Sunset who's memories of this day still haunt her on occasion.
"And I was coerced into using the stored magic by Principal Cinch!" States Sci-Twi who shares a similar fear of those days on occasion.
"And even still we gave them another chance! And we're glad we did! Right girls?" Says Rainbow her friends, nodding in agreement.
Bedman sits there before laughing loudly, clapping his hands with glee, finding this much more entertaining than it has any right to be.
"What's so funny?" Asks Rarity with a raised eyebrow and her arms crossed.
"The fact that even after their attempts at ruining two worlds for the price of one you pitied them enough to give them another chance. Do you truly believe in your ideals that much? Because by that logic what stops you from forgiving horrible people just to do the same thing again and again? You're friends so you'll always give them a second chance right?..." Responds Bedman.
"If I-I may… Just because you are friends with someone doesn't mean you have to forgive them for everything! Especially if they just keep doing bad things over and over!" Says Fluttershy, finding her voice a little.
"Ah it seems the kind one has found her voice! This will be entertaining! Well then what decides good and evil? God? The government? The people? Most when asked this question make simple answers like: 'hurting people for no reason' or 'doing bad things for fun' or 'enjoying the suffering of others' but these answers usually aren't even stuck to when needed. People will gladly betray their own morals if it benefits them personally. Sometimes those same horrible people aren't punished for many reasons! I'm sure you've heard the history of what the Japanese did during World War II correct? It was just as bad as Nazi Germany yet they got off 'scott free' as one would say! Don't forget The Allies also ended up doing horrible things as well but that is excused because: 'The Nazi's and their allies started it!' or that: 'They weren't supposed to do those things but some didn't listen to instructions and did it anyway!" History is written by the winners after all and it shows, does it not?" Responds Bedman who somehow never pauses for breath during a tangent.
"Well yeah those people did bad things but Sunset and Sci-Twi aren't like them! They realized what they did was wrong and tried to be better! They even made up for the wrongs they did!" Responds the ever joyful Pinkie.
"Well then what would you have done differently? Would you have just thrown them both out or something?" Asks Rainbow.
Bedman smiles and everyone knows what he's going to say next is gonna be a hot take…
"What I would have done? Simple: kill them both. No preaching forgiveness or any childish ideals of the sort my bed-frame would kill them easily even in their monstrous transformed states! It is almost perfect after all!" Responds Bedman not having an entire monologue for a response. (And they all silently hope he'll do that more often).
The seven of them gasp in shock not having expected something like that.
"Y-You'd have killed us?!" Screams Sunset backing up in her seat from him.
"That's horrible! What makes that ok?!" Yells Sci-Twi now terrified of what Bedman may do to her.
"You can't just take lives like that!" Says Rarity her hands on her hips.
"I can and trust me girls I have and if need be I will again. I had my reasons for doing as I did. All I did are things I'm certain you seven will consider outright evil so allow me to show you!" Responds Bedman.
The screen changes to Bedman's memories of him killing people not just in the waking world but within the dream world as well using their worst memories and greatest fears to break their minds before finishing them off which he seems to quite enjoy. Then his fights against that well dressed man Applejack saw which Rarity as she expected falls head over heels for and other opponents most of which he absolutely destroys one of which a Ninja looking one who not just says he can sense his hate all the way from where he's standing but gives an apt description of him as he is held by the bed-frame and the man on the call threatens him saying that if the Ninja is dead they'll hunt him down and kill him which makes Bedman smile. Then he does something that angers even Fluttershy; he kills a sweet, innocent puppy right in front of her owner and her friend before making a new one for her which makes her cry. Then finally his betrayal at a mad woman's hands before he while awake in the real world dies swiftly turning to stone…
"See? Do you understand my point now? I also wish to atone but died before being able to do so. Maybe being sent here is a way for me to atone perhaps? But now that you have seen the things I've done, am I worthy of atonement?" Ask Bedman.
The girls look at him then to each other several times before whispering to each other as Fluttershy is surprisingly the one that answers…
"You did very bad things even hurting a poor puppy but I'd say yes you are worthy of a second chance! It'll take time but I'm sure we can help you! Right girls?" States Fluttershy trying to hold back her anger at his harming of an innocent animal.
The six others nod and ahem in agreement.
"Well Ah've gotta question… Why'd ya do all that bad stuff anyway?" Asks Applejack who still can't piece together a reason as to why.
"Ah yes! 'Why?' the most asked question in human history! Well sense I've already told you my actions I might as well tell and show you why!" Responds Bedman who changes the screen to show a young girl a few years younger than him who is also always sleeping but has no robotic bed of her own and actually is wearing more than just a hospital gown.
"My dear sister Deliah! Everything I did was to create the Absolute World to allow her and by extension myself to awaken within the real world without our own abilities overheating our brains and killing us! It would have also allowed me to revive all those I killed as well. However after my battle with two assailants and my defeat at their hands my client Ariels explained to me her true motives leaving me to die had I had several more seconds she wouldn't have been able to get as close as she did, even as I died I used the last bits of my power to give dear Deliah a chance at a happy life reprogramming my bed-frame to protect her at all costs…" Explains Bedman sorrowfully.
"Oh wow I don't know what to say…" Says Sci-Twi taking pity on him.
"Ah understand! I'd do anything for mah family! Ya just did what ya could!" Says Applejack understanding him a bit better.
"I also understand dear you wanted your sister to be able to live so you did whatever you could to give her that chance" Agrees Rarity.
"I'm sure she's doing just fine now! I can feel it in my hair!" Shouts Pinkie.
"I hope so… Wait, what was that last part?" Responds Bedman.
"But now I guess it's time for you to atone like me and Sci-Twi?" Asks Sunset placing a hand on his shoulder and giving him a hopeful smile.
"Sigh… If this is how I must atone for my actions then I shall do so. Where must we begin?" Asks Bedman.
"Well for starters maybe we can show you the real power of friendship and forgiveness?" Responds Sci-Twi.
"I think that'll work!" Says Rainbow.
"I see. Well then let us begin right away! I will be unable to communicate with you naturally so I shall bring you into my Nightmare Theater if we must speak or I shall communicate to you while you dream. Will that do?" Says Bedman.
"T-That works for me" Meekly says Fluttershy.
"One final question…" Says Sci-Twi.
Bedman raises an eyebrow and lowers his glasses.
"Can me, Sunset, and Princess Twilight uh study your bed-frame? It's something we've ever seen before and I'm just super curious as to how it works!" Asks Sci-Twi with a hopeful look in her eyes.
"Yes you may if it shall satiate your curiosity then go ahead and do so! Just inform me when you wish to study it" Responds Bedman glad to get more chances to flex the superiority of his Reinforced 8th Generation High-Density Bed-Frame.
An absolutely adorable squeal can be heard from Sci-Twi which makes everyone, even him, smile with joy, especially Sunset who he is quite sure are in a relationship with the way she looks at her. Bedman brings all seven of them out of the Nightmare Theater and back into the real world the girls decide that for starters they'll show him friendship through their music. Which he is certain he's going to have several long and detailed criticisms of afterwards…
Meanwhile at the same time Bedman first landed in this new world…
In a small but nice horse owned by The Dazzlings, three sirens defeated by The Rainbooms years ago when they were still in highschool on the outskirts of town a titanic "THUD" is heard landing in their garage.
"Oh joy, more problems! Sonata go check it out will you?" Complains one Aria Dusk sitting on the couch.
"Ok…" Whines one Sonata Dusk standing up as she walks over to their garage and opens the door gasping at what she sees.
"What? Did a tree get swept up and land in our garage? Again?" Asks one Adagio Dazzle hoping for the best but still expecting the worst.
"No but it isn't any better! Come and see!" Shouts Sonata as her two 'friends" (I hesitate to call them that, as it seems that they are all seconds away from abandoning and/or beating the shit out of each other).
A man, a very tall man with red hair, armor with red cloth or burnt remnants of it, a massive spear in one hand, burn marks and gaping black holes where his eyes should be, and most notable two white serpents with sorry excuses for wings lies unconscious before them…
"Who do you think he is?" Wonders Sonata.
"Maybe he's from Equestria too?" Asks Aria who despite her question has no real interest in him whatsoever.
"Wherever he's from I'm sure he can be of use!" Chuckles Adagio thinking of a plan to get back at The Rainbooms which wouldn't be her first time trying it.
However her scheming is cut short as the man wakes up and just stares at them he towers over all three of them even if they all stood on top of each other like they did to fix the TV's radio on the roof a year ago.
"Who is thou? Where am I?" Asks the man his serpents acting as his eyes.
"Were The Dazzlings ever heard of us?" Asks Sonata cheerfully.
"The Dazzlings? Are thout Hornsent? Or is thou part of mothers Golden Order?" Asks the man ignoring Sonata's questions.
"You literally just landed in our garage! What gives you any right to start asking stuff?" Mocks Aria.
"And you wrecked some of our stuff too!" Says Adagio.
"You all lack grace… I ask again who arou't thou?" Asks the man one more time.
"I'm Sonata! This is Aria! And this is Adagio!" States Sonata smiling which she wonders if he can see it.
"And what's with the snakes?" Asks Aria.
"I am Messmer, where am I?" Asks the man now known as Messmer.
"Our house where else?" Mockingly asks Adagio.
"This place is thy living quarters? How putrid…" Says Messmer.
"You look worse than our entire house!" Snarks Aria.
"Where are you from anyway?" Asks Sonata.
"The Lands Between the first of two children of Marika and Radagan" Answers Messmer.
"So you're not from Equestria?" Asks Adagio.
"What is this 'Equestria' thou speaketh of?" Asks Messmer, his snakes looking around just as confused as he is.
"It's where we're from, we got banished from it a long time ago…" Explains Adagio still bitter about it.
"Thou has been banished from thy home as well?" Asks Messmer.
"Yeah… We've been stuck in this world a real long time" Says Sonata.
"What about you big guy? How'd you get kicked out of your home?" Asks Aria her interest in this: 'Messmer' fella peaking.
"My mother sent me and my men to The Realm of Shadow to wipe clean the Hornsent as they had no light of grace within their eyes, after we had done as told my mother Marika sealed away The Land of Shadow and abandoned us there forever more…" Answers Messmer.
"Ouch that sucks but how'd you end up here?" Asks Sonata once more.
Messmer thinks for a moment his last memories were of the tarnished slaying him…
"One who lacked Grace killed me; those are my most recent memories. What of thou's?" Responds Memories.
"Oh us? We tried to conquer Equestria using our song magic to feed off of negativity but then got banished by a wizard and his group here" Explains Aria.
"And thou cannot use thy magic to return?" Asks Messmer.
"Nope we tried to conquer this world but then we got stopped by Princess Twilight and her friends and their 'Magic of Friendship' and we lost our only source of magic!" Explains Adagio.
"Why'd your own mother abandon you?" Asks Sonata.
Messmers snakes lean in and look closely at the three before backing off…
"I was born cursed with the Abyssal Serpent writhing within me eating away at my flame mother placed a Seal of Grace in my eye to seal it away and my winged serpents assist in repressing it. I removed the seal to defeat the one who lacked Grace but that still wasn't enough and I was slain…" Responds Messmer.
"Well, that explains why you look like crap" Mumbles Aria mockingly.
"Maybe we can help each other. If we can find a way back to our world maybe we can help you find a way back to yours?" Says Adagio scheming just a smudge.
"And how shall thou do that?" Says Messmer not trusting them.
"Adagio! I thought we gave up trying to conquer worlds!" Says Sonata sternly.
"Let a girl dream!" Shouts Adagio in response.
"Why don't you stay with us? You have nowhere else to go anyway" Asks Aria.
Messmer thinks for a moment. Maybe he can put his past behind him and live peacefully for once no Hornsent crusades, no mother, no Grace and live with these three (admittedly very strange) girls.
"I shall stay here for now… But if thou attempts to test me thy shall be taken in the jaws of the Abyssal Serpent shorn of light!" Says Messmer.
The Dazzling's shiver at the thought of his two snakes eating them and will do their best not to piss this guy off ever…
I hope you will enjoy this silly little series! With this cast of characters, it's going to be a very interesting ride! And I hope I'll see you on it next time! And I know you are wondering what happened to Strange Creatures in a Stranger World (or at least the three people who actually read it anyway). Well I realized I didn't enjoy writing it as much I did at the start that and it didn't fit in with any of the other things I want to write as most of these stories will kinda fit into this overarching narrative, don't worry however Eden (now named Etanus to be more original) is still a thing and will still be explored and the animals native to it that showed up in that now deleted story are still cannon to that world but we'll explore them and much more in the future I hope you are all ok with this!