Newcomers and veterans alike, welcome to the world of ponies!

[aie_mods]

Who: YOU. And you. And you. And everyone!
What: What just happened!? You've been transported into the world of ponies, that's what.
When: November 10th
Where: Smack dab in the middle of Ponyville. And around Ponyville. And maybe a little outside Ponyville too.
Rating: You know you.

(Pssst. Check out the story so far to get an idea for what's happened prior to this point!)

It all happened in a flash. Short earthquakes and aftershocks rocked some of the buildings in Ponyville as a magical explosion wreaked its own brand of havoc across Equestria. Once the dust settled, however, the Ponyville ponies realized that there were some newcomers in their midst. Ones that were definitely not there before the explosion. So where did they come from, and how did they get here? Did the explosion bring them here?

Luckily, the actual damage from the earthquakes was minor, and there were no actual downed buildings, just some that were now slightly cracked and in need of repairs.

The natives slowly closed in on the newcomers, warily eyeing them and wondering what their intentions were. But rather than looking angry or upset, they just looked confused and curious. Why not introduce yourselves to them, and to each other?

The official royal welcome wagon might even show up soon!

Comments

[neighfeni]

Amidst the newcomers was a pony who lay on her side in a sprawling mess of blue furred legs and wings, emerald green hair, and bright blue robes, beside a little greenish-blue chicken. Consciousness came back in bits and pieces, and there was an odd familiarity to this. Was she dreaming? The last thing she'd known, she was either back home for real with her family for a time, or dreaming she was...it was hard to tell nowadays, whether the trips out of Eorzea were an actual thing or just her subconscious sorting things out.

As she finally came to, it occurred to Nephenee that...no, this was real. Those were the brightly colored houses of Ponyville, and those were the pastel ponies of the town.

That felt odd. Not unwelcome, but...odd. How long had they been gone for? Time didn't seem to pass at the same rate between worlds...

What...on earth...? The thoughts were still cloudy as she struggled to sit up, shook the cotton from her brain with a swish of mane. Her horn and circlet uncovered themselves from her hair as she did so, and all the Alicorn could say, as she stood slowly up, was, "...Ah'm...Ah'm back?"

And then the chicken made a noise at her that seemed to be a mixture of a 'cluck' and a 'wark', and she just gave him the most confused look. "Ailette?!"

They made for a very confused pair.

Yep, this was Equestria alright. Chickens and ponies.

[emet_selch]

There was one pale-pink unicorn who seemed to know the sound of the strange chicken. And he's standing so very close, trying to hold his small smile - looking from the messy maned horse to it - before trying to walk a little closer.

Listen, it's hard to learn to use a new body. The familiar Fortemps shield as his cutie mark, however, seems quite visible. "I wonder if it's ridable?"

...Which one is he talking about? Nobody knows.

1/3

[neighfeni]

If Nephenee was actually not, well, Nephenee, or had been in the presence of her husband, that might have actually been noticed as a potentially dirty question. But Morgan isn't here to make the joke himself, and Nephenee is Nephenee, so it flies over her head and over her feathered friend.

What doesn't, however, is that familiar voice - one that makes her freeze in place for a moment as she processes it.

"!" It comes out as a strangled noise of surprise, and she simply stares at him for a moment as she remembers.

2/3 HW SPOILERS HO

[neighfeni]

Please, warm yourselves by our hearth, take a rest from your journeys. Life is not a race, my friends...
He'd shown them hospitality in a cold and desolate place as they searched for the truth about a young man's involvement with so called heretics.

But truly, I could not wish for finer allies...
He'd valued their friendship.

You yet have allies upon whom you can rely...
And in turn was a true friend. He and House Fortemps had given them shelter and succor after they'd been forced to flee Eorzea proper after the incident in Ul'dah.

Oh, do not look at me so. A smile better suits a hero...
And he took the blow meant for them, and even with his dying words, he tried to keep them moving forward, and he'd succeeded. They had stopped Thordan, and Nidhogg, both with his help, even from beyond the veil.

And even after saving Ishgard and Ala Mhigo and Othard, her thoughts had turned often to their friend. Even if he had only been that, almost a brother, he had also been one that had supported completely and did everything to help them that he could...

3/3 This is all your fault, Kururu

[neighfeni]

"...L..."

No, not lord. It's far too formal for this.

"...Haurchefant?" Her voice barely works, but her legs and wings certainly do of their own accord, and before she knows it, the Warrior of Light throws her hooves and wings around him in a tight embrace. "Oh my Celestia, you're alive!" Those aren't tears pattering on your fur, what are you talking about?

what me? :3c

[emet_selch]

Now, Haurchefant hadn't realised this other... this pegasus knew him before. Else he might have reacted much differently, given softness before revealing who he was. To let them try and handle it.

But now he was being hugged and this lady was crying and holding him and--

Could they be a Warrior from another Shard?

--Haurchefant tried his best to keep his own voice soft, his tone so very kind. Just as it had been. "...It's me, dear friend.

It's me..."

[burningbrighter]

Sunset was a rather anxious pony at the moment. The whirlwind excitement of introducing her friends to this town had been one thing, but upon thinking...she realized she didn't quite belong here. She'd left Equestria in disgrace, after all, having been turned out from Princess Celestia's mentorship.

Sure, she hoped Princess Twilight had put in a good word for her in the meantime, but...was she going to have to see her? The princesses would surely have a lot to say about that. She cringed, shaking her head sharply.

Oh, wait. Here was another princess, one she didn't recognize---she knew of Celestia, Luna, Cadence, and Twilight, but who was this? And why was she speaking to that chicken?

No matter. She bowed. "Princess...?"

She'd determine where they stood first, then tackle this fowl issue.

[neighfeni]

If you make puns like that vocally, Sunset, she's going to become very fond of you very quickly. After she has a gigglefit in a manner totally unbefitting a princess.

The blue and green pony couldn't help smiling gently, and motioned with a hoof for Sunset to rise. "Nephenee, Nephenee Knight. No need for formality, hun. What's your name?" She was fairly certain this was a pony she'd never encountered before.

[burningbrighter]

Sunset rose, crossing her front hooves with the tiniest of smiles.

"Thank you. I'm Sunset Shimmer...uh, a former Equestrian returned through all this mess, I guess. And I'm guessing the fowl play's distressing your friend too."

She smiled gently. For all the strangeness of the scene, it was...cute. And she still had hope of trying to befriend her, even though any Equestrian royalty would soon know about her crimes. She didn't yet, though---and that was a good sign.

[onaroll]

Huh. Wings.

“Bonjour! Je m’appelle Amelie!”

[neighfeni]

Wings and a horn and weapons, oh my!

Nephenee had to think for a moment before she responded. That...sounded more like Kalosian than French that she'd heard others use, though the similarities were striking. Not that she was any sort of linguist, but in her limited experience, that seemed to be the case? It seemed to be an accent thing.

And poor Amélie was about to find out how bad Neph's Kalosian accent was.

"Bonjour, je m’appelle Nephenee!" There was a slight pause as she makes sure the rest is correct, then continued, "Ravie de vous rencontrer." All in a country accent like warm apple pie that sounded nothing like Kalosian or French in the slightest and had no nasal. It might have been fairly obvious that it wasn't her second or even third language.

[onaroll]

Well, that’s even more of an accent then Amelie has, which is kind of an accomplishment. But...hm.

“If I said I was from Vaniville Town, would that mean anything to you?”

[neighfeni]

Oh thank the Twelve and Celestia, she wasn't expected to keep up the Kalosian. Phew.

Nephenee nodded, "It would. Ah spent some time in Kalos, once visitin' one o'my sisters, an' before that kinda outta nowhere. Are ya a Pokémon trainer too?"

[onaroll]

Grin grin.

“I’m the current Champion! Grand Duchess Amelie Felice Amaryllis.”

[appletastic]

Now there was somepony she knew. Applejack walked up, looking fondly at the pair of them.

"Not exactly. This ain't where we were before, Neph. But there's a few of us from the last time. Hurts the head if I think it over too much."

She smiled. "But I'm sure as sunshine glad to see you."