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

[emet_selch]

There were answers that came easily, and others which came hard. Thankfully, this question was the former.

"...There were many. Those dear Velas siblings, those two Miqo'te, and Sasaxia. The five of them would often ask for help, even as their numbers whittled down though tragedies."

There's a long pause, as Haurchefant also considered this. She must be... she must be from another. But would she tell him? "...May you be from another realm?

...If you are, then you are still my dear friend - simply one I've yet to meet." It was curious, then, that Haurchefant was too aware of this - but perhaps it was something he always knew? His calmness was eerie, but he was still sort of. Vibrating.

[betweenlightanddark]

And while the answer he gave her wasn't the one she was expecting, it still showed that he's still the same friend who would do anything to help a comrade in need. She does ease up and a bit of a smile comes to her face because he really would be the type to befriend everyone he meets wouldn't he?

"At least I don't have to explain much about other stars and worlds but yes, I do come from one of them although I'm not native to it if it makes any sense. How did you come to know about them?"

[emet_selch]

"A traveler! How very amazing!"

He's not lying - Haurchefant really does find that amazing. But how he knows...? Looking a little uncomfortable, Haurchefant shrugs his shoulders. Which does look weird. Listen, he's new to this form.

"...Well, there was one of those siblings who was obsessed with a traveler. But that's no fitting answer, is it?"

...Whoops, he seems to be delaying.

[betweenlightanddark]

"Obsessed? How so?"

Please don't say someone was almost Edda obsessive.

[emet_selch]

"He carried a feather dropped from Lady Lightning, when she appeared so very long ago. Why, it was looking so very broken by the time he came to rest with me."

Luckily not Edda-level, but Haurchefant shook his head. "...A pity he perished trying to surpass his limits."

[betweenlightanddark]

"Oh...I'm sorry to hear that."

It's always hard to lose a friend you care about and it was habit that Yukiko bowed her head in a silent prayer. "But maybe here...you've been given a second chance."

[emet_selch]

"I have!" Haurchefant said, smiling warmly. "Not just to hope for their future... but to meet new friends, and... survive. Like you-- may I ask your name?"
He seems to have bounced back so very easily. Sure, he couldn't watch those of his world... but it couldn't go too wrong, could it?

[betweenlightanddark]

Honestly, it doesn't seem out of place for Haurchefant. This is the same guy who asked if they wanted to sleep in his bed and warm up before Alphinaud came in and cockblocked him. Not like Yukiko really took it that way because the man was just eager to please them.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I'm Yukiko."

[emet_selch]

Yukiko, huh...? A curious name, which didn't seem quite Eorzean. Now, he'd heard of similar names across the sea, but...

"If I may ask, were you native to Eorzea?"

[betweenlightanddark]

"No, my name only sounds like something from Hingan but I myself am not. I'm from a star called Earth."

It's still weird to say but she's talking to a dead guy while both are unicorns.

[emet_selch]

"...Hm."
There seems to be a pause for a moment, a flicker of... concern on his face, before Haurchefant beams again. "Then it must be more routine to come between stars for you - how very splendid. Why, before now, I'd have loved to travel more!"

[betweenlightanddark]

"Not really." Yukiko admits. "All the times when I traveled between, it wasn't of my own choice. And Earth has the technology to travel into space but not these levels."