"No idea. Blackout told me that it's basically a pony... not even always a pony, actually... that's somehow out of place in Equestria. Like, there's something about them that makes them different."
Cricket looked around. A wingless, lightning-breathing dragon and his seemingly ageless Pegasus wife. A humanoid warrior. An undead fighter. A male Alicorn. A sentient barstool. And herself, a Changeling living among ponies. "Uh... holy crap. Are we...? Holy crap."
"Huh. So... so what does this even mean? Where do we come from? Why are we here? What makes us different? What even..." As Cricket sank into an existential crisis, Winsdor dragged a barrel-sized mug of ale over to Static and collected the payment. He then headed back behind the counter and started writing out an order form for more ale, because the dragon was on his second mug and the taps were running dry.
"I guess... maybe." Cricket closed her eyes, deep in thought. "It's just weird, you know? Silver says Oh-cees have always existed, but they only started coming to public attention after the Nightmare Moon crisis. Think of all the weird things that have gone on since then. In the last few years, Discord returned, the Queen decided out of the blue to invade Canterlot, the Crystal Empire reappeared, a new Alicorn was created, the Everfree went out of control, Tirek went on a rampage, and a new Alicorn princess nearly destroyed the Empire. It's just... it can't all be a coincidence! It's like somepony or some thing is planning it all!"
"Maybe, but why is that? Take a look at typical pony. Brightly colored, cheerful, cute... like walking stuffed toys. A creature like that doesn't evolve in a violent environment. And it's not like your homeland was peaceful! I've seen the ancient Pegasi weapons. I've read the accounts of ancient pony wars. How does a race so clearly evolved for peace become so violent?"
"Well, to me, it seems we unique few are simply born under the right conditions, in the right time and place, to make us different from the masses."
She tilted her head. "That sounds... plausible. I think I'm going to choose to believe that. After all, how horrible would it be to find out that all of these crazy and terrible things that keep happening were somehow planned? Like a script, written for the amusement of some unknown observer?"
Cricket nodded, chuckling at her own foolishness. "Yeah. You're right. Hey, Dusty, how about another honey ale?"
Dusty grabbed a second one and downed it, chuckling afterwards. "I may be small. But... well, you know."
