Ponk in Japan

An alternate interlude to Pinkie in Earth:

>You wondered what happened to your old human roommate and friend.
>It has been about two years.
>You decide to try and visit, and see where he might be.
>You travel to his old apartment and find your key still works, and though it’s largely packed, most of his things are still there.
>His mother’s phone number is still the same and she answers with a surprised tone when you call from his landline.
>You both meet for lunch the next day!
>It’s a cozy cafe that has a small menu for visiting ponies.
>Humans still can’t quite figure out a good dandelion sandwich, but they have great desserts!
>His mother tells you he’s deployed overseas in some other country called Japan.
>With all the human money you still have it’s not difficult to pay for a ticket.
>She’s shocked when she sees how much money you have!
>She organizes the trip for you, and ensures you’re clear on what planes to get on, and how to follow the gate and departure screens.
>Your adventure abroad begins, Pinkie Pie!

>You get moved during the long flight after some humans complain about you snoring.
>It’s a lot more roomy in the ‘First Class’ seats.
>You get comfy and snooze through the rest of the flight.
>It’s difficult to find your way through the airport.
>All the signs have weird squiggles and funny lines!
>You catch the back of someone’s hat that says ‘Navy’ on it.
>You decide to follow him, since that’s where your human friend went!
>You follow the human with the hat to the exchange counter.
>Someone behind the desk takes some of his money and gives him other funny looking money.
>You give a tug on his jacket as he bows to the clerk.
“Hiya! I need a little help if you don’t mind? I don’t know what to do here.”
>He stares for a moment, then nods.
>”Do you need yen?”
“I guess? I’m trying to find my friend who came here. He’s also in the Navy. Would you help me?”
>He brings you off to the side and out of the way of the line. He crouches down to your level.
>”You said you’re looking for a sailor? Do you know what base he is on? Or ship?”
>You reach into your bags and pull out a notecard.
>His mother wrote down what she used to mail him letters.
>He takes the card and looks it over, then pulls a phone out of his pocket.
>”Lemme see if I can find out what base they’re in. I think we might be going to the same place.”
>He fiddles with the phone for a few minutes. Some passers by come over and say hello to you, pet you, all kinds of nice things!
>People here are really courteous and polite!
>”Ah, yeah, found it.”
>He kneels down and shows you an address. You scribble it down on the notecard.
>”Can I have your money? I’ll exchange what you need.”
>You offer him a small coin purse your friend’s mother had given you.
>He gets in line and exchanges several bills and coins.
>”The train there is about 2400 yen. I exchanged 20000 yen for you. That should be plenty for the train or getting food or trinkets while you’re here.”
“Wow! Thanks a bunch!”
>He pulls a 500 coin and two 1000 bills from your purse, then hands it back.
>”I’ll try to show you how to use the ticket machine, but I don’t know if your Uhh... hooves can work it.”
>He hefts a large bag over his shoulder and walks you over to a moving staircase.
>You move between a few floors before arriving at a terminal.
>He pushes some buttons and gets his ticket.
>Then he drops his bag down just in front of it.
>”Here, stand on this.”
>You hop up with the little boost to your hind legs and put your forelegs up on the small panel.
>He shows you how to put the machine into English and does his best to explain the funny numbers and squiggles.
>”Our base is this number here. So when you go somewhere, always remember this is where you need to go to.”
>It’s kind of confusing but you learn how to follow the train lines between numbers.
>Just one train change is all you’ll have to do.
>You try and tap the keys on the screen but your hoof doesn’t quite register on the touchpad.
>”Looks like you’ll need help. Maybe ask for a stylus pen while you’re visiting.”
>He pulls out a thick pen.
>He unscrewed the top of it, turning it over and screwing it back together.
>He tapped the large rubber tip on the screen.
>”Here, try this.”
>You were able to hold the pen easily and tapping the buttons worked.
>”You can get one of those at the store near the base. They’re a bit expensive for a pen but they’re great.”
>You offered the pen back and took the ticket he gave you.
“Thanks a lot for your help!”
>You gave a bounce and hopped off his bag.
>He took you through the gate to the train and guided you to the correct train.
>It was so fast! People flooded in and out of the cars very quickly.
>In less than a minute hundreds of people traded places on the platform, and the train was gone.
>He gave you a push onto the next train that rolled up.
>You set your bags on the seat and climbed up next to them.
>He pushed his large bag on the shelf above.
>Seeing you taking two seats, he grabbed your bags and put them up with his.
>”You gotta take only one seat. And if you see someone older standing around, you’re supposed to give that seat up.”
>You gave him a nod.
>That was a good thing to do, anyway!
>Three stops in, you slid off your seat for an elderly woman, waving your hoof toward it for her.
>She was somewhat confused as she looked at you, timidly taking the seat.
>The train moved a lot faster than the one in Equestria, and a few times you nearly fell over.
>The man helping you offered his hand to hold since the ceiling handles were way too high for you.
>He didn’t pay much attention, just bobbed his head to whatever music was going on his headphones.
>You were amazed by what you saw as the train raced through Japan.
>The cities and towns were so new to you, and the countryside was beautiful.
>Your guide gave you another poke as the train stopped at the station.
>He got your bags down and helped you off.
>”The naval base is this way. Do you have your ID card?”
>You pull out a passport wallet with your papers.
>He shakes his head.
>”That won’t let you get into the base. You need a special ID card.
>He shows you his.
>He checks his phone again.
>”I have a friend on that ship. Maybe he knows him.”
>A phone call later confirms the chain of friendships.
>He tells him to relay the message about a visitor from the US.
>He leads you to the security checkpoint where you’re told to wait.

>An hour passes.
>You’re escorted away from the gate to a small building.
>Several people come in and start asking many questions. Lots of really important sounding questions.
>After thirty minutes of questions and sort of intimidating talk, your friend enters the room in his uniform.
>”Pinkie Pie?”
“Heya!”
>”What... What are you doing here? Like, HERE. How’d you even get here?”
“Your mom helped! And then another person with a Navy hat... A sailor, I guess? Showed me how to get from the airport with the trains!”
>Your old friend looks a bit confused.
>Some of the other people pull him aside to ask him more questions.
>It’s a back and forth for a few hours before he returns with some papers.
>”Alright, Pinkie. I need you to fill these forms out. MC1 will take your picture, so just look directly at the camera.”
>Another man in uniform put a camera on the table, steadied it, then pointed at the lens.
>You made a silly face.
>”Please just look straight and keep a neutral expression.”
>You stopped the silly face and wore a faint smile instead.
>Click!
>He picked up the camera and left the room.
“What’s the picture for? A postcard?”
>Your friend shook his head.
>”Just fill the forms out. I can’t be in the room while you do, so I’ll be right outside.”
>You look at him, confused why he can’t watch you write on paper.
“Okay then..? I don’t understand.”
>”Just do what they ask. I’m sorry this is taking so long.”
>He leaves the room.
>You pick up the pen and start writing in the forms, you name, address, things like that.
>Then some odd questions.
>What your job is in Equestria, why you came to Earth, why you came to this military base.
>It was all really strange questions to ask someone just visiting a friend.
>After finishing the papers, someone takes them from you.
>Your friend comes back into the room to sit with you, much more relaxed.
>It’s just idle chat now, and a few welcome head pats.
>Eventually, someone returns with a strap and a card in a little case.
>”Alright, Pinkie. This is your ID card. Keep it on the lanyard at all times, and never let anyone take it from you, ever.”
>Your friend helped buckle the lanyard around your neck since your super curly mane wasn’t cooperating with it going over your head.
>”Don’t let anyone copy it or take a picture of it. And if a guard or someone asks to see it, you hold it and turn it for them. This is very important, Pinkie. Do you understand?”
>It was kind of confusing why so much went into a flimsy little card with your picture on it.
“Okay, I get it! I won’t let anyone touch it.”
>You’re finally released, along with your friend.
>It’s now very dark out.
>”Damn. That took way longer than I thought...”
>You feel your belly rumble.
“I’m pretty hungry. Can we get something to eat?”
>”Yeah, we cant really do a tour this late but there are still places open. And you need a phone.”
>It was weird to think of dragging a phone around, but if he said you need one?
>He walks with you around the base, and it’s a pretty far walk!
>The building you were waiting at near the gate was at least a mile walk away from the large store he brought you to.
>He lead you to a section with lots of TVs and electronics, and it was a bit loud.
>He looked over a pamphlet near the counter and muttered to himself.
>”Pinkie, which of these do you like the best?”
>He pointed to a glass case with what he said were smart phones.
>You didn’t know that phones could be smart!
>Twilight would probably wanna meet this Siri person too, cause she was really helpful!
>You pick out a pale pink phone, just like your coat.
>Your friend talks to the clerk about some ‘plan’ for the phone.
>”Pinkie, do you still have the card with your money?”
>In your saddlebags, you fetch it for him.
>You start trying to play with your new phone, but it’s hard to use.
>Your hoof can’t make contact with the touch screen, like the other sailor had helped you with before.
>You remembered your friend had the same problem during winter time with gloves, and used his nose to tap his phone screen.
>*Boop*
>You open the phone!
>Nothing can resist the power of a cute snoot Boop.
>”You’re all set. With the plan I arranged it’ll pay automatically and you’ll have full coverage here and back in America.”
>He explains more boring stuff to you, but gives you an envelope to keep with an important number to call when you decide to go back to Equestria.
>”Now, good time to eat.”
>You bounce at the idea of a nice hayburger.
>Instead he brings you somewhere outside the gate.
>Coco’s is a funny name.
>You expected a lot of chocolate.
>He helps you look at the menu, all of the weird funny squiggle letters covering it.
>”The meats are here. Tofu and vegetables are this side.”
>Well, you didn’t think this was going to be dinner too!
>”And how spicy do you like things? 1-10. I’m a weak ass basic bitch so I get like a 2 or a 3...” He mumbles.
>Those were swears! A whole bunch!
“Are you mad? You said...”
>”Huh? Oh, damn. Uhh... Nah, I’m not mad, Pinkie. My vocabulary got... More colorful, is all.”
>Colors are fun!
>But those are naughty words.
“Can I just try a 1 then?”
>He places the order and pays with the odd little coin monies.
>It’s rice, some soupy stuff, and steamed vegetables.
>His was chicken, but the same.
>”It’s curry. You can mix it a little at a time or all at once, or not at all.”
>Even back home he never ate this fast or ravenously.
>You were normally the queen of speed eating, but he left you in the crumbs.
>It was really tasty, though!
>Like Saffron’s food, but different.
>After dinner he brought you back to the base.
>”I guess I can show you where I’ve been living, if you want to see.”
“Yeah! I didn’t get to hear much of the story from your mom, but she showed me the picture of the boat she said you’re on.”
>Your friend starts retelling his story, of after saying goodbye to you, he went to basic training.
>Boot camp he called it.
>Silly name for a place.
>He said he spent a lot of time in school learning his rate. His new job.
>He moved to a few schools before he was sent all the way out here.
>”I really like the ship. It’s a great lifestyle for me, but there’s a lot of people who hate it.”
“Then why do they stay if they don’t like it?”
>”We don’t have a choice, Pinkie. It’s a contract. You agree to a number of years of service before getting the option to continue or leave.”
>That seemed dumb to make people do things they didn’t like.
>You walked down the numerous piers until finding a gate that lead down to the berth of his ship.
>He showed the gate sentry his card, and the sentry let him in.
>”She’s a visitor, she’s got her card on the lanyard.”
>You move it up with your hoof, trying to hold the card high enough.
>The sentry holds the case and moves it around, looking for something, then releases it.
>”If you see Thomas arming up tell him his ass is late. I gotta piss.”
>”Copy. Take it easy, Smith.”
>Your friend waved you closer and kept you at his side.
>”When we get on board, just be extra polite and try to be a little less enthusiastic. We go out a lot and everyone is really irritable lately.”
“What do you mean, ‘go out?’
>”Well, I’ve been here four months and I’ve only been here in port about two weeks. Not solid weeks, just a few weekends with an extra day or so. We’ve been out to sea the rest of that time.”
“But why would anyone be upset about being on a cool boat at sea?”
>”I know right? But, it’s not as nice when we are in port.”
>Together you walk along the brow, he calls
It, and he paused in the middle.
>He turns to the back of the boat and salutes.
>”Just turn, put your hoof on your chest, then keep walking.”
>You face the same way, and put your hoof on your chest.
>He gives you a little tug to get moving again.
“What was that for?”
>He doesn’t answer as he moves to the top of the ramp and holds out his card to someone in a black uniform.
>”Permission to come aboard.”
>”Come aboard. You escorting that?”
>”Aye, she’s a visitor.”
>He helps you down, and unclips your card from the lanyard.
“Hey, you said-“
>”Shush. They need to write down things, Pinkie.”
>He gives them his card and your card, and chats with someone wearing a fancier looking black uniform with a white hat.
>They talk somewhat causally as he writes down things and hands him the cards back.
>He clips yours back into place.
>”I guess I need to get more specific but just never let anyone take your card and not give it back, and only if they’re in a uniform.”
>He leads you around the back of the ship and pulls open a big metal door, leading you into the ship.
>It’s a maze of corridors and passageways that you can’t make heads or tails of how to navigate where he brings you.
>He shows you around the different levels, where he can anyway.
“Where do you work?”
>”I can’t bring you in, but-“
>He stops in front of one of the doors.
>It’s open.
>”The hell?”
>He pulls it closed and lowers a bar.
>He called that dogging the door.
>He lifted the bar and it just pushed open.
>”God damn it. Pinkie please just wait here. And don’t let someone in here.”
>He rushed down a nearby ladder well and disappeared from view.
>A few minutes went by and footsteps started coming down from the other side of the corridor.
>A voice called our ‘ATTENTION ON DECK!’
>A taller, older man walked down.
>”Carry on.”
>He paused at you.
>”Who are you?”
“I’m Pinkie Pie!”
>”You’re a visitor?”
“Uh-huh! My friend said to wait here and not let anyone into this door.”
>He looked at you, then the door.
>”What’s wrong in there?”
“I dunno. He moved the handle thing up and down, then told me to wait here and ran down those stairs.”
>As if on queue he tore up the rattling ladder with a screwdriver and a small plastic box.
>He froze as he saw you and the older man.
>”G-Good evening Sir.”
>”Something you wish to inform me about the door to your secure space?”
>He held up the screwdriver.
>”I saw the door was open. I dogged it but the lock didn’t engage, so I ran to get a screwdriver to check it the pin fell out again.”
>”Come over here.”
>He moves into a corner space and starts talking low with him.
>The other man who followed him down starts talking to you.
>”Do you know anything about where you are, on the ship?”
“Nope! He said he works in places he can’t show me, but when we passed the open door he tried to close it. Is that where he works?”
>”So the lock is broken?”
>You shrug.
>He comes back over looking pale as a ghost.
>The two older men walk away as he silently enters the space, and checks the lock.
>*THUNK*
>He moves out and dogs the door, and punches in a code on the keypad.
>*THUNK*
>He pauses.
>*THUNK*
>He pulls the door shut again.
>”Just had a piece of metal catching on the lock.” He said quietly.
“Did you get in trouble?”
>”Yes. That was the captain.”
“Like a pirate ship!”
>”N-No, Damn it. Pinkie that was the commanding officer of the ship. The man who everyone else has to listen to and obey the orders of. He isn’t just the captain, it’s his rank, too.”
>He tried to explain what being in trouble was with regards to the military.
>He was very lucky to not be going to ‘mast’ for doing what he did.
>He walked you down to the berthing, he called it.
>”Female on deck.”
>No reply.
>”Guess everyone else is off the boat already.”
>He shows you the rack he sleeps on.
>You hop up into it.
“Wow. This is really hard! How can you sleep on this?”
>”That’s why I have the sleeping bag too. It’s not the most comfortable but it beats sleeping on the floor.”
>He pulls himself up into the rack.
>He squirms around you and lays down, awkwardly fitting, but just barely.
>He pulls his arms around you in a tight hug.
>It’s cramped but you manage to turn yourself and hug him back with a squeeze!
>”I really missed you, Pinkie.”

>You give him a nuzzle with your muzzle.
“I missed you too! I was really worried when you disappeared like you did.”
>He gives a little sigh.
>”Yeah, that wasn’t really the best goodbye I’ve had. It was hard for me. I felt like I was cutting off everything from my old life to start fresh.”
>He presses his face into your mane and hides in your curls.
>You can hear him breathing deep.
>”I’m glad I can’t forget this smell. Your mane reminds me of those colder nights when we’d snuggle to stay warm in my cozy bed.”
>You can’t help but squeeze him tighter to help him feel cozy again!
>The two of you lay in his rack for about a half hour.
>A speaker crackles to life somewhere in the berthing.
>”Visitors are required to depart the ship.”
>He slowly untangles himself from your hug, slipping down out of his rack and helping you after.
>”Do you have a hotel or something already?”
>He led you up a few ladders and opened a hatch that put you both outside surprisingly quickly.
“Nope! I came here as soon as I got off the train.”
>”Ah, hell... Alright lemme make a call.”
>He leads you around the weather deck and through a door to the quarterdeck.
“Why’d we have to go all the way around? I could see this from the other side.”
>”It’s ceremony and tradition. Chiefs and above can use the quarterdeck p-way. Everyone else not on duty has to go around.”
>That sounds kinda silly, but you shrug it off.
>He brings you to the podium and salutes the well dressed man.
>”Permission to go ashore. Escorting my visitor down the brow.”
>He drops the salute to get your badge from your lanyard, and the well dressed man crosses something off in a book.
>”Go ashore.”
>”Sir, I couldn’t get Senior on the phone. Does he have a radio?”
>He picks up a walkie talkie and mumbles into it.
>It crackles with a reply.
>He passes it to your friend.
>”Senior, my visitor jumped the gun and didn’t get herself set up at a hotel yet. Permission to escort her off base to the hotel?”
>There’s a grumbling back and forth on the radio.
>He passes it back to the man behind the podium.
>”I’m good. I’ll grab the taxi and get back.”
>He leads you down the brow. This time he doesn’t stop.
>”We don’t have to pause and salute if the ensign isn’t flying.”
“What’s an ensign? Isn’t that someone with a red shirt?”
>He looks at you for a moment, then chuckles.
>”Ensign is a rank, yes, but it’s also the formal word for a flag.”
>It’s a long walk to the end of the pier where the sentry lets you out.
>He pulls his phone out.
>”Do you have your phone on?”
>You remember the phone he set up for you and pull it out of your saddlebags.
“Ya-Huh! Right here!”
>He crouches down and shows you how to dial numbers.
>He also saves his own number under quick dial.
>”And this is the base taxi to get around, and the off-base taxi that can come on the base and bring you here.”
>It’s a lot of numbers but it’s a good thing they can get dialed with one button!
>He uses your phone and also makes something called G-mail.
>It’s like getting a letter, on your phone!
>But that takes some of the fun out of seeing a real letter in your hooves.
>You both wait for the taxi.
>”I booked in a room at the hotel I stay at when we pull in. It’s really nice.”
>The taxi rolls up and does a big turn, then stops at the curb.
>He helps you into the back and talks to the driver.
>You can’t understand it, it’s that funny talk language.
>After the taxi starts moving you ask him;
“What’d you tell him?”
>”Oh, yeah. You haven’t learned moonspeak yet.”
“Moonspeak? Did Princess Luna invent it?”
>He laughs and shakes his head.
>”No, no, it’s really called Japanese.  It’s just a joke to call it moonspeak because of how it’s written and read.”
>He tells you a little about it in the short ride to the hotel.
>He helps you check in and takes you up the room.
>It’s very clean, and sort of small.
>But it has a really comfy bed!
>He surprises you with another hug from behind.
>He lays on top of you somewhat awkwardly.
>You try and squirm around since it isn’t the most comfortable!
>”I missed you so damn much.” He says, face firmly planted in your mane.
>It’s a struggle to turn over in his hug.
>His hand holds your cheek and he kisses you.
>It’s a total surprise, a lot like the night he hugged you and told you he loved you.
>You weren’t prepared for this either.
>You could hear him breathing heavy.
>A sniffle. A sob.
>He pulls back from you just enough to catch a breath and hold back from crying.
“Are you... Okay?”
>”I didn’t know if I’d ever see you again, or have any part of my old life still be with me.”
>Your ears fold down as a frown crawls across your face.
>From how he sounds, it seems like he thinks your visit isn’t just a visit.
>Maybe you need to sit and talk with him to sort things out.
>”I’ll be by tomorrow as soon as I get off duty. I’ve got a lot to show you!”
>Before you can say anything more, he’s gone.
>Might as well make use of the tub!
>Your hooves could use a good hot bath.

-Perspective shift-
>You hurry back to the ship as fast as you can.
>When you get back, Chief is waiting, with a folder in hand.
>Several harsh words later, you’re staring at formal documentation of the incident with Pinkie.
>It’s alright, though. She’s here.
>She traveled across two worlds to visit you.
>All the written counseling in the world couldn’t change that.
>You went down to your rack for the night, and managed to get a few hours of solid rest.
>Morning came, and so did sweepers.
>After duty turnover, you raced down to change and get off the boat.
>You needed to get to Pinkie, and forget about duty for a while.
>Chief cut you off before you could get to the quarterdeck.
>He pulled you aside to ask more questions.
>Mostly details about what the hell involvement you had with a pony in the first place.
>You hadn’t told anyone before now, anyway.
>In the grand scheme of things it didn’t matter before.
>You thought that chapter of your life was over when you left her back in the states.
>It actually stung when you thought about how you left.
>Confessing and disappearing was kinda shitty.
>After explaining the situation more in depth, Chief let’s you go, giving another warning about screwing up like that again.
>You check off the ship and head for Pinkie’s hotel.