The cool morning air stirred him from his sleep. The sunlight snuck in through the occasional crack between the wall panels that made up the side of the barn. Matt breathed in the scents the farm brought deeply and looked to his side. Apple Bloom was gone and was probably off to school. He didn't know what time it was, but based on the temperature inside it was probably still early. Despite having slept on a pile of hay, he was exceptionally well rested. He sat up, grabbed his pillow and blanket, and headed to the Apple household.
He found Granny Smith inside, muddling around with some indoor chores that she could manage. Even at her old age, she still wanted to contribute something other than her delicious meals. She took the items from Matt and informed him that Applejack and Big Mac had already started their chores around the orchard. He went outside and scouted for her as best he could, but the large number of trees scattered all over the groves made it impossible to spot her. He called for her and a few minutes later, she came trotting up to him.
"Mornin' Matt. Was just busy helpin' Big Mac till the fields for later. How'd ya sleep?"
"Good, actually. Who knew hay would make a better mattress than a mattress? Apple Bloom went off to school I'm assuming." She nodded. "Listen, Rarity doesn't need me until this afternoon. Was probably going to head over after lunch. Don't suppose you'd like an extra set of hands for a little while? Hopefully nothing that'll result in me sweating much. I'm sure we can imagine her reaction if I come in smelling of hard work," he joked.
Applejack couldn't help but chuckle. "Now, now, she works hard at what she does, and Ah'm sure at the end of a hard day she's breakin' a sweat too. Not that she'd ever admit it, of course. A lady doesn't sweat, y'know." She thought for a moment with a hoof to her chin. "Well, if ya don't wanna sweat too much, maybe Granny could use your help in the house. If ya can't really find much to do, s'ok, it is your day off after all."
"Sounds like a plan. See you at lunch?"
"You bet, partner!" She waved goodbye and went back to the fields.
-----
Matt wandered around the house for the most part looking for something to do. He'd straighten out the occasional picture or wipe down a counter. They really didn't have any laundry since clothes were more of a novelty in Equestria. Granny had taken care of most of the stuff around the house already, so he played with Winona for a while in the living room. The old green pony came up and sat down on her chair beside Matt.
"Hey there, sonny. Havin' trouble findin' somethin' to do 'round here today, eh?" she said, trying to make some small talk.
"Yeah, just trying to kill some time before lunch. Gotta go see Rarity about some stuff at her shop afterward. Don't want to be working in the sun today. Rarity would probably pitch a fit if I came into the store all grimy." He shrugged. "Just feel kinda useless in here at the moment. Don't like that feeling."
"Yer keepin' me company. That ain't useless."
He have Granny a conceding nod. "I guess I just don't know if there's much point to me being here today since it's my day off. The chores'll get done all the same."
"Who says there has to be a point?"
Matt looked at her inquisitively. "What do you mean?"
"Exactly that. I can't believe ya haven't figured it out yet, and after how long? Big Mac 'n Applejack aren't worried about the chores when you're here. Same thing when you're at the library with Twilight Whuzzit. I'm willin' to bet that she has ya do things around the place too, right?" He nodded again.
"Mhm. Yeah, we have ta keep the apples comin' cuz we help feed Ponyville and all, so it's a bit more than a chore 'round here. But that's beside the point. T'aint what ya do or what ya don't do. Just the fact that you're there is what matters to 'em when you're out there in the fields. You know Apple Bloom stayed with ya the whole night?"
"Applejack didn't come get her?"
"She did, but she said she saw her curled all up next to ya and didn't have the heart to take her away. She knew Apple Bloom was happy there with ya, so she let 'er be. Seein' 'er happy is what mattered."
Matt hadn't heard Granny Smith be so direct and coherent in the weeks that he'd be coming over to do work on the farm. Usually, she went on and on about things that seemed to make sense to her alone. Maybe she was putting on an act the whole time and understood more than she was letting on. Maybe she was just having a moment that she'd forget a few minutes from now. Matt couldn't be sure.
He gazed out the window at the orchard in silence, dwelling on the last thing the old timer said before she broke the ice again.
"Tell me, sonny. What matters to you?"
He could only think of one answer. "'Why am I here?', I suppose."
"Aah, that one. Everypony always wants ta know that. Y'know what I've learned about the 'why' over the years?"
"What?"
"It's the one thing that don't matter. I bet yer brainy friend is always tryin' ta find an answer to why this or why that, and I'll bet for all the book learnin' she has she couldn't tell an outhouse from a corn fritter."
"I don't know about that. She always wants to know everything about a subject." Matt tried to make sense of her bizarre comparison, but he figured that was just Granny being herself again.
"I'd still bet she don't know as much as she thinks. I've seen enough things and dealt with enough ponies to know a thing or two about a thing or two. Take the zap apples we harvest."
"Zap apples?" Applejack never mentioned those funny sounding fruits to him before.
"They're a very special, mystical-like apple that comes 'round once a year, and you can tell when they're a-comin' from a whole buncha weird happenin's 'round the farm that we've come to spot over the years. We know what happens, how them apples show up, when they do and where in the fields. We don't question why. No point to."
"You're not curious at all?" he asked.
"Nope! All I know's we make a lot of bits when it's zap apple season, woooo-wee!" Her enthusiasm got a chuckle out of him. "Seriously though, honey. Asking why you're here is silly. You're already here. What difference does it make? Not everythin' needs an explanation."
"Then what should I worry about, Granny?"
"What's important to you that actually matters. What that is I can't answer. Somethin' you'll have ta be figurin' out for yourself."
Matt tried to think of an answer, but couldn't come up with anything. She was right though. He was the only one who could figure that out and he wasn't going to waste time thinking about it right now. The answer would probably hit him out of the blue when he least expects it. He couldn't count how many times he'd wake up in the middle of the night suddenly remembering the answer to something that bugged him half the day.
They sat in the living room the rest of the morning sharing stories of fond memories when Matt's stomach started voicing its anger. He tried to hide his embarrassment and apologized. Granny just laughed and smiled at him.
"Whaddaya say we head to the kitchen and start puttin' some fixin's together? Applejack and Big Mac should be in soon for lunch." Matt nodded and followed her inside.
-----
Granny's recipes always left Matt and the others with a warm feeling in their bellies. Lunch was the usual happy gathering he had come to expect from the Apples. While it was typical for the family go over what things they had to do that afternoon, Applejack was to cart Matt over to Carousel Boutique. He secretly wondered if the high class unicorn was going to be receptive to him at all. He barely saw her since the day of the disastrous picnic thanks to his new work schedule and her seemingly deliberate avoidance when she'd stop by the library when he was around.
He walked alongside Applejack down the road to Ponyville discussing what Rarity may need with him at the shop. She was reluctant to the idea of being left alone with him for any extended time when Twilight suggested it, what with Spike being away until Saturday. However, she had said she desperately needed some help in finishing an important client's rather large order for Friday and was a bit behind despite her best efforts.
With the outskirts of town becoming visible, Matt hopped into the back of the cart they had been bringing him to the farm in. It wouldn't be too long a trot through the south side of town where the Boutique was. He heard the bustling of Town Square as they passed through. He wanted to throw the sheet off and see what all the fuss was about, but the girls still insisted that he remain as hidden as possible.
Rarity had placed a sign on the door that said 'Please knock before entering. Thank you!'. Applejack figured she had to be busy with this slight deterrent to customers placed on the entrance. Any other day, ponies could just walk in and look around for something. If Rarity was almost subtly suggesting to leave her be, she must be a wreck. The orange mare knocked and heard a voice sing 'Com-i-i-ing!" after several seconds. Rarity opened the door looking rather frazzled.
"Oh, hello Applejack," she said half-sincerely, despite her outwardly happy appearance. "Is...he here?"
She looked around and saw some ponies nearby walking around Town Hall. She nodded and arranged to meet out back where Rarity typically hung her laundry to dry. The coast seemed clear so far. The back door opened a moment or two after Applejack arrived, prompting her to give to cart a tap. Matt hopped out and snuck inside quickly. Applejack promised to be back late this afternoon to wheel him back to the library after she was done on the farm and headed back home.
Rarity led her temporary assistant inside, not making eye contact once. "Matt, I just want to tell you how much I appreciate the assistance today. Sometimes, Spike's, um...affections can get in the way a bit, even if he means well."
"No problem, and yeah, I've seen how he acts."
"You've noticed it too, huh?" There was a nervousness to her question. He hadn't seen how she reacted to him on her own until now. He let out a quick laugh and nodded.
"He's not the best at keeping secrets," he admitted. He cut himself short and sighed, "Listen, Rarity, I'm sorry about what happened at the picnic. You guys set the whole thing up for me as a gift and I go ballistic. Especially on you. I've been wanting to apologize for a while but I only ever see you at Twilight's occasionally and, well...you never seem to want me to go near you. Not that I can blame you." He looked away embarrassed. "I know how much pride you take in your work and I just wanted to get that thing away from us as quick as I could once he said he'd go away."
Rarity hung her head, still unable to look at him. "You're not the only one who feels they have to apologize."
"What do you mean?"
She sighed heavily, a part of her relieved that everything was coming to the surface. It had been weighing on her mind for a while now. "You were right, and I'm sorry too. I've wanted to say I was sorry for my... outburst...for a while. But, well, no one has ever screamed at me like that before. I was nervous that you'd still be angry with me that I didn't want to risk upsetting you again. I can see now that it was silly of me and I should have just said my piece from the beginning.
"What you did...it was the only choice you could make and I acted ridiculously. Your actions saved Ponyville and us. We likely wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you." She finally dug up the nerve to face him and smiled. "Thank you, Matt."
He returned the expression and nodded. The moment of awkward silence was broken by the nervous mare. "O-oh yes, you were right about something else. I was able to find a replacement gem, and frankly, I think it looks even more amazing than before," she mentioned as she removed the hat from its display. It now had a perfect emerald in it. He had to admit he was impressed. She beamed happily at his compliment. "So, um...onto business then?"
"Heh, sure thing."
-----
There were only a few times during the next few hours that a knock came to Rarity's door. When a customer did happen to show up, he headed upstairs until the coast was clear. Most of Matt's help came in the form of putting the clothes away, moving rolls of fabric around, or counting gems for various garments. They were unaware that he was about to become an even bigger help until the door slammed open with him still in the lobby at the time.
"Hey, Rarity!" a familiar squeaky voice yelled.
"Sweetie Belle! Did you not see the sign on the door? I've specifically asked that–"
"MATT!" the Crusaders screamed in unison. Apple Bloom rushed past her two friends and tackled his leg. "Ah didn't know you were comin' here today!"
"Hey girls! Yeah, Rarity needed a hand with some things." Matt had met the kids a few times when Apple Bloom would invite them over to the farm after school. He usually ended up heading home to the library a bit later than anticipated, but Twilight didn't mind once she had heard the reason for his tardiness. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo had a similar litany of questions for Matt when they first met him as well. Just like Apple Bloom, they were fascinated by him instead of afraid.
"Oh, this is just terrible. I'm getting so close to finishing this order and they always cause such a ruckus when they're here. I won't be able to get this all done if I have to keep an eye on them too."
"Why doesn't Matt just keep an eye on us?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"And we won't cause a ruckus!" Scootaloo chimed in.
"We promise!" They put on their most convincing innocent faces.
"Girls, I can't ask Matt to do that. We still have quite a bit to do here. Please understand." Their spirits sunk as low as their heads.
"You think you'd be able to finish up if I kept them out of trouble?" Matt asked. The Crusaders' gasped together and shot their heads back up.
Rarity thought for a moment. "I suppose I could, but...are you sure about this? They won't be a problem?"
"Nah, we've hung out at the farm a few times. Nothing's blown up yet," he quipped.
"Well...alright." The fillies screamed a store-rattling 'YAY!' and bounced around their new sitter as Rarity tried to finish. "Just please be careful. You remember what a disaster the Boutique turned into last time?" The girls sprinted towards the stairs that led to Rarity's bedroom/inspiration room. "Thank you again, Matt. You really have no idea how much I appreciate this."
Matt chuckled to himself as he watched the fillies. Kids don't seem to be any different regardless of what world he was in. He nodded goodbye to Rarity and started heading to the staircase. His trip was cut suddenly short when a sharp burst of pain shot out of his chest. He clutched at his heart and fell to his knees, growling at the agony. His friends saw his condition and ran to his side to check on him, the Crusaders on the verge of panic.
"Matt, what's wrong?!"
"Are you okay?!"
Rarity saw this before. When she realized what it was, fear overtook her. It was the day the dragon crashed their picnic. The same pain in his chest, the same look on his face. For Matt, the biggest difference is that this time it lingered. It also hurt a lot more than before. It felt like his heart was trying to beat its way through his sternum. Then suddenly, like last time, it vanished. Whatever it was left him short of breath and remembering that day as well.
He gathered himself after a few minutes and stood up, appearing exceptionally irritated for a moment. "I'm okay. That was familiar." He looked down at the three fillies with their concerned eyes and smiled as reassuringly at them as he could, despite still looking clearly shaken up. "Come on, let's head upstairs. You can tell me about your day at school, we'll play some games, whatever works." He headed upstairs and the Crusaders exchanged a glance.
"It's alright, girls. Go have some fun," Rarity tried to say with a straight face. They slowly climbed the stairs and out of sight. The white unicorn worried what may happen if it turned into a repeat of that day. "Just focus on your work, Rarity. Things will be alright." Her little pep talk worked only so much.
-----
Matt laid on his side on the floor in Rarity's inspiration room as the Crusaders tried to let some of their near boundless energy out with some ideas on what they could attempt later that day to earn their cutie marks. When the girls would hang out on Sweet Apple Acres with him, he usually tried to match their rambunctiousness with failed results. Today, he was deep in thought and the girls took note.
"What's wrong, Matt? You're usually so much more...fun," Scootaloo said.
He laid back and put his hands behind his head. He stared at the ceiling trying to follow the curves that shaped the place. "Sorry, girls. Just thinking about some things."
They plopped their forelegs onto his stomach and chest. Apple Bloom spoke up, "Is it about what happened earlier?"
He wanted to avoid talking about it with them, but something told him that the effort was going to be futile if he tried. "Yeah, sort of."
"Well, what is it?" Sweetie Belle demanded.
Matt groaned quietly, "For starters, the last time that pain thing happened, I sort of...yelled at your sister, Sweetie."
"Is that all? I want to yell at her all the time about stuff!"
"Why'd you yell at Rarity anyway?" the curious pegasus asked.
"Eh, I was in a bad place at the time. Stupid place. Was worried about something that ultimately didn't even matter that much. Took it out on her. But we're okay now, worked through some things," he explained to the trio. Knowing that his heartfelt apology was generously accepted changed the mood up a bit.
"Why were ya in a bad place?"
His slick grin widened. "I had to chase off a dragon."
"Whooooa..." Scootaloo jumped onto his chest. "How'd you do that?"
"With some clever words," he said with a wink.
Sweetie Belle bounced with excitement, "That's the most awesome thing I've ever heard!"
"Hey girls, maybe that's what we can be! Cutie Mark Crusader Dragon Chasers!"
"CUTIE MARK CRUSADER DRAGON CHASERS! YAY!!!!"
They dove back into their plans with how they were going to get their marks. He was grateful they were so easily distracted. He didn't want to go into much more detail than he had.
A couple hours passed and the dragon chasing idea had been forgotten. About twenty new ideas came and went as they bounced around the room. Amazingly, they managed not to knock anything over. Rarity had trotted up the stairs unnoticed and saw Matt and the girls playing harmlessly in an undamaged room. The unicorn was astounded that she wouldn't have to clean up another of their messes, but she couldn't help but see how sweet the scene was.
"Oh, hey sis!"
"Hello, everypony. I'm finally finished with the order. Thank you again, Matt. Everypony having a good time?"
"Told you I could handle it, Rarity," he said triumphantly.
"That you did," she said with a giggle. She noticed how happy the Crusaders were hanging out and playing with Matt. "You seem to be really good with children."
"I guess I have my niece to thank for that."
Rarity wasn't sure if Matt would be willing to talk about what she wanted to ask next, but she took the gamble. "Did you...have a family of your own back home? You mentioned somepony...somebody special back there. I'm sorry if I'm prying."
"No, it's okay. I didn't. Maybe we would have if she wanted, I don't know."
She felt a tear form in her eye looking at how the fillies were beaming. "I can tell you would have been wonderful at it."
He looked at the Crusaders and lovingly rubbed Scootaloo's mane. The glow he had suddenly turned to confusion when he slowly lifted his head in the direction of the window. He shifted and rolled his eyes back and forth, his unease growing steadily as something caught his ear. The girls were puzzled at what he was doing. "What?" Apple Bloom finally asked.
"Sh-sh..." They were steady for a moment. "You hear that?"
They paused and looked around for any possible source of whatever Matt may have been hearing. They all shook their heads and continued searching. A faint, nearly inaudible rumbling noise whispered in the air, followed by another a few seconds later. Then another pair followed, slightly louder. The pattern repeated again and again. A pen sitting on Rarity's work station suddenly rolled on its own and fell onto the floor.
"What is that?" Matt asked.
They remained silent for a moment trying to decipher what the rumbling was.
"An earthquake?"
"Don't think so. It'd be a steady rumble. This almost sounds like it's...moving?" he observed.
They all went to the window facing west. "Sounds like it's comin' from over there," Apple Bloom pointed into the distance.
The room began shaking more and more with each rumble. Plus, the rumbles had gotten louder. The group leaned closer to the window and squinted to try and see the source. Being taller, Matt and Rarity spotted something far in the distance. It shifted back and forth. They stared at the unusual mass at a loss as to what they were looking at. Rarity suddenly recoiled in horror.
"We have to get out of here."