Jason sighed as he stared up at the ceiling. Sleep never came easily to him; usually he’d stay up most of the night and pass out around the crack of dawn. It meant he barely ever got any sleep, and when he did it was never for more than five hours at a time.
He sat up, brushing his hair back behind his shoulders. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. The shock of his new situation had worn off, and only now was he feeling the weight of everything. He felt a shiver run through him, his thoughts on his family.
“I’ll never see them again...” he whispered to himself, squeezing his eyes shut. He had never been one for tears, he could cry at things on TV but when his grandfather had died, tears just wouldn’t flow.
He shook his head, pushing the covers off. With a shake of his head he got to his feet, walking out of the guest room Twilight had been kind enough to let him sleep in. ‘If I can’t sleep, I might as well get something to eat.’
He moved out into the hallway, not really bothering to be quiet. Moving down the stairs, he ignored how cold the wooden floor was on his bare feet. After he made his way into the kitchen, he opened the fridge, rummaging through it.
“I should have known they wouldn’t have anything good,” he grumbled, noticing the distinct lack of any foods he was familiar with. “What the hell am I even doing? I’m complaining about food when I have the Omnitrix,” he said before popping up the dial, selecting one of his new pony forms. He chose the Earth Pony, bringing his hand down on the dial, transforming.
“Thats’ better.” He said with a small grin, grabbing a bowl of what looked like salad....only to drop it with a crash. “Damn hooves!” he said, looking at them with disdain.
“Jason?” A soft voice asked from behind him, making him jump. He whirled around, feeling his heart racing. He let out a sigh of relief, seeing that it was just Twilight.
“Sorry Twilight, did I wake you?” He asked, giving her a smile. He grabbed the bowl that he dropped in his mouth, placing it on the table.
“Well, you weren't exactly quiet,” she responded, yawning a bit.
“Yeah...sorry about that. I’m not a very quiet person...” he said, rubbing the back of his head with a hoof. “I just... couldn’t sleep.”
“Something wrong?” Twilight asked, a slight frown on her face.
“Twilight... it’s just...” he trailed off with a sigh, sitting back on his haunches. “I don’t sleep well and my mind starts to wander.”
“You want to talk about it?” she asked, sitting down next to him, putting a wing around him.
“My family, my friends... I’ll probably never see them again.” he said with a sigh, leaning on her a bit.
“That must be hard. I almost lost my family once,” Twilight admitted, shivering a bit. “I can’t imagine what I’d do without mine.”
“Theres an old poem by a man by the name of Robert Frost called ‘The Road Not Taken,’” Jason started. “It’s about the paths we walk in life. The narrator comes across a fork in the road, one well worn and the other more wild. He knows he can only take one path so he decides to take the road less travelled. ‘. ‘I shall be telling this with a sigh / Somewhere ages and ages hence: / Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— / I took the one less traveled by, / And that has made all the difference.’”
“Thats... beautiful,” Twilight said letting the words sink in. It made her thirst for knowledge scream at her to learn more, but there was a time and place for that.
“Yeah. I mean I don’t know if I’ll ever get home but...” he said, feeling tears start to run down his face. “I’m not going to spend my time moping around. I got one life, and I’m gonna live it, even if I was shoved down the road less traveled.”
“Well, I’m here if you need any help,” Twilight said with a smile, standing up.
“Thanks Twi. I’ll see you in the morning,” he said watching her walk out of the kitchen. He smiled slightly, wiping the tears away. “Ok... let’s eat this salad before I time out.”
****
Jason groaned as he opened his eyes, feeling the sun shining in his face. He had managed to get to sleep not long after his late-night snack.
“Hi, sleepy head!” Pinkie Pie shouted, jumping onto his bed, smiling brightly.
“Gah!” He shouted back, pushing her off the bed, his heart pounding in his chest. “Where did you come from!?”
“My parents silly!” Pinkie Pie said, seemingly not minding being sent sprawling out onto the floor.
“Thats not what I meant...” he said with a groan, brushing his hair back. “What time is it?”
“Noon silly! You’ve been asleep for soooo long and I waited to give you this!” she said reaching into her mane, pulling out a card. She held it out to him, a wide grin on her face.
He just stared at it before taking the card looking it over. “What’s this for?”
“Your ‘Welcome to the Apple/Pie family’ party!”
“Pinkie... I’m not actually related to any of you...”
“Be-sure-to-come-to-Sweet-Apple-Acres-by-six-tonight-bye!” she said all at once before zipping away, leaving a cloud of dust.
“Geez... I wish the Omnitrix had scanned her.” He said shaking his head, getting out of bed. “Well... better get something to eat,” he said, pulling his shirt on before heading downstairs.
“It’s about time you woke up,” Twilight said, greeting him in the main room. She didn’t look too happy at all, probably annoyed at his laziness.
“Yeah yeah... we can start doing whatever once I’m done eating,” he said, waving her off. He moved into the kitchen, spotting Spike mopping the floor. He had met the dragon the night before, and had the feeling he didn’t trust him very much, especially not after the Omnitrix scanned him.
“‘Morning Spike,” he greeted, moving over to the fridge.
“Oh. It’s you,” Spike said, giving him the stink eye. It look rather adorable on the little dragon.
“Seriously? Relax kid, I’m not gonna hurt anyone, ok?”
" Yeah right, I’m keeping an eye on you,” Spike said, staring at him with a glare.
He just shrugged, went to the fridge and looked inside. “Yeah yeah...” Jason said, rolling his eyes. He pulled out a fruit salad, starting to munch on it. He walked out of the kitchen, sitting down at the living room table. “So what are we working on today?” he asked, looking at Twilight, who was setting up a chalkboard, piles of books already set around it.
“I thought we could start with the history of Equestria!” Twilight said with a grin.
“Sounds good to me,” Jason said with a nod, placing the bowl on the table. He wiped his mouth before looking at the Omnitrix. “Hey Twilight, shouldn’t I scan you as well?”
“I suppose....” She said moving closer. She watched in curiosity as the Omnitrix’s light changed to yellow.
“Uncatalogued DNA detected,” it chirped before scanning Twilight.
“Amazing, I didn’t feel a thing,” she said, gazing at the Omnitrix in awe.
“Well, thats why it’s amazing,” he responded with a smirk. “So, lets start with the history lesson,” he said, grinning and cracking his neck.
****
“So yer tellin’ me that this’n hoo-man took a piece of ya and now he can turn into a pony?” Granny Smith asked, looking at her granddaughter, rubbing her chin.
“Yeah. He can turn into an Earth Pony, and I reckon that Earth Pony is an Apple.” Applejack responded, nodding her head.
“So...does that make him yer son?” Apple Bloom asked, tilting her head to the side.
“Ah don’t rightly know Apple Bloom, but he’s an Apple alright.”
“Yuppers and he’s a Pie too!” Pinkie Pie broke in, wrapping her arm around Applejack, smiling brightly. “Now come on everypony! We got a party to set up!” Pinkie declared before zipping around the farmhouse, putting up decorations.
In no time at all, the farmhouse was all set up, with all the trappings of a typical Pinkie Pie party.
“Oh I’m so excited!” Pinkie declared, bouncing on her hooves. “I hope he likes it!”
“Ah’m sure he’ll like it Pinkie, Ah haven’t met a pony yet who doesn’t like yer parties.” Applejack said, giving her a smile.
It didn’t take long for guests to arrive, as Pinkie had made the party into a “Welcome to Ponyville/Apple/Pie family” party. The name of the party caused some raised eyebrows, but everypony had decided long ago not to question Pinkie’s actions too much.
Pinkie smiled as the town's newest resident walked in, accompanied by Spike and Twilight. The chatter in the room died down instantly, everypony turning their attention to Jason.
“Um... hi everyone...” Jason said, waving at everypony. “I’m Jason, it’s nice to meet you all.” he stated, looking rather uncomfortable at the moment.
“I knew it!” A mint colored unicorn shouted, pointing her hoof at him. A cream colored Earth Pony next to her face hoofed, shaking her head.
“So yer the hoo-man AJ was tellin’ me about.” Granny Smith said, moving over to Jason, sizing him up. “Well go on.”
“Go on what?” he asked, looking rather confused.
“Turn into a pony already!”
“Ok ok, theres no need to yell.” he grumbled, going through the Omnitrix before bringing his palm down on the dial, transforming into an Earth Pony again. Everypony in the room gasped, staring at him.
“It’s okay everypony,” Twilight called, gaining their attention. “Jason can turn into other creatures but he is not a changeling. There is no danger,” she said, giving them a smile.
“Hmm...” Granny Smith said, grabbing Jason’s head, turning it this way and that. She opened his mouth, inspecting his teeth. She finally released him, pleased with herself. “Eeyup,” she said, nodding her head.
“‘Eeyup’, what?” Jason asked, rubbing his jaw, probably thinking the old mare was mad.
“Yer an Apple all right,” she replied, a smile breaking out across her face.
Jason couldn’t help but smile back, blinking as several ponies, including a small yellow pony with a bow, a large red stallion, Applejack and Pinkie Pie all hugged him.
“Um...” he started, looking at them all, not sure what to do.
“Welcome to the family, Jason.” Applejack said, a grin on her face.
“Yeah... thanks...” he said, nodding and giving them a blank look.
“Now let’s party!” Pinkie Pie shouted, tossing confetti into the air, causing the other party-goers to cheer. The hug broke apart, leaving a very confused Jason standing there.
“What... just happened?” he asked, turning to Twilight.
“I suppose you just officially became a member of the Apple family,” she giggled before rubbing her chin. “You know... you scanned me as well...doesn’t that make you a remember of my family?”
Jason just groaned, facehoofing. “Thats not how it works!”
“That also means you’re related to Spike and Rainbow Dash.”
“Gah!” Jason shouted, much to Twilight’s amusement.
***
“Well, that was fun,” Jason said, sweeping up some confetti. The party had started out a bit awkward but once Twilight assured them he was safe, things lightened up.
“Ah got ya set up in the guest room, Jason.” Applejack came down the stairs, a bit of a bounce to her step.
“Thanks Applejack, but Twilight is letting me stay in the library,” Jason replied, emptying the dust pan.
“Oh no, yer an Apple now Jason, yer gonna stay here on the farm and that’s that,” she said, giving him a stern look. “Sides, ah already talked to Twilight and she ok’d it, long as ya go to the library for lessons.”
“Fine, if you insist,” he said, rolling his eyes. He put the broom and dust pan away, wiping his hands on his pants.
“Hey um... Jason?” a small voice asked.
He blinked, looking down, seeing the little filly from before. Apple Bloom if he wasn’t mistaken.
“What is it?” he asked, kneeling down, looking into her eyes.
“Well... mah school is havin’ a family day tomorrow and AJ and Big Mac are gonna be busy and Granny Smith went last year... would ya mind goin’?”
Jason frowned rubbing the back of his neck. These ponies were going way too far with the family thing but he found himself unable to ignore those sweet eyes she was giving him.
“All right, I’ll do it...” he grumbled out, looking at her. While he was expecting the smile on her muzzle, he wasn’t expecting her to nearly break his neck with a hug.
“Thank ya so much!” she said before letting go of him and running off.
“These ponies are gonna be the death of me...” Jason coughed out, rubbing his neck.
Deciding to turn in for the night, he moved upstairs, heading to the guest room. He kicked off his shoes before flopping onto the bed, letting out a sigh. Being 5”8’, his legs hung off the bed, dangling in the air. The room was mostly bare, having only basic furnishings.
He kicked his jeans off, curling up. Thinking back on the day, a smile started to grow on his face. While he thought they were nuts, the fact that they were willing to take him in as family while having barely known him was something that he never expected.
“It’s good to have family...” he mumbled to himself, slipping into the realm of dreams.