The sun was falling and Marco trotted to the cottage. He was eager to do so till he heard a loud roar come from it.
Fluttershy walked out and sweetly looked at Marco.
"Sorry." Fluttershy whispered. "Harry has been vomiting since an hour ago and he can't stand the slightest sound so I emptied out the cottage of all the other animals."
Marco was about to speak when he saw a rabbit being flung out the window.
"Angel!" Fluttershy gasped and she immediately galloped to the vines in which the bunny fell in.
"Oh, that's fine Fluttershy." Marco replied. "It's okay, I'll find somewhere to stay till he's well."
"You're so kind!" Fluttershy said cheerfully as she lifted Angel out of the vines and onto the ground. "Harry should get better in a day or so."
Marco felt overwhelmed by the warmth in her gaze. He was so out of place in this land yet she was the kindest despite how cranky he's been in this land...
Too bad he wouldn't get to spend any more time with her tonight. He had to look for a place to sleep.
As Fluttershy quietly entered the cottage Marco took off and stopped at a huge barn. It seemed very suitable for him.
He ran down the trail till he galloped past the apple trees and saw an empty room where a dog was sleeping.
He snuck in an saw a big blanket under the dog's paws.
I definitely don't want to sleep on the wood and nails.
Marco walked over, avoiding the loose nails and put his mouth around the blanket and slowly pulled it out from underneath.
The dog growled in her sleep and Marco tensed, but held onto the blanket netherless.
He wrapped himself in it giving his wings space to stretch.
The next morning Star was awake in the bed that was once Twilight's, and loved the luxury of sleeping like a Princess again.
She opened up the blinds just a little to not draw attention from the residents who would probably be eager to interrogate her some more. She was ready to get ready for bed again when she froze as she spotted a pink unicorn with a purple and blue mane.
That's...That's Starlight Glimmer!
Star remembered the files where Twilight was at her village and when the pink mare used time travel in an attempt to alter the past. How could she just be strolling around in Ponyville?
Star grabbed her wand and bolted out of the castle, running till she was facing Starlight Glimmer.
"Hmm, oh hey!" Starlight greeted her. "Your Twilight's new student right?"
"Wildfire spell!" Star screeched, a huge blast of orange and red shot from the wand.
"STOP!"
Rainbow Dash leaped in time to grab Starlight Glimmer and fly them both out of the way.
The spell zoomed past till a huge explosion was heard in the Everfree Forest.
"What is wrong with you?!" Dash gasped.
"Uh...Twilight told me she was evil!" Star lied.
"Twilight?" Starlight whispered. "But we're friends!"
"You...you are?"
"C'mon Starlight, let's get you back home." Rainbow Dash reassured the shocked mare.
Star was about to chase after them when she saw two griffins in the sky.
That HAS to be a good reason to shoot at them!
Star picked up her wand and waved a freezing spell, but both griffins moved around it.
"It's me Gilda!" a voice squawked.
A brown female griffin leaped down from the sky and faced Star. A bigger black and white male griffin followed and snatched the wand out of Star's mouth.
"No!" Star hissed. "I'm the Princess's student! I need that!"
"Promise you won't attack us?" the male griffin growled.
"Promise!" Star grabbed the wand back and glared at them. "Why are you two here?"
"Gilda!" Pinkie Pie called, rushing over and bowling over the griffin. "What are you doing here?"
"Raised enough bits to fly over here, but I'm staying in Griffinstone." Gilda explained, her beak broke into a large grin. "I've made friends with all the griffins."
"So you're visiting?" Pinkie asked.
"Sorta." Gilda replied. "I came here to drop off my brother Grunt. He..."
"I broke into a fight with another griffin." Grunt huffed. "Got banned from Griffinstone. Thank goodness."
He glared unexpectedly at Star.
"Well..." Gilda murmured. "I heard Ponyville would take him in-"
"Absolutely no-"
"Yes!" Rainbow Dash replied, diving in between Gilda and the angry Star. "I heard everything when I got back on the clouds!"
"How convenient." Star hissed.
"Darnit, not another homeless pony!"
Marco leaped out of the blanket and faced a wrinkly old green mare with sharp eyes.
"Applejack!" She yelled. "Get the broom!"
"What, wait no!" Marco gasped. "Applejack knows me! She knows me!"
The dog Marco had disturbed the night before herded him into the corner growling.
Just fly away!
Marco leaped over the dog and the mare. He spreaded his wings but after a short distance he snagged his wing on one of the tools in the barn and tumbled into the grass.
"Cage him!"
"Granny Smith, we're not going to cage him!" Applejack snapped. "He's right, I do know 'em."
"He ain't a coltfriend is he?" Granny Smith muttered. "He's the lousiest pegasus I've ever seen!"
"Hey!" Marco responded indignantly. "I'm still learning!"
"Applejack's got a coltfriend?!"
Marco had no time to look behind him when a yellow filly knocked him over.
"I don't have a coltfriend!" Applejack exclaimed. "He showed up with Twilight's new student. His name is Marco."
"I just needed somewhere to sleep, I couldn't because Fluttershy's crazy bear was hogging the cottage."
"Fluttershy has a coltfriend?!" Apple Bloom squealed.
"What no!" Marco snapped, his face heating up. "I mean...she's single?"
Apple Bloom's jaw dropped in excitement and she nudged Applejack.
"I think he likes her!" Apple Bloom gasped in glee.
"Of course I...what?!" Marco stammered.
"You like my friend?" Applejack asked, narrowing her eyes.
"I...um, of course not!" Marco laughed nervously.
"As the Element of Honesty, I don't take too kindly to lying." Applejack replied, her eyes still sharp. "Big Mac, go ask Fluttershy when she'll have room for Marco."
"And say 'with great love, Marco'!" Apple Bloom teased.
"Eeyup." Big Mac grunted.
"Wait stop!" Marco shouted. "AUGH!"
Star glared at the feathery beasts talking to Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie.
She figured if she shot another spell with no good reason, the ponies would be much more than suspicious.
Grunt said goodbye to his sister and she began to fly back to Griffinstone.
"Try not to get into any fights okay?" Rainbow Dash asked gingerly.
"No promises." Grunt growled.
Marco looked up from his rest on the grass when he saw Applejack looking over him.
"This evening she should have space." Applejack answered.
"Did...Big Mac tell her that extra thing your filly said?"
"Filly? Ha!" Applejack laughed. "She's my little sister. And yes he did."
Marco froze up. "What did Fluttershy say?"
Applejack shrugged, her green eyes glinting. "He didn't tell me. I suggest for your night a' stay, get bucking barrels of cider."
Marco looked and saw Big Mac walking to a stack of barrels with one on his back.
"You're making me work for my stay?" Marco asked. "That you didn't even know about?"
"I suggest you get to it." Applejack replied.
Later in the evening
Marco carried the last barrel and saw a faint smile on Big Mac's face.
"Thank you." Big Mac said before stretching out and heading into the kitchen where Granny Smith was cooking.
Marco smelled the wonderful aroma and felt his stomach growl.
I've hardly eaten since I got here!
"Go ahead." Applejack laughed. "Ya earned it. Hope ya like grilled apple chili."
Marco dashed into the kitchen and almost knocked over the stray pans with his wings.
He had ate three whole bowls, almost rivaling Big Mac's four. Granny Smith had to make another pot of the stuff to feed the mares.
Then Applejack made 3 apple pies as she figured Marco and Big Mac would down several slices too.
But the former was sick from all the food he ate. Big Mac ate two slices and the mares ate lots of slices.
Marco was sprawled out on the grass outside when Angel hopped up to him and pointed in the direction of the cottage.
The food was delicious at Sweet Apple Acres, but I'm not up to working that hard for my stay.
Marco galloped ahead, it was almost more fun than running. He barely noticed Angel clinging onto his tail.
"Hey Marco." Fluttershy greeted him happily with a peaceful gaze that could sing him to sleep.
"Hello..." Marco whispered. "Um, you got the message from Macintosh?"
Fluttershy nodded.
"About that last bit he said..." Marco laughed nervously. "That was a joke from Apple Bloom."
"Oh?" Fluttershy's eyes flickered, then she laughed softly. "It was funny."
"So how's Harry?"
"He's hunting in the river as lively as ever." Fluttershy replied. "It's getting late. I already set up a blanket for you on the couch."
"Want some brownies?" Fluttershy asked. "Harry didn't eat all of them."
"I...would love that." Marco replied.
He followed her into the cottage and shared his time at Applejack's, and Fluttershy listened attentively the whole time.
Not once had Jackie nor Star crossed his mind that night.