//------------------------------// // Fox on the run // Story: The Rebel Son // by DrRockso //------------------------------// Looking behind me I could see the orange mare hot on my trail with a determined look on her face. “Mac help me out” she yelled to a large red stallion who was walking out of the house. Looking behind me I watched in horror as the red stallion galloped in behind her and gave chase. Right then I knew that there was no way in hell that I was going to outrun them. The best that I could hope for was to get beyond the farm and hide somewhere, but that would require running and lots of it. With no other option I continued to run as fast as my legs could carry me, my cowboy boots thundering on the ground as I tore off through the fields toward the hills in the distance. I looked behind me once again to see that the ponies had made up considerable ground and were now right on my trail. I’ve got to get to the hills I thought as I grimaced at how far away they were. Pushing through the burning sensation in my ankles I continued to sprint through the grassy field. I then heard a strange noise behind me and I turned to see the orange mare swirling a lasso around with her mouth. “Oh hell nah” I said as I turned around to see the first large hill come into view. Giving it all I had I started up the large hill, my leg muscle screaming in pain as I started the climb. I hadn’t got two foot up when I felt something grab my left ankle. Looking down momentarily I saw the lasso wrapped around my ankle before I felt myself being pulled back down the mountain with a mighty tug. The last thing I remember was tumbling back down the hillside hitting every part of my body on the way down. The sensation of cold water against my face woke me up as I let out a yell that soon turned into a choke from the water going down my throat. After coughing several times I looked up to see where the water came from. Hopefully I tripped out and fell into a creek back home. However when I looked up I saw the same orange pony who was joined by the large red stallion and next to him stood an older green pony who I assumed was their grandmother. “You caused quite a ruckus today youngin” the older green pony said with a unhappy look. “I’m……sorry” I said as I shivered at the water running down my chest. “Sorry don’t cut it mister” the orange pony said crossly. The red stallion nodded in agreement and offered a deep “eeyup”. “Wait you….you can talk” I said my eyes going wide as I realized that I was talking to horses. “Of course we can talk why wouldn’t we”? the older pony said once again. I soon swallowed the biggest reality pill ever, as I accepted that I wasn’t on Earth and that this was real. “If I broke anything I apologize, and I’ll offer my labor as payment” I said looking up to them with sad eyes. “Yah didn’t break anything but we still don’t trust yah” the orange pony stated. I sighed heavily “I wouldn’t blame you….this is probably the first time you’ve see my kind before” I said staring at the floorboards. “Yer darn tootin” the elderly pony said with vigor. “You see I’m not from around here……like this planet……heck I don’t even know what planet I’m on now” I said before biting my lip and looking down only to realize that I was tied up to a post. “What in blazes is he speakin” the green pony said looking to her grandchildren. “What do yah mean not from this planet” the orange said her green eyes looking deep into mine. “Where I’m from ponies don’t talk, nor do they farm or wear clothes” I said nodding to the orange ponies hat….”and their not sentient creatures…..” I said. This seemed to take the ponies back especially the last accusation. “You sayin we ain’t sentient”? the orange pony asked crossly. “No……I’m telling you I’m not from here……I just want to go home” I said looking down at the boards once again as a lone tear fell from my eye and stained the wooden board below. I had no idea what they planned to do to me….all I know is that I most likely wasn’t going home anytime soon. The sudden bit of emotion surprised the ponies as they looked to each other in confusion. They had caught burglars, thieves and even the occasional creature from the everfree forest but never anything like this. I continued to speak. “I was walking through the woods near my house, next thing I knew I’m waking up in this strange forest about 3 miles north of here and I found your farm……it was so cold out and I needed a place to stay bad so I stayed in the barn in the hay pile……..I wasn’t going to steal anything…..I was gonna leave before ya’ll woke up” I said still staring at the floorboards. “Is he telling the truth dear” the older pony asked her orange granddaughter. I looked up to see what they were talking about, before the orange pony started to trot over to me. Leaning away from her I felt the back of my head hit the support beam. The orange pony then looked me straight in the eye, her emerald green eyes sparkling in the sunlight as I soon found myself unable to look away. It seemed to me as if she was searching for something behind my eyes, almost as if she was looking into my brain. “Granny….ah can’t believe ah saying this but…..he’s tellin tha truth” she said looking over to her grandmother. “Are yah sure Applejack” the large red stallion asked. She nodded “Ah can tell a lie from the truth anyday…..ah am the element of honesty Big Mac” she said proudly. “If Applejack says your telling the truth, ah believe her” Granny said. “Why would I lie to ya’ll…..” I simply asked. “Beats me, we’ve had people lie to our muzzles before” Granny said. “If we let yah loose yah promise not tah go crazy” Applejack asked. “I promise” I said looking down at her. “Mac cut him loose” Applejack said. Holding a sharp tool in his mouth Big Mac cut the ropes that was holding the creature to the support column. Once I was free I collapsed to the group before standing up weakly. “Ugh why am I so weak” I said staggering. “Our friend Zecora made us a weakness potion but we never had tah use it till now….don’t worry it should pass soon” Applejack said her face switching from a judging look to a small smile. In fact it seemed the whole families mood had changed from serious to a more relaxed look. “Since we can trust you without the ropes would you tell us just what you are dearie” Granny asked. “Well my name is Andrew….and I’m a human from the planet Earth” I said simply gesturing with my arms out before letting them fall back to my sides. “Andrew... that’s a strange name” Granny said rubbing her chin with her hoof. “What about ya’ll’s names” I asked eyeing each one of them. “Oh where are our manners, ah’m Applejack, this here is Big Mac….this is Granny Smith and Applebloom’s not here right now but yah might meet her later” Applejack announced. “Why are ya’lls names so descriptive…..does it describe your personalities or somthin’ I asked raising an eyebrow as I continued to stagger back and forth on my feet. “Well our names just describe who we are, you can tell we’re tha Apple family from our names and our cutie marks” Applejack continued. “Cutie Marks” I asked confused. “There the marks we get on our flanks when we find out what our life purpose is”. “Do yah have a cutie mark by any chance Andrew”? Applejack asked me. “No…we don’t really have that….we have tattoos but they don’t reflect our purpose” I said. “Twilight’s sure gonna love talking to you” Applejack said with a chuckle. “Who” I asked. “My friend Twilight, she’s one of the Princess of Equestria, she’s kinda ah bookworm and all, but she a good friend”. “How many Princesses are in……..Equestria” I said. “Four actually” Applejack informed. “But enough about that, we should probably get yah inside, yah look like yah could use a meal partner” Applejack said. “Oh no I’m fine” I said. They probably eat oats and wheat, it would be rude of me to say I can’t eat it I thought. “There ain’t no use in fussin cause we’re cookin yah a meal anyway” Applejack said with a large smile. I sighed “alright nothing to much” I said as they helped me walk to the farmhouse which was connected to the barn. Man this is one strange place, first I get pulled through a portal, chased by sentient ponies, and now I’m about to eat breakfast with them I thought.