As the trio of friends proceeded along the dirt road to Ponyville, Marcus continued to think about how the inhabitants would think of him. After the CMC's attempt at capturing him and branding him as some sort of monster, he didn't feel very confident that the ponies of Ponyville would think any differently.
The thought played with his mind, as he started to lose sense of his surroundings as he walked. Doubt began to cloud his senses, before a familiar voice snapped him out of his depressing trance.
"You feelin' alright, Mark?" Applejack asked in a concerned manner.
"Huh--? Oh... y-yeah, I'm fine." Marcus replied, still focused on his worries.
"...Somethin' on your mind?" Applejack replied.
"It's... it's nothing. I'm just..."
"...Yes?" Applejack questioned.
Marcus paused for a minute, hesitant to admit his fear of rejection. His mind flashed back to his life back home, where no one else accepted him, or even attempted to understand him. He held his fear inside, not wanting to risk rejection from his newfound friends.
"...You don't have to be afraid to say what's botherin' ya'. You been actin' funny the entire walk over here, there's gotta be somethin' goin' on. You can tell us, that's what friends are for." Applejack insisted.
"Yeah!" Applebloom added.
Marcus felt a bit more reassured after hearing this. No one has ever said anything like that to him for as long as he could remember. With a bit of courage and fortitude, Marcus informed Applejack about what was bothering him so much.
"...What are they going to think of me, Applejack? I'm sure your friends haven't run into anyone like me either, and I doubt that they'd want anything to do with me..."
Applejack thought about this for a moment. True, she hadn't ever met anyone like Marcus before, and she could probably say the same for her friends, if not all of Ponyville. If not all of Equestria itself. Regardless of this fact, she assured him that everything would work out for the better.
"Ah, don't be thinkin' about that nonsense! You'll get along fine with 'em! Sure, you look a bit different than everypony, but looks ain't what matter! Personality's what counts most, right?" Applejack happily replied, still with a bit of uncertainty.
"Y-yeah... thanks..." Marcus replied, trying to muster up a smile.
Marcus felt comforted by Applejack's words, but still couldn't help but feel a bit of doubt. Regardless, the three continued to walk down the dirt path, awaiting a mixed collection of reactions.
The town was now visible from a short distance, as the three knew that their destination was just ahead. Marcus gave a slight grimace, as he was still a bit nervous to head in and start making introductions.
"Welp, here we are!" Applejack exclaimed.
As they entered the town, Marcus noticed the rather large number of ponies that inhabited it. Such a pleasant society, living in small houses, huts, and shops. He also noticed that as soon as he came into view, the head of every pony in sight loomed in his direction. This was it. Judgment.
At first, the ponies didn't know what to think. They truly had never seen a creature like this before in their lives, let alone in their hometown. Some unsurprisingly fled, while others just stared, mouths agape. Others merely stood in place, observing Marcus' figure and movement.
Marcus knew that this would happen. How could it not? These ponies have never seen anything like him before, they probably saw him as some kind of hideous monster or other foul beast. Despite the reaction that he expected, Marcus simply walked alongside Applejack and Applebloom, focusing on helping them sell their harvest.
Applejack noticed Marcus' gloomy appearance, and immediately knew the problem. What he had feared now became a reality. Everypony had either fled or began to scrutinize him because of his appearance. She quickly attempted to perk Marcus up by reminding him of her friends that he would soon meet.
"Hey, Mark?" Applejack questioned.
Marcus slowly lifted his head, giving a lifeless glance at his friend.
"Yeah?"
"I know this ain't real welcoming so far, but I can tell ya' that it'll fix itself up in no time at all. Once everypony gets to know ya', they'll feel right silly for the way they've been acting!" Applejack cheerily exclaimed.
Marcus knew that she meant well, but still couldn't help but feel that he would be forever unwelcome, no matter what he could do to change their minds.
"And remember, we still got plenty of great ponies for you to meet! They'll be right happy to meet ya', no doubt!" Applejack added.
"...Right..." Marcus depressingly replied.
The trio walked into the town square as the ponies continued to flee. Applejack unhitched the cart she'd been carrying, and started to set up shop to sell the harvest. Marcus quietly sat down on the stone road, keeping to himself, while Applebloom ran off to find her fellow CMC members.
Some time passed, as Applejack noticed that not one apple had been sold. Not one single apple. Business normally bustled in the town square when she had sold the apple harvest in the past. She noticed that more ponies were glancing from the windows in their homes, afraid of the creature that was out there with her.
Applejack also began to enter a state of depression, knowing that she had brought Marcus into this. By this time, she had really began to doubt that the ponies would ever warm up to him. Before gloom had overcome both her and Marcus, a bouncy, pink figure started to travel towards them from one of the town streets.
"Applejack!" Pinkie Pie shouted, eager to see her friend.
Applejack instantly recognized the voice, and shot up to greet it. It was indeed surprising to find Pinkie outside while the other ponies hid indoors. She looked behind her to notice that Marcus was still seated on the ground, and moved in front of him to block Pinkie's view of him.
"Hey there, Pinkie!" Applejack replied.
"What's going on, AJ? I noticed that nopony was outside, which is really weird, especially this time of day, so I came over here to find out what was going on, and sure enough, here you are!" Pinkie exclaimed in her normal, hyper manner.
"About that," Applejack started, eager to introduce Pinkie to her newfound friend, "I got someone I want you to meet."
"Oh, how nice! Where is this fine friend of yours? It's not everyday you meet someone new!" Pinkie replied, impatiently waiting to meet this mysterious friend of Applejack's.
Applejack slowly moved to the side, revealing a depressed Marcus sitting on the stone road. Marcus glanced up at the pink pony, noting her poofy mane and hyper appearance. Marcus grimaced, and braced himself for her reaction.
"Hi there! My name's Pinkie Pie! Welcome to Ponyville! What's your name? Where are you from? How do you know Applejack?" Pinkie relentlessly rained a storm of simplistic and friendly questions upon Marcus.
Marcus' eyes started to grow wide open, as he was indeed shocked by the pony's reaction. She didn't scream, or run and hide. Instead, she greeted him without hesitation, and instantly tried to make friends with him.
"Uh... I-I..." Marcus stuttered, trying to muster up a reply through so much shock.
"Err-- His name's Mark, and he's... not from around these parts." Applejack cut in, happy to see Pinkie's hospitality. She started to explain Marcus' story, as Pinkie simply sat and listened, as Marcus added details to her telling.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, Mark! I can tell we're going to be best of friends!" Pinkie happily exclaimed.
"Pleasure to meet you too, Pinkie Pie." Marcus replied.
Marcus couldn't help but smile with cheer. After so much doubt, somepony had actually come up and had gotten to know him. It was a start, but it was a great start.
"Oh, look at the time! I better get going!" Pinkie shouted, as she began to leap and skip back up the way she came.
"Huh... that was... interesting..." Marcus began to state, still smiling.
"Hehe, yep. Pinkie's quite the... character, ain't she?" Applejack cheerily replied. "See? Everypony's gonna warm right up to ya' in no time at all!"
Marcus still remained smiling, reflecting on the happiness that had just been experienced. He had finally encountered a pony in Ponyville that wasn't afraid of him for his appearance. Somepony that didn't judge by looks, and wanted to get to know him for who he truly was. Somepony that cared. Perhaps this trip to Ponyville wouldn't be so bad after all.
"Tell you what," Applejack eagerly stated, "why don't we come back later in the afternoon to sell the harvest? For now, we can introduce ya' to the other great ponies 'round here!"
"That sounds great, Applejack." Marcus happily replied.
Applejack locked up the apple cart, as Marcus stood up. Marcus brushed the dust off of his jeans, as he confronted Applejack once more.
"...Applejack?"
"Yeah, Mark?"
"Just... thank you... thank you for everything." Marcus happily stated, remembering everything that Applejack had done for him.
"Ah, don't mention it. That's what friends are for, remember?" Applejack cheerily replied.
The two simply smiled at each other, and began to walk in the direction of the Ponyville library.