//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Time Flies // Story: Metal Bat: Equestrian Adventures // by The reluctant fan //------------------------------// The rest of the week passed by. Nothing was quite as interesting as Badd and Zenko's first day in Equestria, but that wasn't saying much. Rainbow Dash had started coaching Zenko on how to fly, and by the end of the week, she was able to at least fly slowly. Badd was rather jealous of his sister's wings, but he was also proud of her for adapting so quickly. As for how he himself was faring with his new body... well, it could be better, but it could certainly be worse. After a week of practice, he was able to run at full speed without tripping, and swinging his bat had become easier for him. It still didn't feel quite natural, but as long as the weapon hit and hit hard, he could care less. Of course, there were also issues. He had trouble utilizing cutlery. He was told he didn't need it and could just dig his muzzle into his food, but he would rather die than do that. He could hold a knife and fork, but actually getting a good enough grip on them was a lot harder than he thought it would be. Needless to say, he was often the last one at the table. There was also the first time he used a toilet designed for a pony, and he would bash anyone's skull in if they ever brought THAT incident up. There had also been some things of note that had happened. Badd and Zenko had learned at their welcoming party that all of the mares they had met on their first day in town were friends with each other. A rather odd coincidence, but they didn't dwell on it. The siblings had also been informed that many of the extended Apple family would be arriving for the Summer Sun Celebration. Of course, this was after some of them had already showed up. Once all of them had arrived, the house was absolutely packed. As such, Badd became a little uncomfortable at all of the stares and questions. He supposed that since they were staying with the Apples, their relatives assumed they were part of the family or something. What he wasn't expecting was for Applejack to make an announcement and name he and Zenko 'Honorary Apples'. Badd didn't know how to feel about that. Of course, Zenko was as happy as ever. Zenko had been over to Fluttershy's once or twice to look for a new pet. Badd had of course been against it, and had even prepared for Zenko's puppy dog eyes. Of course, he hadn't anticipated that that tactic would be enhanced with her bigger pony eyes, He swore he saw sparkles in them. So that day Zenko came home with a new cat that she had named Tama. Badd had originally been indifferent towards the feline, but for some reason it seemed attached to him. The cat would rub up against his legs and hop up onto him. At first he was nothing but annoyed at the animal, but it was persistent, and eventually, he decided to give it some attention. His heart immediately melted when Tama rubbed up against his hoof when he pet her. Rarity had finished with Badd's belt and jacket a couple of days after the party, and Badd was honestly astounded at how well they turned out. The belt was nice and sturdy, with a holder for his bat that didn't sag. The jacket was incredible. His... tattoo... was emblazoned across the back of it, and when he put it on, he was immediately reminded of home. He knew the material couldn't be leather, but it was very similar. Badd had also been spending some time getting to know Lyra and Bon-Bon. The two lived together, and Badd was starting suspect they were more than friends. He didn't pry of course, it was none of his business. Bon-Bon ran a sweets shop, and Badd concluded that her baking was just as good as Pinkie's. There wasn't as much sugar in her sweets, but Badd honestly preferred that. For as much as he loved Pinkie's cupcakes, they tended to give him stomach aches. Lyra was always enthralled by his tales of his life as a human and hero. Bon-Bon was still skeptical, but she had to admit that some of his tales were very detailed. Badd and Zenko were also getting to know the Apples better. Applejack had put Badd to work, showing him how to do what she called 'Applebucking'. "Ya hit the center of the trunk with enough force ta knock all o' the apples out o the tree, like so!" Applejack turned around, lifted her hind legs, and bucked the tree with a CRACK! The tree shook, and all of the apples fell down into the baskets below. She walked up to Badd with a smile. “Now you try! Just give it a nice hard kick!” Badd shrugged. It couldn’t be that hard. He walked up to an unharvested tree, turned around, lifted up his hind legs and… “I didn’t mean to! You told me to hit it hard!” “Ah didn’t know ya could uproot a tree with a kick! If ah did ah woulda told ya to take it easy!” Badd had kicked the apple tree so hard that it had come out of the ground. It was currently laying on it side, a hole where it used to be rooted in front of it. “Sigh. it’s fine Badd. Wasn’t yer fault, ya were just doin as ya were told. Ah can probably git it back in tha ground anyway. Just… don’t kick as hard from now on.” Badd scratched his head in shame as Applejack lifted the tree upright again. She thought to herself as she was lifting it. “Ah never thought ah’d meet a pony that’d make ME feel weak. Ah might just have to do somethin about that.” Apart from that little fiasco. Things at Sweet Apple Acres had been fine for Badd and Zenko. Big Mac had gotten used to them enough to the point where he said more than three words in their company, and Granny Smith had already started treating them like they were part of the family. Applebloom had hit it off with Zenko, and they went to play together every day. The little filly was also starting to see Badd as another big brother. She had even accidentally called him ‘bro’ once. She had been embarrassed, but Badd laughed it off and told her it was fine. He was secretly flattered that Applebloom already thought so highly of him. He had barely known the Apples a week and they were already treating them as part of the family. Hell, after Applejack’s announcement, even the extended family had been incredibly welcome. Ponies were certainly a lot nicer than humans, Badd decided. It was the day before the Summer Sun Celebration and Badd and Zenko were walking through town with Pinkie Pie. The energetic mare was bouncing around and jabbering nonsense as usual. Badd had found it obnoxious at first, but had gotten used to it surprisingly quickly. As they were walking. They saw a chariot descend from the sky. Two pegasus stallions wearing armor pulling it. “Huh, isn’t this princess supposed to be coming tomorrow? That looks pretty damn regal.” The chariot came to a stop in the center of the road and a purple unicorn and a small green and purple lizard stepped out. “Well that’s not the princess I’ve seen in books and pictures. Maybe some sort of official to make sure everything’s in order?” Badd and Zenko overheard the lizard talking to the unicorn ad they got closer. “Come on Twilight, just try!” The unicorn rolled her eyes, but looked at the trio and opened her mouth. “Um… hi?” Pinkie got a good look at the unicorn and lizard and gave a loud gasp before bolting off. The purple unicorn grunted. “Well THAT was interesting all right.” Badd chuckled at that. “Yeah, that pony’s crazy as hell. Anyway, I take it your new here?” The purple unicorn blinked at them, apparently not realizing they hadn’t left as well. “Oh, um, yes. I’m Twilight Sparkle. I’m here to check on preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration on behalf of Princess Celestia. “Yeah, I kinda figured given the royal carriage thing. Anyway, I’m Badd. This is my little sister Zenko. The crazy pink one that ran off was Pinkie Pie. She’s probably off planning some sort of party to welcome you to town. I’d keep an eye out if you don’t want to be bothered. Twilight blinked. She wasn’t expected to be warned about something like that. “I…see. Well it was nice to meet you mister Badd, but I must check in in the preparations. I need to visit Sweet Apple Acres to check on the food.” “Huh, that’s where we live. Mind if we tag along, we’re just about done in town anyway.” Twilight sighed. “If we’re going to the same place, I don’t see why not. Lead the way mister Badd, you would probably know where to go better than me. “Eh, probably. Hey, who and what’s the little lizard?” The ‘lizard’ crossed his arms and huffed. “For your information, I’m not a lizard, I’m a dragon! And my name is Spike!” Badd stared at the little dragon for a moment before he collapsed in a laughing fit. Twilight saw the spectacle and groaned. ”Great, and I thought I’d actually found somepony normal.”