Like I was saying, I need a place to stay.I thought that once I got out of that damned jungle, I would just go straight home. I might have even had a party. But no, I get a world full of colorful ponies. This is not what I expected, nor what I wanted.
I looked around the plaza and saw the shops and houses lining the circle of the meeting place.
‘Hmm. Looks like nobody’s here. Ah well, I guess I’ll just wander around town.’
I began to wander the streets of this small town. I turned around a street corner and ran into a small filly. The small thing fell on her back while I nearly tripped over her. Luckily, I caught myself.
She looked up and yelped in surprise. She steeled herself and got up with an annoyed look on her face.
“Get out of the way! Please, just move!” She yelled.
Just then a group of three colts strutted over. “Hey! Apple Bloom, why are you running?” One said with a threatening glare at the young filly.
Three colts looked just a little bit older than her. The biggest was a deep red color. The two in the back were lime green and bright orange.
“Go away!” The filly that I suspected as Apple Bloom said.
The three older colts gave her harsh stares as they walked over to her.
Now, I don’t like bullies. I wasn’t bullied back home, but I saw them. I tried to bully me, but I fought back. Once one tried to punch me, I flipped him over me. I don’t like to fight so I just walked away in silence. Everyone saw it so nobody tried it again.
I decided to defend this little girl for two reasons. One, I don’t like bullies and two, because I don’t like ponies, so this just pissed me off.
I stepped in front of the filly. “Why don’t you back off, kids.”
“Oh, you got your big ape to defend you Apple Bloom? Can’t you fight your own battles?” The red one said.
Much to my surprise, they walked up to me. These kids were pretty tough to walk up to a bigger foe.
The red one charged me. I simply side-stepped and watched as the colt headbutted a brick wall. There was a dull thud as he face planted the dirt. He stumbled back up with an embarrassed look on his face. I picked him up by his leg, he hung upside-down as I stared at him.
“Why don’t you three run along? It would be a shame if I, I don’t know, drop you.” I told him with a threatening tone. I let my grip slip a tiny bit.
“Y-you w-wouldn’t.” he dared.
I let his foot slip even more. He let out a scream. “Okay! Okay! I’ll leave! Please, let me go!”
I placed him down and he scurried off after his friends.
I turned to the young girl. “You’re welcome” I said before she could recover.
“Oh, thank ya mister!” She said with a grin and a thick southern drawl.
Her smile morphed into look of confusion. “Hey mister, What are ya exactly?”
“I’m a human.” Great, I bet I will be saying that a lot.
“What’s a human? You sure look weird!” She exclaimed.
“Yep, I do look weird. But you are weirder than me by far.” I said to her.
“Am not!” The filly insisted.
“Are too!” I joked back.
“Am not!” Apple Bloom growled.
“Jeez, okay you aren’t!” I said.
“Okay, now that that’s cleared up, Ah want to repay ya!”
“Oh ya, with what?” I asked. She wouldn’t have anything that I needed, so I thought it was best to amuse her.
“Hmm, why don’t you come over for dinner?” She said happily.
“Are you sure? Wouldn’t your parents be angry that you’re bringing home a stranger?”
“But ya aren’t a stranger! You’re my friend!” She said insistently.
‘What harm can it do?’
‘But,i don’t even like ponies.’
But this one doesn’t seem that bad. Plus, I’m getting a free meal!’
‘Fine, but I can’t believe that I am going to eat with ponies.’
“Fine, what is for dinner?”
“Ah don’t know, let’s find out!” She said as she bounced off happily towards an unknown destination.
I followed behind her down a dirt road that lead to the outskirts of town. She trotted down the road until we passed a sign that said ‘Sweet Apple Acres’. She strolled onto the massive farm with me following right behind her.
It was a weird sight walking onto a farm. Not just because of the ponies, but just the idea of being on a farm. Back where I am from, there were no farms near me. I lived in an urban area where walking anywhere but a mall was unheard of. This huge farm was alien to me as I walked up.
What caught me really of guard was the smell. Everyone thinks that a farm smells like animals and all that. But this particular farm had the sweet fragrance of apples. I mean the name says it, but it doesn’t do it justice. The air was just so sweet, it was had the aroma of sweet juicy apples. It made my mouth water.
A big red barn came into view as we continued down the trail towards the big farmhouse. Apple Bloom kept bouncing up the steps of the porch of her house. Apple Bloom swung the the front door open and called out, “Applejack! I’m home and I brought a friend!”
The smell of the kitchen hit me like a freight train. I stopped dead in my tracks as the scent of the baked goods filled my nostrils and I practically floated inside. I barely noticed anything but the fragrance.
“Oh really Apple Bloom? Who is your frie-” She stopped and stared at me mouth gaping. She let out a loud high-pitch yelp.
I jumped back in surprise, though I should be used to this by now. It has happened to me more than I would’ve liked to admit. I hit my head against the door.
“Ow!” I yelled.
I clutched the back of my head.
‘Stupid concussion!’
Applejack’s hooves slipped across the wood floor making it look like she was slipping on ice. She fell on her backside with an embarrassed look. Applejack quickly got up and never stopped eye contact. She stared at me, terribly confused. She examined me, craning her neck up and down while circling me.
“What are ya?” She finally asked.
“I’m a human.” I said, bored.
“A what now?”
“Are you seriously going to make me repeat myself.?” I huffed.
“Sorry, but yer jest so weird lookin’.” She said in a somewhat apologetic tone.
“Are you making fun of me now?” I said in a fake anger.
“Sorry again.” She said.
“Well, I’m Derek. And you are?” I said.
“I’m Applejack, it’s a pleasure to meet ya!” She said with little to no gusto.
“And you.” I said with a noticeable coldness in my voice.
“Hey Derek, do you want to see my clubhouse?” Apple Bloom beamed.
“Uh sure, where is it?” I said.
‘Thank god, that was annoying. Anything to get away from her.’
“Follow me, we have to go into the fields.” She said happily.
“Okay, lead the way.” I said.
We walked through the fields on a mildly used dirt path. My thoughts wandered as I followed the filly.
***
“Come on Derek! We have to go!” Rachel said.
“Fine.” I replied as I hopped into the passenger seat of the car.
We drove along the road listening to The Offspring. This song was a particular favorite of mine, it was called You’re Gonna Go Far Kid. The song was amazing, too bad Rachel wasn’t as excited as me though. I knew every lyric and I sang along with the song. Rachel looked over and chuckled at me.I smiled back and continued singing.
The song finished and the radio station played the next song. I have heard it before, but it wasn’t that good. I looked out the window and watched the passing highway. She was taking me to her favorite restaurant. It was a small place by the marina. The place was a small mexican grill.
We stopped at a red light.She turned to me and smiled, “I love you.”
“I love you too, but why are you telling me now?” I asked.
“I don’t know” she said happily.
“Um, okay.” I said, “The light’s green.”
“Thanks.”
She pulled into the intersection. I turned my head and looked out the window. I was completely shocked by what I saw. I gazed at the oncoming semi truck, everything seemed to slowed down. I turned back to Rachel and put my arms around her. I shut my eyes and the next thing I knew was metal crunching against metal. The car flew into the air and I felt the sensation of being thrown. I felt the car slam into the ground and start to roll. I felt pain all over, but protecting Rachel was more important.
The car slid on its roof and slammed into a brick wall. I looked down at an unconscious Rachel and saw that she had cuts and bruises all over. My vision blurred and darkened. I slumped over her and blacked out.
***
I shut my eyes and forced back the images. I put my hand against a tree and covered my eyes.
“Are ya okay Derek?” Apple Bloom asked.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m fine.” I said.
“Are ya sure?”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I reassured.
I straightened up and continued down the trail.
We finally made it to her tree house and she showed me around. I had to duck my head because the ceiling was so low. She told me about her friends and a club that they had. Something about the Cute Marking Musketeers.
“And that’s our idea spot.” She concluded, gesturing to the spot where I was lying.
“Cool” I said trying to sound amused.
“It’s gettin’ pretty dark. We should git back to mah house.
“Yeah, let’s get back.” I said.
***
We made it to the house a little after the sun went down. Apple Bloom opened the door and bounded in. I followed her in and saw Applejack and a big red pony that I saw earlier in the barn. They were both giving me hard glares.
Just then a purple unicorn walked in and yelped. Luckily for me she quickly recovered. Unluckily, she recovered to a fighting stance and blasted me. The purple aura that came from her horn slammed into me and sent me flying. I soared through the air and hit the wall across the room.
I coughed and lifted myself up onto my arms and knees,
“What the fuck was that?” I yelled.
“Twilight, calm down! I don’t like him very much either, but ya don’t need ta kill him.” Applejack said in a thick southern accent.
“What is that?” Twilight asked.
“That? You mean him! And I’m Derek by the way! Who the hell are you?” I said.
“Um, Applejack?” Twilight pleaded.
“Yeah Twi, this is the human I told ya about.” Applejack said.
“Oh, this is the human. Hmm” Twilight looked me over.
She didn’t have the normal weirded out look, she had the look similar to one of a mechanic looking over a part. She oohed and ahed over me like I was some piece of machinery that she hasn’t seen before.
Suddenly my phone went off, telling me it was on.
“What the hell?” I said while I pulled out my phone.
The symbol went away and my lock screen came up.
“This died months ago!” I said excited.
“Uh, what is that?” Twilight asked, leaning over my shoulder.
“It’s a phone.” I said quickly.
‘Wow, that was dumb.’ I thought to myself.
“It calls other people, sends messages and this one plays music and other stuff.” I continued.
“Really? All that on a small device? What kind of magic is used for that? It must be strong.” Twilight send.
“It isn’t magic, it’s electricity. It is hard to explain.” I said.
I pulled out my earbuds which I used for some lose rope while I was in the wilderness. Luckily I kept them, now I could use them. I plugged them in and turned on one of my favorite songs.
“See, look!” I gave her an earbud and hit the play button.
I looked up and saw her. She was very intrigued by the little device. I changed a couple of songs to show her more.
“Why don’t you come over to my library. I want to study that device and learn more about you.” Twilight asked.
‘Ah crap, how do I turn her down?’
“Um well, I need to find a place to stay the night. So, I better start looking.” I said.
This was a total lie, I didn’t even have money or a plan.
Twilight shifted on her hooves and then said, “Why don’t you stay the night at the library?”
Shit.
“Um, okay. Fine I’ll stay.” I said reluctantly.
“Okay well lets get going.” Twilight said.
She seems a bit hasty about getting home.
‘She better not freaking experiment on me!’
We left the farm and went into town.
“This way.” She said, leading me over to a library.
‘Really? A library? I didn’t expect her to be that nerdy.’
'Ok, just one night. I can do this.' I thought to myself.