Achoo!
"Oh no, please don't tell me I'm catching a cold." I said waiting outside of the regal palace doors. "I do hope Twilight isn't going to be much longer, I really wanted to do some window shopping while we are in Canterlot."
Earlier today Twilight had received a letter asking her to travel to Canterlot to meet with Princess Celestia. I found out about this from Spike and met with her before her departure. I couldn't just let her leave all by herself so I asked to accompany her. Naturally she agreed and now here we are.
"I know Twilight said to wait right here but..." My lip grew a little numb from me biting it. I was considering to sneak off very quick and come back like I did during her last birthday party when, as if reading my thoughts, the doors opened. Both the Princess and Twilight stepped out still having their conversation.
"There's no need to worry Princess! I'll get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible." Twilight said in a manner I found to be quite bold.
"I knew I could count on you my most faithful student but please don't push yourself too hard, okay?" The Princess said obviously remembering the other times this happened.
"Heheh, right. I'll be careful." Twilight said looking embarrassed. With a nod the princess returned to the inside of her castle with the doors closing behind her.
"Well now shall we get going Rarity?"
"What!?" I said astonished that she would even think of leaving so soon. "Twilight! How could you even say that? We can't possibly leave yet."
"...but we finished what we came here to do." she said after taking a scroll out of her bag and adding a check to it. She then gave me a very puzzled look.
"Yes but now we have all of this free time to use, and I say we use it wisely... like letting your best friend Rarity buy some new accessories?"
"Oh I see..." She said smiling at me. "I did say we were going to be home tomorrow...so let's go then!" She said running off without me.
"What? Oh, it is on!"
* * * * * * * * * * * *
"Twilight, if you don't mind me asking, what was it the princess wanted to talk to you about?" I said while trying on a fabulous purple scarf that matched my mane to a T.
"Just a lot of usual things, but before I left she did tell me something odd." Answered Twilight while looking at a yellow sundress.
"Odd?"
"Yes she said that last night a light fell from the sky right into the Everfree forest."
"Oh my! Do you think it could be something serious?"
"I don't know, but the princess doesn't seem too worried about it so for now we wait and see what happens."
"Okay." I took off the scarf I was wearing and went up to the owner. "This will be all thank you"
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
I looked over the note over and over again but every time I would read it all I would see are the words, "You are not going back."
"Well that's a darn shame, and here I thought we could help ya out nice and quick," Applejack said placing her hoof around me. "Don't you worry now Sugarcube, if Twilight says she's gonna be here tomorrow then all we can do is wait for her."
"...but Applejack, Alan said he woke up in the middle of the forest. I don't think he has a place to stay tonight." Said the soft voice from Fluttershy.
"Oh that's no big deal. There's more than enough room at my place for another pony. How about it Alan?"
"A-are you sure? I don't want to be a burden to you. You don't really have to offer just because you feel you need to." I said looking at the ground.
"Alan, it's fine. I want ta help you. All you gotta do is wait here while I go tell my brother to get the guest room ready, okay?"
"Sure, okay." And with that Applejack trotted off with Fluttershy soon following after.
I was left alone with my thoughts.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"I hope she gets back soon. I'm getting tired and I think it's starting to get dark."
Ha! You actually think that pony is going to actually come back for you? Have you even seen how late it is now?
"I know it's late but she said she was going to be back soon. I trust her."
Do you really now? Isn't that what you said last time you tried making friends?
"No! This is nothing like what happened that time and we're not even friends. She just wants to help me get home"
Or so she says. Now you're outside in the middle of a town you've never been to and you're more gullible than ever. You can't make friends Alan. You know this. Just when you think you're becoming friends with someone they always leave. It's something you will just have to live with.
"No! This won't be like last time!" I yelled out loud gaining many looks from other ponies. "I believe her, and nothing you say will change that.
Ah so you admit you do think you're becoming friends. Well that's just too bad. Why do you say that when you know it's not true? You had your chance to make more friends than anyone could count! What makes you think this will be better than last time?
"Because all I have left is hope." I said feeling tears start to well up. I fought them back but a few still fell. I quickly wiped them away.
Fine! Do what you want. You do realize you can't hide from your thoughts. They will always be there Alan. Just because I say these things doesn't mean I'm not rooting for you. Until next time...
"Don't worry...there won't be a next time." I said to myself.
"Um...Sugarcube? Who are ya talking to?"
"Ah!" I jumped and nearly passed out when I heard the voice behind me. "Applejack?"
"Yeah, sorry I took so long. I had ta take care of a few things, but the good news is that my big brother said it'd be fine havin you over."
"Really? Do you mean that?" I said in disbelief.
"Ah course I do." She said with a chuckle. "Now let's get ah move on."
"Wait a sec Applejack." She turned around to face me. "Thanks for coming back for me. To be honest, I thought you were just going to leave me out here...I was wrong to think that at all." Applejack looked at me for a while before she spoke.
"Alan, ya got a lot tah learn about friends and considering you even thought that way must mean yer not used to it. Don't worry I'll be here tah help, every step of the way."
It wasn't long before we finally made it to Applejacks place. On the way there she told me about how the place she lives at is called Sweet Apple Achres. I thought it was an odd name until we finally arrived. Miles of apple trees stretched out as far as I could see. According to Applejack, she and her brother harvest all of them together.
As we walked into Applejack's home I immediately noticed the pictures of foals, stallions and mares who looked familiar, though I didn't know them. To once side was a quaint country kitchen complete with tea kettle on the stove and to the other was a well used living room, complete with a worn, but comfy looking sofa. As we walked, however, I kept catching something in the corner of my eye but when I turned to see what it was, it was suddenly on the other side making my head feel dizzy from trying to follow it. .
"Apple Bloom? Shouldn't you be in bed by now?" Applejack said before she stopped the one called Apple Bloom when she tried to run again.
"Aw but sis, ah was just curious. Ah wanted ta see the pony that was going ta be staying the night." Apple Bloom was a small yellow pony with a mane as red as an apple. She wore a pink bow in her mane as well.
"Well all right but only for a sec, okay?"
"Thank sis!" She turned to face me. "You're Alan, right? My name's Apple Bloom! It's nice tah meet cha."
"Likewise." I said
"Um..what?" but before I could say anything her direction was immediately drawn to the same place everyone kept looking at all day. "Wow! Mister, you don't have your cutie mark either? I didn't even know a pony could go that long without getting their cutie mark! Well never fear, because the cutie mark crusaders will..."
"Ah think that's enough Apple Bloom."
"...but I...Okay...see ya in the morning Alan." She said walking into what must have been her room.
"Well it's about time we hit the hay. You're room's at the end of the hall. Night Alan." Before I could even say anything she was already in her room too.
I entered the room Applejack told me to. It was a very cozy room with a bed and a nightstand. There was also a window too.
"Wow, Applejack is actually letting me stay here." i said turning off the light in my room. I looked at the bed a while before getting in. Even in a different body the bed still felt comfortable. I felt my eyes getting heavier and heavier until I fell asleep.
That night I had a dream about a memory. It was the memory of how I was sent to Equestria...and about the witch who accidentally sent me here.