//------------------------------// // Adjusting to a new Life In Equestria // Story: Guess This is Home Now // by Night--Mist //------------------------------// It had been a couple of weeks since Chad Harding had arrived in Equestria and had come to live in Ponyville. Word had spread quickly about what he had done for the Cakes, due to Pinkie Pie throwing a party for him to welcome him to their little town and he got blasted at least twice with her party cannon. The ponies all over Equestria had soon gotten used to the idea of a human living in their world, with a little help of the Princesses convincing them he wasn't a danger of course. Chad had gotten used to the idea of walking and talking with ponies, but no matter how hard he tried, he always had a feeling in the back of his head that he was still an outsider. He had begun to help the Apple family out with their daily chores and they had formed a strong bond that would was right up to the status of family bond, even though they had only met him a short time ago. He could still remember the first day he arrived on the farm with Applejack. Flashback "Well, it's been a might busy day for ya'll and me. Ah reckon it's time ta hit the hay," Applejack says. "I won't argue with that," Chad says as a huge yawn escapes his mouth. Just the the Door opens and they see Big Macintosh standing there as soon as he sees Chad he lunges towards him. "Big Mac, don't," Apple Bloom pleaded. It was too late. Big Macintosh was already pinning Chad to the ground as he says, "Applejack, run, Ah got the creature." "Now hold on just an apple pickin minute. Didn't ya'll get the letter Princess Celestia sent ta ya?" Applejack asks. "Heh heh, oops, sorry sis, Ah forgot to show Macintosh," Apple Bloom says, blushing furiously with embarrassment as everypony and the human look at her. Applejack face hoof's herself and Big Macintosh looks at Chad as he says, "This is, uh, this is awkward." Big Macintosh gets off of Chad and Applejack soon explains what happened. After hearing the whole story, Big Macintosh finally says, "Sorry 'bout earlier. Thought you meant ta bring harm ta my little sis." "Hey, no hard feelings. Was bound to happen to me sooner or later," Chad says, making every pony laugh. "Well for not bein a pony ya sure are a handsome young fellow," Granny Smith says. "You're too kind miss Granny," Chad says. "Oh, feathers on the goat, don't make me blush," Granny Smith says. The whole group laughs and soon Big Macintosh says, "Well let's show ya'll ta the spare bedroom, hope ya feel right at home here." "Thank you," Chad says. They soon bring him to his room he would be staying in and told the Apple Family he would help them out on the farm to pay them back for his time living there. None of them knew what was going to happen in the weeks to come but they knew the could face any surprises. End of Flashback He laughed at that thought, but in the last few nights, he had wondered, if he could be teleported to this world, who's to say that this magically advanced society, even though it was a pony society, wasn't able to transport to his world. He knew a good deal of magic and thought maybe there's a spell that could transport him back, if he could find a book about it. Then it clicked, Twilight might know if there is such magic in their world and if not her, then Princess Celestia would. After he had finished the last of his chores, he told Applejack he was going to head to Twilight's library after he got cleaned up. Applejack told him to be home by dinner, almost acting like she was his mother, but he went along with it and agreed. After Shock Wave got himself cleaned up and put his clothes on, he headed out the door to Twilight's library. Many ponies of the town greet him as he passes by, and he had become friends with all of them, so he is stopped by some of them for a quick chit chat on his way to the library. When Shock Wave finally made his way to the library he heard some clanging coming from inside. "Oh boy, she's at it again," Chad says to himself, remembering Twilight's friendship report freak out from two days ago. He then knocked on the door, and Twilight came to open it a few seconds later. "Why hello Chad, what brings you here today?" Twilight asks, quite calmly. "Twilight, what's all the commotion in there? It sounded like you were freaking out about your friendship report again. Please tell me that's not the case," Chad says, hoping he was right. Twilight giggles as Spike bolts past both of them and she says, "No, that's not it. Spike was just a little eccentric about his ruby missing. He was saving it for a special occasion. What that was, I don't know. Maybe his birthday that's coming in a week. Good thing I made a check list for that, or I probably would be freaking out just as much." "You make a check list for just about everything, don't you Twilight?" Chad asks. Twilight giggles once more, realizing he was right and says, "Enough about me and Spike. What was it you needed to see me for?" "Well, I know this is an odd question to ask but.... Do you know if there is any books about spells that can teleport you to other worlds or possibly other universes?" Chad asks as he walks in and closes the door. Twilight hangs her head low and says, "I'm sorry Chad. But there are no such spells." "Are you sure?" Chad asks, wondering how she was so quick to answer with 'no' instead of 'I don't know'. "Yes, I even asked the princesses for special permission to find any trace of it in the library at Canterlot. They gave me access to restricted sections and there was no trace of it in any of the books, new or old. I was hoping if I found it, then, if you ever asked to be sent back, we would be able to do so. I'm really sorry Chad," Twilight says. "Hey, don't worry about it. It's not like I don't like Equestria. I would say it's an upgrade from my home world. I just thought, if any of you ever became curious about visiting my world, I could take you there for a brief time, not that I think it would be a good idea, but I got to admit, you ponies are very persuasive," Chad says as he puts his hand on her shoulder. "But what about your family back home?" Twilight asks. Chad sighed and says, "Well truth is, my family died long ago. I was only ten when it happened but it was a heavy hitter for me. I had to take care of myself after they died and that's why I became a warrior, so I could protect others from harm, and and they would not have to go through what I did." "Oh, Chad I'm so sorry," Twilight says. "No need to worry. It's been a lot easier to let go of my past since I showed up. Though, I think I may be experiencing some side affects," Chad says. "What do you mean?" Twilight asks. "Well the longer I've been here, the more of my memory of my home world seems to fade. I don't think it's a bad thing, for there is some stuff I still remember that I would like to forget. Who knows, in a month, maybe even two weeks time, I'll may barely remember anything of my life in my home world. I'm not trying to raise alarm here, but this might be a way to help me adjust to this new life in your world, and trust me, I'd much rather stay here then go back to my home world," Chad says. Twilight was a little shocked to hear his explanation, but she was also happy that he was content with staying in their world. "Well, I hope it doesn't change your personality. You're really fun for ponies to be around. It was amazing how fast everypony warmed up to you around here," Twilight says. "Yeah, just wish I got a break from the media though. They're always so eager to ask a human warrior questions it seems. I sometimes wish I was little again, they rarely ever bug children, and I never had much of a childhood after my folks passed away. Kind of makes me bummed out sometimes, but no worries, I always find ways to occupy my time. Training with my magic is one of those things," Chad says. "Well I'm glad to hear that, so, is there anything else I can help you with today?" Twilight asks. "No, not really, I actually need to get back to the farm. I promised Applejack I'd be home in time for dinner," Chad says. The lavender mare giggles once again and replies, "Applejack seems to care a lot about you. You haven't been here that long and already she treats you as if you were part of the family." "Yeah, she and the rest of the Apple Family. Their pretty close knit and seems they extended that bondage to me in a sense, if you get what I mean," Chad says. "I do, and don't worry about it too much. Better to be on their good side rather than their bad side," Twilight says making them both laugh. "Well, I better get going. The suns starting to get low and I don't want to keep the Apples waiting," Chad says as he heads out the door. "Okay, oh and Chad, before you go, I thought you should know that Princess Celestia is going to be here two month's time to see how everypony and you have adjusted since her last time seeing you. She said she thinks it may be time, whatever she meant by that, I don't know," Twilight says. "Okay, thanks Twilight. See ya around," Chad says as he waves and then takes off for the Apple Orchard. "Bye Chad," Twilight replies as she wave back. After some long walking/jogging, Chad was just outside the Apple Orchard and could smell dinner cooking. As he got to the door he could hear tiny hooves galloping behind him. It was Apple Bloom and she seemed like she was running from something. He couldn't tell from the distance, but as she got closer he could see what she was running from. What the ponies called 'timber wolves' were running after her. "Help!" He heard her scream. He runs towards her and then grabs the wolves attention by throwing stones he had collected at them. They stop dead in their tracks as they look in his direction and he says, "Come on you big brutes, come and get me." He then darts towards the the apple trees and the wolves chase him in hot pursuit. He finds a tall enough tree with a low enough branch, and with the wolves closing in on him, he knew he would have little time to act. He soon grabbed the branch and swung up into the tree, and evades the fangs that nearly had him. He climbs to one of the high branches and watches as the wolves try to get their claws on him. While their attention is on him, Apple Bloom made it to the house and told the family of Chad's situation. He knew these wolves would not get bored fast and had to think of something to make them run away. Then it hits him, if he could focus his magic enough, he could create a fake imitation, or illusion, of what was called a manticore that he recently read and was told about and give the wolves a good fright. Soon he starts to focus and use his magic to create the best illusion he could of a manticore a few yards away from him and the wolves. For a few seconds, the wolves stand there and looking at it, until he made it roar and the wolves jumped in fright, scampering back to the Everfree Forest. Soon he makes the fake manticore disappear and jumps down from the tree, chuckling as the Apple family trots up to him and he says, "Something must have spooked them." The Apples laugh with him and Apple Bloom says, "Thanks for savin my flank." "No problem Apple Bloom. Besides, your family would never let me hear the end of it if you had gotten hurt," Chad says. "Darn tootin," Applejack and Big Macintosh says together. "Didn't know you had it in ya'll ta make a fake manticore. Ya'll almost had me convinced it was real. Looks like Twi's got some competition," Applejack says. "Hey now, I'm good, but I'm not that good.... yet," Chad jokes at the last part, making them all laugh. "Ya'll better stop showin off 'round here or you'll start to make me look bad," Big Macintosh says, giving Chad a light noogie. "I would never," Chad jokes as he pulls out of the noogie. "Alright you two, settle down, we had enough excitement for one evenin," Applejack says, starting to sound motherly again. "Well how about we get some grub? All that running and working worked up my appetite," Chad says. "I second that," Applejack says, having the appetite of a full grown stallion. "Were havin tomato soup, apple dumplins and apple fritters tonight," Granny Smith says. "Sounds good, oh, and lets keep this wolf encounter to ourselves. You know how much the media likes to harass me with questions. This will only give them more to talk about, " Chad says. "You can count on us Chad," Applejack says. The rest of the Apple family winks and soon all of them head into the house to get some food in their bellies before resting for the night.