//------------------------------//
// Chapter 5: My Inner Pony 
// Story: A Hidden Blade 
// by Hidden_Blade_Attack 
//------------------------------//

Spike was taking me around Ponyville, I wasn't interested but it was nice to get out. I kept an eye out for any weird activity, who knows how close Kram could be, for all I know he could be right under my nose. That was when I moved my glance to Spike. I would regularly think he is cool because he's a dragon, but he's purple. Not very cool and he is certainly not dangerous. 

"...And here is Sweet Apple Acres!" Spike said gesturing forward. I turn my attention to a farm with tons of orchards of apples. "Wow, seems like apples are big thing here." I said. It seemed most agriculture was aimed at apples and vegetables, I guess the ponies were limited, they had no need for meat products because they were herbivores. Which was a bummer for me. 

"Yeah, they are. Applejack lives there, she's one of the most hard working ponies I know." Spike added. "Really, how hard working?" I asked. "Very, she is very determined and tuff, she can take on any challenge!" Spike replied. Idea had just popped into my head. Of course electricity is probably not happening and red matter is far to out there...maybe I can get pony power. Like instead of a hamster, a pony running in a wheel!

Spike must have noticed my thoughtful face that would have seemed like I was curious to see more. "Want to meet Applejack?" He asked. "Yes, yes I would." I said as he began leading me to the farm. I would like to try to befriend her to see if I could get her to make me power if Twilight fails to produce a working spell. Spike began leading me to a pony I believe to be Applejack. 

"Hey Applejack." Spike said as we got to her. "Howdy Spike, who do you got there?" She asked referring to me. "This is Hidden Blade." Spike said introducing me. "Hello Applejack nice to meet you." I said extending a hoof. "Nice to meet you Hidden." She said shaking my hoof. I wasn't to happy to be called Hidden, I much preferred Blade. "What brings you two here?" She asked.

"I was showing Blade around Ponyville because he's new here, so I decided to bring him over." Spike replied. At least he knew not to say where I'm actually from. "Yeah, I recently had my house burn down so I came here to see what I could get." I added. "That's a shame, at least you seem alright. Hey, I could let you stay here in the barn. Of course you'd have to work it off." She said. "That would be perfect." I said. 

Spike gave me a questioning look. He didn't know where I was going with this but I did. "Do you still want me to show you around?" Spike asked. "Yes, but I'd like to see where I'm staying first." I answered. "Right this way." Applejack said leading me. I looked down at her legs. Her legs seemed like they could run fast, certainly fit and pretty muscular. I was just looking at her hind legs, they were stronger and looked they could pack a punch. 

I looked up more analyzing her to make sure she fit the role in my plan. My eyes landed on her rump. I quickly shot my gaze away. I don't know what would possess me to let my eyes trail there.  "Here we are, you'll be staying in the barn, I'll get it all cozy for ya." She said. I focused my gaze to the barn, it seemed decent, at least it was a roof over my head. "Thanks, I'll get to whatever you need me to do when I return." I told her.

"Alright, see ya." She said as I went back over to Spike. My watch beeped on my way to Spike. It was at 2%. I needed to get this tour over with and then see what Twilight has accomplished. If she fails to contribute than Applejack is my back-up. My plan is completely full proof as long as Kram doesn't get himself involved. I was following Spike out when we ran into another pony, Spike seemed to know them.

"Why hello Spike how are you, and who is this?" I heard a white unicorn say. Spike looked hypnotized by her words. She had an elegant way of talking and seemed to be much more fancy than most ponies I'v seen. "H-hi Rarity, this is Hidden Blade. N-need help with anything?" He stumbled over his words. He was obviously love struck. "Hello Hidden, what happened with your mane, its all messy." Rarity asked me.

"Hi Rarity. My mane looks like this because I just got through a house fire." I replied. "Oh my, are you alright?" She asked. "yes I'm fine. Things are looking up, Applejack just offered me a place to stay at her barn so things appear to be looking good." I said. "You must come to my boutique to let me deal with that wild mane." She said. I didn't figure it was that messy. "I'm fine, how I look is the least of my problems." I was starting to get sightly uncomfortable, all this kindness is unusual for me.

"come on. Let me do a little something with it..." She said. "Uh...f-" Before I could fully answer she already put her hooves in my mane and started playing around. It felt nice, it was like when my mom combes my hair, I don't want her to, but when she does it feels nice. I couldn't help but enjoy it so I moved my head into it. She took her hooves away and the feeling left. 

"Come on now Hidden your just like my cat when I pet behind her ears." She said. I felt my face grow hot, did I seriously just blush from these ponies!? I shook it out of my head and went back to serious. Spike was just standing there, no doubt admiring her. "I notice you don't have a cutie mark, is that because you havn't found your specail talent?" She asked.

What in the world is a cutie mark. I looked around desperately once again my eyes fell to a rump, this time of Rarity. I saw a the mark there reminding me of that there is to be one there. Than I turned to where mine should be and there wasn't and that is how I discovered what a cutie mark was. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything, don't worry yours will come." She assured me. 

Than we got locked onto one anothers eyes. I could tell she just wanted to make me happy as all of them have been. Why though, they should stay out of my business and stop toying with my mind!. I was about to say something I would have regreted when Spike broke my trance. "So Rarity do you need any help?" He asked. "Actually I do, follow me." She said leading him away. 

He ditched me, but his reasoning was fair. I supported it. I began walking lost in thought. He's better than me at that, my crush back in my world, I never even talked to her. I was too nervous, I never offered assistance or stopped to understand, I was to shy and busy. But when I was free from my lab and got some guts...it was to late, she had already found someone...and so I punished myself and never looked back at love, I locked it out and no human tried to breach. 

But now these ponies are piercing my shell of seriousness and human nature, their releasing my inner pony. I didn't like it at this point, I wanted nothing more than to get out and never return, but now, my inner pony has breached the surface. I have begun to feel...