Rarity barely heard the ringing of the bell signaling the entry of a customer as she rushed about in a blur of scissors and thread, checking a pattern here, trimming sleeve there, or quickly running fabric through a sewing machine. Stopping only every now and then to check a measurement with the cloth ruler draped around her neck.
Scootaloo happily bounced inside the shop with a stallion not far behind her: a pegasus with with a almost faded charcoal-colored coat and long, shaggy, barely styled white mane to match his tail. He bore a cutie mark consisting of a silver buckler with crossed short shorts placed behind it.
“Hello, darling, may I help you with something?” Rarity quickly asked as she rushed by, nearly knocking him over.
“No thanks, miss, I was just walking Scootaloo over. I thought since I had to pick up some things, anyway, I’d tag along to Sweet Apple Acres,” the Stallion answered with a smile.
“Oh, that’s right! I believe you’re Scootaloo’s father, Shade, is it?” Rarity said as she carefully clipped some loose thread.
“You believed right.” Shade looked around at the half-finished dresses scattering the room. “Looks like you’re having a busy day.”
“Very busy. I got a very big order from Canterlot, Le Bringé Fantasie wants to carry some of my designs.”
“Well then I guess we should leave you to your work.” Shade ducked under a pair of airborne scissors being levitated across the room.
“Sorry, dear,” Rarity apologized without turning around, too engrossed in her work to break concentration.
Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo approached Shade’s side. “Ready to go?” Scootaloo asked excitedly.
“Sure, come on.” Shade shot the two fillies a warm smile as he left the the shop with the two following close behind.
A mumble could be heard before the door eased closed, “Is your sister always this weird?”
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The bell over Rarity’s door nearly broke free of its hinge as Pinkie Pie bounced into the shop, a white stallion following cautiously behind her and taking note of his every surrounding.
“Hey, Rarity!” Pinkie Pie screamed, her voice echoing of the walls of the shop, causing Rarity’s ears to flatten against her head as she flinched and allowed the tools she was levitating to clatter to the floor. Duncan merely groaned and shook his head, he couldn’t get used to the sensitivity these new ears were granting him.
“Pinkie Pie, darling, haven’t I told you not to yell while I’m working?” Rarity answered, doing her best to regain her poise.
“Sorry, Rarity, but I wanted you to meet my new friend!” Pinkie said while pulling Duncan forward by his fore-hoof.
Rarity carefully looked Duncan over head to hoof, noting his appearance and scrutinizing it. Carefully considering everything from his mane style to his eyes color and build.
Duncan cleared his throat, attracting her attention. “My name is Duncan MacLeod.”
“And I am Rarity, “ she answered as she continued to look him over. “Well, Darling, not many stallions can pull of a long mane, but you’ve done it quite well. Your tail is a bit messy though, maybe a slight trim and styling.”
“Maybe later, miss.” Duncan nervously backed away, eyeing the door.
“At least let me make you a suit, you’d look positively dashing in formal wear,” Rarity said as she levitated some dark fabric next to Duncan, comparing their colors.
“I’m really in quite a hurry-” Duncan was cut off by Pinkie before he could finish.
“Can you do it later? I want to finish showing him around, so I can hurry up and throw him a party,” Pinkie said with a frown.
“Don’t you think he should look good for the party, dear?” Rarity said, trying not give in.
“Pretty please?” Pinkie gave the biggest blue puppy dog eyes either of them had ever seen.
Rarity struggled to keep her resolve strong, and to avert Pinkie’s pleading gaze. she failed, “Oh, okay, but I’m finished with you too. I have already have too many great design ideas to let got to waste! Maybe I can start now and adjust the measurements later...” Rarity trailed off as she began sketching something.
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The smell of apple trees filled the air as the three approached the farm’s front gate. Their sweet aroma was faint at first, floating on the cool breeze, but thickened as they entered the orchard. Its thick scent was owed to the freshly ripened apples ready to be collected. The sound of hooves slamming into wood, and apples tumbling in baskets sounded from further down the dirt path.
A familiar red station came into view as they neared the house. He trotted along the road balancing a large basket of Apples on his back. “Hello, girls,” Big Mac said as the fillies trotted up.
“Hello, Big Macintosh,” They both said in unision.
“Applebloom’s waitin’ for ya’ll in the clubhouse.” Big Mac gave them a smile.
“Thanks.” They both answered as they ran off.
“How about Cutie Mark Crusader hang-gliders,” Scootaloo could be heard saying as the two ran down the trail.
I feel like I should be worried by that, Shade thought as Big Mac looked on, his face betraying a similar thought.
Big Mac finally turned to Shade, “What can ah help ya’ll with?.”
“Just a couple bushels of Apples,” Shade answered, letting out a sigh as the two fillies disappeared from sight.
“Come on up to the barn, ah can loan ya’ll a cart to get them home.” Big Mac offered
“Thanks, I’d appreciate it.” The two began to head up the path, Big Mac leading the way.
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Bright red apples glinted in the trees lining the old dirt farm path. A red barn with white trim loomed in distance. A large stylized picture of a pink mare’s face adorned the side, smiling a welcoming smile down at vistors. Oversized doors sat wide open, almost greeting the two as they approached.
“Ya’ll can borrow one of the small carts,” Big Mac offered as they stepped onto the soft straw floor of old barn.
“Thank you, that should be helpful,” Shade replied, glad to not have to carry several pounds of apples all the way back across town on his back.
“Y’all can take the one back there, it’s already loaded up.” Big Mac pointed a hoof to the far corner of the barn, where a old cart loaded with fresh apples sat.
“Thanks again.” Shade made his way to the cart and began to hitch himself up.
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“This place is kinda nice,” Duncan said as he followed Pinkie through the farm’s gate.
“I know, right? My friend Applejack is the best farm pony I know. Of course, I don’t know that many farm ponies...” Pinkie trailed off into thought as the two trotted along.
Duncan merely surveyed his surroundings in silence: half enthralled by the seeming endless expanse of Apple Trees on the horizon, and half worried about the task looming ahead of him. Maybe with Pinkie’s help, he could make allies here and hunt that thing down. Before he could think too much more, a voice caught his attention.
“Hey Pinkie, how y’all doin’?” It was a female voice, bearing a thick southern drawl.
Duncan looked up the path, using a hoof to shield his eyes from the sun. A mare with a nearly pastel orange coat, and long, blonde mane and tail stood at the crest of the hill.
“Hi Applejack, I just wanted you to meet my new friend!” Pinkie ran up the hill, Duncan keeping his slower pace, not far behind.
Applejack looked on past Pinkie in Duncan’s direction as he approached. “Howdy there, ah’m Applejack and welcome to Sweet Apple Acres, home of the best darn apples in all of Equestria.” She held out a hoof towards him.
Duncan grabbed it as he walked up, getting caught in a surprisingly firm hoof shake, “I’m Duncan MacLeod. Beautiful place you have here.”
“Why thank you kindly, sir. Say, if you don’t me askin’, where are y’all from? Ah’ve never heard a name quite like that before,” Applejack said as she finally let go.
Duncan shook his aching hoof and gave it some thought. “I’m from a place pretty far away.”
“What brings y’all here?” Applejack questioned.
“I was looking for someone and got a little lost.” Duncan carefully answered.
“Where were ya’ll supposed to meet them?” Applejack smiled as she spoke,
Duncan could read her expression as one of sincerity. She just wanted to help. He couldn’t risk spilling the story yet, though. “You know, in all the rush she forgot to tell me.I was hoping I would catch up.”
“That’s wasn’t a very friendly way for a friend to act,” Pinkie Pie interjected as she quickly shot up between the two, “She should apologize for being so rude.”
You have no idea. “She was just in a bad mood for some reason I couldn’t figure out,” Duncan said, trying to not betray the true nature of the situation.
“That’s no excuse to be such a meanie pants.” Pinkie pouted and crossed her forehooves as she sat down on her haunches.
“Now, sugarcube, I’m sure she didn’t mean nothin’ by it,” Applejack calmly said to Pinkie.
I wish that were the truth. Duncan did his best to stifle a nervous chuckle at her words. That thing had meant everything by it.
Without warning the three were interrupted by by three young voices screaming in unison. Duncan quickly turned his attention to the approaching cries in time to see three young filles dart past in a blur of white, orange and yellow. A deafening roar soon followed, it’s owner quickly approaching. Duncan turned his attention away from the three, who were now hiding behind the two older mares, and to the source of the beastial cry.
A creature, resembling a massive lion with a scorpion's tail and bat-like wings, charged into view. And I thought this day couldn’t get much worse. Duncan braced himself and glared at the beast.
“Well, girls, looks like Cutie Mark Crusaders monster tamers wasn’t a good idea,” one of the fillies muttered.
“I swear you three get into more trouble than ah I could ever imagine was possible, and where did y’all find a manicore?” Applejack stepped closer to Pinkie, attempting to further shield the three.
Duncan quickly jumped back out of the way as the manticore took a swipe at him with a paw full of razor-sharp claws. Not deterred, the creature raised its tail high, preparing to strike. Duncan felt it’s rough armor brush over his side as he narrowly avoided it, causing the stinger to embed itself deep in the dirt. That would’ve been painful.
Dodging another swipe of the beast’s claw, he swung around and let loose a kick with his back legs. His hooves connected with the creatures jaw, dazing it. Without so much as thinking of what he was about to do, he used the opening to leap on the creatures back. His hooves held firmly around its neck as it kicked and bucked like a raging bull. Looks like that time I spent in the rodeo circuit back in the 1980s paid off.
“What in Tarnation are ya’ll doing?” Applejack called up.
“Who-hoo, ride em’ cowcolt!” Pinke Pie shouted as she bounced up and down.
“Just thought I could use the exercise!” Duncan called as the manticore took off, with him still holding on tight. It was in that moment that he realized there’s something different about the world when you’re clinging for dear life to the back of a mythological beast. Sure, he had ridden on horseback many times in his long life, even been on a motorcycle a couple times, or a raging bull, but this was somehow surreal. It was also that he noticed the grove of apple trees straight ahead.
As the beast reach the first tree it shifted hard to the right, trying to knock Duncan into it’s trunk. With a mighty crack it slammed into the tree, Duncan shifted out of the way, barely avoiding being crushed as smashed bark and wood chips filled the air. He forced his eyes shut, knowing he was in deep trouble if the debris managed to blind him. He flinched as a stray apple made contact with his head.
“Are ya’ll okay?” Applejack called out.
Duncan looked around, noticing a blur of orange weaving around the trees to his left out of the corner of his eye. She must have caught up.
“I’m fine, where’s Pinkie and those three kids?” he called back, not turning his head or breaking his concentration.
“I told ‘er to get up to the house so I could rescue you.” He couldn’t see her face, but something told him she was grinning.
“What’s makes you think I need rescuing?” he said back with a chuckle, turning his attention towards her.
“Maybe that tree branch over yonder?”
Duncan averted his eyes forward in time to see a low hanging branch approaching fast. I’m going to have to time this right. Without even waiting long enough to regret it, he climbed to his hooves and lept forward, gliding over the branch as the beast passed underneath. Without barely a second to spare, he landed hard on its back as he cleared the obstacle, letting his limbs straddle its back and neck once more.
“If you pardon me askin’, who exactly are you?” Applejack called, curiosity mounting in her voice.
“I’m a antique dealer!” Duncan called back with smirk.
“I’ve been to a few of them there shops with Rarity, but I don’t recall ever seeing the shopkeepers doing anything like this!” Applejack dodged another tree as she spoke.
Duncan gave a chuckle in reply, “maybe we can talk once I get off this thing.”
“Ah have a idea!” Applejack grabbed the lasso draped over back in her teeth, and began to twirl it in the air. With one fluid motion, she flung it through the air, landing it around the beast’s neck. It came to a halt, pulling with all its might to get free. Applejack pulled right back, her hooves dug deep into the earth as he braced herself. It took all her might to even hold the beast at bay, the strength and determination gained from a lifetime of farm work aiding her efforts.
“Get down from there while I can still hold em’!” Applejack shouted through the rope clutched tightly in her teeth.
Duncan lept down off the beast’s back and darted over to her side.
Applejack let out a grunt as her hooves dug in even deeper. “Quick, help me get this thing tied up!”
Duncan quickly took the rope in his own teeth and began to pull. He found himself quite impressed by the creature’s strength as well the mare’s.Even with her help, dragging this thing around was like trying to move a mountain. He couldn’t imagine how much power was in that deceptively small form for her to hold this back by herself.
Slowly, by working the together, the two managed to drag the rope to a nearby tree.
“Hold er; steady and I’ll tie this sucker up,” Applejack shouted.
Duncan did his best to nod his head in agreement, and she loosened her grip, picking up the coil of loose rope at her feet. Duncan quickly braced himself, feeling his own hooves dig in deep. Not even the most fiery wild horse back home could’ve put up this fight.
Immortal or not, he made a mental note not to get on her bad side. She could probably give Amanda back home a run for her money.
“Ya’ll can let go.” Applejack had finished tying the knott.
Duncan carefully let go, feeling the wind rush through his mouth as the rope jerked tight. “how long do you think it’ll hold?” he asked.
“I don’t know: you and Pinkie better go get Fluttershy.” Applejack winched as the sound a cracking wood silently echoed from the tree.
“Who?” Duncan gave her a puzzled look.
“She’s an animal expert, she’ll know what to do.” Applejack stared at the rope wrapped around the tree.
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“I can’t wait to introduce you to my friend Fluttershy good thing we needed her help, anyway.” Pinkie chattered as the two rushed through Ponyville, their hooves clicking against the cobblestone paths.
“Anything I should know about her?” Duncan asked.
“Just that she’s shy, silly!” Pinkie Pie giggled.
I guess their names are someone meaningful: Pinkie is pink, Fluttershy is shy, and Applejack is a apple farmer. Duncan thought it over, an interesting little quirk of this world. He could understand Applejack being named for the family business, and Pinkie for her appearance, but how could Fluttershy be christened which such an oddly proper name. A lucky guess, or maybe a nickname?
“She lives in the cottage right up there!” Pinkie Pie pointed to a small building as they reached the edge of town.
The two slowed down as they made their way across a bridge and approached. Upon reaching the house Pinkie excitedly pounded on the door.
“Who’s there?” a voice softly called from inside.
“It’s me, Pinkie!” Pinkie called.
“Hold on.” The door slowly opened, and a eye peeked out.
“Hello,” Duncan said as the eye scanned him over. As the door opened further, he could see uncertainty in the deep blue eyes peering out from the darkness.
“Hi Fluttershy, this my new friend,Duncan,” Pinkie spoke up, still excitedly bouncing around.
“Oh, hello,” Fluttershy croaked as she finally stepped out.
Duncan finally got a good look at her. A mare with a soft yellow coat and long, pastel pink mane, which she hid the aforementioned blue eyes behind. He also noticed she had a set of wings tucked in at her sides. A Pegasus?
“Duncan, this is Fluttershy,” Pinkie Pie gestured towards Duncan with a forehoof.
“Pleased to meet you, miss,” Duncan said with a smile.
“Hey Fluttershy, Applejack needs your help at the farm with a wild manticore,” Pinkie Pie interjected excitedly.
“Wha- Pinkie, I think we better just let Applejack explain,” Fluttershy said in shock.
“Okay,” Pinkie said.
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“Returning this today?” Twilight happily asked as she took the book titled “Pre-Celestian History” from his hooves.
“Yes, miss,” Shade responded with a smile.
“Did you enjoy it?” Twilight asked as she flipped through her record book.
“Yes, actually. I learned quite a bit from it,” Shade answered.
“Well this is strange, I can’t find this in the records, and come to think of it I don’t remember loaning it to you.” Twilight rubbed her head in thought.
“It says it’s one of your books right here.” Shade flipped open the front cover and pointed to the writing “property of Ponyville Library” followed by a librarian's signature reading “Moonstone.”
“Oh, this is one of our older books. I can’t say I’ve seen it before. Are you sure you got it here?” Twilight questioned.
“I’m pretty sure, maybe it was the old librarian I got it from?” Shade said.
“You would have to have gotten as a foal, this place was closed for years before I got here.” Twilight laughed, “Everypony just sat and read in the bookstore down the street for the longest time.”
I really, really, need to remember to return these books faster, Shade thought to himself.
“Hey Fluttershy, we’ll catch up, I want Duncan to meet Twilight!” A mare’s voice called from somewhere outside.
The galloping of hoofs, along with an unnerving dragging noise made its way to the door. Pinkie came bursting in, Duncan barely keeping his footing on only three legs as she drug him by a forehoof.
“Hey everypony! This is my new friend, Duncan.
Duncan felt a familiar sensation as he and shade locked eyes, one he hadn’t felt since he got here. A feeling all too familiar, and yet completely surprising to find in this alien world.
“Shade...” Shade said carefully, half shocked.
“Duncan McLeod” Duncan said with caution as he looked on in surprise.
Both of the stallions had the same thought as they stood there, eyes locked. It was as if they were both connected on some level deep within their consciousness.
This is awkward...