Prologue - The Lost Child
It was almost night time in the land of Equestria. On the road to Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom and her cousin, Babs Seed, were walking back to the farm after a day of crusading with their friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. Once again, the four of them got covered in pine needles and tree sap, but as always, they had their cleaning buckets to wash themselves off. They were disappointed that their recent attempts at hang gliding cutie marks didn’t work out, but they shook it off and promised they’d meet again tomorrow.
“You think we’ll have better luck tomorrow cuz?” Babs asked.
“Ah sure hope so Babs,” Apple Bloom replied.
Babs was visiting her cousins and Granny Smith from Manehatten. Ever since she became a member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders, she came back to visit her cousin a lot. Babs started up the Manehatten branch of the club, and got two blank flanks at her new school to join, and one of them was the whole club’s first colt member.
Apple Bloom was especially happy that Babs was allowed by her parents to stay for the whole summer. The two fillies were ecstatic to be able to spend the whole summer together. Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were equally as happy to hear the news. The four of them had already spent their first week of summer vacation crusading for their cutie marks.
As the two fillies got near the barn, they became aware of whimpering from inside the barn. At first, they thought it was the family dog, Winona, but upon listening closer, it sounded more like a young colt. The two of them entered the barn house and began looking around. The whimpering came from behind a pile of hay bales in the back corner. The two cousins cautiously approached the hay bales and looked behind it. They were surprised to see a small, strange looking creature curled up in a ball whimpering and shaking. He had light tan colored skin, a dark blonde mane on his head, a torn red shirt, and dark blue shorts. His exposed skin also had dirt and bruises on it. The two fillies were surprised to see him in this condition.
Apple Bloom slowly and quietly approached the small colt. The young child lifted his head up letting the two fillies see that his face was covered with small specks of dirt. The young child gasped upon sighting the two fillies looking at him. He quickly crawled backwards into the corner shaking harder.
“P-please,” he said still whimpering with tears falling out of his eyes, “D-d-don’t hurt me.”
Apple Bloom continued to approach him slowly.
“It’s okay,” she said calmly, “We won’t hurt ya.”
“Yeah kid,” Babs said nodding, “We just want to see if you’re okay.”
Apple Bloom slowly reached her hoof out toward the young colt and placed it on his shoulder. The small child began shaking at her touch but calmed down when she began rubbing his shoulder soothingly.
“There, ya see,” Apple Bloom said smiling, “It’s okay.”
“What’s your name?” Babs asked.
“Michael,” he said, “or Mike for short.”
“It’s nice to meet ya Mike,” Apple Bloom said, “Ah’m Apple Bloom, and this is my cousin, Babs Seed.”
“Hey Mike,” Babs said.
Mike slowly stood up. Apple Bloom and Babs were surprised to see that he only came at nose level with them. Apple Bloom waved him over with her forehoof to come in for a hug. Mike took slow steps over to the yellow filly. When he was close enough, Apple Bloom wrapped her forelegs around him and started rubbing his back soothingly.
Mike started shaking slightly when Apple Bloom wrapped him in her forelegs, but stopped when she started rubbing his back. He then brought his arms around the filly and returned the hug.
“It’s okay buddy,” Apple Bloom said.
“Apple Bloom!”
Apple Bloom, Babs, and Mike jumped at the voice. It was Apple Bloom’s older sister, Applejack.
“Where in tarnation are you and Babs sis?” Applejack called out, “Dinner’s ready!”
“Do ya think we should tell her about Mike, cuz?” Babs asked.
“Ah think so,” Apple Bloom replied. Babs nodded and called out to her older cousin.
“In here Applejack!” she called.
Applejack poked her head inside the barn to see Babs standing at the far back corner near the big pile of hay bales.
“What in the hay are you two doin’ in here?” Applejack asked walking toward them.
Mike began to shake again after hearing Applejack’s voice, but Apple Bloom kept rubbing his back.
“It’s okay buddy,” she whispered into his ear, “It’s just mah older sis, Applejack. She won’t hurt ya.”
Applejack finally closed the distance between her sister and her cousin and gasped at the sight of the small colt in Apple Bloom’s forelegs.
“What’s goin’ on here?” she asked raising an eyebrow, “Who is this little feller?”
“Well, after Apple Bloom an’ I came back from Crusadin’, we heard somepony in here whimperin’,” Babs said, “We were just as surprised as you are to see this little guy back here.”
Applejack nodded and folded her legs underneath her.
“Hey there sugarcube,” she said softly to Mike, “Are ya alright?”
Mike looked up from Apple Bloom’s hug and saw Applejack looking at him with a smile. Mike slowly nodded his head.
"What's yer name?" Applejack asked.
“I’m Mike,” he said.
“It’s a pleasure to meet ya Mike. Ah’m Applejack, Apple Blooms’ older sister and Babs’ other cousin,” she said reaching her foreleg out and rubbing his shoulder. “Would ya like to join us for dinner Mike?”
A growl from Mike’s stomach answered for him. Apple Bloom giggled and placed him on her back. Babs and Applejack stood back up and the three of them began walking toward the barn entrance.
While walking, Applejack began thinking. Ah wonder where the little feller came from, and why his clothes are worn and torn like that? She decided to let Mike tell her and her family when he was ready and proceeded to lead the three of them into the house.