Chapter 3: Fitting in
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I jolted awake, my body coated in a cold sweat, looking around I noticed I was still in the barn, I collapsed back onto my sleeping bag, taking in what I just saw. My dreams were plagued by visions of war, death, destruction...
I got up slowly, I knew I wasn't going to be able to sleep again after seeing that. I considered everything that happened the past two days, thinking Alright their not hostile but they did feel the need to disarm me so they may be planning something...I'll be ready. I quickly made my way over to my backpack and withdrew the knife, I strapped it to my belt, I then proceeded to the barn door to the barn door and opened it, outside the sun was still in the sky and burning bright, I walked slowly out into the apple orchard in search of the orange mare. "Applejack?" I called out and a few moments later came the response, "Over here!" from further into the orchard.
I quickly made my way towards her voice and soon spotter her, she was bucking a tree, same as Big Mac had earlier "How're you?" she asked, I could only sigh and shake my head before answering,
"I'm fine, you wouldn't know the time would you?" She stopped just before going to another tree and said,
"Its 'bout four I reckon, but I ain't got a watch so I dunno fer sure." I thought for a moment,
"So how long was I asleep?" She considered the question,
"Hmm...I'd say almost eight or so hours." I considered this for a moment, then shrugged figuring I had nothing to do.
"Hey Applejack need any help around here?"
She glanced at me and raised an eyebrow, before saying "Now I ain't ever turned down a hard worker before but I don't think you could really help with the bucking." I nodded but then pointed at the base of the tree,
"Thats true, but I can carry those." She followed my finger which was pointed directly at a now full basket of apples. She turned to me and smiled,
"Well that'd be mighty helpful, just bring'em to the front of the house and load'em on the cart in front of it." I nodded and peeled off my balistic vest and jacket, they would only hinder me here.
As I did Applejack looked at me strangely, before saying "Thats an awefully strange cutie mark ya got there." I turned to her, after hanging them both on a tree branch,
"Cutie mark?" She raised a hoof and pointed at my arm, where there was a small tattoo on my upper arm.
"Whats it mean?" She asked me curiously. I touched the mark, it was was a cirle with strange spiral like markings swirling around each other, I returned my gaze to her "I have no idea..." We then began to work.
We made good time and quickly fell into routine, I would pick up a basket and load it onto the cart at the front of her home and when I came back there would be more waiting. It took only an hour to fill the cart in front of her home and but the sun was begining to dip in the sky "Thats the last of them." I said heaving a large basket of apples onto the cart, I was panting heavily and sweating hard, but feeling much better after the work.
"Woohoo!" she said enthusiastically "That was way faster than usual! I think if you keep helping like this we're gonna 'ave ta keep ya!" She said giving me a playful tap on the leg, I smiled down at her,
"Its the least I can do, since I'm pretty much mooching off you at the moment." I said laughing a bit.
A few moments later, we saw Big Mac heading towards us, I waved my hand in greeting before saying "Evening Mac." He stopped before us,
"Evening, I see you two were busy." he said and examined me for a few seconds before going to his sisters side and whispering something to her, she chuckled and Big Mac turned to leave, continuing his leisurly pace towards the house. "Care to fill me in?" I said nudging AJ in the side, she turned to me a smirk on her face,
"He just warned me not ta break ya." I laughed,
"I don't look that bad do I?" I said, she shook her head "Nah but ya probably do need ta change yer clothes." I looked down at myself, I was covered in dust and dirt from working with AJ I only loaded baskets... I couldn't help but think,
"Yeah but where can I get new gear?"
She thought for a moment "Well Rarity could fix ya right up, but its a bit late to be goin' anywhere t'day. I need ta bring the cart to the market tomorrow, if ya wanna check with her then?" I nodded before saying,
"Sounds good to me." We turned and began to head up to the house, the smell of fresh apple and baking hung in the air outside.
"Looks like grubs already bein' served." She said opening the door and leading me into the kitchen.
I sat at the far end of the table next to AJ, across from her sat Big mac and at the head of the table sat and elderly looking green pony who seemed completely oblivious to my presence. We ate silence and I was suddenly very grateful I had no allergies to apples, everything was or had apples in it, I stayed quiet until I saw a picture hanging on the wall showing Applejack, Big Mac and a smaller pony with a cream coat and a crimson mane, I gestured to the picture "Who's that?" I said, "Thats me Big Mac and my sis' Applebloom, she's stayin' at her friends house t'night." Applejack stated, I nodded, shortly after this I excused myself from the table and went back to the barn, it was dark out but thankfully the moon illuminated my surrounding enough for me to find my way there with no trouble. I lay down on my sleeping bag and was out in minutes.
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Twilights house, immediatly after departure
The door closed as the pair departed, slowly the purple unicorn turned back to her remaining friends "So...what do you think of him?" Twilight asked the first to respond was Rarity,
"Darling I must say I am not entirely sure it was a good idea to leave him with Applejack, he may still be dangerous." she said in her normal formal tone.
"Yes but if he meant to harm us, then why would he give me his weapons?" she said as she floated out the two strange looking items,
"Well who knows if these even are weapons, the certainly look nothing like the royal guards swords." Twilight thought for a moment,
"Regardless he hasn't done anything wrong yet." Rarity seemed like she was going to say something but thought better of it.
A few moments later Spike came back down the stairs hefting a large ornate book, with the title "Ancient Myths and Legends" elaboratly portrayed on its front and with a triumphant grin held it up to Twilight,
"Found it Twi." She smiled,
"Thank you Spike." But her words were lost on the small dragon once he noticed Rarity, he became captivated by her presence,
"Hi Rarity." he said in a lovestruck tone.
"Good morning Spike." she said to him, apparently oblivious of his affections for her.
Twilight quickly opened the book and skimmed through its contents, it had everything from ponies to dragons, but not a single mention of a "Human" she scanned through the book again but this time when she came to the section on monsters and demons she noticed a picture, it looked very similar to a human but larger and more menacing looking than the person she had just met. she read aloud "The Julkriid translates from dragon tongue to Slayer or Demon, these fierce creatures were at war with dragon kind since the time of Discord, it is even said that Discord himself created the abominations, they feel no remorse or pity towards the opponents and no loyalty toward anyone except their high lord. They were last seen shortly after the fall of Discord at the hooves of Princess Celestia and Luna. For nine hundred years not a single member of their race has been spotted, it is said the dragons hunted down and exterminated the last of their kind."
When she glanced up from the book she noticed everyone in the room had fell silent, the only one who seemed to fully comprehend what was said was the small, purple dragon "He's a dr-dragon sl-layer?!?" he stammered out, Twilights mind raced I have to tell princess Celestia, she needs to know that these creatures are not extinct! she picked her quill and began to write furiously while Rarity tried her best to keep Spike calm, Twilight soon had everything that had happened since she met the creature written down and had Spike calmed down enough to send the letter. They anxiously awaited the response.