My True Home Calls

by Arguyus

Chapter 5: Friendship is Magic, Part 1

(Disclaimer: I do not own any copyrighted material you will encounter in this or any other story.)

AN: For those of you who have followed me thus far, I know there isn't much special about this story so far, but it will have something special in the future… and, no… it won't be Stephen getting superpowers, that would be dumb.

Chapter 5: Friendship is Magic, Part 1

August 28, 1000 AN(After Nightmare)

"Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn magic to raise the sun at dawn. The younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies.

"But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night.

"One fateful day, the younger alicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness, Nightmare Moon. She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night.

"Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom, the Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister and banished her permanently on the moon.

"The elder sister took on responsibility for both sun and moon and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since."

I couldn't help but get a feeling of déjà vu from hearing Twilight read those passages, I guess it was just another thing I had forgotten.

The two of us were sitting in the park reading, I was reading a book about the history of the Summer Sun Celebration. According to the book, the reason the Summer Sun Celebration is the day after tomorrow is because, after Discord was defeated, the sunrise/sunset times were started back up at when it was before his rule began. The mistake was only noticed when it was too late to do anything about it. So now, the longest day of the year came near the end of summer.

I had been taking a break from reading when I heard Twilight read that, and it felt like I should have known about this.

"Hmm, Elements of Harmony. I know I've heard of those before. But where?" Twilight pondered to herself.

"You do remember you are supposed to be on break, right?" I reminded her in an attempt to keep her from going on a study tangent.

An attempt that failed epicly, "Yes, I know, but I have to know more, it could be important."

I sighed, "Back to the study, I guess."

So much for a relaxing day at the park…

(-0-)

We were on our way back to the study, and something felt out of place. Three mares had passed by us carrying presents on their backs, and I had this weird feeling that they should have spoken to Twilight, but they didn't. It was probably because I was with her, seeing as they gave me an untrusting look.

We soon arrived back at the tower where Twilight's study was located, its gold coated roof glinting in the pre-noon light.

Twilight through the door open when we got to it, with me cringing at the sound of poor Spike getting hit by the door and flying a short distance.

"Spike! Spike!" Twilight called out before seeing the dragon on the ground, "Spike?"

"There you are."

I leaned down and helped the young dragon to his feet, "You okay there?"

"Ugh…" Spike groaned as he sat up, "More or less…"

"Quick, find me that old copy of "Predictions and Prophecies."" The mare said as she started looking around, until she noticed something on Spike's tail, "What's that for?"

I looked at him as well, and there was a now smashed and skewered present on the end of his tail. The feeling of déjà vu I had was getting stronger and stronger.

The young dragon turned his gaze to the object in question, "Well… It was a gift for Moondancer, but…"

What looked like the torn remains of a stuffed toy fell out of the package, letting out a "squeak" as it hit the floor.

She gave him a disappointed look, "Oh, Spike, you know we don't have time for that sort of thing."

"But we're on a break." Spike tried to reason with her.

"That's what I told her, but she is dead set on figuring this out." I told him as I lightly shook my head.

If there is one thing you learn about Twilight after spending a day or more with her, it is that she is addicted to studying. And when I say addicted, I mean it, with all its symptoms. A part of me hoped that the mare wouldn't start to go on a studying tangent.

Her horn started to glow as she began pulling books off the shelves. Spike just rolled his eyes and began to climb one of many ladders in the study.

"No. No. No. No, no, no!" She said getting more and more desperate as she looked at the various books she held in her telekinetic grip, until, "Spike!"

"Heads up, Steve!" Spike yelled from the top of his ladder.

I looked up and saw a book falling towards me, so I reached up and caught it. It was a nondescript blue tome with the words "Predictions and Prophecies" written on the cover. No wonder she was having a hard time finding it.

I walked over to Twi and held the book out to her, "Is this the one?"

She looked it over before a smile spread across her face, "Ah, thanks you two."

As she trotted over to her reading desk to find what she was looking for, dropping all the other book she had been holding. I smiled slightly at her accidental absentmindedness, she is normally very OCD… or CDO, if you can't stand them being out of order. Spike slid down the ladder he was on and began gathering the fallen tomes, an effort I soon joined.

As me and Spike were putting the forgotten books back where they belonged, Twilight began looking though the book, "Elements, elements, E, E, E… Aha! Elements of Harmony. See "Mare in the Moon"?"

"Mare in the Moon? But that's just an old ponies' tale." Spike stated from the ladder he had made his way up during the mare's search.

"Most myths have their base in fact, Spike." I told him as I held the ladder steady.

"Mare, Mare. Aha! "Mare in the Moon, myth from olden pony times, a powerful pony who wanted to rule Equestria defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the moon."" Twilight read from the book before her.

""Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal." Spike! Do you know what this means?" She exclaimed after she had finished reading the text.

"No." The young dragon said flatly as he made his way down the ladder.

"Spike, it has been one thousand years since Nightmare Moon, A.K.A. the Mare in the Moon, was banished to the moon, according to the book Twilight read earlier." I began explaining to him, "And the longest day of the year is the day after tomorrow, and, as I told you, most myths have their base in fact."

Twilight levitated a scroll and quill to him, "Spike, take a note, please, to the princess."

She cleared her throat and then began to dictate the letter, "My dearest teacher,

"My continuing studies of pony magic have led me discover that we are on the precipice of disaster!"

"Hold on." Spike interrupted, "Preci- preci-"

"Precipice, P-R-E-C-I-P-I-C-E." I told him using the knowledge that Twilight magically gave to me during the first day of my time here.

Twilight gave me a thankful look before she started up once more, "For, you see, the mythical Mare in the Moon is, in fact, Nightmare Moon, and she's about to return to Equestria and bring with her eternal night. Something must be done to make sure this terrible prophecy does not come true. I await your quick response.

"Your faithful student,

"Twilight Sparkle."

"Got it!" Spike exclaimed after writing her name on the bottom of the letter.

"Great. Send it." Twilight instructed him as she stood in front of the main window.

The dragon looked at her in a confused manner before asking, "Now?"

I just gave him a flat look, "Yes, Spike, I do believe she meant now. So just please send it."

"Okay, okay." He said before he inhaled deeply and then blew magic imbued green flames onto the letter, turning it into a flying cloud of ash and magic.

"I wouldn't hold your breath." He warned in a slightly annoying way.

"I'm not worried, Spike. The princess trusts me completely. In all the years she's been my mentor, she's never once doubted me." Twilight stated in a confident manner, I couldn't help but get the feeling that she wouldn't be for much longer.

Spike soon burped out a jet of green fire that coalesced into a scroll bearing the royal seal.

The mare was happy to see this, "See? I knew she would want to take immediate action."

Spike opened the scroll and began to read, "My dearest, most faithful student, Twilight,

"You know that I value your diligence and that I trust you completely.

"But you simple must stop reading those dusty old books."

Twilight gasped in shock at that, I on the other hand, "Spike, is that really what it says?"

"Well…" He began nervously.

I gave him a flat look and held my hand out, "Spike, let me read it."

He sighed in defeat as he handed me the letter.

I cleared my throat and read, "You know that I value your diligence and that I trust you completely.

"But you need not worry yourself over this matter. That being said, I am concerned for you. I had hoped that you would take this time off to socialize instead of study. So, I'm sending you to supervise the preparation for the Summer Sun Celebration in this year's location, Ponyville.

"And I have an even more essential task for you to complete, make some friends. The mayor will have a list of preparations for you to check at the Town Hall.

"During your time in Ponyville you, Spike, and Stephen will be staying in the Golden Oaks Library.

"As for Stephen, I would like to apologize, I was not as trusting as I at first seemed. You see, there are two reasons why I let him stay with you. First, your study is on castle grounds, which means the guards would be but a call away if he acted up. Second, humans were always notoriously weak against magic, so you would be able to subdue him easily if he threatened you. However, it would seem that my caution was misplaced, seeing as he has behaved himself thus far.

"Your mentor,

"Princess Celestia."

Twilight was still confused by something in the letter, "What does she mean by "you need not worry yourself over this matter" ? The future of Equestria is at stake!"

I decided to put my two cents in before the mare went ballistic, something that was more likely than most would believe, "Twilight, if that book you read is anything to go by, then Princess Celestia was the one who banished Nightmare Moon in the first place. In fact, it is very likely that she was the one who wrote that prophesy. She has had one thousand years to plan for this, so she probably has a well thought out plan to stop Nightmare."

She stopped her would-be tangent as she listened to me, apparently thought about it for a little bit afterwards, "I guess you're right, but I still think we should try to help in any way we can."

I sighed at this, but I knew it was the best I was going to get. When she put her mind to something, she would keep at it until either she finished it or she discover that it could not be done. As for what Celestia had said in the letter, I didn't really mind. She was only doing what any leader worth their salt would do. At least I had earned enough of her trust to go with Twilight.

(-0-)

8:20 AM, the next day

The three of us were riding in a gold gilded chariot, Spike and I were just enjoying the ride. What was Twilight doing? She was spending her time thinking of a plan just in case Nightmare Moon got the better of Celestia, or at least that's what she told us.

Even though I knew it was futile, I decided to try to get her to relax, "Come on, Twilight, I'm sure the princess has everything under control."

She sighed explosively in response, "I know, I know. But it our job as citizens of Equestria to make sure we have a plan of action just in case."

"Then when will you make friends, like the princess said?" Spike asked her in a somewhat sad voice.

"She said to check on the preparations. I am her student, and I'll do my royal duty, but the fate of Equestria does not rest on me making friends." Twilight told him as the chariot began to land.

I rolled my eyes at the lavender mare's stubbornness, she seemed to really be dead set on being a recluse. I decided to look at my new surroundings, wooden houses with straw thatched roofs were arranged in a lax grid pattern around us, except for a tall circular building that looked very official, which I was willing to guess was the Town Hall. Ponies, both stallions and mares, were trotting around town, many of them giving me curious looks, perhaps they didn't know about humans.

"Maybe the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about." Spike said while indicating at a bright pink colored earth pony mare with a curly bubblegum pink mane, "Come on, Twilight. Just try."

As soon as I saw this pony, I felt that I should know what her name was. I felt her name right on the tip of my tongue, but it just wasn't coming out. Her light blue eyes and three balloon cutie mark looked so familiar, but I just couldn't put my finger. My amnesia was getting really annoying.

"Uh… hello?" Twilight tried.

The pink pony's reaction was… not the best, to say the least. Her reaction was to gasp widely, then literally fly off… and she wasn't even a pegues.

"Did-did that pony just deify the laws a physics?" I asked after just standing there for a few seconds.

"Well, that was interesting, all right." Twilight said after recovering her voice.

Spike sighed loudly as Twilight trotted towards what I had assumed was Town Hall. I patted him on the head gently as I began to fallow the lavender unicorn. At least he tried.

(-0-)

Twilight now had the list of things we had to do, after she had explained my presence to Mayor Mare. Apparently, she was one of the few ponies in town that knew about humans. Right now, we were heading towards the first destination on the list.

"Summer Sun Celebration official overseer's checklist. Number one, banquet preparation, Sweat Apple Acres." Spike read off the list on the check board he was holding.

Sweat Apple Acres, the name sure fit this farm well. Images of apples were all over the farmhouse and barn, and fields apple trees stretched as far as the eye could see. If there was any doubt about where this was, the sign that said "Sweat Apple Acres" that hung on the archway that lead into the property was undeniable proof.

It was then that a yell cut through the air, "Yee-Haw!"

We turned towards the yell and saw an orange earth pony mare with a blond mane and tail done up in, ironically, ponytails. Her cutie mark was a trio of red apples. This one also seemed familiar. She ran up to a tree, spun around, and gave it a strong double barreled kick with her hind legs. The kick dislodged all the apples from the tree and into the five wooden buckets underneath it.

"Let's get this over with." Twilight said dejectedly, her head low to the ground.

The three of us walked over to the farm mare, Twilight speaking up as we approached, "Good afternoon. My name is Twilight Sparkle."

Before she could say anymore, the orange mare grabbed her forehoof and began shaking it extremely heartily.

"Well, howdy-do, Ms. Twilight! Ah pleasure making your acutance." The orange mare began with a southern drawl, "Ah'm Applejack. We here at Sweat Apple Acres sure do like making new friends."

I couldn't help but chuckle at the sight of the socially awkward Twilight getting her hoof shook off by this Applejack. I did feel a bit sorry for her though, her forelimb would defiantly be sore by tomorrow. My chuckling, however, got the attention of the mare.

"An' who might this be?" Applejack asked as she gave me a curious look.

I decided to introduce myself before Twilight did, "I'm Stephen McIntyre."

"Well, good ta meet ya, then." She said before she asked another question, "If'n you don't mind me askin', what exactly are ya? I an't ever seen any being like you before."

"He is a human." Twilight informed her, apparently preparing to intervene should this situation go south.

Her reaction wasn't what we feared it might be, she just looked confused, "A human? Ah know ah've heard that name before, but ah just can't place it."

"His race has been extinct for a long time," Twilight explained, "I, uh, I accidentally pull him out of his time, which was at least over a hundred thousand years ago."

Applejack just stood there for a few seconds, her face taking on a sad expression, "Oh, ah-ah'm mighty sorry ah brought that up."

"Don't worry, it's better to get that question out of the way sooner rather than later." I told her with a sad smile on my face.

"Oh, alright then." She began before clearing her thought, "So, what can ah do ya for?"

"Well, I am, in fact, here to supervise preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration. And you're in charge of the food?" Twilight stated.

This caused Applejack to smile, "We sure as sugar are. Would ya care to sample some?"

"As long as it doesn't take too long." Twilight said, getting uncertain near the end of that statement.

Applejack began to ring an old metal triangle, "Soup's on, everypony!"

The ground began to tremble as a large group of ponies came running towards us. Oh no…

What happened during the next few seconds was lost to me, as they blurred together. When time came back into perspective, I found myself, as well as both Twilight and Spike, sitting at a table with a plaid tablecloth. How and when that happened was a complete mystery to me.

Applejack popped out from under the table next to Spike, "Now, why don't ah introduce y'all to the Apple Family?"

"Thanks, but we really need to hurry." Twilight said in an attempt to get out of this.

Too bad it didn't work. Applejack then proceeded to introduce more ponies then I could ever hope to remember, the mare shoving an apple into Twilight's mouth near the. I only really got the last three; Big McIntosh, Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith. Big McIntosh was a large red earth pony stallion with a short orange mane, green eyes, and a halved green apple as a cutie mark. Apple Bloom was a light yellow earth pony filly with a light red mane, orange eyes, no cutie mark, and an oversized pink bow in her mane. Granny Smith was an elderly green earth pony mare with an aged white mane, orange eyes, and an apple pie as a cutie mark.

Applejack put her hoof over Twilight's shoulder, "Why, ah'd say they're already part of the family!"

The lavender unicorn did an impressive spit take "Okay, well, I can see the food situation is handled, so we'll be on our way."

"Aren't ya gonna stay for brunch?" Apple Bloom asked with an extremely adorable pout on her face.

Twilight tried to resist the cuteness, an attempt that I knew was futile, "Sorry. But we have an awful lot to do."

A collective "Aww" of disappointment came from all ponies present, with Apple Bloom making adorable puppy eyes. I knew that Twilight's resolve wouldn't last much longer against this onslaught. So, I counted down the seconds till she broke.

Three.

Two.

One.

"Fine." Twilight conceded.

I couldn't help but chuckle at this, but the lavender unicorn noticed that.

"And what are you laughing at?" She asked me with an obviously fake frown on her face.

"Oh, nothing." I said in the most innocent voice I could muster.

She just rolled her eyes at me with a smile on her face, everyone… er, everypony else just started laughing.

(-0-)

A few hours later

"Food's all taken care of. Next is weather." Spike said as we walked along one of the dirt roads of Ponyville.

The three of us had left Sweat Apple Acres a few minutes ago, me and Spike had full stomachs. All the food had been good, really good. To good, in Twilight's case. What do I mean? Well…

"Ugh… I ate too much pie…" She complained, her stomach bulging.

You know… she almost looked like she was pregnant. That thought made me snicker. Twilight gave me a look that said "what are you laughing at" in a very grumpy manner.

I decided to explain myself, "You know, Twilight, if I didn't know you better, I might think you're pregnant."

That made her stop, she stared at me for a bit before she spoke, "I do not! Spike, do you think I look pregnant?"

Spike looked at her for a bit, then he started snickering, "Yes."

"Tha-HEY!!!" She started to say before she did a double take.

Us two guys burst out in full laughter at this, no longer able to hold back our guffaws. We laughed until we fell on our backs, Twilight grumbling to herself about the fun we were having at her expense. She apparently decided to try and change the subject from her appearance.

"You know, there is supposed to be a pegasus pony named Rainbow Dash clearing the clouds, and she's not doing a very good job, it seems." Was her attempt.

I got back on my feet as best I could before I replied, "Ya, there are still a lot of clouds around."

Suddenly, a sky blue and rainbow blur slammed into her, pushing her into a puddle of mud. I ran over to her, only for my nose to be assaulted by a smell that nearly made my gag. That smell was vomit, fresh vomit. So much for her lunch…

"Ugh…" Twilight groaned out, her whole body was most likely sore from both the impact and from vomiting.

The sky blue pegasus got off of Twilight, then she laughed nervously, "Uh, excuse me?"

The pegasus mare had sky blue fur, a mane that had every color of the rainbow in it, dark pink eyes, and her cutie mark was a cloud with a rainbow colored lightning bolt coming out the bottom. If this wasn't Rainbow Dash, then I don't know who it could be.

"Let me help you." She offered with a chuckle.

She flew off and returned with a cloud, she put the cloud over Twilight and started jumping on it. Her jumping caused the cloud to let out a torrent of water, which left Twilight soaking wet and grumpy.

I decided to finally speak up, "Well, look on the bright side, at least you're not covered in mud anymore."

"Not. A. Word. Stephen." Twilight told me, gritting her teeth in frustration.

"Here, let's try this, my very own patented Rainbow Dry." The pony who I assumed to Rainbow Dash said as created a whirlwind around Twilight.

"Umm, I think you just made it worse." I state in a flat voice, because she did.

Twilight's mane and tail were now a tangled mess. Upon seeing this, the pegasus began laughing hysterically and falling onto her back. Spike soon joined her in laughter, landing on the mare's back. I, however, cringe at the sight.

"Let me guess, you're Rainbow Dash." The grumpy unicorn mock asked in a falsely calm tone.

The pegasus shot up, lunching poor Spike off her back, "The one and only."

"Aren't you supposed to be clearing the clouds?" I ask her in an accusing manner.

Twilight decided to explain ourselves, apparently, "I'm Twilight Sparkle, and this is Stephen, the princess us to check on the weather."

"Yeah, yeah. That'll be a snap. I'll do it in a jiffy, just as soon as I'm done practicing." The apparently lazy pegasus told us as she took a seat on a low hanging cloud.

"And what, exactly, are you practicing for." I inquired of her.

"The Wonderbolts!" Dash began, "They're gonna preform at the celebration tomorrow, and I'm gonna show them my stuff!"

"The Wonderbolts?" Twilight asked in a tone that told me she was intending to bait her.

"Yup."

She kept going, "The most talented fliers in all of Equestria?"

"That's them."

Now was when Twilight laid out the bait, "Please. They'd never accept a pegasus who can't even keep the sky clear for one measly day."

"Hey, I could clear this sky in ten seconds flat!" Dash exclaimed in a prideful manner.

Both me and Twilight grin and say in unison, "Prove it."

In ten seconds, the sky was completely devoid of clouds. She did it, she cleared the sky in ten seconds. But, for some reason, I wasn't suprized by this… it was as if I knew this was going to happen. Maybe I did. As for Twilight, her mouth was hanging open with a cute look on her face, and I mean cute as in adorable cute.

"What'd I say?" She bragged, "Ten seconds flat. I'd never leave Ponyville hanging."

She laughs at the look on Twilight's face before she speaks again, "You should see the look on your face! You're a laugh, Twilight Sparkle."

She then flew closer to Twilight, "I can't wait to hang out with some more."

That broke Twilight out of her stupor.

Rainbow Dash then flew off at high speed, leaving us there.

"Pride cometh before a fall, and hers will probably be big." I stat wisely, looking at Twilight.

She then shrugged, "Maybe, but let's get going, shall we?"

Both me and Spike nodded. The three of us then began walking towards our next destination. I had a feeling that this is going to be a long day.

To be continued…

Author's Note:

AN: I know this took a long time, but I went on a reading binge. I'm going to have to divide this one into four parts. So, see y'alls later!

Comments

[Therisinghero]

if somepony hit him in the back of the head he soon be out of his amnesia. I hope it doesnt last long otherwise hes going to get a headache when he does remember!

[Arguyus]

5040799 Thing is, it is actually a magically induced amnesia, he won't remember till post fact... and no headaches.

[Therisinghero]

5041130 well who put him under it was it Celestia ?

[Arguyus]

5044156 It was Twilight... but it was an accident.

[Neutral Boy]

This is a really good story to read and I like it! I can't wait to see the whole episodes and seasons for Stephen to play in and hopefully get a new elements like any kind that could help his pony friends and/or a mare of his dreams. Probably Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Twilight, Lyra, Derpy, or probably some other mare. So continue writing anyway, yay for a possibility for Stephen to be a bearer of a seventh element!

[Arguyus]

6787764 Rainbow Dash!? You think I would put him with that glory hound? As if.

[Neutral Boy]

7441226 Oh yeah... my bad.

[Falconwolf1116]

Is this story pretty much dead? I’d love to see more!!!

[Christopher J]

Please add more chapters to this and if possible make it a harem story.