Brony

by Markarian

Chapter 2

- Brony -

Chapter 2

By Markarian

For the next few moments, Caleb could only stare into those blue eyes while his mind worked slowly, numbly, like each frantic thought was mired in thick syrup. He moved his lips a few times before the broken sounds came out.

“I, um…”

“You’re hurt…!” the white earth pony gasped, her eyes drifting to the blood on his face. Caleb knew he must have looked a sight—the bloodied gash on his forehead, soaking into his black hair and running down his unshaven face, with his clothes torn and frayed and covered in mud. His green eyes soon strayed away from the pony, darting back and forth at the village in the distance behind her. Each time he took it in, it was as if he was seeing it for the first time. But it was all too soon a concerned hoof was waved rapidly back and forth in front of his face.

“Hey. What’s your name?” she persisted.

“Caleb. My name is Caleb,” he said. Getting up suddenly, and ignoring the pain in his head, he stumbled forward a little, back toward the path.

“Easy now!” the pony said.

“This…this is Equestria,” Caleb murmured softly.

“Er, yes. Yes it is. Oh dear,” the pony nickered. “I don’t mean to be rude, but ah, what exactly are you?”

Caleb didn’t respond at first. He simply stood there for another moment, not wanting to acknowledge what had happened to him. He just wanted to see this place, to hear it, to experience it. Caleb’s eyes slowly returned to the white pony once more and he swallowed.

“I’m a human, a human being,” he said cautiously, as if he needed to remind himself of this fact.

“You came out of the Everfree Forest?” the pony asked, sounding even more concerned. Caleb cast a glance back down the path toward the dark opening in the trees.

“Um, yeah, I guess I did,” Caleb said. He sounded dazed and disoriented, which he was, in all fairness.

“You don’t look so good,” the pony said frankly. “You humans don’t have doctors by any chance, do you?”

Caleb said nothing, distracted once more by his surroundings. His headache was slowly fading, but the still throbbing soreness in his body was a frustrating distraction from his reverie.

Snorting with slight impatience, the white equine slowly moved to Caleb’s side. At first Caleb backed away, suddenly wary of the large animal. But she was having none of it.

“Come on now, human. Up we go.” She spoke warily, as if she was doing this against her better judgment.

“Hey! I—“ But the mare’s head was already tucking under his bad arm, gingerly draping it over her neck to support Caleb as she gently began to lead him down the path toward the village. He stumbled along with the white pony for a few minutes in awkward silence, feeling the fine, brushed coat under his bruised hand, and keeping his feet out of the way from her metal-shod hooves.

As they moved farther away from the forest, his eyes caught sight of a nearby house, nestled among the trees. He almost didn’t see it at first, as its sod roof was covered in thick greenery, with small birdhouses jutting out at odd angles here and there. The yard was given over to various farm animals—ducks, geese, chickens, even a goat or two. Birds of all colors chirped quietly around the home, darting in and out of their houses and alcoves. Already, the light was on in the window and smoke was drifting from the jaunty chimney. And with a sudden rush of excitement Caleb realized he knew who had turned on the light, and who had kindled the fire.

He turned around, wanting to keep looking at the quiet little house, but the white pony led him onward. As he gazed dumbly behind him, he saw that where he had initially thought the white pony’s flank to be bare there was indeed a marking. Squinting briefly, he could just make out an intricate floral pattern in a white fabric frill. The color of the fabric was just barely discernable from the mare’s surrounding snow-white coat, making the cutie mark quite easy to miss.

It was then Caleb felt the terrain under his feet turn from sandy dirt into rough-hewn wooden planks that resonated with each careful step he and the pony took as they crossed the bridge toward the town. He could see the settlement so much better now. The lampposts still glowed with faint gaslight, their flickering flame scorching the plate glass framed by an ornate wrought iron frame. The mock-Tudor houses with their overhanging upper stories cloaked the main thoroughfare in a dim shade in the early morning light.

“Are you holding up alright?” the pony asked with concern. “Do you need me to slow down?”

But Caleb didn’t answer. His gaze was drifting skyward as he heard a rushing of air far above his head. Some of the remaining clouds that had remained from the evening chill were moving seemingly on their own accord, away from the town. And as the clouds parted to let in more light upon the village, he saw the slowly beating wings of the brown pegasus, silhouetted momentarily against the brilliant sun before the winged horse streaked away toward the next patch of clouds.

“Oh, my God,” Caleb softly whispered. He had stopped walking, staring upward. He was awestruck, his breath was caught in his throat. Now another flying equine joined the first, and then another, and another.

The white pony’s eyes followed Caleb’s toward the sky, watching the beginnings of tears welling up in the man’s eyes. She tried to hide her puzzlement as she quietly remarked, “They told us it was going to be a sunny day, what with the Summer Sun Celebration the day after tomorrow.”

Caleb blinked, swallowing a lump in his throat and licking his dry lips as his eyes drifted back to meet the pony’s.

“It’s summer?” he asked incredulously.

“Of course it is!” she exclaimed with a slight giggle. “Why do you think it’s so warm this morning?”

“I hadn’t realized…”

“Oh dear me, I’m sorry, Caleb. I didn’t mean to laugh, I ah, yes. We should um, we should keep going,” she said, nudging him on once more. A slight tinge of pink had invaded her ears, the pony flicking them in embarrassment.

They were in town now, and Caleb could feel the country cottages and shops that lined the street looming over him as if silently judging his condition and questioning his presence in this place. He was suddenly afraid, hesitant, like he was suddenly nine years old and wasn’t sure if it was okay to be walking through his grandfather’s study, the one where you weren’t allowed to touch anything. Anything. Familiar as this place was—perhaps more familiar than the study—Caleb had never felt so much like a stranger in his life.

And as he shuffled unsteadily against the white pony, through the center of town, those few who were awake and about so early stopped what they were doing to stare at the bedraggled human who strode into their idyllic midst. All around him, Caleb saw narrow, equine faces with wide, frightened eyes upon him. Gasps and murmurs flitted back and forth between the half dozen of them like angry insects, growing louder and more coherent as he passed them.

“Look at him…!”

“What is he?”

“Oh my gosh, it’s hurt.”

“…alive?”

His escort ignored them in this awkward moment, soldiering on toward their destination. Grateful to not return the awkward gazes from the ponies around him, Caleb saw the hoof-carved sign that marked a low-slung, single-story building clearly spelling out the words PONYVILLE URGENT CARE. A small pit formed in his stomach as the white pony pushed open the door in front of him, triggering a small bell set above the door. Caleb hated doctors—one of the reasons he had been so apprehensive about the idea of visiting the emergency room, even after been run down by a car. To him, the thought of visiting a human doctor was miserable enough; to be treated by an equine made him all the more nervous.

There was a small reception area that had a few broad stools and chairs—large enough for pony flanks—which were currently unoccupied. Immediately, the white pony nudged Caleb to sit in one of them. He felt suddenly tired, cradling his face in his hands as if to shield himself from what he was sure was a delusion gone too far. He felt the congealed blood under his fingers and pondered why he would ever fantasize about the throbbing pain in his head, or the enormous, bleeding goose egg that was causing it.

Hazarding a quick look up, Caleb saw that the white pony was conferring with another that, like his escort, also bore a white coat. She wore a starched nurse’s bonnet, with her light pink mane pulled back into a loose bun. The nurse pony was casting increasingly incredulous stares in his direction. Caleb could only stare blankly back at her, not sure whether he should smile reassuringly, or try to look even more miserable than he already was. He could only catch a few, scattered fragments of their conversation.

“…not a pony…maybe veterinarian…Fluttershy…”

Caleb’s eyes immediately darted toward the white equines.

“…know…talks…badly hurt…”

“…Everfree Forest?”

“…treat him?”

Caleb sighed and realized he didn’t have the energy to eavesdrop. He just wished he could disappear at this moment, to become invisible. But it wasn’t long before the nurse nervously walked up to him and flashed a winning smile.

“Um, hello there. Caleb is it?”

Caleb swallowed. “Yeah.”

“I’m Nurse Redheart. Lily here tells me you’re from the Everfree Forest,” she said amiably, though her eyes panned repeatedly to the wound on his forehead and the welts on his arm.

Lily. He momentarily looked to the white pony who had brought him in. So her name was Lily. He searched his brain, picking it for fragments of recognition from the various websites and lists. Though he knew of several ponies called Lily, this one was apparently not among them.

“I’m not from there,” Caleb said. “I just…I mean, I got lost.”

Redheart looked skeptically at the stammering human and simply gave a sympathetic nod. “It happens,” she said. “Everfree isn’t exactly safe you know.”

“Yeah, I’m kind of getting that impression.”

Redheart nodded to Caleb and held out a hoof, offering to help him out of his seat. “Why don’t you let me take a look at those cuts. We’ll get you fixed up in no time.”

Caleb took the nurse’s hoof and slowly got to his feet, realizing it was easier this time than it was the previous two. He was led slowly through a broad door, with Lily following close behind him, to a doctor’s exam room, though with slightly modified fixtures to make it easier for quadrupeds to use. He sat on the low exam table and Redheart immediately set to work.

Caleb raised his eyes to the silver-maned pony who had brought him in. “Your name’s Lily?” he asked.

“Yes, Lily Lace, or just Lily for short. It’s what all my friends call me anyway.”

Caleb winced as Nurse Redheart began to dab antiseptic at the cut on his head. Iodine! Did these ponies have to be so damned old fashioned?!

“Ooof, I know. Just hold still for me, this is a pretty deep cut,” Redheart nickered.

Caleb didn’t respond to her, wanting to think of anything but the throbbing pain the tincture was reigniting. “Lily Lace. I guess that explains the cutie mark,” he said to Lily.

She smiled a bit, nodding back to it. “I guess it does. I tat and knit lace for my little shop down the street, Frill ‘er Up; I’ve been doing it ever since I was a filly.”

To Caleb, there was no mistaking the pride in the Earth Pony’s voice. He hissed again as Redheart gave his wound one last, aggressive swab with the iodine-soaked gauze.

“Sorry…!”

“Don’t worry about it,” Caleb said. Another thing he noticed through this ordeal was how deceptively strong these ponies were. Though shorter than he and quite feminine, these were very powerful creatures, and he felt as if Redheart might have been using a bit more force than she should have. The nurse was now on to his arm, palpating the road-rashed surface gently to feel for broken bones. She proceeded to clean here as well and Caleb once more felt the sting of the antiseptic on his skin.

“You make lace stuff, like for dresses?” Caleb huffed as he held out his arm for Redheart. “Rarity must love you.”

She chuckled quietly and gave a modest grin, “Oh, well I’d like to think she appreciates my w—“ But then she stared straight at Caleb, having almost missed the name drop.

“You know Rarity?” Redheart asked, looking puzzled, though hopeful.

Damn, Caleb thought.

“Well I mean, I know of her,” he said evasively. “Pretty awesome dressmaker, from what I hear.”

“Awesome…yeah,” Lily said. She looked even more confused than Redheart, who had affixed a bandage to Caleb’s head and was now leaning low to look at his ankle. Caleb felt the neatly-trimmed hooves gingerly peel down his muddy sock.

“I have to admit, I’ve never seen a…what was it kind of creature you were again?” Redheart asked with a guilty sigh.

“I’m a human. I don’t know if we’re really that common in Equestria,” he offered.

“Well, you’re a fair bit less intimidating than most of the creatures we’ve seen come out of the Everfree Forest. Though I’d be lying if I said I knew how to treat you as well as a pony,” the nurse said. She was feeling the bones on Caleb’s ankle; he let out a low grunt of pain at certain spots, but she didn’t seem to be alarmed.

“Ouch. Well, I guess that’s good at least. I’m certainly no Ursa Major.”

“Definitely easier to manage,” Lily chuckled. “But in all seriousness, Caleb, Nurse Redheart is right. The Everfree Forest isn’t safe. For one thing, the weather happens all on its own in there.”

“No kidding…”

“And let’s not forget the animals,” Redheart clucked, nodding to Lily as she managed to untie Caleb’s sneaker, exposing his foot now. He felt cold once more, uneasy as those heavy hooves cradled his painful, swollen ankle.

“Oh, yeah! And the animals completely care for themselves. Downright weird if you ask me,” Lily added.

“Yeah, weird.” Caleb said.

“Well, it looks like nothing’s broken—I mean, at least as far as I can tell. Aside from these cuts and bruises, you seem to be a very healthy, er, human.” Redheart said as she began wrapping a cloth bandage tightly around his bruised flesh.

“That’s good to hear. It still hurts, though.”

“Well even if you didn’t break it, you certainly sprained it something fierce.” Redheart got onto all four feet once more and let out a sigh. Caleb felt the equine’s warm breath flutter his dirty t-shirt as he gingerly began to slip off the exam table. He was tentatively testing his weight on his ankle once more. Lily was immediately by his side to support him, though he seemed to be standing well enough on his own by now.

“I want you to take it easy for a few days,” Redheart continued. “You’re obviously not from around here. Are you going to be staying in Ponyville for a while? I’d like to be able to keep an eye on you at the very least.”

Caleb blinked, not immediately knowing how to answer that question. Lily seemed caught in the awkward moment as well, like a child who had brought home some sort of creature she wasn’t sure how to house.

“Well, I would let him stay with me, but I don’t really have the room. Besides, my shop is a mess right now,” Lily finally said.

“Well, I’m sure somepony has a spot for him,” Redheart said.

“It’s okay, really. I mean, I don’t want to put anybody out,” Caleb said nervously.

“No, no. Nurse Redheart’s right, we can’t just send you back into the forest. No, I think I know just the pony who could take you in,” she said with a smile.

At that moment a small bell rang in the main waiting room and Redheart nodded curtly toward Lily.

“I’ve got another patient. I’ll leave him in your hooves, though bring him back here immediately if there’s any problems whatsoever. I’ll make sure the doctor knows about his case ahead of time.”

“I promise he’ll be back here in no time if something happens. I’ll make sure everypony knows to keep an eye on him,” Lily said.

It was obvious to Caleb that Redheart had done all she could to help him. He just hoped that her giving him a relatively clean bill of health was the correct diagnosis. He carefully put his shoes on again, not bothering to lace the one slipped over his bandage. As he turned to shuffle toward the door, Redheart nickered, “Oh, ah, Caleb? What exactly happened to you in there?”

Both she and Lily gazed expectantly at Caleb, hoping for an answer.

“I don’t know,” Caleb said quietly. “I think I’m still trying to figure that out.”

Redheart frowned, obviously hoping for a better answer, but simply nodded and turned her attention toward tidying up the exam room. Caleb braced himself to walk back out into the waiting room, not wanting to be a spectacle once more. The surprised gasps from the two mares he passed on his way to the outside door made him inwardly cringe, his face flushed as he tried to hobble as quickly as he could back out onto the main street.

The morning bustle had finally come to Ponyville, and some of the food vendors had already set up their carts. What had been half a dozen ponies before was now more than twenty, going about their day as the sun began to rise higher in the sky. Caleb could already feel the gentle summer heat against his shoulders, making him idly wonder if ponies had suntan lotion. The quiet commotion rang all around him like the conversation din in a restaurant. He strained to hear every word of it, every syllable. He wished he could consume this place in its entirety like a dessert, savoring every tidbit of sensation and sound and experience. But he knew that the longer he stood in this spot, the more the those around him would be just as hungry to know more about him. Thankfully, most were too distracted to notice him, though he was prepared for—and received—more than just a few shocked stares and quiet murmurs.

Lily led him on quickly, through a narrow side street that the morning sun hadn’t quite touched. The buildings framing this quiet alley were still quiet and shuttered, and once more he and Lily were momentarily alone.

“Let’s go this way, Caleb. I don’t want you to have to keep getting stared at.” She said sternly.

“It’s alright,” he said, limping along beside her. “I mean, you guys have never seen a human before. We must look pretty strange.”

“Well, I don’t like to judge anypony on appearance. But I will say you did startle me when I first saw you,” she said with a smile. She was leading him back out of the town again, down another wide dirt path. Caleb still winced with every step he took, but realized that it was getting easier to walk as time went on. It seemed Nurse Redheart’s assessment was true after all.

“I must look like hell.”

“You’re certainly not looking your best, I’m sure,” Lily quickly admitted. “But I’m sure with some rest and a hot bath you’ll be a very handsome human, though I don’t really have many to compare you to.”

Caleb cracked a weak smile, still hobbling on beside her. “Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it, though if you really want to see how you fared I’m sure the Apple Family will have a mirror.”

Caleb’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. “The who now?” he asked, stopping for a moment.

“The Apple Family. They grow a lot of our food and have that big farm over there,” Lily said, extending a hoof to point the short distance down the road where a cluster of low buildings sat dominated by a spectacular three story barn, all amidst rolling hills dotted with neatly-pruned apple trees.

Caleb’s eyes darted to and from each charming feature making up the picturesque ranch. He compared it in his mind from what he had seen of it, as rendered by artists. While not knowing the place by heart, everything was here, and everything was familiar.

“Is something wrong?” Lily asked.

“No, no. Nothing’s wrong,” Caleb said, shaking himself a bit. He pressed his hand to his bandaged head once more. “Just…my head still hurts, that’s all.”

“Do you need me to stop? We can rest if you need to.”

“No, I’m fine. I’m good to go.”

“Alright, don’t overdo it.”

They walked on in silence for the rest of the journey. The enormity of the experience was compounding with each awkward step. And with each step, the place that was such an abstraction to him became all the more real. When they reached the arch hung with a large, carved wooden apple, Caleb felt the tendrils of panic mingling with the excitement buzzing in his brain. He stopped walking, and briefly considered running away, though on this ankle it would have been a pathetic sight indeed, he knew.

“Caleb what’s wrong?” She could read the uneasiness on his face as his eyes continued to scan the quiet barnyard.

“I ah, I don’t know if I can go in there,” he stammered.

“Caleb,” Lily said. “Look at me.”

At her insistence, he could only turn slowly to comply. He felt her dusty hoof take his hand, lifting it delicately. He had never felt a horse’s hoof before, or a pony’s. It felt strange to him, not what he expected. But then again, he wasn’t sure what he had expected to begin with. Caleb’s eyes met hers once more.

“Everything’s going to be alright and I give you my word you’ll be safe here. These are some of the nicest, most accepting ponies I’ve ever met; I’ve known this family for years. They would sooner eat their horseshoes than be unkind to a stranger.”

“I’m sure they are,” Caleb said, swallowing. He suddenly felt thirsty. Thirsty and tired.

“I’m just going to ask if they can spare some space for you to stay while you’re on the mend, alright?”

Caleb nodded. “Yeah, okay.”

Taking a deep breath, Lily led the anxious human down the dusty path, past the barn and into heart of Sweet Apple Acres. Caleb heard the bleating of sheep in the distance and a few chickens fluttered out of his way when the two of them passed through. There was a heavy smell of fermenting apples in the air, mixed with the usual rustic odors found on a farm.

Caleb idly reached for his left hip pocket. Expecting to find his cellphone, he still only found a few stray bits of broken glass. He briefly considered discarding them along the side of the path, but he suddenly felt as if even his footprints were too much of an intrusion, stamping the word “NIKE” in the fine dust of the barnyard with every step.

It wasn’t long before they reached the two story house a short distance behind the barn. Caleb’s heart thumped in his chest. This was where she lived. Lived, worked, played. Here. Right here.

“Here we are. Let’s just see if somebody’s home.” Lily extended a hoof and knocked on the old Dutch door. Caleb waited uneasily for what felt like an eternity an a half before he heard the latch click and the top portion of the door swung slowly open toward the inside.

“Eh, who’s there?”

The voice was tired, creaky and unmistakable. Caleb could see the fire still burning in the weary, dark orange eyes that peered over the lower door. Her mane was pulled back in a tight, white bun, as was her tail. A quick, nervous glance from Caleb toward her flank revealed the faded apple pie that all but confirmed the old pony’s identity. He deliberately hung back, hoping to let Lily do the talking.

“Hello, Granny Smith,” Lily said with a smile.

“Well hello yerself, punkin,” Granny said. “What’s that ya got there with yeh?”

“Granny Smith, this is Caleb. He says his kind are called humans, and that he got lost in the Everfree Forest. He got banged up pretty badly in there, apparently.”

Caleb gave a weak smile and waved a hand amiably. Granny peered at him more in confusion than in any kind of revulsion or distrust.

“Eh, what’s that again? Speak up.”

Lily repeated her statement, this time louder and more annunciated. Granny nodded, apparently comprehending this time.

“So what can we do fer yeh?” Granny asked.

Lily smiled and turned toward Caleb, who maintained his nervous grin, not wanting to offend the elderly equine.

“Caleb here’s been injured. We got him checked out by Nurse Redheart, but she advised him to take it easy for a few days. He’s not from around here, and we were hoping you might be able to give him a place to stay.”

Granny Smith nodded along, apparently thinking it over for a moment before she responded, “Well, ‘course we got the guest room ‘n all. He can stay if he likes, I s’ppose. Why dontcha come on in, take a load off yerself, Clabe.”

“Er, it’s Caleb,” Lily corrected her gently.

“What now?”

“CALEB, his name is Caleb.”

“Oh, right, er, come on in with yeh, Caleb,” she offered, inviting him inside. As he crossed into the sitting room, he could smell the tempting aroma of fresh-baked bread, wafting in from the kitchen to the side. He suddenly realized how hungry he was.

“Granny Smith?” Caleb said. “If it’s not too much trouble, could I get a glass of water?”

“Wha?”

“Caleb wants some water, Granny. Don’t worry, I’ll get him some.” Lily offered, wandering into the kitchen.

“That’s fine, dear. You know yer way around th’ kitchen. So,” Granny Smith said, turning around to look at Caleb, suddenly stern. “Wanderin’ round the Everfree Forest by yerself are yeh? You better steer clear, less ya find yerself tanglin’ with Timberwolves or mangled by a Manticore. I been in there myself, ya know.”

“Doesn’t sound like fun,” Caleb said. He could see that Granny’s coat was a faded, pale green and her bony legs quaked softly with each step she took. But there was a steadfast strength about her that seemed to belie her outwardly frail appearance.

“Ain’t no fun about it, sonny. Ya gotta be on yer toes in there, or yer hooves, or whatever you gots in them shoes.”

Lily returned with a glass of water, handing it to Caleb. Through the thick glass of the pony-sized cup he could see faint, milky sediment swirling around and clouding the cold water. Ugh, Caleb thought. Well water.

But as his thirst was far more powerful than his palate, Caleb gratefully chugged the entire glass, calcium deposits and all. Not bad.

“Caleb, I’m going to let you rest. Are you alright here with Granny Smith? I’d love to stay, but I have to get back to my shop,” Lily said, looking truly apologetic.

“Um yeah, sure. No problem,” Caleb assured her.

“Oh, don’t you worry, Lily. He’ll be more than alright. We’ll take him off yer hooves for a bit. Oh ‘n by the way, Cousin Pippin loves those doilies you gave me. Wants a set for herself now too, so I’ll be sure to send ‘er yer way, Lily.”

“Oh, it’s nothing really. Speaking of doilies, I should ah, I should get back to my shop. Goodbye, Caleb. I’ll check back on you later today.”

Caleb simply nodded, looking awkwardly for a place to set his empty glass. It was a short moment before he realized that Lily was leaving.

As she turned to go, he called out, “Lily.”

Lily turned momentarily, looking to Caleb. “Yes?”

“Thank you. Thanks for helping me out.”

“Don’t mention it, Caleb. I’m just glad you’re not seriously hurt. When I first saw you, I had honestly feared the worst.”

“Yeah, so did I.”

Lily flashed her bright smile yet again. “But I can obviously tell you’re going to be okay. Anyways, rest easy, Caleb. I’ll see you later today.”

And with that, the white pony left the house, trotting back up the path toward the barnyard. Caleb watched her go, suddenly feeling unease creeping back into his mind as he stood there alone with the old pony.

“She’s such a sweet girl, she is. Lot like her father, that one,” Granny Smith said. “C’mon, I’ll show yeh to yer room.”

Caleb followed the older pony through the house and slowly up a flight of wide stairs. All around him were little apples, carved intricately into the sturdy beams that made up the frame of this old house. His eyes drifted to each one, then to the apples on the wallpaper. An old, stepia-toned tintype photograph was hung at the top of the landing, showing a smiling group of ponies, all dressed as early American pioneers, complete with a covered wagon. The sense of pride that emanated from the long faces in the photo and in the sturdy, inviting home was palpable.

“Speaking of family,” Caleb asked. “Wheres the rest of yours?”

“Oh, they’re all at market, selling my cinnamon apple butter and some o’ the dried cherries we picked a few months ago.”

They walked down the hall a short distance before Granny Smith nudged open a door, revealing a sparse, but airy bedroom, complete with an apple-printed bedspread and small wooden apples carved into the posts of the bed. There was a large vanity, and a dusty old wardrobe in the corner. Caleb even noticed an old porcelain pitcher and basin parked on top of the dresser.

“Here ya go.” Granny watched him take it in for a moment and smartly added, “We may not be like some o’ them fancy schmancy, Booo-tique hotels they got up in Canterlot; this is about all we got to offer right now.”

A light, warm breeze blew in through the open window, along with the faint smells of the farm across the yard. Thin linen curtains billowed lazily against the fresh air that filled the room.

“It’s beautiful,” Caleb said simply.

“Well, I’m glad you think so. Now why don’t ya get yerself cleaned up a bit and have a rest. I gotta get downstairs and make sure my bread don’t burn. Bathroom’s down the hall and we got fresh towels in the cabinet over the sink.”

“Thanks, Granny Smith. I really appreciate it,” Caleb said, suddenly stumbling over himself to try to express his gratitude.

Granny Smith turned toward the hall and nodded back toward the human.

“Well, you’re welcome, sonny. Just be careful with that hot water tap. Gets a might scaldin’ if ya turn it too quickly. Gotta fix that darn thing, always burning m’hooves while I’m tryin’ to wash ‘em,” Granny Smith said, her look suddenly appearing distant as she turned to start down the hall, still muttering to herself about the sink.

Once again, Caleb was alone. For a full minute, he simply stood in the guestroom, feeling the warm breeze puffing lightly against his skin, the soft sound of the wind occasionally punctuated by the sound of a sheep or rooster. He closed his eyes, trying to collect his chaotic thoughts. Varying explanations for how this, any of this could be possible came and went with fleeting rapidity. Every time he thought he had an answer, no matter how far fetched, his weary mind couldn’t grasp it.

Slowly, Caleb shut the door to the hallway and moved to sit on the bed. The old springs creaked softly while he bent to remove his shoes again, taking extra care not to undo the bandage Nurse Redheart had given him. Once free of his shoes, he fished out the broken shards of glass that remained of his smartphone and set them aside neatly near the wall. He just wanted to lie down for a moment, just to collect his thoughs. He thought that if he just could rest his sore back, his aching leg, and his burning arm that he could get wrap his mind around the situation, that he could make sense of his predicament.

Caleb felt that if he could just clear his mind for a moment, then he could think clearly, try and figure out what he was going to do. He thought that if he just closed his eyes and rested his head on the big, goose down pillow that he could make the headache go away and collect himself. He thought that if he just took a few deep breaths, then…

Sleep claimed Caleb quickly, the exhausted human no longer ruminating or rationalizing. Meanwhile, all of Ponyville was abuzz with the news of the strange, half-dead creature who had befriended Lily Lace.

Comments

[blake0831]

This seems promising...

[Zobeid]

I have a natural skepticism towards these kinds of stories. However, something about the tone of this one, and the interactions of the characters, seems spot-on. Plus, it's well written. I'm hooked!

One quibble is that it seems like the ponies in this story are larger than I usually imagine them -- but that's open to interpretation anyhow. Plus, I guess it's a good thing they are big enough that he can easily enter and move about in their buildings.

Markarian: Where did you get the toy ponies in that picture, can I get them here in Holland (online maybe). I want one! (Rainbow Dash) They look way better than everything I've seen!

[Cloudhammer]

Another good chapter, looking forward to what comes next

[Markarian]

128031

As far as I know, these ponies were sold in a set of 12 exclusively by a store we have here in the US, called Toys R Us. They are the same as "blind bag" ponies, but they come as a collector's set of 12 with the mane six, including six other ponies. An example of the set can be found here:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/My-Little-Pony-TRU-12-FIM-Friendship-Magic-COLLECTION-SET-G4-HUB-/300649274874?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item460017ddfa#ht_8043wt_1398

If you just want Dash, just search eBay.com for "rainbow dash blind bag." I hope this helps, and thanks for reading!

[Meta Knight]

I look forward to reading what happens next in your story

[Cig Treble]

I want moar nau pleez? Lol. This was a good read.

[RubyVesper]

128530

Thanks for the help. Looks like Hasbro messed up on the mane and tail colors (AGAIN!) In that case, I think I'l go for Pinkie Pie!

[Sonicbrony66]

I have a feeling he's scared of AJ with her lie detecting powers.

[SorenDashHarmonia]

Aw, wow, this is really great! I heard about this fic on the last Bronyville episode, and... wow. Please update!

[Jspang]

200920 Dude, love that podcast, and they actually read my email on that one (halo brony)

[Markarian]

200920

Thanks, everypony. You guys are the best. I'll try to get chapter three out within a sane amount of time, but all the planning for EFNW has eaten a lot of my spare time, as one could imagine. Thanks again for reading.

[Reelix]

Came here through the Bronyville podcast - Brilliant story so far - Fantastic writing style!

I'm surprised Caleb didn't comment on the "Lily returned with a glass of water, handing it to Caleb." statement ;)

I'm anxious to see what Caleb gets up to - It would also be interesting for him to comment on things that he could not possibly know due to his Brony-related knowledge (Eg: Scenes from the series where characters are alone in a location doing something)

I must admit - The second you started describing Fluttershy's house, I was like "OMG YES YES YES!!! "

Good luck with the story! :D

[Fox]

He could always just explain away his knowledge as being a sort of seer, or something. It's not like anyone would be around to know better. Anyway, this is set at the very beginning of the series, right? Shouldn't the Apple Family reunion be going on, among other things?

Anyway, this is an interesting take on the HiE concept.. I like it. Looking forward to more!

[KvAT]

He's lucky to not get the Zecora treatment