Chapter 1
Before we begin our story, let us see how In-The-Nick-Of-Time became a permanent member of the Apple Family, it was before Big Mac was born, that Mr. and Mrs. Apple found an egg on their porch. They decided to take care of it until it hatched, but when it did, they were surprised to see a dragon covered mostly in fur, with very little scales.
"It's a Luck Dragon...", whispered Mrs. Apple, trying to not wake it up. She picked it up in her hooves and sat in a rocker.
"Dragon! Well get that thing out of here! It may not be big enough to eat us right now, but when it is...it won't be pretty.", exclaimed Granny Smith.
"Ma, we can't just throw him out, it's not right. Besides, Luck Dragons are known to be naturally kind.", replied Mr. Apple, " And we can raise him to eat apples like we do."
"In-The-Nick-Of-Time, that will be his name, considering he came in the nick of time. Just when we were thinking about extending our family.", smiled Mrs. Apple, feeding the baby dragon a bottle.
"If you plan on keeping him, give him a proper name, like Braveheart Apple, it's almost time to harvest the Braveheart Apples, speaking of which.", retorted Granny Smith.
"Ma, you're a genius! In-The-Nick-Of-Time Braveheart! That's a name of greatness!", exclaimed Mr. Apple.
"Shhhhhh...", said his wife, smiling at his excitement, then she looked down at Nick, he was staring up at her with baby sky blue eyes, "You're Mommy's little Braveheart now. Yes you are,..." She started to play with him, blowing raspberries and kisses, while he giggled.
Years later, when Applejack was born, Granny Smith still didn't trust Nick, but when she saw how kind and helpful he was, she changed her mind about him, and accepted him as her grandson alongside Big Mac. Years went by, Nick made new friends and had his heart broken many times by the mischievous little fillies, looking for fun ways to hurt him. Eventually, his father and mother died, and without them to guide him, he felt like there was no room for a creature like him, he left Ponyville and went on a long, long, long walk to the far reaches beyond the borders of Equestria that lasted many years, until he came back, this is where our story begins...
One day, Applejack and her friends were enjoying some apple cider on Sweet Apple Acres, when Applebloom came up screaming excitedly with tears in her eyes,
"He's back! He came back home!"
"Who's back?", asked Applejack, before noticing a tall white, furry dragon that walked on his fours, sky blue eyes, and an incredibly long, scaly tail. "Nick! Applebloom, go get Granny Smith and Big Mac! Nick, where have you been?!", she exclaimed all at once.
"I'm sorry AJ, its just, I was too upset to think and, I'm so sorry!", he replied, starting to cry.
"Nick, what happened?", Applejack asked. He just looked up at her still crying, while Applebloom, Granny Smith, and Big Mac came running out of the house, tears streaming their eyes. They all embraced in a heart breaking hug, while Fluttershy and the others sobbed.
"What were you thinking?", asked Granny Smith, stroking his fur.
"I don't know, Granny, I'm sorry.", he replied, burying his head under her chin.
"Why did you leave?", asked Applebloom, hanging on tightly to his long legs.
"I was so upset, I don't even remember, everywhere I went though, I was laughed at, called names, somepony tried to put me in a zoo once.", he said, bending over to let her put her hooves around his neck.
Big Mac couldn't say anything, he just squeezed Nick tighter.
"Girls, you think you could help me make Nick feel at home? He's been through so much."
"Of course we'll help you, that's what friends do.", smiled Twilight.
"Thanks girls.", sniffed Applejack, before running back over and giving Nick a flying hug.
"I could throw him a party!", exclaimed Pinkie.
"And I could be his fellow dragon!", grinned Spike.
"Those are great ideas, but they won't mean anything unless we put them to work.", agreed Twilight, "Let's go girls!"
So in a few months time, Nick felt comfortable in Ponyville, and Ponyville felt comfortable around Nick.