Chapter Ten; Fitting In
Dustin floated idly as his memories of home play out like a movie in front of him. He watched his children grew before his eyes.
"You certainly had a beautiful family." came a voice from the shadows of his mind.
"Who's there?"
"Do you not recognize the voice of a friend?" said Luna as she walked out of the darkness."
Dustin ran over and gave her a hug.
"Thanks for coming back. How long have I been out, it feels like forever."
"Tis the fourth day." replied Luna calmly.
"Four days? That's it."
"I am afraid so. The doctor believes your body will be stable enough to move to the castle in a few days. He doesn't know how much longer you will remain unconscious thought. Perhaps I may know a way to cheer you up however. I certain somepony has made a request."
"Really? Who?"
"Rainbow Dash wishes to come and see you here in the realm of dreams."
"Is that even possible?" asked Dustin.
"If she is asleep I can bring her here to see you."
"That would be great!"
"I will see if she is available, if you don't mind waiting."
"Not like I have anywhere else to go." he replied with a laugh.
"Before I go I have a question for you?"
"What's up?"
"Wh…why did you throw yourself in front of the changelings magic attack? I treated you all so poorly when you arrived. It was I who ordered Sword Dancer to place you under guard. Despite all of this you still risked your life for me. For all you knew that blast could have killed you."
"Luna when I look at you I see a proud leader that puts the well being of her people..ponies as top priority. I can not fault you for that. For all I knew that blast could have killed you. Protecting those I serve is one of my most important duties. My friends and I swore to fight for Equestria. Ensuring your safety is part of that responsibility.
"I would like to apologize to you for my actions I feel I have greatly misjudged you. Is there anything I can do to make up for my mistake?"
"You already are by simply coming here to keep me company. I think being trapped in my own head alone would drive me mad."
"Very well then, I will continue to do so. Now please excuse me while I see if our friend is asleep yet."
Dustin watched as Luna slowly faded away into the darkness.
He waited for what felt like hours. Just as he started to think they weren't coming a blitz of Rainbow tackled him to the ground.
"Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!"
"Easy there Rainbow Dash." said Dustin as he returned the hug.
Rainbow Dash stood up and gave Dustin room to do the same.
"Sorry."
Luna walked up next to them and chuckled. It would appear somepony was very grateful that you accepted her request.
Rainbow Dash blushed as she looked at the black ground.
"Thanks Luna you two are the best. So how is everybody...everypony doing."
"Adrian is stayin out at Sweet Apple Acres with Apple Jack and her family and Anthony decided to live in the castle with Twilight. I didn't get to talk to them much yesterday because I had to bust up some rain clouds that tried movin in from the forest. Where are you gonna stay when you get back?"
"I don't know. I guess I'll just have to stay at the castle until my new house gets build."
A house slowly started appearing before them.
"What is this?" asked Luna as she watched the virtual home manifest out of nowhere.
"Oddly enough that is my dream house, complete with hot tub and swimming pool."
"Man if you were a pegasus I'd totally let you crash at my place it's the most awesome pad in Ponyville. But, only pegasus can walk on clouds and you kinda have to fly to get to it."
"I wish I could fly." said Dustin. "That would at least give me something to do in here."
"What are ya talking about? Your in a dream, you can do anything."
Rainbow Dash was surrounded by a blinding white light. As it faded Dustin saw she was wearing a black outfit with a golden lightning bolt necklace around her neck.
"That outfit looks good on you, how'd you do that?"
"Even you should be able to do it, just concentrate on having wings."
"That is correct." said Luna. In this place you are only limited to the restrictions of your own mind."
"That would have been nice to know two days ago." he replied giving Luna a little nudge.
Dustin closed his eyes and focused. An odd sensation came over his body as he opened them back up. Rainbow Dash and Luna's mouths were both hanging open at the sight before them.
"That is AWESOME!" cried Rainbow Dash as she started to fly around him.
Dustin looked over his shoulder and saw black feathers with red tips extending out from his back.
"Alright now try flapping them."
Dustin focused on making the wings flap but they refused to move.
"Its not working. I'm thinking but nothing is happening."
"Stop thinkin and do it!" said Rainbow Dash
Dustin focused on the muscles where he could feel the wings attached and started moving them. As he did the wings started to flap faster and faster until he was lifting up off the ground.
"This is amazing!" he said as he continued to climb.
"Now adjust your body to the angle you want to fly."
"Ya know this would be a lot easier if I had a better sense of up and down. Space is kinda confusing."
"Simple enough, just visualize where you want to be." said Luna as she glided up next to him.
Dustin closed his eyes and again focused. As he opened his eyes he crashed head first into a tall pine tree in a puff of feathers.
As he fell to the ground Luna and Rainbow Dash landed gracefully beside him.
"Yeah, its best if ya fly with your eyes open there newbie."
"Thanks for the advice Skittles." replied Dustin as he brushed himself off.
Rainbow Dash grabbed his collar with one hoof and drew back the other.
"You makin fun of me?" she asked, her face flush with anger.
"Of course not! Sorry, I forgot that you don't know what that is."
A bag of skittles candy appeared in the air next to Dustin. He tore it open and dumped the contents into his hand. Rainbow Dash looked at the small multicolored candies and smiled as she let go of his collar.
"I was just looking at you and this is what came to mind. Not only do they match your mane but their sweet and awesome just like you."
Rainbow Dash blushed brightly at the complement.
Luna looked at them both and lowered her head.
"I would leave the two of you in privacy but this magic requires that I be present."
"Its okay Luna I wouldn't want either of my two favorite mares to leave." replied Dustin causing the moon princess to smile.
"What is this place?" asked Rainbow Dash as she looked around the unfamiliar environment.
Dustin stood up and took in his surroundings.
"I remember this. Its the black hills, I took my family here on a vacation.
"They don't look black to me." said Rainbow Dash slightly confused.
"From a distance the tree's make the hills look black."
"Its beautiful." said Luna as she looked around. "Are all of your lands like this?"
"This land is protected by law so that it can not be destroyed to build homes or businesses nor can it be cut down for lumber."
"Who would want to destroy such a wondrous place?"
"Some humans don't see the beauty, all they see is a means to profit."
"I say you give flying another shot and we check this place out." said Rainbow Dash impatiently.
"What the?" yelled Rainbow Dash
Dustin looked over and saw Rainbow Dash slowly fading away.
"I am sorry Dustin it appears Rainbow Dash is waking up."
"Come back and see me again Skittles." he yelled before she disappeared completely.
"I fear I also must be on my way, but if you would like we can return later."
"Oh course I'd love to see the mares of my dreams anytime." he replied with a laugh.
A grin crossed Luna's face but she shook her head at the poor attempt at a joke.
"We shall see you again soon. In the mean time perhaps you should try working on your flying." said Luna spreading her wings. I'd like to see more of your world as well."
"I'll be glad to give you both a tour."
With that Luna launched herself upwards into the darkness.
Rainbow Dash opened her eyes as a giant smile crossed her face.
"Ohmygosh, Ohmygosh." she stammered as she flew around her room.
"I gotta send a message to Luna."
She opened the door and realized the sun was barely starting to come up.
"Ah man! I never wake up this early, what the hay, that was the best dream I've ever had."
She zipped back into her bed letting the blankets slowly drift back down over her and closed her eyes.
Adrian woke to the crow of a rooster. That was something he'd have to get use to, he thought to himself. As he stretched, his feet slid out from under the blanket and off the end of the bed. He lay looking at the ceiling of the small guest bedroom and yawned.
It wasn't much but it was comfortable. It also had a lockable closet that he was able to secure his gear in while he was working around the farm.
"Time to get up." he said out loud.
The sun hadn't quite crested the hills outside his window as he got dressed and quietly headed down stairs. No one else seemed to be up yet. He looked around the kitchen for something he could make them all for breakfast. He found eggs, salt, flour, sugar, baking powder, and milk so he decided pancakes was his best option. Looking through the cupboards he found a skillet and a large mixing bowl and poured in the ingredients. With a whistle he went about his cooking.
Apple Jack and Big Mac were the first two into the kitchen.
"What is that?" asked Apple Jack as she walked towards Adrian. "It smells delicious."
"Eeyup." said Big Mac in agreement.
"I was up so I figured breakfast was in order, means being you all were kind enough to take me into your home."
"Aw shucks ya didn't have ta goin do that. We're happy ta have ya. But, since ya did I'll help ya out. I happen ta have a pretty health appetite and so does Applebloom so we'll be needin ta make plenty."
Adrian turned holding a platter stacked high with pancakes.
"I kinda figured that, so I started out with these and decided to keep cooking in case we needed more."
"Well I guess ya got it under control there. I'll go get Applebloom."
Apple Jack walked into Applebloom's room and shook her softly.
"Applebloom time ta get up the roosters a crowin."
"I don' wanna." she said as she rolled over pulling the blankets over her head.
"Adrian done made a whole heap a pancakes."
Applebloom's eyes shot open.
"Pancakes!"
She jumped out of bed and opened the closet door revealing row after row of big red bows.
"This one'll work." she said grabbing one off a lower shelf and tying it in her mane.
They walked into the kitchen as Big Mac and Adrian were setting the table.
"Would you happen to have butter and syrup?" asked Adrian as he sat the pile of pancakes on the table."
"Sure do." said Applebloom as she grabbed the requested items out of the fridge.
Apple Jake poured them all a glass of apple cider as they sat down to eat.
"What about Granny Smith? Should we wait for her?"
"Naw she'll be down after awhile. We need ta get goin, we got work ta do." said Apple Jack though a mouth stuffed with pancakes.
Apple Jack stopped and swallowed her food as she looked over at Adrian.
"Sorry bout that. I forget ma manners some times."
"I consider it a compliment, it kind of makes me feel at home too." replied Adrian his own mouth full of food.
They all laughed as Big Mac hoofed out another stack of pancakes to each of them.
After the filling breakfast Adrian joined Big Mac in the barn.
He watched as the red stallion loaded large buckets into two separate carts.
Apple Jack walked in and hooked up to one of the carts and headed out the door.
"You comin Adrian?"
They walked through the trees for awhile and chatted until she came to a stop.
Apple Jack unloaded the cart and placed several of the buckets around a rather large apple tree.
"I got this." said Adrian as he took a running start and jumped. He grabbed the lowest branch he could reach and pulled himself up into the tree.
"What are ya doin sugarcube?" asked Apple Jack as she watched his odd performance.
"Aren't we out here to pick apples?" he asked looking down at the blonde mare.
"Pick apples? Why that'd take all week. Come on down here and I'll show ya how us Apples do it.
Adrian hopped out of the tree as Apple Jack turned and gave him a wink. She bucked hard against the tree with both her back hooves. The apple tree shook from the ground up causing all the apples to drop from the tree. Much to Adrian's surprise they landed perfectly in the waiting bucks.
"That was amazing Apple Jack."
"Just call me AJ." she said with a grin. "Yer living with us now so no need ta be all formal like."
"Okay AJ."
"Now how bout ya give me a hand loadin them buckets back on the cart."
Adrian grabbed the closest bucket and picked it up.
"So what do you do with all these apples." asked Adrian as he loaded it into the cart.
"We use em ta make cider and other stuff. Some of em we sell. We don't make a lot but its enough ta keep the place runnin. Our best sellers are the cider and zap apple jam."
"Zap apples, now that sounds interesting."
"Yeah, Granny Smith found em in the Everfree forest when she was just a filly. She brought em home and planted the seeds. There tricky though. If ya don't get all the apples bucked in one day they disappear on ya. Then there's a whole mess a steps ya have to follow ta make the jam. Things get a might bit crazy around here durin zap apple season that's for sure."
They loaded the last bucket together and headed over to the next tree. Again AJ placed the buckets and walked up to the tree.
"Mind if I give it a try?"
"I don' know. I promised Twilight I wouldn't over work ya."
"Come on AJ it ain't gonna hurt."
"I suppose if ya can do it we'd get done faster."
Adrian walked over and squared up with the tree. He gave it a mighty kick causing the leaves to rustle. A lone apple fell hitting Adrian square on the top of the head. They both laughed as Adrian rubbed the small bump that was starting to form on his bare scalp.
"Ya got ta use both hooves ta get a good buck in, give it another try."
Adrian got down on his hands and knees as he looked over his shoulder to make sure he was lined up. He bucked out with both legs and hit the tree firmly resulting in several thuds as apples dropped into the buckets.
"There ya go sugarcube. Not bad for your second try."
Adrian looked up and saw over half the apples still hanging onto the tree defiantly. He bucked again and watched as a few more fell into the waiting buckets.
"I couldn't do it all day but it's good exercise. It sure would keep my legs in shape."
Apple Jack turned and kicked with one leg causing the remaining apples to fall.
"How bout I do most the buckin for now and you c'n help load the cart."
Adrian stood and started loading the buckets into the cart.
"Okay but I'm gonna keep practicing until I can buck them all off in one shot."
"Deal." said Apple Jack as she spit on her hoof and stuck it out to Adrian.
Adrian spit in his hand and shook her hoof. Together they continued working there way through the orchard.
After several hours of bucking and loading, Apple Jack let out a sigh.
"Alright Adrian. That pretty much does it for the day. It'll be gettin to hot to work here before long."
"Hell, I'm not afraid of the heat, in Iraq one hundred and ten degrees was pretty normal. And we wore all that gear when we worked."
"It's not us I'm worried about. When it gets hot the apples turn soft and if ya buck em they get bruised fallen in ta the buckets."
"Oh that makes sense. Your family has this down to a science don't they?"
"It's just years ah knowledge passed down from one generation ta the next."
"So that reminds me, when do I get to meet your parents AJ." asked Adrian.
Apple Jack lowered her head and sat silent. She closed her eyes as the tears started down her muzzle..
"Oh shit, I'm sorry AJ I didn't know." said Adrian as he knelt down in front of her. He raised her head by the chin.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out his dew cloth and used it to wipe the tears from her face.
"I didn't mean to upset you I'm so sorry."
Apple Jack looked into Adrian's eyes. He could almost feel her pain making his heart sink even lower.
"Its okay Adrian. Ya didn't know and I didn't say. I just don' like talkin about it is all."
Adrian gently slid his hand across her face catching her last tear. He was so close he could smell a combination of apples and sweat. They sat for a moment looking into each others eyes when Apple Jack lunged forward and wrapped her hooves around Adrian's neck and started to cry again. Adrian returned the hug, holding her tightly in his arms until her crying subsided.
"Look at me, all a mess. We need ta get these apples back to the barn before it gets any hotter." she said as she pulled away.
"AJ if you ever need or want to talk I'm here for you. I know what it means to lose family."
"Thanks sugarcube that means a lot ta me." she replied as she wiped her face with her fore leg.
Adrian stood up and hooked the cart harness around his waist and they started back across the orchard towards the barn.
They got back to the barn and had the apples unloaded by the time Big Mac pulled his own cart load of apples in.
"Here Big Mac let me give you a hand." said Adrian as he grabbed hold of a barrel.
The three of them unloaded the apples in record time.
"It's lookin like he's gonna be pretty helpful round here." commented Apple Jack as she walked to the door.
"Eeyup." said Big Mac heading to the house.
Apple Jack lead Adrian out behind the barn. He saw what looked like a shower sticking off the side of the building.
"Ya wanna rinse off. If ya prefer there's a shower in the house. The water in the house is heated thanks to Twilight's magic, but this ones just heated by the sun.
Adrian took off his shirt and boots and walked under the shower head. Apple Jack stood staring at his muscular chest and stomach. She blinked as she realized she was staring a little longer then she had planned
"Yer gonna get those duds wet if ya stand there like that." she said.
Adrian looked down at his pants.
"AJ humans don't really have a way to cover our uh...ourselves without clothes so its kinda considered inappropriate to take off more than this around a lady."
A grin crossed her face as what he was sayin finally clicked.
"Ya act like I ain't never seen a stallion before sugarcube. Ya ain't gotta be shy round me. Applebloom will be out with her friends til this evenin so don' worry bout that neither."
"Okay as long as your sure your alright with it."
He turned around and undid his uniform pants and let them fall as he kicked them off into the pile of his clothes.
Apple Jack took in the sight of his nice tight flank as her mind started to wander. Her jaw nearly hit the ground as he turned around.
"Sweet Celestia." she said with a jerk.
Adrian used his hands to cover himself thinking he had offended her.
"Sorry AJ I warned you."
"Ain't nothing to apologize for Adrian, trust me."
She turned the valve and before long water was cascading down onto Adrian's head. It was just the perfect temperature to wash off the dirt and aches of the mornings work. He looked up and enjoyed the feeling of the water running down his face. Then he felt something bump into his leg.
"Hey sugarcube do ya think you could wash some of that dirt off a my flank, it's a real pain ta reach."
He reached over with one hand and rubbed down her back and around her cutie mark. He felt her shutter as he traced the apples on her flank with his fingers.
"Yeah right there." said Apple Jack as she tried to keep her head up and her eyes open.
AJ raised her tail a little giving him quite an enjoyable view of her marehood. Adrian realized he was turned on by the sight as he felt himself getting hard with excitement. He stepped out from underneath the water and grabbed his clothes.
"Somethin wrong sugarcube?"
Nope, I just wanna head in and get a clean uniform to put on." he replied as he pulled up his pants. He toweled himself off with his t-shirt as he headed to the house.
"Shoot, I hope I didn't push things to far with that." thought Apple Jack as she finished rinsing off.
Adrian changed into a full fresh uniform and grabbed his weapons out of the closet. He paced back and forth in his room trying to get the image of Apple Jack's beautiful flank out of his mind. "I know its been a while, but a pony." he thought. As he walked and pondered, it dawned on him. It wasn't just beauty he saw in AJ. The personality, the sense of family, the friendliness. For the first time he was truly seeing someone for more then just looks alone?
As he walked into the kitchen he saw Granny Smith rocking gently in her chair.
"Good mornin Granny Smith." he said with a wave.
"Afternoon young fella." she replied. "What did ya say yer name was again?"
"It's Adrian ma'am."
"Adrian huh. That's a strong name."
"Uh thanks."
"So what did ya think about apple buckin?"
"It's pretty hard work but I think I can handle it. I'm gonna need quite a bit of practice to get as good as Apple Jack or Big Mac but I'm sure I'll get there."
"Well if ya stick around long enough the Apple Family Reunion will be comin up in a month er so and you'll be able ta meet the entire Apple clan."
"I think I'd enjoy that." said Adrian as Apple Jack walked inside.
"Think ya'd enjoy what." she asked.
"Granny Smith was just telling me about the Apple Family reunion."
"The reunion is one heck of a gatherin that's for sure. You'll have to get Granny to show ya some of her photo albums sometime. Anyways was there something ya wanted to do?"
"Anthony said I needed to go see Rarity. I have some papers to give to him as well so I should probably get that done too."
"If ya don't mind I'll go with ya. I need to stop and see Fluttershy on the way if that's okay."
"I don't mind at all." he replied.
Apple Jack grabbed her saddlebags and they trotted off towards Ponyville.
...
Anthony walked out of his room and headed to the main hall. As he got there the front door of the castle burst open as Rainbow Dash came flying in.
"Hey Rainbow Dash where's the fire?" he asked as she flew up to him.
"Have ya seen Spike? I need him to send a message to Princess Luna like right now."
"Whats the emergency."
"It's just important to me okay. So where's Spike?"
"I don't know I haven't seen him."
As if on cue Spike walked into the room.
"Hey guys. What's goin on?" he asked seconds before Rainbow Dash was shoving a scroll in his face.
"Please, send this to Princess Luna Spike." she said almost pleading.
"Is this another one of you and Pinkie Pie's prank letters?" asked Spike eyeing her suspiciously.
"Really! This is super important, will you please just send it?"
Spike took the sealed scroll in his claws and looked it over.
"I don't know. Remember how mad Twilight got at me last time I sent one of your "Important" letters."
"Spike!" Pleaaase, I swear its not a prank."
"Alright, but if it is I'll never send another letter for you again."
"Fine." she replied watching him impatiently.
Spike held the scroll up and blew green flames igniting the letter and watched calmly as it burned.
"Now that was uncalled for Spike, she was practically begging you to help." said Anthony as he watched the letter burn away.
Thank You. Thank You so much Spike, I owe ya one." said Rainbow Dash as she flew out as fast as she had come.
Anthony scratched his head as Spike looked at the confused human.
"It's not destroyed." said Spike seeing Anthony's expression.
"What?"
"When I burn the scroll like that it sends it almost instantly to Princess Celestia or Princess Luna. The Princesses can send letters to me and I burp them up about the same way. Pretty cool huh.
"So that is what Celestia meant when she said she would contact us through you."
"Yep, that's why I'm Princess Twilight's number ONE assistant." he said proudly.
"Spike! Spiiike!"
"Duty calls." he said with a bow as he walked into the castle library.
Anthony followed him in and saw Twilight seated at a table stacked with books.
"Can you put these books back please?" she said as a pile of books floated over to the little dragon.
"What are you doing?" asked Anthony as he stepped in.
"Good morning Anthony." she replied with a smile. "I was just going though some books looking to see if there were any references to the humans of Equestria."
"Having any luck?"
"None at all." she said with a sigh.
"I though that there would be something but all I can find is accounts of humans as myths. Maybe humans were sent to earth so long ago that their existence simply hadn't been recorded yet."
"I don't know how that would be possible. On earth several civilizations had seemingly vanished from existence, but their was always proof they had been there. Either though ancient ruins, buried artifacts, even cave paintings. There is always evidence."
"Ancient Ruins! Why didn't I think about that. We need to go on a little trip into the Everfree forest sometime this week. I bet the library in the castle of the two sisters would have something."
"What. I was in that forest for the better part of a week. I don't think its somewhere to go wondering around to look for some old ruins."
"We've been out there several times. Its the ruins of Celestia and Luna's old castle before...before they parted ways for awhile."
"What do you mean parted ways?"
"Well um, promise me you won't think differently of Luna if I tell you. We had some problems with this awhile back."
"I promise Twilight I look at someone for their current character and actions not at their past. We've all done things that we regret."
"Alright Anthony I trust you."
"So what happened, did they get in a fight? Did Luna try and take control?"
"Kinda both. Luna became jealous because everypony loved Celestia and her sunlight. She was filled with anger because ponies slept through the night and she was shunned. These emotions caused something horrible to manifest inside Luna turning her into an evil mare called Nightmare Moon."
"That doesn't sound ominous at all."
"In a rage she refused to lower the moon as she planned to leave Equestria covered in eternal darkness. When Celestia ordered her to lower it Nightmare Moon attacked. Celestia was forced to use the Elements of Harmony to defend herself but in so doing Nightmare Moon was banished to the moon for one thousand years."
"Whoa whoa whoa. A thousand years? Just how old are Celestia and Luna?"
"Honestly, I don't know. What I do know is they are probably the two oldest ponies in Equestria."
"Is it because they are alicorns? Does that mean you'll live that long as well?"
"I hadn't really though about it. They were both born alicorns, I was turned into one by Celestia's magic so it might not be the same thing. I'll have to ask her that in my next letter. So anyway Nightmare Moon's return was what brought my friends and I together. We each received an Element of Harmony and used them to defeat Nightmare Moon freeing Luna. Since then Luna has worked very hard to prove that Nightmare Moon no longer lives within her."
"Okay that explains a few things. So unlike Celestia, Luna still has a darker side even if its one she chooses not to show."
"No, Luna is a kind and caring pony just like her sister. She just has demons in her past. She went as far as to create a nightmare to punish herself every time she slept. She wanted to atone for the pain and suffering she caused as Nightmare Moon. We showed her that she could do that through her actions as Princess. Not by forcing herself to live a life of misery. Look, not only does she stop ponies nightmares as we sleep she guides us and helps us to understand them as well."
"So she realizes her gifts and the importance she has in her roll as princess of the night."
"Yes."
"I think I understand, thank you for sharing that with me. I'd rather know now then have it pop up at the worst time."
"That reminds me I have a book for you as well."
Twilight picked up a blue book with her magic. Anthony took it and turned it over in his hands.
Equestria, A History of
"This will give you a run down of things you may need to know in the future.
"Thanks Twilight."