I stood under her cloud house, soaked from the late afternoon rain, my voice raw and cracking, "Rainbow Dash, please come down. I want to apologize to you. I don't care if it takes until dooms day, I'll stay right here and keep apologizing!"

I overheard Rarity in the distance, "How long has he been standing there, shouting?"

Applejack's drawl was clear as day, "Ah reckon since the end of the party last night. Hasn't left that spot as far as ah can tell. He hasn't even cleaned up his lip. Ah don't know what happened, he won't tell me. He said he something about failing at being a friend."

I shouted again, my voice raw, "Rainbow Dash, I'm sorry for what I said! Please, come talk to me."

Rarity's voice was full of concern, "Is she actually up there?"

I could see Applejack squinting and looking up at the cloud house, "Fluttershy said she was. Everyone else is worried about him too, but that dang fool won't let us help. Fluttershy offered to act as a go between, but he refused."

"I really don't see why Alex is behaving this way. I think him carrying himself as this gallant knight a little too far. If she doesn't accept his apology, the least he can do is go back home and get cleaned up."

I called out without taking my eyes off Dash's cloud home, "The reason I don't Rarity, is that I said something awful in a very flippant manner to a wonderful friend. My best friend. I abused her trust. I plan to stay here until I can apologize to D... sorry," I had lost that right, "Rainbow Dash face to face." I stared again, "Rainbow Dash! I hope you can hear me! I want you to know how sorry I am! I was wrong! Totally in the wrong! Please, let me apologize to you face to face!"

I thought I saw a little smear of cyan and colour, just at the edge of the cloud, just for a moment through the rain. "Please Rainbow Dash, I'm sorry for hurting you! I was thoughtless and I never should have said what I said! You're my best friend. I don't want to lose you..."

My voice finally gave out, I just couldn't do it any more. I dropped to my knees, mud splashing on my shirt. I was exhausted and discouraged. Maybe Rarity was right. Maybe I should...

I felt a gust of wind and looked up. Dash was hovering just above me and had a sad little smile, "I heard you all night, you big goof." Dash landed and looked at me bashfully, "I'm... I'm sorry I hit you. I shouldn't have lashed out at you like that. Especially not a friend who stands out all night yelling apologies at me." She looked away bashfully, "I've never had a friend do that, who cared enough to do something this crazy."

My voice was weak from all the yelling, "Rainbow Dash, I was totally wrong about that remark. I never should have said it, especially is such a flippant manner. Applejack asked what it was about, but I didn't tell her. I figured it was private. I'm still going to talk to you about it, when you're ready. Because I'm your friend, and I'm not sorry for caring. I..."

Dash gave me a hug and sniffed. She said quietly, "Shut up you big jerk. We will talk about it later, but not right now. I... I can't right now." I hugged her back, so happy she was here. She continued, with only a trace of confidence in her voice, "I'm so sorry I hit you, and I know you're sorry you mouthed off. We're both sorry. And thank you for keeping the reason to yourself." She broke away, concern on her face, "You really should take care of that lip, it's making you uglier than usual."

I touched my face and winced a little. I hadn't really noticed how swollen it was. "Yes, I think I should." I noticed Applejack and Rarity were smiling and keeping their distance. "Thanks for talking to me, Rainbow Dash."

She admonished softly, "Hey, I told you already, my friends call me Dash."

Another perfect day. You know, just for once, I would love to see a slightly cloudy day here. Just a few random clouds. Dash would never let that last. Oh well, I guess I can't complain too much.

Ever since I came out of the hospital, things have, for the most part, become a dull routine. I have breakfast, clean up, workout on the heavy bag for a half hour or so, change into clean clothes, jog into town and I always stop at Applejack's stand. She's always a fun chat, and like Dash, I feel I can let my guard down around her. I'll sometimes stop and talk to Rarity, Pinkie Pie, or Twilight and Spike. Some times I'll go through town and drop by Fluttershy's. I usually catch Dash some time in the afternoon or she'll drop over at my place after work. The only two I seem to see almost every day are Applejack and Dash.

As I jogged up to Applejacks stand, "Hey Romeo, spend more time call'en up to your true love?"

"Applejack, you know you're the only one for me. Well, you know, after Fluttershy. Twilight. The Mayor. Rarity." We both chuckled at our private joke. "Actually, Dash and I have patched things up. I'm glad we did, I would have hated to lose her as a friend."

"Sugarcube, ah don't think there was any chance of that. That filly thinks the world of ya. Heck, I do to, truth be known."

I chuckled, "Darn shame I'm not a stallion, I'd have to beat you all off with a stick." I saw a pile of flyers beside her stand. I pick one up and read it, "'Sisterhood Social'?" I brightened up, "Hey, I know it's a filly only thing, but my schedule is empty and maybe I can help set things up? I'm feeling kind of useless around here and you would be doing me a big favour. You know what they say, idle hands are Discords playthings."

"That sure is neighbourly of you, and I hate turning down somepony with gumption. Alright, come on down early friday morning, me and Big Macintosh are setting things up for Saturday. Get ready for a hard day's work."

"Thanks Applejack, I appreciate it. It'll be good to be doing something with my hands again. The house is all setup and everyone else has something to do during the day, I feel like I'm just, in the way."

I leaned on the stand facing Applejack, "Applejack, I'm feeling directionless for the first time in a long time. Before it was fairly straight forward; survive, get ready for my next jump, try to get home. That was it. To be honest I gave up on the last goal about twenty years ago, it just didn't seem all that plausible." I snorted mirthlessly, "Says the reality jumping human in Equestria. And now, I'm in this wonderful place, this almost perfect society, and I don't know what to do."

"My usual course of action while waiting until I jump is to start off as a story teller in inns, then use the funds to become some kind of merchant. People always enjoy a good story, but merchants, they travel, and you know what, travelling doesn't seem very attractive any more."

Applejack tilted her hat back and gave a sympathetic grunt, "I hear ya. As much as I love the orchard business, those trips to Canterlot drive me crazy. I guess I'm just a home body."

Home body. That sparked something in my mind. Why not combine story telling with building a home here? I was always decent at telling stories. Well, they already have a stage by the town hall. Why not a real theatre? Bringing entertainment to Ponyville! Make ponies laugh and cry and think!

I looked at Applejack in the eyes and smirked, I grabbed her by the shoulders and hugged her.

I let her go and stepped back. She had a slight blush on her cheeks, a confused expression, and a half smile. "What in tarnation was that for?"

"For being the inspiration that gave me a direction for the next sixty years of my life."

I could hear Big Macintosh, "Applejack, you sure about this? He can barely carry what Apple Bloom can. Besides, ain't he some fancy pants, throwen' bits around like water? And then I heard about him improperly hugging you in the market. What's he doing spending his day hugging mares in the market. Has he ever done an honest days work?"

"Big Macintosh! He can hear you from here! He's got real sharp ears. And anyway, he's always eager to help, with bits or his back. And that hug was just a friendly one. Nothing else, understood? I said he could come help and that's that."

I did my best to hide my smile. I wanted to show Big Mac I could do a good days' work. Applejack called me over and I quickly jogged the rest of the way over as I was pulling on a pair of work gloves. Did I mention Elusive is amazing? That stallion just eyeballs me and makes stuff that fits, made the work gloves in about an hour.

I clapped my hands together and rubbed them in anticipation, "So, where do I start?"

Big Macintosh looked me up and down disapprovingly, "Well, I guess can't turn down an extra pair of hooves," he gave his sister a quick glare. "You can get started with the hay bales. The track's already outlined, you just put hay bales along the edge."

I nodded, gave a snappy two fingered salute, "Yes, sir!" and I trotted off. It was a lot of hard work, but I made a point of not taking a mid morning break. I wanted to prove myself. That, and it felt good to have a purpose, even if it was just for a day or two.

Late morning, as I was feeling jaunty, and had a tune in my head all morning. I started singing out loud, "Alouette, gentille Alouette. Alouette, je te plumerai! Je te plumerai la tête! Je te plumerai la tête. Et la tête. Et la tête. Alouette. Alouette. O-o-o-oh. Alouette, gentille Alouette. Alouette, je te plu..."

Big Macintosh interrupted my zen like train of thought, "What in tarnation are you singing? Sounds mighty highfalutin." His eye squinted a little at me.

"Oh, sorry Big Macintosh, just an old work song my grandmother used to sing. She was from a little french farming community where I come from. Heh, that was actually a chicken plucking song, not really for hay bales, but it's the only one I really remember. If it's bothering you, I'll stop. It's just... well this place was a little slice of my childhood and it sort of slipped out..." He glared at me in silence. I shut my yap and continued carrying the hay bales. He snorted and went back to what he was doing. Right. Duly noted, no singing.

The sun was high in the sky. It has been a back breaking morning and had about a third of the track done. I heard Granny Smith call out, "Soups on, everypony!"

I started walking toward the farm house, wiping sweat from my face. I saw a table in the distance, piled high with food. As I was walking I was carefully rolling my shoulders so they wouldn't stiffen. Just before I got to the table, I stopped and twisted my upper torso. I felt a satisfying crack and sighed. I felt a silence and looked around, the Apple family was looking at me, looks of surprise on their faces. I looked behind myself, "What?"

Applejack looked worriedly at me, "Should you be bending yourself like that? I mean, doesn't that hurt?"

"Um... no, not really. I was just cracking my back. I was a little stiff from the work and doing that makes me feel better. That's all." I grew concerned, afraid that I had committed another social faux pas, "Did I do something wrong?"

"No, I guess not. Just, it didn't look natural. Well, not natural for pony folks."

I smiled, "Trust me, this is quite natural for humans." Everyone seemed satisfied with my answer, except Big Macintosh, but he kept his mouth shut. "So, now that we have that all cleared up, this spread looks fantastic! I want to thank you very much Granny Smith, this looks really good!" And, no word of a lie, it was. The Apple family sure know how to cook. I may try to get some tips form Applejack later. The food was sweet, like most pony food, but not overly so. I guess this was plain food by their standards.

Once lunch was over, everyone was taking a little break, except for me. I joked, "Well, as much as I would like to while away the afternoon, I'm behind on my bales. Thank you again for lunch." Applejack cocked an eyebrow at this and kept that little half smile she usually has. Big Macintosh shot a glare at me. I walked back to my pile of bales and got back to work.

"Applejack's got you working her farm, huh?"

I smiled and looked up at Dash, hovering a short distance away. "Well, I'm trying." I glanced around, then, in my best Big Macintosh imitation, "But this critter's only as strong as Apple Bloom."

Dash laughed and landed, "That was pretty good. Big Mac can be a little pig headed some times. Once he gets an idea in his head, well, it's hard to change. Did you want some help?"

"Thanks Dash, but no. I want to do this myself. Stupid pride and all the jazz. Mind if I work while we chat?" I continued grabbing bales from the stack and placing them around the track.

"Nope! I'll just get comfy right over here." Dash laid down on the last bale I had placed. Once she got comfortable, "So, something I was wondering about, and you never talk about it, why did all this jumping around start? You know, from one world to another."

I paused for a moment, "That's something I don't have an answer to. Maybe one day I'll know." I dropped the bale and headed back for the next one, "I remember the first jump. I was mowing the lawn. Celestia's sun I hated mowing the lawn." I grunted as I grabbed a new bale, "Half way through the front lawn the damn mower had broken down and I was trying to fix it, " I chuckled mirthlessly, "and, of course, I burned my hand on the exhaust. I remember swearing out loud then looking around to make sure there were no," I dropped the bale, "children around."

I wiped my brow, "That first time was scary. It started with a vibrating sensation," I grunted as I picked up a bale, "in my chest and pain in my head. I collapsed. I was sure it was a heart attack or stroke. The next thing I knew this was followed up by a sensation like... like my outside, "I dropped a bale, "was being pulled to a point inside my chest. Then, there was a blinding flash, and aside from a little headache," I grunted as I picked up the bale, "and a slightly upset stomach, I was feeling normal again. I was pulling myself off the ground. I wanted to go to a doctor and get checked out. I mean, I thought," I dropped the bale and adjusted it with my foot, "I had a heart attack."

"I slowly realized something was wrong, not just with my body, but with my front lawn. The tree," I grunted as I picked up the bale, "that's in the middle of my yard was replaced with a flag pole. I started looking around, and saw that every front yard had a flag pole. I know that will not mean anything to you, but what I saw on every flag pole scared the apple," I dropped the bale in place, "bucking horse apples out of me. It was the flag of a group called nazis. A red," a grunt while lifting, "flag with a white circle, and black bent cross. Imagine all the evil of Nightmare Moon and Discord rolled into one, then add industrial level... " I decided to shield Dash from that horror, "bad stuff." I dropped the bale and adjusted it.

Dash looked at me with pin prick pupils. She knew from our conversations humans could be ruthless, so when I said something like that, she knew I wasn't exaggerating. After giving her head a shake, she moved a few bales closer.

"I saw all the houses were now painted the same colour, same door, same little garden, same everything. I heard some," a grunt and a new bale, "yelling from the front door of what should be my house and saw some guy in old fashioned clothes doing the yelling. Anyway, I couldn't understand what he was saying, but I was sure it was directed as me and he was quite upset." I dropped the bale, just at the right spot this time.

"So, to make a long story short, I got off his lawn, and starer wandering the neighbourhood. I didn't know what to do, I wanted to know what the buck was going on, so I decided to do what I would normally do at home, I started looking for a police officer." I paused before picking up the bale. "I must have been still a little out of my head because that was a mistake." I picked up the bale and carried on.

"So, I saw what I assumed was a police car, and started going toward it. Two burly men is suits came out and started speaking, I said I speak english, what I'm speaking now, and french." I drop the bale and adjust it, "Anyway, they spoke french, asked me for my papers. I asked if my drivers licence would do," I grabbed a new bale, "and was rewarded with a punch to the gut. They dragged me into the back of their car, and took me to the police station. Once there," I dropped the bale and sat on it, "they dragged me out of the car. Now, keep in mind I was overweight back then, I'm talking 300 pounds and they were tossing me around like a rag doll. I don't really want to get into the details, but they had me handcuffed to a chair and were 'getting my statement' by screaming at me in a language I didn't understand and a badly accented one I could barely understand. I had been in that world for a half a day, it was dark outside. I jumped just as there 'specialist' had arrived. I must have scared the horse apples out of them."

"With all due respect Alex Roberts, that sounds like quite the load of horse apples," a voice so deep I felt it my chest. Dash laughed at that and even I chuckled. I turned and saw Big Macintosh standing behind me. "How do, Miss Rainbow Dash." Even with my poor skills at reading ponies I could tell his tone radically changed when addressing Dash. I don't know if it's because she's a mare, and he would address any mare like that, or if he had something for Dash.

"Sorry boss, just taking a sit down with a pretty lady." I winked at Dash. I think I saw Dash blush but if she did it didn't last long. In retrospect that was a stupid thing to say.

"Yes you are, and I would thank you if you stopped goofing off. You're only half way done and it's almost mid afternoon." Big Macintosh towered over me with an unfriendly expression, "You wanted to work, so get to work."

Dash barked a laugh, "Ha! He told you Alex." Dash grinned, "Good one Big Mac."

Big Macintosh blinked at Dash a few times, then, I think, had a hint of a suggestion of a smile.

I smiled, "Point taken boss. Less flirting and more working." I got up and started walking to the bale pile.

Dash with her confident smirk, "Well boys, as much as I would like to see you fighting for my affections, I think I'd better let Alex get back to work." With that, and a gust of wind, she took off.

I watched her go, following her path and I noticed Big Mac was too. I felt a hoof on my shoulder. Well, to be precise, I felt a corner of a hoof on my shoulder.

I turned to see Big Macintosh still looking up and, in that rumble in my chest deep voice, "Don't you be thinking of fooling with Miss Rainbow Dash. Understand?"

Who the apple bucking moon did he think he was? I never had any interest in Dash that way. Heck, I never had any interest in any pony that way. But I sure as the moon wasn't going to stand here and let some muscle bound idiot tell me how to live my life.

Unfortunately, my indignation caused my mouth to act before my brain could catch up. "Good thing I was going to court your sister."