(Play Only Way I Know by Jason Aldean for mood)

Tension rises, hearts pound, emotions run on full blast, and determination plus adrenaline equaled success. That's what I felt during this whole mess. Well, that's probably what everypony else felt too. This has been just all crazy, and every turn held a new adventure that put one of us in danger. Danger being alone, not knowing who or what is out there. But just that one strain of courage, loyalty and friendship held us together. Back on Earth, friendship never ran clear with me. Me and Bowie always had each other, but everyone else hated out guts. And why? For us liking MLP? For us not being like a football player? For us being DIFFERENT? Well...that's not how stuff works here in Equestria. Here, ponies like other ponies, fighting never commits, and especially, nopony thinks of anypony differently. Being here has changed my life, and I never wanted to leave.

"So any idea where she's at?" asked Rainbow, walking next to Bowtie. Shes been doing that often...

Twilight responded with grief.

"No...but we can't give up. And we have to stay together."

As much as I hated to say it, but I think everypony was beginning to feel the same thing I was feeling. What if she's gone? What if we can't find her? What if...what if...

"Well look," Twilight began again. "I have been thinking. Since Applejack has been missing, and..."

She looked over at Applejack's hat that I was wearing.

"That hat symbolises one thing, its possible that I know where she could be."

The others were blank. But I surly wasn't. I knew exactly what Twilight was getting at because being from the south, I understood exactly what was going on.

"Her family..." I said.

She looked over at me with a determined smile.

"Exactly. So she could be back at Sweet Apple Acres!"

Everypony else soon was on the idea, and agreed without a second to spare.

"Then lets go everyponyyy! WHOOOOOO!" said an exited Pinkie Pie.

We all cheered and began back toward the south. It kind of sucked though because we had drawn away from that area and we had to go all the way back, but I didn't give a damn. We loved Applejack, and we wanted her back.

"I have an idea," I announced. Everypony looked over in confusion.

"Me and Handsome Bowtie will go ahead a few and make a quicker and easier trail. Sound good?"

The ponies exchanged looks, then nodded to the idea.

"Alrighty, c'mon Bowtie!"

"Ok!" Bowtie said.

We began to sprint ahead to make a trail for the mares. But that wasn't the real reason why I needed to his help. I needed to talk to him about how he was doing and what Twilight knew about.

A few minutes passed since we left the group. There was a bit of an awkward silence between the two of us, just listening to the leaves on the trees crunch under our hooves. Finally as the big twigs were cleared, I spoke.

"So Bowie, how are ya doin? Are ya likin' everything so far?"

He looked over at me, his eyes wide.

"Are you kidding?! This has been the greatest time of my life! This is so much better then being back on Earth!"

I'm beginning to despise that word.

"Yeah, about that..." I said, feeling unsure.

"Huh...?" He said confused.

"Listen Bowie, nopony knows where were from...yet. And I don't want to creep them out and leave us! Who knows, they might think were like a threat! The only pony who does know is Twi."

"How'd she take it...?" He said, now on the same page.

"Ok, but I'm afraid on how everypony else will take it. So can you keep it on the down low until I tell you its time to tell?" I asked.

He put is hoof around my shoulder and gave me a noogie.

"Don't worry brony! I gotcha."

"Thanks man." I said, fixing my hair from the noogie.

Now it was his time for him to ask a question.

"Hey Mik-er...Lonestar?"

I giggled.

"Yeah?"

"What do YOU think about all this? And about Applejack?"

I sighed.

"Being here...has been the greatest experience of my life. Being here with the 6, sharing music, and most of all, finding out what true friendship is, is magical. I don't know about yourself, but I wanna stay here for the rest of my life. Do y-you?"

He was quiet for a few moments...but then...

"BUCK YEAH!" he cried.

I laughed a bit. Bowie has always been my best friend. He was almost like my little brother. Due to the fact that he died from being sick back on Earth really took a chunk out of me even though it happened when I wasn't there. He's been through a lot too, just like me. His friends also betrayed him when he was sick. They left him in the hospital and went to the school to help the football players attack me. His mom also wasn't there because she was in the hospital too, but she had died earlier. He had always came to me, and I always went to him. But it was too late, he passed away in his room...alone. I felt terrible, but this was his heaven, and he needed some peace. I was lucky and thankful that I could be here with him too.

After clearing the path for the ponies behind us, we soon came to the end of the Everfree Forest, and were arriving on the edges of Sweet Apple Acres. It had been all day, so the day-lit sky had turned darker than the blackest midnight. Since we were already ahead of the group, clearing the way like bulldozers, we had some time on our hooves to chill out and talk before they came and met us.

"So wait..." Bowtie suddenly said.

"Hmm?"

"What do we do when were all reunited? Or hay, what if something happens if we tell everypony who we really are! I don't want to leave if something does happen!"

"I know me neither. Hmm..."

I began to think about what he said, what do we do when were all reunited? Well...we had our cutie marks...we both liked ponies...OH! OF COURSE! WE COUL-

"Oh well, I guess we'll see when it happens." He said.

His sentence caught me off guard, making me lose my train of thought.

"Oh ok."

Dang, I had a good idea too. Oh well, like he said, It'll come when it comes.

Minutes passed, the night soon got darker and the rest of the group finally had joined us. It was too dark to keep going, so we just camped where we stood. No point in setting up the gear since were so close, so it looked like it was a looking up at the stars kind of night. Rarity didn't really bother her mane anymore, so she slept, Fluttershy was already asleep, Rainbow and Bowtie were too, and Twilight began to doze as well. It was just me, staring at AJ's hat. I hugged it and began to feel better. I layed down, hugged the hat, and let out a sigh.

Just a few more hours, keep it together Lonestar, just...a...f-few...m...more...h-h...

I fell asleep, hat in hooves.

*AU*

IM SOOOO SORRY for the late chapter! Sooo much stuff ah had to do! Probably the busiest December in mah life, BUT! I got the chappy up. Hopefully ah should post more soon. Thanks for the cooperation! :)

BTW! HUGE thanks to Rarity01 for posting mah story on EquestriaDaily! You are awesoomme :)

-LS