I woke up with a scream, having a dream I've had several times just this week.

I received therapy for my nightmares some weeks ago, but the sessions were dropped due to the lack of progress they were making.

The dream is vivid, and brings back terrible memories. It is starting to become hard to stand.

I started to wipe my eyes, trying to stop the tears from erupting from them.

Look at you, a sorry excuse for man. Crying over a dream, how childish!

But I couldn't help it. It was just so. damn. hard to get over.

I heard the door open, and suddenly the dog that I had grown on had jumped up on me. Winona.

She lied down on me, and I pet her, trying to ease my fears. It hardly worked. The pictures of my comrades dismembered bodies came into my mind, and I began to cry harder.

Winona hopped off of me and left the room, and I reached for her to come back.

I buried my head into my lap and began to sob, images from my dream playing over and over again in my head.

I can't do this anymore, I can't take the pain. I just want all this to be over...

I heard galloping coming down the hallway, multiple sets of legs sprinting towards the room I was in, until they showed up in my room.

Applejack, Big Macintosh, and Applebloom appeared next to my bed.

"Nightmares? Again?" I heard Applejack ask. I cringed.

"I-l...I'm sorry." I let out weekly.

She should her head lightly, "No no, don't be. This isn't your fault. If only that damn therapist knew how to do her job..."

"Applejack, is he gonna be okay?'' Applebloom, who was right next to AJ and Big Mac, asked.

"Yes, I promise. Why don't Yall go down and get some breakfast. I'm gonna stay here with Luka"

"Yup." Big Mac said and nudged AB out the door.

I looked up at AJ, her over 8 foot height putting my 5'10 one to shame.

She sat on her haunches and reached her forelegs out to me, picking me up, and hugging me to her chest.

I wanted to resist and push off her, knowing I was a man and shouldn't be acting like this, but I couldn't. I just wanted to be held.

I sobbed into her chest as she nuzzled me and shushed me, speaking quiet soothing words into my ear.

It had been like this for several nights, me waking up from a nightmare and AJ coming in to comfort me. It's embarrassing for me, but she seems very content with being there for me.

I cried for several more minutes before I finally calmed down.

Applejack looked down at me and gave me a nuzzle, "It's alright sugar cube."

I smiled as she released me, and I stood up on my legs looking up at her, "Thank you, AJ. For everything."

She smiled, "No problem Luka, that's what family's for."

I walked next to her downstairs to eat breakfast with the rest of the family.

Granny Smith, AB and Big Mac were all sitting at the table, eating pancakes that Granny Smith made.

"Howdy young'un. Go on, sit, eat, there's plenty." Granny told me. I nodded and quietly walked over to the seat they made for me. I love them all. The constant hospitality and kindness that they showed me everyday. They were kind enough to change things just so I'm able to use them.

I bit into the pancakes as the others conversed with each other, and Applebloom was whispering to Applejack about something.

The breakfast, of course, was delicious. A huge perk to living on a farm, food is always delicious.

I got up from the seat after excusing myself and thanking Granny for the food, and began to walk outside, but I could feel their eyes pinned on me.

I ignored the feeling, and went to feed the cattle.

I went to the pins with the bucket of cattle feed, and saw everyone else coming out to do their chores as well. On the first night I stayed here, they said I didn't have to do any chores when I stayed here, but I refused. If I'm gonna stay here, I'm gonna do my fair share.

I gave the cattle their feed, and went to finish my other chores, which they offered very few because they were afraid I would hurt myself.

After feeding all the animals and raking the hay in the barn, I decided I want i take some apples to town to Sugar Cube Corner, as they recently ordered a batch.

I placed a few buckets of the huge apples on a big wagon, and began my journey to Ponyville, which was a very short walk.

As I was walking through town, I received smiles and waves from almost everypony, as they had grown quite accustomed to me since I showed up here two weeks ago.

"Hello!"

"Hi!"

"How ya doing, Luka?"

"Good to see you, bud!"

I was getting multiple greetings, and I relished the kindness, as it was something I didn't get back at home.

I walked into Sugar Cube Corner with the wagon of apples, and wave to a bunch of ponies who were dining in the bakery.

I walk up to the counter, where Mr and Mrs. Cake are waiting with smiles.

"Order of three dozen apples?"

They nod, "Yep! Thank you Luka."

I was starting to get hungry as well, so I pulled out my wallet and pulled out 6 bits, "May I also receive two of your scrumptious chocolate cupcakes?"

Mrs. Cake nodded, "Of course. Pinkie!"

Faster than a bullet, Pinkie came zooming in, "Yes Mrs. Cake? Oh hi Luka! How have you been?! I've been so wonderful! How's life at the farm?! AJ says that you are fitting in very well and...''

"Pinkie! Calm down! None of us can understand you." Mr. Cake told her.

Pinkie Pie still smiled widely, "I can calm down. See?" She says as she gets down off her hind legs, so she's not 12 feet tall anymore.

She looks down at me, "Do you want one of our scrumptious chocolate cupcakes?"

I laughed, "Ha, those were my words exactly! I'll take two please." I handed them the six bits.

"Okie dokie! Two cupcakes coming up!" She says as she disappears in a flash, and comes back in a second with the two cupcakes, "Here you go, Luka!"

I took the cupcakes, "Thank you Pinkie. That was your fastest time yet!"

We all laughed for a few seconds," Thank you guys for the cupcakes. I'll see you later!"

"No problem Luka. Thanks for stopping by!"

"See you soon, Luka!"

I walked out with the empty wagon, closing the door lightly, as loud noises can trigger a PTSD induced panic attack,and started walking back to SAA.

I walked down the path, thinking about what I was gonna do now that my chores were done.

"Luka! Hey!" I heard from above me.

I looked up and saw the Cyan pony I've come to know as Rainbow Dash.

"What's up, Rainbow? How you been?"

She flew down and landed in front ofe with a loud thud, and ruffled my hair with a hoof, "I've been doing just fine. How about you, squirt?"

I smiled, "I haven't been doing that bad, aside from the nightmares..."

"Man your still having those nightmares? Are you sure you're feeling okay?"

I let out a nervous chuckle, "Y-Yeah. Nothing I can't get over."

Rainbow, since I first met the six new friends, has grown very protective of me, along with AJ. If anyone was making fun of me or hurting me, they would step in very quickly, and while the other four would also defend him, none would go as for as those two would if it happens.

"Well, if you say so." She said, with a tone of slight doubt and concern.

She knows I'm lying. I've never been good at hiding my emotions, it's why I cry a lot.

"Where are you going?" She asks me.

"Well, I just finished a delivery of apples to sugar cube corner, and now I'm headed back to sweet apple acres."

She nods, "Mind if I come with you? I really wanna have some of their cider anyway."

I laugh. Rainbow and her apple cider addiction, "Sure. The walk does get awfully lonely."

Instead of walking with me, she picks me up and places me on her back.

"What are you doing, Dash?'' I asked her, slightly scared.

She looks back ate with a cocky smile, "I want to show you what it's like to fly. Please don't be scared, I promise not to drop you."

I was nervous, I had never been in the air despite all my time in the second world war, "Ok Rainbow. I trust you. Just... Please be careful."

"You know I'll be." Her massive wings started to flap, and we slowly went airborne.

I held in to her neck tight as we started to fly towards sweet apple acres. I looked down at all te scenery. I have to say, I am quite envious of pegasi's ability to fly. It is beautiful. You can see everything.

She looks back at me, "Enjoying the view, squirt?"

I continue to look down, "Yes, very much. Thank you Rainbow."

I saw sweet apple acres, as Rainbow began to fly down to it.

We reached the ground and saw Applejack bucking trees to get apples down.

I walked up to her, "Hi AJ."

She stopped bucking and looked at me, "Howdy Luka, and howdy Rainbow. What are you doing here? You here for more cider I take it."

Raonbow shook her head vigorously, "You know it!" All three of us chuckled.

"Well, alright, and I reckon you haven't even tried oir cider, have ya Luka?"

I shook my head, ''Nope. Never."

Rainbow looked shocked, "Trust me, it is goingto blow. your. mind."

Rainbow Dash and Applejack winked at each other, which clearly they wanted to go unnoticed by me. I decided to play along woth their game to see where this is going.

"Well alright then. I have a couple barrels stashed in the barn. Follow me."