I awoke to the sound of what sounded like purring and the distant sound of conversation. Having a habit of turning my head to the right when I sleep, I was facing the back of the sofa I had slept on. When I glanced around at my surroundings, I noticed what seemed to be a white Persian cat curled up on my blanket. It had a purple bow on its head and an opal-studded collar with an especially large opal on the front. "I have a cat?" I remember asking out loud.

I glanced around, not recognizing my surroundings. As I tried to listen to the voices that were coming from outside my room, I shooed the cat off me and stood up. I then spread out the blanket, allowing the cat to curl up on it again. "Where are my clothes?" Clad in only my boxers, I walked outside and into the main room where I found a pair of ponies talking to each other. "Wait a minute….. Pinkie Pie and Rarity…" I muttered as I remembered the events from yesterday and my newest friends. I was initially nervous about approaching them while wearing only undergarments until I realized that they were not wearing clothes at all. "I guess they won't mind much. And I need to find my clothes anyway."

"You have no idea how hard it was to get that tub downstairs without spilling all that water! I'm amazed I pulled it off!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed in her cheery tone. I smiled as I listened to her. But when she looked in my direction, she suddenly gasped. "Hey! You… You're… AHHHHHH!" Pinkie Pie shrieked as I jumped back. "I know who you are! You're that bear Rainbow Dash told me about! You're Harry! And don't try to deny it! I know you're Harry because you ARE hairy! And you're wearing James' headband?!" I gulped nervously as Pinkie Pie started to cry in rage, "You must've eaten him just now and took that headband as a trophy! Cough him up!" I froze as the crazed pony charged me. But just before she could reach me, she suddenly levitated off the ground while running in place.

"Pinkie Pie, that's quite enough! He's wearing James' headband because he IS James!" Rarity called out, her horn engulfed with a billowing aura as she restrained Pinkie Pie with magic.

The silly pink pony froze in midair as she gazed at me. "Wait, really? You're James?! But you're so….hairy! You look kinda like a bear!"

I grumbled as I raised my hands, "So what if I am?! It's not like I can help it! It runs in my family! On my grandfather's side, at least."

Pinkie Pie, misunderstanding the concept of genetics, giggled, "Aw, it's OK! I'm sure we can find you some coat restoration stuff at the pharmacy! You'll have your whole coat back in no time!"

I winced at the idea of having a full-body coat of hair covering me. "The last thing I need in summer is an extra layer of insulating material! No thanks."

Rarity giggled at our argument as she set Pinkie Pie down, "Having a coat of hair isn't all bad! Pony coats are rather thin and do not trap in excess heat very well. Though it is because of this that we wear jackets in winter." She then glanced up at me and winked, "And those bandages still look strapping on you, darling."

At the mention of bandages, Pinkie Pie gasped, "Huh?! Bandages?! What happened?! Did you hurt yourself?!"

I smirked at the pink pony and asked, "Have you ever walked full-speed into a wall head-first?" Pinkie Pie shook her head. I then added, "You don't want to."

Pinkie Pie thought my explanation over in her head for a moment. "Oooooh, that had to hurt. You feeling any better today?"

I tried applying pressure to the center of my forehead, where the impact struck. To my surprise, there was no pain at all. "Wow, that ointment really worked fast. Maybe I'll take these off tonight. Thanks again, Rarity."

The unicorn shook her head, "There's no need to thank me, dear. It was because of my eagerness that you got hurt in the first place."

Just as I remembered that I needed to find my clothes, Pinkie Pie spoke up, "That's right! You've still got some healing to do! And that's why I'm here!" She pushed me over to a white box that seemed to be the type used in bakeries. "You need to get lots of nutrition to speed up your recovery! So I baked you some fresh blueberry muffins!" I could smell them the instant I opened the box. They were so fresh; they had likely only just been taken out of the oven less than an hour ago.

I remember feeling my mouth water at the sight and scent of the muffins. As I had eaten fairly little the previous day, I was feeling rather hungry. But before I could start on my breakfast, Pinkie spoke up again, "Just remember, some of those are for Rarity too."

I handed Rarity a muffin as Pinkie Pie bid us farewell. The two of us enjoyed breakfast together, Rarity using magic to levitate her muffin, as she did not have hands. As we ate, I asked her, "I never knew you had a cat."

Once Rarity finished her muffin, she replied, "You met Opal? She's so precious, is she not?"

I looked over at the hall leading into the back area and saw the cat, named Opal, walk out and curl up on a cloth that rested on a desk. "Well, Persian cats are the most popular breed of cat in the world."

Upon finishing my share of the muffins, I asked, "Rarity, have you seen my clothes?"

The unicorn smiled, "Oh, I'm just borrowing them for a bit. I need something to use for reference if I'm going to make some new clothes for you. Though I am almost done!" Her horn shimmered again as my clothes levitated over to me, which were concealed behind her sewing machine. The only clothing I had at the time was a red t-shirt and a pair of gray shorts. "Now I just need to take some measurements." She then levitated a type of measuring strip over to me. In response, I stood up straight and held my arms out to my sides. While the measuring tape floated about me, I could see Rarity taking down notes with a writing quill. "You have a rather pudgy build, don't you?"

I sighed at Rarity's remark about my weight, "Sorry about that. I'm not as big of an eater as I used to be, but I don't lose weight easily."

Rarity surprised me with a giggle, "That's quite all right, darling. Even if your body is somewhat unappealing, I can craft ensembles that truly bring out your inner beauty. It's what I excel at! But you asked for casual attire, so casual it is."

As Rarity worked her scissors and sewing machine, I proceeded to put on my clothes. I then headed upstairs to retrieve my socks and shoes from the bathroom. When I came back downstairs, I could hear Rarity muttering a song under her breath. "Thread by thread. Stitching it together…" I took a seat behind her, finding the tune to be rather catchy. "Always got to keep in mind my pacing. Making sure the clothe's correctly facing. I'm stitching Twilight's dress."

Hearing the mention of a dress for Twilight Sparkle, I asked, "Um… I thought you were working on something for me. Is Twilight expecting something?"

The unicorn flustered as she turned to face me, "Oh, don't worry. This IS for you. That little tune was just a song I came up with a while back. I sing it sometimes while working. You could say it's my variation of 'whistling while you work'. Does it annoy you? I'll stop if you wish."

I smiled in response, "Actually, I was listening closely. That's quite a catchy tune." Now that Rarity was facing me, I noticed that she was wearing a pair of stylish glasses with a red frame. They lacked temple arms, being securely balanced on her muzzle. "I never knew you wore glasses. Near-sighted or far-sighted?"

Rarity chuckled heartily at my assumption. "Oh, there is no such thing wrong with my vision. The lenses in these glasses are for magnification during stitching. This way, I can see every tiny detail on the fabric without having to get too close. I can easily look over them for normal vision when needed. I decided to get these after I ended up stitching my muzzle to a layer of fabric a few years back while using this sewing machine."

Finding the thought of such an accident amusing, I joked, "I'm sure the client was like 'Miss Rarity, I asked for brass buttons with this jacket. Not a white unicorn's head.' Something like that?" Rarity laughed wholeheartedly at the joke, myself snickering at the thought of her annoyed client.

Rarity managed to stop laughing after a moment, adjusting the glasses on her snout. "Oh, James… You're as witty as you are charming. I do believe we're going to be fine housemates. Now, I have a few more things to add to your trousers. Could you wait just a moment more?" I nodded, tapping my foot in rhythm to her song.

"Yard by yard, fussing on the details. Jewel neckline. Don't you know a stitch in time saves nine? Aaaaannndddd…..done!" I glanced upward, Rarity's horn beginning to shine.

"I…. Oh dear… Um… It seems I made you a…." Rarity sheepishly grinned as she levitated my 'pants' over to me. They seemed to be made of denim. "It seems I made you….a bag."

Rarity's first attempt at stitching a pair of pants meant for a human had ended rather humorously. She got everything done right…..with the sole exception of the legs. With the lack of even leg holes, my 'pants' were nothing more than a shallow bag without straps to carry it with. Rather than criticize her blunder, I laughed, "Add a couple of straps to it and I can use it to carry groceries."

The unicorn giggled loudly, "Oh, I can do that easily. And sorry for forgetting the legs. Ponies normally don't wear anything over their hind legs, so it's a new style for me. I'll add the straps and get back to making your REAL clothes. This may take some time though."

I nodded and handed the 'bag' back to Rarity. "OK then. Don't rush yourself. I'll go for a walk to pass the time." But just before I could leave, I turned to her and asked, "Pardon me, Rarity. But I have a request. May I see some of your other works? I'd like to see just what some of your best creations are."

Rarity suddenly beamed in excitement at my request. "The best, you say? Oh, then I have a treat for you! Right this way!" She quickly took off her glasses and led me upstairs. She opened the door to her bedroom and directed me to a pony-shaped mannequin near her bed. "This is my life's work. Though I must admit it was really the others who finished it, thanks to Fluttershy's extensive knowledge of sewing. But they followed my design down to every detail, so it was really a joint effort. But enough of my banter. Isn't it fabulous?"

The dress that was draped over the mannequin was truly a work of art from what I could tell. The lower flowing half was mostly pink with three sets of pale yellow strips stretching horizontally across it. Between each stripe were what seemed to be gemstones sewn into the fabric. Along the very back of the dress was a wavy strip of fabric that brought to mind Rarity's tail and reached past the dress itself. The edges were a darker shade of pink with the rest being the lighter hue, but the fabric completely became the darker hue around 2/3 the way down. The waist of the dress was the same darker shade of pink as the end of the 'tail'. The upper half had two short sleeves for her legs with dark pink cuffs. The collar was also a dark pink, the majority of the top half being a brighter pink than any other part of it. And resting atop the mannequin's head was a gold tiara that seemed to be studded with an amethyst. As I approached it, I muttered, "Fabulous indeed…"

Rarity waited in eager anticipation as I circled the dress. "This looks like something a princess would wear. Did you make this for one?"

I noticed that Rarity seemed to be blushing as she giggled, "Oh, that is actually my own personal dress! Granted, I would love to craft dresses for Princesses Celestia and Luna, though I've yet to receive a request from either of them. But after seeing the dresses I've woven for the participants of the Grand Galloping Gala year after year, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before they come knocking!"

I was somewhat surprised to hear that the dress in fact belonged to Rarity alone. As I glanced back at it, I asked, "Rarity. May I see you wear this?"

The unicorn seamstress trotted past me in glee, "It would be my pleasure! One moment please." I waited with my back turned to respect her privacy as she slipped into her outfit. "You may look now."

I turned to face Rarity at her command. My gaze fell upon her, the dress complimenting her beauty well. Yes, I just called a pony beautiful. While certainly not human, she had the character of one and therefore I could not possibly label her an animal. After a moment, Rarity smirked and batted her eyelashes at me. "Dear, I do believe you are blushing."

I jumped a bit, not even aware that my face was red. "S-sorry, Miss Rarity. It's just that you're very beautiful in that dress. What else am I supposed to say? You look like a princess in it."

Now it was Rarity's turn to blush. She giggled, "You are too kind, James. But you do not need to use honorifics with me. We are friends now, correct?"

I nodded in agreement, unsure of what else to say. "Well then, I do believe it is time I get back to work on your new attire. Come back later and I should have it ready for you." I thanked Rarity again for her generosity before heading downstairs and out the door.

As I strolled towards Ponyville proper, I frowned to myself. "Wait… What am I even supposed to do?" I crossed my arms and looked down as I walked, lost in thought. "This is only my second day here. So what do I do?" My thoughts went back to Rarity. She was allowing me to live in her house without having to pay for rent. The more I thought about it, the guiltier I felt. "Well, I guess I should start by trying to find a job. I doubt Equestria accepts any of Earth's currency…"

Many ponies were still staring at me and whispering to each other as I passed by. I took note of their gazes, but by then I was somewhat used to it. I looked around, wondering if there were any 'Help Wanted' signs in any windows. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Applejack pulling a cart of apples towards a food stall. "Farms always need manual labor." I recall muttering as I approached her.

Applejack was quick to notice my approach as she looked my way and smiled. "Howdy, James!" Another pony was busy sorting the apples in the cart before placing them in the food stalls for sale.

"Morning, AJ. Whatcha up to?" I asked; feeling relaxed in the company of the farm pony.

"Just bringin' more apples inta town fer sellin'. But I got plenty more ta harvest now that Applebuck Season is here." Applejack replied, wiping some sweat from her brow.

"Applebuck? That some kind of harvesting season?" I asked while eyeing the many apples she had brought into town.

"It's what the Apple family calls harvestin' time. So my brother and I have ta get all the apples outta the trees in the whole Sweet Apple Acres." Applejack snacked on an apple, having likely worked up quite an appetite.

I watched as the last of the apples were sorted before asking, "Picking apples sounds simple. Mind if I help out? I could use some income."

Applejack, apparently not expecting me to offer help, replied, "Really?! Well, sure! We could always use a few extra hooves 'round at this time! You just mosey on over ta Sweet Apple Acres in an hour or two. If ya don't see me, just ask Big Macintosh fer advice. He'll set ya up."

I snickered at the name of her brother. "Wait a sec….. Big… Macintosh? Really?" I expected her brother to be a frail geeky type of pony obsessed with computers.

"Yup. That's his name. He's the tall red guy. You'll know him when ya see 'im. Now, I gotta get back to the farm ta get some more applebuckin' done. See ya there, James." Applejack waved goodbye as she turned and pulled the cart out of sight.

Unsure of what to do to pass the time for the next two hours, I just decided to explore. But I did not go far before coming across a strange building with a design that was reminiscent of a jester's floppy hat. "The…..prank parlor?" I read the name on the side. Curious of what types of pranks ponies like to pull, I decided to enter. But I stopped short when I remembered that most businesses in Equestria do not accept credit, meaning my debit card could not be used. And as I had no cash, I could not make a purchase.

I turned to leave, but noticed something at my feet. A few golden coins of some sort were scattered on the ground having been likely dropped by a careless pony. "Three coins, huh? Better than nothing." I snatched them up and slipped them into my pocket. They were of an unusual design, being surprisingly thick. Hoping they would be enough to get me at least something, I stepped inside the 'prank parlor'.

The layout was similar to old country-style stores back home with no actual aisles. I saw the clerk reading a magazine behind the counter, a stallion with a cutie mark depicting a catapult launching a cream pie. I chuckled under my breath, finding his cutie mark more than fitting for his profession. I then began to browse the merchandise. "Disappearing ink… Squirting turtles… Water-soluble paint… Sneezing powder… Hang on. What's this?" One prop caught my eye. "Cutie mark removal tape?" I played the idea over in my head. I remember snickering as I imagined taking away Pinkie Pie's balloon cutie mark to make her freak out. "Sold."

The tape cost me every single coin I had just picked up. As I walked through Ponyville afterwards, I read the instructions. "To 'remove' cutie mark, apply to mark and pull off. To return cutie mark, apply other side to area and pull off. So it just makes it look like the mark has disappeared. Good enough for me."

I decided to look south of Ponyville near where I had first arrived. As it turned out, the area I had ended up in was really a public park. Many ponies were strolling about, playing simple games, or reclining on benches. I once again felt myself become the center of attention, my body becoming tense. Rather than stick around, I began searching for an area more secluded.

After several minutes of dodging stares, I found a large pond with a small strip of land extending into it like a peninsula. As I approached it, I noticed a sack on the peninsula that seemed to be filled with fish food pellets. Curious, I stood at the edge of the pond to see a few sizeable fish swimming just under the surface. I think they knew I was there, as their swimming motions became excited. Knowing what they wanted, I took a seat by the sack, grabbed a handful of pellets, and scattered them over the surface of the water. To my surprise, the fish leapt out of the water to catch some before they could hit the water. Whatever they did not catch, they ate while in the water.

I waited for the fish to finish consuming the pellets before tossing them anymore. Once every last one was gone, I reached into the sack for more. But before I tossed them, I heard the sound of wings flapping. "A bird? Maybe a swan?" I tilted my head back slightly while gently turning my head. I then heard the sound of hooves clopping right behind me. "Wait a minute…" I looked over my shoulder and smiled to find Fluttershy standing behind me.

"Have you been feeding the fish, James?" She asked me in her signature quiet tone. I nodded before tossing some more pellets to the fish, who once again caught what they could before they could reach the water. Fluttershy giggled as she stuck her muzzle in the sack, then suddenly raised it out, flinging some of the pellets towards the fish by using her snout as a shovel. "I stop by here now and then to feed the fish. They always love the attention."

I smiled as Fluttershy walked beside me and lied down. "You really have a gift with animals, don't you?" I asked, curious of her cutie mark's meaning.

The pegasus nodded, "Oh, yes. Working with animals is my passion. I love all little creatures, great and small."

Hearing Fluttershy's words, I reached over her and rested my hand on her shoulder. "I'm an animal lover too. I've even had pets before. Dogs, goldfishes, a few birds, lizards, a snake, a few turtles, and some frogs and toads. And I loved them all."

Fluttershy giggled, "I wish I could meet them. It sounds like your home has a lot of interesting fauna."

I nodded in agreement, "Oh, yeah. Earth has plenty of different animal species. I couldn't even tell you how many, to be honest."

The two of us continued to chat while I would occasionally toss some more food pellets to the fish. I told Fluttershy everything I could about Earth's wildlife, but was careful to withhold any information about poaching, animal cruelty, and extinctions from human intervention, as it would surely upset her to no end. Eventually, I began to stroke her long pink mane with my hand.

"James, what are you doing?" Fluttershy asked as she felt me running my fingers through her hair.

"Oh, sorry. Started doing that out of impulse." I returned my hand to her shoulder.

I noticed Fluttershy blushing. She then asked, "Actually… That felt nice. Could you keep doing that, please?" I hesitated for a moment before complying with her wishes. I slowly dragged my fingers through her beautiful pink mane down to her neck and scalp. I heard her let out a sigh as she soon began to lean against me. "No one's ever done this for me before."

I replied, "Probably because they never had opposable digits." The two of us lightly chuckled, knowing that ponies lack fingers and could not do what I was doing.

The two of us cuddled for some time. I am sure at least thirty minutes passed with us leaning against each other. "This almost feels like a dream…" I heard Fluttershy mutter. I held her close to me, my hand grasping her shoulder. But a moment later, I began to hear what sounded like faint snoring.

"Fluttershy…?" I asked quietly. When I heard no response, I looked down at her face. To my amusement, the pegasus pony was fast asleep. "Feel like a dream? It looks like you ARE dreaming now, Fluttershy." I stroked her mane as I chuckled quietly. I very slowly moved myself out from under her head, gently setting her down on her side. "Sweet dreams, little angel." I turned to walk away, but soon turned around to look back at Fluttershy's sleeping form. "She looks so precious… If there's an angel in Equestria, it's her." I then remembered that I had a camera with me built into my DSi handheld game system, which I often carry with me. As fate would have it, I had it in my pocket when I ended up in Equestria. I pulled it out and turned it on before activating its camera function. I then stood over Fluttershy, trying to get as much of her body in the shot as possible. Once I felt I had the best view possible, I pressed one of the shoulder buttons. There was a click as the photo was taken. "Thank you, Fluttershy." I then saved the picture to memory, happy that I now had something to look back on if I ever wanted to remember good times in Equestria.

I turned to leave again, but stopped as I looked back at Fluttershy. I had promised to meet up with Applejack in another ninety minutes or so, but I felt it would be rude to leave Fluttershy alone in her current state. "AJ can wait a bit." I walked back over to Fluttershy and tried to lift her head up without waking her. I have no idea how I did it, but I managed to get back into the same position I was moments ago with Fluttershy sound asleep while leaning against me. With a yawn, I felt myself growing drowsy as well. No matter how hard I tried, the sound of Fluttershy's light snoring was steadily putting me to sleep. "Oh, why not…" I muttered as I leaned against her, holding her close to me as I closed my eyes.

I remember awakening to the sound of Rainbow Dash chuckling, "Well, what's this? You two out on a date?" My eyes shot open at Rainbow's guess, Fluttershy equally embarrassed as she glanced at me out of the corner of her eye.

"This isn't what it looks like, Rainbow Dash…" I muttered while trying not to blush. The two of us scooted apart nervously.

"Oh, no need to hide it, you two! Go ahead! Give her a big wet one, James!" Rainbow Dash jeered at me, trying to get me to approach Fluttershy.

I silently thought over a response in my head that would make Rainbow back off. Finally, I glared at her, "I'd rather not. I don't want to be arrested for bestiality."

I was not expecting the response I got from both pegasi. Fluttershy seemed to be hurt as she started to tear up. But Rainbow Dash seemed stunned by my words. However, she soon landed and glared at me. "Bestiality? Are you serious?"

The pegasus began to slowly approach me as I started to feel a sinking feeling in my gut. "You know what that is, right? Bestiality?" I nodded silently. Rainbow Dash then got right up in my face as she growled, "So, does that mean we ponies are just animals to you? Mindless beasts that hang out in stables all day and graze on grass and nothing else?! Whatcha gonna do next? Throw a bit in my mouth and ride me home?!"

I had practically been pushed to the ground with Rainbow Dash glaring down at me. But I completely understood her anger, as she probably felt that I had insulted her with the use of such a term. With a sigh, I muttered, "That came out wrong…"

Rainbow Dash lifted her head with a frown, "Really, now? Then would you mind rephrasing that?"

I sat up and looked at her and Fluttershy. "I didn't mean to refer to you as animals. I know full well that you ponies are not animals. You're people, just like I am. It's just that….. Humans and ponies are very different. If a human like me were to have that kind of relationship with a pony, would the rest of Equestria condemn it?"

Both Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash calmed down as I explained myself to them. Fluttershy was the first to respond, "I don't really see what's wrong with that. Sure, we're completely different, but that doesn't mean we can't love, right?"

Rainbow Dash nodded, "Hey, if everyone else doesn't like it, that's their problem! I won't let anyone else tell me what to do with my love life! If I had one, that is." She then nudged my shoulder with her hoof, "And honestly, if you were a bit more assertive, I would probably date you, James." I blushed deeply at her teasing, Fluttershy giggling softly behind her.

Fluttershy approached me and asked, "James… When you used that term… It kind of hurt… What exactly are we to you?"

It was understandable for Fluttershy to question me after that. I stroked her mane and nodded, "When I look at you and Rainbow Dash, I don't see a couple of lowly animals. I see a pair of pretty girls with lots of personality. But more than anything, I see two great friends I want to support."

I could see Fluttershy blush with a smile at my words. Rainbow Dash chuckled, "Heheheh… That's really sweet of you, James. But were you just saying that?"

I shook my head, "I'm being dead serious. Do you forgive me for using such an ugly term?"

Fluttershy replied with another one of her tender embraces. "I forgive you." I held her against me, feeling somewhat guilty for almost making her cry.

Once Fluttershy released me, I turned to Rainbow Dash. She smirked and raised one of her forelegs. Her hoof was extended, causing me to understand what she wanted. I closed my hand into a fist and bumped it against her hoof. "Were you serious about dating me if I showed a little more guts?" I asked, wondering if a wild woman like her could have any interest in a softy like me.

Her reply did not answer my question at all. "Maybe. That's all I'm gonna say."

Starting to become nervous of Rainbow Dash's intentions, I began to back away. "I just remembered that I'm supposed to meet up with Applejack at Sweet Apple Acres in a little while, so I better get going before I'm late. See ya!" I turned and ran back through the park, hearing Rainbow Dash laughing at my escape.

Once I had returned to Ponyville, I took an estimate of how much longer I had before needing to meet up with Applejack. "I think I have another hour or so to go… More than enough time." Not sure of how else to spend my time, I decided to head to the tree house I had passed yesterday. If my hunch was correct, I could read about Equestria when I got there.

Along the way, I noticed Pinkie Pie seemingly taking shelter under a nearby shop's awning. Her pink fluffy tail was quivering rapidly. She seemed to notice me as she called out, "James! Get under something! My tail's twitching!"

I replied, "I can see that! But why should I have to take cover?!"

Before Pinkie Pie could explain, I suddenly was knocked to the ground as something crashed onto me. Once again, my glasses somehow escaped damage. Just after I collapsed, a young woman's voice spoke, "Muffins!"

The impact was not as painful as the last time, leading me to suspect that the pegasus that had fallen on me had dropped from a lower altitude. Remembering the only word she spoke, I asked, "What do muffins have to do with a crash landing?! And get off!"

The pegasus stood up and allowed me to stand. To my surprise, I recognized her cutie mark as the one with seven bubbles from yesterday. Her coat was gray while her mane and tail were a faded yellow with a hint of green to them. What caught my attention most were her yellowish eyes, which were cross-eyed. "Oh, hey! I saw you yesterday! The name's Derpy Hooves. You new here?"

I stared at the odd pegasus as she gazed at me with her strange eyes. "Um… Yeah. I only showed up here yesterday… And….wait. Derpy? Your name is DERPY?" I snickered under my breath, knowing that 'derp' is a slang term that originated on the Internet back in my world.

"Yup! That's my name! Now, where are the muffins? I can smell them!" Derpy asked as she glanced around.

I pointed past her, "If it's muffins you want, Sugarcube Corner is right over in that direction." The pegasus turned and ran towards the bakery, shouting 'muffins' all the while. "She must have muffins on the brain."

Pinkie Pie trotted over to me with a smile, "So I see you met the mailmare. You OK after that?"

I brushed myself off, "That was the most random thing to happen to me since I got here!" I heard Pinkie Pie giggle at my remark. I then asked, "So, what's the deal with your tail? Is it like a dowsing rod or something?"

The pink pony explained, "Not really. It's kinda like a sixth sense. I call it my Pinkie Sense since only I seem to have it. For example, when my tail twitches, it means something's gonna fall! And something fell, all right!"

I glanced at Pinkie's tail, seeing that it was still. "So, your whole body is like a hazard alarm? What other warnings do you get?"

Pinkie Pie explained, "Well, let's see… When my back is itchy, it means it's my lucky day! And when my knee gets pinchy, something scary is about to happen! Oh! And I sometimes get 'combos'."

"You mean like more than one warning sign at once?" I asked, intrigued by this unique talent.

"Yeah! Like ear flop, then eye flutter, then knee twitch? That means to watch out for opening doors." Pinkie Pie replied, acting out the signs with the mentioned body parts.

"OK, I'll remember that one." I cracked my neck to help relieve some of the soreness from being used as a landing cushion again while approaching the library's front door.

"Uh oh… Ear flop… Eye flutter… Knee twitch!" I thought I heard Pinkie Pie mutter behind me.

"Huh? What was that, Pinkie?" I asked as I turned around right in front of the door, not certain of what she said. A second later, I remember something suddenly pushing me from behind and smashing me against the tree. "Whoaaaph…" I groaned as I felt the wind get knocked out of me.

As the door closed, I noticed what seemed to be a small purple reptile walking backwards with a stack of books in his hands. He must have seen me past the books as he stopped and tilted his head to his left. "Huh? What're you?" I was rather surprised to see someone in Ponyville who was NOT a pony at all. When I noticed his spaded tail, I was immediately enthralled at seeing a live dragon before me. His underside was a faded green while the rest of him was a shade of purple. The spines that lined his back, tail, and head were green while his large eyes were the same shade of green as a lime.

"Spike, did you slam the door into someone again?" I heard the voice of Twilight Sparkle as the door to the library opened once more.

The small dragon replied, "It's not like I knew he was in the way! I can't see through walls!"

I saw Twilight look around the door to see who had been walled. She seemed rather shocked as she gasped, "Oh! James! I'm sorry about this!" She helped keep me from falling, as I was somewhat dazed from the force of the impact. "Here, let me help you." The unicorn pony led me inside, leaving the dragon outside.

"Never had that happen to me before… Something straight out of a cartoon." I muttered as I took a seat on a stool.

"Hehee… That happened to me once too. And I never saw it coming." Twilight giggled, trying to brighten my mood. She brought me a glass of fruit punch, levitating it with magic, as she was a unicorn. "By the way, that was Spike. He's my assistant here."

I gazed around at my surroundings. As I suspected, this tree house was indeed a library as shelves packed with books stood against the walls all around me. "You work here, Miss Sparkle?"

Twilight giggled, "I'm not the librarian, James. This library doesn't even really have one. In fact, I live here."

I sipped my punch casually, "You LIVE in a library? Is that legal?"

The unicorn smiled, "Princess Celestia arranged it for me. And I really do like it here. Plenty of books to read. Come on! I'll show you around." I followed her upstairs, taking care to not spill my drink.

I was led past the second floor to the top floor, which seemed to serve as Twilight's bedroom. "This is where I sleep. Of course, since this is a library, I get all sorts of guests every now and then looking to borrow books."

Looking at her bed, I was somewhat surprised to see that her bed was only an ordinary bed and not shaped like a book. "I was expecting your bed to look like a book, Twilight."

She was clearly puzzled by my remark as she asked, "Why does that surprise you so much, James?"

I answered, "Because bookworms sleep in books, not beds."

Twilight laughed loudly at my pun as I smirked. "That's a good one! I need to remember that joke. And you're right. I guess I am a bookworm of sorts. I do love to read."

"I wouldn't call myself a bookworm, but I like to read too. Mind if I help myself to some of the books here?" I asked while scanning a bookshelf.

"Go right ahead. Let me know if you need help finding anything." She went back downstairs, leaving me to the many books before me.

I eventually found an encyclopedia and decided I should start with that, as I knew virtually nothing about Equestria. Once I finished my drink, I climbed a ladder nearby that led to a balcony on top of the library. Some leafy branches provided partial shade as I found a telescope perched upon the handrails. Or should I say hoofrails? Regardless, I took a seat while leaning against the rails and opened my book.

"This encyclopedia looks as if it was published recently…" I muttered, noting the pristine condition of the book. I took off my glasses, as I do not need them to see anything near me. "Equestria. Co-ruled by the princesses Celestia and Luna. They work together as a duo to raise the sun and moon each day… Wow. Such a feat must require god-like power."

I continued to read as I muttered some of the text under my breath. "Nightmare Moon… Recently converted back to Princess Luna… Elements of Harmony… Hm. Never knew Equestria was such a magical realm." I flipped the page as I read on.

"Read any good books lately, James?" I heard Twilight ask as she emerged through the hatch in the floor.

"Just catching up on what there is to know about Equestria. I've only been here for one day, you know." I replied while glancing over at her.

"Well, that book was published just a month or two ago. You can't get much more up-to-date than that." Twilight giggled as she took a seat by me with a book of her own.

"I figured as much. This encyclopedia is in too good shape to be very old at all… Wait a minute. How long have I been here, Twilight?" I asked, remembering my schedule for the day.

Twilight looked up at me and replied, "I'd say about fifteen minutes. Why? You have somewhere to be?"

I nodded as I closed my book with a leaf acting as a bookmark, "Actually, yeah. I was looking for a job and Applejack hired me. I should probably start heading over to her place now. Could you hold onto this book for me?"

The unicorn nodded as I set the book beside her, "Sure thing, James. And tell AJ hi for me." I waved goodbye before climbing back inside the library and heading out the front door.

As I still had some spare time, I decided to explore parts of Ponyville I had not yet seen before. I headed directly west, coming to what seemed to be an old-fashioned red schoolhouse. "I guess even ponies have to go to school at some point." I could hear what sounded like children shouting and laughing as I drew near. On the left side of the schoolhouse was a simple playground. About a dozen or so fillies and colts were playing and having fun, though there seemed to be more fillies than colts. I smiled a little as I watched the pony children playing, wondering what it must be like to grow up in Equestria instead of my world.

After a moment of observing the children, I noticed five that seemed to be in an argument of sorts. There were three normal ponies, one unicorn, and one pegasus. Two of the ponies were facing the other three, seemingly as a duo. Both were normal ponies. One's coat was a faded pink and her cutie mark showed a tiara. Her mane and tail were styled in a very prim and proper design, the colors being thick stripes of white and faded violet. The other's coat was a shade of gray while her cutie mark was a silver spoon with a red gem embedded in the end. Her mane and tail were a lighter shade of gray, also styled into an elegant form. She also wore blue-rimmed glasses and a pearl necklace. As they both had their backs turned, I could not make out their eye colors. The other three fillies surprised me as they each lacked a cutie mark. The pegasus was giving the two upper-class fillies a defiant glare, her mane and tail being a fuchsia hue. Her coat was a bold shade of orange while her eyes were a faded purple. The unicorn filly seemed to be only mildly annoyed, her coat being as white as Rarity's. Her mane and tail were two colors, being both faded hues of rose and purple. They were also styled into curls here and there. Her eyes were a darker than average shade of green. The last of the fillies, standing between the unicorn and pegasus, seemed to be an ordinary pony while also seeming unhappy with the two haughty fillies before her. Her eyes were a strong shade of orange while her coat was a faded olive hue. Her tail and mane were a brilliant rose color and she wore a large pink bow on her mane. Curious of what they were arguing about, I slowly drew closer while trying to avoid drawing attention.

"I don't know why you even keep trying, Apple Bloom. It's been over a year since you founded the so-called 'Cutie Mark Crusaders' and you STILL haven't found your cutie mark! Just accept it. You're blank flanks for life." I heard the pink filly boast, immediately disliking her tone.

I saw the pegasus speak up, "What do you know?! Maybe we just haven't found our special talents yet! EVERYPONY gets a cutie mark at some point! It's just a matter of time before we find ours!" Judging by her tone and initial response, I suspected the pegasus was a tomboy.

"Oh, I wouldn't be so sure. I've seen one pony who doesn't have a cutie mark. And he's an old man. Don't you think he would've gotten a cutie mark by now?" I heard the bespectacled gray filly speak in a taunting manner.

"No way. Who could possibly not have a cutie mark when they're old?" I heard the unicorn ask.

"It's Mr. Greenhooves. I'm sure you've seen him. Old guy? Wears an old floppy hat? He's the one. I'm sure you've seen him sometime." I felt myself becoming steadily disgusted by the actions of the two bullies.

The pony with the pink bow almost looked like she was going to cry. "Yer lyin'! There's no way that's true, Diamond Tiara! Every single pony gets a cutie mark eventually! They always do!" I heard a noticeable southern accent in her voice, leading me to suspect she may be a cousin of Applejack.

"Oh, I can tell you've seen him. Maybe you can add him to your group as a new Crusader. Right, Silver Spoon?" The two schoolyard bullies giggled in unison as the pegasus gritted her teeth.

Under normal circumstances, I would silently report such behavior to the proper authorities at the school. But being a victim of bullying at points in my life, and actually being much bigger and stronger than these two bullies, I felt that this time I could do something about it. I walked up behind the filly who likely was Diamond Tiara and gently placed my foot squarely on her back.

"Wha…" She immediately stopped laughing and looked up at me. The other four fillies were equally surprised as they all turned their attention to me. With a smirk, I placed greater pressure on her, pushing Diamond Tiara into the ground with her legs spread out to her sides. "Ow! What's this for?!" She yelled, clearly not expecting me to intervene.

The other four fillies backed away, having never seen something like me before and probably somewhat intimidated. I kept my foot on Diamond Tiara, making sure she could not escape. "So, you have something against blank flanks, huh?" I asked.

"What's it to you?! I was just telling them the truth!" The filly yelled, drawing attention from the other children on the playground.

"Do you think they really need to be reminded that they don't have cutie marks? I'm sure they see their flanks at least once a day. Besides, you didn't have a cutie mark before either. Right?" I began to smirk, already knowing what I was going to do to her.

"Don't remind me." She grumbled in frustration.

"Well, I think you do need to be reminded of what it's like to not have a cutie mark." I reached into my pocket and pulled out the cutie mark removal tape I had picked up at the prank parlor that day.

"What're you doing?! Tell me!" Diamond Tiara screamed as she looked at the tape being stretched.

"Just giving you a taste of your own medicine." I smirked as I applied the tape over both of her cutie marks. Once applied, I stripped the tape off. "Welcome back to reality…blank flank."

There was a loud gasp as all of the foals around me looked on. The tape worked like a charm, both of Diamond Tiara's cutie marks nowhere to be seen. I heard one of the colts shout, "Wow! Now she's a blank flank too!" With the exception of Silver Spoon, all of the foals burst into laughter.

Knowing that Silver Spoon was just as guilty for bullying, I adjusted the glasses on my face so that they were on a crooked slant. I then looked down at the gray filly with a twisted grin and the most menacing gaze I could make. "You wanna be next?" I said in a creepy tone.

Clearly frightened, Silver Spoon turned and ran. "NO! NO! PLEASE! NOT MY CUTIE MARK!" I watched as she disappeared into the schoolhouse.

I watched Diamond Tiara glance around at her schoolmates as they laughed at her. Since the punishment had been dealt, I felt it was unnecessary to keep restraining her. I removed my foot to allow her to stand. But she soon screamed, "SHUT UP! I KNOW I STILL HAVE A CUTIE MARK! IT'S JUST INVISIBLE NOW!" Her screams did nothing to stop the laughter, some of the foals shouting 'blank flank' at her. Finally she glared at me and demanded, "GIVE IT BACK!"

With a smug smirk, I shook my head, "No can do. It's permanent. You're a blank flank for life."

Diamond Tiara kicked my leg with her hind hooves, "You're lying! I know it! Now, give it back!"

I winced from the feel of her hard hooves striking my exposed shins, "Ow! OK, I guess I can give it back. But only on the condition that you stop pestering 'blank flanks' about them lacking cutie marks. No one likes a bully."

It was a reasonable enough bargain, but Diamond Tiara turned her snout up at it. "Stop telling them the truth? No deal. I refuse to make a deal that involves those losers."

I frowned at her stubbornness, "You're one to talk, especially now that you're on the same level they are. But my deal still stands. You are NOT getting your cutie mark back until you learn the errors of your ways. And that's final!"

Diamond Tiara began to look absolutely furious at my denying returning her cutie mark. "I….. I'll kill you….."

Before the argument could continue, the bell on top of the schoolhouse rang. Diamond Tiara glared at me, "This isn't over, blank flank. You better sleep with one eye open from now on."

As I watched her run back inside the schoolhouse, I scoffed, "Yeah, so what if I am? Humans don't get cutie marks, dummy."

I found that the three fillies Diamond Tiara had been harassing had stayed behind. All three were gazing up at me. "Um… I didn't go too far, did I?" I asked, worried that I may have been too harsh in my methods.

The pegasus filly jumped, "Are you kidding?! That was awesome! I didn't know you could take away cutie marks!"

I looked around to see if anyone was within earshot before whispering, "Actually, it's just a prop I picked up at the prank parlor today. The cutie mark isn't gone. Just covered. But the only way to make it visible again is to use the other side of the strip."

The unicorn grinned, "That's a neat trick! And who are you, mister? Some kind of giant pony?"

I snickered, "Actually, no. I'm a human. And the name's James."

The ordinary filly spoke up in her southern accent, "Ooh! I remember Applejack talkin' about you yesterday! The name's Apple Bloom. And this is Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo. But if ya want, you can call us…"

The three fillies suddenly got very close together and shouted in unison, "THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!"

I took a moment to think over their title in my head. "So… Let me get this straight. You three are on a crusade to discover your unique talents so you can acquire your cutie marks?"

Apple Bloom grinned, "Yup! We try everythin' we can ta see what'll bring out our cutie marks!"

Sweetie Belle then spoke up, "But we can't talk now. That was the last bell for the day, so we need to go get our stuff and go home."

I nodded, "That's OK. I'll just wait out here." I watched the three 'crusaders' run back inside the schoolhouse. I then took a seat on the very low wooden fence and just watched my surroundings to pass the time.

After no more than five minutes, the pony children started to emerge from the schoolhouse while wearing saddlebags. I noticed Diamond Tiara glare at me before running off with Silver Spoon. The last students to emerge were the Crusader trio, each of them saying goodbye before heading off in their own directions. However, Apple Bloom approached me and asked, "So, whatcha up to, Mr. James? Ya want me ta introduce you ta big sis Applejack?"

Apple Bloom's words answered a question I was pondering for the past few minutes. "Applejack is your sister? I thought you sounded a lot like her. I was actually on my way over to her place when I met you. Would you like me to walk you home?"

The filly jumped, "Sure! Let's go! I'll lead the way." Knowing that she knew her way around better than I did, I followed Apple Bloom while chatting with her along the way.

"So, what brought ya to Ponyville in the first place, Mr. James? I didn't even know humans lived in Equestria." Apple Bloom asked, trotting alongside me.

"I don't think they do, to be honest. I'm not from this world. And before you ask, I have no idea how I got here. And another thing. You don't have to call me mister. Just James will be fine." I replied, not being accustomed to being called 'mister' by someone younger than me.

"OK then. So, what brings ya over ta Sweet Apple Acres?" Apple Bloom asked me.

I replied, "Well, I have no real money right now as I only showed up in Ponyville yesterday. So I volunteered to help out. I need money to pay my rent at Rarity's place."

The two of us continued to converse as we walked. Before I knew it, we had entered Sweet Apple Acres. "We're here!" Apple Bloom jumped before running towards the farmhouse in the distance. I chuckled as I watched the little filly run off, finding her to be undeniably adorable.

"OK then… No sign of AJ, so I should look for Big Macintosh." I muttered as I looked around. "Though I have to wonder why such a geeky kind of stallion would be working on a farm anyway….. Hang on… THAT is him?!"

I could see a red stallion pony approaching the barn with a bushel of apples hanging off each side of him. Even from my current distance, I could tell that he was the largest pony I had seen so far. His coat was a brilliant shade of red and his mane and tail was the same shade of orange as Applejack's coat. His coat extended somewhat down his hooves, which were more easily noticeable than on any other pony I had seen. His tail was also cropped, probably to prevent tangling when pulling a plough or other type of heavy farming gear as he was wearing a harness collar. His eyes were half closed and very gentle and soulful, being the same shade of green as Sweetie Belle's. Like Applejack, he had a few freckles under his eyes. "How in the world did a big burly guy like him get the name 'Macintosh'? Some things I'll never understand…" I can recall muttering as I approached him. "Excuse me, but are you Big Macintosh?"

Despite having never seen anything like me before, the stallion calmly replied, "Eeyup."

His one-word response gave me the impression that he was a man of few words. "I see. Well, I'm here to provide my services. Applejack sent for me."

Big Macintosh nodded, "I heard we would have some extra help today. Lemme offload these apples and I'll go let 'er know yer here." I watched as he entered the barn, then slide the two bushels off himself. He then came back outside and stood before a pair of cellar hatches on the ground. He tapped his hoof three times on them rather loudly.

I listened closely just after Big Macintosh knocked. "I'll be right there!" A voice from inside the cellar called. The two doors flew open to reveal a familiar orange pony with a stetson hat on her head. "Well, howdy! Ya have any trouble findin' yer way here, James?"

I nodded as I shook Applejack's hoof, "I had no problems. Especially since Apple Bloom showed me the way."

Applejack giggled, "Ya'll met my sister, huh? Sweetest little thing you ever laid eyes on, right?" I heard Big Macintosh chuckle lightly too.

"In my honest opinion, I would say Fluttershy gets that title. But Apple Bloom is definitely the runner-up." I replied with a smile.

"Well, I'll respect that. In any case, let's get ta work. Follow me." Applejack led me towards the vast apple orchard that surrounded the farm.

"So, what do I do out here?" I asked while surveying the many apple trees around us.

"Couldn't be simpler! All ya gotta do is take the apples and set 'em in the barn! And if there's not enough room in there, we put 'em in the apple cellar." We stopped in front of one tree that had a few wooden tubs around it that strongly resembled the one used to hold the water and apples at my welcoming party. Each had two handles to lift with.

"Well, simple isn't always easy. What's the best way to get the apples down?" I asked, starting to have a bad feeling about my new job.

"All ya gotta do is shake 'em loose! Like this!" Applejack turned her back to the tree and kicked it with both hind legs. Every last apple fell from the branches and into the bushels without a single one missing.

I looked over my glasses at the bushels of apples, hardly able to believe what I just saw. "It's that easy?"

Applejack nodded, "Yup! That's the way we do it!" I then noticed that she was wearing a special saddle with a hook extending from each side. She then got low to the ground and hooked two of the three bushels on them with each one hanging off her sides. "I'll handle these two. You get the third." I nodded and grabbed the third bushel by the handles. Although it was not very large, the apples in it made the bushel rather heavy.

"OK. Lead on, AJ." I grunted as I waddled after her with my load. As we walked, I grumbled under my breath, "I can tell I'm not gonna like this job…"

Once we delivered the bushels to the barn, Applejack and I headed to the next tree. Three more bushels had already been set out under them. "OK then, James. It's yer turn ta try."

I cracked my knuckles as I approached the tree. "Can't be that hard…" I then threw a kick, striking the trunk with the bottom of my shoe. However, not one apple fell.

"What the hay…?" Applejack muttered, clearly surprised that I was nowhere near as strong as her. "Are all humans as flimsy as you?"

I grumbled to myself, "Maybe I didn't do it right…" I turned around and got down on all fours. Mimicking Applejack's kick the best I could, I struck the tree with both feet at the same time. I felt a slight boost in confidence as a single apple fell into one of the bushels.

"One… Really? How much harder do I have to hit it?" I groaned, dusting my hands off. Somewhat frustrated, I rammed the tree with a shoulder barge.

"Ahaoo!" I yelped in pain, several apples falling from the branches and into the bushels. I rubbed my shoulder to soothe the soreness from the impact. "That was as hard as I could hit it…"

Seeing that I was not going to get all the apples out of the tree anytime soon, Applejack finished the job with a kick from one leg. The remaining apples piled up in the bushels neatly. "James, are ya sure yer up for this?" I could feel a hint of concern in her voice.

"Sorry, AJ. I'm just not as physically fit as I could be right now. What's more, humans don't have the same kind of muscle you ponies do. You're probably at least ten times stronger than I am." I explained, feeling rather disappointed in myself.

Applejack smiled reassuringly, "Well, not everypony is cut out fer this line of work. Tell ya what. I'll kick the apples loose and you help carry 'em back to the barn. Deal?" Feeling slightly better, I nodded and lifted a bushel to my chest.

One by one, Applejack, Big Macintosh, and myself went back and forth, harvesting and transporting apples to the barn and cellar. However, I could not keep up, waddling along at only half the speed my two workmates were moving. I have no idea how much time passed since I started. Two hours? Three? Regardless, I could not handle the strain of carrying so many heavy bushels. After god knows how many trips, I collapsed to my knees mid-transport, nearly spilling my load of apples.

"Whoa! You all right there, James?!" I heard Applejack call out before hearing her run to my side.

"That's it… I'm done. I can't keep going…" I panted, dehydrated and exhausted. My clothes were completely drenched in sweat. "Sorry… I'm just not cut out for this line of work…"

I expected Applejack to be disgusted with my poor endurance. But she surprised me by helping me to my feet. "That's all right, pardner. Ya'll did quite a bit of work. I'm pretty sure ya got at least a hundred of them bushels inta the barn and cellar on yer own. Go wait by the barn and I'll go grab yer pay." I silently nodded, not expecting much for my lousy services.

I sat down next to the barn, resting my back against the wall. A few minutes later, I noticed Applejack and Apple Bloom heading my way. Apple Bloom seemed to be carrying a small sack in her mouth while Applejack was carrying a tin bucket. Once they had reached me, Applejack set down the bucket. I looked down at it and saw that it was filled to the brim with water. "To help freshen ya up after all that there work. Drink up, James. You earned it." I did not refuse and drank deeply from the bucket. Even when I started to run out of breath, I kept drinking. The bucket was over half empty by the time I took a breather.

Apple Bloom gave me the sack she was holding, "It's yer pay! Plus a lil' extra."

Despite its size, I found the sack to be rather heavy. "It's all yours, James. Thanks again for the help. I threw a lil' extra in there as a bonus fer how hard you worked." Applejack said with a smile.

I sighed as I caught my breath from the long drink I took. "Thanks, AJ. I appreciate it." I climbed to my feet rather shakily, "I'll be going now… And thanks for letting me help." I waved goodbye to my friends and headed back towards Ponyville.

Being too tired to really have a drive to search for another job at the time, I decided to head straight home. I knocked on the front door of the Carousel Boutique, waiting to see if Rarity was home. She soon answered the door, but immediately backed away from me. "Good gracious, what happened to you?! You smell hideous!"

I sighed, "I was hired to help out at Sweet Apple Acres. Enough said."

"Enough indeed! March right upstairs and take a bath! Now!" Rarity pointed towards the stairs.

"You read my mind." I muttered as I headed for the stairs. A shower was exactly what I needed.

The warm flowing water washed away all the sweat and grime I had accumulated during the day. But as my clothes were saturated with my odor, I dare not put them back on. Not even my undergarments. "This could be a problem…" Once I finished bathing, I wrapped a towel around me and headed back downstairs hoping my new clothes were finished.

When I returned to the ground level, I found Rarity using a marker to draw out a client's commissioned design before actually starting on it. "Yes, I do believe that's what she wanted… Now for the hat…" I noticed her ears flick as I drew near. "Ah! Just who I was hoping to see! Oh, I just know you're going to love your new attire, James!"

"You seem quite sure of yourself, Rarity. Now I'm really curious of what you came up with." I said with a smile. She then led me over to some hangers that held the clothes she had promised me.

"As requested, I crafted you clothing that could not be more casual. Is it to your liking?" Rarity asked as I examined the clothing. The pants were a pair of blue jeans made of denim while the shirt was a Hawaiian-style t-shirt that was mostly blue.

"Yup. Doesn't get much more casual than that. Many thanks, Rarity. I'll try them on right now…..wait." I turned to the unicorn, "I hate to be a bother, but could you also craft me some…..underwear too? I only have one pair and it's…..pretty tainted with body odor right now…"

To my surprise, Rarity chuckled, "Yes, I thought you might need a new pair. So I took the time to weave one for you on the side." She reached into a drawer nearby and lifted a pair of checkerboard boxers out.

"But… But you never took the measurements for those! How are you so sure those will fit me?!" I asked, afraid they might be too small.

"Nonsense! I simply took an estimate from the measurements on your pants and made a few minor adjustments. Now, please do try them on!" She 'handed' my clothes to me and nudged me behind a screen for privacy.

"Well… OK then." I muttered as I dropped my towel. Much to my surprise, I found that the boxers fit me perfectly. "She really knows her stuff…" I then slid on my jeans and buttoned my shirt. "OK, how do I look?" I stepped out from behind the screen, displaying my new attire to the fashion designer.

Rarity brought a hoof to her chin as she gazed at me. "Mmmm… For attire so casual, you look quite dashing in it! The two shades of blue really compliment each other well."

I chuckled as I grinned, "I never knew dashing and casual could go together." I then remembered my payment from Applejack. "Wait just a moment, Rarity. I need to give you something." I ran back upstairs to the bathroom and retrieved the sack containing my payment. Upon coming back downstairs, I opened the sack as I approached Rarity, "How much do I owe you for rent?"

The unicorn glanced down at the sack, many gold coins packed inside. But she shook her head, "Darling, I made it quite clear to you that you are free to stay here at your own will. I desire nothing in return. Your company is payment enough."

I lowered the bag, once again amazed by Rarity's generosity. "Really…? Not even one coin?"

Rarity nodded sincerely, "Yes, I am quite sure. I normally live alone with only dear Opal to keep me company. And such an interesting human fellow like you is a rare guest. Please, James. Don't bring this up again. I will not be accepting any rent from you, as I quite simply do not want it or need it. Besides, I am sure you need the finances more than I do."

As grateful as I was for her generosity, I could not help but feel an immense sense of guilt weighing on my shoulders. "I understand, Rarity… Thank you again…"

That night, I relaxed on the sofa with a blanket covering me like the night before. This was my second day in Ponyville. And like the first, it ended well. But I still felt guilty for not having to give Rarity anything in return for allowing me to live in her house. As I looked at the stars out the only window in the room, I made a silent promise to repay Rarity for her kindness. Somehow.

I closed my eyes, wondering what other careers I could pursue in Ponyville the next morning. And as I drift off to sleep, my second day in Equestria ends. I eagerly await to see what the third day has in store for me.