#17

I understood everything that Celestia, Luna, and Twilight had asked thus explaining why I was from a tree, right? I had my feet to a tree and was hanging upside down with no hope of freeing myself from this strange combination of knots. With my hands also tied behind my back, I couldn't slice through it, I really had no way of escaping.

After leaving Twilight's home, I decided to visit back here at Applejack's side of town and stumbled onto a strange home before quickly being lifted off the ground by a trap. Now that I was here, I couldn't really do anything but slowly spin in circles waiting for some pony to come rescue me.

"Hello?!" I loudly yelled hoping for some pony to appear and let me down. I waited and waited for about thirty minutes, doing the same thing over and over again. My feet started to become numb and I became a little more annoyed than worried about my position.

After a few short thoughts on how to get down, I remembered I possessed the ability to fly and began to try to yank myself off the tree. I pulled so hard on the apple tree that it was uprooting, despite that I held my breath as I put more force in my pull.

"Let me go, DAMN IT!" I cursed as the rope wouldn't loosen or rip, and the tree wouldn't come off. I continued to struggle, applying more force to the stubborn tree. It didn't take long for my leg to start to cramp up as I wouldn't give in. After a few more yanks, I finally felt the massive jolt of pain from my hamstring and stiffened up completely. I had put so much force on the tree, it swung me at it with full force.

"OH SHI-,"

I was immediately cut off the huge bang from the side of my head and quickly turning to the most pressuring pain for a split second before completely losing focus and blacking out.

I woke up, my head was still numb from the hit that I briefly recall and I could feel some warm sensation from the left side of my face. I wanted to open my eyes but the weakness I felt was unbearably heavy and accompanied by sounds of children, no, little ponies! I mustered the strength to open my eyes but barely, three blurry dots grouped into one group stood in front of me, I could have sworn that for a moment they poked my head with something blunt.

Despite what it was, it was getting annoying, they repeated it about three more times. I finally had it on the fourth try and quickly opened my eyes and caught a wooden stick between my teeth. They all shrieked as they all hid behind some of the trees that surrounded this area. I didn't manage to make out their appearance but they were small.

I spit out the stick in my mouth and shook my head getting rid of the dizziness I felt at the moment before looking at the huge eyes that peered around the trees. They were upside down and seemed a little shaken up by my presence. I looked up to my feet to see I was still bound to the tree and regretted the idea of ever trying something like "that" ever again. My sight tracked down to the ponies that were making small talk with each other and exposed themselves a little more than before.

"You talk to it Scootaloo," One of the ponies said making me look at her, she instantly threw herself behind the tree completely before looking around it. All I saw was her light-green tinted eyes as she pushed out who I presume is this "Scootaloo". My attention then turned to another pony looking over the green-eyes one, she had a huge bow and a had an orange outline in her eyes.

I looked down to the ground as Scootaloo inched herself closer to me, she shook with every movement she made. I stared and watched silently as she finally made it to about a few inches from me, I didn't realize I was nearly touching the ground by now, she was eye level with me. My sight didn't part form her, she was an orange shade with violet eyes like her mane and tail, and had tiny wings. Her tiny wings made me want to gush out in "Aww".

"Umm…Hello there," she greeted insecurely.

"Hey Ya!" I returned cheerfully, funny thing was I didn't feel that way.

"EPP!"

I raised an eyebrow as I saw her jump off the ground and fall back down with a thump. She seemed to not have expected me to respond.

"You okay?" I asked casually which made her quickly stand and place her hoof on my head.

"Don't scare me like that!" She sternly stated removing her hoof and sighing heavily.

"But you were the one who said "hi"?" I replied back making her turn back and slightly nod in agreement.

"Oh yeah! Sorry about that!" She apologized before calling out her friends, "Come out, he isn't a monster after all!"

First was the white one then the vanilla one, they cautiously appeared from behind the tree and joined Scootaloo who had a wide smile plastered over her face. I took mental notes on the ponies' attributes and looked at Scootaloo who had pulled out a pair of scissors out of nowhere. She snipped them like a crazed maniac before giving me a creepy look that made me question her intents. Before I could even ask she had already climbing me and made her way to the top branch of the tree and placed the rope between the blades. I frantically looked up at her and shook my head.

"Wait, untie my hands-,"

She closed her eyes, ignoring me as she closed the blades. I closed my eyes as well hoping I would open them on the ground safe and sound.

Ooof*

I felt my face land face first into the ground, luckily the soft bed of grass cushioned my face from any damage. Then it hit me, I could have just floated down.

"Ow"

I flipped my body around and shook my legs violently trying to get rid of the numbness in them as well as the tangled rope. I managed to get it off before spotting my sword right next to me, there it is, must have fallen out! I managed to place the sword between my hands and slowly cut away at the rope. Once I felt the blood rush back into my feet and hands, I threw myself on my feet and shook my body, getting a feel for it.

"Ah! That's better!" I said look down at the other ponies that were looking up at the tree worried. I followed their eyes and saw Scootaloo looking anxiously down as she fidgeted around with the scissors. My eyebrow rose up and began to ponder why she didn't fly back down?

"You need help?" I asked she nodded her head a little disappointed. I chuckled and flew up to grab her, her eyes widened with shock as she saw me go from being down on the ground up to her. I extended my hands out and she hopped on, pondering how I was able to fly. I returned down to the ground, letting her go before confronting her friends. They seemed about as shocked as Scootaloo.

"Wow, you can fly!?" The both the white and vanilla ponies asked making me nod with a smile, I was glad they appreciated my talent. I would have continued smiling if it weren't for the depressed looking pony to my left.

I turned my body to face Scootaloo who had nothing but disappointment over her little face. I kneeled down next to her and asked, "what was wrong?"

She shook her head before lowering her it and raising her back. I stared at her as she fanned out her little wings, rapidly moving them up and down while holding her breath tightly. Nothing happened but a failed attempt, she let out her breath and looked up at me still pretty upset.

"I can't fly…" She said in a low voice, I looked back at her smile and nodded.

"Of course, you're too young!" I responded, but she wasn't going to take that as her answer.

"No! You don't understand, I can't fly!" She said becoming a little annoyed and creating some tension.

"So, do other fillies at your age fly?" I asked making sure it wasn't a matter of age, she sighed and nodded her head sadly.

"Oh…What's your case?"

"I JUST CAN'T, DON'T YOU GET IT!?"

I felt something start to hurt, either her or me, maybe both. She was huffing out all the force she put into that last statement before forming some tears around her eyes and whimpering away. All I could think of was being different…negatively, it was something that everyone fears and hopes to never become, yet she already had it.

"I'm sorry…" She whimpered some more, wiping away her tears with her hoof, "I'm sorry."

"No…There's no need to apologize," I said feeling the pain in my chest loosen, I couldn't stand hearing such a thing from a young one. To realize you're lower than those around you while young is wrong.

"But I-

I looked down at her with a smile casted upon my face and placed my hand over her mouth. She stared at me with full attention as I removed my hand.

"Don't worry about it, now, how about you tell me why I was hanging from a tree," I said smiling widely making Scoots smile, as soon as I was about to stand up I felt one of the little ones speak from my left.

"Yer really kind, mister!"

A switch flicked in my mind as that southern accent reappeared, my mind instantly went to Applejack as I turned to the little vanilla pony. She had a kind smile and her appearance actually reminded me of Applejack.

"Say, I've heard that accent before are you related to Applejack?" I asked getting up and placing my sword away. She gave a small nod before raising one hoof towards herself.

"Yer right! I am!"

"Ha! I was right! Are you sister or daughter?" I asked hoping either one was right, she giggled a little before looking at Scoots and at the other pony and skipped over to me. She looked directly at me and smiled.

"I'm her sister, Apple Bloom!" She cheered standing on her hind hoofs with both hands out in excitement. I smiled gently, Applejack had a little sister, a cute one too.

"Hmm…hey," The white one came from the corner of my eye and was a little cautious unlike the others. I looked at her as she tried to get the courage to look me eye to eye, she managed a little holding her breath. She bared a resemblance to someone too but I couldn't make out who.

"Hey, you also look familiar but to whom?" I asked pondering as I studied her more closely and used my thinking powers to uncover it. She giggled a little and looking up at me allowing me to get a good view of her. It flicked again, that mane and…well, that's it but I knew who she might link with. My eyes lit up with excitement as I smacked my palm with my other hand, she looked at me full of hope as I prepared my answer.

"You found out!?" She asked, I nodded and gave her one last good look to confirm it.

"Rarity, am I right?!" I said hoping I was right, I was right! There is no way I could get this wrong. She pondered it a little, toying with me but I wasn't going to fail at this, it was obvious somehow.

"Yes, I am! I'm Sweetie Belle, Rarity's sister!" She said smiling widely.

I turned my sight over to Scoots who was looking upset again and seemed to be hurting internally. I lifted my head up to her and didn't think twice about asking her.

"Who are you related-

Some hit me from behind, I could have sensed it but didn't…strange. I turned to look at the floor as an apple landed right next to me, I glanced at it before turning a full 180 and looking at who threw the apple. I wasn't mad but whoever threw it has a good throw.

I looked into some green-eyed stallion that had nothing but this look of boredom across his face. I nodded my head as I picked up the apple and bounced it on my hand a little before grinning.

"Did you throw this apple at me?"

He seemed to slightly smile back as he quickly threw another apple, I quickly grabbed it and felt the force that he threw it with. He did have a good throw, that one was a little stronger than the last one.

"E-yup," He replied holding another apple on his hoof and bouncing it up and down, I felt a little threatened but also like I was being played around with. I quickly threw an apple at the one he was warming up and knocked out right out of his hoof. He reacted slowly and looked at his hoof and at me with a no expression.

"Bulls-eye!" I exclaimed cheerfully.

"E-yup," he said again moving right in front of me and staring me down. I glanced at him once and like before another switch went off. He looked strong and hard-working, seemed like a busy stallion.

"Now let me guess, another relative of Applejacks?" I asked smiling he nodded once and replied with the same word as before.

"E-yup."

"Cool, what are you: brother?"

"E-yup."

"Stallion of few words eh?"

"E-yup."

This stallion was cool, only speaking in few words is badass, like the T-800. I smiled at his response, it was probably his honest style of answering and that Applejack had another relative. I looked to him nodded my head and reached my hand out.

"Hey Ya! I'm Ben!"

He looked at my hand for a few seconds before lifting his hoof up and allowing me to shake it. He seemed to take my expression well and slightly smiled again.

"And you?"

"That's Big McIntosh! But call him Big Mac" Apple Bloom interrupted from behind me. I knew he probably wasn't going to respond but it was worth a try. Either way, I knew who he was now, a hard-working, silent, apple pitching stallion.

"Awesome! Well now that I know who you are, one of you explain why I was hanging from a tree!" I said again, this time they all gave each other funny looks before Apple Bloom answered me.

"Well, ya kinda fell into our trap," She responded

"Trap?"

"Yeah, to catch the tree thief!" Scoots added, "But Applejack told us it was an accident,"

"And we forgot to put it up!" Sweetie Belle continued.

"That makes sense," I replied chuckling slightly as I sighed deeply and looked up to the sky and back down at Big Mac who was back to his boredom. Scoots was looking happier than before and the other two were picking up the rope. I glanced down at Scoots as she trotted over to me and tugged on my pants.

"Yes?"

"Who are you exactly?"

Oh boy, here we go!" I thought as I sat down on the grass and prepared to tell my tale.

- Back in town, K is taking care of the little pony –

K had the little pony by his side on the benches in the middle of town. He glanced down at her from time to time, while the little pony stared at him making K uneasy. He shifted a few times before finally not being able to stand anymore staring.

"What is it!?"

He didn't like the attention but the little pony seemed to study him even more intensely. K ran his hands through his hair desperately trying to not get angered any more than he already was, the little pony finally raised one hoof and looked up at something beyond K. He lifted his head a little and gave her an odd look.

"Something is gonna attack…"

"Excuse me?" K asked backing his head away from her and looking around himself insecurely. The pony didn't blink and had a vibe that only sent chills down K's spine, that was a rare thing to happen to K.

"You…you'll-

She quickly shook her head and smacked it on the bench, strongly. K managed to breathe a thin line of air as he picked her up and shook her violently.

"WHATS WRONG WITH YOU!?" He asked, placing her eye level with him and staring into her soul. The little pony's eyes slightly glowed a bright golden yellow for a split second before she quickly escaped his arms and grabbed onto his neck, holding him tightly and breathing heavily. K had no time to react, all he could do was widely open his eyes and close hands into fists.

"I don't know…" She answered grabbing on tighter. K stared off into the sky wondering what happened, his mind split in two directions. The pony had settled in place on his neck and seemed to have become a little calmer, her grip loosened as she slowly began to slip off him.

"What the-

K quickly placed his hands on his chest feeling the weight of the pony fall upon his hands. The little one had passed out and K was left with no choice but to quickly make his way to hide from the public. He left the ground making a quick break into the sky as he searched for a deserted place to put the pieces together. He soon found an opening in a grass field where nothing was there but trees and a few bushes.

He studied the area a bit before throwing himself down on the grass and looking in his hands as the little pony seemed to clench her teeth in pain.

"What the hell is happening?" he asked himself as he rotated her in his hands looking for any sign of physical damage, nothing. He proceeded to dive in deeper and use some of his magic to read her mind but something pushed against his magic.

"What is this!?" He strictly said out loud as he laid her on the floor and rubbed his hands on his face in desperation. He was stumped now, what could he do? He thought about it before something crossed his mind instantaneously.

"Oh good, now Ben is gonna kill me! HEY! WAKE UP!"

He began to rock her on the ground with his hand and even tried to induce a small shock using his dark energy, but nothing seemed to work. The more she refused to wake up the more he became more desperate.

"WAKE UP!"

"How about a muffin!"

"DA-FUCK IS A MUFFIN GONNA DO! … what a minute-WHO ARE YOU!?"

K turned back and looked at the blonde pony as she held a smile and a muffin on her hoof. He couldn't believe he wasn't aware of her presence and how close she was, right next to him nearly rubbing him. K stared as she lowered the steamy muffin close to the little pony's muzzle and waved it, persuading her to wake up.

"How about a warm muffin?"

The little pony's muzzle twitched a few times before opening her eyes slowly.

"No fucking way!" K thought as the pony fully opened her eyes and bit a piece off of the muffin.

"Derpy saves the day!" Derpy said letting the muffin go giving it the pony as she got on all fours only to somehow end up upside down.

K stared at her as she looked at him from an upside-down view, she waved her hoof playfully at him making him wave back cautiously.

"Hello! Why are you upside-down?" She asked scratching her head with her hoof. K couldn't answer, he stared into her eyes as they studied him.

"You're the one upside-down,"

"Oh,…oppsies!" She said getting back upright but lost her balance and fell face first into the grass with all fours out. K looked around before getting near her and picking her up, placing her in a balanced position.

"Do you need help?" He asked slowly letting his hands retract as she placed her hooves firmly into the ground. She looked up at him and smiled widely but K was just as lost as he'd ever been about anything.

"Nope but my muffin is now gone!" She said digging into her satchel and pulling out another muffin with her mouth, "tankfly, I hag anoher!" She spoke with a muffin filled mouth. K stared for a few seconds before getting back to his main problem.

"Yeah…OH, TINY PONY!" He said reaching his hands out to the pony but stopped when he saw her eating the muffin quietly. He looked back at Derpy as she also enjoyed a muffin and nodded her head with joy. K took a moment to deeply sigh and express his relief, throwing himself backward, laying on the ground.

K imagined in his mind the scenarios of what just happened, closing his eyes he let his mind be the guide.

Could she have been hungry? No.

Maybe this was a reaction to me? Maybe.

Why did she say something was gonna attack? Maybe it did attack and made her react like that? Yeah, that sounds possible.

Maybe-

K felt something ponce on his chest and stretch out on him and warm.

"Do you want a muffin?"

"Wha-

He looked down at his chest to see Derpy laying down on his chest holding a muffin in one hoof and her muffin on the other. K stared at her trying to keep the straightest face he could while looking into her eyes which had him wondering.

"M.U.F.F.I.N = Muffin!" She said moving the muffin closer to his mouth. He felt the warmth of the muffin hit him and the smell make his head light.

"Sure…" he said reaching a hand up and grabbing the muffin, Derpy smiled with glee as she turned lopsided on his chest looked upward to the cloudy sky. K was at a loss for words as he took a bit out of the muffin before quickly swallowing the piece he had in his mouth.

WHAT IS THIS SWEET TASTE!"

"You like it, don't you?" She asked with her eyes closed knowing the answer. K shuddered at the thought of eating such a delicious thing, that he couldn't continue.

"SO, THIS IS WHAT A MUFFIN TASTES LIKE!" He exclaimed studying it intensely. Derpy giggled as she looked at him from her upside-down angle while K stared at the muffin.

"It's made with someone in mind!" She said throwing K off track and pondering it a bit. Derpy stared at him as she giggled a little louder. K felt something strange as he took another bite from the muffin and savored the flavor.

"It was for you…"

K nearly choked a bit on the piece of muffin before completely swallowing the piece. He gasped for air as Derpy flew off his chest and onto the ground, she stared at him a little worried. K huffed for air as coughed out the feeling on the back of his throat.

"You must have me mistaken for someone else, I just barely met you!" He said coughing a little more as he tapped his chest repeatedly. Derpy placed her hoof on under her mouth for a few seconds before aiming at him with a nervous smile.

"You look like him…"

K then instantly realized it as mental images of Ben meeting her rushed into his mind. He slightly grinned and snapped his fingers.

"Of course, I do! You're talking to his look-a-like demon!" He said making Derpy ponder this even harder, K nodded, "you mean Ben, I'm Kusanagi or K!"

Derpy looked down at the ground a little saddened by what she was hearing and whimpered a little. K raised an eyebrow as he knelled down and asked, "What's wrong?" She sniffled a little before wiping away a few forming tears.

"Ben didn't get a muffin…and I don't have any more bits…" She said whimpering even more as tears began to stream down her face. K immediately took notice and nodded his head as he thought of a way to make some bits to make up for this.

"How about I help you make some bits?" He inquired making her quickly fly up to him and grab his head with excitement. K stared at her eyes as she was full of hope but tears kept coming.

"REALLY!?" she sniffed

"…yeah…"

"Thank you- thank you- thank you!"

She quickly pulled him into a hug and squeezed him tightly before quickly pecking him a kiss on the cheek. He stared at her as she made her way to the ground and trampled over her own hooves again.

"Who is she?" The little pony asked from K's shoulder, K froze for a split second before looking to his left and seeing the little pony smiling widely, "how did she get they're without me detecting her? I'm losing it," he thought.

"Are you okay?" He asked but the little pony gave him a confused look as she nodded cautiously. K nodded back and sighed deeply as he thought about the little pony's moment, "I'll speak to Ben about this later."

"It's okay, don't think about it…as for this, this is Derpy and we are gonna make some muffin money!" K said rubbing his hands together putting aside the little pony's thing for now. The pony smiled and squealed in excitement. Derpy got up and rubbed her head from the fall before springing into the air with her hoof out to the town's direction.

"This way!"

"Let's go!"

"YEAH!"

(On the way K had to ask a question that burned him inside)

"Hey Derpy?"

"Ya!"

"Why is your name Derpy?"

"I don't know, they just call me that!"

"Ahh! I see…okay!"

Now back to Ben, who has just finished giving the story about himself – briefly.

"Wow! So, you can fight evil-like some hero!"

"Yeah!" Scoots and Apple Bloom agreed while Mac nodding his head. I agreed to what she was saying but I couldn't really be a hero, or could I? Belle held on to what she expected from me while everyone looked at me anxiously waiting for me to answer, I couldn't disappoint anyone really.

"Yeah! I can!" I balled a fist and pumped it getting a grip on my confidence and not letting it escape as I grinned at them making them also feel motivated. I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure I heard Mac chuckle over the excitement of the three next to me, I guess he isn't as hard as he seems. The time neared for me to actually go and do what I came to do, find Applejack.

I took a deep breath to get rid of my anxiety and get back to normal flow, the little ones in front of me calmed down a bit and Mac sighed. I adjusted my attitude to subtle and asked.

"Is Applejack around?"

Mac seemed to hesitate for a Nano-second, it was nearly undetectable but I had my know-how on how to get through it.

"Nope…"

He couldn't fool me, I knew she was here but why say she wasn't? I picked my head up high enough to get the roof of the barn into sight before nodding at Mac.

"Alright…who better to trust than her own brother," I said trying to throw off Mac, it seemed to work.

"E-yup."

"Right…" I responded back cautiously trying to avoid him detecting my true motives, which were to get to the barn. It was hard to see through his look, for all I knew he was already on to me. I took one step back and looked at the three little ponies that stared at me, trying to signal me to the little house that stood to my right. I nodded in agreement as I looked back at Mac, he still looked like before.

"We'll take care of him for now!" Apple Bloom said appearing next to me leaning with her elbow burying into my shin that force me to hold in some laughter, I could feel her elbow tickling me. For the sake of gaining Mac's trust I held the best composure I could.

"E-yup," He ended as he began to go back in the direction of the barn, I couldn't tell if he had figured me out but I was sure glad I won't be dealing with him now.

I waited until he disappeared from sight and turned to the little ponies, thanking them for getting him to leave.

"Thanks for that, I'm not really sure if I'm on his good or bad side," I added, Apple Bloom was the first one to actually console me right then and there, she was kind and had a great spirt.

"Oh, don't ya worry about it, he's a lot softer than he looks."

"I'm sure he is, I've seen through people like him before."

"People?" Apple Bloom asked only to be answered by Scoots who reminded her about what she heard me say earlier.

"Yer right! I forgot he ain't no pony," She said giggling a little before stopping and covering her mouth, I lifted an eyebrow as she began to apologize, reminding me about how I was an endangered species in this world.

"I don't mind, I'm honesty not that alone…" I said smiling at the horizon of trees that led into an infinity of sky. Apple Bloom along with her friends stopped for a moment and responded with the casual "Huh?" I smiled a little wider before looking down at them.

"I got y'all and not to mention a look-a-like demon."

They laughed a little at my response letting me know they got the message. I joined them with a few chuckles before looking up at the sky to catch a glimpse of some heavy white clouds flowing through the sky. My mind instantly went to Applejack and I had to ask again, even if Mac didn't want me to see her.

"Hey, is Applejack actually-"

"Yes, she-" Apple Bloom interrupted but Scoots and Belle covered her mouth quickly. Her eyes widened as she contradicted her brothers word, I knew she would answer me truthfully.

"Don't worry I won't tell your bro," I reassured making her sigh deeply in relief before she became alerted and turn around with the two ponies next her to speak secretly. They spoke furiously as they approved of ideas and theories among themselves before turning to me with looks of extreme suspicion.

They stared at me for a while before turn around and discussing again. I pondered what they were doing, thinking maybe they were playing around, but they seemed to be taking this seriously. They turned for the last time with serious looks and their hooves out at me, I stood confused waiting for them to elaborate.

"Are you the One?"

"The One?" I asked back, they nodded and smiled.

"You are the One!" The yelled in unison, I fanned my hands out trying to see if they were hearing me out.

"What does that mean!?"

"That means you've got a special friend!" Belle answered me smiling widely, I didn't pay much attention to this but they were all blushing lightly as I continued to question.

"Special friend?"

"Umm…you know…the Friend…" Scoots said using her hooves and demonstrating a kissing maneuver. I nodded in agreement but I couldn't really say I was surprised, Applejack seemed lovable from the start. A smile twitched onto my face as I looked toward the barn's direction and pumped a fist.

"So…a special friend huh…"

"So…are you gonna go see her?!" Belle asked inching closer to me along with her friends. I turned to them with a smile before instantly looking into the eyes of the subject. My smile slowly faded and I stood frozen not knowing what to do.

"Hello? Ya there?" Apple Bloom asked as she moved up to my leg and started to tap it lightly trying to get my attention but I couldn't pay attention to anything but who was looking at me the same way I was looking at her.

"Ya can't just leave my sister the way she is, come on!" She said staring to push against my leg and making and effort to move me. She pushed with her hoofs before switching to her back and pushing with all her might. By now everyone had noticed that she was here except Apple Bloom.

"But she's right here,"

Apple Bloom's eyes must have hurt for her to have open them that wide as she slowly noticed her sister standing right across me. She quickly hid behind my leg holding on to my pants tightly as she did, peering at her like she did with me earlier.

"How long where you there?" I asked hoping to cover up for the little ponies' awkward comments about her. She smiled a calm smile that caught us all off-guard, I didn't notice till now how I had all the little ones behind me grabbing on tightly.

"Just bout long enough to hear y'all havin' some fun with ma name and the Special One," She smirked, I couldn't help but do the same. I nodded and looked down my sides at the little ponies that were hoping me to cover for them, fortunately I'm good at these times, I grinned and snapped a finger.

"Yeah? And how did they know about the Special One?" I teased playfully

She blushed a great one if I do say so myself, she became slightly defensive as I expected. I knew she wasn't gonna win this argument with all the little details I had against her.

"Don't look at me like that, they probably put it together!"

I nodded and began playing around a little with these phrases.

"They put what together?"

"That you and me…wait a sec, NO FAIR!" She said trembling a little as I crossed my arms and smiled happily. She stepped back as she processed her mistake through her mind.

"You and me what?" I asked slowly leaning in a bit closer, giving her all attention.

"Don't play like that!" She yelled drowning with all her embarrassment. I lifted my head and nodded proudly.

"I'm just messin' with ya, I came to find you!" I said going back to the actual reason I was here to begin with. I came here because she left looking pretty depressed from Twi's home and I had a soft spot for these types of problems.

She widened her eyes toward the ground and flash me a look of surprise. Something was amidst concerning her and me but what?

"To find me?" She asked trembling, I nodded and got a little more serious.

"What?" The three below me asked as well.

I glanced at them before getting to Applejack who was still a little worried about something. I lifted my hand and tightened it into a fist.

"What happened back at Twilight's home, something bothered you, but what?" I asked.

She trembled a little more before rubbing her hoof on the other, this was common among her and her friends. I waited for an answer as she began to lower head using her hat to shield her face and shook her head in frustration.

"Ya wouldn't understand…"

I flinched a little, I hated those words, to me they meant I'm not good enough or I've failed at something. I tightened my fist slightly angered but worry consuming me mostly, the little ponies looked up at me curiously as I began to walk to her and knelt down in front of her.

"What did I do?"

"What?"

I knew she was hurting inside but she was covering up with these questions. I had to ask again.

"What did I do…to hurt you?"

"What-no you didn't-" She lifted her head this time to reveal her watery eyes that were no surprise to me.

I placed my hand out to her and stopped her before she could answer, I knew she wouldn't get it until I elaborated.

"Fine, have I changed?"

"No…" she cautiously answered lowering her head slowly again as she did she slipped out one word, "yes…"

I nodded, finally getting to the main reason and getting her to understand better.

"Well then, what?"

She lifted her head again and gave that strange look someone gives before finally bursting into tears.

"Yer what any pony would beg to have," She said using her hoof to wipe away her tears that shimmered in the sunlight as they dropped to the bed of grass beneath us.

I couldn't react, this time I wasn't prepared, I had only my common sense to guide me. If there is one this I knew, it's that common sense leads to those awkward moments that are so hard to get use to but go in history as your first movement in a relationship. I'm a lot wiser than I seem.

Applejack continued, "When I first saw ya emerge from Everfree forest, I was terrified of ya, I thought ya would cause pain to us all, but no…"

If there is anything I hate to feel it would be nostalgia of a few days ago but I couldn't control the common-sense factor. This is instinct, and rules are you can't deny it.

"Ya had to end up something so…so…stupidly lovable and passionate! This is why, I can't even think straight cause of ya!"

I felt something hurt, was it the nostalgia, the wanting to throw up with guilt, or the simple fact I was so fucking stupid to even think about how I affected others.

"I know," I responded but I wasn't speaking, like many one-liners: my heart spoke for me.

"Ya do?" She asked sniffing away her tears as I reached out my hand to her hat and flicked it up with my thumb.

"I never imagined I would get closer to pony than I would to any human, I was terrified about speaking to y'all so I let my mouth do the speaking and not my feelings, but I can see that it just hurt you and maybe others," I slowly said making my scar into her feelings.

She wanted to hide, for me to speak so seriously seemed so unnerving to others, that probably because I'm never serious when it comes to these matters.

"I-I-feel broken," She slowly whispered out, I never expected to use a one-liner here but if it came from my heart then it works.

"That's why I'm here to put you back together," I said embracing her in probably the most thoughtful hug I will ever give any pony. My feelings radiated like the warmth around us and her tears moisten my shoulder as she pressed tighter into my shoulder.

I knew something strange would come up later but right now I wanted to hold her and ease any pain I created. Just before I could completely lose myself I heard a few words out the edge of my ear and these words may as well summarize this whole moment.

"Aww, he is the One!"

"E-yup!"

(In Canterlot, Twilight appears before the princesses clutching tightly the book that has Ben's fate written all over it as she begins to tear up slightly)

"Twilight!? What is it? Why are you crying!?" Celestia asked becoming intruded by Twilight's sudden appearance.

Twilight took a moment to organize her thoughts before…

"This is urgent, Ben is something…something…"

No amount of preparation would ever say it no matter how urgent it was. She began to sob even louder and buried her head into her hooves as she levitated the book toward the princesses, they took the book and quickly skid over the pages before quickly going back and forth in a page. Celestia put the book down quickly breathing heavily with her eye staring aimlessly into nothing.

"We must find Ben, FAST!"