The next day I was up early. I was still in an unfamiliar bed and an unfamiliar house, and I hadn’t slept all that well. It’s amazing how different all the little sounds are from one place to the next. I hadn’t really noticed it at Twilight’s, but then again, there were other things on my mind at the time. Now, in this new house, I was a little more at home with my pony body, and all the little differences in sounds stood out.

For instance, the library was a big tree, really. Laying in bed on a still night, you could hear the branches sway with the wind. Also, it didn’t creak. The whole thing was somehow built into the tree, so there were no joints to creak and squeak due to the temperature changing overnight or the house settling. I’d lived with little creaks and squeaks my whole life, having lived in regular houses back on Earth, but just a few weeks without that, and now, in my new house, all those little sounds seemed really out of place.

I’d tossed and I’d turned, and I might have put together two or three solid hours of sleep overnight. When the I could start to see the sky lighten outside my window, I just decided to stay up. I’d grabbed a bowl of oats, which were surprisingly tasty all by themselves. My new sense of taste was still taking some getting used to. I mean, human me had never liked oatmeal. The oats I had here were little crunchy bursts of flavor. They were wonderful. They didn’t even resemble the rolled oats I’d had on Earth. These were little grains and it took some work to chew them up.

I walked out to the back yard and the little table, still munching my oats, and sat down to watch the sun come up. It was really peaceful, and even though I was still in Ponyville, even if right on the edge, from my backyard, I had a great view out over the gentle hills surrounding the town. After I finished my oats and sat there in the morning sun for a while, I decided to just go see it. No particular idea of where to go, just out and going for a walk. I didn’t have anything to do today, anyway. If nothing else, I’d wear myself out so I could sleep better come bedtime. Kind of odd to be thinking that just after the sun rose, but whatever.

I took my empty bowl back into the house, gave it a quick scrub and left it to dry beside the sink. Then it was out the back and off into the hills. I started out walking, which I even I could do fairly well by this point. I saw Ponyville start to recede behind me, and once I was out of easy sight for anyone watching out their back window, I decided to try going a little faster.

My pace picked up, and I kept my eyes glued to the horizon, just sort of staring ahead, keeping an eye on the ground in front of me for anything that might trip me up. It was kind of like trying not to think of the elephant in the room, because I knew if I started analyzing what my legs were actually doing, they’d quit doing it. Of course, with this earth pony body, the only thing it really hurt was my pride. I just kept at it, though, with a few spills from suddenly failing to not notice that elephant. Still, as the sun rose higher in the sky, I realized I was keeping longer and longer stretches with no accidents.

It felt good, in a way that’s hard to describe, just moving. I was well out of town, and it seemed like I was the only being anywhere around. The only other living thing in evidence, except for plants, was a hawk I could see lazily circling a few miles off in the distance, near some steeper hills. I guessed there might be an updraft there that he was taking advantage of. The sun was pretty high now, and I realized I’d been at this for hours, and I still felt okay. I felt really good, actually. This wasn’t the thundering pace I’d kept with Rainbow Dash the day before, but it did seem to eat up the miles.

The landscape around me was gorgeous, especially for someone like me, who’d grown up in a fairly rural area, only to move to the city. I’d always loved to get back out of the city to go on a short hike, but I never seemed to find the time to do it. Now here I was, with green rolling hills, swaying grass, and blue skies with puffy clouds as far as I could see. I hadn’t felt this good in years. Water wasn’t even a problem, I found a few streams at the bottoms of those hills, cutting through the landscape, and making their presence known from afar with dense little lines of trees and bushes where there was more water. All the streams around here seemed to be free of any pollution, and when I got down to the water, it smelled incredibly fresh. Something of the pony instincts I had seemed to kick in and tell me that it was okay, because I never even worried about whether it was safe to drink after a good sniff. Also, being built on all fours with a long neck is great for this. No kneeling beside a stream and getting your knees and feet soaked, just stand at the edge and stretch down.

Later, after more trotting, I began to notice that the shadows I’d seen earlier had all but disappeared. I looked up and saw the sun almost right overhead. I’d been at this for a while. I probably wasn’t that far afield, really, and I’d been assured that this was a very safe area, as long as I stayed away from the Everfree Forest. After just a few things that Twilight and her friends had told me about that place, I had no plans to go near it. They’d said it was a huge treeline and that you couldn’t see the other side of it. All the smaller groves around here were safe. Still, I didn’t exactly know my way home from here, and I only had a general direction to go, so I was beginning to wish I’d paid closer attention to the landmarks on my way here. I thought about going back to that pond that Rainbow had shown me, but I only knew where that was in relation to my house, and my sense of it was vague, at that. I had no idea how to get there from where I was now. Besides, it was getting close to noon now, and I was getting hungry.

So, with the sun almost straight overhead, I headed back for what I thought was Ponyville. I could hold that trot now, pretty much without thinking about it. As I trotted back towards civilization, I realized I hadn’t even thought about sunscreen. I mean, it was obviously pretty useless now, coat of fur and all. Still, just another reminder that I definitely wasn’t human anymore. Add to that the fact that I’d barely broken a sweat, despite keeping up a trot for basically half a day, and this was pretty much my first time out. Even at my slow little trotting speed, I realized I’d probably covered at least a marathon and a half’s worth of distance.

With that, I actually stopped. I put one hoof after another down, feeling for soreness or achiness, anything that I’d expect to feel as a human after going that far, that fast. There was none of it. When I realized what I’d just done, I almost giggled. This was probably perfectly normal for an earth pony, but to me it felt like I’d become some kind of superhero. I took off once again at my steady little trot with a huge smile plastered on my face.

Maybe half an hour later, I topped a rise to see orderly rows of apple trees stretching out in front of me. Though it was pushing towards fall here, the apple trees were still heavy with fruit. I could see them hanging off the trees, looking all kinds of delicious. My mouth started to water at the thought. I realized this must be Sweet Apple Acres. I was glad I’d run into it, because from my limited knowledge of the geography around Ponyville, me being here meant that I’d gone a lot farther than I’d realized, and probably would have missed Ponyville entirely on my way back. If I was going to do this more often, I was going to have to invest in a map of the area.

I looked down at the apple orchards, trying to figure out which way the farmhouse might be. If these were somebody’s apples, I didn’t want to just start picking them. Apples for lunch sounded heavenly, but I was totally going to pay for them. At first, I didn’t see any sign of a path or road or building to tell me which way to go. I headed down towards the orchard, and was almost at it before I noticed a little rutted path. At any angle, I could hardly see it, I’d only noticed it as I happened to walk right across it, so that I could see the faint line of the rut in the grass leading away from me.

Once I found it, the path was easy enough to follow, leading me deeper into the orchards, and finally into a some regular non-apple-tree woods. I kept on the track though, and here under the heavier trees it was much clearer, without the tall grass all around. Finally, I heard a noise and looked up, realizing that while I’d been intent on following my little path, I’d not even noticed the treehouse that was almost right above me now. I saw a shadow cross the window on the side I could see, and I heard faint voices coming from inside.

“Hello!” I called out.

Suddenly the voices ceased and I heard a door open. Then I saw three little pony heads poke out over the edge of the decking on the front of the treehouse. The way they popped out almost all at once made me struggle to stifle a laugh. It looked like something out of a comedy routine. One was a pale yellow with a big red bow tied into her mane, the next was more orange, with rose-colored hair, and the last was creamy white unicorn with a light purple and pink striped mane.

“Hi there,” I said. “I think I may be a little lost. Could you tell me where I am?”

The little pony with the red bow answered me, “You’re at Sweet Apple Acres, ma’am.”

I wrinkled my nose at the word “ma’am”. That still didn’t sit quite right, even though it was true. “I kind of guessed that much, but it’s a little bigger than I’d realized. Any chance you could point me towards the house?”

“Oh sure, ya see that trail yer on? Just follow that for a ways and you’ll see a bigger path take off to your left. Follow that one and it’ll take ya right to the farmhouse.”

“Thanks,” I said. “Um, I’m Rain. Can I ask your names?”

“Oh right,” said the one with the bow. “I’m Apple Bloom, and this here’s Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo,” she said as the gestured to the pale unicorn and her orange friend.

“What’re you doing way out here?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“Oh,” I replied, “I was just out to see the area and went a little farther than I’d intended to. I was heading back toward town, but I ran into Sweet Apple Acres here and thought I’d say hello to Applejack.”

“You know mah sister?” asked Apple Bloom.

“Sure,” I said. “Your sister helped set up my new house. She’s been really nice to me since I’ve moved here.”

“I heard her talking about you,” said Apple Bloom. “Lessee, yer name’s… something weather-y.”

I laughed, “It’s Rain. Rain McCloud.”

“That’s it!” she said with a smile. “I was on the right track, at least.”

“Yeah, you were,” I said with a smile.

Suddenly Scootaloo’s eyes widened and she turned and whispered at Apple Bloom, who suddenly stared hard at me before her eyes got really big, as well. As I frowned up at them, wondering what was going on, Apple Bloom turned to Sweetie Belle and whispered again.

Sweetie let out a gasp before exclaiming, “Hey! You’re a blank flank!”

I cringed, having forgotten about my lack of a cutie mark for a while. Now I wondered what I was in for. The three little heads suddenly disappeared from the edge of the treehouse and I heard them charge down the ramp. As I saw them head towards me, I could see that Apple Bloom was an earth pony, like me, and Scootaloo was a pegasus.

“Sorry, ma’am,” called Scootaloo. “She didn’t mean it like that. I mean, we’re all blank flanks, too.”

“Yeah, sorry,” said Sweetie Belle as they pulled to a sudden stop in front of me. “I didn’t mean it bad. I was just excited to see someone else without a cutie mark. I didn’t know you could get as old as you are without having one.”

“Well, I’m not exactly old,” I said.

“Yeah, but yer a grown-up,” said Apple Bloom. “Is there something wrong with ya that you didn’t get a cutie mark.” Her eyes suddenly got wide. “What if this means that we may never get our cutie marks,” she said, her voice turning into a wail.

“No, no it’s nothing like that,” I said, trying to sound soothing. “I just grew up outside of Equestria. That’s why I don’t have one.”

“Outside Equestria, huh?” said Scootaloo. “So you don’t get a cutie mark if you grow up outside of Equestria? Well I’m glad I’m growing up right here, then.”

“I’ve been told I’ll probably get one now that I’m living here, but it’ll take time,” I said.

“We’ve heard that before,” said Sweetie Belle. “You just need to be patient, girls,” she said, obviously trying to imitate some authority figure. I couldn’t tell who.

“Hey,” said Apple Bloom suddenly, “you wanna join our club? It’s for findin’ cutie marks. We’re called the Cutie Mark Crusaders!”

“Umm, maybe you could make me an honorary member?” I said.

They paused, as a group and appeared to consider this. Then Scootaloo suddenly yelled, “Honorary Cutie Mark Crusader Rain! Yeah!”

And then all three were cheering me. Were all kids in Equestria this hyper?

After they’d calmed down a little bit, I said, “Thankyou girls, but umm, which way was the farm house again? I haven’t had lunch yet and I was hoping to get some apples from Applejack.”

“Oh well, if yer hungry, why didn’t ya just pick some? Apples like us’d never mind if a hungry pony just needed to fill their belly. It wouldn’t be right,” said Apple Bloom.

“Well, they weren’t my apples, so I wanted to pay for them,” I said.

“Let’s head for the farm house. You watch. Applejack ain’t gonna take any money for a few apples ta make a lunch,” said Apple Bloom, taking off down the path I’d been following, with Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo close behind.

I followed on their heels and pretty soon, I saw a big farmhouse and barn draw into view. I didn’t see anyone out and about, though. I didn’t have to worry about that for very long, though.

Apple Bloom let out a yell, “Aaaapple Jaaaack! Hey Apple Jack! Where are ya?”

Then I heard Apple Jack’s voice calling from the other side of the barn, “Over here Apple Bloom!”

The three fillies changed direction with me in tow, and we headed for the back side of the barn. There was Applejack pulling a cart absolutely piled with apples. It was kind of amazing, really. Applejack’s cartload stood easily twice as tall as she did, and she was trundling along with it like it was nothing.

“Hey Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo. Oh, and hi Rain,” she said as she noticed me. “What’re you doin’ out this way?”

“Rain here said she was out explorin’ and got hungry, so she came over for some apples,” said Apple Bloom. Well, that wasn’t quite it, but close, I thought.

“Yeah, and we made her an honorary Cutie Mark Crusader, too!” said Sweetie Belle.

“Honorary Crusader, huh? Well now ain’t that special?” said Applejack, talking to the fillies. “But you said Rain was after some apples fer lunch, huh? Well, she certainly came to the right place, now didn’t she?”

“Darn tootin’ sis,” said Apple Bloom with a smile.

“Why don’t you three run along and I’ll set Rain here up with some lunch?” said Applejack.

“Okay,” said Scootaloo. Then she turned to me and said, “We’ll tell you the meeting schedule later, okay?”

“Meetings?” I asked.

“Bye!” all three called at once, and then they were off in a cloud of dust.

I turned to Applejack, “What’d I just get myself into?”

Applejack laughed, shrugging out of the harness on her cart. “Don’t worry now. I’ll explain to Apple Bloom that a grown pony probably doesn’t want to attend meetings with the Cutie Mark Crusaders.”

“Uh, thanks,” I said. “I don’t want to disappoint them or anything.”

“I doubt you had a lot of choice about becomin’ an honorary member,” said Applejack, now kicking a rock under one of the wheels to keep the cart from rolling off.

“Well…” I started, “that was actually my suggestion after they offered to make me a full member.”

Applejack laughed again, “Lesser of two evils, I suppose. Still, I’ll make sure they know that an honorary member doesn’t have to come to all the meetin’s.”

“Thanks,” I said.

“Now, then,” said Applejack, grabbing an apple from her cart and gesturing to it. “How about some lunch? Fresh as the day it was bucked, which was today, incidentally. ‘Bout twenty minutes ago.”

“Sounds good,” I said. “Do I owe you anything?”

“Nah, it wouldn’t be the Apple family way to let a hungry pony pay for a lunch on our own farm,” said Applejack.

“Well, thanks,” I said, taking the apple from Applejack. “I didn’t really intend to be gone so long, so I didn’t bring any food or bits along with me. I could pay you back later, though.”

“I meant what I said. An apple or two for a hungry pony don’t cost nothin’ around here,” said Applejack.

I nodded, my mouth now full of apple. And it was such a good apple. Whether it was new tastebuds or that Sweet Apple Acres apples were just that much better than anything on Earth, I didn’t know, but that was about the best apple I’d ever had. I had the whole thing wolfed down, core and all in no time.

“You were hungry, huh? Feel like another?” asked Applejack.

“Give me a minute to let that one settle,” I said. “I’d just gotten really hungry since I was out all day.”

“All day huh? Apple Bloom said you were explorin’. Want to get to know the lay of the land a bit, then?” asked Applejack.

“Something like that,” I replied. “I didn’t really have anything to do today, and I felt like seeing the area. I’ve been amazed that I’ve been holding a steady trot since I left home just after sunrise and I don’t feel any the worse for wear. Is that normal?”

“That’s a little below average, for an earth pony. We’ve got a lot of stamina, we do. Just keep it up and you’ll be able to hold a canter for as long as you were trotting this morning. Now your average unicorn, even if she’s in shape, wouldn’t be able to hold a canter for more than an hour, tops. An earth pony can hold that pace for most of a day if she’s not packin’ a big load along with her. An’ then get up and do it again the next day,” said Applejack with a smile.

“Wow, I didn’t realize. Back when I was on earth, only people who’d trained a lot could do something like that,” I said.

Applejack shook her head. “I know you weren’t a pony not that long ago, but I kinda keep forgettin’ that when I’m talking to ya.”

“It’s pretty bizarre for me, too,” I said.

“I reckon it is. Now, have another apple,” said Applejack as she picked another shiny red apple off of her cart. “I’ve gotta get back to work, but you’re welcome to stop back by for supper some evenin’. We’d be glad to have ya.”

“I’ll take you up on that,” I said, “but some other evening. I think when I get back to my house, I’m going to be pretty bushed.”

“Fair enough, but you’re an earth pony now. I doubt you’ll be all that bushed if you’re just out trotting around all day,” Applejack said with a grin.

I nodded, my mouth full of apple again. She was probably right. I expected to be tired already, but I really wasn’t. I finished the apple quickly, and got Applejack to point the way back to town. This time I got to follow a road instead of just heading out cross country.

It was such a nice day, I just walked back into town, getting there in the early afternoon. I decided to head down to the market before I went home. Something sweet from Sugar Cube Corner sounded like a great idea. This place was starting to feel more welcoming, as I passed ponies on the street and got some friendly smiles and waves. I meandered my way to the market, finally stopping in front of Sugar Cube Corner. Then I realized, I didn’t have any bits. Actually, when I thought about it, I didn’t even know if I had any actual bits at the house. I mean, I had that allowance from Princess Celestia, but I had no idea how to collect it.

Well, I was already at Sugar Cube Corner, I could step in and ask Pinkie. She might know how I was supposed to go about getting some bits to spend. I stepped inside and saw Pinkie Pie behind the counter, waiting on a couple of other ponies that I didn’t know. I stepped off to the side and waved to catch her attention. The smile already plastered on her face got a little bigger as she saw me and waved back. I grinned back at her and waited for her to finish waiting on the pair already at the counter.

Once she was done, Pinkie bounced out from behind the counter and stopped in front of me. “Hey Rain,” she said. “What’s sprinkling?”

“Huh?” I asked, lost.

“Well, some ponies you ask ‘What’s cooking’, but your name is Rain, so I said ‘What’s sprinkling’. Hmm, I might have to work on that one. Don’t you worry, though. I’ll figure something out,” she finished with a big smile.

“Oh, I bet you will,” I grinned back. “Anyway, I was out wandering around today and thought I’d like to get something sweet to take home for tonight.”

“Now that is always a good idea. It’d be better if you got something sweet for right now and something sweet for tonight, though,” said Pinkie.

“Ah, you know. I just had a few apples over at Applejack’s and I’m not hungry now. Anyway, I realized I’ve got no bits,” I said.

“You have lots of bits,” said Pinkie. “Princess Celestia’s letter said so.”

“Well, yeah,” I said, “but that’s more like the promise of bits. I don’t actually have any to hand you right now to pay for a muffin.”

“Oooh,” Pinkie said, drawing out the word. “I see what you mean. Hmm, I’ve got no idea You should probably ask Twilight about that. She’d know. But sweets for tonight are important, so how about I give you a box of muffins and you can pay me back once Twilight tells you how to get your hooves on a few bits.”

“Are you sure?” I asked. “I hate to leave without paying.”

“Oh, don’t worry,” said Pinkie, already behind the counter in a blur of motion and packing a box of muffins. “Besides,” she added, “I couldn’t let somepony in need of sweets walk out of here without any.”

“Now you sound like Applejack,” I said.

“Oh, really? Is my accent coming back? I worry about that sometimes,” she said.

“Huh? No, I mean Applejack wouldn’t let me pay for those apples for my lunch either. I’m starting to feel like some sort of mooch,” I said.

“You’re no mooch. Besides, you’re going to pay me back for these after you talk to Twilight, right?” asked Pinkie as she was sealing the box with a piece of string wrapped around it and tied off in a bow.

“Definitely,” I replied.

“There, totally not a mooch, then,” said Pinkie. “What is a mooch, anyway?”

“Earth saying,” I said. “It’s somebody, err, somepony who’s always asking for something for free.”

“Ahh, you’re not a mooch. Don’t worry about it,” said Pinkie Pie.

“Okay,” I said as Pinkie pushed the box of muffins across the counter at me and I grasped the tied string in my mouth. “Fhanks.”

“You shouldn’t talk with your mouth full,” she said as I turned to leave.

I headed home with my cargo, and found that carrying a box of muffins by a string in your mouth is a really efficient way to get hungry. See, your nose is right there, and the aroma of fresh-baked muffins is really strong, so by the time I got home, I had to snitch one for myself right then. After I’d finished my muffin (blueberry, with those wonderful little sweet crunchy crumbles on top, by the way) I headed right back out the door for Twilight’s.

It was getting easier and easier to find my way around Ponyville, and before long I was walking up to Twilight’s tree. I knocked on the door and heard her call, “Coming!” from the other side.

As she opened the door, I said, “Hi, Twilight.”

“Oh, hi Rain,” she said, smiling at me. “How’s the house?”

“Great,” I replied. “I can’t thank you all enough. It’s really amazing.”

“I’m so glad you like it,” she paused. “Oh, silly me. Come on in,” said Twilight, gesuring me inside with a hoof.

I stepped into the library as Twilight asked, “So what brings you here?”

“I stopped by Sugar Cube Corner today, and then I realized I don’t actually have any bits. Pinkie said I should ask you about how I’m supposed to collect that allowance from the Princess,” I said.

Twilight tapped her head with her hoof, “I can’t believe I forgot something like that. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay,” I said. “I know you were all pretty busy.”

“True,” said Twilight with a small grin. “But still, I shouldn’t have forgotten. You actually have an account at the Ponyville bank that will get funded periodically from the royal treasury. All you have to do is go in and ask to make a withdrawal. I should go with you the first time, since they’ve never met you and they already know me. But after this first time, you can just go by yourself.”

“That sounds good,” I said. “Um, I hate to impose, but when would you have some time to go?”

“Oh, I can go right now. I think we have just enough time before the bank closes,” said Twilight. She turned her head and called, “Spike! Can you watch the library for a little while? I’ve got to run an errand.”

The little dragon trotted out from the kitchen saying, “No problem, Twilight.”

Twilight nodded and her horn flared as she floated her saddlebags onto her back from their place behind the door. “Ready?” she asked me.

“After you,” I said, opening the door and holding it for her.

I followed Twilight through town and in the general direction of the market, but before we go there, she turned off onto another road. Just around the corner was the bank. We walked in, and fortunately there weren’t any other ponies waiting, so we were able to head straight for a teller.

Twilight explained who I was and that a new account had been set up for me. The teller nodded and then needed to go back and check the ledgers (no computers, so everything was on paper ledgers). Once he came back, he told us he’d verified the account and it’s balance. I don’t really know how much a bit is worth, or how much your average pony makes in a month, but apparently my account was fairly large, because the bank manager actually stopped by to introduce herself and tell me not to hesitate to ask for her if I needed any help.

In the end, I left with a pouch with a hundred bits in it. Twilight had said that should get me anything I needed in the way of food for the rest of the week. I realized I should’ve brought my saddlebags, as now I was wandering through town with a jangling bag of bits hanging from my mouth. It seemed in poor taste, somehow.

As we got back to Twilight’s, I transferred the bag of bits to my hoof and asked, “Hey Twilight. I realized on the way back over here that no one has made any remarks about me not having a cutie mark, even though I’ve been up and down the streets of Ponyville a few times today.”

“Well, you can thank Rarity for that,” said Twilight. “I heard that she’d put out the word that she’d be very cross with anyone… how’d she put it… uncouth enough to make mention of such a thing to you.”

“Really?” I asked. “I’ll have to do something nice for her.”

“Want a suggestion?” asked Twilight.

“Sure,” I replied.

“You’ve got plenty of bits, make a special request for an outfit or something. I don’t think there’s anything she loves more than making something special for a client,” said Twilight.

“Hmm,” I said slowly. “I don’t know anything I need, though.”

“Don’t worry,” said Twilight, with a smile. “You’ll think of something.”

We said our goodbyes, and I headed back to my house as the sun was setting. It’d been a remarkably full day. Satisfying. I had another three muffins to look forward to, as well. Actually, now that I thought about it, I decided to see if Shoeshine and Electric Sky were around and might want to have a muffin with me. Definitely a good day, and it wasn’t even over yet.