I open my eyes as I feel something poking me. I look beside me and notice Applejack is gone, I turn to find said mare was the one poking me. I smile at her and kiss her cheek.

“So?” I say, letting out a yawn and scratching my chest. “What's going on?”

“It's dark.” Applejack replies, looking out the large balcony windows. “Ya said y’all help me tonight.”

“Ah yes, something at the farm?” I ask, sliding out the bed and quickly finding my clothes.

“Yeah, ah was hoping ya would help me foal sit the crusaders?”

I froze. “Foal sit the crusaders!?” I shout, running to Applejack and grabbing her shoulders. “Me foal sitting the three terrors, the ponies of peril.” I let Applejack go and start biting my nails. “Oh please no! Anything but that!” I dive under the bed sheets. “Mercy!”

Applejack removes the sheets from my face. “Ah take that as a yes then?”

“What do you think?” I smile suddenly lunging at Applejack and proceeding to tickle her. “Your mine now!” I say, continuing my attacks.

“No! Stop! Wohoo! Ha! Ha! Ha!” Applejack rives in laughter.

“Ahem!”

I stop as me and Applejack both look up to see Celestia smiling down at us, I turn my gaze too the bed and grimace. Did we really make that much mess? I slowly look back to Celestia.

“Sorry about the bed.” I say.

Celestia holds up a hoof. “It's ok, the castles chamber maids will take care of it.”

“Still, ah feel kind of bad for messing with y'all bed princess.”

“It was my intention for you two to use it, that is why I chose for you to have your intimate session here.” Celestia chuckles. “Though I think my guards need to have some therapy after what they heard.”

Me and Applejack turn red. Celestia laughs as Luna joins us.

“My champion, I take my sisters surprise was enjoyed.” Luna asks.

“Very much.” I reply, scratching Applejack's ear.

“I guess you and fair Applejack would like to return home?” Luna asks.

“I haven't picked up the chest.” I state.

Luna chuckles and floats said chest from behind her.

“I brought it with me, I knew you would forget it.”

“Actually...” I start to say as I rub my neck. “...we haven't left this room yet.”

Luna chuckles. “I know, my sister was adamant I don't disturb you. But now...” Luna trails off.

“But now you must return home, both of you have much to do I expect.” Celestia states, cutting Luna off. “Sister? Will you do the honours?”

Luna glares at Celestia, then sighs. “Very well.” Luna steps forward. “Both of you may feel strange for several seconds, but it's nothing to worry about.”

Luna lowers her head as her horn starts to glow, a blue orb of energy grows from it's tip. I feel my skin tingle again as I put my hand on Applejack. After what felt like a minute a magic beam hits me and Applejack causing a bright blue light to engulf us. The room suddenly vanishes replacing with rows of apple trees.

I look around before letting out a long breath.

“Well Applejack, I can safely say we are home.” I look down and panic as Applejack is nowhere in sight. “Uh? Applejack?”

“Up here!” Comes a muffled reply, I look up and try to contain my laughter. It fails.

All I spot is Applejack's rump sticking out of an apple tree, I just lost it, I fell to the floor and laughed. Applejack's hind legs kick and knock against the tree, followed by sounds of frustration.

“Ah'm stuck! Help me out!”

I halt my laughter for a moment to reply. “Ok! Ok! I'm coming.” I stand up and approach the tree. Applejack was stuck just out of my reach. “Damn!” I say out loud. “Hold up Applejack I can't reach you.”

“Take your time, Ah'm not going anywhere.”

I look around for something to use then I facepalm, I can use magic. I raise my hands and try to focus on the tree branches.

“Applejack, I will try to move the branches from around you. After that you should be able to kick yourself free.”

“Ok.”

My hands start to glow as I carefully pry away two branches, I however didn't know the stress points of the apple trees. The branches suddenly break followed closely by the branches supporting Applejack's weight. Applejack falls from the tree and lands with a thump, I rush over hoping she wasn't hurt.

“Crap! Applejack! Are you ok?” I ask, kneeling down.

“Yeah, ah'm fine. Not the first time ah've fallen.”

“Still, it looked nasty.” I check her muzzle and nod as I find no damage. “Well, I can say this, ponies are durable.”

“Ya have no idea.” Applejack replies, chuckling.

I facepalm. “That was so bad.”

“What? Ya said it not me.”

“But that was still a bad joke.” I laugh.

Applejack chuckles back as she stands up, shaking of some leaves Applejack turns to me.

“Ah think we should head home now, it's getting late.”

“Yeah, give me a sec.” I look around trying to find my chest, I spot it under one of the trees. “Ah there she is!” I state, walking over and picking it up. “We can go now.”

Applejack eyes the chest and tilts her head.

“What's in the chest?”

“My commander gear, Princess Luna gave them to me before I met you in Celestia's room.”

“Your commander gear? Ah thought ya get that after your training?” Applejack asks, as both of us start walking through the orchard.

“I thought that too, but apparently the RMD department at the castle made these as prototypes. So I got mine early, and they are sweet!” I reply.

“So? What are they?”

“Oh, sorry!” I open the chest. “This is my ring.” I hand the ring to Applejack, who just stares at it. “It also changes into my armour when I activate it.”

“It doesn't look very powerful?” Applejack states, handing the ring back.

“Guess they made it that way so if somepony captured me, it would just look like some crested ring.”

“Seems like something ah would do.”

“And this...” I pull out the silver hilt. “Is my sword.”

“That little thing?”

“Just wait!” I say, pressing the blue gem on the hilts side.

The hilt glows and the blade springs out followed by the hilt guards. Applejack's eyes widen as the blade extends, she let's out a long whistle.

“Now that's impressive!”

“Feel the weight.” I pass Applejack the sword.

Applejack grabs it in her hoof and her face lights up in even more surprise.

“There's no weight. Ah can hold it no problem, considering the length.”

“Yeah, both the sword and the armour are light enough for me to wear without being over encumbered by them. But still have the durability of something much heavier.” I state, taking the sword back and deactivating it. I return the hilt back to the chest but I decide to keep the ring out and wear it on my finger.

Me and Applejack don't take long to reach the farmhouse, both of us letting out long sighs as we spot the large building appear. I put my hand on Applejack's head as Applejack in turn leans into me. As we approach the farmhouse Big Mac was coming out of the barn next door.

“Hey Big Mac!” I shout, giving him a slight wave. Big Mac trots over to us.

“Where ya two been? We been might worried about ya.” Big Mac says.

“We had some business in Canterlot, the princesses were kind enough to teleport us back and forth.” I reply.

Applejack laughs. “Yeah, business.” Applejack laughs more, before heading for the front door of the farmhouse.

“What's up with her?” Big Mac asks, falling in beside me as I follow Applejack.

“Nothing, just you wouldn't want to know everything that we did in Canterlot.” I say smiling, my eyes firmly focused on Applejack's swaying flanks.

Big Mac follows my gaze and a blush forms on his face, though it was barely noticeable through his red fur.

“Oh!” Big Mac responds. “Ah guess ah won't ask then!”

I laugh. “And I won't tell!” Me and Big Mac share a laugh.

As I step through the front door I am assaulted by a little yellow and red blur. I fall back to the floor with a thud, I re-open my eye's and spot a smiling filly standing on my chest.

“Hi John, Is it true!?”

“What's true?” I ask, grabbing Apple bloom and moving her aside.

“Are ya foalsitting us tonight?” Apple bloom asks, jumping excitedly.

“I don't know. Are you going to behave tonight?” I question, giving her the eye.

“The crusaders behave? That's like asking a snake not to bite ya.” Applejack chuckles.

“But at least with the snake you know your going to get bitten.” I laugh, getting back to my feet. I bend down and pick up my chest which had dropped along with me. “Besides, I have to prepare myself, might be a scary night tonight.”

“How can ya tell?” Apple bloom asks.

“I feel it, don't ask me how but I just know. The air is all wrong.” I reply, turning to look back out the front door.

“Shucks! Ya sound like them pegasi.” Big Mac states.

“Like I said, don't ask why, I just know.” I turn my attention back to Apple bloom. “Sorry Apple Bloom, guess my heads all over today.”

“That's ok, ah know you and Applejack have had a rough day.” Apple Bloom replies.

“Thanks Apple Bloom.” I turn my gaze to Applejack. “Sorry to ask but could I use the bathroom, I’m not smelling so fresh here.”

“Of course! Ah'll take ya there!” Applejack says, running to my side. “And if your going to live here, ya don't have to ask.”

“Well, for the moment, I'm still a guest.” I touch Applejack's mane. “But then again Applejack, you could do with a scrub too.”

“Ah don't need....” Applejack stops as she sees me giving her a pleading look. “Ah guess ah do!” Applejack states, turning back to Apple Bloom and Big Mac. “Me and John might be awhile, don't wait up for us ok?”

Apple Bloom giggles and Big Mac just replies with his trade mark 'eeyup'. I roll my eyes as I make my way up the farmhouse stairs.

“You didn't have to say that, just a simple 'I'm going to wash too', would have sufficed.”

“What? At least they now know what we are going to be doing, so nopony will come knocking.”

I sigh. “Well anyway, let's just get cleaned up and then we can see what's for dinner.”

“Ya got it!”

Applejack and I head for the bathroom, I have been to it many times over the two months I worked on the farm. It wasn't that much different from my bathroom back in my old world, except the bath tub was bigger. I look into the bathroom mirror when we enter, I looked like shit. Well, shit to me anyway.

“Guess I got to learn to go without sleep, being the commander of a military unit is going to be hard work.” I say, turning to Applejack, who had started to run the bath water. “I don't know how you deal with it.”

“Deal with what?” Applejack asks, turning to look at me.

“You know, being the element of honesty.”

“It ain't that bad, ya just gotta make sure ya do the best ya can do. The rest will come naturally.”

“Wow! When did you become philosophical?” I chuckle. “Thought that was Twilights job.”

“Ah have my moments!” Applejack replies, swaying up to me. “Now git those clothes off.”

“Yes mam!”

I quickly remove my clothes, not really caring if they tore or not. Applejack smiled at me as I removed my underwear, the half lidded expression falling on her face. I test the bath water, before sliding in, just as Applejack recovered from her trance.

“Finally come back have we?” I snigger. Applejack rolls her eyes. “Care to join me?” I ask, gesturing to the bath.

“Ya know ah want to.” Applejack replies, stepping in and lying against me.

The softness of Applejack's fur rubbing against me made me relax. I wanted to slide further into the water and stay like this for ever, but I knew that once the water got cold it would be uncomfortable. I raised my hands and started to massage Applejack's head, running my fingers through her mane. My actions caused Applejack to sigh and press harder into my chest. I would dip my hands into the water and soak Applejack's mane, the water cascading down her neck and shoulders.

“Do you have any shampoo or mane cleaning soap?” I ask.

“Should be behind ya, on the small shelf.” Applejack replies.

I look back and spot several bottles behind me. I reach back and read the label of the first bottle, my choice was perfect. I look closer at the bottle label.

“Strawberry and fresh grass shampoo?” I say to myself, feeling a bit wierded out by the shampoos smell mixture. “And here I was thinking Twilights elderberry and hay shampoo was strange.”

“Guess we ponies have different tastes ta humans.”

“Different smells more like, never heard of elderberry, we have elderflower though, but that's more a drinking flavour.”

“What's was it like in your old world?” Applejack asks, as I pour out some shampoo and start to apply it to Applejack's mane.

“What do you want to know?”

“We never really spoke about it, ya was kind of close lipped about that subject. I guess anything that ya feel comfortable with sharing.”

“Well, I really don't know were to start. You already know about the city names and how close they are to my old worlds. I guess I could tell you about where I used to live.”

“Yeah, ya never told me about your home town.”

“There isn't really much to say about it, apart that it was called Farley. Now don't get me wrong, it was a quaint little town with it's own charm, but sometimes that charm got old really fast. I grew up in Farley my whole life, met my friends there too. I just wished I could show this place to my old friends, they would love it here, I know I do.”

“What were your friends like?” I feel Applejack recoil. “Ah'm sorry ah shouldn't ask that.”

“It's fine, if you want to know about them, I can tell you.” Applejack nods. “Well let's see, first you have Dave. Now Dave was the more down to earth and level headed of us, he worked as an assistant manager in a department store near his home. Dave was also not the sort to let his friends down. Sometimes our trips we took might turn a little strange but he was never one not to laugh. Dave always saw the funny side of things.”

“Next we have Jackie, she was a student studying art and design. Her works were the best I’ve ever seen in amateur art, the way she made anything come alive in her drawings was just spectacular. However I don't really know much about her private life, what she liked to eat, what was her favourite film, I didn't know any of those. When I think about it, that was kind of lousy of me not to know those things, then again it wouldn't be private if I knew everything about her.”

“Next is Claire, if there was any other human by me Pinkie would like, it would be her. Claire was funny, smart, adventurous. She would never fail to make us all smile, but then most of the trips we went on was her idea. And most of them meant going up great heights and me getting so terrified, I could hardly make it down again. Claire was the epitome of free spirit, never giving one little shit about what other people had to say. Hell if she wanted to run naked down a street screaming, she would do it, and to hell with the consequences.”

“Derek is the last of our group, he was always the trouble maker. Though the trouble was extremely funny and down right stupid, it always had a great outcome. Derek was the driving force behind our little group, always pushing all of us to break our limits, even saying one day I would get over my fear of heights. Hard as that maybe for me, I am starting to see his wisdom in such things. Derek may act the fool or even unorthodox some days, but his mind was sharp, sharper than most people I knew. In school I would lag behind and Derek would be there to help me back to my feet.”

“Honestly Applejack, before I met you and the others, I never thought I would meet anybody else like them. They were all one of a kind in my book, just like you and the rest are to me now. I wouldn't trade them then and I wouldn't trade you now for anything, even for a way back home.”

I look down and see Applejack looking up at me, tears in the corners of her eyes. I put one hand under Applejack's chin and kiss her on the lips.

“Ah guess your friends were something special to ya, just like the girls and me are ta ya now.” Applejack says.

“Yep, you all are my family now, whether you like it or not.” I press Applejack's nose with a finger. “Now why don't we finish up here and get down stairs? The others might think we drowned or something.”

“Yeah, pass me the jug behind ya.” Applejack says, gesturing behind me.

I turn and grab the small jug near the bottles behind me. I hand the jug to Applejack as she starts to wash out her mane.

“Thanks Applejack.” I say.

“What for?”

“Getting me to speak about my friends, guess I shouldn't just dismiss them like that. They deserve better, so, thanks again.”

“No problem, now ah might need some assistance.”

“Where too?”

“Ya take a guess!”

I look into Applejack's eyes as she shifts in the bath tub, I had only one thing to say.

“Saucy mare!”

“Ya know it!”

Author's Notes:

Here's the first in what will be a three part chapter arch, it's not separate to the story.

The first encounter with a future Crescent Guard will happen in this chapter arch too, so keep an eye out.

till next update, brony on!