Since I have been here In Ponyville, I have found there are two ways to wake up in the morning. One is peacefully and the other is with some pony or thing poking you in the face, and yay for me! The latter was true today.

I slowly opened my eyes, to see Spike poking me.

“Spike, what are you doing?”

“Oh, sorry! You're awake.”

“Well I am now, thanks to you!” I reply sitting up. “What do you need?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing! Because you certainly didn't have that hair style yesterday.”

“Uh? What hairstyle?”

“Maybe you should see for yourself!” Spike says walking over and picking up a mirror from the chest of drawers. “Don't freak out ok?”

I take the mirror from Spikes hands and slowly raise it to my head. And like a few times since I crashed here, I scream.

“AHHHHH!” I touch my hair. “WHAT THE FUCK! WHY IS MY HAIR WHITE AND BLACK AND WHY DOES IT STRETCH BELOW MY SHOULDERS!?”

“Dude! Don't freak out!”

“FREAK OUT! FREAK OUT! THIS IS PANIC! THIS IS BEYOND A FREAK MOMENT!”

“Well at least could you tone it down a bit, my ears can't take it.”

“Sorry Spike but....This is fucking crazy. Twilight didn't have anything to do with this, Right? It wasn't some crazy new spell gone wrong?”

“Not as I know, but she wasn't here this morning.” Spike replies.

“Ugh! Great! First I was different because i'm human, now I can grow hair over night and change it's colour.” I lay back on the bed, my heart thumping in my chest. “I'm glad rarity made that fleece type hat for me, at least I can cover it up.”

“Well some of it, the hair is still too long.” Spike adds.

“Yeah cheers Spike, Thanks for that!”

“No problem.” Clearly he didn't get sarcasm. “So? What you doing today?”

“Well I might need to find Twilight, maybe she can help with this.” I point to my hair.

“Hey if it's any use, you look good. The black and white really suit you.”

“Really spike? I suit black and white hair?”

“Yup!”

“Well, I have to admit it is kinda growing on me but I should get it cut shorter. Maybe some sort of quiff deal.” I poke and pull at my new style. “But it is still freaking the shit out of me!”

As I was speaking Spike turned to the door of my room, he poked his head out and turned back to me.

“Hey I think Twilights home.”

“How do you know?” I ask putting on my trousers, followed by my t-shirt. Thank you rarity, I would still be wearing my gear from when I first crashed here. That reminds me she wanted to ask me something, I should go and see her when I have the time.

“I heard the front door go.” Spike says breaking my trail of thought.

“Wow, good ears!”

“Yup! Should we go and talk to her?” Spike asks.

“Yeah right behind you,” I state walking behind Spike.

“Hey Twilight! That you?”

“No Spike it's Applejack! Ah've come to speak to John, is he in?”

My heart jumps for some reason, I quickly go and grab the hat pulling it on but still noticing some of my hair pokes out from it. Great I think to myself, can't let Applejack see my hair; she might see me as weird. Wait! Was I worried about Applejack seeing me as weird? What the fuck is wrong with me? She's a friend! Nothing more!

“Gah!” I shout out. Spike comes back into my room.

“You alright dude?”

“Yeah i'm fine, but me and my brain is going to have a serious talk!” I reply.

“Huh?”

“Nothing, just me being human; let's not keep Applejack waiting.”

“Yeah...About that, I have some errands to run! So you and Applejack can have the place all to yourselves.”

“What!?” Spike just laughs and takes off running. “Hey! Come back here you little fucker!”

“No chance!” Spike retorts leaping the railing towards the main floor of the library.

“I said come back here you little-”

“Uh? John?” I freeze, I had only now just found I had ran after Spike and ended up stopping right in front of Applejack. “You ok?”

I turn to face her only to stare into those green eyes of hers. Dammit! Shit! Why did she have such sexy green eyes. I try to speak but I only manage a few stuttering syllables. Remember the fucking off brain things that happen? Yep this was one of those times, I hate my brain.

“Hello? Applejack to John? Anypony there?” Applejack waves a hoof in front of me, before just blurting out. “I love other mares!”

“What! Huh!” I snap out of my trance.

“Ha! That got ya talk'n.” Applejack laughs.

“Don't give me a fright like that!” I gasp.

“Oh? So it gives yah a fright to think ah like other mares hmm?”

“Well...Uh....I just didn't think you would be into that!” I laugh, rubbing the back of my neck.

“Well ah ain't, but ah had to say something. Yah were freaking out.”

“Thanks anyway, what was it you wanted to speak to me about?” I ask walking over and sitting down on Twilight's reading couch.

Applejack follows me over and sits beside me on the couch. It was funny, she sat like I would on the edge. Guess ponies in some fashion aren’t any different from humans.

“It was about yesterday...” She turns to look at me, damn those eyes. “...Ah'm sorry!”

“Sorry? What for?”

“For what ah said, for asking that question.”

“Ah yes! The, 'which one of you would I pick' question.”

“Yeah, that one.” Applejack lowers her head and looks away.

“Well, that did hit me like a punch from nowhere. But I think I have an answer!”

“What!?” Applejack looks back to me with wide eyes. “Y-Yah can't be serious!?”

“Yup!” I lean back putting my arms behind my head and closing my eyes. “But I ain't telling you!”

“What!? Yah have to! Ah want to know!”

“Nope!” I reply keeping my arms behind my head and my eye's shut.

I feel Applejack move on the couch and two hooves stomp on my chest.

“OW!” I shout out. “Applejack! What the hell!” I open my eyes to now be face to muzzle with Applejack, literally. “Uh? Applej-” I get cut off as Applejack kisses me. And did I taste Apples! Wait! Was that weird? Maybe, maybe not But something told me this was right while a bigger part said this was wrong.

Applejack releases me and I just sit there in a state of perpetual fucked upness. I had been kissed by the pony I least expected to get kissed by, I mean it wasn't like I didn't enjoy it but it was just freaky. I even felt her fur coat, it wasn't rough but smooth like....Oh! She had bathed right before coming here; before coming to see me. Now I felt guilty she made all this effort for me and here I was staring at her like she just stabbed me!

“Oh Celestia! What did ah do? Ah'm sorry! Ah'm Sorry!” Applejack jumps off me and heads for the door, I try to stop her but she's already gone. I go to turn back to the couch when I feel a pain in my chest.

“What the fuck!” I grab my chest as the pain increases.

I stand up to head to the kitchen to get some painkillers from the first aid bag there, however I don't get three steps as the pain in my chest flairs causing me to drop to the floor. I rise to my knees as the pain gets to a point I can't breathe, I raise my hands but just stop and stare at them. Their glowing! My fucking hands are glowing! Great! White and black striped hair wasn't enough body now you have to glow, I can just see it now 'oh look there goes shiny' Taunts.

I knelt there chest on fire, heart thumping madly. I laughed, truly I laughed. Of all the things I could have done, I laughed. I continued to laugh and look at my hands the glow getting brighter and turning yellow, it kind of looked like the doctors regeneration in doctor who; just this time I was probably going to die from it, oh the irony. I felt the pain in my chest reach a point and it just burst from me, I threw my head back and my arms out wide as the light burst from my body and arms.

I didn't scream as painful as it was, I still had some of my manliness intact. I gritted my teeth waiting for the end but it never came, instead the light retreated back into me and I fell; I managed to catch myself with my arms. Bent over on my knees I felt the world around me blackening out, I heard a gasp to the side of me and I turned my head. Standing in the main entrance was Twilight and Rarity both with expressions of shock and surprise. All I could do was smile and say “Hi ladies, how was your morning?” Before I finally dropped and passed out.

<><><><><><><><><><>

I was in pain, serious pain. I could feel it even though I knew painkillers were running through me, my body even felt like it was strapped down. I knew I had to make a great entrance to the waking world so in my own way I used my best impression of a mental patient. Yes I woke up screaming, again.

“Ahhh!”

“Ahhh!” I heard replied from somewhere near me.

“Why am I tied down?” I deadpan trying to move.

“John! Your awake! Thank Celestia!” I turn my head to see Twilight and the girls standing by the bed I was apparently in.

I move my head to look at the room I was being held in, it seemed quite bare apart from a bedside table with a lamp.

“Where am I?”

“You're in Ponyville hospital, we brought you here after you collapsed.” Twilight answers.

“I thought I was going to die! I didn't even have the chance to say good bye!”

“But your not dead, you're fine. You just need some rest that's all.”

“Yes darling, you have gone through a unique experience. Just get better ok?” Rarity says.

“Yeah, thanks Rarity.” I look to each of the others in turn and they all smile back, even Rainbow which was really not like her.

“Well, I have to go and speak to the doctor. But I'll be right back!” Twilight says walking out of the room.

“Yes, we better give you some time alone darling. You need it!”

The others all turn and go to leave but I call out to one pony in particular.

“Applejack, could you stay a moment please?”

“S-Sure.” Applejack walks back to my bed. I see the others giving us confused looks but they seem to dissolve into smiles.

After the others had left and the door had closed I turn my head to look at Applejack. I see the hurt and pain in her face, some part of me tells me she blames herself for my current predicament.

“John, ah'm sorry for earlier, ah shouldn't have run away. If ah knew you were gonna yah know...Explode, ah should have been there!”

“Hey, don't beat yourself up about it. You and me had no idea I was going to...Explode.”

“Ah know, but ah just can't think straight right now. Is that something to worry about?”

“Maybe? It just depends on what we are both going to do about it.”

“Huh?”

“Applejack, I can't hold my feelings in any longer. I keep telling myself it's wrong that it's not right, but I have to face the truth. I may never get back home, I know it has only been a couple of weeks but the fact I haven't heard from the princesses yet; just means the search isn't going well.”

I try to move my arm but with the straps I can only move my hand. I think Applejack gets what I am trying to do as she puts one of her hooves under my fingers. I stroke the fur causing her to blush.

“Truth is I realise I may be here for the rest of my life, and I don't want to spend that alone. I want to feel loved by someone or somepony, at first I never thought about any of you girls. You are my friends, I just never thought any of you would have feelings about me that way.”

I see tears forming in the corners of Applejacks eye's, I try to hold mine back but the emotions I am feeling right now is beyond control.

“I mean I stole some looks your way when you bucked trees, and I admit some were more than just looks.” Now my face goes red as I try not to look her in the eye. “But I always had that voice in my head telling me not to say anything, I look in your eyes now Applejack and I am saying this with every ounce of my being...I love you! I have for awhile now, and I hope you can forgive me for taking this long to say it.”

I turn my head back to Applejack and she's looking down, I can't see her face as her hat blocks my view. I look closer and see tears streaming off her face and falling to the floor.

“Applejack I...” I start to say but get stop again when Applejack speaks.

“Ah can forgive you, Ah can!” Applejack springs up and lays on top of me.

“You know if somepony comes in this would look awkward.”

“Ah don't care, ah love ya John! It seems weird to say that but ah know ah can say it now!”

Applejack leans in and kisses me, this time I return it. This small moment of bliss was broken though as a tray was heard dropping in the room. Me and Applejack still lip locked look towards the door, we both see Twilight and a doctor standing just inside the door with shocked expressions. Applejack breaks the kiss and looks at Twilight sheepishly, I mean while have some half assed smirk on my face.

“Wha...I...I...!” Twilight stammers.

“Well now, this is unexpected.” The doctor says.

“Ah'm going to go John, it seems ya have more tests to go through.” Applejack says as she jumps down from the bed.

“Yeah, I’ll see you back at Sweet Apple Acres.....Marefriend!” I say to Applejack smiling.

Applejack smiles back and walks passed Twilight still frozen in shock, she gives the doctor a tip of her hat before she passes out of my sight. I look at Twilight before turning to the doctor.

“I guess some explaining is required!” I say.

**** ***** ****

It took several minutes for Twilight to break out of whatever freak out she was having. I explained as best I could about what had happened between me and Applejack. The doctor couldn't care less I think as he went about his testing that apparently, I needed. Twilight was a different story, she kept asking how and when we started to see each other. I explained the infatuation started not long after I started at Sweet Apple Acres, it involved some sneaky looks and some stealthy staring but we both were too afraid to speak out. I explained that at first I thought I was seeing things when Applejack would do things around me or start to work closer at the farm. But being a dumbass myself, I could never see the signs.

“So? You and Applejack are now...Together?” Twilight asked.

“It would seem so now, So yeah I guess we are.” I reply.

“I'm happy for you both, I truly am!” Twilight gives me a smile. “But I warn you John! If you hurt her, I swear you won't have a place to run to!”

“Whoa Whoa! I won't hurt her! I love her Twilight! Why would I jeopardize that?”

“I'm sorry! I just want what's best for my friends.”

“Miss Sparkle, I have completed the tests and we can review the data if you wish?” The doctor says.

Twilight turns to the doctor. “Thanks Doctor Stable, that would be great.” Twilight turns back to me, “We will go and study the results of your tests, it shouldn't take more than an hour so I suggest you get some rest John.” Twilight goes to leave but turns back. “Oh silly me! You don't need these any more!”

Twilight points her horn and a glow of light envelopes the straps across my chest and legs. The straps undo and slide off of me allowing me to move again.

“Thanks Twilight!” I say.

“No problem! Now you get some sleep ok? You look tired.”

“Yeah I’ll see you in a while then?”

Twilight nods to me as she and the doctor leave the room and close the door giving me the much needed rest I definitely need. I just hope the extra tests don't show up anything bad, that would really fuck up my day.

**** ***** ****

I had woken up again just before Twilight and the doctor had returned, I was sitting up in the bed when a knock was heard on my rooms door.

“It's open!” I call out. I see Twilight and the doctor enter. “Hey Twilight, Doctor Stable.”

“John, it's good you are awake. We have some bad news and some good news, what would you like first?” Twilight asks.

“Good news first.”

“Well the good news is you're going to be fine.”

“Ok, so why do I get the bad news out weighs that?”

“I will try to put this into a term you will understand John, two thousand years ago a unicorn mare named Iranna Colt discovered that Equestria had a hidden magic flowing through it. She spent several years of her life recording and investigating this phenomenon. After that she came to call this magic, colterines. Today this is still the bases for all magic teaching.” Twilight looks to the doctor as if she was hesitant.

“Twilight please, I must know.” I state.

“Ok, all ponies have what we call a magical absorbency rating. This MAR governs that ponies magical abilities, Unicorns having the highest for obvious reasons, pegasi second and earth ponies last. It also governs just how strong that pony is in their respective race. Take for example a earth pony with ten percent higher absorbency than the rest will be stronger and larger built, Big Mac is the prime candidate for this as his rating is twenty percent higher than most.”

“I guess that explains his size!” I reply.

“John what I am trying to tell you is that by being in Equestria you have gained this magical absorbency. The tests Doctor Stable completed earlier was to find out and test your rating, we also took a follicle of your hair to test as to why it changed. What we found out shocked us beyond understanding and I had to inform the princesses. John in Equestria an earth pony would have an MAR of between a hundred to one twenty, a pegasis between two hundred to two fifty and a unicorn between five hundred and five fifty. Anything outside would be considered higher than normal. The princesses being powerful as they are have an MAR of over fifteen hundred.” Twilight clears her throat and swallows hard. “John your MAR is currently at....five thousand!”

My brain collapsed, it really just lost all capable thought processes and I just sat there staring at Twilight unable to reply. I took a few minutes to comprehend what it meant but I finally replied.

“So what does that mean?”

“We don't know! No pony or creature has ever had an MAR that high. My best guess is that your hair change was your body adapting to such a high level of magical absorbency. But if your MAR stays at this level you could experience more magical flair ups like back at the library and even more changes; but what those changes will be, we just have no clue.”

“Is there a threat to my life or others around me?” I ask thinking of Applejack.

“Not as far as we know, however there's no way of telling when the next flair up could happen. And what it will change next time.” Doctor Stable answers, joining the conversation.

“Then I would like to leave.” I state.

“What?” Twilight asks.

“I want to leave the hospital, I know this is fascinating Twilight but I would rather face this on my own terms than just lay in a bed till my next glow trip. And I think being around my friends might help take my mind of this.”

“Doctor what do you think?” Twilight asks Doctor Stable.

“I don't see why not, he is not in danger and neither is anypony else. I will go and get the discharge papers ready, if you will excuse me.” The doctor leaves the room leaving Twilight and me alone.

“Are you ok, John you look...Distant?”

“I'm still thinking Twilight, I just don't know what to feel at this point.”

“I'm sure all of us can help you John, All you have to do is ask.”

I smile at Twilights kind words, even now during this...What ever it is, Twilight will stand by me. I now have to think of what I will tell the others, I have no idea how Applejack will take the news. I just hope that when this is over, I don't change into something i'm not.