“Gah!...” I jolted upwards as I awoke abruptly, what the hell? What woke me? I can’t hear any… wait… ow crap I know why. My Sixth sense was going crazy in my mind, the one that all humans have but seem to ignore, not me. Someone, or somepony, was nearer than they should be, I silently unzipped my sleeping bag and got out, the cold air making my body shiver uncontrollably due to the sudden change in temperature. I very slowly stood up and looked out of the cab, what I saw almost made me crap my pants on the spot… a very angry Big Mac, a rather worried looking Applejack and a excited looking Applebloom were coming towards us.

I stood up and banged on Thomas’s fire door, best way to wake an engine up, as soon as he snorted awake I shushed him and I hoped he got the message. I quickly put on my old ragged clothes and my overalls, I opened the cab door and walked out to meet the Apples. The faces that met me were not exactly happy, more sort of confused and scared. The three Apples stopped a good five meters away from me, I thought it best I broke the silence.

“Good morning” I said as politely as I could, all three jumped, probably not expecting me to speak “before you say anything can I just apologise for last night, I didn’t mean to scare young Applebloom and her friends, it was a complete accident” the angry expression was slowly falling from Big Mac’s face, thank Luna for that! The little red haired pony eyes went narrow as she stared at me.

“How’d you know mah name mister?” she asked in a very suspicious tone, Applejack quickly hushed her and whispered something about me being dangerous, hail to my awesome hearing. I took off my glasses and wiped them on my shirt then replaced them onto my head.

“You have no need to worry Applejack” I said with a smile “im not here to hurt anypony, quite the opposite” she turned back to me, so many emotions fighting for rights on her face I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

“You know mah big sis’s name too?! But… how!?” Applebloom blurted out, I need to get things explained quickly.

“Look, I can tell all three of you are confused beyond belief right now so here’s the deal” I began with a sigh “me and my friend will answer all your questions and explain everything, on one condition” Applejack raised her head slightly as a signal to continue, I turned to Big Mac “don’t buck my lights out!” after a awkward couple of moments, the big stallion nodded. I smiled in relief and began introducing myself, then doing the same for Thomas who had been silently listening all this time. I took a good hour I think just to explain to them about Thomas! Applebloom instantly fell in love with Thomas; we all know he’s got that effect on kids. It was a long explanation i tell you that, most of consisted of me and Thomas explaining what a human was and where we both came from, but it all seem to go rather well i think, ponies really are as open minded as the show makes out.

“There still something ah don’t understand” said AJ as we finished our explanation “how dya know our names!?” I knew she’d ask that, hopefully she will just trust me and leave it for a while.

“Haha, trust me, you wouldn’t understand even if we told you, just trust me when I say we aren’t spy’s or anything like that” I smiled at her hoping shed except my answer, after a few silent moment she nodded, thank Celestia for that! After that Big Mac said his goodbyes as he had to get his head round what wed told him, that and all the mornings work he had to catch up on, Applebloom went with him after saying her goodbyes to Thomas and I. Applejack didn’t go however, she stayed to ask me some more questions, still keeping her distance however.  

“Hey jack” I pulled myself out of my mind and turned to face the earth pony “why are ya here?” I shrugged, she was about to say something else but didn’t get to start her sentence however as Thomas cut in, urgency plaguing his voice.

“Pegasus nine o’clock high, coming in hot!!” he shouted, I spun round to see a cyan blur heading straight towards me, instinctively I took a defensive stance, dug my feet into the ground and threw my arms into a cross in front of my head. Dash dived at me screaming something about saving her friend, as much as I love that mare, i don't enjoy getting spontaneously dive bombed! She impact my arms with such force I skidded along the grass a good metre or two until finally stopping just next to a tree, as soon as I could I uncrossed my arms (which I’ve got to say are now red raw and in are so much pain right now) I wound up a punch and socked Dash straight in the muzzle, sending her barrel rolling backwards. Now i know hitting a pony is not the sort of thing any being should do but il be damned if i just stand here and let a angry Dash kick my ass! I took my stance again ready for whatever Dash threw at me, it never came however as we were interrupted by a rather angry voice.

“Dash!!” yelled AJ, red faced with anger “what in the hay dya think ya doing?!” the dazed Pegasus rubbed her sore muzzle and stood up, she opened her mouth to reply but didn’t get a word in “ah don’t need saving, ah was havin a conversation with Jack here ya bucking fool!” Dash just looked even more confused as her gaze shifted to me, tending to my arms, which thankfully still functioned! Finally she spoke up.

“First of all, what and who the hay are you?!” she began with an angry tone pointing a hoof at me “second, why does that train have a giant talking face!” she pointed at Thomas who ‘eep’ed “and lastly, why the buck did you two wake me yesterday and soak me!?” she literally screamed that last bit, I thought it best to leave to Applejack.

“Applejack, I think it best you handle this” I said through my teeth, I was still in pretty bad pain, she sighed and nodded, she began dragging the confused fuming Pegasus away to give her a lecture on Humans and talking trains. I smiled her a thank you as she walked away with Dash, she simply smiled a weak smile back.

I turned to Thomas who was still in shock, after a couple of pokes he soon came back into reality and flashed me a smile.

“If this is how every encounters going to go we may as well go home now” he joked, but there was a hint of sadness in his voice.

“Yeah I know” I replied with a sigh, massaging my arms “Im sure AJ will sort Dash out and I don’t think we will have much trouble with the others, well apart from the obvious” I chuckled at he thought of a very timid Fluttershy, a very nosey Twilight and a very fashion disgusted Rarity. “Well, I think our next plan of action should be steam and breakfast, what you reckon?” Thomas agreed, so I set to work. About an hour later, id cooked a full English on Thomas’s fire, gosh I hope my food bag don’t empty too quickly, steam pressure was steadily rising and I gave Thomas a once over with a damp rag, trying to get his shine back, tonight I planned to go for a nigh time run, that will do us both some good!

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