Galen woke up with a sudden rush of adrenaline as he still leaned against the tree. He didn't know where he was at first, but memory quickly came flooding back along with a rush of bitter emotion. He looked around for Riley and saw that he was missing but he heard faint barking off in the distance. He got to his feet and brought a hand to his mouth, two fingers going between his lips as he let loose with a powerfully shrill whistle that echoed slightly. The barking in the distance stopped and it took only a few moments before Galen saw Riley's form barreling through the trees toward him. He panted slightly as he sat down in front of Galen who leaned down slightly to pat him on his head.

“Le's go an' see 'bout tha' supper Jack invited us ta,” he said as he straightened up and began to walk south to the road, turning to his right as he walked between a pair of deep ruts from years of carts being hauled back and forth. They walked for a good ten minutes before the farmhouse was visible just around a bend in the road. A few more and the pair are walking into a fairly large yard and looked around at the main house, the barn and several out buildings of various sizes. As he made his way just across the halfway point of the yard, Galen noticed Applejack sitting on the porch, just to the side of the front door.

“Didn't know if ya were gonna make it in time,” she said with a smile.

“Jus' woke up a bit ago,” Galen replied. “Ya wanna feed Riley in or outside?”

“Inside's fine,” Applejack replied. “Winona's inside already, so may as well give her a little company.”

“Very kind o' ya, Jack,” Galen said with a smile.

“Not a problem, Galen,” she said with a smirk at her nickname but didn't say anything about it. “Now, how about we go on in and see if anything's left fer us, huh?”

Galen snorted at that and walked the remaining steps up to the porch to follow Applejack inside her house. As he stepped in, he felt as if had been once again transported between worlds. The old, but incredibly well built house had stood here for decades, if not a century by now. It had that smell, that feel to it that couldn't be described as anything other than comforting. He saw some furniture scattered about the room, the chairs likely being as old as the house itself or perhaps a little newer. The sofa was much newer, but still quite old if the medley of colorful patches carefully put in place told its story properly.

“Somethin' wrong?” Applejack asked as she poked her head out from the kitchen and looked at him.

“Nah, jus' got a little lost fer a moment,” he replied with a slightly sad smile.

Applejack just gave him an odd look and beckoned him on with a gesture as she turned back into the kitchen. Galen smiled down at Riley and followed right after her. As he walked in, he found himself looking at a full table, both food and ponies with one empty seat and plate set for him. Riley sniffed the air a bit before whuffing and moving to the corner of the room where Applejack's collie was already eating. She looked up at the newcomers as Riley came up to her, they looked each other over and sniffed around a bit before deciding that they liked each other and settled down side by side to eat their food.

“Everyone, this here's Galen an' Riley's his dog, the two that dropped in on us last night,” Applejack said with a wry chuckle that the others shared with her, though Galen gave her an odd look at that last part. “Galen, this here's Granny Smith, our Grandma, Macintosh, or Big Mac who's my big brother and Apple Bloom, our little sister.”

They each nodded and smiled at him as they were each introduced. Galen smiled and replied, “It's a pleasure ta meet ya.”

“Right,” Applejack said once he finished. “Now grab a seat an' let's dig in.”

“Thanks 'gain, Jack,” Galen said as he settled down on the chair that was slightly smaller than he was used to. “Almost like a slice o' home.”

“Ain't nothing but supper as usual fer us,” Applejack replied.

“An' tha's why Ah'm grateful,” Galen replied with a half smile. “Ain't had much normal lately.”

“Ain't that the truth,” Applejack said with a shake of her head.

“Wha'd'ya mean?” Galen asked curiously.

“Don't pay me any mind, we got more important matters ta take care of right now,” she said with a pointedly hungry gaze at the spread of food in front of them.

“Ah can agree with that,” Galen replied with a laugh. As the words left his mouth, Applejack leaned forward and began to gather her first plate of food, her leading being the sign that everyone should start gathering their meal. Galen had to scramble to keep up with their plundering of the table. They may not have hands, but they were incredibly dexterous with their hooves. He laughed as he filled his plate and began eating with the rest of them, quickly devouring his plate along side the rest. They went back for seconds, so he followed suit and refilled his plate as well. They finished this serving in good time as well, though Apple Bloom and Granny Smith had a very small amount of leftovers on their plates. Applejack and Big Mac smiled and went back for a third helping but looked up sharply when they saw Galen reaching out for another serving for himself.

They shared a glance and a smirk before turning to their plates. Galen knew this game and he wasn't one to loose it often, so he just smiled back and joined them in their third serving. As they neared the end of this plate of food the two siblings smiled to one another as Galen had slowed his eating to a methodical pace though he finished only a few seconds behind them. As they began loading up their fourth serving, they looked at Galen with raised eyebrows that asked if that was all he had. He answered with a smile as he reached out and served himself again. Their smiles disappeared as they soldiered through their fourth serving. Galen ate his plate methodically and finished a few moments after they did, their sighs of contentment telling him of their absolute fullness. They were about to say something to Galen about how he was practically an Apple with his appetite but were stopped short as Galen began to cut slices of apple pie, serving himself two healthy pieces and grabbed a few apple fritters and even a large apple from the small basket in the middle. He smiled with devilish glee as he saw their looks of incredulity and raised a slice of pie to his mouth and took a healthy bite of it. He finished his last serving in short order and sighed himself as he leaned back slightly on his chair. With him relaxing after the meal, Riley took that as his queue to come over and force his head under Galen's hand. Galen snorted as he absentmindedly scratched him as Riley closed his eyes and lay his head on his leg.

“Ah've never met another pony that could match us Apples plate fer plate when it comes ta supper,” Applejack said with a grin. “Lero cut out partway through his third plate when we invited him ta supper.”

“Well, Ah ain't no pony, an' yer food is hearty enough ta ration a squad o' soldiers if ya had a bit more,” Galen replied with a laugh. “Though bein' a 'smith works up a mighty hunger on it's own.”

“Yer a blacksmith?” Applejack asked with raised eyebrows.

“Ah was 'prenticed an' everythin',” he replied. “Took me almos' nine years ta make master status, but Ah made it.”

“How old are ya now, Mister Galen?” Apple Bloom asked curiously.

“Ah'm twenny six as o' las' January,” he replied.

“So you started when you were seventeen?”

“'Eleven, actually” Galen replied.

“Well, Ah'm ten now! You think you could teach me?” she asked enthusiastically. Applejack stifled a snort of amusement and pulled her hat down over her face to hide a small smile at her sisters unbridled lust to try anything and everything she could to get her cutie mark.

“Smithing ain't a job fit fer mos',” Galen replied in a grave tone that did little to curb her enthusiasm. “It's somethin' tha' can make 'r break a man dependin' on what 'e's made of.”

“I'm sure if you teach me right, I can do it,” she almost pleaded.

“Ah might be willin' if Ah had all o' mah tools from home,” Galen replied. “It ain't too hard ta build a small forge, but Ah don' think you'll be able ta wield a hammer properly an' hold tha metal at tha same time.”

Applejack offered a short laugh as she looked over to him and asked, “Jus' how many hammers do ya need ta pound hot metal with?”

Galen just looked at Applejack flatly. “Well, first, Ah would need a proper forge and an anvil weighing 'round 380 pounds ta even get started,” Applejack's eyebrows lifted quite a bit at the weight he would need, “then, Ah would need a few sets o' tongs. A fuller fer thinning out tha bar o' metal, a flatter or two dependin' on what Ah'm workin' on an' the size needed, a trio o' ball pein hammers, a set o' sledges ranging from three pounds ta ten. Now, on ta tha other things Ah'd need ta be able ta properly make a simple knife...”

“Okay! Okay!” Applejack said as she laughed at Galen's list by rote. “Ah get it. Ya need a lot o' tools ta be a good smith.”

“No, Jack,” Galen corrected. “Ya need ta be a good smith ta be a good smith. Ya need tha tools ta do tha job proper.” Applejack nodded at his words and was about to reply when a massive yawn stopped her reply. “'Bout time ta hit tha sack?”

“Just about,” she said a bit thinly. “Been a long day. Ya got someplace ta stay?”

“Not as such, but it wouldn't be our first time sleepin' under tha naked stars,” he replied with a reassuring smile.

“No need fer that when we got an empty guestroom for ya ta stay in,” Applejack said firmly as she got off her chair. “Just sit tight fer a moment and Ah'll get ya set up right.”

“Tha' a threat or a promise?” Galen asked with an amused smile.

“A promise if ya wait an' a threat if ya even think about leaving,” she replied with a slightly wicked grin.

“Then Ah'll hold ya ta tha' promise, Jack,” he replied as he eased forward in his chair. “Ah'll help with puttin' tha room ta rights.”

“Ah can handle it just fine, Galen,” she replied with a little smile. “Just sit back and relax.”

“Thanks, Jack,” he said as she left the kitchen.

“So,” Granny began once Applejack left the room, “ya said you're a smith?”

“That I am,” Galen replied with a half grin.

“Think ya might be available fer some custom orders or repairs anytime soon?”

Galen frowned at that, “Ah would be if Ah were set up proper like Ah was tellin' Jack an' Bloom. Tha only thing Ah had with me that Ah wouldn't have ta buy was tha first hammer Ah made once Ah made journeyman apprentice. It's a bit of a self made lucky charm fer me.”

“That would be a might tricky then,” she said with a slight frown.

“That it would be,” Galen replied with a chuckle. “But if Ah get set up anytime soon, Ah'll give ya a good deal. That is once Ah know what tha goin' rate is fer smithing.”

“I'm sure you'll get things sorted out sooner or later,” Granny said with a knowing smile. “Ya seem ta have a sharp mind on your shoulders and those shoulders seem strong enough ta do whatever ya set your mind to.”

“Now yer soundin' jus' like ma Gram,” he said with a little smile.

“Sounds like she's a woman who knows her stuff,” Granny replied warmly.

Galen just nodded. It was so strange for him, he thought, to be sitting here at a table with talking ponies and feeling right at home. He didn't have long to dwell on that for long as a massive yawn of his own completely derailed his thoughts. A moment after he rubbed at his slightly bleary eyes, Applejack walked back in and smiled at his tired look.

“Ah think everything's about ready fer ya, Galen,” she said as she motioned for him to follow her.

“Thanks, Jack,” he replied as he stood up, Riley taking a step back to look up at him. He turned to the rest of the seated ponies and smiled before saying, “Thanks fer the company an' tha warm welcome, everyone. Thanks especially fer tha meal an' puttin' me an' Riley up fer tha night.”

“Ain't a problem, dearie,” Granny Smith replied. Big Mac and Apple Bloom just smiled happily and nodded in tandem. Galen smiled a bit broader and nodded one last time before turning to follow Applejack back into the living room and down a short hallway beside a set of stairs. She led them to a fairly spartan room that only contained a small dresser with a pitcher of warm water, bowel and a towel for him to wash up with and there was a freshly made bed, though it was just a bit too small for him to stretch out properly.

“It ain't much, but it's better than sleepin' outside,” Applejack said as she saw him survey the room.

“It's more than I had hoped fer since Ah don' even have a thing ta offer in thanks,” he replied.

“Don't you worry 'bout that,” she said. “Lero had a heck of a time when he first got here as well. We all helped get him on his feet, me and my friends, and didn't ask for a thing in return. He helped us out often enough since then with the odd job here and there.”

“Thanks, Jack,” Galen said as he stifled another yawn.

“Ah'll let you two be so ya can turn in,” she said as she turned to leave. “Night, Galen.

“Oíche mhaith^,” he replied as she left the room. He shut the door a moment after she had left and moved to open the single window, letting in a sweetly scented breeze. With that done, Galen stripped down to his boxers and washed up before turning down the sheets and sat down, the bed creaking beneath his weight. He patted the bed, calling Riley to join him and lay down beside him once he had flopped down on top of the covers, pulling the light covers up and got himself situated on the small bed. He yawned once more before closing his eyes, falling asleep with the scent of apple trees in the air and their gentle rustling in the breeze.

Author's Notes:

Everybody only gets one. You'll get the next chapter next week

Good night, or well wishes before sleeping^