*If it’s like this every night, I wouldn’t mind staying here.* It was a sight to behold, all the stars and distant gas clouds. I almost mistook it for a giant painting. I usually enjoyed stargazing back home, but Earth has nothing on this place. I spent the next half hour or so flying around the little town. Watching as some building had lights on. Sometimes I took a closer look to see what they were doing. Other times I would look back up to the sky. It’s kinda hard not to look, I kinda lost track of where I was going. I didn’t notice I wasn’t in Ponyville until I nearly hit a tree. I grind to a halt and look around. I’m in the middle of some forest. Well, more like above it, the trees make it look like a giant canopy. Very few spots to land or take off. In the distance I can see the tallest building of Ponyville. I was about to fly back when I heard a scream.

“HEEELP!” I turn to the general direction I heard it from and rush towards it. I think I’m right where I heard the scream from. “AHHHHH!!” Yep... i’m close. I spot a hole in the tree canopy and land. It’s fucking dark here. *Thank the nanites for night vision.* I think as my eyes adjust to the darkness, well, more like slight darkness now. I hear more screams, I make a mad dash towards the screaming. I clear a shrub and-

A little yellow pony with red hair and tail, surrounded by wolf-like entities, about six of them. They look like they’re made of gnarled wood, some spots covered in leaves, glowing yellow eyes watch the little pony intently. One of those things looks like it’s going to pounce soon.

*What the fuck are you waiting for!? SAVE THE PONY!!* A little voice said. At that point I went feral. I let a screech as I attack the entities; the one closest to me briefly meets with My talon-foot. Probably lobing its head off. I feel this surge of energy flow through me as I take out each one of them. One of them kept their concentration on the little yellow pony. My internal rage skyrocketed. A red tint covers the edges of my vision and my hands feel really warm. I look down and see the my hands are covered a dark grey mist. *Kill it!* I rush and tackle the thing, quickly punching with all my might. It only took one shot to the head to kill it. The yellow from it’s eyes disappear and the body falls to pieces. I look around, and the other thing are staying back. I direct my attention to the little pony. My mind catching up with me.

“Hey, you ok?” The little one flinches, but nods slowly. “Good, lets get you home.” I was just about to go over and pick her up, but on of the bastards pounced me from behind. It dug its teeth into the base of one of my wings, I yelp and throw the thing off. The mist returns and I beat the hell out of it. The sounds of branches snapping fills the air as the thing dies. When I realize it’s I look to the others. They’re cowering from my little display. “Get the fuck out of here!!” They all turn tail and book it. I look back to the little one and calm back down. “Let get you back home before anything else happens.” I walk over to the little one, who is now looking at me with pure fear. “Hey, don’t worry. I’m not gonna hurt you.”

“O…ok...” From what I can tell it’s a little girl pony. I need to find out what they call their kin here. She slowly gets up and walks over to me.

“Where do you live anyway?”

“Ah live at mah sisters farm in Ponyville.”

“Alright, wanna fly back there?” *I don’t think asking her what made her come out here is a good idea at the moment...* She looks at me, thinks for a second, and nods. “Alright, c’mere.” I carefully pick her up and hold her like a baby. I was about to take off, but left wing felt like it was on fire, making me grunt in pain. “Guess not.” I forgot, my wing’s limp the whole time. I gently set the little pony back, she has a look of slight disappointment. “Gonna have to get that fixed,” I look around. “I remember Ponyville being that way… I think.” *Might as well go that way.* “C’mon… uh, what’s your name?”

“It’s Applebloom.”

“Nice to meetch’a Applebloom, name’s Ember.”

“Ember?”

“Yeah, I know, I’m not from this place, or this world for that matter.”

“Whaddya mean by that?” I smile as I tell her about where I’m from…

We’ve been walking in the same direction for what feels like forever. At least we’ve been talking up a storm to help pass time. I think that was the only thing keeping her awake. And about Applebloom, she told me a lot about her and her family. She’s apparently Applejack’s And Big Mac’s little sister. She told me who Big Mac was, explained her great grandmother Granny Smith, her extended family. Her little group called ‘The Cutie Mark Crusaders.’ I asked about that and she told me that her and her best friends, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, haven’t gotten their cutie marks yet. And that they created this, ‘Secret Society’, to help each other get their cutie mark. It also took me a while to get used to those new names and words. I, in turn, told her of my species, technology, and stuff like that. With us talking it made the trip feel shorter. I was explaining how hands work when she shouted.

“Hey! Look!” She points a hoof to something ahead of us. I look and see that there’s an orange light, and that we’re near the edge of the forest.

“Finally! My wing’s killing me!” Cybernetics can only do much, I do have somewhat of a healing factor at least, this whole time the little bots in my body were mending the torn tissue, doesn’t help that it would keep tearing as I walked. I look behind me and see that my wing’s still limp. *Must be just a torn ligament.* I hopped anyway. It hasn’t swollen up and turned purple and green, so it must be that. *I just hope Twilight has something within her, ‘magical capabilities’ that can help heal it.* I’m still having a hard time adjusting to the whole concept of magic. Applebloom makes a mad dash towards the light, I would, but the pain in my wing kept me at a walking pace. I didn’t see or feel any other presence around us so I let her run on ahead. She stops at the edge and notices me still in the forest.

“C’mon Ember! You need tah get outs there!”

“I would be faster if my damn wing wasn’t hurting like a motherfucker.” I went a little quiet at that last part. I pick my pace a little and make it to the light of the outside of the forest. “Huh I was right.” We somehow ended up coming out almost right in front the town. We came out right next to a cottage. It was as bright as fuck, I noticed. I noticed that the sun hasn't risen yet. *!
Dawn, perfect.* I was starting to feel a little sleepy.

“We’re at Fluttershy’s! She’ll be able tah help you with your wing!”

“Fluttershy’s?” She nods happily. “And she can help me with my wing?”

“Yeah! She’s good with help an’ healin’ animals!”

“Perfect then!” We both walk up to the front of the little cozy-looking hovel. Applebloom knocks on the door, he bottom half, and backs up. I loud ‘EEP!’ came from inside and a crashing sound emanated. Then the sound of hooves on woods come from within and get louder. The whole door opened to reveal Fluttershy.

“Oh! It’s only you two...” She breathes a sigh of relief. Applebloom was about to speak, probably about my wing, but the yellow pegasus notices. “Ember! Your wing!”

“Yeah, I know.” I look back to it and notice all the dried up blood coating the base and part of my back. “How come I didn’t notice that before?”

“I was jus’ gonna say that...”

“Hurry Ember! Come inside, I’ll take care of that!” She hovers and gently pushes me inside, into what looks like a living room. She flies off to another room, and returns with a stool. She instructs me to sit on it, which I do while she goes off again. Applebloom took a seat on a couch and just… watched.

“Is that normal in this house?” I assumed Fluttershy lives here, Applebloom nods.

“Yeah, its pretty normal ‘round here.” I nod in understanding, just then Fluttershy comes back, holding what looks like a med kit. She sets it on the nearest table and opens it, pulling out some rags, a bottle, a needle with thread., and some bandages. If there was any skin exposed on my face it’s be fucking pale.

“Ok, I need to clean the wound and stitch it up.” I tried to remain as calm as possible. But a fucking hate needles. Ones the inject you something, and ones like the Fluttershy is holding, medical needles. I would be sweating bullets, if I still could. I just go silent and nod. She flutters over to my back to look at the damage. “Oh my, what happened?”

“I saved Appleboom from a pack of wolf-things in the forest and one of them managed to bite me there.” At that she gasps.

“You fought off a pack of Timberwolves!?” I nod. "Oh, my."

"What?"

"It's just, I've never heard, or seen, anypony take on a pack of timber wolves, and live."

"Oh... Huh... They're called Timberwolves?" I look to Applebloom and she nods. "Why? Are they made of wood or something?" She nods. "That explains why they were easy to kill..."

"You killed them!?" The yellow pegasus shrieked.

"It was more like, I killed about three or four of them and the rest backed off."

"Why did you do that?" I turn my head a hundred and eighty degrees, directly facing her from behind.

"It was either doing what I did, or letting them get to her." I point to Applebloom, and turn my head back around. I think she understood, she just went silent and continued to clean off the dried blood. When she finished that she grabbed the bottle, how do I know this? I fealty some liquid on the wound and a stinging pain. At least it wasn't as bad as I thought.

"Sorry."

"It's alright Fluttershy, it was going to hurt either way." I hear breath another sigh of relieve and go back to the box. I heard some clatter, probably the needle. “That won’t be necessary Fluttershy.”

“Oh! But I need to-” I turn my head around and face her.

“Listen, remember when Rainbow attacked me, and asked how I was faster than her, and I responded with ‘Cybernetics’?” She gulps nervously, but nods. “Well, that means I have small little robots, machines, in my body. And they're healing up the wound, and I just need you to bandage my wing up so they can do their job. After that it’ll take a day or two when it’s fully healed up.”

“R-really?” I nod.

“I don’t mean to scare, Fluttershy. I just needed to tell you that.” I turn back around. I don’t feel or hear anything from behind. “Um, Fluttershy?”

“Y-yes?”

“I think you were going to bandage-up my wing...”

“Oh! Yes! You’re right.” She very gently grasps my wing. “Please say anything if you feel any pain.”

“Got it.” She picks it up, and, very gently, folds it back into place. I felt a little pain. But she did fold it to my back like its supposed to.

“Did I do it right?” She asks in that delicate voice.

“Yes.”

“Ok, good. Umm, Applebloom?” She looks to Fluttershy. “Can you hoof me that roll?” The little one nods and gets off the couch, she walks over the table and gives the roll to Fluttershy. With one hoof holding my wing in place, she grabs the roll with the other. And, probably using her teeth, grabs the end of the fabric. “Um, could you gently hold his wing in place, Applebloom?”

“Alright.” She places a hoof on my back, keeping the end of the fabric in pace, and probably standing on her hind legs, and places her other hoof right where Fluttershy’s was.

“Ok, Ember? Could you hold your arms up?” I do so, She then proceeds to wrap the fabric around my torso. Effectively binding my wing in place. “There, that should be it.” I get up and stretch.

“Thanks FLuttershy, I owe you one. Now as for you.” I turn my attention to Applebloom. “Lets get you back home.” Her eyes widen a little, but she still nods. “I’ll be seein’ ya later Fluttershy.”

“By Ember, Applebloom.” We wave to each other as we leave the little cottage. And follow the path back to Ponyville. We got to the marketplace when realization hit me.

“Applebloom, where do you live?”

We made it to the entrance of the farm where Applebloom, or Ap as she told me to call her, and holy shit there’s a fuck-ton of trees. Apple trees to be exact. The red apple loke enticing… I love apples.

“So, this is it?”

“Yeah...” I see that her ears are folded back and she’s looking down. I decide not to question what’s wrong with her, I have an idea that tells me I shouldn’t. We both walk along the path the apparently lead to her home. The house itself looks like a barn, the iron when there’s an actual barn right next to it. Ap was just about to walk up and go inside when I get an idea.

“Hey Ap,” She looks back to me. “I got an idea, c’mere.” She walks over to me.

“What is it?”

“Lets make a little fun.” I hoist her up and put her atop my head, making her yelp in surprise.

“What the hay!?”

“Hold on to my head.” She wraps her forelegs around my head, and wraps her hind legs around my neck. “I would like to breath...” I croak out.

“Heh... Sorry.” Her hind legs soften their grip on my throat, allowing me to breath easier. “Hey, it’s cool up here!” She giggles in glee. I chuckle and walk up the front door of the house, and knock.

*I wonder how I didn’t hit my head on the porch…* The sound of hooves on wood fills the air as someone, or pony in this case, and every case from here on out, comes to the door. The door opens to reveal a disgruntled looking Applejack, her hat’s missing, hair’s a mess, there are bags under her eyes. She’s a wreck.

“Oh hey Ember, how’d you find out where the farm is?” Apparently she failed to notice Ap on my head.

“Oh I don’t know… Why don’t you ask her?” I point to the little one atop my head. Applejack does so, it takes a minute, but she recognizes who’s on my head. “Applebloom? APPLEBLOOM!!” That hurt. I quickly set Ap down, Applejack sweeps her up in a big hug, Two other ponies peer out from the door, presumably Big Mac and Granny Smith, look to Applejack and Applebloom. Both grin widely, then they notice me…

“Who in the hay are you?” Big Mac, I think, shoots me a scrutinizing glare. I was about to speak but Ap saves my ass.

“He’s Ember, and he saved me from a pack of timberwolves.” At that every… pony, gape at Ap, then me, then back at her. It goes on for a few seconds until Applejack speaks up.

“Ya saved Applebloom a pack o’ timber wolves?” I nodded. “Ah… ah... don’t know what tah say...”

“A simple ‘Thank you’ would do just fine.” Instead she slams her body at me, hugging me as tightly as she cloud, which is nice and all. If her strength was threatening to crush more than my lungs, plus my wing… Yeah… “HHHH!!” I desperately try to pry her off me, it’s no use. “Apple *wheez* Jack, wing *ack*...” I wonder how I’m still standing. The orange pony realizes what she’s doing and lets go, I drop to my knees, coughing, wheezing, and trying to grab my wing. She didn’t move it out of place, some bones were nearly crushed though. “Ow… *cough*”

“Hehe… Sorry Ember, got a little emotional there...”

“It’s… alright… Fuck you’re strong...” She chuckles a bit nervously.

“So you’re the new feller everypony’s been talkin’ ’bout?” By now I’ve already recovered, for the most part.

“Yeah, I’m the new guy in town.”

“Well nice to meetcha then sonny!” The old green mare holds of hoof out, I finally figured out what they call each gender during our walk to this place. I grab and shake her hoof.

“Nice to meet you too, Granny Smith right?” She nods.

“Just call me Granny.”

“Alright, Granny.” She chuckle a bit. I notice that this whole time Big Mac’s been silent.

“Thank you for savin’ my little sis, Ember.” Until now. “Nice ta meet you too.”

“Anytime, Big Mac right?” He nods. “Yeah, Applebloom’s been telling me about your family.” I think Applejack finally noticed the bandages I’m sporting.

“Ember! What in the hay happened to ya!?” She points to them.

“Oh that, I thought I fought those things off, but one of the little bastards manage to bite me at the base of my wing. Probably got a torn muscle...” At that they gasp. “But don’t worry about it, I’ll be flyin’ in not time.”

“You sure yer gonna be able ta fly again?”

“Yes, why do you ask?” Big Mac answers for her.

“Last time somethin’ like this happened, poor fella was never able ta fly again.” That was a little unsettling, to say the least.

“Oh...” I shake my head. “Applejack, remember when Rainbow attacked me yesterday, and that I said ‘cybernetics’ when she got frustrated?” She nodded. “That means I have tiny little machines in my body, you know what I mean by machines, right?”

“Ah think ah do, they’re like… Robots, right? I heard somethin’ like that from Twilight once.”

“Perfect, imagine a tiny versions in my body, healing my wing up.” That got them to gape, again. They stay like that for a few minutes. I decide to wave a hand in front of Applejack’s face. It doesn’t work, I think I broke them… *Fuck...* “I guess I’ll, just… go.” I walk off without another word. “They’ll eventually recover. I hope...” I leave the farm and make my way back to Twilight’s place…

I’m still getting looks from the ponies of this town, not any scrutinizing glares and angry glares, just curious glances. I guess this town works with quite acceptance. I even heard a few foals ask what I am, and their respective parents would give them reasonable answers. From what I’ve heard, like, “I don’t know,” and “Why don’t you go ask him, I’ve heard he’s really nice.” I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean, but I just take as a compliment. This particular moment, a little foal decided to come up to me, probably to ask me something like that. I didn’t notice the little one until it tapped my leg, as I was walking…

“Hm?” I turn to my side and see the little colt, he has a white coat with brown spots, one spot right over his eye. Brown mane and tail with a lighter brown streak through it. “What is it?” I ask as nicely as I can. He seems surprised, probably didn’t expect me to respond like that.

“Uh… Sorry for bothering you, I just wanted to ask you something.” I smile inwardly and squat down.

*I know nothing of this… foal, but I like him already.* “What question would that be then?”

“Um… What, are you? I’ve never seen anything like you...” I crack a smile.

“I am a human, well, what’s left of one anyway...”

“What do you mean with that?” I’ve always envied children with their thirst for knowledge.

“Well, I was a full human. But I had my look changed, permanently.”

“How?”

“Ever heard of robots?”

“Yes.”

“Well, someone put tiny versions of them in me to change how I look, and now look like this.” I wave a hand over myself, his eye go wide, a huge smile taking his face.

“Really!?” He’s practically jumping in place. Kinda like Pinkie…

“Really.” I say with a smile. He runs off back to his parents, I stand back up and continue walking…

I make it to Twilight’s place in no time. I knock on the door and almost immediately the door swings open, nearly hitting me. A little disgruntled purple and green dragon looks up to me, which soon turns to fear.

“T-t-t. TWILIGHT!!” That hurt, a little. I hear Twilight running within the house, quickly appearing at the little drake’s side.

“What is it Spike?” She looks like she hasn’t slept in days. “Ember! You’re back!” She pulls me in with her… magic… Making me bend backwards, hitting my chest, neck, and chin on the door frame. To say that stars were in my vision for a second was a blessing. It was another that my neck didn’t snap. As soon as the pink mist dissipates I grab my everything.

“God fucking dammit! That fucking hurt!” I say while laying on the ground.

“What?” Twilight was blissfully unaware of how much she hurt me. All it took was a hard glare from me and she realized what she did. “Ohmigosh! I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to!” It seems some external force, or whatever deity watching, likes to see me in pain a lot.

“Whatever Twilight, just try not to do that again, ever.” I get back up, rubbing my sore chest and chin. “Why did you even do that? And why do you look like you haven’t sleep for days?”

“I was worried, you didn’t come back at dawn, and I thought you got lost, or something terrible-” She notices my bandages. “What in Tartarus happened to you!?”

“I got bit while saving Applebloom from a pack of timber wolves. You know who she is right?”

“Yes I know who she is! And you fought off a pack of timber wolves!?”

“Yeah, pretty much.”

“And you’re wing! What happened!?”

“One of them managed to bite the base of my wing, don’t worry about it though. I’ll be fine by tomorrow.”

“Really?” She has a look suggesting skepticism.

“Did I tell you about the robots yet?”

“What do robots have to do with you?”

“Yes, I am wondering that as well.” A new voice pipes up from behind.

Author's Notes:

Why do my words lose their meaning..?