It was a bright, beautiful sunny morning in Ponyville.  While Fluttershy and her friends were off helping Zecora gather ingredients for the tenth and final day of potion making, Brain sat in the outdoor café with Big Macintosh and Doctor Whooves.  It had been a week since their adventure began, and they were still happily recalling the memories.

Brain sat back in his chair as they exchanged hindsight-oriented solutions to problems they encountered while adventuring.  For example, if they had looked around just a bit before resting, Doctor probably could’ve avoided being caught in the spider’s web.  Maybe if they had tried to pay attention, they would have seen the giant bird coming at them.

There were a few other details they were nitpicking with.  Then they changed their subject to Chance, and why Brain had let him be the one to cross through the portal.  Brain explained how Chance had a relationship and a high-paying job back home, and how he always took care of his friends when they needed help.  Chance may have seemed like an arrogant prick to people that didn’t hang around him, but Brain knew he was a good guy at heart.

Although Chance had plotted to abandon him there, Brain knew all along that he wouldn’t.  In the end, when it came to the very last instant, Chance hesitated to touch the object at the top of the temple.  He wasn’t really going to abandon his friend…

After an hour of reminiscing, Doctor sighed, “Sadly my friends, I have to cut this rendezvous short.  I have a dentist appointment in a few minutes, and I suppose I need to go freshen up beforehand.”  He hopped from his chair, shaking his head in annoyance.  Doctor couldn’t stand dentists.

Big Mac chuckled, “I s’pose that sucks.  Try not to give him too much trouble.”  Big Mac nodded goodbye to Doctor as he regretfully walked away.  Then he turned back to Brain, “And how’s being a pony treatin’ you?”

Brain sighed, “It’s different, that’s for sure.  And sometimes I wonder how everyone back home is doing.  Then I look at Fluttershy and realize that it’s worth it.  This place is paradise, after all.”

Big Mac stood up from his chair, “I guess I oughta be gettin’ outta here too.  Mythol asked me to be there early today.”

Brain looked at him, a sly smile growing.  He asked, “So, how did Mythol end up repaying your efforts, anyway?”

Big Mac blushed, “N-nothin’ special really…  J-just a little bit more…uh…”  His voice began to trail off.

Brain laughed, “That’s okay, Big Mac!  What happens behind closed doors should stay there, anyway.  You better get going.”  With a nod, Big Mac set off down the road to Mythol’s house.

Brain was left by himself in the café.  He looked up at the sky, letting his mind wander off into space.  Taking a swig of Sweet Apple Cider, he sighed.  He couldn’t help but wonder how Chance was doing, and whether anyone back home was missing him.  He decided to shake the thoughts out of his head.  He finished his cider, tossed a few bits on the table, and got up to leave.

He started to walk away, when a voice caught him off guard.  “Good to see you’ve finally adjusted to life here in Ponyville.”

He turned to see the owner of the café smiling at him.  Brain wasn’t sure why, but the smile was comforting.  “Yeah, and it only took a week…”  He turned and walked away.

He decided he would go to Zecora’s house and hang out with Fluttershy and her friends.  What’s the worst that could happen with all of them around?  Grinning ear to ear, he happily trotted into the Everfree Forest, en route to Zecora’s small hut.  After crashing through the roof a few days ago, Doctor, Big Mac, and he helped to repair it.

Brain sighed as he trotted through the peaceful forest, “I wonder just what shenanigans I’ll be pulled into.  This place does have a track record for crazy stuff…”

THE END