A few days had passed since Applejack and Applebloom discovered the creature and it's metal home. News had spread quickly across Equestria as soon, newsponies from near and far descended onto Ponyville in hopes for a picture of the creature or it's strange contraption. Fearing that all this attention might intimidate the creature, Princess Celestia had ordered the Royal Guard to post two ponies outside the room in Ponyville Hospital where the creature was being treated. She also asked Shining Armor to place a protective shield around the massive object in the Everfree Forest to ensure that no pony would try and take something from it.

So with the alien creature unreachable for the time being, reporters began to go after the next best thing, a story with the two ponies who made the actual first contact. Ponies representing newspapers from Manehattan, Las Pegasus, Winneapolis, Des Mane, and San Prancisco all came over to Sweet Apple Acres for an interview with Applejack and Applebloom. Even as the two ponies were trying to collect the apples that were needed for what Applejack discovered to be Manehattan's upcoming Nightmare Night celebration, they were harassed by photographers and interviewers to the point where Big Mac had to chase them off just so the family could work in peace.

After completing her chores for the morning, Applejack decided to take a walk over to the Ponyville Hospital to see if anything had developed with Equestria's newest arrival. Along the way, she passed by Pinkie Pie who was gathering various party supplies for something the farm pony wasn't really sure what for.

"Hey Pinkie." Applejack said as she walked over to her friend. "What you got all that stuff for?"

"Oh hey AJ!" The pink pony replied in her usual happy tone as she set down a bag filled with streamers. "I'm stocking up for when I'll be throwing that strange creature a "Welcome to Equestria!" party. I kinda used the last of my streamers and balloons decorating it's room as a "Get Well and Wake Up Soon!" theme."

"I see." The farm pony responded as she looked at her friend's bag. "Speaking of which, do you know how that thing's doing? It looked like it had quite a tussle with a timberwolf."

"Twilight's guessing that the red stuff coming from it's hoof might be it's blood or something, so some science ponies are checking out a sample." Pinkie replied. "But she said that it's looking like it could wake up anytime now."

"Anytime?" A soft voice asked from behind both ponies. Applejack turned to see Fluttershy as she hovered just inches off the ground, carrying a bushel of carrots, presumably for her bunny. "Oh! I can't wait to finally see how this creature acts. But at the same time, I'm a little nervous too."

"Ah shoot." Applejack said as the pegasus flew closer. "I'm sure the thing is peaceful. It didn't attack me and Applebloom when we found it."

"I suppose so." Fluttershy replied. "But still, it's better to be safe than sorry. I remember seeing it when Twilight and Rainbow Dash brought it in. It's so big."

"I bet it's just as tall as Princess Celestia!" Pinkie blurted out.

"Could be." Applejack replied. "It certainly towered over me and my sis."

"Well, I'd love to stay and talk some more." Fluttershy said. "But I gotta get these carrots home to Angel. I'll be sure to go to the Hospital to meet you guys when I'm done feeding the animals." With a smile and a wave, the yellow pegasus flew off towards her cottage. As she flew off, the two earth ponies began walking to Sugarcube Corner so Pinkie could drop her supplies off.

"So Applejack...." Pinkie said as they walked. "How's that harvest of yours coming along?"

"It's coming along nicely." Applejack replied. "Just wish these darn newsponies would leave us alone."

"Well, maybe once the creature wakes up, the newsponies will be all around it instead of you guys."

"I suppose so." The farm pony said as the two mares arrived at their destination. As Pinkie Pie stepped inside to take care of her things, Applejack leaned against the side of the building. "Just hope this thing won't lash out at us when it wakes up." A couple minutes passed before Pinkie emerged from inside.

"Okie dokie lokie." She said as she bounced up and down. "Lets go to the hospital." After a 10-minute stroll through Ponyville, the two earth ponies arrived at Ponyville Hospital, where they found Twilight nervously pacing back and forth in front of the main doors. "Hey Twilight!" Pinkie called out, startling the alicorn in the process. "Oops! Sorry. Didn't mean to scare you."

"Oh it's fine, Pinkie." Twilight replied while constantly looking up in the sky. "I'm just a little nervous. Nurse Redheart said that the creature could wake up at any moment since it's tossing and turning in it's bed."

"When did it start doing that?" Applejack asked as the trio stood outside.

"According to her..." Twilight replied. "It started doing that early this morning." She paused again to look up at the clear blue sky. "I called for Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, Cadance and my brother to come here so we could greet the creature when it finally wakes up since you said it could speak Equestrian." She said while pointing to the farm pony.

"All I know is that it called Applebloom and I quote..." She raised her front hooves in air quotes. "An adorable little pony."

"Interesting." Twilight replied. "Plus, given by what the nurses and doctors have discovered, they think that this is a stallion being."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, when they removed it's clothing to examine it, they found a feature that is similar to that of a stallion. I don't think I need to go into further detail as to what that certain part would be."

"I see." Applejack replied. "So what exactly does that mean?"

"I'm not sure." Twilight replied. "But if we can get permission from this creature, I'm sure the scientists in Canterlot want to perform some tests."

"Like what?"

"Again, I'm not sure." Twilight then began to pace back and forth again. "Oh I can't wait much longer! I have so many questions to ask!"

"Calm down sugarcube." Applejack said, placing a hoof on the alicorn's side. "You don't wanna overwhelm this thing with questions now, do ya?"

Twilight let out a long sigh in response. "No. That wouldn't do us any good. I just wish that we could get this over with." After she said that, the sound of doors being opened with force emanated from behind the Princess, startling her again.

"Excuse.... me.... Princess Twilight!?" An exhausted voice said. Turning around, Twilight and Applejack found Nurse Redheart standing in the doorway leading into the building. She was breathing heavily as though she had just got done taking part in the "Running of the Leaves" race.

"What is it Nurse Redheart? Are you okay?" Twilight replied as the pony regained her composure.

"Yes. I'm okay." She replied. "But...." She paused to look back inside the building through the glass doors. "It's awake."

"The creature's awake?!" Twilight cried out. "Oh! Finally I get the chance to interact with a new intelligent species!" The Princess began jumping around with joy and excitement.

"Twilight." Applejack said. "Remember. Don't overdo it now."

"I know." She replied as the group of ponies began making their way inside towards the room that the creature was in. "I wish Fluttershy, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash were here to meet this creature, but they can meet it later. We need to establish a good first impression with this creature." As they walked down the hall, the sounds of their hooves on the tiles echoed around them. "Nurse Redheart. Did the creature try attacking you at all when you saw it was awake?" Twilight asked as they stopped outside the door leading into the room.

"No."

"What did it do then? How did you find out that it was awake?"

"It said something about being on strong medication because I looked like a... pony."

"I see." Twilight said as the guards in front of the door moved aside. Her horn lit up in it's violet aura before the doorknob became enveloped in the same colored aura as well. With a simple turn of her head, the door swung open, allowing the group of ponies to see inside. Immediately, all eyes focused on the bed and it's occupant. Twilight could see that the creature was leaning against the headboard with it's left hoof in a sling. Looking up, the Princess could see the creature's blue eyes were gazing at the group. "So far, so good. It's not making any kind of moves against us." The alicorn thought to herself as she stepped over to the bed. "Hello." She said to the creature while waving a front hoof at it. "My name is Twilight Sparkle. On behalf of all of us here...." She looks back at Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Nurse Redheart. "I welcome you to Equestria."

The creature's eyes grew wide after hearing Twilight's words. It then stretched out it's right hoof before turning it's attention back to the group of ponies. "Equestria?" The creature asked. "So I'm not on any medicine that's making me hallucinate?"

"You aren't on any medication at all." Nurse Redheart replied. "All we've done was apply some healing magic to your hoof."

"My hoof?" It asked while looking down towards the sling. "You mean my arm?" The ponies all looked at eachother with confused looks on their faces before Twilight looked back at the creature.

"May I ask what species you are?" She asked.

"I'm a human." It replied. "But my name is Nathan Bridgeport."

"Well. It is an honor to meet you, Nathan." Twilight said. "I must say that you are very fortunate that Applejack found you in the Everfree Forest." She pointed a hoof over towards the farm pony who gave a sheepish smile in response. "Otherwise, we might not be having this conversation at all."

Nathan turned to look at Applejack. "I recognize you." He said as the mare stepped closer. "You and that smaller pony. I remember seeing the two of you before I blacked out." He then turned to look at Twilight and Nurse Redheart. "Is it alright if I stand? I feel like I've been lying on this bed for days."

"Yes. You may stand." Nurse Redheart replied. Slowly, Nathan turned and extended his legs over the side of the bed.

"I feel so... stiff." He grunted as he began to stand up. With a few audible cracking sounds, Nathan slowly arrived at a standing position, easily towering over the ponies.

"Woah!" Pinkie Pie cried out as she looked at the human. "I was right! You are as tall as Princess Celestia!"

"Who?" Nathan asked in confusion as he began to walk forward.

"The Princess who rules over all of Equestria." Twilight replied. "She, her sister, my sister-in-law, and my brother are on their way here to meet you as well."

"And they're all Royalty?"

"Yes."

"I see." Nathan replied before turning his attention back to Applejack. "So if this umm..." He paused to rub his hand underneath his chin. "Mare? Yes! That's it! If this mare didn't find me in this forest you spoke of, I'd probably be dead?" Twilight and Nurse Redheart both shook their heads. He then turned his attention back to Applejack. "Well then." Slowly, Nathan got down on one knee in front of the farm pony. "I am forever in your debt for saving my life."

"Ah shoot." Applejack replied as her cheeks began to turn red. "Don't worry about it. It was nothin'. I'm sure anypony else would've done the same thing."

"Anypony?" Nathan repeated. "Looks like I've got lots of things that I need to learn if I'm gonna be staying here." As he stood back up, Nathan's head brushed up against an orange balloon. "What the?" He said as he looked around the room and saw many different balloons and streamers. Turning back towards the bed, he noticed a banner that read "Get Well and Wake Up Soon" on it. "A little welcoming party for me?" He asked.

"Nope." Pinkie Pie replied. "This was just something I whipped up for when you woke up. The real welcoming party will happen later on."

"I see. Well I do appreciate the warm welcome. Thank you all so much." Nathan replied before looking down at his orange vest. "By the way..." He began. "Where is my locomotive?"

"Your what?" Twilight asked as she walked over.

"My diesel locomotive." He replied.

"You mean that big metal whatchamacallit?" Applejack asked. "I think it's still in the forest." She then looked at Twilight. "Is it still there?"

"Should be. Shining Armor put a protective shield around it so nopony could take anything from it."

"Nothing really to take from it other than my lunch box and some first aid supplies." Nathan replied. "Don't even know how I'm gonna get it out of there and onto some tracks where she belongs."

"Tracks? Train tracks you mean?" Twilight asked.

"You ponies have trains here?"

"Yes." Twilight replied. "We can show you around Ponyville if you like."

"Might as well." Nathan replied. "Better to start getting used to this new place sooner rather than later."

"Oh! Before I forget." Twilight began to say. "I know we just met and all, but I was wondering if you'd be willing to take part in some tests in Canterlot."

"Uhh... what kind of tests?"

"Well, I'm not exactly sure. We've already sent a sample of your blood to be studied. But I'm sure that our scientists would like to run some medical exams, physical tests, and a few others."

"Hmm...." Nathan said. "Am I free to say no?"

"Well I wouldn't force you to do something that you weren't willing to do."

"Good to hear." Nathan replied. "Tell you what. I'll think about it."

"Great!" Twilight exclaimed. "Well, how about we get started with your tour then, shall we?"

"Lead the way." Nathan replied as the group began walking out of the room.