"What the hell am I supposed to do now?" Nathan thought to himself as he walked along a dirt path leading out of the forest. "I'm stuck in a world that I know very little about. I'll never be able to talk to my family or friends again. And to make things worse, I'm broke and homeless." As he walked, a tear slowly formed in his eye before it streaked down his cheek. The amount of feelings rushing through his mind began to make his head hurt to the point to where he stopped just before exiting the forest to lean against a tree, keeping his face hidden from anyone who might pass by. "Why did this have to happen to me?!" He cried out as tears began streaming from his eyes. "What did I do to deserve this?!" As he kept himself leaning against the tree, making no attempt to hide his crying, Nathan felt something gently place itself against his hip.

"That's it, sugarcube." A familiar voice said. "Get it out of your system. I know that you must be really upset."

"Upset is an understatement of how I feel right now." Nathan replied while wiping tears from his eyes. He then turned his head to see the pony that saved his life having her hoof against his thigh. "I never thought I could experience such a mixture of sadness and anger until now." After saying that, Nathan chose to sit down on the grass while keeping his back against the tree. This allowed Applejack to sit down next to him and place a hoof on his shoulder. "I've lost practically everything I've ever had."

"Now that ain't true." Applejack replied. "You've got your health, you've got these clothes, and while you may have lost your friends back home, you've got six friends here that I'm sure would do anything to help you adjust to living here."

"I do?" He asked before looking to meet Applejack's green eyes.

"Well of course ya do." She replied before pointing her hoof over to his left. Nathan turned and saw each of the other ponies, minus Pinkie, standing a few feet away. "Even though Discord thought it would've been better to leave ya be, after he explained what happened, we all decided to come after you to try and help you through this."

"Applejack's right." Twilight said as she stepped forward and sat down next to the human, placing her hoof on his other shoulder as the others huddled around him. "Nathan." Twilight continued. "I'm sure you must be taking this really hard right now. While I may not know what it's like to never be able to go back to where I came from. What I do know is that you have an amazing opportunity right in front of you."

"And what exactly would that be?"

"You have the opportunity for a fresh start. A clean slate. You have the chance to rewrite your destiny." Nathan looked into Twilight's eyes after she said that. "And like Applejack said. You have six friends here that would be willing to anything they could to help you get through this." Her statement was confirmed by each pony nodding their heads in agreement. "For starters, if you need time, I can write to Princess Celestia and the others to tell them to wait a few days or so before meeting you."

"No. That won't be necessary." Nathan replied. He then let out a soft sigh before meeting Twilight's gaze once again. "Even though it's going to take some time to get over this, I'm not gonna let it stop me from meeting this Princess of yours." After saying that, he slowly got back up to his feet. "After all, maybe meeting her and the others will help me get past this."

"Are you absolutely sure?" Twilight asked. "It would be perfectly fine if you needed more time."

"Thank you." Nathan replied. "But I'll be alright. Like I said. It'll take time to get past this, but I'm not gonna let this ruin your day." After saying that, he started walking back towards the way he came.

"Where are you going, Nathan?" Rarity shouted as the human walked deeper into the forest. "Ponyville is that way." She emphasized her statement by pointing towards the open field of grass that was beyond a few trees.

"I just need to go get what I came here for to begin with." Nathan called back. "It won't take long." After hearing that, each pony followed the human back towards the magical dome surrounding the wrecked locomotive. As he walked, Nathan noticed that the ponies were smiling once again as they all closely followed him.

"Hey Nathan, may I ask you something?" Twilight asked as she walked up beside him.

"Sure. What is it?"

"Well." Twilight replied. "I was just wondering if you needed any help with getting your machine back on some rails. We have a track that runs through Ponyville so it would be close by."

"I could use all the help I can get when it comes to that." Nathan replied. "Do you have a crane that is strong enough to lift it?"

"I don't think that'll be necessary." Twilight replied. "I could probably lift it with my magic." Hearing that made Nathan instantly look down at the little pony. He then started laughing at what she said. "Uhh... I don't get it." She said as she looked at the laughing human. "What's so funny?"

"I'm sorry." Nathan replied after getting his laughing to stop. "It's just that 1506 weighs almost 170 tons. I don't see how one pony could lift it by herself."

"You'd be surprised at what Twi's capable of doing. She saved Ponyville from being attacked by an ursa minor by herself." Rainbow Dash said after flying over to them. "I'm sure she can lift it." After she said that, the magical dome came into view once again.

"What the hell is an ursa minor?"

"It's a magic bear that has fur that looks like the night sky." Twilight replied. "It took lots of magic just to soothe it into slumber."

"Interesting." Nathan replied while he stopped just outside the dome. Twilight's horn started glowing and soon, the entrance grew to meet Nathan's height. "Thank you." He said while walking in without having to crouch down.

"You're welcome." She replied. "I'll let you get what you came here for before I try moving your machine."

"Alright then." With that said, Nathan quickly jogged over to his locomotive before getting onto the steps. Upon entering the cab, he began to look for what he wanted to get. "Now where did I leave that darn thing?" He thought before his eyes landed on his metal lunch box. "There you are." He said as he picked up the item and promptly exited the cab.

"So what did you need?" Twilight asked as Nathan hopped off the engine.

"Just needed to grab this." He replied as he held his lunch box for all of the ponies to see. "But more specifically, what's inside."

"What's in there?" Rainbow asked as Nathan crouched down and set the container on the grass. As he opened the lid, he reached inside and pulled out a small rectangular object. Twilight and the others moved closer to see what it was. "Okay, I'll bite." Rainbow said as she looked. "What is it?"

"This is my iPhone." Nathan replied. "It's a device that allowed me to communicate with my friends whenever I wanted to."

"How exactly does it work?" Twilight asked as she gazed at the phone.

"Well, let's just pretend that you had a phone just like this." Nathan replied. "All I'd have to do is enter a few numbers, press send, and I'd be able to talk to you from almost anywhere and we'd hear eachother as though I was right next to you." Twilight's eyes lit up as soon as she heard that. Nathan then pushed the small button on top of the phone. But instead of having his screen light up, nothing happened. "Darn. Battery must be dead." He thought as he put the phone in his pocket. "Wonder how I'll be able to charge it here." Turning his attention back towards the others, Nathan noticed that Twilight looked to be having trouble processing what she just heard. "Uhh.... Twilight? You okay?"

"Oh! Yes. I'm fine." She replied with her cheeks beginning to turn red. "I just never thought that what you described could be possible. Your species must be truly advanced to have this impressive technology."

Nathan chuckled after hearing that. "You think that's impressive?" He asked before pointing at his engine. "Just wait til you see the power that this old girl has."

"I'm sure we'd all like to see that." She replied followed by all of the others giving their respective approvals. "But first. Let's see if I can get uhh... her... onto some tracks." Nathan and the others took a few steps back as purple magic started to envelop Twilight's horn. The human then set his sight on his engine as it began to get enveloped by the same magic as well. The ground around them soon started shuddering as he could hear Twilight's grunts. For at least a few minutes or so, Nathan couldn't see any movement as far as his diesel was concerned.

"Twilight!" Nathan called out. "If you can't do it, stop! Don't hurt yourself! We can find another way to move her!" But the little alicorn wouldn't call it quits yet. The glowing around her horn intensified as she tried giving her magic more strength. Soon, the human noticed chunks of dirt moving from where the front coupler was buried. He then saw his engine move slightly upwards to where he could see just underneath the wheels. "No way...." He said to himself as Twilight slowly made 1506 rise just a few feet off of the ground. The engine then moved forward until it was completely away from the small trench that it made upon arrival. "I can't believe she's actually doing this!" All of the other ponies, even Fluttershy, was cheering Twilight on as she continued to make the heavy object float through the air.

"I can't hold it like this much longer!" Twilight cried out as the magic around her horn began to flicker. The locomotive's weight was proving to become too much, even for her. Even though the engine was a few feet in the air, a sudden drop would result in serious damage. But just as it looked like it was going to fall, a mixture of light blue, dark blue, and yellow auras engulfed it just as the purple aura disappeared.

"Twily!" A voice called out, prompting Nathan, Twilight, and the others to look towards the direction that the voice came from just as the magical dome surrounding the area vanished. Standing where the entrance once stood was a group of four ponies, one bright white unicorn with a mane and tail comprised of many shades of blue followed by three alicorns, each with their horns glowing as they collectively held 1506 in their magical grasps while not looking to have much trouble doing so.

"Hey.... Shining." Twilight groaned as the unicorn rushed over to her. "I thought.... you guys were gonna.... meet us at Sugarcube Corner."

"Well, we were. But Princess Luna wanted to come see this thing that I got ordered to protect." He replied. "Guess it was a good thing we showed up when we did." He then looked at the engine before casting his gaze on Nathan, briefly exchanging glances between him and Twilight who looked exhausted. His eyes soon locked onto Nathan again as a look of anger appeared on his face. "What's your problem?!" Shining yelled. "Why did you make her do that?!"

"Woah!" Nathan replied as he held up his hands in defense. "First off, calm down! Secondly, I didn't make her do anything. I told her that if it was too much then she should've stopped."

Shining's eyes narrowed on him before looking to Twilight's friends. "Is that true?"

"Yeah." Applejack replied. "He did tell Twilight to stop when she couldn't get it to move at first."

Shining looked at the farm pony before looking back at Nathan until he rested his gaze back on Twilight. He then chuckled a little. "Well little sis. Looks like your stubbornness got the better of you... again."

"Hey!" Twilight protested. "I got it moving, didn't I?"

"I suppose so." He replied. Turning his head towards Nathan again, he rubbed the back of his head with his hoof. "Sorry about that. Guess I got a little ahead of myself. Name's Shining Armor."

"It's alright." Nathan replied. "I would've done the same thing." He extended his hand out, prompting Shining to slowly do the same. "So I take it that you're the ponies that Twilight wrote to?"

"That is correct." The white alicorn with a multi-colored mane and tail that flowed replied. She, along with the other two, stepped forward while gently letting the engine down onto the grass. "I am Princess Celestia." She said while holding her hoof out. Before Nathan shook it, he noticed that all of the other ponies were bowing in her presence.

"It's an honor to meet you. My name is Nathan Bridgeport." The human replied before shaking her hoof. "I'm sure that I've caused quite the commotion when I came here."

"The honor is mine." She replied. "And you are right when you say that. When we heard about your arrival, we immediately decided that we postpone our Princess Summit until we could meet you. Though I do need to apologize for Discord's actions. I guess I should've been more clear on what he could've done to prove he was reformed."

"Well, he did save me from death. So I guess that is a good thing." He said. "Though me not being able to completely go back home was a hard thing to swallow."

"I can understand that." Celestia replied. She then turned her head towards the other two alicorns. "Forgive me. I haven't introduced the others." She directed her hoof to point towards the smaller dark blue alicorn with a mane that looked like the night sky. "This is my younger sister, the Princess of the Moon, Princess Luna."

"Pleased to meet you." She said as Nathan shook her hoof.

"And this..." Celestia continued as she pointed towards the pink alicorn. "is my adopted niece, the Princess of Love, Princess Cadance."

"It is an honor to meet a new species." She said as Nathan shook her hoof. "Especially a peaceful one."

"Yes." Nathan said. "I'm not exactly a violent guy until something or someone attacks me. Once that happens, then I reserve the right to defend myself in the way I see fit."

"That is good to know." Celestia replied. "So Twilight. What exactly were you doing with this?" She asked before pointing her hoof over towards Nathan's engine.

"I was trying to take it over to the tracks that run through Ponyville." Twilight replied. "That thing is a loco...mo...tive."

"A what?"

"It's a diesel locomotive." Nathan replied. "Twilight said that you have trains in this world. This is an engine from my world."

"Fascinating." Cadance said. "I've never seen anything like it!"

"Nor have I." Luna added. They all stared at the engine in amazement before Celestia looked back toward Twilight and Nathan.

"So..." She began to say. "Shall we get this thing back to Ponyville? It is starting to get late."

"Yes." Twilight replied. Upon saying that, she tried to get her magic going again, only for it to sputter out the tip of her horn. "That thing must've really drained me." She said. "How about we meet you all back at the train station? I think there might be a siding close by that this can be set on."

"That sounds good to me." Celestia replied before she, Luna, and Cadance began using their magic to lift the diesel into the air once again. "We'll meet you there." The three alicorns then spread their wings and took flight, safely holding the heavy locomotive in their magical grips as it followed them into the sky.

"I never thought I'd see the day when I'd see a diesel flying through the sky." Nathan said to himself as he watched his diesel disappear over the treetops.

"Come on." Twilight said. "We'd better get moving." With that said, the group, along with the members of the Royal Guard who were still there, began to make their way back to Ponyville. Along the way, Nathan couldn't help but notice that the ponies seemed eager to get back so they could see his engine in action. But as they continued, Twilight still looked to be worn out from lifting the diesel by herself.

"Hey." Nathan said after noticing Twilight struggling to keep up. "Need some help?"

"No. I'm fine." Twilight replied before momentarily stumbling over herself. "Well... I may be a little tired still from what I did back there."

"I can see that." He replied. "If you want, I could try and carry you."

"You'd do that?" She asked. "For me?"

"Of course." Nathan replied. "After all, we're friends. Aren't we? You helped me, so the least I can do is help you in return." This made Twilight smile as she nodded her head. Nathan then bent down and slowly wrapped his arms around Twilight's body. "Up... you go." He grunted as he lifted Twilight up to his shoulders. The little alicorn's eyes grew wide as Nathan got her into a manageable position to where he could comfortably carry her while still keeping up with the others.

"Thank you." Twilight softly said into Nathan's ear. Shining Armor turned his head and looked back to see his younger sister being carried by the human. His eyes then met Nathan's before he gave an approving nod. Once he did that, he turned back to look ahead towards the open fields of grass with Ponyville just beyond them.

"Anytime." Nathan replied as he continued to walk along with the rest of the group. After what seemed like an hour of walking, the group of ponies arrived at Ponyville Station as the Princesses were waiting for them with 1506 still held in their magic. "Are you guys even tired after holding that thing up for so long?" Nathan asked as he walked onto the platform while still carrying Twilight.

"A little." Celestia replied. "This thing is heavy. But since there are three of us holding it, we could keep it in the air for a long time."

"That's impressive." Nathan said before he could see an empty siding just next to the platform. "Well, lets get the old girl back on some rails, shall we?"

"Agreed." Luna replied as the three alicorns slowly maneuvered the locomotive over the siding.

"Sorry Twilight." Nathan said. "I gotta put you down so I can guide this thing properly."

"That's fine. Thank you again for carrying me. You didn't have to." She replied as Nathan set her back down.

"It's no problem." Nathan replied. "Also... Seeing as how I'm going to be living here from now on. I guess it wouldn't hurt to have these scientists you mentioned do some tests." This made Twilight's smile appear once again. "But only under one condition."

"Of course." Twilight said. "What would that be?"

"No shots or needles." He replied. "I really don't like them."

"Agreed." Twilight responded. "I'll see to it that they'll know not to give you any shots."

"Thanks." Nathan replied before walking off of the platform to stand next to the siding. "Alright!" He called out. "Bring her down gently!" The Princesses all began to lower 1506 down towards the rails. "Steady!" Nathan called out as he began checking to see if the wheels were lined up with the rails. Minutes passed as a crowd of ponies gathered to watch what was going on. "Little bit to the right!" The diesel moved slightly to the right while still being lowered. Soon, a thud could be heard as all of the wheels made contact with the rails. "Touchdown!" Nathan called down as the magic enveloping the diesel disappeared. The ponies all around them all cheered and hollered as Nathan saw confetti start raining down from above.

"Best "Placing A Whatchamacallit Onto Some Tracks" party ever!" Nathan heard a familiar voice cry out as Pinkie Pie fired more confetti from a little cannon. Soon, ponies with cameras immediately began taking pictures of the diesel and Nathan while also asking him questions about what he was, where he came from, and how he got to Equestria. This continued for what felt like hours.

After the crowds dispersed, Nathan walked back onto the platform to see the Princesses were still waiting for him. "Thank you." He said. "I couldn't have gotten this thing back onto some tracks without you."

"You're quite welcome." Celestia replied. "I'm looking forward to seeing what that thing can do."

"Well, you'll find out soon. I just need to make sure that everything on her is good to go before I take her out onto the main line."

"Come on everypony." Pinkie Pie said. "Lets give Nathan the best party he's ever had!" Nathan simply smiled at the enthusiastic pink pony and nodded his head. After that, they all began to walk over to Sugarcube Corner.

"Well...." Nathan thought to himself as he looked back at his diesel as it rested comfortably on the rails. "I kept my promise to you, old girl." He then chuckled to himself before looking back towards his new friends. "Maybe it won't be so bad living here after all."