Bonds Between Worlds

By Foxgear

Previously in Nico's life...

It was raining, but he didn’t care as he stumbled through the mud running as fast as he could after his target. His body felt strange, no it was strange, it was different from before. His claws were gone and he walked on two legs, it was a completely foreign feeling.

“MADHOOF!” He yelled into the storm, his voice drowned out by the roaring thunder overhead. Ahead of him the strange creature that is his target turned back and then started running away again.

Nico stood up on two wobbly legs, catching hold of tree truck for balance. Snorting angrily he sprinted again, stumbling over roots and rocks, but he persisted. Up ahead Madhoof came to a stop, a raging river flowed ahead of the mad scientist, the width of the river too wide to jump. The doctor hesitated, but Nico did not and tackled the mad doctor into the raging waters. They fought, each one trying to drown the other.

Grabbing hold of the scientist’s neck with his new appendages Nico tried to squeeze the life out of Madhoof, who randomly grabbed at his face in a poor attempt to escape his grasp. Madhoof’s eyes rolled back into his head and Nico was about to finish the job when they collided into a rock in the middle of the river.

The impact broke some ribs causing Nico to release his grip. He went one way, hitting a sand bank that leads to the shore, while Madhoof was carried further down river, his body disappearing within seconds.

Nico crawled to shore, pain racking his body as he made it to the base of a big apple tree. His vision was fading fast, and he could hear the sound of footsteps in the mud. Another creature, female, kneed in front of him. Her face was… familiar.

“Oh God are you alright?” She asked as his breaths became more ragged. “Momma! Momma! Come quick! This fella’s hurt!”

There was a flash of green and white as an older woman peered around the tree truck and gasped.

“What in the Sam hell is he doing out here?” She asked kneeling down for a better look, she frowned noticing his injuries. “I’ll go fetch Pa and one of the farmhands; you stay here and look after him Applejane!” The old woman yelled running off.

“I will,” Applejane replied, lightning flashed behind her lighting up her features enough for Nico to see her clearly. He didn’t know why, but she reminded him of Applejack.

“What’s your name?” She asked him. More than likely to keep him awake, so he answered knowing it was important he stayed awake.

“Nico, Nico Vega, Patroller 088.” She blinked, probably confused by what he said, her expression made him chuckle, which hurt to do.

“Well, I’m Applejane Apple, and don’t you worry Vega, I’m gonna take care you.”

Nico chuckled again, earning an irritated look from his savior. “What’s so funny?” She demanded, “And stop laughing your ribs are broken!”

“Sorry,” he said his vision fading fast, sweet Luna he was tired! “No pony calls me Vega, just Nico…”

Applejane looked at the man against the tree strangely as her Pa and Ma arrived with some ranch hands. She stared at the strange man; her brow frowned with confusion and curiosity.

“Did he say pony?” she wondered following after them.

Currently...

“Ah don’t like it! He’s just some stranger, what do we need to be going wastin’ our time on him for! We got enough trouble on our own, we don’t need some strangers' problem’s too!”

“Ah would agree, CrabApple, but he’s was injured and soaking wet. We couldn’t just leave him out there to die, that would have been even more trouble!”

From the other end of the table, someone slammed their fist down, causing all conversation to go silent. “Crab, Washington, our guest is still sleepin’. Crab it is not the Apple’s way’s to turn away those in need of help.”

“Yes, Granny Smith,” both Crab and Washington Apple replied retaking their seats.

Since bringing in the stranger the entire Apple clan has been in an uproar. Things were hard right now and the stranger needed medicine. Something that cost money, money the Apple’s didn’t have, but they still put up for the stranger. Some were less agreeable than most about the good deed.

Keeping quiet at the end of the table and trying to make herself as small as possible was eighteen years old, Applejane, the one who found the stranger. She sat in her muddy clothes, hoping her Uncle Crab wouldn’t look her way. She had only wanted to help, like her family always taught her to do. She didn’t mean for it to be so much trouble. It proved to be useless as Crab’s glare turned towards her. Making her sink into her chair as Crab rose back up again to yell despite Granny’s warning.

However a gentle, yet firm hand grabbed Applejane’s shoulder and Crab quickly sat back down, there was only one person that could do that. Craning her neck upwards Applejane met the twinkling eyes of her dear old grandfather and her mother Granny’s father, Bailey Apple, the current head of the Apple Clan.

“Crabby, mind your sister’s words, they are correct. It is not our way to abandon strangers.” Bailey smiled as he held up a beaded necklace with dog tags dangling from it. “Especially when that stranger is a soldier.” He dropped the dog tags into Applejane’s palm. “Why don’t you go see if our guest has woken up from all the noise yet, and give him these back while you’re at it.”

“Yes, sir,” Applejane quickly replied practically running out of the room.

Bailey took Applejane’s seat, well aware of the stares he was getting from his son and daughter Granny and Crab, and his son in law Washington. He didn’t reply, instead sipped his coffee and waited for them to speak their minds. As always Crab was the first to speak.

“What are you playing at old man? Got plans for the stranger and little AJ?” Crab sneered. “You saw what the guy’s chest looked like. Looked like someone tried to rip him open! He’s dangerous.”

Granny and Washington kept their tongues but shared Crab’s thoughts as they looked at Bailey, who was drinking from his mug again. When he finished he set his cup down and simply said, “So was I at his age. I saw his eyes; he had the same eyes I had when I came back from overseas. Hard and determined, I think you’ll find he’ll be a blessing rather than a curse.”

“And if you’re wrong?” said Granny jumping out of her chair. “This is my daughter you’re apparently trying to set up after all.”

Bailey chuckled, “You give me too much credit. I’m not trying to set up anything; I’m just letting the dice roll. That’s all. Where they land is any body’s guess, but I’m betting on this will be a good thing, trust me.”

Granny sank back into her, mumbling, “I do trust you, not him.” If Bailey heard her, he didn’t show it. In the end, it didn’t matter what they thought. This may be her home, but it was her father’s farm. He was the only reason she or rather any of them had a home. She just hoped he wasn’t going sick in the head.

Once the mummers died down Applejane moved away from the top of the stairs as quietly as she could. A silly childish habit of hers, eavesdropping on the
grownups, her mother would probably scold her telling it’s not something an eighteen-year-old lady should be doing, but she couldn’t help it. She was soon to graduate high school and would be sent off to college to learn more modern Agriculture methods. Something she wanted to do, but there had been some pushing from her mother and father. Uncle Crab wasn’t happy about it, though, thinking it was a waste of money, he got a whack from grandfather’s cane for saying that.

Speaking of her grandfather, she wondered what he was thinking about the stranger. Jiggling the dog tags in her hand she read the name inscribed on it, reading NP 088, Nico Vega. She assumed the number was his identification number, though it seemed a little short, he must be part of a special branch or something. She also didn’t recognize the name, but maybe grandpa did, that might be why he was being so nice to Mr. Vega she reasoned before another questioned presented itself in her head.

(How old is he?) She wondered as she opened the door. She had only gotten a glimpse of his mud covered his face, but he didn’t seem that old… Applejane’s thoughts came to a quick stop as she stared at Nico Vega, awake and standing naked in front of her.

“Uhm… hi…”

Never being in such a situation Applejane did the only thing her brain could think to do, she screamed!

He was warm, toasty warm, he was wrapped up in something, probably a blanket. Did somepony find him? Was he back on the Moon Cutter? No, it was too quiet. There was no roaring of the engine or the stomping of the ponies marching through the halls.

Getting nowhere just lying here. Nico rolled falling with a muffled ‘thump’ to the floor, the blankets cocooned around his body cushioning his fall. However, that didn’t stop the pain flaring through his body. Nico quickly untangled himself, cursing through his teeth as he held his sides, it felt like he broke some ribs!

Taking deep calming breaths Nico supported himself against the wall, waiting for the pain to go away. Once it finally it did and his vision cleared he was amazed to see that the floor was much further away from usual. He was not a tall pony, often called the runt of the litter by his fellow patrollers, but his height wasn’t the only thing that was strange. His claws were dull and spongy, and his hind legs… well, they were weird, he had toes!

Spotting a mirror in the room, he hobbled over to it and looked at his reflection, he had no idea what he was, but it was him he guessed. His muzzle was extremely short and his face was much more angular, and his gentiles… well, they were different.

The door to the room opened and the girl he vaguely remembered seeing before blacking out stood horrified in the doorway, pointing a finger at his nether region and stuttering. He looked at her and his reflection, he was naked, with only white bandages around his ribs as cover and she was fully clothed. Whatever these creatures were they seemed to prefer clothes, makes sense, they didn’t seem to have a lot of hair for warmth.

“Hi,” he greeted. Her mouth opened to screamed and he quickly crossed the room, slapping his hand over her mouth. Hissing as his ribs flared in pain. Her eyes widened with fear and he quickly backed off. “Sorry, sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you or stand naked in front of you, but I just woke up this way. Would you perhaps happen to have some clothes for me?”

The girl gulped, clearing trying to keep her composure as her cheeks turned bright red. Her eyes seemed to travel down a lot, he wondered if it was mating seasons for these creatures. Well maybe not, he wasn’t feeling frisky; maybe she had to be naked too? He didn’t know, also this wasn’t the time to figure out mating habits. He needed clothes (He was starting to feel cold) and he needed to figure out what he was and where he was.

“Sure, I’ll be right back,” The girl said absentmindedly, her eyes still lingering, he just stood there and waited for her to get the clothes. Eventually, she did turn away, running down the hall with her hands over her face. She entered one of the other rooms and after several minutes came back with a bundle of clothes. She dropped them on the floor when she returned, looking surprised for some reason. “Aren’t you gonna cover up? You’re in front of a lady!” She whispered harshly.

“Oh… sorry,” replied Nico bending down to pick up the clothes. There sure were a lot, shirts, pants, and… something else… undergarments? Did they wear those under all these layers too? These creatures must have no tolerance for the cold at all. “Well… I’ll just put these on.”

“What are you doing?” The girl asked with alarm.

Nico gave her a deadpanned look, “I’m putting on clothes like you asked me to, what’s wrong now?”

“Why are you doing it in front of me?” She nearly screamed.

Nico blinked, “Is that not proper?”

Now it was Applejane’s turn to blink, in fact, her eye was twitching, “NO!”

“Applejane, is everything alright up there?” Granny Smith called from downstairs.

“Everything is fine mom!” Applejane pushed Nico deeper into the room and grabbed the door handle. “Just get dressed!” She hissed slamming the door. Once the door closed she slides down to the floor with her back against the door. She couldn’t believe what she just saw; she just saw her first naked male in her life! Her face turned completely red and she swore steam was coming out her ears. Celestia and Luna were going to tease her forever once they found out, and they would, she couldn’t lie to save her life when those two tagged team her!

The door behind her opened and she fell on her back looking up a now fully clothed Nico, wearing her dad’s old clothes, he knelt down and offered a hand, “Here, I’m Nico Vega by the way.”

“I know, your dog tags said so, I’m Applejane Apple.” She held up his tags, which he took, but looked confused by them for some reason, Nico was a very strange man she reasoned.

(They really do look similar, she and Commander Applejack, even have similar names, but that might just be the Apple’s in general.)

“Nice to meet you Applejane, now if you could kindly tell me what I am, I would very much appreciate it.”

“Uh, thanks… and what now? Did you hit your head? You’re a human or as far as I know. You were in pretty bad shape, not many survive falling into a river on a cold rainy night and get their ribs bashed to pieces. You’re one tough guy, Nico.”

“Seems so…” he wondered what he should do. He clearly wasn’t in Equestria or in anyplace anypony would know him or be able to help him. He was on his own. “Sorry to bother you… folks,” calling them ponies would be silly, “but I’ll just get myself out of your hair.”

Before he could walk to two feet Applejane’s arm blocked his path, “Hold it right there mister! We spent a lot of medicine on you and on top of that you’re still hurt! You’re not going anywhere!”

Nico sighed, great he was indebted, and he didn’t have any bits to pay them back. “I don’t have money. Who can I talk to about repaying you? I can work off my debt if that’s what it takes.”

“Hold your horses, first get better, then we can talk about repayment, but I guess if you’re fixing to square away from your debt. Talk to Grandpa Bailey downstairs, he’s old guy with a cane.”

“Thanks,” Nico steadied himself against the wall and made for the stairs, again Applejane got in his way.

“I told you to rest!”

He growled and forcibly, yet gently, moved her out of the way, “I got more important things to do than lie on my flank.” He took a step down and hissed, his rib cage burning with pain that felt like a thousand electric shocks to his nerves.

“See you’re not fit to walk!”

“Shut up! I’m fine! Commanders Sixes didn’t quit when he got hurt, neither will I!” More spasms shook throughout his body, making him cough up blood on the wall. His knees gave out and he sunk to ground sitting on the steps breathing hard.

“Having trouble up there Applejane?” Granny inquired from the base of the stairs.

“This guy is as stubborn as grandpa! Can some of yawl help me get his back in bed?” From below Bailey’s boisterous chuckles could be heard, making Applejane and Granny roll their eyes.

“Ha, I knew I like this young man!” Bailey said slapping his knee. He appeared at the bottom of the stairs and grabbed Nico by the collar, hoisting him up a powerful withered hand. “Now, don’t be causing the lady folk to fuss, young man, though they are rather cute when they get flustered. I used to tease the nurse at boot camp all the time in my youth too.”

“That nurse was grandma,” Applejane said humorlessly, her grandpa might actually be trying to set her up with this mule!

“Aye she was, and now you’re his nurse. As for repayment, we’re a bit short this year for the field work, and you look like you’re in need of lodging and a job soldier, so how about you work for us? Your wounds should be healed by spring when we need ya, but there’s still plenty of work to before then and after. We’ll give you food and board, but no pay till you work off that medicine. How does that sound?”

Nico look at the lively old man and did the only thing that seemed right, he nodded, and that’s how he started working at Sweet Apple Acres.

Author's Notes:

I've been playing with this story for awhile, but never quite put it to pen because OC focused stories don't usually get the time of day, but I've decided to go forward with it because of reasons. The story is rated M, not sure if there will be sex in it, but there will be adult jokes and situations. It's not going to be long, only about six chapters, or so and the rest of the chapters will probably longer and each one will be at a different point in Nico and Applejane's life.

Story begins in late 80's

Hope you all enjoy!