I glanced over to Applejack as we approached the short fence, then back to where we were heading. I could see what must be thirty or so little ponies of various young ages playing, talking, eating, and just standing around. Every last one of them turned and the silence was deafening as they looked up at me with wide eyes. Three of them broke out into ear-to-ear smiles and said together. “Shane, you came!”

I offered the fillies a smile, making note of the pink and grey-coated fillies they were hanging out with. Reaching up, I tipped my old stetson to them. “I did. Your teacher asked me to come down and talk to you all after lunch break about who and what I am, and perhaps answer a few questions.”

I heard a voice I knew speak up. “Mister McDonald, over here!” turning to find a little white thinly-bodied pegasus colt snap a picture of me.

“Well, if it isn’t Featherweight, right?”

His eyes grew wide with twinkles in them, as did a few other of the foals. “Whoa, you remember my name?”

I gave a nod. “You asked a good question. Well thought out, and it was my honor to call on you first of all the press pe...er, ponies.”

Right then, a million questions flew at me all at once. I blinked and had to smile. Damn if the little fillies and colts weren’t cute as a button. However, a voice cut through it all.

“Okay, everypony, come on. Let's give Mister McDonald a chance to settle in. Everypony, come inside lunch is about over anyways,” looking at me, the mare with three flowers of a cutie mark smiled. “Thank you for coming, Mr—”

I cut her off, waving a hand. “Please, Miss Cheerilee, just call me Shane, okay?”

Applejack smiled. “All right, you are in good hooves here. Cortland said he was going to stick around, so ah am goin' to head back to the farm. Y’all come on home when you are done. Ifn’s you could walk Apple Bloom home fer me?”

I gave her a nod. “My pleasure, Boss.”

She shook her head and walked off. I did watch her a moment, she had called it home. Not back to the farm, but to come home. Was it that? Only time would tell, but I already felt somewhat close to her, and by close, an extension to her family.

I turned back and watched all the little foals heading in the door. Cortland stepped up next to me and gave a smirk. “You know, if they attack, your on yer own, I am high tailin' it out of here.”

I rolled my eyes with a well-natured grin. “My hero, the solar guard, afraid of a bunch of little colts and fillies.”

He grunted. “Like heck,” gesturing, “the Cutie Mark Crusaders are in there.”

I laughed as I walked on in, having to duck my head a little bit to keep from smacking the top of the door frame. I again took a pause at the sea of brightly-colored faces looking up at me from desks with eager smiles and that youthful zeal to learn all kids seem to have.

Looking around, I noted the purple mare had a large pillow set down next to her desk. She smiled up at me. “Princess Twilight said it would be easier on your body to sit on a pad, so I brought one of the ones from my sofa at home. I hope this works okay?”

Taking my hat off, I gave a nod. “Sure does, ma’am, thank you.” I slowly sat down and tucked my legs under me some as she addressed the class.

“Now, we all studied the paper and the articles, including the one Featherweight printed in the Foal Free Press. So, who would like to remind the class what species Mister McDonald is?”

Hooves shot up as I watched her point to the pink filly with the grey streak in her mane. “Diamond Tiara.”

Now I knew a bit about this filly, her home life, how she had grown up a bully. I had held my daughter as she cried when the little pink filly turned her ways around. It had been a joyful moment in our time watching the show together. As such, I was curious what her answers would be.

“Miss Cheerilee, he is a human, and he comes from a place called Earth. The papers said he didn’t know how he came here, but that he is a guest of the princesses for now.”

I watched her head turn to look at me. “May I ask a question now, please?”

Glancing at the teacher, who gave a nod, I smiled some and returned the nod. “You may. Diamond Tiara, was it?”

Her face lit up, the kind of smile really only children get. “I am curious. The things on your upper legs... um, hands, right? You don’t walk on them?”

I shook my head and held up my hand. “No. Well, we can if I did a handstand, but, I don’t have quite the coordination to pull that off very well. We use them to grip things, carry things, and manipulate items,” I picked up my hat, spun it around on my fingertip, caught it and with a flourish spun it around to land on my head, reaching back up to take it off again.

They all gave soft claps at the impromptu little show, and the pink filly gave a soft but genuine smile. “Thank you, Mister McDonald.”

Once more, a sea of hooves lifted into the air, I glanced again at the purple teacher mare, who gestured for me to take control. I looked back and pointed at a little paint colt.

“Yes, you.”

He stood up on his chair to be seen more clearly. “My name is Pipsqueak, sir.” I blinked. He had the most adorable cockney accent. “I would like to ask, if I may, why do you wear clothing all the time, even in the pictures?”

I gave a wink to him. “Another very good question. Well, Pipsqueak, you see among humans, going without clothing is taboo. We are raised to wear them in public and mostly in private, as well. Consider if you will we do not have fur or scales to keep us warm and safe. So, we developed clothing both for a practical reason, and social reasons.”

He beamed a huge smile and sat down. “Thank you, sir.”

So for the next hour or so, questions were asked and answered. It was fun, even if a few of them bordered on uncomfortable. I dealt with it. Each of the fillies and colts introduced themselves, asked a question or two. Then they all listened quite intently as they took notes. I was really rather impressed, to be truthful.

Finally it came time to end the day, and many of the foals were slightly upset by that, after been having a lot of fun. To be quite frank, I was with them on that. This was almost cathartic for me. After saying my goodbyes, I headed outside and waited.

Soon enough, a group of fillies and one little colt came over. I knew most of them already, but kept my understanding hidden.

“Well, Apple Bloom, I know Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, and your name was Diamond Tiara, correct?” gesturing to each.

They nodded. Apple Bloom spoke up. “This here is Rumble, and that there is Silver Spoon.”

I gave a smile back. “Now, what are you all doing?”

Apple Bloom once more spoke up. “Well, ma sister walks me home every day from school, and everypony tags along and breaks out of the group at their homes.”

“Oh, I see. Well, then. Your sister asked me to walk you home today so, I guess it is my…”

I was cut off by a shriek of joy from group, as the little grey pegasus colt shouted. “Cool!”

I rubbed my left ear with a finger and gave a nod. “Yep, and... girls, could we not scream like that again?”

The group all blushed in embarrassment and nodded. With that, I turned, and was quickly surrounded by the group. I glanced back to make sure Cortland was coming along before starting out.

Not too far down the road, Rumble looked up, “Thank you, Mister McDonald,” waving with a wing as he took off and into the front door of a house. I sort of half listened to the girls all chatter back and forth as we continued down the center of town.

I took note of a few walking past, or working. A number of ponies stopped to give a wave or a smile to me and the fillies. I found myself reflecting on things. This is precisely how life should be. Everyone being friendly, helping each other. Sure, bad things happen, but for the most part everyone is good... everypony, whatever. I could almost hear a certain purple alicorn's lecture about it in my head.

Next to separate out was the pink filly, followed by the grey one. Both received hugs from their three amigos, then thanked me for accompanying them. I stood watch as they walked up a side street for some houses that looked to be quite of upper class construction. From the front doorstep of one, a brown stallion in a tie waved down the road to me. Seeing somepony was watching over the two, we continued.

“Shane, how come you stood and watched them walk up the road before Mr. Rich came out?”

I glanced down at the little white marshmallow of a unicorn. “Well, that is just what is right to do. I agreed to walk you all home, so I want to make sure you get there. Speaking of,” I gestured, seeing Rarity's shop. “That is where you are going, right? Miss Rarity lives there, and I recall someone telling me you stay with her.”

Sweetie Belle beamed up at me. “Yep! Well, most days, and Scoot is coming over to do homework.”

I glanced over to the tangerine pegasus filly who had a warm smile and was nodding her head. They both dashed off with a “Thank you, Shane!” while I stood and made sure they got in the door safely.

Giving a little sigh and a smile, I looked down at Apple Bloom. “You ready to—”

I was then cut off by a loud thud. Something came down hard next to me. Spinning with concern, I saw a grey pegasus shaking off her bright yellow mane. Glancing back at Cort who shrugged I looked back.

“Are you alright, Miss?”

She reached up to adjust her blue hat, and I took that moment to note her eyes were warm, friendly, but didn’t exactly aim in the same direction. She donned a mailpony uniform and had large saddlebags across her back. I knew who this was, but once again, I had to play dumb. Though, on the inside, I did give a little cheer. Who wouldn’t?

“Oh, I sure am! Thank you for asking,” she looked up. “You are that... hu-h'man, right?”

I chuckled. “Human, but you may call me Shane or Mister McDonald, if you wish.”

Again, her smile lit up. “I go by a lot of names, Mailpony, Derpy, Muffins, Ditsy... Oh! I have a letter for you, and Applejack said you would be walking the girls home from school,” she responded, fishing back into her bag as I blinked, and she produced the letter in her mouth. I reached out and took it, examining the envelope. It was addressed to me all right.

“Well thank you Miss, um...Derpy, if that is okay?” she nodded.

“That is fine. Got stuff to deliver, see ya!” and off she flew.

I looked at the letter, and found Apple Bloom had lifted up to put a hoof on my leg and try to get a look at it, too. I tilted it to show her and she lit up in smiles. “Hey, that there is from cousin Golden Delicious,” she paused. “She is the Apple family historian!”

I blinked and waited for her to drop back to her hooves before plucking open the flap. Unfolding it, I found the shaky writing inside a bit difficult to read, but I looked it over regardless.

“Seems your cousin is asking me for some information, where I am living, and so on.”

Apple Bloom gave a little giggle. “Ah bet because of what Applejack did, puttin' our name behind ya. Golden Delicious just wants to get your information for the family records.”

I pondered that some, then tucked the letter in my pocket, shooting Cortland a glance and seeing the unicorn had a smirk on his muzzle. “Ah may have let her know.”

Gee, thank you, Cort, some friend you are. I sighed. “Well, I suppose I should write her a letter back tonight.”

Apple Bloom perked up. “Can ah deliver it to the post office for ya?”

I glanced back down at the butter-yellow filly and her excited, sparkling eyes. “Well, that would be right nice of you to do. Thank you, Apple Bloom.”

---

Dinner with the Apples had been nice. It had been quite a few years since I sat down to a home cooked meal with a family like that. This time I managed to muscle my way into doing dishes, much to the protests from both Granny Smith and Applejack that I was a guest. I reminded them both I was not a guest, I owed them money and was a ward of the crown tell that was paid off. That had shut them both up, and let me do something to start earning my keep around the place. Big Macintosh had begun drying dishes next to me as I did the scrubbing and dirty work, with little Apple Bloom putting them away last.

I did find myself with a big warm grin when I overheard Granny mutter to Applejack in the other room. “Well, he is about as stubborn as an Apple, too. Boy just might fit in fine around here.

Boy... well, okay, she had years on me. I would let it slide. After that I had headed out to my ‘room’ and got a start at unpacking a few things. Sitting down at the desk, I stared at a sheet of yellowed parchment paper and a quill, of all things, sitting in a pot of ink. I picked it up and exhaled looking at the paper and leaned in, starting to write.

Dear Princess Celestia,

Well, it is my first full day here in Ponyville. We got my stuff moved to my home for the next three months. I spent the afternoon at the schoolhouse being introduced to a bunch of kids... uh, foals. Got trusted to escort a pack of them back to their parents too.

I guess I will be sending you stuff like this once a week or so. I don’t rightly know what to say, but I guess I will figure it out as time goes on.

I also guess I will be seeing you next week for our visit. I have not forgotten the conditions of my sentence and I will see it out. I guess I just want to say thank you for giving me a chance, both at making a home here as long as I am stuck here, and to make up for my wrong doing.

Yours for now,

Shane.

Looking it over again, I gently rolled it up. I pulled out of one drawer an odd green candle that I had been given by Twilight along with the stack of parchment and the quill set. Doing as instructed, I lit the candle with an old style strike anywhere wood match. It had a strange almost sickly-green glow to it. With a little trepidation, I moved the scroll to it, and in a flash it went up in embers! I yanked my hand back, but no heat had been felt. Watching as the embers spun around, then in that same green glow as the candle, flowed out the window and was gone.

“Well, shit,” I cursed out loud. Then I blinked as I heard a window throw up with a bang, out at the house, and a voice strong and colored with age call out.

“That will get you another bit added, sonny! You mind yer mouth!” before the window slammed down again.

Mental note to myself. Watch my mouth around that sweet old mare before she puts a hurt on me.