---

---

As many stories that start with a sad stroke, it was raining that night, not a very strong rain, it almost seemed like the skies were mocking the young colt, nothing dramatic, like a thunderstorm, or fierce winds, no, it was just a simple sprinkle that kept him wet and cold as he wandered the lands of Equestria.
He'd been doing that for quite a while now, ever since he found himself alone in the world, and fled from a place that didn't welcome him. The folks that stumbled upon him couldn't guess his motivations, or where he came from, or where he was headed. But that's nothing otherworldly, since not even himself knew most of these questions.

--

It was late at night, and the rain did not stop when he reached the far end of, what he didn't know was, Sweet Apple Acres. Exhausted by the rain and the long ride, he made it to a little barn, used to store the apples of the far end of the Apple Family domains. There, with no strength left in him and trying to make himself comfortable in a corner with some straw and the warmth of his own body, he fell asleep as the last thoughts of the day invaded his head and turned slowly into dreams.

"What in the hay? Hey, HEY! Who are you boy?" A deep voice woke him up, confused and scared he jumped out of his improvised bed, to see a big red stallion in front of him, compared to him, that pony could squeeze him in the blink of an eye.

"Oh woha, I'm sorry Mister, I crashed here yesterday, it was raining and I had been walking all day long, I'll pay for the stay..." Said the colt slowly.

The big stallion took a moment to observe the skinny pony in front of him he examined a piece of blue cloth he wore around his body, kind of like a wrapper, and after a pause he just said:

"Don't worry about it, but it's very early in the morning, you must be exhausted and hungry, come with me fella, we'll have something to eat." And continued "I just wanted to grab this...saddle... I left here yesterday" He finished while putting said saddle in his back. "It's useful to not get bruises when using the plow." Added.

"Uh, are you sure Mister? I wouldn't want to be a bother, I'll go my way really, I don't need fo-" Tried to say the colt, but he was interrupted by a very convenient gurgle of his stomach, craving for the food the red pony was offering.

"Nonsense, is not a problem at all, c'mon. And by the way, I'm Big Macintosh, you can call me Big Mac, pleasure to meet you..." Asked Big Mac in a hint.

"Kyle Skylark, but everyone I meet calls me Kyle..." answered Kyle with a pause.

"Well that's an uncommon name you got there." said Big Mac as they walked through Sweet Apple Acres.

Both ponies walked side by side, saying nothing, while Big Mac felt comfortable, being in his own domains, and feeling strangely comfortable enough to adopt his copyrighted paused pose, not feeling the urge to begin a conversation with the stranger, Kyle on the other side, felt bad inside, thinking how kind that stallion had been with him, but nervous in general since he mentioned other members of his family.

Kyle wasn't very used to meet people, though he had meet a lot of people in his travels, he still wasn't used to them liking him, and often, in big gatherings he would silently go away, without anyone noticing until too late. Is not that he hated people or anything, but he never was confident enough to stay, as many troubles assaulted his mind whenever he was surrounded by people, that didn't let him enjoy the pleasures of being with good company.

Noticing's Kyle nervousness, Big Mac smiled and asked "And what's under that wrapper of yours, some sort of injure? We can go to the hospital if you need assistance." Asked Big Mac, even though he knew nothing big could have been, or otherwise the colt would have shown signs of pain.

"Oh, this, no, it's quite alright Mr. Big Mac, it's just something I like to wear." Said Kyle.

"I see, well nothing to worry I reckon." Stated Big Mac, smiling to the colt.

"No, nothing to worry..." Said Kyle, not sure how to react.

As they approached the main house in the other end of Sweet Apple Acres, Kyle noticed the big apple heart in Big Mac's quarter. "A cutie mark..." He thought.

"Runs in the family." Said Big Mac, noticing Kyle looking at his cutie mark.

"Oh, that's nice, It's a great cutie mark..." Said Kyle with a sad stroke in his voice.

"I see you have no cutie mark yet eh?" Said Big Mac gently.

"Eh... No, I still haven't got one... I never found anything I was good at, or something that I liked the most and all... I tend to like many many things, maybe too many, and I guess none wins over any, hence no mark has appeared..."

"Oh well, I was t'last one in my class to get one, so was Applejack, and our little Applebloom still hasn't gotten one! Don't worry lil' friend, you'll get one sometime." Said Big Mac, giving the topic no further importance.

"Applejack and Applebloom... Parents I figure?" Asked Kyle politely, also changing topic.

"Eyup, Applejack's my little sister, and Applebloom's my even more lil' sister." Answered. "We're known as the Apple family, and we run this place, Sweet Apple Acres, as you can see, we like apples." Chuckled Big Mac.

"I see, well sorry again for the intrusion, I didn't know these lands were property of someone."

"Quite alright lil' buddy, these grounds are huge anyways."

"I bet, we've been walking for a while, is that the begining?" Asked Kyle while pointing to the big house, the barns for animals surrounding it and the fence that surrounded a big part of Sweet Apple Acres.

"Eyup, we're here."

As they approached the house, Kyle couldn't but feel nervous, he thought it was a good thing he was actually really hungry, otherwise he would have tried to get away from there and stop being an annoyance to that kind big red pony. But it was just a fleeting thought, that pony transmited confidence, and Kyle felt quite comfortable with him. For some reason, he had a feeling he hadn't had in a long, long time, a strange feeling of seeing home in the distance.

--

As Kyle got into the house, he strolled to the living room, it was a pretty cozy and warm looking house, old, but homey. He saw a couple of paintings on the wall, as well as photos of the Apple family, he saw a little photo with Big Mac in it, surrounded by two mares, one old and the other quite young, and a little filly. "These must be his siblings, I don't know the old mare though." Thought as he waited quietly for Big Mac to lead the way, he also saw a big photo with many, many Apple family members. "Wow, they are quite a lot in numbers..."

"Follow me to the kitchen, don't make much noise, my sisters are still sleeping, and I don't think Granny Smith will wake up anytime soon, otherwise we'd know." Said Big Mac "I woke up extra-early, cause I really needed the saddle, the damn old plow's killing my back, and without it it'd be like asking for it."

"Ok, sorry." Apologized Kyle in advance, as he followed Big Mac, making a lot of effort to not clop too hard on the wooden tables, Big Mac, not making any effort at all, since, somehow, after having lived in that house for all his life, he was able to walk as swiftly as a cat, and barely make a sound.

In the kitchen, Big Mac told Kyle to take a sit in a table in the middle, it was a dinning room as well as a kitchen, "Very nice." At Kyle's thoughts, since he liked the idea of having the food near the dinning table.

Big Mac cooked himself a couple of eggs, while Kyle just asked for a bit of hay. While eating, Kyle felt his strength coming back, that hay was amazingly delicious, it had a nice touch of apples and really did the trick for his stomach.

"What do you put in it?" aksed Kyle

"Nothing really, since almost all our grounds are full of apples everywhere, wether cause we left them there, or we forgot they were there, when they get in the hay, that's quite often, it acquires that special apple touch, I think it's very nice too, but the store we sell the hay for always wants it treated and "de-appleized", a bit of a dumb thing if you ask me, I think he'd sell much more if it had this flavor." Said Big Mac, stopping every now and then to get some food. And after a pause, and after he was done with his eggs, he laid his eyes on Kyle and asked:

"So, where you headed lil' buddy?"

"Oh, nowhere really, I go here and there, I'm pretty much a hobo." Answered Kyle with, quite more confidence than usual.

"Hobo eh? Gotta see the world while you can am I right?"

"Heh, yeah!"

"Eyup, I'm more of a home-guy, never've been very far from home, and I don't really regret it, I love everyday I'm in here, in these domains." Said Big Mac with a bit of a dreamy expression "But tell me, any motivation so far? Why do you travel? Why don't you settle?"

"Well I've thought on settling down more than once, but every town I've been hasn't really, I don't know how to explain it, but it hasn't felt like home."

"Ah, no need to explain bud, I completely understand, I mean this farm is far more than just the place where I work, is also home, what I can fully call home, and that's somethin' you should never underestimate."

"It sure is a nice place that's for granted." Said Kyle as he ate his last straw of hay.

As the day was getting closer and closer to its full beggining, and as the sun overflew the Apple Family's house, Kyle started to get self concious. He was enjoying a nice meal while doing nothing but chit chat with a big pony he just met while he was traspassing in his family's private property, he was surely abusing his hospitality, besides, soon the rest of the family would wake up, and then there'd be questions and questions, and a pressure Kyle didn't know if he was going to be able to take.

"Er, Mr. Big Mac, I think I should take my leave, I am very, very grateful for the meal, and I certainly want to repay you in the future, but eh... yeah I think I should go..." Adressed Kyle, as politedly as he could.

"Please, no problem at all, no need to repay anything." Said Big Mac, kind of amused by the boy's awkwardness and added with a smile "Are you sure you don't want to stay? The girls must be about to get up, you could stay for the day if you have nowhere to go."

"I don't know Mr. Mac, I don't know if they'll like me, I mean afterall I did trespassed in your property and..." started Kyle suddenly interrupted by a scream in his back.

"TRESPASSED IN OUR PROPERTY?!" Yelled a voice behind Kyle, as he jumped in fear and quickly ran behind Big Mac only to turn around and see an orange pony glaring at him.

"THIEF!! APPLEBLOOM STAY IN YOUR ROOM, GRANNY CALL THE POLICE!!" Continued yelling Applejack, as she strolled up and down the kitchen glaring at the boy

"No... I... It's a mistake! I didn't...! Mr. Mac? A little help please?" Begged Kyle while still using Big Mac as his shield against the infuriated mare

"It's alright sis, he's no thief, I invited him in" Said Big Mac calmly

"WELL..." Started Applejack "Then pleased to meet you Mr. Not-thief-anymore!" Finished while shaking the hoof of a very confused Skylark.

"I... pleased... I've never been a thief though..."

"That's right! You're a GUEST now!" Said Applejack, changing almost instantly her pose towards the colt "APPLEBLOOM YOU CAN GET OUTTA YOUR ROOM, GRANNY NO NEED TO CALL THE POLICE"

"Bipolar much?" Thought Kyle as he calmed down, he didn't like the first impression the mare had caused in him, but he decided to not let it be the last afterall Big Mac had been so kind with him, and she did have a good reason to freak out.

As Applejack started preparing three meals for the breakfast she asked Big Mac and Kyle if they wanted something else, but both politely declined the offer, Kyle was sitting near Big Mac trying to get his mind distracted when Applejack started questioning him:

"So, who are you Mr. Guest-that-was-a-thief?" Said Applejack with a smile while she worked on the dishes.

"I'm not a thief... I'm Kyle Skylark, I was traveling, I rode until late last night, when it started raining, and I couldn't really keep up anymore, so I found this little shelter or barn in the other side of the farm, and Mr. Big Mac found me, and invited me for some breakfast" explained Kyle, as he smiled at Big Mac showing gratitude.

"And what are you going to do now? Where were you traveling to?" Asked Applejack.

"Honestly, as I was telling Mr. Big Mac earlier, I don't really have a destination, I go wherever I... feel I guess." Started Kyle, that was one of the reasons he didn't enjoy being around people that much, how much he had to explain to them his motivations and his "why"s, he understood why the curiosity though, and couldn't really blame them, but it was very frustrating for him, because he had none, he had no real reason on his back, other than "I just couldn't stay in the place where I come from", he never talked much about it, but everyone asumed that he was an orphan, or that something bad happened with his parents, so they didn't put pressure on the matter. Still, for Kyle it was tough to say "I wander the world because I have nothing better to do" he felt like a complete lose canon, someone without a purpose, and in a way, that, he was.

But Applejack sensed all of that, or at least a good chunk of it, since she didn't ask anything else and just said: "Well you're welcome to stay with us if you want, while you decide your next destination, but you gotta work to earn yer meals, if y'know what I mean!" and just like that she strolled to the main room, leaving Kyle a bit without options, since he really didn't have anything better to do.

"That was very nice of you guys... I guess I can stay at least for today, and help you guys with the work and stuff, you know, for the annoyance." Said Kyle to Big Mac.

"Well you heard her, if you want to you're more than welcome lil' buddy." He said.

"I noticed you didn't talk much when she was here, howcome?" Asked Kyle.

Big Mac just smiled and answered "Well, she's the leading voice of the family nowadays, so there's no much sense on saying much."

"I think I understand." Replied Kyle with another smile. He did understand that, Applejack had something, some sort of strength of spirit, that made you want to just listen to what she had to say, you know she's going to be the one who you'd follow if something bad happened. And Kyle liked that.

From the main room, they could hear how Applejack talked with someone in loud voices.

"Come on Applebloom! Rise and shine!" yelled Applejack

"I'm going I'm going! Jeez Applejack, just because you woke up earlier today doesn't mean you can yell at me!" yelled another voice, presumably Applebloom, thought Kyle.

"I am your big sister, and I'll be taking care of you young filly!" said Applejack to a closer Applebloom

"Oh yeah, well try taking care of THIS!" Said, and with her tiny hoof she pushed Applejack's flank and yelled "YOU'RE IT!"

"Oh you little... Come here you!" and laughter and screams came from the main room, Kyle loved the sound of people having fun, even more when there were children involved, he loved kids, he liked their innocence so much that when he was around kids, he seemed to became one of them, and play games with them, kids loved him too, since not many adults played games with them as enthusiastically as Kyle. And adults liked him, because they saw no malice in Kyle, just a guy who enjoyed being a kid for some minutes, getting rid of all the troubles and worries an adult mind with. Kyle often thought that if there was one thing he could try and focus his life on was on taking care of kids, and he often thought about becoming a teacher, or opening an orphanage for kids like him, with nowhere to go. But those ideas soon stepped out of his mind, as he faced the truth that he had no home to settle in, and that his past was perhaps too grimdark to actually be considered for such an important task, and afterall he understood that they needed to check his background, it was a necessity, you can't just put someone you barely know in charge of the children of other people. That wouldn't be right.

"Good mornin' Granny!" said Applejack in the main room, interrupting Kyle's thoughts on the matter "We have a guest today so be polite Applebloom."

"What do you mean with that sister? I'm always polite!" protested Applebloom as she, Granny Smith and Applejack entered the kitchen. Instantly Kyle got up in a polite fashion to welcome them, Applebloom was the first to come to him and shake his hoof.

"Pleasure to meet you Mister, I'm Applebloom, and even if it doesn't seem like it, I'm the most important member o' the family!" said Applebloom with a big smile.

"Applebloom!" Protested Applejack "Excuse her, you know, kids! She means to say that she's the younger sister of the family, right you little rascal!" Said while snuggling her and tousling her red hair "Ah haha stop it Applejack!" said Applebloom while laughing.

"Well it's a pleasure to meet you Miss Most-Important-Member-of-the-Family Applebloom" said Kyle, and bowed with a smile.

"Hey! Now don't encourage her! Or I'll have to give you a noogie you too!" laughed Applejack and continued "This here is Granny Smith who... is asleep." And tried to gently push out of her slumber the green old mare "Come on... Granny? Come on Granny!"

"Wha- What? Soup's on? Did somepony fell in the well again, we'll have to get ol' Billy to get him out again..." Mumbled Granny Smith as she sat in her chair in the table.

"Well Kyle, how 'bout you come with me, I'll show you what're we gonna do today." Said Big Mac adressing to Kyle, who nodded and followed the stallion. As he heard Applebloom ranting to Applejack.

"They already ate? Have you seen that Applejack?!" said Applebloom.

"Yes, Applebloom, but they are adults, and they can do whatever they want!" settled Applejack.

"Well I wanna be an adult... Right now!"

--

Big Mac showed Kyle around Sweet Apple Acres, what were they going to do for the day, and explained that as the girls took care of cleaning the fallen apples that didn't get pick up, they were going to work the terrains near the west of the farm wiht the plows to plant a new harvest of wheat, Sweet Apple Acres, as Big Mac explained, was primarily an Apple exporter, but they also cultivated wheat and hay, as well as they produced milk and wool. Most of it was sold to the stores of Ponyville, the main town, and where was located Sweet Apple Acres, but some was sold to other towns nearby, like Fillydelphia or Trottingham, even to the big city of Manehattan.

"Ah yes, Trottingham!" Explained Kyle "That's where I actually came from, well I mean, the last town I was in before crashing in your barn"

"Well that's impressive buddy, it's a long road from Trottingham to Ponyville you must have walked all day long!" Said Big Mac as he prepared the plows and handed another saddle to Kyle.

"Yeah... well I actually walked for two days straight." Said Kyle as he put his saddle on. "This saddle is a tad too big for me, but it'll do."

"Two days straight? Well you have quite the endurance." Added Big Mac as he tried to adjust Kyle's saddle. "Well, can't do much from here, it'll do for now, tell you what, we can go to the town later today, or maybe tomorrow, and check if we can get you a new one."

"Oh please... you don't have to worry Mr Mac, I'll be fine." Said Kyle with a smile, he was starting to really like Big Mac's friendship, it had been so far the easiest, yet most pleasant friendship he'd ever made.

"Alright, this is very easy, but you gotta do what I do, so it won't be hard and it'll come out neatly." Started Big Mac "You just pull the plow like this, alright, then you walk, that's important, you don't need to rush it, just walk nice and easy, to the very end of the terrain, c'mon let's do this together" and pointed the second plow that was already in position for Kyle to pull it.

"Okay, I'll follow your lead!" He said enthusiastically, he liked the idea of working, especially after having had so much for free and nothing done to repay it.

"Alright, now lets go, don't worry if you need your time, the plows are a bit rusty and heavier than they look." Said Big Mac, as Kyle got in position "Alright, go!"

Although Kyle couldn't really keep up with Big Mac's rythm, he did managed himself quite well, or at least in Big Mac's words "You're very strong for such a skinny pony", in reality, Kyle was giving every inch of himself on the job, and although a normal pony going so far would have collapsed in a few hours, Kyle's earned endurance through his travels was very useful here, for him to be able to stand the next three hours of work without fainting. They started chatting at the beggining, but as the hours went on, they cut the chatter, since as they both knew, talking while doing a continuous effort only made that even harder and made it even more difficult to keep up with the work.

--

After some hours of working hard the grounds of Sweet Apple Acres, Applejack and Applebloom paid Big Mac and Kyle a visit to see how were they doing.

"So Big Mac, how's our guest behaving?" Asked jokingly Applejack.

"He's doing just fine sis, in fact better than I expected, he has a lot of strength in him." Answered Big Mac smiling at the young colt.

"Well, I must admit it's very hard to keep up with you Mr Mac! I am a bit exhausted hehe..." Said Kyle a bit nervous as he wasn't sure if he was doing good for reals. Confidence, wasn't his forte.

"Oh come on, we're all joking, I bet you're doing might a good job Kyle!" Said Applejack comforting the apparently, quite obviously nervous colt.

"That's true! We're very get-along, the apple family!" Said little Applebloom while pulling out some sodas from a little satchel she was carrying "Who wants some soda! Y also have apple juice Kyle!"

"I'll take the apple juice then, thanks Applebloom, such a gentle filly you are!" Said Kyle playfully.

"Why I'm the gentl-est of the fillies!"

"I also like that adorable bow of yours, you wear it often?"

"ALWAYS!"

"So, Kyle, tell us a bit more about yourself!" asked Applejack while they relaxed in a table near the terrains

"Yeah yeah, we want to know!" said Applebloom overexcited.

"Well there's not much to add to what you already know, I began traveling a long time ago, when I was just a little colt."

"You are still a little colt to me!" added Applebloom.

"Applebloom! Mind your manners!" Said Applejack while hitting softly Applebloom's head to catch her attention. "And don't interrupt when the adults are talking!"

"But I am an adult!" Protested Applebloom.

"It's quite alright Applejack, thanks, she doesn't bother me at all" said Kyle "Started traveling around, and visiting new towns and cities, I earned some money to continue every time I made a detour, doing a lot of things, I've worked in many things as a garbageman helper, chimney cleaner I even worked as a fan repairer once, a wide variety of stuff."

"I can't see you working repairing fans, honestly." Said Applejack amused by the stories of that colt, she reminded him of herself and her days in Manehattan, when she was trying to find who she was meant to be.

"AAAAH!!" Screamed Applebloom interrupting Applejack's thoughts.

"What? What happens sis?!" Asked Applejack alarmed as the rest jumped.

"He doesn't have a Cutie Mark!" Said Applebloom pointing at Kyle's blank flank.

"APPLEBLOOM!" Started Applejack with the intention to scold the little filly for her un-politeness.

"Don't worry Applejack." Said Kyle quickly, before she could continue with her reprimand, and smiled at the mare. "It's quite alright, Applebloom is right! I do not have a Cutie Mark yet that is right, I never found my special "talent" you know?"

"But... you look the same age as me!" Said Applejack.

"I probably am, haha, It just... never happened..." Said Kyle in a less animous tone.

While Applejack noticed and didn't poke anymore on the issue, Applebloom was as excited as she could be to find out another pony like her, without a Cutie Mark.

"Oh my goodness! I don't have a Cutie Mark either! You should totally meet my friends, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle, they don't have theirs either! Oh oh, you should come with us tomorrow, we will be having an adventure to get our Cutie Marks!" Said Applebloom.

"I would love to dear Applebloom, but I don't know if I'll be able..." Answered Kyle, both excited and alarmed, he didn't want to abuse his luck, he had alreday been shown a lot of kindness by the Apple family, and as much as he liked the idea to spend the day having fun with Applebloom, he didn't know what would Big Mac or Applejack think.

"Well tomorrow we have a pretty slow day, so If Kyle decides to stay, I allow you to take care of him Applebloom" Said Applejack winking at Applebloom and smiling at Kyle.

Kyle didn't say anything else, he just smiled at the idea, he wasn't sure if he was going to stay one day more, but, he still had the whole day to think about it. Though, in his heart, he already made a choice, he just had to sort it out with his kind of hyperactive mind.

As the day passed through, Big Mac and Kyle continued working the terrains so they could be harvested later, Applejack and Applebloom finished earlier and went to town with Granny Smith to run some errands. Kyle was ok with that, he wasn't sure he wanted to meet new people today, instead he rather stay with Big Mac and have a relaxed afternoon working hoof by hoof with him. Big Mac became in less than some hours a symbol of confidence and trust, which was something impressive Kyle thought, few ponies he'd met had had such an effect on him.

By the end of the afternoon, Kyle and Big Mac enjoyed a nice sunset back in the porch of the main house while they talked about different meaningless things, waiting for the girls to come back from town.

And it didn't took too long until they were back, with different goods from town, including what was going to become the dinner for that day. Applejack had the idea to make a special thing for their guest, idea that Kyle felt unnecessary but utterly flattered with.

As the moon rose, Princess Luna had made a very nice work, rising a very beautiful and clear night over Equestria, better than what Kyle had seen the last two days, with clouds and rain everywhere, (Though he never really thought it was Luna's fault, he rarely thought about Equestria's rulers really) dinning time became closer, Kyle and Applebloom had stayed outside playing a little game Applebloom came up, it consisted to throw a ball in a ring made out of an old barrel's metal ring and a broom, the only rule was to only use your rear hooves. Big Mac refused politedly to join when Kyle and Applebloom asked him, besides he was already helping Applejack who was too busy making dinner. Kyle asked Applebloom if they should ask Granny Smith, but she said even if they did she wouldn't really understand anything, Kyle doubted that, but got the hint and snickered.

Dinner was ready, and everyone was already ready, and waiting for Kyle and Applebloom to come from their game, Applejack shouted at them to come, and Applebloom ran to the sink to wash her hooves, and got in position, Kyle washed his hooves outside, in a little barrel of water the Apple family had, he glanced at the moon with a smile and cleaned his rear hooves in the carpet outside the door, he entered the house smelling the aroma of the dinner that they had prepared, deliciousness in the shape of air ran through his nose, but it was when he went to the kitchen, where they were waiting for him, when he felt something that he had never feel before, he saw everyone looking at him and smiling, even Granny Smith, he felt welcome, he knew it wasn't such a big deal, but for him, it was, because he not only felt welcome but he also felt like... "Home." He thought.
He sat with the others, as Applebloom served him a plate with a delicious warm mushroom stew, Applejack fetched him some applejuice, Granny Smith pushed a slice of bread near him and Big Mac gave him a boiled egg for second dish, and they all smiled, it was their smile what made all of that so special for Kyle, it was a reflection of the kindness that resided in all of them hearts.

A slow smile appeared in Kyle's face, as the overwhelming feelings allowed him to react.
For the first time, he was at home.

--

After dinner, and enjoying a delightful chit chat, with interruptions of an overexcited, but exhausted Applebloom, they decided it was time to head off to bed, and discussed where should Kyle sleep that day.

"Guys, I can sleep outside, or in yesterday's barn, there's absolutely no problem really!" Insisted Kyle, trying to reassure them all that he was receiving too much kindness.

"Nonsense Kyle, we won't let you sleep outside again." Said Big Mac, being first than Applejack to say that.

"Exactly!" Afirmed Applejack. "We only need to see where, the current guest room we have we use it as storage, to put all the things we don't really use around there so it's a bit messy in there."

"No problem I can sleep the-" Started Kyle.

"He could sleep in my room! Is the bigger in this house!" Said Applebloom excitedly, interrupting Kyle and letting him speechless.

"You know what Applebloom, that's a mighty good idea! What d' you say Kyle?" Asked Applejack.

"I... Ok, if Applebloom's alright with it that is." Answered him looking at the little filly.

"Yes! Come come, I'll show you my room, it's awesome and and and I have a chest filled with toys you're gonna love it!" Said the little filly energically "Come, this way!"

As Applebloom grabbed Kyle's hoof and dragged him he looked back at Applejack and Big Mac to see them smiling, he then smiled and followed Applebloom to her room. Which was exactly as she described, had a pretty decent ammount of space, and a chest full of toys, it also had a little desk which Kyle guessed was for studying and reading books. Applejack then came in with a mattress that placed on the floor, at Applebloom's bed feet.

"Well, time for bed Missie!" Said to Applebloom. "No foolin' around with Kyle at late night eh?" Added glancing at her.

"Oh come on Applejack, you know I wouldn't do that!"

"Oh, yes, I know what you "wouldn't" do alright."

"Applejack! You're embarrasing me in front of Kyle!"

"Haha Sorry sis, just gotta be sure you behave in front of our guest."

"I always behave... Almost always..."

Kyle then laughed, thanked Applejack for the mattress and said his good nights to the rest of the Apple family, that were waiting at the door of Applebloom's room.

"Good night Mr. Mac thanks for everything, good night Miss Granny Smith and good night Applejack" He said, with a special warm smile to Applejack, showing his appreciation for what she did that day for him, not only to accept him but to offer food and a place to stay one night more, and making him feel that "home" sensation for the first time in a very long time.

"Good night lil' buddy" Said Big Mac.

"Soup's on? Eh? Oh! Good night y'all fillies and foals" Said Granny Smith.

"Y'all rest up for tomorrow, 'night!" Said finally Applejack.

"Niiight!" Answered Applebloom.

They shut the door, and as Kyle got comfortable in his mattress he heard Applebloom getting near the end of the bed to talk with him.

"By the way, are you gonna sleep with that thing?" Asked her while pointing at Kyle's curious clothing.

"Yes, I rather sleep with it on, it's very comfortable you know?"

"So tell me Kyle, are you an adventurer?" Asked with wide open admiring eyes.

"Ah yes, I'm a mighty adventurer, I seek for treasure and booty all around the world! Yar harrr!"

"I knew it! I can't wait to show you to my friends tomorrow, it's gonna be a blast! I bet Scootaloo's gonna love you!"

"Hehe, I can't wait either Applebloom..." Kyle said as Applebloom went back to sleep. He reclined himself in bed, looking at the ceiling, and started thinking about the next day, this family had been so kind with him, he wasn't sure he wanted to be a bother for another day. But on the other hand, he trully enjoyed their company. Big Mac was already like a best friend to him, and Applejack was an amazing mare, Applebloom was so much fun to be around, and even Granny Smith had a certain something that Kyle liked in her, that made her enjoyable as well.

--

The hours passed, he couldn't really get much sleep, as his mind was still over the whole situation, connecting things here and there. He decided to silently wake up from his bed and look out of the window, the night was in it's most beautiful state, serene and gorgeous, and here in Sweet Apple Acres the stars were clear and he could see millions of them, even the nebulas painting across the dark sky.

So, is this what you chose this time Skylark?

A disembodied voice got over Kyle's head, talking to him directly to his brain, to his very soul, but Kyle knew what happened, and didn't let the terror of that voice get over him and jump, awaking the others, he stood there, putting all his senses to work, and staring at every corner of the room, every shadow, every little detail of darkness.

You don't need to worry Skylark, as you must have already guessed I'm not there tonight, nor I will be for a long time.

Kyle started "thinking" his answers, as he had to when he contacted him.

"What do you want?"

To make a deal with you.

"I don't make deals with the devil, you damn..." Started Kyle

Now now my boy, that is no way to talk to your elders, besides this is a deal you can not refuse, Skylark.

"State your business already, before I shut my mind from you."

I promise to leave you alone, if you can settle with these people. If you can find a home in Ponyville, and be one citizen more.

"What... Kind of deal is that...?"

The very one that may lead to your freedom, my dear Skylark. But there's one condition.

"I knew it, I knew you wouldn't turn into a good pony from one day to another."

If you don't want to have another... "Encounter" with me, you must not seek me, you must not interfere with my plans again. Yes, I am aware that you are capable of interfering, very well aware actually, as you sure know. So stay out of my way, and I will let you live the perfect dreary live you always dreamed about.

"What are you up to? Tell me."

I will consider that answer as our deal sealed. This is the last warning I'll be giving you Skylark.

"I have not agreed to anything." Said Kyle, this time in a dark whisper.

--

The Colt Skylark.
To be continued.

---

---

Even the late night events that occurred, Kyle was able to get some sleep before an overexcited and early bird Applebloom jumped on him, waking him up all of a sudden.

"Wake up! Wake up Kyle!" Said Applebloom while bouncing on his back.

"Ugh... Applebloom... What time is it?" Asked Kyle, regretting to have staid awake for too long last night.

"Why it's six in the morning of course! Everyone's asleep!"

"It's too early Applebloom, don't you think?"

"Yeah! That's exactly why we're going to join the Cutie Mark Crusaders right now!"

"What?"

"The Cutie Mark Crusaders! My friends! Come on! We may earn our cutie marks before lunch!" Said Applebloom as the last word of that morning conversation.

Kyle got up slowly, as Applebloom bounced around the room picking up her bow, and a note she had on the desktop. He could feel the effort of the last day. Even if he managed to pull it off he was still somewhat damaged and not accustomed to such a heavy work. But, he started feeling the energy the young Applebloom emanated, and started filling his own batteries. Besides, his sleep wasn't that much of a sleep anyway, it was filled with nightmarish visions of things he wasn't expecting to see, and a past that somehow knew where he was.

"What's the list for?" Asked Kyle idly, while he put the mattress away with care in one corner of the room.

"Oh, it's a list of what to do today!"

"And... What's on the menu?"

"Well, Scootaloo is always talking about trying bungee, so we might do that."

"Wait... Bungee? The thing with the rope... And the high bridge?" Asked Kyle, afraid of the answer. He wasn't very fond of heights anymore.

"Why?" Asked Applebloom, and continued with a grin "Don't tell me you're afraid of heights Mr. Skylark?"

"Well, no... Kind of... I had bad experiences with heights in the past"

"Don't you worry Kyle, you'll see how fun is gonna be!"

And although Kyle wasn't really sure about all that, Applebloom transmitted confidence, somehow, he knew that their shenanigans would only be so dangerous. He was suddenly eager to meet the other girls, if they were nearly as Applebloom, it was going to be a fun packed morning for him, and after that dark night he was needing that fun more than anything.

"By the way, you ok? You don't look so good," asked Applebloom, observing that Kyle looked a bit pale.

"Oh? Yes, I am fine Applebloom, just still a bit sleepy I guess haha," lied Kyle.

"Alright then, let's get moving, the others must be waiting near the entrance of the farm, oh and don't make any sound, Applejack doesn't know we're leaving this soon!"

"Oh yeah?" Said Applejack standing at the door while observing the two ponies. "You should know by now sis, that I'm always way ahead of you"

Kyle felt like if they were caught, even if he was an adult and shouldn't have really felt any guilt, he had to admit the presence of Applejack scared him a bit.

"Hehe just be careful Applebloom, don't hurt yourself eh? And take care of Kyle," said Applejack and asked. "Y'all don't want something to eat before going?"

"S'all good Applejack, we'll get something with the girls!" Answered Applebloom and started pushing Kyle. "Come on Kyle, lets get going!"

"Alright alright! Good bye Applejack, thanks for everything," said Kyle politely.

Applejack smiled at him and said her goodbyes, but for some reason, she didn't like the tone the colt said it. It was something in the way he said it that made it sound permanent. If Applejack had knew the background of the colt she would have been very right to doubt or fear his words, as he used to mean his goodbyes, or even his "I think I'll go for a stroll now" when he was surrounded by people. It was always permanent, he never returned. And for some reason Applejack sensed that. But she shook that feeling off and returned to her bed, she still had a couple of hours of sleep before the morning routine.

--

The morning sun hit Kyle in the head, blinding him while he got out of the house, he contemplated the panorama. Sweet Apple Acres looked gorgeous, he thought. He also glanced at the terrains they had been working on yesterday, they looked ready to be planted, Kyle enjoyed the pattern they made. It was the fruit of his hard work after all, so he was somewhat proud.

"Come on Kyle!" Said Applebloom, snapping Kyle from his thoughts.

"Sure, uhm... Applebloom?"

"Yeah?"

"Where are we going... This isn't the entrance of the farm?" Asked Kyle when finally noticed they took another route.

"Oh, I knew Applejack was nearby when I said that, I had to keep it cool. We're actually going to meet at the super secret base of the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" Answered quite cleverly Applebloom.

"Super secret base?" Asked Kyle, he wasn't sure where this was all going.

"Well of course! We need to see if you're Cutie Mark Crusaders material dear Kyle, we have to TEST you!"

"Oh dear... I've never been really good at tests Applebloom and it's... Early in the morning," said Kyle with a yawn.

"You'll do just fine, you'll see! Plus, it's gonna be fun!"

Kyle smiled, he was fascinated of how positive that little pony was. That's one of the things he most liked from kids, their optimism and positive view of the world, they still didn't know any of its bad sides, of its complications or the hidden evil that waited in silence. He always thought it would be wonderful if they'd never know, but he knew that facing its bad sides was part of growing up and that, in fact, in the end led to a happier life. "Well in the majority of cases anyways..." Thought Kyle.

Applebloom led Kyle to her tree house, in a secluded part of Sweet Apple Acres, the tree house looked old, but neatly fixed and upgraded with a few modern details, like several posters, including one of a mysterious masked pony and another of a blue pegasi with a rainbow colored mane. It was, he had to admit, quite a nice place to have a "Super secret base".

"Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo! We're here!" yelled Applebloom.

"Finally! We've been waiting for hours!" answered an orange coated little filly.

"Oh come on Scootaloo, it's only been a few minutes," said Sweetie Belle. "So this is the pony you were talking about yesterday?"

Kyle blushed a tad when the two fillies stood there looking at him, in half admiration and half disbelief. It's not often when they saw an adult pony without a cutie mark. And they felt that relieving for some reason that pony standing in front of them, without a cutie mark on his flank, calmed their anxious spirits, because they knew that they weren't the only ones, and that some people didn't find their special talent way after their childhood. It was an unexpected light of hope.

"Hi girls..." Said Kyle with awkwardness.

"This is Kyle Skylark, and like us, he doesn't have a cutie mark! He's staying with us at the farm, so I thought on making him an honorary member of the Cutie Mark Crusaders!" said Applebloom with excitement.

"Wait just a second! He has to pass the entrance exam first!" said Scootaloo, as he walked around Kyle, pretending to be observing his qualities. Kyle meanwhile stood still, a bit intimidated by the three fillies.

"I think he'll do just fine Scoot, I mean, look at him!" said Sweetie Belle.

"We'll just see about that!" said Scootaloo. Although the colt did inspire her confidence, she wasn't sure about accepting a random guy in their group. She was quite happy to have found such good friends, and she already had enough troubles with herself to now be facing the threat of someone to replace her.

Scootaloo was in many ways a happy filly, but she and Skylark had more than one thing in common: They didn't have parents, Scootaloo's past was also mysterious, they didn't have their cutie marks and they both thought about their family when things were quiet. Not the happiest of the thoughts for a little filly, but Scootaloo dealt with it with many hobbies, a rebellious attitude, a likeness for speed and with the help of her beloved friends. That's why the presence of yet another pony around them made her feel a little insecure and scared. She didn't have a sister like Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, so she rarely hanged with other ponies other than them.

While Applebloom and Sweetie Belle usually hanged with the other ponies, like Applejack and the Apple family, and even that blue pegasi Scootaloo admired so much. Scootaloo didn't have the same excuse to hang out with them, and she felt always happy when she was around the others. In fact, of her most precious memories, there's the ones where she shared company with Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and the other group of six friends that the other two already knew well.

In time this changed, it was long since she first met Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, and she had grown up. She became more social and less intimidated thanks to her friend's influence, she even started a club of fans of Rainbow Dash, the pegasus pony she dreamed to become like one day. So her life had improved quite a lot thanks to the magic of friendship. But still, a newcomer was something that she wasn't all that accustomed to.

"Well, nice to meet you young ladies, what are your names?" asked Kyle politely even though by now he had already figured their names.

"I am Sweetie Belle!" said the little filly with the white coat and the purple and pink mane.

"And I'm Scootaloo, and who exactly are you Mister?" said the orange coated filly with the spiky purple mane in an rude tone.

"I told you who he was, Kyle Skylark, the guy that staying with us..." Repeated Applebloom, but was interrupted by Kyle who, noticing the tone of the filly, replied by himself.

"Well, I am Kyle Skylark, my friend Applebloom here wanted me to meet you guys, she told me you have a secret society I could be part of..." Said, and then added in a dramatic whisper "...a society for blank flanks!"

"YES! That's ours! But first you have to pass the trials!" said Sweetie Belle excited.

"Alrighty then! Tell me what are the trials!"

"Eh... One second," said Applebloom and at this moment the three fillies left Kyle hanging, while they made an improvised circle between the three of them and started whispering. If he had wanted he would have understood what the ponies were saying since their whispers weren't precisely low. But he decided to contemplate the beautiful meadow instead, and let them discuss whatever they had to discuss in peace. So he sat there while the three discussed what on earth could they do as trials for the young colt.

"Maybe we can make him zip-line without crashing!" whispered Scootaloo with a little giggle.

"That could be a bit difficult... I mean we have tried quite some times and we always end up covered in tree sap, remember?" replied Applebloom in a disapproval tone.

"How about singing?!" asked Sweetie Belle.

"Singing?" said Applebloom and Scootaloo at the same time.

"Yeah, we could make him sing our theme song!"

"...I don't think so Sweetie Belle," said Scootaloo "Maybe we can just go bungee like we said, and see if he can keep up!"

"Well since we can't come up with anything better, it'll have to do!" finally said Applebloom enthusiastically.

Then the three fillies, lead by Applebloom, strolled back to where they left Kyle. Then with a smile Applebloom told him the news, they were going to do some bungee and find out if their cutie marks were all about defying gravity and getting an adrenaline rush. Kyle wasn't quite sure about the idea, but he followed the girls without protesting.

While walking, they started talking about what their future cutie marks would be.

"I'm sure mine's gonna be just awesome! Probably something to do with velocity, or maybe hoof fighting!" said Scootaloo animatedly.

"And mine will be beautiful, just like my sister's Rarity!" squealed Sweetie Belle jumping around Kyle.

"Well mine will be something unexpected, I can see that girls!" added Kyle, joining the joy of the conversation.

"Unexpected eh? Well mine will be the most fantabulous of 'em all!" screamed Applebloom tackling playfully Sweetie Belle, who also knocked down Kyle who also landed on Scootaloo creating a big sandwich of fillies with colt meat.

"Giiiirls!" said Scootaloo trying not to laugh.

"Wait, don't worry Scootaloo, I got this," said Kyle and with a bit of effort got in his four hooves again, carrying the two fillies on top while they continued laughing. "Come on Scootaloo, jump on the stupid wagon!"

Scootaloo sighted at how ridiculous the colt looked with both ponies on top of him laughing to their hearts content. She couldn't hold it anymore and laughed as well, as she jumped on Applebloom and Sweetie Belle. Kyle continued walking, while the three fillies tried to push each other to see who'd fall first from the wagon, with a happy smile in his face, nothing could ruin that day.

--

A few minutes of traveling made them realize one important thing, they didn’t had breakfast. So they stopped to get some apples from one of the last trees of Sweet Apple Acres, as they were already almost at the end of their terrains.

“So girls, where exactly are we going to go?” asked Kyle as he ate his apple.

“Ghastly Gorge! It’s a big and scary gorge that’s like a couple of hours away from Sweet Apple Acres,” replied Scootaloo with bright eyes.
“Hmm never heard of it.”

“It’s alright Kyle, we’ve been there a couple of times, is quite safe,” said Applebloom while trying to reassure the colt.

“If you say so...” he said, not really convinced it was the best idea. “I’ll have to keep both eyes open,” he thought.

Once they finished their quick breakfast they got on the road again. As the day advanced, only a few lazy clouds sprout in the sky and the scenery slowly changed as they got near Ghastly Gorge to a less friendly landscape. Though Kyle didn’t see any problem with a darker ambience, not until they got to the actual gorge at least.

The gorge was large, to say the least, a complex canyon that went on zig zag through the forest. It looked like a big scar from higher altitudes, although even if Kyle would have had the chance to see it from above that wouldn’t have been much of a relief. The place did not look safe at all.

Inside the gorge there were several caves, many dangerous unwelcome plants, heavy winds and even a little stream that went underground at some points, and created powerful rivers at some others. Everything suited to be a dangerous place to respect, as well as a perfect fit for the Cutie Mark Crusaders adventure spirit.

“Er... Girls? This is Ghastly Gorge... Right?” asked Kyle afraid of the answer.

“Yep! Ghastly Gorge!” answered Scootaloo.

“Yeah... I was afraid so...” said Kyle in a murmur.

“Come on Skylark you still have to see the FUN part!” continued her.

“Yeah, you have to see the bridge, and the awesome stream will be jumping over!” said Sweetie Belle joining the conversation.

“You girls are some of the most weird little fillies I’ve seen... I mean, don’t you guys like dolls and tea parties?”

“But of course we do! It’s only, we’ve already tried that and the way to find your cutie mark as soon as possible is to do as many things as possible! Rainbow Dash said so herself!” said Applebloom animously.

“She did eh... I kind of want to meet her,” said Kyle sarcastically. “To put such ideas in the mind of young hyperactive kids... Ugh!” thought to himself.

Although he wasn’t really angry with Rainbow Dash, as he didn’t even know her yet, he was only frustrated because he was being willingly dragged to something positively scary. To have a home would have been useful now, he could have made up the excuse that he left the stove on.

“Hey, we’re with you Kyle, it’s alright! You’ll see how everything will be fun,” said Scootaloo, as the others went ahead. She noticed Kyle’s nervousness, and couldn’t but relate. At some points of her life, she had been scared of something as well. She didn’t remember most of them, but only a handful; like when she had to sing in front of an audience for a project at school or that night when the crowd started laughing and she had to get back on stage with her friends.
Kyle was both amused and touched by the filly’s concern. He didn’t expect Scootaloo to be the one to calm him down, neither to notice his nervousness for the matter. He felt the whole situation to be quite ridiculous, from a serious point of view. An adult being treated by a kid. But he welcomed odd situations, mostly, so he took courage from the fact that the whole day had been a contradiction to the normal rules of the universe. Or something like that, he thought. But there was something even more sure about all that, it was the first time in that morning that Scootaloo had actually call Kyle, for his name and not his last name.

So he smiled Scootaloo, said his thanks and continued walking with her to the bridge where they had the things prepared on.

It was a big bridge, as Sweetie Belle said, the only bridge to cross Ghastly Gorge safely in miles. Although it didn’t look like many people transited the place anymore, as it looked a bit old and unattended. On it they had already the things they’d need prepared, two big ropes, elastic ropes made specifically for bungee; a series of apparatuses of safety, things that Kyle had only seen on construction ponies who worked in tall buildings; and a big flag that Kyle recognized as the Cutie Mark Crusaders logo.

“Where did you girls get all this stuff? And why do we need the flag?” asked Kyle to no one in concrete.

“Well, Scootaloo got the bungee ropes from RD, we’re borrowing them from her,” answered Applebloom.

“Sweetie Belle made the flag! Isn’t it awesome?” said Scootaloo, while Sweetie Belle blushed. “Isn’t it awesome?”

“Very! I like the design, you have talent little Sweetie Belle,” said Kyle poking Sweetie Belle and making her say a squeaky thank you. “What about those things?”

“Oh the harnesses? I got those from the farm, believe it or not there was a time where we weren’t all boring,” said Applebloom with a chuckle.

“Heh, well sounds neat! You girls will have to teach me though, I haven’t done this before,”

“We haven’t either! That’s the fun of it!” said Scootaloo as she started preparing everything.

“Oh boy...” shivered Kyle

“Rainbow Dash told me how to set everything, and the security measures to take,”

As Scootaloo worked, she seemed really professional, making sure everything was correctly tied up and adjusting everyone’s harnesses so they were correctly on. By which point she asked:

“Hey Kyle are you going to wear that with the harness as well?” said pointing at Kyle’s peculiar clothing.

“Yeah, I would rather, is it a problem Scoot?” asked him innocently.

“No, not really. But you’re going to sweat!” said her giggling.

It was when she was finished when the real deal started, as it was time to start jumping of the bridge.

“So girls... Who will go first” asked Kyle as they all took a peek over the bridge to see how high they actually were, and the answer was very, very high.

As the four gulped, Sweetie Belle said: “Eh... Why don’t you go Scootaloo, since you were the one who suggested it and all...”

“I... Think Applebloom was more eager to start right Applebloom?” said Scootaloo as she stood back from the bridge’s edge.

“But... Uh... I... I think Sweetie Belle would like the honor of being first...” she answered.

“I uh...” started Sweetie Belle, but was interrupted by the colt Skylark.

“Sigh, alright, I’ll go ahead first girls...” said Kyle as he had no choice.

“Yeah Kyle said he wanted to go first!” said Sweetie Belle.

“I didn’t say tha-” was about to reply Kyle, but got shut by Sweetie Belle’s hoof.

“Haha, so Scootaloo tell him the procedure!” said her laughing nervously while pressing her hoof against Kyle’s mouth.

“Ok so, you have to stand right here, where the flag is.” said Scootaloo, as she revealed the purpose of the flag. “And then, with the rope secured to your harness you just... Jump!”

“I just... Jump...” repeated Kyle.

“Yes! And don’t worry we’ll pull you up when the rope stops bouncing,” finished with a smile.

“Alright...here I go...”

“You can do it Kyle!” said Applebloom.

“Yes you can, yes you can!” cheered Sweetie Belle.

“You’ll enjoy the ride you’ll see!” said Scootaloo.

And just like that, he stood where the flag was. Looked back, to see the rope well attached to one of the pivots that were in each edge of the bridge. He glanced at the fillies, as they looked at him with admiration eyes. Then he sighted at the precipice, the river below made it look even more dangerous as it seemed to have a pretty strong stream. But also kind of safe, in a matter of speaking, as it looked like if the rope broke, you’d hit water instead of pure rock. The idea of staying alive even in the worse of the cases was comforting. “Alright, stop digressing brain, let’s focus on this,” Kyle told himself.

So he jumped, and he fell. He didn’t have any other alternative.

As he felt the air flowing through him at such high speed memories from a mysterious and vague past started springing in his head. He had his eyes well closed, he wasn’t screaming, but mostly because he was too scared too. But then, a much more comforting thought sprout in his conscience, Scootaloo smiling at him and telling him it would be fun.

So he opened his eyes.

And then he started screaming.

“WOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO AHHHHHHHHH!”

The scream resonated through the whole Ghastly Gorge. It was a mix between absolute fun and absolute terror. But it was enough for the fillies to start screaming in joy.

“HOORAY KYLE WAY TO GO! WOOOO!” they yelled.

As the rope bounced repeatedly, without letting him touch the ground, he started laughing. He had done it. “Talk about overcoming fears!” he thought.

“Girls!” he yelled. “You HAVE to try this!”

As they pulled him up, he started feeling the second rush of adrenaline, remembrance of the moment. Once up, he stood there, allowed himself for a narcissistic pose and said:

“Well, I hope I passed the test!”

“That was aaaawesome!” said Scootaloo as she jumped around him.

“Amazing, I want to go next!” screamed Applebloom in excitement.

“And I’ll go next! How was it Kyle? Tell us!” asked Sweetie Belle while bouncing on Kyle’s back.

“It was simply amazing, I was so scared at first, but then as if something changed inside me in the middle of the fall, I opened my eyes, and saw how fast I was falling, and and and, I didn’t touch the river down below, instead I was pulled up and it was such a rush of adrenaline!” he tried to explain.

--

The fun and joy that the bungee session had brought them make them not realize how the lazy clouds of the morning became a large cumuli of dark clouds. Only when the clouds reached their position and darkened the day they did realize that a storm was coming their way. And it came quite fast as well, they just realized when a sprinkle started falling from the skies.

“Alright girls, I think this this means is time to head home,” said Kyle.

“Oh come on Kyle, just one more!” said the eager Scootaloo.

“Yeah I want to go too!” said Sweetie Belle, knocking down Scootaloo.

“Me first!” screamed Applebloom, stumbling on both fillies.

“Alright alright, but let’s keep it quick while the rain is still a simple sprinkle, so only one go girls!” said Kyle, unleashing the inevitable fight between the girls. “O-kay... I guess I’ll have to decide...”

Instantly the three fillies stopped, only to stare at the colt with bright shiny eyes.

“Alright...” started Kyle, having no real idea of what to do to decide. “I’ll just, uh, turn around, and you girls... Have to... Jump! The one that jumps right when I turn around again wins. And uh, yeah the one who jumps higher, in case you all have perfect timing, wins.”

“READY!” yelled the three instantly.

“Ok... Let’s do this,” said the colt, and then he turned around only to hear the “clop clop” of three fillies trying to jump all the time. “Three... Two... One... NOW!”

The three were in the air when he turned around. Sweetie Belle though, didn’t last long and landed with his little head before her hooves causing a squeaky “Ouch!”. Applebloom was right besides Scootaloo, but it was Scootaloo’s wings who decided the match as she tried desperately to flap them. Thus Applebloom landed first, resulting on Scootaloo being the winner.

“No fair Scoot! You cheated!” started Applebloom.

“Well, he didn’t say we couldn’t use wings,” finished Scootaloo, showing her tongue to Applebloom.

“Alright alright, Scootaloo wins then,” said Kyle smiling at the trifle. Poor Scootaloo tried really hard to flap her wings, but they weren’t strong enough to lift her for no more than a couple of seconds. He could sympathize with her. “Come on let’s finish this before the storm gets worse.”

“Storm?” asked Sweetie Belle. “It’s barely raining!”

“I know, Sweetie Belle, but you see those dark clouds there? They are storm clouds, and they are getting closer,” answered Kyle quite wisely.

“How do you know so much about weather Kyle?” inquired Applebloom.

“Oh I... Had some experience with weather in the past...” said gloomily.

As Scootaloo got ready for the last jump, Kyle glanced at the menacing sky. It was getting dangerously close, and the color of those clouds wasn’t comforting at all. Nonetheless, little Scootaloo was too excited to stop her, and it was just going to be one jump afterall. “What could go wrong?” he thought. “Many... Many things...” said a little voice in his head, a voice that reminded him of past endeavors, a little friend called conscience. He had to do something.

“Hey Scoot, I don’t think you should jump!” said under the increasing rain.

“What?” yelled a smiling Scootaloo who didn’t hear a word Kyle said. “Here I go!”

She jumped, much to Kyle’s horror, and to Applebloom and Sweetie Belle’s admiration. Then it happened, what couldn’t have gone wrong, went. A thunder was heard, and a lightning stroke. The bridge, old as it was couldn’t resist the sudden hit of nature in its balustrades. It started trembling, and collapsing.

In a blink of an eye Kyle pushed Applebloom and Sweetie Belle away from where they were standing, as it was starting to crumble. He then yelled with a potent voice that snapped the girls from their terror. “GET OUT OF THE BRIDGE, NOW!” And the girls obeyed, looking back when they got to the safety of the road just to see another lightning and Kyle jumping from the bridge.

“Applejack!” screamed Applebloom.

“What?!” said a terrified Sweetie Belle. “She’s not here Applebloom!”

“I know I know! We need to find her! WE NEED HELP!!” yelled, and started galloping to the farm.

“Wait!” yelled Sweetie Belle stopping Applebloom. “What about Scootaloo and Kyle?!”

“He’ll save her don’t worry, but they’ll need our help to get out of there, come on! Before the storm gets worse!” said Applebloom both confident and scared.

What the girls didn’t see was how the second lightning hit the flag, that acted as a lightning rod, making the bit of bridge nearby crumble in itself and starting to fall down. And with it, the bungee rope that was tied to the edge.
Kyle didn’t have much alternatives, but he did have an ace under his sleeve. Or perhaps, under his clothing. He knew there was no other way to save the little filly, that started screaming as soon she realized the big mess that everything was turning to. So he jumped.

And he fell.

--

Applejack was bucking the last apples of the day when she heard the couple of thunders far in the horizon.

“A storm’s a’ brewin’,” she said to herself. “I wonder when are those fillies going to come back...”

“They are with Kyle anyway, so they should be ok,” thought. But she was still thinking on the way Kyle said goodbye that morning, something about it didn’t feel right for her. “He wouldn’t leave us so soon... I mean heck he’s only been with us for one day, and he has no place to go right?” continued thinking. “Perhaps we scared him? No, I don’t think so, he looked quite happy. Maybe he’s not a hard worker... No, he did seem quite fond of helping.”

“Ah, thank you Twilight, I was worried I couldn’t get the last apples before the storm. It was a miracle that you decided to stop by Sweet Apple Acres!” said Applejack to her purple friend, who was helping her with the last two carts of apples.

Twilight Sparkle was a unicorn, a very talented in magic unicorn, that had come to Ponyville about a year and a half ago. She smiled at her friend and replied: “No problem at all Applejack! We’re always glad to help.”

“Where’s Spike?” asked Applejack.

“Oh he’s at the library, he had another case of the “dragon sneezes” and burned another book on accident. So I told him to stay and clean up the mess,” she replied and added “While I was out to get a new copy of the book” and pointed at the book stashed in one of the carts.

“Hehe, I imagine it must be difficult for a dragon to live in a library, with all the fire and all.”

“It is sometimes a problem, but nothing that a good clean up can’t help!”

“By the way, you didn’t happen to see the Cutie Mark Crusaders and another pony today right?”

Twilight stopped to think for a moment and then replied: “No, I don’t think so. Why? Also, another pony?”

“Well because I haven’t seen Applebloom and Kyle since early this morning.”

“Kyle?”

“He’s the other pony that was with them.”

“Who is he?” asked Twilight, curious about a new comer to town. The last newcomer she’d seen to town was the little Pipsqueak and his family from Trottingham, and it was always splendid to receive new people in Ponyville.

“Well Big Mac found him at the end of the farm, apparently he crashed after riding a heck of a lot. So Big Mac offered him to have some breakfast, and he staid with us for the day. Very nice fella, though a little mysterious. He doesn’t have a cutie mark and apparently he doesn’t have a home to go to either!” explained Applejack.

“No cutie mark and no home? That is indeed mysterious... Did he say where he came from?”

“Well he did say that the last place where he was, was Trottingham,” and then she realized “Which is also the place where the new family came from right?”

“Yeah! Do you think it’s coincidental?” asked an increasingly interested Twilight.

“Yes, he seemed quite a lonely fellow, so I don’t think he has anything to do with the ‘Squeak’s’ family,” replied Applejack. “But it is quite impressive that he made it from there by walking, instead of taking the trains.”

“Ponies these days barely use the old roads anymore, that is true,” said Twilight. “So how come he’s with the Crusaders?”

“Well asides from the lack of a cutie mark?” she said mocking Twilight. “Hehe, he clicked very well with Applebloom, and he did seem to be fond of kids.”

“And didn’t you find that weird?”

“Well if it was somepony else, yes, I would have.” And after a pause added “But with him, it was different... You could see the innocence in his face. He’s a good chap!”

Twilight smiled at the idea, she wanted to meet that colt. It reminded her of herself, when he first arrived to Ponyville. She didn’t know anyone, but they all welcomed her like if she was an “all time” friend. The ponies at Ponyville could sense good ponies, at least that was her experience with them. And she will always be touched by the fact they considered her a good pony right from the beginning.

She didn’t delve too much in her thoughts, not because she didn’t want to but because she saw two little fillies rushing towards them.
“Applejack? Isn’t that Applebloom and Sweetie Belle?”

“Yeah! Wait, where’s Scootaloo and Kyle...?”

--

He fell.

But he wasn’t scared, or rushed with adrenaline this time. He was determined. The same determination that allowed him to survive all these years. The same determination that caused “his” plans to fail in the past. A past that didn’t stop from getting close to him ever since he laid feet in Ponyville. And now it was catching up with him, and asking him to reveal himself, pay the bounty and go to jail for escaping.

And then he paid the price, he didn’t even stop to care, Scootaloo was on his mind. He had to save her.

A sound of cloth being ripped apart was muffled by the fast falling. A shame, he really liked his vest. No matter. The Skylark flew free.

He caught Scootaloo before she hit the cold water, she had her eyes tight closed.

She felt the warmth of the colt and the wind in her face and opened her eyes, to see herself mounted on Kyle’s back while he flew up and away from the bridge. But she didn’t have time to admire the blue pony’s wings, nor to be surprised by the sudden discovery. The rope was still well secured to her harness and the bridge collapsed, threatening to take her away from Kyle.

“Kyle!” she screamed under the heavy rain. “The rope!”

Kyle looked back to see that she was being pulled, and the rope tensing as the rock that once was part of the bridge fell into the water. His brain was thinking as fast as he could, his wings ached like crazy as he hadn’t used them in a long time, and he was overwhelming himself.

“Can you get the harness out?!” yelled Kyle trying to fight the rope.

“I can’t It’s stuck!” she screamed desperately.

“Ok, we have only one shot, get ready!”

“For what?!”

He didn’t think on the consequences. He only knew facts. The first fact was that the rope was tense enough that it’ll pull him and the filly away when he stopped flapping his wings. The second fact was that the harness was loose.

Doing one last effort and spending all his strength he flapped his wings violently. He grabbed Scootaloo under his legs in a difficult but well pulled maneuver. Flew upside down all he could. He felt the rock moving. “Just... A little... More!” he shouted.

The rock stopped budging. He let go. Secured Scootaloo from slipping away and stopped flapping his wings.

The rope took it’s revenge, and pulled them with all the strength accumulated. The harness got violently out of little Scootaloo’s body, causing a moment of intense fear as Kyle felt something slipping through his hooves. But they were safe. Or at least the safer you can be while being torpedoed away by a giant slingshot.

He relaxed his muscles, they were flying away, but he’d be able to control the landing and Scootaloo was well secured under his protecting legs. That was the mistake he didn’t calculate. They were flying away, but the direction was the still collapsing bridge.

The last he felt as a boulder hit him was an intense pain and Scootaloo screaming. Everything went pitch black.

--

“What!?” shouted both ponies when they heard the news from the two scared fillies.

“Come on, we have to go now!” said Applejack to Twilight.

“Yes, let’s not waste any more time!” she agreed.

“Wait Applejack, shouldn’t we go too?” asked Applebloom realizing the life of her friends was at stake.

“No! You and Sweetie Belle head to the farm house, now!” replied instantly Applejack, with an authoritarian voice, a voice Applebloom had heard few times in her short life. A voice she had learn to not question. It was the voice of her big sister being seriously worried.

“A...Alright...” she finally said, and she and Sweetie Belle head back to the Apple house.

“Do you think they’ll be alright?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“I don’t know... Applejack was serious...”

“I’m sure they will, Applebloom. I’m sure Kyle saved Scootaloo and now they are just waiting for someone to get them out from the gorge. You’ll see how we’ll all be laughing when this is over...” tried Sweetie Belle. She was terrified, she cared a great deal for her friends. But if Applebloom wasn’t going to be optimistic, she would. For her friends.

--

He saw him. A him as he remembered. Not a scary figure per see, but something he had to respect. Or at least not joke about.

“Equestria...” said the shadowy figure. “Before it, the different kind of ponies divided themselves in tribes. And disharmony ruled the land.”

He paused, and stared to an image of Kyle Skylark, it was himself, the image of his past self.

“Ah yes... I remember those days quite well. Do you remember those days Skylark?”

“Yes,” answered his echoed voice from the past.

“Then why did you stop me from getting the last one of the Elements?” the shadowy figure asked calmly.

“I didn’t stop you...” his voice sounded bitter.

“Ah, but I find you did. The last Element, the element that no one, but you and I, knows. You crushed, quite literally if I may,” he said this with a subtle grin that chilled the blood of the timeless Skylark “the only way I had to get it. The element of Magic. The most powerful of them.”

There was no response from the past Skylark. Only a silent dripping.

“You know you’ve only gained meaningless time, right? You know I cannot be stopped,” he sighed “And here I thought that leaving you alone would stop you from interfering in my plans... Ah I was quite a fool, I should have known. We often find our destiny in the road we take to evade it.”

He suddenly remembered, he couldn’t do anything, something had blocked him. The shadowy memory became brighter. Now he could see his past self clearly. And he saw the tears that once were his. And the hate. The hate for that being who had ruled his destiny since he was born.

“A mistake, I won’t be taking again, I should say, dear Skylark,” his voice suddenly changed to a menacing one “Oh how I would love to slice your throat and let you bleed to your dead. Ah, it’s such a shame we can’t kill directly...”

The Skylark from the past and the timeless Skylark froze scared of the coldness of the being.

“But it’s time for you to go. Adieu, Kyle Skylark,” and that being, who mastered the threads of destiny and played with the unstoppable flux of time waved his hand. The Skylark fell from his tree.

But, much to the displease of the powerful being, the last words of the fallen Skylark echoed through the shapeless place.

--

He woke up slowly, wet and extremely tired. The first he saw was the sight of rocks, and the grey walls of a natural cave. He tried to get on his hooves.

“Kyle!” said a voice behind him.

“Oh Scootaloo...” said Kyle, as he remembered what happened. “Are you hurt? Did Applebloom and Sweetie Belle made it? Where are we?”

“Calm down, I’m fine, thanks to you,” she said blushing a bit. “I don’t know if they made it, but I am quite positive about it, since I didn’t see anyone on the bridge when we flew through it. And we landed in the water some miles away, so I dragged you to this cave.”

He relaxed his aching muscles again. “Ah, what a relief... Thanks for saving me Scootaloo,” he said smiling at her.

And she cuddled with him as an answer. “No, Kyle, thank you. You were amazing with those wings! How come you didn’t tell us you were a pegasus pony?”
“Ah... Thanks. I well, am not very much fond of my wings...” he answered vaguely.

“Why not? Personally I think they fit you, being your name Skylark and all,” she said innocently.

“Well, I guess, but in the past, they were the cause of the death of a friend of mine...” Why was he telling something he’d never tell before to a little filly like Scootaloo.

She got quiet, cuddling with Kyle so they could maintain the warmth and fight better the coldness the storm was leaving. After a long pause, she looked up and knocked with her head on Kyle’s neck. Making him look at her.

“Well, it saved the life of a friend of yours in the present.”

He smiled at her, and flapped a bit his wings. His left wing was injured, it hurt. But he didn’t care. He used his right wing to cover Scootaloo.

“Do you think they’ll rescue us today?” Apparently she knew of Kyle’s injured wing.

“I think we may have to wait until the rain stops... So maybe we’ll need to stay here for the night,” he said and added “But don’t worry, I’m sure they are already looking for us.”

“Oh, I’m not worried, a little storm doesn’t scare me!” she said confidently. And with a very bad timing as well, as just as she said that an enormous thunder resonated through the entire cave. In an instinctive response Scootaloo pressed her head under Kyle’s wing. Realizing that move, she looked at Kyle and blushed as she giggled.

Kyle smiled and simply said: “You have a beautiful mane, you know that?”

“Thanks, not many people tell me that...”

“Well, they should!”

And then another lightning stroke nearby, causing another huge sound to surround the cave and scare little Scootaloo.

Kyle was a bit away, he still had in his mind the “dream” or memory he had while he was blacked out. Thus he was in two places, in a cave in the bottom of a big scary gorge and back in a memory and timeless world. But the jump Scootaloo did when the second thunder rose snapped him out of it. He put again his right wing over Scootaloo and this time got a good grip of her.

“You should get some sleep Scoot...”

“I... I am too scared Kyle...” she finally admitted.

“Hmm hey, what if I sing you a lullaby?” At which Scootaloo looked at him a bit puzzled, but she smiled anyways.

“Let’s hear it!”

“I remember a bed song when I was your age, I don’t think you’d ever hear it...” said, and got air and started singing as melodically and softly as he could.

Dreams will caress your soul
Lift your body and calm your spirit
...

“The song continues,” he said softly “But I-”

He stopped, because Scootaloo had already delved in the land of dreams, where she was surely living a great adventure up in the sky.

Flying free, like a Skylark.

--

The Colt Skylark.
To be Continued.