---

---

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.

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