“That was a good amount of work today,” Applejack complemented, as the group made their way to the farmhouse. “Did either of you do work on a farm or something like that where you’re from?”

“I can’t say anything for John, but my family was into vegetable gardening and food storage,” Bayek answered.

“Well, I wasn’t a farmer, but I did do a lot of work for the people where I was stationed,” John responded.

“Either way, good job you two,” Big Mac said.

“You're not barking up the wrong tree anymore I see,” John responded.

“Don’t push your luck, or I’ll have found my new chew toy,” Mac growled.

“Alright, settle down, you’re both pretty, okay,” Bayek joked. “Let’s just get some relaxation in. I may be undead, but after working in the fields, I found that exhaustion and hunger still apply.” He opened the door to the farmhouse, only for a loud bang to blow him back and obliterate most of his chest.

“Granny!” Applejack scolded as he brought herself out of the split second cover she and everyone else dove into shortly after the bang. “What did I tell you about shooting guests!?”

“I’m pretty sure an undead, ain’t no guest,” an old mare said from inside of the farmhouse.

“Only if said undead isn’t a servant of a God,” Bayek shouted from his almost dismembered body/pile of sand. “And for future reference, I’m not a rotting corpse type of undead.”

“See?” Applejack asked, pointing to him. “He ain’t here to cause trouble. Trouble usually finds him, if what happened earlier today is anything to go by.”

“I’m not going to comment on that fact,” John admitted, looking towards the old mare’s weapon.

“Maybe take a picture, it’ll likely last longer than I will,” the old mare responded.

“Can we just stop the hostilities!?” Bayek called out, his torso slowly reforming. “My name is Bayek, and I’m a servant of Amun.”

“Servant of who now?” the old mare asked in confusion.

“Amun is a sun god from the ancient times of mine and John’s people. Also considered a god king as well,” Bayek explained. “I’m not 100% sure, but I also think he might have a small investment into the afterlife, if what I am says anything about that.”

“Maybe we can talk more about this and anything else if we’re inside and fed,” Applejack said. “And despite the fact that you are against it, Bayek is a guest. No and’s, if’s, or but’s about it.”

“Eeyup!” Mac agreed.

“Fine,” the old mare responded seemingly in annoyance, “But I still don’t trust him.”

“I don’t blame you,” Bayek responded, now fully formed. “There was going to at least be someone with Kinemortophobia somewhere in this world, so I’ll just roll with the punches...or shotgun blasts?”

“Umm, looking at the gun she’s using, I’d say it seems to more likely be a Blunderbuss.”

“Potato, Potato,” Bayek said. “The blunderbuss was an early version of the shotgun before people use what firearms are now used in our world.”

“Anyway, what’s for dinner, Granny?” Applejack asked.

“Well, I was preparing some Chicken breast with sweet potatoes and a salad, but with the extra guests that may need changing.”

“Wait...chicken?” Bayek questioned. “I thought ponies were herbivores.”

“Ponies can digest meat,” Mac explained. “Most ponies avoid it, but those that can either afford it or raise non-sentient animal types can do so if they so wish.”

“So omnivores with a preference to herbivorous lifestyles. Got it,” Bayek said.

“So what changes do you mean?” Applejack asked Granny. “I don’t see what’s wrong with the usual amount of food.”

“I’m expecting she meant she hasn’t prepared enough to feed two extra bodies,” John clarified.

“There should be plenty,” Applejack said. “Mac just needs to eat less.”

“I could say the same for you,” Mac responded.

“What?!” She exclaimed. “Why you-”

“Just Shut It!” Bayek yelled, shutting up the quarrelling siblings. “Respect your Elder’s decision!”

“Like you are one to talk about showing people respect,” John responded with a smirk.

“While you make a point, I try to respect my parents and grandparents as much as I can,” Bayek said back. Before anyone could say anything further, all of a sudden, Granny had everyone’s ears in her grasp, holding and pulling harshly.

“Would you all just be quiet and stop acting like a bunch of foals,” the old mare ordered.

“Yes Mam! Sorry Mam!” Bayek quickly said.

“Sorry Granny!” Mac and Applejack said in pain.

“Okay then,” John responded seemingly not bothered by the old mare’s actions.

She then let go of everyone’s ears with a slight shove before she said, “Well then, I’d better sort something out for our guests,” as she slowly walked back into the farmhouse.

Silence reigned for a few moments before Applejack broke it. “So, I never got to asking, but why do you two have weapons?” She asked.

“Well, I am a policeman, so I am lightly armed to protect myself, also because I am dressed as an Assassin for a event I went to,” John admitted calmly. Mac visibly tensed at the word, “Assassin.’

“You dressed as a type of murderer?” Mac asked, a growl deeply hidden in the question.

“Well, there is a story to it. You see I went as a character from a gaming series I liked to play when I was able to. The Assassins were a group from the game,” John clarified.

“A group of murderers?” Mac asked his growl a bit more noticeable.

“These Assassin’s aren’t murderers. They aim to protect the freedom and rights of the general people,” Bayek explained. “They work in opposition to the Templars, who aim to subjugate the general people. Before they were known as such, they were known as the Hidden Ones, and the Order of Ancients, respectively.”

“Wouldn’t they still be murderers? If their name changed to Assassins, wouldn’t it say something about what they do, despite their intentions?” Mac asked again, with slight reluctance to ask ‘visible’ in his voice.

“Well considering one if the tenants they followed was Stay your blade from the flesh of an innocent. I think you can write that worry from your lists,” John replied still remaining somewhat calm.

“So, no problems will come from you two?” Mac asked.

“Knowing his luck, problems will find him without us looking,” John replied pointing to Bayek.

“Won’t agree, nor disagree with you,” Bayek said. “But to truly answer the question Mac asked, you are correct. Trouble won’t come from us specifically.”

“I wouldn’t hold my breath for other things causing it though,” John added.

“Seems fair enough,” Mac said. He turned to his sister. “I noticed that you didn’t react as I did. I’m a bit confused at that.”

“It has more to do with the fact that when he said Assassin, it struck me more with familiarity than with suspicion or fear,” Applejack answered. “And I have no clue why.”

“Well, if you don’t know how could we?” John admitted with a shrug of his shoulders.

“I don’t think she was implying that,” Bayek countered. “She’s mostly wondering out loud.”

“Bayek’s right,” Applejack confirmed. “By the way, has anyone seen Applebloom yet?”

“Not since she brought that Choker here, have you seen her Bayek?” John asked as he looked around for her.

“Part way through my tasks that were assigned to me, I saw her running off to the southern part of the orchard with two other fillies,” he said.

“Well I guess that should mean she’ll be fine for now,” John responded before he blinked and as soon as he opened his eyes the world around him looked almost completely white with everyone around being surrounded in a blue light. It was then he blinked again before shaking his head as his vision reverted to normal.

“You okay?” Applejack asked. “You looked a little off, and your eyes glowed a bit.”

“Were they?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I guess I can do that. Lucky me,” John responded with a chuckle, “Now I just need to work out how to do it on a whim.”

“Are you talking about Eagle Vision?” Bayek asked. “Because I probably won’t be able to do the same, unless I have access to an eagle for a pet companion.”

“Bet you wish that you had something like that with you right about now.”

“Yeah, but it’s not like one is going to land on my head and become fast friends with me.”

“Maybe Fluttershy could help with that, when you meet her,” Applejack said.

“Just don’t hit on her,” Mac mumbled to himself.

“I am undead,” Bayek shot out, causing him to stumble back. “Unless she is a necrophile, I don’t see-” He was then interrupted by a set of girls/fillies screaming

“Umm… I’m guessing that wasn’t anyone here screaming?” John asked.

“No, that came from the south,” Applejack said, worry evident in her voice. “That’s where Bayek saw my sister and her friends go. But, why are they screaming?” A set of wolf howls seemed to answer her question.

“Timberwolves!” Mac shouted, before running to the barn and coming back with a fire axe and a camping hatchet. He tossed the hatchet to Applejack, and then turned to the two Assassins. “You gonna help. I’m not sure if this’ll be like Zap Apple season of two or three years back.”

“Considering, I have no idea what that is, I'll take your word on that,” John responded calmly.

“Something is off,” Bayek said in slight confusion. “I feel that it isn’t three lives we need to save, but four.”

“What do you mean?” Applejack asked.

“Not sure. We’ll find out when we get there,” he answered. The four then started running to the southern end of the Acres.

Shortly after they left, Granny opened the door to the farmhouse before she looked around before saying, “Where did you all go?” before sitting on a chair on the porch and waited.

Next Chapter: Chapter 4 - Wolves With Just as Much Bark As Their Bite Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 40 Minutes