As I woke up again, I found myself lying in my bed at Sweet Apple Acres. It took a while until I recalled what had happened yesterday, and I had to pull myself together to avoid not immediately falling asleep again. I forced myself to stand up, but something was hindering me from pulling back the blanket: Applejack. Her head was lying on my bed while she was still barely sitting on a chair. She must have spent the night here after I collapsed in front of the entire town. I gently placed her Stetson that must have fallen off at some point back on her head and got out of the bed as carefully as possible to not wake her up. The first thing I noticed was the golden hoofband around my right hoof. It was graced with fine writing and had a moon on one side and a sun engraved on the other. One Ring to rule them all… my humor really never left me hanging. I tried to take it off to have a closer look at it, but it literally stuck to me, so I tried to widen it with a spell, but it was to no avail. I walked around the bed and looked at my phone on the nightstand. It was off. I wanted to go downstairs and take a shower, but not before placing a blanket over AJ. As I stepped out of the door, I immediately noticed the two guards that stood across from my door.

“Can I help you somehow?” They slammed their hooves together and stiffened their lances straight up.

“No, sir. Everything is in order.” Okay, that sent a shiver down my spine. I made my way downstairs and immediately noticed that the two were following me.

“And everything is really alright with you two?” Again, they slammed their hooves together and adjusted their lances.

“Yes, everything is in order, sir,” they both said in unison. I already disliked them. I went downstairs where no pony seemed to be. The clock in the kitchen showed me that work had started a long while ago, so Big Mac was already out there and Apple Bloom must have been in school. I made my way to the bath, but of course not without my followers.

“Do you guys want to shower with me or do you think I can do that alone already?” I threw at their heads as they got ready to follow me inside the bathroom.

“I think we will wait outside, sir,” one of them said embarrassedly and stepped next to the door. I locked it behind me in case they changed their minds and looked at the bracers. Slowly, I got an idea what it meant.

“I just want to help you,” I aped Celestia. “Thanks, now I’m stuck with Bulk and Skull,” I said to myself before turning on the water. I tried to get the bracers off again when my coat was wet, but it still stuck in place. The only thing I could do was twist it. I wanted to give myself more time to avoid the two jokers outside, but Big Mac was alone on the farm, and since I was going to stay here, I would need the money. As fast as I could, I jumped out of the bath and surprised the two guards as I ran into the kitchen, grabbed an apple, and left the house. Outside, I immediately ran around the barn and disappeared between the trees on one of the fields.

“Problem one, solved.” I grinned and began looking for my big red friend. Luckily, it didn’t take long since the kicks he gave the trees were audible over a long range.

“Sir, you can’t just go like this!” I flinched and looked around. Nothing. A quiet noise above me told me where my pursuers were. Both guards, who obviously were pegasi, landed behind me and stepped into formation again. “Princess Celestia has ordered us to look after you.”

“Would you just look around? What could happen here?” I pointed at the trees and bushes that surrounded us. “Is an apple going to smash me?” The two just stared at me but made no signs to leave. “Then make yourself useful at least and tell me what this is.” I held the bracer in front of their nose.

“This is the royal sigil circlet. It shows that you are a member of the royal family.” Immediately, I got an idea.

“Then I order you to leave me alone. You get on my royal nerves.” They still kept a straight face, and I thought of the guards of Buckingham Palace, which immediately led me to thinking that such a place could surely exist here.

“I am sorry, but we can’t follow that order, sir. Orders by the princess have a higher priority.” I just sighed and gave up. I continued following the noise and soon found Big Mac standing under a large tree that he just had freed its load from .

“Morning, Big Mac! Do you need a little help?” He looked over at me and at the situation behind me shortly.

“Eeyup,” he simply said and motioned towards the field in front of him. Without further ado, I went to work, which earned me confused looks from the two guards. They probably weren’t used to seeing someone with the sigil working. The monotonous work with the trees was exactly what I needed to think since yesterday was still clear in my head. It was my thing to block out negative thoughts with humor, but this wouldn’t work forever. Twilight would surely be proud of me creating a mental list of all the positives and negatives things that the events had brought with them. Far on the top of the positives things were of course my new friends, especially AJ, followed by the fact that I was wielding magic, and I was in the world I had fled so often to in my dreams. On the negative side stood my family. They will or already had forgotten me, just like that. At least they weren’t going to mourn me, which gave me some positive energy.

“Damn!” I yelped. I was so deep in my thought that I hadn’t hit the next tree correctly. My right hind leg was bent a bit, and the pain slowly crawled up the leg. I let the joint circle a bit and made a short stop. The two guards stood a few meters behind me and watched but made no attempt to help me when I hurt myself.

“Everything alright there, lover boy?” AJ came around some trees.

“Morning, AJ. Yes, I’m fine. Just didn’t really hit the tree; I was too deep in thoughts.” She sat down next to me and inspected my hoof.

“What were ya thinkin’ bout?” She twisted my hoof firmly which caused a piercing pain that jolted through my body and caused me to flinch.

“Just about what I was going to do now. I need work to get money for my own place. I don’t want to sponge off you.” She twisted my hoof even stronger.

“Ah already told ya that you’re always welcome here. We’d rather build a new guest room than kick ya out, sugarcube.” I just couldn’t help hugging her, and I was glad that she returned to gesture. As we separated, she gave me a quick kiss on my cheek. “It’d be the best if Fluttershy had a look at your injury, not that it’s getting worse.”

“Do you think she would come out while these two there are with me?” I pointed at two guards who looked away slightly, probably because it was too embarrassing for them to watch us directly. “But I think I have a solution for that problem. AJ, you just have to help me gallop.” She nodded and without further ado, I gave her a kiss. It reminded me of the evening we had spent together. It was a wonderful feeling, but I needed to stay focused now. The kiss showed its desired result as the two guards turned away completely to give us some privacy, and I quickly pulled back from the kiss and ran off with AJ. I leaned against her to support my hurt hoof. Without the injury and the two guards, this would have been a wonderful moment to enjoy. We arrived at the end of the farm and at the fence, but instead of walking on the road, we stayed in the bushes of Sweet Apple Acres. On the road, we would have been way too noticeable, and the two guards would have easily spotted us again. We changed from the gallop into a light trot, and I saw that AJ was beaming with joy. “Then tell me, what did I miss after I passed out?”

“Well, Princess Celestia announced yer title, answered some questions, then she put the circlet on ya and said goodbye,” she summarized everything.

“My title?” I went through all the titles of nobility I knew, which weren’t very many.

“Well, it’s not a real title, sugarcube, more like your status.” She thought for a moment. “Maybe Twilight should explain that to ya. She knows more about that stuff.”

“But if she explains it, I only get half of the stuff. There’s nopony I would rather hear it from than you.” She turned a bit red.

“Well, yer something like a prince now, but not really. Like ah said, it’s somehow complicated.” She seemed to be embarrassed to be unable to explain it.

“Then just repeat what the princess had said.” Me a prince? What kind of joke was that?

“Well yeah, Princess Celestia took you in her family as her son, but immediately said that ya have no claims, then a whole bunch of diplomatic stuff. If ya want to know more, ya’ll have to buy a newspaper, sugarcube. I’m not so good with these things.” My mind somehow stuck to the bit that Celestia was something like my mother now, and I didn’t know if I was supposed to be happy or frightened. Myriads of Trollestia and Molestia jokes were racing through my head. But one thing I was thankful for was that someone took me in despite all these circumstances. On the one side was AJ, who loved me for who I was and now also the princess herself, and I would be a complete jerk if I didn’t appreciate that. I leaned a bit more against her before I spoke.

“I like you exactly how you are.” She leaned a bit against me as well, and it didn’t take long until we reached the town. Before stepping out of the bushes, I looked around to see if the guards were searching for us here by now, but they were nowhere to be seen. They probably thought that we were hiding somewhere on the farm. Ponyville was still decorated like last night, and nopony looked like they were going to change that. “How long will the decoration be out? Not that I don’t find it pretty, but the visit is over.” AJ looked at me like I said something stupid.

“Oh, sorry sugarcube. Ah almost forgot that yer not from here. The day after tomorrow is spring festival like every year on the first of May.” Before I had the time to think about it anymore, a flash of light distracted me, followed by a tremendous amount of words that were being thrown at my head. In front of me and AJ stood some reporters who I could identify from their notebooks and cameras as they began asking one question after the other.

“What is the full name of the world you are from?”

“Where are you currently living?”

“Is this your marefriend?”

“What do you do for a living?”

And these were just some of the question I could understand. AJ was just as swamped with the situation as I was, and slowly, we were pushed back by the reporters.

“Make room for a lady!” Rarity pushed herself through the mob until she landed in front of us. Quickly, she stood up again and stood between us and the reporters while her mane bounced up and down. “My dear gentlecolts, what kind of behaviour are you showing in the presence of nobility? Please think again and ask your questions after making an appointment.” Rarity managed to make the mob seem at least somewhat chagrined. She dropped a curtsey and took a few steps back. “Better. If you have questions, you will make an appointment at the town hall as is right and proper.” Slowly, the reporters beat a retreat, and the way was free again.

“Thanks, Rarity, these folks were really intrusive.”

“No problem, darling. I am the right pony if it comes to dealing with the press.”

“Umm… is everything alright?” I turned around to find the source of the whisper that I just heard behind us. “I thought they came again for… oh Tio, I mean Blue Light, what happened to your hoof?” Fluttershy flew over to me and immediately inspected my injury.

“Thanks, Fluttershy. We were just on our way to you because of that. What are you two doing out here?” Fluttershy pulled out a first aid kit from somewhere and began to bandage my hoof.

“Well, darling, with the recent weather cancelling our day in the spa and after all the stress of the past few days, I am in a dire need of a visit there, so we were heading there now.” I held back on a comment since I was appreciating her help.

“I have one more question, Rarity. Is there really an official place where they can go to because of their questions?” Did I have a post box or something like that?

“Not that I know of. But of course those gossip reporters don’t know that.” Rarity had actually tricked them. Now I could really start liking her. I just couldn’t help but laugh along with Applejack and Rarity. Fluttershy meanwhile bit off the bandage with her teeth and stored the rest in her small kit.

“Thanks, Fluttershy. Now I can go back to work.”

“Oh no, you won’t, mister!” She rushed into my sight and glared at me. “I mean… if you don’t mind. You should try to rest your hoof for the next few days.” She took a step back again.

“It’s going to be fine, Fluttershy, as long as I have AJ here.” At my last words, she took a step to the side and landed on the ground since I was still leaning against her.

“Ya better listen to Fluttershy, lover boy. We were doing fine before you as well and will manage for a day or two. So, have yourself a nice day. Celestia knows ya need it.” Fluttershy and Rarity nodded in agreement before AJ made her way back to the farm to help her brother.

“Darling, I have question. Are you two together now or not? I am a bit confused with the situation,” Rarity asked after she helped me back on my hooves. The hoof was still hurting, but thanks to the treatment, it was more than bearable now.

“I don’t know, Rarity, we haven’t talked about anything like that yet.” She rolled her eyes and held a hoof against her forehead like she was about to collapse. Fluttershy instead just turned red at the subject, probably just like me. “Why do you ask, Rarity?” I knew that, aside from all the differences, she still was a good friend and must have been worried.

“Well, it is unusual that two ponies who like each other don’t make it official, my dear.”

“Official? You mean like marrying?”

“Oh, somepony’s thinking a few steps too far.” She laughed. “No, it is common to ask the mare of your choice if she would like a relationship, nothing more. Most young couples host a reception to celebrate it.” Good, so you have to ask the mare for every step, nothing new to me.

“And when do you usually ask this question?” I really had to borrow a book about social conventions from Twilight.

“On the first date, darling, that’s why I am so confused. Is that not how it is done where you are from?” I shook my head. “Well, anyway! We have to get going. Are you coming, Fluttershy?” Fluttershy, meanwhile, was paying more attention to a butterfly, but now nodded towards Rarity and both went their ways after we said goodbye. Since AJ had forced me so nicely to take the day off, I could use it to learn more about magic, and since I needed a book, my destination was clear. It took a while with my hooves, and the looks of the citizens didn’t make it easier, but I eventually arrived at the library and followed Rainbow Dash’s example. I opened the door without knocking and entered, finally getting rid of all those looks. Twilight was busy packing some books into a shelf, and a delicious scent came from the kitchen, telling me that Spike was cooking.

“Hello, Twilight, I’m here for our magic lessons and for a certain book.” Twilight didn’t seem to hear me. “Twilight?” Still nothing. “TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” This time, the circlet around my hoof glowed as I spoke and amplified what I said so much that the little statue fell from the table in the middle of the room. I brought her mane a little out of form as well, and Spike opened the door to see what was going on. As the little dragon saw Twilight with me standing confused next to her, he burst out into laughter.

“Dude, that was awesome!” Twilight seemed to be annoyed, and I thought of the best way to get on her nerves. I walked to her other side and took a deep breath.

“FUS RO DAH!” It sounded through the library in the royal Canterlot voice and brought her mane back into its original position. I joined the little dragon in his hearty laughter.

“Ha ha, very funny, guys!” Twilight said snippely. “What brings you here, Blue Light?”

“You know that the princess gave me that name.” And Twilight’s mimic said that I should be grateful for that. “Then at least call me Light.” Wait a minute, I thought. My name is Light and my marefriend loves apples above all? I think I found my master.

“Okay, Light, why are you here?”

The afternoon didn’t seem to want to end. Whether it was because of Twilight’s endless lectures or the same exercises that I had to do over and over again didn’t matter to me. I craved for some music. Maybe Vinyl could get my phone running again if I gave it to her for a while. After all, she basically invented the battery here. It felt like this was the hundredth apple that slowly turned into a pear now. Twilight made it clear to me that it would be too hard to change the form too drastically, so small steps would be the best approach.

“Twilight, do you know a place where I can practice without endangering others?” I wasn’t thinking highly of her methods. She thought for a moment.

“You could go into the forest, but if you follow my directions, nothing should go wrong.” I threw a look out of the window. It couldn’t be after four o’clock.

“You know, I have to go somewhere. Would you mind if I come back tomorrow?”

“I think I have some room in my calendar for that; it’s no problem then.”

“Okay, thanks, Twilight. I’ll be on my way now, and thanks again for the lesson.” I had gotten a few ideas and was keen on trying them out. I ran as quickly as my hooves allowed it out of the library and towards the Everfree Forest. I thought nothing of it. If Twilight proposed it as a training place, nothing could go wrong, could it?

Author's Notes:

Help! The dead are crawling out of their graves! Oh no! Its a story! Have mercy arg.....

Okay, it is not that bad, isn't it? So yeah, here we are again. Its alive and all that stupid Frankenstein shit. But it was not Frankenstein who did it, it was Gron, with a little bit of help from his Igor, JBL.

If you read my other story, Journey, you should know those names. In case you didn't: "They are your gods now, bring them all your virgins!"

No really, these guys are great. So....
Thanks to Gron for translating this chapter.
Special thanks to JBL for proofreading and editing.

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