A tickling at my nose woke me from my sleep and made me realize how cold it was. I carefully searched for the blanket but only found something soft lying next to me. Sleepily, I opened my eyes and saw Applejack quietly sleeping next to me. With a wide grin, the events of last evening shot into my head again. However, that changed nothing about the fact that the blanket was missing. I sat up and found it hanging over the end of the bed. I stood up and threw it over the sleeping beauty that I had spent the night with. I knew that my own thoughts sounded terribly cheesy, but hey, who cares? Thanks to one of my stupid quirks, it was now impossible for me to be able to get back to sleep again once I had stood up, so I now couldn’t just snuggle back into the bed. I decided to use the time productively and make us some breakfast. I had never cooked since I became a pony, but how hard could that be? I walked out of the room as quietly as I could but stopped, a bit confused at the door. My bag, with all my things, stood next to me as though it was waiting for me.

I went down the small hallway and tried to enter the guest room, but it was locked. From the inside came the snoring of multiple ponies. A part of the family must have been sleeping there, and since my room was empty, they were using it. I didn’t want to disturb their slumber, and so I made my way downstairs where I found more ponies sleeping on the sofa, including Braeburn. His hat was lying on the armrest next to him, and he still held an empty mug in his hoof. My eyes fell on the kitchen, and to my surprise, various mares were already sitting at the large kitchen table there and were drinking something that smelled awfully like coffee.

“Look who we have here.” One of them was grinning over at me. A smile formed on the faces of the other four, and I tried not to blush.

“What do you need, colt? A headache pill? Did you drink too much? Or do you wanna drink coffee with us?” another mare asked.

“I just wanted to prepare some breakfast for… us.” A giggle made its round around the table again.

“Do you remember when our stallions were like that?” Everypony at the table agreed. “Then don’t let us stop you.” I slowly went past the table, knowing that all eyes would be on me as long as I was in the kitchen. The conversation at the table continued, but so quietly that I couldn’t understand anything clearly. I tried to ignore it as best as I could and got all the ingredients that I would need out of the fridge, mainly eggs. I put a pan on the gas stove, and with a little spark from my horn, the flames were ignited. I began to melt some butter in the pan and broke the eggs open in a bowl. In a cupboard, I found some parsley that I cut and added into the bowl as well. Sometimes I was surprised that everything worked so well with hooves, but it was a magical world after all. I put everything together into the pan and let it cook. In a small bread box, I found some cornbread which I coated with butter before putting the eggs over them. I finished the dish with some extra parsley that I placed next to it on the plate before putting it all together on a tray. I took a step back and inspected my creation that earned me some applause from the table. I stored the used utensils in the sink and went to go upstairs again with the tray on my back. While I was walking past the table, all the mares grinned at me again before returning back to their conversation. Just as I went to open the door to AJ’s room, Big Mac came out of his own, his eyes immediately sticking on me.

“Morning…” I said briefly, an uneasy feeling in my stomach. He just nodded shortly and threw a look at me that said more than a thousand words. ‘Break my sister’s heart, and I’ll break something of yours.’

He went past me downstairs, and I could hear him disappearing in the bathroom a few seconds later. I knew that he only meant well, and so I carefully opened the door again. AJ had woken up by now and looked around, seemingly confused.

“Good morning,” I said happily and placed on the tray on the bed.

“Morning, sugarcube. Ah was wondering where you went off to.” She reached for her Stetson that hung over one of the bedposts as I placed the tray in front of her.

“I thought I’d make us a little treat.” I had never been a big romantic, but breakfast in bed was always something nice. I knew that from my own experiences. I sat back down on the bed, and we quickly ate the meal together.

“Thanks, sugarcube, but Ah think Ah should go downstairs and help the others set up the table. A whole family won’t be fed with only two breads.” Slowly, she rose from the bed and went out of the room, but not without giving me a kiss. I gathered the dishes and followed her downstairs as well. AJ was now standing with the other mares in the kitchen, from where a pleasant scent now came.

“Hey, morning, Light!” Braeburn said from over by the couch, followed by a groan.

“Shush, Braeburn, not everypony’s as young as you,” I heard the voice of the pony that I knew as Seed. I went over to the two and sat down on a chair.

“So, how was your night? We didn’t see you again after the thing on the dance floor.” A giggling from the kitchen followed Braeburn’s words, and I could just see how AJ pulled her hat over her face. “AJ, come on, we’re all adults here,” he said with a grin.

“Now leave the two alone, or do I have to remind you how you and a certain Vanilla was like?” one of the mares from the kitchen piped up.

“Fine, Aunt Orange.” He leaned over to me. “I wish you to the best of luck. I know a gentlecolt never tells.” I didn’t know what to say, and sometimes it was better to say nothing.

“Could you all be quiet now? I tried to sleep it off here,” Seed spoke up again.

She had never had it easy. She had grown up as an orphan in an orphanage in Manehatten after her parents had abandoned her and her brother as foals. If they wanted to have more than a bit of hay, they had to steal it, and it was her brother who had done it for her. If they wanted to have a bed, they had to fight for it, and it was her brother again who had done it for her. When they were old enough, her brother had taken multiple jobs to afford a small place for both of them, and for the first time, there had been some hope at the end of the long dark tunnel. She could go to school and have a normal life for once, and that was all thanks to her brother. The good times would not last long for them, for a year later her brother had fallen terribly sick and could no longer work. It had then been her turn to earn the money for rent and medicine. And for her, there had been only one way of doing that: her special talent - magic.

She had put on small show and performed occasionally at some of the small, smoky nightclubs, but the big money and success had never come. She had quickly found out that the show business was harder than she had thought, and so she had to adapt. She hadn’t wanted to leave her brother hanging. But even with all her efforts, it still hadn’t been enough for both rent and medicine, and so she had admitted her brother to the hospital and built herself a small cart. In there she had lived from then on, set in a small secluded place. As time went by, her brother’s state had gotten increasingly worse, and after a few years of sickness, he had eventually passed away.

With the death of her brother, she had broken down, unable to bear that city for one second longer. It had never been good to her. She had packed her things, which was only her costume and her cart, and made her way over the lands to try her luck elsewhere. But no matter how many places she visited, her show had never been a success, and she eventually came to a solution that seemed to be only way out of this: she spiced up her reputation. She had told lies about heroic feats she had accomplished, the crowd basically hanging onto her lips, eating up every word. For the first time, she had felt respected and enjoyed every second of the fame.

However, everything had to fade away someday, and her end had come when she arrived in a small town by the name of Ponyville.

When she had done her show there, some foals had taken her story too seriously and lured a very dangerous creature, an Ursa Minor, into town. She had often dreamed of being powerful enough to defeat such a creature, but her magic had been of no use. She was eventually saved by a certain mare, Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia’s personal student.

On that day, she had not just lost her cart, which contained everything she owned, but also her career. The story from Ponyville had spread like a wildfire, and nopony would ever let her perform again. Without a home and money, she had been forced to live in a small forest outside of Las Pegasus. It was the city of easy mares and plentiful shows and casinos, but not even there did she receive another chance. She had fed off berries and grass, every day a fight with nature, especially last year’s winter. So when she had gotten her hooves on a newspaper after months, she couldn’t believe her eyes. What she saw was impossible, yet the picture had been just a week old. Quickly she had gotten on her way, back into the town she never wanted to see again: Ponyville.

“Trixie was hoping to never see this place again,” she said to herself as she saw the town on the horizon. The sun had just risen, and she had been on her feet for the last three days and nights. Without money for a chariot or the train, she had had no other choice. In every village she passed, she had heard news about what had gotten her so excited that she couldn’t find any sleep. Her hooves were burning, and her stomach had long given up pleading for food. She disliked the thought of wandering into this town, worn down like this, but she had no choice. And she would have to ask her way around since the newspapers had named no address. She pulled out a small picture from underneath her cloak and sighed. It gave her new courage, and so she continued her way.

It took her only a little while until she noticed that she would soon be in town. The sound of the bells told her that it was seven in the morning, and she hoped that most citizens would still be lying in their beds. Yesterday, there had been a fest, and surely most of them wanted to sleep it off. The path slowly changed into the main road of the town, and now for the first time in a long while, she took in the sights of this place again. Garlands and other decorations hung from the buildings and had given light last night. The large area around the town hall, where she had also performed once, was filled with tables and benches on which some ponies were peacefully slumbering. The white fence, which was covered mostly by plants and separated a dancing area, stung into her eyes. Mugs were lying everywhere on the ground, together with various other trash. She saw one pony sitting upright at a table and inspecting the mugs for any remains. The mare had a dark purple coat with a slightly brighter mane and tail. Her cutie mark composed of different kind of berries.

“Excuse me, Miss. Trixie would like to ask you something.” Her title she had dropped a while ago. Far too many times she had been laughed at, and she didn’t want to feel the humiliation here too. The mare turned around, and she could clearly see that she was far away from sober. Trixie could smell the salt as though she had just bathed in it.

“Shoot… but help *hick* me find something to drink.” Trixie could only roll her eyes but did as she was told. What other choice did she have? At least this mare didn’t recognize her, and it wasn’t sure to stay that way if she were to ask somepony else. She went over to one of the tables where a barrel stood and poured a fresh mug with her magic. She had just given it to the mare, but she had already halfway emptied it in one go.

Thanks Misss…. Missy. *hick* How can Berry help you?” Trails of saliva flew out her mouth as she spoke.

“It’s Trixie, but she doesn’t think you… Argh, doesn’t matter.” She pulled out the photo from underneath her cloak again. “I’m looking for this stallion here.” She pointed at the photo and held it in front of the salted mare as closely as possible. She eyed the photo for a moment and nodded strongly.

“I know him!” she said happily.

“Would you tell Trixie then where she can find him?” Berry seemed to ignore the question.

“I’ve drunk with him. Doesn’t stand a chance *hick*.” Trixie waved her hoof in front of her face to get rid of the smell of the other mare’s breath.

“Trixie doesn’t want to know how much he can drink. Trixie wants to know where he is!” She slightly raised her voice, causing a groan from the sleeping ponies around her. Berry took another sip from the mug.

“I think he went with the one *hick* from the farm,” she finally said before letting her head sink onto the table. Trixie remembered her last visit here. There was only one farm which was known outside of the town: Sweet Apple Acres. It would be the best clue.

Without paying any more attention to the sleeping Berry, Trixie went on her way down the road, into the direction of the apple trees that were visible in the distance. She knew exactly who that farm belonged to, and she didn’t like it in the slightest to have to turn to that pony, but what other choice did she have?

Even though she had gotten past the fear in her head, she still had to gulp as she stepped through the large gate and approached the house. As she came closer, she could hear laughter from inside, many voices speaking at once. She wanted to knock, but something held her back. It was impossible, and she would most likely just find a stranger, but she had come too far to turn back now. She wanted to know, needed to know.

“Can I help you, Missi?” a deep voice said from the side. Startled, Trixie looked up and saw a large red stallion who must have just came out of the barn. He had an orange mane, paired with a dreamy look.

“Maybe you can help Trixie, for she is looking for somepony.” Again, she pulled out the picture with her magic and held it in front of the stallion. His cutie mark clearly gave him away as a member of the Apple Family. She had met members of this family in many towns, and they all had two things in common: a cutie mark that revolved around apples and an accent, just like this stallion.

“Looks mighty like Light,” he said after looking at the picture for a while.

“Could you please tell him that Trixie is here and wishes to speak with him?” She stored the picture away again and looked to see how the stallion would react.

“Eeyup,” he just said and went past her inside the house. There must be a logical explanation, and she hoped that this Light would have it. She was nervous, almost like before her first show, causing her to run in small circles in front of the house. It took a little while but then a young, blue stallion came out of the house and looked confusedly over to her. His white mane was unkempt, showing that he had just gotten up. Trixie eyed him right down to the last detail and couldn’t believe it. The pictures in the newspaper hadn’t fooled her. Tears formed in her eyes as she ran towards him.

“Brother!” Her hooves fell around his neck to greet him, which just led to both of them landing on the ground.

Not only was I wondering what Trixie wanted from me, but also why she threw me to the ground and called me brother. Slowly, I rose from the ground and looked down at the showpony who was still lying there, her eyes filled with tears. If I had learned one thing, it was that everything was a little different, and I didn’t want to judge anyone by how they were depicted in the series. Behind me, the door to the house opened again, and I saw AJ and Braeburn stepping out.

“What’s going on, sugarcube?” She looked at me first as I beat the dust out of my coat, then at Trixie. “What in tarnation is she doin’ here?” She moved into an attack position.

“I take you it you know her?” Braeburn turned towards AJ.

“Oh yeah I do. It was her fault that an Ursa Minor demolished parts of the town, and she ridiculed me and mah friends.” AJ was seething as she recalled the events. Trixie had caught herself again and stood up to confront the three of us.

“Trixie is not here to talk about old stories. She is just here for her brother.” At those words, she pointed at me, which only caused me to adopt a surprised facial expression. Braeburn seemed to just watch while AJ did the talking.

“Again one of yer lies to get famous?” I knew that Trixie had spiced up her story, but the tears felt a bit too real to me.

“Trixie is not lying!” she insisted and stomped on the ground. “Say something, Changer!” She looked over at me as she called me that name, but I had no idea what she meant.

“I think you’re confusing me for someone else, Trixie. It is impossible that I’m…”

“Right, he can’t be related to YOU. He isn’t even of this world,” AJ interrupted me with clear repulsion aimed towards Trixie.

“Trixie knows what the newspapers say, but Trixie has proof that supports her claim.” Her horn glowed quickly, and a picture flew out of her cloak. I got a quick glance at her coat as she raised the cloak and saw how filthy it was. Little branches and resin were stuck in it in places, and many patches were turned dark by dirt. The picture halted in front of AJ, who grabbed it out of the air before eying it closely. She seemed surprised and hoofed it over to me. To be seen was a young Trixie, without her cutie mark or costume, and another young stallion who looked a lot like me.

“He looks a bit like me…” I mumbled to myself.

“Meaning no offense, sugarcube, but he looks like he was yer twin brother.” AJ could probably judge that better than me with my limited understanding of pony anatomy. I gave the stallion in the picture a closer look. His cutie mark was only halfway visible, but it was clearly the same as mine, which I checked with a quick glance on my own.

“Now I don’t understand anything,” I said and gave the picture back to AJ. Braeburn leaned over and took a look as well.

“So, Light, what now?” he asked as Trixie took the picture back again.

“I have siblings that I left behind, and they probably can’t even remember me anymore.” Braeburn grimaced. “But I’ll explain that to you later.” I turned back to Trixie. “I’m sorry, Trixie, but I’m not the pony you are looking for. You will surely find your brother elsewhere.” I was still thinking about the similar cutie mark, but since I received my talent rather than discovering it, I shrugged it off as a coincidence.

“Trixie’s brother is dead. That is why she is even more surprised to see you.” Trixie was at the verge of bursting into tears again as she spoke.

“Ah’m sorry for your brother, but Ah think the best thing for ya is to leave our land,” AJ said with a snort. Trixie just nodded miserably. Just as she was about to go, she collapsed. I rushed over to her and checked her. She had lost consciousness, and her pulse was low. I lifted her onto my back and felt how light she was. This couldn’t be healthy.

“AJ, I’m bringing her to the hospital. Go get Twilight. Braeburn, show me the way please.” Both just nodded, and as quickly as we could, we ran off. Unlike AJ, I was curious why there was a photo of me, or at least of somepony who looked like me, but now there was a life at risk.

Author's Notes:

And we are starting the short story how the human really came to Equestria.

Thanks to Gron for translating this chapter.
Special thanks to JBL for proofreading and editing.

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