Sketch had set his alarm for seven AM, and the next morning, Monday morning, to be exact, it promptly woke him up. He let out a long yawn as he got out of bed, his mind going back to what was said last night, particularly the last thing that Lightning Star told him.

“This is a gift! We should live it up to the fullest.”

Despite the fact that he still wanted to go home, Sketch saw Lightning’s point. It would be a while before they found a way home (if they found a way home), so he might as well enjoy the days he has in Equestria.

After making his way downstairs, he wondered where Lightning was, but then he remembered that his job started at an earlier time, so Sketch was alone in the house. The unicorn made his breakfast, ate it, showered, got dressed, and was about to leave for Rarity’s place, but then he realized that he forgot something: his sketchbook. He also decided to take some of the supplies that Final Draft sent him.

By the time Sketch made it to Carousel Boutique, it was ten minutes to eight, so he was pretty early. He knocked on the door, and he heard a voice from inside say “Come in!” Sketch entered the room, and saw Rarity standing at her drafting table with her work glasses on. “Sketch, darling! You’re early!” she said with a smile.

“Well, I wanted to make a good first impression, since you’re my new boss, and all,” he said.

“Oh, perish the thought!” she said, waving her hand dismissively. “I may be the one paying you, but I don’t see myself as your boss.”

“Well, let’s just say that you are, for lack of a better word,” he said with a chuckle.

“If you insist, darling,” she said. “So, I don’t open for another two hours, so we can work on some designs until then, and after I open, you can help me with the customers.”

“Sounds like a plan,” he said. Sketch had seen a few fashion shows and creations from different designers back in his own universe (not that he’d readily admit it), so he resolved to use his limited knowledge in the best way he could.

“Okay, so I just finished this design for my summer collection, but I’m finding it hard to envision it in real life.” Rarity explained. “If I could, it would really help me figure out what colors to use.”

“Can I try something?” asked Sketch.

“By all means,” said the mare.

The stallion reached into his bag and pulled out a pack of tracing paper. Realizing what Sketch was about to do, Rarity stepped aside so he can have some room. Sketch placed a piece of tracing paper over Rarity’s design and took out a pencil. He used his hands to hold the paper in place, and then used his magic to use the pencil to trace the design along with the mannequin (or is it ponyquin?) template that came with it. After he finished tracing, he turned around and used his magic to bring the drawing to life. In an instant, Rarity’s creation became reality, only without any color.

“Oh my, darling,” she said. “That is just spectacular!”

“Thanks,” said Sketch, “but to be honest, I still don’t know if this will be a good substitute for the actual finished project. It might even fade away after a while, like a real pencil drawing.”

“That won’t be an issue,” she said. “Even if it was a good substitute, it would take the fun out of creating the outfit myself.”

“So, what colors are you thinking of using for this design?” he asked.

“Hmm… Let’s try some warm colors,” she suggested.

After about a half hour of constantly changing colors, Rarity finally decided on using earthy colors for her design. She then proceeded to thank you for helping her decide, saying that it usually takes her a longer time to make a decision. The two of you then moved on to other designs, and you worked until it was almost time to open up shop.

“Darling, could you do me a favor?” asked Rarity.

“Sure, what?” said Sketch.

“Could you head to the supply store and pick up a few things for me?” she asked, handing him a list of various items. “You know where it is, right?”

“Don’t worry,” he said, “I know where it is. I won’t be long.” With that, Sketch left the boutique and set off for the supply store. After a few minutes of walking, somepony caught sight of him and called his name.

“Hey there, Sketch!” said the pony.

The unicorn swung his head around to see who was addressing him. “Oh! Hi, Applejack,” he said.

“Ah haven’t seen ya since the party two nights ago. How’ve ya been?” she asked.

“Pretty good,” he said. “I just got a job as a design consultant for Rarity, and Lightning told me he’s working at your farm.”

“Oh yeah,” she said. “He’s been a big help, so far. Ah can really depend on him.”

“Yep, that sounds like him,” he said. “Anyway, I’m just headed to the store to get some things for Rarity.”

“Well, Ah’m goin’ to the store t’ get some supplies to fix up the barn,” she said.

The two decided to go into the store together and talk some more. Sketch and Applejack got to know each other more, and despite their different lifestyles, they had a lot in common.

“So, Sketch,” said AJ.

“Yeah,” said Sketch.

“Are ya free Friday night?” she asked. “Ah had a lot of fun talkin’ to ya and I’d like t’ meet up for dinner.”

“I’m not sure,” he said. “I might be. I don’t know how my schedule will work out.”

“Well, why don’t Ah give ya my number?” she asked. “That way you can let me know.”

“Sure, why not?” he said.

Sketch handed his phone to AJ so that she could enter her number.

“So, you’ll call me, right, sugarcube?” she said with a blush.

“Sure,” he said, not sure why she was acting this way. As the two parted ways, Sketch looked at the number that was added to his phone, and wondered if he should take Applejack up on her offer.

Earlier that same morning, Lighting Star set his alarm for five AM. Once he got up and did some stretching, he thought about the talk he had with Sketch yesterday, and he felt a little bad about what he said.

"I’ve got to make it up to Sketch somehow, or at least make him feel at home here," he said to himself.

The pegasus made his breakfast, ate it, showered, and got dressed. Just then, he thought about his Zandazu Blade and decided to take it with him, along with some shuriken. He made it to Sweet Apple Acres about fifteen minutes early.

"Better take my hood of this time. Don't want AJ mistaking me for a thief again," said Lighting.

Just then, he spotted some figures going into the Acres.

"Huh, maybe that AJ and her brother," he thought to himself. "I’ll go and say hi. I’ll bet they’ll be really impressed that I showed up early!”

But when Lightning got closer to those two ponies, he realized that they weren’t who he thought they were. These ponies looked really suspicious, being dressed in black and having masks on.

"Okay, let's just steal these apples and get the hell out of here. The Apple family will be here any minute," said one of the masked ponies, proving the pegasus’s suspicions correct.

"Thieves? Here? At this hour? This isn’t good! I’d better stop them!" Lighting thought.

"Alright, this is good enough. That’s about all the apples we can carry, so let’s go," said the other thief. Just then a brown blur went across the two thieving ponies, slicing the bag they were carrying and spilling the stolen apples onto the ground.

"WHAT THE HELL!!!!" the thieves said in unison.

"You know it not right to steal,” Lightning said in a serious tone, revealing himself to the duo of criminals. “The Apple family worked their flanks off to grow these apples, so I don’t think they’ll take kindly to you two trying to swipe them.”

"Look, punk, why don’t you just mind your own business and we might just let you live," said the first thief.

“Ha, that’s cute. You actually think you’re a match for me. Don't make me laugh. You two aren’t shit compared to me."

The two thieves became angered, and they ran towards Lightning Star, ready to throw some punches. Just as they were about to reach him, Lighting jumped right over their heads and landed a hard roundhouse kick in one of the thieves’ face, sending him flying into one of the trees. The other thief charged after Lighting with a knife in his hand and tried to stab him, or at least slash one of his wings, but the pegasus easily dodged and disarmed him. As the knife flew out the stunned thief’s had, Lightning pulled out his Zandazu Blade. In a few rapid strokes, he sliced the thief’s mask, causing it to fall off and show the face of a frightened stallion on the verge of pissing himself.
"Let’s get the hell out of here!" the poor stallion said as he tried to cover his face with what remained of his mask. As the two defeated and humiliated trespassers left the ranch, Applejack just arrived to the scene.

"Ha! First day on the job, and your already kicking some flank!" said the mare.

"Well, I’ve got to make a good first impression, right?" said Lighting. "So, what should I do first?”

"Well you can start by helping me buck these here trees,” she said. “Now, just do what Ah do."

Applejack jumped, landed on her hands, and launched her hooves at the apple tree, striking it dead center and causing some of the apples to fall out into the basket she set by the trunk of the tree.

"Wow AJ, that’s amazing!” said an impressed Lightning, “but if you strike the tree at a 90 degree angle, then you should be able get more apples out of the tree. Let me show you."

Lighting got into his stance and did a roundhouse kick right in the center of an untouched tree. The force was so powerful that all the apples in the tree fell right off. Applejack’s jaws drop in awe. "You’re a nat’ral, partner! You should work here full time!" said the mare.

Lightning nervously chuckled, the idea of working at Sweet Apple Acres full time not sounding appealing to him.

The two ponies got to work bucking trees, repairing the farm, and patrolling the acres, for a few hours. By then, Lightning thought about trying to set up Applejack with Sketch again. He did think about the consequences of Sketch finding out what he did, but he decided to take the risk.

"So AJ, what do you think about Sketch?" said Lighting.

"Ah think he's a nice stallion," she said bluntly.

"Well, I'm sure you to have a lot in common. You should hang out with him sometime. He’s a really cool guy, take it from me."

"Ah'll consider it,” she said, unsure of whether or not she had much in common with Sketch. “Well, Ah’d better head into town t’ get some supplies that Ah need, but your free for the day, so here’s yer salary for the day, 200 bits."

"Wow, that's a lot!” said Lightning. “Is all of this necessary, Applejack?"
"Don’tcha worry ‘bout it, Lightnin’. You made our work ten times easier with your ninja skills and what not."

"Gee, thanks!” he said. “I’ll see you around."

As Lighting and Applejack parted ways Lighting decided to head over to Sugarcube Corner to see what Pinkie Pie was up to.

Sketch returned home at around one thirty in the afternoon, after a good day of helping Rarity out with her designs. He was surprised to see that Lightning Star had already come home from his job, too.

“I expected, that AJ would have you working till sundown,” he said.

“Nah, it’s only part time,” said the pegasus. “After I was let off for the day, I went to Sugarcube Corner to see if I could get a date with Pinkie Pie.”

“Let me guess, you failed miserably?” said the unicorn, knowing that his friend had a horrible track record when it came to girls.

“You wish!” he answered. “She said yes in a heartbeat! We’re going out dancing on Friday night. I may not be a unicorn like you, but I worked my magic! I’ve still got it!”

“Still got it?” asked Sketch. “Whatever ‘it’ is, I’m sure you never had it.”

“Whatever,” said Lightning, and then he remembered something important. “Hey, Sketch.”

“Yeah?”

“Look, man. I’m really sorry for what I said yesterday. I didn’t mean to make it seem like I didn’t care about you wanting to go home.”

“Apology accepted, but you did have a point. We may not be home, but we should take advantage of the fact that we’re here and enjoy ourselves. Matter of fact, there’s an important call I need to make.”

Sketch excused himself upstairs, and he dialed Applejack’s number on his phone.

“Hello?” the mare answered.

“Applejack, it’s Sketch,” he said. “I want to take you up on your offer.”