Being Brave Part I

by artman7391

Rating: teen
Tags: Slice of Life, Alternate Universe, Human, Twilight Sparkle, Sad, Main 6, Princess Luna, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Cutie Mark Crusaders
Length: 10530

For 15 year old Cory Agees, life hasn't been kind to him. Ever since he had his friends tanke away from him, he's been one of the loneliest boys in the world. But things are about to change thanks to a chance encounter from a different plac

What does it take to be brave? How do you find a purpose with such little options? What can you do to let your voice be heard? For Cory Agees, that's something that's been puzzling him for years. With his parents abandoning him, his school a hell on earth and the fact that he hasn't seen in friends in so long, the answers seem to float further and further away from him. One day, while enduring another one of his harsh ordeals, he decides to walk away from it all, hoping to find these answers somewhere else. But this "Somewhere else" is a place where he literally stands out among the crowd. Perhaps here, he can finally let his talent shine and find a reason to live.

Published 2013-07-20 03:10:02 UTC
Last updated 2014-02-15 03:14:55 UTC

chapter 1

Chapter 1

     Cory Agees covered his mouth as he slunk behind the locker bay. Sweat began to fall down his brow and he could feel his heart thumping against his chest. He tried to not think of the pain from the bruises he received the other night, which were given to him weekly from the neighborhood bullies. As the footsteps of Principal Stiffson drew nearer and nearer, his life flashed before him:

    Cory was a very small, gangly 15 year old boy. He was not athletic, nor was he not bright (though he tried his best to be), but he was never a troublemaker. Rather, the trouble came to him. He was constantly picked on and tortured by his peers and teachers for his short stature, skinny body and inability to keep up with other students. He was lucky enough to go through a day without being pushed or teased.  The school he attended was a hell on earth for him and all the other students. No one was allowed to become friends, talk to each other except when spoken to, or even socialize on the school grounds. The principal called friendship "A Waste Of Time." and an "Interference with proper etiquette." Everyone was to follow his tyrannic rules of strict discipline and perfect scores. Anyone who even slipped up or disobeyed would face serious consequences of being expelled, fired, or just plain tortured, something Cory became too familiar with. Cory seemed to always get it the worst from the principal. He would constantly get screamed at and slapped across the head simply for not getting a problem right or coming to school in bruises from the night before. It was forbidden to explain one's problems in his school, for every time someone was about to explain, he or she would be accused of being "sorry for themselves" and to "get over it." One time, he was dragged to the principals office and given 30 brutal lashings from his big belt just for failing on a pop quiz, leaving noticeable markings on his back. Cory was not even allowed to cry or express his pain of emotions for being screamed at for doing so. His parents were no better, whom one night mysteriously left him to fend for himself at the tender age of 10.

     The only subjects Cory truly felt comfortable with were the arts. Here music, theater and visual arts became his treasured passion. Although he wasn't the protege of the class, he always seemed welcome among the teacher and peers. Unfortunately, in recent years, the principal banned these subjects from the school grounds, also enforcing strict punishment for any secret clubs relating to it.

      There were only five people Cory could truly relate to: Tyler, Camden, Katherine, Joanna, and Rachel. Together, they were some of the best friends anyone could ever count on.  Each one of them had just as much difficulty fitting in as he did. That being the case, they did everything together: playing, toiling, coming up with ideas, and even forming their own secret club. As Cory was left to fend for himself, these companions of his would often let him stay at their folks place. During those years, whenever he was around them, he had a sense of both comfort and purpose. Alas, Cory hadn't seen them for almost a year now, not since the Principal caught them playing music on the school grounds and expelling all but him for doing such. With no where to turn, he stayed in that empty house his parents left him where he slept on the floor in a sleeping bag, and ate from whatever he could cook on the stove or find in the garbage.

         But today would be very different for him. For two nights before, after he endured another brutal beating, and dragged his body toward his empty house to his shanty little room, he saw a very strange light from a far. He walked towards his  window to see what it was, but couldn't quite figure it out. It looked like a pole of pure energy shooting straight towards the sky. At first it was frightening, but then, it turned into what seemed like a spiral of all the colors of the rainbow.  For a brief moment, it filled up the entire skyline with every hue of color imaginable. Then, just like that, it disappeared. He didn't know why, but for some reason, this small moment in time gave him a bit of hope. As he crawled into his sleeping bag. he thought for a moment as to what it truly meant. Then, he came up with an epiphany. He knew that running wouldn't solve problems, and at the same time if he went through one more day like this, he would lose it. So before he went to sleep, as the thoughts tossed and turned across his head, he came up with an ultimatum. He would give this life he was given one last chance. If he could go through an entire day without being so much as screamed at, he would continue to live there. But if monday turns out to be as bad as all the other days, he would leave, not planning to ever return, and seek out trustworthy friends somewhere else.

         Apparently, as the principal strode closer and closer to his locker, his plan didn't go as he wished. Cory looked up and saw Stiffson in all his horror. The principal gazed at what mess he was: His clothes were tattered and torn, bruises and cuts covered his arms and legs, the eyes were blue and swollen where he could only see through the right socket, his lip was split, and his nose was still bleeding. All in all, he looked like something out of a battle zone after intense fighting.

"Principal, please let me explain." whimpered Cory.

"What the hell are you doing coming to school like this?!" Snapped Stiffson

"I...I.." Cory tried to find the right words, but all that came out was heavy breathing

"SPEAK UP!!" Screamed Stiffson. "Do you realize how sloppy you look right now?"

Cory bowed his head in shame

"LOOK AT ME!!" yelled Stiffson.

Cory said the first words that came out of his mouth. "I tried to find the best clothes I could but these kids in the neighborhood..."

"Oh, so that's what you do. Walk around and be all sorry for yourself. It's no wonder you've failed every class. Didn't I tell you that making friends was harmful to your intuition? Didnt I!?"

      Cory shook in fear at his sight. He was as tall as a basketball player, had a clean shaved head, and always wore clothing that was firmly pressed and neatly ironed. His face was like a combination of a robot and a tyrant he saw from one of his history books. But above all, he never smiled, not even on the schools good days.

"I always knew you would never amount to anything." he said as he pursed his lips at Cory. He could feel his breath above him. "Friends are going to get you nowhere bub."

"Well maybe..." thought Cory "..maybe if you just gave friendship a chance."

       Cory couldn't believe what he just said. It was as if he didn't think of it. A fit of rage fell across the principals face, and with one fell swoop, he grabbed him by his skinny little arm and dragged him across the hallway. Cory knew what was going to happen next: another 30 lashings from the belt. He could feel Stiffson's fingernails digging into his skin, puncturing a big, bloody gash on his forearm. He tried to call for help, but everyone just stared nonchalantly out of fear of being punished as well.

        Cory remembered the deal he made to himself the other night. Without hardly thinking, he swung his fist in the air, broke the principals wrist, tugged his arm free and dashed down the hallway with Stiffson running right behind him. It was as if his instinct overcame him. He didn't even think of hitting anybody. It just happened. He bolted through the hallways, sprinted through the slippery floors, jolted through the entrance and burst out the front doors. He could overhear Stiffson in the background shouting "You'll be dead in one year Cory! DO YOU HEAR ME !!! YOU'LL BE DEAD IN ONE YEEEEEAAARR!!.

chapter 3

Chapter 3

       Cory woke up with his head looking straight towards the sky. Birds in the background were singing harmonious tunes, yet the rhythm of their chirps were of unfamiliar origin to him. Cory sat up to adjust himself. He messaged his head, checked that he still had his body intact and shook the muck off of him. He then took a good look at his left arm, numbing with pain from the gash left by the principal. He dabbed it in the puddle as the blood washed away and wiped off the residue on a nearby leaf. What was this extraterrestrial place he thought to himself:

"Is this some back end of town I don't know about?"

"Am I dreaming of this? Clearly not."

"Did I step into another multi-universe of some sort?"

"Am I just going mad?'

       He looked at his new surroundings as he staggered to his feet; the trees were tall and filled with life, almost covering the skyline; roots as big as he was jolted out of the ground; unfamiliar plants sprung out all over the place; everything was so thick and damp, he could barely tell if it was day or night.

        Suddenly, he heard what sounded like a growl from a ferocious beast. A touch of what felt like steam gaped the back of his neck. Slowly, he turned his head to the left. A humongous pair of big, yellow eyes gazed at him within the rustle of the bushes. Instinctive survival overcame Cory as he started to run through the unfamiliar terrain. The sound of the beast grew fainter and fainter and he ran further and further away. Despite the pain he was still feeling all over his body, he was running. Finally, he saw a glint of daylight at the edge of the lush forest. He stopped for a breather.  An old wooden sign to his right read: "YOU ARE NOW LEAVING EVERFREE FOREST."

         Cory now found himself in the middle of a vast open field of waving grass and dandelions. He had never felt such a cool ground that tickled his ankles and softened his steps. For some reason, he was able to move more agilely in this new found world. The sky was perfect blue and contained the most majestic clouds he had ever seen in his entire life. They almost looked like buildings as if someone, or something lived in them. In fact, he could swear that he saw some flying, winged, horse like figures zooming in and out of them. The air was cool and breezy, brushing against his bruised skin and tattered clothing.  A few butterflies and hummingbirds were off doing their natural business as they whizzed across the sky. A couple of bunny rabbits jumped out their burrow, startling Cory. One of them ran up to him and brushed it's fur against his leg before running off. He had never seen something so fragile in years.

       Off in the distance, he could make out what looked like a small, quaint town off on the horizon. The sun was beginning to set, therefore he needed some hospitality soon. As he limped towards the town, the sky burned a luminous array of red, orange and purple, like something out of a romanticized painting. Finally, he reached the towns edge. A sign read in warm yet bright letters: WELCOME TO PONYVILLE. What an abnormal name he thought. But that really wasn't his biggest concern right now. All he was thinking about was a place to stay for the night and something to eat. He searched around to find someone to ask directions to a good hotel. However, all he could find was nothing but horses and fillies randomly walking across the streets.

"What kind of town lets horses run all over the place?" he thought.

      Cory wasn't much of a socialite. Every time he tried to say something, he would always end up stammering and forget the proper grammar needed. The only people he could speak full sentences to were his 5 friends and himself. This was probably due to his struggles in reading and writing, as well as the constant scoffing whenever he spoke his mind. However, in a time such as this, he needed to muster up his strength and ask for any vacant rooms with whatever words were the most proper. As he searched for any nearby inns or suites, one of the horses came up to him.

"Well howdy stranger How can I help you?"

     Cory screamed and ran away. He couldn't believe what he had just seen or heard: "A TALKING HORSE!!" he thought to himself, "HOW IS THAT EVEN POSSIBLE?" As he dashed down the alleys and corridors, the other horses began to whisper and mingle at his presence, much to his shock. He found himself surrounded by these four legged residents, who gazed in awe at him as if he were an extraterrestrial being:

"What are you?"

"What is that?"

"It's a human."

"Where did you come from?"

"I never thought I'd see these creatures before."

"Princess Twilight Sparkle was right"

"So they do exist"

"So that's what hands are"

"Do you see in black in white?"

"Incredible"

      Cory never felt more embarrassed and out of place than he ever did in his whole, fragile life.

"S...Stop..Looking...at!" he said as he curled into fetal position. " Please I just ....want...t..."But he couldn't think of what to say. All around him we're nothing but ponies (and an occasional donkey). Not a single human was to be found. His instinct kicked in as he pushed through the strange crowd and headed towards the next available hiding place.

      The sun had glazed it's last glare of the day as the night settled in. Cory could still hear the murmurs from afar as he stopped at the entrance to a nearby junkyard. Figures, given the fact that probably they never even saw a bipedal creature like him. He was so tired, and hungry as well. All he could think about now was a place to sleep and a plate of mouth watering nourishments. As he searched through the rubble and wreckage, he found a little opening on one of the dumps artificial hills. It was adequate, roomy, and though certainly no cottage, it was still nicely crammed. He climbed in with the most delicate of care until he reached the bottom of the pit. After he settled himself in, found a few scraps here and there, and made a makeshift blanket and pillow out of burlap sacks and flour bags, he noticed the night sky through the opening. Here the stars twinkled in all their glory. At that point, at that moment, Cory was wondering, just wondering, if his 5 close were watching the same sky as he was, wishing, just as he he was, to see each other again.

chapter 4

Chapter 4

     "Today's the day, Cutie Mark Crusaders." proclaimed Applebloom.

"Today we get our makeshift band cutie marks"

"Aw Yeah! This is gonna be soooo awesome!" cried Scootaloo as they rummaged through the junkyard.

      It was another day of exploration and discovery for the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Here at the local junkyard they searched for certain objects and tools that would best suit their soon to be ready made instruments.

"So what should we call ourselves after this?" said Sweetie Belle.

"Hmmm..." thought Scootaloo as she glided on her scooter. "How about the Junk Funk?"

All three thought for a moment.... "Naaah"

"ooo..ooo...How about Appleblues plus two?" asked Applebloom

The other two just stared at her disapprovingly

"Heh, Heh, Or maybe not." she chuckled sheepishly as they continued walking

"Gasp. I know!!" Squeaked Sweetie Belle "ROCK, LOCK AND TWO APPLE BARRELS!!"

"Yeah!!" said all three as they high hooved in the air.

"We could totally get Babs Seed to be in our band." Said Scootaloo

They all nodded in agreement

"Now if we can just find some used trash lids and chopsticks," thought Applebloom " we'll be in business."

She thought for a moment and then, "Sweetie Belle, you search for any used up piano chords."

"Aye Aye, maam" she responded as she headed one way

"And Scootaloo." continued Applebloom, "You find any pieces of worn out cloth that could make for a great band patch."

 "You got  it maam." responded Scootaloo as she headed the other way on her scooter.

        Meanwhile, Cory could overhear the conversation from up above. He covered his mouth and tightened his body into a ball, so as not to be heard. He could feel the hoof steps stomping right above him. They were coming closer and closer. His heart began to pound; sweat fell all across his skin; he was literally scared stiff. Then, suddenly, the hoofing from above stopped. He looked up and saw Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looking straight down at him.  It felt like the longest stare he had ever endured.

"uhhh...Howdy?" Applebloom murmured

"AAAAAHHH" shouted Cory

"AAAAHHH" shouted the CMC.

     Two of them ran a few yards while Applebloom looked on. She had only seen such a creature in sketches and photos that Twilight received and drew from her experiences. She had never expected to see a human up close and personal, nor did she expect one to be so fragile and shakey.

"W...What is that thing?" whimpered Scootaloo from a distance.

"It looks like some kind of...two legged stick creature." thought Sweetie Belle

     As Applebloom looked closer at Cory (who now had his back against a heap of trash) a little smile enveloped her face.

"Hey, don't fret girls!", she said to her friends, "Princess Twilight told me all about these critters. She calls them HU---MAN's"

"Humans?" squeaked Sweetie Belle as she and Scootaloo approached the hole

"What are humans?" asked Scootaloo

"Twilight encountered them in another world she visited." answered Applebloom. "She says they exist all over, and this here's one of them."

      The three gazed down on Cory, who was scared stiff and shaking from all this sudden realization. He was still getting used to fact that these ponies we're talking. Not only that, but even had their own personality and distinct color scheme to them.

"Awwww. We must have frightened the little guy." thought Scootaloo.

Sweetie Belle leaned and slowly thrust her hoof forward.

"Come on up, don't be shy." said Sweetie Belle. "we're not gonna hurt you."

Cory took a deep breath and staggered towards the three of them.

"What's your name?" asked Sweetie Belle.  There was a long pause. "Can you speak?" she asked.

      His mouth quivered. He was never taught how to properly introduce himself. So he thought up of the first words that came out of his mouth. "Y...yes....C...C...Cory...Cory Agees." The words fell out like a can of alphabet soup.

       He grabbed on to Sweetie Belle's hoof as all three pulled him out of the hole with one big thrust. The three gazed in curiosity as he staggered to his feet. They had never seen such an abnormal creature in their lives.

"Sooooo where do you come from?" asked Scootaloo.

Cory just looked at them blankly,

"Do you know where you live?" asked Sweetie Belle.

He shifted his only working eye back and forth as if the question was foreign to him.

"Do you have a place to stay?" asked Applebloom affectionately

He stared down as if he was ashamed to answer that. The three fillies then huddled into their own private circle.

"What should we do with him?" whispered Scootaloo.

"I don't know, I've never dealt with a human before." squeaked Sweetie Belle.

"Well it aint right to just leave him here." said Applebloom. The three nodded in agreement and thought for a moment with their forelegs to their chins. Then, simultaneously, they came up with idea. Applebloom approached Cory.

     " If don't have a place to live, your'e welcome to stay with me. My family and I over at Sweet Apple Acres are looking for a new stable boy if you want to volunteer." As she waited for an answer, Cory looked around for a moment. Realizing he had little to no options, he nodded in agreement.

"Great!" replied Applebloom. "Let me just take you to where I live."

      He followed the three of them until they reached the edge of the junk yard, much to his relief .

"Oh, by the way, I'm Applebloom." she proclaimed

"I'm Sweetie Belle" Sweetie Belle added

"and I'm Scootaloo" said Scootaloo

"And together we're: THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS." they said as they gave a high hoof in the air.

"But enough about us" said Applebloom. "Lets take you to the ranch."

      So, they carried on their walk towards Sweet Apple Acres. For the first time in so long, Cory was greeted with a welcome wagon. It seemed so familiar, yet at the same time surreal. Perhaps in this new found world he would be able to find a second chance in his life. After all, less than 24 hours ago he was sprinting away from a threatening force, next thing he knew he was being greeted warmly by the most most unexpected of individuals.

chapter 5

Chapter 5

The sun shined over another busy afternoon at Sweet Apple Acres. It's rays glistened in the orchard giving it a sense of warmth and belonging. The grass from below lightly moved across the cool wind from the north. Among it's paved road trotted none other than honest, and ever trustworthy Applejack. Here she executed her daily business of kicking off apples for the season and selling them to market. Not too far off, her brother, Big Macintosh, with his comprisable strength, was carrying the last cargo of apple cider into their precious cellar. Meanwhile, Granny Smith, the ever loving matriarch of the family, was up in her easy chair on a porch adding the final adjustments to a new quilt. Yes, it seemed as though another busy, uneventful day would come to pass for the Apple Family. Or, at least that's what they thought.

"Applejack. Hey Applejack!!" shouted Applebloom as she and her three friends approached the farm. "Look what we found at the Junkyard."

"Applebloom" sighed Applejack as she paused on her duties. "I know what you're trying to do but...."

"But this is something totally different. It's probably something nopony's ever seen before." Squeaked Sweetie Belle.

"Yeah and totally awesome." Added Scootaloo

"Awesome, new, different. I can't take in any more souvenirs from your cutie mark adventures." Said Applejack

"Maybe if you young-uns find room in your tree house you can...."

As she travelled up the hill, staring back at her was clearly a genuine sight to behold. A bewildering shock filled her face.

"...introduce me to my first...Hu..Human." she continued her sentence as her jaw dropped in disbelief.

The creature was something not of this world. His body looked like a stripped, two branched tree that suddenly sprouted legs and developed a mouth. The face was as if it had been squashed flat by an anvil yet somehow remained intact. The color of his skin was pale with no coating of fur, as if he shaved it all off from top to bottom, with of course the exception of the top of his head.

For Cory, he was just about intrigued with her as she was with him. But what intrigued him the most was what looked a tattoo of apples placed on her thigh. The two looked at each other as if they were aliens from opposite sides of the universe finally having a chance meeting.

"We found him underneath a pile of trash. He wants to be your stable boy" squeaked Sweetie Belle as Applejack began to walk around him.

"Golly..." she stuttered as she examined him. "Twilight told me all about them from her experiences...but...I...I never thought I'd see one up close." She then looked at him in the eye.

"Boy do I have a heap o questions for you." she said gleefully as she looked at his body like a specimen.

"Do you see in black in white?"

Cory looked as though he didn't understand the question.

"Do your fillies grow tails?" she asked

There was still no response from him, as if he lacked the proper words.

"Can you talk?" she asked with a puzzled look on her face.

After a moment of thought, Cory nodded.

"Yes maam." he said with a quiet voice. "I can talk. "

"Well, in that case, Howdy!! I'm Applejack, and let me be the first to welcome you as the first human in Ponyville." she proclaimed as she extended her foreleg with a greeting gesture.

Cory thought for a moment since he never shook hands with a fingerless animal before. Finally, he decided to just improvise and latch his arm onto her's, executing a shaking action.

"Boy, you sure got some nasty cuts and bruises." she said as she looked at his wounded body. "You look like you just got trampled on by a pack o timberwolves."

"Timberwolves?" asked Cory

"Uhhh... Never mind." Said Applejack "Come on.  let me fix you up and get you something to eat ."

"Lets get a move on crusaders." said Applebloom as they turned the other way.  "Maybe we can still find some spare guitars over at that yard." And so as the Cutie Mark Crusaders ran off to their new adventure, Cory walked off to his new life.

chapter 6

Chapter 6

The residence of the Apple Family was like something out of a children's story. Though Cory couldn't read very accurately, he remembered from his picture books images of a place not too different from the barn. Here the decor resembled a colonial home alluding to the frontier times. The cedar floorboard from which it stood upon felt smooth and light with each step. Cory could even smell it's fresh aroma as it entered through his nostrils. Even the furniture felt welcoming, as if luring any random passerby to sit down from a long stroll. Though certainly no mansion, it was definitely better than his place.

" Here, take a load off and sit on the couch. I know just how to fix up them nasty bruises o yours." Said Applejack.

Cory almost forgot the gash on his arm as he took a seat. He remembered how he was barely able to open his left eye and how a few drips of blood were still seeping out of his nose. In short, he looked like a mess.

As Applejack fumbled through the cupboard and found the first aid bag, Cory wondered as to how she would mend him without the assistance of fingers. What's more, he wondered as to how a society entirely comprised of hooves and manes would be able to make such advanced structures. Then again, she somehow reminded him of one of his five friends: Joanna Deadrie. She was about the same size as he was and just about as gangly too. Her hair was always braided into one solid pony tail, giving her a look of real determination. She always wore a country girl-like giddup consisting of suspenders and a plaid button down shirt, which looked as though she made it herself. Her personality, all in all was a combination between Annie Oakley and Fern from Charlotte's Web, not too fragile, not too tough. But what made her stand out among most girls was her strong sense of determination. Whenever a task or ordeal was presented to her, she would strive to do her best at whatever it was, even though she didn't always succeed. Like Applejack, she and her family owned a farm located in the towns agricultural district, which made her a center of ridicule among the urban dwellers of their school, not to mention the fact that she and her family made most of their clothes. Yet memories of her place consisted of warmth, security and love. He remembered how they used to make games out of her daily chores, how they went up into the barn rafters and made shadow puppets with the lantern, and how every night, after the sun went down, they slept underneath an open roof and gazed at the majesty of the stars while making stories out of their constellations.

"Now this might sting a wee bit." said Applejack as she selected a dap of cleaning cloth with her mouth.

To his surprise it only stung a little. In fact, the cloth had a little tingling sensation, as if he was being messaged in some way. With each dab of the cloth soaked in warm water on his searing skin, he started to feel less and less pain. Then, she carefully moved up to his left eyelid and gave it a gentle squeeze. The ooze slowly burst out and dripped down his cheek and chin, giving him a long awaited relief.

He had never received this kind of treatment before, except of course from his friends. Usually, whenever he got bruised, the school nurse would just give him a tetanus shot and scoff him off, leaving him in excruciating nausea and loss of balance for the rest of the day.

"There, that wasn't so bad now was it?" Said Applejack.

"Now, lets see if we can mend that foreleg of yours."

She searched though the bag and found a long string, perfect for stitching. With the ease of her mouth she tied it around a delicate needle and started on the gash on his arm.

"So what's you name stranger?" she said through her teeth.

"Cory." he replied softly.

"Huh, that's a strange name. Then again, what do I know about humans?" she said as she continued sewing up his gash.

"So where do you live?"

Cory stared at her as if unable to answer that question.

"Do you know where your home is?" she continued.

He bowed his head in shame. A true home was so foreign to him. The closest he ever had to a real home was the shack he and friends made.

The string fell from Applejack's mouth as she knew what the expression on his face meant.

"You don't have a home do you?"

Cory slowly shook his head. "I can still leave if you want." he replied.

"Aint no way that's happenin critter." said Applejack cheerfully as she finished stitching up his wound. "You're staying with us. I got some vacant space up in the barn attic."

" But I'm not your..." He took a glance at her physical shape. "...Type" he said shyly.

"Look, this is Harvestin season." she said. " this is the busiest time for the apple family. Two or Four legs we need all the help we can find."  "Aint that right Big Mac?"

"eeyup." Said Big Macintosh as he entered the room and put away the first aid kit.

" I think I know just the thing you need to ease down your sore leggings." she continued. And with that, she propped him up escorted him outside.

The day rolled on as the sun set in the west. Applebloom was returning from her adventures in Cutie Mark Crusading, whilst Granny Smith was waking up from her afternoon nap. Meanwhile, Applejack was giving Cory a much needed bath that relaxed away his pain, and Big Mac was checking for any discarded planks of wood.

"Family Meeting!" She shouted as she set a new bundle of clothes for him. The Apple family dashed in like a group of cadets ready for battle.

"Allright Ya'll, as you may or may not know we got a new stable boy to help us with our busy harvestin season. His name is Cory. Though he may not be of our...species, we are gonna treat him like everypony else. So no pointin, no starin, chucklin or wincin at the way he walks, looks or talks. Do I Make myself clear?"

They all nodded in agreement.

As she said this, Cory struggled to get out of Bath tub, but ended up slipping over and landing head first in the glass. Big Mac started to chuckle at this sight.

"HEY, that there's exactly what I'm talkin bout?" She said as she gave Big Mac the stare.

"Now I may not know much about these so called humans, but Twilight taught me they're living things, just like the rest of us. So were gonna give him some good hospitality and we are NOT ousting him from any of our chores or duties."

"Darn tootin." added Granny Smith "This time o year's far too important for us to pickin on a youngun."

Cory struggled to put on his new shirt and suspenders. It was like trying to learn to tie your shoes all over again. Luckily Applebloom was there to help him fasten it up.

"That's my girl." Acknowledged Applejack.

It was now dinner time for the Apple Family. The table was covered with a wide array of nourishments: fritters, pie, sandwiches, apple slices, soup, apricot jam, bread and grape juice and countless other edible items. Cory right away made a pile of whatever he found on his plate and started slamming food down his throat like a wild animal. He didn't care if the Apple Family was watching him at the moment. All he thought about was putting something in his stomach. He hadn't tasted something so delicious and flavorful in so long. He felt like he could continue eating forever.

"Uhhh... Applejack?" said Granny Smith "Why don't you show him that old sleeping space of yours."

"uhhhh... Sure thing Granny." Replied Applejack with a bit of worry on her face.

As nighttime covered the sky, Cory was guided up the stairs and into the Apple Family attic.

"Me and Big Mac used to play hide and seek and built forts up in here, aint that right?" said AppleJack

"Eeyup" replied Big Mac.

"We usually just use it for storage nowaday" she continued as she led him up the ladder "But you're welcome to use it as your sleeping quarters."

The area was quite spacious for an attic. Though not the greatest in the world, it was definitely better than his place. In addition, it carried a smell of fresh cedar and clean mint, and with the exception of a cobweb or two, the floor and walls were neatly dusted. On the right facing the window was an adequate bed and dresser, complete with kerosene lamp and a quilted rug.

"Hadn't had this in awhile." he said softly

"Your own room?" she replied

"a bed" he answered.

"Well any..body's welcome in our barn." said Applebloom as she approached the scene.

"Now you go get some shut eye. Tomorrow's a pretty eventful day for you. Goodnight Ya'll"

And with that, the two of them trotted back downstairs.

As he was left to his new accommodation, Cory began to test the bed's durability. He gently rocked it with his body as he swayed back and forth with a hypnotizing gesture.  For too long, he'd gotten so used to sleeping on the cold, hard floor in a makeshift sleeping bag. He'd almost forgotten the softness of a mattress, or the hugging sensation of a pillow, or the warm caress of a blanket. As he settled in the confines of the bed enveloped him, as if luring him into a sea of slumber. Just then Applejack popped her head back up from the floor latch.

"You don't talk a lot do ya?" she said "I like you." Then she popped her head back down as he drifted off to sleep.

chapter 7

Cory woke up refreshed and ready to take on the new day. It was the best sleep he ever had in years. He stretched his arms and legs, swung them back and forth, and despite the cuts he still had, he felt no pain. His new room  glistened with the sunlight of the morning sky as it trickled through a nearby window. He looked outside and saw for the first time Sweet Apple Acres in all it's majestic glory.  Every apple on every tree was like a dab of paint melted against the foreground, while the grass below flowed like an ocean of green waves.

"Mornin Cory." Said AJ as she entered the room. "Ready for your first day of work?"

He replied with a startled nod, and before he knew it, he was outside in a pair of trousers, an undershirt, work boots, and a bucket filled with shearing supplies in his hands.

"All Right, We're gonna start you off with some easy chores. Can you handle that?" Asked Applejack

"Sure." he replied quietly.

"And Don't worry. Big Mac'll be here to check on you every step o the way. have fun." she said as she trotted off to her tasks.

The day went as followed:

9:00 A.M. Clean up chicken coop for the winter

10:00 A.M. Rake up branches and leaves for a compost pile

10:30 A.M.  Clean apples to sell for market

11:00 A.M. Help Big Mac take more apples to the apple cellar

12:00 P.M. Lunch Break

12:30 P.M. Feed rotton apples to pigs

1:30 P.M. Stack Barrels of Hay with Big Mac

2:30 P.M Help Applebloom paint the inside of the barn

At this point, Cory was beginning to realize something: The chores he was tasked with were hardly chores at all. In fact, they we're more like sections of an elaborate game, or like an obstacle course on a playground. For instance, as he was working on the compost pile, he couldn't help but notice Applebloom and Applejack jumping into the heap of leaves as the debris exploded all over the place, like confetti out of a cannon.  Or when stacking barrels of hay, He saw AJ and Big Mac trying to see who can stack the most loads. Or when painting the side of the barn, he could see her and Applebloom playing tag with their brushes, smearing paint all over themselves in a messy, but playful kind of way.  This would be out of the question if he even thought of doing something like that in his world. Then again, what did he know about talking equines and their daily duties?

"TAG" Shouted Applebloom as she suddenly dabbed him on the back of his trousers. He fell over in shock, not knowing what to do at this point. Did he do something wrong? Did he mess up again? Because apparently the two were looking at him with puzzling features.

"Don't you know what a game o tag is?" asked Applebloom with a confused face.

Of course he knew what tag was. He wasn't that daft. He just hadn't played a game in so long.

"Yes?"  he responded in a forceful kind of way.

"Then TAG YOURE IT!" said Applejack as she snuck up behind him and dabbed him with another brush.

'Eh, why not?; he thought to himself and started to join in on their little game. Cory didn't really care how childish it was as he chased them around the barn. He hand't had this much fun in years, and yet it seemed only yesterday he and Joanna were playing the exact game on her farm. He felt like a surge of much needed energy was running through his veins, something he couldn't quite explain. It felt optimistic, rejoice-full and warm.

Suddenly, as the three chased each other to the inside of the barn, Cory tripped and fell over a standing broom, causing it to snap into two pieces. He had really done it this time, just like every time he broke or spilled something. Whenever something like this happened to him, even by unintentional standards, he would endure an unforgivable scolding from either the principal, or one of peers, which would involve violent screaming and abusive contact.

"Oh my god I'm so sorry it was an accident." He said as he crouched down, covered his head and prepared for his beating.

"I was just trying to...

"What are you sorry for?" asked Applejack with a puzzled voice as she approached him.

"We got plenty of other brooms in our warehouse." added Applebloom.

"You mean you're not gonna scold me, or give me a whip, or yell at me?" he asked frightfully.

"Nnnope." said Big Mac as he entered on the scene.

"Why in tarnation would we? Everypony makes mistakes." Said Applejack as she patted him on the back.

Cory flinched at first, as if preparing for a firm slap on the skin, not to mention it was a hoof instead of a hand. But surprisingly, it felt gentle and comforting, like a message from someones elbow. He turned his head slightly towards Applejack as a small smile began to show.

"See, nottin to worry bout." Said Applejack. "Now let's go haul some more apples into the cellar."

And with that the four of them trotted on their next duty.

chapter 8

The next few days seemed all in all uneventful for the Apple Family. With the exception of their new stable boy, things seemed to be no less different. Here they continued with their day by day chores ranging from apple cider making to round up of sheep, to which Cory volunteered with no hesitation.

What intrigued Cory the most however, was how the Apple Family never threw anything away on their farm. If ever they found rotten fruit, they would just feed it to the pigs. If a tree limb broke off, they would use it for future compost. If a piece of clothing was unsuitable to wear anymore, they would stitch it as part of a piece of fabric. It was like they we're a living recycling center with the most efficient of employees imaginable.

On this particular day, He was assigned to help dismantle an old barn shack that needed to make way for a new one. As Applejack was helping unhinge the wooden boards, Cory couldn't help but notice the abnormal curvatures forming around the decaying foundations. The more he studied them, the more fascinated he was by the shapes of the algae covered floorboards and rusted hinges.

This was nothing new to Cory. In his world, whenever he and his friends felt bored, they would go out and find any discarded items in the basement, trash cans, recycling bins or even on the street. They would collect whatever they discovered, mend them together and make some of the most bizarre of creations and inventions. Basically it was art made out of junk. However, as much pride as they felt when finishing them, they would immediately dismantle it for fear of what others would think. Not to mention the fact the principal would kill them for executing art behind his back.

At that moment, he felt like he was in a trance. He picked up one of the planks of wood from the dismantled pile, found a nearby piece of rock and began manipulating it's form. It was as if some artistic instinct was building up inside of him. He hadn't felt this free before in years. Suddenly, a voice snapped him back into reality.

"Good Morning Applejack." said Rarity in a singy like voice.

"Oh, Howdy Rarity. What brings you here to Sweet Apple Acres?" asked Applejack.

"Well there is this important client who's personally asked me to create this brand new ensemble for the upcoming season, and I would be so delighted if I could find any unneeded fabric of yours."

"Sure thing. There's a couple o rolls of em out in the back o the barn." answered Applejack.

"Oh you are such a darling." replied Rarity as she trotted off in that direction.

As Cory peered behind his little self made heap, he noticed perhaps to most prima donna like specimen he ever laid eyes on: She was a luscious mixture of white and purple, with hardly a single stain on her coat, of course with the exception of the diamond tattoo on her thigh. More surprising than that, she was a unicorn, performing magic right in front of his eyes. Although it was a simple trick of picking up rolls of fabric, it was still genuine magic. As the thoughts tumbled around his brain, Cory knew this was a place where the laws of science had a looser grip on things. Like always when first encountering strangers, Cory hid himself beneath the rubble. He took a glance behind him and saw that she left. As he turned his head back, he saw for the first time Rarity staring back at him with a dropped jaw and startled eyes.

"Applejack?" she said frozen in shock. "Who's your friend?"

"Oh yeah, forgot." replied Applejack. "That there's our new stable boy, Cory. He's been helping us out with our harvestin season."

"Is he really a..hu..hu...?" Asked Rarity as she tried to find the correct words.

"Yep. a human" acknowledged Applejack. "Shocker aint it.."

"Handsome piece of work is more like it!!!" Cried Rarity as she examined his physical structure with her hooves.

"Twilight told me so many things about you humans, but, I never thought you had so much poise!" she said gleefully.

Cory crossed his legs and folded his arms as she continued to examine him.

"Could you do that thing again, uh, Cory" Said Rarity

"What thing?"

"That thing you just did with your legs."

"Ummm....Ok?

He folded his arms and legs again in the same position as before.

"Ohhhhh, such grace, such agility, such...form. It's exactly what I've been looking for" she commented.

"Ahem, Applejack. Would you mind if your new strong friend here took time out of his ever so busy schedule to...help me with a few errands?

"Well I think we got most of the stuff here on the farm under control." Said Applejack. "How's that sound Cory?"

"Well...I.."

"Excellent! Thank you Applejack." Said Rarity and before he could even comprehend what was going on, he was rushed over to the Ponyville day spa.

"Aloe!! Lotus Blossom!!" cried Rarity in a singy like as the two spa owners approached.

"oui madame Rarity?" said Lotus Blossom

"I want you to give my new chauffeur the best treatment you have. He needs to look his best for his first day on the job."

"But I never worked with a..."

"No excuses. Chop Chop!!" and off rarity went like a speeding bullet.

With the exception of ponies, the spa looked and felt like any other. With it's calm, light blue colors and soft, non threatening textures, the owners sure knew how to make a customer feel welcome.  Here they started him off with a warm sit in in the sauna. He could feel the ooze drip out of his pores as it dripped down the bench and into the drain pipe. Next came the face treatment and hooficure, or in this case, manicure. He had almost forgot how rough his face and nails were from all that time in that rundown old home of his. No matter, the spa ponies went to work right away on him. They covered his flat face with a special mud composed of lemon meringue and earth soil. His hot cheeks sizzled down to a cool, tolerable temperature as they let it sit. When it moved on to the nails however, they did not know where to start, given the fact that they had never seen fingers or toes before. So they improvised with a pair of baby pony filers they found in the broom closet. Third was the much needed message therapy. At first, Cory felt a little skeptical as to how an individual with hooves instead of hands could possibly work on the spine without snapping it in two. But as they began to carefully work on his vertebrae, all the tension in his back melted away. He had never felt this relaxed before in his entire life. After a quick mineral bath to rinse off any residue, he was ready to head outside.

Rarity was right outside waiting for him.

"Much better." she commented as she payed her two bits

"Onward." And in what seemed like a split second, he was rushed over to her carousel boutique.

From there, Cory was placed onto a what looked like a platform for fashion models with his front facing three mirrors.

"Soooo what am I supposed to..."

"Shhhh.." replied Rarity as she examined him top to bottom with measuring tape.  She thought for a moment and put herself to work on another one of her creations nearby.

"You are exactly what I have been looking for all these years." she said from afar as she toiled with her sewing machine while looking at his reflection.

"Your'e even better than I expected!"

As Cory took time to examine the surroundings of her residence, he noticed how every mannequin, or "mareiquin" in this case, was shaped like a pony. It's overall design was a combination between a French clothing store and an English Edwardian era circus tent. The color scheme consisted mostly of deep magenta and faded violet with a touch of gold and orange to compliment the ceiling. All in all, the place seemed like one of those gypsy tents you stop by to check on your fate and destiny, complete with incense and silky curtains.

At that moment, Rarity rushed with a big cardboard box levitating right next to her. Cory was now really confused.

"Hold still darling. I've been saving this fabric for just such an occasion." she said gleefully as she dunked the box over his head.

As she lifted it up and faced him towards the mirrors, he saw himself in what looked like a combination between a ringmaster and a 1930's dapper gentleman.

"My, has anypony ever told you you would make an exceptional fashion model?" she asked lustfully as she added the finishing touches.

"Not really." he answered quietly

gasp "Well they should be ashamed of themselves! You humans are a living piece of art!"

She rushed over to a nearby closet and with magic, fumbled through a few makeshift items.

"Now where did I put that...Ahhh, here we are." she said as she levitated a camera in the air.

"Could you make a few gestures with those appendages of yours?"

Cory lifted up his arms and fingers and started posing for her. She took a picture of it on the spot, then another, and another, and another until she had about ten photos of him. She rushed back to her closet, found another ensemble of  her's, stripped him down, dressed him up again and repeated the picture taking process again.

By late afternoon, Rarity had placed him in about 2 dozen outfits. As monotonous as it was, he seemed to not really mind it at all. Perhaps because she reminded him of another one of his old friends: Camden Clifton. Like Cory, he was picked on constantly by peers. But not because of his slowness, but because of his homosexuality. To make matters worse, his parents kicked him out at a young age due to his orientation. Luckily, he was adopted by loving relatives who welcomed him as one of their own and didn't even mind that he was gay. Every time and Cory got together, they always focused on a subject dealing with fashion and apparel. His house, like Rarity's, looked almost like a clothing store, complete with mannequins, rolls of fabric and even accessories carefully displayed in his bedroom. Camden always knew how to dress one up the right for each occasion. Whether it was a birthday party wedding, funeral, graduation, or just a plain get together, he and his friends would always count on him.  But despite his flamboyant lifestyle of fashion and decor, he was one of he most generous people you could meet. Whenever a kid's lunch money was stolen, he would gladly give them a piece of his. Or when someone couldn't find a necessity in his or her backpack, he would give them just what they needed without hesitation. He even on a few separate occasions, mended and stitched his friends clothing whenever they got caught up in another brawl. Basically he was a treasure chest of charity.

"Will that be all maam?" asked Cory as he took off the last outfit of the day.

"Please." she answered as she examined the photos. "Call me Rarity. Although I wouldn't mind if you called me Miss Rarity."

As he headed for the door, he noticed a large pile of discarded fabric. "Anything else...Miss Rarity?" he asked as he picked up the pile.

"MMM..Hmm, yes. Would you be a darling and head on over to Canterlot with me and Pinkie Pie tomorrow?" she asked as she continued examining the photos. " I'm in need of a strong gentleman to help me with a few items."

He thought for a moment. Then he nodded.

"Splendid. Oh and you can throw away that rubbish you're holding on your way out. Ourevoir."

Cory examined the fabric in his arms as he went outside. He couldn't help but feel this could be used for something else. So as he walked back down to Sweet Acres, he went up to his little room in the attic and placed it neatly in the corner. He then sat down on his bed, contemplating how so much could happen to him in a single week.

chapter 9

As he looked at himself in the mirror in his new firmly pressed uniform, Cory began to contemplate on the recent events that occurred. One day he was a battered and bruised nobody with hardly a future to look forward to, now, all of a sudden, he had the position of two reasonable jobs: A Stable Boy for Applejack, and a Chauffeur for Rarity. What's more, he was to escort this Unicorn and her friend Pinkie Pie around a foreign, alien like place filled with quadrupedal residents who had the ability to harness magic. Yet, the name of the town: CANTERLOT, sounded very familiar to him. Back in his world, the Canterlot he remembered was a high school on the other side of town which was coincidently called CANTERLOT HIGH.

Oh, how he wished so badly to attend that school. There, he would be allowed to talk to people, make friends and even attend clubs. Of course he knew he had to find and fit in with his own clique of friends, but he didn't really care. At least it was better than having no friends at all. Sometimes, when walking back to his abandoned home from school, he would see some of the students from Canterlot High as well. He would sneak closely, yet discreetly behind them, pretending for that moment he was one of them. He even fantasized of presenting himself at random on a school day and magically being able to attend the classes. Of course that would make him look foolish and stupid, and besides, he didn't have any money to go there.

However, one day, while walking back home, something changed among the students. At first he couldn't quite put his finger on exactly what, but then he knew what it was. The Cliques were gone. Everyone was now randomly dispersed with each other. Jocks were talking to nerds. Thespians we're talking to the eco-kids, Goths were talking to preppies. etc, etc. Something must have happened that day. Something Magical. Like always, he walked behind a few of them, pretending he attended the school. suddenly, one of his pencils dropped. A student from nearby noticed it. She went over and picked it up for him. It was a simple gesture, but it was the first time someone at the school noticed him.

Now, as Cory was straightening his tie and buttoning up his jacket, he couldn't help but notice the bundle of fabric from yesterday lying at the edge of his bed. He sat down on the mattress post and took a good look at it.

"There must be way to make it useful for something." he said to himself. "But What?" "It just isn't right to simply throw it away."

Then he noticed a tiny pair of scissors lying right in front of his feet. He picked them up delicately and reached for a piece of the fabric. Slowly, he started to cut through the material, creating what appeared to be the shape of an apple, when suddenly....

"CORY, RARITY'S WAITING!!" shouted Applejack from downstairs.

"COMING." He responded in a clear yet solemn voice. He quickly stuffed the scissors and some of the fabric deep into his pockets and ran downstairs.

At the front of the house was Rarity dressed up in what looked like a church lady's giddup. She was waiting on what appeared to be a horse drawn carriage pulled by two butch looking colts. He looked at his uniform and knew where this was going. He was to be like Morgan Freeman and she like Jessica Tandy. A "Driving Miss Rarity" story in a nutshell. He climbed onto what looked like the drivers seat, fastened his seatbelt and grabbed the steering ropes.

"We'll need to take a stop over at Sugar Cube Corner to pick up our friend, alright." Said Rarity.

"Yes Miss Rarity." replied Cory, and off they went.

The Town of Ponyville was going about it's daily schedule. Here the usual comings and goings of the four legged residents we're in full swing. The unicorns we're out and about magically tidying up their surroundings, Pegasi we're determining the weather forecast, and filies we're outside playing the occasional game of hopscotch and jumprope. The businesses we're quaint and content with the incoming customers, each selling and trading the same items brought every day. But none seemed to attract more attention that day then the ever bustling Sugar Cube Corner.

"Just park right here darling." Said Rarity as she stepped off the platform.

"Yes Miss Rarity." Replied Cory with the tip of his hat as he steered the gentlecolts to a halt. He then carefully slipped behind the carriage and went inside so as not to cause attention. After all, he was the only human to set foot in this world.

"You wait here." Said Rarity as she walked to the back of the store.

To him, Sugar Cube Corner looked like a humongous gingerbread house supported by brick and wood. Even the smell gave passerbys a mouthwatering feel. The interior was just as welcoming as the outside, with it's bright and cheery color scheme and colonial decor, and especially the different array of delicacies at the countertop. As he waited at one of the eating tables, awaiting his next assignment, he reached into his pocket and took out the fabric and scissors. After a moment of examination, he continued with his cutting. When he finished, he looked at his little makeshift apple and thought 'why stop there?' He took out another piece of fabric and started again, this time on what he saw in the room. First he started simple with plates, forks and tables, then into more complex images such as a cupcake, strudel, chair, wallpaper design, window and even one of the silky clouds from outside. Only 30 minutes had gone by and he had already cut out 2 to 3 dozen images from fabric, each one exquisite in detail. Suddenly, just as he was about to snip another piece.....

"HIIIIIIII!!!!" cried a voice from the back that almost shattered the room. Cory thrusted in the air and lunged to his feet trying to catch his breath. He felt as though his heart thumped into his throat as what seemed to be a bubblegum coated pony hopped towards him.

"Wellll, aren't you gonna say hi." Said Pinkie Pie

Cory slowly raised his hand and gave it an awkward waving gesture.

"Oooo, what funny appendages you have. Are those what Twilight called Hands?"

"Now Pinkie." said Rarity affectionately as she stepped from the backdoor. "Let's be polite to our new chauffeur."

"I"m Pinkie Pie. What's Your name?" she asked with her nose touching his.

"Cory?" he answered softly.

"How did you get here?"

"Well...I.."

"Ooh, are you one of those creatures that Twilight encountered in the other world when she was retrieving her crown and you got here by entering through a portal that transported you from a shack to the Everfree Forest and after freaking out over talking ponies you hid in the Ponyville junkyard where you we're found by Scootaloo, Sweetie belle and Applebloom where they took you in and now you're currently serving as Applejack's stable boy and Rarity's personal driver?" she asked enthusiastically as she caught her breath.

"How did you know that?" He asked with a stunned look on his face.

"Just a hunch." she said sheepishly.

chapter 10

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

chapter 11

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

chapter 12

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

chapter 13

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

chapter 14

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

chapter 15

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

chapter 16

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

chapter 17

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

chapter 18

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Epilogue

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

chapter 2

Chapter 2

      Cory was sprinting. He was sprinting faster than he ever did in his whole life. He didn't care where his feet would take him or where his body would point toward next. What mattered now was he was sprinting.  A voice kept saying in his head; "Just keep sprinting, don't look back, Just keep sprinting, don't look back, just keep sprinting, just keep sprinting, just keep sprinting..." He had never felt this feeling of exhilaration before. He could not explain to himself how he was able to obtain this sudden strength of his. It was as if a tiny energy inside his soul had finally revealed itself to him, running through his blood and veins, and for that moment, he forgot about all the pain in his body.

       Finally, he stopped to catch his breath. He turned to the right and saw a familiar object: it was the old shack he and his friends used to go to whenever they needed to get away from all their troubles. Here they talked about their day, set up their club, told stories, ate lunch, played games and even slept there on a few separate occasions. Cory ran towards it, hoping to bring back some old memories.  Just as he opened the door, his foot slipped, and he somersaulted across the room, hitting the wall. Only strangely, he didn't actually hit the wall. Rather, he went through it, and not as in "smash the wall" through it, but through it as in passing through another time, another place, another chance.

      Cory closed his eyes, wishing for it all to stop as he continued to somersault through this unfamiliar experience. Sound and wind surrounded him like a blanket of energy. Everything was dark. It seemed as though there was no end to it.  Finally, without warning, he landed flat on his back in a pile of mud.