~Apple

Manehatten. The lights were shining very very bright when I first arrived. I hadent realized it would’ve been so bright, at 5:00am in the morning. It was really busy! The world was so much better here, well besides the fact that no one really cared about each other. But that’s only on the surface. I wass’t going to spend much time up here, at least, not now. I remember my grandma, before she died, she said something along the lines of,

“Where ever you go, what ever happens to you. Smell the breath, count the shadows, and hear the beat. The beat of whats next to come.”  And right now, I needed to hear the beat. Where though?

Suddenely, I heard it. I heard a beat. It was coming from underground. I looked around for an entry, but all I saw was big buildings. It was a wonderful beat. It reminded me of home, and I didn’t know why. The songs from the underground. I followed the beat until it led me to a sewer,

“What? The sewer? What could be down there…” I had no idea what was yet to come.

I climbed into the sewer pipe. I saw flashing lights ahead of me, multi-colored light.  It seemed like there was a party going on.

I could hear the music, the ponies yelling, they were yelling something along the lines of, “home is where the music is.” I smiled at that moment. Home is where the music comes from. Hear your music, follow it. It’ll lead you to home.

I opened the door to the party. When  I stepped in, everypony stared at me. I looked like a misfit. But then a pony walked up to me. He was a pegsus, different shades of blue throughout his coat and mane. His cutiemark was a star constellation. He looked down at me and I smiled.

He smiled back and asked, “Hey, who are you? Earth pony I see, Running from the- Wait…” He looked down at my cutiemark, “I know you… You’re a legend!”

I looked at him, confused, “What are you talking about? I’m just like any other pony.”

He shook his head, “No, you’re amazing. Captain Jack. Its an honor to meet you Miss Cobbler.” He shook my hoof and turned to face the crowd of ponies.

He smiled at me one last time and ran up to the boom box. I really regretted doing this. I wasn’t a legend! If I was, what would it be for? I mean, I haven’t ever really done anything that important, to be honest. I wondered what this was about.

He smiled and announced, “Everypony! We have a war escaped pony legend here tonight. Tonight, we are honored for this mare to come to this camp. This young mare is 13 years old, but has a vigorous past. Shes escaped 2 times after 6 years of being alone. Everyone is hoping she comes. But we got her. They pony every camp wants. This is her new home. Everypony, Apple Cobbler!” I walked up to Jack, and everyone cheered.

I looked over the crowd. I was a legend? Every camp wanted me? I’m the most wanted pony? WHAT? I don’t understand. I was being admired without even knowing it. Later that night, When everypony was still dancing to the music, I was sitting in the corner with another pony my age. -We’ve been discussing how this war will turn out.- When Jack walked over to me. The song switched to the song called, Ghosts n hoofs by Deadpon5. The pony smiled mischievously at me and turned away.

He sat down next to me, “So, Apple? Can I call you that?” I nodded and he continued, “Apple. Do you need me to explain to you why you’re a legend here in Manehatten?”

I shifted a little in my seat to face towards him, “Yeah. I don’t get it. I mean, I’ve seen ponies stare at me before, but not in victory. Am I a sign of hope or something?”

He glanced at me and smiled,” Clever mare. Yes, you’re a sign of hope. Because you’ve gotten away, so many times without even breaking a sweat. You seem like somepony who’s capeable of doing the impossible. You, Apple, are a hero.”

I felt myself blush a little after that. Me? A hero? I heard a small voice In the back of my head. It sounded like Brea, Mom and Pop would be proud of you.

Jack, and I talked for a little longer, just discussing anything that would be relevant to the conversation. After he had the 3rd apple cider, I was confused. I saw fillies a year or two younger than me drinking.

“Uh, Jack?” I asked, “Are some ponies here, underage drinking? Won’t the police find out?”

He shook his head, “Ya see, the police don’t know we’re here. It’s the magic of the unicorns. They put a barrier around this place. Speaking of that, how’d you get in anyway?”

I looked down. I really had no idea, “I don’t know. I didn’t even know there was a barrier. I just kinda saw a door and walked in. My grandma told me about this place. He said that you need to hear and follow the beat. I hear it and followed it. The music would bring me home. I really don’t know, but I was abandoned as you probably know. My grandma was in the war. She told me to come here In times of trouble.”

Jack looked at me for a second and turned back to his drink, “Who was your grandmother? What was her name?”

“Her name was Apple blossom. She was an amazing mare.” I replied.

And it was true, you know. She was an amazing mare. Before I knew it, I had tears in my eyes. I was crying without any control. I didn’t know why. And then it went black.

I was falling again. I fell into a chair, next to the orphan I saw when I was… what… 10?

She looked at me, with tears in her eyes, and asked, “Who are you? You’re not supposed to be here… Are you new?”

I shook my head. My head hurt so much, and I didn’t know why. She looked up at me, “Are you here to save me?”

smiled at her, “I wish I could, but I can’t. One day, I promise, You’ll be adopted. And you’ll have a happy life.”

She smiled at me, “Thank you miss.”

At that moment, I looked down at my wrist. There was a bracelet thing. It was round with a button. I pressed the button and I was awake. I was lying in a bed, jack sitting next to me. What just happened?

He had the bracelet on. Where was I? I looked around the room. There were about 10 other ponies in the room with me. We had really small beds, a table, and our own little place to stay. It was really nice.

Jack turned to me and said, "Vortex manipulator. It glitched on me, and then you disappeared. Where did you go anyway? Please don't tell me you saw-" I cut him off before he could say anything.

"It took me to an orphanage when I was about  ten years old. That answer your question?" I replied.

Jack nodded his head and sat down on my cot. I smiled and sat up. Jack was staring at the ceiling for some reason. I poked him and he sat up quickly, hitting his head on the bar above the bed.

"Geez! Your real clumsy hm?" I asked him in between soft giggles.

I've heard from the other ponies Jack was a complete flirt, so I wanted to test how well he could take me. I slipped my hoof around his neck and pulled him close to me. He started blushing, but I could tell he didn't really mean it.

I put my head up to his and whispered, "Show me what your hiding from me." And lightly pecked his lips.

He grabbed my hoof and lifted me off of my cot and into a dark room.