//-------------------------------------------------------// A Train to where? -by OnexWithxDirt- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// A Place Called Equestria //-------------------------------------------------------// A Place Called Equestria "Nolan... Nolan wake up... NOLAN!" A Hard smack brought him flying back into the world of real life. He looked around the bus at the other kids staring at him. "Nolan, We're almost there, Do you really want Mr. O to find you asleep again?" "Um, Well" Nolan looked up at his friend that had hit him. He had known Lacey for quite some time. Since third grade to be exact. He at one time had tried dating her, but alas, he had been friend zoned a long long time ago. "Well if Mr. O finds you asleep you will get another detention. And remember what happened the last time your parents got wind of your detention?" Lacey said continuing hold a very motherly and disapproving frown down on him. Nolan shuddered at the thought. "Yea, I remember. But Mr. O's Field trip's are always so boring. How come my home room go's nowhere fun." He looked out the window at the passing city. "Our homeroom you mean. And because Mr. O is so old, All he knows is history. Besides, at least you got me." Lacey gave Nolan a reassuring smile and turned back around in her seat. 'Please, I would rather be lost in the desert than be on one of Mr. O's "Special" field trips.' He lowered himself in his seat and stared out the window. He looked at the site adjacent to his there sat Kyle, his drum major. He was s stoic guy, never talking to any body. All he could do was keep time and blow into a whistle. In front of him sat Liz, Kyle's Girlfriend. But being as he rarely talked she was always hitting on Nolan. It wouldn't be so bad if she wasn't so... OCD. The bus came to a halt and Mr. O with military like precision marched everybody of the bus into the already hot sun of the Mojave Desert. "Alright, Now i don't want anybody here to touch anything, Break anything, Smudge anything, BREATHE on anything." "yes ma'am" Nolan muttered under his breath only to receive an elbow to the rib from Lacey. "Now i'm gonna go talk to the tour guide, you talk among yourselves till I get back." Mr. O turned but stopped as he noticed a students hand out of site from Nolan. "What?" "Can we go inside out of this heat?" Some student said. "Um, No." Mr. O walked inside and left everyone out in the heat. Nolan took of his lucky M.A.S.H. hat and began to fan himself. Looking around he let a small smirk appear on his face. "What is so funny?" Lacey asked noticing the suspicious smile on Nolan's lips. "Oh just the fact, I am the best suited for the heat." He looked over his shoulder at Kyle who was still in his black Foothill High band jacket. "I'd say were equal on that matter." She said punching him on the shoulder. "Okay, but I as a manly man will not parade around in Daisy Duke shorts." He said looking down at his slightly baggy khaki cargo shorts that he was wearing. Lacey began to laugh uncontrollably, "Oh my... You manly?" She let the laughter take over. "I can be perfectly manly if i want to be." He said placing his hands on his hips. He let Lacey continue to laugh while he turned around to try to talk to Kyle. "Aren't you hot in that?" Kyle looked at the bus then back to Nolan and shook his head. "You're nuts." Nolan turned back around to annoy Lacey some more when He could here some racket coming from behind the bus. On the other side of the bus some bullies were dumping out the contents of a poor kids backpack onto the ground and laughing. "My Little Pony? Dude you are in a world of hurt, No guy in his right mind Likes a show for three year old girls. And were going to beat that into you." "Ya know no guy in his right mind meddles in the business of others." Nolan appeared standing in the most threatening stance he could muster. "Oh looker what we got here boys, A hero thinking he could beat us." The one that looked like the leader motioned to the two other guys who let go of the kid and and came to the sides of the leader. "Soak him Jon" The smaller of the three came running head first a very determined look on his face. Nolan stepped to the side stuck his foot out and with one fluid motion took Jon by the collar and flipped him around onto his back knocking the wind out of him. Nolan looked down and shook his head at the guy on the ground gasping for breath. "What... Go" The guy on the other side didn't do the same stupid maneuver. He put his fists up and began to slowly walk towards Nolan. Nolan smiled tossed the bag on the ground in front of him and threw his fists into the air. Fists began to fly, but being as Nolan was smaller than the brute he was able to avoid his punches. However after a brief moment Nolan took a strong hit to the gut. Out of breath, He drew up quickly and placed his fist right to the underside of the brute putting him on his back as well. "Ga, You lazy assholes, I'll get him myself. The leader reared up to and was about to fight when Nolan holding his stomach. He abruptly paused and said, "Fuck it". With three steps for a running start, Nolan kicked his backpack nailing it to the guy's groin, taking him down to the knees. "Thank god for Soccer, You alright man?" Nolan looked over at the younger kid who had gotten his stuff back into his bag. Nolan intern picked up his backpack and a small figurine of a pony and walked over to the kid and handed it to him. "Fucking bronies..." the guy rolled onto his side looking at the two as he held a firm grasp on his groin. "I'm not a Brony, I have never seen the show. But it is not alright to mistreat someone for what they believe in... or watch for that matter. "FOOTHILL HIGH! LINE UP" "Aw shit" Nolan ran back around the bus. LATER "A Detention, For saving a kid, Mr. O gave me A detention." Nolan slammed his head onto the table. "Why do these things always happen to me. Liz came by carrying her tray of food and sat across from Lacey. "What happened to him?" "Mr. O happened." Lacy said holding up the yellow detention slip. "Oh, Jeez, sorry Nolan." Liz said taking a bite from her apple. "My whole life is messed up... and Boring" Suddenly every cell phone in the area began to ring, even the ones that were off. Nolan's phone didn't ring, instead gave the notification of a new message. 'No name, Weird.' "well it's better than being sad for my self." Nolan said picking up his phone, but nobody heard him, everyone was trying to decipher the strange noise from cell. "Nolan T. Croco" said the phone. "Whoa, Was that.." He looked around nobody had said anything, they weren't even paying attention. "Nolan, It's Time to determine your Future." "Who is this? what do you mean Determine my future?" "Your destiny is calling, Take bus 108 to the 61'st and J stop." "This is way better than being bored, my destiny? Hell yeah that's downright awesome." Nolan took this chance and grabbed his bag and ran out of the room away from prying ears. "Bus 108... let's see," Nolan had pulled up the bus route on his phone and was looking at the schedule. "Next bus leaves in... FIVE MINUTES!!" He threw his phone into his pocket and began running along the park's pathways. He got to the bus stop just as the bus was pulling away. "Aw, COME ON! Mr. O is going to kill me..." just then another bus pulled in front of him. He glanced at the schedule, 108, 'It can't be...' He glanced at the bus a block away. 108. 'This is just weird.' He climbed on the bus and took a seat near the back. The bus was deserted except for the bus driver who didn't even look back. The bus didn't stop anywhere else, it just kept going, shadowing the other bus. Eventually it stopped at the 61's and J street stop and the doors opened. Nothing from the bus driver. Nolan got of the bus and looked at his phone, the same message was still displayed on the screen. He turned around to find the bus gone, 'Okay, now that's creepy... But where do i go now?' Across the street he could see the kid with the Brony bag entering one of the casinos. 'Maybe he knows.' Nolan entered the casino and looked around, He spotted the kid down the hall turning a corner. Nolan ran after him when his phone began to ring. "Aw, Lacey, not know," he picked it up and brought it up to his ear. "Hello?" "NOLAN WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU?" Lacey yelled so loud he had to pull the phone from his ear. "Lacey can't talk now it has to do with my destiny." Nolan turned the corner and looked around, he saw the kid down a long hall by an elevator. "DESTINY??? MR. OSTRIKE IS GOING TO KILL YOU!!!" "Can't talk now gotta go." Nolan hung up the phone and threw it into his pocked. 'Sorry Lacey.' Nolan watched the kid get in the elevator and surged forward, "HEY HOLD THE ELEVATOR!" He dove into the elevator head first, barely getting in before the door closed. "Dude, were's the fire... YOU!" The kid leaned over and helped Nolan off the ground. "Yea... It's me... I'm okay, ish. The names Nolan. Nolan Theodore Croco. Junior at Foot Hill High school." Nolan said taking the hand helping him up and shaking it firmly. "The names. T.K. I'm just a seventh grader from Manion Middle School." T.K. said scratching the back of his head. T.K. was a short kid, probably only 5'5" kind of short, baggy shorts, Yugioh shirt, and a My Little Pony Friendship Is Magik Messenger bag. "I came from Burkholder middle myself." Nolan said smiling at the slightly scrawny looking kid. "You come here because of the message too?" "Yea, Any idea what it means?" "Not a clue... Whoa, look." The looked up at the numbers on the wall, SL3, SL5, SL6, SL9, the elevator was moving faster down, the numbers soon became a blur. "What the." The elevator came down with a crash, the kid was still standing but Nolan was still on the ground. "I gotta stop landing on my ass. He glanced up at the numbers which read SL8238. He grimaced at how deep in the ground he was. The doors opened up and the kid went running out the door. "Um... Bye then." Nolan looked around him, he was surrounded by different colored trains. "ALL ABOARD!" Nolan looked around and found why the kid ran off. The trains were departing. "shit, shit, shit, shit, shit, shit," Nolan took off running at the train that was pulling away the slowest. He was just about to reach it, it was just out of reach. 'I am so not built for so much running... BUT I  AM A VARSITY SOCCER PLAYER!' With one surge of strength he heaved himself onto the last car of the train and looked back. "That was close. Now... Where are we going?" He opened the door and looked inside. The interior was completely ripped to shreds. The seats were ripped up, a few had the springs popping up out of them, some had no cushion at all. The wall paper was falling down leaving bare metal showing on the walls, and there were only a few lights working on the roof. "Huh,creepy, it's like a ghost train... ... ... WHAT IF IT IS A GHOST TRAIN!" Nolan ran forward to the next door and tore it open. The next car was the exact opposite to the first. Perfectly sown seats, The wall paper looked ass if it was put up yesterday, And a bright chandelier hung in the center of the car. "Well that's strange." Nolan walked through the next nest set of doors, It let him back onto a platform just like the rear of the train. Out side there was a purple mist surrounding the tracks and the train. There was no wind at all, the only way he could tell the train was moving was the tracks below him flying by. He backed in and shut the door and sat down. 'This is better that being bored i suppose, strange, but kinda cool.' The train suddenly lurched upward as if climbing a steep hill. Nolan had left the back two doors open and had fallen back against the railing of the last car. "AAAAAAAAHHH" the train continued to travel upward till it leveled off and stopped hard. Nolan was launched into the fron of the train and grabbed hold of one of the armrests. "What the hell?" The train came to a full stop and the doors flew open and the lights inside went out. Nolan causally pocked his head out the door. There was a long tunnel leading of to the left with red arrows pointing down the opening. Nolan stepped off and as he did, the trains door's shut and it was gone as fast as it came. "Well wherever I am, I'm stuck here." He turned and walked down the corridor, the first thing that struck him was the chill in the air, it wasn't cold. But there was an Erie chill in the air. it was dusty and dirty in the corridor, probably nobody had walked it in years. The tunnel eventually opened up into a grand station hub. It kinda looked like grand central station but with a metal spiral stair case leading up. Nolan looked around him. The benches were lined with dust, the ticket counter was lined with dust, the doors were lined with dust. He began to check the doors one by one, each was locked except for the one that said storage. The storage locker contained coats, radio's, and a bunch of uniforms. But the uniforms were oddly shaped. He pulled of one of the coats, the arms were to short, but the waist and length on the coat was huge. It was like it belonged to a giant dog... or a pony. He decided to make his way up the metal staircase. Cautiously he took it step by step. once he was a few loops from the top the metal began to creek. Nolan took of running and jumped onto the floor above him. Looking into the hole he watched the staircase fall with a very loud crash. "Well there goes my way down." Around him was what he thought to be immigration. The windows were long boarded up. and it was a single room with only the giant front doors. The roof had a strange symbol on it. In the center of the roof there was a single large skylight letting in an eerie lunar glow. And as he turned he was taken by a giant portrait of a Pure white pony with a crown smiling down onto the room. "Wait... I've seen that before..." Nolan suddenly flashed back to the figurine he picked up when he was in that scruff with the bullies. "It can't be." Nolan turned and ran to the window, Outside there was a dirt road leading into the night. "Night Night? It was just after midday when i left..." He noticed a soft glow in the distance. "Thank god a city." Nolan pulled out his phone and checked the time. His phone said 2:15 pm. But the sky said otherwise, not to mention he had no service. 'great, well i suppose there isn't any reason to remain here.' Nolan pushed at the doors, no dice they were rusted shut, With a strong swift kick, Nolan was able to force the doors open. A Sudden and cold went came rushing in all at once. The sudden cold sent a step chill up Nolan's Sine. Nolan dropped his bag to the ground, Out he pulled his Letterman jacket and threw it on. It helped block some of the cold, but not all of it. He began walking through the lonely dirt road threw a lonely forest. "Well at least it can't get any worse." Nolan immediately face palmed himself for at that moment it began to snow. LATER Town was much farther than he thought, The sun was just bridging the hills as he mad his way into town. The town was so misshaped and odd looking. He turned a corner and came face to face with a pink pony who had strange yellow hair. They just stared at each other for what felt like hours before finally the pony let out a scream and went running the other direction. Nolan remained in somewhat in a daze. 'Okay no need for alarm, I just came face to face with a pony... A PONY?!?!... I must be loosing it.' Nolan turned around and very stiffly walked a different direction. The next pony was a Green pony that stared at him, Nolan said quivering slightly, "Um... Hello?" The green pony with a shriek yelled, "I KNEW THEY EXISTED!!!" and ran. Nolan remained silent. He continued his search of the town. by mid day he had only seen those two ponies. 'Okay, so I'm in a world of ponies... No problem, now i kinda wish T.K. was here, he might have been able to help me. but where is everybody anyways?' His question was soon answer for as he made the next bend he watched a large number of house shutters slam shut, and doors slam closed with closed signs hanging on them. Nolan was now very cold, Very hungry, and Very tired. He continued his search outside of town. He was walking along a path pondering what to do when down the road he saw a small yellow pony with wings and pink hair carrying a basket. "HEY! WAIT!" He ran forward the pony dropped her basket and ran away. "I JUST WANT SOME HELP!" She had run forward into a small cottage around the bend. Nolan picked up the basket and looked at the cottage. The basket contained some freshly backed muffins and cupcakes. As well as some mail and papers. He was about to turn and around with the basket but stopped. After a very heavy sigh he turned and thought differently. He walked up the the cottage door, snow was now covered his hair, and he was beginning to lose feeling in his toes. He hesitated a moment then knocked on the door. "Hello?" "Go- Go Away, Whatever you are." A small voice answered from behind the door. "Hey, I have no idea where i am, I just want some help." Nolan pressed his ear against the door, but silence was all the followed. He placed the basket at the base of the door. and turned to face the snow covered land. "I just want to know where I am..." He tightened himself up in his jacket and began to walk away when the door opened part way and the small voice called to him. "Find Twilight Sparkle in the town library, she can help you. You're in Equestria." The owner of the voice then shut the door and locked it. "THANK YOU!" Nolan yelled from where he was standing. And turned and headed for town, with the dreams of a nice fireplace in his mind. //-------------------------------------------------------// First Contact //-------------------------------------------------------// First Contact Nolan rubbed his frozen toes, slowly letting the feeling return into them. He had taken temporary shelter in a barn he found. Where it sat was surrounded by apple trees so it was not hard guessing what the ranch was for. He was hiding in the loft behind a bunch of hay bales. He had made himself a spot to sit and take stock of his situation. 'okay, so i'm in Equestria... Okay, but i have no way of getting home... I'm doomed if i can't find this, Twilight sparkle... What have i got to survive with?' He proceeded to empty out the contents of his pack. First that came out was his Notebook, then his drawing pad, his digital camera, then his school I.D. Followed by a canteen half full of water, an empty mug that had once had coffee in it. Next came come pencils, pens, a calculator, and the clip and holder for his I.D.. last thing was a black tie he threw in there after formal. 'Oh i remember that night, the night i asked out Lacey... Oh yea Lacey must be flipping out right about now... shit.' He took off his letter man jacket and placed it next to the pile, next came his phone. He took out his wallet and opened it up. 'Okay, forty bucks probably doesn't help me here, Neither dose the driver license... Maybe it might help.' He tossed it on the stack and sat up on his knees. 'It's not much to work with, but... not much.' He put everything back into his bag, his phone and wallet back into his pockets, and put his jacket back on. He stood up to leave, now fully warmed up, when he watched the barn door open up. He ducked down and got as low behind the hay bale as possible. 'shit shit shit shit' He heard the steps of whoever it was going from stall to stall feeding pigs, chickens and various other animals brought in from the snow. 'Come on... I AM NOT HERE!' He listened to the footsteps complete the loop around the barn and began to walk out. Nolan released his breath he didn't know he was holding. Suddenly a dog began to bark and the footsteps stopped. What now... Please do not have found me...' "What is it Winona?" Said a female voice with a southern accent. 'Nobody, Nobody is there, here, me...' "Winona what is it? HELLO?" The voice called out through the barn. 'Not good, not good at all.' Suddenly a small flock of birds that had been sitting up in the rafters went flying out the barn door and the barking followed. "WINONA!! WINONA COME BACK!!" Nolan listened as the voice and the barking disappeared into the distance. Nolan peeked over the hay bale and let out a sigh of relief. 'Shit that was close.' He hopped down and got back next to the road and hid behind a large tree. 'Okay, So the ponies don't like me. That's a given, So if i am going to get into town i'm gonna have to sneak in... Fun. Probably best to avoid the road then...' He began to walk parallel to the road continuing to try his best to remain unseen. LATER Once back in town Nolan began to search the town for the library. First he had ended up in a large area of tents where there were booths, farmer stands closed for the winter, and assorted other farmer market type things. The Sun was starting to get low on the horizon. So i should have this place pretty much to myself... Hopefully. He made his way through the back alleys of the town, only slipping up once and popping out on one of the main streets. Thankfully he had done so unseen. He continued his search for another half-hour before an idea struck him. 'This is going to take me a long time like this. I need to go up...' Nolan found a building with a semi low beam and heaved himself up onto the roof. Slowly climbing to the roof he saw a that caught his eye. He was a native to Las Vegas, so city lights were nothing to him... But these lights of the town were just... 'Beautiful' He laid his bag down next to him and laid down on his arms. Looking across this town he could see the town hall, the little farmer market like village to the side, a small pavilion where there was a small hub of ponies. All the doubt, the fear, the anxiety was purged from his system. He felt like he was lying on a cloud looking over a god like city. It captivated him. He could have kept him there for hours, but his eyes shot to a large house built into a tree with a sign on the front with a book on it. 'If that ain't the library I don't know what would be.' Nolan jumped down and sneakily he made his way down the alleys towards the large tree house. <======> Nolan sat in a bush outside the backdoor pondering how he was gonna go about this... 'So i could just walk straight in and ask for help... Simple and should have a good turnout. or the pony in there could kill me... Let's see I could sneak in and probably get in trouble for spying... And if they do want to kill me i can run... I'm cold.' Nolan continued to ponder when he heard the flap of wings, A blue pony with wings and a rainbow mane came blasting through one of the window of the library. The window sat on an angled portion of the tree with a small branch that could hold him. 'Spying it is... Silent, Silent like an Urban ninja.' He heaved himself up noisily onto the out facing branch and sat there a moment to catch his breath. 'Damn, that was much higher than it looked.' He pressed his face against the glass and looked inside, There where three ponies talking inaudibly, the blue winged one, the green unicorn from earlier, and a purple unicorn. Well which the hell one is it.' messing with the window a bit he was able to pop it open and listen in to the conversation below.- "Lyra, are you sure, Remember the last time you claimed there was a human in Ponyville?" Asked the purple unicorn. "I'm serious, I ran right into him, I was not dreaming. Ask Lily, she saw him two, she was the one who alerted the town in the first place. What about you Rainbow? Did you see him?" Asked the one Apparently called Lyra. 'Wow, I thought bronies were crazed... This is just backwards.' "-Not be dragged into this subject, I'm just here because Fluttershy said Twilight could use my help." Said the blue winged one... 'Rainbow's her name, strange...' "Help me? Why would she say that?" said the purple Unicorn. 'That's her, That has got to be Twilight Sparkle the yellow one told me. Yes!' Nolan shot his fist into the air with the feeling of success in his heart, which was soon replaced by fear. He was falling in through the window without any form of catching himself. "AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!" Nolan careened the base of the library when he stopped right above the ground level... "AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHaahhaa... Hi." Nolan looked around him, he was surrounded by a purple glow, the source was the horn of the unicorn Twilight. "I TOLD YOU SO!" Lyra blurted out as Nolan was dropped to the ground. "I can't believe it..." Twilight said gawking at Nolan on the ground rubbing his behind, mumbling something about his ass. Rainbow then and there in all her glory flew with fright to the second story balcony overlooking the library. "They do exist." Twilight began to circle him staring at him. "Um. Hi." "IT TALKS!" Twilight blurted out suddenly. Nolan stood up and dusted himself off. "Of course I talk, I am a..." Nolan was cut off by another blurting of Lyra. "A human, I have read about so much about your kind. I have so many questions." Lyra pushed Twilight aside and stood directly in front of Nolan. Rainbow jumped down of the balcony onto Lyra pushing her to the ground. She flared her wings probably trying to threaten Nolan. "ARE YOU A SPY?" She pointed an accusing hoof at Nolan. Nolan raised an eyebrow and did an mighty odd thing for someone in his position. He took the hoof and shook it. "The names Nolan, Nolan Theodore Croco, Captain of the Star ship Enterprise. Rainbow dropped her wings and her hoof went limp, obviously not what she was expecting. Twilight in the mean time got up, pushed rainbow off of Lyra, then helped her up. This was Nolan's first good look at one of the ponies without being in shock. They stood at the same height he did, and the arch of the back sat roughly at Nolan's stomach level. Basically the same size as him but... ponies. "I've never seen anything like you. What was your name, Nolan. The names Twilight Sparkle." She extended her hoof which Nolan took and shook. "And you are the captain of the Star ship what?" Nolan let out a small chuckle, "Oh never mind that. I was kidding about the captain bit... So where exactly where am I? A Yellow winged one told me I was in Equestria." He dropped his backpack to the ground and relaxed a bit. "Yellow Winge... Pegasus?" Twilight asked. Lyra and Rainbow meanwhile had settled to the side and where chatting inaudibly about what was going on. "Pegasus... THAT'S IT. Yea, with pink hair." He snapped his finger with the remembered notion of the name. "Fluttershy, That explains why she sent rainbow over here, probably thought you were dangerous." Twilight glanced over to the two. Lyra was laughing at if all that was true, the hero Fluttershy was hoping for had run when Nolan fell in. "I suppose, Why does everybody hide from me?" "Because we have never seen a human in Ponyville, Let alone Equestria before." Twilight continued to walk circles around Nolan. "Ponyville?" "The town you're in." Rainbow tossed in before Twilight could say it. "Oh... Makes sense." Nolan took off his coat, it was quite warm in the library. The extra layer was not necessary. "WOW, DID YOU JUST REMOVER SOME OF YOUR FUR?" Rainbow jolted back at the simple maneuver. "No no Rainbow. That was just some pants he took off." Lyra said poking at Rainbow correcting her. Nolan could not contain himself, He burst out laughing. His laugh was a deep, Smooth laugh, not evil, but smooth like Water washing over a path of stones. "What?" Lyra asked, nervous that what she had said was wrong. "These are pants." Nolan said shaking the khaki shorts he was wearing. "More specifcly Shorts. What I took off was a jacket." Nolan said chuckling. "Oh... I see." Lyra said looking at Twilight who shrugged. "See you don't know everything about humans." Rainbow said, Poking Lyra back. "Well at any rate, Twilight Fluttershy said you could help me. The first order of business is if you know anywhere I can stay While i'm stuck here."Nolan said With a slightly lost expression. "OO OO OO!! HE CAN STAY WITH ME!" Lyra pretty much screamed. Nolan gave a worried and scared look over at Twilight. "Lyra, I don't think Bon Bon would like to have a human sleeping on her couch. What about You Rainbow?" Lyra gave a depressed sigh, "You're right, she would not see of it." Rainbow got a nervous look and looked at the wall. "Oh, Look at the time gotta feed Tank." She took off and in a flash of rainbows she was gone. "Tank" Nolan asked. "Rainbow's Turtle. I guess your staying with me." Twilight said shooing Lyra out of the library. "Thank you Twilight, I thought that NOBODY here wanted me." Nolan said picking up his bag. "They don't." Twilight said trying to give Nolan a sympathetic smile. "What... Then why..." He dropped his bag again and looked hopefully at Twilight. "Lyra has read many books on human's... The most we have on them is something you called... World War 2. The history book talked much about the way the Nazi Party tortured so many." Twilight said shaking her head. "We trusted you because you didn't match any of the descriptions or pictures in the book. They had blonde hair blue eyes. Your clearly brown haired green eyed. Not to mention you wearing something completely opposite to the black uniforms." "But that doesn't change what Lyra has told the others i suppose." Nolan said sitting down on his backpack reasting his head on his heads. "No, not until we show you to everypony tomorrow?" Twilight said smiling. "What?" Nolan shot up and looked at her as she was heading up the stairs. "Oh never-mind. You will find out in the morning. Come here." She said disappearing up the stairs. "Um... Okay I guess. That doesn't explain why you trusted me in the first place." Nolan said following her up into what looked like a small lounge with a couch, coffee table and a door, probably to where Twilight lived. "Lyra at the time was trying to convince that a human had come to Ponyville, and a different one at that. She was telling us that we should look for you when you came crashing in." She said pulling out a blanket and pillow out and setting it on the couch. " You may sleep here, Me and the girls will tell you more in the morning." "Um, Okay. Real quick question. What is the chance of me getting home?" Nolan asked looking hopefully at Twilight. Twilight let out a sigh, "Being as we don't even know how you got here, or where your home is. I don't know. good night Nolan." "Good night Twilight, and thank you." Twilight hit the few switches by the door which turned the lights out in the library. Nolan laid his backpack by the couch and laid down. 'At least they have couches in this place. But I wonder if i will ever see or talk to Lacey or Kyle... What have i gotten myself into... I guess it's better than one of Mr. O's Field trips.' //-------------------------------------------------------// A good lesson //-------------------------------------------------------// A good lesson *poke*      ...      *POKE* Nolan opened his eyes slowly to see what had disturbed his blissful sleep. Standing in front of the couch was a baby green dragon. 'Oh, A dragon... Cute dragon' It took a few moments in his sleep ridden mind before he realized what he had seen. In a split second Nolan's eyes were open and taking all the information fully. 'THERE IS A DRAGON IN FRONT OF MY FACE!' Nolan jumped up on the back of the couch and screamed. The little green dragon did exactly the same thing, It jumped back on the chair and pointed at Nolan screaming. This little screaming duel across the coffee table ensued until Nolan leaned to far back and the couch tipped backwards and he fell to the ground. Silently, he got up and glared at the dragon. A moment of scarce silence passed, The green dragon gulped then said, "What are you?" Nolan reacted by screaming, "IT TALKS!!!" and proceeded to scream. The dragon Yelled something along those lines and joined back in the screaming. The door burst open and Twilight came running into the room with a panicked look and a messy mane. She looked and all she saw was her assistant on the arm chair looking at her, pointing at Nolan, and screaming his lungs out. Across the way Nolan was doing the identical thing but from the back of an overturned couch. "GUYS, GUYS! It's alright." The screaming subsided, but the panicked look on the two of their faces remained. "Okay, Let me do the introductions since you two will just seem to scream. Nolan, This is Spike my assistant and baby dragon. Spike this is Nolan, a Human from..." "Earth." Nolan finished looking at spike. "Right, Earth." Twilight looked at them both, hoping no more screaming would ensue. Nolan righted the couch and walked over to Spike. Where he was standing he was about same height of where he stood. Nolan outstretched his hand nervously waiting for what followed. Spike took the hand and shook it lightly. "Um... Nice to meet you spike." Nolan said his voice cracking slightly from the yelling. "And nice to meet you too." Spike said, his voice seemed perfectly fine. "Now, isn't that better than standing there screaming?" Twilight said smiling at the two who were still quite nervous. Nolan and spike nodded and smiled, "I suppose, are there normally dragons in Equeastia?" "Yes, but we ponies actually know very little about them. They are too shy to get close enough to study." Twilight rubed her chin and walked backed into her bedroom. "Huh, So, um.." Spike rubbed the back of his head looking to find the right words. "I'm sorry for scaring you, I thought it was all just a dream... But when I wake up to see a dragon looking me in the face, it tends to bring a mighty big reality check." "Well if it makes any difference, i didn't think you were real. I just thought I was dreaming or you were one of Twilights spells gone wrong again." Spike taped his chin reflecting on his decision of poking the strange life form in his living room... He was suddenly picked up into the air and pushed close to Nolan's face. "DO YOU MEAN MY ENTIRE LIFE COULD ALL JUST BE A RANDOM PIECE OF A MAGIC SPELL GONE TO SHIT!?!?!" Nolan's eyes were wider than the moon, with his pupils fully dilated. "NO NO! Not at all, I just meant that Twilight's spells have gone wrong before." Spike went completely limp from fear. He was set down back in the chair. Nolan sat down on the coffee table and rested his chin on his hand. "Darn, that would have been really awesome." Nolan smiled to himself. He swiveled around to the other side of the table to dig through his backpack. "Wait... What?" Spike sat in the chair and gazed at the strange creature on the other side of his coffee table. Nolan found what he was looking for and swiveled back around. He was balancing his laptop on his lap and turned it on with a hum. "Sorry spike, I just thought it would be cool to be the product of magic. Well in all technicality I was... But I have a better way to explain what I am." "Better way? What is that thing?" Spike sat down and looked at the Strange item on Nolan's Lap. "It's called a laptop, it's like an electronic book." Nolan typed a short bit into it. "Huh, so wha-" Spike was cut off by the sound of an artificial voice coming from the laptop. "Hello Nolan Morikawa, It's good to see you." "What the?" Spike couldn't break his gaze at his laptop. "What time is it?" Nolan asked clicking through things on his laptop. "Wha-, What time... Six twenty A.M." Spike said breaking his gaze and glancing over at the wall. Nolan didn't stop looking at his laptop he kept clicking through files, but among his search he said to the laptop, "Joshua, Change the time to Six Twenty A.M. please." "Yes Nolan. Time changed." The laptop replied. Spike at this point was speechless. He couldn't even utter a word. Nolan was clicking his way through a world of files. Twilight had come out of her room, her mane neatly combed, and too watching Nolan click away at his magical device. Nolan obviously found what he was looking for he got up and sat the laptop down facing the other two. This will explain everything. Nolan clicked play and lounged back on the couch. Music (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v2JcpolIQU) began to Play and the first slide of the show began. History of Humans- Class project by Nolan Theodore Croco- Rowans CP Biology 2. A voice emanates from the laptop, it was Nolan's voice, "If you were to put the age of the earth into a one hour period. Humans have only been around on the last hundredth millisecond of that hour." Time Passes The music stopped, and the last slide exited the screen. He pressed a button and said "Joshua, Shut down please." Joshua responded "Goodbye Nolan." "Any questions?" Nolan asked, closing the laptop. Spike had such a look, Twilight was rubbing her chin still staring at the now silent laptop. "So, humans are... intelligent monkeys full of water?" Twilight, with some trouble, finally said. "Uh..." It took a moment for Nolan to fully comprehend the statement. "I suppose you could call us that." "and your world has been around for billions of years?" Spike questioned. "That's right. Our world is old, but our civilization is not." "That makes some sense..." Spike turned to get help from Twilight. Twilight simply shrugged and said "It makes perfect sense, except for how you got here?" "Yeah, I Have no idea." "Well a visit to the princess should help that." Twilight smiled with the statement. "I'm going to eat breakfast with the girls, then you are going to get a proper tour of Ponyville..." Twilight had a pregnant pause. "Spike pull out the history of Equestria from 100 pre-princess, to present." "Yes" Spike replied with a salute and ran of to one of the boo shelves and ran his claw along the books. "Nolan, i shall return in two hours." With that Twilight left out the front door. "Bye Twilight." A book thumped on the table in front of him, it wasn't a huge book, more the size of a text book. "Uh... isn't it a bit big?" Nolan said nervously opening the book. inside was a strange language in no way he could comprehend. Spike saw the worried look on his face, "Give it a moment, the book will translate to your language." "It will what?" Nolan looked back down to the pages, the symbols suddenly translated into words he could comprehend. "Whoa..." "Awesome right? It's how we can share information with the griffons." "THE WHO?" Nolan blurted out. "Never mind that, just read, and i'll try to answer what question i can. Time Passes Nolan put the book down and looked at spike who had his face buried in a book blushing. "Spike?" Spike launched the book behind and looked at Nolan nervously, "Yea" "So let me get this straight, Equestria was formed when three ponies launched a heart of magic into the air, and heated the planet with it?" "That's correct." "Okay, where did the Alicorns come from afterwords?" Nolan said quizzically looking at spike. "Uh..." Spike walked and peered into the pages of the book. "Huh, i have no idea. You will have to ask Twilight." "Okay... Thank you." "No problem." Spike walked to retrieve the book. Nolan caught a glimpse of the title, Almost perfect A LOT of Time Passes Nolan closed the book softly and walked over to the window. He was silent for some time, spike was about to say something when Nolan very abruptly and suddenly said, "Two sister princesses? Eternal night? Elements of Harmony?... WHAT the HELL have I gotten myself into?" Nolan thumped his head into the glass. //-------------------------------------------------------// An Introduction of Sorts (part 1) //-------------------------------------------------------// An Introduction of Sorts (part 1) Nolan and Twilight where walking down one of the many streets of Ponyville. They remained fairly silent, Nolan would watch his breath swirl out in front of him. He was tightly wrapped up in his Jacket, but his legs and toes were still freezing in the freshly laid snow. Other than the occasional conversation about their separate ways of life. Nolan was silent and found it incredibly humorous how everyone of the pony's he saw hid from sight whenever he walked bye. Nolan had not eaten anything since the power bar out of his bag late last night. He was starting to feel the effects of not eating. Ggggrrr... Nolan's stomach let out a mighty roar of hunger. Twilight's ears perked up and spun around to look at Nolan. "What the hay was that? What does that mean in your world, Is it bad? Is it like Pinkie sense? Is something going to happen?" Nolan stopped walking and stared at Twilight, Digesting all the questions being thrown at him. "No, actually It means I am hungry." "Oh... Well then It's a good thing our first stop is Pinkie's." Twilight continued to lead him down another street. "Pinkie's? What is with you pony's and your names?" Nolan rolled his eye at the childish sounding names he had been hearing all day. "That's just how we are named, First we are going to stop at pinkies to get you something to eat. then to Rarity's to get you something to wear, since your anatomy doesn't keep you warm." Of which Nolan just shook his head and rolled his eyes. "Then to Applejack's for more introductions, Then Rainbow will meet us at Fluttershy's so you can thank her for her help right?" "Sounds about right, But I have just only one question. Can anyone of them help me get home? Nolan said looking over at twilight. "No, that would fall to the Princess, and both of them are away on diplomatic missions out of the country." Twilight said sighing sadly at her inability to help. "And they will be back soon, got it. So how much farther to this place?" Nolan said jogging in place to warm his legs. "We're actually here." Twilight opened the door and Nolan jogged into the warm room. "Oh My God..." Nolan looked around, there were cakes, cupcakes, danishes, rolls, and assorted sweats. His mouth instantly watered at the sight of all the baked goods. Then the smell hit him, it was an attack on his senses. He closed his eyes and took a good whiff of the smell of baked goods. Nolan heard the running of hooves and opened his eyes. "Wow, Twilight what is that?" Said the pink pony standing at the base of the stairs. Nolan rolled his eyes, he realized he had been doing this quite a bit lately. "Pinkie this is Nol-" Twilight was cut off by Nolan beginning to speak at the same time. "Hello, the names Nolan Theodore Croco, And I am a human from earth." Nolan said taking a bow. He looked over at Twilight who was giving him such a look that said 'your gonna get it now.' Before he could react the Pink pony was all over him. "Whoa it talks, I'm Pinkie Pie. Now what were you again? Where did you come from, Why do you only have two legs? Why do you have a falcon on your back... Oh your in clothing. Where is your cutie mark?" Pinkie attacked him with a barrage of questions. "Cutie what?" But before he could react, Pinkie dug a hoof and pulled the back of his pants down. Nolan grabbed his pants and jumped forward pulling them up. "DO YOU MIND?" He said his face turning red as a tomato. He jumped forward and whipped around to defend himself some more from the Pink menace. "Pinkie, this is a human, not a pony. They aren't quite like us." Twilight said using her magic to grab Pinkie and dragging her away from attacking Nolan some more. "Human... What's a Human." Pinkie asked looking back and forth at Nolan and Twilight. "ME!" Nolan Yelled in protest. In a grand show of anger he stomped over to the table and sat down, keeping his distance from Pinkie. Twilight ignored this and continued to tell pinkie what she had learned of humans... (A LOT of Time Passes) She whispered something to Pinkie who gasped and began to blush as much as Nolan. Nolan had now relaxed and was sitting at a table salivating as he stared at a delicious looking cake on the counter. Pinkie then ran into the back room breaking Nolan's trance on the cake. "Whoa, what did you say to her?" Nolan said looking at Twilight who was giggling to herself. "I just told her that Humans unlike pony's have certain areas that should not be seen." Twilight giggled and joined him at the table. Nolan blushed lightly some more, and rolled his eyes. "Jeez are all you ponies that outgoing?" "No, only Pinkie." Twilight said smiling. Pinkie came running back in the room and placed a beautiful strawberry and chocolate cupcake in front of Nolan. "What's this?" Nolan asked picking up the cupcake and smelling taking a bite from the frosting. "An apology cupcake, I'm sorry, that was horrible of me to do." she said giving Nolan an adorable empathetic grin. Nolan's eyes widened and a huge smile appeared on his face. This was the most delicious, scrumptious, soft, gooey, tasty, creamy, fluffy cakiness of sugary goodness that he had ever had. He slammed his fist onto the table and loudly proclaimed, "THIS IS THE BEST CUPCAKE IN THE WORLD!!!" This obviously perked Pinkie's attitude back to its original state.. "That's awesome, it's my own personal recipe. Do you like it? Of course you like it, you wouldn't have that ginormous grin on your face if you didn't. YAY!" "Well If all is good, Pinkie if you could escort Nolan to rarity's, I must return to the library." Twilight said walking to the door. "WAIT... your gonna weave me wif her?" Nolan said standing up abruptly, cupcake stuffed in his mouth. "It's okay, she doesn't bite." Twilight giggled and closed the door, leaving Nolan alone with a certain pink pony. "Come on, We are going to have so much fun on the way to rarity's." Pinkie said pushing Nolan out of the store. "Bye Mr. and Mrs. Cake." Pinkie yelled. Nolan peeked in as the door was closing, and in the back appeared two adult looking ponies. Looking absolutely terrified, and confused. ~*~ Nolan was now colder as ever, not to mention wet. He was walking to the door stop of "Carousel Boutique". Or at least that's what the sign said. He quickly walked in, snow still dripping off him from the numerous snowballs that connected with him from all sides. Pinkie was still walking outside, she was still a little dazed from the Snowball that had connected with her forehead. Once inside the warm building he could hear music softly playing in the background. There were dresses of all types and sizes lying around. There were manikins... for ponies of course and out of a door, most likely a work room, came the owner. "Welcome to Carousel Boutique, How may i hel-" She paused and stared at the thing standing in her store front, It was blue, tan, skinny, and very wet. What was standing in front of Nolan could only be described as.. 'Whoa, A marshmallow pony, Things defiantly just got weird.' "Hey Rarity!" Pinkie said bouncing in through the doorway. "Hello Pinkie Pie and ..." "The names Nolan. Nolan Theodore Croco. You are probably wondering what I am huh?" "No... You're a human, Twilight filled me in some, but dear you are soaked! What in the name of Celestia happened to you?" Rarity said still fishing for the polite thing to say to Nolan. Pinkie broke in to explain,  "Nolan Is the best at snowball fights, He has an amazing hoof you should have seen it, It was awesome... Except when he was running away." Nolan rolled his eyes and looked over at Rarity, "Ms. Rarity, mind if I borrow a towel?" "Where are my Manners, of course you can." Rarity rushed of to fetch a towel. 'Hm... A Pony named Rarity, a fashion designer, and a mark of diamonds... Now it is starting to make some sense...' "NOLIE, THAT'S IT!" Pinkie burst out. "Wait.... What?" Nolan became suddenly very confused and worried. "The nickname I came up for you. Nolie... Rolie Polie Nolie!" Pinkie sad bouncing, obviously very proud of her self. "Wonderful... Absolutely wonderful. I'm gonna need an aspirin or something.' "Here you go. And Twilight said you need clothes or something?" Rarity said coming back in with a towel. Nolan accepted it graciously. "Yea, pants and shoes... preferably boots." "But why have it custom made at a dress store when they sell them down at the store..." She paused as Nolan stood up straight and showed Rarity one of his the bottom of his foot. "Right, not gonna fit. Well Rarity fashion extraordinaire will make you something absolutely dazzling. With maybe some rubies, or gems..." Nolan took off his jacket and began to dry the wet inside. "Something simple please, no jewel covered pants. I need water proof... Or snowball proof." He heard Pinkie pie giggle behind him. "Hmm... IDEEEEAAAA!" Rarity said moving over to a closet. She pulled out a pair of western looking boots. 'oh god, those do not look like me...' Rarity brought the boots over to a table and brought out a pair of scissors. 'The hell?'- She began and throwing off bits of leather into a box of scraps to the side. '-is she doing?' She turned around holding what was a pair of simple, dark brown leather boots. 'Those things look amazing!' "Those look pretty cool, but will they fit?" Nolan stood there scratching his head. She brought the boots over and dropped them in front of Nolan. "Holy crap, Those are as tall as my knees!" "Yes, but they should fit, with the size of your feet and all." Rarity said moving one of the boots towards Nolan. Nolan took the boot and slid it over his foot, there was about a centimeter of space between his leg and the outside. His foot slid into place in the bottom of the boot, it was soft and extremely comfortable. The best part, they fit. "Perfect, they fit perfectly, and do you have any socks?" "WHAT?" Rarity yelled, Nolan jumped at the sudden ferocity. He turned to Pinkie who also had had a shocked blushing face. "What did i say?" Nolan stammered slowly. "THAT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU ASK A LADY!" Rarity yelled beginning to blush as well. "What? Socks? In my world Socks are common place, everybody wears them. The go between your foot and the inside of a shoe." Nolan stammered, trying to calm the situation. "SOCKS ARE SOMETHING OF A INTIMEN... Wait go in shoes?" Rarity said calming right down. "Yeah, in my world, everybody wears shoes, so socks are an everyday thing." Nolan said still slightly shaky from the furious pony. "Oh, I see... Well just don't go around asking that question. And the answer is no." "Okay..." 'I think I need to change my pants now.' Nolan looked down at the boot and idea struck his head. "Okay I have another request, Do you have two, large rubber bands?" "Rubber bands? yes, but why in Equestria would you need rubber bands?" Rarity shook her head and headed for the drawer of the desk and pulled two out. "You'll see." Nolan took of the boot and took the rubber bands and slid them over his legs to his pants. He used the rubber bands to hold the pants close to his leg. "I don't suggest walking around like that." Rarity said standing watching Nolan work. He remained silent. He took one of the boots and put them on, it slid tightly over his pants. Then the other boot came, they both made a good seal over the pants. The rubber bands were now invisible. "That was genius," Rarity said analyzing his look, "And it doesn't look half bad, the way the pants fit, it looks like your wearing long pants underneath. "All a part of my plan. So why do you have boots this big in your closet?" Nolan said picking up his now dry jacket and putting it on. "I tried to give them to Applejack to keep the mud off her hooves when the rainy season began, But she would not hear of it. So I kept them into an outfit came along that required them." Rarity said waving her hooves as she talked. "Ah, so if I go see the princess like this, think she would mind?" Nolan said casually looking at him self in a mirror a distance away. "You are going to see the princess? Oh not in that dear! You need a suit if you are going to see the princess... Maybe a red and blue one, they go so well together... But sapphire and amethyst might bring the color out in your eyes. Maybe a good set of sunglasses would bring out the, Coolness, in you... Then again it is winter, and sunglasses are not in season. Royal blue would match that jacket of yours, but maybe we could get you a jacket to match a suit of a nice purple or lavender." Rarity went on, and on, and on. "She seems to have gone on some sort of a rant, how long will she be like this?" Nolan asked over to pinkie pie. "Yeah she does this, she will probably go for about an hour or so." Pinkie said shrugging. "Wow, well... Should we head over to Applejack's now and come back later." "Yea, she won't stop for some time." Pinkie turned for the door. "Rarity, Pinkie and I are heading for Applejack's." Nolan turned to head for the door when about a thousand measuring tapes surrounded him. "GAH!" "Hold still dear, I need the measurements for the suit." Rarity said, half singing the sentence. "I'll be right back!" Nolan fidgeted his way out and ran outside to join pinkie out in the street. "It's okay, I got the measurements I needed, Now should it be big and bold or small with few pieces..." Rarity shut the door behind them with her magic. "Jeez, at least were safe at last. Are all you ponies this insane?" Nolan said dusting himself off. "No, only Rarity. Applejack's is this waaayyyy" Pinkie said bouncing on a road leading out of town. Nolan ran his fingers through his hair and stopped dead. "Whats wrong Nolie?" Pinkie asked when she noticed Nolan had stopped. "Where's my hat?" Nolan's stomach instantly turned over. "Where would it be?" Pinkie asked bouncing over to Nolan's aid. "I have no idea." Actually he did. 'That one ponies barn... I took it off there when I got there... And when she walked in I forgot about it, shit... I'll have to get it later "I'll find it later, let's just get going." //-------------------------------------------------------// Lost, But Not Forgotten //-------------------------------------------------------// Lost, But Not Forgotten 'This can't be happening. This can't be happening. This can't be happening. Nolan continued his disgruntled march deep into the forest from where he had originally come. After quite some time he took a deep breath and surveyed his surroundings, taking in what he saw. The forest floor was covered in a light blanket of snow, Above him the snow had covered the tops of the trees making a solid roof above him. The only thing that he could hear was the sound of the howling wind, his own footsteps and his own breathing. He took a deep breath, feeling the frigid air sting his lungs a bit, but it didn't phase him- he was so lost in frustration and confusion for him to even take notice. 'Okay let me take stock of my situation... I take a field trip with my class to a history museum, Check. I get a detention for saving a kids skin, Check. I get a mysterious message to go find my destiny... Now that is squiffy. okay, I put my head down so... I MUST BE DREAMING!!' Nolan slid the wrist of his jacket up his arm and pinched his arm. "YEOW!!" 'Nothing, maybe I'm really not dreaming...' Nolan extended his arm out and slapped himself across the face. "OKAY OKAY BRAIN I AM NOT ASLEEP! let's just think this out..." Okay, so First I meet a crazily shy pony that is just like my sister, Not cool. Then a brainiac of a pony that is surprisingly like my good friend Jon. Then a overly cocky rainbow one just like... Well everybody I know. And Pinkie Pie is just like Liz, Overly active and curious. Big Mac is like Kyle, and Applejack is caring, kind, honest, and a bit on the motherly side... just like Lacey. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON! The cold was starting to get worse, Nolan turned and continued to march on deeper into the forest. 'Next I need to get to the train station and get the hell home. I miss my friends, my family, and I want out of this crazy place.' Nolan felt the small pang of guilt hit his stomach. 'I should never have had blown up at Applejack and the others like that. Even if this whole place feels all so fake, That was a horrible mood swing with no Explanation, It was also wrong... But the more I think about it, The more I think i should have stayed with them, Maybe i should have. MY BAG! Shit I left it on the ground at the farm. Well this is going to hell. I need to find someplace warm to think this through. The cold only grew more and more bitter, but still Nolan marched on intent on making it to the train station before the storm got any worse. *~*~*~* "So you're telling me he got all fired up and left, just like that? What in Equestria could have caused him to do that?" Twilight asked to the whole as the seven sat around a round table in the library. "Ah don't know sugarcube, He seemed mighty pissed, and ah got no idea what could have caused it." Applejack added to the question. "Nope" Big Mac added "Oh dear, the poor thing is trapped out in this terrible storm. and to think I thought he was a scary monster" Fluttershy shook her head looking fearfully the window. "Nolie Isn't like us, He has no fuzzy wuzzy coats to keep him warm." Pinkie said laying her head on the table. "I can't shake the feeling It's all my fault I pushed him over the edge. "And he didn't take my boots along with him, His hoof-er- I mean feet could fall right off." Rarity sipped her tea looking to the rainbow one for hope. Rainbow dash shook her head, "I don't think there is anything I could possibly do." she nodded her head. "Even if I could fly I can't see through the snow cover on the trees." "Nope" Big Mac added once more. "We need to do something, And soon." Twilight looked from one face to the other in hope for some light on the situation. "I'll go find him, It's partially my fault he left. But Nolie can't survive out there on his own, not to mention the blizzard isn't quite in full effect yet." Pinkie said standing up, the poof having disappeared from her mane and tail. "Pinkie, are you out of your mind? The blizzard may not be in full effect, but it is getting into gear," Fluttershy said, a look of deep concern in her eyes. "As much as I want Nolan to be safe, I cannot just let you go out there and try to fix things all by yourself!" "Sadly I agree, I would never let myself live if I let you and Nolan perish out in the cold." Twilight said gesturing for pinkie to sit back down. "It was ma'h fault just as much as yours, if at anything mostly mine." applejack said, letting a small idea form in her head. Pinkie looked at Rainbow Dash for support, "I'm sorry but I can't let you go out there all on your own." Rainbowdash said placing a sympathetic hoof on Pinkies shoulder. "But we have to do something, We can't just sit here and let him die!" Pinkie said letting some tears bubble out of her eyes. "And we're not, We just need a plan before we just run out into the danger." Rarity said placing her hoof onto pinkies to try to soother her. "Uhh, Ladies?" Big Mac said looking around. "But What if he dies, This is one I just can't let go." Pinkie said crying. "Ladies?" Big mac pressured a little more. "It wasn't your fault Pinkie, I am sure he is safe." Fluttershy said. "GIRLS!" Big Mac shouted finally grabbing the attention of the others. "What is it Mr. Macintosh?" Fluttershy asked looking as Big Mac pointed to an empty seat. "Oh my gosh. Where's Applejack?" "WHAT?" Rainbowdash leaped to her hooves looking around the table. "SHE'S GONE!" "But I didn't feel the front door open." Twilight said galloping to the front. "RARITY, Your scarf is gone... AND MY SADDLE BLANKET!" "But How could she have left without us noticing?" Pinkie asked the tears having dried up temporarily. "Back here!" Rarity yelled from the kitchen. They all ran to the kitchen, There was fresh snow on the floor and the door had some condensation from the ice. Twilight walked to the window of the door and looked outside. She couldn't see anything but some hoof-prints leading away in the storm, swirling snow as the clouds continued to lay their icy, white blanket over the town. "Please come back safe, both of you." *~*~*~* "One more hill, That's it. One more hill." Nolan climbed up a small knoll along the path. He had begun to lose all feeling in his feet, and his vision was slowly becoming blurry. Behind the hill sat was was the rubble of the train station. "NO!" Nolan surged forward to the building and began digging around. He finally found a small entrance and clambered in. The inside was totally destroyed, there was little to nothing left. In day, It looked like it had all been destroyed, 'a thousand years ago...' Nolan surveyed his small space, there were so many holes in the rubble that the cold wind blew through. Not to mention the holes in the roof was letting snow fall softly into the confined space. 'this will be my tomb if I go any farther.' Nolan walked out and viewed down two possible paths, On lead up a mountain, one back into the forest. 'Five bucks the forest is warmer.' But not two feet in a large tree collapsed from the overbearing weight of the snow. With a loud crash it blocked Nolan's path of making it any farther. 'Well great, Now i'm shit out of luck... Up the mountain it is.' Nolan grunted to himself and hauled his ass up the mountain one freezing step at a time. *~*~*~* Applejack stood at a fork in the path, One lead to the left through a small canyon, The other lead up a large knoll deeper into the forest. 'If ah was a human, which way would I go?' Applejack stood for a moment more before the cold reached her bones... she set off down the canyon. *~*~*~* Rarity brought some freshly brewed tea to the pair of ponies up on the ledge watching the road out of town. "Here you go darlings, In any other situation I would tell you a watched pot never boils, but today it can't boil fast enough." Fluttershy took her tea and placed it on the windowsill in front of her. "Thank you Rarity, I don't know if I am ready to see the outcome of whats gonna happen." "I don't know." Rarity offered the tea to Pinkie who didn't respond. "Pinkie, If you wish to stay up to watch for AJ and Nolan, You might as well have some tea." Pinkie's gaze didn't even brake from the window. "I'll leave it here on the sill." "Thank you Rarity." Fluttershy said with no response. Rarity made her way down into Twilight's bedroom. She was sound asleep on the bed, Rarity took two of the spare blankets and walked into the main room. She softly placed the first one over Rainbow asleep on the couch. She handed the second to Big Mac who didn't say a word, he looked at her with great worry in his eyes. "It will be alright dear." She patted Mac on the shoulder before finding a spot on one of the reading chairs and softly fell asleep. *~*~*~* Nolan was now fearing with night now upon him, The storm would get worse. He needed to find shelter and fast. Around the next bend of the mountain he eyed a good size cave. 'Oh thank god!' He sped up and clambered into the cave, it was warmer than outside, but just not warm enough. He examined the inside. It went only a couple of yards back, but to the right there was a small cove where a small patch of grass bravely fought winter's grasp. 'Can't argue with that... but I do miss a bed.' Nolan sat on the grass and huddled up against the wall. From there he could see the storm swirling outside. *~*~*~* The cold was still far from bothering Applejack, but she knew it was there. She spied the rocky outcroppings around her before recognizing where she was. "Zecora's" She found the correct tree with the small thatch house connected to it. There was a small trail of smoke rising out of the chimney. She approached the door listening for any signs of the owner. With enough time she gave up and knocked softly on the wooden door. Within moments the door opened and there stood a semi-weary zebra on the other side. "Who is knocking at my door, on a night so Frigged? If it isn't applejack standing there oh so rigid. What can I do for the older sister of little Applebloom." The zebra gestured for Applejack to come inside. "Well Zecora ah'm in search for a friend who is no doubt lost, and this is a lot to ask for... But can ah stay here a night." applejack loosened the scarf around her neck, letting her body warm up from the cold. "A noble pony on a noble quest, is always welcome to be my guest." Zecora said gesturing to a small couch on the edge of the room. "Thank you Zecora, I owe you one." "How about some nice tea of herbs for your poor frayed nerves." "That would be wonderful." Applejack removed her scarf and saddle blanket and set it on the edge of the couch for a pillow. "Here drink this." Zecora said handing Applejack a funny looking drink. Applejack took a small sip coughing up what little she had drank. "Zecora what is this, It tastes like rotten alfalfa." "Just take one drink, It warms you up in just one blink. It is of natural seaweed, i found while investigating the sea-ponies." Applejack forced a small drink of the thick liquid down her thought. As soon as she felt it hit her stomach she instantly found her whole body heating up. "This is amazing, Not very tasteful, but warming." Applejack said as she sat down on the couch. "It's not the best taste, But it warms with great haste." Zecora said trotting back to where her Calderon sat. Applejack didn't take notice of the lights going out, she couldn't sleep, she just looked out the small primitive window at the soft glow of Ponyville, and at a large mountain on the other side of view. *~*~*~* Fluttershy looked up from where she was at the Moon high above the sky, The storm has stopped for a short while and all above them as the most magnificent night sky she had seen in a long long time. As she looked at the moon, she noticed a soft weight on her shoulder, Pinkie had fallen asleep and was now leaning gently on her. Fluttershy reached over an gently stroked her mane ever so softly as a subtle tune began to play in her head. The tune (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkI-B2JWSZI) some how got her humming, just like a lullaby. * Applejack opened her eyes and looked outside, She could hear humming, but she couldn't find out where. She didn't care, what she felt like doing was humming along. * Nolan Heard the humming too, and rocked softly to the gentle tune. He recognized the voice, but could not place it. All he could think to do was join in. * Applejack didn't know where the lyrics came from, she just sang. "Somewhere out there, Beneath the pale moonlight. Someone's thinking of you, and missing you tonight." * "somewhere out there, someone's saying a prayer." Nolan didn't know why he was singing, he just was. "That we'll find one another, In that big somewhere out there. And even though I know how very far apart we are, It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star. * "And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby, It helps to think we're sleeping underneath that same big sky." * Without any realization the three just sang out their heart, subconsciously in perfect unison. "Somewhere out there if friendship can see us though, Then we'll all be together, somewhere out there, Out where dreams come true." * Nolan could feel the warm tears falling down his cheek. But he didn't care, all he knew is he needed to get back to those who cared about him. Whether it was here in Equestria or back home on Earth. "And even though I know how very far apart we are, It helps to think we might be wishing on the same bright star." * Applejack was sobbing softly. "And when the night wind starts to sing a lonesome lullaby, It helps to think we're sleeping underneath that same big sky." * Fluttershy too was now crying softly as she rejoined the singing. "Somewhere out there" "If friendship can see us through. Then we'll be together somewhere out there, out where dreams come true. Fluttershy could still hear the music playing as she softly laid her head on top of Pinkies. AJ laid back down descending into a deep sleep. Nolan looked once more at the night sky before closing his eyes and letting the sound of the soft wind put him to sleep. //-------------------------------------------------------// Found //-------------------------------------------------------// Found Applejack was the first to awake, She sat up rubbing her eyes. Groggily she took stock of her surroundings, the room was chili but not cold. Zecora was asleep on her bed at the edge of the room, Obviously fully used to the cold conditions. She peeked out the frosted window, judging by the small amount of light she guessed it was just past dawn. Being the farm-pony she was, it just came natural to wake up at this time. Wipping away the frost, an unexpected sight welcomed her. The storm had thinned down greatly, the snow still fell lightly leaving a very beautiful sight throughout the forest floor. Looking back at Zecora, Applejack made the decision to leave early to regain lost time, quietly she began to pick up her stuff. *~*~*~* Nolan cracked open his frozen eyes. The cold was no longer bothering him, in fact he was feeling quite warm. He out stretched his arms, As he looked at his fingers traces of blood could be seen as the skin cracked under the cold pressure. His fingertips were already white with lack of blood flow and the edges around his knuckles were split. Honestly it itched. The cold was starting to seep in and as he flexed his fingers the movement felt very uncomfortable and tight. Nolan opened his mouth to scream, but nothing but raspy air came out. he pulled his arms and hands back up into his jacket and closed his eyes pushing out what he had seen. 'This is not happening, I'm gonna fucking die.' *~*~*~* Applejack tightened the white scarf around her neck and shook her head letting her mane fall into place. A light tap on the shoulder signified Zecora was awake. Zecora was supporting herself against the side of one of the ingredient shelves. Her mane was still in it's morning mess, and in her hooves was a small cup wrapped in dark green leaves. "When you find your friend, give him this soothing blend." Applejack balanced the small package in her hooves for a moment before placing it in the girth of the saddle. "Many thanks for all your help Zecora." Her voice came out a little hoarse and crackly, Which was entirely unexpected. "I give you my best, and good luck on your quest." Zecora turned and returned to her bed. Applejack turned back to the door and trotted out into the cold. *~*~*~* Pinkie slowly opened one of her eyes, letting the bright light filter in through her pink hair. With a soft grumble she sat up and brushed her hair out of her eyes. Fluttershy had fallen asleep next to her, she was lying in a ball next to the window. Pinkie stretched her arms out and dragged her self to the kitchen. Taking note of Twilight, Rarity, and Big Mac still asleep on her way down. She was drinking some water looking out the kitchen window, She was shortly joined by Twilight. "Morning Pinkie, How did you sleep?" Twilight picked out her brand of orange juice, and joined Pinkie at the table. "Oh hey twilight... Okay i guess." Pinkie sipped her water letting the previous day's events replay in her mind. "Did Fluttershy's singing wake you up too?" "What singing?" Pinkie cocked her head looking at the direction of Fluttershy's current sleeping place. "You didn't hear her singing? I mean don't get me wrong it was beautiful, but I thought it would have waken you up too." "I didn't hear a thing... I don't know, maybe i did, maybe i didn't, I just hope they're both all okay." Pinkie said laying her head on the table looking out the frosted window. "I'm sure they are both on their way back now." Twilight said softly brushing Pinkies mane. *~*~*~* Applejack had gotten back to the split in the path, And figured the only way to go was up. She had already lost a night of searching and needed to make up time. But once she got to the top of the first ridge there was a large tree blocking her path. To any other pony this would have been a major drawback. But not for Applejack. Applejack got a running start and jumped from branch to branch within seconds making it through the limbs of the tree. One problem. There were more blocking her path, one by one she began to make it steadily but slowly through the fallen trees. *~*~*~* Nolan forced his stiff legs towards the mouth of the cave. He kept his eyes closed the initial way to hide his frozen limbs from sight. Slowly reopening them, all sense of hope left his mind. Ponyville was in sight. If you count a few miles away in sight. He didn't realize how far he had gotten, All he knew was that he was on his own. He looked left and right for any other town. Nothing, he thought he saw a city far off in the clouds, but it was probably just his eyes playing tricks in the cold. He returned to the lonely patch of grass and laid down. He figured with how far he had gotten, there would be no walking back. 'This was probably the worst mistake i have ever made in my life, and now it's gonna cost me my life... Fuck.' It would be the last time he would ever see light again. Silently he said a small prayer to himself. 'May the blessings of light be upon me, Light without and light within. And in all my comings and goings, May I ever have a kindly greeting From them I meet on the road. Until we meet again, may God hold me in the palm of his hand.' Nolan closed hies eyes, probably for the last time, he let dreams of his family and friends, old and new, float through his mind. Letting the peace within him come and the fear of death leave, he laid there feeling the warmth of his friends, and those who had welcomed him to ponyville into his heart. He laid there with his eyes closed, Falling asleep with a vision of a half sun and moon in his eyes. *~*~*~* Applejack Cleared the final tree and quickly surveyed her surroundings. There was a Path up the mountain, and another path leading down to the left. It was hidden except during the light of day. With this in her mind she set up the mountain path. She had been hiking for only half an hour before she came upon a cave with what looked like a blue boulder. 'Wait...' "NOLAN!" Applejack galloped to the opening of the cave, Inside was a motionless body. "Nolan?" Applejack's voice quivered on the verge of tears as she stood motionless. Suddenly the body shifted and a warmth rushed into her heart. "Lacey?" Nolan's voice sounded distant and barely there. "Nolan It's me Applejack." Applejack rushed to his side pulling the cup of nasty tasting miracle out of the saddle girth. "Nolan it's gonna taste bad, but ah promise you it'l help." She pulled the wrappings off and picked Nolan up with her hooves. She put the cup to his lips and let him drink a small sip. Without skipping a beat he chocked and spit it out. "Sugarcube you gotta trust me, It tastes bad, but it will help." Once more she held it to his lips and tipped the cup. He swallowed the sip this time, Slowly sip by sip she got him to drink Zecora's Medicine. Nolan's eyes opened a little farther and with his raspy voice, "Applejack? You, You came for me?" As soon as he said that, he was back fast asleep. "Don't worry Sugarcube, You're safe, You're safe. *~*zZz*~* Nolan opened his eyes, He was sitting reclined on the couch in his small apartment. "I'm... I'm Home." He got up and walked through the swinging doors to the kitchen. It was as he remembered, Clean with the faint smell of bacon in the air. "MOM?" He yelled, hoping for a response... Silence. He walked down the hall into his room his Air force sign still hung proudly on his door. Pushing it open there was nothing out of place. It was as he remembered. 'Was it all a dream?' He walked to the mirror on his dresser and examined himself. His blue Foothill jacket had snow on it, And his shorts were covered in mud. 'Obviously not. But how did I escape... Who knows, well nothing like a warm shower to help clean me up.' He removed his clothes along with the thoughts of the previous events. He grabbed his old P.E. clothes and some underwear and walked to the bathroom. There he took a very long and gracious hot shower. He stood for a long time just letting the hot water flow over him. as the water washed over his body, the water took off all memories of the past events. Till all he remembered was a time before the field trip. He finished his shower and walked over to his room and jumped on his bed. He laid his head back and closed his eyes. Before he could completely relax he heard the apartment door open and footsteps walking down the hall. A sudden and frigid breeze suddenly flowed through his room. He opened his eyes and in his doorway stood a very disgruntled Lacey. "Lacey?" Nolan sat up in bed, In her hand was a thermos. "Want a drink.?" Lacey said as she sat on the bed next to him. "Uhh, Sure. You okay, you look like you just went through a snow storm?" He took the small cup he was handed and took a sip. It was disgusting and he spit it all out. For a moment a flash of a dark cave and a orange pony flashed in front of his eyes. then as fast as it came it left. "Oh come on, It's not THAT bad." Lacey poured him some more and gestured for him to take another sip. He did so and swallowed the entire cup. "That's better, Now hurry up and get back to life." Lacey stood up and walked out the door. "Wait, What do you mean." Suddenly he was forced back down on his bed by some unknown force and his eyes closed. when he opened them he could see Applejack and his frozen legs.  "Applejack? You, You came for me?" *~*~*~* Fluttershy woke up rubbed her eyes. She was not usually one for sleeping on hard things. She stumbled her way down the stairs and into the kitchen. She was welcomed by Pinkie, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Big Macintosh. She joined them at the table. "Morning Fluttershy, How did you sleep?" Twilight was the first to speak at Fluttershy's arrival. "A little troubled." But before she could tell the rest she stopped herself. Her voice was coarse and airy. "My, my voice is a little hoarse today..." Fluttershy thought out loud. "I'd Imagine from all that singing last night, I'd have thought your throat would be worse." "My singing?" Fluttershy looked from face to face, looking for an explanation. "Yes dear, you were singing last night. Very beautifully too." Rarity added in. "Eayup" Big mac added in his usual manner. "The only ponies that didn't hear it were Pinkie and Rainbow Dash." Twilight finished. "That's strange... I thought it was all a dream." Fluttershy said taking the final seat around Twilight's table. "What was all a dream? Your singing?" Rainbow asked. "Well yes that, But i could have sworn I heard Applejack singing as well. Not to mention a colt's voice, Sorta like Nolan's." Fluttershy shook her head. "No, that's silly. Besides it was just a dream." "Well I wouldn't doubt a dream, it could be possible. For example I can't explain Pinkie's Pinkie sense." Twilight said. "Right Pinkie dear." Rarity continued. "I suppose so." Pinkie said, still out of her usual skin. There was a sudden chill flow through the kitchen, followed by the sound of the front door closing. Nopony moved, they all just listened. Pinkie was the first one up, she ran though the double doors followed by the others. They came to a screeching halt in front of young Spike. "Spike? Where have you been?" Twilight asked not skipping a beat. "Well I was up last night after Fluttershy's singing and I couldn't sleep." Fluttershy looked at the faces around her, Thankfully none of the attention was on her, Spike continued. "At about four A.M. I got up and walked the town." He removed the scarf and coat he was wearing. "I stopped by both the hospital and the clinic, Nothing. I went down past each of your guys' houses, Nothing. I stopped by Applejack's to see if they were there, Nothing. I also went past Fluttershy's house, Angel is helping take care of the other animals." "Oh thank goodness. He is doing such a great job this winter." Fluttershy said in support of her pet. "And i circled the town. Nothing turned up. And that's where I have been." Spike said with a tone of pride in his voice. "Very efficient Spike" Twilight said patting him on the head. "I thought you were Nolan and Applejack." Pinkie said sulking back to the kitchen. "Where do you think they are?" Spike asked openly to anyone that would answer. "With any hope, Zecora's." Rarity said, Turning and leading the way back to the kitchen. *~*~*~* Nolan opened one eye, darkness. 'What the hell?' He closed it and opened the other eye, He was looking at a grass roof, right in front of his face was a very creepy tribal mask. He looked at it a moment more before he realized, 1, there were lots of them, and 2, they looked like they were moving. He jumped up and as soon as he put the weight on his legs, He fell, landing hard on his stomach. "Whoa there strange one, Keep that up and we'll have no fun." Said a strange voice behind him. He turned over and standing just beyond a large cauldron, was a zebra a very African looking zebra. "Wha? Where am I?" Nolan stammered, not moving an inch. "Where's applejack?" "Your friend is taking a well needed rest. She was on a very mighty quest." "Who are you?" "My name is Zecora, That is my true Nora." "Nor-what?" Nolan asked. A voice emanated from behind the couch. "Nora, A female name, in other words it's not an alias, it's her true name." Said the voice. "Correct." Zecora said. "Applejack?" Nolan asked looking at the couch. A orange head with wildly messy hair rose from the other side. "That's ma'h name don't wear it out." "Oh my god." Nolan flopped back down and rested. "I'm alive..." "Your life you nearly lost, And you payed the cost." Zecora said pointing at Nolan's arms and legs. Nolan looked down, his legs up to mid-thigh were covered in medical wrap, He reached to touch them, and his arms were wrapped up as well. Zecora silently grabbed a mirror and  brought it over. She held it so Nolan saw his face. The reason he could not see out of his left eye was because there was an eye patch covering it. Not the pirate type of eye patch, the medical ones. The white ones with tape holding it on. Nolan didn't break his gaze on the mirror, It was s different person looking back. It was almost ghost white with minor coloring, the one eye visible had red lines around the eye lids. His arms and legs were wrapped up, He still had his shorts and shirt on, but the wraps covered up almost all of his exposed skin. "Sugarcube?" "I thought I was done for." Nolan said picking himself back up and landing hard back on the grass bed. "Now you are safe, we'll stop by the clinic on the way back to town. But don't worry you're safe now." Applejack threw Nolan a reassuring smile before laying back down. "Your life you owe to her, That special pony wrapped in fur." Zecora said walking back to the cauldron. 'But if she hadn't have found me, i'd be dead right now. And after that random tantrum I threw in her barn, I suppose I do owe her one big apology. Maybe these ponies are a lot nicer than I thought. Aw hell what am I going to do... Where's my hat?' //-------------------------------------------------------// A New Beginning //-------------------------------------------------------// A New Beginning A sign hung on the door of the library speaking one simple word, "Closed" a forceful word that most people treat with respect. Inside the silence was split by the sound of an old grandmother clock ticking the seconds away. in the main part of the library was a small source of light coming from a light bulb hanging on the underside of a fan. Underneath that lonely brave light sat seven ponies, a dragon. And a out of place, injured human being of the age of seventeen. All attention was set on the young man, but his was set elsewhere, lost in the land of thought. His gaze casting out a window out into the abyss as the last rays of light sank away from Equestria's sky. Nolan broke his gaze on the outside world and picked up his cup of tea, drinking it somewhat noisily. Startling the few that had lost concentration on him. With a clearing of his throat he began. "Everything that I have done since I have arrived here deserves and explanation, and an apology." An apology is in line for you too my wonderful readers. "I do not know what I was doing. Everything that happened all seems like a blur to me. After that night I came crashing into this world I completely thought this to be all a dream. But in a dream nothing makes sense. And now It's all starting to come to light. I rushed through it all, not thinking about anyone... er anypony else. Only me. And now I have caused you all some form of pain." Nolan said looking down at his tea, swirling the leaf petal around in the cup. Where we fit in, Is like Nolan I rushed the story. I thought it all would just be perfect. Just belting it out without any regards for pre-reading. Now I have run low on what to do next, leaving you my readers hanging. "Nolan, It's not your fault. I'm sure if I had been in your shoes going to the Human world I would be as lost as you." Twilight said, reaching and placing a reassuring hoof on his hand. "It's not just you that I have hurt." Nolan said, a small tear running down his cheek. "I left all my friends in the other world without any trace of where I am. Selfish as always, I have always been selfish. I never understood what all those people in my life meant to me. Now I don't think there is a way of ever getting back to them." "Who are your friends?" Pinkie said looking at Nolan intently. *sigh* "They are some people I have taken for granted greatly. Kyle is a guy who has always been there for me, always defended me, and was always there when I needed someone to talk to. Liz, she was a very energetic and caring girl. She and Kyle where and item, even though she had a huge crush on me. I guess she stuck with Kyle because at least he wasn't as self-centered as me. Then there was Broadie, A guy I always put on the side burner because I thought he was a little on the lame side. But he really is not that lame, he was a guy who even when things were rough in his life. Made sure everybody had a smile on their face." Twilight gave Pinkie a look that put a large smile on her face. "And most important was Lacey. Lacey has been my friend since kindergarten. I guess because we spent so much time together I naturally thought we should be together. Turns out, I was soo mistaken, It's not that we spend so much time together that I like her. It's that I enjoy the time we spend together that makes me like her." Nolan said more tears rolling of his cheeks. "And now I just left them because I was so enthusiastic about adventure, and showing them that I am no weakling. That I disregarded everything I love to go have a bit of fun... And now look what I have done." Nolan put his hands over his face, he began to sob lightly. Twilight looked from the faces surrounding her. Noting the expression on each face. She quietly stood up and walked over to him. She wrapped her hooves around his neck, when she did so Nolan's sobs increased in a waterfall of tears. One by one everyone that was in that room grouped around him and gave him a warm hug that slowly dried the tears in his eyes. Okay, so here I go. I apologize for the confusion I created with the whole running away, or the near death experience. I was so happy to be able to put out a story that I stopped thinking about the story. Now I have run out of ideas on what to do next. Which is why I have not uploaded in such a long time. Once I get the ball rolling again I will try to be more on task, If anypony out there as an idea, or wants to contribute to the story it would be greatly appreciated. Many Thanks and an Apology, OnexWithxDirt //-------------------------------------------------------// An Introduction of Sorts(part 2) //-------------------------------------------------------// An Introduction of Sorts(part 2) Before I start, let me say that the season Finale was the most epic thing on T.V. My eyes have ever seen. ~~~~~~~~~~ Applejack was a mild-mannered farm pony who enjoyed her work, Big Macintosh, her brother, was the strong silent type, who never really needed to say anything at all. The two siblings had been shoveling snow around the barn for quite some time that morning and were exhausted from the work. Applejack went inside to clean the animal stalls, Big Macintosh finished his work and headed for the house. He was nearing the corner of the building when he heard a strange noise, a giggle. "Hello?" Big mac asked in his deep stallion voice toward the source of the noise... He stood for a second longer and turned back for the house when a snowball connected with the backside of his head. "WHA- HEY, WHO THE HAY THREW THAT!!!" Big Macintosh faced the orchards from which the snowball came. He marched over, down to the base of the front most tree were a piece of confetti sat softly on the snow. "Pinkie? Was that you?" A small giggle emanated from a few tree's over. "What in tar-nation?" as he began to leave a piece of snow fell on him, He looked up just in time to see a large monkey looking thing falling towards him. but it's boot was caught and hung him right at Big Macintosh's eye level. Nolan Screamed, from the fall. And Big Macintosh just screamed. ~earlier~ Nolan and Pinkie were walking up a dirt road towards another large orchard of some sort. The leaves had left the tree's barren but the trunks were still strong and alive. Pinkie was a few paces ahead of Nolan, for he was walking slower than usual, sulking over the loss if his hat. Pinkie's keen sense saw Applejack and Big Macintosh working before Nolan did, and a wild and crazy idea rushed into her head. She ran and picked Nolan onto her back and rushed into the orchard. "P-P-P-P-PINKIE?" Nolan was startled greatly from the sudden piggyback ride on the back of the galloping pink pony, who they stopped suddenly, rapidly launching Nolan off her back and into a mound of snow. "WHAT ON EARTH WAS THAT ALL ABOU-" Pinkie covered Nolan's mouth and she spoke softly. "Nolie, Last winter during the towns snowball fight, Big Mac got me with a ginormous snowball. You think you could return the favor and hit him back for me? Please? Please? Please?" Nolan pushed pinkies hoof off of his mouth, clearing his throat. "Pinkie, why can't you do it?" "Because... I can only throw so far, and you hit me from two blocks away, you got this!" "No. For two reasons, one is I don't even know who Big Mac is. And two It was because I was angry and my shot happened to be that good." Nolan stood up and dusted the snow of his shorts and jacket. "Please Nolie! I can't do it without you. Please? Please? Please? Please? Please? Please?" Pinkie continued to beg for his help. But a man can only take the word please so many times before they snap, Nolan finally gave in. "Okay, but whatever happens, I didn't do it?" Nolan got up and approached the edge of the tree line and watched two ponies walk opposite directions. "Which one is it?" "The big red one!" Nolan's eyes widened on the giant stallion standing on the hill. "Pinkie are you sure about this? I don't know if this is a good idea..." "Absolutely! He loves these sort of things!" "Okay then. I am gonna get a better shot from this tree, I suggest you find one for your self too... Pinkie..." Nolan looked around him, Pinkie had already disappeared. He made a small pile of snow and from that he made the best snowball he could muster. He climbed the tree that gave him the most advantageous shot. from somewhere behind him he could hear pinkie giggle. Nolan ducked and watched the Red stallions head turn to look where they were hiding. "Pinkie, Be quite, this is meant to be stealthy." Nolan looked back to where the stallion was, he was beginning to turn for the house. Nolan reeled back and threw the snowball with his best effort, he watched the snowball fly through the air with infinite grace and connect with the backside of his head. He crouched down with a small feeling of victory, it was quickly and immediately extinguishing by Big Macintosh calling out with a very deep yell deep yell. 'Oh shit, What have I done?' Nolan watched the large red stallion march over to the tree line and stop under the tree he was hiding. He called out for pinkie. 'Wait, how does he-' Nolan's boot slid into a small slit in the tree causing him to fall over the branch he was standing on. He yelled as he began to fall, fall right into the face of the red stallion. Their screaming only lasted a few seconds, afterwords Nolan covered his face with his arms. Big Macintosh glared at Nolan with his sap green eyes. "Was that you who threw that at me?" Macintosh asked pushing his face closer to Nolan's. Nolan uncovered his face and stammered anything he could, "I...NO, well Yes, but i didn't want to, well maybe I did, but Pinkie ask me to, she pleaded and pleaded. But I know i shouldn't have, I really shouldn't have since I didn't know you... I WAS WEAK!" Nolan shoved his head into the arms covering his face once more. "Pinkie where are you?" Big Macintosh took his attention from Nolan to the other trees. "Nobody here but us trees!" Pinkies voice emanated from one of the closer tree's. "Pinkie, where are you?" Big Macintosh called out once more obviously not that angry. "Could you help me down please?" Nolan asked but was ignored as Big Macintosh marched towards some trees. Big Macintosh walked under one of the closer trees and as he passed under, a large snow-pack of one of the branches was dumped onto him. 'Oh shit... Pinkie that was a bad idea, he is going to kill you. Big Macintosh turned and proceeded to buck the tree. Out of witch came Pinkie Pie. 'Oh I can't watch.' Nolan covered his eyes only to part them a little bit to see what happened. Big Mac picked up a large snow pile and dumped it on Pinkie, after a moment of silence the two began to laugh hysterically. 'well that went better than expected.' Nolan thought to himself as the blood began to pool in his head. "Mac, y'all right?" The same southern voice from yesterday's fiasco in the barn called out. 'NO?!' An orange pony appeared next to Pinkie and Big Mac. 'Awe shit... This was the barn I was at... Not good.' Nolan hung there for what felt like and hour when suddenly he felt his foot slowly slide out of the boot. He looked at his foot and momentarily cursed life. He fell the short distance to the snow beneath him making a fairly audible crunch. Nolan opened his eyes to the upside down view of yet another pair of sap green eyes. "Are ye' alright there partner?" She helped him off the ground and onto his feet. "You must be Nolan, Ah'm Applejack." The southern orange pony offered Nolan a hoof which he accepted graciously. "Finally somebody around here heeded Twilight's warning." Nolan said brushing the snow of him. "Yessir, Twilight told me about you humans, but ah'm afraid only two of us actually caught the description." Applejack got up on her hind legs and with a swoop of her hoof she knocked the boot out of the tree. "Thanks, yea Pinkie was curious and Rarity was furious." Nolan added catching the boot as it fell. "Thanks." "No problem, now listen here, if you want my opinion  suggest you get return of those boots. Rarity tried to give those to me last mud season, and they leak worse than the Haytanic." 'Haytanic... Titanic... oh the pun is terrible, however i don't think that's a joke.' "Yeah, but they are a lot better than what i had before." Nolan said slipping the boot back onto his foot. "Alright, well why don't ye come in where it's warm." Applejack pointed a hoof over towards the house. "That would be excellent, thank you." Nolan and the others made their way up into the house. The front parlor looked like an average ranch house you would see back on earth, except the furniture would be higher. But Nolan's eyes scanned the rest of the room, narrowing on the olive drab hat on the table. "MY HA..." Nolan stopped him self short and ran his fingers through his hair, "AIR Is finally dry..." Nolan's voice trailed off as he looked upon the startled faces in front and behind him. Applejack read right through his attempted save, "So you were the fellow hide'n in ma'h barn?" "Yes, It was me, and yes that is my hat." The ping of guilt began to move it's way up Nolan's spine. "Why where ye hiding in my ma'h barn anyways?" The guilt was starting to get the better of him. "Because I was cold, there was nobody I could trust, and not to mention every one I saw ran from me, so for all I know you could of hurt me." "Sugarcube, we are not violent. I don't know where ye' came from, but down here we are might pleasant folk." Pinkie Pie and Big Macintosh slowly migrated to the kitchen where they could hide but still see the action. Nolan's guilt was beginning to turn into anger. "I wouldn't know that, cause where i come from some people try to kill each other. I was nearly killed in a car accident with someone who was drunk. I apologize if I am not the average person, excuse me I mean Pony from down here." "It's okay, we all welcome with open arms." "Apparently not, I was shoved of like a monster, everybody ran from me." "I'm sure if you were to try to talk to some of us it would be okay." "NO, When I got here, everybody was hiding, NO WHERE IN SIGHT!" "Now listen here, us ponies are kind folk who are easily startled." "Well apparently all you ponies here are curious once you know the thing is not dangerous, SO IT'S FREE GAME TO INVESTIGATE! You're unsympathetic, Not to mention CRAZY!" Nolan snatched his hat off the table and tightened it around his head. "Now if excuse me, I am returning these!" Nolan took off the boots and threw them to the ground, he tore off the rubber bands and removed his flip flops from his bag. "And I AM LEAVING!" He was halfway to the door when he was stopped by Applejack. "Now Nolan, Ah'm not that acquainted with you, but what ye'r doing is flat out dangerous just please wait It's mighty cold out there." "Yeah Nolie, just turn the frownie upside-downy!" Pinkie interjected bouncing forward. Nolan looked like he was having an anurism. "NO I AM OUT OF HERE AND GOING HOME!" Nolan slammed the door shut and marched away in the direction of the forest. Applejack scowled over at pinkie, "And what do you have to say for yer'self?" "He forgot his bag."