A Journey of a Stranger

The Sun in setting down as the moon begins to appear.  Leon walks down the trail to get his free meal from the Apples.  Applejack sees Leon and stops him.

She says to him, “Since it’s yer first time in this Apple farm, I’ll lead you to we lay our heads in this place.”

Leon says, “Lead the way.”

Applejack says as she leads Leon to her house, “I hope ya don’t mind I invited my friends and cousin over to eat with us.”

“As long they don’t they turn me into stone, or alter me in any way as I’m eating.”

Applejack says to reassure him, “Ya need to meet them properly.  Besides we don’t have the Elements of Harmony, so you don’t have to fear us anymore.”

“So Apple Bloom told you about my fear of Ponyville’s monster hunters?  You and your friends have done terrifying and great things, but great power is still great power.  Good intentions can lead to dangerous consequences really fast; the greater power somepony has, the greater the danger he or she is at risk of problems happening.  I try to be brave, but not to think about it, to show some respect for you guys.”

Applejack says while trying to keep a straight face, “Uuum… Here we are.”

She shows Leon, her house and opens the door.  The door opens to Pinkie Pie saying, “Surprise!”

Leon awkwardly waves to Pinkie and he directly goes to the table.  Leon waits patiently for the food.

Pinkie asks Leon, “What are you doing?”

Leon replies, “Waiting for the food to be served.”

Pinkie giggles and then says, “It’s a party so the food is over there.” She points to the food.

Leon asks,“What the occasion?”

Pinkie continues, “This party is to celebrate the safe return of Applejack and Apple Bloom and to welcome you into town.  I hope this is a better time than earlier.”

Leon replies, “I think the safe return of the Apple sisters is more important than meeting me.  But, I hope there is enough cake to go around.”

“Of course, there's going to be enough cake. I made sure of it.”, Pinkie confrmed

As Leon gets up to get his food he bumps into Princess Twilight.

He says to the royal, “Excuse me your Highness, but I’m glad I’ve bumped into you.  I apologize for threatening your life earlier.  Sometimes, it’s good to use magic as a shortcut, but other times, that shortcut can be worse than the normal journey itself.”

Twilight says as she blushes in embarrassment, “If somepony would have told me that in Canterlot...”

“I learned in time, when you use the same solution for most problems, you will use it even when it is wrong.  Those who refuse to… sorry about that, sometimes my wisdom oozes out.”

Leon says, “No problem.  You appear to be calm for somepony who is supposed to be afraid of me and my friends.

“You and the ex-bearers of Harmony don’t look anything like I have imagined.  Sometimes, the right thing is the hardest to do.”

A loud horn sounds and everyone looks at Pinkie Pie.  She announces, “The desserts are here.”

As the desserts come in, Leon quickly gets his food and rushes to the table to talk with the Apples. He quickly eats his food.

Applejack sees him and says, “Slow down Stranger, y’er not in a hurry… are ya?”

Leon says as he eating, “When you’re a map maker… you learn how to eat fast… to get back on the job... and on your feet.”

Applejack inquires, “I don’t recall you eating like this back in Hollow Shades.”

He says as he finishes, “I still have to make some touches to my wooden tent.”

Applejack feels insulted and says, “Ya consider’n the room Granny Smith gave ya a tent.

“One, the Needles considers any type of temporary place, a tent.  Two, Granny gave me a house to stay in the emergency town.”

It takes a couple of seconds to remember what Leon is talking about.

Applejack’s eyes open and she says, “That’s vampire fruit bat territory… I totally forgot about the place before making that territory.”

Leon says with no worry, “They’re juice suckers, not blood suckers. The only things I have to worry about are their sucked apple cores and their droppings.”

Applejack offers, “I can help you move closer to us and the road tomorrow.”

Leon says with a smile, “Sounds like a deal, let’s shake on it.”

He pulls out his hand and waits for Applejack. She awkwardly tries to do a hoof bump.

Leon explains to Applejack, “Put your hoof in my hand.”

Applejack awkwardly agrees and they finally shake on the deal.

Applejack asks, “Was that necessary?”

Leon says, “It makes the deal more official to me.”

Apple Bloom sees Leon and tries to talk to him, but Rarity cuts in front of her and asks Leon, “What are your clothes made of?”

Leon says, “It’s Rebound Reed, the lightest and best material for armor against any physical harm.”

A voice asks, “Can I have a try at it?”

Leon turns around to see Big Mac, a red stallion.  He’s the biggest pony Leon has ever seen.

Leon says, “Let’s do this outside so we don’t break anything.”

When they go outside, the sun is barely setting.  The Big Mac and Leon get ready.

Applejack goes to Leon and says to him, “Are ya sure ya don't want to be sent in the hospital again, because Big Mac is the strongest out of all the Apples.”

Leon says with great confidante, “Don’t worry, I won’t feel a thing.” He lightly knocks his armor and Big Mac, “You ready?”

Big Mac says, “Yeeup.”

Big Mac gives a hard kick to Leon’s chest.  His legs bounce off of Leon’s clothes, and he flips over.

Leon says to Big Mac, “You have experienced the power of Rebound Reed.”

Most of the crowd was surprised.  Rarity gets an inspired look on her face.

Rarity goes up to Leon and asks, “Where can a Mare get this Rebound Reed?”

Leon asks her, “If you can show me a great tailor in this town, I’ll share the Rebound Reed with you.  I really need more ‘quality’ clothes.”

Rarity gasps and then says, “Sapphire’s order! I almost forgot!” She runs off home.

Applejack quickly says, “That’s Rarity, she the town’s fashion designer.  She makes some of the fanciest clothes ever.”

Leon says, “Is she the only tailor in town?”

Pinkie Pie jumps up and down while saying, “I know everypony in town, so I know the answer.” She thinks as she bounces.

After a few minuties, she answers, “Rarity is the only pony that has a clothes making business, but there are a couple ponies that knit like Fluttershy and Granny Smith.” She points to them.

Leon says surprised, “Wow. Uh thanks.”

Leon looks around seeing that it is getting dark.  He asks Applejack, “Applejack, I need to go back to the camp, so can I get a lantern and 4 pies, please.”

Applejack says, “Ya barely got here.”

Pinkie Pie says, “Can you stay here a little bit longer please, Mr. Canou?”

Leon says, “One, My last name is Iron Needle, not Canou and two, Granny Smith gave me a job to map the farm. So, I’m going to need a lot of energy to do the job, So I can get an early start on the job.”

Applejack gives Leon a lantern. Pinkie Pie gives Leon a box of pies.

Applejack whispers into Leon’s ear, “How much is this going to cost us?”

Leon says as he lights the lantern, “7 Bits per day on the job.  I’ll work as fast as I can.”

Applejack says, “It’s going to take at least 4 days for ya to map out this farm.”

Leon says as he pulls out a scroll out of his pocket, “We’ll see.”

He opens the scroll and reads out loud, “Web- Weg (Web Way).”  He becomes a flash of light and disappears.”

Apple Bloom stomps her hoof on the ground and says under her breath, “Darn it.”

A light flashes near Fluttershy’s Cottage and it catches the attention of the nearby animals.  Leon quickly takes cover and waits for the animals to calm down.  A loud roar silences the other animals. Leon takes a peek and sees the Chimera giving a signal to come closer.  Leon goes up to the Chimera.

He says as gets pies out of the box, “I came to check on you girls.  Thanks for the roar, China.”

All three of Chimera’s mouths drool as they see the pies.  Leon says, “This is my way of congratulating you girls for not being turned into stone. But let's not make this a habit.”

China asks, “What do mean?”

Leon says as he gives them the pies, “I mean next time; I advise you to stay in the swamp.  Don’t make some stupid plan and hope it works.”

China and Rose have embarrassed looks on their face.  Clara reinsures Leon, “I will try harder for it not to happen again.”

They eat the pies with grins on their faces.

Rose says to Leon, “The tassste of thessse pies are to kill for.”

Leon stops eating his pie, turns to Rose, and says in a stern tone, “Don’t do that here. We don’t want to push our luck.  Besides, I don’t think this Fluttershy pony can cover attacks.”

Rose says, “I'm jussst usssing the expression, Leon.”

Leon says, “I hope so.”

Clara says as she finishes her pie, “Speaking about Fluttershy, I think she can help walk amongst the ponies. Or at least trust her with our secret.”

China says, “I don’t think that she can help us get the ponies to like us but I think we can trust with our secret.”

Rose says, “We trust her after being so kind to us.”

Leon says, “You three agreeing on something? That’s rare.  Ok, I'll talk to her as soon as I can.  But for now, keep this a secret and you girls stay out of trouble.”

The Chimera say together, “O.k.”

Within seconds, they finish the pies and clean up.  After a few palm slaps, Leon teleports back to his tent, and sleeps easier knowing that he and his friends are safe.