The diary of Kestrelby burdenedsoulChaptersprolougeNamesThe Apple family homeLearning to flyThe dead dropHelping TwilightThe partyprolougeauthors note: you will notice that i removed all the word plays of pony, i.e. "everypony" or "somepony" i did this to make my writing quicker and easier, because i wouldn't have to add in him getting used to the new way of speaking, it would've been a lot harder to add that sub plot underneath everything. all in all i hope you like the new writing format, enjoy I usually don’t write diaries, but I thought this should be chronicled. My name is Kestrel, or at least that’s half true, my real name is Eric Kestrel, and I am not a pony, I am a human, and this is the story of my life in Ponyville. I spent my childhood and a few years of my adult life in the human world, living a miserable life alone in my small apartment. When my time in the human world began to near its end I had fallen into a deep depression. I lost my job, my best friend died, and I was being evicted from my apartment. That’s when I began contemplating suicide. After a few weeks of living on the streets, I gave in to my suicidal thoughts. I decided to climb to the top of a building and fall to my death. “Just do it” I said to myself, as I clung to the railing. “Just do it and get it over with!” I shouted with tears in my eyes. With the first step came relief. The falling sensation was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I loved it; it almost gave me a new purpose in life. But when I hit the ground, cold darkness. When I first realized I hadn’t died, I was almost relieved; I felt a warm happy feeling. I awoke in a green pasture, with daisies and tulips all around. The air carried a scent of sweet serenity that I've never felt before. The chirping of birds in the distance, the silent hum of nature, true peace. I wondered where I was. When I stood up, something felt out of place. I tried to look at my hands, but when I lifted them, I fell flat on my face. “What the hell was that?” I said as I stood up again. At this point it felt like someone was watching me. “Hello?” I asked to an empty field. “Is anyone there?” “Well hey there friend” I heard a voice coming from the left. It was a kind voice, soft, but strong. I turned to see a horse standing behind me. A horse with an orange coat and a blond mane and tail tied in knots at the ends. She was also wearing a cowboy hat. ‘Why is a horse wearing a hat?’ I wondered to myself. “Whose horse is this?” I asked looking around for an owner. “Nobody owns me, and who 're you talking to?” the orange horse said to me. “Names Applejack, and what’s yers?” she asked with a mild southern drawl. “Wait, you just spoke” my jaw dropped like a rock. “Well yeah, I can talk, everyone can” she said, “All the ponies in Equestria can talk” That's when it hit me. All my worries, all my problems, they were gone, and I could start a new life here. NamesI began to look at my body, and sure enough, I was a pony too, and a pegasus as well, with a light grey coat. “You okay sugar cube? I think maybe you crashed a little hard there” she said looking concerned. “Maybe you should go see a doctor about that” “About what?” I wondered what she was talking about “how bad were my injuries?” I thought to myself, I remember hitting the pavement, but I didn’t know how bad it looked. For all I knew, my head was half smashed in. I ran to the closest pond, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was, just a cut on my forehead, nothing serious. I rather liked my new hair. Before, my hair was shaggy, and dark brown in color, but it’s now black and red stripes, with each stripe ending in the alternate color. “Alright, Applejack, where is the closest doctor?” I asked “I’ll take you there” she said as she started walking through the field. It wasn’t too long before the silence became uncomfortable, “y'know, you never answered my question” she broke the silence. “And what question was that?” “What’s yer name? You know mine, but all I know about you is that yer a pegasus, and you hurt yer head” “uh…” I stuttered, “Kestrel, my name is Kestrel” “well, it’s nice to meet you Kestrel” she said with a heart warming smile. As we walked closer to town, I began to see more ponies, in all sorts of colors, even unicorns too. “So are there any more pegasi like me in this town?” I asked Applejack as we crossed a bridge into town. “A few, not very many live 'round here, just enough to keep the weather goin’” she said as we walked into what appeared to be a marketplace. Unicorns and earth ponies walking and talking and shopping, while a couple pegasi flew overhead. The hustle and bustle slightly reminded me of my world; I wanted to leave as fast as possible. Applejack and I made small talk as we walked through the town when the sweet, delectable scent of cake began to drift through my nose. We came to a cream colored cottage, with a ginger bread roof and fluffy white frosting trim. A giant cupcake tower, topped with candles, decorates the sky with flickering beauty, a beacon of tasty treats. “This is Sugar Cube Corner, the best bakery in Equestria” Applejack said. “This is where my friend Pinkie Pie lives and works…” she paused, bringing her hoof up to her chin. “I think after we get you to a doctor, I’ll show you to all my friends. Whatcha think ‘bout that?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at me. “Sure, that’d be great” I smiled, and she smiled back. We continued farther into town, when Applejack suddenly turned off towards a giant tree, with windows and balconies. Next to the door sat a sign with a book on it, so we were obviously at a library. “And this here’s the library, my friend Twilight Sparkle lives here with her baby dragon friend, Spike” After a while of walking, the town started to thin, the noise of the market died down to a dull roar. I started to see more and more trees, I glanced up to see they were apple trees. A few moments later Applejack and I were walking through a forest of apple trees, each one decorated with ripe, red apples, each one looking more delicious and juicy than the last. “And this here is Sweet Apple Acres, best apples in Equestria are grown and harvested right on these here trees! This is also where I live with my brother Big Macintosh and my little sister Apple Bloom” After the short tour of Ponyville, we arrived at the hospital, “I have a pegasus here who hurt his head, think you could patch him up?” Applejack said to the nurse at the front desk. “Okay and what’s his name?” the nurse replied “Kestrel” “Alright we’ll get him in and checked out quick, fast, and in a hurry!” she said as she walked me to an examination room, where her and a few doctors looked me over and stitched up my forehead. Before long, I was done, my head felt fine and I walked out into the waiting room where I saw Applejack still sitting there, waiting for me. “You didn’t really have to wait for me” I told her “Well… I was the one who found you, so I thought I should stay, make sure yer okay” Applejack seemed lost in thought “Well, thanks, but I should probably get going, I don’t want to be a burden” I told her, I don’t know why I said that, but I never meant it. I was, and still am, happy she stayed. “Wait, before you go, do you have anywhere to stay while you’re in town?” she looked a bit nervous when she asked, it surprised me, not because she asked, just the way she asked, she sounded just like a nervous teenager talking to someone she liked. “No, why?” I asked shakily “Well then you should come stay with me and my family for the next few days, I don’t want you to be out in the cold at night” she said as she scratched her head. “I’d like that Applejack” I said with a smile. The Apple family home“Alright, here we are, the Apple family home” Applejack said as we rounded the corner and arrived at her home. It was a big red barn, with white trim, and an apple on the weather vane. “It aint much, but here it is” she said. “Big Mac! Apple Bloom! I’m home” she shouted as she opened the front door. The inside of the house was well furnished, with a greenish blue paint covering the walls. I felt strangely at home here. “Applejack, you’re home!” shouted an excited little yellow filly with red hair, “and you brought a friend?” she looked at me with a confused expression. “Apple Bloom, this is my friend Kestrel, he’s going to be staying here for a while” Applejack said, “now where’s Big Mac? I want him to meet Kestrel” “You call for me?” I hear from the top of the stairs “Yeah, Applejack brought someone home” Apple Bloom said “You must be Big Macintosh, I’m Kestrel, nice to meet you” I said “Nice to meet you too Kestrel, welcome to the Apple family home” said the big red stallion as he walked down the stairs. His red coat as red as the apples in the trees. The Apple family then took me on a tour of the house. First was the kitchen, not much different then a normal human kitchen. Next was the dining room, where a table and four chairs sat in the center of the room. When we came to the den, I saw family portraits, “hey Applejack, who’s this?” I asked her about a picture of an old mare, with a green coat and grey hair. “Oh, that’s granny smith, she used to live here…” she fell silent, something about the look on her face told me everything I needed to know. “She’s gone… isn’t she?” I asked, she nodded as a tear formed in her eye, the sadness in the air growing so thick you could almost reach out and touch it. “I’m sorry” I said as I wiped her tear away “Can I ask how?” I asked “She just got old, things happen in this world that you can’t control, death is just one of them” she said with an overwhelming sadness. I couldn’t help but to hug her tight, and bury her face in my neck. I could feel tears flowing from her eyes, soaking my coat. “Its okay, I know your pain” I whispered in her ear as she sobbed into my chest. “Thanks for that” Applejack said as she shook off the tears. When we were done hugging, Applejack showed me to the guest bedroom, “this is where you’ll be sleeping, there’s even a balcony so you can fly ‘round if you feel” she said as she showed me around the room. “Speaking of which, I just noticed, you haven’t used yer wings since we’ve met, why’s that?” she asked “I must’ve hit my head harder then I thought, because I don’t think I remember how” I said. She was right, I hadn’t flown since I had got here. “Well maybe we can get Rainbow Dash to help you tomorrow” she said, “now get some rest, you’ve had a long day” she said as she walked out into the hallway and closed the door behind her. I sat on the balcony for hours, staring at the stars, wondering how I got here, and why. “Maybe its just god’s way of giving me a second chance” I thought to myself “Or maybe I’m still alive in the human world and this is just a dream” was another thought, “but this feels too real to be a dream” I bit my lip to test if I was dreaming or not “ouch… well, definitely not a dream” “I don’t know why or how I’m here, but maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe if I find out how I got here, I’ll get sent back” I decided not to think about it anymore, and I went to sleep. Author's Note Sorry I've been away for so long, internet cut out, and I've had a lot of business that I had to attend to, but hopefully I can get you guys caught up to the point that I stopped writing (and maybe write some more chapters while I'm at it) before I get overwhelmed again Learning to flyThe next day was my training day, Applejack set off to find Rainbow Dash while I stretched my wings. Applejack was back with Dash as soon as I had finished stretching. “so, you forgot how to fly, huh? So that’s why you didn’t want to race me yesterday” Dash said as she saw me. “Oh, calm your wings and just help him Rainbow” Applejack said. “Okay, I can see you know how to move your wings, at least you remember that much” Dash said as she watched me stretch my wings. “Now let me see a flap” she instructed me. I made one good flap, with all my strength, and I lifted about a foot above the ground, “he’s got bad form, but good strength, at least he’s got that going for him” Rainbow said to Applejack “That was a great flap, now try to give me a few more, try to hover for me” she ordered. The next few days went on like this, then before I knew it, I was flying pretty well. I had learned to keep a good gliding pattern, my flapping was getting better and more consistent. My wings had gotten stronger too, so strong that when I tried another flap with all my strength, I shot high above the trees. The view was beautiful, I could see all of Equestria, from Apploosa, to Stalliongrad. I never wanted to see the the ground ever again. Two weeks passed, and my flying was excellent, my form had improved, as well as my control at high speeds. I could fly almost as fast as Rainbow Dash, but she still beat me every time. “You’ve come a long way these two weeks” Dash said to me after a race, “but speed just isn’t your thing. I’ve seen you roll and loop, you fly better in tight spaces and at higher speeds, but getting to those high speeds is your problem” she said, “I got an idea, tomorrow we’re going to do a dead drop.” “Can’t wait” I replied anxiously, Dash had told me many stories of her dead drops, and just from the sound of them, I knew they would be fun. I flew back to the farm house after my practice with Dash. “I’m back!” I shouted as I walked in the front door. “How’d practice go?” Applejack asked as I walked in “Great, tomorrow me and Dash are going up for a dead drop, want to come watch?” I asked her “I’ll sure as sugar be there, I haven’t seen Rainbow do a drop in years” she was excited “and maybe we could bring the others” she said “Why not?” I agreed, I could feel the excitement in the air. The dead dropThe next day we took a balloon high into the sky, Applejack Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were all able to come. “You ready?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Not quite yet, why don’t you go first while I get a little more prepared” I hadn’t flown so high before, and I was a bit nervous. “Alright, just watch what I do, and try it yourself. We’ve gone even higher then a normal drop, so if you feel like you can’t do it, you got plenty room to bail out” Dash said as she prepped for her drop. She rolled her shoulders, then shook her hind legs. “Oh, and I might hit a sonic rainboom when I do this, so be ready for it” then she stopped flapping, she was in free fall. It was only five seconds before she was facing downward and gaining massive amounts of speed. Then I saw the beginning of it, a cone shaped cloud began to form around her as she fell, small lightning bolts crackled around her as she plummeted. That’s when it happened, a huge explosion startled me half to death, and a beautiful rainbow shockwave cascaded away from the center of the blast, a sonic rainboom. Now it’s my turn, “wish me luck” I said to the group in the balloon. “Be safe” Applejack said with obvious concern. I did just as Dash did, rolled my shoulders, shook my back feet, and stopped flapping. I was in free fall, it was the greatest rush since I stepped off the building, but this time I enjoyed it, the speed, the wind rushing past me, I loved it. I wanted more, I needed more, I spread my wings slowly, and turned. I spun so fast my tail began to twist into one color. I pulled my wings back, and picked up more speed, but this time I wasn’t going to turn. I dove fast and hard toward the ground, and at the last possible second, I spread my wings and pulled hard. I pulled up so hard and so fast I blew the leaves off of the trees that I flew past. As I ducked under the branches and weaved through the tree trunks, I realized this was how I was meant to fly, quick, agile and close to the obstacles. “That was awesome!” I screamed as I flew back up towards my friends “I knew you’d do that” Dash said when I got to the balloon. “That’s why I wanted you to do a dead drop, your wings were born for agility, rather then speed” she had a proud look on her face, as she rightfully should, she practically taught a human to fly in two weeks. A month in Ponyville, and I was loving every minute of it. Friends, a home, and as many dead drops as I could handle. But, the time had come to stop playing, and find a job. So I thought I’d ask Rainbow Dash if I could work with her on the weather team for Ponyville. “Sure why not, you got the skills for flying, that’s for sure” she said as she cleared a few clouds. “Meet me tomorrow at my house and I’ll get you started” she informed me. And I’ve been working on the weather team ever since. Author's Note Sorry I forgot to post the chapters I promised, so, as compensation, I'm posting them all right now Helping TwilightAt this point, it’s been a year since I came to Ponyville, I was still living with the Apple family, but I was making money and paying for food and equipment, so I was welcome. Rainbow Dash and I flew around with each other when we weren’t changing the weather. Rarity had even made an ensemble based on my mane. Pinkie Pie and I had parties frequently. I even became friends with Fluttershys animal friends, and helped her on occasion when she needed it. The only friend of Applejacks that I hadn’t gotten very close with yet was Twilight Sparkle, though it was mostly due to her being so lost in her studies. I sat on the balcony in, what was now, my room, watching the night sky. “Applejack, can I talk to you?” I called to her “What about sugar cube?” she asked as she walked into my room. She walked onto the balcony and sat next to me. “I just wanted to say thanks for letting me stay so long, it means a lot to me” I started, “when I came to ponyville, I didn’t know who, or where I was, all I knew was my name. And you took me in, gave me a home, and put my life back towards the better. Thank you” I said with a nervous tone that she picked up on, because she began to slide herself closer to me. “Well someone had to help you, you were all alone in that field, you were hurt, and… well, after I met you, I knew I liked you” she said a bit shyly “I like you too Applejack” I said as Applejack sat closer and closer to me. She was now sitting right next to me, her side pressed against mine. “So, you’re a pegasus and I'm an earth pony, I think we can make that work” she said as she rested her shoulder on mine, and we sat and watched the sky together. The next morning I woke up, walked out onto the balcony and flew off to work. When I was flying over town, I spotted Twilight Sparkle and Spike walking through the market. “Hey Twilight, hey Spike” I said as I hovered above them, “Hey Kestrel, how are you doing today?” Twilight asked “I'm fine I guess. So, you taking a break from your studies today?” I asked as I landed and started walking beside her “Yeah, Spike wanted to go see Rarity” she said with a chuckle. Spike followed behind, lost in thought, completed with a lover boy look on his face. Twilight and Spike must have went to the market to buy some flowers for Spike to give to Rarity. "Those for Rarity, lover boy?" I asked him "uh-huh" he mumbled, not even breaking stride "Ha! he doesn’t even know I'm here does he?" I laughed "Probably not, he has such a crush on Rarity, it's actually really funny" Twilight giggled. "Well, I need to be getting to work" I said as I spread my wings “Think we could hang out later?" I asked her “Sure thing, I'll be taking a break for a few days" she said as Spike jumped on her back "ONWARD TO RARITYS HOUSE!" Spike yelled, holding his bouquet like a sword. After work and a flying session with Rainbow Dash, I flew back to the house. "I'm home!" I shouted as I walked up onto the porch. "Applejack and Big Mac are out in the orchard right now, they'll be back in a bit" Apple Bloom said from inside the house. "Oh, okay, I'll be up in my room if you need me" I said as I flew up the stairs to my room. It wasn’t too long before Applejack and Big Mac were back from the fields. "Is Kestrel home yet?" Applejack asked Apple Bloom when she walked in "Yeah, he's up stairs" Apple Bloom replied as Applejack rushed up stairs and into my room. "There you are" she said when she saw me. She ran at me and tackled me with a hug. “Nice to see you too" I said with a chuckle as I hugged her back. “Got any big plans for the rest of the week?" she asked me when we were finished hugging "Not much, me and Twilight are going to hang out sometime this week, she's finally taking a break from her studies" I said as we walked downstairs into the kitchen for dinner. Three days later I flew into town to see if Twilight Sparkle could hang out. As I flew over the library, I saw a puff of green smoke fly out of the window “Hmm, I wonder what’s goin on in there” I thought as I landed at the front door. I knocked at the door, "come in" I hear Twilight say from inside. When I walk in I see Twilight and Spike looking on the shelves of the library, and Rainbow Dash sitting on the stairs reading a book, "heya Kestrel, how's it going?" Dash asked as she flipped to the next page in her book. "Eh, not too bad" I said as I walked closer to Twilight “Hey Twi, you doing any studying today?" I asked as Twilight stepped off a ladder “Can't talk, the Princess gave me a special assignment that has to be completed before sundown, and the clock is ticking" she rushed off to another stack off books, she seemed panicked, almost crazy, her mane and tail frizzy and unkempt, which was a rare sight for her "Uh, okay, think I could help you in any way?" I offered as she ran from book shelf to book shelf “Yes, you could help me find a book with a gold embroidered leather spine, and a blue oval insignia" she said as she continued to search franticly through all the books. "I'll keep my eyes open" I said as I began to poke through the stacks. A few hours of searching later, I had finally found the book. "Here it is!" I shouted as I picked up the book that Twilight, Spike and I were searching for all day. "Finally, where was it?" Twilight asked as her horn began to emit a soft purple aura, and the book shared the same glow, and started to lift off the floor. "Dash was sitting on it the entire time" I said with a laugh "Well, thanks for finding it. Spike, send that to the princess right away" she commanded him "On it Twilight" Spike said as he took a deep breath and blew green flames on the book, when the whole book was nothing but green ash, it flew out the window into the sky. "Thanks again Kestrel, I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t found it" she said with I sigh of relief as we began to pick up all the books that had been thrown onto the floor. "I'm always happy to help, and if you need someone to help you clean up the books after one of your big study sessions, don’t be afraid to ask" I said as I put a few books back onto the shelves "I'll be sure to remember that" she said with a smile. The partyAfter the visit to the hospital, Applejack took me to meet her friends, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie. We met at Sugar Cube Corner, where the first of her friends were already there. “Hi, I haven’t seen you around here, so you must be new in town, I’m Pinkie Pie, what’s your name?” she took me by total surprise, this pink pony bouncing, literally, around the room, talking a mile a minute. “Alright sugar cube, calm down, his head is hurt, so don’t overload him just yet” Applejack said with a chuckle “Its fine Applejack, my name is Kestrel, nice to meet you Pinkie” I said with a smile. The next pony to walk in was Rarity, “well howdy Rarity, this is my new friend Kestrel” Applejack said to the white unicorn with expertly curled and trimmed purple hair, one look at her and I could tell she was obsessive about fashion and style. “Oh, darling, that is an absolutely marvelous mane, who did it? I love those highlighted tips” Rarity became giddy as she stared at my mane “uhhh, just born that way I guess, nice to meet you Rarity” I said with a slight chuckle. After Rarity and I had finished talking, Twilight Sparkle and Spike walked in, carrying a box of cupcakes. “Hey guys” the little dragon said, “who’s this?” he said, pointing at me. “That’s my new friend Kestrel, Kestrel, this is Spike and Twilight Sparkle” Applejack interrupted “Hi Spike, nice to meet you, and same to you Twilight” I said to the both of them. An hour had passed and no one else showed up, “hey Applejack, didn’t you say you had six friends coming? There’s only four” I asked “Yeah, but I don’t know where they are, they should’ve been here by now” she seemed worried, but her concern was cut short when Fluttershy walked in with Rainbow Dash close behind “Hey there you are, there’s someone that I want you to meet” Applejack said to the two new pegasi in the room, “Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, this is Kestrel” “hel… hello…” Fluttershy said, hiding behind her hair. “Awesome, a new pegasus in town” Rainbow Dash said excitedly, “I wonder how fast he is. Hey, want to race?” “Now hold on there sugar cube, cant you see that bandage on his head?” Applejack stepped in, “he’s hurt, and shouldn’t be flying until he’s all better” “fine, we’ll put a rain check on it” the rainbow colored pony walked away, disappointed. For the next few hours I talked with the ponies, and became fast friends with all of them. But the party had to end, the day was ending, it was getting dark outside. And Applejack wanted to get me settled into her house before it got too late.
prolougeauthors note: you will notice that i removed all the word plays of pony, i.e. "everypony" or "somepony" i did this to make my writing quicker and easier, because i wouldn't have to add in him getting used to the new way of speaking, it would've been a lot harder to add that sub plot underneath everything. all in all i hope you like the new writing format, enjoy I usually don’t write diaries, but I thought this should be chronicled. My name is Kestrel, or at least that’s half true, my real name is Eric Kestrel, and I am not a pony, I am a human, and this is the story of my life in Ponyville. I spent my childhood and a few years of my adult life in the human world, living a miserable life alone in my small apartment. When my time in the human world began to near its end I had fallen into a deep depression. I lost my job, my best friend died, and I was being evicted from my apartment. That’s when I began contemplating suicide. After a few weeks of living on the streets, I gave in to my suicidal thoughts. I decided to climb to the top of a building and fall to my death. “Just do it” I said to myself, as I clung to the railing. “Just do it and get it over with!” I shouted with tears in my eyes. With the first step came relief. The falling sensation was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I loved it; it almost gave me a new purpose in life. But when I hit the ground, cold darkness. When I first realized I hadn’t died, I was almost relieved; I felt a warm happy feeling. I awoke in a green pasture, with daisies and tulips all around. The air carried a scent of sweet serenity that I've never felt before. The chirping of birds in the distance, the silent hum of nature, true peace. I wondered where I was. When I stood up, something felt out of place. I tried to look at my hands, but when I lifted them, I fell flat on my face. “What the hell was that?” I said as I stood up again. At this point it felt like someone was watching me. “Hello?” I asked to an empty field. “Is anyone there?” “Well hey there friend” I heard a voice coming from the left. It was a kind voice, soft, but strong. I turned to see a horse standing behind me. A horse with an orange coat and a blond mane and tail tied in knots at the ends. She was also wearing a cowboy hat. ‘Why is a horse wearing a hat?’ I wondered to myself. “Whose horse is this?” I asked looking around for an owner. “Nobody owns me, and who 're you talking to?” the orange horse said to me. “Names Applejack, and what’s yers?” she asked with a mild southern drawl. “Wait, you just spoke” my jaw dropped like a rock. “Well yeah, I can talk, everyone can” she said, “All the ponies in Equestria can talk” That's when it hit me. All my worries, all my problems, they were gone, and I could start a new life here.
NamesI began to look at my body, and sure enough, I was a pony too, and a pegasus as well, with a light grey coat. “You okay sugar cube? I think maybe you crashed a little hard there” she said looking concerned. “Maybe you should go see a doctor about that” “About what?” I wondered what she was talking about “how bad were my injuries?” I thought to myself, I remember hitting the pavement, but I didn’t know how bad it looked. For all I knew, my head was half smashed in. I ran to the closest pond, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it was, just a cut on my forehead, nothing serious. I rather liked my new hair. Before, my hair was shaggy, and dark brown in color, but it’s now black and red stripes, with each stripe ending in the alternate color. “Alright, Applejack, where is the closest doctor?” I asked “I’ll take you there” she said as she started walking through the field. It wasn’t too long before the silence became uncomfortable, “y'know, you never answered my question” she broke the silence. “And what question was that?” “What’s yer name? You know mine, but all I know about you is that yer a pegasus, and you hurt yer head” “uh…” I stuttered, “Kestrel, my name is Kestrel” “well, it’s nice to meet you Kestrel” she said with a heart warming smile. As we walked closer to town, I began to see more ponies, in all sorts of colors, even unicorns too. “So are there any more pegasi like me in this town?” I asked Applejack as we crossed a bridge into town. “A few, not very many live 'round here, just enough to keep the weather goin’” she said as we walked into what appeared to be a marketplace. Unicorns and earth ponies walking and talking and shopping, while a couple pegasi flew overhead. The hustle and bustle slightly reminded me of my world; I wanted to leave as fast as possible. Applejack and I made small talk as we walked through the town when the sweet, delectable scent of cake began to drift through my nose. We came to a cream colored cottage, with a ginger bread roof and fluffy white frosting trim. A giant cupcake tower, topped with candles, decorates the sky with flickering beauty, a beacon of tasty treats. “This is Sugar Cube Corner, the best bakery in Equestria” Applejack said. “This is where my friend Pinkie Pie lives and works…” she paused, bringing her hoof up to her chin. “I think after we get you to a doctor, I’ll show you to all my friends. Whatcha think ‘bout that?” she asked, looking over her shoulder at me. “Sure, that’d be great” I smiled, and she smiled back. We continued farther into town, when Applejack suddenly turned off towards a giant tree, with windows and balconies. Next to the door sat a sign with a book on it, so we were obviously at a library. “And this here’s the library, my friend Twilight Sparkle lives here with her baby dragon friend, Spike” After a while of walking, the town started to thin, the noise of the market died down to a dull roar. I started to see more and more trees, I glanced up to see they were apple trees. A few moments later Applejack and I were walking through a forest of apple trees, each one decorated with ripe, red apples, each one looking more delicious and juicy than the last. “And this here is Sweet Apple Acres, best apples in Equestria are grown and harvested right on these here trees! This is also where I live with my brother Big Macintosh and my little sister Apple Bloom” After the short tour of Ponyville, we arrived at the hospital, “I have a pegasus here who hurt his head, think you could patch him up?” Applejack said to the nurse at the front desk. “Okay and what’s his name?” the nurse replied “Kestrel” “Alright we’ll get him in and checked out quick, fast, and in a hurry!” she said as she walked me to an examination room, where her and a few doctors looked me over and stitched up my forehead. Before long, I was done, my head felt fine and I walked out into the waiting room where I saw Applejack still sitting there, waiting for me. “You didn’t really have to wait for me” I told her “Well… I was the one who found you, so I thought I should stay, make sure yer okay” Applejack seemed lost in thought “Well, thanks, but I should probably get going, I don’t want to be a burden” I told her, I don’t know why I said that, but I never meant it. I was, and still am, happy she stayed. “Wait, before you go, do you have anywhere to stay while you’re in town?” she looked a bit nervous when she asked, it surprised me, not because she asked, just the way she asked, she sounded just like a nervous teenager talking to someone she liked. “No, why?” I asked shakily “Well then you should come stay with me and my family for the next few days, I don’t want you to be out in the cold at night” she said as she scratched her head. “I’d like that Applejack” I said with a smile.
The Apple family home“Alright, here we are, the Apple family home” Applejack said as we rounded the corner and arrived at her home. It was a big red barn, with white trim, and an apple on the weather vane. “It aint much, but here it is” she said. “Big Mac! Apple Bloom! I’m home” she shouted as she opened the front door. The inside of the house was well furnished, with a greenish blue paint covering the walls. I felt strangely at home here. “Applejack, you’re home!” shouted an excited little yellow filly with red hair, “and you brought a friend?” she looked at me with a confused expression. “Apple Bloom, this is my friend Kestrel, he’s going to be staying here for a while” Applejack said, “now where’s Big Mac? I want him to meet Kestrel” “You call for me?” I hear from the top of the stairs “Yeah, Applejack brought someone home” Apple Bloom said “You must be Big Macintosh, I’m Kestrel, nice to meet you” I said “Nice to meet you too Kestrel, welcome to the Apple family home” said the big red stallion as he walked down the stairs. His red coat as red as the apples in the trees. The Apple family then took me on a tour of the house. First was the kitchen, not much different then a normal human kitchen. Next was the dining room, where a table and four chairs sat in the center of the room. When we came to the den, I saw family portraits, “hey Applejack, who’s this?” I asked her about a picture of an old mare, with a green coat and grey hair. “Oh, that’s granny smith, she used to live here…” she fell silent, something about the look on her face told me everything I needed to know. “She’s gone… isn’t she?” I asked, she nodded as a tear formed in her eye, the sadness in the air growing so thick you could almost reach out and touch it. “I’m sorry” I said as I wiped her tear away “Can I ask how?” I asked “She just got old, things happen in this world that you can’t control, death is just one of them” she said with an overwhelming sadness. I couldn’t help but to hug her tight, and bury her face in my neck. I could feel tears flowing from her eyes, soaking my coat. “Its okay, I know your pain” I whispered in her ear as she sobbed into my chest. “Thanks for that” Applejack said as she shook off the tears. When we were done hugging, Applejack showed me to the guest bedroom, “this is where you’ll be sleeping, there’s even a balcony so you can fly ‘round if you feel” she said as she showed me around the room. “Speaking of which, I just noticed, you haven’t used yer wings since we’ve met, why’s that?” she asked “I must’ve hit my head harder then I thought, because I don’t think I remember how” I said. She was right, I hadn’t flown since I had got here. “Well maybe we can get Rainbow Dash to help you tomorrow” she said, “now get some rest, you’ve had a long day” she said as she walked out into the hallway and closed the door behind her. I sat on the balcony for hours, staring at the stars, wondering how I got here, and why. “Maybe its just god’s way of giving me a second chance” I thought to myself “Or maybe I’m still alive in the human world and this is just a dream” was another thought, “but this feels too real to be a dream” I bit my lip to test if I was dreaming or not “ouch… well, definitely not a dream” “I don’t know why or how I’m here, but maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe if I find out how I got here, I’ll get sent back” I decided not to think about it anymore, and I went to sleep. Author's Note Sorry I've been away for so long, internet cut out, and I've had a lot of business that I had to attend to, but hopefully I can get you guys caught up to the point that I stopped writing (and maybe write some more chapters while I'm at it) before I get overwhelmed again
Learning to flyThe next day was my training day, Applejack set off to find Rainbow Dash while I stretched my wings. Applejack was back with Dash as soon as I had finished stretching. “so, you forgot how to fly, huh? So that’s why you didn’t want to race me yesterday” Dash said as she saw me. “Oh, calm your wings and just help him Rainbow” Applejack said. “Okay, I can see you know how to move your wings, at least you remember that much” Dash said as she watched me stretch my wings. “Now let me see a flap” she instructed me. I made one good flap, with all my strength, and I lifted about a foot above the ground, “he’s got bad form, but good strength, at least he’s got that going for him” Rainbow said to Applejack “That was a great flap, now try to give me a few more, try to hover for me” she ordered. The next few days went on like this, then before I knew it, I was flying pretty well. I had learned to keep a good gliding pattern, my flapping was getting better and more consistent. My wings had gotten stronger too, so strong that when I tried another flap with all my strength, I shot high above the trees. The view was beautiful, I could see all of Equestria, from Apploosa, to Stalliongrad. I never wanted to see the the ground ever again. Two weeks passed, and my flying was excellent, my form had improved, as well as my control at high speeds. I could fly almost as fast as Rainbow Dash, but she still beat me every time. “You’ve come a long way these two weeks” Dash said to me after a race, “but speed just isn’t your thing. I’ve seen you roll and loop, you fly better in tight spaces and at higher speeds, but getting to those high speeds is your problem” she said, “I got an idea, tomorrow we’re going to do a dead drop.” “Can’t wait” I replied anxiously, Dash had told me many stories of her dead drops, and just from the sound of them, I knew they would be fun. I flew back to the farm house after my practice with Dash. “I’m back!” I shouted as I walked in the front door. “How’d practice go?” Applejack asked as I walked in “Great, tomorrow me and Dash are going up for a dead drop, want to come watch?” I asked her “I’ll sure as sugar be there, I haven’t seen Rainbow do a drop in years” she was excited “and maybe we could bring the others” she said “Why not?” I agreed, I could feel the excitement in the air.
The dead dropThe next day we took a balloon high into the sky, Applejack Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy were all able to come. “You ready?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Not quite yet, why don’t you go first while I get a little more prepared” I hadn’t flown so high before, and I was a bit nervous. “Alright, just watch what I do, and try it yourself. We’ve gone even higher then a normal drop, so if you feel like you can’t do it, you got plenty room to bail out” Dash said as she prepped for her drop. She rolled her shoulders, then shook her hind legs. “Oh, and I might hit a sonic rainboom when I do this, so be ready for it” then she stopped flapping, she was in free fall. It was only five seconds before she was facing downward and gaining massive amounts of speed. Then I saw the beginning of it, a cone shaped cloud began to form around her as she fell, small lightning bolts crackled around her as she plummeted. That’s when it happened, a huge explosion startled me half to death, and a beautiful rainbow shockwave cascaded away from the center of the blast, a sonic rainboom. Now it’s my turn, “wish me luck” I said to the group in the balloon. “Be safe” Applejack said with obvious concern. I did just as Dash did, rolled my shoulders, shook my back feet, and stopped flapping. I was in free fall, it was the greatest rush since I stepped off the building, but this time I enjoyed it, the speed, the wind rushing past me, I loved it. I wanted more, I needed more, I spread my wings slowly, and turned. I spun so fast my tail began to twist into one color. I pulled my wings back, and picked up more speed, but this time I wasn’t going to turn. I dove fast and hard toward the ground, and at the last possible second, I spread my wings and pulled hard. I pulled up so hard and so fast I blew the leaves off of the trees that I flew past. As I ducked under the branches and weaved through the tree trunks, I realized this was how I was meant to fly, quick, agile and close to the obstacles. “That was awesome!” I screamed as I flew back up towards my friends “I knew you’d do that” Dash said when I got to the balloon. “That’s why I wanted you to do a dead drop, your wings were born for agility, rather then speed” she had a proud look on her face, as she rightfully should, she practically taught a human to fly in two weeks. A month in Ponyville, and I was loving every minute of it. Friends, a home, and as many dead drops as I could handle. But, the time had come to stop playing, and find a job. So I thought I’d ask Rainbow Dash if I could work with her on the weather team for Ponyville. “Sure why not, you got the skills for flying, that’s for sure” she said as she cleared a few clouds. “Meet me tomorrow at my house and I’ll get you started” she informed me. And I’ve been working on the weather team ever since. Author's Note Sorry I forgot to post the chapters I promised, so, as compensation, I'm posting them all right now
Helping TwilightAt this point, it’s been a year since I came to Ponyville, I was still living with the Apple family, but I was making money and paying for food and equipment, so I was welcome. Rainbow Dash and I flew around with each other when we weren’t changing the weather. Rarity had even made an ensemble based on my mane. Pinkie Pie and I had parties frequently. I even became friends with Fluttershys animal friends, and helped her on occasion when she needed it. The only friend of Applejacks that I hadn’t gotten very close with yet was Twilight Sparkle, though it was mostly due to her being so lost in her studies. I sat on the balcony in, what was now, my room, watching the night sky. “Applejack, can I talk to you?” I called to her “What about sugar cube?” she asked as she walked into my room. She walked onto the balcony and sat next to me. “I just wanted to say thanks for letting me stay so long, it means a lot to me” I started, “when I came to ponyville, I didn’t know who, or where I was, all I knew was my name. And you took me in, gave me a home, and put my life back towards the better. Thank you” I said with a nervous tone that she picked up on, because she began to slide herself closer to me. “Well someone had to help you, you were all alone in that field, you were hurt, and… well, after I met you, I knew I liked you” she said a bit shyly “I like you too Applejack” I said as Applejack sat closer and closer to me. She was now sitting right next to me, her side pressed against mine. “So, you’re a pegasus and I'm an earth pony, I think we can make that work” she said as she rested her shoulder on mine, and we sat and watched the sky together. The next morning I woke up, walked out onto the balcony and flew off to work. When I was flying over town, I spotted Twilight Sparkle and Spike walking through the market. “Hey Twilight, hey Spike” I said as I hovered above them, “Hey Kestrel, how are you doing today?” Twilight asked “I'm fine I guess. So, you taking a break from your studies today?” I asked as I landed and started walking beside her “Yeah, Spike wanted to go see Rarity” she said with a chuckle. Spike followed behind, lost in thought, completed with a lover boy look on his face. Twilight and Spike must have went to the market to buy some flowers for Spike to give to Rarity. "Those for Rarity, lover boy?" I asked him "uh-huh" he mumbled, not even breaking stride "Ha! he doesn’t even know I'm here does he?" I laughed "Probably not, he has such a crush on Rarity, it's actually really funny" Twilight giggled. "Well, I need to be getting to work" I said as I spread my wings “Think we could hang out later?" I asked her “Sure thing, I'll be taking a break for a few days" she said as Spike jumped on her back "ONWARD TO RARITYS HOUSE!" Spike yelled, holding his bouquet like a sword. After work and a flying session with Rainbow Dash, I flew back to the house. "I'm home!" I shouted as I walked up onto the porch. "Applejack and Big Mac are out in the orchard right now, they'll be back in a bit" Apple Bloom said from inside the house. "Oh, okay, I'll be up in my room if you need me" I said as I flew up the stairs to my room. It wasn’t too long before Applejack and Big Mac were back from the fields. "Is Kestrel home yet?" Applejack asked Apple Bloom when she walked in "Yeah, he's up stairs" Apple Bloom replied as Applejack rushed up stairs and into my room. "There you are" she said when she saw me. She ran at me and tackled me with a hug. “Nice to see you too" I said with a chuckle as I hugged her back. “Got any big plans for the rest of the week?" she asked me when we were finished hugging "Not much, me and Twilight are going to hang out sometime this week, she's finally taking a break from her studies" I said as we walked downstairs into the kitchen for dinner. Three days later I flew into town to see if Twilight Sparkle could hang out. As I flew over the library, I saw a puff of green smoke fly out of the window “Hmm, I wonder what’s goin on in there” I thought as I landed at the front door. I knocked at the door, "come in" I hear Twilight say from inside. When I walk in I see Twilight and Spike looking on the shelves of the library, and Rainbow Dash sitting on the stairs reading a book, "heya Kestrel, how's it going?" Dash asked as she flipped to the next page in her book. "Eh, not too bad" I said as I walked closer to Twilight “Hey Twi, you doing any studying today?" I asked as Twilight stepped off a ladder “Can't talk, the Princess gave me a special assignment that has to be completed before sundown, and the clock is ticking" she rushed off to another stack off books, she seemed panicked, almost crazy, her mane and tail frizzy and unkempt, which was a rare sight for her "Uh, okay, think I could help you in any way?" I offered as she ran from book shelf to book shelf “Yes, you could help me find a book with a gold embroidered leather spine, and a blue oval insignia" she said as she continued to search franticly through all the books. "I'll keep my eyes open" I said as I began to poke through the stacks. A few hours of searching later, I had finally found the book. "Here it is!" I shouted as I picked up the book that Twilight, Spike and I were searching for all day. "Finally, where was it?" Twilight asked as her horn began to emit a soft purple aura, and the book shared the same glow, and started to lift off the floor. "Dash was sitting on it the entire time" I said with a laugh "Well, thanks for finding it. Spike, send that to the princess right away" she commanded him "On it Twilight" Spike said as he took a deep breath and blew green flames on the book, when the whole book was nothing but green ash, it flew out the window into the sky. "Thanks again Kestrel, I don’t know what would’ve happened if you hadn’t found it" she said with I sigh of relief as we began to pick up all the books that had been thrown onto the floor. "I'm always happy to help, and if you need someone to help you clean up the books after one of your big study sessions, don’t be afraid to ask" I said as I put a few books back onto the shelves "I'll be sure to remember that" she said with a smile.
The partyAfter the visit to the hospital, Applejack took me to meet her friends, Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie. We met at Sugar Cube Corner, where the first of her friends were already there. “Hi, I haven’t seen you around here, so you must be new in town, I’m Pinkie Pie, what’s your name?” she took me by total surprise, this pink pony bouncing, literally, around the room, talking a mile a minute. “Alright sugar cube, calm down, his head is hurt, so don’t overload him just yet” Applejack said with a chuckle “Its fine Applejack, my name is Kestrel, nice to meet you Pinkie” I said with a smile. The next pony to walk in was Rarity, “well howdy Rarity, this is my new friend Kestrel” Applejack said to the white unicorn with expertly curled and trimmed purple hair, one look at her and I could tell she was obsessive about fashion and style. “Oh, darling, that is an absolutely marvelous mane, who did it? I love those highlighted tips” Rarity became giddy as she stared at my mane “uhhh, just born that way I guess, nice to meet you Rarity” I said with a slight chuckle. After Rarity and I had finished talking, Twilight Sparkle and Spike walked in, carrying a box of cupcakes. “Hey guys” the little dragon said, “who’s this?” he said, pointing at me. “That’s my new friend Kestrel, Kestrel, this is Spike and Twilight Sparkle” Applejack interrupted “Hi Spike, nice to meet you, and same to you Twilight” I said to the both of them. An hour had passed and no one else showed up, “hey Applejack, didn’t you say you had six friends coming? There’s only four” I asked “Yeah, but I don’t know where they are, they should’ve been here by now” she seemed worried, but her concern was cut short when Fluttershy walked in with Rainbow Dash close behind “Hey there you are, there’s someone that I want you to meet” Applejack said to the two new pegasi in the room, “Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, this is Kestrel” “hel… hello…” Fluttershy said, hiding behind her hair. “Awesome, a new pegasus in town” Rainbow Dash said excitedly, “I wonder how fast he is. Hey, want to race?” “Now hold on there sugar cube, cant you see that bandage on his head?” Applejack stepped in, “he’s hurt, and shouldn’t be flying until he’s all better” “fine, we’ll put a rain check on it” the rainbow colored pony walked away, disappointed. For the next few hours I talked with the ponies, and became fast friends with all of them. But the party had to end, the day was ending, it was getting dark outside. And Applejack wanted to get me settled into her house before it got too late.
