This Is my Afterlife?

  It'd been three days since I mysteriously came to Equestria. Everyone still wasn't used to me. Some thought I was a bit odd, some thought I was pretty cool. But the only ones who actually considered me as a friend were the six mares and Roseluck. Who I've been spending a lot of time with. Whenever I'm around her I feel weight of Amy coming off my shoulders. She was so much like her... passionate, caring, had her odd side, talented... But overall, I thought she was slightly better than Amy.

  The mares agreed to let me stay at Applejack's house as long as I don't cause too much trouble. I stood out on the porch of the farmhouse enjoying the cool breeze that reminded me of home. I let out a sigh as I sat down on the bench. The door to my left opened and I saw Applejack walk out and sit next to me.

"How're ya doin' sugarcube?" She asked.

"Ah, just swell. You?"

"I'm doin' fine, thanks for askin'." She replied. "So, what do ya think about our world?"

"It's nice, quiet, peaceful. Just like home." I said.

"I can agree with ya on that one." She chuckled.

  I chuckled as well as I sat back and looked out to the lush landscape. Autumn colored leaves littered the branches and the bases of the many trees. Not a single apple was left on a tree as apple-filled buckets wrapped around the apple trees. Applejack stood up and looked at me.

"Ya ever tried apple cider before?" She asked.

"Nope, not allowed to drink unless you're 21 back where I come from." I answered.

"Well how old are ya?"

"17." I said.

"Ah, I'll let ya have some. I mean, you're not at home now aren't ya?"

"True that." I agreed as I stood up.

  Applejack led me to the barn which held hay and barrels. I watched as Applejack poured me a cup of apple cider from one of the large barrels and handed it to me. I nodded as I grasped the cup. I gingerly took a sip before my eyes shot open.

"Holy hell, that's delicious!" I exclaimed.

Applejack chuckled, "I knew you'd like it."

  I hummed in agreement as I took another swig. She watched in amazement as I chugged the whole cup. I gasped and licked the foam off my lips.

"Woo wee! You must really like that stuff sugarcube."

"It's rather satisfying." I said.

"Well, enjoy it while it lasts, that your only cup for the week." Applejack replied.

"One cup of cider every week?" I asked.

"Yep."

"Sounds like a deal." I smiled.

  I entered the farm house and went to my room. Which just so happens to be Applejack's, sister's room. I slept on the floor with a makeshift bed made out of a couple folded blankets, a folded pillow and a blanket for covering myself. For being an alien here, hospitality ain't all that bad.

  I laid down on my makeshift bed and sighed. The fact that I'm in a different world still jabbed at my mind. Sometimes I wondered if I was ever going to get back home.

"I don't know Mark, nopony's done much world traveling. I'll try to ask Celestia about something, but... that's all I can do."

  A sigh escaped my mouth as I began to think about home, my small quiet home, my apartment, my friends, my family. If Twilight can't find a way back home, then I'm stuck here, and I'll never be able to see any of those things again. I scratched my chest and felt something. I lifted my work shirt to see a scar where the homeless man had stabbed me.

How the hell did I not notice this earlier? I thought.

Applebloom, Applejack's sister, walked into the room and looked at me.

"AJ wants to know if ya want to go out with her and er' friends." She said.

  I nodded and she trotted over to her bed before jumping into it. She sighed into her pillow before pulling the blankets over her. I stood up and went downstairs. I saw the mares standing out on the porch through the screen door.

"Mark, c'mon let's go!" Rainbow rushed.

"I'm comin'!" I shouted.

  We headed toward's Twilight's treehouse and I wanted to back out of this but they wouldn't let me. Reason why I wanted to back out of it was because it was a slumber party. And they though it was a good idea to tell me this when we were halfway there.

"Y'know slumber parties don't usually involve guys right?" I asked.

"And? Whatever girls do at slumber parties in your world are probably a lot different from our's." Rarity said.

"Well, we'll just have to see." I muttered.

I saw the treehouse in the distance and sighed.

"Also... y'all do know it's like... nine... something A.M. right?" I asked.

"We can do other things to pass the time you know that?" Rainbow asked.

"Oh yeah that's great, let's just do stuff that a human wouldn't normally do until ten or something P.M. then have the slumber party."

Man I was unusually cranky right now.

"Fine, we'll do our things, you do your things. Got it?" Twilight said.

"Sure, good enough for me." I replied.

"But you have to be back by sundown."

"Right..."

  After that we parted ways. I made note of the general area that Twilight's house was in. Then I made my way to Roseluck's shop. On my way there I had more ponies greeting me than yesterday. It was good to know I wasn't as much of an outsider than I was when I first came here. Some even tried to have conversations with me. I did my best to have some small talk with the townsfolk before continuing to Rose's. I smelled the sweet aroma of flowers and knew I was close by. I knocked on the door and waited for an answer. After a moment the door was opened.

"Oh hey Mark." Roseluck said.

"Hey Rose." I replied.

"Come on in." She stepped to the side and allowed me to enter.

  I nodded in thanks before walking in and leaning against the counter. She grabbed a chair and sat down.

"So, what's it like being away from home?" She asked.

"Oh it's extremely nerve-racking. You never know when you're gonna get home and when you're gonna be able to see what you've always seen." I replied.

"It must be hard." Roseluck sighed.

"A little. But for a guy like me it's pretty bad." I said.

"Why?"

"Because I get homesick pretty easily. I'm not a person who can stay away from home for too long. It took me a while to actually stay in my apartment when I moved out of my mom and dad's house."

"Wow, that's rough."

"Yeah, tell me about it." I muttered.

"Well, I'm sure things will turn out okay." Rose reassured.

"Yeah, hopefully..." I chuckled.

"What's wrong?" Rose asked.

"Nah, it's nothing, don't worry." I said.

"Well, alright."

  The day passed by like a bullet with Rose. We told each other stories about our lives and things that happened to us when we were younger. I looked at the window to see that it was pitch black outside.

"Doh, hell." I said.

"What?" Rose asked.

"I gotta get back to Twilight's for this slumber party thing." I replied.

"Wait, don't slumber parties usually involve girls only?"

  I gave Rose a look that said, "right???". She laughed and I laughed with her. Her laugh was adorable, I have to admit. She walked me out to road and I turned around.

"So you'll be over tomorrow right?" She asked.

"I mean if you want me to, sure."

"Cool." She smiled.

  Before I turned around to leave Rose wrapped her forehooves around me and held me in a tight hug. I stood there frozen. All I could do was return the hug. Her coat felt so soft I didn't wanna let go. She rested her chin on my shoulder and sighed.

"I'll see you later." She said softly before letting me go.

"You too." I replied.

  She smiled brightly before walking back to her house. I still stood there, frozen in time. I could still feel her warmth on my arms that made me tingle. I shook my head vigorously before chuckling lightly and leaving for Twilight's house.