One Versus Many

Duplo woke up to the sound of screaming. His eyes flew open, and he jumped up off the bed, (which had conveniently been left there). He ran out of the castle in big bounds as he did so, covering about twelve feet with each step. He followed the screaming to a small clearing, where he saw three little fillies backed up against a large tree, cowering from two of those wooden wolves.

Sure he didn't now them, and the last group of locals to spot him freaked out, but he hated to see anyone get hurt, particularly if they were just children. So without thinking about what he was doing, he charged the closest wolf, knocking it to the ground. The wolf's partner looked over at Duplo with angry eyes. Duplo kicked the wolf off of him and stood back up, and just barely preformed a front flip over the second wolf as it charged him.

Duplo spun around as the two wolves circled him. It was only then that Duplo noticed that he had an extra right arm. He smiled as he noted that the duplication process was working. The wolves noticed his distraction, and used that split second to jump him at the same time from either side.  Duplo looked up a moment too late, and he was tackled to the ground as one wolf sunk its fangs into his left shoulder, while the other tore at his right leg. Duplo cried out in pain, and used both right arms to smack the wolf off of his shoulder. He then grabbed the one on his leg with all his arms by the neck, and slammed the wolf into his partner.

Duplo heard a loud CRACK!, and a yelp, from the wolf he threw.  He gave a savage smile, and an angry growl at his two opponents. The first wolf tried to jump Duplo once again, only to get a double open palm to the forehead, shattering it to splinters. Duplo glared down at the other wolf, who quickly ran off with its tail between its legs.

As soon as it was out of sight, Duplo fell to his knees, and yelled, "Gaaah! Oh, that really hurt." while clutching his left shoulder and gritting his teeth. He looked over at the three fillies, who looked at up at the bear sized man with more awe filled eyes rather than fear.

He saw that the closest one was a regular pony, with a yellow coat, red mane and tail, and a red ribbon in her hair. There was also an orange pegasus with a purple mane and tail. The last one was a white unicorn with a white and lavender striped mane and tail.

"W-what are you?" the yellow one asked.

"Go home." was Duplos response as started to limp away, when the yellow one said, "Hey! Wait!"

Duplo stopped and turned around to see the three fillies run up to him, " Since ya ain't gonna tell us who you are, Ah suppose we should introduce our selves first." the yellow one states with a smile. "Ah'm Applebloom."said the yellow one, "I'm Scootaloo", said the orange one, "I'm Sweetie Belle." said the white one, "And we're...THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!" the all shouted at once.

Duplo stared at them for a moment. 'Wow, are all of these ponies names so girly?' he thought to himself

"Well, since you didn't run away at the sight of me," he said looking down at his three arms, "my name is Duplo. Now go home."

"How did you beat those timber wolves? That...was...AWESOME!" Scootaloo, shouted with a smile to big for her face. "You were all like, whoo, then you went, haya!" she said with lots of air marshal art, and giggling.

"So...what are you any way?" asked Sweetie Belle.

Duplo though a moment before answering, not sure he could trust them, 'It's not that big of a deal.' he thought before he said, "I'm a human."

All he gained were some confused looks, "Now if your done talking, I've got a question of my own. What are you three doing here, you just about got yourselves killed."

They all looked down at their hooves in shame. "Well," said Applebloom, "bein' the Cutie Mark Crusaders and all, we were tryin' to get our cuitie marks for Timberwolf huntin'." she looked up at him with a guilty smile.

Duplo looked at them with wide eyes and furrowed eye brows, "Ok, first of all...what were thinking! coming out here to catch wolves! And second, what's a cutie mark?" Gosh, just saying that made him feel like a little girl.

"Cutie marks, are was appeared on somepony's flank when they discover their special talent." said Scootaloo, "as for why we were out here, its just what Applebloom said, we were gonna get our cutie marks in Timberwolf hunting, but it didn't turn out the way we planned."

'Jeez, someone's got to pay attention to their kids.'Duplo thought, "Ok, you kids are crazy and should really go home now." Duplo said, and once again began to walk away.

"Wait a minute!" yelled Applebloom, "We just met. Ya can't just leave!"

"Well, I'm leaving."

"Then we're comin' with ya."

'Stubborn kids' "Fine just don't die."

"Yipee!" shouted Applebloom, "So...where are we goin'?"

"To find food."

"Well, if ya really need food maybe ya could stay with me and mah family."

"No"

"Why not?"

"Last time I ran into your kind, they kinda freaked out."

"Ah'm sure mah family would be understanding."

"I said no."

"Come on, you're just gonna love Applejack!"

Duplo stopped dead in his tracks and looked down at Applebloom. "You know Applejack?" he asked her remembering the six ponies looking for him the day before.

"Well sure, she's mah sister." she said with a smile, "Granny Smith might have a little heart attack, but other than that, there shouldn't be a problem." she then frowned and asked, " How do you know Applejack?"

"Never mind. Look, I'll consider your offer, but for now you need to get home."

"Fine, but we, will see you again right?" asked Scootaloo.

"If you go home now, you might. On second thought, I'm going with you. No telling what you three'll get into."

As the group reached the edge of the forest, Duplo asked, "Hey, Applebloom? Do you think you could tell your sister about me. I tried to go into town the other day, and latter she and some others seemed to be hunting me. I don't to give the wrong impression."

"Sure thing." Applebloom replied with a smile, before she ran off with her friends.

"Man, I hope this works out." Duplo mumbled to himself.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders, had come back three days later to tell Duplo that Applebloom's family would except him in their house and that Applejack would tell the other Elements of Duplo, (they of course left out there talking to). They also noticed that he had four arms this time, and an extra head. The almost screamed at the sight of him until they recognized him.

They, of course, were confused at his extra body part, to which he explained his powers to the three,and told them he would come to the farm once the first duplication process was over.

"So, you're saying that you can duplicate yourself so that you can be in hundreds of places at once?" asked Sweetie Belle

"Well, yeah." answered Duplo

"That's so cool!" shouted Scootaloo

"That...weird." stated Applebloom, causing Duplo to chuckle.

"Well, we'd better get back, see you later." Sweetie Belle said with  smile as the group headed for the edge of the woods.

Two days later, Duplo woke up to see him sleeping with himself. Jeez, he would never get used to that. His other body woke up and got out off bed to go the fruit tree paradise section of the woods, with he prepared his other self to come out of hiding, and give a good...second impression. As his other self gobbled down on fruit for more Duplos, his original self headed towards the edge of the forest.

Duplo easily spotted Sweet Apple Acres in the distance. He decided to creep around the edge of the forest so as to not be seen.

He had finally made it to Sweet Apple Acres, where he saw the one known as Applejack bucking apples off the trees.

"Hello?" Duplo more or less asked to get her attention

Applejack looked in the direction of the voice with a start. She knew from Rarity's description that he looked strong, but she had no idea just how strong this black bearded creature could really be until she saw him. He was about seven feet tall and three and a half feet wide, with a scruffy, black beard and short, black mane atop his head, and muscle that would put Big Mac to shame. So, to put it in perspective, he looked like the average Grizzly Bear with less fur.

After getting over the initial shock of seeing the man, Applejack finally offered him a hoof and said with the same thick, southern accent that Applebloom had, " Howdy, Ah'm Applejack. You must Duplo. Pleasure to meet ya."

"Wow, you're awfully excepting." Duplo chuckled.

"Well, ya did save mah sister and all, and for that I can't thank ya enough." Applejack said with gratitude in her eyes.

"Well then, you're very welcome." Duplo replied, smiling.

"So, how did ya survive out there in the Everfree Forest anyway." Applejack asked with a raised eye brow.

"I just so happened to stumble across and old castle." Duplo said with a shrug.

"So, that would explain the organ that Fluttershy heard."

'Someone did hear that, huh?' "You've been there?"

"Yes, but only once. Ah don't mean to sound rude, but, what are ya."

"I'm a human." Duplo stated simply.

"Fer some reason, that sounds familiar. Anyway, you just go on inside, Ah need to get the rest of the family together." Applejack said as she ran off.

Duplo went inside and seated himself across the room from a snoring, old, green mare in a rocking chair. Only a few minutes later, Applejack came in with Applebloom, and a big red stallion, who looked up at Duplo with wide eyes.

Applejack chuckled at his reaction, the decided to introduce everyone, " This is Applebloom, who you've already met, this is Big Mac, and this is Granny Smith." Applejack said, pointing at Granny Smith.

Applebloom walked over to Granny Smith, and shook her awake. "Granny, wake up, we've got a guest."

Granny Smith looked around the room with tired until they rested on Duplo. Her eyes lit up, and she put on a smile, and said, "Well hello there mister Duplo. Applebloom has told us so much about ya. Ah thank ya so very much fer savin' mah grand daughter's life." she said, all the while shaking his hand.

"Uh, yeah, you're welcome."

"I've arranged a meetin' with Twilight this afternoon in the library. Sorry if you're feelin' a bit pushed, but it's real important to her.", said Applejack.

"Oh, no problem, it's fine." replied Duplo, thinking of just how excepting these ponies were.