Lost Soul

"GIT UP YA LAZY BAG OF FEATHERS! It's almost five in the mornin'!"

Longwing's head ached from the sudden and loud awakening. He rolled in the bed and fell down on the floor. "Ouch!" When he stood up he saw that the sun hasn't yet raised. "Ooowww... You've got to be kidding me." He left his room and trotted down the stairs to the kitchen, in the half way he stumbled and rolled down landing on his back right beside laughing Applejack.
"Yeah veeery funny..."

"Ah'm sorry!" She tried to stop laughing but couldn't do it. "Just remember ta not do it every mornin' or you may hurt yerself."

"Eeeyup!" He heard Applejack's brother as he lifted himself and sit by the table. Granny Smith was cooking something humming happily while Big Mac and Applejack were eating their breakfast, he joined them as soon as his portion reached him.

"Ya better get used ta it cous' we always start our work early."

Longwing looked at her with almost unconscious look. "But why in the night?" His head almost fell to the bowl in front of him, it was filled with some kind of apple and oats mash, which he had to admit was delicious.

"Lots of work ta do. Ya will help Mac at the corn field today. Then we will renew our barn, the one near the lake."

"Yhhymm..." Pegasus just nodded, eating his breakfast only half aware that she was talking to him.

"Ya should eat more sonny. Fer such a big boy you are awfully skinny." Granny Smith refilled his bowl and returned to pans. "When Ah was yer age stallions were big and healthy, today's lifestyle completely drain colts."

Applejack chuckled. "Just don't stuff him too much Granny, he has a flying lesson planned for tomorrow and extra kilograms won't help him."

Flying? At this thought his mind woke up instantly. When they finished three ponies went to the barn linked with the Apple's house. There Longiwing saw a number of different farming tools ranging from the rakes to the plows.

"Okay time ta test your muscles Longwing! Put on these." She threw him a leather harness. Grey pegasus looked at it and turned to the Applejack smiling sheepishly. "Ya don't know how to put this on do ya." After three attempts they finally managed to harness him to the wagon.

"Eighteen years of education, the degree of Master of Arts, and I ended harnessed to a wagon. Just great." He hung his head low.

Applejack smiled. "Come on stop whinin'. It's not that hard."

Longwing grimaced. "Why I don't believe you."

"Ya can always swap with Mac. He's doin' the plowin'." She winked.

"No thanks. I will stay with the cart." They made their way to the next barn where Applejack filled the wagon with seeds. Loaded wagon was much harder to pull, but Longwing was determinated to not fail Applejack. She explained that he will have to follow the Big Macintosh as he will plow and steadily drop the seeds from the wagon by operating the lever on his right. As they got to the field Applejack left two stallions and joined Caramel working on the second field. The job was hard as the wagon was weighted and Big Macintosh's pace was very impressive. No one said anything through the hours they spent at work. Longwing let his mind to wander,as always while doing monotonous jobs, thanks to this he didn't feel exhaustion or boredom. He didn't even noticed when the wagon was emptied and they both went to rest. As soon as they unharnessed themselves and sit down by the table behind the house, his body reminded him of the last few hours activity.

He laid his head on the table and murmured. "I am officially dead." Red stallion just looked on him and smiled. Longwing raised his eyebrow and asked. "You are not tired are you?"

"Eeenope!"

"Are you sure you are a pony, not some kind of magically animated working machine?"

"Eeeyup!"

"I give up..."

"Don't ya worry Longwing. It all comes with experience."

"Good job boys!" It was Applejack, on her back she was carrying a tray filled with pies and bottles. "Heres your reward."

They were joined by Caramel and in half hour they ate everything. Apple juice quenched their thirst and pies filled their bellies. They enjoyed a moment of the free time chatting happily.

"So how do ya feel Longwing? Still thinkin' ya can keep up the work?" Applejack grinned teasingly.

"Certain as ever!"

"Haha! That's the spirit! Ah was worried if ya can keep up with Mac, but ya done well." Longwing smilled, happy that he didn't fail expectations. Then they heard a choir of laughs and screams. "Looks like the Apple Bloom returned." Applejack stood up and made few steps to look behind the corner and was tackled by a yellow filly with red hair and big bow on the head.

"HI SIS!" Small pony sqeeled as Applejack tried to free herself and pushed her on the grass. "Howdy Apple Bloom. How was your sleepover at Rarity's?"

"It was awesome!" Few seconds later two more fillies appeared, a white unicorn with pink mane and an orange violet maned pagasus.

"We made parachutes!" White filly was jumping around the Applejack.

"parachutes? Where did ya found materials ta do them?"

"We borrowed some from Rarity's closet."

"Did you ask her for permission Sweetie Belle?" Orange mare stared at the three fillies.

"Urr... Nah. But she didn't use it anyway, I bet she forgot that she even had it."

Orange mare shook her head. "We'll see. Okay girls Ah want to introduce you somepony, this is Longwing he is new in Ponyville and he's gonna stay and work at the farm, Longwing these are Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo." He stood up and as the three fillies saw him they gasped.

"Hi there girls." Fillies stared at him for a moment before they spoke.

"Hi Longwing." They trotted closer.

"Whoah. You are big one!." The yellow filly spoke.

"I hear that often recently." He smiled.

Apple Bloom turned to her sister. "Can we help ya? parachuting and scarf making didn't work to get us cutie marks, so maybe we will help ya on the field?"

Applejack's expression become uncomfortable. "Well... We sorta have a lot of work today... So maybe..." She looked around for inspiration how to evade bringing three troublemakers with them to work, then her eyes stopped at Longwing and she smilled widely. "How about you three give Longwing a tour around Ponyville."

Fillies thought for a moment and shouted in unison. "CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS TOURISTIC GUIDES! YAY!" The three turned around to Longwing grinning. He knew he was doomed. Little ponies trotted to him and dragged him away while bombarding him with words. The last thing three earth ponies heard was loud "APPLEJACK!"

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Four ponies walked across the Sweet Apple Acres, Apple Bloom led the way talking about the farm, Longwing knew it all becouse Applejack told him that yesterday but he listened patiently.
Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle walked behind them, unicorn tried to talk with little pegasus but Scootaloo was concentrated on their guest.

"Hey Scoots? Equestria to Scootaloo, are you there?" Sweetie Belle waved her hoof before the Scootaloo's face.

"Huh? Sorry Sweetie Belle."

"Is something wrong Scootaloo?" She asked lowering her voice that no one else but her friend could hear her.

"I'm not sure. There is something about this Longwing that is bothering me but I can't point what's that."

They walked for a while when suddenly Scootaloo stooped her eyes wide. "*GASP* He has no cutie mark!" The group stopped, all eyes turned to the orange pegasus, then to the Longwing. He sighed and lifted his wing.

"Yup. No cutie mark." He hung his head low certain that the fillies will run away or something.

Cutie Mark Crusade stood there shocked, for a minute they tried to articulate the questions but nothing came. Then Apple Bloom jumped up. "Awesome!" Now the Longwing was the one surprised. He saw the three fillies smiling.

"You are just like us!" Sweetie Belle commented.

"But but... How is it possible for a grown up pony to be a blank flank?" Scootaloo asked her face confused. Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle glared at the little pegasus, worried that this question will offend their guest.

Longwing smiled uncertainly. Shoot... Should I lie? Nah... She is an Applejack's sister, she will find out eventually... "Well... I think that you deserve to know. But you have to promise that you wont tell anypony... Not now at least."

"Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye!" Three little ponies shouted at the same time.

"I take this as yes..." Longwing told them the story of his arrival in Equestria, they listened with their eyes opened wide as he spoke, when he finished they were speechless.

"Awesome." Scootaloo was the first one to speak.

"So you are an alien!" Apple Bloom pointed her little hoof at him.

"No that's not what I... Well... Technically yes." He gave them sheepish smile. "But remember. Not a single word to anypony."

"Don't worry we Pinkie promised." Sweetie Belle mimicked their earlier gesture. "Hey since you are a blank flank too, you can be an honorary Cutie Mark Crusader!" Fillies smiled and jumped.

"Well I don't know if I will have enough time, since I help Applejack at the farm. But I'm honoured by this distinction." He bowed and fillies giggled.

Few minutes later they got to the Cutie Mark Crusaders clubhouse. Scootaloo attached a small cart to her scooter and drove it to the rest of the ponies. "Okay let's go! Guides cutie marks wont wait forever."

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They strode the paths across the Ponnyville at the high speed, Lonwing sit with the Apple Bloom in the cart while Sweetie Belle rode with the Scootaloo on her scooter.
Longwing thought that he must look ridiculous, squeezed in the small cart hauled by a scooter, wearing too small helmet, and with Apple Bloom on his shoulders. It's good that I'm used to doing crazy things.
Scootaloo drove their transport while Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom were telling Longwing about the places they passed by.
Of course they aroused many surprised sights and smiles, but they didn't care.
The tour took them few hours, and when they saw rain clouds coming over Ponyville they hurried back to Sweet Apple Acres.
As they arrived the first drops of rain started falling.

"Thank you very much girls. It was awesome." Longwing struggled to take off the helmet stuck on his head.

"Any cutie marks?" Scootaloo asked trying to get look at her flank.

"Nope. Maybe next time." Sweetie Belle replied sadly, while Apple Bloom helped Longwing to get rid of the helmet.

"Let's park the scooter in the barn and go inside. Ah bet that Granny Smith baked us a pie!" Three little ponies run to house, while Longwing stood where they stooped looking to the sky.

"Hey Longwing! Ya comin'?" Apple Bloom shouted at him from the doorway.

"Nah. I will go for a stroll." Filly was surprised by his answer. "But it's rainin'!" He turned to her and smiled. "That's why I'm going." She shrugged and entered the house.

Longwing walked in the direction of the town, the rain intensified and whole sky was covered by the dark clouds.
He was smiling, trotting happily forward, he loved rain. The smell of the air purified by falling water. The tranquility of the world as most of the creatures hid from the weather. The silence and peace hidden in the hum of the falling water. And the feeling of the drops crashing against his body. He lifted his wings and observed as the water crashed against them and flowed down to the ground. What a wonderful world.

He climbed a hill with a single tree on it. From there he could clearly see the Twillight's library and distant Sweet Apple Acres. He was admiring the sight when he heard a familiar voice.

"Longwing?" He turned to the source of the voice and spotted a blue pegasus in the small clearing in the clouds.

"Hi Rainbow Dash!" Rainbow flew down to him with a puzzled expression on her face and hid under the tree.

"Hi. What are you doing here? It's raining if you haven't noticed." He joined her standing partially under the tree's canopy.

"Well... I enjoy walking in the rain... It relaxes me... Allows me to think clearly." Gray pegasus explained and Rainbow looked confused, but after a moment they both smiled.

"Soo... What are you doing here Rainbow?." In a moment she became nervous while trying to articulate an answer.

"Well... I... I was... I was on the patrol! Yeah patrol! Patrolling for a ponies in need. You know because it's raining and there could be a pony in need, and that's why I patrol the area." She grinned uneasy.

There was an awkward silence between them. Finally Longwing spoke. "Well... I guess that I should head back to the Sweet Apple Acres. Aand good luck with your patrol." He smiled dispersing the tension.

"Um okay. Se ya later! And don't forget about tomorrow training, noon by the lake at the farm." She flew away before he could respond, Longwing waved to her and trotted in the direction of the Sweet Apple Acres.

As he got back to the farm clouds slowly started to thin down.
I think i should get dry a bit before entering the house. Longwing entered the barn connected to the Apple family's house and laid down by the slightly opened barn's door. He almost fell asleep while watching the beams of setting sun piercing the fading clouds, when a sound of the three voices woke him up.
He turned his head to see three fillies he met earlier this day entering the barn.

"Hi Longwing! Ah thought ah've seen ya comin'. What are ya doin' here?" Apple Bloom spoke as she and her two friends closed to him.

"I didn't want to bring the water on me into the house so I hid here to dry and lost the count of time. It's a beautiful sight here." More and more orange sun beams was falling on the white apple trees and the beautiful rainbow appeared over the orchard.

"Well we were thinking..." Sweetie Belle took a step forward. "If could you tell us some stories about your world? Pleease." The three looked in his eyes.

He pretended consideration. "Okay. Let's sit everypony." Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle jumped on the bags of corn seeds and Scootaloo climbed on the wheelbarrow. "I will tell you the story form the middle ages of my land. A time of kings, heroes and tyrants..."

About two hours later Applejack entered the barn, searching for her sister and her friends. "Apple Bloom where are ya?" She smiled as she saw the four ponies sleeping in there. Sneaking so she didn't wake up anypony, she quietly and carefully carried each of he fillies one by one into the house. When she finished she looked at the large pegasus lying on the floor. "Sleeping like a foal." Applejack searched the room and found a blanked. She covered him and smiled. As she headed back to house she turned to him once again and whispered. "Goodnight."

...............................................................................................................

Sunlight and birds woke him up. When he opened his eyes he was surprised to see that he wasn't in his bed but on the barn's floor. "*yawn* Guess I fell asleep during the second story." He stretched and headed to the kitchen. There was Applejack here, she was wearing a green apron and was kneading a paste.

"Mornin' Applejack."

"Howdy Longwing. Did ya sleep well? Ah took the girls yesterday, but couldn't make mahself to wake you up. Ya look so sweet while sleepin." She laughed and put the plate full of sandwiches in front of him.

"I guess that I'm really terrible story teller if I made the girls and myself fell asleep." He sit by the table and started eating. Mmm... Delicious. After filling up his stomach he asked. "What time is it? Shouldn't we be at work right now?"

She shook her head. "It's 'bout half past eleven. Thanks ta that Ya took the girls away yesterday we were able ta finish most of the work planned for today. Big Mac and Caramel will handle the rest. Besides Ah didn't want Ya ta be tired at yer first flying lesson."

His ears and wings shoot up instantly. "I forgot about the lesson!" Pegasus jumped from the chair and run in the direction of the lake.

"WAIT!" Applejack tried to stop him but he was gone. She knew that the last thing that anypony could expect from Rainbow Dash was punctuality, and he didn't have to leave that early. "*sigh* Pegasi."

Longwing sprinted across the fields, excited like never before in his life. I'm going to learn how to fly! He spread his wings as he run, imagining that he was soaring through the skies. He slowed down when he realized that most probably he wont be able to fly just yet. But it's still awesome! He returned to his crazy pace.

The lake was shimmering with light of the sun, beautifully composing between field's and hills behind the Sweet Apple Acres. But even this marvelous sight couldn't calm down grey pegasus that was walking in circles by the lake. What's taking her so long!? Am I late? Nah, no chance, I left early. I hope she didn't forget. He was torturing himself with thoughts when he heard familiar sound. Longwing looked up to see a blue dot followed by the rainbow trail closing in to him fast.

Rainbow Dash spotted Longwing and chuckled. Let's show him a professional in action! She didn't slow down and passed by him only by centimetres, then she shoot up and made a few barrels and sudden turns before landing in front of stunned stallion.

He stood there gaping at blue mare. "That was AWESOME Rainbow Dash!"

She let out a smirk. "Well you are talking to the best flier in Equestria after all." Her smile disappeared instantly. "Attention!"
He followed order quickly standing at attention. "So you want me to train you in flying, am I right?"

"Yes ma'am!" He saluted.

Rainbow jumped towards him almost crashing her face into his, glaring. "But do you have the guts to train with me?!"

"Yes Rainbow!"

"I can't hear you!"

"YES RAINBOW DASH!"

"Awesome." Her friendly appearance returned. As she made some space between them. "But don't think that it's gonna be easy. For a pegasus like me flying is as easy and natural as sleeping, but since you have never used your wings we need to start from scratches."

Big pegasus nodded. "Never expected this would be easy."

She smiled. "Okay Longwing, lets check your hardware."

He raised his eyebrow. "My what?"

"Wings. Spread your wings to the full length."

"At once." He did as she said, spreading his wings as far as he could.

Now it was Rainbow's turn to be surprised. With his wings unfolded he was quite a sight, looking a lot bigger than he really was. And quite intimidating she had to admit. "Wow. Thats one hay of a wing span." She muttered to herself. "You should consider taking a job as a royal guard you know. You look really impressive."

He blushed a bit, then grinned and winked to her. "Every girl I meet says so." Rainbow giggled. "If you work some more on your shape, then maybe one day you would be half as cool as me." They both burst into laughter.

Blue mare inspected the pegasus in front of her circling him. "You've got wings proportionally bigger than regular pegasi, this should help to lift your heavy flank up." She stopped in front of him. "Now I will inspect your flight muscles, strain those and you will be grounded for few days, and we don't want that."

"I didn't know that you were a physiotherapist."

"Phy- what?"

"You know the... muscle health specialist."

"Ow that one. Ya heard about the Wonderbolts?" He shook his head. "Well. Wonderbolts are the best flyer team in all of Equestria and I am aspiring to be one of them. Every Wonderbolt have to know how to keep herself and the others in shape to fly, recruits are also required to know first aid and stuff like that so I took a job as a coach at the summer flight camps for the young pegasi." She smiled. "It was kinda fun you know... Of course kids for most of the time were pain in the flank but some of them had a head for pranks. Heheh... Other coaches weren't so happy but I had fun." She closed to him and stooped by his side. "Now stand still." She put her hoof on his back, while he looked in the opposite direction hoping to hide the fact that his cheeks were red as Big Macintosh's coat. "Okay now slowly flap your wings." He did as she said, she could feel his flight muscles moving under her hooves. These big, strong muscles... She shook her head rapidly to get rid of her thoughts realizing that she was blushing.

"Ehem. Am Ah interruptin' somethin'?" Rainbow jumped away from Longwing like burnt, while his wings locked to his sides. From behind the nearby tree there was Applejack walking in their direction grinning widely.

"What the hay AJ!?" Startled blue pegasus almost shouted, but after a moment she regained her composure realizing how awkward her outburst looked in this situation. "I mean... Well I was... I was just checking if Longwing is fit for training. Yeah. And he is fit for training. Ok Longwing why don't you make a few laps from here to that apple tree over there to warm up."

"Okay Rainbow!" Gray pegasus steadily run to the tree pointed by the Rainbow, happy that he could hide his blushing face.

"And flap your wings while you run! You need to work on your coordination!"

Applejack walked to the Rainbow Dash with wide grin on her face.

"What?" Blue mare looked a bit uncomfortable.

"Nothin' sugarcube." Orange pony turned her attention on the grey pegasus.

After few minutes Rainbow stopped Longwing. "Thats enough. Now you will have to try jumping while flapping your wings." She thought for a moment. "AJ could we use your obstacle course?"

"Not a problem." She led them to the obstacle course nearby one of the barns. When they made it to their goal Longwing stretched his limbs readying for the challenge in front of him.

Rainbow stood at the start point with her hoof raised. "Ready? GO!"

He rushed ahead. He jumped over first few hurdles with no problem, but when he tried to overcome the taller one he stumbled and fell to ground. "Ouch!"

"Well those are set fer me. Ah'll lower them a bit." She dismantled top planks in the higher of the hurdles, while Longwing dusted himself and returned to the start point.

As soon as Applejack finished her job he tried again, this time overcoming every obstacle on his way. When he finished his third lap he heard Rainbow shouting to him. "Now use your wings while jumping!" He followed her instructions although it was hard to maintain rhythm while running and flapping wings simultaneous and several times he almost fell. He jumped over the highest hurdle when a soft melodious voice distracted him.

"Hello everypony!" He turned his head in the direction of the voice and crashed through the fence and then blinded from the hit he rammed an apple tree. The world gone black.

.....................................

Senses slowly returned to Longwing.

"Um. I think he is waking up."

"I'm terribly sorry Longwing. I didn't mean to disrupt your training. I'm really really sorry."

He opened his eyes and saw Fluttershy sitting beside him with a first aid box in her hooves, and Rarity looking at him with apologizing expression.

"It's alright. Ouch!" He brought his hoof to his forehead. "Note to self. Avoid trees."

Rainbow Dash laughed and closed to him. "Nice crash. But you are not going to give up because some tree beaten you, are you?" She asked giggling.

Longwing looked at her and gave her a sly grin.

"Are you kidding? I'm just warming up!"