My Little Hero

Chapter Two

I wasn't expecting a Soul Gaze, but when my eyes met hers, I was sucked into one. Eyes were the gateway to someone's soul, at least I knew that in my world. Humans who looked into someone else's eyes kind of get an understanding of each other's souls. For me, and others who had magic like mine, when we locked eyes with someone, we get a full gaze into their soul. There were two draw backs to it. One, the other person, magical or not, get a full Soul Gaze also. But the worst part about it was that whatever you saw, good or bad, you would always remember it, fresh every time you recalled it. But this was with humans. I didn't consider that my magic would affect ponies too.

I saw her soul as she saw into mine. I didn't know what she would see in me, though I had a good idea what it could be. But her soul...It was filled with kindness. She was trustworthy. Someone who would always be honest and would tell you the truth. She had a mark of a kind friend. And I felt relaxed when I snapped out of the gaze. And then I saw the shock in her face.

"What in tarnations...was that?" she asked softly. I noticed the tear drop from her eye and I looked away. It took a lot for me to feel bad for someone. But I had hurt her in the moment of that Soul Gaze. She didn't need to see it. No one did.

"Umm, what was that about?" Pinkie Pie piped up. As an outsider, she would have only seen her friend freeze up in the middle of saying something and become scared of something. If she was smart, she would realize it was something from when we locked eyes.

Applejack was the first to really recover. "It's nothin', Pinkie Pie," she said. Pinkie Pie just tilted her head as she watched us. "So, ya need a place to stay. Well, it ain't gonna be free. Ya better be ready to work if ya want to stay."

I looked at her, my expression turning back to my serious, somewhat irritated look. It was more natural for me and something I used to show that I mean business. "Thanks," I said. "I think that's a far trade. As long as I can get sleep tonight first."

"I hear ya, honey. Come along, now. I don't have all day." With that, she started back the way she came. I followed, walking up beside her. I noticed her calling me 'honey' but knew it wasn't anything special. It was one of those southern things.

"So...no party?" Pinkie Pie asked from where we left her standing.

It was after a short walk before Applejack spoke again. I guess she wanted to be sure Pinkie Pie was out of ear shout. "What was that back there?" she asked me. "When I looked into yer eyes, I saw somethin'."

"What did you see?" I asked her. I was curious what she had actually saw and how she interpreted it. It's always different between people. I could have Soul Gazed with Pinkie Pie or Rainbow Dash or really anyone from my world, and they would all see something differently than others. Some would see a memory, something that defined me. Others would see images or get feelings. Like how I got feelings from Applejack, knowing now that she was trustworthy. Probably why she wanted to speak with me first before telling anyone else. She wanted to make sense of what she saw before she could talk about it. She may even keep it secret if I asked her to.

"I...I don't know exactly," she said. "It was more like I felt pain and confusion. I felt like I was lost and needed to find a place I belong." Much like what I was going through now. Did this mean she saw me as I was?

"That's what you saw in me," I explained. "I guess it's very clear I'm not from around here. This land is Equestria, correct? I've never even heard of this land. I just awoke on the road. I was lost and confused on how I got there." Which was mostly true. I was lost and confused, but I knew exactly how I got here. I just had to find a way back to my world.

She glanced over at me. "Ya serious? Where ya from then?"

"Hard to explain," I told her. "You know anyone who can use magic around here?"

"Hay yeah. I know a few ponies who could use magic. I'll introduce ya to them tomorrow after we do some chores. Hope ya no stranger to do some hard work."

I growled. "Truthfully, I rather talk with your magic using friends and try and get back to my world. But since you're giving me a place to sleep tonight, the least I could do is help out. I'm guessing you run an apple farm?"

"Shoot, honey, what gave that away? It's not like it's who I am." I glanced back, seeing that her cutie mark was of three apples. "I guess ya still searchin' or somethin', huh?" I looked at her again. "What I saw," she clarified. "I got the feelin' that ya was still searchin'."

I looked back, but this time I looked at my leather covered ass. I hadn't removed my coat since I got here. Did I have a mark on me? That made me shutter. Tough guy like me, having a "cutie" mark? Fuck that shit. I rather have no mark and keep wondering the world than to have something cute on my ass. "You can say that," I said.

"Well, shoot, honey. It ain't nothin' to be ashamed off. Everypony will find what they're meant for sooner or later."

"Oh, you found him." We both looked up to see Rainbow Dash flying above us. "Sorry for losing you back there. I wanted to catch up with Applejack and ask her."

"Ya, thanks," I said, a little annoyed at her for just leaving me back there.

"By the way, I never got your name," Rainbow Dash said, gliding down to be level with us. I noticed her mark this time. It was like a lightning bolt shooting from a cloud, but it was colored as a rainbow.

"It's Hero. Hero Time."

"That sounds awesome! So, Hero, how long are you staying?"

"Actually, Rainbow," Applejack interrupted. "I think it would be better to save the questions for tomorrow. He needs some rest for tomorrow. And after runnin' into Pinkie Pie after his day, I don't blame 'im."

"Ya, Pinkie Pie can be a hoofful at first, but she's cool," she replied. "Just wait until you go to one of her awesome parties! I'm sure she'll throw one for you tomorrow."

"Rest first. I'll worry about all of that tomorrow," I said. I didn't really care for parties, but I guess it couldn't be helped.

"Sure thing. Well, catch you two later!" With that, she flew off, a rush of wind following her that made Applejack have to stop and hold herself from falling over. I did the same, though I was able to hold a lot easier.

"That pony sure is a handful," Applejack said. "And don't mind Pinkie Pie. She's always like that. She'll find every excuse to throw a party. But they are always ones that liven up every pony, that's for sure. Well, here we are. Sweet Apple Acres."

I looked out at the hundreds of apple trees with a farm house at the edge of them. It was a sight. And I had to wonder what chores she would have me do in the morning. I followed her to the farm house, looking around at all of the apple trees.

She pushed open the door and called out. "Hay, every pony. I'm home. And I brought company."

A little pony ran out from a door way to Applejack, excited. "Big Sis, Big Sis!" she called. "How did it go? Did you sell a lot of apples!"

"Sure did, Apple Bloom. Every last one of 'em."

"That's awesome, big sis!" The little pony, who had a yellowish fur with a hot pink bushy mane with a pink bow in it, had a southern country accent much like Applejack. But because she was still young, she had that higher pitch squeaky voice that a lot of little girls had. I also noted that she did not have a cutie mark. Judging by that and what Applejack had mentioned earlier, no pony was born with one but instead received it later in life. How, I didn't know.

I had an image of an occult of ponies wearing hoods surrounding a young scared pony. Two or three of the adult ponies held the little one down as another pony, their leader, comes over with a branding rod made just for that pony. But I very much doubt that was how it was done. More than likely it was a magical pony who would make the mark appear when the young pony comes of age. Or a pony god or goddess puts it there. Regardless, the mark seems to be a part of them and define who they are, meaning that however they get the mark, it's only after they discover their talent or professions. Applejack being an apple farmer has apples as her mark, and Pinkie Pie, who obviously loves parties, has party balloons.

I thought a bit about this while they talked. But I snapped my attention back to them as the little pony looked at me for the first time and I could see fear in her face. Just the look of me frighten her. Applejack noticed this also and took this time to introduce me. " Hero this here is my little sister, Apple Bloom." I looked at the little pony for a moment before I looked up to see a larger maroon colored pony with an orangish-blond mane walk in with an elderly lime green colored pony with a white mane. "And this here is my brother Big McIntosh and Granny Smith. Everypony, this is Hero. He's going to stay here for a while."

They all gave me suspicious looks, but Granny Smith came forward first. "Well, welcome to Sweet Apple Acres, young colt. Ya just in time for dinner." Much like the other female ponies, she had an accent also, though she was more shaky like most older folks are.

"Eeyup," said the big male pony. He had a strong deep bass of a voice and he gave me the impression that he didn't talk much. Reminds me a pub owner I knew in Chicago.

"I'm fine, thanks," I said. "I just need rest. I have a headache in the form of a horn in my head."

That made the old pony chuckle. "I have just the cure for 'at," she said. "An old Apple family recipe for after a long day workin' on the farm."

"Oh, there's no need. I have something in my bag. I just need a place to sleep."

"Nonsense," Applejack said. "Granny Smith 'as the best stuff for aches. Makes it with the same apples we grow here. And ya can't go to sleep on an empty stomach. Not good for ya."

I growled but followed after my stomach growled also. The little pony didn't say anything the whole time. But as we made our way to the dining room, she hung back to whisper to her big sis. "Ah, sis? Are ya sure ya can trust this pony?"

"Hush now, Apple Bloom. There ain't nothin' wrong with 'im. He might look a little scary but ya shouldn't judge every pony by the way they look."

"Ya, but..."

"No buts, Apple Bloom."

The rest of the evening was a little awkward. Apple Bloom remained quiet for most of the night. Big Mac sure enough was a pony of few words. Hell, it felt like I was at the pub in Chicago whose owner was also called Mac. Granny Smith and Applejack did most of the talking. Discussing the farm and the chores to do tomorrow. It sounded like we were going to be harvesting a few apples to take into town to sell.

The food was great, though it was very apple heavy. I guess living on an apple farm would mean a lot more apple based meals too. Regardless, it was good, especially the apple pie. I would stay just for the pie if it wasn't for the fact that I was a pony.

As we ate pie though, the discussion on where I was going to sleep came up. Much to Apple Bloom's protest against it, I was getting her room while she stayed with Applejack. Normally, I would complain too about sleeping in a girl's room, but I just wanted to sleep. I would have even taken the floor or slept in a pile of hay in the barn.

I was pleasantly surprised how much this pony world was much like my own. The kitchen looked just like a real kitchen, though it was out dated by my world's standards. They had chairs and utensils like the human world, and the bedrooms even had real beds in it. I was actually expecting piles of hay in the bedrooms to serve as the beds, but no, these were the same types of beds just like the real world. They even had clothes, even though every pony so far didn't wear anything other than a hat, bow, or scarf.

I thought about attempting to remove the coat, but ended up just laying in the bed. It was hard to get comfortable at first, and I would normally chop it up to being in an unfamiliar bed, but I think being in an unfamiliar body was more reasonable. But I did end up falling asleep.