CHAPTER I
"Daniel? Y'all up, yet?" I hear the all-too-familiar voice of my coworker/landlady knocking on the other side of my door. Groaning, I stir from my sleep and sit up, before checking the clock on my nightstand.
5:00 AM. It's still too early for me.
I groggily kick my legs out of my blanket and rub the sleep out of my eyes before looking at the door.
"Coming, Applejack. Hold on a minute... just gotta get dressed."
"Ah got it. Jus' lettin' y'all know that breakfast is on the table!"
I let out a long, drawn-out yawn while stretching my arms out. Then I decide that it's time to stand up and start the day. Hobbling over to my dresser, I also decide that the best way to start it would be to get dressed. Showering and shaving could come after the day's over.
My medium-length dark brown hair blows along with the breeze as Applejack and Apple Bloom continue standing there in the marketplace, with me sitting at a desk, pencil in one hand, and paper right below it.
Yes, I was told that I would be a helper at Sweet Apple Acres last year... but what I didn't expect was that my line of work wouldn't be bucking apples or carrying the heavy stuff, despite my willingness to try.
I look at my thin frame that my orange button-up shirt and red overalls hide, and confirm that, despite working at a farm, my main use would be the brains behind the income.
Of course I'm getting paid well, mind you. As soon as I did the mathematics for the Apple Family, some of the select few ponies of this town that allowed me into their home at the time, it was a given fact that, from that day forward, I would be the smart one.
Now don't get me wrong! I'm not one to consider myself family in that sense! Sure, some of these ponies might be cute and all, but... well... at this point, Applejack seems more like an older sister than a potential partner, and all of the others are either taken or just don't... attract me in that way.
Living in this world as the only human for a year did make me consider my family life, though... but considering the fact that I was never really one to even want a partner, I got over it after the first month.
And thus, I am happy. Happily living among colorful pastel ponies, with as mutual of an interest in them being friends as I am to them. And what's more, I even have a loving family here: an older sister-type mare named Applejack, an older brother named Big McIntosh, a younger sister named Apple Bloom, a grandmother named Granny Smith, and a crazy pink mare named Pinkie Pie... though despite the fact that she's an unspecified extension due to a blur in their genealogy, they're considered friends enough that they don't even care about the specifics.
They even used that as a reference to me being a brother and a cousin to them.
The other ponies don't run away from me. Never have, actually. I would be lying if they didn't seem more curious than anything, though. A few questionable gazes at first. Eventually, though, they became more comfortable around me, and even mustered up enough willpower to talk to me.
Now farm work wasn't my first option, though. Our friend, Princess Twilight Sparkle, offered a place over at her newly formed castle, but I kindly declined, preferring the simple approach of a small home built near Sweet Apple Acres. Though a few strings might've been pulled, I was at least granted access to the Throne Room regardless of meetings, and even a fancy badge that I could flash to show my status as a High Lord for my species... which happens to make me that much of a deal... and trust me, being the only human in this world has given me special protection via a simple device as well. One push of a button, and I could have the Royal Guard on the tails of anypony I deem a threat.
But of course, I refuse to use those things to my advantage. I'm happy just living on peacefully, helping those around me when necessary, and offering help whenever.
"Y'all mind givin' us a hand here, Daniel?" Applejack's voice quickly breaks me from my train of thought, and my eyes jerk towards her.
Huh. It looks like it's about to be Two PM, already! That's about the usual time when Applejack and Apple Bloom would be loading the carts back up.
"Oh, uh... sure thing, AJ! Just one sec!" I reply, grabbing the paperwork and carefully arranging it to where the earliest of the week appears first, and today last.
I lower the paper to where she could see it, considering she stands up midway down my waist. As she skims over it with a single brow raised, I reach into my shirt's pocket and draw a thick black pair of reading glasses. "Now, then... according to the paperwork, we made about one hundred bits less today than we did yesterday."
Her ears droop down at that. "Land sakes! That don't sound good at all!"
I smile and shake my head, then reassure her, "No, it's not necessarily a bad thing. Yesterday, we were above the average by about one hundred and fifty bits, so the reductions would still make today fifty extra bits earned... and that's just from the last two days." I flip the paper and point at Thursday's report. "Then on Thursday, our busiest day this week, we've actually gone up by two hundred and seventy five bits!"
I grin excitedly before continuing to go through the numbers and mathematics. Sure, I'm certain that she doesn't even have a clue about half of what I'm saying, but it still doesn't help the fact that I have been, and always will be, a nerd at heart... but a proud one at that!
"-so in conclusion, we've-" I'm quickly silenced by Applejack's hoof, followed by her amused grin.
"A simple good 'r bad's all Ah gotta hear, Sugarcube." she says to me, lightly chuckling at her nerdy brother.
I stare blankly at her for a moment before sheepishly grinning and scratching the back of my neck. "Oh! Well, uh... very good, actually!"
"Well, Ah'd say Ah'm a might glad ta hear that! So... Ah guess that's all fer today, then?" she asks.
I nod my head before placing the papers back in the suitcase. "Yeah. I guess that does about wrap it up." I then turn towards the wagon, only to raise an eyebrow at the amount of spare apples we still have. Surely the harvest for today was quite a lot more than usual, as the amount of baskets that remain on the ground are numerous!
Surely they might need an extra helping hand... and besides my love for math and numbers, I still would put helping others above all else!
"Hey, um... actually, I was wondering if I could help out a little more?" I ask, eyeing the apple crates that Big McIntosh continues to effortlessly lift and place in the large wagon that he usually carries.
"Well shucks, Sugarcube! Ah'm certain Big Mac'll love y'alls help!"
I turn to face him, and he gives me a nod of approval, as well as a simple one-liner. "Eeyup!"
I smirk at his common catchphrase before walking up to the buckets and squatting down to lift one up. Considering the fact that I've seen Apple Bloom carry these things, it shouldn't be too hard, right?
Wrong.
I strain myself just to lift it up a single inch. Applejack and Big Mac eye me curiously, while a few of the other ponies around start focusing their attention on me as well.
My cheeks start to turn red as I finally lift the basket one foot off the ground. Only need to lift it two more feet up, or face the consequences!
"Daniel? Are y'all alright?!" Applejack asks worriedly.
I exhale heavily before feigning a smile and replying, "Y-yeah! D-don't worry, I got it!"
Carefully, I manage to lift it up one more foot. Sweat pours down my hair and my fingertips start to get slicker. My grip begins to shake, and I know that it's now or never to lift it up onto the wagon!
And finally, with one last mighty sway, I lift it up three feet total, and then quickly place it onto the wagon with a loud THUD!
Letting out a long sigh of relief, my arms fall limply to my sides and I wipe the sweat from my brow.
Meanwhile, I turn towards the remaining pile of buckets and feel my inner male get a metaphorical kick between the loins as Apple Bloom, sweet little Apple Bloom, lifts an equally sized crate up effortlessly, and gently places it next to the one I just spent about thirty seconds struggling with... almost in ten seconds flat!
She then obliviously trots over to another one and begins adding more to it, completely unaware of my predicament!
I let out a disappointed sigh before walking back over to Applejack, who looks at me worriedly. "Y'all alright, Sugarcube?"
I grumble and weakly nod my head. "Yeah... sorry, AJ."
She smiles warmly at me before nuzzling my hand. This gets my attention, and causes me to look at her. "Hm?"
"Listen, Sugarcube. Ah know y'all might not be as strong as any o' us, but y'all gotta understand we do appreciate y'alls help!"
I smirk, but she cuts me off again.
"An' besides that... well... y'all can solve the kinds of problems that would take me days ta complete in mere seconds! Shucks, if'n y'all weren't there gettin' that paperwork done, Apple Bloom an' I wouldn't be done packin' 'till five in the afternoon!" She then takes her stetson off and places it onto her chest. "Y'all have saved us so much time, Daniel! So much time that we could be spendin' as a family! If y'all weren't there, Ah'd wager we'd still have as many family feuds as we did when Pinkie discovered we was cousins!"
And just like that, she did it again. She managed to find a way to cheer me up from my predicament.
I give her a thankful smile and gently pat her exposed mane. This makes her chuckle before nudging my leg lightly, almost like a heavily filtered jab on the shoulder, but lower due to her height.
And yet, despite the fact that I recoil from it, I barely feel any pain from it.
"Thanks, AJ... you always know how to cheer me up." I finally manage to say.
She places her stetson back on her head before replying, "Any time, Sugarcube. Now, y'all run along, alright? Get y'all some rest fer the weekend!"
I smile and nod my head at her before wishing the others a good day. I then look around the town, wondering what to do next.
But then, the problems come back. I hear a few snickers and laughs in the distance, with the comments all being the same thing. They were laughing at how a filly could lift more than I could.
And now, embarrassment begins to kick in. I feel my cheeks flush as the sounds grow evermore closer. Deciding that being outside isn't a good idea, I finally make up my mind.
Screw society, I'm going to the tavern. At least up there, I could find a very helpful mare that, despite common beliefs, happens to know a lot more about life than most of the others here in Ponyville ...
...
... despite her methods that she requires in order to share that knowledge with her friends.
Berry Punch... a peculiar mare. Almost as much of a case as the town's local mailmare.
Almost like working in opposites when it comes to logic. The mailmare, whom I believe either goes by "Ditzy Doo" or "Derpy Hooves", has a strange disorder with her eyes that makes them constantly face the opposite direction... but every time she bumps her head, they straighten out, and she instantly gets flawless vision... but the drawback is once she bumps her head again, she reverts to her usual, clumsy self. Despite this, she always has her goofy, childish personality that the locals love.
But then, once I look at Berry Punch, I'm not even sure what to make of it! Whenever she goes a whole day without a single shot of alcohol in her system, she's mopey, depressed, and walks like she's tipsy... but when she drinks just about her own body's weight in the strongest alcohol in Equestria, she's almost able to match Twilight in intellect!
And just for the record, no. She doesn't walk right while intoxicated. She just doesn't walk right at all!
"So what can I do fer ya today, hun?" the barmaid asks me as I sit on a stool beside a seemingly passed out mare with a bright plum colored coat and a raspberry pink colored mane and tail.
I place my elbows on the counter and scratch the back of my head. "Just a small glass of water, please."
The barmaid nods her head before turning towards the glassware on the counter behind her.
My thoughts are interrupted once I turn to face the mare beside me. When she mumbles something barely comprehensible, I curiously raise an eyebrow as she slowly opens her eyes. Finally, she stares at me with an expression blank enough to compete with a roll of papyrus freshly made out of a paper factory.
We stare at each other for about ten seconds before she sighs and lifts her head up off the counter. Then, clearing her throat, she gives me a knowing frown and states the obvious.
"You're depressed."
"... And you're drunk." I reply, countering her obviousness with my own observation.
Despite this, she merely shrugs her shoulders before taking another swig of hard cider from a bottle.
"Better to be a cheerful drunk than a sober wreck... so tell me what's wrong."
I sigh before rolling my eyes and leaning on the bar. My gut tells me that this was a mistake, but my mind is too focused on seeking answers to my problem.
"Well, where do I begin?"
She giggles before taking another sip from the bottle. "Well, the idea would be to start from the beginning, would it not?"
I lightly snicker at the blunt truth. "Yeah... I guess it would."
And so, I tell her about the events that occurred over at the marketplace. I tell her about how weak I feel, and how I want to do more to help out with the farm, besides just doing numbers and calculations.
She nods and continues to drink from the same bottle, until I finish my testimony.
"So let me get this straight..." she begins, but I quickly counter her with a joke.
"How could you get something straight when you can't even look straight?"
She smirks before placing the bottle on the counter. "Hey, jus' because I decided to marry a mare doesn't mean I don't like stallions! An' besides that... I was drunk!"
I deadpan at her, but continue to grin. "Really? You? Drunk? I had no idea!"
She chuckles and nudges me with her hoof. I have to catch her as she does so, though, due to her level of intoxication.
"Oi! You know what I meant! I was... too drunk to think, anyways! Well... maybe not drunk enough, but you get the picture!"
I nod my head and chuckle back at her. "Yeah... I think I do." And of course, I'm sure she knows that it's a lie. She's almost as smart as Twilight when she's drunk, but still just as difficult to understand as Pinkie Pie.
And here I begin to wonder if she might be a relative?
After straightening both, myself and my friend on our bar stools, I lean my head on my arms again.
"Seriously, though... I don't know what I can do, Berry. I mean, sure I might be a lot taller than most of the ponies I see, but when it comes to strength, even the fillies have me beat!"
She closes her eyes and rubs her forehead with her hooves, either using that brain of hers, or feeling the nerves of her brain cells scream at her about abusing them with the strong alcohol that she's been ingesting the past few hours.
Finally, she opens her eyes again and looks my way. "Hmm... so you're trying to get stronger?"
I nod my head and reply, "Well, yeah! I've been trying to exercise, but-"
"No buts. Those always lead to excuses... though some butts lead to nicer things~"
"And you're trailing off of the subject."
She smirks before rolling her eyes. "Right. Anyways... I think I might have an idea."
I raise an eyebrow. "You do?" I deadpan at her. "It wouldn't involve alcoholism, would it?"
She waves a hoof my way. "Nah. Then I wouldn't have as much drinks available!"
She pauses for a moment.
Awkward silence fills the air... then, she starts to lightly snore.
I sigh, before looking at the bartender with a smile. "Um... check, please."
She nods before trotting over to the cash register.
I then pay my tab and stand from the bar. Meanwhile, Berry Punch smacks her lips before speaking far more clearly than she did while she was awake.
"I know a guy... Iron Will. He's a minotaur who can help you through his fitness seminars. Just grab the ticket from the bartender. She was supposed to throw 'em out, but I kinda-sorta felt she should keep one... just in case."
I raise an eyebrow before turning to the bartender again. She rolls her eyes before passing me the ticket.
"I'd watch him, though, if I were you. Last time he was here, he managed to turn Fluttershy into a complete and total b-" Berry Punch's snoring interrupts the bartender's words, but I get the picture.
With an appreciative nod, I thank her and my unconscious friend before stepping outside the door.
I sigh and walk towards my house. My mind is so lost right now, that I barely even have time to focus on the world around me.
I pull the ticket out of my pocket and stare at it curiously.
"Tired of being weak? Feel like you need to grow a spine, some muscles, AND a new outlook on life?! Iron Will's Fitness Seminar is for YOU, then!"
I read the words out loud, and sigh. "Well, I guess I could give it a shot... what's the worst that could happen?"
As if by fate deciding to play with me even more, I crash into a tall fuzzy figure. The two of us yelp before falling backwards, and into the dusty road.
"Oww..." I hear a feminine figure mumble in front of me.
I gasp before quickly standing back up and apologizing repeatedly. Due to the darkness of the area, I'm unable to see who it is, but I could tell that whatever it is, it's a female... and a guy should never hurt a female!
I then feel something I didn't expect to feel... a hand. The hand grips onto my wrist and I attempt to pull her back up... but instead, she pulls me to the ground, and tightens her grip on my wrist.
"Why don't you watch where you're walking, you..." She pauses as I close my eyes and flinch. Yep... definitely a female who has anger issues.
To my surprise, however, her tone calms down. "Oh! Sorry, I thought you were just another one of those nosy stallions trying to get a free peek-show!"
I slowly open my eyes, only to find a light blue fuzzy hand poking towards me from the shadows.
I groan in slight pain before accepting her offer. She quickly lifts me up and places me on the ground without even needing to use her other hand. My wrist also feels like it's on fire, now. Yep. This girl has some serious strength, too...
Wait a second...
I rub my eyes before she snickers and crosses her arms over her chest. "Eyes up here, bud!"
I then realize that I'm looking too far down. I gulp and look up even higher... then pause as I look into her golden eyes.
And it is at this moment that my brain functions again. I immediately realize that this isn't a pony... this is another outsider! Like me!
"What's wrong? Can't see in the dark?" she asks.
I silently nod my head and scratch the back of my hair. "S-sorry... I can't see too well without my glasses." And then the thought occurs to me... where did my glasses go?!
"Oh! Um... here, let me help you." I see her figure kneel down and pick something up off the ground. She then rubs the rims with her fingers before placing them over my eyes again. "There... better?"
And now, I could see clearly again. To my surprise, this girl... she stands just right below my chest in height! And she's... well, maybe no a human, but...
"Hello? Can you speak?" she asks, placing her hands on her hips and tilting her head to the side.
Her otherworldly huge golden eyes look up at me curiously. I can only open my mouth and mumble, however, as I briefly observe her features.
If memory serves, she must be a minotaur. Her fur is light blue, and the tip of her snout is slightly pink. She has two iron-colored horns that protrude from her bright silver hair. Her hands, to my surprise, only have four fingers, as opposed to five... but regardless, their shapes are still natural, so it's just the way she was born.
Over her chest, she wears a red tank top that ends midway between her torso area and her waist. Her legs, however, are covered in dark blue pants that fit tightly around her. Over top of the pants is a bright silver skirt with ridges similar to that of a cheerleader's uniform. Her hooves are covered by bright orange socks and dark purple shoes.
Immediately after the situation sinks in, I shake the senses back into my head and scratch the back of my hair nervously.
"Huh? Oh, um... s-sorry, ma'am. I j-just... d-didn't think there were any minotaurs here in Ponyville..." I continue to stutter as I try to form a normal sentence.
She raises an eyebrow before a sly grin forms on her mouth. She decides to step closer to me and lean down, as if to look at my face from below... but in doing so, I end up getting a clearer view of her chest, which only makes my cheeks burn even more.
"See something you like, big guy?" she asks in a strange tone.
I quickly stand back up and shake my head. "Um... s-sorry! I just, uh... well, I, um..."
She then surprises me yet again, as she bursts into a fit of laughter before patting me on the back. "Relax, dude! I'm just messing with ya!"
I rub the side of my back where she patted me. I slightly fear that my spine might've just gotten deformed, but I decide not to say anything.
"Uh, r-right. Noted!" I say with a nervous smile.
She then extends her hand and smiles far more casually. "I'm Platinum Grace, by the way... though my friends just call me Grace."
I stand back up and nod my head before shaking her hand in response. "I'm Daniel... just Daniel. N-nice to meet you, um... Grace."
She chuckles before crossing her arms over her chest again. "Nice meeting you too, Just Daniel."
"Um..."
"So what brings you here, anyways?" she asks.
I'm about to respond, when I realize that my ticket is no longer in my hand! I soon start to worry about my predicament, when she looks at the ground and picks up the very thing I was looking around for.
"Huh... though I left this old thing at home! Oh, well."
I turn to face her, and gasp when I notice that she now has my ticket. "Oh! Um... a-actually, I think that one's mine..."
She looks at me again, before turning towards the ticket in her hand. She then grins mischievously before waving it around.
"Oh? You say this is your ticket?"
I slowly nod my head before reaching my hand towards it. She, however, moves it out of my reach.
"Hm... what if I say it's mine, now?"
I sigh and shake my head. "Please, don't steal it from me."
She rubs her chin in thought before smirking. Her eyes go half-lidded while she keeps her mischievous smirk, then nods her head. "Alright, then... you can take it."
I nod my head and thank her before reaching for the ticket again. Instead of handing it over, however, she pulls it away from me again, then slides it in the center of her shirt.
My face turns red once more as she chuckles. "Well? Go ahead and get it, then!"
I stare at her in shock before shakily pointing at the ticket's location. "W-what?! You want me to... to..."
She sighs before rolling her eyes. "Oh, come on! Don't be a coward! Just take it from me... unless you're... scared?"
At this moment, my sweat begins to pour. Had I been wearing an apple hat, I bet my face would blend right in with it.
My mind then begins to get thoughts of what I might accidentally bump into if my fingers aren't capable of reaching the ticket, first.
But then, I realize that this could just simply be a trick of the mind that she's trying to do! Perhaps when my hand is in her shirt, she would turn the situation around and grip my arm while I'm unaware, then break it and accuse me of being a perv...
... even though I might be ogling her breasts as I ponder my next move very carefully.
The sound of her laughter breaks me from my trance. Curious, I look back up at her face, only to realize that I've been pointing in-between her boobs for who-knows-how-long...
And then, she grips the top of her shirt and stretches it slightly more open, forcing me to steal a glance at the pink bra that she wears underneath her shirt.
She then plucks the ticket from her shirt and places it in my hand.
"Umm... I, uhh..." I begin.
She giggles before winking at me. "You know something, Daniel? My dad would have a joyride with you."
"Wait, wha-?"
She waves her hand and turns to leave. "It's okay, though... I like you. I hope to see you again tomorrow!"
I fumble around, at a complete loss of words. Instinctively, I wave back at her, and watch as she rushes through the dark streets, towards the Apartment District.
Finally, I stare at the ticket again. I tilt my head, however, when I notice that a thin sheet of paper was slipped in-between where I folded it earlier.
(I folded it to give me room to stuff it in my pocket, mind you.)
Might as well call myself a cat, because curiosity strikes me once again, and I am forced to fall into its strange little trap.
Like my ticket, it's also folded... but its folds appear far more weathered... like it's been folded throughout the day... and maybe with some change from yesterday?
I unfold it, and straighten out my glasses. It's a small sheet that was torn out of a notebook. Small text has been written on it.
Due to the darkness of the area, I walk underneath the nearest lightpost to allow myself a better chance to see.
I then realize that it isn't just one sheet... it's several more small notes that were stuck together!
"... The heck even is this?" I murmur to myself before leaning in closer to read the contents.
"It's been a rough few days, but Dad and I finally got my apartment situation straightened out! I'd be moving to Ponyville, where I can finish up on my studies! I just hope his tour doesn't make him forget about me."
"I've been getting curious glances from most of the inhabitants... but why do some of them look at me with disgust? Is it something I did?"
"I don't get it! Why doesn't ~~anyone~~ anypony want to talk to me?"
"My dad should be returning to Ponyville next week! I hope he can explain some of these rumors I've been hearing..."
"The stallions have finally gotten closer to me... but I noticed that most of them keep peeking up my skirt! The sick perverts! Luckily I studied up on the anatomy of nine different species!"
"I saw someone that looked a little bit like me earlier today... but with less fur on him. I would've said hello to him, but I had to continue searching for a job. Rent's due in four weeks, and I'd appreciate having a bit of income!
"Anyways, he was having trouble picking up a basket of apples that a filly could lift up effortlessly... and here I thought I had it rough! Heh... I bet he'll be a fun one to mess around with..."
"I've decided to go to my dad's seminar with him. He was happy to hear that his daughter would be attending... I just hope the ponies that've treated me poorly don't appear there, as well... that could be a disaster waiting to happen! And not just for my dad's terribly short fuse. It still sends me shudders to see the last person he sent to therapy for breaking my heart back in High School..."
"Yeah, screw this book. If he sees it now, he'll probably have the whole Canterlot Guard on his tail! I might have to write a few corny things in my journal to replace these... wait, why am I ~~-------------------------------------~~"
I stare at the long gash at the end of the last page. She must've been disturbed at the last moment... maybe distracted by something?
I conclude that her dad probably walked in at that time, and she had no way to toss the pages without him noticing.
And then I recall her words earlier, and compare them with the notes in no particular order...
"My dad would have a JOYRIDE with you!"
"It still sends me shudders to see the last person he sent to therapy for breaking my heart in High School."
"I saw someone that looked a little bit like me earlier today... but with less fur on him!"
"I hope he can explain some of these rumors I've been hearing..."
What did she mean by all of those? And who the heck even is her dad?!
I look up at the moon, and decide that I'd have to find out tomorrow... and pray that she doesn't have a crush on me.
Finally, I stop and realize something that, up until this point, hasn't registered in my mind, yet.
"Oh... fuck... me..." I stare at the sheets and sweat once again. "I just invaded someone else's privacy! I just read a girl's diary!"
I rush back home, hoping I could come up with a plan that could save my skin once she figures out that these sheets are missing... and that I was the one that found them... and in doing so, one thing is for certain... she was able to lift me up off the ground without even the slightest bit of effort. With that said, if she gets mad, or her dad...
"I'm so dead..." I gulp as I quicken my pace back to Sweet Apple Acres.
