The Pursuit Of Happiness Chapter Three: Ponyville Beginnings

I walked out of the train with AJ and Rainbow, happy, confident, and ready to start fresh.

It was morning now, and Ponyville was alive and well. Pony’s everywhere were walking, talking, laughing, loving life.

As I walked from the train station alongside Applejack and Rainbow Dash, I could see so many things.

Town Hall was much bigger than it seems on the show. Thing has to be five story’s. It looked a lot more colorful and ornate than the show; the show really didn’t do the hall justice at all.

I could see fillies and colts running around, being children, having fun, playing. It was such a happy scene. They were coloring, playing tag, laughing, it was all so heart warming. Some even said hello to me, and welcomed me to town!

As we walked through town, Rainbow dash was the first to split.

“Hey, I need to get going, I have some serious cloudbusting to get done. See you two later!”

With that, she blasted off at the speed of light to the skies. Me and AJ had our mouths open.

“That Pegasus sure is sometin, ain’t she sugarcube?” I nodded in agreement, just admiring dash a bit.

AJ then looked at me with a sincere look on her face. “Hey, Sugarcube? Ah know you’re eager to get to Twilight’s and settle in, but ah got a few questions aboutcha still. Can we go someplace quiet?”

I was a bit stunned at her request, but nodded my head in agreement. She then led me to a bench underneath a shady willow tree. The scene looked so beautiful, like a scene out of a movie where the hero tells a confidante every little detail about their mission.

I sat on the bench, trying to get comfortable and AJ did the same. She even took off her hat as a sign of respect.

“Pardner, I just wanted to tell ya….. ah’m sorry ah acted so sour at the rodeo. Ah just have a bad tendency to get mad when somepony outperforms me. Ah….. ah guess it all started when Big Macintosh, my brother and ah, were young kids on the farm. For so long, he was ma and pa’s hard worker. Ah tried to keep up but a little filly can only do so much.”

I nodded my head at her, fully understanding the feeling of being outshined by a sibling, feeling lesser than they are. It’s hard being the youngest of four, I know from experience.

“I’m so sorry Applejack. I’m the youngest of four and believe you me girl, I know how tough it is being the underdog of the family. I was the last child. None of my siblings except my sister finished their schooling. I was expected to be smart, graduate, be a good person, etcetera etcetera.” I let my ears droop and my head fall slowly.

She tilted her head and cocked an eyebrow as she looked at me, wondering if I was ok. After a few seconds she surprised me by giving me a full on, full scale hug, almost a bear hug.

“Sugarcube, it’s ok. Being held to high standards ain’t the worst thing in the world!”

I sighed. “No, no….. it’s not that. It’s….. I miss home. I miss my brother, my sister, my sister in law, my brother, my niece Zoe, my parents, everything…..” I looked down shyly.

s“Especially my marefriend, Mackenzie…..” I actually started to cry as I thought of her. Memories of her and I’s first date at the movie theatre, all of our long talks, our plans for the future, the feeling of her soft lips on mine, her taste. Everything. I started to cry hard.

Applejack, used to having to comfort her little sister when she cried, knew what to do. She held me in a tight embrace and rubbed my back with her rough, calloused, weathered hoof. She made it so our heads rested on each other’s shoulders while we hugged. She made me feel so safe.

I sniffled. “A…..applejack. I….. I barely know you at all, but you make me feel so safe! How do you do it? I’ll never understand.”

She blushed a little bit and smiled at me widely. “Sugarcube, it’s because ah know how it feels to hurt. When my folks passed….. ah was at rock bottom for so long. I didn’t want ta breathe, ah didn’t want ta move on. And Jordan, you seem like such a great pony. You’re kind, and caring, and sweet, and handsome all things aside. Anypony alive could see it.”

I blushed the color of a tomato. My face was on fire.

“A….applejack, is making ponies blush like a school filly one of your specialties?” I said with a shy, tomato red face.

AJ blushed also and gave me a wicked smile.

At that point I was dead. I quickly dug a hole in the ground and slammed my face in to it. I couldn’t believe this….. I’d been in equestria for no time at all, and known AJ even shorter, did she like me? How could she that fast.

AJ chuckled when she saw me. Then she gulped.

“Hey, sugarcube, ah had a question. Ah uh…. Was gonna go get some snacks at sugarcube corner. Would y’all like to join me? It could be your chance to meet Pinkie Pie. Though ah gotta warn ya pardner, she’s a bit loco!”

I chuckled, as I already knew plenty about good ol pinkie. I looked at her.

“Applejack, are you asking me on a date?”

She then turned white pale and looked like she saw a ghost.

“WHAT?! No! Why, ah was just asking, cause you seem like you need a distraction!” She said this with a bit of a quiver in her voice, very uncharacteristic of her.

“Ah mean, if you don’t want to….. it’s fine Jordan, ah understand completely.”

I then did something bold. I leaned close to her, closer, and closer, and closer, till I could feel her breath on my face.

“AJ, you’re so, so very sweet. But….. I just hurt too much to do anything right now. I just want to meet twilight and such. I’ll meet pinkie pie another time.”

AJ nodded and smiled. “Understood sugarcube, AJ headin out. Bye now!” She waved her hoof goodbye and trotted off the sugarcube corner.

As she trotted off, I have to admit….. my male instincts kicked in. I couldn’t help but watch AJ closely, and admire her. She had forgotten her hat, and her blonde hair was showing, all beautiful and pony tailed in the back. She had such a beautifully shaped, athletic body, and her flank with the apples on it looked adorable. She was so cute.

Then, a thought consumed me, one that made my eyes jump. Could I have feelings for AJ!?

Then I noticed her hat. I gasped and shouted. “APPLEJACK, WAIT!”

Startled, she stopped dead in her tracks.

“YOU FORGOT YOUR HAT!” I started to gallop towards her while I held the hat and she smiled gratefully.

“Thank you plenty sugarcube, ah knew ah forgot something!” She took the hat and placed it over her head. “She is such a damn country girl” I thought to myself in my head.

“Well, bye now Jordan, ah’ll see you later!” I smiled at her.

“Bye AJ, take it easy!”

As she galloped away, I sighed. I needed a while to think before I went to Twilight’s library. There’s still so much on my mind. I walked to the park near town hall and sat down in the shade.

I started thinking about home. I missed Mackenzie so much. My poor baby….. she must be worried sick about me.

I missed her. I missed her touch. I missed her love. I missed her voice. I missed everything about her. She meant the world to me and I needed her.

“Would I ever see her again?” I said to myself quietly. I then started to cry again, tears streaming down my cheeks.

My eyes shut tight as I cried. I just sat there and wept. Why did this happen? Is there a reason? Was it just an amazing stroke of luck?

All of a sudden, I felt something nudge my leg. I opened my eyes slowly to see Applebloom. She gave me big eyes and smiled.

“Hey Mister, ah’ve been watchin you cry for a while now. You ok?”

I smiled and pet her mane softly.

“Yeah kid, I’m fine. Just sad is all. I’ll get over it.”

She nodded slowly and squee’d a bit as I pet her mane.

“Ah saw you and my sister talkin a while back. What were you talkin about?

“Nothin kiddo. Don’t worry about. What’s your name?” I tried to play it like I’d never seen her.

“Applebloom sir. Hey, if y’all ever need to talk, me and my friends Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle are always around town. Just catch us if you need us!”

“I will, Applebloom. See ya later!”

She smiled and galloped back to her friends. I watched them for the next ten minutes as they tried to get their cutie marks building pillow and blanket forts. I just rolled my eyes humorously. They never give up.

Talking to cute little Applebloom put me into a good mood, and I decided to head to the library now.

I walked through town to the library, and as I walked, I thought about AJ. Does she like me? I mean, it’s complicated if she does. I still have Mackenzie, she and I never broke up and I still love her so much and miss her.

“It’s just too soon to think of such feelings. I’ll try to just ignore her, kindly though.” I decided right as I got to the library.

“Now remember dude. You’ve just come to Ponyville, and you only know Applebloom, AJ, and Dash. Nopony else. Keep it together” I said as I knocked.

Twilight then opened the door. “Oh, hello there, you must be Jordan?”

I nodded. “Yes ma’am, and you must be Twilight Sparkle?”

She gave a graceful smile and nodded. “The one and only. Come in, come in!” She stepped away from the door and I followed.

The house was in a bit of a bad state, books everywhere.

“Sorry, with my former assistant gone, I’ve had to manage things and it’s not easy” she said. I then nodded in understanding.

“But that should all be over with now that I have a new one!” she said with a smile.

I smirked a bit. “Rainbow Dash told me all about you. The egghead, the brainiac, the nerd, etcetera.”

She stretched her eyes open wide and blushed. “Hey, I can’t help it if I love books. They’re the only friends who never hurt me…..” she said as her head drooped with her ears low.

I then got a serious look on my face and walked over to her. I sensed she needed cheering up, so I put my hoof on the side of her face and made her look at me.

“Hey, Twilight, I know how it is to be hurt. Believe me, I do. People are just hard for me….. but you have to go outside of your comfort zone sometimes. Trust me!” I smiled at her and she returned it.

“J…..Jordan, I have to tell you. You and I just met, and you’ve already managed to make me feel better than my friends normally do, in about two minutes. Are you an angel?”

I blushed tomato red and gulped. “I uh….. i…..” I just sat there and babbled like an idiot and she giggled.

“You’ll do good work around here, won’t you? Princess Celestia has had me up to my eyeballs in studying, and I need all the help I can get!”

I smiled and blushed a little bit. “Of course I’ll do a good job Twilight. Just tell me what you need done and it’s done.” I said a bit cocky. As I walked around the room, I didn’t see the floor was wet, and I started slipping.

“SHEISSE!!!!!” I cried out as I slipped. Twilight ran towards me and caught me.

“GOTCHA” she said as she held me in her hooves. She then looked down at me and into my eyes for a sec, and our horns both sparked, a bolt connecting our horns.

I opened my eyes wide and gulped. “Uh….. what the heck was that?”

Twilight gave me a confused face as she let me go. “No idea, that has never happened to me before.”

I stood there a bit awkwardly and we both looked away, shyly and a bit embarrassed.

I broke the silence. “Well, what’s my first job Twi?”

“Well, not so fast. Princess Celestia insisted you start tomorrow, and that you go to Canterlot to see her ASAP. So, go do that, and I’ll see you when you get home, ok?”

I nodded and she smiled. “See you soon, then!”

I then felt warm, and started glowing. The world rushed around my head, and all of a sudden, I was in a throne room in Canterlot.

-MEANWHILE, BACK ON EARTH-

Two police officers stood at the door of a quaint little apartment, on the outskirts of a city. The air was hot, but the mood was dark and gloomy as a man, a woman, and a 21 year old girl were crying their eyes out.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN THEY’RE GIVING UP THE SEARCH?!” The mother screamed at them. “MY SON IS MISSING, YOU CAN’T GIVE UP!!!!!”

The officers tried to calm the lady down, but it was no use. “Ma’am….. it’s been two weeks. The precinct is just too busy to keep wasting resources to find him. It’s been a week, he’s probably dead. I’m so sorry. But it’s over, and time to move on.”

With that, the officers left the family with the number of a funeral service company, and left it at that. As they walked away, neither of them spoke until they were in their squad car.

The taller of the two spoke first. “It’s so strange Mcnelly, I went to investigate the scene myself. His foot prints went all the way to the patch of grass, and they stopped there. There is NOTHING to indicate any abduction, no murder, nothing. He just….. vanished.”

Mcnelly nodded and sipped his coffee. “I know Watts. It’s so confusing, it has the whole country baffled, you seen the headlines? It’s crazy. I really hope this family recovers, he had such a bright future ahead of him.”

The two officers then started the car and headed back to the station.

-IN CANTERLOT-

I slowly came to as I sat on the floor, rubbing my head. I moaned in pain as my head hurt.

“Damn you, Twilight. Please never teleport me again until you work on your spell, that hurt!” Right then, I realized I was in the throne room.

“INTRUDER!” one of the guards shouted. His eyes were an evil shade of red, and glowing. He then took a defensive stance and charged towards me with his sabre. Determined to protect Celestia, he never slowed down.

I shrieked and quickly rolled out of the way, but he was too quick and followed my change in direction.

I felt the sabre stab into my chest. Not impaling me, but going in a good inch or two. I shrieked in pain and fell to the ground, clenching my chest.

“EAGLEHEART!” I heard a voice shout. “WHAT IN THE NAME OF EQUESTRIA HAVE YOU DONE?!”

Celestia was standing at the doorway, in pure shock and horror at the scene the saw. I was clenching my chest with blood pouring out of the wound, some organs showing. I then collapsed to the floor, the pain too much.

“EAGLEHEART, YOU FOOL. Did you learn NOTHING in training!? ALWAYS, AND I MEAN ALWAYS investigate before acting! You just hurt the pony whom I told you I was expecting!”

Eagleheart then shook his head rapidly and gasped, his eyes now a normal white. “Y…..your majesty, I am so sorry! I have no idea what came over me!” He hung his head low.

“You’re quite lucky you’re one of my top guards, or else I would have you exiled right now!” Celestia said, her voice boiling with anger.

“Get a medical team, NOW.” He nodded and rushed to the infirmary. Celestia kneeled down next to me and used her magic to sustain me so I wouldn’t bleed out.

My vision was blurry, there was crimson blood everywhere, and I hurt.

“Princess!” I choked out, “I’m gonna die! I’m gonna die! Oh merciful fate, grant me a spot in heaven, amen!” Celestia then looked down at me.

“Dearest Jordan, I’m so sorry this had to happen. You didn’t deserve this at all. Don’t worry, I’ll never let you die. I’ll do everything in my power!” she said as the medical team came with a cart and wheeled me into the hospital.

There was a lot of confusion as to if I could be saved, and the doctor warned me and Celestia recovery from such a deep wound would be long and tedious.

“He might not be the same” the doctor warned. “And the bill will be pricey.” He added.

Celestia gave him a serious look. “I’ll pay the bill and do whatever it takes to get him healthy, just do it, please my child.”

A while later, she was gone and the doctors surrounded me as I was on the OR table.

The doctor sighed. “This is gonna take some serious work and concentration. NURSE, get that man an IV line stat, sedate him please.”

I groaned in pain as I felt the needle enter my arm. They had me on laughing gas minutes before, and I was goofy and everything was fuzzy, but you always feel pain no matter what. After a few seconds looking at the ceiling, I was out.

-MEANWHILE, IN PONYVILLE-

Twilight was working on reshelving the library, humming quietly. But she was not at peace, she had a burning thought on her mind. The pony who she had just met about an hour or so prior. The unicorn with the fiery orange coat with red polka dots, his mane a beautiful blue and white like her brother’s mane and tail.

This colt was like no pony she had ever met. He was polite, yet funny. Smart, yet caring. He was an amazing pony, and Twilight felt strange just thinking about him.

“He….. makes me feel strange. What is it about him? I’m around colts all the time and feel nothing.” She said to herself. Their horns even sparked and glowed as she saved him from falling.

Right then, she heard a frantic knock on her door. Frightened, she ran to the door and opened.

There stood the white alicorn with the ethereal mane. She smiled at her teacher.

“Princess! What a nice surprise, what brings you here? It’s not my studies, is it!? Rest assured I’m keeping up!”

Celestia never responded, just looking at her student with a remorseful glare.

This made Twilight very nervous and she gulped. “What’s wrong Princess? What’s happened?”

Twilight’s heart dropped and stopped as Celestia told her the story.

“WHAT!? Eagleheart did this!? But how, why!? He knows better than to attack ponies on sight!” She said in disbelief.

Celestia nodded with a tear in her eye. “When you teleported him, he teleported into my throne room. Eagle was startled, and wasn’t thinking clearly. He just attacked him…. I saw it all. His eyes were glowing red, it was so strange.”

Twilight’s heart just felt like it got stabbed when she heard this. She….. had caused this. She teleported him into the throne room. She caused this, and she hurt him.

“Red eyes….. that must mean he was under mind control Princess!”

Celestia gasped. “Mind control? But not even Luna or I know a spell so powerful. Such magic is forbidden!”

Then both nodded a bit before Twi started to cry.

“T….this is my fault!” Twilight screamed with tears in her eyes.

Celestia gave her student a stern look and held her. “It is not your fault! You didn’t know! You couldn’t have. I didn’t even know!” Celestia said truthfully.

As if on cue, Applejack and Rainbow Dash walked to the library, each needing something from Twilight. Their hearts both dropped as Celestia told them what had happened. For the first time in her life, Dash cried.

-BACK IN CANTERLOT-

Eagleheart was in the guards quarters, trying to figure out what happened. He was talking to the captain, Shining Armor, about what happened. Shining armor was like a god to the guards, everypony admired him so much. He was tough, fearless, yet caring at the same time. He was a diamond in the rough, an inspiration.

“I swear, sir. I wasn’t in control of myself. I could never just stab anypony without reason! You know how I am!” he said truthfully.

Shining gave him an understanding nod and rubbed his back.

“I know Eagle, but if I were you, I might think about resigning. If the Princess doesn’t realize you were being mind controlled. It won’t be good for you” Shining said honestly.

Eagle gulped and a tear rolled from his eyes. “I don’t get it, why did this have to happen. I’ve had a perfect record for years, not one incident, not one screwup. I just made one of the biggest ones in royal guard history!”

Celestia and the three ponies accompanying her, Twilight, Dash and AJ, came in right then.

“Afternoon, Shining Armor.” Celestia said. She then turned her head. “Hello, Eagleheart” she said with her voice a big angrier.

Before eagle could speak, she continued. “I know you were under mind control eagle. And I can’t be mad at you. But that doesn’t mean I’m not mad at all at the situation. I know it’s not your fault, and you will not be penalized, but please forgive me if I seem cross” she said sadly.

“Jordan didn’t deserve what happened to him, and I can’t help but feel it’s my fault. I should have been on my throne waiting, but a guard called me into the dining room for a few minutes” she said as her head dropped down with droopy ears.

Shining Armor piped in. “Princess, it’s nopony’s fault! Nopony has psychic powers, and nopony could have forseen what happened. We need to help this poor colt and make sure he heals correctly from his wounds.” Shining said soothingly. Everypony nodded, and trotted up to infirmary.

-MY POINT OF VIEW-

I woke up in my hospital bed slowly. Coming out of sedation is always strange. Your mind and body feel so numb, like you’ve been sleeping your whole life. Then your mind snaps awake, and you are again fully aware and responsive.

I moaned out in pain and screamed as I felt my wounds. A few nurses rushed in and quickly fed me pain killers. One nurse looked into my eyes.

“Shhhhh! Jordan, you’re ok. Everything’s ok. Calm down.” She then started humming a tune, soothingly, to calm me down. I was in a lot of pain, but I just couldn’t scream as she was singing to me. Her voice was so gorgeous.

Right then, the six ponies walked in and gasped as they saw my bad state. The doctors had to insert a metal plate into my wound and stitch it. My stomach look enlarged and engorged.

“He’s gonna need to be here for a week to recover” the doctor said somberly. Twilight, Applejack, and Celestia held back tears at the state I was in.

Shining armor then walked to my bedside. “Hey there, Jordan is it? I’m Shining armor, Twilight’s sister and captain of the canterlot royal guard. I just wanted to tell you on Eagle’s behalf how sorry he is for what he did.” Shining said.

I then saw the pony who stabbed me and shrieked. I try to jump up and run away but I was handcuffed to the bed for my own safety. I screamed.

“NO, NO, GET HIM AWAY FROM ME!” I cowered in fear under the blanket, afraid of getting stabbed again. Eagle then came to me and gulped before speaking.

“Sir, please….. I’m so sorry for what I did, but it wasn’t me! I was under mind control. Nopony knows who put me under their control or why. But it happened, and I am so sorry!”

I listened to him intently and slowly started to calm down, but I was still very uneasy. Celestia then stood next to me.

“Jordan, I’m so sorry for this. I promise, once you’re healed I’ll do something special for you. I don’t know what it is, but I’ll make it up to you, ok?” I nodded at her gratefully.

“Now, on to serious business. We need to know what happened, and why Eagleheart was under mind control. Who could have done this?”

Shining Armor gulped. “C…..could it be the works of nightmare moon, princess?”

(Just a quick reminder, remember that this is right after the events of the premiere. There is no Discord, no Sombra, no Chrysalis. Nothing)

Celestia took a big breath and sighed. “I don’t see how that could be possible. My sister has been returned to us. This might be some evil force beyond our control” she said solemnly.

Everypony shivered at this thought. “Right now, Jordan must heal, before we can venture forth” she said.

“Speaking of healing, this man needs to sleep. NURSE, get this man his sleeping pills!” he called out. Everypony started to clear out of the room, with only Celestia staying behind.

The nurse gave me my pills and I was out within moments. The nurse left with Celestia before celestia came back and nuzzled her face into my mane and neck.

“You’re such a great colt Jordan, taking this injury like a soldier, not even complaining. You’re such an inspiration to us all and….. I’ve never had these feelings for a colt before. Oh the agony!” she said before she touched lips with me.

As she walked away, she was deep in thought. “What’s wrong with me? I don’t even know Jordan. He’s just somepony I met randomly in Appleloosa. I shouldn’t feel for him, I am the ruler of all Equestria! But….. I do. He’s so smart, and witty, and kind, and so nice to be around. C…..can I be in love? Is this real? It can’t be….. I shouldn’t feel such emotions. I am practically a god!” She gasped at her own question before returning to the throne room.

Meanwhile, Twilight and Shining were walking through the halls, talking. “It’s so strange shining armor, I only met him about six hours ago. But….. I can’t stop thinking about him. He came in to my house and talked to me when I was sad and made me happy. Our horns even sparked!”

Shining Armor had been listening to his sister intently, but once she mentioned the horns, he stopped dead in his tracks and looked at her.

“WHOA, what!? Your horns sparked?!” Twilight nodded.

“Whoa Twilight….. that’s big. You know what that means, don’t you?” Twilight just made a confused face.

Shining smirked deviously. “My best sister friend had a cru-ush!” he teased in a sing-songy voice. Twilight looked like she was going to bust from embarrassment.

“I DO NOT HAVE A CRUSH!” Twilight screamed so loud, Shining thought they could hear her in Ponyville.

“Jordan might be a nice colt, but I don’t feel for him that way! Besides, I’m far too caught up in my studies to have a coltfriend” This statement was half true, half false. She was very busy, but she did, secretly, feel for that orange and red unicorn.

Shining shrugged. “I guess I’ll need to be security, for the wedding.” He smirked, loving to tease his sister. Twilight ignored him, and they walked off to the throne room to meet Celestia.

-MEANWHILE, DEEP IN THE EVERFREE FOREST-

“Damn. What a misfortunate turn of events that was. I was going to have him killed!” a mysterious figure chortled as he stood over his crystal ball. This creature was an anomaly, unknown to ponykind.

“This little fool doesn’t know what I have in store for him, the prophecy will never come to pass!” He yelled.

-ONE WEEK LATER, IN PONYVILLE-

Twilight was in her house, having tea with the rest of her friends to calm down and unwind with them. After Twi, AJ and dash explained me and the situation to Pinkie, flutters and Rarity, they all understood why their friends were down.

“He’ll be allright darlings!” Rarity assured them. “From what you’ve told me, he is one tough colt. He’ll be ok!”
“Yeah!” Pinkie added. “He’ll be looking better than a cupcake covered in sprinkles and chocolate and-“ she was cut off by AJ putting her hoof over her mouth.
“He’ll be fine, he’s tough!” Dash exclaimed. “He is the hay bale stacking champ after all!” AJ rolled her eyes at the bad memory.
“When does he come home?” Flutters asked.
“In one more day” Twilight replied.

Suddenly, the front door slammed open, and there I stood.

“IIIIIIIIIII’MMMMMMMMMMMM HOME!!!!!” I exclaimed.

The mane six all gasped then jumped up as they saw me.

I was still a mess. I had a big stab wound right on my chest, next to my heart, and I had the metal plate there that made it bulge a lot. I had bandages wrapped around also. I looked bad.

They all ran towards me and surrounded me.

Twilight spoke first. “What are you doing back, you’re not let out until tomorrow!” she narrowed her eyes, demanding an answer.

I chuckled. “Hehe, well, I got let off for good behavior twi!” I chuckled at my joke, but nopony else did.

Rarity then spoke up. “So, this is the Jordan everypony has been buzzing about since that rodeo. Tis an honor to meet you darling!”

Fluttershy nodded. “Yeah, it’s um…. Great to finally meet you. I hope um… we can be friends.”

Pinkie got her party cannon. “You never did get the proper welcome! WELCOME TO PONYVILLE!” She let the cannon loose and it covered me in cake and confetti and such.

Twilight shrieked. “PINKIE PIE, be careful! He has wounds on his body! If he gets cake in there that’s begging for a nasty infection!” Twilight scolded.

I chuckled at her. “Hey, hey. Easy there Twi, I’m a big boy. I can handle some terrifying cake” I smirked and laughed a bit. Twi rolled her eyes at the joke but everypony else laughed.

Then, Applejack got up, walked towards me and, to me and everyone’s surprise, slapped me with her hoof, and knocked me to the floor.

She was fighting back a tear. “Don’tcha ever do that again Jordan! Y’all had me, Twilight and Rainbow worried sick! We thought ya kicked the bucket!”

I just sat there, in complete shock that she had just hit me. I looked up at her, unsure of what to do or say, so I just squeaked out a pathetic little “I’m sorry…..”

I then surprised everypony by running outside and slamming the door. Applejack facehoofed at her own foolishness.

Rarity then spoke. “Applejack, what ever did you do that for?! You frightened him!”

Applejack sighed. “Guess ah gotta go make it up to him and say sorry, huh?”

Everypony nodded, and she went outside to me. I was nowhere to be found, though.

“Sugarcube?” AJ called. “Jordaaaannnnn!”

After ten minutes of nothing, AJ fell to the ground in defeat.

“Why am ah such a screw up?! Ah scared him away! Now he’s gone!”

In truth, I didn’t leave. I dug a hole in the ground and was hiding there. As luck would have it, AJ had collapsed right on top of the hole.

I then got an idea, for revenge. I poked my hoof out of the ground and tickled AJ’s stomach.

She yelped in shock and jumped up. “WHAT IN TARNATION WAS THAT?!” she cried out.

I tried to get my hoof back in the hole, but it was stuck in the dirt. I grabbed it with my other hoof and tried to yank it down, to no avail.

“Whose hoof is that?!” she cried out at me. She then started digging around my hoof and gasped when she saw me in my hole.

“JORDAN?!” she yelled at me. I then whimpered and covered my face with my hooves.

“DON’T KILL ME!” I cried out. I whimpered and covered sat there like a real coward.

Applejack was mad at first. She hated being tickled. But then, evil thoughts crossed her mind.

“Well well. Look who’s in a pit now, buddy boy. Ah could leave you here, and you’d be completely helpless” she said with a smirk.

I then whimpered more. “A….applejack, help me out!”

She then rubbed her chin with her hoof. “On one condition, sugarcube.”
“What?”
“You gotta come to the farm tomorrow and help me out. It’s applebuck season tomorrow and ah need you there!”

(I know in the real episode, AJ doesn’t let anypony help her, but in the story she lets me because she wants to spend time with me)

Crap. I’d forgotten what time in ponyville it was. I did come here right after the premiere. I knew AJ would be working herself to death so I quickly agreed.

She helped me out of the hole. But, I tripped, and I landed on top of her by mistake, making us both blush a deep red.

“S…..sorry” I said as I rolled off and got back up on my hooves.

“D…..don’t be Jordan” She said with a smile. We then both walked back inside the library.

Everypony jumped up again when they saw me. “Where did you go?! Pinkie shouted.

“I uh….. was just startled. Don’t worry about it Pinkie.”

Pinkie gave me a stare, somewhat akin to the one she did to AJ during Party Of One, before she cheered “Okie Dokie Lokie!” and sat back down.

Twilight then gave me a smile, then a serious look. “Jordan, everypony, sit down. We all need to talk about something.”

We all looked at each other curiously and sat down. I decided to be a gentleman and gave the last chair to Rarity, since there were only six.

Twilight sighed. “Jordan. I just….. wanted to ask you. How….. did the whole fiasco feel in your point of view?” she asked carefully.

I sighed. Somehow, I knew that would be coming.

“It was hard….. I mean, when that sabre lodged in my chest, i….. I thought I was going to die! I was scared I’d bleed out, it was scary. I….. didn’t want to die. It was like I had an internal conflict, cause I told myself ‘NO. NO YOU BASTARD, YOU ARE NOT DYING YET. NOT NOW!’”

Everypony nodded, but Fluttershy was nearly in tears at my description. I got up, and hugged from behind. “I’m sorry Fluttershy, I didn’t mean to make you sad!”

Then, Twi spoke up again. “I have something else to say” she said.

“Well, we all know the grand galloping gala is coming up soon. And, well….. as you know, I have been given two tickets. One for me, and one for a friend.”

We all gasped happily at that. Well, minus me. I didn’t really care for the gala at all. Parties and formal events scare me. I often end up enjoying them if I go, but the idea of them scares me.

“So,” she went on. “I’ve decided that if I can’t bring all my friends, then I’m not going!”

Everypony, including me, gasped at this. A few minutes later, Princess celestia appeared.

“Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student. If you wanted to bring all of your friends, all you had to do was ask!” She then made six tickets appear, and the six best friends all made happy, gleeful sounds as they walked out the door together.

I hung my head low. “But….. what about me?” Celestia then walked to me and smiled.

“Jordan, I was actually wondering something. You see, every year, I choose one lucky pony to be my personal guest to the gala. And, I was wondering if you would consider being my guest? I told you I would do something grand for you.” She smiled at me and my mouth was just agape in shock.

I regained my composure and nodded. “Your majesty, it would be an absolute honor to be your guest! Of course I will!” She smiled at me.

Very well then. On the night of the gala, I shall meet you in the gardens, and we’ll walk to the gala together. Oh, also Jordan, we never got to talk like I had hoped, because of the whole fiasco with Eagleheart. Visit me ASAP, ok?”

I nodded, and we hugged goodbye. Suddenly, she vanished, but left me a little present where she stood.

I looked at it curiously. It appeared to be just an ordinary box.

“I’ll check it out later” I thought as I lugged it and me to the guest room. I was tired. I jumped in bed and fell asleep really quickly.

Today was such a great day, I thought to myself. Sure, the stabbing incident last week sucked, but things are looking up, and I’m happy. Now, to focus on AJ’s applebucking tomorrow. Oh boy!

Author's Note

Agh. Going through these chapters after almost a year of writing them makes me cringe. I hate to even upload them, but they are vital to this story... if not for that, i would delete them off my computer and out of existence. Stick around, Applebuck season is next.