Kenneth's POV

I witnessed my son get chewed out by his friends for deceiving them, and to be honest, it was absolutely, the single most hilarious thing I've ever seen, while they were berating him his face was as red as Celestia's former pupil's hair, oh and I WAS at the party, but MY power allows me to do these kinds of things without others noticing, it isn't anything like stealth, or invisibility.

My son, just looking at him, with nervousness at directly talking to girls, he's hardly changed, and his age, to him it's only been a few years, but for me it's been decades since I last saw him...
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23 years earlier, Area:Earth, Michigan...

Hi, my name's Kenneth Rayson, I'm in my 40s, I have brown hair that was a little unruly, at the moment I'm wearing black jeans and a form-fitting under armor red shirt with a dark brown jacket over it, I was wearing a pair of Levi's that I had gotten for a bargain, nothing too special.

I was having a pretty bad day, first I'm told that I can't get the loan for the house, the next thing I'm told is I might not be able to support my son by the end of the month, 'This day just keeps getting more and more hectic,' I thought to myself all of the times my son has had to endure, 'losing a mom, having to live with your deadbeat dad,' I kept blaming myself for what happened to his mother, sure it there may have been no feelings toward each other, but she didn't deserve to die.

She was a good mother too, we never got married, but the only thing that kept us in contact with each other was Dylan, he was a great kid, a little nervous, but he has a good heart, hell his dream was to be remembered as someone who made a difference.

As I was walking back to my car, it was an old 1969 Camaro, it wasn't much but I managed to acquire this little piece by working on it from scratch for an old friend. As I got in I put my seatbelts on almost automatically, as I was about to start the car I paused, thinking about my son and how I was going to get out of this fine little mess, I somberly placed my head on my hands in deep thought, 'What the hell kind of a mess have you gotten into now ol' Kenny?' I tried thinking of practically a million different scenarios that would get is out of these troubling times when none of them seemed to work.

"C'mon, Kenny! You have to think of something, if not for you, then at least for your son!" I commanded myself, still coming up empty handed, when suddenly I heard a low whistling sound.

My brow furrowed in confusion, as I looked up from my inner world, I looked around but found no trace of the thing making that noise, I shrugged my shoulders going to start the car, when suddenly, *RUMBLE* the car started shaking like crazy, I looked around the outside, this time looking in my rearview mirror and to my complete shock, I saw a multicolored tornado, I rubbed my eyes quickly before turning my whole body around to further my shock that I wasn't seeing things, it was a goddamned rainbow cyclone.

I quickly zipped myself back to reality and my face turned into seriousness at the situation, I quickly jammed the keys into the ignition, and revved the hell out of it, hearing the roar of the ol' girl, I immediately burned rubber, in reality it only took a few moments for the car to jolt forward, but for me it felt like terrifying minutes were crawling by as I knew the implications of getting sucked into any kind of vortex would not bode well for me.

I didn't have time to look back at the strange phenomenon, as I was more focused on getting the hell out of there, as I was zipping by each stop sign, each traffic light, everything faded to nothing as my survival instincts kicked in, making my hand go onto the handle, forcing it into the next gear, and all I heard was the sound of my heartbeat as it pounded against my eardrums at a million miles a second.

After what felt like an eternity of driving, I finally decided to look back apprehensive on whether it was still there, only to let go of a breath I didn't recall holding in, as I was looking around to figure out which road I was on, I froze in shock after hearing that same whistle-like sound, only this time it came much faster, and with a vengeance, I looked behind the seat to look out the rear window, only to find it not there. I cursed myself pressing the gas pedal again only to find I didn't have any grip, I looked out the window to find that my car had been picked up by the unusual vortex.

"Damnit! C'mon!" I stand trying so desperately to get the car out of the unnatural disaster's iron grip, if I was thinking straight I would have realized that nothing would work, but my mind wasn't thinking at all, and before I knew it the spiral had swallowed the entire car whole, I couldn't see anything but a colorful chaos, and the more I looked at it the more my mind started becoming disoriented and everything started to slowly fade away into nothing.

'No, this, can't be the end, I still have to watch my little boy, succeed, me,' these were my last thoughts as I had fallen into a state of unconsciousness, not knowing what would happen to me, or where I was being taken.
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Third person POV, Area:Sweet Apple Acres

We find ourselves in the luscious and bountiful fields full of apple trees as far as the eye can see, and in the middle of it was a young woman, or should I say, a young 'mare' is in the middle of collecting the harvest from this year's apple trees.

Many young stallions would say she was a real 'catch' but to those that know her, well, their opinions may differ, her worn out Jean's indicated she had been working the fields for a while now, and the sweat the glistened off her forehead showed that she wasn't going to stop anytime soon, and her checkered shirt that had the sleeves rolled up showing off her muscles that many would be envious of, her white, braided mane flapped in the wind along with her braided white tail, to many stallions eyes she was very beautiful, but to her family she was a bit of an overachiever.

This young mare's name was, Apple Smith, or to the younger generation, she was known as Granny Smith, much to her annoyance, she would tell them that she was still in her 40s, but to no avail.

Now she wasn't married but she did have two little ones, starting from the oldest was Big Macintosh, the youngest was Apple Jack, now looking after these two was a little stressing at times, she couldn't help but smile everytime she thought of them, even though they were young, they were some of the most honest children that came.

As she was thinking about them, a flurry of strong winds stopped her in her tracks, and caused her to look back at the source, and to her shock it was a small tornado, it wasn't much, but it appeared out of nowhere, and there was something strange, about it, it wasn't the first of it's kind but rainbow tornadoes don't appear that often, as she was pondering this slowly a silhouette was making itself known, almost taking the shape of a cut in half wagon.

Kenneth's POV

I thought that I was dead, only to feel my head pounding, as if there was something trying to crack my head open like an egg, I started to come to, but it was all blurry, 'Ugh, I can't think straight, I need some air,' I thought trying my hardest not to lose consciousness again, putting hy hand on my forehead in an effort to stem my focus away from the pain, I fumbled around for the lock but that was rather difficult when your head is calling it quits.

After a few agonizing moments I managed to open the cursed door, and after a couple seconds I threw myself out of the car, it wasn't the best idea, but I can't exactly think when your head feels like a drum being beaten on.

I managed to turn my head slightly to see if there was anyone nearby, only to the a blurred out figure a distance away that looked to be heading closer at a very slow pace, I tried speaking but my throat felt extremely dry for whatever reason, the blurred out figure must have seen my distress as it appeared to be heading my way at an increased pace.

I felt my body being turned over to face upwards, as I opened my eyes my vision started to come back to me, only for exertion to catch up with me, and the last thing I saw were the most breathtaking pair of eyes that reminded me of the beautiful dusk of a sunset, and before I passed out I could have sworn that I felt a tingling sensation in the back of my mind and heart, but I just chalked it up to it having to do with my possible concussion.

Third person POV

As Kenneth went under, little did he know that the same figure he saw, had felt the same thing as he did, but she only thought that it had something to do with this "pony" looking different.

Little did either of them know that this chance encounter would affect their entire lives.
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Kenneth's POV, 3 hours later...

I felt my mind coming out of that faded darkness, after what felt like moments of nothing but blackness, I started to open my eyes, and after a few more moments my other senses started kicking in, as I took in a breath of fresh air, I noticed that it smelled better than regular old air, in fact it almost smelled like, "Applepie?" I muttered to myself, only to find out my throat was extremely dried out.

As I slowly sat up, my head instantly went lightheaded, I calmed myself down taking in deep breaths, as I came to I looked around and coming to a conclusion, "I have no clue where the hell I'm at," I mumbled to myself in a shaky voice, taking in my surroundings and everything seemed old western barn themed, as I sat up I continued to look around when I spotted a glass of water next on the nightstand next to the bed, I silently thanked whoever left this for me and graciously chugged that drink in less than a few seconds.

"Puaah," I made a sound that could only indicate relief, "well, where ever 'here' is, I sure am glad that whoever found me has the kindness to give me water," I told myself my voice not as shaky as before, but still getting used to the newly introduced hydration, "geez, it feels like I haven't had a drink in over a day." I stated rubbing my soar throat.

As I was getting up off the bed I looked down at myself, after I had gotten out of my car, it's safe to say I had gotten my clothes a tad bit more than just a little dirty, 'I need a shower, and some new clothes.' I thought about my situation for a few moments before getting out of the oddly comfortable bed, as I was about to get on my feet I took a deep breath, *Grumble~* "urg," my stomach had decided that it had been neglected enough and decided it wanted some lovings, "a-are you serious right now?" I asked my stomach as if it were a person, *Grumble~* as if to answer my question.

I had begrudgingly decided to follow my stomach's advice and started to get out of the bed, only to hear the sound of steps coming towards the door.

As the door opened it revealed a small child-sized little girl that looked a little nervous but looked like she was on a mission, in a word, she was adorable, but the thing that caught me off guard were her other features, she had these pony-like ears on her head, and a small muzzle instead of a nose, and she didn't appear to have normal skin, but rather an orange overcoat, and she didn't have normal feet or legs, but rather she had the hind legs of a pony, but other than that she just looked like an ordinary child.

"Uhm, hi, m-my name's Apple Jack." the young pony-girl stated her voice tiny, and she was shaking slightly, it looked like she was mustering up all of her courage just to stand there, she was so cute.

"Hi there, my name's Kenneth Rayson, but if you want you can call me Ken," I told her in my natural fatherly voice, it took years to master that, I then noticed she was still a little nervous, I then looked at her with all the fatherly experience that I had, "hey, there's no need to be so afraid, I promise that I'm not here to cause any harm." I said in the warmest tone I had, and at the last part I patted her blonde mane, to which her reply was a red face.

"H-hey! Ain't no pony says I'm scared!" She was just too precious, at my statement she tries swatting my hand away, her previous nervousness forgotten, only to be replaced by stubbornness.

"Hehe, sorry, sorry, I didn't mean it, little 'Jackie'." I stated in a way that I used against my son when I teased him, and it seemed to work against this little one too.

"Grr, mah' name's not Jackie, its Apple Jack!" She stated with her pout that only pronounced her cuteness.

"Hey Apple Jack!" I heard a voice from downstairs, "git' down here an' help me with this pie!" The same voice stated, this one clearly older than the one in front of me.

"Comin' Granny!" She stated back at the voice before hurriedly rushing out the room and heading downstairs, and I decided that now was as good a time as any to introduce myself to the person that made sure I didn't wake up with my face in the grass.

As I headed downstairs the amazing smell of apple pie only grew stronger, after a few moments of climbing downstairs, I noticed that there were two more 'pony' people helping out, there was a slightly taller red one with an orange mane and tail, and he appeared to have the same characteristics as the one I had met earlier, and the eldest one seemed familiar, but not by much as I could only see her from the back, but she too had the same physical features as the other two, except she had a green overcoat and a white braided mane and tail, but other than the different physical traits, they all just seemed like an ordinary family.

Family, my eyes widened at the thought, 'My son!' My hunger forgotten, I quickly scanned the room for an exit, and when I found what I assumed to be the front door I rushed out as fast as I could, and when I was outside I noticed that nothing seemed familiar in the slightest.

I shook my head out of my thoughts, sprinting forward with everything I had, trying desperately to find my car, 'If I can use the GPS to track where I am, I can get back to my son!" As I was rushing forward no clear direction in mind, I had briefly heard a voice shouting for me to wait, but I had paid it not mind, I was more focused on getting home.
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I looked to the left, nothing.
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I looked to my right, nothing.
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After what felt like hours, but in reality was only minutes, I had spotted a small glint over in the distance, not knowing for sure if it was my goal or not, I rushed straight towards it, my legs moving faster than my body would allow, muscles screaming at me to stop, but I needed to get back to my son!
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I had finally found it, as I rushed over to the car, I noticed that it was still on, "Oh, no," I said silently to myself before hurriedly going to turn it off, I silently hoped that I wasn't out for too long, when I turned the keys in the ignition off, but kept them in to see where everything was at, I looked down to see that my gas dial was on empty, I felt my body freeze, "how long was this running for?" I asked to no one in a shaky voice.

As I was dreading the fact that my car was most likely running on fumes at this point, "Wait, the GPS!" I exclaimed in a hopeful tone, hoping against hope that it still works, when I went to turn it on however, it still worked, it just couldn't identify my location, or rather, it says it's out of range, 'range of what?' I questioned myself, never having seen that on the GPS before, after coming to all these facts I had only one option left, "W-well, maybe I can call someone." I desperately told myself.

I took my phone out and went to my contacts, but the moment I tried calling someone," -I'm sorry but the number you're trying to call isn't available or does not exist, please try again later-" I tried this with almost every number on my list, only to come up with the same results, until I was left with no other option, 9,1,1, "-I'm sorry but the numbe-" I turned my phone off, not believing what was happening right now.
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I was sitting in the driver's seat with my hands together and my head down, eyes shadowed by my hair, "Where on Earth am I?" I said to myself in abject horror at the situation that I was currently in, I grit my teeth together, trying to come up with some sort of plan, 'C'mon Kenny, you've got to come up with something, anything!' I kept coming up on dead ends, nothing in my analytical mind working out, deciding that sitting in my car wasn't going to help my situation, I closed the door behind me after taking the keys out instinctively and placing them in my pocket, I had despondently slumped back on a nearby tree with my arm on my knee and my head down in thought.

I vaguely heard the sound of grass rustling but I paid it no mind, thinking about all of the possible ways I got stuck here, none of them pleasant.

"-huff- -huff-, geez you sur' can run fast," I regarded her for a moment, but immediately went back into deep thought, "it took everythin' I had jus' to keep up," she decided to sit next to me trying to catch her breath, "I didn't know there was someone who could outrun me, it's actually kinda' nice ta' know," she was still trying to make conversation with me, but the more she was talking to me the more I started to connect the dots together, "by the way, mah' name's Apple Smith." She said with a hearty smile.

"... Where, am I, exactly?" I asked tilting my head slightly in her direction.

"Oh, well yer' on mah' farm, its known as Sweet Apple Acres, why'd you need to know?" She asked back with an innocent curious expression.

My lips curled slightly, "I, need to know something else." I told her apprehensively.

"Uh, sure whaddya need ta' know?" She asked with that innocent look still on her face, oblivious to my inner dilemma.

"What, continent, am I on?"

She had a small chuckle at that, "Well your in Equestria silly, where else would ya' be?" She was chuckling at the ridiculous statement, as if it was obvious where we were.
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"H-hey, are you alright, what's the matter?!" She asks me with a very concerned expression in her voice and on her face, as she grabbed by shoulder in a comforting manner.

I turned to look back at her, but all I saw was a wavy and blurry figure, I hadn't even realized I was doing it, until I brushed my thumb across my cheek, and I felt a wet substance coming from my eyes.

I was crying my heart out, but there were no sounds to go with it instead, I looked at her with a sorrowful smile, and told her in a straightforward tone, "I'm a long way away from home, and I don't think I can get back."

Author's Note

Holy smokes, I think this is the longest chapter I've written, and I'm hoping to make the rest of my chapters as long or even longer than this, by the way, what do you think of this meeting? And how do you think the introduction of a younger Kenneth go? Let me know if you think I should change anything, or if I can improve something. I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and please let me know how you feel 😄