Nick's eyes opened to the darkness of his room, sitting up on the edge of his bed before checking his watch, it was almost half past four. "Great, even with everything that's happened my internal clock won't let me sleep in. Well just because I'm here I shouldn't skip out on my morning routine, Pops would kill me if he found out I'd been slacking off," He looked around finding his bag on the floor grabing out his soap and shampoo along with his extra clothes, a plain white t-shirt and sweatpants, he really was going to hate doing laundry every day for two sets of clothes. Setting his stuff on the night stand for later he stretched out his arms and legs, his shoulder still stung quite a bit but he could work through the pain. He decided it was probably best that he skipped out on the run with how everyone reacted to his presence the other day, he'd have to settle with whatever he could do in this room.

Having finished his morning workout, he grabbed his things and began heading to the bathroom. The bathroom was a decent size but the shower itself was definitely not made for someone his size. Letting out a sigh he began to undress, this was just something he would have to deal with while he was here. Stepping into the shower he turned the water on fiddling with it until he found the right temperature, even in the cramped space the water still felt relaxing on his skin, reaching out for his soap he began washing up and it wasn't long before he was all clean. Turning off the water he stood in the shower thinking over everything that has happened so far and boy did he have a story to tell when he got home. Deciding that he'd better get dressed and head down stairs to get ready for this tour around Ponyville but first he was going to grab his book from his room it would give him something to do while waiting, sure he had read it like a million times, he wrote the damn thing but he loved the old gritty noire detective novel, he wished it had sold better though. Exiting the bathroom fully dressed he hurried to his room to get his book and phone, perhaps he could get some photos to take back home with him, with everything he needed Nick decided that the library would be a pretty good place to wait if only he remembered the way there, eeh he'd find it eventually.

====

"Listen to your gut you can find the library, I mean you found your way out of that forest easy enough," he grumbled to himself as before spotting his salvation in the form of a scaly purple tail, running towards it before it was gone forever.

"Morning Nick, you're lost I'm guessing," spike asked.

"It seems to be a running theme for me lately," Nick replied.

"Well I was about to go make breakfast wanna tag along?"

"If you wouldn't mind and perhaps I could lend a hand," Nick offered.

"Ya I wouldn't mind some help," with that Spike waved him to follow ledding him to the kitchen.

====

"Anything you want for breakfast oatmeal, pancakes, eggs?" Nick was really craving some bacon but knew that wasn't likely going to happen so he settled for just eggs. With breakfast picked out they got cracking, preparing omelettes for everyone everyone along with toast, coffee and orange juice, once everything was finished Spike grabbed a serving cart to load all the food before they walked to the dining room seeing Twilight and Starlight chatting both looking like they had just got out of bed.

"Morning Nick, I hope you slept well," greeted Twilight as they approached the table.

"Uh yeah I slept fine," Nick replied as Spike gave the girls thier breakfast. "So how's the whole.. uh spell to get me home going, were you able to get in contact with this Starswirl?" he asked anxiously, hoping for some good news.

"I did, recieve a message from him and he sent me what notes he had on extradimensional and planar travel," she replied, raising Nick's hopes only to have them crushed again, "But it's mostly theories and hypotheses,"

"I see," sounding dishearted as he pushed his food around a bit before taking a bite.

"We'll find a solution as soon as possible," said Starlight in an attempt to cheer Nick up.

"I know, even where I'm from extradimensional travel is seen as science fiction, so I understand that this will take some time. Personal I didn't think it was possible guess I was proven wrong," they sat in silence after that while they ate until Twilight noticed the book Nick had on the table.

"Is that a book from your world?" she asked sounding curious

"Uh ya it is,"

"Oh no, here she goes again," said Spike before he scarfed down the rest of his food and taking off for the door.

"A what type of of book is it?" she asked as she stretched her neck out to get a look at the title.

"It'sa noir style detective novel," laughing slightly at her enthusiastic curiousity.

"Who wrote it?" continuing her questioning as she moved her seat closer to get a better look.

"I did actually,"

"Oh you did say you wrote part time so this is one of the books you wrote huh," said Starlight joining the conversation.

"It's the only one I've written actually. It didn't sell very well but I enjoyed writing it,"

"Any ideas for future books?" Starlight asked.

"I had a few I was hoping to work on but I had a tournament I needed to train for so I've had to put it hold for a while, but once I get home I think I'll take it easy for a while and do some writing, who knows I may find something here that'll inspire my next story,"

"Already finding the silver linings to all this, that's good. Why don't we wait outside for the girls to get here what do you think, Twilight," Starlight asked looking at Twilight who looked up from reading Nick's book with an embarrassed smile, closing the book and handing it back to him.

Nick looked at the book for a moment before shaking his head, "Why don't you go ahead and keep that one, I've got another copy at home and it's not like I haven't read it a million times," upon hearing that Twilight's face brightened up like a kid on christmas, she instantly reopened the book to where she left off and began reading again, it was adorable how passionate she was about books. Nick and Starlight gathered up the dishes taking them to the kitchen to be washed later before heading for the entrance leaving Twilight to read in peace.

Once they stepped out of the castle they each took a seat at the top of the stairs with Starlight sitting irectly next to Nick, while waiting and without thinking he starting petting and running his hand through Starlight's mane. he hadn't even noticed until she started nuzzling up against him. "Is this this weird or is this normal for ponies? She doesn't seem to mind but I should probably stop," he thought to himself pulling his hand away.

She turned her head up to look at him curious as to why he stopped. Seeing the questioning look in her eyes, he looked around for an excuse before finding it in the form of the three ponies they were waiting for, pointing a finger in their direction and thanking the gods of good timing, glad to not be in a weird position.

"Morning girls, How are you doing today?" Starlight asked once they approached.

"We're doing great thanks for askin', woulda been here sooner but I had some chores to finish up on the farm first," Applebloom explained.

"So where's Rainbow Dash?" asked Starlight.

"She didn't finish her paperwork last night, so she's going to meet us later at Sweet Apple Acres, she was probably reading the new Daring Do instead of doing her work," explained Scootaloo.

"Ya, sounds like Rainbow. Well I'm going to leave Nick here in your capable hooves so Twilight and I can get to work on a spell," Starlight said recieving a confirmatory nod from the girls before heading back inside.

"So uh where are we off to first?" he asked suddenly feeling nervous about going out sight seeing.

====

Reaching the edge of town Nick could see the ponies staring at him again, he was used to being stared but usually he was busy trying to beat the shit out of someone without them doing the same to him. The way they stared at him was also different like he was some kind of strange alien which he was, but that didn't make him hate it any less and it was starting to really piss him off, luckly it wasn't long before they reached their first destination.

After taking a good look at their first stop the place kind of reminded him of a gingerbread house with it's frosting like decor on the outside and candy looking chimney, and with the smell of baked goods coming from indoors made the whole place seem like a well planned joke. Following the girls inside and peering around the place had an open store front that led up to the counters where various confectioneries were on display, right behind the counter was a light pink pony with a bright curly pink mane and tail, she was currently pulling something out of the oven.

"Hey Pinkie, we brought somepony here that we thought you should meet, since he'll be in ponyville fo while," Scootaloo yelled from across the counter, pinkie set down the cake she had just taken out of the oven on a cooling rack before turning to respond.

"Where is he?" she asked as she stretched over the counter to look for this new pony.

"He's right here," Sweetie said pointing her hoof at Nick. Tracing her eyes up his legs, her eyes went wide when she finally saw who the extremities belonged to, Nick gave her an ackward nervous smile as she stared up at him. Right as Nick began thinking that they had just broken this ponies psyche did a flurry of questions spew from her.

"HiI'mPinkiePie,what'syourname? What'syourfavoritesnack?Howtallareyou?Doyoulikeredvelvetjalapenomuffins?What'syourfavoritecolor?Howlongareyougoingtostayinponyville?,' she blurted out faster then what Nick could process, before she took a large breathe and began making face like she finally realized what the meaning of life was before zipping off as fast as possible to who knows where.

"Well that just happened. Can any of you tell me what just happened?" Nick asked totally confused by what just transgressed.

"We try not to question anything that pinkie does, but we did come here for a reason that you'll understand later," Applebloom stated.

"Gotcha," he understood having that one weird friend, that has their special way of doing things that just makes you laugh, "So where to next,"

"Next stop is the market and city hall then we're off to Sweet Apple Acres," Scootaloo explained.

====

After exiting sugar cube corner the girls guided Nick around town pointing out a few shops in particular like Sweetie Drops, Carousel boutique where we would meet Rarity this afternoon so she could get his measurements, Quills and Sofas, and the Day spa, once the tour around town was over they took him down a dirt path leading to a large apple orchard. At the end of the path was a large red farm house somewhat resembling a barn.

"Bout time you guys got here, me and Applejack have been waiting here forever," Rainbow Dash shouted to the group as they approached the farm house.

"Dash you haven't been waiting that long, you just got here a minute ago yerself," said Appledash.

"A minute is a long time," Dash replied causing Applejack roll her eyes at her friends impatients.

"So you enjoy you tour of the town?" asked Applejack, gazing up at Nick.

"It's a quaint town you girls have here," he said.

"Well I thank you you kindly, now show us a few of those moves from yer run in with the timber wolves before Dash here blows a gasket," said Applejack, this caused Rainbow Dash's face to brighten up with excitement.

Nick stepped to the side and stretched a bit before getting into his usual out-boxer fighting position, he was a stronger in-fighter then out-boxer but his long reach and fast feet allowed him wear down his adversaries before jumping into close range and hammering away at his opponents, his grandfather would often call him 'raganella' or treefrog for how he would jump around the ring. Nick began imaging a past match he had fought and began shadow boxing his previous opponent, recalling the match perfectly in his mind, it was his first knock out win, the fight only lasted one minute fifty-eight seconds, his opponent had got extremely agitated with his out-boxing and charged in setting himself up for a series of combinations and a clean left uppercut to his chin.

"What do you think?" he asked after finishing his reenactment.

"That was awesome!" squealed Scootaloo.

"That was pretty cool but I think I could take him," said Rainbow Dash a cocky grin on her face.

"As fun as taking a hoof to the gut sounds I think I'll pass as well as the fact that I don't hit girls," he replied not really feeling up to the idea of fighting someone half his size and a pony none the less.

"Come on just one round I'll go easy on ya," Rainbow pleaded.

"Well if you're going to go easy on me I guess one round won't be that bad," he said getting back in position and facing towards Rainbow Dash, everyone clearing a space for them to start.

Rainbow crouched down as if ready to pounce which is what she practicly did as she flew straight at him, he quickly took a step back to the left and faced her again as she hovered in the air in front of him with her wings. She flew up to him using her front hooves like fists and tried hitting him to no avail as he bobbed and weaved to avoid her much shorter range.

Rainbow's attacks were getting her nowhere quickly as he ducked underneath another of her punches, sidestepping around behind her, when she turned she saw him bouncing on his feet waving a single hand at her as if taunting her to come get him. "If you'd just hold still," she muttered as she attacked him again, repeating the process of him dodging and walking out of her range forcing her to come to him.

"Where would the fun be in that," he mocked, avoiding the large haymaker she threw. "Well I guess I better end this before she gets to upset," he thought to himself noticing she was getting more irritated as he avoided more of her attacks. "I just gotta wait for another one of those big punches she like to throw," with a plan in mind he didn't have to wait long for her to fall into his trap, and throwing a right cross and stopping an inch from her face, her eyes focusing on the fist right in front of her. Nick gave her a cheeky grin before reaching out a finger and booping her right on the nose, causing her muzzle to scrunch up from the unexpected move.

"Thanks for going easy on me," he said a hint of sarcasm in his voice, as he relaxed his stance and tousled her mane.

"Ya, well uh.. next time we go for real,"

"I don't know Dash that looked pretty real to me," Joked Applejack.

"Of course it would look that way to amateur fighter like you AJ,"

"Uh huh sure," Applejack rebutted.

"Aw man I wanna give it a go now, think you and I can go a round?" Scootaloo asked, standing on her hind legs and giving a few sloppy punches getting a few giggle from applebloom.

"Scoots we have to go to Rarity's so she can help him with his clothes problem, remember?" Sweetie Belle reminded her. "We should really get going, my sis got really excited last night about a few design so it's probably best we don't keep her waiting."

"Aaaaaw one round please?"

"We'll have plenty of time afterwards, Scoots. Besides we still have to show him the school," Applebloom spoke up, causing Scoots to let out a huff of disappointment.

==========

It wasn't long before they were all standing ouside the Carousel Boutique a two-story building that kinda reminded him of a fairy tale princess tower, upon entering Nick noticed were three tables with large mirrors he assumed they were to help put on makeup a few feet past that was a stair case that wrapped up and around the following the shape of the building, a few mannequins in the shape of ponies were scattered around the room some wearing elaborate dress while others remained bare, on the was a platform surrounded in a half circle with mirror and a dressing room slightly off to the side.

"Rarity we're here!" shouted Sweetie Belle as she looked around for her sister.

"I'll be down in just a moment," came Rarity's voice from up stairs, not a minute later she came down stairs stopping to flip her mane while giving a little pose. "I hope the girls were able to make your stroll around town this morning enjoyable"

"Ya I had a pretty good time," minus the stares he received but he was going to keep that to himself.

"I do hope you feel comfortable while your here so it's good to hear that you are enjoying yourself, speaking of comfort let's get a few measurements so we can make you a new set of clothes shall we? Right over there is our dressing room if you would kindly remove what your wearing so I may begin?"

Entering the changing room Nick quickly stripped down to nothing but his underwear before stepping out and seeing that the girls were looking at him as he exitted the dressing room, each with their own expression. Rarity looked at him like a canvas to which an artist would preform their craft, most likely thinking of various desings. Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash looked at him quizzically, where as Applebloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked curiously at his right arm but when their gaze feel onto his shoulder he could see the sadness and guilt in their eyes.

"Hey you know it's not your fault right, that I got hurt. Besides I think they make me look pretty badass," he saw them look up at him with a small smile.

"Ah got a question, were you wearing those underneath yer clothes?" Applejack asked pointing a hoof at his boxers, receiving a nod as her answer, "What's the point of wearing cloth under yer clothes? You humans sure are strange,"

"We wear thse to cover our genitals, it's an extra layer to keep me covered in case something forces me to take my pants off like the current situation. Anymore strange questions about humans?"

"Ya why do you have nipples, I thought you were male?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"Wha..What? Of course I'm a male, all humans have nipple, they just don't function like a females do and aren't as big. God who asks questions like that?"

"Ah gotta question," Applebloom said as she raised a hoof.

"No, I am not going to prove I'm a male," he stated bluntly.

"That wasn't what ah gonna ask ya...though ah wouldn't mind you showing me." he couldn't hear the lst part she said but whatever it was caused Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo to giggle, "Ah was gonna ask ya what yer cutie mark meant? Ah thought only ponies could get those but ah guess creatures from other dimensions can as well,"

"My tattoo? It doesn't really mean anything, I regret ever getting it,"

"WHAT!?" shouted the three girls, glaring at him.

"Yer cutie mark represents yer special talent, it's what makes you different from everypony else,"

"So that's what the marks you all have are supposed to mean, well my tattoo was a waste of money and two hours of my life just have it inked into my skin and now I can't get rid of it,"

"Wait somepony drew that on you?"

"Yeah, how did you get yours?"

"Ours appeared when we discovered our special talent was helping ponies discover or re-evaluate their special talents,"

"Wait so each of your special talents that makes you different then anybody..anypony else are exactly the same and they just appeared when you discovered what it was?"

"Well Applebloom's is also pretty good at farming apples, Scoots is great at scootering and I'm musically inclined, but that's pretty much how it works," with everything explained to him he still didn't really believe that a mark would just appear once you figured out what your good at. Having answered all their question he stood where Rarity directed while she took measurements and asked him various questions about human fashion many of which he was unable to answer, after a half hour Rarity finished collecting all the measurements she needed. After Nick dressed the seven of them headed on their way to finish the tour of the town.

As they walked through town Nick couldn't but notice the lack of ponies around, it was curious as why no one was out but no one was staring at him so he didn't question it. At last they were at their last stop on their tour the school of friendship the girls had told them it was called, they also told him it was for teaching all species the meaning of friendship, why you need a school to teach friendship he had no clue, the school also taught regular subjects like math, science and history. Having finished the tour the girls led him back to the castle, even though he did enjoy seeing the town it only reminded him of the fact that he may never see his own home town again and based on how most of the townsfolk looked at him he was sure a long-term stay was out of the question.

"They probably think I'm some sort of monster waiting to eat them. What if the reason all the ponies were all gone this afternon was to discuss how to get rid of me? Did that mean all of this was to keep him distracted while they set up some sort of trap?" not noticing they were already at the castle, he mindless followed them up the stairs towards the entrance as they opened the doors time seemed to slow, in front of Nick stood a whole herd of ponies all of whom turned towards him as he entered the castle taking a look around before his blood ran cold, he could potentially out run these small ponies but the four cannons they had pointed at him said he wasn't even going to get the chance, before he could even lift a foot to run a series of booms rang throughout the room.

Author's Note

Don't know why it took me so long to write this, then i had to fix it becuase i'm retarded.