Equilibrium, Book 1: The First Human.

September 12, 1000, C.E.

12:17 P.M.

John sat at one of the table's inside Sugar Cube Corner and smiled. The CMC had found John tagging along with Soarin and decided to join them at the restaurant where they then proceeded to grill the wonderbolt about everything they'd read about in various magazines and newspapers.

"All right you three settle down." He chuckled as the cutie mark crusaders all stopped swarming Soarin and sat back down at there table. Soarin chuckled as the three fillies sat down and ate their food. John smiled as he sipped on a cider.

"So Soarin what brings you here to good old Ponyville?" He asked as Pinky flitted about on her hind hooves. Soarin looked up from his pie, a little drop of drool hanging off of his bottom lip as he was brought back to reality from his pie induced trance. Shaking his head for good measure he cleared his throat.

"Well, the rest of the wonderbolts and I are here for security reason's." He stated as he grabbed a nearby knife with his wings and sliced his pie into fourths. John was once again reminded of just how dexterous a pony's wings could be. He was then reminded of just how ravenous their appetites could be as Soarin wolfed down a single piece out of the four he had in one go. Patting his stomach Soarin sighed with relief.

"Ahh, that hit the spot." He stated as reached for another piece with a wing tip. John looked amused.

"Security? For the festival?" He asked wondering just what could possibly need security around here? Soarin nodded as he polished off the last of his pie.

"Yes. Security. The Royal Sister's are going to be making an appearance here today so the palace hired us on as an auxiliary security measure." John nodded as the C.M.C. got up, their plates clean.

"Hey, John we're going to go and check up on Applejack," Scootaloo Said as she and the girl's headed to the door. He gave them a nod.

"Ok, you three. Take care and tell her that I'll be around the farm later this afternoon." Applebloom nodded and the trio left the bakery. Soarin smiled as he got to his hooves and stretched out his wings.

"So just how good is your friend?" He asked feeling out of the loop. John just smiled.

"Well not to give her a bad rep but in my humble opinion, she's the best there is." He stated as he took one last sip of his drink and threw the cup in a nearby wastebasket. He got up and headed to the door with Soarin in tow. Once the two were outside Soarin took to the air hovering in front of John at eye level.

"If you see Dash before I do then let her know that the wonderbolts are interested in an interview." John gave that some thought.

"Why would he want me to tell her that?" He thought about it some more. Then his face hardened into an unreadable expression.

"But you haven't even seen her fly yet?" He asked having a feeling of where this was going. Soarin smirked.

"That's the idea." He said cryptically before he took off. John definitely didn't like this worlds version of Soarin. There was something really off about his whole demeanor. John sighed.

"Great now I'll have to keep an eye on him." He thought about it.

"On second thought why don't I get several sets of eyes on him." The said as he headed off towards Sweet Apple Acres.

12:37 P.M.

Twilight wiped her forehead with a small rag she had tied around her neck. Looking over at Applejack she gave the farm pony a smirk.

"All right AJ I've gotten done with the last shipment of barrels from the fields." She looked around. "So what's next?" She asked as Applejack whistled in appreciation. Looking around the barn she saw that not only had Twilight gotten all of the barrels from the field neatly tucked away she had also arranged them in order of type of apple as well.

"Well, Twi I reckon you've done enough to for now." She said looking at the sun in the sky. She looked around and saw that the rest of the farm worker's were done with there task's as well. Lifting a whistle to her lip's AJ gave it a mighty bellow as all of the workers gave her their undivided attention.

"All right folks that's a wrap for today." She said receiving a chorus of appreciative hollers and hoots. As she and Twilight left the barn AJ turned around and locked the barn door's while Twilight trotted over to the farmhouse where a small group of workers was still gathered around. Looking around she saw the group mostly consisted of her close friend's. Spike was sitting on the front porch chatting with Big Mac while the C.M.C all swarmed around Dash who was flapping in the air with a small towel around her neck. Looking over at Twilight Dash sent her a smirk.

"So Twi how'er your hooves holding up?" She asked as Twilight trotted over. Twilight wiggled each appendage as she walked.

"Eh, they feel like jello but no worse for wear." She said as Spike hopped off of Big Mac's back and went into the house. A second later he came out with a tray full of water and handed each pony a glass. They all gave him thank's as they all decided to go inside to hide from the midday heat. Upon entering they were all hit with a wave of overwhelming smell's and taste's that made there mouth's water.

"Oh wow, who's cooking!?" AJ asked as she made her way into the kitchen. There at the stove was none other than John and Granny Smith who looked to be watching the human cook up a nice homestyle breakfast big enough to feed a whole platoon of ponies. Granny smirked as John flipped a pancake and then with a flourish of hands he picked up a plate and slid it underneath the finished cake before it could fall back into the pan.

"Woo, haven't done that in a while." He smirked as he turned around to see the group of worker starring at the plate.

"What?" He asked as he grabbed a stack of pancakes and put them on the plate with the last pancake and set in on the table. The group all smirked at him and just smiled.

"That can't have been that cool to see." He gestured over at Dash.

"I bet Dash could do that and a whole lot more with her speed." He said as they all rolled there eye's as they headed down the hall to the family table.

"Dude that's not the point," Dash said as she and the other worker's all took a seat at the Apple family's table which was big enough to fit in all of their extended family on a good day. Dash smirked as John went about serving each individual a stack of pancake's while those at the table passed around a pitcher full of apple cider.

"You really have a knack for food," Dash said as she wolfed down her stack of pancakes. John looked over the group. Dash along with AJ, Twilight and the C.M.C all nodded in unison. Big Mac and Soarin both smirked as they happily ate their food. Hot Shot was to busy eating to say anything and meanwhile, Spike, Pinky and the rest of the girl's all gave John an appreciative nod and smile.

"Yeah AJ I think you really stuck your hoof in it this time," Pinky said as she devoured her own stack and then looked around eyeing everyone else's stack. John chuckled as he went over to the oven and opened it up.

"Don't worry everypony I made sure to plan ahead." He opened up the oven to reveal several more heaping helpings of pancakes, eggs, and grits.

"Eat up everybody." He pointed to Rainbow. "Especially you Dash." He smiled as she stuck her tongue out at him.

"Yes, dad." She retorted as John went and served everyone again. Soarin watched as the group all ate his eye's lingering on Dash for a few seconds more than the other's.

"So this is the newest wannabe huh?" He smirked.

"Well she's got a good flank." He smirked as he went back to his food. He looked over at John next.

"They seem to be on friendly terms." He mused. "I wonder if she's single?" He thought about it.

"Even if she fails the exam's she's still a nice piece of ass." His smirk returned.

"Yeah, I bet with her stamina she'd at least be great in the sack." His face contorted into a smug grin as he chuckled to himself. This caught the attention of the table and Dash being one of the fastest ponies around cut right to the chase.

"So Soarin what are you doing here?" She asked curious about the wonderbolts presence at the small town farm. She had wanted to ask him earlier but circumstances prevented it. He smiled as he puffed out his chest a little bit.

"I'm here as an auxiliary security force." He started feeling a tad bit smug. Big MAc whistled.

"Well, you must be one of the hardest working wonderbolts I'd done ever seen." He started nodding to towards the fields. Sorin just smirked.

"Well, I would hope so." He smiled. "My parents were a part of the circus and so was I. It wasn't an easy or comfortable life by far but we made due." He looked around the table and his eye's settled on Pinky.

"What about you Pinky?" He asked and as the premiere party pony of ponyville regaled the whole table with her exploits on the rock farm John leaned against the door frame between the kitchen and the living room and watched, a smile upon his face and a warm feeling in his chest.

"Man I haven't felt like this in a long time." He sighed as he set about the task of cleaning up his mess. His mother had alway's taught him to clean as he went but it had yet to stick. As John went back to scrubbing a plate he was startled by the sensation of water hitting his hand. He had yet to turn on the faucet. Immediately he stopped and stared off into space.

"Am I crying?" He wondered as he looked into a nearby mirror. Sure enough, there were tear's streaking down his face. He shook his head and grabbed a towel.

"Wow. Can't believe this had to happen now of all times."

"What happened sugar cube?" The voice made John jump and nearly drop the dish in his free hand. Spinning around he saw Applejack looking around the kitchen.

"Jesus AJ worn me next time." He chuckled as Applejack trotted over to a nearby cabinet. She gave him a smirk but it faltered as she got a good look at his face before he could hide it.

"Wow now, what's wrong there John?" She asked as John shrugged.

"Nothing AJ just my head playing tricks on me." He said as he turned around to finish up his work. A hoof on his shoulder, however, stopped him in his tracks. Looking over he saw Applejack standing on her hind legs one forehoof on his shoulder the other on the counter. John briefly pondered the health issues present with Applejack having her hoof on the counter before a stern look brought him back to the now. He just chuckled as he patted AJ's shoulder.

"I just can't get anything past you huh?" He smiled as Applejack nodded and gave his shoulder a nuzzle.

"Come clean now sugar what's bothering you?" Applejack asked as she got back on all four's while John just stood there. Finally, with an exhale he just shuddered as he gave her a look of slight panic.

"Well this might sound wired but just now at the table, I began to feel like I was part of a family." He smirked. "One big weird happy family." He went quiet after that not really trusting his mouth anymore. Applejack stood there and thought about his words. Finally, she smiled and wrapped her front hooves around John's neck and pulled him into a hug.

"Well, Glad I'm not the only one." She said into his ear. John stood there.

"What?" He thought.

"What?" His statement caused AJ to chuckle. She dropped back down and hip checked him.

"You've been here for what two going on three months now?" She asked. John thought about it.

"Going on two and a half." He muttered. Aj gave him a playful shove.

"Ok, Mr. Technical." She chuckled as John stood there still feeling lost.

"So what does this have to do with family?" He asked as AJ gave him a stern look.

'The way I see it you ain't going to be seeing your real family anytime soon right?" She asked as John thought about it. He then nodded. She smiled.

"So that back there." She trailed a hoof to the family room. "That was your first real taste of something you've not had in over two month's." She then went and gave him another hug.

"That's not something that just happens to anyone." She said releasing him from his hug. He just gave her a perplexed look. She just snickered.

"Fine, I'll just say it straight then." She motioned for him to follow her. He did back into the family room. A conversation was abuzz around the table but that came to a halt as Applejack cleared her throat. All eyes were on her now. She smiled as she gave her Granny a smirk. Granny, in turn, shook her head with a laugh as she looked to Big Mac. He then looked over to Apple Bloom who looked confused.

"Well as some of Y'all may or may not know," She pointed over to John, "John here ain't from around here." She stopped as several ponies snickered.

"That's a bit of an understatement," Dash said as the other girl's all nodded. AJ nodded, a smirk adorning her face.

"So seeing as our friend here is going to be without his home and kin for a while I've decided to see if he would like to be a part of our's." She said looking over to John who was too stunned to speak.

"What?" He asked as the situation began to sink in. The apple family all laughed as the rest of the group snickered minus Soarin who now looked confused. Granny Smith got up from her seat and took over the conversation.

"My granddaughter just asked ya if'in ya want to be a part of our family youg'in." John once again looked off into the distance. He shook his head as he came to terms with what was being asked of him. He looked to the rest of the family.

"Are you two ok with this?" He asked Big Mac and Apple Bloom. His answer was a yellow missile to the chest as Apple Bloom flew from her seat and planted herself in John's chest. He was sent sprawling to the ground as Apple Bloom began to dance around in his chest.

"Are you kidding!?" She asked as she let out an excited squeal.

"Of course we'd be ok with it!" She shouted as Big Mac got out of his seat and trotted over to the two. He sat down as John sat up shifting Apple Bloom to his lap. Big Mac was now at eye level with John who looked more than a little apprehensive.

"If you decide to join our family can I trust you to watch over our little sister?" He asked. John looked down at Apple Bloom who gave him a smile and a nuzzle. He then looked around at the rest of the family. The two other mare's both had grins on their muzzles. Finally, he shook his head, letting out a chuckle.

"You know what why not." He looked at Big Mac.

"Mac, AJ, Granny I can promise you that without a shadow of a doubt that I will do everything in my power to keep your sister safe." He said, a feeling of conviction sweeping over him as he spoke the words. Big Mac smiled and nodded.

"Ok then." He said as he got up and extended a hoof to the fallen human. John took it and tucked apple Bloom under an arm as he got to his feet. He then took Apple Bloom and set her back down but not before she gave him one last nuzzle.

"Awesome!" She exclaimed as she bolted over to her chair.

"I can't wait to go to school tomorrow." John hiked up an eyebrow.

"Really why?" He asked getting a chair for himself. Apple Bloom grinned.

"Because now I get to tell everypony that I have a new big brother!" She exclaimed. John stared at her for a few seconds before he smirked.

"Yeah, I guess you do, Little Sis." He said for the first time ever. It felt good to say that.