As Stanley laid on the floor nearly limp, he grunted out while in slight pain. Moving his arms, he tried and push himself back up. He was assisted by a pair of hooves lifting him enough so he could rest on his knees. The conductor pony's face was filled with worry. With a feminine voice the conductor spoke.

"What happened to you?" The mare now past Stanley at the darkened roomed he came out of.

"Did you hit your head, maybe? I noticed the light is off inside the bathroom."

The mare spoke calmly. Judging Stanley by his size, the pony did come to a mildly coherent conclusion. Only if the conductor knew what lurked in the shadows.

"Yes, I did. The light went out suddenly and I banged my head badly on the door frame. Don't worry, I'll recover."

Stanley said, lying through his teeth.

This matter of mine concerns no one but me. I don't want to screw things up again, I'm already on thin ice as it is. Magic talking horse land is not so forgiving to outsiders.

Getting back onto his two feet, he looked down at the little conductor pony below him. Giving a smile, Stanley scanned the train car. Not a single soul was present, beside the conductor. The side doors were ajar now, as passengers were beginning to board the train at this very moment. Compared to Canterlot, barely any seats filled, as the ponies scarcely filled up the train car.

"Umm..Sir, were about to leave again. If this is your stop, I suggest you gather your belongings quickly." The conductor pony uttered, letting out a sigh of relief soon after. The conductor pony was glad it didn't have to bother itself with this tall freak of a creature. The pony now left, going about the train car to help gather tickets now. Stanley scrambled to gathered his helmet, from his vacant seat. Not even 30 seconds later, the train began to come to life, as it left the station. With Stanley barely able to make it out in time. Rushing out of the train he fell onto the floor after tripping over a small raised edge by the on ramp.

"Rough time, huh mister?" A small filly said.

Who walked side by side with her parents. Her parents now scolding her, for speaking to such a strange creature, as they walked away.

Little pony, if you only knew the half of it. Canterlot seemed a bit more tolerant, as I can already see stares I'll get. This is out the boonies so what could one expect. At least Ponyville has an idea of what and who I am. First second I get, I should ditch this armor, or store it away. Walking around with it on, only brings more attention.

The Ponyville train station was much smaller, and a bit far from the settlement. It's platform was a medium sized concrete slab on both side of the two sets of train track. On top of the platformed, a few benches were provided.Both slabs were around a meter form the ground. A set of steps were on each end of the two slabs allowing passengers entry way, into the area. A small wooden booth was positioned below the slabs. It looked more like a shack then anything. This was probably a ticket booth also.

A small dirt path, that came to a near trickle left this area, as it headed toward Ponyville. A small brown picket fence surrounded the path way on both sides. Meanwhile the small family that had just walked by were sitting down on one of these benches. The stallion looked tired, as he barely kept his eyes open. Getting up from the ground. Stanley wobbled toward a bench on the edge of the platform. No one else was around anyways, as he need a few minutes, to rest. Opening up his ears just a little, Stanley was able to pick up the conversation over at the other bench.

"Honey, do you really have leave so soon. I thought you could stay longer." A disappointed mare's voice could be heard.

"I'm sorry, but my other wife would have a fit...if I stayed any longer." The stallion replied.

His eyes now wide. Just imaginng the wrath of his other wives, if he were to be late. He only smiled again when he looked upon his daughter.

"Fine...but when will you be back, our daughter will miss you, I'll miss you." The voice of the mare sounded sad.

As her eyes drifted to her daughter, holding her tightly in a affectionate manner.

"Yeah daddy! When will you be back?" The little fillies voice sounding off, as she gave her dad a big hug, jumping from her mothers hooves. Giving him puppy dog eyes now, as she looked up at her father.

"As soon as I make my rounds..hopefully soon, I much prefer living out here in the country side anyways. Don't worry, daddy will be as soon as he can now."

The stallion now smiled. Returning his daughter's hug, as he looked off in the distance. Listening on, Stanley starting to think.

This stallion has multiple wives? I know the population is mismatched here, but is this really how it works? It sorta seemed like the mares, wore the pants in this society due to the lack of stallions. But this just confirms it. Even in Canterlot, mostly all the ponies walking around were mares, with a few stallions being lead around by their wives. Can't really blame these mares, since I'm sure over the years they had to get more aggressive to find companionship. Stroudemare had this strange phenomenon too. But I saw some stallions, as guards. Who were very masculine and brawny. Perhaps they are outliers in this society. This is interesting, I'll make sure to ask Twilight about this later.

Getting up off the bench Stanley walked by the family, as they paid little attention to him. Only the filly said something as Stanley strode by.

"Bye Bye metal pony!" She happily said, staring at his metal chest plate, as she leaned into her father's embrace.

Her parent's only bat an eye at Stanley, before looking back down at their daughter.

"How many times have we told you....don't talk to strangers." The mother said, giving her daughter a stare of disapproval.

Kids..ha.

With a chuckle, Stanley walked off the platform. There was now another pony at the booth negotiating a price with the one teller at the booth. Neither paid close attention, as Stanley walked on by, heading to the path leading to Ponyville. The sun was out, in all its glory. The landscape was lit up, almost making it too perfect. It was mostly just grassland that surrounded Ponyville, only near the edge of the settlement, laid the Everfree Forest. A place he knew all too well by this point.

Walking down the path at a brisk pace, he came to a crossroads. In one corner, a sign was posted. It had several different pieces of wood pointing toward different directions. Each wooden board had a worn out word on each. On one of the signs he made out the word apple orchard, along with another for Ponyville. The other locations seemed to point off to near by towns, which would be quite a walk from here. Leaning against the small brown picket fence, Stanley only frowned, as he looked off in Ponyville's direction.

Those changelings from before, how long before they seek me out again. I hate having to keep on my toes, but since they can apparently shape shift, no where is safe. If they abducted me, would it even matter, I doubt it. I'm not anyone important after all. Anyways, what shall I do during this month long period of 'community service'.

Snapping his fingers, he jumped off the fence, very enthusiastic about something.

"I know! I should build a cabin or something. I always wanted a hovel to call my own. I could build it in the Everfree Forest during my month here. I'm sure no one would disturb it. I doubt I'll finish it or even come close. But a project will take my mind off things, plus after this month I'm free right?" Stanley spoke out-loud, as he thought no one was around.

"That sounds like a stupid idea." A voice presented itself, coming from the direction of the apple orchard. Not in the least bit startled. Stanley looked to his left to confirm the familiar voice he heard. Just a short distance away, Applejack and Rainbow Dash were headed his way.

Oh great.....company. Of all ponies it could've been, it had to be that damned rainbow pegasus....fantastic.

Standing, still at the crossroads, he meet up with two colorful mares.

"Still wearing your armor? What, have you came to attack Ponyville again?" Rainbow dash uttered, mocking Stanley.

"No, I refuse to walk around naked, and holding my helmet all day is pretty impractical." Stanley returned back with a stern statement on his lips.

"Oh hush now, Rainbow, he is obviously here for a reason." The orange mare, wearing a ranchers hat spoke. Her southern accent as thick as ever. Remembering just how different it was when he heard it last night. As he faced them, he turned his head to look at the side of their bodies.

"What are you looking at?" Rainbow said, turning to face him, hiding her body with her wings. Her feathers looked a bit ruffled already.

"Nothing, I just wanna know about those strange marks on your....backsides. I see almost every pony sporting them." Stanley's voice filled with innocence, as he only looked out of curiosity.

"Oh, our cutie marks you mean." Applejack replied, turning the side of her body to Stanley. With one of her front hooves she point to her mark, giving him a wink with her large green eyes. Causing him to blush under his helm.

This mare with the blonde mane and tail is diabolically cute, even with the southern accent.

"Well, they are something we earn as we grow up. They usually appear after a pinnacle event happens in our lives. I have the mark of red apple. Mine fits closely to my name, when compared to some other ponies." Applejack, spoke happily, finding his interest in the marks intriguing.

"And let guess, You have a thunderbolt of some-sort, for your mark. Rainbow Dash." Stanley spoke looking past Applejack, to meet Dash's violet eyes, as she bore a hole through him with her glare.

"Close. I have a thundercloud along with my thunderbolts." Rainbow reluctantly turning to her side, also pointing to her cutie mark. Tucking her wings, neatly back as she let him look.

"It looks awesome. Same to you Applejack. As you can already tell. I don't have any marks, haha."

Stanley letting out a small laugh, as the mares joined him. Rainbow Dash looked especially happy, after being told she was awesome, even if it was coming form this human creature.

"And to answer the question, before you both ask. I am here under Celestia's orders. She sentenced me to a month of community service. As Ponyville already heard my story, she thought, this would be the best place to repay my debt to the lands." Stanley said, facing the two mares, who listened closely.

"Is that so?" Applejack said, moving to his side.

"Well I hope you'll come by the orchard and help us out some. We could sure use it." Her voice this time, had a bit of excitement. The prospect of free labor was too good to pass up after all.

"Don't you worry, I'll be sure to come on over and help out. What about you Rainbow Dash?" Stanley said, moving his head to Dash.

"I wouldn't need help from a sissy like you, I can handle everything on my own." Rainbow answered, snickering.

Raising an eyebrow under his helmet, he looked her over almost ready to shake his head.

If any pony is a sissy, It'd be the one caught by a shitty move like a full nelson. I digress tho. I know, I should shoot back.

"You are right. I'm sure your special marefriend would be a much better help." Stanley spoke in a joking manner.

He was insulating she was a lesbian. Before he could even relish the moment, Rainbow Dash's face tinted red with a blush. As her little light blue ears began to twitch a bit. She looked somewhat angry, but had a coy smile. Blowing a piece of her rainbow mane that was in front of her face. With one stomp of her hoof, she stepped toward Stanley getting close to his helm, as she was on her hind legs now. Expecting to get hit, he readied himself.

"You've go some spunk for a male, I'll give you that. But I am not into mares, and you should watch it, estrous cycle ended not too long ago." She spoke, with a bit of seduction in her voice. As her eyes looked over Stanley's immediate body.

Is she messing with me, one minute she's acting like complete a-hole, and now she is flirting?! Well if mares do act more like guys. I guess I could understand the reason. I did just call out her sexuality.

Applejack the whole time, just laughed at the two, leaning against the picket fence. She glanced up at the sky, into the deep blue void. Not even a single cloud could be found.

"Ok, ok. I was just joking around with you. No hard feelings ok?" Stanley spoke taken a bit back by the whole situation.

Making a 'hmpf' sound, Rainbow Dash stepped down off her hind legs. Turning away from him she stepped toward the path in the direction of Ponyville. With a sudden movement of her neck, she gestured Applejack to join her.

"Well if your heading off to Ponyville, why don't you join us. We were headed there just now." Spoke Applejack as she hoisted herself back from the fence, joining Rainbow Dash's side.

"Sounds like an idea. I need to see Princess Twilight anyways." Stanley spoke joining the two pastel ponies.

Heading down the main path, away from the cross ways. Ponyville got closer and closer with each step. Along the way, the three of them talked about pretty travail things, before it shifted to questions regard a bit of Stanley's past. As he described it to the both of them, Rainbow Dash made faces of boredom. While Applejack just nodded, trying to understand best she could. Arriving at Ponyville the two mares soon broke off, going down a street to fetch some items. Waving good bye, Stanley made his way through the streets. The stares, that he expected were now apparent, but not as intense. Most ponies already had an idea of who he was at this point. After just a few minutes he was at the entrance of the tree castle. One guard came up to him.

"We've been expecting you, Mr. Mayer." Said the head guard, his voice stern and serious, just like Stanley remembered.

"Really?" Stanley was a bit surprised, did Celestia already send Twilight a letter about what they spoke about?

"Yes, Really. Now let me lead you to Princess Twilight." The stallion spoke, trotting up the stairs, with Stanley following close behind. Entering the castle, he was lead up a few flights of stairs, into what looked like a laboratory of some kind. In the corner of the room, standing on all fours, was Princess Twilight. She was wearing a white lab coat, with her horn lit, as a vial of some purple liquid was poured into a beaker creating a small reaction.

"Princess Twilight, our guest is here." Spoke the stallion.

"Very well, you may go now, and thank you for all your hard work." Twilight spoke, in a chipper up beat tone.

Looking around the laboratory, Stanley didn't move a muscle as the stallion left the two of them. He didn't want to touch a thing, as everything looked very delicate. From his observation the room was a bit messy, with opened books, and various drawings scattered about the many work tables. Inventions half built to even plants of an exotic looking type laid in glass observation tubes in the middle of the lab.

"So...Prin..."

"You are a Fossil. I still don't understand how. Maybe I did the tests wrong." Twilight spoke interrupting him.

"Fossil? What are you talking about?" Stanley said, squinting at the mare on the opposite side of the room. She was putting back what she was working with. Taking off her lab coat with her magic, she placed it on a hanger on the far side of the wall.

"Old, Ancient, Antediluvian, Archaic, Forgotten, Fabled, Old News. You know what I meant." She said, after letting out a chuckle.

"Ok, so I take it you managed to find out just how old I am from my sword. So Just how old am I?" Stanley spoke expecting to hear maybe a few thousand years or something around those lines.

"30,000 years to be exact, or at least from my raw estimate." Twilight answered.

"30,000 YEARS OLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Rapidly taking off his helmet he dropped it to the floor. With a large thud being echo'd through out the lab. His mouth opened as wide as he could make it. His whole body began to twitched, as he looked at her with a puzzled face. With both hands at his side turned over, giving a gesture of complete surprise

"HOW!?" He spoke, getting antsy now, from the news he just heard.

"Don't ask me, I ran my tests, those are the numbers. I was almost as surprised as you. I made sure to let Celestia know, after I found out,which wasn't even an hour ago." Twilight said.

Trying to calm Stanley down, as she walked over to him. Patting his lower back with a hoof trying to comfort him.

"Does it really matter, if it were even a 1000 years, that'd still be a long time. Although with your age, you predate almost every being in Equestria. You are like a walking Relic." Twilight added, giggling a bit.

She now looked over at the sword inside her lab. It was levitating above a blue crystal, holding it in place. Beside the sword were various tools used for measuring imperfections, carbon dating, and much more.

"I guess, your right, I'm just astonished thats all." Stanley said, calming down. Twilight was now over at the sword looking over it again.

"I know the reason you were sent here by the way. It was in Celestia's letter. Don't worry, I have enough vacant rooms." Her voice having a cheerful ring to it.

"This sword is fascinating, I haven't encounter this type of metal alloy, in a long time. The craftsmanship is unmatched with my various databases on old era Equestrian weapons." Twilight said, trailing off, back into her research. Finishing her rant, she looked her side. With a face, indicating she just remembered something. She turned completely around.

"Oh yeah, I should show you to your room now, You have a long day ahead of you tomorrow. I wanna hear more about this World War among other things!" Twilight's ecstatic voice echoing in the laboratory.

Knowing she'd get to learn a whole lot of new material from her mysterious guest. Stanley was like a goldmine, or like a treasure trove filled with information. Leading him out of the laboratory now. She looked toward the lab door. With a trace amount of magic, she locked the door.

Ugh, I think she is geeking out now, she is definitely not the same kind of Princess that Luna and Celestia are. Still she was almost as rare as me, being an alicorn and all. Either way tomorrow, looks to be a very busy day from the way she put it. Well as long as those changeling don't snatch me up tonight. It's only up from here, right?

Author's Note

A shorter chapter, sorry guys.

The next one, I'm going to jump around a bit, as he gets into misadventures around Ponyville. Don't forget, those changelings are still around too.

Speaking of which. I'll let you guys decide. Should he tell Twilight about those changelings or keep it to himself?

Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed. Til' next time.

[Spacing has Been fixed Edit Date -> 11/13/2018]