Over The Hills And Far Away

Chapters

Ch. 1 Dazed And Confused
Ch. 2 Ramble On
Ch. 3 Friends
Ch. 4 Misty Mountain Hop

Ch. 1 Dazed And Confused

Chapter 1: Dazed And Confused

It was early morning across the land of Equestria. Many of the ponies were already hard at work. One pink pony, however, was busy hopping toward the outskirts of Ponyville. Happily bouncing her along with a wicker basket in her mouth, Pinkie Pie was fulfilling a task by Mr. Cake. She was to gather some fresh honey from the bee farms just outside of town.

Pinkie had gotten the honey and was making her way back to Sugarcube Corner. Yet, something blue in the grass caught her eye. She stopped her hopping and set her basket down. Taking a closer look, she saw that lying on the grass was a dark blue earth stallion with a light blue mane and a short tail. Pinkie noticed he was still breathing and poked his face with one of her hooves. He stirred at her touch, causing Pinkie Pie to smile knowing now that he was still alive. She resumed to poking him repeatedly.

The colt's eyes slowly opened after a few more pokes to the top of his head. His blue eyes looked upwards to see an upside down, pink pony with a messy mane. He mumbled something unintelligible quietly as he raised a hoof up to his head to rub it.

"Hi there! I'm Pinkie Pie! Who are you?" the pink pony spoke happily to the strange pony.

Sitting up in the grass, the blue colt shook his head before looking down at his hooves. He gasped and his eyes narrowed as he saw that he had hooves. He was about to say something before he felt a hoof poking him in the back of his head repeatedly.

"Hello? Anypony home?" Pinkie called out as her hoof continued to jab the blue pony, "Don't think you can't get away with not telling me who you are! I know everypony, and I will know you!" Her voice was as playful as her pokes.

"I'm….not really sure…." the colt finally spoke, trying to get to stand on all four hooves.

"You mean you don't know?" her head was tilted to one side.

"All I know is that my name is Robert and….that's it," he continued, closing his eyes and trying to think hard.

"Robert? Bleh! That name is to….bleh! Robbie sounds much better for you!" Pinkie proclaimed.

Rob, who opened his eyes to finally see all of Pinkie Pie, slightly blushed at her words, "Well, Rob is just fine, Ms. Pie." His words were very formal.

Pinkie laughed, "Oh, please. Ms. Pie is my mom! I'm Pinkamena Diane Pie, or Pinkie Pie for short! And you don't have to be so shy-ly why-ly!"

Rob smiled at Pinkie's response until he heard the last word, "Wily? That word….it sounds so famailar…." Rob's head was beginning to hurt as he tried to think about it, "Ow…."

Pinkie became concerned, "Robbie, you don't have to hurt yourself to remember. Just, what do you remember before you can't remember?"

"Just my name really…." Rob admitted as he slowly trotted on the to the path.
Pinkie Pie stood on her hind legs, raised a hoof in the air and made a bold statement, "Then I will make it my quest to help you recover from your amnesia!" She then returned to standing on all four hooves and speaking normally, "Or at least until everything works out fine. Whichever comes first!"

Rob smiled and laughed, "Thanks Pinkie, but you really don't hav-"

The stallion's words were cut off by the growl of his stomach.

Pinkie gasped, "You haven't eaten! We must change that and fast!" Before Rob could think or react, Pinkie Pie had already placed him on her back and put the basket back in her mouth. "Hang on!," Pinkie's words were muffled by the basket in her mouth, "Next stop: Sugarcube Corner!"

Pinkie Pie had literally taken off in a blur of pink with the blue stallion on her back towards town. It was just another normal day in Ponyville, with the pink party pony defying the very laws of nature.

Ch. 2 Ramble On

Chapter 2: Ramble On

Within the blink of an eye, Pinkie Pie and Rob had arrived outside of Sugarcube Corner. The blue colt was confused and bewildered, how as it even possible that Pinkie Pie could do such a thing? Seeing how thinking hard about himself was painful, he settled on the fact that thinking hard about how Pinkie defied logic would have the same result.

Setting the basket of honey on the ground, Pinkie turned and took Rob down from of her back. "Now," she began, "let's get you some yummy sweets to eat, Robbie!"

"Um, alright," Rob replied, trying to hide the fact he was blushing at her words. It wasn't that hard for him to admit that she was cute.

Pinkie grabbed the wicker basket and led the way inside of the bakery. Following close behind, Rob was hit with the aroma of sweets that filled his lungs. Looking around, he saw other multi-colored ponies in all different shapes and sizes. There were other earth ponies, like himself, as well as unicorns and pegasuses. He was surprised about it all. He continued to look around until he was startled by a familiar pink pony that was popped up right in font his line of sight, her face only a few inches away from his.

"Why haven't ya sat down yet, silly? C'mon!" Pinkie Pie pulled Rob over to an empty table and forced him to sit down. Then, seemingly from out of nowhere, she pulled out a plate of cupcakes for them to eat, "Dig in!" she exclaimed as she sat down across from him and did just that.

Rob, however, was a little more cautious as he reached for his cupcakes. Grasping one with his hoof, he took a bite of the green frosted cupcake. To his pleasant surprise, it was delicious. He continued to eat happily. Pinkie, who had frosting coat the area around her mouth, smiled as she paused between bites.

A few cupcakes later, Pinkie Pie spoke, despite her mouth still having food in it, "Ya knoo, ah havn't seeen wat yer cuutie mark is yet." Her words were jumbled and food flew out as she spoke.

Rob, still enjoying his cupcake, didn't quite understand what she said. But before he knew it, Pinkie Pie was looking at his blue flank from underneath the table, "Pinkie Pie!" he shouted in embarrassment.

The pink pony paid no mind for his concern. "Hmm," she said from below the table while looking at the cutie mark, "A red circle with a yellow ring and a black line through it? What could that be mean?"

Rob moved himself out of Pinkie's line of sight. His cheeks were red as he went to the other side of the table and pulled the mare out from below the table, "I already said, I have no idea. But whatever it means, I think I'll be stuck here for a while until I don't have amnesia anymore."

"That's a super-duper idea!" Pinkie exclaimed, "but where?"

As she rubbed her chin, she didn't hear the trotting behind her of one of her friends.

"Howdy, Pinkie Pie," the orange mare greeted.

Waving her limbs in front of the orange pony, Pinkie Pie responded, "Shhh! Not now, Applejack! I'm trying to think." Her head didn't move as she talked.

"Uhh….alright then, ah'll let ya do that then, Pinkie," Applejack replied to Pinkie. She was used to Pinkie Pie's randomness.

Suddenly, Pinkie had an idea, "Wait, Applejack, that's it!"

"What's it?" Rob spoke.

"You can work on Applejack's farm!" Pinkie seemed very happy to have came up with the idea.

"Um, that's might fine an' all, Pinkie, but aren'tcha gonna introduce me to yer friend here?" Applejack asked with a titled head.

"Right! This here is Robbie! We met earlier today!" the party pony mused.

Rob was quick to interject "Erm, Rob is just fine, Miss…."

"Applejack. Applejack is jus' fine as well, partner," Applejack nodded and gave a tip of her hat to the blue stallion, a bit more of her blonde mane being revealed.

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Rob smiled

"Oh, please, the pleasure is all mine," Applejack smiled back, her cheeks a slight tint of pink.

"Yay!" Pinkie busted out cheerfully, ruining the greeting, "Everypony knows everypony now! This calls for a party!" She had a limb around both of them in for a group hug.

"Actually, I would like to see if I can't get a job doing something. I mean, seeing how I don't even have a place to stay right now." Rob stated with concern.

"Shoot, ya don't even have a roof over yer head? Well then, let's see about you gettin' a job on the farm. Just as long as yer a hardworker," the orange earth pony spoke.

"I totally will! I promise!" Rob spoke with vigor.

"He does seem like the pony that is a super-de-duper-ee hardworker!" Pinkie vouched for him.

"Then let's just go ask Big Mac. He's got the final say and this."

The three ponies went to Sweet Apple Acres. The night sky had quickly swept over Equestria when they arrived. Pinkie made a few comments about how it was all spooky now that Luna's time of the day was at hand. After sharing a laugh, Applejack went inside to talk with Big Macintosh.

While she was away, Rob seemed nervous, "I do hope I can get a job here."

Pinkie Pie patted Rob on top of his head, "Don't you worry your pretty head off! Applejack is good with convincing her brother!"

Rob was puzzled, "What?"

Pinkie looked back and gave an innocent look, "What about what?"

Before Rob could say anything else, Applejack returned, "Ah got some good news, and ah got some bad news. The good news, is that ya start tomorra. The bad news, we ain't got a spare room in the house."

"Oh, alright," Rob said with a bit of sorrow in his voice.

Pinkie saw Rob crestfallen and made her frown. However, she got another idea, "IDEA! How about Robbie sleeps in the barn?"

"The barn?" Applejack echoed.

Rob seemed to be happy with the idea," Yeah! That will work. I'm not picky in the least!"

"Well, um….ah guess ya could…." the orange mare spoke. Her words were cut off by a flying Pinkie Pie hug. "Pinkie….mind gettin' offa me?" She did so, letting the orange mare stand back up.

Rob was very grateful, "Thank you so very much, Applejack!"

At his words, Applejack's cheeks had a pink tint added to them, "Shucks, it's nothin', sugarcube. Ah'll have Pinkie show ya where it is on her way out."

Pinkie saluted to Applejack, "Yes, ma'am! Let's go, Robbie!"

As the pink and blue ponies walked away, Applejack smiled to herself and blushed. She wasn't one to believe in love at first sight, but her heart said otherwise.

Ch. 3 Friends

Chapter 3: Friends

It had been a few days since Rob had started working at Sweet Apple Acres. To everypony's surprise, he was one of the hardest workers that they have had on the farm in a long time that wasn't a family member. He even became a work model for all some of the other ponies, such as Caramel. When the blue maned stallion wasn't working on the farm, he was doing odd jobs around Ponyville, lending a hoof anywhere it was needed. This included help fixing a few desks at the schoolhouse, help in lengthy process of repairing the city hall after a pegasus pony accidently created lightning, and even in small jobs like adding a swing to the Cutie Mark Crusader's tree fort.

Word got around about Rob being the new pony in town, which led to Pinkie bring the all of her friends to Sugarcube Corner one afternoon after his work was done. Seeing him at one of the tables, Pinkie bounced energetically over to the deep blue stallion, "Hiya, Robbie!"

Rob recognized the voice instantly, "Oh, hey there Pinkie Pie!" He turned and greeted the pink mare. He noticed behind him were a few other ponies that he had seen around town.

"Guess what? I brought the rest of my friends here! Seeing how you are becoming quite the talk of the town of being such a helpful pony and all, I thought that I should totally introduce my friends to my newest friend!" Pinkie was having trouble trying not to be too excited about her plan.

"Oh, alright then. That sounds like a fun idea," Rob said as he took a drink of his water.

"Who should go first? Oh, I know!" Pinkie quickly moved around and pushed a yellow pegasus mare with a pink mane up from the back to the front. She seemed reluctant, but the pink pony didn't care.

"Um….hello. I'm….uh….Fluttershy," the pegasus barely managed to get out before she let out an 'eep' and scurried back behind her fellow pegasus.

A white unicorn with a very fashionable purple mane came forward, "Don't mind her, dear, Fluttershy is very bashful and timid," raising a hoof, she continued, "I'm Rarity. Charmed, I'm sure. I've heard quite a lot about you."

Rob smiled, "Good things, I hope."

"But, of course, dahling! You are quite the stallion, from what I hear." Rarity smiled back with a small laugh.

The light blue pegasus pushed Rarity aside, "That's enough flirting out of you, Rarity!" she then turned her head quickly to Rob, her rainbow colored mane whipped at movement, "I'm Rainbow Dash, the awesome one. Just remember that!"

"I'll be sure to do that," Rob laughed at her statement.

Dash didn't seem to find it as amusing as she tilted her head to the side, puzzled of why it was funny.

The last unidentified mare came forward and introduced herself, "And I'm Twilight Sparkle. It's nice to see another face around Ponyville! And it's also nice to not be the newbie anymore!" she gave a soft chuckle.

Rob smiled toward Twilight, "Well, thanks for that welcome, from the old newbie to the next, huh?"

Pinkie then bounced from seemingly out of nowhere, "Excellent! Now you know my friends!"

"Wait," Rainbow Dash said, "what about AJ here?"

Applejack, who seemed to almost purposefully hide behind her friends, popped her head up from the back, "Oh….uh….R-Rob an' ah have um….met already…." Her voice seemed to be unlike herself. It was as if she was withdrawn.

"That doesn't mean you can't meet him again!" Pinkie complained as she used her head to push Applejack forward.

"Hey now, Pinkie Pie! There is no need for that!" Applejack protested. She managed to get away from Pinkie's shoving, but in the aftermath, did reintroduce herself to Rob, "Eh heh, howdy Rob. We'll, ya already know that ah'm Applejack," the orange pony raised a hoof up and rubbed the back of her neck due to the awkwardness of the moment for her, "an' ah also would like ta thank ya fer all the hard work ya have been doin' at the farm."

"It's not a problem, just always happy to help!" Rob replied with a grin.

Applejack smiled back with her cheeks showing a pink touch.

"See? Was that so hard? Oh! I got a story I have to tell you all!" Pinkie Pie proclaimed. All of the ponies gathered around the table to listen to the pink pony's story as the afternoon faded into night.

Ch. 4 Misty Mountain Hop

Chapter 4: Misty Mountain Hop

A couple days past since Rob had met the rest of Pinkie Pie's friends. While he wasn't able to really get to know them that much, he did however see them plenty of times as he was helping around with his various jobs. Such as actually having a conversation with Fluttershy as he fixed the chicken coops that were falling apart, or learning about the basics of magic from Twilight Sparkle when he helped her and her dragon Spike reorganize the entire Ponyville library. It seemed that Rob was making quite a name for himself as the hardworking jack-of-all-trades pony.

One evening, after finishing his work on the farm, Rob trotted over the Sugarcube Corner to get something to eat. He had worked up an appetite after repairing the pigpen fences. He opened the door to the bakery and noticed that the lights were out. Rob was about to turn around and go back, but he was interrupted but a large number of ponies jumping up as the lights came on.

"SURPRISE!" They all shouted.

The blue stallion certainly was surprised, jumping back a bit.

Pinkie Pie was the first pony to come up to the startled colt, "Where ya surprised, Robbie? Huh? Huh?"

Rob was a bit slow to answer as his blue mane was standing on end, "Yeah, that's one way to put it….that or scared out of my mind."

Pinkie Pie giggled, "Well, don't just stand there, it's a party!" Pinkie began her bouncing around, "And it's all for you! It's been exactly one week since you came to Ponyville, and since you have been extra super helpful to all of us, we had to throw a surprise party for you!"

Rob smiled, "Aw, you guys really didn't have to."

A good number of the townponies showed up to the surprise party for Rob and almost everypony came forward to talk to Rob about how big of a help he had been and thank him. Rob felt awkward about taking so much credit. Many ponies, including the Mayor Mare, stated that he was just being modest.

Slowly, the party was dying down and many of the ponies were leaving. Pinkie, of course, was refusing to stop partying. She said she came up with a new dance that she was performing, called the 'mountain hop'. Oddly enough, a few ponies and Spike joined in before they left themselves. Rob sat back and watched Pinkie do her dance all by herself, finding it very amusing. As he was sitting alone, a familiar orange pony with a cowboy hat trotted up to him.

"Uh, howdy, sugarcube…." Applejack spoke, her voice seemed to be shaken.

Rob turned to see Applejack, "Oh, hey there Applejack. Didn't see you all night." He greeted the earth pony with a smile.

"Yeah, well, ah kinda wanted ta talk to ya in private, ya know?" Applejack tried her best to avoid eye contact.

"I can understand. I'm personally not the one for big parties myself," the stallion gave a small laugh.

Applejack laughed back, "Ah understand that. Um, anyway, can ah ask ya somethin'?"

"Sure."

Just before Applejack was about to speak, Pinkie Pie literally hopped in between them, "Hey you two! You are the only ones left! What a shame!"

Rob looked around, "Hey, what do you know, everypony is gone."

"Yup! And that means it's time to clean!" Pinkie Pie disappeared as quickly as she appeared.

Rob turned back to Applejack, whose face was a bright red, "Sorry about that Applejack, what were you going to say?"

"Nothin', don't worry 'bout it none," Applejack lied, she couldn't say it, "Ah should head back ta the farm. See ya later then, Rob."

Rob raised a hoof to wave, "Alright, see you later then."

Applejack walked out of Sugarcube Corner. Turning her head to look through the window, she saw Rob and Pinkie Pie getting ready to clean up. Hanging her head, she sighed and began to slowly return home.

Back inside the bakery, Pinkie Pie gave a broom to Rob, "Okay Robbie! You sweep while I pop all of the balloons!"

"Pop the balloons?" Rob was puzzled.

"Yes! Like this!" Pinkie Pie grabbed one of the many balloons and started to bite it until a loud 'pop' was heard and the balloon was gone.

"Isn't that dangerous?" the stallion asked.

"Maybe, but sure is fun!" Pinkie exclaimed as she used the method to pop another balloon.

Rob laughed as he began his work of sweeping up the floors. He couldn't help but smile every time he heard a balloon pop followed by Pinkie's laugher. About ten minutes later, the duo had finished their cleaning.

"Thank you so very much for helping, Robbie! It made things go much faster than when I have Gummy pop the balloons!" the pink party pony said with a smile.

"Not a problem! Always happy to help," Rob returned the smile, before turning toward the door, "Well, I should head back to the barn now. See you tomorrow."

Pinkie Pie placed a hoof on the colt's back, "Wait, I think there is a spare room upstairs if you want to stay there until you find a better place!"

Rob turned around, "Are you sure? I mean, I really don't want to be a burden."

"Yup! That way, you don't have to sleep in that spooky, old barn!" Pinkie exclaimed.

"Well, alright I guess. Can you lead the way?" Rob asked.

"Of course, Robbie! Follow me!" Pinkie took charge and began to hop up the staircase.

She led him to the share room. The room was very plain, but had a very homey feel to it.

Rob smiled as he entered to look around, "This is great, thanks so much Pinkie Pie!"

"Oh, it's no big deal, as you say!" Pinkie smiled, "Well, I'll leave you to get ready for bed then."

Rob trotted toward Pinkie, "Wait, before you go."

"Hmm?" the pink pony waited.

Rob closed his eyes and planted a soft kiss onto Pinkie's left cheek. His own cheeks grew a pinkish tint that of Pinkie Pie's coat. "That's for everything you've done for me. Thank you so much."

Pinkie's face lit up as she blushed, "Oh, it's nothing, Robbie!"

"Good night," Rob smiled as he began to close the door.

"Good night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite!" Pinkie chimed back before the door was completely closed.

Returning back downstairs to turn the lights off, Pinkie Pie stopped in the middle of the room and began to do her 'mountain hop' dance with a big grin on her face. To say the very least, she was extremely happy.

END