Levi and Aria both trotted down the road outside Ponyville.

"Always like this little town," Levi looks around.

"Cause it's quiet dad?" Aria looked up at her father.

"Yes, but it's not as quiet as you think Ary," Levi remarks. "That," he points with his metal hoof to a dark forest. "This is the main reason why I like this town. As you've learned from your teacher slash sisters, most of Equestria is domesticated boy ponies from weather to crops and seasons. The Everfree is not, however. It's one of the few locations in this country where nature works as it is intended. The ponies of Ponyville more or less rely on this forest for certain things as there are things that can only be found in it due to the magic and natural environments and conditions that can't be reproduced with magic."

"Like in a lot of the places where you used to take contracts like in your stories," Aira said as she was catching on.

"Yes," Leiv nods, "These ponies don't try and tame this forest but try and coexist alongside it. Most notably, the family we are on our way to see now."

They trotted along until they came upon an orchard. That's when Aria looked up and saw big bright red apples and her mouth started to water. She was pulled from her frozen days are a loud rumble came from her belly.

"Ahaha..." Levi laughs as his youngest's face turns red. "Don't worry Ary, if there's one thing the Apple Family knows outside apples it's how to make a more than a decent meal."

"Who's there?!" came a southern drawl. "I see you two standing there," out from a tree came a little yellow filly with a big red bow.

"Good day little one," Levi says as he walks over, towering over the filly, who at this point was straining to lookup as he cast his shadow over her.

"Gosh, Mister you sure are tall!" She points. "I think you're even taller than ma big brother!"

"You wouldn't happen to be Applebloom would you?" Levi raised an eyebrow.

"Ye that's me," Applebloom points. "Who are you and how'd ya know that?"

"My name is Levi Ackerman Strawberry and I know you because Grannie Smith is a very olde and dear friend of mine and my family," Levi place his metal on his chest, "And we," he used his wing to motion to his daughter, "were hoping to say hello. This is my daughter."

"Hi, my names-"

"PRINCES STELLA ARIA!" Applebloom yelped before quickly covering her mouth whit her hooves.

"Please don't yell that," Aria winced as she waited for the ringing in her ears to die down. "As I was saying, hello my name's Stella Aria, but you can call me Aria, or Ary or short. It's so awesome that there's another filly my age around!" She pronks around the confused Applebloom.

"Ah... sorry Ah'm still a bit confused... ya said we're the same age. That can't be right," She stands up, "you're at least two hooves taller than me."

"Yea... I get that a lot," Aria makes circles in the dirt.

"Make no mistake Applebloom," Levi pulls Aria over to him."You're actually older than she is. She just ahs a lot of me in her end of the gene pool."

That's when Aira's stomach let out another loud growl causing her to blush again.

"If you're hungry we got plenty of food," Applebloomnow over the shyness and confusion motions to the house. "Grannie's been cooking all mornin and we never turn down guests."

"Lead the way please!" Aria licked her lips.

"Applebloom! What are ya doing?!" came another southern accented mare. "Ah thought Ah told ya to..... Tall..." the mare said as soon as she laid eyes on Levi's form, "Hey there handsome, what can I do for ya?"

"You can stop drooling," Aria says getting the farm mares' attention, "Cause my dad isn't going to make the googoo eye back at you."

"You don't need to be so defensive," The mare raised an eyebrow, "It's been a while hasn't Mr. Strawberry."

"That it has Applejack," Levi says as he went up and hugged the farmer.

"Ah take it here to see Grannie," Applejack returned the hug.

"Ah sis," Applebloom got middle sister's attention, "Explain, please?"

"And I take it the little one next to ya is your little Aira. She sure has gotten big since the last time the two of ya was here," Applejack steps back. "It's good to ya after so long, ya haven't aged at all."

"Ahhhhhh dad?" Aria looked at her father confused.

"This isn't your first time here Ary, nor is it your time meeting Appllebloom," Levi explained. "Whenever I had business that I absolutely had to tend to and and your mother and no pony else could look after you I would call on the one family outside the Corps I know I can trust and be discreet. The Apples. You and Applebloom used to play together as foals."

"You two where close as two seeds in a core," Applejack adds. "As ya got older we were needed less and less. Though Grannie still kept in touch with yer pa. I take it your here to say hello?"

"Yes and get some of that Apple family pie I've been missing out on," Levi licked his lips.

"Well it won't be much longer till a whole buffet is out," Applejack says as she motioned to her older brother who was setting up tables.

"I'll help him out. It's been a while since I've seen the little guy," Levi says going over to help the stallion.

"So, who's the red guy?" Aira asked Applebloom.

"Uh... what... Sorry, still processing this info I was just givin," Applebloom scratched her head. "Little guy... That's a word I thought I'd hear about Big Mac but then again your pa is... he's tall plain and simple. The red guy as you call him is the oldest of the three of us Apples and his name's Big Macintosh or Big Mac for short. Yer taken this info we just got pretty well."

"Trust me," Aira waved it off. "I've seen some weird stuff. My mom is well... Seeing as dad trust your family and they already know me... My mom is princess Celestia and my older brother is a dragon. So... ya.... kinda numb to this stuff. Especially after I first saw Michigan singing and dancing around a lily pad for the first time." She looked at Applebloom who'd frozen up except for a twitching eye. "Oh... I think I overdid it...."

"Somethin tells me ya'll are gonna be great friends," Applejack waves a hoof in front of her little sister's eyes. "I think she'll be fine, Just leave her there for now. The food will break her free if it soon enough. Why don't ya come an say hi to grannie in the meantime? Oh, and call me Aj, seeing as were frends."

"Sure and you can call me Ary," Aria smiles and followed Applejack into the house.

"Grannie, we have a couple of guest here for ya!" Aj calls out.

"Kitchen!" cam and elder southern draw.

"I got someone ya haven't seen in a while," Aj remarks as Aira came into the kitchen, the smell of food was too much for her stomach and she let out a sound that nearly made the house rattle.

"Uh sorry..." Aria blushed, "Ah... My names..."

"Ah know who ya are youngin," The elderly farm mare patted Aria's head softly. "Good to see ya after all this time. Looks like yer pa has been makin sure you got the proper meals."

"He makes sure I eat right," Aria smiles.

"When she's not trying to sneak sweets with her older brother and cousin," Levi cleared her throat, "Particularly cookie or cake."

"Ehehehe..." Aira nervously giggled.

"So ya got yer momma's sweet tooth eh?" Grannie give a sly smirk, "Well, as long as ya got the work-ethic to match it ya more than welcome to some Apple family Apple pie. All ya have ta do is ask,"

"Oh yes," Levi nods, "She has more than enough of that."

"Ummm... oh look pie!" Aira says as she runs off.

"So ya make her train like the rest eh?" Grannie asked as she pulled out a long pipe and lit it.

"No," Levi shook his head. "I do make her train but its for self-defense and not the other work. She's Tia's daughter making her a crown princess and next in line for the throw behind Spike."

"How's that little fire spitter doing these days?" Grannie blew out a few rings of smoke.

"Just like his younger sister but a bit more will read and responsible," Levi said. "He had to learn that very fast by being Twilight's assistant. At the same time, he's still a kid when he needs to be."

"It really fills mah heart with joy seeing ya this way Levi," Grannie patted his back. "Ah remember when we first met with my ma and pa. You were much more imposing in that human form of yers. Hell, Ah say yer probably more imposing as a stallion due to yer height couple with that metal hoof and scar on yer face. Ya ever think about getting that thing fixed? Ya know they have special corrective magics for it."

"It's not like I haven't looked into it old friend but the fact it can't be fixed," Levi explained. "I got this when I was turned immortal and if I wanted it fixed first I'd have to stop being immortal first. If I could find my fingers then I could simply reattach them by opening up my wounds to the bone and having them surgically attached."

"Ya got the complicated shit as far as immortality goes then," Grannie points out.

"Very much so yes," Levi heaved out a sigh. "But enough of that. I wanted to come by and chat and make sure the food was on schedule for tonight's celebrations and it is so my job is done. Aria and I will also be moving into the manor starting as of today."

"Good to know you're going to be in town," Grannie smiled, "Us p;d timers have to stick together and catch up after all!" she cackled with smoke coming the whole time.

"I suppose we do," Levi chuckled as she watched Aira play tag with Apple Bloom. "It'll also be good to let Ary make friends her own age as well."

"You and her are always welcome here at any time Levi," Grannie puffed on her pipe, "I'm sure our roots have co-mingled at some point somewhere or another."

"I'll have to agree with you on that one old friend," Levi chuckled again as Applejack came by.

"Can Ah offer ya some of our cider Mr. Levi?" She said. "Ya'll won't find any finer in all of Equestria?"

"I've been around the block more than once young mare and your family does in fact have some of the finest ciders I've ever had in my life," Levi happily took the mug she offered.

"Ah'm sensing a but coming," Applejack added.

"Indeed," Levi said with a sly chuckle as he took a gulp of his drink.

"But?" Applejack narrowed her vision on the very large 'stallion'.

"Don't bother Aj," Grannie snickered.

"Why?" Aj asked her grandmother.

"Why what?" Grannie sipped some of her own cider,

Aj just looked at her granny stone-faced.

"Cause you'll never get the answer!" Grannie bonked her middle grandchild with her pipe, "Now get."

"OW!" Aj yelped and walked away grumbling something about finding out his secrets one day.

"Ya think the hard head would learn after the hundredth hit by now," Grannie said. "She gets it from her ma and pa."

"How have Bright and Pear been?" Levi looked at her.

"Enjoying the time with their kids and kin, for the most part, thanks to ya and yer lot," Grannie added, "They would be here normally but won a cruise and couldn't back out or they'd been the first to greet ya beside the youngest. Ya'll have done a lot for us Levi, more than the kids know about and Ah'm grateful for it, truly and honestly grateful."

"I just did what needed to be done Smith," Levi set his empty mug down. "We just happened to be in the Everfree to gather plants at the time and I heard Pear's cries for help and made it to them before the pack could pull them under."

"Ah know but Ah'll still thank ya every time I see ya for it," Grannie gave a soft smile. "Thank ya for saving mah family."

"See ya around Smith," Levi waved over his shoulder as he topped and gathered Aria and the du trotted off.

Author's Note

Been a little while and this is just part one of the nightmare moon arc so it's short. Our next order of business will be with Twilight, Sunset, and Spike. I wonder how firey things will turn out for our group.

Enjoy, like, and comment,

Alvasa out!_!