I woke up, I looked out the window. The sun was not even up, I yawned and pushed myself off my bed. I opened the window and leapt out, jogging towards the forest. I didn't want to move too fast, this was just a warm up. I jogged around the Everfree Forest a few times to warm up, didn’t want to sprain a muscle at such speed.

I frowned as I saw the Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo heading into the Everfree Forest. I ran over to them “Where do you think you are going? I’m sure you have been told that this forest is dangerous, and to would be more when it is dark?”

Scootaloo grinned “We were going to see if we get our Cutie Marks in Manticore taming!”

I glared at her “You should not be so foolish as to leap into danger without the slightest thought. Do you even know if that is even possible?”

Sweetie Belle chirped “Fluttershy told me about how she befriended one during the Nightmare Moon incident. I thought we could try, if the most timid mare in town could do it so could we.”

I raised an eyebrow “I have not met Fluttershy yet, so that doesn’t mean much. Regardless, you sister warned me of the danger and the only reason I got out fine is because I’m fast. I can get from one side to the other in less than second.”

Apple Bloom deadpanned “I don’t believe ya!” I rushed off heading to the north, grabbing a piece of snow and running back. I turned in into a snowball and ran back, I threw the snowball at her face. Apple Bloom shook her head as the other two fillies blinked “Where did you get that snowball?”

I smirked “From the Frozen North, now let’s get you three back to Sweet Apple Acres.” I grabbed the three fillies, rushing them back to the farm.

Applejack blinked as I carried the three fillies inside “Why are ya carrying mah sister and her friends inside at this hour?”

I frowned “They were attempting to enter the forest in the dark, I’d assumed an already dangerous place would be more dangerous in the dark. So I brought them back here before they got hurt.”

Applejack glared at them “Go to your room and don’t leave until breakfast. After breakfast you two will stay here until you need to go to school. Apple Bloom you’re grounded. As for the Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, Ah’ll leave that to ya families.”

Applejack turned back to the kitchen, she was flipping pancakes on a pan. I grinned as she placed the pancakes on the table, she frowned “Ah’m sorry that there is no meat but ponies don’t eat that kind of food. Ah might be able to figure something out for ya if all goes well.”

I smiled “No problem Applejack, you have invited into your home and given me a place to stay. That’s more than enough.” She smiled at me.

After we all ate breakfast, Applejack and I headed out to the orchards alongside a large quiet light crimson stallion. Applejack smiled “Ah forgot to introduce ya to mah big brother. Henry, this is Big Mac.”

I smiled “Nice to meet you.”

He nodded “Same.”

Quiet type huh, that was good to know. Applejack pointed to the orchards up ahead “Ah’ll harvest the trees and Big Mac pulls the cart back to the barn. Can ya handle placing empty baskets under the trees and putting the full ones on the cart?”

I smiled “I can do that.”

Applejack smiled “The baskets are in the barn.” She then pointed a hoof at one of the baskets “That’s were they are to be placed.” I nodded running to the barn, picking up the baskets. I darted around the orchard placing the baskets at rapid speed.

I returned to Applejack after completing my task “I’m done.”

Applejack blinked, she was still standing in the same spot that she was when I left “How fast are ya?” She then shook her head “That’s all for now, I suggest you go into town and meet some ponies.

Pinkie wanted to meet ya but ya were too quick for her.”

I smiled “I will, see you tonight Applejack.” I headed into town, I ducked as a pink pony leapt at me. I ducked before turning to her “You’re Pinkie Pie right. Why did you want to see me?”

Pinkie Pie bounced around me “Because I wanted to throw you a party! I throw everypony I meet a party, although your not a pony! Still that won’t stop me from throwing you a party! It will have cakes and streamers and candy and chocolate and pinatas and...!”

I shook my head “I’m sorry Pinkie but that’s not my scene. I have never really had any interest in parties, the only birthday party I had was cancelled because I didn’t show up. I was 13 when it happened, my family were strict on the farm work but my mother wanted me to make some friends. By that point I didn’t care about making friends, farmwork was my life. I got up at dawn, milked cows and then let them out to graze. Fed the horses and pigs, then I had to tend the fields. After that was done I went off to school.”

Pinkie Pie teared up “Does that mean you never had fun?”

I chuckled “I enjoyed farmwork, that was my fun. I found joy in work.” I then frowned “Having said that making friends was never really something that I did. I socialised with others only out of obligation, the bullies hated me and everyone else ignored me. I cared little for any of it.”

Pinkie Pie blinked “Wait, Applejack is your friend isn’t she? Your enjoy her company!”

I shrugged “I suppose, I won’t deny a friendship if it walks up to me but I have no interest in seeking friends. She has my respect for being a fellow hard worker. Now with that out of the way, I should head back.”

Pinkie Pie grabbed me by the legs “Please let me throw you a party?’

I peeled her off my feet “The answer is no. I don’t like others throwing parties for me specifically.” I placed her on the ground, I turned and walked away heading back to the farm. I could the loud sound of sobbing behind me.

On the way back, a purple unicorn mare with a tricoloured mane storm over to me. I frowned “Who are you?”

She scowled at me “I’m Twilight Sparkle and you made my friend Pinkie Pie cry! She just wants to make everypony smile, why couldn’t you just attend a party thrown for you.”

I grimaced “I hate being at the centre of attention, in a party about me I have to be. I have been to others’ parties where I sat in a corner and talked to no-one. They forgot I was there until it was time to leave.” I took a deep breath “If you ponies can’t handle that, then I’ll have to find somewhere that can.”

Twilight frowned “What about Applejack, she’s your friend?”

I crossed my arms “Twilight, I don’t need friends. My relationship with Applejack is the closest I’ve had to a friendship. I can function on my own, my only ties was to my family but I have no idea if I can even get back to them. I have no need for ties in this world.”

Twilight looked at me in shock “But friendship is the source of all magic.”

I shrugged “My power is not from magic, it comes from something else. I have no access to magic so that doesn’t mean anything to me. I come from a different world with different values, if I am to stay here you and everypony here has to accept that.”

At that moment Applejack over to us, the look on her face was conflicted. She took a deep breath “Henry, Ah understand what ya are saying. Ya not like us and that’s okay, Ah’ll explain it to Pinkie. She is not good at understanding things like this, she’s like a foal in that way. Most ponies find that quality endearing but ya are more of a loner. She has never had to deal with someone like that before, the closest was Gilda but she was far more aggressive then ya are. For now let’s get some food in ya, we can talk later.”

Twilight nervously rubbed the back of her head “Maybe we can discuss your world a little more tomorrow?”

I smiled “Sure, I’ll be over after I am done with farmwork.”

Twilight smiled “See you then.” After that, Applejack and I returned to Sweet Apple Acres.

Author's Note

I hope you enjoy this chapter.