“What am I doing?” thought August, pulling out his cigarettes and lighting one.

Here he was, outside of a talking pony shop after she had had a mental breakdown from not being able to make him a suit, and what was he doing? Blowing smoke rings and watching the rainbow of ponies walk by.

Just thinking that made him contemplate checking said smokes to make sure they were regular cigarettes and not marijuana ones. He still had nightmares about the hallucinations he’d had the one time he tried them and they happened to be laced with some heavy shit.

Shaking that thought aside, it was hard not to notice the many eyes currently watching him.

Some of them stared at him as he stood outside, almost like an exhibit at a zoo; others just kept walking. All in all, they were taking the whole alien in their town thing pretty well. But was he really ok with this?

Again, all things considered he was being strangely calm about the whole thing. He was effectively trapped in a world where not only did magic exist, but was primarily populated by short, brightly colored, sentient ponies.

Granted freaking out about it wasn’t gonna accomplish anything and given the frankly insane number of possible worlds he could’ve ended up in, happy pony land was totally cool with him.

Still, for the time being, he was getting by on his old habits: talk up the locals, make contacts, find a place to stay, and make some girls blush.

However, that didn’t resolve the major issue of the current situation.

“Can I really keep this up? They're not even human. Am I really ok with hitting on talking animals? Heck, if I’m stuck here forever am I just supposed to accept that?” Another ring of smoke flowed into the air.

Offhandedly, August stared at one mare as she walked by.

She had a wine-colored coat and an off-pink and white mane, three smiling flowers on her flank. She caught him staring at her and winked at him, her hips swaying a bit more as she walked away.

They certainly didn’t seem to mind it. Based on the reaction to him so far, he probably could find a partner if he wanted to. Heck some of these ponies seemed like they’d happily throw themselves at him if he asked.

“But do I want that?” He tapped the ashes into a flower pot and sighed, mulling over a question he’d have never considered until just a few days ago.

Back home, he had been too occupied with running and trying to get justice for Stella to ever have more than a one-night stand. Was he really ready to let it go?

More importantly, could he honestly, honestly, have any kind of relationship with a pony? Yes they were sentient, could speak, think and acted as human as he did, but they were still freaking ponies.

Could he really ignore that pretty massive difference? And again….

“Can I even let it go?” He finished the cigarette and put the butt into the pack.

The last five years had been dedicated to two goals: justice and his father's death.

August felt a tear run down his cheek as he remembered That night the night his sister never came home, and his world was torn apart and turned upside down.

August was just standing outside wiping his face when a cleaned up Rarity and Twilight walked out. However, August still remained somewhat oblivious to them until Rarity cleared her throat to get his attention.

August jumped his hand on his hip, and a pack of crushed cigarettes hit the ground. Twilight sighed and picked the pack up in her magic, floating it back in his hand.

“You know, August, you really don’t need to be so jumpy. Ponyville is a safe place.” Said Twilight, bumping his leg with her hip as she walked by.

August frowned a little at the gesture, but didn’t retort.

Rarity, on the other hand, recognized the signs of someone who had been crying and knew how to hide it. The slightly puffy eyes, tremble in his throat.

The sight brought a bit of excitement to her as she could smell a bit of tea in her future, and wanted to know more about it. She did love a good gossip session after all.

Whether August was willing to share was another matter entirely.

She pouted as August flicked Twilight’s ear and laughed as she rolled her eyes at him. Oh, she was going to get to the bottom of this, and maybe she might be able to help her best friend find a bit of romance along the way.

But first she had fashion to create. "Well, you two, as much as I enjoy your bickering, I must insist that we make haste. I still have much to learn if I want to make the wonder wardrobe I have envisioned for our dear August.“

August turned towards her, a big grin on his face, and pulled out his keys. “Well, if you're in that big of a rush, I have an idea.”

Twilight’s eyes went wide, and she started to sweat. “Oh no,” she said, taking a step back.

“I’m listening?” said Rarity, taking a step forward.

Five minutes later at Sweet Apple Acres

Twilight once again could not feel her legs and was being carried by August like a bag of flower. Rarity, on the other hand, was trotting just fine, a large smile on her face.

The purple unicorn was weakly glaring at her friend in envy, while also trying to stop her body from shaking.

“I must say, Darling, that was quite thrilling! I might want you to escort me back home if that’s not too much trouble?” Said Rarity a glint in her eyes.

“Don’t see why not. Maybe you should make yourself a motorcycle outfit to fit the biker babe growing inside you,” August said, walking backwards. “Though you’re probably gonna need to use a bit of leather.”

“O my, I don’t know, Darling. I’m not really one for the grunge style, but...” Rarity trailed off as she looked longingly at August’s bike.

“We’ll see when we see,” said August, trying not to jostle Twilight as they walked. “By the way girls, do you ponies value gold and silver?”

Twilight groaned and answered, “Of course we do... why?” she asked not having the energy to protest being carried.

“Just thinking of ways I can make some fast money,” August said, setting Twilight down on the Apple's front porch, only to chuckle as the poor pony collapsed in a heap on the porch.

“You girls wait here, I’m going to grab something from my trailer and be right back.” Said August is turning around. “Hopefully once I get back, Twilight will be able to stand up straight again.”

Twilight only offered a weak moan in response.

“Can we not accompany you, darling?" I would love to see your current wardrobe.” Rarity said taking a few steps towards August.

August stopped and spun around, “My trailer is a mess and no place for a lady like you, and someone needs to keep an eye on our motion-sick friend." August waved his hand at Twilight, who had yet to move.

Another moan from Twilight was enough to convince Rarity to back down and offer the poor librarian some comfort.

August left the two mares without giving Rarity a chance to argue. He needed a minute to himself.

His mind was full of half thoughts, and he could feel a headache coming on. His mask was about to crack and he needed a drink.

August let out a breath as he locked the door behind him. He walked over to his fridge and pulled out one of his flasks, taking a swig and draining it on the second pull.

The burning sensation from the alcohol served to calm his frayed nerves, and brought him a brief moment of relief.

August pulled out a second and put it in his back pocket as he grabbed a clean purple shirt with blue sleeves. He was glad to have a shirt again; he was getting sick of all the stares from the town folks.

Again, it’s not like he didn’t understand why they were staring at him, but it didn't mean he had to like it either.

With another sigh, August went into his bedroom and to his wall mirror. He held his phone out to a stain on the right side, both lit up, and the mirror opened, revealing a hidden wall with about a foot of room.

On the wall were dozens of papers, some were news articles, testimonies, and pictures, all tied together by string towards two pictures in the center. One was a girl in her early twenties; she had strawberry blonde hair and pale blue eyes. The other was a man in his late fifties who had black hair and blue eyes. All three shared very similar features.

August put his hand on one of the pictures, his fingers running along the string to a paper with his name and basic information on it: Leon Egress, owner of Egress Incorporated, Egress Publishing, Egress Manufacturing, and a former senator of California.

August ran his hand along a pink string to the girl’s information sheet. Stella Egress, eldest child of Leon and Victoria Egress, an award-winning singer, fashion designer, and owner of StarSigh Charity. Died on August 15, 2031, at 7:42 pm when her car exploded due to a faulty fuel line.

August huffed as he read that and kneeled down. He knew that was no accident. That car was top of the line, and he knew it. Stella loved that car; it was her baby; she would have never let a faulty fuel line happen.

Hell she’d told him it’d just gotten serviced a couple weeks prior and was perfectly fine.

The notes she sent him in case of her death were as clear as day she had discovered their parents' dirty business practices and gotten too close to shutting them down.

And she was killed for it. So what did August do? He honored her final request. But he went slower; over the course of five years he had dropped out of school, with his father's blessing, on a time to find himself.

And it had all paid off; he was to tear down his father and expose what he did—at least the human trafficking, that is. He opened the black duffle bag and checked its contents for several dozen thermoelectric explosives and the blueprints for Egress Shipping.

He was so close. He just needed a little more time and a few more files to prove everything. But now….the documents might as well have been used fast food napkins for all the good they would do.

He sighed and closed the bag, pushing it off to the side, grabbing a green bag and throwing it on the bed. It seemed much lighter than he remembered.

“I’m sorry, Stella,” he said, sitting on the bed. “It looks like I’m not going to be able to get back at dad for you. I hope you can forgive me.” August spoke to the picture, grabbing his shirt, a painful cold in his chest.

“I hope that I can be happy here, at least this place seems pretty accepting. The people, uh, ponies, seem kindhearted. I don’t have to worry about dad, about what might happen to me if they find me and what I was planning.”

As he continued to muse over thoughts of those long past, a chilling sensation started to wash over his entire body.

August’s eyes flashed purple and smoke floated from him. August had shut his eyes and did not notice as the smoke floated from him into the picture.

Taking a moment to breath, he slowly opened his eyes and looked for the smoke, but found none. Quickly he looked at a nearby mirror and found his eyes were their normal shade again.

Sighing he glared at his own reflection. “Damn crazy magic world. hope it didn’t mess up my heating or somthing”

The young man prepared to head out when another chill ran up his back, almost as if another presence was in the room with him. Slowly turning around, only saw the picture of his sister, eyes seemingly staring at him.

As he looked on, he heard the voice of his sister in his head. However, unlike the kind and warm voice he’d grown up hearing….this one was cold and angry.

“I died for this cause you should have too. You should have worked faster.” Her voice was like ice stabbing into his heart.

Despite the harsh words, August shook his head, that was not his sister, not the girl that raised him, not the girl that taught him to sing, not the girl who convinced their father to let him learn to play all kinds of music, read him bedtime stories, and tuck him in at night.
That was just his guilt and anger talking; he knew that, but it still hurt.

Pushing those thoughts out of his mind, August grabbed the green duffle bag and a beer can off his table and chugged it, drowning them out.

Wordlessly, he grabbed a couple of the fashion magazines and his first suit out of the closet and closed the mirror door. As he walked out, he failed to see a shadow flow out of the mirror and re-enter his body as he locked his trailer, turning on the alarm, and he walked back to the apples farm house.

Back at the Apple House

Rarity was rubbing Twilight's back when August came into view. Twilight was standing now, if still a little weak in the knees, and Rarity waved to him as he approached.

“Well, darling, it seems our dear Twilight is not as keen on your… Oh my, I never asked, what it’s called, did I?” Said Rarity, sounding apologetic.

“It’s called a motorcycle, an electric one to be more precise, but don’t worry about it. Point is that it gets you from point A to point B really fast,” August said, waving his hand.

Twilight made a gulping sound and sighed. She stood up and looked up at August. “I expect a detailed explanation as to what that is later.” She said eyes locked onto August’s.

August laughed and ruffled her hair, walking past her, knocking on the front door. “I’ll try, but I’m not sure about most of the details myself.”

While Twilight was about to enter a rant about how his technology could change the world they were greeted by Applebloom opening the door, looking up at August and squeaking, before hugging his leg.

“Mista August I’m glad your back, u gatta tell Big Sis about them tattoo things so I can get one.” Applebloom was hopping up and down while August laughed and picked her up, booping her on the nose.

Applebloom giggled as she was put back on the ground and trotted in place as August spoke.

“We’ll see about that, though I wouldn’t get my hopes up, but I heard your grandmother wanted to talk to me,” August said as he pulled out a few magazines from his bag, handing them to Rarity.

“Al go get em!” Applebloom said already running into the house.

August chuckled at her childish behavior before holding out his suit bag for Rarity.

“Here you go Rarity. Feel free to go as crazy as you want with this.”

“Oh my darling, are you sure?” Rarity said, her eyes starting to sparkle, the idea of exploring a whole new world of fashion almost overwhelming her.

“Tear it apart for all I care,” August said as he shook the suit bag.
“And as for the magazines, just don’t cut em up or something, my sister is in a few of em,” he said, tapping the paper books that were currently floating in Rarity’s light blue magic.

“Oh?” said both mares, taking a glance at the magazines.

Rarity quickly opened one of them up and began flipping through the pages, stopping every few pages and glancing up at August looking for similar features. She saw a few of what she assumed were mares of his species, quickly taking in what noticeable details she could find.

The mares of his kind were smaller than him and had much longer legs and not as broad shoulders, as well as much softer features. They seemed to have teats on their chests which she noted how it was apparently common for them to show them off.

Putting that aside, Rarity focused on looking for the jet black hair, the pale blue eyes, and the dimples August had on his cheeks. But she saw none of them.

Continuing to look through the magazine, she saw one mare in a rich purple gown with gold chains wrapped around her waist. She had the same pale eyes, but her hair was such a bright strawberry red that it seemed to blaze off her.

Though not the one she sough, Rarity could acknowledge she was truly a lovely sight. Not just looks, but how she gave off a kindness that came through even in the picture.

Another glance, and it felt like a lightbulb lit in her head.

Rarity looked at the two side by side; the eyes matched, and they shared the dimples, but August gave off none of her warmth; he had a cold aura around him. But Rarity had a hunch that this was her.

Twilight, meanwhile, was locked in a staring contest with August. Every interaction she had with him only raised more questions; he had gone to medical school, his sister was a model, and he had a bad relationship with at least his father. Yet he was a drunk, a flirt, and was keenly aware of how to leverage his looks and charms to get what he wants.

Both mares were about to voice their thoughts when a raspy voice behind August.

“Took ya long enugh sonny!” Said Granny Smith, tapping August’s leg with her walker. “Get yer behind in here; we gotta lotta talk about if yer gonna be roosting here!”

August nodded and readjusted the bag on his shoulder. “Yes, we do, yes we do, and I might have a proposal if you're interested.”

Granny Smith raised an eyebrow and motioned for August and the girls to come inside.

“Why don’t you two Sugercubes wait in the kitchen? While me and this hear young fellow get to talking? Applejack’s gonna be down any second now.” Said Granny Smith as she and August walked into the den.

However, Rarity didn’t follow, quickly loading the magazines into her saddlebags and laying the suit over her back.

"Darling, give my love to Applejack. I’d love to stay, but I need to get to work and make a truly fabulous creation worthy of the princesses!” Rarity said, throwing her hair back. “Thank you again for all these wonderful sources of inspiration. I can feel my muse practically singing at this point.”

The posh mare was practically bouncing with excitement, only to stop when she shifted her gaze to Twilight.

“Make sure our dear August doesn’t get into any trouble, no?” Rarity said as she made her way towards her store.

Twilight rolled her eyes as she headed inside, the smell of fresh coffee leading her towards the kitchen.

Yes, so far August could get himself into trouble, but he was just talking to Granny Smith. She was about the most patient pony in Ponyville; if anypony could deal with his attitude, it was her.

Right?

Author's Note

out of curiosity if I wrote a bit of a side series for episodes that don't really fit into the narrative of this series would you guys enjoy it? it wouldn't be until i flush out the characters a bit more but i was curious if guys would be interested