Birth of a Guardian

I was positively shattered by the time we landed. My eyes grew heavy from not sleeping for more than a day now, that and the exhaustion of yesterday’s events.  It was early morning now and the sun was high in the sky but luckily it was early enough for there not to be too many people… err ponies out. We walked through the streets on the far edge of their home town of Ponyville to try and avoid going through the busier town centre. Naturally we still passed a few spooked looking ponies that would pause and gawk at the strange creature walking through their town. How long was I going to have to stay in this place…

Fortunately the uncomfortable atmosphere was being broken by Pinkie Pie’s excited bouncing around and chattering about how fun it would be to have someone new in town. Pinkie was an odd one alright but I was thankful to have her here, breaking up the tension and brightening everyone’s mood. She seemed to be the only one who showed no signs of fatigue as she skipped and bounded along talking about welcome parties and celebrations.

They had decided that I would be under Applejack’s care as it was the most suitable option since all the others couldn’t manage it. Twilight and Rarity didn’t have the room, Fluttershy would be too scared of me and there was something about me not being able to walk on the clouds in Rainbow’s…

So that left only Applejack and Pinkie and they said staying with Pinkie would probably kill me and/or drive me insane.

Frankly I didn’t care where I stayed as long as I could get some sleep, hopefully I wouldn’t be staying here at all for very long anyway so it didn’t matter. I was told that Applejack was some kind of apple orchard farmer and I was to be staying in her barn. A barn? Wow I guess I was going to be living in luxury…

They had taken me out of the town and into a large forest of apple trees. How exactly was a pony supposed to be an apple farmer anyway? Ahh I was too tired to care at that point. I was taken to a large pinkish red barn that stood by a moderately sized farmhouse. It was a quiet and peaceful place out here on this little farm. Bird’s chirped in the surrounding apple trees and the steady wind that rattled the small metal wind gauges on the farmhouse. The inside of the barn was open and largely empty with only a few wooden barrels and haystacks inside. So this was where I was going to be staying huh? Can’t say I was ecstatic at the thought.

The ponies said something about us all getting some sleep as they left, I couldn’t agree more as I sat down on one of the square bales of hay. It was rough and scratchy but it was the best I was going to get.

“Nah y’all get yuurself cozy Mr. Mason. Try ‘n get some sleep and iffin ya get hungry y’all can help yuurself to some apples in those there barrels.”

Embarrassingly my stomach answered her with a growl as I realised I had not eaten all day. She gave a hearty laugh at this as I smirked in embarrassment.

“Thanks Applejack, and thanks for letting me stay here.” I know I didn’t much favour staying in a barn and sleeping on hay but I was still going to thank her for giving me somewhere to stay. Besides, if I the first time they had met a human I wanted to leave a good impression.

“Aw it’s no bother sugarcube, y’all just try n’ get some shuddeye. Ah’m guessin’ ya needin’ it after today” she shot me a sympathetic smile and left me to it.

I gave a tired sigh as I leaned back on the makeshift seat. The barn was dimly lit by the small streaks of sunlight that managed to find its way into the barn through whatever gap it could find, giving the interior a kind of dark orange colour. My stomach growled at me again as I wandered over to one of the barrels and got a couple of apples from it. Taking a bite from one of the surprisingly amazing tasting fruit I sat myself back down on the hay and emptied my pockets to see what I still had with me in this place.

The familiar possessions brought me some comfort as they reminded me of my world. I took my wallet and opened it. I wondered if my money would be of any use here, probably not, same with the other contents of the fold of leather. Pulling out my I.D card I looked at it for a moment and wondered if anyone knew I was gone yet. Maybe barely any time has passed in my world, then again the other side of that could be that years had passed. I decided it was best not to dwell on that path of thought.

Putting the wallet aside I pulled out the familiar cool feel of the old metal lighter I had. I looked at the time-ravaged and rough lighter as I idly opened it and flicked it on, the tiny flame illuminating the small area of the dark barn. I opened up the crumpled and practically empty pack of cigarettes I had with it. Now I wouldn’t consider myself a smoker, in fact I rarely did it. But I found it a much welcome release when I was particularly stressed or worried. That vice closed in and felt I could very much do with one after all this. Opening the pack I found I only had three left. I doubted that they would have something like cigarettes in this place so I knew I’d have to make them last.

I put one in my mouth and lit it with the lighter as I took out the last possession from my world that I had with me. My eyes widened as I realised I still had my phone with me. I quickly turned it on as I took another breath of the cigarette. Now I knew that the phone would not be able to work here but I still had to try. I held it up to the sky in some futile attempt to get a signal. The area I was in was being lit with a blue tint from the small screen. Obviously I got no signal on the phone but I decided to try and call home anyway. Tapping in the memorised number I put the phone to my ear as I inhaled again on the flaring and depleting cigarette.

I still remember the way the ethereal like smoke danced and swirled in the dark room in front of me. The phone responded with a long monotonous tone as it failed to work. I knew it was nigh on impossible in the first place but it was still frustrating when it failed. I put the phone down beside me as I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees and finished the cigarette.

Making sure it was thoroughly stubbed out I swung my legs up on the hay stack to lie down on my back. Putting an arm behind my head to prop it up I took out my phone again. I scrolled through the messages from friends and family, looking at the pictures of them in my phone I tried to put my mind at ease as I slowly drifted off to sleep.

I faintly woke up to the feeling of something poking against my cheek sceptically. In my state of half sleep I could hear some childlike voices talking.

“What do you think it is?” I recalled hearing one voice say.

“Ah dunno, it looks funny though” I heard another respond poking my cheek again. Being forced out of my sleep I opened my eyes to see three pairs of huge bright eyes beaming down on me. Realising I was still in Equestria I clenched my tired eyes shut again and put a hand against my forehead. I hoped it was some kind of dream…

“Nah look what ya done Sweetie Belle, ya done woke it up.” A yellow pony with red hair and a very large bow scolded at the white unicorn holding a small stick that I guessed was what was poking my face.

“Hey you were the one who told me to do it!” The tiny pony yelled back in a whiney voice that made me clench my eyes tighter.

“Ah didn’t tell ya to wake it up though!”

“Well excuse me! I didn’t know you had a cutie mark in poking funny sleeping creatures with sticks!”

Using an amount of effort I managed to heaved myself up again to sit up on the hay stack. Whatever time it was it was too early…

The stiff and coarse hay made for an uncomfortable sleep, now I had been woken up with a stick and was having my ears assaulted be these, what I assumed were, children bickering. I rubbed my face with both my hands to try to rub the sleep away and wake myself up. Giving a deep yawn as I stretched my arms out to get rid of the stiffness of sleeping on hay, the three young ponies stopped there bickering to look at me curiously. They were about the same height as that baby dragon Spike, coming to about the same level as my knee. Breathing a long sigh I slumped forward and looked at them expectantly.

“What?” I asked lazily, I was not a morning person.

“Hey there” the little tan coloured pegasus bounced closer to me, a bright smile featured on her face. “Name’s Scootaloo, what are you?”

Yeah, they were definitely children. I looked down to her from our large height difference. I didn’t like children much. Didn’t hate them but didn’t really like them either…

I pinched the bridge of my nose between my eyes in frustration. How many times was I going to have to go over this?

“Scootaloo, Applejack told us not to bother it.” The white unicorn chimed in to her little friend. Bit late for that wasn’t it?

“Well I think it’s a bit late for that Sweetie Belle!” the tan pegasus turned to answer her friends. Huh, maybe this one is not as annoying as I thought. This thought was put to rest by her turning around to face me again and preparing to bombard me with endless questions.

I was defiantly too early…

Luckily I was saved by Applejack creaking open the barn door and looking to the three little ponies.

“There y’all are! Ah told y’all not ta go n’ bother him.” She scolded the young ponies as she walked over to us. They looked down to the ground and shifted uncomfortably under the older ponies stern words. “Ah hope they didn’t bother ya Mr. Mason, these little fillies can be a hoovefull at times.”

“Fillies?” I asked as I stood up and brushed off the strands of hay stuck to cloths and scratched the back of my head. I looked at her to see her blinking in confusion.

“Well yeah. You know like a young’un, a little one.”

“Hey we’re not babies!” “Yeah we’re all grown up now sis!” “Yeah!” the three ‘fillies’ piped up to their elder in defence. Just like a child would I suppose. One hardened glare from Applejack sent them back to their previous state of being caught however.

I walked over to the large wooden barn door and pushed it open. I shielded my eyes from the immediate blast of sunlight that stung my eyes. I was surprised that it was still light outside, I thought I was asleep for far longer than a few hours.

“Ahh geez. What time is it?” I asked Applejack as she walked out beside me.

“Why it’s mornin’ Mr. Mason, ya’ll been sleepin’ like a log right the way through yesterday.” She replied with a chuckle as she walked to the end of the dirt path leading up to the barn.

I slept an entire day? No wonder I feel like hell, I spent all that time sleeping on that block of hay! I knew I was tired but not that tired. I pinned it down to the mental and physical exhaustion from my arrival as I stretched again, trying to unstiffen my joints which felt like an old man’s.

“I bet ya could do with a bite ta eat, come on we got breakfast ready in the house.” Damn right I could do with something to eat, I had only eaten a couple of apples over the past 2 days! Rubbing the sleep from my eyes once more (it was a strong habit of mine in the mornings) I set off with Applejack and the pack of fillies to the house.

Luckily Applejack’s family had prepared a large spread of food for the breakfast, I was unsure as to whether this was because they were unsure as to what or how much I ate or this was simply normal for them. Unsurprisingly the majority of it was apple based but I still happily had my fill of the delicious food. I was, quite frankly, astounded that a bunch of ponies could not only cook but cook so well! Far better than I can cook that’s for sure.

The rest of her family, a brother called Big Mac and a grandmother called Granny Smith, initially shared the same reaction to me as everyone else but strangely the brother was stoically quite over the matter of what I was. The only reaction he gave was a widening of the eyes when we first met and very few words over breakfast, and I mean very few words…

The granny though… she was different. She was certainly a cookie one.  Reacting very over the top to my appearance with shouts of “What in tarnation is that?!” and labelling me “Some kinda bugaboo!”. I had no idea what that meant but she was friendly enough after Applejack vouched for me, saying she’s seen stranger things in her time than me.

Thankfully the breakfast past rather uneventfully, I guessed everything was already explained to them by Applejack the previous day.

“Well, ah guess it’s time we got ta work” Applejack announced as she got up from the table. Her brother Big Mac nodded and followed her outside.

“Hey err Applejack” I called as I caught up with her outside. “Why don’t I help you out?” She turned to look at me sceptically, as if curious as to whether I had really asked that.

“You sure ‘bout that sugarcube?” she asked me, tilting her head to the side.

“Yeah why not? I admit I’m hardly much of a farmer but I would rather be doing something instead of sitting around in that barn all day. Besides, I need some way to pay you back for staying here.” I tried to give her an honest smile, I really didn’t want to be sitting around in a barn for who knows how long till that Princess Celestia manages to find something, even if it did mean doing farm work.

“Why shucks sugarcube! That’s mighty fine of you.”

As we set off for the south orchard that we would be working in, we saw Twilight, her little dragon Spike and Rainbow Dash coming up the dirt path leading to the farm house.

“Howdy guys, what brings y’all here today?” Applejack greeted as she waved a front leg to them.

“Good morning Applejack, we came to see how our guest is doing.” Twilight answered her friend as she looked over to me. Internally I cursed as I knew that this really meant that she wanted to study me some more.

“Well at least he’s finally awake now” Applejack chuckled as she tapped my shin with her hoof. “Mr. Mason was kind enough ta offer ta help me with ma work today. We were just ‘bout ta start workin’ iffin y’all would like ta come along.”

Twilight nodded excitedly while her two companions sighed overdramatically at the idea of having to work.

A couple of hours passed in the orchard of apple trees. The cracking thud of Applejack’s hooves against the bark of the trees rang out as she kicked the apples from the branches. It was my job to pick up the barrels that the apples dropped into and put them in the back of the carts that we brought. For small barrels full of apples they were surprisingly quite heavy, especially as the day began to drag on. That and I was completely unused to such physical labour after most of my life being sat in front of some kind of computer or T.V. Not that I was in that bad a shape but I was certainly no athlete.

Throughout the day I had the constant feeling of being watched or, more accurately, inspected. I knew Twilight was keeping an eye on me as she used her magic to pick apples, but whenever I looked in her direction, she would always be facing away. Unlike Rainbow Dash, or ‘the security’ as she put it, who continuously watched my every move as she slumped in the branch of one of the trees. I guess she still didn’t really like me.

It wasn’t long before Twilight had begun to slowly start the probing questions she had been longing to ask. Starting of course with whether or not it was normal for a human to sleep for such long periods of time…

“So how come humans can walk upright on two legs with perfect balance without having a tail?” Twilight asked as Spike instinctively appeared beside her with the writing implements at the ready.

“I-I really don’t know Twilight, it’s just the way we are” I responded as I heaved another barrel into the cart, not wanting to go down the path of explaining human evolution to her...

“What can you tell me about human hands?” she asked pointing a hoof to the hand at my side. I had begun to notice that whenever I picked up one of the stray apples or held onto the handles of the barrels she would give particular focus to my hands, it was starting to get really uncomfortable.

“Hands? Why can’t you just ask the dragon? He’s got hands”

“Yes but Spike’s hands are nothing like yours. Human hands appear to be far more dextrous and complex. With appendages like that you could hold and use a very wide variety of tools with ease that would be challenging for us ponies to use. I would greatly appreciate it if you would allow me to study them” she went on as she grabbed one of my hands with her hooves and inspected it like it was some natural marvel.

“How ‘bout maybe later Twilight” I responded, pulling my hand back and trying to get out from the conversation by turning to pick up another full barrel.

“You humans truly are a remarkable being David” Twilight continued beaming up at me in fascination.

“Yeah we’re a fun bunch” I replied with a light smirk as I pushed the barrel to the back of the cart with the others.

Twilight widen her smile as the little Spike obediently scribbled everything down, probably even adding the “fun bunch” part to Twilight’s research notes.

“Well, iffin they help out with the farm work then y’all are fine by me” Applejack called over as she bucked another tree free of apples.

“Pfft I think one’s enough for now” I heard Rainbow mutter up on her perch.

“Rainbow! Come on” Twilight called up to her.

Giving a sigh, I walked up to the tree next to Twilight and looked up to the rainbow mained pony.

“What is this whole thing going on with you and me Rainbow? If I’m going to be stuck here for a while the least we could do is try to get on” I called up to her in a tired frustration. The pony sat up on her branch to look down at me.

“Excuse me if I don’t immediately trust suspiciously unknown creatures that appear in our town.”

“I don’t like it any more than you do you know” I was beginning to grow tired of her the attitude she had towards me.

“Yeah well that makes two of us!” she responded as she fluttered down to our level. This one was defiantly the hot head of the group.

“Well then if you’re just not going to try to get along I guess we’re just gonna have to deal with each other” I shot back, quickly growing frustrated with her.

“Pfft please I’m way too awesome to be deal with somepony as lame as you” she responded as she crossed her front legs. I opened my mouth to shout back an insult but was cut off by two apples hitting me and Rainbow

“Nah come on you two! Knock it off” Applejack called over in the same stern voice she used on the fillies as she glared at us both. I noticed Twilight and Spike also looking at us with the same disappointed look. Rainbow Dash shouted in complaint about being hit with an apple while I pinched the bridge of my nose and walked back to the cart.

Several hours passed as we worked in the sun, clearing tree after tree of apples and loading them up. The sun was beginning to set over the hills and created a deep orange glow over the setting. Applejack hummed as she worked, thumping her hooves against the trees. Rainbow Dash had begun to fly around overhead performing various aerial tricks as Twilight and Spike sat in the shade of one of the many trees, reviewing her research notes. I stifled a laugh at the dragon’s embarrassment when Twilight noticed that Spike had written down everything no matter how irrelevant, including the ‘fun bunch’ part.

“Whoowie! Ah think thats enough fer one day.” Applejack called, taking off her hat and wiping her brow with the back of her leg. “Time we mosey on back now”

Finally, I was exhausted! Working all day lifting those barrels had shattered me. It was no surprise really, I don’t think I had ever worked like that in my life! I usually I worked sitting around all day in front of a computer. It was certainly a bit of a shock to the system. Every muscle from my neck down screamed from overexertion. This would take some getting used to…

Applejack hooked herself up to one or the carts while Twilight did the same to the second. Rainbow had fluttered down to walk with us as we walked back to the farm. Spike had hoped up into the back of Twilight’s cart and began eating one of the apples. The rattle of the wooden cart wheels as they rolled along the dirt paths was strangely relaxing as we walked through the beautiful apple orchard that was tinted orange by the setting sun.

I had to admit, even though I felt exhausted, that day had actually been surprisingly fun. I guess it was just so unusual to be going from working on a computer in an office to working in an orchard picking apples with a bunch of ponies. Just because I didn’t belong here and wanted to go home didn’t mean I couldn’t at least try to enjoy it while I waited.

Despite my aching arms I helped the librarian pony struggling with the heavy cart by pushing it along from the back. She turned and gave me her thanks.  Spike finished his apple leaning against one of the barrels in the back and turned to face me.

“Hey, so do you have dragons in your world?” He asked me, trying to strike up an idle conversation to pass the time.

“Dragons are only myths and legend in my world. Stories told to children when they’re young. Same with Unicorns and Pegasus” I panted as I pushed the heavy cart up a small rise in the road.

“Huh” he responded thoughtfully, “I wonder why we’ve never heard of humans then” he scratched his chin with his claw in wonder.

I have to say the little dragon stumped me. I wondered why this world had never heard of humans when my world knew of dragons and the other creatures in Equestria. I merely smiled and gave a tired and out of breath laugh at Spike’s thoughts.

“I guess it’s just another thing we’re gonna have to find out.” I leaned forward and continued in a hushed voice “Let’s just make sure some of us don’t lose too much sleep over it” as I gestured forward to Twilight who was clearly listening to the conversation and facial expressions showed that she was struggling to resist the urge to stop the cart and write it all down. Spike gave a baby like giggle as I joined his laughter with my own breathless chuckle.

The others left after we had gotten back to the farmhouse and had dinner. The dinner was a lot more relaxed than breakfast. It was filled with a happier and relaxed atmosphere as we were all beginning to get used to each other. Apart from me and Rainbow that is, we still avoided each other’s presence as the tension remained. After dinner I had went back to the barn and collapsed face first into a large hay pile. My muscles ached and joints stiffened from the day of hard work, I was going to be sore tomorrow morning…

Still, at least it was a good first day in this place I thought as I fell asleep within a matter of minutes.