A Promise Not Forgotten

“Really? Hoof wrestling with Big Mac? You are so going down!” Rainbow cheered.

“Thanks for the confidence boost,” I said mockingly.

“Anytime!” She responded just as sarcastically.

Spike and Rainbow led the way to Sweet Apple Acres. The walk wasn’t long, the town was pretty small and Sweet Apple Acres is just on the outside of it. We even saw Pinkie along the way.

“Aidan is gonna hoof wrestle Big Mac? Ohmygoshthisissoexciting, like the time when I made like a bagillion me’s and we all had fun, but before they went all crazy!” Pinkie said all in one breath, not stopping once. She is really something, that mare. Indeed I remembered that episode, but what struck me as odd was that Twilight wasn’t a princess. Did that mean that the two worlds were connected but differed in the passage of time? Something I will have to talk to Vis about later, he should know more.

We walked up to the farmhouse and Spike knocked on the door. A bit later Applejack came and opened it, “Howdy y’all, what do ya need?”

“Hey AJ, is Big Mac around?” Rainbow asked.

“Yeah, he’s buckin’ through the east field, why?”

“Well. Somehow I got roped into a hoof wrestle with him,” I said.

“A hoof wrestle… with Big Mac?” She asked like I was crazy.

“Yep, Spike wanted me to,” I replied.

“Aint nopony’s ever beaten Big Mac though. You sure you even wana try?” She asked. What was he going to kill me or something?

“Is he really that scary?” I asked.

“No, jus’ never ever been beat,” She said proudly.

“We’ll see about that. Let’s go find him,” I said. Now I have a reason to win. Besides, I would hate to be the first human to lose at arm wrestling a pony, I mean come on.

We walked through the fields while Spike sat on my shoulder and the ponies made small talk. Big Mac was bringing a cart back to the barn when we found him. At this point he looked tired, must have been working for a while.

“Need some help with that?” I asked walking to the back of the cart and pushing a little.

“Thank ya, stranger,” he said while we walked back to the barn and parked the cart next to it. “It’d sure be nice ta have somepony like you on the farm!” He had the same accent as Applejack, but it wasn’t as profound.

“Big Mac, Aidan challenges you to a hoof wrestle,” Rainbow said with a huge smile while zipping between us.

“Yeah… something like that, how bout it?” Oh come on… SAY IT!

“Eeyup!” HELL YES!

We walked over to a table outside of the farm house and Big Mac and I sat across from each other. As I thought, a hoof wrestle was indeed a normal arm wrestle.

“Three…Two…One…GO!” Spike said.

Damn, this guy was strong. Sure I was weak before, but DAMN. We were pretty evenly locked in the middle, I was going to have to get crafty. Remembering the movie In Time, I started letting him win, giving him the false thought of winning. He took the bait and let his guard down, looking at my hand as it almost touched the table, then BAM! I took that moment to push with everything I could, which still wasn’t enough, sadly. I came close, but this is Big Mac we’re talking about here.

“Damn, so close!” I said, letting go of his hoof.

“That’s the closest anypony’s ever gotten to beating Big Mac!” Pinkie said surprised.

“Really?” I asked, a bit surprised myself. Pinkie was looking at me with a silly smile before letting out a long exaggerated gasp. Oh, right, she was supposed to throw me a welcome party. “Where is she running off to so quickly?” I said, not wanting to reveal how much I actually know about these ponies.

Big Mac walked over with Applejack in tow, “You’re mighty strong, Aidan!” Applejack said, ignoring the question. “It’d sure be nice ta have somepony like you on the farm.”

I can take a hint. “What needs doing?”

“Big Mac and I were jus’ about ta buck the west field, wana help?” She asked with a welcoming smile.

“Sure, I have to wait for Rarity to make me some clothes anyway.”

Applejack, Big Mac and I walked down a dirt path through rows of trees in the direction which I reasoned was west.

“Aidan went to Ponyville so you are on your own today.” Celestia said when Colin asked where I was.

“Mind pointing me to the library?” Colin asked.

Summoning a guard she told him to lead Colin to the Canterlot library. Inside there was a massive collection of every variety of books on every subject Colin could think of except anything on humans.

Now I can find out why this prophet is so important. Colin thought to himself as he started looking through the books in the library.

Nothing, not one book about this prophet!

You aren’t looking in the right place.

Crap, Vis, you scared me.

Look in the Canterlot Royal Archives, which is where Celestia keeps everything potentially dangerous.

Colin looked to the gate to the Royal Archives, but it was locked.

Can you help with this?

The lock clicked and the door cracked open. Done.

Thanks.

Colin quickly went to work searching for anything that might pertain to the Prophet. There was everything in this library. New magical discoveries, advances in the sciences and technology, it looked like the ponies were just starting research in machines. They were beginning their own industrial revolution it seemed, but the technology outlined was terribly flawed. Colin wasn’t an engineer, but he knew a lot more than the average person in just about every subject. Upon searching the library he found one last book.

The book was titled Naturalizing the Supernatural. With a quick peek inside Colin saw that it was explaining a theory of how one could become an immortal being of pure energy, something that he thought impossible, and by our laws of physics was. We’re in Equestria, he told the laws of nature to piss off when we got here. The book was covered in handwritten notes along the margins, as if someone had been studying this magic but couldn’t quite crack it. It didn’t explain say anything about the Prophet, nothing at all.

Luna had just woken up; at this time it was late afternoon so she decided to see how her sister was doing. She left her quarters and walked to the throne room, where Celestia spent most of her working day. Life as a ruler isn’t as luxurious as one could hope, especially when you have no friends to share your time with. The ponies they ruled over were kind and respected them, but the relationship stopped there. Nopony actually treated the princesses as normal ponies, nopony except Aidan.

“Sister, how was your day?” Luna asked with a tired smile.

“Fine, the gryphon ambassador is still demanding extraterritorial rights, though,”

“I hope they come around soon,” Luna replied.

Celestia walked down the long hall and stopped next to Luna who was now looking at the stained glass window depicting the banishment of the Prophet. “Do you really think he is back?”

“I don’t know, we destroyed him, but everything points to him still being alive,” Luna said

“We will just have to watch over Aidan and Colin, to be sure he doesn’t control them as he did you,” Celestia said walking closer to her sister.

“Do you miss him?” Luna asked breaking the silence.

“More than you know, Luna. But he is not the one I loved anymore,” She said as she looked to the royal side of the pony shown on the window.

Luna looked down, feeling guilty that she brought up such a harsh subject, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“Don’t be, we did what we had to do,” She said looking to her sister. “Thank you Luna, for being there for me when I couldn’t see the truth.”

“You would have done the same for me,” Luna said, looking back to the portrait. “It’s hard to believe he changed. He was always so full of love before, what happened?”

Celestia let a tear slide down her face, “He saw something in this world, something I never did.”

Prophet sat angry on his throne, “You had one job, ONE JOB!”

“You need not fear,” the raspy voice responded.

“Look at me! Does this look like a face of fear? No, this is the face that can destroy everything you think you are and drain your life in an instant!” The Prophet yelled at his the other being’s failure. “You can still redeem your worth yet, I have planned for everything. There is nothing these ponies can do to stop me now, I will return, and I will take what is mine.”

“What would you have me do now, Prophet?” The raspy voice said looking upon the black figure that was Prophet.

“Aidan doesn’t trust us anymore, we have to use those close to him,” Prophet said with a toothy grin.

“Fuck me, that hurt!” I said after kicking the tree.

“Maybe you are doing it wrong, try kicking it harder,” Spike said laughing at my pain and inability to make apples fall from a tree.

“I gave it everything I got; there is no way I’m doing it wrong!” I said defensively. I gave kicking the tree another shot, but to no avail. “Screw this,” I said before jumping into the tree.

“Aidan, what in tarnation are you doin up there?” Applejack asked with a hint of concern in her voice.

“Getting apples,” I said with a grunt as I started shaking the tree branches until the apples fell loose. It may not have been as efficient as applebucking, but it was welcome help on the farm.

The ponies had never seen anything harvest apples like that, but results were results, even if they were oddly achieved.

After a time working in the field with the Apple family I was tired as hell, and my arms were sore from shaking the tree branches. It was late in the afternoon now; I had better go see Rarity before the sun sets. Besides, this sheet was torn quite a bit when I was up in those trees.

“Hey, Applejack, can you show me where Rarity lives? I’m not the best at remembering locations,” I said.

“Sure, and here is some money fer helpin with harvestin those apples,” She replied with a smile.

“Thanks, I’m always happy to help,” I said.

Applejack walked me to Rarity’s boutique; it wasn’t that far or anything, I just couldn’t remember where the place was. I’m not good at remembering locations and stuff. How I managed to find my way around on the first day escapes me. We got there pretty quickly and I saw that the shop was closing. I hope I can still get my clothes tonight.

“Thanks, Applejack, let me know if you need help some other time. I’ll have to visit again soon!” I said with a smile.

“No problem, Aidan. Thanks again fer your help today,” Really, I can appreciate hard work like this. If it wasn’t for Applejack, Ponyville might not even exist now.

I knocked on the door as Applejack was walking away. Rarity answered the door and let me in, “Hello again, Aidan, are you here for your clothes?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Something about being around polite people makes me want to act the same way. I can use a British accent because I used to watch gaming videos back on earth, it’s the same deal there.

“Right, here you are,” She said levitating a bag of clothes to me. She pointed to a door, “There is a changing room over there.”

“Thanks,” The clothes matched the ones I came with, for the most part. A blue shirt, some black jeans, and a pair of black shoes, not dress up shoes though. Along with that pair came shirts of varying colors and multiple pairs of jeans. She also made me a pair of dress up clothes, just simple black polo with black jeans and shoes, nothing too fancy but so I look presentable if need be.

I walked out of the dressing room and looked at her. “Thanks, Rarity, how much do I need to pay?” I asked reaching for the bag of bits I had in my pocket.

“Oh, just take this for free, dear,” She said.

“Really? All of these?”

“I insist!” She said smiling.

Huh, Element of Generosity is generous, how stupid of me.

“Thanks, Rarity,” I said leaving her shop. I went back to Twilights library to say goodbye before returning to Canterlot.

“Hey, Spike,” I greeted the little dragon as he let me in.

“Hi, Aidan, nice clothes,”

“Thanks, bud,” I said. “I’ll be heading to Canterlot soon. I don’t want to worry Celestia.”

“What are you two goin out or something?” He asked sarcastically. At least someone shared my crude humor around here.

“Oh, real funny. No, I just, I don’t know, something tells me she has enough to worry about… Where is Twilight?” No sooner than I asked that did a but load of ponies pop out from nowhere and scared the crap out of me.

“SURPRISE!!!” They all shouted in unison. This must be the surprise party Pinkie planned. Sure enough, she ran from the crowd and yelled, “Welcome to Ponyville, Aidan! Wereyousurprised? Huh? Wereyouwereyouwereyou?”

“Yes, Pinkie, I was surprised,” I said, while chuckling.

The party was cool, there were tons of ponies there I had never met. Most of them thanked me for killing that dragon. Even Vinyl Scratch was there, after talking to her for a bit I realized it was a big deal that she was there. Apparently she was booked for months at gatherings around Equestria. Pinkie really did have connections; I’d hate to get on her bad side.

Applejack also brought a few barrels of cider, some of the alcoholic kind too. I never imagined the ponies to drink booze, but there is a concentrated cider named applejack that is alcoholic. Who said ponies couldn't have a good time?

Twilight came along later during the party with a letter from Celestia. Somehow I managed to persuade her and Luna to come down; Colin said he was busy though. When they got here, they just stood there, not knowing what to do. Wow someone who is actually more socially dead than me, what a surprise.

“Celestia, Luna, don’t just stand there, talk to somepony! Go dance or something!” I said hoping to ease their tension. To my surprise, Luna was the first to go out. Celestia just hung back and watched for the most part.

Rainbow rushed past me to the keg of cider and grabbed a big mug full, “Hey, Aidan, try the cider!” Oh great, peer pressured by colorful ponies, what could be better? I’ll have you know, I don’t drink. When I do its one beer at the most, on rare occasions, usually family gatherings or something like that. But hell, I don’t have any obligations here. One drink couldn’t hurt, Right?