The Prophecy

The scandal with Gilda was successfully swept under the rug after four tense days of diplomatic negotiations. It was hard to imagine what was happening back then in Celestia's palace, but during one of my dreams, Luna conveyed to me that I had beaten up a representative of the griffin nobility, and that was exactly why the diplomatic scandal occurred. Unfortunately, she also said that the griffins are preparing to challenge me to a duel. Hearing this, I became seriously worried. After all, I didn't want another fight like the one that had taken place not long ago between me and that lieutenant. That fight had nearly turned into a catastrophe, and I could never forget such a thing. A new fight would finish me off completely, especially with a griffin. However, everything worked out, and the situation was settled. No one even voiced any claims against me, which was doubly pleasing. Gilda herself was in the Ponyville hospital and still hadn't regained consciousness. I planned to visit her, but I wasn't allowed in, citing the griffin's poor health. Fortunately, Celestia and the Six didn't blame me for anything. Even the ponies didn't bother me, and so to pass the time as well as calm down, I decided to study the history of this world. From Equestria's past, I drew some very disappointing conclusions: the situation the country currently found itself in began eighty years ago. On that very day, the fourth day of the «month of trade» in the year 920, an extremely poor harvest occurred, and society became noticeably impoverished. On top of that, trade agreements with the Griffin Empire, signed almost two centuries ago, began to be violated and abolished. However, a split in pony society was already brewing then. Industrialization came with trade, but misunderstanding came along with it, and many of the nobility at the time perceived progress extremely negatively. Although compared to what I heard about some regions of Gryphonia, Equestrians accepted progress with relatively open arms. The country's ruling elite didn't like the common folk much back then either, but with the development of progress, they gained additional leverage over ordinary ponies and ways to pump money out of them. As industrialization developed, this process accelerated, and economic policy became stratified, leading to a reduction in the purchasing power of Equestrians. Stagnation and decline followed, and Equestria became what it is now. Under the mask of Harmony as an ideology, which strongly resembled democracy, lurked open racism, animosity, and the oppression of anyone not belonging to the elite. It was no surprise that Equestria's modern scientific base lags behind the rest of the world by a century and a half, at least. Moreover, twenty-one years ago in the royal colony called the Commonwealth of New Mareland in Gryphonia, sentiments opposite to Equestria's government policy began to brew — specifically, a desire for independence. The societal rift only deepened, potentially leading to a civil war with potential separatists. The famine that occurred nine years ago also shook Equestria, but this time merchants inflated prices so much that some began to speak of independence from Equestria, and riots were brewing in the state. This also happened in the territory of modern Stalliongrad, formerly Princessin, where many earth ponies lived. The government responded harshly to these sentiments, causing the verbal exchange to escalate into an open, bloody uprising. Ultimately, Celestia had to recognize the independence of Princessin, which was soon renamed Stalliongrad. The decisive battle for the city-state happened only five years ago, but its consequences still weigh on Equestria's shoulders. The then-captain of the Day Guard showed unheard-of cruelty to the separatists, undermining Equestria's honor and reputation internationally. Rumors circulated that the captain was treated no better than he had treated the revolutionaries, and no one saw him again. The name of this captain, who preceded Shining, was intentionally erased. All this suggested Celestia or her entourage were directly involved in his disappearance. In Stalliongrad itself, after recognition of its independence, they tried to establish a classless social structure, which on Earth would be called communist. This ideology had been known in the world for a relatively long time, and the concept was invented by a local analogue of Karl Marx with a similar name — Caramel Marks. Her idea didn't differ much from socialism but was adapted to the views of herbivorous sapients — that is, ponies, who are not inherently conflict-prone. However, the communism they were building in Stalliongrad now was based on the idea of overthrowing monarchy and capitalism, which caused direct conflicts with Equestria. However, that wasn't all. Steel Stallion, who led the revolution at that moment, adhered to a policy of mass collectivization, industrialization, and the necessity of creating a strong, authoritarian socialist state to destroy any counter-revolutionary elements. It all smacked of North Korea within a post-Equestrian framework. At least, that was the analogy that came to my mind. Communism in this world had many different branches, including a religious orientation among griffins, which consisted of the equality of all living things before the gods and comparing capitalism to idolatry. However, one thing united them all: my dislike for them. Family problems of my great-grandfathers, who lived during the rise of power led by Lenin and the subsequent «dekulakization», turned my family from wealthy landowners with a lot of livestock into people living on the edge of poverty with almost nothing to their names. It was this, along with some personal experience interacting with individuals who longed for communism and Stalinist times, that evoked not the most pleasant feelings in me toward this ideology. Although even I understood that such a system, in isolation from subjective experience, is not pure evil. I reflected on all of this while standing in the shower under a stream of warm water. This afternoon, Spike came to see me again. Like last time, he wanted to eat meat, and I couldn't refuse him. While he was having a snack, I decided to take a shower. True, I felt the door opening slightly from time to time. I just grunted in irritation, noting to myself that the door needed fixing, and continued my business. Only when I returned to the room did I realize why the door was opening. Specifically, I caught the little dragon in an indecent act: surrounded by a dozen napkins, sitting in the corner on a towel, turned halfway toward me, the young lizard was openly fapping his already not-so-small dignity. His quiet groans and steam from his mouth served as confirmation. So it wasn't hard to guess that he had been ogling my flank. However, noticing me in the room a minute later, Spike immediately panicked, began covering himself with the towel, hiding his groin, and looking around. — I'll explain everything! — The little dragon shouted to me in a fit of fright. — No need, — I waved it off, looking Spike in the eye. — I understand everything. However, I have a question: why here and why now? I wouldn't say I was offended by him for this, just surprised and discouraged by the spectacle. The dragon hesitated, lowering his gaze: — I... I just really needed to go... There. — Ah, — I nodded slowly. — It's all clear. The organism is young, and willpower isn't enough to hold back. It's normal, Spike. You don't have to be shy. «I hope he doesn't turn my house into a place where he can do this away from pony eyes», — I wondered at the same time. — «Curious and ironic that I almost always attract only representatives of the stronger sex. First Star, now Spike. Who's next?» — I thought you were going to lecture me, — Spike said gloomily, gradually calming down. I let out a small, quiet chuckle. — I won't, — I shook my head. — But others won't understand, so don't do this in front of other ponies. — Okay, Stevrian, — Said the little dragon, uncovering his groin slightly once his erection had calmed down. — I understood you perfectly. — But, to be honest, I don't really believe that you just wanted to fap for no reason, — I smirked. — Maybe there is a more compelling reason? Although I guessed about all of this, I decided to clarify just in case. Twilight's assistant hesitated again, but then sighed heavily and found the strength to answer: — Well... I took a peek and... I liked you. «What a statement!» — My eyes widened. After a statement like that, I started thinking about covering up. «Technically ponies walk around naked on the street, and everything is on display. I didn't think my nudity would attract the attention of other creatures in a country where they don't «dress» otherwise. Awkward, dammit!» — Is speaking directly about your crush on someone one of the traditions in Equestria? — Well, — Spike hesitated. — It's more like I'm just that straightforward. — I figured, — I looked carefully at what Spike had left around himself. — And where did you get the napkins and towel? I don't remember you bringing them with you. — I brought them in the bag Twilight gave me, — Spike walked over to the sofa and pulled a small bag from behind the backrest, in which that many things physically couldn't have fit. I grinned doubtfully, tilting my head to the side. «A magical bottomless bag? I'm not surprised by anything anymore», — I noted mentally. — It's a bottomless bag, am I right? — I voiced my thought. — Well, — The dragon shifted uncertainly from one paw to the other, poking his claws together. — Not exactly bottomless, otherwise it would be impossible to get items out of it. But your guess is correct. — And yet, — I continued. — I'm curious, where do you get such interests at your age? I mean purely physiological. — I accidentally found a secret section with Twilight's magazines, where there was quite a lot of explicit material about both mares and stallions... — Spike started to explain, but I interrupted him. — Got it, — I answered him, waving a hoof, but then it suddenly dawned on me. — Did you plan all this in advance? You wanted to come and spy on me? — Well... — Everything is clear with you, — I sighed and, smiling at Spike, shook my head. — Anyway, go to the shower, because you're still hard. Spike looked down and got embarrassed again. Then he left my sight, shamefully covering himself. I decided to go into the kitchen to cook food, but immediately noticed that I was aroused too, and my pink «club» was already hanging between my legs. «Yeah, talk like that will turn anyone on, and considering my lack of proper sex, I get riled up pretty easily from conversations like that.» Growling languidly from annoyance and internal dissatisfaction, I tried to distract myself from dirty topics and focus on something else. It was difficult, but I managed to calm myself down, after which I moved on to frying the meat in butter, placing it on the skillet. Soon, the sweet aroma of fried cutlets began to spread through the air. «It's so awkward, dammit... I'm used to everyone's nudity around here, but it's still not very comfortable. Now I understand why humans always wear clothes — no one likes being stared at like that. I wonder why Spike was spying on me specifically? Is he exclusively interested in males? Although no, he loves Rarity in canon. At most bisexual, not gay. And why, for every one female who likes me, are there five males checking me out? I'm not some kind of handsome guy. And I really need to fix the bathroom door, those migrant workers from Saddle Arabia couldn't even do that properly!» While I was busy with the food, Spike had already managed to get out of the shower. He sat on the sofa and waited for me, but soon he came into the kitchen, seduced by the smell of his favorite food. — How do you want it, — I addressed him, turning around. — Just a piece on a plate or in sandwiches? — The second one! — The little dragon responded joyfully. I grabbed the meat from the frying pan with telekinesis and made him a couple of sandwiches. I also sat down on the floor next to him and started eating with Spike. Biting off another piece of the sandwich, the little dragon unexpectedly saw a book about griffin religions on the shelf, which surprised him a little. — What is that book? — He peered at the cover. — I can't even read the title in this language. — This one? — I smirked, looking at the book, and then took it down, placing it on the table. — This book is about griffin religion. It's written in Griffish. Spike immediately tried to read the title, but then gave up, trying to open the first few pages instead. — Which of the languages? — He inquired. — There are many in Gryphonia. — The one used in the Griffin Empire, — I replied. — And why do you need this book? — Asked the dragon again. — It's definitely not from Twilight's personal library, otherwise I would have remembered. — And it's not from there, — I sighed, putting it back on the shelf when Spike finished his examination. — It was sent to me from the castle. It's a reminder for me. — Reminder of what? — I haven't told you where I'm from, have I? — I squinted slyly. — No, — Spike shook his head. — I grew up among griffins, and my homeland, if one can call it that, is Nova Gryphonia. — Seriously? — Spike was surprised, opening his mouth. It seemed the little dragon hadn't expected such a revelation from me. — More than, — I bit off a piece of my sandwich and began savoring the taste of fried meat in my mouth. Spike gave a low whistle and didn't even dare to ask anything for a while — he was that surprised. — So that's why you thrashed Gilda like that! — Finally, after a prolonged pause, Spike answered, his eyes full of admiration. — That explains a lot! — Why? Surprised by my combat skills? — You bet! I didn't see the fight itself, but even Rainbow was impressed, even though you beat up her friend. Believe me, it's hard to surprise Rainbow with anything! I could only chuckle with a hint of pride. «Yes, I succeeded here too, what can I say? Lessons with Princess Luna and training in the barracks were not in vain!» Hearing admiration directed at me was pleasant. For once, I was appreciated according to my merit. — I hope Rainbow isn't angry with me? — I wondered aloud. Spike shook his head and snorted: — Strangely enough, no. She realized how dangerous Gilda was and wants to have a serious talk with her herself when she wakes up. I still can't believe she almost killed my sister! Thank you for saving her! I won't forget it. — I'll keep that in mind, — I chuckled, smiling slightly. With that, our conversation ended, and after some time, we went our separate ways.

***

Another day and a half passed, and in that time, I managed to get into another argument with Twilight regarding Celestia’s letters. Not quite as intense this time, but still noticeable. Thankfully, the little dragon steered the quarrel into a more favorable direction, for which I owe him a big draconic thank you. By this evening, I decided to work a bit at Applejack's farm and, at the same time, get to know her family. All day long I hauled apples and moved cargo — in other words, I helped Applejack. In the end, her family was pleased with me, and their opinion of me improved as a result. — Thanks for helpin' me and my brother on the farm, — Applejack thanked me as we walked toward the Apple homestead after the workday. — Don't mention it, — I chuckled, smiling slightly. — Sometimes you need to work physically, not just use your brains. — Brains? — The mare in the cowboy hat asked, surprising me. — Um, — I stopped in surprise, not quite understanding why she was asking. — Do I need to explain such a simple thing? — Ah! — Applejack giggled, looking a bit embarrassed. — Got it! Sorry, didn't catch the drift right away. — Don't scare me like that, — I exhaled with relief. — I already know education in Equestria isn't the best, but to that extent... — Are you an egghead like our Twi? — The mare smirked. — I didn't grow up in Equestria, — I replied dryly, frowning slightly. — But so far, griffin church-military academies are winning in that regard. Dead silence hung between us, broken only by the rustling of leaves and gusts of wind. — Hold on a sec! — The mare's eyes went wide as she looked at me, clearly astounded. — You went to a military academy with griffins?! — Yes, — I nodded, not even realizing what I was saying. Only a couple of seconds later did I realize what I had done. «Oh, fuck. Now I have to make stuff up on the fly. Who pulled my tongue?» Applejack was staring at me intently. And it didn't need to be a rocket scientist to guess that she was checking me for truthfulness. Realizing that I had blurted out a blatant lie to the living embodiment of the Element of Honesty, who can spot a lie from a mile away, I tensed up internally, though I looked calm on the outside. My heart was pounding like crazy, and I had to exert sheer willpower not to betray my anxiety. But fortunately, Applejack just grunted, and after a long silence, finally said: — That explains why you handled Gilda so easily. Would've never thought griffins would allow someone who looks like a pony into their... uh... schools. I simply shrugged to avoid blurting out anything else unnecessary and nodded toward the farm. My companion smiled slightly at me and headed there first. Luckily, she didn't even notice the sigh of relief I let out behind her back. «Motherfucker! That was close. I'm a fool, an absolute fool! Next time I might not get so lucky. I'd better wait until Luna finally compiles a proper fake biography for me so no one can dig into my past. I talk too much. I need to stick to old habits and listen more than I speak.» Such thoughts plagued me as we moved silently toward the farm. It was impressive in size. Or rather, the amount of land allocated for plants. To my surprise, I noticed that besides apples, there was a whole grain field on the outskirts of the farm, as well as pear trees, albeit in noticeably smaller quantities than the apple trees. — Impressive, huh? — Applejack asked, nudging me slightly in the side. — Do you grow more than just apples? — I asked in return, surveying the impressive landscape from the hill next to the farm. — You gotta do what you gotta do to survive, — The orange mare shrugged. — Though profits have been a bit slim lately. — Is it that bad? — Nah, — Applejack waved a hoof, — But it ain't exactly pleasant. I chuckled mentally, understanding the situation. «Yeah. I know firsthand about the dire situation in Equestria, so Applejack is actually lucky. She and her family live in quite adequate conditions. And that's even with sub-par education. Speaking of education!» — I'd like to return to the topic of schooling and ask something, if you don't mind, — I said, catching up to the mare. Applejack stopped and turned to me with a slightly puzzled expression. — Yeah? — Is it true that in Equestria, no one but unicorns can afford a decent education? — Ah... Never really thought about it, — The mare pondered, scratching her neck and smiling simply. I shrugged, then shook my head in disappointment. — It seems unfair to me, — I said with a heavy sigh. — Forgive my words, but I don't see any equality in Equestria. Applejack fell into thought, turning her gaze toward the sky where clouds drifted slowly. After a while, she sighed heavily and agreed with my reasoning: — I reckon you're right. I just shrugged, and together we continued our way toward the farm. When we approached, I saw Big Mac working nearby. He was a stallion of unusually tall stature for a pony, with bright red fur and an orange mane. At the moment, he was hauling large baskets of apples. Noticing us, he merely looked me over appraisingly and grunted, continuing his movement toward the house. Apparently, just like in the cartoon, he was a stallion of few words, at first glance. The house from the outside looked exactly like it did in the show, except perhaps for the design of the doors, the presence of an additional extension, and an enclosed outhouse some distance away. Otherwise, it was a country house, very ordinary — entirely made of wood, with architecture reminiscent of a stereotypical American ranch. To sum up the first impression, the farm didn't stand out much in my subjective opinion, aside from the red barn on the hill and the neat rows of apple trees. The tranquility of the place was disturbed only by children's laughter somewhere on the other side of the house, and, lost in thought, I decided to ask my companion about it: — Whose laughter is that? — Huh? — Applejack asked again and listened. — Ah! That's the Cutie Mark Crusaders up to somethin' again. — Again? — I repeated, letting out a wry chuckle. — They do all sorts of silly things, — The farmer waved it off and shook her head. — They want to get their cutie marks, so they try everythin'. Literally everythin'. — I hope they aren't trying anything indecent? — I asked a new question, slightly bewildered. — Nah! — Applejack giggled. — They don't go that far. Besides, they're still just fillies. «Well, that's good», — I exhaled mentally. — «Given the current realities, I wouldn't be too surprised, but it would be unpleasant» While we were talking, Big Mac managed to walk up to us. He bent down to set down the baskets of apples hanging from his sides. The embodiment of the Element of Harmony smiled warmly at her brother upon noticing him. — Brother! — Applejack called out to him. — Ain't you supposed to be watchin' Apple Bloom? — Eeyup, — The stallion answered shortly, corresponding exactly to his real behavior. He turned his head in my direction for a second and looked me over appraisingly again. Up close, I could evaluate Big Macintosh better. He was indeed a tall stallion, reaching up to the base of my neck. Physically, he looked very strong and well-built: large, defined muscles were visible even through his coat, along with a broad and perpetually stern muzzle. All this created a harmonious picture: the stallion's body wasn't proportioned like a bodybuilder or a steroid junkie, but he could easily be described as resembling Hercules, if Hercules were a horse. In any case, that was the comparison that popped into my head. «Handsome stallion», — I noted to myself, but immediately cut myself off. — «Wait, I'm thinking about the wrong thing. Stop thinking about his looks, immediately!» I shook my head, squeezing my eyes shut tight a few times, and twitched an ear toward Applejack, listening to their conversation further. — Then why isn’t she with ya? — The farmer asked Big Macintosh's. — She's old enough to think with her own head, — Applejack's brother answered unperturbed. — Doesn't matter! — She retorted indignantly. — What if she gets into trouble, like that time she decided to work as a painter with the Crusaders? — Everything will be fine, sis, — The stallion replied just as calmly. — Don't worry. — I'm holdin' you to that, — The earth pony giggled, bumping him in the side with her flank. The red stallion gave a loud cough, as if indignant at such an action. However, he then looked at me again and asked his sister a short question: — Who's this? — Stevrian Anlas, — She introduced me to him. — He lives near Ponyville. Moved recently. He agreed to help us on the farm, right? The Embodiment of Honesty asked a question, nudging me in the side. — Yes, that's right. Big Mac's eyes involuntarily widened when he noticed my teeth, and coming to my senses, I quickly rushed to hide my smile so as not to scare him. — We could use the help, — The stallion smiled slightly in response, calming down a bit. — But I don't think you'll last long. I blinked in surprise and stomped my hoof defiantly. «Heh! Is he provoking me, trying to call my bluff? Not this time, Big Mac, not this time» — Possibly. But I didn't come for a competition, I came to help. Now my interlocutor looked surprised, although the expression on his muzzle practically didn't change. But his eyes gave him away: Big Mac probably didn't expect me to ignore his attempt at a challenge. I found it amusing, and barely held back a sarcastic snicker. — Good luck to ya then, — The red stallion nodded after a short pause, pointing a hoof toward the trees. — There's a lot of work. Applejack and I set to work again. In the process of picking apples, I almost broke a tree by kicking it too hard with my hind legs. The farmer scolded me for it, as there was a noticeable dent left on the tree from my hooves. Fortunately, I was more careful after that and didn't apply excessive force to my kicks. At one point, when we had moved further away from the house and gone deeper into the orchard, Applejack suddenly stopped me and, coming closer, asked cautiously: — I wanted to talk again about what happened recently, — The orange mare began. — I admit, I admire what you did. It was noble. But tell me, why did you help Fluttershy and Twilight? I pondered, trying to understand what she was driving at. «Is she testing my loyalty? In any case, I have nothing to hide, and I shouldn't try to in Applejack's presence» Grunting significantly, I decided to answer her: — They are embodiments of the Elements of Harmony, — I paused briefly. — Besides, I have certain concepts of honor, and I can't stand aside when the weak are being hurt or a massacre is starting. Twilight couldn't have defeated Gilda on her own, and Fluttershy is incapable of violence. My companion looked at me for a while, then grunted doubtfully. — Are Fluttershy and Twilight weak? I nodded briefly. — Yes. — Why do you think that? — The farmer snorted sharply. I just sighed quietly at this. — Fluttershy is a devout pacifist and won’t harm others, even for self-defense, — I began to list. — Twilight is a good mage, but in close combat, she is frankly useless. Even a diamond dog puppy could defeat her... — That is mighty rude of you, — The mare frowned, shoving me roughly in the side so that I almost fell. — Our Twi is quite capable of standin' up for herself! «Small, but so strong. I nearly fell over!» — Oh, really? — I tilted my head to the side, smirking. — Didn't look like it. She almost got strangled. — She studied under the Princess herself, and that means a lot! — But clearly not close quarters combat, — I parried deftly. — Besides, as far as I know, the study of any kind of combat magic is forbidden in Equestria — for civilian ponies, of course. Applejack couldn't find an answer to that. She pulled away from me slightly and then nodded in agreement, lowering her gaze a bit: — Yeah, you're right there, — The farmer pursed her lips, looked away, and then back at me. — You know what? Sometimes I wish it wasn't forbidden. I sighed with relief. «I never thought I'd meet someone adequate and sensible in Equestria, let alone from the Mane Six. Maybe not all is lost for this country?» — What? — The mare asked again, seeing my reaction to her words. — Does something surprise you? — A little, — I let out, smiling grimly. — Didn't expect there to be truly sensible creatures in this country. — Uh-huh, — Applejack rolled her eyes, sighing nervously. — Says the one who lived with griffins his whole life. — What's wrong with that? — They're very religious, and for most griffons, the word «sensible» is somethin' incomprehensible, — The mare noted, looking me in the eyes again. «I only just noticed that this local Applejack speaks much more clearly and thoughtfully than in canon. I remember Applejack speaking more country, but here it's somewhat different. I wonder why?» But putting that question aside for later, I answered: — Not all of them are like that, believe me. Religion plays a huge role for griffins, I don't argue. But not everyone is a fanatic. — I ain't lookin' to argue, — The earth pony snorted, shrugging her shoulders and turning away from me. — I haven't lived there, I can't know for sure. I didn't find an answer to that. We stood in silence for a few minutes and were just about to continue working, but I decided to switch the topic to something simpler and ask: — Tell me, have you lived on the farm your whole life? It's just that your way of speaking isn't typical for farmers. Well... You aren't as simple as you seem. The orange mare snorted offendedly, adjusting her cowboy hat. — You know? That's insultin'. But fine, I'll tell ya. She beckoned me closer, and I sat on the ground, ready to listen. It turned out that Applejack, along with distant relatives, had visited Gryphonia about seven years ago and personally sold apple products there. She saw many griffons from various countries of the continent, including the Griffin Empire. That was when she managed to get some additional education, so to speak. Specifically — the basics of trade. In addition, she learned the basics of the local equivalent of the German language, so common among griffons. It allowed her to speak it a little, and also, albeit with difficulty, to read literature in Griffin. As the story went on, I understood more and more that this Applejack was noticeably different from her canon self. The Element of Honesty was a deeper personality, smarter, well-read, and generally pleasant, while remaining extremely direct and open. All this together made me feel respect for her. — You know, I didn't expect you to have such an eventful childhood, — I summarized her story when she finished. However, now Applejack decided to inquire about my biography: — And what about you? Since you say you're from Nova Gryphonia. I faltered for a second, not knowing what to talk about. However, I decided to dodge the topic a bit: — I don't really want to talk about that yet. I'll tell you sometime, but not now. — I won't press, — Applejack shrugged, and I sighed mentally. «Seems I got away with it for now» — However, you're talkin' about Twi in vain, — The farmer continued in the meantime. — But alright. Your opinion. The mare snorted and turned her head slightly to the side. — I agree that Fluttershy is too soft, but I'd ask you not to touch Twilight. — I wasn't planning to, — I spread my legs. — Especially since Celestia will kill me if anything happens to her protégé because of me. — So you were assigned to her as a guard? — Maybe yes, maybe not, — I waved a hoof vaguely in front of me. — Nevertheless, I would advise her not to get into fights in principle, or to prepare for such developments in advance. I barely managed to help her in time. Another time, I might not make it. A pause hung between us, broken only by the rustling of leaves and the singing of birds in the trees. — Wish I was there, — The Embodiment of Honesty finally snorted, stomping her hoof angrily on the ground. — I would've broken a few extra bones on Gilda for all that! — Believe me, I already did that, — I smiled slyly with the corner of my mouth. — Cracked her head open, to be precise. — Serves her right! I chuckled, understanding my companion in a sense. Frankly speaking, I wanted to hit Gilda harder myself, so she wouldn't get up. However, if I had done that, a diplomatic scandal would have been unavoidable. — Nevertheless, we would have had problems if I had caused her even more harm, — I noted, shaking my head. — But we've been standing here chatting for a long time. Maybe it's time to get back to work? — Yeah, you're right, — Applejack smiled, happily accepting my suggestion. On that note, we ended the conversation. Closer to sunset, we managed to finish almost the entire daily quota, which somewhat surprised Big Mac, though he didn't show it. Applejack invited me to have dinner with the family. At first, I wanted to refuse such a generous offer, but they convinced me to drop in. As expected, Granny Smith, who was an old and frail green mare, almost fainted at the sight of me. But Big Macintosh and Applejack, rushing to her aid, quickly brought her to her senses, and she soon got used to me. For dinner, they served apple pies — the very dish the Apple family was so proud of. That same evening, I saw the Cutie Mark Crusaders, who were briskly running around the house. To my surprise, they weren't afraid of my unusual appearance, although they were in no hurry to approach. They were rather just trying to examine the stranger that was me from all angles, as if studying me, but they never said «hello». I was already used to attention toward my person, so other people's attention didn't make me as nervous as it did back on Earth. There, I hated it when more than two people looked at me. Apparently, the equestrian environment, despite the poor medicine, education, and state of the army, had a favorable effect on me. However, somewhere deep in my soul, that old dream with Chrysalis at the «Canterlot Wedding» still gave me no peace. Remembering that vision, I felt an unpleasant sensation that usually arose during panic attacks. That is why at the table I had to struggle to restrain myself so as not to betray my internal turmoil. I usually ate my stress away, so I didn't notice how I started gobbling up apple pies by the plateful. Big Mac was about to scold me for such an appetite, but Applejack unexpectedly stood up for me, reminding her brother that he eats a lot too. Granny Smith couldn't be happier that another apple lover had been found. Finally, having finished all the offered food, I thanked the hosts for the warm welcome and walked out of the house with Applejack. While we walked in the direction of my home, we chatted a little more about this and that. But right by my house, she added: — You know, — The mare fell silent for a few moments, drawing a line on the ground with her hoof, and then continued, — You're not a bad pony. Except maybe a bit rude and sad most of the time. Go see Pinkie Pie sometime. — I'll think about it, — I nodded, trying hard to recall when I managed to reveal my feelings to her. It seemed like I had successfully hidden everything, but here the Embodiment of Honesty read me like an open book. — Seriously, — Applejack added, walking away from my house toward the town. — You need to unwind, so go pay her a visit! — Alright, I'll visit, — I said and waved a leg goodbye. «Yeah. What a time I'm having. Sometimes it feels like I'm back on Earth, but this time there are fewer annoying people. And there are far fewer individuals who want to screw me over or do me harm. Maybe it's for the best? What can I say? Maybe I really should meet the most hyperactive pony of the Six now? Might help lift my mood? It's worth a shot!»