poorqueequeg | [voice]

Ah'd sure like ta go home if I can. [Soft chuckle.] It's too quiet around the farm here without my brother an' sister an' granny runnin' around everywhere.

But Ah bet just about everypony here wants to head back to their own homes, huh?

[...'everypony'? Wait what? Is she talking to a pony? This is... different.]

I... wouldn't really want to right now, but that's a different story. When you say 'everypony', are... you a talking pony?

Ah sure am, sugarcube. [And darn proud of it!] Name's Applejack. Pleased ta meetya.

Well I've never talked to a pony before, new experience for sure. I'm Scully- er, Dana. Most people just call me Scully.

[Pause.] I know the Malnosso are letting us go home for almost a full day. You'd have to have a partner for it.

Is that how it's workin'? Ah guess Ah'll hafta see if anypony would be interested. Sure would be nice to see the family again.

[Scully knows what Mulder would be saying. It's what he's been saying. She'll be quiet for a moment, hearing the voice of Mulder in the back of her mind (though it might be in her ear, considering that this is Mulder).]

...what's your home like?

Well, my family lives on a farm just a li'l ways outta town. It's me, my brother an' sister, an' our granny there. Lotsa apple orchards.

Once ya get out inta town, everypony's real friendly. It's not a real big town, but we all get along pretty good.

It sounds nice. A lot different than where I come from. It sounds like somewhere people would go vacation at, considering I'm from a big city with a lot of buildings and noise and a whole mess of stress. It sounds enviable.

Ah tried livin' in the big city once. Gotta admit, it wasn't for me. Everythin's way too stiff. Ended up missin' the farm way faster'n Ah expected.

[She chuckles.] 'Course, it was pretty noisy an' busy when I left 'cause of cider season, but that'll quiet down soon enough.

[Also stressful. So very stressful. Apple Bloom needs to not bet the farm on things.]

Not your cup of tea, huh? I live a little way away from the larger city, but I'm still there.

[But it was the mention of 'cider season' that catches her attention.]

Cider season? Do you make cider where you live?

Yup, we sure do! We make just about anythin' outta apples. Family specialty. But the cider is what draws in the biggest crowds.

[Lines as far as the eye can see...]

I'm going home. It's tempting to see other places, but not so much that I would change my mind. Some things come first, you know?

Right. I think if I don't go elsewhere, my partner will complain at me. I don't want to hear it, so... I'll bend to his will for now.

Mulder? Oh, I'm sure. If he doesn't pick the most bizarre place possible for himself, I'll be surprised.

Sounds like you know him too. [Should she be apologizing for that...?]

I'm sure it'll be... strange, at least.

Oh, I have.

[She sounds a little amused, at least?]

And I can't wait to hear the stories about where everyone got to visit. Hopefully, my world will make a good impression.

I'm sure it will. If I'm going anywhere, I hope it's a nice visit. Hopefully Mulder won't get himself blown up.

Could it be, you're planning a trip to some distant, alien world?

Considering the last thing I remember before blacking out was being shot, it's probably a good idea I go elsewhere. If I don't, you'd never shut up.

I really hope everything will be ok in your timeline...

[Now you've got him all fretting and concerned, Scully.]

Do you have any places in mind to visit?

I'm sure I'll be fine. I was told to look away from death, so... I did. I did what you would have done.

...not so much. Though I'm sure I'll find a place eventually. What about you?

This is one of those proud moments... you warm my heart in so many ways when you say things like that.

[He still gets a kick out of every time he manages to have her thinking like him.]

I'm shopping around, but I think I'm getting something in mind. Are you familiar with the term youkai? [Sounding like he does on an old classic X-File now isn't he?]

[Do you hear her facepalming? She is, you know.]

No, no I'm not. What is it, Mulder?

It's actually a Japanese term, referring to creatures such as ghosts, monsters, demons... in this case, demons. I met a young woman here who's from a world that these youkai inhabit, a world that's beyond the regular earthly realm.

This is going to be the best vacation ever.

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