Living with the Night

By Silentpegasus

Chapter 1

Welcome Back

When Connor Rowe arrived, the local ponies had just seen Discord, the God of chaos and disharmony return and thought him to be a minion of the chaos lord. These ‘ponies’ had human features but had fur, pointed ears, hooves instead of feet and some even had horns sprouting from their heads or wings from their backs. Thanks to the Princess’s student, Twilight Sparkle, their minds were put to ease as he proved to be no threat. Connor was given citizenship and teleported his home that arrived in a very Wizard of Oz fashion, thankfully he found no red shoes under his porch.

Through months of research, the Princesses found the rift and the way home for the man, but they were discovered by the humans first. Princess Celestia and Luna met with Earth’s leaders to negotiate, a peace treaty was struck and humans were allowed to visit Equestria after a screening process. Most humans chose to stay on their world while few chose to migrate to the new world. Unfortunately, a calamity named Tirek struck. Most humans were too scared to venture there after he’d been sent back to Tartarus and several moved back to their home after he was dealt with. Connor chose to stay and was being treated by the best doctors available for his injuries.

~~~

PrincessTwilight Sparkle paced back and forth in her new castle. Her hooves clicked against the crystal like floors while she rubbed her chin with her finger. She stood at 5’8” had an indigo mane with a like of pink running through it, her violet eyes complemented her lavender colored fur. She was donning a lavender sweater vest over a white collared shirt and a skirt that went to her knees.

“Twi, ya gotta calm down.” An orange furred pony said as she adjusted her stetson hat. She crossed her arms over her red checkered shirt that went well with her blue jean shorts. “Yer gonna fuss yer self to death on o’ these days.” She said as she let out a sigh.

“I must agree with Applejack darling.” A very refined voice said. The voice belonged to a pristine white furred mare with a fabulous purple mane and tail that had a slight curl in it. She was donning a white blouse that brought out her sapphire eyes. “If you keep worrying like that then crows feet will start forming.” She said as she put a bit more blush on her cheeks.

“But Princess Celestia and Cadence are coming here and they said it was important!” The lavender Unicorn piped up. Her mane was starting to stick out in certain parts of her head.

“She probably wants to compliment us on how awesomely we took down Tirek.” A cocky and somewhat raspy voice bellowed. Twilight looked over to a cyan Pegasus mare with a vibrant seven color mane and tail. The mare was just hovering over her seat with her arms folded over her white tank top that contrasted her black jeans.

“Yeah, she could be planning a huuuuge party for us!” A very pink and very hyperactive mare stated as she started jumping for joy. Her curly pink mane bounced as she continued to hop. The room was then filled with bright yellow light and a touch of pink. Everypony uncovered their eyes from the light and saw Princess Celestia and Princess Cadence. The sun goddess’s white fur shined in the sunlight and her stunning white dress flowed like her mane and tail. Princess Cadence was wearing a similar pink dress to go with her fur and match her triple colored mane of pink, yellow and purple. The pink alicorn also had a slight bulge in her stomach.

“Twilight it’s so good to see you again.” Celestia beamed. The lavender Alicorn rushed forwards and hugged her mentor and sister-in-law. The three sat down and got comfortable before Celestia started speaking. “Now, I know you’re all wondering why I called you here today.”

“Oh! Oh! Did you get us a huge statue like Spike in the Empire?” The egotistical cyan flyer said. Celestia chuckled as Twilight face palmed.

“No, nothing like that. I-” The Princess was cut off as six watches went off simultaneously. The six mares looked down at their watches and their pupils shrank to pin tips. Pinkie jumped from her seat and zoomed away with a cloud of pink smoke behind her. “Is there something wrong?”

“No, nothings wrong Princess.” Twilight said with a nervous smile. “It’s just that a friend of ours is getting out of the hospital today and we have something planned for him.”

“Who?” Cadence asked with interest.

“Connor Rowe.” Celestia and Cadence thought for a moment and tried to place the name to a face. “The human that showed after the Discord fiasco. He was injured during Tirek’s rampage.” The pieces fell into place and both Alicorns remembered Twilight’s letter describing the event.

“I am terribly sorry Twilight,” Celestia said in a guilty tone. “I completely forgot that he was getting out today. Shall we go and see him?”

“Not necessary Princess.” The farmer said with a smile. “We got a little surprise wait’n for ‘em later on. Mac, Caramel, and the guys are getting him now, so we best mosey on back and help get ready.”

~~~

Three and a half months. That’s how long Connor had been in the hospital since the 'Tirek Incident' as it came to be called by the locals, or the ‘Battle of Ponyville.’ Connor was an average looking man, dark brown hair to match his eyes. He had a slim exterior that had a toned muscle clinging to his form. He’d have to thank AJ and Big Mac’s farm for getting him in shape. Since the portal opened up Equestria’s technology department was booming. This was good business for a computer nerd/handy man such as Connor.

The man sat on his hospital bed gazing out the window at the peaceful town below. A knock on the door caught the man’s attention. His eyes fell upon a white earth pony mare with a light pink mane styled in a bun behind her white nurse cap. “Morning Connor, how are you feeling?” She asked in a warm tone.

“Still a few kinks in the system,” He said as he stood up and cracked his neck. “but certainly better than I was Red Heart.” The nurse gave a slight cringe as the memories of when the man first came in after Tirek’s rampage. She set a bottle of pain pills down next to his bed as he went in the bathroom to change. He had a grey collared shirt with a pair of blue pants. When he came back out Red Heart had a wheelchair by her side. “You’re kidding. You’re kidding right?”

“Sorry, it’s hospital policy. You have to leave in a wheel chair.” Connor crossed his arms and pouted. “If you won’t go willingly then I could always sedate you.” The man had had enough of her needles.

“That won’t be necessary.” He said as he sat down in the chair. “Okay get me out of this place.”

“Oh you won’t miss me? I’m hurt.” She giggled as she wheeled him down the hallway.

“Well, if you want I could break my leg once every two weeks.” Connor liked Red Heart, she was a kind caring pony that he could joke around with, and for the better part of three months was a constant source of communication with the outside world. He also liked that she didn’t beat around the bush when it came to her patients’s condition.

“We should change the room number and just have a name slate for you then.”

“I liked the room by the pool better.” As he was rolled out into the lobby, he saw five familiar figures; a hulking red Earth pony stallion with an orange mane and tail donning a plaid shirt and blue jeans. He wore a large yolk around his neck and had a piece of straw in his mouth. Next to him was a black Pegasus stallion with a white mohawk, donning a white under armor shirt and gym pants. To his right was a dark blue Unicorn stallion with a styled grey mane and donning a nice shirt and vest combo.

A dark yellow Unicorn stallion with a blue mane wearing a tan shirt and brown pants waved to him. Finally there was a tan Earth pony stallion with a chestnut brown mane and tail donning a brown shirt and pants with a tear at the knee.

“Welcome back to the land of the living.” The dark Pegasus said as he zoomed up to him and smiled. Connor got to his feet and let out a groan.

“How ya feel’n partner?” The red farmer said with a smile.

“Fair. I’ll be back to work in a few days Mac.” The farmer chuckled and raised a hand.

“Take all the time ya need. Harvesting season just got done so things are slow for the most part. Besides, half the town is in a panic since they don’t know how to fix all those new gizmos you humans like so much.” Upon his arrival, Connor opened up a small repair shop he ran out of his garage. Since humans started coming through, ponies have been getting more up to date tech with no knowledge on how to fix it, that’s where Connor came in.

“Hold on there Mr. Rowe.” Red Heart said as she pulled out a cane.

“Oh come on Red Heart, I’m twenty-six! I don’t need that thing.”

“You need to keep off that right leg as much as possible.” She rolled her eyes. “Come back in a week for one last check up, just to make sure you’re healing properly.” He took the cane and sighed. The six males then walked out of the hospital.

“So what have I missed?”

“Not much.” Caramel stated. “Oh, the Johnson's moved out.”

“What? Why?”

“They had a timber wolf skulking around their property and felt that it was too dangerous for lil Mike. Which I kinda get, he’s only six after all.” The Johnson's were the only other humans that lived in Ponyville besides him. He was all alone, again. A firm slap on the shoulder snapped him out of the depressing mood and he quickly threw on a smile.

“So how’re things going with Pinkie, Pierce?” The blue Unicorn ran the local piercing and jewelry shop in town.

“Great. Pinkie is giddy as ever.”

“How you two got together never ceases to amaze me.” Thunder said. “I mean you’re all prim and proper while Pinkie is well...Pinkie.”

“That’s what I like about her.” He said with pride.

“It makes sense that opposites attract.” The yellow stallion said finally speaking up. “Still, you’re from the upper crust of Canterlot while Pinkie grew up on a rock farm.”

“That right Comet?” Caramel stated. “Then what about you and the local Princess eh?”

“Just because Twi grew a set of wings doesn’t mean I’ll change how I feel about her.” He said in a strong tone. “Getting her brother’s approval was a nightmare! I still get postcards from him saying that he’s watching me.” He shivered at the thought of the last one that came all the way from The dragon kingdom. Comet Shooter, Ponyville’s local astronomer had his eyes on Twilight since she moved to Ponyville. At a meteor shower he started discussing stars and found her to be quite knowledgeable. The two started talking more and after Twilight’s mishap with her Smarty Pant’s doll, Comet was there to comfort her and a new relationship had blossomed.

The males arrived at the man’s home. Caramel lingered behind as the other four left. “The boys and I are going to the Bronco at around seven.”

“I’ll see you there. Just wanna get settled back in is all.” The tan stallion nodded and left the man’s front stoop as Connor went inside. He had a standard two story home with two bathrooms, a master bedroom, a guest room and a living room with a fireplace and a manticore skin rug before it. Connor remembers the sheer terror he felt as Fluttershy gave him her infamous stare. Since the portals opened up he bought a years worth of meat and kept it frozen in his meat locker. The man went up to his room and laid down on his bed.

~~~

Nine months earlier.

The six mares sat panting as they looked up at the stone statue of the newly imprisoned god of chaos. Twilight let out a happy sigh as the magic of friendship transformed the once plane of chaos back into the nice sleepy town that she’d come to know and love. A bolt of lightning shot through the evaporating pink clouds and the sky seemed to rip open.

“Now what?” She sighed as she got to her hooves.

“Looks like it’s time for round two.” Applejack said as she adjusted her hat. Rainbow squinted and saw an object flying down from the crack before it closed as quickly as it opened. Twilight summoned her binoculars and saw that it was as big as a house and followed its decent.

“It landed near the Everfree Forest!” Dash said as she flared her wings and took off towards the crash site. The six mares came upon an odd looking building, it was two stories high had white paneling on the side and windows. The six gulped and saw the door swing open to see a tall, bipedal, bald, ape like creature wearing a grey T-shirt and jeans. He quickly walked outside and circled the house. When he got back around the front he dropped to his knees and raised his right fist in a victory.

“Yes! No, red slippers!” The six mares looked at one another in confusion as he stood back up. He turned and froze as he laid eyes on the six mares. A long silence fell between them.

“Um, hello?” Twilight said as Dash got ready to charge.

“What the fuck!?” The man jumped back in surprise and eyed the six strange creatures before him. They looked female, but had what looked like fur on their bodies. Some had wings from their backs or a horns on their heads. The man blinked a few times before sighing in relief. “I get it now, this is all a dream. I must have knocked my head on a table and I’m unconscious on my kitchen floor.” The six mares looked at one another not sure of what to do.

“Um, we’re not a hallucination.” The purple one stated.

“Yeah right.” The creature walked towards Twilight who started to charge her magic. “There’s no way you can be-” The lavender mare’s horn glowed and a small shock hit the man’s arm.“Hey what the hell?” He yelled.

“You acknowledged pain. That proves you’re awake and don’t try to touch me.” She said as she crossed her arms. The creature’s right eyelid twitched as he looked at each of them before stepping back and passing out. The six mares huddled around his unconscious body.

“I think you broke him Twilight.” Pinkie said.

“What should we do?” Rarity asked.

“I say tie him up and interrogate him.” Dash stated.

“No!” All heads turned towards Fluttershy. “It’s a new species! We can’t go scaring him more than he already is!”

“Well, we can’t just leave ‘em here.” The farmer stated as she stood up straight. “Twilight, you might wanna-” The lavender mare just finished writing a letter and wrapping it in purple magic. Since Spike was still recovering from Celestia sending her all her past friendship reports she used a failsafe spell Celestia gave her to use in case her number on assistant was indisposed of. “Never mind.”

~~~

Connor awoke and looked at the clock to read half past six. He dragged himself out of bed and changed into a dark red T-shirt and black jeans. As he put his shirt on he saw the scar he got from the Tirek incident. A large circular scar at the center of his chest, he put a hand over it and bit his lip as he thought back to that day. How his friends were fighting for their lives while he could do nothing, he’d never felt so helpless in his life. He set the feelings aside, grabbed a cane he had in his closet. It was long, black and had a silver raven head on the handle with emeralds for eyes.

Connor walked out of his home and started making his way down Mane Street towards the Bucking Bronco Tavern. As he continued on his way he saw a familiar white earth pony colt with a light brown mane and tail. He was donning a black shirt with a skull crossed with two swords and jeans torn at one knee. He looked to be about twelve and had a brown spot over his left eye.

“Connor!” He said as he ran up and hugged him.

“Hey easy Pip. I’m barely holding together as it is.” He chuckled as he tousled his hair. Since moving to Equestria, Connor had developed a tight bond with a local colt name Pipsqueak. His parents left him at the orphanage when he was three and he was living there ever since. “How’re you doing?”

“Good. Where ye be off to quartermaster?” He said switching to a pirate accent.

“Heading to the Bronco captain. Gonna catch up with Mac and the guys.” He could see the eagerness in the young colt’s eyes. “Wanna come along?”

“Aye! I was gonna meet me new recruits there.” The colt waked with the man down the cobble stone road.

“Oh really now? Who’s the fresh meat Cap?”

“I might get me four new additions. The lasses of Belle, Apple, Featherhoof and a dragon!”

“You mean the Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Spike?”

“The very same!” The two soon came upon the establishment. It looked like a tavern you’d see in The Lord of The Rings Trilogy; hard wooden floors and stools, a roaring fireplace in the center made out of stone and brick. A wooden sign hung out front with a carving of two horseshoes etched into the wood. As Connor opened the door the lights flicked on and several ponies popped up from behind the bar and under the tables.

“Surprise!” The crowd yelled. Connor chuckled and rolled his eyes as he thought of the pink mare that must have thrown this together. Said mare then popped up in front of him with a wide smile on her face.

“Well did we surprise ya?”

“Yes Pinkie, you always surprise me.” With that five other familiar mares, with their stallions on tow approached him. Twilight was next to Comet, Fluttershy with Big Mac, AJ had her arm resting on Caramel’s shoulder, Rarity and Thunderlane’s hands were intertwined with one another, Pinkie had her arms wrapped around Pierce’s neck and finally, Rainbow Dash was beside a light blue Pegasus stallion with a dark blue mane and donning a blue T-shirt with two lighting bolts coming down towards the Wonderbolt insignia.

“Howdy partner.” AJ said as she tipped her hat to the man. “How’s it feel to finally be out of the hospital?”

“Like freedom AJ, like freedom,” Thunder then offered him a glass of the Apple family’s world famous cider. “and for any other circumstance I would down that faster than Dash would pull off a sonic rainboom, alas, I’m on meds and will be for sometime.”

“Sorry, guess I’ll drink for both of us then.” Thunder said as he chugged it.

“Har-har.”

“Well, it certainly looks like you’ve made a full recovery.” The man turned around to see Princess Celestia and Princess Cadence smiling at him. “How are you feeling Connor?”

“I’m well your highnesses.” Celestia chuckled at the words.

“Oh please, you don’t have to be so formal among friends.” Celestia chimed. The man heard another poof noise.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite human.”

Oh crap. Connor slowly turned around to see a creature with dark brown fur, horns sprouting from his head, a set of wings; one was light blue and feathered while the other was webbed like a bat. He had a white goatee and black striped hair that contrasted his red, spliced eyes. A long red scaled tail was coming out of his lower back and he was donning a dark brown vest, red tie with a white collared shirt.

This was the newly reformed god of chaos, Discord. Despite nearly handing over all the magical power to Tirek, who shortly betrayed him afterwards, Celestia still allowed him to roam free so long as he behaves himself. Connor swore he sounded like a character from Star Trek, but let it go.

“Need something Discord?” AJ asked as she crossed her arms.

“What? I can’t just pop in and say hi to my friends?” He asked as he floated in mid air and summoned a glass of chocolate milk.

“You have friends?” Connor asked as he scowled.

“You’re as charming as ever I see.” Discord said in a dry tone.

“Now, let’s not argue.” Cadence said stepping between the two.

“For once we agree on something.” Discord said as he poof’d away. Connor grunted and felt the six mares’ eyes on him.

“Don’t let him get under your skin sugar cube. Discord may have helped Tirek, but he got what he deserved. Besides he’s better now.” She said as she chugged back her drink.

“Yeah, I know.” He sighed as the farmer handed him some normal cider. He then felt something tap on his shoulder. He turned to see Twilight with a small box in her hands.

“We all thought that you deserved a little get well gift.” The lavender mare said.

“Guys, you didn’t need to get me anything.” He sighed.

“Too bad.” Thunder said. “Besides, it took us hours of searching to find this thing.” Connor raised an eyebrow at the words and opened the package to see an old pocket watch with a silver chain. Connor held it in his hands and was speechless as he opened it and saw the same shiny silver surface.

“Caramel found it after we got you to the hospital and forgot he had till two days ago.” Comet said as the tan stallion blushed in embarrassment. Connor weighed it in his hands.

“Was it damaged?”

“The only thing we found on you that wasn’t broken.” Caramel stated as a firm orange fist slammed into his arm. Connor smiled and put it in his pocket.

“Thanks guys, this means a lot.” The group of friends smiled at the kind words. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I need my rest. See you all tomorrow.” With that, he left the tavern and made his way back towards his home. Thunder, Comet and Mac all slapped the tan stallion upside the head.

“Hey what was that for?” He rubbed the back of his head.

“‘The only thing we found on you that wasn’t broken.’ Are you an idiot?” Thunder stated. “Don’t answer that, cause I already know the answer.”

“What? It’s true.” Mac face palmed.

“Caramel, if somepony lost a leg do you ask about it?”

“No, that’d...just...be...” The gears finally clicked and he face palmed hard enough to leave a red mark. The group all liked Caramel, but he had an annoying knack for putting his hoof in his mouth. “Oh Celestia I’m an idiot.”

“I’d have to agree with that one.” Celestia said as she shook her head.

Author's Note

In honor of my 600 follower mark. Enjoy.