The unlikely siblings

A few days later after Ryan got his new room he was sprawled out in his bed just passed out with cans of soda and empty snack wrappers everywhere. His door opened and in crept his father with a box on his back. Scootaloo crept in behind him with a smaller box on her back. Gifts for Ryan. They both set their gifts on the dresser where the bottom drawer was opened a bit and the jacket he got hung off a corner. Scootaloo looked to her father and shushed him as she crept to her brothers bedside. She carefully lifted the blanket and lied in bed with him. Ryan shifted a bit and felt Scootaloo's warm body next to his. He shifted and cuddled up to her. Their father snickered trying to keep quiet. Scootaloo silently shushed him. She nuzzled Ryan and kissed his forehead. He shifted a bit taking a bit of a deep breath. Suddenly their father shook the bed making Ryan snort waking up. He opened his eyes a bit. The light from his dimly lit room made him groan a bit. "Ryan? Cmon wake up Ry!" Scootaloo said. Ryan looked to Scootaloo and yelped backing out of his bed. He fell to the floor and groaned from the blunt pain.

Scootaloo hopped out of the bed and helped her brother up giggling. "Jeez Scoot that was a bit too much!" Their father said.

Scootaloo looked at her father as she sat Ryan on the bed. "Sorry dad but gotta give my brother an adrenaline rush on this big day for us!" She replied nuzzling her brother.

Ryan smiled and hugged her. "Heh well Happy Birthday to you too Scootaloo!" He said.

Their father grabbed the gifts off the dresser setting them both on his back gripping them with his wings as he walked over. "Alright Ry!" He said. "These are for you. Scootaloo and I chipped in and we got you a few things to make you feel a bit happier living here."

Ryan and Scootaloo broke the hug as their dad passed one of the boxes to his son. "This one's the one I got for you." Scootaloo said. The gift box was covered in colorful wrapping paper. A red bow and a tag with Scootaloo's cutie mark on it. Drum with a musical note in it.

Ryan tore open the wrapping paper and opened the box up to find a Rolling Stones CD, a Greatest Hits of Guns N Roses CD and a new pair of headphones. "Awesome!" He said looking at the CDs. He laughed a bit and hugged his sister setting aside the gifts and box.

He broke the hug just as their father set the other colorfully wrapped gift on his lap. "Alright Ry this one's from me." He said. "You're gonna love this! I had Rarity help me with this one so when you see her today thank her!"

Ryan smiled and gripped the paper a bit. "Alright Dad!" He said. He again tore in to the wrapping paper revealing another box. The boy lifted the top off of the box and found a new pair of pants.

"I think Twilight enchanted these too with that same spell right dad?" Scootaloo asked as Ryan took the pants out of the box and looked at them.

Mr. Rubber nodded. "He needed a good pair of pants that could wear and not feel a breeze of any kind." He said. "Now hurry up and get dressed Ry! Pinkie wants us to get down to Sugar Cube Corner before 11!" Ryan hummed a bit and shivered.

Scootaloo tilted her head. "You cold Ry?" She asked.

Ryan shook his head as he got up out of bed revealing his boxers. He started to put the new pants on. "Call me weird but... I get those chills when ever something bad is going to go down today and it's going to include me in it...." He said. Scootaloo looked to her father. He shrugged. Ryan looked to his father. "Can I bring my gun just in case? Please Dad?"

Mr. Rubber shook his head. "No Ryan you cant bring your gun!" He snapped. "Nothing bad will happen!"

Scootaloo looked to her father as she stood up. "I don't know Dad," She said. "Pinkie has her 'Pinkie Sense' and that is never lying! You hear 'Twitcha-twitch' you better duck for cover!"

Mr. Rubber sighed. "Alright wait here Ryan." He said leaving the room.

As Ryan buttoned the pants he looked at them. "Alright pop." He said admiring his new pants. The boy walked over to his dresser and opened the drawer pulling a blue shirt with white text on it that said "Ryder" in graffiti like script. He grabbed the jacket and put it on. "There we are! Perfect outfit!" He looked to his sister and then around the room. "Scoot can you find my shoes for me? Last night while I was getting a few snacks I kicked them under the bed." He turned back to the dresser and pulled out another drawer revealing socks and other pairs of boxers all different plaid prints. He grabbed a few socks and pulled them apart. Ryan then sat on the floor proceded to put his socks on just as Scootaloo was digging under the bed.

Just as two shoes rolled and tumbled from under the bed their father came back in with a leather casing in his teeth with something shiny peeking out in the leather. He tossed it onto Ryan's lap. "Here." He said. "You're so worried from something bad happening today you take this and hook it to your pants. I got it from a merchant who comes through here every few months. He told me it was enchanted but it only will activate for someone who says the words that trigger it. Even he didn't know the word."

Ryan opened the leather casing and pulled a folded butterfly knife. He gripped one side and flipped the other half of the handle extending the blade. "Awesome!" He said flipping the blade closed again. He shoved it back in the leather casing and snapped it shut. He then sprang up and gave his father a hug. "Thanks dad!"

Rubber gave him a hug. "Your welcome Ry. You go on and keep that." He said. "I'll give you this for when you have Scootaloo with you! I don't want any stray bullets striking your sister!"

Scootaloo came over and shivered just as Ryan broke the hug and snatched up his shoes. "Yeah... This daughter doesn't wanna meet mom in heaven just yet..." She said.

Their dad rested his wing on his daughters back just as Ryan got his shoes tied up. "And I intend to keep that from happening!" He said nuzzling her. Ryan kicked his shoes against the floor making sure they were on right before snagging his CD player and headphones from the nightstand. He pushed a button opening the CD player revealing a full white Metallica CD. He opened his drawers and pulled out the case for the CD as he popped the disk out. Ryan opened the case and put the CD back in. As he clicked it closed he grabbed his new Rolling Stones CD and opened the case up grabbing the CD out of it and popping it in to the player and closed it up. Ryan stuffed the main CD player in his jacket pocket and hung the headphones around his neck. He even hung the butterfly knife on his belt loop.

"All set!" He said going to his fathers side. He smiled. "Alright lets get going!" Mr. Rubber said starting to leave the room with his children.

A while down the road Ryan's stomach gurgled. "Woulda thought those snacks kept you full during the night Ry." Scootaloo said.

Ryan laughed nervously. "Yeah... That wasn't me being hungry..." He said. ".. Hope we get to Sugar Cube Corner soon... Otherwise Rarity might need to make me another pair of pants...."

Scootaloo rested her wing on her brothers shoulder. "Come on Ry hold it in. Don't want you messing up my gift for you!" Their father said. "This aint what you were talking about when you had that feeling now was it?"

Ryan shook his head taking deep breaths. "When I get that bad feeling I have to keep myself armed until its good and over with." He replied. "Last time I had that feeling four guys seemed to have turned up dead each with a wound to the head that seemed... Fatal." Scootaloo took her wing back and stepped to the other side of her father. "But that was with my parents. This place seems better than what I left. Nice towns folk, Nice politicians. Doubt I'll leave here any time soon dead or alive."

Scootaloo took a deep breath waiting for her father to say something. "Well you wouldn't believe what goes on here Ry." Mr. Rubber said. "You just haven't seen what we deal with every day. There's a colt running around that robs shop owners and if the shop owner is female he ties up any colt that's there working with them or in the shop with them. After he ties them up he rapes the mare. They know who he is they just don't know where the hell he is! Griffon colt. Real creepy bastard. They call him Firefly. I just call him a sick fuck."

Ryan's stomach gurgled even more. He groaned starting to limp almost doubled over. "Cmon Ry almost there! just a few buildings and you use the bathroom!" Scootaloo said still a bit frightened by her brother.

Ryan brought himself up onto his fathers back and curled up into a ball. "Good thinking." His father said. "The more stationary you are the less likely you make a mess."

Scootaloo looked to her brother as he held his stomach. "...Ry you don't really mean that thing about the fatal wounds do you...?" She asked shuttering a bit.

Ryan nodded. "Yeah..." He said. "But you don't have to worry about anything like that... But trust me... I'm a good shot when I have my gun... I want you to enjoy today. If you feel worried about me don't just worry about yourself and know you'll have a good day!"

Scootaloo took a deep breath and looked back at the road. "...Alright then Ry..." She said. "... Ryan...?" Ryan looked to her still keeping his arms on his stomach. "... You'd trust pony doctors if you needed to go to one right?"

Ryan nodded his stomach gurgling even more making him whimper. Mr. Rubber looked up and saw the sign for Sugar Cube Corner. "Alright Ry we're here!" He said. He looked to Scootaloo. "You go in first so a surprise doesn't make Ryan release. I'll get him to a bathroom!" Scootaloo nodded and hurried in. Immediately Mr. Rubber heard a bunch of ponies yell 'SURPRISE!' He looked back at Ryan who shuttered a bit still balled up. "You okay to get up Ry?" Ryan whimpered and shook his head. Mr. Rubber sighed. "Alright hold on I'll be quick on getting you a bathroom!" As quick as he said that he entered. Inside was a bunch of Rock n Roll items like some guitars, Drum sticks hanging on the walls, and even some old classics playing on a radio on the counter where an earth pony colt with an orange mane and a Carrot Cake as a cutie mark and a candy pink maned blue earth pony mare were setting out treats and making even more. He calmly went towards Pinkie who was setting down a cake next to a Rainbow Maned Pegasus pony, Rarity, Princess Twilight, Scootaloo, Applejack and a Pink Maned yellow Pegasus pony. "Pinkie!" Mr Rubber said over the noise. Pinkie Pie looked at him. She smiled seeing Ryan on his fathers winged back. He faced away from her whimpering.

"Aww someone being a little cranky pants?" Pinkie asked acting like it was a little kid.

Mr. Rubber got in her face. "Pinkie this isn't a joke! Where's the bathroom in here?" He asked a bit frantic. "Ryan has a stomach ache and I'm not too sure how long he can hold it!"

Pinkie gasped. "I'm sorry!" She said. "The bathroom is up the stairs and to the right just a door down the hall! You cant miss it!" Mr. Rubber nodded and quickly weaved in and out of tables making his way towards a set of stairs.

Ryan gripped his fathers wing a bit tightly as he climbed the steps. "...H-Hurry Dad!" Ryan said looking like he could lose it at any second.

"I know Ry we're almost there just a second longer!" His father said. As soon as Mr. Rubber got to the bathroom door Ryan hopped off his back slamming the door in his fathers face.

"SORRY!" Ryan yelled through the door.

Mr. Rubber sighed relieved. "It's alright Ryan... I'd do the same thing!" He replied.

Just downstairs Scootaloo was eating a few donuts along with Pinkie Pie and the others. The Rainbow maned Pegasus mare patted Scootaloo with her wing. "Happy Birthday Squirt!" She said.

Scootaloo smiled and nuzzled up to her as she swallowed her bite of donut. "Thanks Rainbow Dash!" The orange filly replied. Rainbow Dash was the pony whom Scootaloo looked up to. She goes by Dash when she's around her friends.

Applejack pushed Dash off the little filly so she could wrap her arm around Scootaloo's neck. "You are getting some good gifts when Applebloom gets here with Sweetie Belle and Big Mac!" She said. "Speakin of Big Mac where's your brother?"

Dash leaned on the table. "Brother? Since when does Scoots have a brother?" The blue mare asked.

Applejack chuckled. "He got here not even a week ago while you and Fluttershy were out in Cloudsdale visiting your own mothers." She said. She looked to Scootaloo again. "Now where is the big boy Scoot? I gotta make sure he knows my big brother is coming to apologize for scaring the livin daylights outta him!"

Scootaloo looked to the stairs and saw her father come down the stairs. "My dad should've had him in the bathroom." She said looking back to Applejack. "He ate a lot of snacks late last night and he got a stomach ache."

Applejack sighed. "Hope he don't take too long. Big Mac aint one on waiting..." She said.

Princess Twilight walked over to Mr. Rubber. She looked a bit worried. "I couldn't help but over hear Ryan got a bad stomach ache." She said.

Mr. Rubber sighed. "...Yeah I cant help but feel its my fault for giving him all that stuff to snack on just in case he was hungry or even if I was late on making dinner." He said rubbing his neck.

Twilight smiled. "It's alright you really couldn't determine whether he was going to use it that way or not." She said. "You mind if I go up and see if he's alright?"

Mr. Rubber nodded. "... Sure... Bring him a few donuts if you can Twilight. Or... See if the cakes at least have any stomach medicine he can use." He said.

Twilight smiled and nodded before crossing over towards the counter. The orange maned colt looked to her. "Well good morning Princess Twilight what do ya need?" The colt asked.

Twilight smiled. "Morning Mr. Cake." She said. "Listen do you have any stomach medicine? Mr. Rubber's new son is having a bit of a stomach ache."

Mr. Cake's face went from cheerful to a bit worried. "Pinkie told me about his son." He said. "Up stairs in the hall closet there should be a bottle with bubblegum flavored stomach medicine for when Pound eats too many cookies before dinner. When you get done with it just set it on the sink."

Twilight smiled. "Thank you Carrot. Keep up the good work here!" She said starting for the stairs. Mr. Cake smiled and waved at the purple princess as she set hoof on the steps.

As he went back to work Big MacIntosh and Applebloom came in both bearing gifts sitting on their backs. Applejack approached them smiling. "Well its about time you two made it!" Aj said hugging both her brother and sister.

Applebloom giggled as her brother sighed. "We woulda made it here sooner if Big Mac hadn't taken too long in the shower!" Applebloom said nudging her brother.

Applejack broke the hug and sighed. "Well it aint my fault he doesn't wanna be here now is it Big Mac?" She said getting into the red colts face. Big Mac said nothing as he went over to a table with gifts and set his gift box down before sitting in a nearby chair. Applejack sighed as she looked to her sister. "You go on and have fun sis. You got my permission to go with Scoot n her father if they go to dinner somewhere. Me n Big Mac are gonna be at home while we wait for your cousin to get into town."

Applebloom pulled away from her sister. "Alright Aj I get it Babs is comin out and she has to have someone at home to greet her." She said setting her gift on the table. "Just don't embarrass me alright sis? I don't want a remake of my thirteenth birthday when you smashed the cake into my face and I sat in Scootaloo's cake. I hated that when Diamond Tiara ended up walkin in on my flank just messy..." She blushed a bit walking away from her sister.

"Alright Sugarcube I wont embarrass ya." Aj said going towards her brother. She looked to Big Mac as she pulled up a chair. "Alright Mr. Gunslinger you aint leavin here without Ryan at your side!" She said sitting down.

Big Mac averted his gaze and leaned on the table. "You know that boy aint gonna apologize after I nearly blew his brains out." He said. "I still don't trust ANYONE that messes with either of my lil sisters!"

Applejack put her hoof on Big Mac's chin and turned his head to where he faced her. "Yes he will Big Mac and you know you just cant do much since Applebloom is 18!" She said softly. "Yeah Granny said you gotta protect us any way you can when she was on her death bed but if I say its okay to bring someone in and I give them permission to rut me they can come in and rut me. I know you got your own idea of that and you're just the big stallion of the house sugarcube but you gotta know when to use force and when not to. You holdin that boy at gunpoint was just too much! Now once you see him you get him with you and you take him to pick out a few CD's or something at Vinyl's music shop in town! Got it?"

Big Mac sighed and nodded getting a bit misty eyed. "...You had to bring up Granny didn't ya...?" He asked holding back tears.

Applejack sighed and nodded. "...Look big brother I know ya miss her but we gotta keep her good memories close..." She said. "...I understand if you're gonna cry but... Try not to cry here. You might make Scootaloo sad. Try to hold it till you get outside with Ryan okay?" Big Mac sniffled and nodded trying to keep his tears in check. He turned around and leaned on his chair just staring at the stair case.

Upstairs in the bathroom Ryan was slumped over groaning on the toilet while Twilight sat off to the side with a bottle of medicine in her magic and a little plastic cup in her hoof. She poured just enough stomach medicine to fill a quarter of the cup. "Sorry if this isn't enough Ryan!" She said setting the bottle of medicine down putting the cap on it. "I'm not too sure what a human takes on medicine measurement." She used her magic to pick up the cup with medicine in it and made it float over to Ryan who sat up a bit. He plucked it out of the air and put it to his lips. He bobbed his head back silently counting to three in his head. Tilting his head back he sipped the pink medicine till the cup had only a thin layer of residue on it left from the liquid in it. He wiped his mouth and sat back blushing a bit.

"Thanks Twi..." He said. "...Sorry about the smell... Those chocolate bars are never good to eat after having a spicy dinner... Ugh...."

Twilight smiled a bit getting up. "Don't worry Ry Spike eats gems and you wont believe the smell he puts out if he eats a few rubies." She said.

Ryan laughed a bit grabbing some toilet paper from the roll beside him. Twilight turned away as he wiped himself and hopped up. He flushed the toilet after he yanked his new pants up buttoning and buckling them. He let out a sigh. "I am NEVER eating a ton of those chocolate bars again." He said. He turned to Twilight and stretched. "Thanks for getting that medicine Twi. Princess of Friendship being a good nurse."

Twilight giggled and opened the door. "You just get on out there and have a great party!" She said. "Might as well get something to eat before you open a few gifts." Ryan gave a bit of a smile and walked out the door and down the stairs.

When he got to the ground floor he saw Big Mac and Applebloom had arrived. Big Mac had his head buried in his hooves with Mr. Cake sitting with him. Ryan walked over towards the group of ponies that crowded around his sister. Rainbow Dash was sitting next to Scootaloo and the yellow Pegasus mare when she saw Ryan approaching. She nudged Scootaloo. The orange mare looked at her and saw her pointing to the other side of the room. "You know him?" Dash asked.

Scootaloo looked over and saw Ryan smiling coming towards them. "Ryan!" She said hopping up from her chair and hugging him. Ryan hugged her. "You feelin better Ry?"

The boy chuckled and broke the hug. "Yeah I'm alright. just had a realization those candy bars did a number on my stomach with warm soda." He said. He looked to Rainbow Dash. She looked at him shocked.

"This is your brother squirt?" Dash asked.

Scootaloo looked to Dash and nodded. "Yeah!" She said. "You were expecting another Pegasus weren't you?" Dash nodded.

Ryan smiled and extended his hand. "I'm Ryan." He said. "I take it you're Rainbow Dash."

Dash smiled and nodded reaching her hoof out shaking his hand. "So you're the small squirt that Twilight got the jacket for!" She said. "You really pull it off!" Ryan let go of her hoof and smiled pulling the hood over his head. Dash turned to the yellow Pegasus and nudged her. "Hey Fluttershy come meet Scootaloos brother!"

The pink maned Pegasus mare looked back and gasped seeing Ryan. She quickly sprang up and pulled him in hugging him. "Oooh he's so CUTE!" She said. Ryan blushed and hugged back feeling a bit surprised. Scootaloo laughed seeing her embarrassed brothers face. "He's not as cute as a baby dragon but he's just so cuddly!"

Rainbow Dash pried Ryan and Fluttershy away from each other. "You gotta let him enjoy his party Flutters." Dash said.

Fluttershy smiled and blushed. She looked to Ryan. "Sorry uh... What's your name again?" She asked.

Ryan smiled. "Ryan but you can call me Ry if you'd like." He said.

Applejack noticed Ryan at the corner of her eye and got up from her chair. "Well hey there Sugarcube ya'll feelin better?" She said walking over to him. Ryan looked to her and nodded as everyone went back to sitting down. Aj pushed him gently towards her brother. "That's great but we got someone here that cant help but feel sorry to be here. He even sprang for a gift for both you and Scootaloo." Ryan took control of his walking and walked by Applejacks side.

As they got to the table Big Mac sat at they found he was sobbing softly. Mr. Cake looked to Applejack as he got up. "I'll let you handle it. I gotta get back to work." He said.

Applejack nodded just before he walked away. Applejack pulled up a chair for Ryan and nudged her brother before sitting in the chair next to him. "Cmon Big Mac dry them tears!" AJ said. "Got someone here that could help you get your mind off you-know-who by seeing his smiling face and your gift!"

Big Mac sniffled and looked up. He saw Ryan sitting in front of him. He smiled a bit. "...Oh... Hey bud... How's the party?" The red stallion asked.

Ryan sighed and sat back. "Dunno. Was on the can most of the time." He said. "You doing okay?"

Big Mac looked to his sister who was looking a bit worried. He looked back at the boy. "Well... I was just tryin to uh... get a sad movie outta my mind but I couldn't help but remember the end where the lady dies... Spoiler alert I guess if you wanted to watch it."

Ryan shuttered as Applejack let out a sigh. "Nu uh I'm not one to watch movies with sad endings." He said. "I'm more to watch action packed movies and comedian movies." Applejack nudged her brother and pointed to the gifts.

Big Mac checked the tags to each gift and nudged a striped blue box towards Ryan. "Here you are. From the family but you still got more coming to ya." He said as Ryan grabbed the box. "Gotta apologize to ya somehow for aiming a shotgun atcha without even knowin what went on."

Ryan smiled and gave him a friendly punch in the arm. He went and opened the box and dug inside pulling out a new pair of headphones that looked a bit bigger than Ryan's head. "Woops... I think Twi can fix those to fit you..." Applejack said comparing the size of the headphones to Ryan's head.

"Wouldn't hurt to try it." Ryan replied. "You think I could ask Twi if she could resize these and probably enjoy the party a bit before we head out Big Mac?" He took the headphones back and stood up.

Big MacIntosh nodded and Ryan went on towards Twilight and the others. Big Mac looked to his sister. "Good lie Big Mac." She said. "I almost thought you were gonna be a big baby about it. Just keeping yourself all nice and content eh?"

Big Mac took a deep breath and sighed. "Eeyup..." He said. "...Sis... You think you'd be able to come with us just to keep me from breakin' down and accidentally crushin' the boy if I do?"

Applejack sighed and smiled a bit. "...Yeah I guess I could accompany you two!" She said. "If you go to Vinyl's music shop and buy him a few CD's that he wants he could forgive ya even more. Might even make him help out in your section of the orchard!"

Big Mac chuckled a bit. "Cmon sis you know I can do my section and then some." He said. "I'll send him your way so you can have him carry those buckets of apples. You, me n Applebloom can do the buckin' but he can probably do a bit of hauling. If you want you can teach him how to make fritters n some pies." Applejack shushed him as Ryan came back over.

They both looked to the boy who was eating a glazed donut. "So Ry is Twilight gonna resize those for ya?" Applejack asked. Ryan swallowed a bite of donut and nodded taking another bite.

Big Mac got up from his chair. "Ryan why don't you and I get on outta here?" He asked. "I know this great spot to get any and every CD you could want. If they don't have it this mare Vinyl will find it or order it and you get that for free!"

Ryan hummed and swallowed the donut. "Always check the store for my Metallica CD's back at what used to be my home but they never had any good ones." He said. "I'd love to see if this Vinyl has the good ones. Or at least good classics like CCR."

Applejack and Big Mac looked to each other. "CCR?" They asked each other.

They both looked back to Ryan. He chuckled. "Creedence Clearwater Revival. One of the best bands of the 1960's." He said. "Songs include Fortunate Son, Up Around The Bend and even Bad Moon Rising!"

Big Mac thought for a second. "Wait aint those the guys that do the song Green River?" He asked. "Song always got me singin!" Ryan smiled and nodded cramming the rest of the donut into his mouth. Applejack and Big Mac both laughed as they started heading for the door.

They were a few buildings down when Ryan reached to his belt loop and took his butterfly knife from its pouch and looked at it. He flipped the handle and the blade popped out. He looked at the sharp edged object in his hand and just hummed staring at it. Big Mac looked over at him and saw the knife in hand. "Woah there bud you might wanna put that thing away." He said. "Don't want you going and tripping over lodgin that blade somewhere it shouldn't be."

Ryan flipped the handles hiding the blade again and shoving it back in the pouch. "Sorry bout that." He replied snapping the pouch shut.

Big Mac smiled. "It's alright." He said. "Why do you even have that thing anyways?"

Ryan sighed and slowed down a bit. "May I?" He asked patting Big Mac's back. Big Mac nodded and Ryan hopped right on. "Thanks. Well My dad gave this to me this morning... You ever get that feeling that your day isn't going to go as planned?"

Applejack thought. "Yeah I guess I can say that I have." She said.

Ryan gave a bit of a sigh. "Well for you it might just turn out to be a normal day." He replied. "For me its a whole different story. My dad would always send me on drug runs and when I hum and then shiver that means something bad will happen. First time I got that stupid guys pulled guns on me and I shot each one of em down except the last guy well... Till I got his payment. Gave him a shot in the leg or the arm. Cant remember." He looked to Applejack like she was going to be giving him a weird look. She looked like she didn't care one way or the other.

"Damn talk about gun shy." Big Mac said. Ryan looked to the red colt he was riding on. "You can take on a gang shootin at you but me aiming a shotgun at you makes you nearly piss yourself?"

Ryan leaned forward on the colt. "I didn't have my own gun and really I'm glad I didn't cuz I bet one of us would've gotten shot. Woulda lost a friend, taken away a brother and a son not to mention someone would've had to clean the mess up after the other was taken off." He said.

Big Mac sighed and looked to his sister for a moment. "Yeah... That woulda been just awful." He said. "I'm just glad no one got hurt."

Applejack and Ryan replied "uh huh." at the same time.

Applejack looked over at Ryan seeing him rub his eyes. "Still tired I take it?" She asked.

Ryan gave a bit of a smile and nodded. "Couldn't sleep." He replied. "I told dad I was going to bed. Scootaloo was already asleep and somehow I just couldn't sleep."

Big Mac gave a little laugh. "You were probably excited for the party today." He said. "Its either that or you just crashed from all that sugar in your system."

Ryan thought for a moment. "Nah I didn't eat those snacks until about a few hours after that." He said. "I guess I was just excited and a bit nervous to meet everyone else."

Big Mac looked back at Ryan. "So in other words you were 'Nervouscited'?" Applejack said. Ryan and Big Mac looked over to her. She looked to the road. "Pinkie's word. Not mine." Big Mac's and Ryan's gaze met. Ryan just shrugged. So did Big Mac.

They walked on more down the road and turned a few corners. Soon they came up on a blue building with a sign with crossed guitars and a drum in the center of it. "Alright we're here Ry." Big Mac said looking back at him. Ryan smiled and hopped off.

Applejack entered the shop first and held the door for her brother and friend. Instantly Ryan saw nothing but CD's categorized by genre of music. Big Mac walked up to the empty counter near a rack of discount CD's. He peered into a little gap in the curtain covering the door. "Hello?" He said. "Vinyl!? You back there?" No answer. He looked back at his sister and Ryan as they looked through a few CD's. "You guys stay here. I gotta check the back for Vinyl!"

Applejack waved her brother off. "Yeah just do it already!" She said.

Big Mac huffed and walked around the counter. He lifted the curtain and disappeared into the back. There he saw nothing but boxes. "Vinyl? C'mon girl you better not be asleep listenin to your music again!" Big Mac said walking around the storage area. His ear flickered and he looked to a door that was opened a crack. He quietly walked over and slowly opened the door. Inside he saw nothing but darkness but he heard grunting and rustling. The red colt felt around for the light switch but was suddenly blindsided by something hard hitting his face making him yell out in pain.

Out in the showroom Ryan and AJ both heard Big Mac's yell of pain and rushed to the counter. Ryan lunged over the counter and rolled a bit going through the curtains. Applejack darted through and saw her brother on the ground being pinned by a masked griffon. White feathers that tapered off into a dark red. The coat was a red colored with dark marks on the wings. They tied up Big Mac not noticing the boy and the mare. "You are stupid for even coming here!" He said. Applejack pushed Ryan a bit. He looked to her and she pointed to some boxes. Ryan nodded and tiptoed his way to the boxes.

Once he was hidden Applejack readied herself staring the griffon down. "HEY!" She yelled startling the griffon. He backed away seeing Applejack looking pissed. "Get your damn claws of my brother!"

The griffon looked to her and gave a sarcastic laugh. "What are you gonna do? Cuddle me to death missy?" He replied. Applejack growled.

Big Mac looked up at the griffon over him. "You call my damn sister missy one more fuckin time! I dare ya!" He snapped.

The griffon stomped on him with his hind leg. "Shut up you bitch!" He snapped. He looked back at Applejack. "C'mon you fucking whore get the fuck out of here so you don't get hurt!" Ryan watched from behind the boxes as Applejack charged at the griffon. He quickly pulled his blade from the pouch on his side as the griffon grabbed and pinned Applejack. He sprang from the boxes and flipped the handle of his knife now having the blade out.

"HEY STUPID FUCK LEAVE MY FRIENDS ALONE!" Ryan yelled alerting the griffon. He looked to him and grinned.

"Well look what we have here! LUNCH!" He said kicking Applejack to the side.

Big Mac looked to Ryan. "Don't do it Ry! I don't want you to get hurt! RUN AND GET HELP!" He yelled.

Ryan readied himself with his blade. "Shut up I know what I'm doing!" He snapped. He met the griffons gaze. "Alright you stupid griffon fuck lets rock!" Suddenly after he said that the butterfly knife started glowing. The handle fused together and the blade extended getting a hilt on it. The griffon looked at the blade and shuttered.

Ryan looked at the blade surprised. '... Lets rock...? Is that what activated the enchantment?' He thought to himself.

He grinned and went into a different stance holding the blade with two hands now. "Alright COME AT ME MOTHERFUCKER!" He yelled.

The griffon pulled a switchblade from under his wing and charged at him. Ryan charged at him too. Applejack and Big Mac either looked away or shut their eyes averting their gaze from any carnage that could've happened. They couldn't hear anything. No yells of pain. No blades slicing into anything. Not even any footsteps. Big Mac hesitantly opened his eye and saw Ryan and the griffon crossing each other still holding the blades. Suddenly blood sprayed from the griffons neck and he dropped the blade falling on the floor. The sword Ryan held turned back into a butterfly knife in a little flash. He returned to a standing stance and approached Big Mac. Big Mac looked to his sister and still saw her looking away shaking. "S-sis!" He said as Ryan knelt down and started to cut the ropes holding Big Mac there.

Applejack faced towards her brother hesitantly still clenching her eyes shut. "...y-yeah...?" She said still scared. Big Mac pointed to the dark room pushing the knife wielding boy towards it. He turned back to his sister as Ryan ran in.

Once inside the room Ryan flipped on a light and saw a unicorn mare with a blue mane and white coat tied up with tape over her mouth and a blindfold covering her eyes. Coins were scattered everywhere on the ground. He quickly went and cut the rope holding the mare and the blindfold. The blindfold fell to the ground revealing tears in her eyes that were clenched shut also. Carefully Ryan removed the tape shushing the unicorn mare. "C'mon don't be scared I gotcha..." He said hugging her.

The mare wrapped her hooves around the boy and held him close. "...Th-thank you..." She said.

Ryan carefully closed the butterfly knife handle around the blade hiding it. "You hurt at all?" Ryan asked. The mare shook her head starting to sob softly. "...Good... You think you can call someone else to run the shop?"

The mare sniffled and nodded. "...Y-yes.... M-my marefriend..." She said letting Ryan go. She wiped her eyes and looked at him. "...Wait... You aren't a pony..."

Ryan smiled putting his blade away. "I'm human." He said. "I take it you're Vinyl?" The mare nodded. "I'm Ryan. I was brought here by my friends looking to get some CD's for my birthday. Oh um.... By the way... When we go back to the front just look away and I'll lead you to the front... Gonna need a cleanup crew to get in here...." Vinyl nodded and closed her eyes. Ryan put his hand on her back and started walking with her. As they stepped out of the room Ryan looked to the room. No one there except for the body lying near the boxes in a puddle of blood. He looked back to the curtain and put a hand out to open it up.

As they came out into the showroom Applejack sat on the floor while her brother was on a phone talking to someone. "...Yeah Vinyl's Music Shop." He said. "Robbery and there's one griffon dead. Yeah that's right I said griffon!... Yeah.... Uh huh... Really now? How much we talkin?... You're kiddin!... Yeah everyone else is okay. Just a few bruises on me and just a few shaken up mare's."

Ryan looked over at Vinyl. "Alright... You can open your eyes!" He said.

Vinyl hesitantly opened her eyes and looked around the room. She saw Applejack and quickly went around the counter towards her. She sat next to her and hugged AJ. She looked back at Ryan who was now sitting on the counter. "Um... Ryan was it?" She said. He looked to her.

"Yeah?" He said.

She whimpered a bit. "...C-can you go back to the room and get my glasses...? I left them in there when I was on my break...."

Ryan nodded and hopped up from the counter. He quickly darted into the back again past the bloody mess he had left into the back room again. He looked around the room. Coins distracted him from the task at hand. He grabbed a broom and started to sweep them up. He swept the coins up into a pile being careful not to miss one coin, under the desk and in crevices the broom could reach. Once he swept the coins into a pile he set the broom back down and looked to the desk. No glasses. Just boxes filled with papers. He opened the drawer in the middle of the desk and inside he saw big purple lensed black framed sunglasses neatly folded so they could fit in the drawer. He grabbed them and went back out. Just before he got to the curtains they opened and a few pegasus guards came in. One saw Ryan and rushed him pinning him against the wall. Ryan still gripped the sunglasses trying not to break them. "C'mon let me go!" Ryan said loudly.

Big Mac rushed in and pried the big pony guard off the small boy. "Lay off! He was the one who took him down!" The red colt said.

Ryan turned around back against the wall. The guard looked to him. "You?" He said. Ryan hesitantly nodded. The guard saw the butterfly knife tucked away in the pouch. The guard looked to the other guard who was surveying the body. He then looked back to Ryan who was still startled by the guards. "Well now... You've earned yourself quite the reward." The guard said to Ryan. He pointed to the body of the griffon. "He was part of a trifecta of robbers who traveled Equestria getting money from shops and citizens in the area where ever they were. We put out a bounty for who ever could catch him dead or alive and you caught him dead. A thousand bits for dead but three thousand for alive."

Ryan's jaw dropped. "A thousand bits?!" He said.

The guard nodded. "Come by Princess Twilight's castle later. We need to block off the store and clean up the mess you made." The guard said. "Our investigation will last a day or two. You think you can let Ms. Scratch know?"

Ryan nodded and quickly darted past the guard and Big Mac back out in to the showroom. Vinyl was shuttering a bit still frightened. Applejack was nowhere to be seen inside. Ryan walked around the counter and held the sunglasses out in his hand. Vinyl saw them in his hand and used her magic to take them from him and opened them putting them on hiding her red eyes. "...Thank you Ryan... Just for saving my store you can take any CD home that you want." She said.

Ryan smiled and hugged her. "... Thanks but... Just something that the guard told me..." He said. "...You're going to have to leave the store alone for a few days. I swept up some loose money in back just so you can pick it up easier."

Vinyl sniffled and sighed. "... I... I think me being away from my store for a few days will be good for me..." She said. "...Octavia and I could... have a little fun... and... uh.... Thanks for sweeping up... That griffon dropped all that money when he heard you guys come in..."

Ryan sat with her and patted her back just as Big Mac came from the back. "Ho-lee shit...." He said looking at Ryan. "...I... I cant believe you took down that robber with that knife... How the hell did you get it to do that?"

Ryan shrugged faking his knowledge of the blade. "...How long was I back there?" He asked his friend.

Big Mac thought for a moment. "I think about ten minutes." He said. "'The hell were you doin back there?"

A guard came out with the switch blade in a plastic bag in his teeth. "Uh... I was trying to find Vinyl's sun glasses but... I thought she meant actual glasses with clear lenses." He said. The guard passed them and went out the door. Ryan looked to Vinyl. "We should wait out front... Wouldn't wanna get in the guard's way but before we go... I guess I'll take you up on your offer Vinyl..." Vinyl smiled and got up. Ryan walked over to the metal section of the CD's. He reached for a red case with black markings on it and a white one with different black markings on it. "Metallica's St. Anger album and Death Magnetic album." He said. "Two albums here and uh..." He looked back at Vinyl. "You got any Creedence Clearwater Revival?" She smiled and nodded.

She pointed over at the classic rock section of the CD's along the wall. "CCR is going to be over there near the top." She replied.

Ryan smiled and hurried over looking for another CD. He reached for a green one with a few people standing on it. "Alright done here. I'll buy some CD's next time I come in." He said turning back around. He looked to Big Mac. "You got a bag Vinyl? I wanna send someone home with a gift from me." He smiled to Big Mac as Vinyl went to the counter. Her horn glowed and a plastic bag came up from over the counter. It floated over to Ryan who put the CCR CD into it. He walked over to Big Mac who took the bag in his hoof.

"...Well... Thanks Ry." He said giving him a smile and a hug.

Ryan hugged back. "Don't mention it dude! You deserve it!" He replied. They broke the hug just as a grey coated mare with a black mane came in looking worried. "Vinyl!" She said. Her voice was that of a sophisticated mare.

Vinyl looked to the mare just at the door. "'Tavi!" She said hurrying to her. They both hugged in the middle of the room.

"...Oh Vinyl... Are you alright?" The mare asked. Vinyl nodded into her shoulder. They broke the hug and gave each other a kiss.

Big Mac and Ryan blushed watching the two mares lock lips. "Uh... Ry... Why don't we get back to Sugar Cube Corner and hope that party of yours aint over....?" Big Mac asked. "Aj should be back there by now... Sent her out while you were lookin for Vinyl's glasses..."

The mare's broke the kiss and Vinyl looked over at Ryan making him blush a bit more. She beckoned him over. Ryan hesitantly walked over to the blue crazy maned mare. "Ryan I'd like you to meet my marefriend Octavia Melody." She said. She looked to Octavia. "'Tavi this is Ryan. He's the one who saved my flank here..."

Ryan looked to Octavia and put both Metallica CD's in one hand. Octavia raised her hoof so she could shake his hand. "You saved my wubster?" She asked a bit quizzically. "You're just a cute little toughy aren't you!"

Ryan blushed taking his hand back. "I'm nineteen as of today Ms. Melody." He replied. "... Not trying to be mean but I'm not a little kid anymore..."

Octavia chuckled a bit. "Oh sorry there Ryan!" She said blushing a bit embarrassed. "I haven't seen you humans around and I cant ever tell what age you guys are!"

Ryan let out a little laugh. "Um... Would you guys want to come to Sugar Cube Corner with us?" He asked. "Hopefully the party is still going on... And that my dad doesn't mind..." He smiled nervously.

Octavia and Vinyl looked to each other. "Your father?" Vinyl said. She looked to Ryan. "Who's your father?"

Big Mac came over. "His father is Mr. Rubber! You know the father of Scootaloo? Mother died some months ago?" He said.

Vinyl thought for a second. "Oh that's his father? I didn't know he adopted!" She said. "Well of course we'll come! I gotta make sure my little rocker Pegasus is doing okay!" Ryan smiled and hugged both Octavia and Vinyl.

A little while later they were all back at Sugarcube Corner. Ryan sat at a table away from everyone else listening to one of the CD's he had gotten. Vinyl and Octavia were sitting a table over from him talking with Pinkie Pie. Applejack and Big Mac were no where to be found. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy walked over to Ryan's table and sat down with him. Fluttershy nudged him and he looked over at them pausing his music and taking his headphones off. "You alright Ry?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Ryan nodded. "Just feeling a bit lucky I guess..." He replied.

Fluttershy tilted her head. "How so?" She asked.

Ryan leaned on the table. "Well I caught someone who had a bounty on their head today at Vinyl's music shop... Its a bit of a mess in there and the guards that responded have to do an investigation and dust for prints or something." He said. "I wasn't listening. Call me a gold digger but all I heard was cash registers and music." He looked to fluttershy. "Um... Can you please get me something to drink Flutters? I'd get up but adrenaline rush to crash is just too fast..."

Fluttershy smiled and nodded. "I understand and of course! Is a juice box okay with you?" She asked getting up. Ryan smiled and nodded.

As Fluttershy walked away Dash looked to Ryan. "You killed the guy didn't you?" Dash said.

Ryan nodded. "You spied on us while we were there didn't you?" He asked. Dash nodded. "Then I guess you understand I know Flutters is sensitive enough to be scared of someone if she heard they killed someone right?"

Dash nodded again and sighed. "You got that right." She said. "Fluttershy would wet herself even if one of her animals ate another animal. Trust me I've seen the aftermath of that and it wasn't fun to clean up!" Ryan shushed her as Fluttershy came back over with a juice box with a cherry on it.

"All the cakes had was cherry juice is that alright?" She asked setting the juice box down.

Ryan nodded and grabbed the juice. He pulled the straw off the box and broke it out of its plastic and popped it into the box at the top. "Thanks Flutters!" He said sipping the box. She smiled at him.

"Any time Ryry!" She replied. Ryan blushed as he sipped his juice box.

Dash gave a laugh as Vinyl came over to the table. "Hey hero how those CD's sound?" She asked.

Ryan looked over to her and smiled. "I'm head banging so hard I feel like I could flip if I jumped." He said.

Vinyl laughed. "Nice one!" She said taking her glasses off. The laughter died down. "Listen dude I asked your dad and it turns out YOU my good friend are coming home with me and 'Tavi!"

Ryan blushed and started to cough choking on his juice. Rainbow Dash gasped and reached over patting him on the back. Fluttershy grabbed a napkin from a nearby table and gave it to Ryan. He wiped his mouth and coughed one more time before setting the juice and napkin down. "...Oh jeez..." He said. He looked to Vinyl who looked a bit worried. "... Dad said THAT?!"

Vinyl nodded hesitantly. "Yeah... Is it okay with you...?" She asked.

Ryan nodded coughing again. "Did you tell him what I did?" He asked. Vinyl nodded and hugged nuzzling Ryan.

"Aww how come she gets to cuddle you?" Fluttershy said. "I wanna cuddle you more! I wanna bring you home and cuddle with you while I sleep!"

Dash sighed and pulled her yellow friend away. "Fluttershy you can do that later!" The rainbow maned mare said. "If you ask his father you can try and get some cuddle time with him!"

Fluttershy sighed and crossed her arms starting to tear up a bit. "...Okay..." She said sounding sad. Dash hugged her friend and shushed her.

Ryan broke the hug with Vinyl and got up from his chair walking around the table and hugged Fluttershy. "Don't worry Flutters if you wanna cuddle just tell me and I'll be right there to do just that!" He said nuzzling her.

Fluttershy forced out a smile and instantly hugged Ryan bringing him up onto her lap. Ryan looked over to Vinyl as Fluttershy held him close. "Vinyl can you give me a bit? I gotta pick up a few things from my place and from Princess Twilight's castle that I left there..." He asked smiling a bit.

Vinyl smiled and nodded. "We'll stop by the castle first." She replied. "I think you better get what you left there first before we drop by your place. Wouldn't wanna carry it everywhere." Ryan smiled and went back to nuzzling his friend.

A couple hours later Ryan was walking with Octavia, Vinyl and Twilight through the streets. Ryan looked a bit tired as he walked. Twilight noticed him stumble a bit as they approached the castle. "You need a nap Ry?" She asked. Ryan sluggishly nodded. "Well stay awake just long enough to get your reward home. I'll have one of my guards grab you a bottle of cider while we're in there alright?"

Ryan stretched and nodded. Vinyl gave a chuckle. "Adrenaline wears off fast with you doesn't it?" She asked.

Ryan nodded again. "...Not enough to be mad or scared about..." He said. "...Not to mention I did stay up pretty late last night... Lotsa soda and snacks..."

Octavia gave a laugh. "Yeah I know the feeling of that too well..." She said as they turned a corner going towards the castle now. "...I couldn't sleep because I was a bit worried Vinyl was going to get hurt when she did a rave over in Manehattan here in Equestria. I've only been to Manehattan once and while I was there I almost was run down by a taxi carriage!"

Vinyl looked over to her marefriend. "Hey you told me you got robbed!" She said.

Octavia sighed and looked over at Vinyl. "Guess I just chose to repress that memory..." She said blushing a bit. "...I was just so scared about dying that day..." Tears started streaming down her cheeks. "...I... I was afraid I wasn't gonna see you again...."

Vinyl let out a sad aww and crossed over to her marefriend. "Don't cry 'Tavi baby! Please don't cry!" She said nuzzling her as they walked. They kissed and started to slow down as they approached the castle doors. They broke the kiss and Vinyl looked to Ryan and Twilight as they walked on. "Ryan! We'll be out here!" She called out.

Ryan looked back and sluggishly waved yawning. He looked back to Twilight. "...Any chance you can make that cider a straight soda?" Ryan asked. Twilight gave a smile and nodded. The guards outside the door bowed and opened the door for the two.

Twilight brought Ryan up on to her back and held him with her wings as they went up the stairs. Ryan leaned in on her back and yawned starting to nod off. He soon fell asleep nuzzling the purple princess as she walked up the stairs. She looked back at him about half way up and sighed. "...Made good judgment on that part..." She said to herself. As she walked upstairs she past a guard who bowed. She stopped and looked back at him. "Get this boys reward for taking down that notorious griffon." She said. "Also I want you to escort us and a few mares downstairs to his place. I know where it is. And by the way... His reward is the thousand bits AS promised!" The guard saluted and hurried up the stairs as she went back down. Once back outside she saw Octavia and Vinyl sitting against the wall of the castle kissing. The guards at the door didn't even pay attention. Twilight walked over to them. "Vinyl? Octavia?" Twilight said alerting them.

They broke the kiss and looked up at the princess. Octavia noticed Ryan asleep on her back and gasped. "Aww he fell asleep!" She said softly.

Vinyl stood up and stood at Twilight's side. "May I?" She asked. Twilight smiled and nodded using her magic to take the sleeping boy off her back and set him on the white unicorns back. Octavia kissed his forehead making him shift a bit mumbling to himself. "...Let him sleep 'Tavi." Vinyl said softly. "...Even heroes need to sleep. Isnt that right Princess?"

Both Vinyl and Octavia looked to Twilight. She smiled and nodded. "Princess Twilight!" A unicorn guard called out approaching the mares. Princess Twilight turned around and shushed him pointing to Ryan who shifted and groaned. He looked to the sleeping boy and quickly silenced himself. "Sorry!" He whispered. He turned to the side showing a duffle bag on his back. "All the bits are in there. Are we ready to go?"

Twilight nodded and looked to Octavia and Vinyl still admiring the sleeping boy. "Vinyl! Octavia!" She whispered. They looked over at the princess and she nodded to the side. The guard walked at Twilight's side down the road. Octavia and Vinyl were following closely.

A little while later they arrived at the door of Ryan's home. Twilight knocked and waited for a moment. The door opened and there was Scootaloo. She immediately bowed to Twilight seeing a guard with her. "Scoot? Who is it?" Her father yelled out from the kitchen.

Before the orange mare could turn Twilight shushed her and pointed to Ryan on the white unicorn's back. Scootaloo nodded and turned around. She walked towards the kitchen. "It's Princess Twilight dad!" She said. "Vinyl is with her! Ry passed out and is on her back!"

Mr. Rubber looked to the door and saw the guard enter with Twilight, Vinyl and Octavia behind him. Octavia carefully shut the door behind her. "Ah welcome Princess!" Mr. Rubber said bowing to her.

Twilight smiled. "I hope you don't mind but we came by to drop off Ryan's reward from earlier and pick up some clothes for him" She said. Scootaloo walked over to Vinyl just as her father smiled.

"Ah its no problem. The knife I gave him worked in his favor eh?" He said. "Guess that feeling of his isn't a load of crap as I thought." Twilight gave a giggle as Scootaloo whispered into Vinyl's ear. Vinyl looked to the mare and nodded starting for the hallway. Scootaloo followed. "Exactly just like Pinkie's sense. I thought the same way when I found out about her Pinkie Sense." Twilight said.

Mr. Rubber laughed a bit just as Vinyl and Scootaloo disappeared into Ryan's room. Inside his room was the unicorn guard setting the duffle bag at the foot of Ryan's messy bed. Scootaloo picked up Ryan's backpack from the corner of the room and brought it over to the dresser. As the guard left Scootaloo started stuffing a few items of clothing in the bag. Vinyl watched Ryan as he slept on her back. "...He was really something today huh?" Scootaloo asked.

Vinyl looked to her and gave a smile. "Yeah... You don't know how scared I was..." She replied in a whisper. "...I didn't even know that griffon had a knife... I could've died...."

Scootaloo sighed opening up another drawer. "Don't go crying now please Vinyl." The Pegasus mare said. "Two reasons. One is that you have a sleeping boy on your back and two I don't think Octavia would want you to cry and have you bring Ryan home. Octavia would only deal with one." Ryan shifted a bit. He started to whimper. Vinyl looked back at the boy on her back.

"...That doesn't sound good..." She said. She looked back to Scootaloo who looked a bit worried. "Should I wake him?" Scootaloo thought for a moment and nodded. Vinyl looked back at Ryan and nudged him with her snout. "Ryan? Ryan! Wake up!" She said.

Ryan snorted and jumped a bit. His eyes fluttered a bit and hesitantly opened. He yawned propping himself up on Vinyl's back rubbing his eye with his free hand. "...Vinyl...? Are we at your place yet?" He asked sluggishly.

Vinyl sighed and helped him up off her back. "No Ry we're at your place!" She said. "You sounded like you were having a nightmare."

Ryan yawned and stretched. "...I was...?" He said. Vinyl nodded.

Scootaloo zipped Ryan's backpack up and walked over to him bearing it in her teeth. "Here Ry. Gotcha all packed up." She said.

Ryan smiled and took it from her slinging it over his shoulder. "...Vinyl can you wait in the living room? I gotta use the can..." He said. He looked to the white unicorn and she nodded. As they all went to the door Ryan let Vinyl and Scootaloo pass him. Scootaloo met her brother's gaze. She looked kinda sad. Just as Ryan got out into the hallway she gave him a quick hug and broke it as quickly as it started. Ryan blushed a bit and hurried into the bathroom.

As Scootaloo stepped back out in the living room a tear came to her eye. She sat down at the dining table facing away from everyone else as they talked. Vinyl sat with Octavia near the couch where the unicorn guard, Princess Twilight and Mr. Rubber sat. "... So that's what we ended up doing for Applejack's birthday party!" Twilight said finishing up a sentence.

Mr. Rubber sighed. "I wish I had a party like that for my birthday but... I'm getting a bit old for that stuff." He said. "Just getting a few gifts, cards and some happy birthdays is fine for this stallion." Twilight yawned a bit.

The unicorn guard looked to her. "Are you tired princess? If you need I'll escort you back to the castle now." He said.

Twilight nodded and stretching. "... You are to escort me back to the castle and escort Vinyl Scratch and Octavia Melody here back to their home along with the boy we brought here." She said. She looked around for a moment. "Speaking of Ryan where is he?"

Vinyl looked to the purple princess. "He's in the bathroom right now." She said. "When you gotta go you gotta go ykno?"

Twilight gave a laugh and nodded. "I understand that feeling all too well!" She said. The laughter died down and she yawned again. "Woah... Really tired... Maybe I really should go back home..." She looked to Vinyl and Octavia. "You two think you'd be okay walking home by yourself? Sorry if you needed an escort." She stretched a bit having her wings puff out.

Octavia smiled. "You go on home Princess. We have Ryan with us!" She said just as the toilet flushed down the hall.

Twilight stood up and looked to her guard. "You know what to do. Lets head back to the castle!" She said. The guard saluted and stood up. He went to the door and opened it up for her and she walked out.

"Have a great night!" Mr. Rubber called out. He looked over to the hallway just as the guard left closing the door. There he saw Ryan coming out with his backpack slung over his shoulder. "There's the hero! Guess that feeling of yours isn't as much of crap that I thought it would be!"

Ryan gave a sigh and smiled. "Well I did tell you." He said going towards Vinyl as she got up. "Maybe next time I'd be able to-"

"No Ryan you aren't taking your gun!" Mr. Rubber snapped. "I swear to Celestia if one stray bullet were to hit an innocent civilian I'd disown you faster than that bullet were to travel! Now get on out of here. I promised Scoot I'd help her rearrange her room." Ryan gave a smile and quickly pounced on his father giving him a hug. Just as quick as the hug started it ended and Ryan got off his father. Mr. Rubber looked to his daughter who had her head resting on her hoof. "Scoot! Come say goodbye to your brother!"

Scootaloo silently got up from her seat and walked over to Ryan who had his arms wide open. She had her head hung a bit before hugging her brother resting her head on his shoulder. "...Don't you ever scare me like that again..." She whispered. "...I don't want my new brother to die so soon..." She sounded like she was holding back tears.

Ryan pushed her away and saw her sad and teary eyed expression. "...Don't worry..." He whispered back. "...I'm not gonna die yet..." He gave her a kiss on her cheek before breaking away towards Octavia who had her body lowered just for Ryan.

Scootaloo whimpered a bit and grabbed onto Ryan. "P-please don't go!" She said almost frantic.

Mr. Rubber got up from the couch and hesitantly approached his daughter. Vinyl pried Ryan away from Scootaloo making the orange mare start crying. Her father started to hug her and looked to Ryan and the other two mares. "You guys go I got her!" He said. Ryan nodded as Vinyl opened the door letting her marefriend out along with herself and their companion. Mr. Rubber sighed and looked back to Scootaloo who was crying hard into his chest. "Scootaloo what's gotten into you?"

Scootaloo sniffled and brought her head up from her fathers chest. "...I don't want t-to lose Ryan..." She said.

Mr. Rubber sighed. "Scoot this isn't about Ryan at all is it?" He asked. Scootaloo sniffled and hesitantly shook her head. "...It's about your mother... isn't it...?" His daughter nodded. Mr. Rubber sighed and broke the hug with Scootaloo taking her hoof. He stood up along with his daughter and went over to the couch to sit down. Once they sat down Scootaloo hugged her father again. "...Look Scoot... I know you love Ryan and you do love your mother but... You gotta know Ryan isn't your mother... He can protect himself... If your mother tried to protect herself... She would've been here and... We probably wouldn't be having this problem... She'd be with us at the table, eating dinner along with Ryan... Maybe... If one thing happens another thing happens too... You get what I'm saying don't you?"

Scootaloo sniffled and nodded. "...Yes... Daddy..." She said.

Mr. Rubber looked at his daughter a bit shocked. "...Scoot... You haven't called me Daddy since you were eight..." He said. "...Maybe you should sleep with me in my bed tonight... You're starting to make me miss your mother too..."

Scootaloo rested her head on her fathers shoulder. "...You sure daddy...?" She asked. "...I... I'm nineteen now... A grown mare... Even Applebloom doesn't go to her... uh.... Sweetie Belle doesn't...." She whimpered trying to think of a filly who doesn't go sleeping with a parent in their bed.

Mr. Rubber shushed her. "...Now now Scoot it's still your birthday." He said. "Just think of it as a birthday present from me and your... mother...." He hesitated on the last part. He held his daughter close giving her a kiss on the forehead.

A little while later over with Ryan, Vinyl and Octavia they were just arriving at a medium sized home. Ryan was about half asleep still riding on Octavia's back as they entered the front door. Once inside Vinyl turned lights on giving light to regal looking furniture. A big flat screen sat on a low lying table against the wall. Octavia looked back at the sleepy boy on her back. "Aw someone still a bit tired!" She said lowering her body. She looked to Vinyl. "Baby go get Ry here a soda! I want him to be awake for us!"

Vinyl nodded and hurried into a doorway. Ryan yawned and stretched. "...I'm fine..." He said starting for a couch. He stumbled a bit and Octavia went right to his side.

"No Ryan you aren't! You need something to keep you awake! We have to thank you before you go to bed!" She said.

Ryan sighed and broke away sitting on the couch. He brought his backpack from his shoulder and unzipped it. He reached inside and pulled his journal along with the pencil. Vinyl came back from the doorway with a glass of dark fizzy liquid. "Alright. Sorry if you don't like warm cola." She said.

Just as she set it on the table in front of Ryan he looked up at her. "It's okay just as long as it's not diet!" He said.

Vinyl smiled as he grabbed the glass and sipped from it. "Don't worry it's from my stash." She said. She looked to Octavia. "Yes it's from my stash. I HAVE a stash!"

Octavia sighed as she sat on the love seat adjacent to the couch. "Don't start in front of our guest!" She said. "You start this I get Ryan all to myself tonight!"

Vinyl growled a bit and sat next to Ryan. "It's ME and MY STORE he saved! It should be me who get's Ryan to myself!" She snapped.

Ryan let out a growl and yelled. "BOTH OF YOU ARENT GONNA GET ME IF YOU KEEP ARGUING LIKE THAT I CANT FUCKING THINK!" He yelled out. He looked to Octavia enraged. "It's Vinyl I saved not you and WHO FUCKING KNOWS maybe I wanted to sleep by myself!" Ryan went back to writing in his book and left both mares silent.

Octavia sighed and hung her head. "...Y-youre right..." She said starting to tear up. "I'm sorry..." She sniffled and got up starting to sob a bit as she ran off.

Vinyl got up and ran around the coffee table. "'TAVI WAIT!" She called out. Octavia said nothing as a door slammed down a hallway. Vinyl looked back to Ryan who was now lying on his side facing the inside of the couch. "Ryan what the hell?!"

A sniffle came from Ryan as he scrunched up a bit. "...I... It's all my fault...." He said sounding like he was starting to cry.

Vinyl heard his whimpers and froze. "Well... Yeah you made 'Tavi run off crying..." She said starting to sound uncertain.

Ryan started to sob a bit. "...I... I didn't mean to do it... I... I just.... Snapped...." He said through his tears.

Vinyl sighed and sat next to the couch shushing him. She noticed Ryan's journal with it opened to an entry. She hesitated on wanting to look at it. Not wanting to even try anymore she picked the book up with her magic and started to read it.

' Dear Journal,

Today was my birthday along with Scootaloo's. I got a lot of great gifts and met new friends. Some of which... I had drawn blood for... The ones I drew blood for are sitting right by my side now and they're....' That's all that was written.

"....You're probably wondering where the ending for that is aren't you...?" Ryan asked.

Vinyl yelped and dropped it jumping scared. She looked over and saw Ryan sitting up with tears still streaming down his cheeks. "R-Ryan! I'm Sorry I was just curious!" She said.

Ryan sighed and picked his book back up. ".... I know..." He said. "...And... If you're wondering why I wrote that.... I woke up to see my own sister looking worried and... I knew she was worried about losing me.... I just wanted to see her happy but... I... I scared her..." He started to cry again.

Vinyl sighed and brought herself up on to the couch. "Ry... Something tells me it wasn't you that made her feel that way." She said. "I bet it was just her remembering her mother. She died protecting her Ry and well... You're new to their family and she doesn't wanna go through that same thing again.... Maybe you should get to sleep or finish up that entry... I'd want you to be all rested up before I take you back home and... Really it's 'Tavi's time of the moth. That's why she did that...."

Ryan sniffled and nodded. As he lied back down he whimpered a bit. "...Okay just... Wake me up tomorrow morning..." He said. "...I think i'm still tired from earlier..."

Vinyl gave a smile. "...Y'know Ry why don't you at least bunk with me?" She asked bringing the boy to her back with her magic. "I promise to keep my hooves to myself but don't let that stop you if you want something to cuddle."

Ryan yawned a bit and gave a smile. "...Might as well..." He said. Vinyl nuzzled him and they started down the hall. "...Hey Vinyl...?"

Vinyl looked back at him stopping outside a door. "Yeah Ry?" She said.

Ryan averted his gaze a bit. "...How did you get your cutie mark?" He asked.

Vinyl sighed looking back at the door and opened it revealing a bed room. "It's a long story and it's getting late." She said. "If I recall you have work down at Sweet Apple acres tomorrow don't you?" She looked back at Ryan as she entered the room. He nodded. "Well I'll give you a ride down to Sweet Apple Acres and tell you the story then alright?" She sat down on the bed letting Ryan drop off onto the bed.

"Alright then Vinyl and uh... Thanks for making my birthday a memorable one.... Well even if it wasn't intentional." He said giving a nervous smile as he climbed under the covers. Vinyl smiled and kissed his forehead also climbing under the covers.

Amazing birthdays with... an ending. Not much of a positive ending but its an ending nonetheless.